When anyone asks you to compose expository writing, keep these types of essays and questions in mind.
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Academic Formal NOT on Literary Topics
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Academic Formal Literary Topics |
Academic Formal Literary Topics
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Non-Academic Expressive Personal
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1. What is the Subject ?
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Usually choice(s) assigned by the teacher or supervisor |
Usually choice(s) assigned by the teacher |
Sometimes student's choice |
Student's choice |
2. Who is the primary audience?
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One intelligent college level adult interested in a wide variety of topics whom you respect and whose respect you want to earn |
One intelligent college level adult interested in a wide variety of topics whom you respect and whose respect you want to earn |
One intelligent college level adult interested in a wide variety of topics whom you respect and whose respect you want to earn |
Self |
3. Who is the secondary audience?
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The person who assigned the task |
The person who assigned the task |
The person who assigned the task |
Self |
4. What kinds of purposes will the writing serve?
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To answer a question, demonstrate mastery of topic, show good thinking and writing skills, serve reader's needs |
To answer a question, demonstrate mastery of topic, show good thinking and writing skills, serve reader's needs |
To answer a question, demonstrate mastery of topic, show good thinking and writing skills, serve reader's needs |
To express feelings, serving the writer's needs |
5. Which methods of development fit best?
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Any one or more of the eight outlined here |
Any one or more of the eight outlined here |
Any one or more of the eight outlined here |
Any one or more of the eight outlined here |
6. The specifics may come from which sources?
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Direct quotations from print and electronic sources worthy of academic respect (no more than 10% of total word count) |
Direct quotations from print and electronic sources worthy of academic respect and from the literature itself (no more than 10% of total word count) |
Direct quotations from print and electronic sources worthy of academic respect, from literature, music, and personal experience (no more than 10% of total word count) |
Direct quotations from personal experience, literature, and music (no more than 10% of total word count) |
7. How do I credit the sources?
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MLA documentation or the style manual in that field |
MLA documentation or the style manual in that field |
Journalistic attribution or sometimes MLA documentation or the style manual in that field |
Journalistic attribution |
8. How good should my grammar be?
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No more than 1 major grammar error per page average |
No more than 1 major grammar error per page average |
No more than 1 major grammar error per page average |
Best you can do |
9. What point of view is appropriate?
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3rd person only - She, he, it, they, them, their, the individual, the student, the writer, the reader, the director, the character, the author |
3rd person only - She, he, it, they, them, their, the individual, the student, the writer, the reader, the director, the character, the author |
3rd person - She, he, it, they, them, their, the individual, the student, the writer, the reader, the director, the character, the author
1st person - I, me, my, mine, our, us, we |
1st person only - I, me, my, mine, our, us, we |
10. What verb tense is appropriate?
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Present tense and with appropriate transitions, the past tense |
Present tense especially when discussing a character or event from the literature or film, and with appropriate transitions, the past tense |
Present tense and with appropriate transitions, the past tense |
Past or present depending on the topic |
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