Historical Expository Piece

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Definition:

An essay in which historical events or interactions are interpreted and explained.

Supported with research using multiple sources
Based on dates, people, or events that really happened
Introductory sentence presents issue and perspective
Factual presentations of documented evidence
Written in third person
Contains: descriptions, time sequences, enumeration, cause and effect, and/or comparison/contrast, analogies, opinion, persuasion, classification, descriptions, reviews
Interpretations tell how, where, when, why, which things happen or have happened or are as they are
Explanatory writing, detailing or justifying information, ideas, and opinions
Footnotes and/or bibliographic information/ works cited
May include direct quotations or paraphrases that support the thesis
May include illustrative material, especially diagrams and tables
Information organized logically
Details what things are like, what things can do, how many, where things are found
Systematic arguments
Usually written in prose
Directed toward a specific audience
Maintains tight focus on topic
Summary statement may include conclusions of findings and the implications of these
Illustrations, graphs, charts to support research

Grade 8

Opportunities to Teach:

Composing the genre

Composing text

Writing process
Figurative language: metaphors and similes
Includes historical point of view and ideology of the time period (prejudice, racism, tolerance, fairness and equity bias/distortion)
Punctuation for effect: pacing, emphasis, etc.
Intent (How/what does the author want his/her readers to feel/know?)
Imagery
Conventions and when to break them
Literary devices

Complete K-8 Genre Project
From the Michigan Department of Education

Complete K-8 Genre Booklist
From Kent Intermediate School District

Page last modified on February 10, 2009, at 11:46 AM