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Explanatory Writing Guide and Tips

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
10 views4 pages

Explanatory Writing Guide and Tips

Uploaded by

aikenzyhuds
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Explanatory Writing

The Writing Prompt


The purpose of explanatory writing is to share knowledge and ideas. This type
of writing prompt asks you to share your personal knowledge and ideas by
explaining a situation or a quotation.

How to Respond to an Explanatory Writing Prompt


When responding to this type of prompt, explain how you can relate the
situation or the quotation to you and your life. Be sure to choose a personal
experience that relates directly to the prompt. Your experience should be important
to you and connect to your audience. It should also be one that you remember well as
you will need to include many details in your writing.

Strategy for Responding to Explanatory Writing Prompts

Introductory Paragraph
The beginning of your essay should restate the prompt or portions of the
prompt, give your interpretation of the situation or quote and its general importance.

Attention Step: Begin with a piece of the writing prompt or quote.


Background Statement: Describe the general importance of prompt or quote.
Thesis Statement: Fully define the prompt or quote. Expand upon your
definition by using an explanation and/or general examples.

Body Paragraph(s)
The middle of your essay should develop and explain your personal experience
using lots of specific details. Think of it as a text‐to‐self or text‐to‐world connection.
Explain how the connection began, developed, and ended. Include the life lesson that
you learned through your experience. Remember to closely link your experience to
the writing prompt.

Concluding Paragraph
The conclusion of your essay should explain how your personal experience
relates to the writing prompt or quotation. It should restate the importance of the
prompt or quotation to lives of the audience.

Restated Thesis: Summarize the connection between your experience and the
writing prompt or quotation.
Summary Sentence: Summarize the life lessons learned.
Second Attention Step: Tell the importance of the prompt or quotation
HELPFUL HINTS

• Reread the prompt or quotation until you are sure you understand it.
• If writing about a quotation, break it down into smaller parts to find meaning.
• Define individual words to enhance understanding of prompt or quotation.
• Choose a personal experience that is clearly related to the prompt or quotation.
• Include specific examples with lots of details.
• Create clear connections between examples and prompt or quotation.
• Reflect upon the life lessons learned and connect to prompt or quotation.

Sample Explanatory Writing Prompts

Sample 1
Life can be full of unexpected moments. Identify a time when you experienced
an unexpected moment.

Write an essay about a time when you experienced an unexpected moment.


Explain why the moment was unexpected and how it affected your life. Be sure
to explain your choice by using details and examples.

Sample 2
Many students enjoy doing something special for their family and friends. For
example they may take care of their younger sibling or help clean the basement.

Write an essay that describes something special that you would like to do for your
family or friends. Explain why this would be something special and how your
family or friends might react. Be sure to include details and facts to support your
explanation.

Sample 3
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” - Confucius

Write an essay explaining what this quotation means to you. Use details and
examples in your essay.

Sample 4
“The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.” - Sven Goran Eriksson

Write an essay explaining what this quotation means to you. Use details and
examples in your essay.
Sample Explanatory Writing Prompt Response

“If you find a path to with no obstacles, it probably does not lead anywhere” –
Anonymous

Write an essay explaining what this quotation means to you. Use details and
examples in your essay.

A “path with no obstacles’ would certainly be most people’s dream come true.
Imagine living life without any problems. Imagine finding success without having to
face failure. Imagine what such a life would be. To me, this quote holds the truth of
life. Of course, not having to run into mistakes would be a dream come true for me.
But at the same time, it would also be my own dreadful loss. Obstacles, failures,
mistakes, every single challenge one encounters happens for a reason. A “path with
no obstacles” is not natural. Whether everyone thinks, obstacles are necessary in
everyone’s path to succeed.
If one thinks about some of the most successful people in life, nearly every single
one had great, if not ostensibly insurmountable obstacles in their “paths.” Albert
Einstein, for instance, suffered from mental retardation as well as rejection from the
first college he applied to. But those obstacles were necessary for his incredible
contributions to the science community today. Another example is Bill Gates, the
second richest man in the world and chairman of Microsoft. Gates was ostracized by
his peers during his elementary years, but such hardships made him the successful
figure he is today.
Failure is like oxygen in my life. It occurs all around me. It occurs to me. It is an
omnipresent “thing!” Obstacles are what prepare us for life by teaching us a little
more about ourselves and the world and people around us. To be where I am today, I
had to swim through an enormous pool of failures. Although I drowned at some
points I always came back up and kept on swimming. A good example of this as well
as the importance of failure is when I first entered middle school. Throughout
elementary school, I was able to succeed in all of my coursework without much effort.
Only after I got my first failing grade did I learn that it is important to prepare ahead.
This failure taught me how it’s a competitive world, and one has to work to get by.
Now some people may be thinking that there are those that seem to be
successful, powerful, and rich without effort. But what I believe is either they had a
major failure already, or there is one waiting for them in the corner. Take wealthy
people for example. Most wealthy people by birth are so accustomed to royal
treatment that they have not learned the importance and difficulty of earning money.
As a result, if he or she somehow loses money, survival will be difficult.
A path without obstacles probably does not lead somewhere because there is
probably nowhere to lead to. Paths in life are made up of mistakes, and the
destination is the culmination, the results, the golden lessons learned from mistakes.
Just how these people failed, I also failed. I failed in my youth and I probably will fail
many more times. And to tell you the truth, without failure, I would have absolutely
no idea at all where I would have ended up But I can say this honestly: it would
certainly be a bad place.

Common questions

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Obstacles are deemed necessary on the path to success because they are integral to growth and self-learning. They force individuals to confront challenges, leading to the development of resilience and problem-solving skills. The document highlights examples like Albert Einstein and Bill Gates, who faced substantial hurdles yet achieved remarkable success, illustrating how overcoming challenges prepares and refines individuals. Such experiences contribute to personal development by providing insights into one's capabilities and fostering a deeper understanding of the world .

The document suggests that failure is omnipresent and necessary for understanding one's personal journey by discussing how failures are inevitable and recurring elements that shape one's path. It presents failure as a natural part of life that offers valuable lessons, teaching individuals about their abilities and limitations. Through failures, people gain insights into their life's direction and develop essential life skills. This perspective sees failure not as an endpoint but as a crucial step in attaining deeper personal understanding and success .

Specific examples of successful individuals like Albert Einstein and Bill Gates illustrate the necessity of failure for success by showing how their early struggles and rejections were pivotal to their later achievements. Einstein's academic struggles and Gates' social challenges are highlighted as essential components that shaped their resilience and drive. These failures taught them persistence and adaptability, ultimately contributing to their remarkable success, thereby reinforcing the narrative that failure is a vital part of the success journey .

Without encountering significant obstacles, personal growth can be hindered as it limits opportunities for learning and self-discovery. The document suggests that challenges are crucial for developing problem-solving skills, resilience, and an understanding of one's limitations and strengths. Without these experiences, individuals may not develop critical life skills or appreciate the value of perseverance. The lack of obstacles may lead to complacency, impeding growth and limiting one's potential to achieve meaningful success .

Some people may perceive successful individuals as achieving effortlessly due to external appearances of success and the tendency to overlook the struggles behind the scenes. The document suggests that this perception is misguided, as it fails to recognize the substantial challenges and failures that often precede success. It argues that even those who appear to enjoy effortless success have either navigated significant obstacles or are likely to encounter them. The narrative emphasizes recognizing the hard work and resilience often masked by outward success .

Reflective thinking in explanatory writing plays a critical role by enabling the writer to draw deeper connections between personal experiences and broader themes suggested by the prompt or quotation. It involves introspection and analysis of past events to derive meaningful lessons and insights, which enhances the relevance and richness of the narrative. This reflective process helps in articulating personal growth and in forming a coherent argument that ties the personal experience back to the prompt or quote, making the writing more engaging and impactful .

In responding to explanatory writing prompts, a structured strategy is recommended: starting with an introductory paragraph that restates the prompt, offers personal interpretation, and includes a thesis statement. Following this, body paragraphs should detail a personal experience with specifics, explaining its relevance to the prompt through text-to-self or text-to-world connections. Concluding paragraphs should restate the importance of the prompt, summarizing personal significance and life lessons learned. Each section contributes meaningfully—introducing the topic, elucidating experiences with details, and synthesizing insights from the narrative .

The anecdote about experiencing a first failing grade illustrates the importance of preparation and understanding competition because it served as a pivotal learning moment. It highlighted that success requires effort and planning, and that the world operates on a competitive basis. This failure emphasized the need for diligence and strategic preparation to thrive in competitive environments. It taught the individual that effort and forethought are crucial for overcoming challenges and achieving success .

The quote 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step' implies that significant challenges require an initial commitment to begin. It underscores the importance of taking action as the first critical step towards achieving long-term goals. This mindset encourages focusing on initiating the journey, understanding that progress is often incremental but necessary. The quote emphasizes the value of courage and determination to start, which is often the hardest yet most crucial part of overcoming large obstacles .

Explanatory writing allows individuals to relate personal experiences to broader themes or quotes by encouraging them to connect personal events to the larger context of the prompt. This type of writing emphasizes the importance of directly connecting personal anecdotes to the prompt, thereby making the experience relevant and meaningful to the audience. Including specific details is critical as it enriches the narrative, providing depth and clarity, and helps in illustrating the connections between personal experiences and overarching themes effectively .

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