Author:

riting Made Easy: Step-by-step

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Informative/Expository Pre-writing Packet

Step 1: Lets get started with the CRAFT of your

writing
Topic:_____________________________________
To help you plan your writing, begin organizing your thoughts using the MAPS
heuristic.
*Adapted from Crafting Digital Writing: Composing Texts Across Media and Genres by Troy Hicks (Heinemann, 2013).

1. Mode- What is the genre (type) of your writing? What are the defining
characteristics of this style of writing?

2. Media- What form (print/essay, video, presentation, audio, blog, web, etc)
are you using to present your writing?

3. Audience- Who are the audiences (intended and/or incidental) for this
writing? Is the medium you selected (question #2) appropriate for your
audience?

4. Purpose- What are all the possible purposes for this piece of writing?

5. Situation for the writer-what are your strengths and challenges for this piece
of writing? Situation of the writing-what are the conditions for this piece of
writing (i.e. deadline, length, restrictions etc)?
 Step 2: Lets Brainstorm
Begin jotting down your ideas or anything that comes to mind even if
they dont make any sense. You can also draw a picture for inspiration
or begin with a word that may lead to more ideas.
 Step 3: Lets Organize
What type of informative/expository writing will you compose?________________________________
Definition, Process (how-to), Cause and Effect, Classification, & Comparison-Contrast
Topic (What is your topic about?)

Point #1 Point # 2

Supporting Details: Supporting Details:

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Point #3
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Point # 4

Supporting Details: Supporting Details:

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Conclusion
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 Step 4: Lets Create an Outline
Highlight key words and ideas from your brainstorm sheet and/or
graphic organizer and begin to transform them into sentences with
details. Organize your sentences in paragraph format using this outline.

I. Introduction:
Hook (Catch the readers attention)
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Background (Briefly discuss and provide some information to help your reader understand
your topic without giving anything away)
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Thesis Statement (This sentence is the overall purpose of your paper and/or what you will
prove to your reader. It can also serve as a preview of what your paper is about.)
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II. Body:
Topic/Point #1
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Supporting Details (List details to support this topic/point such as specific

examples/incidents, facts, sensory details, statistics, or reasons )
A._____________________________________________________________________
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B._____________________________________________________________________
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C._____________________________________________________________________
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D._____________________________________________________________________
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E._____________________________________________________________________
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Topic/Point #2
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Supporting Details (List details to support this topic/point such as specific

examples/incidents, facts, sensory details, statistics, or reasons )

A._____________________________________________________________________
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B._____________________________________________________________________
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C._____________________________________________________________________
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D._____________________________________________________________________
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E._____________________________________________________________________
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Topic/Point #3
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Supporting Details (List details to support this topic/point such as specific

examples/incidents, facts, sensory details, statistics, or reasons )

A._____________________________________________________________________
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B._____________________________________________________________________
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C._____________________________________________________________________
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D._____________________________________________________________________
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E._____________________________________________________________________
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Topic/Point #4
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Supporting Details (List details to support this topic/point such as specific

examples/incidents, facts, sensory details, statistics, or reasons )

A._____________________________________________________________________
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B._____________________________________________________________________
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C._____________________________________________________________________
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D._____________________________________________________________________
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E._____________________________________________________________________
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III. Conclusion:
This is where you wrap up your main points.

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What is the most significant point about your topic and why?
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What is the final thought that you would like to leave for your reader about your topic?
(something that you would like your reader to do, think or consider after reading your essay)
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