The structure for the expository article.

The structure for the expository article will have both (a) a general plan, and (b) a paragraph-specific plan.  It will look like this: 
 
 
Type of article:    
Written by:    
Topic:    
Title:    
Brainstorming:    
 
 
Rough Article Outline:     (List major paragraph topics, then assign order number.)    
     (Introduction)     ...................................
     (Body)    
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     (Conclusion)     .....................................
 
 
General article outline:    
     [IP]    
     [B1]    
     [B2]    
     [B3]    
     [B4]    
     [B5]    
     [CP]    
 
 
Specific paragraph outlines:    
     Introductory Paragraph.     [IP]    
     [IP-TS]     
     [IP-S1]    
     [IP-S2]    
     [IP-S3]    
     [IP-S4]    
     [IP-S5]    
     [IP-CS]    
 
     Body Paragraph One.     [B1]    
     [B1-TS]    
     [B1-S1]    
     [B1-S2]    
     [B1-S3]    
     [B1-S4]    
     [B1-S5]     
     [B1-CS]    
 
     Body Paragraph Two.     [B2]    
     [B2-TS]    
     [B2-S1]    
     [B2-S2]    
     [B2-S3]    
     [B2-S4]    
     [B2-S5]    
     [B2-CS]    
 
     Body Paragraph Three.     [B3]    
     [B3-TS]    
     [B3-S1]    
     [B3-S2]    
     [B3-S3]    
     [B3-S4]    
     [B3-S5]    
     [B3-CS]    
 
     Body Paragraph Four.     [B4]    
     [B4-TS]    
     [B4-S1]    
     [B4-S2]     
     [B4-S3]    
     [B4-S4]    
     [B4-S5]    
     [B4-CS]    
 
     Body Paragraph Five.     [B5]    
     [B5-TS]    
     [B5-S1]    
     [B5-S2]    
     [B5-S3]    
     [B5-S4]    
     [B5-S5]    
     [B5-CS]    
 
     Concluding Paragraph.     [CP]    
     [CP-TS]    
     [CP-S1]    
     [CP-S2]    
     [CP-S3]    
     [CP-S4]    
     [CP-S5]    
     [CP-CS]    
 
     A rationale for using the 7 x 7 structure, when writing expository articles. 
 
     This plan will give you an outline that can generate 49 sentences.  You may think this is a lot to write, but if you take your time and write carefully (and most college writing assignments are given over a week’s time), you will find that the work is not really that difficult.  You will also have a very tightly structured article... if you did the planning carefully. 
 
     This “seven paragraphs, of seven sentences each” (i.e., 7 x 7) approach is best used in expository articles.  Narrative articles will use a different structure, which will be looked at in the next section. 
                                                              
     Although the 7 x 7 structure is very artificial, it allows you to develop a well-structured style of writing, something which is useful in both everyday writing, as well as in exam composition writing (with their emphasis on clear and organized expression).  It also trains you to think in a linear and sequential manner, and to avoid “circular logic” /  “circular thinking”. 
 
     Much of the writing found in everyday life today follows a predictable structure and style.  It has a beginning, middle and end; ideas are developed completely, and in the correct and logical sequence.  This makes the reading process much easier, as the work of processing the text is predictable.  Quite a large amount of the act of reading is “predicting”, so if the text’s structure is orderly and predictable, and the style easy and interesting to follow, then the end goal of communication will be achieved.  Therefore, if you can effectively follow the 7 x 7 style of writing expository articles, you will train yourself to write in a way that is usually understood by most readers, since it is well-structured.  This structure applies not only to the “overall structure” of the article, but also to the “internal structure” of each paragraph. 
 
     The 7 x 7 structure also allows you to have well-balanced paragraphs, which are also the same approximate length.  It standardizes your writing, the way a mill-stone “standardizes” all the grains of wheat into one common flour.  Once you have a habitually balanced structure, your inner style will have a certain freedom within which to develop.