EXAMPLES OF EXPOSITORY ARTICLES.

 
     Here are some examples of expository articles, using the “seven paragraphs, of seven sentences each” method (i.e., the 7 x 7 method).  They were collaboratively written in 2006, along with the writing classes of 0501, 0503, 0505, 0507, and 0509, of the English Department of Urumqi Vocational University (Wu Lu Mu Qi, Zhi Ye Da Xue, Ying Yu Xi), Urumqi, Xin Jiang, P. R. China.  Many thanks to all the students involved, as well as those students who carefully copied out copies for me! 
 
     After these four examples is a “blank template” for you to copy.  You can use this template to make your own (7 x 7) expository article plans.  I hope you enjoy making your own expository article plans... and then turning them into complete articles, with developed sentences! 
 
 
Article # 1 
Type of article:     Expository. 
Written by:     Huang Juan, Class 0501
Topic:     How to celebrate Spring Festival. 
Title:     “Celebrating Spring Festival.” 
Brainstorming:     Food – people – culture – customs – games – money – preparations – fireworks – travel – feelings – parties – reunions. 
 
Rough Article Outline:     (List major paragraph topics, then assign order number.)    
     (Introduction)     ...................................
     (Body)    
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     (Conclusion)     .....................................
 
General article outline:    
     [IP]     When – why – very important to Chinese. 
     [B1]     Culture, customs. 
     [B2]     Preparations. 
     [B3]     Food. 
     [B4]     People, games, parties, fireworks. 
     [B5]     Travel, reunions. 
     [CP]     Feelings – my own. 
 
Specific paragraph outlines:    
     Introductory Paragraph.     [IP]    
     [IP-TS]     Another S. F. coming. 
     [IP-S1]     General background. 
     [IP-S2]     What people do. 
     [IP-S3]     Influences all of society. 
     [IP-S4]     Center of the Chinese year. 
     [IP-S5]     A family time. 
     [IP-CS]     Thesis statement. 
 
     Body Paragraph One.     [B1]    
     [B1-TS]     Culture and customs. 
     [B1-S1]     Visit home, family, friends. 
     [B1-S2]     Eat! 
     [B1-S3]     “Red envelope.” 
     [B1-S4]     New clothes. 
     [B1-S5]     Stay up late. 
     [B1-CS]     All over China. 
 
     Body Paragraph Two.     [B2]    
     [B2-TS]     Many preparations. 
     [B2-S1]     Clean house. 
     [B2-S2]     Making “jiao zi”. 
     [B2-S3]     Buy ingredients for dishes. 
     [B2-S4]     Buy gifts. 
     [B2-S5]     Cut hair. 
     [B2-CS]     Keep us busy. 
 
     Body Paragraph Three.     [B3]    
     [B3-TS]     Food – important part. 
     [B3-S1]     Brings family together. 
     [B3-S2]     Helps build “guan xi”. 
     [B3-S3]     Symbolic – hopes, wealth, luck. 
     [B3-S4]     A social act. 
     [B3-S5]     Passes time. 
     [B3-CS]     No food, no holiday! 
 
     Body Paragraph Four.     [B4]    
     [B4-TS]     S. F. involves many people. 
     [B4-S1]     Family. 
     [B4-S2]      Friends. 
     [B4-S3]     Fireworks. 
     [B4-S4]     Parties. 
     [B4-S5]     Games. 
     [B4-CS]     People make atmosphere of S. F. 
 
     Body Paragraph Five.     [B5]    
     [B5-TS]     Travel, reunions. 
     [B5-S1]     Return to hometown. 
     [B5-S2]     Think reunions are important. 
     [B5-S3]     Tickets hard to buy. 
     [B5-S4]     Suffering. 
     [B5-S5]     Transport is crowded. 
     [B5-CS]     Although suffer, will do again. 
 
     Concluding Paragraph.     [CP]    
     [CP-TS]     S. F. makes me think. 
     [CP-S1]     Memories. 
     [CP-S2]     Feelings. 
     [CP-S3]     My attitude. 
     [CP-S4]     Fears. 
     [CP-S5]     Plans. 
     [CP-CS]     Important for me, and whole country. 
 
*********************************
 
 
Article # 2.
 
Type of article:     Expository. 
Written by:     Yang Qing Ling, Class 0505. 
Topic:     Having a successful dinner party. 
Title:     “How to have a successful dinner party.” 
Brainstorming:     Choose right guests – send out invitations – go shopping – plan seating – cook delicious dishes – good conversation – clean house – decorate room – send guests home – thank them. 
 
Rough Article Outline:     (List major paragraph topics, then assign order number.)    
     (Introduction)     ...................................
     (Body)    
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     (Conclusion)     .....................................
 
General article outline:    
     [IP]     Why dinner parties are important. 
     [B1]     Social preparations. 
     [B2]     Prepare house. 
     [B3]     About food. 
     [B4]     During the party. 
     [B5]     After the party. 
     [CP]     Summary of methods discussed. 
 
Specific paragraph outlines:    
     Introductory Paragraph.     [IP]    
     [IP-TS]     Why important – a successful dinner party? 
     [IP-S1]     Enjoyable. 
     [IP-S2]     Introduce people to new people. 
     [IP-S3]     Socialize. 
     [IP-S4]     Share things with friends. 
     [IP-S5]     Expected of you. 
     [IP-CS]     Thesis statement. 
 
     Body Paragraph One.     [B1]    
     [B1-TS]     Social preparations – very important! 
     [B1-S1]     Choose partner. 
     [B1-S2]     Choose guests. 
     [B1-S3]     Send out invitations. 
     [B1-S4]     “Follow-up” calls. 
     [B1-S5]     Write “guest cards”. 
     [B1-CS]     If do well – successful! 
 
     Body Paragraph Two.     [B2]    
     [B2-TS]     Prepare house – setting for party.  
     [B2-S1]     Sweep house. 
     [B2-S2]     Arrange furniture. 
     [B2-S3]     Clean plates / glasses. 
     [B2-S4]     Arrange seating. 
     [B2-S5]     Arrange flowers. 
     [B2-CS]     Do carefully – beautiful! 
 
     Body Paragraph Three.     [B3]    
     [B3-TS]     Preparing food – takes time. 
     [B3-S1]     Choose dishes. 
     [B3-S2]     Shopping. 
     [B3-S3]     Prepare ingredients. 
     [B3-S4]     Prepare drinks. 
     [B3-S5]     Cook dishes. 
     [B3-CS]     Do imaginatively – delicious! 
 
     Body Paragraph Four.     [B4]    
     [B4-TS]     During party – host busy. 
     [B4-S1]     Conversation. 
     [B4-S2]      Enough food. 
     [B4-S3]     Toasts. 
     [B4-S4]     Must solve social problems. 
     [B4-S5]     Various rules. 
     [B4-CS]     Do creatively – meaningful! 
 
     Body Paragraph Five.     [B5]    
     [B5-TS]     After party – still duties. 
     [B5-S1]     Send guests off. 
     [B5-S2]     Rest five minutes. 
     [B5-S3]     Wash dishes. 
     [B5-S4]     Clean house. 
     [B5-S5]     Call guests – are they OK? 
     [B5-CS]     Do these – complete! 
 
     Concluding Paragraph.     [CP]    
     [CP-TS]     From above – see – successful dinner party – hard. 
     [CP-S1]     Social preparations. 
     [CP-S2]     Prepare house. 
     [CP-S3]     Prepare food. 
     [CP-S4]     During party. 
     [CP-S5]     After party. 
     [CP-CS]     If do these – a successful host! 
 
*********************************
 
 
Article # 3.
 
Type of article:     Expository. 
Written by:     Yuan Jiang Chun, Class 0503. 
Topic:     Why SVW is still single. 
Title:     “Why SVW is still single.” 
Brainstorming:     Lifestyle choice – always busy – too “strange” – too high requirements – a foreigner. 
 
Rough Article Outline:     (List major paragraph topics, then assign order number.)    
     (Introduction)     ...................................
     (Body)    
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     (Conclusion)     .....................................
 
General article outline:    
     [IP]     Thinking of SVW – why still single? 
     [B1]     Too high requirements. 
     [B2]     Always busy. 
     [B3]     Lifestyle choice. 
     [B4]     Too “strange”. 
     [B5]     A foreigner. 
     [CP]     We hope – SVW happy. 
 
 
Specific paragraph outlines:    
     Introductory Paragraph.     [IP]    
     [IP-TS]     Our teacher – 44 – single – do not know why. 
     [IP-S1]     Teaches writing. 
     [IP-S2]     American. 
     [IP-S3]     We have questions. 
     [IP-S4]     In China a long time. 
     [IP-S5]     This is strange. 
     [IP-CS]     Thesis statement. 
 
     Body Paragraph One.     [B1]    
     [B1-TS]     Too high requirements. 
     [B1-S1]     Independent. 
     [B1-S2]     Travel. 
     [B1-S3]     Han, age 28 - 38. 
     [B1-S4]     Not an American. 
     [B1-S5]     Simple life. 
     [B1-CS]     Too difficult! 
 
     Body Paragraph Two.     [B2]    
     [B2-TS]     SVW always busy. 
     [B2-S1]     With students. 
     [B2-S2]     Correct homework. 
     [B2-S3]     Read books. 
     [B2-S4]     In library. 
     [B2-S5]     Meetings. 
     [B2-CS]     Girls have no chance! 
 
     Body Paragraph Three.     [B3]    
     [B3-TS]     Lifestyle choice. 
     [B3-S1]     Simple life. 
     [B3-S2]     “Do it alone.” 
     [B3-S3]     No responsibility. 
     [B3-S4]     Live in P. R. China / other countries. 
     [B3-S5]     Does not listen to others. 
     [B3-CS]     No one – follows him. 
 
     Body Paragraph Four.     [B4]    
     [B4-TS]     Too “strange”. 
     [B4-S1]     Strange ideas. 
     [B4-S2]      Not cook. 
     [B4-S3]     Same clothes. 
     [B4-S4]     Loves “bian zi”. 
     [B4-S5]     Not wash. 
     [B4-CS]     No one – near him. 
 
     Body Paragraph Five.     [B5]    
     [B5-TS]     He is a foreigner. 
     [B5-S1]     Culture. 
     [B5-S2]     Habits / customs. 
     [B5-S3]     Ideas. 
     [B5-S4]     Girl’s father would never agree. 
     [B5-S5]     One of “them” (he is a “lao wai”). 
     [B5-CS]     No one – they stand by. 
 
     Concluding Paragraph.     [CP]    
     [CP-TS]     These reasons – why SVW still single. 
     [CP-S1]     Do not understand why. 
     [CP-S2]     How long – continue? 
     [CP-S3]     What happen – when old? 
     [CP-S4]     Hope SVW happy. 
     [CP-S5]     Dark secret...? 
     [CP-CS]     “Maybe he will... maybe he won’t.” 
 
*********************************
 
 
Article # 4.
 
Type of article:     Expository. 
Written by:     Xie Gui Min, Class 0507. 
Topic:     What will happen in Zhi Da when SVW goes back to America. 
Title:     “What will happen in Zhi Da when SVW goes back to America.” 
Brainstorming:     0507 – the leaders – other 05 students – the “fu wu yuan” on Xing Fu Road – other foreign teachers. 
 
Rough Article Outline:     (List major paragraph topics, then assign order number.)    
     (Introduction)     ...................................
     (Body)    
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     [     ]     ..................................................
     (Conclusion)     .....................................
 
General article outline:    
     [IP]     Many effects – when SVW leaves. 
     [B1]     In Class 0507. 
     [B2]     In the other 05 classes. 
     [B3]     Other foreign teachers. 
     [B4]     The leaders. 
     [B5]     The “fu wu yuan” on Xing Fu Road. 
     [CP]     The future, for everyone. 
 
Specific paragraph outlines:    
     Introductory Paragraph.     [IP]    
     [IP-TS]     SVW leave – many effects. 
     [IP-S1]     In Class 0507. 
     [IP-S2]     In the other 05 classes. 
     [IP-S3]     Among other foreign teachers. 
     [IP-S4]     Among the leaders. 
     [IP-S5]     Among the “fu wu yuan” on Xing Fu Road. 
     [IP-CS]     Thesis statement. 
 
     Body Paragraph One.     [B1]    
     [B1-TS]     0507 – changes to them. 
     [B1-S1]     Sad – miss him. 
     [B1-S2]     Write letters. 
     [B1-S3]     Remember (or forget) knowledge. 
     [B1-S4]     Less homework. 
     [B1-S5]     Have new teacher. 
     [B1-CS]     0507 – English level – improves. 
 
     Body Paragraph Two.     [B2]    
     [B2-TS]     Changes to education of the other 05 classes. 
     [B2-S1]     Make own “free talks”. 
     [B2-S2]     Find new speaking partners. 
     [B2-S3]     Get used to new teacher’s teaching methods. 
     [B2-S4]     Forget English. 
     [B2-S5]     Heart-broken (some). 
     [B2-CS]     Will learn to adapt. 
 
     Body Paragraph Three.     [B3]    
     [B3-TS]     Other foreign teachers – affected. 
     [B3-S1]     Lose a friend. 
     [B3-S2]     No more “teacher talk”. 
     [B3-S3]     No more talking partners. 
     [B3-S4]     Must teach more classes. 
     [B3-S5]     Must get used to new teachers.
     [B3-CS]     Hard, but not impossible. 
 
     Body Paragraph Four.     [B4]    
     [B4-TS]     About the Zhi Da teachers. 
     [B4-S1]     Lose a teacher. 
     [B4-S2]      Must look for new teacher. 
     [B4-S3]     Will advertize. 
     [B4-S4]     Angry. 
     [B4-S5]     Make SVW pay fine. 
     [B4-CS]     Teachers are replaceable. 
 
     Body Paragraph Five.     [B5]    
     [B5-TS]     About the “fu wu yuan” on Xing Fu Road. 
     [B5-S1]     Sad – lose friend. 
     [B5-S2]     No more Chinese practice. 
     [B5-S3]     SVW will no longer teach children. 
     [B5-S4]     Eat no more local food. 
     [B5-S5]     No more copying at copy shop. 
     [B5-CS]     Not another person like SVW. 
 
     Concluding Paragraph.     [CP]    
     [CP-TS]     The future, for everyone. 
     [CP-S1]     0507 – graduate, work, marry, children. 
     [CP-S2]     05 classes – go on with life. 
     [CP-S3]     Other foreign teachers – new jobs. 
     [CP-S4]     Leaders – lead new school, or lose jobs. 
     [CP-S5]     “Fu wu yuan” – work – Xing Fu road widened – must relocate. 
     [CP-CS]     SVW – go home – father – home in USA – travel – marry (???) – write. 
 
*********************************
 
 
Blank Expository Article Template.
 
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]    
 
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