Section 1 – High level Writing Content Categories
Expository Writing - Writing To Inform
Expository writing is a type of writing whose purpose is to inform, explain, describe, or define the author’s subject to the reader. It presents information clearly and concisely, focusing on delivering facts, providing explanations, and offering analysis.
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Subcategory
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Description
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Example Prompts
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How-to prompts
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Prompts designed to explain a process or teach a skill
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Write a step-by-step guide to making your favorite dish.
Explain how to change a tire on a car. |
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Definition prompts
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Prompts designed to explore the meaning and characteristics of a term or concept
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Define the term “happiness” and explain what it means to you.
Explain the difference between empathy and sympathy. |
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Cause-and-effect prompts
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Prompts designed to explore the relationship between events or actions and their consequences
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Explain the causes and effects of climate change.
Explain the causes and effects of the American Civil War. |
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Compare-and-contrast prompts
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Prompts designed to explore similarities and differences between two or more things
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Compare and contrast the American and French Revolutions.
Compare and contrast two different types of music. |
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Problem-solution prompts
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Prompts designed to explore a problem and propose a solution
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Identify a problem in your community and propose a solution.
Explain how to solve a common problem people face at work. |
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Descriptive prompts
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Prompts designed to help writers describe people, places, or things in detail
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Describe your favorite place in nature.
Describe a character’s appearance in a novel. |
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Historical analysis prompts
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Prompts designed to analyze and interpret historical events
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Analyze the causes and effects of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.
Analyze the impact of World War II on the global economy. |
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Scientific analysis prompts
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Prompts designed to analyze and interpret scientific concepts
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Explain the principles of evolution and natural selection.
Analyze the structure and function of the human brain. |