| If you are going homeschool your children through | | | | practice. Just as Trevor learned to drive by |
| high school, you have to know a little bit about | | | | actually driving, writers learn to write by going |
| the nonfiction expository writing students must do | | | | through the entire process of writing repeatedly. |
| and the terms used to discuss it. | | | | Writers also learn the vocabulary of writing readily |
| Writing is a complex skill made up of a series of | | | | when they are physically engaged in writing. |
| simpler skills performed performed in rapid | | | | Writers prove their skill by performing on demand |
| succession or simultaneously. Skills apply | | | | to a specified standard, just as Trevor proved he |
| knowledge in a hands-on, demonstrable way. An | | | | had driving skill by driving his family's SUV at a |
| example of a how someone learns a familiar | | | | time and place the motor vehicles department |
| complex skill will help you understand the best | | | | specified. |
| way of learning writing skill. | | | | Instead of producing an objective goal, like |
| Trevor wanted to drive a car. Before he could | | | | Trevor's driver's license, writing skill produces |
| take driving lessons, he had to learn a few rules | | | | physical documents consisting of expository prose. |
| of the road, pass a written test, and get his | | | | Expository prose explains ideas that are part of |
| learner's permit. Trevor took drivers' ed in school, | | | | ordinary experience, not things that are invented |
| but he didn't just practice in class. He drove any | | | | or imagined, and it exposes the logical relationships |
| time he could get his parents or older brother to | | | | between those ideas from everyday life. |
| let him drive their cars. | | | | All expository writing sets out to make a point, |
| Trevor passed his road test easily. Now he can | | | | even if the exposition takes the form of an |
| drive himself where he wants to go and do | | | | entertaining story. The overall goal of expository |
| errands for his mom. Trevor still needs more | | | | writing is usually to inform or persuade readers. |
| experience in different road conditions, but he can | | | | The point that the writing seeks to convey can |
| learn the rest of what he needs to know about | | | | be boiled down to a single sentence, called its |
| driving from his everyday experiences. | | | | thesis statement. |
| To learn the complex skill we call writing, the | | | | With just these few concepts to guide you, you |
| learner needs just enough head knowledge to | | | | can guide your children toward essential, |
| understand the instructions before starting | | | | everyday writing competence. |