I recently attended a workshop in which we learned how to write great expositions. Though the content was not new to me, the activity was great. My class spent three weeks on narrative writing at the beginning of the year. We are going to circle back around to it after state testing in the 4th quarter. If your students do not know about the Elements of Literature, you will want to teach it to them first.
What is the Exposition?
The exposition is traditionally taught and universally understood as the background of a story. Exposition is the context of a story. It is what the reader needs to know in order to jump in and follow along. However, it does not just appear at the beginning of the story. It is sprinkled in all through out. It is in the exposition that the reader will usually find the most enjoyment. The key to writing a good exposition is to tell the reader just enough, but not to much. Do they really need to know what the character ate for breakfast? The writer gives enough details in which the reader gets to connect the dots in their head -- which is the most fun in reading according to some experts.
In the beginning of story is could be about what a character's normal life is like or connections between characters and their relationships with each other. In the later portion of the story it could be a decision a character makes that needs to be explained, the setting changes and it is in a new time or place, flashbacks and through the revelation at the end.
When Expositions Go Bad
There are two ways expositions can go bad. First, there is just too much of it which bores the reader. It will read as vey matter-of-fact. It overly explains everything and it leaves your reader with nothing to piece together on their own. The 5 Ws have all been answered before they are asked. Second, there is too little which leads to confusion. The reader has so many of the 5 Ws to answer and not provided with the needed information to figure it out. The writer may be to close to the projects and does not know what the reader needs to figure it out.
When Exposition Goes Good
There is just enough tantalizing information. The writer has given the reader just enough information to understand the circumstances and follow along. Some of the questions are not answered right away and the reader is curious and not distracted by not knowing it all.
The 20 Minute Exposition
Before I tell you what the prompt was I wrote my exposition for, I want to share with you what I wrote in 20 minutes for this activity. Each participant was given a conflict and had to create an exposition for it. If the writer did a good job establishing those two things, the reader should be able to figure it out. Therefore I am not going to tell you what I was suppose to write about until the end of this post. Tell me if you were able to figure it out.
The Stray
The Furever Mom races into the warm house holding a nearly frozen green eyed puuuuuuuurfect little vixen. "Sandy, you don't mind do you?"
Sandy wags his fluffy gold tail and woofs softly as to not terrify the house guest. Last thing he wants is those claws coming out.
Kitty opens her big emerald eyes and bats them at Sandy. She stretches and strolls over to her new friend -- the target of her affection.
Sandy is aroused in a bizarre way that shocks him. Kitty rubs her body on Sandy purring softly and whips him with her tail. She bursts into a flirty run thinking "maybe if he chases me I can say it was self defense."
Sandy is a gentle giant and just sits there stoically. Kitty stops, sits and looks deep in the big bronze eyes of her target. Slowly Sandy's tail starts to sway. He hesitantly walks to Kitty, gently picks her up by the neck and sets her down on his pillow. He engulfs her with his fluffy coat. Kitty is alarmed by the warm heat that is developing in the pit of her stomach. She reminds herself of the task at hand.
Sandy lingers his gaze at Kitty and wonders "could this be? A cat and a dog?" He thinks it could. After all his days are spent chasing birds in the backyards and naps. "See!" He tells himself, "things in common!"
Kitty wonders where Sandy is hiding the puppies. Regardless she has a job to do. She sharpens her claws....
Down the street a shout goes out "SANDY! Where did you find this puppy?!?!?! Damn it dog! I still have not found a home for the last one!"
Kitty hears it to late. Her job is done.
The Exposition Prompt
A sweet cat named "Kitty" showed up outside Sandy the dog's home. Sandy and Kitty get along well. However, Kitty is an assassin and Sandy is her target. Or so she thinks. There is another Sandy on the other side of the street that has been kidnapping puppies. Sandy thinks he has found a lifetime friend. Kitty has to complete the mission as soon as possible.
Did you figure it out?
