Mastering Expository Essays

Mastering Expository Essays: Brainstorming with the MMEPS Framework for ‘O’ Level Success

Hey, everyone! I’m Ms Atifa, a teacher and Secondary curriculum specialist at Lil’ but Mighty, here to guide you in mastering expository essays for your ‘O’ Level exams.

The expository essay is one of the possible questions you might encounter in Paper 1 of your ‘O’ Level exams. As you probably know, it is essential to organise the body paragraphs of an expository essay using the PEEL (Point, Explanation, Example, Link) structure. You may have already seen my previous blogpost on the importance of explaining your Examples in your expository essays instead of simply listing them out, in order to show that your examples effectively prove the chosen point for each PEEL paragraph. But what if you can’t even think of main points for your essay in the first place? Have any of you experienced difficulty while planning for an expository essay, and end up wasting a lot of time feeling utterly stuck on what points to use?

Well, if you’ve answered yes to the above question, fret no longer! To help you overcome this very common struggle, let me introduce you to a brainstorming framework called MMEPS to generate the main Points in your PEEL paragraphs. To remember this acronym, you can think of the word “maps” and how this framework will definitely pave the way towards a well-written expository essay!

So, how does MMEPS work? Essentially, if you realise that your expository essay question requires you to assess how a particular topic affects people, you can use MMEPS to consider how the topic affects the different aspects of a person’s well-being. Specifically, how does the given topic affect each of the aspects that MMEPS represents, namely Moral, Mental, Emotional, Physical, and Social?

Take a look at the table below for each of the specific aspects of MMEPS!

Aspect

This aspect relates to a person’s…

Moral

Beliefs, values, virtues, and sense of purpose in life.

Mental

Mind, brain functions, intellect, and intelligence.

Emotional

Feelings, how we process them, and how we are affected by them.

Physical

Bodily functions, health, and fitness.

Social

Relationships, communication skills, and social networks.

icon watermark

Now, let’s take a look at how we can generate Points using MMEPS in response to an example essay question! Read through the analysed question below.

Mastering Expository Essays: Brainstorming with the MMEPS Framework for ‘O’ Level Success

icon watermark

 

 

Then, take a look at how the following student has utilised MMEPS to generate some points in response to this question!

Aspect/Qn

“Reading fiction is a waste of time.” What are your views?

Mental

(NO!) Reading fiction is not a waste of time as it allows one to improve their creative writing abilities.

Emotional

(NO!) Reading fiction is not a waste of time as it allows one to destress if they are going through a difficult time.

Physical

(YES!) Reading fiction is a waste of time because it eats into the extensive time needed to keep up one’s physical health.

Social

(YES!) Reading fiction is a waste of time especially if it results in the individual distancing themselves from social interaction.

icon watermark

As you can see in the above table which does not bring up a point for the MORAL aspect, take note that it’s not necessary for your essay to address all the aspects in MMEPS! It’s simply a framework to help you brainstorm the different Points you can explore in your essay, before you narrow down what you want to include.

Now, try to apply the MMEPS framework to another example question below. A guiding table has been included for you to print out to use and fill up as you try to brainstorm main points about how the question’s topic affects the different aspects of an individual.

Mastering Expository Essays: Brainstorming with the MMEPS Framework for ‘O’ Level Success

Using the MMEPS framework below, think about how you can brainstorm Points related to the question. Don’t limit yourself and let your ideas flow! The purpose of planning this way is to think of as many relevant Points as possible. Then, you can narrow it down to the four Points (2 Supporting, 2 Opposing) that you want to use for this discursive essay. For this question, the Point can either be related to Help(ing students’ learning) or Hinder(ing students’ learning).

Do electronic devices, such as tablets or smartphones, help or hinder students in their learning?

Aspect

Main Point
(Make sure you phrase the point in response to the question!)

Help or Hinder?

Moral

(How do electronic devices affect students’ beliefs, values, virtues and sense of purpose?)

e.g. Relying too much on electronic devices for learning could weaken students’ determination to retain information.

Hinder

Mental

(How could an electronic device affect students’ minds, intellect, and/or intelligence?)

e.g. Students can use digital tools on electronic devices to manage their academic tasks efficiently.

Help

Emotional

(How does owning an electronic device affect students’ emotions, how they process them, and/ or how they are affected by them?)

 

 

Physical

(How can an electronic device affect a student’s body and/or physical health?)

 

 

Social

(How do electronic devices affect students’ communication skills and/ or social relationships?)

 

 

icon watermark

 

 

Did you manage to use the MMEPS framework to come up with four main points? Share some of your main points below in the comments! We also have a model plan to share with those of you who are interested in reading through our suggested model points, so do drop us a message below to request for it. Alternatively, you can sign up for the O Level Toolkit below to gain access to the answer key.

O Level English Essential Toolkit

We respect your privacy.

That’s all the tips I have to share today. In a nutshell, if you ever feel lost about how to generate Points for an expository essay, turn to MMEPS to brainstorm how an essay topic affects the different aspects of a person’s well-being! Hope you are one step closer to mastering expository essays!

Thank you for reading, take care, and bye for now 🙂

profile atifa
Ms Atifa

In her time teaching, she has incorporated elements of drama into her classes to engage her lower primary students. She tries her best to get to know all of her students and is always keen to find out each of their interests and hobbies. She believes that each student has personalised needs, and aims to make lessons fun and helpful for all of her students.

Have something to share? Drop us a comment below!

Leave a Reply

Share

Other related posts

Creative Writing | 3 Easy Steps to Write Your Own Haiku!
Verbs: More than Just Action Words! | Part 3: Changes in Verb Forms
Ketchup on English! – is, are, was and were!
Audience In Visual Text | Visual Text Comprehension
Exploring Points of View (POV) in Composition Writing
Metaphors For? | Part II – Implied Metaphors
10 Beautiful Vivid Verbs to Boost Your Writing and Oral! | Primary School English
Metaphors For? | Part I – An Introduction to Metaphors
3 Family-Friendly Shows on Netflix (Educational & Entertaining)!
Verbs: More than Just Action Words! | Part 2: Tenses
2021 Father’s Day Contest Winners
Verbs: More than Just Action Words! | Part 1: Subject-Verb Agreement
10 Beautiful Words You Can Use in Narrative / Descriptive Writing | Secondary School
Ways To Create A Well-Rounded Character | Creative Writing
Understanding Purpose-Related Questions in Visual Text Comprehension
How Playing Video Games Can Improve Our English (With Practical Tips for Parents!)
Primary School Composition | Onomatopoeia – What’s That?
2021 Mother’s Day Contest Winners + Our Founder’s Journey (Mother’s Day Special)!
Composition Revision: Using Your 5 Senses in Your Writing
How to Create A Dynamic Piece of Writing Using Idioms
Ketchup on English! – Subject-Verb Agreement
Punctuation Marks: Colon Vs. Semicolon
4 steps to Create Suspense
That Simile Though 2 | Using Stronger Similes
Primary School P1 English Syllabus: Laying the Foundation for Lifelong Learning
PSLE ORAL | Compiled Prelim 2021 Oral Topics + Questions!
If you’re looking at getting recent PSLE Prelim Oral topics and practice questions, this will be an excellent resource for you!
5 Steps to Convert a Newspaper Article into a Cloze Passage
I would like to share with you 5 steps on how authentic articles can be transformed into cloze passages easily. Read on here!
PSLE English | Oral Conversation: Free SG50 Sample Practice + Model Answers
In this blogpost we will be touching on the oral stimulus-based conversation topic of National Day and SG50! Read on here!
PSLE English | Oral Conversation: Filling your Story with Details Easily + Free Revision Cards
By simply using the 5W1H, your children will be able to lengthen their stories (hence, the conversation!). Read on here!
PSLE English | Situational Writing: Q&A + Formal vs Informal Writing Comparison Chart
To aid you in your situational writing revision, here is a comparison chart that shows the differences between formal and informal writing!
PSLE English Tips | Oral: Stimulus-Based Conversation Checklist
To help my children handle the Stimulus-Based Conversation examination, here are some instructions again about using the checklist!
A Little Encouragement | DIY Motivational Bookmark (Easy to personalise too!)
A bookmark with a quote to motivate is also a chance for them to see the power of words and how words can mean more than what they seem.
Situational Writing: Step-by-Step Guide + Free Revision Card
I believe a walkthrough on the process of doing situational writing is in order. Here are the requirements for content and language!
I Love Reading | 5 Ways to Motivate Reluctant Readers
One of the most important ingredients necessary for a child or anyone learning English is the habit of reading. Get motivated to read now!
PSLE English | Printable Ultimate Grammar & Synthesis Summary
Today, we are sharing two lists of essentials in our Ultimate Grammar and Synthesis Summary Printable. Download them free here!
How Well Do You Know Your Past Participles?
While we are familiar with the past, present and future tenses, the little less known but equally important tense is the past participles.
Primary Composition Writing | Starting Sentences with Introductory Clauses
Today, we'll be revising the use of sentence starters to help you create variety in your sentence structures. Read on here!
The Sentence Train | Lower Primary English
Today, we are going to learn what makes up a sentence. It will come in handy when you do the word order activity in school! Read on here!
PSLE English Tips | Oral: Reading Checklist
This Oral Reading Checklist can be used by children when they practise reading on their own. Download it now!
Language of COVID | 10 Words Added to the Dictionary
Using Personification to Show, Not Tell!
Expressing Character Feelings Too! | Using Show-Not-Tell (Part 2)
How to Choose a Book to Read: 8 Ways
How to Dress Up A Boring Paragraph | Creative Writing
Ketchup on English! – Halloween Special: Prepositions of Time!
Ketchup on English! – Verbs Are Not Just Action Words!
Expressing Character Feelings | Using Show-Not-Tell
Which Picture Should I Use? | Choosing the Best Picture to Use for Composition!
Oral: Reading Passage | Long Vowels – Have You Been Reading Your Vowels Correctly?
Previous
Next

Like what you are reading?

Subscribe now to receive news and tips hot off the press!

shape icon 06
shape icon 05