Pp2_Exp-DSE

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Exposition Writing in DSE papers

DSE questions requiring exposition writing, some examples:Sample Paper

2012 Practice Paper

2012 DSE 2013 DSE 2014 DSE

Q No. Mark Q No. Mark Q No. Mark Q No. Mark Q No. Mark Q5b Q8c Q9c Q10c Q12b

2 2 1 2 2

Q3d Q5b Q7a Q7c Q5a(iii)

2 3 2 2 2

Q1c Q3a(ii) Q6c Q7b(ii) Q9b(i) Q9b(ii)

2 2 2 2 2 2

Q3b(iii) Q8a(ii) Q10c(ii)

2 2 3

Q1c(ii) Q4c* Q6a

Q8c(ii) Q8d(i) Q8d(ii) Q8d(iii)

2 1 2 2 3 2 2

9 11 12 7 14 * Only part of it requires writing

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Exposition : Example(Source: 2012 DSE 1B Q1c)

Cappuccino is an Italian style coffee topped with a layer of frothy milk (Figure 1.1).

Frothy milk is made by bubbling steam through milk, which is held in a metallic jug (Figure 1.2). Steam is ejected from the steam wand of a cappuccino machine (Figure 1.3).

Figure 1.1

Figure 1.3

Figure 1.2

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Exposition : Example• (a) Calculate the total amount of heat released when 20 g of

steam at 110°C cools to 100°C and condenses to water at 100°C.

• (b) 20 g of steam at 110°C is bubbled through 200 g of milk at 15°C to make frothy milk. Using the result in (a), estimate the temperature of the frothy milk.

• (c) Would the actual temperature of frothy milk be higher than, equal to or lower than the value found in (b)? Explain.

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Answer as Exposition Writing

The actual temperature of the milk would be lower than the value found in (b).

It is because some energy will be lost to the surroundings, e.g., the air and the jug.

Thus, the actual temperature will be lower than that found in (b).

Statement of Position

Reinforcement of Position

Argument /Explanation

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Exposition: Question expressions

Common expressions Examples

Explain whether ……. Explain whether increasing the mass of water used in the experiment would improve the accuracy of the experiment. [DSE Sample Paper 1B Q 9c]

State …… and give a reason.,

State the kind of interference that occurs at Q and give a reason for this occurrence. [DSE 2013 Paper 1B Q 6c]

Comment on …… A claim is made that as power is lost due to friction, a drum with frictionless surface can further reduce the power required from the motor. Comment on this claim. [DSE 2013 Paper 1B Q 3b (iii)]

Some more expressions:Do you agree … give reason to support …Which is better … explain your answer.

In what way a question requiring you to make a judgment and then the related explanation might appear?

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Exposition writing Structure & Language Feature

Schematic Structure Language Feature

1. Statement of

Position/Judgment

Words to state one’s view:

… is / would be / should be /

[I] agree / disagree…,

2. Argument /Explanation Because ……Due to ……., i.e. ….

*3. Reinforcement of Position Thus …..Therefore ……Hence …….

* may be omitted for shorter writing, this is usually the case in previous DSE Physics papers

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Structure of Exposition Genre

• Judgment vs Explanation: Which comes first?

• In writing: Judgment before Explanation

• In thinking: Explanation leads to Judgment

• Why writing Judgment before Explanation? (imagine a long essay)