How to Elaborate
Do your students struggle with what it means to elaborate? In this post, we will look at types of elaboration, how to elaborate on evidence, how to elaborate in an essay, elaborations strategies, and elaboration stems. Elaboration does not have to be a stumbling block for your students. There are simple ways to spark them into elaborating. Being able to elaborate in their writing can be the difference in a good and outstanding test score.
How to elaborate on evidence
Give me more I say! Students understand the concept of pulling information from the text, but then they freeze up when they have to write more about it. Elaborating is providing more details about the subject. The problem is, some thinkers see things as black and white. Their thoughts: What more is there to say? This is where teaching elaboration techniques can open a new world for these thinkers. They don’t see a reason to say more or to explain so let’s give them a reason. Below I will give some of my strategies that can be taught one at a time and practiced.
Types of Elaboration
Whether responding to a prompt or text-based writing, these techniques for elaboration can take the guesswork out of what to write. Here are some of my favorites.
How to elaborate in an essay
Evidence:
The text shares that Shah Jahan loved his wife so much that when she died, he wanted to bury her in a grand place. He built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum to show how much he loved her.
Elaboration:
Talk about a grand gesture. The Taj Mahal is a huge tourist attraction to this day. It is well-known for its beauty. If his wife only knew the lengths Jahan went to give her the best burial possible. People are still talking about it 400 years later. That is a memorable burial for certain.
Evidence:
The source boasts that New York City puts on the World’s Biggest Marathon. Often times there are over 50,000 runners participating from all over the world. This doesn’t account for the two million spectators that enjoy cheering.
Elaboration:
Are they serious? Trying to imagine a sea of thousands of people racing seems overwhelming. Not to mention for 26 miles. This is true dedication on the part of these runners. They are willing to pound the pavement surrounded by so many strangers. A marathon on its own is challenging, but to do it with that many people seems like a true commitment.
