The word "expansion" or "amplification" (the more commonly used word of the two) simply means to "expand" or make grow your ideas.
One common way to do this is by dividing a "subject" into its "adjuncts" (a classical word no longer commonly used, but I'm using it anyway).
"Division," as you may know by now, is one topic or common place where we can expand an idea. Below are two general ideas: Christimas and School.
By dividing up the "subject" Christmas or School into its parts (adjuncts) I have greatly expanded it. At the same time, I have made given a general idea specific color or interest; I have replaced an abstract noun ("cheer") in the first subject with many concrete nouns. In the second subject, I replaced the general noun, "term" (year, semester) with more specific ideas related to that word.
By the way, I'm not saying the paragraphs below are the best that can be written. They are merely quick exercises to show how quickly a subject can be expanded or amplified into many specific/concrete ideas, which is the beginning of the writing process:
Holiday cheer! Christmas had finally arrived!
Christmas trees with tinsel, balls, and twinkling lights; gifts wrapped in red and green; my four-year-old daughter sucking on a peppermint candy cane; our mailbox stuffed with large and small cards embellished with color stickers of Santa Claus; and Santa Claus himself, tinkling his bell in all the stores along our avenue: Christmas had finally arrived!
School term! The first day of school had finally arrived!
Notebooks, unused and with price tags still affixed; new shoes pinching my toes and heel; sitting on a bus, wondering who all those young children are; then wandering around a brand new building, looking for classrooms with strange-looking numbers; the noise of chatter in my ears and the bustle of feet at once frightening and encouraging: The first day of school had finally arrived!
Now each student should try to expand on the following two sentences:
It was snowing. Winter was here at last!
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