Writing an Analytical or Expository Essay Adapted from Write for the Future By Lindsey Mercer

Step 1: Analyze the Prompt Read the prompt. Do you understand the prompt? Highlight keywords from the prompt. Restate the prompt in your own words. One Compare/Contrast Define Criticize Explain Evaluate Justify List Prove Summarize

Step 2: Brainstorm how you think/feel. Prompt Here. Everything you know about the prompt What do you truly think the prompt is about? Is there data to prove your prompt true/false? How you feel about the prompt and why

What is a thesis statement? The thesis statement is a sentence that summarizes the main point of your essay and previews your supporting points. Generally, the thesis statement is the final sentence of your introduction. Sometimes, it is a good idea to use two sentences. For example, you might identify your main point in one sentence and then identify your supporting points in a second sentence. Thesis Writing

To create your thesis statement, consider the following: What is the essay prompt asking you to do? (It will be helpful to look at the key words that you’ve underlined). Are you being asked to describe something, compare the advantages of disadvantages of a topic, argue an opinion, or something else? What is your main idea? What are your sub-points? Think about these questions in relation to the sample essay topic. Thesis Writing Cont.

Step Three: Formulate a thesis statement and write it down.

Backing Up Your Thesis After writing your thesis, you will need three statements or examples to back up your thesis. Each should be written in complete sentence form.

Tree Map Thesis Statement #1 Back it up or explain the statement here. Statement #2Statement #3 Back it up or explain the statement here. Back it up or explain the statement here. Each explanation or back-up should be at least two sentences in length.

Introductory Paragraph Write it after you have written your thesis. Write it after you have written your three back-up statements. This way, you know the introduction will match with what you said in your statements and thesis.

Transitions Find the common bond or relationship between your paragraphs. Write a sentence that explains that common bond. The next slide has lots of transitions…

RelationshipTransition Words Additionalso, again, as well as, besides, coupled with, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly Consequenceaccordingly, as a result, consequently, for this reason, for this purpose, hence, otherwise, so then, subsequently, therefore, thus, thereupon, wherefore Contrast & Comparison contrast, by the same token, conversely, instead, likewise, on one hand, on the other hand, on the contrary, rather, similarly, yet, but, however, still, nevertheless, in contrast Directionhere, there, over there, beyond, nearly, opposite, under, above, to the left, to the right, in the distance Emphasisabove all, chiefly, with attention to, especially, particularly, singularly Exceptionaside from, barring, beside, except, excepting, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside of, save Similaritycomparatively, coupled with, correspondingly, identically, likewise Restatementin essence, in other words, namely, that is, that is to say

Flow Map Statement #1 and explanation Transition to statement #2 Transition to statement #3 Transition to Conclusion Statement #2 and explanation Statement #3 and explanation Introduction Transition to statement #1 Conclusion

Write the Conclusion Restate the main idea of your essay, or your thesis statement Summarize the three subpoints of your essay Leave the reader with an interesting final impression

Finished Flee Map A finished flee map should look like the following slide.

Flee Map Introduction Transition to statement #1 Conclusion Transition to statement #2 Statement #1 Explanation Transition to statement #3 Statement #2 Explanation Transition to Conclusion Statement #3 Explanation

Flee Map Your finished Flee Map is your rough draft of your essay. It will be messy, and that’s OK! Scratch stuff out, circle things, re-write if you need to! Each paragraph of your essay will be divided like this:

Transition to Conclusion Statement #3 Explanation Flee Map Introduction Transition to statement #1 Conclusion Transition to statement #2 Statement #1 Explanation Transition to statement #3 Statement #2 Explanation

Convert to Final Draft Now, all you have to do is convert your Flee Map into your final draft. Paragraph form Proper Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling

Sources Write for the Future Purdue Online Writing Lab  Study Guides and Strategies 