Explanatory Essay Guidelines, Periods 3 & 7 ELA

Why should you use this strategy? Good expository introductions: Hook the reader & include a claim (central idea) Example What did the writer do? Why should you use this strategy? What’s furry, has four legs and could become your best friend? A dog might be your ideal companion. Asked a question and then answered it with a statement. The question was about the central idea. Makes the reader wonder and think…pulls them into the next sentence. Owning a dog could actually make you healthier and increase your life span. A dog might be your ideal companion. Provides a shocking fact about the central idea and then states the central idea. Surprises the reader and makes them want to read more. Soft and fluffy, the dog curls up at his owners feet. The man pets his canine friend’s head as the furry beagle sleeps. A dog might be your ideal companion. Paints a picture of the central idea using descriptive words. Helps the reader visualize the main idea the essay will be about

Introduction paragraph – stating your claim Start your essay with a hook followed by a sentence that directly presents your topic. Narrow the topic down to a specific claim. A claim is the central idea of your essay (also called a thesis statement). Next, state your claim. The formula for an introduction paragraph: hook + topic + claim = introduction paragraph Narrow the topic down to a specific claim, and name the points of support that you will develop (write about) in your essay.

Sample Introductory paragraph 11/29/18 Sample Introductory paragraph A few days ago, I had the jingle from “Kars for Kids” commercial stuck on repeat in my head. I am not even interested in donating my car to charity, yet I could not stop thinking about the commercial. This an example of how powerful advertising can be, even to young people like me. In fact, advertising plays a major part in the lives of children and teens. Two main roles of advertising in the lives of young people are to influence spending and to manipulate thinking. Lead Topic Thesis/Claim

Explanatory Essay Organization 11/27/18 Your essay will be four paragraphs. Introduction Body Paragraph #1 (the subject of this paragraph is one of the advertising roles that you identified as important in the lives of young people) Body Paragraph #2 (the subject of this paragraph is one of the advertising roles that you identified as important in the lives of young people) Conclusion

Body Paragraph Example 11/29/18 In the article entitled, “211 Billion and So Much More to Buy,” the author presents facts and statistics stating that advertising influences youth to buy more and more products, even influencing their parents’ spending. For example, one study states that over 50% of kids ages 8 to 12 buy candy and toys with their own money and 25% of them will buy books. Twenty-percent of these tweens will buy clothing.” This example shows that today’s young people are buying more and more things as they are bombarded with more and more ads. In fact, research shows they own more possessions than the generation before them. Lead Transition Quote or Paraphrase Commentary

11/29/18 Body Paragraph Example (Continued) In another example, the article states that the buying power of kids is stronger than ever before because of ads that youth are exposed to. Kids today are exposed to more information than the generation before them, quite possibly more than any generation ever. Further research shows, that kids spend hours of each day on the TV and internet. Some tweens spend 8.4 hours engaged in media per day and teens spend 12.6 hours engaged in media per day. Transition Quote or Paraphrase Commentary

Conclusion paragraph (3-6 sentences) 12/3/18 Conclusion paragraph (3-6 sentences) Begin with a transition phrase letting the reader know you are wrapping things up(finally, in conclusion, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize, to sum up, in summary) Write one sentence that echoes your thesis statement (basically says your thesis again in slightly different words) Do not introduce any new information Leave your reader with a final thought to think about. If you can, tie your conclusion back to your hook for an added bonus!

Sample Conclusion paragraph 12/3/18 Sample Conclusion paragraph Transition sentence – let’s reader know you are wrapping things up As you can see, marketing reaches young people on a daily basis in a variety of ways. Whether advertisers are attempting to manipulate our thinking or influence our spending, we cannot get away from them. But perhaps if we are aware of their tactics, we can see through their manipulations and make our own choices. “Echo” your thesis statement Leave your reader with something to think about