Explanatory Essay Notes

Familiar Topic: FATP 3P Notes Format = essay Audience = reader Topic = (main idea of prompt) Purpose = to explain to the reader the (topic) Point of View = (Topic) is important to me Proof 1 = (one or some component/s) Proof 2 = (the other component/s)

* While reading the prompt, you must determine what the prompt is asking you to write about. There 
may be between 1 and 4 components of the writing prompt. When you find them, place "A," "B," "C," 
etc. above the component. Writing Prompt: Many students enjoy doing something special for their family and friends. For example, they 
may take care of their younger sibling or help to cook a favorite meal. Write an essay that describes something special that you would like to do for your family or 
friends. Explain why this would be something special and how your family or friends might react. 
Be sure to include details and facts to support your explanation. _______________________________________________________________________

*This prompt is asking you to do ____ different things: B. C. D.

Writing Prompt: Many students enjoy doing something special for their family and friends. For example, they 
may take care of their younger sibling or help to cook a favorite meal. Write an essay that describes something special that you would like to do for your family or 
friends. Explain why this would be something special and how your family or friends might react. 
Be sure to include details and facts to support your explanation. F-Essay A- Reader T- Special deed and reaction P – to explain to the reader a special deed and reaction POV Doing something special for others is important to me.

P- Explain why it would be special Explain how your family/friends might react. Describe something special you would like t

Familiar Topic: Writing and Introduction Step 1: Restate the topic from the prompt Step 2: Write your POV statement Step 3: In complete sentences, write the components (from the prompt) in the order that you will be writing about them without giving away too much information (this is just a preview of what the body paragraphs will

Writing Prompt: Many students enjoy doing something special for their family and friends. For example, they 
may take care of their younger sibling or help to cook a favorite meal. Write an essay that describes something special that you would like to do for your family or 
friends. Explain why this would be something special and how your family or friends might react. 
Be sure to include details and facts to support your explanation. _____________________________________________________________________ Describe something special you would like to do for family/friends. Explain why it would be special. Explain how your family/friends might react. Many students enjoy doing something special for their loved ones. Doing something special for 
others is important to me. The special activity that I would like to do is _______________ for _______________. This would be really meaningful to ______. I would love to see how ________ will react.

Writing Prompt: Many students enjoy doing something special for their family and friends. For example, they 
may take care of their younger sibling or help to cook a favorite meal. Write an essay that describes something special that you would like to do for your family or 
friends. Explain why this would be something special and how your family or friends might react. 
Be sure to include details and facts to support your explanation. *This prompt is asking you to do 3 different things: 1. Describe something special you would like to do for family/friends 2. Explain why it would be special 3. Explain how your family/friends might react. Once you determine ALL of the things that the prompt is asking you to address, you must 
determine HOW you will address it. Look at two possible ways below:

Sample Response: Intro Body 1-describes ONE thing you would like to do Body 2-describes why it would be special and how family/friends might react Conclusion Another Way to Structure the Response: Intro Body 1-describes ONE thing you would like to do and why it would be special Body 2-describes how family/friends might react Conclusion

Create Your Own Game Plan There are multiple ways to complete the "Familiar Topic" prompt as long as you are responding to EVERYTHING the prompt is asking you. Mark up the prompt to ensure that you will respond to ALL of the questions. Find a way that works for you to organize the essay's components into a 4 
paragraph essay or letter. MAKE A GAME PLAN!

Many students enjoy doing something special for their family and friends. For example, they may take care of their younger sibling or help to cook a favorite meal. Write an essay that describes something special that you would like to do for your family or friends. Explain why this would be something special and how your family or friends might react. Be sure to include details and facts to support your explanation.

  Many students enjoy doing something special for their loved ones. Doing something special for others is important to me. The special activity that I would like to do is to bring a home cooked meal to my family friends, the Robinsons. This would be really meaningful to them since Mrs. Robinson just had a baby. I would 
love to see how they will react. (BODY 1)  Bringing a home cooked dinner to the Robinsons is something special I would love to do. Since Mrs. Robinson just delivered a baby last week, right now her home is in “chaos.” They are consumed with laundry, diapers, bottles, and caring for the new infant. This leaves little time leftover for the new mom and dad to think about caring for themselves. My aunt told me the best gift to bring parents of a newborn is food, so I intend to cook my friend’s family meatballs and sauce. Making this meal for the family would be really special because it will help to take away some of their many responsibilities. In other words, there are little ways, like making a meal, in which people can really help out others in need.

(BODY 2) My hope is that they will react to my gift with relief. Bringing them the meatballs and sauce would be special because my friend’s baby sister needs so much attention and there is little or no time for his mother or father to cook. My great hope is that the new parents will be able to relax and not worry about what to do around dinner time. Instead, they can feel relieved that I have taken care of everything for them. I would not need a thank you card or any special attention for doing this kind deed. Just knowing that my family friends are happy would be enough. Clearly, doing something special for a friend is its own reward in itself.

(CONCLUSION) In short, I am a student who enjoys doing meaningful things for family and friends. By cooking a home cooked meal for my friend's family, I will bring them some relief during a stressful time. I wish that more individuals in society would take the time to do something special for their family, friends, or to even complete strangers. Overall, little acts of kindness certainly go a long way.