Using Exemplification in Your Writing For example… Prof. Steven Federle, Solano College English 1

Practice Writing Topic : Are you an optimistic or pessimistic person? Answer this question, and support your answer with a few sentences that uses examples to explain or clarify your answer. Uses for Exemplification  Use Examples to Explain and Clarify

Practice Writing Topic continued: Are you an optimistic or pessimistic person?  Add another example to what you’ve written to add interest to your explanation.

Practice Writing Topic continued: Are you an optimistic or pessimistic person?  Add another example to what you’ve written to persuade the reader that he or she should be optimistic or pessimistic too.

Planning an Exemplification Essay  Provide enough examples  Choose representative examples  Use transitions (see list of transitions on page 43)  Good transitions for exemplification include: For example, for instance, in fact, namely, specifically, that is, thus For example, for instance, in fact, namely, specifically, that is, thus

Structuring an Exemplification Essay  Your Introduction includes a thesis statement  Each body paragraph may Develop a separate example, OR Develop a separate example, OR Explore one aspect of a single, extended example. Explore one aspect of a single, extended example.  Arrange your examples chronologically, in order of increasing complexity, or in order of importance.  Your conclusion reinforces the main idea and may re-state the thesis.

Revising and Editing an Exemplification Essay  See Revising Checklist on pages  See Editing Checklists on pages 66 & 198

In Class Writing Exercise  Look at the Four Tattoos (Photos) on page 205 of Patterns for College Writing.

 How would you describe each of the four tattoos pictured? Brainstorm with the class on the prominent features of each, and then write a sentence or two that describes each of them.

 Write a one sentence general statement that sums up your ideas about tattoos.  Why do you think people get tattoos?  Do you see tattoos as a way for people to express themselves?  Do people use tattoos to express individuality?  Are tattoos are a form of rebellion?

 Do you have enough examples to support your general statement about tattoos?  Would you ever get a tattoo?  Now write a paragraph in your writing journal in response to this question. Use your answers to the questions above to support your topic sentence (If you have a tattoo, explain why you decided to get it.)