1. Word of the Day hypothetical- adj.
conditional or contingent on something else happening.
Ex: If you make straight As all year, I will buy you a new car. This is a hypothetical statement because me buying you a new car is reliant on you making straight As.
Write your own hypothetical statement for a goal/reward you would like to set for yourself.

2. Writing a Thesis for an Expository Essay

3. Every essay must begin with a thesis statement, and for purposes of STAAR EOC essays, your thesis statement can make up your entire introduction.
The thesis statement must answer the prompt. To ensure you do this, turn your prompt around to create the first part of your thesis. You should state your position, give a transition word, and then state the two major points you will cover.
Prompt: Explain why it is important to take four years of math in high school.
Thesis: It is important to take four years of math in high school because math is a good foundation for any college major as well as for entering the work force right after high school.

4. Look at the following examples of good thesis statements
Look at the following examples of good thesis statements. Remember, the thesis statement identifies YOUR point of view and YOUR main points. Therefore, your thesis statement will probably not be like anyone else’s.
Prompt: Write an essay in which you explain the benefits of working as a team when attempting to accomplish a goal.
Thesis: The benefits of working as a team when attempting to accomplish a goal are that work can be divided among team members and a collaboration of ideas often creates a better product.

5. Prompt: Write an essay explaining the importance of getting to know people before forming an opinion about them.
Thesis: It is important to get to know people before forming an opinion about them because people don’t always make a good impression on the first meeting and because people have a tendency to judge others by their appearance when they first meet them.

6. Now look at the same prompts with not-so-good thesis statements.
Prompt: Write an essay in which you explain the benefits of working as a team when attempting to accomplish a goal.
Thesis: People should work as a team because it will help them accomplish a goal.
What’s wrong with this?
1. This thesis doesn’t express the writer’s opinion; it simply restates the prompt.
2. Even though the writer tried to make “accomplish a goal” a reason, he doesn’t have a 2nd reason. The essay will have 2 body paragraphs; therefore, there must be two reasons in the thesis.

7. Prompt: Write an essay explaining the importance of getting to know people before forming an opinion about them.
Thesis: It is important to get to know people before forming an opinion about them because you shouldn’t judge people.
Again, this thesis doesn’t state a clear position or offer any reasons.
“You shouldn’t judge people,” is saying basically the same thing as, “forming an opinion about them.”

8. Your Turn
On your handout, write a thesis statement for the 3 provided prompts.
Remember—a thesis statement should restate the prompt, include a transition word, and state the 2 reasons that will be discussed in your essay.
After you have written your 3 thesis statements, rewrite the 3 provided thesis statements at the bottom of the page to be aligned with the structure we discussed.

9. Expository Essay Structure
Thesis- Answer the prompt using words from the prompt and giving two reasons. Topic- Explain your first reason given in the thesis. Evidence-Provide an example from literature, history, the community, or a personal experience that embodies your topic. Analysis-Explain what the connection is between your example and your topic sentence. Lesson- State what can be learned from this example to apply to real life. This is where we address the “so what” or “why is this important?” Topic- Explain your second reason given in the thesis. Analysis-Explain what the connection is between your second example and your second topic sentence. Connect- explain how your two examples are connected Conclusion-Explain why this is an important subject to you, society, or literature.

10. Does this look familiar?
Topic- Explain your first reason given in the thesis.
Evidence-Provide an example from literature, history, the community, or a personal experience that embodies your topic.
Analysis-Explain what the connection is between your example and your topic sentence.
Lesson- State what can be learned from this example to apply to real life. This is where we address the “so what” or “why is this important?”  
The structure of the expository essay body paragraph is the same as the short answer structure!
The only difference is that your example has to come from your own mind vs. pulling a quote from the text!

11. Let’s Practice Together!
Read the information in the box below.
   
Everyone has been in a situation that required them to be brave. Think about this statement.
Write an essay explaining why it is important to be courageous.
Be sure to –
clearly state your thesis
organize and develop your ideas effectively
choose your words carefully
edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and spelling
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
Nelson Mandela