1. •voicing your opinion, with purpose and support
The Expository Essay
•voicing your opinion, with purpose and support

2. What the?!
What is an Expository Essay? Its purpose is to inform, often explaining why or telling how…

3. Organize Yourself!
YOU SHOULD… •have an intro that has a hook and declares the thesis of the paper (the point the paper is making) •make sure the body gives details and examples to support the thesis •and don’t forget the conclusion recaps the main points and restates the thesis statement

4. So how do you get started?!
CHOOSE A SIDE! DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT SITTING ON THE FENCE…

5. DON’T DO IT!

6. Read the information in the box below
Read the information in the box below. In 1955 medical researcher Jonas Salk introduced an effective polio vaccine. At the time polio was considered the biggest threat to public health, yet Salk refused to profit by patenting the vaccine because he was more concerned with preventing disease than with personal gain. Although many people work to benefit themselves, some people choose to put others first. Think carefully about this statement. Write an essay explaining whether people should be more concerned about others than about themselves.

7. Be sure to—
clearly state your thesis
organize and develop your ideas effectively
choose your words carefully
edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and sentences 

8. EXAMINE THE PROMPT FIRST…
Did you see the quote? •You do not necessarily have to write about this… Even though the prompt may persuade you to write a certain way– follow your gut! Choose what is going to be EASIEST for YOU to answer.

9. Prewriting Techniques
Why prewrite? “I’m a good writer, I shouldn’t have to prewrite.” What forms of prewriting do you know/use?

10. FIRST- Underline what the prompt is asking you to do. Let’s look again
FIRST- Underline what the prompt is asking you to do. Let’s look again. What do we have to decide and support?

11. GET YOUR BRAINSTORM ON! It’s T-CHART TIME!
OTHERS
YOURSELF

12. Let’s hear some of your ideas…
Now it’s your turn, with a partner finish the chart we’ve started here…
Let’s hear some of your ideas…
So, after discussing your thoughts with a partner, which side do you have more support for?
That’s the side you should defend!

13. INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
Start off on the right foot…

14. Th-th-THESIS!
•Now that you’ve chosen a side, decide on a thesis statement and write it down. •This statement should be the last sentence of your introductory paragraph and should tell the reader what the paper will explain. IE: Texting while driving should be illegal.

15. Thesis statement
What is a thesis statement? A road map for your essay A thesis statement is a complete sentence that contains one main idea. Controls the content of the entire essay.

16. Key Features of Thesis statement
Is usually at the end of the introduction States an opinion or attitude on the topic, not just the topic Does not directly announce your main topic Does not start with “I think that…” or “I’m going to write/talk about…”

17. Thesis Examples
The sport of cross-country running.
This is not a complete sentence.
The sport of cross-country running has allowed me
to get in better shape and meet some interesting people.
Thesis Statement
This is a question, not a statement.
Why do I want to be a teacher?
Being a teacher is a great profession because it allows me to work with students and be creative.
Thesis Statement

18. I learned to play many musical instruments when I was young.
Thesis States an Opinion or Attitude
I learned to play many musical instruments when I was young.
Learning to play many musical instruments when I was young helped me to become a more intelligent and well-rounded person.
This would not be considered a good thesis statement because it is only expressing a fact. It doesn’t give the writer’s opinion or attitude on playing musical instruments. This thesis statement doesn’t give the writer very much to explain or prove in his/her essay.
This thesis statement is much better because it expresses how the writer feels about the experience of learning to play musical instruments. This thesis statement requires the writer to explain how and why playing a musical instrument made him/her a better person.

19. Thesis Does NOT State the Obvious
In this essay, I am going to discuss the effects of long-term drug abuse.
Long-term drug use can have disastrous effects on one’s marriage, career, and health.

20. Evaluate Thesis Statements
Prompt: “Explain why some kids have difficulty dealing with their parents’ divorce.” “Some children have a lot of trouble dealing with their parents’ divorce.” Better: “Some children have trouble dealing with their parents’ divorce because it makes the world seem unstable for them and because it sometimes, often mistakenly, makes them feel as though one or both of their parents don’t love them.”

21. Evaluate Thesis Statements
Prompt: Explain how your hometown would seem to visitors. “My hometown is one of the most unusual in the state.” Better: “With its haunted buildings and walking dead people, my hometown can seem pretty strange to visitors.”

22. Evaluate Thesis Statements
Prompt: Explain how you view your mother. “My mother is wonderful.” Better: “My mother, with her firmness and her soft—but persistent—support has guided me to the cusp of adulthood.

23. Practice Prompt
Explain how facing extreme disappointment can sometimes help people to succeed in their lives. SPECIFIC, CLEAR and OPINIONATED?

24. Start here:
SUBJECT + VERB+ OPINION + BECAUSE ________________

25. Let’s look at some examples…
Humanity has a funny way of contradicting itself sometimes. All children are taught to share and put others’ needs before our own. Somewhere down the line we realize that the very people who preach these things to us don’t follow their own rules. It is very important in society today to remember the bigger picture, which often includes doing things to help others with no benefit to yourself.

26. Where’s the thesis?
Thinking about others before you is a nice thing to think of, but if you think of yourself first it makes you feel isolated. Caring about others before you isn’t a bad thing, but thinking about yourself isn’t bad either.

27. Where’s the thesis?
People view things differently and see it in their own way. They also have different opinions, and each person thinks no one is right but themselves. Quotations are thought through very differently from everyone else. It all depends on the way you think and how you view things in life.

28. LET’S SEE WHAT YOU’VE GOT NOW …

29. 3. Explain why some cities have curfews for teens. 4
3. Explain why some cities have curfews for teens. 4. Explain how moving from place to place affects teens. 5. Explain why you like (or do not like) to work in a team. 6. Explain the likely consequences of skipping school.

30. Thesis Statement Reminders
Brief: Usually one, occasionally two, sentences long.
Visible: Is easily found at the end of your introduction.
Specific: States exactly what your whole essay will be about. Is not too broad for your topic.
Clear: Word choices should be careful so that anyone can figure out what you’re saying.
Opinionated: Does not restate the topic but clearly tells your opinion about the topic.

31. What Should An Introduction Accomplish?
They should grab the reader’s attention.
They should establish the tone of the essay.
They should introduce the thesis statement.

32. Your intro MUST have a:
HOOK

33. POSSIBLE HOOK IDEAS:
Make a controversial statement Make a general statement Use a quotation If all else fails, ask a question…

34. Emphasize the importance of the topic
Emphasize the importance of the topic. Each person, at some point in life, must experience severe disappointment. For some, disappointment takes away their hope and sets them onto paths that lead nowhere. Some people, however, find that disappointment may help them to succeed—in the end. For some, early disappointment makes them stronger and motivates them to never accept failure in their lives.

35. Start with a general statement and move toward your specific thesis
Start with a general statement and move toward your specific thesis. Disappointment is always difficult, for some impossible, to deal with. Some people cave under pressure, lose hope, and end up leading purposeless lives. Some people, though, are able to cope and turn their disappointment into inspiration for success. For these, early disappointment just makes them stronger and motivates them to never accept failure in their lives.

36. Ask a provocative question.
What makes people give up in life? I have known people who, faced with disappointment in life, have become hopeless, and then aimless. However, not all people who suffer disappointment lose hope. For these, early disappointment just makes them stronger and motivates them to never accept failure in their lives.

37. YOUR INTRO SHOULD DRAW THE READER IN AND MAKE THEM WANT TO KEEP READING. YOUR SECOND SENTENCE IS THE BRIDGE- it connects the idea you presented in your hook to what your claim is.

38. THE MOST IMPORTANT PART- PROVE YOURSELF!
BODY PARAGRAPHS
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART- PROVE YOURSELF!

39. HERE COMES THE ACTION!
This is the most important part, think of it as the meat of your burger. Make sure that it is juicy and enticing and that it isn’t bland!

40. Be engaging and charming!
Your writing should be thoughtful and engaging!
Always use your unique experiences or view of the world as a basis for writing.
It’s easy, because you are an expert!
Be careful not to generalize or assume.

41. A Body paragraph is an awful lot like a short answer response…
THERE ARE THREE PARTS TO A BODY PARAGRAPH:
THEY ARE ALLLLLLLLLL TIED TO YOUR THESIS! THEY MUST HELP TO PROVE YOUR THESIS!
TOPIC SENTENCE
- Let your reader know what your paragraph is going to be about. Think of this almost like the “hook” of your body paragraph. BUT PLEASE DON’T WRITE- “I am going to talk about…”
REAL WORLD EXAMPLE -Write about something that has happened to you or someone you know, or that you saw on tv or movies, or SOMETHING to help you get your point across
EXPLANATION
-Make sure to show your reader why your example proves your thesis!

42. START WITH A TRANSITION: -connect your intro to your body
Common Expository Transitions: For instance… In addition to… As a result… In some cases…. In fact… Similarly… In other words… Consequently… More importantly… Once again… On the other hand… In closing… To begin with… Finally… First of all…

43. Use some of your best points for that side that you listed in your T-chart to act as support in your body paragraph…

44. GENERAL TO SPECIFIC…
By now, you have a GENERAL idea for your body paragraph… NOW, let’s make it SPECIFIC!

45. REMEMBER TO…
MAKE YOUR CLAIM…. THEN SUPPORT IT WITH A “REAL WORLD” EXAMPLE AND EXPLAIN HOW THIS PROVES YOUR ARGUMENT

46. What’s up with this paragraph?
Thinking about others before you is a nice thing to think of, but if you think of yourself first it makes you feel isolated. Caring about others before you isn’t a bad thing, but thinking about yourself isn’t bad either. To me I think of others before me. Some people have the good life, others don’t. I’ll rather put myself in danger than others being in danger as well. I’m only one person but risking myself could save more than one life. When your in a room where there seems to be a fire some people will think of themselves while others think of the rest. The doctor could risk himself of getting polio but he could save hundreds of lifes that currently have polio.

47. What about these?
Humanity has a funny way of contradicting itself sometimes. All children are taught to share and put others’ needs before our own. Somewhere down the line we realize that the very people who preach these things to us don’t follow their own rules. It is very important in society today to remember the bigger picture, which often includes doing things to help others with no benefit to yourself.
People use each other for personal gain all the time. A glorified outlook on this way of life is all around us. In media people are more concerned with which Hollywood star is going out with which millionaire rather than the thousands of people dying of hunger in third world countries. As consumers we see this life and wish to be like that.

48. THE CONCLUSION
WRAP IT UP!

49. Finish your ESSAY with a bang!
You should : RESTATE YOUR THESIS STATEMENT (say what you’ve already said, but in a different way) It should leave the reader thinking, but not guessing.

50. What do you think?
To me people that think of themselves before others are selfish and maybe greedy, but others that think of others are kind people.

51. What do you think?
Doing something for monitary gain is just like money itself: easily expendable and transient. But doing something to help others leads to emotional or moral gain. The memmories and feelings you get from helping others won’t ever go away. It’s worth something to you. Worth more than money ever could be.