1. Welcome to the AXES format
Get ready to WRITE! 

2. What does AXES stand for?
Assertion
X –
eXample
E –
Explanation
S –
Significance

3. Assertion
The assertion (AKA “topic sentence”) states the specific point that you will be making in the paragraph.
The assertion connects the paragraph to your thesis/claim by linking the specific point of the paragraph back to a central concern of the claim.
The assertions should go at or near the beginnings of paragraphs (for example, after a transitional sentence).

4. eXample Examples are the evidence that supports your assertions.
When analyzing a text, an example must be a direct quote from the text.
Other kinds of arguments might rely on examples, data, quotes, experience, etc. as evidence.
Quotes should be introduced and briefly contextualized.

5. Explanation
Explanations clarify how and why the evidence relates to your assertion and subsequently to your central claim.
In textual analysis, for example, an explanation of a quote pulls out particular words, images, references, etc. from the example and shows how these support the assertion.
Explanations of examples and data outline the reasoning that logically links the evidence to the assertion.

6. Significance
Statements of significance answer “So what?” about your point
It explains why the point made in the paragraph is important in light of your thesis.
Providing significance is crucial to making an argument that says something, has a purpose, or is interesting.

7. AXES Paragraph: Assertion
“Two Kinds” by Amy Tan is a story about a mother and daughter who struggle to find a middle ground with each other. The mother wants the best for her daughter, Jing-mei, but Jing-mei is fighting her. Jing- mei’s mother has the internal conflict of wanting the best for her daughter. She also has the external conflict of Jing-mei not being motivated enough to become a prodigy. Jing-mei’s mother is right to push her daughter. In ‘Two Kinds,” one example would be: “America was where all my mother’s hopes and dreams lay. She had come here in 1949 after losing everything in China…” (Tan, 99). From this quote you can conclude she does not want her daughter to suffer like she did. Over the years, I have learned it is not uncommon for parents to want the best for their children. No parent would ever want to see their child struggle in the real world and if they can help it, parents will stop at nothing to achieve that goal.

8. AXES Paragraph: Assertion
“Two Kinds” by Amy Tan is a story about a mother and daughter who struggle to find a middle ground with each other. The mother wants the best for her daughter, Jing-mei, but Jing-mei is fighting her. Jing- mei’s mother has the internal conflict of wanting the best for her daughter. She also has the external conflict of Jing-mei not being motivated enough to become a prodigy. Jing-mei’s mother is right to push her daughter. In ‘Two Kinds,” one example would be: “America was where all my mother’s hopes and dreams lay. She had come here in 1949 after losing everything in China…” (Tan, 99). From this quote you can conclude she does not want her daughter to suffer like she did. Over the years, I have learned it is not uncommon for parents to want the best for their children. No parent would ever want to see their child struggle in the real world and if they can help it, parents will stop at nothing to achieve that goal.

9. AXES Paragraph: eXample
“Two Kinds” by Amy Tan is a story about a mother and daughter who struggle to find a middle ground with each other. The mother wants the best for her daughter, Jing-mei, but Jing-mei is fighting her. Jing- mei’s mother has the internal conflict of wanting the best for her daughter. She also has the external conflict of Jing-mei not being motivated enough to become a prodigy. Jing-mei’s mother is right to push her daughter. In ‘Two Kinds,” one example would be: “America was where all my mother’s hopes and dreams lay. She had come here in 1949 after losing everything in China…” (Tan, 99). From this quote you can conclude she does not want her daughter to suffer like she did. Over the years, I have learned it is not uncommon for parents to want the best for their children. No parent would ever want to see their child struggle in the real world and if they can help it, parents will stop at nothing to achieve that goal.

10. AXES Paragraph: Explanation
“Two Kinds” by Amy Tan is a story about a mother and daughter who struggle to find a middle ground with each other. The mother wants the best for her daughter, Jing-mei, but Jing-mei is fighting her. Jing- mei’s mother has the internal conflict of wanting the best for her daughter. She also has the external conflict of Jing-mei not being motivated enough to become a prodigy. Jing-mei’s mother is right to push her daughter. In ‘Two Kinds,” one example would be: “America was where all my mother’s hopes and dreams lay. She had come here in 1949 after losing everything in China…” (Tan, 99). From this quote you can conclude she does not want her daughter to suffer like she did. Over the years, I have learned it is not uncommon for parents to want the best for their children. No parent would ever want to see their child struggle in the real world and if they can help it, parents will stop at nothing to achieve that goal.

11. AXES Paragraph: Significance
“Two Kinds” by Amy Tan is a story about a mother and daughter who struggle to find a middle ground with each other. The mother wants the best for her daughter, Jing-mei, but Jing-mei is fighting her. Jing- mei’s mother has the internal conflict of wanting the best for her daughter. She also has the external conflict of Jing-mei not being motivated enough to become a prodigy. Jing-mei’s mother is right to push her daughter. In ‘Two Kinds,” one example would be: “America was where all my mother’s hopes and dreams lay. She had come here in 1949 after losing everything in China…” (Tan, 99). From this quote you can conclude she does not want her daughter to suffer like she did. Over the years, I have learned it is not uncommon for parents to want the best for their children. No parent would ever want to see their child struggle in the real world and if they can help it, parents will stop at nothing to achieve that goal.

12. Now…
You will be creating your own AXES paragraph on the 3 articles you have read.
Your prompt is:
Is it easy for working parents to balance family and work? How does it affect the parents and children?