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Expository essays

Learn how to effectively organize your thoughts for expository essays through brainstorming techniques like free writing, subject tree, and clustering. Discover the importance of developing a strong thesis statement with clear claims and supporting details.

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Expository essays

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  1. Expository essays

  2. General Information

  3. Characteristics of an expository essay • The purpose is to inform, describe, or explain • The writer is acting like the teacher • You will present a lot of information on the topic • It is written in 3rd person (using “it”, “he”, “she”, “they”), uses formal language to discuss someone or something • Examples of topics – a medical or biological condition, a social or technological process, or life or character of a famous person

  4. WARNING • The purpose of your essay is to inform, not persuade! It is also different from a narrative because it is not telling a story.

  5. steps • Organizing your Thoughts (Brainstorming) • Developing a Thesis Statement • Writing the Introduction • Writing the Body of the Essay • Writing the Conclusion

  6. Organizing Your THOUGHTS

  7. Organizing your thoughts aka brainstorming • Believe it or not, there is almost no topic on which your mind will draw a complete blank. Even if you know very little about the subject matter, you are likely to have something to say about it based on something you heard or read about it, or your basic values. It is imperative to take an inventory of what you know first. Sorting out what you know can be done in a number of ways: • Free writing – writing quickly without stopping, editing, or self-correcting to become aware of what you already know, think, or feel on a topic • Subject tree – related ideas connecting outwards from the main topic, in a tree form • List – free flow of ideas on a topic • Clustering – main topic is in the middle circle, all related associations are linked to the main topic • Outline framework of an essay, which includes main points, followed by the breakdown into sub-points

  8. Free writing

  9. Subject tree

  10. list

  11. clustering

  12. outline

  13. WRITTEN COMPOSITION #1: Expository Read the following quotation. Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. - Nelson Mandela Experts argue that one cannot succeed without education beyond high school. Think carefully about this statement. Write an essay explaining the importance of higher education. 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

  14. WRITTEN COMPOSITION #2: Expository Read the following quotation. The digital audio player, also known as the MP3 player, first became available to the general public in 1996. Unlike the compact disc player, this technology did not require that music be stored on separate discs. MP3 players have now become the dominant medium for listening to music. Think about the new technologies that people use in everyday life. Write an essay explaining the effect of one new technology on people’s lives. 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

  15. WRITTEN COMPOSITION #3: Expository Read the following quotation. The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time you fall. —Nelson Mandela Think carefully about the following question. Can failure make you stronger? Write an essay explaining whether failure can strengthen a person. 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

  16. Developing a thesis statement

  17. Thesis statements • A thesis statement has two main components: • A claim • Supporting details to sustain it.

  18. A Claim is a one sentence statement that… • Makes an assertion or takes a stance • Is based on a generalization • Is not a fact • Is debatable • Must be presented in the introduction of the essay

  19. When making a claim, ask yourself… • What point am I trying to make? • What am I trying to say? • What am I getting at?

  20. Examples • Depression affects people. (Weak because it is not debatable.) • Depression is a complex condition. (Stronger because it presents an assertion that needs evidence.)

  21. Supporting details • Supporting details provide the means for reinforcing the claim, and can be organized in • Categories/topics • Time frames/chronological periods • Cause/effect

  22. Thesis statement • To create a thesis statement, combine the claim and supporting details in one sentence. • Examples: • Depression is a complex condition, understanding of which requires an in-depth look at its causes, symptoms, and available treatments.

  23. Writing your introduction paragraph

  24. introduction paragraph • The introduction is the most general part of the paper. • It helps provide a roadmap for further discussion or analysis. • This simplified formula offers components for a basic introduction: • Definition: Identify, define, and/or describe the topic, concept, or literary theme. What will you be talking about? • Relevance: Show the importance of your topic, concept or theme. How does it relate to or impact society? • Thesis: Copy the thesis statement generated in the previous step.

  25. Example • Topic: Depression • Definition: Depression is a crippling condition that makes people feel despair in their lives. • Relevance: While 16% of all Americans experience depression during their lifetime, most remain undiagnosed and untreated. • Thesis: Depression is a complex condition, understanding of which requires an in-depth look at its causes, symptoms, and available treatments.

  26. WRITTEN COMPOSITION #2: Expository Read the following quotation. The digital audio player, also known as the MP3 player, first became available to the general public in 1996. Unlike the compact disc player, this technology did not require that music be stored on separate discs. MP3 players have now become the dominant medium for listening to music. Think about the new technologies that people use in everyday life. Write an essay explaining the effect of one new technology on people’s lives. 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

  27. WRITTEN COMPOSITION #3: Expository Read the following quotation. The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time you fall. —Nelson Mandela Think carefully about the following question. Can failure make you stronger? Write an essay explaining whether failure can strengthen a person. 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

  28. DO NOW 10/6/2015 • Please answer the 3 multiple choice questions on your Do Now.

  29. Body Paragraphs

  30. How to write a body paragraph • The body of the essay is the most detailed part. It involves addressing each supporting detail in a separate, fullydeveloped paragraph. • Make sure to include the necessary evidence from your research. It is imperative that each supporting detail be announced or introduced within the text. • This introduction is called a topic sentence and it is found at the beginning of a paragraph. • The topic sentence is a statement you make about the supporting detail.

  31. EXAMPLE • Topic sentence 1: Depression is caused by several major factors. • Topic sentence 2: Though not always clearly evident, several symptoms can signal that a person is experiencing depression. • Topic sentence 3: A number of treatments are currently available for people who suffer from depression.

  32. Outline of a body paragraph • Topic Sentence: Provide the main idea of the paragraph. • Supporting Evidence: Include specific textual evidence: cited quotes, paraphrases or summary; or evidence that supports your thesis from other sources: anecdotes, first-person interviews or your own experience. • Analysis:Explain to the reader the significance of the evidence you have provided. Think about why you chose to include it. How does the piece of evidence support your thesis? • Transition:Connect each paragraph with a sentence or two that demonstrates how each idea leads into the next, and how they work together to support your position.

  33. DO NOW 10/7/2015 • Please answer the three multiple choice questions.

  34. Conclusion paragraph

  35. Conclusion • Provide the reader an overview of the main ideas you discussed, but also be sure to highlight the progression of your thought process, offer solutions, next steps or present new questions that your paper generated. Don’t only restate your thesis but show the significance of your synthesis of the information.

  36. Conclusion outline • Relevance: Repeat the importance of your topic. • Review: Reiterate the points you discussed. • Summary: Summarize your conclusions.

  37. example • Relevance: Depression affects thousands of men, women, and children every year; many endure it without any help. • Review: This paper focused on the symptoms, causes, and available treatments of depression. • Summary: Depression can have devastating consequences not only for the people experiencing it, but for those around them as well. Education about this painful condition may allow us to reach out to a greater number of people suffering from it.

  38. Do now • Please answer the multiple choice questions.

  39. Today, we are writing an expository essay. You may use your notes from the past week to help you as you write. Make sure that you brainstorm, write an introduction with a thesis, write at least two body paragraphs with controlling ideas, and finish with a conclusion.

  40. WRITTEN COMPOSITION #1: Expository Read the following quotation. Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You. - Dr. Seuss Fear of consequences can make people behave in a manner they ordinarily would not. Think carefully about this statement. Write an essay explaining why it is important to just be yourself. 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

  41. Do now • Please answer the multiple choice questions.

  42. Revising and Editing

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