Expository Essays Expository (adj): serving to expound, set forth, or explain EOC Graphic Organizer Example Prompt: Read the information in the box below: Although many people face different situations that require courage, there are few people who choose to act with courage. Think carefully about this statement. Write an essay explaining how some people choose to face situations with courage. Courage is identifying the things that frighten or challenge us and facing them with confidence and bravery. The thesis statement is the most important sentence in your essay. Thesis Statement The thesis statement should be specific (use wording from your prompt!) The thesis statement should be the last sentence of your introduction! Example Prompt: Read the information in the box below: Although many people face different situations that require courage, there are few people who choose to act with courage. Think carefully about this statement. Write an essay explaining how some people choose to face situations with courage. Courage is identifying the things that frighten or challenge us and facing them with confidence and bravery. Thesis Statement: Write an essay explaining how some people chooseto face situations with courage. People often rely on courage to guide them throughchallenging times. When people face situations with courage, they can trulychange our world. People often have to overcome fears in order to facesituations with courage. True bravery comes from facing situations with courage. Topic Sentences Your TOPIC SENTENCE is: The mini-thesis of a paragraph
For the EOC, you should have TWO (one for each paragraph) Topic Sentences: Thesis: People often have to overcome fears in order toface situations with courage. Many great leaders have shown courage in times of crisis inorder to better our society. Even everyday people can face situations with courage. Use specific examples to support your topic sentence.
Concrete Details Use specific examples to support your topic sentence. Your examples may be from history, literature, current events, or even personal. Concrete Details Many great leaders have shown courage in times ofcrisis in order to better our society. Ronald Reagan standing up to Russia in order to end othercold war. Martin Luther King, Jr. standing up for racial injustice. Even everyday people can face situations withcourage. A personal example of a time when you had to showcourage. An example of a friend or relative showing courage. Commentary Your commentary should extend and expand on your specific example, illustrating how it connects to your thesis! You should have at least two sentences of commentary to explain and develop your concrete detail! Repeat this process for your second body paragraph! Remember that you only have 26 lines, so your essay needs to be both precise and concise. Summary Sentence Theres no box for thisbut an important step!
Concluding/summary sentence that ties back toyour thesis. Bring the paragraph to a conclusion and transitionto the next. Essay Structure Introduction Body Paragraph #1 Body Paragraph #2
Hook Bridge Thesis Body Paragraph #1 Topic Sentence Concrete Detail Commentary x2 Summary Sentence Body Paragraph #2 Concluding Statement Introductions Hook Grab the ATTENTION of your reader
Narrative or Anecdote: Tell a (brief) story Illustration:Give an example related to your topic Surprising Statistic: Provides shocking or surprising fact Analogy:Draw a comparison between your subject andsomething else Statement of Opposing View:For effect, build up onepoint of view and then show the contrast with your thesis Quotation: Select a famous quotation that relates to yourtopic (needs to be stated by someone with authority) Bridge How are you going to connect your HOOK to your THESIS?
Since your HOOK is a broad statement and your thesis isfocused, you will need a sentence or two to draw theconnection! BUILD A BRIDGE Example HOOK: Many of us carry them with us wherever we go.Whetherit is a four-leaf clover, a horseshoe, or a rabbits foot, these charmshelp ensure that things go our way. BRIDGE: On Sunday of the first weekend of the 1999 season, itseems that the Dallas Cowboys were in possession of all three of these items. During their game against the Washington Redskins,the Cowboys somehow managed to stage a comeback against apreviously undefeated team. All teams enjoy some measure of luckat one time or another, but the Dallas Cowboys franchise appearsto have had more than its share. THESIS:The Dallas Cowboys have historically been the luckiestteam in the National Football League Introductions Hook Bridge Thesis The attention-getter
Sentence connecting the hook to the thesis Thesis Your statement of purpose for the essay Introductions Hook Grab the ATTENTION of your reader
The purpose of the hook, or attention-getter, is to capturethe readers attention, to make him or her want to continuereading. The hook should be relatively short (one sentence, maybetwo if absolutely necessary). Introductions Narrative or Anecdote: Tell a (brief) story related toyour topic Example:Jennifer had lost it all: her boyfriend dumped her, her bestfriend moved away, and the concert she had been looking forward towas canceled. Introductions Illustration: Give an example related to your topic
Example: Standing on a podium in front of one of the iconicbackdrop of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr., sharedhis dream with America and changed the world. Introductions Surprising Statistic: Provides shocking or surprisinginformation related to the general topic of the essay Example:According to a recent New York Times poll, 43% ofpilots admit to falling asleep during flight. Introductions Analogy:Draw a comparison between your subject andsomething else that may be comparable Example: A kettle sits on a stove gathering heat; slowly the waterbegins to boil, releasing steam from the spout. Introductions Statement of Opposing View:For effect, build upone point of view and then show the contrast with yourthesis Example: Some may say that poetry is a waste of time and energy,but for many, the complexity and layers of meaning that poets craminto lines of poetry speak to a part of the soul that no other mediumcan ever reach. Introductions Quotation: Select a famous quotation that relates toyour topic (needs to be stated by someone withauthority) Example: Famous poet Robert Frost once stated that, Poetry iswhen an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found itswords. Introductions Hook Grab the ATTENTION of your reader
Narrative or Anecdote: Tell a (brief) story Illustration:Give an example related to your topic Surprising Statistic: Provides shocking or surprising fact Analogy:Draw a comparison between your subject andsomething else Statement of Opposing View:For effect, build up onepoint of view and then show the contrast with your thesis Quotation: Select a famous quotation that relates to yourtopic (needs to be stated by someone with authority) Bridge BUILD A BRIDGEand get over it!
How are you going to connect your HOOK to yourTHESIS? Since your HOOK is a broad statement and your thesis isfocused, you will need a sentence or two to draw theconnection! BUILD A BRIDGEand get over it! Example HOOK: A kettle sits on a stove gathering heat;slowly the water begins to boil, releasing steam fromthe spout. BRIDGE: The slow build of pressure in a kettle issimilar to the slow build of Atticus Finchs lessons forhis children. THESIS:In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird,Harper Lee shows that the most meaningful lifelessons take time to fully develop. Example HOOK: Standing on a podium in front of one ofthe iconic backdrop of the Lincoln Memorial, MartinLuther King, Jr., shared his dream with America andchanged the world. BRIDGE: Today, in 2016, that dream is beingrealized because one man made a difference. THESIS:People who are dedicated to their dreamscan bring about great change for society. Examples: Courage Essay Prompt
John Wayne once stated, Courage is being scared to death,but saddling up anyways. Since his proclamation, this iconicman has inspired millions of people to do what they havebeen afraid to do. Courage is a way people stand up to theirfears. When people think of courage, they often think of knights inshining armor, daring military leaders , and adventurers whorisk it all. However, far more often, courage is the little things,like staying calm when danger is inevitable. Where there is aknight in shining armor, there is always someone waiting hisrescue. Courage can be shown in big an small ways, but it isarguably the hardest human trait to show. Concluding Statement Reword, rephrase, reimagine your thesis statement. For a 26-line EOC essay, this is enough to conclude youressay.Theres not room for much else. Make sure your concluding statement is separated into itsown paragraph! Expository Prompt Read the information in the box below: Sometimes changing your behavior is the only way to make up for a past mistake. Think carefully about this statement. Write an essay explaining how actions can be more powerful than words. Right actions for the future are the best apologies for wrong ones in the past. -Tyron Edwards Todays Expectations:
Prewrite/Brainstorm/Plan your response to thisprompt (actions speak louder than words). If you finish planning/brainstorming ideas, use theShaping the Paragraphs page to begin draftingyour essay. TOMORROW you will finish drafting and begin therevising and editing process. ON FRIDAY you will write out your final draft.