Expository EssaysExpository Essays

Intended to explain, inform, Intended to explain, inform, illustrate, or defineillustrate, or define

FormatFormat

IntroductionIntroduction Two or more body paragraphsTwo or more body paragraphs ConclusionConclusion

Two body paragraphs=four Two body paragraphs=four paragraph essayparagraph essay

Three body paragraphs=five Three body paragraphs=five paragraph essayparagraph essay

IntroductionIntroduction An introduction should be An introduction should be at leastat least four four

sentences long. sentences long. It should move from broad to specific.It should move from broad to specific. It contains (one sentence each):It contains (one sentence each):

Attention GrabberAttention Grabber – general, 1+ sentence(s) – general, 1+ sentence(s) ask a question, state an alarming fact, problem, or statistic, ask a question, state an alarming fact, problem, or statistic,

define an important word, or use a quote—HOOK!define an important word, or use a quote—HOOK! Background InfoBackground Info – narrows the focus (when dealing – narrows the focus (when dealing

with literature, include author and title)with literature, include author and title) Central/Controlling IdeaCentral/Controlling Idea – what the essay should – what the essay should

proveprove Thesis StatementThesis Statement – how your essay is organized in – how your essay is organized in

order to prove your central ideaorder to prove your central idea

Body ParagraphsBody Paragraphs A body paragraph expands the topic. This is A body paragraph expands the topic. This is

where you explain, inform, illustrate, or where you explain, inform, illustrate, or define.define.

It contains:It contains: Topic SentenceTopic Sentence

Major SupportMajor Support Minor SupportMinor Support

CommentaryCommentary Minor SupportMinor Support

CommentaryCommentary TransitionTransition Major SupportMajor Support

Minor SupportMinor Support CommentaryCommentary

Minor SupportMinor Support CommentaryCommentary

TransitionTransition Concluding SentenceConcluding Sentence

Topic SentenceTopic Sentence

one statement; particular point from the one statement; particular point from the thesis; how you will support the central thesis; how you will support the central idea (idea (notnot a simple fact/quote/summary) a simple fact/quote/summary)

First sentenceFirst sentence main pointmain point DOES NOT:DOES NOT:

Contain direct quotationsContain direct quotations Contain a rhetorical questionContain a rhetorical question Summarize the plotSummarize the plot State a factState a fact

Example Topic SentenceExample Topic Sentence

Atticus Finch is a character in the Atticus Finch is a character in the novel novel To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird..

Atticus Finch is a courageous Atticus Finch is a courageous character in the novel character in the novel To Kill a To Kill a MockingbirdMockingbird..

Major SupportMajor Support

support for the topic sentencesupport for the topic sentence Answers: “How is my topic sentence Answers: “How is my topic sentence

true?” “What makes my topic true?” “What makes my topic sentence valid?” or “Why is my topic sentence valid?” or “Why is my topic sentence true?” sentence true?”

DOES NOTDOES NOT Contain direct quotationsContain direct quotations State a fact (instead, explain)State a fact (instead, explain) Summarize the plotSummarize the plot

Minor SupportMinor Support

SPECIFIC EVIDENCE SPECIFIC EVIDENCE textual evidence or quotes, examples, textual evidence or quotes, examples,

facts, details, etc. facts, details, etc. Must have lead-inMust have lead-in Must make senseMust make sense Should support the topic sentence fullyShould support the topic sentence fully DOES NOTDOES NOT

Summarize Summarize Appear without commentaryAppear without commentary

CommentaryCommentary

Analyze the minorsAnalyze the minors Explain the minors in relation to Explain the minors in relation to

your assertion in the topic sentence your assertion in the topic sentence (“So what?” and “Why is this (“So what?” and “Why is this important?”)important?”)

See notes on lead-ins and citations See notes on lead-ins and citations for ideas of what to writefor ideas of what to write

Commentary DOES NOT:Commentary DOES NOT:

Summarize Contain direct quotationsSummarize Contain direct quotations Use “I think,” “I feel,” “I believe,” or Use “I think,” “I feel,” “I believe,” or

“In my opinion”“In my opinion” Repeat the major supportRepeat the major support Restate something that can be found Restate something that can be found

directly in the textdirectly in the text Explain lessons the characters learnExplain lessons the characters learn Paraphrase minor supportsParaphrase minor supports

TransitionTransition

words/phrases/clauses which link words/phrases/clauses which link ideas Makes the paragraph easier to ideas Makes the paragraph easier to readread

FlowsFlows Not formulaic (first, second, third, Not formulaic (first, second, third,

next, finally, in conclusion)next, finally, in conclusion)

Concluding SentenceConcluding Sentence

Restates the topic sentence Restates the topic sentence CREATIVELYCREATIVELY

sense of closure sense of closure DOES NOT:DOES NOT:

Contain direct quotationsContain direct quotations Contain a rhetorical questionContain a rhetorical question SummarizeSummarize Give new informationGive new information

ConclusionConclusion

sense of closure and completionsense of closure and completion It contains:It contains:

Restating the ThesisRestating the Thesis –different words to –different words to bring the reader back to the overall bring the reader back to the overall pointpoint

Referring to Main PointsReferring to Main Points –usually major –usually major supportssupports

Strong Closing StatementStrong Closing Statement – satisfying – satisfying and powerfuland powerful

Things to Avoid in EssaysThings to Avoid in Essays

Do not speak directly to your Do not speak directly to your audience (do not use second person—audience (do not use second person—you). Do not give a moral to the story you). Do not give a moral to the story or tell them what they should take or tell them what they should take away from your essay.away from your essay.

Do not end with a question. Do not end with a question. Do not use first person (I, me)Do not use first person (I, me) Do not use contractions. Write them Do not use contractions. Write them

out.out.