- Explains
- Describes
- Illustrates
- Defines
- Informs
Expository Essay Structure - Introductory Paragraph
- Body Paragraphs (2 or more)
- Concluding Paragraph
Introductory Paragraph - Attention Grabber / Hook
- Background Information about the Central Idea
- Thesis
Introduction: Attention Grabber / Hook - What it is NOT
- Unrelated to prompt
- Not a sentence or question with “you” in it
- Not too specific
- Not a sentence with title/author in it (literary)
- What’s Its Purpose?
- Hooks reader’s attention
- 1st sentence(s) of intro. paragraph
- General/broad concept related to some aspect of prompt
Introduction: Background Information - What it is NOT
- Not too specific to prompt yet
- Not analysis
- Not a sentence with subtopics in it
- Not a quote from text
- Not extensive plot summary
- What’s Its Purpose?
- Provides context for reader (historical)
- Provides link between grabber and specifics of prompt
- LITERARY: TAGG statement (title, author, genre, gist of the story)
Introduction: Central/Controlling Idea - What it is NOT
- Not plot detail
- Not a basic fact
- Not something that cannot be proven or already is proven
- Not a quote from text
- Not unrelated to prompt
- Function/Purpose
- Connected directly to analysis part of prompt and commentary
- Provides analysis writer is asserting/ can be proven
- If about literature, usually about theme, purpose, impact on reader, tone, etc.
- Can be combined with the thesis
Introduction: Thesis - What it is NOT
- Not a plot detail
- Not a basic fact
- Not a quote from text
- Function/Purpose
- Provides content and organization of paper
- Includes subtopics that will be used to prove central idea (subtopics will be topics of body paragraphs)
- Belongs in last sentence of introduction
Body Paragraph - Topic Sentence
- Support A (Major)
- Evidence (Minor)
- Evidence
- Commentary
- Support B
- Evidence
- Evidence
- Commentary
- Concluding Sentence
- Restates / reaffirms your topic sentence.
- Your assertion the paragraph
- will prove with evidence.
Body Paragraph: Topic Sentence - What it is NOT
- Not a plot detail
- Not a basic fact
- Not a quote from text
- Not a sentence that cannot be or already is proven (ie, “Scout is one of the main characters in the novel.”) Bad!
- Function/Purpose
- States main idea AND assertion for each body paragraph
- Tied directly to thesis
- First sentence of body paragraph
- Should be able to read T.S. and ask, “How so?”
Body Paragraph: Support - What it is NOT
- Not too specific
- Not a quote
- Not analysis
- Function/Purpose
- At least two per paragraph
- Ways in which the assertion given in topic sentence can be proven
- Answers, “How so?” from topic sentence
Body Paragraph: Evidence - What it is NOT
- Not a question
- Not analysis
- Not irrelevant examples or details
- Function/Purpose
- Specific quotes, concrete details, anecdotes, etc. to illustrate each support
- 2 pieces of evidence for each support in HSPE/MSP-style essay
- 1 quote in literary analysis minimum for each support
Body Paragraph: Commentary - What it is NOT
- Not plot summary or detail
- Not restatement of majors/minors/quotes
- Not unrelated to prompt
- No critique of book or advice to the reader
- Function/Purpose
- Writer’s analysis connecting evidence to the topic sentence/claim
- If about literature, usually about theme, purpose, impact on reader, tone, etc.
- A “This shows that…” statement
- When writing commentary, ask yourself:
- Why did I choose this evidence?
-
- Why is it significant to prove my topic/claim?
-
- How does this evidence prove my topic/claim?
- What effect does this evidence have on my reader?
Body Paragraph: Concluding Sentence - What it is NOT
- No quote from text
- No introduction of new idea
- Not exact wording as topic sentence
- Function/Purpose
- Provides closure for body paragraphs
- Last sentence of body paragraphs
- Restates topic sentence
- May be optional in shorter essays
- Another Useful Organizer for an Expository Body Paragraph
Concluding Paragraph - Restate Thesis
- Summarize main ideas
- Conclude with final
- thought-provoking, memorable insight
Concluding Paragraph - What it is NOT
- Does not start with “In conclusion…”
- Not word-for-word restatement of thesis/ central idea
- No new information introduced
- Do not end on a question
- Do not include “lesson” for your readers
- Function/Purpose
- Provides closure for essay
- Restatement of thesis/ central idea using different wording
- Brief summary of main ideas presented in essay (esp. in longer essay)
- Final thought-provoking/ memorable (relevant) insight
Things to AVOID in your essay - First person pronouns (“I,” “me,” etc.)
- Second person pronouns (“you,” “your,” etc.)
- Contractions (“It’s,” “They’re,” etc.)
- Slang
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