Expository and Essay Writing

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Expository and Essay Writing
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What is an expository essay?

• Exposition means to explain or point out
  something
• An essay is a piece of writing that starts off
  with a specific point of view and then develops
  and supports that point.
• An expository essay answers a specific
  question(s) about its subject.
• Justify thesis statement by asking
• What is it? How does it work?
• What is its significance?
• Why find this interesting?

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Five-paragraph format

• One paragraph introduction (contains thesis)
• One paragraph conclusion (echoes the main idea of
  the thesis)
• Three middle paragraphs (also called the body)
• Ranges between 400 and 800 words
• Like a hamburger - body is the meat and the bun
  (intro and conclusion) holds it together

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Preparing to write

• Brainstorming - free association
• Process of coming up with ideas
• Requires more ideas/organization than a paragraph
• Write what you know
• Choose a topic appropriate for short essay
• Use a cluster diagram - dont censor ideas
• Group ideas into logical units - notice
  similarities and begin sorting through
  information

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The Thesis Statement

• Sets out your position, approach and limits
• The statement that you will prove and support in
  the rest of the paper
• A thesis statement is a full sentence dont
  confuse it with your title or topic. It always
  contains
• a) the topic of your essay
• b) authors opinion
• c) three reasons to back up this
  opinion
• Example My favorite TV show is Friends because
  I like the characters, the plot lines, and the
  humour.

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Example Thesis
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3 rules for your thesis
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More Examples of thesis statements

• The rate of assimilation depends on an
  immigrants background, individual qualities,
  and situations
• In order to succeed, students need to attend
  their classes, do their homework, and study for
  tests.
• Using the drug ecstasy, can cause serious
  physical. mental, and emotional changes which
  could result in sudden death
• Love is a complex emotion because it cannot be
  reduced to a single definition. Answers a why

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Where to put your thesis statement
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Common mistakes about thesis statements

• A thesis statement should not be an announcement,
  such as, In this essay, I will discussed the
  differences between men and women.
• Like a topic sentence of a paragraph, it should
  be neither too broad nor too narrow
• It should not be a simple fact that leaves no
  room for discussion eg. For me, the best pets are
  dogs
• It should set out a plan that is manageable in
  five paragraphs ( or in the amount of space the
  essay is supposed to be)
• Just states an opinion. I like the movie My Big
  Fat Greek Wedding

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Making an outline
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Parts to an essay

• Introduction
• Middle Paragraphs (body)
• Conclusion

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Introduction

• Ist paragraph is your introduction
• Leads to thesis statement in last sentence
• Gives background info
• Narrows the topic of thesis down
• Doesn't include any supporting points
• Prepares reader for your argument
• Dont use statements like This essay will
  explain, or I am going to explain, or The topic I
  have chosen to write about - they are
  redundancies!

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Introduction can include
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Middle Paragraphs

• Body of your essay
• Follows the rules for a paragraph topic sentence
  3 points 3 examples
• Contains 1 main idea (Unity)
• Sentences in logical order (Coherence)
• Doesnt have conclusion use transition sentences
  to join to next paragraph
• A transition is a word or words that link ideas
  together. Examples For, but, however,
  furthermore, first, secondly, thirdly

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Conclusion

• Gathers all ideas expressed in intro and body
• Last chance to impress reader about main idea
• Restates the thesis but not in the same words
• Example Thesis What irks me about action movies
  is the unrealistic dialogue, the illogical
  actions of the hero, and the clichéd chase
  sequences.
• Because action movies contain a formulaic
  pattern, the audience can become annoyed with
  the repetition of similar ideas and images.
• Avoid an abrupt ending - wrap ideas up
• Offer a so what idea to close - show how it
  relates to a larger issue

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Another example of a conclusion

• Here is a thesis statement from an essay entitled
  Why Friend Is My Favorite TV Show.
• Friends is my favorite tv show because I like the
  humour, the characters, an the plots.
• In the conclusion, you would restate the thesis
  in new words.
• The hilarious situations, the comedic characters
  and the relevant plotlines make watching Friends
  the highlight of the week.
• Notice that the 3 points in the oroginal theses
  consisted of 2 words in each reason however, in
  the restated thesis, the 3 points are stated in 3
  NEW WORDS that mean the same thing

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The Final Paragraph

• For the essay about friends, you might write
  something like this
• Now, if anyone asks me to name my favorite TV
  show, I would have to say that it is Friends
  because I like the hilarious situations, the
  comedic characters, and the relevant plotlines.
  For these reasons, Friends is the show that I
  wouldnt miss for anything, even getting my
  research paper done on time!
• The underlined words are examples of transitions

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End of Slide Show