What is an Expository Essay?

Writing to:

Purpose: to present important info about a specific subject/topic.

Expository Essay – Top Flap

Expository Writing

Essays

News Articles

Non-Fiction Books

Textbooks

Classroom notes

Most letters

Expository vs. Narrative

No characters

No setting

No story unless it

is a concrete

detail in your

essay

Focus is to

explain or inform

I, me, myself, my, we

HOOK Hook the reader to get their attention

BRIDGESTATEMENT

Bridge the gap between the hook and thesis.

THESISSTATEMENT

(1 super-clear, super-focused ROCKSTAR sentence that states your purpose) It’s your road map!

topic + position+ reason/method

INTRODUCTION

Possible BS: SSQ – MAD

S urprisingfact or statement:

Ex: According to a recent New York Times poll, 43% of pilots admit to falling asleep during a flight.

S uspense:Ex: His head was aching and his legs were pacing back and forth as he tried to make the most difficult decision of his life.

Possible BS: SSQ – MAD

Q uotation (from a book, famous person, song, or movie)

Ex: Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “The time is always right to do what’s right.”Ex: “You can’t always get what you want” is not just true in a song; it’s true in life.

M etaphor or simile

Ex: The brain is a dam waiting to burst.

Ex: Pursuing a dream is like running in a race with no finish line.

Possible BS: SSQ – MAD

A necdote Ex: A woman, tan and leathery, stood at the corner holding a cardboard sign, asking for an ounce of humanity.

D ialogue Ex: “Don’t you walk out that door,” he screamed as she decided to walk away from yearsof abuse.

Practice writing a thesis statement with the following prompt:

Write an essay explaining what it means to be a survivor.

**Remember to label Topic, Position, and Reason.

Prompt: Write an essay explaining what it means to be courageous.

Hook: John Wayne once said, “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”

Bridge: Since then, this iconic man has inspired many to do what they have always feared.

Thesis: Being courageous means standing up for your beliefs no matter how frightening, in order to make progress.

Practice writing a solid introduction with the following prompt:

Write an essay explaining what it means to be a survivor.

**Remember to use your foldable to create a good hook, bridge, and thesis.

History Experience/Events

Literature/Media

Pop Culture

• Wars• Presidents/candi

dates• Movements

(civil rights,MLK, Rosa Parks, Malcom X, BLM, marriage equality, women’s rights)

• Natural disasters

• Documents (Bill of rights, constitution, Declaration of Independence)

• Laws• Genocide• Court Cases

• School events• 911• ISIS• Trump• Hurricanes• Protests (DACA,

social injustice,Planned Parenthood)

• Immigration• Graduation• Olympics and

sporting events• Quinceñera• Shootings/mass

murder (Las Vegas, Columbine, Sandy Hook)

• Weddings/funerals/births

• Speeches• Personal experiences

• The Giver• “The Most

Dangerous Game”• Anthem• Romeo & Juliet• “A Sound of

Thunder”• “The Necklace”• Night• Bronx Masquerade• “Still I Rise”• “Greed”• News/articles• Poetry• Movies• Television (Reality

shows/game shows, drama, educational)

• The Bible

• Music• Sports• Social media

(Twitter, Instagram, Gofundme)

• Technology (video games, computers, hand-held devices, advancement in medicine)

• Fashion/shoes/brands

• Celebrities• What’s trending• Art/artists (street

art)

Use a glue stick to paste this on the back of your foldable. I was NICE and didn’t make you copy it

down. You’re welcome