Expository Essay Structure

Structure of a General Expository Essay

The following maps a commonly used structure for many academic essays. Use this outline to guide you as you compose your own argument, research or even descriptive essay.

 

Introduction	Opening Sentence Start your paper with a general statement about your topic that catches the reader’s attention: a relevant quotation, question, anecdote, fascinating fact, definition, analogy, the position opposing one you will take, or a dilemma that needs a solution.   Context Provide the information the reader will need to understand the topic.   Thesis Statement State your arguable position on the topic that you will support with evidence in your body paragraphs.
Body Paragraphs	Topic Sentence Provide the main idea of the paragraph.   Supporting Evidence Include specific textual evidence: cited quotes, paraphrases or summary; or evidence that supports your thesis from other sources: anecdotes, first-person interviews or your own experience.   Analysis Explain to the reader the significance of the evidence you have provided. Think about why you chose to include it. How does the piece of evidence support your thesis? Remember, for every fact you should have 2 sentences of your own analysis of the fact. 2 facts per body paragraph.
Starting New Body Paragraph	Transition Connect each paragraph with a sentence or two that demonstrates how each idea leads into the next, and how they work together to support your position. And begin from Topic Sentence above.
Conclusion	Provide the reader an overview of the main ideas you discussed, but also be sure to highlight the progression of your thought process, offer solutions, next steps or present new questions that your paper generated. Don’t only restate your thesis but show the significance of your synthesis of the information. Connect to the world – why should we care about your topic?

 To download a copy of "My Outline" - Click here.

Blog 8: "The Machine"

DUE Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Bill Gates stated, “I think it’s fair to say that personal computers have become the most empowering tool we’ve ever created. They’re tools of communication, they’re tools of creativity, and they can be shaped by their user.” Why might one argue that a machine can be life-changing?Using examples from literature, history, science, or observation, write a 2 paragraph response about how a “machine”/”technology” can change the way of life. Make sure to be specific and detailed in your reasons and explanations.

Please read other posts before writing. A response that merely restates another blogger’s response will receive no credit. Think about both positive and negative changes when it comes to technology.
 

Using Sources - Remember 2 to 1 Ration (2 of your own sentences for every one from the source; explanation of research is needed)




CLICK ME for notes on how to use and comment on facts.

Thesis Worksheet



Click on the image to download worksheet.

Disorders PowerPoint

Disorders (Expository Essay Topics) from Lina Ell

Blog 7: Prompts from the Future.

DUE WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23, 2013

How would people in the Middle Ages respond to a television? What would someone from the 1700s think of a helicopter? What would a person from the early 1900s think of a computer, or more specifically, the Internet?

They would think these things were magical–either illusions or genuine supernatural occurrences. They might even believe the persons yielding the magical objects were witches, wizards, or gods.

But you and I both know that’s not the case. Televisions, helicopters, and computers are all very real, and thanks to modern technology, most of us have access to them.

We humans have a tendency to believe that we are at the apex of knowledge; that right now, we know as much as we ever will. As much as we love stories that depict the future (sci-fi or fantasy), we tend to think of them as fanciful. Sure, a great writer or a skilled filmmaker can help us suspend our disbelief for the duration of a book or a film, but sitting in your living room on an ordinary day, it all seems rather unlikely, doesn’t it? People bouncing around in time? Fighting intergalactic wars in outer space? Come on.

For this blog choose one of the following. The style could be explanatory or creative, it is up to you. A minimum of 2 paragraphs (if the blog will not let you post a longer piece, separate into two reply comments):

·         You must write a creative prompt from EITHER the point of view of someone in the past seeing our future (their interpretations of the item/event, their theories on it, reaction, what they think the item/event means).

·         OR write about the future – what do you think future (fill in the blank) will be like (medicine, travel, government, technology, world).

Freshmen Focus Day Response (30 points) - DUE THURSDAY at the beginning of class

For Freshmen - Directions: Write a reaction paper (5 paragraph response minimum) describing your experience throughout the Freshmen Focus Day activities. Use the following questions to guide you; however, add additional information to your response beyond these questions. Follow all the rules of good writing (focused ideas, clear organization, grammar, and sentence fluency.)Remember to explain each question thoroughly and use specific examples from the day to support your claims. When you are finished with a first draft, proofread your work then get it checked by me for submission. Final draft will be due Thursday at the beginning of the period.

I. Intro

·         What did you enjoy most about Freshmen Focus Day?
·         What are some significant things you learned from this experience?

II.

·         Did your color category fit your personality traits? Explain.
·         Which speaker did you like best? Why?

III.

·         Is there any particular career of interest to you? Describe what you would like to contribute to the world someday. How do you plan to reach your goal?

IV.

·         What would you say was the most successful part of the day? Explain.
·         What, if anything, could have made the day more significant and interesting for you?
·         What are some goals the school should focus on for the future success of this event?

V.Conclusion

·         How is motivation and hard work going to be an important way to achieve your goals?
·         Final comments about what you observed, and how it may apply to you in the future.

 

For Upper-classmen: Your essay will be on "The Most Interesting or Inspirational Person You Know." The rules for this assignment are that you have to personally know the individual (no celebrities). Explain in a minimum of 5 paragraphs what makes this person special, giving specific details as to their qualities. Choose 3 personality traits (one for each body paragraph) and use stories about the person to prove those qualities. For example, if the person is generous, recall a situation in which the person displayed that quality – remember to describe.

Paraphrasing Practice

If you are unsure about plagiarism vs. paraphrase, CLICK HERE for another website full of explanations and examples. Also, please follow the links below to complete the class activities and homework worksheet. 

• Practicing Paraphrase Worksheet
• Online Activities on Paraphrasing
• More Online Paraphrase Practice
• Last Online Activity for Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing Notes from the Pros

Quoted From  Purdue Online Writing Lab

A paraphrase is...

• your own rendition of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else, presented in a new form.
• one legitimate way (when accompanied by accurate documentation) to borrow from a source.
• a more detailed restatement than a summary, which focuses concisely on a single main idea.

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill because...

• it is better than quoting information from an undistinguished passage.
• it helps you control the temptation to quote too much.
• the mental process required for successful paraphrasing helps you to grasp the full meaning of the original.

6 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing

1. Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.
2. Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a note card.
3. Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you envision using this material. At the top of the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the subject of your paraphrase.
4. Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form.
5. Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source.
6. Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.

Some examples to compare

The original passage:

Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes. Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers. 2nd ed. (1976): 46-47.

A legitimate paraphrase:

In research papers students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester 46-47).

An acceptable summary:

Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 46-47).

A plagiarized version:

Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes, resulting in too many of them in the final research paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of the final copy should consist of directly quoted material. So it is important to limit the amount of source material copied while taking notes.

Plagiarism and Paraphrasing (when using sources) PowerPoint

Plagiarism and Paraphrasing from Lina Ell

I hate my phone -_-'

Giving kids rewards for doing good in school has its ups and downs. In my opinion giving kids rewards should come into action once and while. If you give your child a reward for doing something they are supposed to do, then they will not learn much. They will do their work, but not because they are intrigued as so much for the reward in the end. Kids would feel that if they do their work and study, whether they understand it or not, they should get a reward. Back then it wasn't like that. Kids did their work because they new they had to. Im sure here and there they got a reward, but not all the time. Therefore, kids should get rewards, but not so often

By you giving a child a reward for doing something they are supposed to do, is pretty much like giving them money for doing chores. Chores are something you should do around the house to help your parents. Same goes for school in a way. You should study for your benefit in the future. You shouldn't get reward for something that is for your good being. If you give kids rewards, then in the future when they are older they will feel they should get a reward for something they are supposed to do

Blog 6: Respect Week

Your response must be a minimum of 2 paragraphs and is due Tuesday October 15, 2013:

This week, schools across New Jersey celebrate Respect Week, where we give a little extra respect to our peers, teachers, loved ones, our neighbors, our pets (and even those people we don't like very much). As we go through the week, try and think of how you can embody this mantra in your own life - choose to respect someone else's opinion, not argue with them; help out your little brother, sister, cousin or parent; respect the beliefs of another culture (or at least their right to have a belief other than yours). There are many people who we can give respect to, both older and younger than us.

For your blog this week, I want you to think about the word "respect" and what it means to you. First, define the word in a personal way, perhaps illustrating with an interesting or colorful example. Tell us a situation when it was hard for you to respect someone (or try to think of a fictional character that has experienced a similar event). Relate a moment when a person has earned your respect.
We all know that we need to respect certain people. In your own words, describe the types (or specific) people that demand your respect, either habitually or occasionally. What makes them worthy of your attention and respect? Also, consider how one gets respect: is it something that is earned? or something that comes with a certain position or relationship to you? Explain. Think about how a person could lose respect (either self-respect or the respect of others) and how one earns it back. Isn't it difficult to earn the respect of someone whom you've let down? Finally, think about how you respect yourself: how do you evaluate your value? what actions to you take (or chose not to take) that show self-respect?

You do not have to tackle all of the questions above - they are meant to guide you and spark thoughts. I would much rather read a lengthy discussion of a few of the topics, with depth and meaning, than a list that answers all of them briefly.

Expository Sample Notes PowerPoint

Expository Writing from Lina Ell

Parts of Speech Worksheet

Click Me

Parts of Speech PowerPoint

English Parts Of Speech from guesta684c8b

Blog 5: Rewards in Education

DUE Tuesday, OCTOBER 8, 2013

Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.

Learning and doing are their own rewards. No external rewards are required. Yet when external rewards are introduced—whether attention and praise from parents or prizes from teachers—these rewards exert a substantial influence. Instead of reading books to find out about the world, kids will read to win prizes. Kids will produce for rewards, but the quality of their activity and their interest in it will be dramatically altered.

Adapted from Barry Schwartz, The Costs of Living

Assignment:

Is it wrong or harmful to motivate people to learn or achieve something by offering them rewards? Plan and write a minimum 2 paragraph response in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations. Post your response by Tuesday.