Expository Essays

1. Expository Essays To explain a quote, situation or other topic to the reader

2. Guidelines • 30 minutes • 3 paragraphs • Explain your point of view on the topic given • This is NOT a speculative/narrative. Do NOT tell a story. • Explain what the quote means, the situation or other idea and clearly define it for the reader.

3. Format - Situation • Introduction • Hook – magic three • Bridge/Restate – transition us from the hook to the topic of the essay in one to two sentences by explaining the situation presented to you (restate the prompt without the actual question) • Thesis – One sentence explaining your point of view and what you’re going to discuss

4. Introduction sample • At the zoo, I was staring wildly at all of the native animals, imagining what it would be like to join them and pretending I had the powerful legs of those beautiful kangaroos. (hook) Typically, most people have a favorite animal, and mine is definitely the kangaroo. (bridge/restate) Kangaroos are both powerful and seemingly innocent which makes them so amazing. (thesis)

5. Format - Situation • Body • Give an example of a time when the situation applied to you or how it currently applies. • Include one of the following • Dialogue • Rhetorical Question • Figurative Language – metaphor, simile, idiom

6. Format – Situation • Conclusion • Restate the situation to remind us and refocus us • Summarize how the situation applied to you • Leave the reader with a lasting impression, something to think about • This should be similar to but not the same as your beginning/introduction

7. Magic Three • Prepositional phrase, I was verbwith description, verbwith descriptionand verb with description. • At the park, I was screamingwildly at the top of my lungs, imagining what it be like as a tribute andfighting like Katniss.

8. Example • At the zoo, I was staring wildly at all of the native animals, imagining what it be like to join them and pretending I had the powerful legs of those beautiful kangaroos. Typically, most people have a favorite animal, and mine is definitely the kangaroo. Kangaroos are both powerful and seemingly innocent which makes them so amazing. • To begin, the kangaroo has amazingly powerful hind legs; they must make up for the lack of power in their arms. Kangaroos can actually balance on their tails in order to punch a predator with their hind legs. Because of this, they are strong enough to kill a human being in one shot. One would think that kangaroos are innocent due to their mild appearance, but clearly that is not the case. Despite this powerfulness, kangaroos still appear harmless and innocent. After all, they keep their babies in little pouches on their bellies! All in all, kangaroos really are quite powerful and beautiful to observe. • In the end, kangaroos are quite astonishing animals. Many people like other animals for different reasons, but the kangaroo is clearly the most amazing. Wouldn’t you love to hop around all day and take out bad guys with one kick?

9. Format – Quote • Introduction • Incorporate the quote into the first sentence using adjective to describe the author and/or quote. • Explain what this quote means • Thesis – one sentence letting us know how this quote applies/impacts you or your understanding of it – your person connection to it

10. Format – Quote • Body • Explain in no less than eight sentences how this quote applies to your life. Give specific details and examples and make sure they are clearly understood by someone who does not know/has never met you

11. Format - Quote • Conclusion • Restate the quote again but differently from what you wrote in the first paragraph. • Explain once again what the quote means • Leave us with a lasting impression, one final rpofoud thought about the quote – a life lesson we can take away • This should be similar to but not the exact same as your beginnin/introduction.