December UNIT of Study
Writing an expository Essay
o When we want to explain a topic clearly, by telling what something is, how something works, or how to do something, we use an expository essay. WRITING TO EXPLAIN
o This week we will be writing an expository Essat about a New Jersey.
o An expository essay starts with an Introductory paragraph
What your Introduction Paragraph Needs
A Lead: Catch the reader’s attention with:
An amazing or unusual fact
A question
A bold opinion
A statistic
Thesis Statement: Briefly and clearly, tell the reader what the piece will be about.
Then it needs 3 body paragraphs, each that explain a main idea with 3-4 details.
Finally it ends with a Conclusion Paragraph
The conclusion paragraph should sum up the piece of writing, restate the main ideas with style, and drive home, the thesis statement.
Based on the conclusion alone, the reader should be able to reconstruct the simple prewritng plan on which the piece was built, including the topic and main ideas.