English I: Expository Essay Assignment



English I: Expository Essay Assignment

I. Prompt: You are a person who has the ability to influence rules or laws—maybe a public school official, a politician, or a parent (the choice is yours)—and three of your rules have become rather unpopular. In an essay (at least two typed pages in length) that addresses those who dislike your rules, identify these unpopular rules, examine possible reasons for their notoriety, and explain why these rules are beneficial to those involved.

II. Purpose: --Why are you writing this essay? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

--List the three things you must accomplish with this essay:

1. _______________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________

--List six rules (or laws, policies, etc.) that are likely unpopular:

1. __________________________ 2.___________________________

3. ___________________________ 4. __________________________

5. ___________________________ 6. __________________________

--Circle three of those rules that are likely most unpopular:

III. Audience: Identify pertinent characteristics of your audience members. Are they young, old, educated, poor, related to you, etc.?

1. _____________________ 2. _________________________

3. _____________________ 4. _________________________

5. _____________________ 6. _________________________

IV. Genre:

A. Essay: a writing that presents a thesis statement (an argument backed up by evidence, details, explanation); this thesis statement guides the direction and organization of the essay.

B. Expository Essay: a writing that provides explanation: how to do something; the intent of something; why something is the way it is; etc.

Characteristics of an Effective Expository Essay

I. Title: A word or group of words (center yours at the top of the first page) that very

briefly captures the essence of the essay’s purpose

II. Introduction Paragraph (paragraph 1)

Remember A.C.T.

A. Attention Getter (enticing lead)

* First, in a sentence or two, get your reader’s attention with a question, a

startling statistic, an interesting quote, or a brief bit of action-packed

narration.

B. Context

* Describe the situation, background information that has prompted this

essay.

C. Thesis Statement

* Briefly present your argument—what you believe—concerning each of

the unpopular rules.

III. Body Paragraphs (paragraphs 2-4)

Remember T.E.A.

A. Topic Statement

* At the beginning of each body paragraph, identify one of the disliked

rules that you mentioned in your thesis statement.

B. Explanation of the Antithesis

* In each body paragraph, explain why each rule is unpopular;

provide details and examples.

C. Argument for the Thesis

* In each body paragraph, argue your thesis by explaining why each rule

is warranted (needed).

IV. Conclusion (paragraph 5)

Remember R.S.C.

A. Restatement of Thesis

* Reword your original thesis.

B. Summary of Key Points

* Briefly remind your reader of the unpopular rules and why they are

needed.

C. Completion of the Circle

* Tie up all loose ends with a clever remark, quote, stat, etc. that reminds

the reader of how the essay began—the attention getter—thus completing

the circle.

**Things to Remember:

1. Using formal language that adheres to American Standard English, write in complete sentences.

2. Avoid slang and the word “you.”

3. Skip a line between each line of writing.

Thomas Jefferson

1st hour

September 27, 2010

Example Introduction Paragraph

According to the Internal Revenue Service, the average American citizen will pay more money to Uncle Sam in his lifetime than what he spends on his home. Though most Americans would probably agree that some taxation is necessary to keep the State operational, some taxes are not entirely popular. Among these notorious tolls are taxes on service members’ benefits, on inheritances, and on online purchases. In cases such as these, Uncle Sam may seem like a greedy kid, constantly crying, “Give me! Give me!” Uncle Sam, however, needs these taxes to provide his citizens with essential services, safety, and sound infrastructures.

More Sample Attention Getters

1. Question:

Will the average American spend more money on taxes than on his house?

2. Quotation:

Gerald Barzan once said, “Taxation with representation ain’t so hot either.”

3. Action-packed narration:

Sprinting to the mailbox after an evening run, I hoped to receive my refund from the I.R.S. Instead of a refund, I found a bill for $190 because I had not declared some tuition assistance I had received several years ago.

“Well, how do you like that?” I said with disgust. “You serve your country, and promised tuition assistance is considered taxable income.”

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