Mrs. Hagen
Expository Essay Assignment:
Values. What do you value? What does your culture value? What does the society or culture that you studied value?
The next four weeks will be dedicated to delving deeper. You will determine a value that was prevalent in your interdisciplinary study of Greece, Rome, Africa, The Renaissance, or The Middle Ages. You will analyze this value in an expository essay as well as reflect on connections to your life and your values.
Once you have determined a value that was significant, you will create a five paragraph expository essay that explores and explains this value. You will use at least three aspects of [insert Greece, Rome, Africa, Renaissance or Middle Ages HERE] culture to explain and exemplify this value. Next, you will create a reflective, multi-‐paragraph piece of writing; you will make connections to your own life and values. Finally, you will create a slideshow that presents your information and analysis to the class.
The writing portion of this assignment will be a project grade. Your expository essay will be assessed for Ideas, Organization, Sentence Fluency and
Conventions. Your reflective, connections writing will be assessed for Ideas. Both writing pieces will be worth 40 points. The presentation will be worth 20 points. All three assignments will be reflected in the project portion of your grade.
Creating a Thesis Statement!!
Thesis = Topic + Assertion
Identify the topic of your essay.
Identify any potential assertions (statements) about your topic. These
statements should refer to your topic’s relevance today and why it has evolved over time.
Topic
+
Summary of the Comparison-‐Contrast +
Forecast
Thesis Statement Examples:
Ancient Roman cuisine has impacted the evolution of modern Chinese culture through aspects of preparation, types and availability of food.
Ancient Roman weapons, armor, and military tactics influence modern day warfare in significant ways; military has evolved to accommodate the modern demands of the United States.
Body Paragraphs:
Sub-‐Topic I & Topic Sentence: Sub-‐Topic II & Topic Sentence: Sub-‐Topic III & Topic Sentence:
Topic Sentence:
1) Topic is linked and in same order as the forecast 2) Transition or transitional phrase
3) Connection to previous paragraph for body paragraphs I & II 4) Broad introduction – save details for the body of the paragraph
Each body paragraph should discuss one of your subtopics in detail. You should introduce and explain why/how [insert sub-‐topic] demonstrates the value you selected.
Conclusion Sentence/Anchor: Each body paragraph should contain a conclusion sentence/anchor that relates back to your thesis and the topic of your paragraph. See below for pointers!
Writing Conclusion Sentences:
How do I end “this thing”? Conclusion sentences (or anchors) may seem redundant, but they are imperative to convey your final argument and parting thoughts.
Conclusion sentences should capture the essential idea of your paragraph and relate back to your thesis statement (the anchor of your essay).
Examples of Conclusion Sentences:
During The Middle Ages, religion was a pervasive aspect of culture and feudal order.
Creativity and ingenuity significantly impacted the culture of The Renaissance; artists began to explore new techniques and mediums.
Conclusion Sentences to AVOID:
As you can see, this is the meaning of this paragraph. In conclusion, this is why Rome was important. Religion is important.
Rome is important and relates to our daily life.
Conclusion Paragraph & Intensified Insight:
In scientific writing, your conclusion would concisely convey the results of research (proving or disproving your hypothesis) as well as leave the reader with an example of how the research may be conducted in the future (future applications &
intensified insight).
In Humanities, your conclusion paragraph and intensified insight are more abstract. You must concisely restate the topic/assertion of your paper, while leaving the reader with a new application (intensified insight). The trick is the “new
application” must not be an independent idea that requires another paragraph to explain. It must be an idea that is related to your current argument/thesis.
Examples of an Intensified Insight:
Food consumption will continue to be driven by the demands of society. As resources such as fish continue to be depleted due to overconsumption and environmental harm, staples of our society’s diet will continue to change.
Transitional Words & Phrases
Transitional words and expressions help connect ideas within and between paragraphs. They do this by showing relationships
Teacher: Your paper doesn’t show a smooth flow of thoughts. You need to add transitions between ideas and paragraphs.
Student: I have no idea what a transition is. What are some words that I can use to make my paper flow?
To Show: Use these Expressions:
Addition and
Comparison/similarity
In addition, also, too, besides, equally important, furthermore, moreover, additionally, further, first, second, etc., again, further, last, finally, as well as, next, likewise, similarly, in fact, as a result, consequently, in the same way, for example, however, thus, therefore Concession Granted, naturally, of course
Contrast/Exception In contrast, however, instead, on the contrary, on the other hand, otherwise, nevertheless, still, yet, contrarily, notwithstanding, however, in spite of, in contrast, conversely
Emphasis Of course, certainly, indeed, in fact, even so, truly, above all, surely, in fact, really, in truth, again, besides, also, furthermore, in addition Example For example, for instance, as an illustration, a case in point, namely,
specifically, to illustrate, in fact, thus, in other words, in particular Generality In general, for the most part, as a general rule, on the whole, usually,
typically
Result/Cause and Effect As a result, consequently, hence, then, therefore, thus, accordingly, for this reason, with the result that
Summary/Conclusion Finally, in short, in summary, in brief, in the end, on the whole, thus, in other words, therefore, consequently, as a result, accordingly
Time sequence Today, tomorrow, yesterday, once, now, then, eventually, meanwhile, subsequently, finally, first, second, third, afterwards, at last
Transitional chains, to use in separating sections of a paragraph arranged chronologically:
First... second... third...
Generally... furthermore... finally In the first place... also... lastly
In the first place... just in the same way... finally Basically... similarly... as well
Expository Essay Outline
TITLE: (This SHOULD NOT be: An Expository Essay about Rome)* * We will talk about this before the essay is due*
Introduction (Paragraph 1)
Opening Sentences: Topic:
Forecast & Thesis Statement: Topic + Assertion= Thesis
Body Paragraph (Paragraph 2)
Transition, Topic Sentence:
Examples & Explanation (Assertion + Evidence): introduce and explain why/how [insert sub-‐topic] in [insert culture/society here] values [insert value here].
Conclusion Sentence/Anchor:
Body Paragraph (Paragraph 3)
Transition, Topic Sentence:
Examples & Explanation (Assertion + Evidence): introduce and explain why/how [insert sub-‐topic] in [insert culture/society here] values [insert value here].
Conclusion Sentence/Anchor:
Body Paragraph (Paragraph 4)
Transition, Topic Sentence:
Examples & Explanation (Assertion + Evidence): introduce and explain why/how [insert sub-‐topic] in [insert culture/society here] values [insert value here].
Conclusion Sentence/Anchor:
Conclusion Paragraph (Paragraph 5)
Transition, Summary of forecast/thesis: Intensified Insight:
