Expository Essay

Expository = Explain
Introduction
Body Paragraphs
Conclusion

Introduction
Hook
Introduce Topic
Thesis

Controlling Idea

What the rest of the essay is about

Body Paragraph
Subtopic

Topic Sentence

3 Supporting Details

Develop by using

Examples from real life situations

Definitions of complex ideas

Comparisons

Contrasts

Combinations of all of the above

Conclusion
Rephrase your thesis
Sum up what has been said
Gives paper a sense of importance and finality

STAAR Scoring
Each essay is read by two test readers
Tests are graded with a number between 1 and 4
The two numbers from the two readers are added
together, and that is your essay score.
http://www.comalisd.org/Curriculum_Instruction/Langu
age_Files/ELA_Rubrics/Rubric-G07-WrtgExpository.pdf

Prompt
READ the information in the below:

In 1955 medical research Jonas Salk introduced an effective

polio vaccine. At the time polio was considered the biggest
threat to public health, yet Salk refused to profit by patenting
the vaccine because he was more concerned with preventing
disease than with personal gain

Although many people work to benefit themselves, some

people choose to put others first. THINK carefully about
this statement.
WRITE an essay explaining whether people should be
more concerned about others than themselves.

Example #1
Thinking about others before you is a nice thing to think of, but if
you think of yourself first it makes you feel isolated. Caring about
others before you isnt a bad thing, but thinking about yourself isnt
bad either.
To me I think of others before me. Some people have the good life,
others dont. Ill rather put myself in danger than others being in
danger as well. Im only one person but risking myself could save
more than one life. When your in a room where there seems to be a
fire some people will think of themselves while others think of the
rest. The doctor could risk himself of getting polio but he could save
hundreds of lifes that currently have polio. To me people that think
of themselves before others are selfish and maybe greedy, but
others that think of others are kind people.

Example #2
Humanity has a funny way of contradicting itself sometimes. All children
are taught to share and put others needs before our own. Somewhere
down the line we realize that the very people who preach these things to
us dont follow their own rules. It is very important in society today to
remember the bigger picture, which often includes doing things to help
others with no benefit to yourself.
People use each other for personal gain all the time. A glorified outlook
on this way of life is all around us. In media people are more concerned
with which Hollywood star is going out with which millionaire rather than
the thousands of people dying of hunger in third world countries. As
consumers we see this life and wish to be like that.
Doing something for monitary gain is just like money itself: easily
expendable and transient. But doing something to help others lead to
emotional or moral gain. The memmories and feelings you get from
helping others wont every go away. Its worth something to you. Worth
more than money every could be.

Practice
READ the information below

Jane Austen (1775-1817) and Franz Kafka (1883-1924) are

considered great writers. Their books continue to sell, and
they are widely read and studied in schools everywhere.
Neither of them, however, received much recognition while
they were alive.

Should people do things to be recognized? THINK

carefully about this question
WRITE an essay explaining whether a person must
always be acknowledged in order to have accomplished
something.

STAAR Expository Benchmark

READ the following quotation.

True humor is funit does not put down, kid, or mock. It makes people feel
wonderful, not separate, different, and cut off.

THINK carefully about the following question.

Does humor make life better?

WRITE an essay explaining whether it is important to laugh.

Be sure to

Clearly state your controlling idea

Organize and develop your explanation effectively

Choose your words carefully

Use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and sentences.

STAAR Practice Prompt

READ the following quotation

A famous businessman once said, Players win games; teams win

championships

THINK carefully about the following statement

Sometimes you can accomplish good things by yourself but better

things with other people

WRITE an essay explaining whether it is better to work by

yourself or with a group
Be sure to

Clearly state your controlling idea

Organize and develop your explanation effectively

Choose your words carefully

Use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and

sentences.

Wednesday, March 18
Composition Notebook
Bookshelf

STAAR Benchmark packet

26 Line STAAR paper

Transition Cheat Sheet