Five-Paragraph Expository Essays

At some point in their educational careers, students will be assigned an expository essay -- so get a head start now! In this class, students will work to understand the format and compose two expository essays in an encouraging environment. 

Students will finish the class with two completed expository essays. For the first, they will choose from a list of prompts supplied by the instructor (examples: What is your favorite book, and why? What is your favorite sport, and why? If you could be any animal, what would it be, and why?). For the second, they will compose a compare/contrast essay using two items of their choice (these could be two book characters, two wars, two animals -- the topic will be guided by the student's interest). 

Throughout the class, we will engage in writing activities to teach and practice the important steps of brainstorming details, selecting the main idea (thesis), outlining sentences, composing the essay, and revising for mechanics and content. 

The ideal student understands the composition of a basic paragraph. If not, students should attend my Paragraph Construction Zone class prior to this class. 

WEEK 1: We will define an expository essay, discuss the parts of an essay, and look at example writings. Students will also select a topic for their essay. Homework is to work on the three body paragraphs. 

WEEK 2: We will focus on how to compose introductions and conclusions. Homework will be to complete and turn in their first essay. 

WEEK 3: We will examine the structure of a compare/contrast essay and choose topics. Homework is to work on their second essay. 

WEEK 4: In class, we will work on introductions and conclusions for our compare/contrast essays and learn how to revise our essays for both mechanics and content. Homework is to complete and turn in their second essay.