EXEMPLIFICATION ESSAY WRITING WORKSHOP
Question: What is this workshop designed to do?
Answer: Writing a well-developed exemplification (illustration) essay.
Exemplification/Illustration essay is an essay which is developed by using examples.
Step 1: Choose a topic.
Step 2: Narrow the topic
Step 3: Write a clear and specific thesis statement
Question: What is a thesis statement?
Answers: 1. limits the topic to a workable scope
2. unifies the points made in the body paragraphs
3. asserts a provable conviction
4. is specific
Statement: A thesis statement is not:
1) An announcement of the subject — “In this paper I will discuss the reasons students drop out of college.”
2) An indisputable fact — “Some students drop out.”
3) An unsupportable opinion — College is a useless pursuit.”
The thesis statement is the most important element of the essay. It is the central idea around which the entire essay is written.
— Everything before the thesis statement leads to it.
— Everything after the thesis statement reflects it.
Essay Guidelines
1) All paragraphs 5-7 sentences
2) No 2nd person (you or your) unless in dialogue
Use 1st (I, me, we, us, our) or 3rd (he, she, it, one, they, them, their)
3) Provide a title reflective of the essay
Do not underline or italicize. Do not place quotation marks. Capitalize important words
4) Reread text for grammar errors (p/a and s/v agreement, sentences errors, spelling, and wording –clarity of expression)
5) Vary sentence structure
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Title Reflective of the Essay
The first paragraph of an essay is the introduction which can be written in several ways, depending on the type of essay written. Two ways that one could form this introduction are by using general or background information about the topic which would lead to the thesis or by providing an anecdote which would lead to the thesis. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. The thesis statement will be the last sentence of the introduction, and it will also include the three elements which will be discussed in the body paragraphs.
First body paragraph’s topic sentence should introduce the first of the three discussion points stated in the thesis, including a transition so that fluidity between paragraphs exists. Writers should stay focused in the discussion of the point introduced, providing supporting details which are essential (examples, facts, reasons, incident, description).
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Second body paragraph’s topic sentence should introduce the second of the three discussion points stated in the thesis, including a transition so that fluidity between paragraphs exists. Writers should stay focused in the discussion of the point introduced, providing supporting details which are essential.
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Third body paragraph’s topic sentence should introduce the last of the three discussion points stated in the thesis, including a transition so that fluidity between paragraphs exists. Writers should stay focused in the discussion of the point introduced, providing supporting details which are essential.
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THE CONCLUSION: What is the main point of writing the essay? Writers never write just to write. There should always be a purpose in writing an essay, and that purpose should be expressed in the conclusion. The writers can ask themselves a series of question in order to become aware of the purpose. For example, what did they learn or what is the logical end to the ideas presented? The writers can also provide solutions and their benefits. If there are no solutions, the writer should explain why. What problems could be avoided? In the end, what should be learned? The thesis statement should not be rewritten verbatim. The phrase “In conclusion” is not necessary at the beginning of the conclusion.
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Anecdote: a brief story
Vary sentence Types
Clause — contains a subject and a verb
Two types of:
1) independent — are complete thoughts and can stand alone
2) dependent — are not complete thought and cannot stand alone
1. Simple — one independent clause
Ex. I walked into the room.
2. Compound — two or more independent clauses
Ex. I walked into the room, and I sat in a chair.
3. Complex — one independent clause and one of more dependent clauses
Ex. I walked into the room because I could not float.
4. Compound-Complex — two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clause
Ex. I walked into the room, and I sat in a chair because I did not want to sit on the floor.
Sentence Errors
Fragments — not a complete thought
Comma Splices — two independent clauses with one a comma separating them
Ex. I walked into the room, I sat in a chair.
Fused Sentences also known as Run-on Sentences — two independent clauses with no punctuation separating them
Ex. I walked into the room I sat in a chair.
Conjunctions — are connecting words used to signal transitions, such as addition, comparison, and contrast.
Types of:
1) Coordinating — join single words, phrases, clauses, and sentences
List: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
2) Correlative — consists of two or more words, and joins single words, phrases, clauses, and sentences
List: both . . . and, either . . . or, neither . . . not, not only . . . but also
3) Subordinating — makes a clause dependent and signals a connection that exists between the dependent clause and the main clause
List: after in case supposing that
although in that than
as (far/soon) as inasmuch as though
as if insofar as till
as though lest unless
because no matter how until
before now that when, whenever
even if once where, wherever
even though provided (that) whether
how since while
if so that why
4) Conjunctive Adverbs — link independent clauses
List: also in addition now
as a result in fact of course
besides in other words on the other hand
consequently in the first place otherwise
finally meanwhile still
for example moreover then
for instance nevertheless therefore
furthermore next thus
however
Transitions — Words, phrases, and sentences that relate ideas by linking sentences and paragraphs.
Types of:
To show addition
and, also, besides, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, next, too, first, second
To give examples
for example, for instance, to illustrate, in fact, specifically
To compare
also, in the same manner, similarly, likewise
To contrast
but, however, on the other hand, in contrast, nevertheless, still, even though, on the contrary, yet, although
To summarize or conclude
in other words, in short, in summary, in conclusion , to sum up, that is, therefore
To show time
after, as before, next, during, later, finally, meanwhile, then, when, while, immediately
To show place or direction
above, below, beyond, farther on nearby, opposite, close, to the left
To indicate logical relationship
if, so therefore, consequently, thus as a result, for this reason, since