WRITING WORKSHOP

2015-2016
EXPOSITORY ESSAY
• Purpose
– To explain a topic in an organized, straightforward manner
• Elements
– 4 paragraphs (introduction, body paragraph 1, body paragraph 2, and
conclusion)
• Facts
– Expository essays will be on your English I STAAR test
– Each essay has 26 lines
– They are scored on a 1-4 scale, 1 being the lowest and 4 being the
highest
– NEVER use second person (you, you’re, yourself)
SHORT ANSWER RESPONSE
• Purpose
– To answer a question in a constructed response that is usually
limited to one or two pieces of text
• Elements
– Thesis, text evidence, explanation/analysis, concluding (or “So
What”) statement
• Facts
– SARs will be on your English I STAAR test
– There are two types of SARs: connecting and single
– An SAR has 10 lines
•Purpose
HOOK
–A hook serves to grab a reader’s attention and let him/her decide whether to continue reading or not.

•Hook writing resources

–Quotes, anecdote (amusing story), startling facts, a definition

•Examples
–QUOTE: General Patton once said, “If a man does his best, what else is there?”
–ANECDOTE: There was nothing more isolating than being alone in a foreign country, with no cell
phone, no money, and no ability to speak the language.
–FACT: China is going to spend $850 billion to clean up its water supply over the next decade.

•Facts
–A hook is 1-2 sentences
–It is the very first sentence of your essay
THESIS STATEMENT
• Purpose
– A thesis statement states your point of view over a topic. It is
the heartbeat of your paper and what all of your ideas are
revolved around.
• Elements
– Topic + Opinion + Why
• Facts
– ALL papers must have a thesis statement
– Thesis statements belong in the last sentence of your
introduction paragraph
TOPIC SENTENCE
• Purpose
– States a point the writer wishes to make about the subject. It
serves as the main idea of a body paragraph.
• Facts
– The topic sentence should NOT be too general or too specific.
– Topic sentences state the main point/purpose rather than focus
on just one detail
 TRANSITIONS
• Purpose
– Transitions are words or phrases used to connect one idea to the
next within an essay and/or paragraph.
• Examples
– Furthermore, in addition, on the other hand, in fact, alternatively,
similarly, however, above all, on the other hand, in summation, all
in all
• Do NOT
– Use the transitions “first,” “second,” “third,” “last” – these are
elementary transitions. Be more creative!
 EVIDENCE
•Purpose
–Providing evidence provides concrete examples to validate your point of view.

•Facts
–Evidence is mandatory for all essays and short answer responses.
–A paper based on hypothetical situations is a weak paper. Facts strengthen any point and/or argument.

•Essay evidence
–Pull from your own background knowledge using a current event, novel, historical event, song lyrics, poetry,
etc.
–Examples  September 11th, a Bible story, the riots in Baltimore, Anne Frank, Michael Jordan, MLK

•Short Answer Response evidence

–Pull a quote from the story or article you are reading and blend it in a sentence.
–Correct  My English teacher always tells me to “blend text evidence” right in the middle of my sentences in
order to “get a good grade.”
–Incorrect  “Blend text evidence in order to get a good grade.” That’s what my teacher always tells me.
“SO WHAT” STATEMENT
• Purpose
– The “so what” statement explains the importance of your
point of view by connecting your ideas to a bigger picture.
• Facts
– An essay “so what” statement can challenge the reader or
allow them to look to the future.
– A short answer response “so what” statement acknowledges
the author’s purpose.
 CONCLUSION
• Purpose
– Conclusions stress the importance of the thesis statement and
leaves a final impression on the reader.
• Elements of a conclusion
– Start specific by relating (not restating) back to your thesis
statement.
– End with a broad “so what” statement that will give your reader
something to think about – think globally!