English 101 Example Essay

• EXAMPLEESSAY

• Textbook Examples

• 2
• For textbook examples, please see pages 222-241

• CHARACTERISTICS

• Also known as:
• Illustration essay OR Illustrative essay
  • not as in drawing or sketching
  • but as in demonstrating, proving, exhibiting, revealing, showing, exemplifying

• CHARACTERISTICS

• INTRODUCTION
• BODY Paragraph #1 (REASON #1)
• BODY Paragraph #2 (REASON #2)
• BODY Paragraph #3 (REASON #3)
• CONCLUSION

• CHARACTERISTICS

• Persuasive
  • that you clearly illustrate your points
  • not that you are trying to sell
  • not that you are speaking directly to the reader (no “you”)
• * STRONG THESIS STATEMENT
  • emphatic, declarative
  • topic + main idea + support

• CHARACTERISTICS

• PROOF = EXAMPLES
  • stats
  • specific people, places, objects
  • specific instances
  • anecdotes (brief informative stories to help develop ideas; like instances or occurrences)

• CHARACTERISTICS

• *TRANSITIONS *
  • for example, for instance,
  • furthermore, the best/most important example of, another example involves…

• CHARACTERISTICS

• * “EMPHATIC ORDER”:
• logically, effectively arranged
  • terms of interest
  • terms of audience identification
  • *move from least to most important/significant

• OUTLINE

• REASON

• REASON
• THESIS
• TOPIC
• REASON
• EXAMPLES
• EXAMPLES
• EXAMPLES

• INTRODUCTION

• “FUNNEL EFFECT”
• Generalization, Quote, Quip, Question, Stats Most people/Everybody
  • Most people have a favorite musician.
  • Everybody likes to listen to music.
  • “Music is the food of love,” said Shakespeare.

• INTRODUCTION

• NARROW TOWARDS YOUR THESIS:
  • Some/Others
  • Some people listen to Disco; others listen to Swing.
  • Some people prefer the thumping bass of Hip-Hop; others like the twanging steel guitar of Country. I, however, like to listen to the searing guitar of Classic Rock.”

• INTRODUCTION

• STRONG THESIS STATEMENT:
  • ends Introductory paragraph
  • topic + main idea + support
  • The Rolling Stones are my favorite band because of their insightful lyrics, their driving rhythms, and their awesome live shows.
  • Topic: Rolling Stones
  • Main Idea:my favorite band
  • Support:lyrics, rhythms, concerts

• INTRODUCTION

• THESIS
• *PARALLEL STRUCTURE:
  • One aspect of Parallel Structure applied to thesis statements suggests that items in a series must have the same form

• INTRODUCTION

• THESIS
• *ORDER:
  • rder in thesis = order in Body
  • The 1st, 2nd, 3rd reasons in your thesis will be the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd reasons in your Body paragraphs
  • the sample thesis above, the 1st Body paragraph will discuss the Rolling Stones’ lyrics, the 2nd their rhythms, and the 3rd their concerts

• BODY

• *BODY PARAGRAPH #1*
• REASON #1
  • topic sentence of the paragraph
  • for coherence & transition
  • One reason the Rolling Stones are my favorite band is because of their insightful lyrics.
• support this reason with plenty of specific and relevant EXAMPLES
  • Here, quote specific lyrics AND explain their “insightfulness.”

• BODY

• *BODY PARAGRAPH #2*
• REASON #2 (in topic sentence)
  • addition to their lyrics, another reason the Rolling Stones are my favorite band is because of their driving rhythms.
• support this reason with plenty of specific and relevant EXAMPLES
  • Here, describe this sound as best you can, using sense details, metaphors, comparisons.
  • Use specific songs to illustrate.

• BODY

• *BODY PARAGRAPH #3*
• this is the most important reason
• “EMPHATIC ORDER”
• REASON #3 (in topic sentence)
  • While I like them because of their lyrics and their sound, the most important reason the Rolling Stones are my favorite band is because of their awesome live shows.
• support with plenty of specific and relevant EXAMPLES
  • Here, describe anecdotally a particular concert you witnessed.
  • Use narrative & descriptive details to illustrate “awesome.”

• CONCLUSION

• Refer to opening generalization/scenario
• Repeat main idea
• Repeat thesis
• Repeat reasons
• Conclusion = last chance to “sell” your point
• End with an appropriate CLINCHER SENTENCE

• Topics

• WHY or WHY NOT:
• why you want to visit/vacation in ----
• why you want to transfer out to a particular school
• why instant replay

• Topics

• SPORTS: MVP, manager/coach of the year, AFC West is the toughest division in NFL
• FAVORITE or WORST: musician, artist, food, teacher, person, season, course . . .
• FAMILY: family values, problems faced & conquered

• TOPICS

• PET PEEVES: I hate/love Mondays, English Composition, your job
• famous person you admire most (“the person whom I most admire”)

• Topics

• ROLE MODEL:
  • Hero, most important/influential person
  • Whom do you admire most?
  • Who has had the greatest influence on your life?
  • Why not athletes, musicians, celebrities?
  • Topics
  • Cell Phones:
    • Reasons for everyday usage
    • Accessories
    • Availability of valuable information
    • Entertainment
    • and cheating in school
  • Sample Topic StatementsUse 3 reasons to support your claim; use clear, specific, relevant examples for each reason.
  • EDUCATION:
  • college degree should be mandatory.
  • Public schools (or private schools) do not properly prepare students for college.
  • Colleges – especially Division I schools – place athletics above academics.
  • college degree makes one a better person.
  • Sample Topic StatementsUse 3 reasons to support your claim; use clear, specific, relevant examples for each reason.
  • POP CULTURE:
  • Pop Culture celebrates stupidity (or marginalizes intelligence).
  • Sitcoms do not reflect the typical American family.
  • Video games encourage violence.