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Expository Essay: Pre-Writing Worksheet

Before you begin any writing assignment, it is often necessary to complete several “pre-writing” activities. This worksheet will assist you with several of the pre-writing activities necessary for completing your expository essay including selecting a topic, brain storming, developing a thesis statement, and identifying the audience for you essay. Follow the instructions to complete these pre-writing activities. Make sure you complete all 7 sections of this worksheet.

1. Choose a Topic

Here is a list of possible essay topics to use for your expository essay.

Please choose only one topic. You will indicate the topic you have chosen within the table below.

· If you have a topic that you are passionate about please contact your instructor for their approval on the topic. Remember that your topic must be a topic where you can provide facts, not opinions.

· Video games AND violence

· Internet AND workplace

· Exercise AND obesity

· Academic achievement AND library

2. Read the Module 1 lecture and review “The Writing Process” media piece.

Be sure to read your Module 1 lecture and review the “The Writing Process” media piece for instructions on how to develop a thesis statement and how to identify your audience. You will need to know how to do this in order to complete the table below and successfully begin your writing process.

“The Writing Process”

· “Menu”

· “Who is the audience?”

· “How should I brainstorm?” (Because you are required to choose your topic from the list above, not all brainstorming examples will be pertinent to this assignment. When reviewing the “Brainstorming Examples”, “Break down Topic” may be a good one to start with. However, be sure to review them all to determine which works best for you.)

· “How do I develop a thesis?”

· “How do I organize my brainstorm into an online?” (You will complete this in Module 4)

3. Expository Essay – True or False

After reading through the Module 1 Lecture, answer the following questions with a True or False answer.

1. An Expository Essay is your opinion.

2. This Expository Essay will also be a five paragraph essay.

3. You do not have to use research to support your topic in your essay.

4. Your Expository Essay must have a thesis statement.

5. Your thesis statement will be the last sentence in your introduction paragraph.

6. For this Expository Essay, your thesis statement can have more than 3 sub-topic areas.

4. Brainstorming

Based on the information you learned in the media piece “How should I brainstorm”. Complete the following section about brainstorming. Choose 2 of the 6 brainstorming methods you prefer and complete the methods by fill out the following tables with information about with the topic you have chosen from above.

What is your 1st Brainstorm Method? (Make sure you actually complete the method about your topic in this box)

What is your 2nd Brainstorm Method? (Make sure you actually complete the method about your topic in this box)

5. Creating your Thesis Statement:

Below is an example table of a topic and three sub-topic points resulting from brainstorming. From this example you can see how to formulate your thesis statement based on ideas you have brainstormed about a topic. In addition, below the table is an outlined version of how to put a thesis statement together, based on sub-topic points.

Example:

Example:

Sub-topic Point 1 = dedication

Sub-topic Point 2 = accountability

Sub-topic Point 3 = effective time management

Example Thesis Statement:

Students can attain success in the online classroom through dedication, accountability, and effective time management.

Your Turn: Fill out the table below with the three most important sub-topics you found from brainstorming about your topic.

Now, outline your sub-topic points and write them below.

Sub-topic Point1 =

Sub-topic Point 2 =

Sub-topic Point 3 =

Your Thesis Statement:

Now create this into a statement. Remember your thesis statement needs to be a one sentence statement!

Example:

6. Expanding on your Sub-topic Points: Below is an example of how to expand on your thesis statement sub-topic points to develop your supporting paragraphs of your essay.

Your Turn: Fill out the below table based on your thesis statement about your topic and supporting points. Under each supporting paragraph point write additional information to expand on each point to help develop your talking points within your 3 supporting paragraphs for your Expository Essay.

7. Identify Your Audience: Submit this completed worksheet to the Expository Essay: Pre-Writing Worksheet drop box by the end of Day 7 of Module 1.

1. Who is your audience? Think about who will be affected by your topic choice.

2. What would be important to your audience?

3. What is the appropriate way to address this audience (professional, familial, friendly)? Explain your choice.

What is your topic?

*

1st Sub-topic Point?

*

2nd Sub-topic Point?

*

3rd Sub-topic Point?

*

Thesis Statement

* Students can attain success in the online classroom through dedication, accountability, and effective time management.

1st Supporting paragraph, point 1

*Dedication

2nd Supporting paragraph, point 2

*Accountability

Supporting point 2

* Setting personal and realistic expectations

3rd Supporting paragraph, point 3

*Time Management

Supporting point 2

* Setting realistic goals/making sacrifices

Supporting point 1

* Inner drive

Supporting point 1

* Student holding themselves accountable

Supporting point 1

*Maintainging a shcedule

Supporting point 2

*Motivation needs to be key trait

Supporting point 3

* Decision to commit to an education

Supporting point 3

* Effective communication skils

Supporting point 3

* Creating a more structured/balanced life

What is your thesis statement?

*

1st Supporting paragraph, point1?

*

Supporting point 2?

*

2nd Supporting paragraph, point 2?

*

Supporting point 2?

*

3rd Supporting paragraph, point 3?

*

Supporting point 2?

*

Supporting point 1?

*

Supporting point 1?

*

Supporting point 1?

*

Supporting point 3?

*

Supporting point 3?

*

Supporting point 3?

*

Topic

*Online learning and being a successful student

1st Sub-topic Point

*Dedication

2nd Sub-topic Point

*Accountability

3rd Sub-topic Point

*Time Management

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