Expository Essay - Weekend Homework

There are 2 parts to your weekend homework. 

1) Grammar in Use until unit 16.

2) Complete the practices in this post.

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We will begin with practicing writing lead statements (a lead statement is the very FIRST sentence found in your essay).

Using the sentences given, form ONE lead statement using one of the techniques (you may refer to the Prezi presentation) for each example.

The practice can be found here.

Your introduction should begin with an *attention-grabbing* lead statement followed by your understanding of the topic with some background information. This should be followed by *hints* which lead your reader finally to your thesis statement. It is VERY IMPORTANT to state your thesis statement clearly as this will inform your reader of your stand and give an idea of what can be expected in your essay. After this, you should briefly mention the 3 points that you will be discussing in the essay. 

Topics: 

1) In the 21st century, how important is it to be able to read, write and speak good English in Singapore?

2) Does non-standard English have a place in Singapore's multi-racial society? Discuss.

3) Doing away with Singlish is akin to removing a part of our body from us. Do you agree?

4) With the government advocating proper English, we are gradually losing the Singaporean identity by doing away with Singlish. Discuss.

You would have started unpacking the key terms in at least one of these topics. Now, write a short introduction with all the key elements mentioned above. Introduction.

 YES WRITE. Don't be

Body

The paragraphs in the body of your essay each start with a topic sentence. For example, if my essay is about why Hawaii is the best place on Earth to holiday at, I may want to write one paragraph about it being beautiful. If the first sentence in the paragraph is 'Hawaii is a beautiful place', does it capture your attention or make you feel excited? The sentence is too simplistic. How can I improve on it?

There are a few phrases that you can use to present the same idea in a more impactful manner. These are a few you could consider using. 

Would you believe that...

Have you even wondered...

Without a doubt...

It is hard to believe but...

Have you ever thought about..

Also, try to use more sophisticated vocabulary. Instead of 'beautiful', you could use 'breathtaking', 'pristine', 'exquisite' or 'spectacular'. 

Going back to my sentence 'Hawaii is a beautiful place', I could modify it to 'There are many reasons why people say Hawaii is an exquisite place to holiday at'. Doesn't this sound better? 

Try revising these topic sentences on your own. Remember to use phrases and more sophisticated vocabulary. Revising topic sentences.

That's about it! See you in class on Tuesday :)

Expository Essays

An expository essay is built around a statement that is debatable. In other words, an expository essay discusses a topic that there is significant disagreement about among readers. Therefore, your essay has to support that statement in a manner that convinces the readers.

Let's begin with learning the difference between debatable and non-debatable statements.

Debatable statements: Statements with which others might or might not agree. (also known as arguments, assertions, propositions, premises). E.g. Solar energy is the best way of meeting Australia's energy needs in the 21st century.

Non-debatable statements: Statements with which no one would normally disagree or argue about. (also known as facts). E.g. Coal and oil are the main sources of energy in Australia in the 20th century. 


Exercise 1: Decide whether the statements in this link are debatable or non-debatable.



Writing your introduction


Refer to your expository handout: Analysing what make up introductory paragraphs

Read both introductory paragraphs and identify the words used that hint on the stand taken by the writer for each paragraph. Type your answers here.

Now, many of you may be thinking, "How can I start my essay?" There are a few ways you can capture your readers' attention from the very first sentence. These are called interesting leads and you will be introduced to some of the ways to write attention-grabbing lead statements.

Go through this presentation to familiarise yourself with writing lead statements for your introductory paragraph: 6 ways to write attention-grabbing lead statements.

You should be familiar with the 6 methods. Test yourself here!

Homework: Check this space over the weekend.