1. Expository Essay
Academic Vocabulary

2. What is an expository essay?

3. Expository Essay
A type of writing where the purpose is to inform, describe, explain, or define the author’s subject to the reader.

4. What is a thesis statement?

5. Thesis Statement
The main idea or point of an essay or article; in an argumentative essay the thesis is the writer’s position on an issue.

6. What is a topic sentence?

7. Topic Sentence
A sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph; in an essay, it also makes a point that supports the thesis statement.

8. What are concrete details?

9. Concrete Details
Specific details that are most often what we see and hear. In literature essays, concrete detail means examples or quotations from the text.

10. Transitions
What are transitions?

11. Transitions
A word, phrase, sentence, or series of sentences connecting one part of a discourse to another.

12. Hook
What is a hook?

13. Hook
An interesting quotation, anecdote, or example at the beginning of writing that grabs readers’ attention.

14. Conclusion
What is a conclusion?

15. Conclusion
The last paragraph in your essay. It should do one or more of the following: a)sum up your ideas; b)reflect on what you said in your essay; c) say more commentary about your subject; d)give a personal statement about the subject; e) make predictions. It gives a finished feeling to your whole essay. It does not include concrete details.

16. Facts
What are facts?

17. Knowledge of information based on real occurrences.
Facts
Knowledge of information based on real occurrences.

18. Opinions
What are opinions?

19. Opinions
An opinion is a subjective belief, and it is the result of emotion or interpretation of facts.

20. What is an introduction?

21. Introduction
An introduction is the first paragraph in your essay. It should capture the readers’ attention, and identify the topic and purpose.

22. What are commentary sentences?

23. Commentary Sentences
Sentences that show your opinions about something. Interpretation Personal Response Analysis Insight Reflection

24. What is a concluding sentence?

25. Concluding Sentence
It is the sentence at the end of a paragraph which summarizes the information that has been presented.

26. What are body paragraphs?

27. Body Paragraphs
Body paragraphs have the concrete details and commentary that will prove your thesis statement. TS: Topic Sentence CD: Concrete Detail CM: Commentary Sentence CS: Concluding Sentence