Expository Writing March 26, 2015

Organization/Progression * Appropriate and logical organizational structure. * Clear thesis statement focused on the prompt. * Logical progression of ideas. * Meaningful sentence to sentence connections. * Clear relationship between ideas.

Development of Ideas * Specific and appropriate development of ideas. * Specific details and examples adding substance. * Thoughtful and original response.

Use of Language/Conventions * Clear and specific word choice. * Varied and controlled sentence structures. * Adequate command of spelling, capitalization, punctuation, sentence boundaries, grammar, and usage.

Read the following quotation. Think carefully about the following statement. Sometimes you can accomplish good things by yourself but better things with other people. Write an essay explaining whether it is better to work by yourself or with a group. “Players win games; teams win championships.” --Bill Taylor

* In your own words, what is the prompt asking you to write? * What do you need to decide before you can answer the question? Write an essay explaining whether it is better to work by yourself or with a group.

* Brainstorm a list of ideas that address the prompt. * Choose the best 2 reasons/ideas. * Write these ideas in complete sentences. * These sentences will become the topic sentences for your body paragraphs.

TEACHERS, PLEASE TAKE STUDENTS THROUGH THE PRE- WRITING GRAPHIC ORGANIZER SECTION BY SECTION: 1. Have students write their topic sentences on the pre-writing page that we have provided. 2. Explain the FACE acronym, and ask students to come up with their own FACE evidence, writing it down on the pre-writing sheet. 3. For each piece of evidence, have students elaborate and connect the evidence to the prompt/thesis statement. 4. Remind students how to write a conclusion, and instruct them to do so at the bottom of the pre-writing page.

Thesis = Topic + Reasons Reason 1 – Topic Sentence:Reason 2 – Topic Sentence: Evidence (FACE): Evidence (FACE): Explain Evidence/Connect to Thesis: Conclusion – Summarize. Why does this matter?

1) May sure the entire essay is connected to the thesis statement. 2) Use transition words/phrases to connect your ideas. 3) Indent paragraphs 4) Capitalize the first word of each sentence and the pronoun “I.” 5) Punctuate the end of every sentence. 6) Combine short sentences into more complex sentences. 7) Avoid repetition. 8) Use a dictionary to check spelling. 9) Use a thesaurus to improve word choice. additionally also as well as furthermore in addition to for example for instance in fact similar to similarly however on the other hand

* Body Paragraph #1 * Topic Sentence * Detail * Body Paragraph #2 * Topic Sentence * Detail * Concluding Sentence * Thesis Statement