1. Expository Essay Instruction October 27, 2015 Please have notebook paper and a writing utensil.

2. Commentary – Practice  Sample Prompt #1: Write an essay explaining how being overly confident can result in trouble.  Thesis: Being overly confident can result in trouble when confidence becomes arrogance and when confidence blinds people from possible consequences.  Concrete Detail: The engineers who developed and produced the Titanic in the early 1900’s made a mistake in believing the ship to be unsinkable. Their overconfidence led to trouble when the boat hit an iceberg and began to sink in the Atlantic Ocean. There were not enough lifeboats and other provisions to save many of the passengers because it was believed there would never be a need.

3. Commentary – Practice  Concrete Detail: The engineers who developed and produced the Titanic in the early 1900’s made a mistake in believing the ship to be unsinkable. Their overconfidence led to trouble when the boat hit an iceberg and began to sink in the Atlantic Ocean. There were not enough lifeboats and other provisions to save many of the passengers because it was believed there would never be a need.  What lesson/concept/idea did the engineers of the Titanic learn?  What is a lesson/concept/idea that could apply to the entirety of the world?

4. Commentary – Practice  Sample Prompt #2: Write an essay explaining how failure teaches people important life lessons.  Thesis: Failure teaches people many important lessons like never giving up when there is only a minor chance of success and to practice moderation.  Concrete Detail: When Apollo 13 experienced difficulties in outer space and it was believed they would not make it back to earth, the astronauts and the team at NASA never gave up. After quick thinking and careful planning, the astronauts executed the plan with exactness and were able to make it back to earth.

5. Commentary – Practice  Concrete Detail: When Apollo 13 experienced difficulties in outer space and it was believed they would not make it back to earth, the astronauts and the team at NASA never gave up. After quick thinking and careful planning, the astronauts executed the plan with exactness and were able to make it back to earth.  What lesson/concept/idea did the NASA team and astronauts of Apollo 13 learn?  What is a lesson/concept/idea that could apply to the entirety of the world?

6. Commentary – Practice  Sample Prompt #2: Write an essay explaining how failure teaches people important life lessons.  Thesis: Failure teaches people many important lessons like never giving up when there is only a minor chance of success and to practice moderation.  Concrete Detail: In College Station, Texas, Texas A&M University had a yearly tradition of constructing a bonfire when playing their rival, The University of Texas. A&M’s tradition grew to where they built a massive tower of logs that reached upwards of 100 feet. In 1999, the bonfire fell, injuring and killing multiple people; today, the bonfire is much smaller and more secure.

7. Commentary – Practice  Concrete Detail: In College Station, Texas, Texas A&M University had a yearly tradition of constructing a bonfire when playing their rival, The University of Texas. A&M’s tradition grew to where they built a massive tower of logs that reached upwards of 100 feet. In 1999, the bonfire fell, injuring and killing multiple people; today, the bonfire is much smaller and more secure.  What lesson/concept/idea did the students at Texas A&M learn?  What is a lesson/concept/idea that could apply to the entirety of the world?

8. Expository Essay – Practice  Take out that essay from yesterday and write the other paragraph.  Make sure that the commentary is sufficient and truly fits the concrete details provided.  This will be turned in at the end of class.  Reminder: Expository essay for a summative grade on block day. Be here with your thinking cap on.