1. THE BASICS OF THE
EXPOSITORY ESSAY

2. INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
Attention Getter:
Ask a question
Share a story or quotation
Give surprising facts or statistics
Offer important background information
Provide important definitions
Etc. Etc. Etc.
2. Claim/Thesis Statement—A statement of what you will prove throughout your essay.

3. MUST HELP TO PROVE YOUR THESIS CORRECT.
BODY PARAGRAPH #1
Claim/Thesis Statement—What will you prove within the paragraph?
Concrete Detail #1:
Commentary #1:
Commentary #2:
Concrete Detail #2:
Concluding Sentence/Transition—Provide a conclusion to the paragraph and prepare the reader for the next idea.
MUST HELP TO PROVE YOUR THESIS CORRECT.

4. MUST HELP TO PROVE YOUR THESIS CORRECT.
BODY PARAGRAPH #2
Thesis Statement—What will you prove within the paragraph?
Concrete Detail #1:
Commentary #1:
Commentary #2:
Concrete Detail #2:
Concluding Sentence/Transition—Provide a conclusion to the paragraph and prepare the reader for the next idea.
MUST HELP TO PROVE YOUR THESIS CORRECT.

5. MUST HELP TO PROVE YOUR THESIS CORRECT.
BODY PARAGRAPH #3
Thesis Statement—What will you prove within the paragraph?
Concrete Detail #1:
Commentary #1:
Commentary #2:
Concrete Detail #2:
Concluding Sentence/Transition—Provide a conclusion to the paragraph and prepare the reader for the conclusion.
MUST HELP TO PROVE YOUR THESIS CORRECT.

6. CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH Final Thoughts:
Refer back to the attention getter.
Draw a final conclusion based on the important points you have made.
Tie the important points of the essay together.
Leave the reader with a final thought that helps them see the importance of your message.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
Claim/Thesis Statement—a reworded version of the thesis statement (Add a twist!) in the first paragraph that helps to tie the paper all together

7. Introductory Paragraph~
TRANSITIONS
help to “bridge” or connect the paragraphs smoothly
Introductory Paragraph
First Body Paragraph
Second Body Paragraph
Third Body Paragraph
Concluding Paragraph

8. What do I do next? Get out your three courage paragraphs:
Mrs. Dubose
Atticus
Tom Robinson/Boo Radley
Decide on your order.
End with your strongest!
Develop your transitions between the paragraphs.
Look for similarities and/or differences.
All finished courage paragraphs with transitions are END OF HOUR
Get going!