1. Expository Essay First-Aid Kit
Breathing life back into your Expository essay

2. Vital Signs- What’s necessary for a healthy essay
Organization- How It’s Put Together
Clear organizational structure
Consistent focus on developing thesis (everything relates to your thesis)
Easy to follow (not confusing)
Ideas- Your own thoughts
SPECIFIC evidence
Thoughtful/interesting ideas.
Examples are true to your life and world view.
Conventions-Follows the “rules”
Consistent use of:
sentence boundaries
Spelling and Capitalization
Proper grammar and punctuation

3. Step 1: Bandage up your Thesis Statement
Highlight your thesis statement
Does your thesis directly address the prompt?
Are you able to tell what the essay will be about?
What can you do to make your thesis statement better?

4. Step 2: Pump up your First Body Paragraph
Highlight the topic sentence for your first body paragraph.
Does this sentence provide a piece of evidence that relates to your thesis?
Is it a strong example?
Do you prove how this evidence backs up your thesis?
What could you do to make your example more specific?
What details could you add to make your example more clear?

5. Step 3: Get your Second Body Paragraph Pumping
Highlight the topic sentence for your second body paragraph.
Does this sentence provide a new piece of evidence that relates to your thesis?
Is it a different, strong example?
Do you prove how this evidence backs up your thesis?
What could you do to make this example more specific?
What details could you add to make this
example more clear?

6. Step 4: Give your conclusion a shot!
Do you restate your thesis without saying it word for word?
Do you connect your ideas to the BIG PICTURE?
What can you do to make your conclusion stronger?
Does your conclusion sum up your essay?

7. Step 5: Give your entire essay a quick check-up
Do you answer the entire prompt?
Do you get your point across?
Is it smooth and easy to read?
Are there any mistakes with grammar, spelling, commas, etc.?
What grade would you give your essay? Is it something that you can be proud of?