Grab the reader’s attention

  • Start with an interesting fact
  • Ask an interesting question
  • Start with a quotation

Introduce the topic

Present the thesis statement (last sentence)

Topic sentence (using 1 specific key word)

Explain background

All of the details support the topic sentence

Clincher/closing/concluding sentence contains a final detail

Topic sentence

Covers details in point-by-point fashion

All of the details support the topic sentence

Clincher/closing/concluding sentence contains a final detail

Topic sentence

Writer’s voice shows genuine interest in the topic

All of the details support the topic sentence

Clincher/closing/concluding sentence contains a final detail

Topic sentence

Leave your reader with something to think about

Emphasize a key idea

Add a new insight

Refer back to your beginning

Thesis statement in rephrased to be the clincher/closing/concluding sentence

  1. What specific piece of information did you use that will amaze the reader?
  1. What specific piece of information did you use that will inform the reader?
  1. What specific piece of information did you use that will entertain the reader?
  1. What are the print dates on my resources?
  1. What is my thesis statement?
  1. Which paragraph(s) is my thesis statement written?
  1. What are my topic sentences for each of the paragraphs in my paper? Highlight each topic sentence on your rough draft.
  1. What are the concluding sentences for each of the paragraphs in my paper? Circle the concluding sentence in each paragraph on your rough draft?
  1. Give evidence that you organized your details point by point.
  1. Complete the chart below to check each paragraph for unity.

Paragraph # / Topic Sentence / Supporting Details / Clincher Sentence
Paragraph 1 / 1.
2.
3.
Paragraph 2 / 1.
2.
3.
Paragraph 3 / 1.
2.
3.
Paragraph 4 / 1.
2.
3.
Paragraph 5 / 1.
2.
3.
  1. What words did I use to sound knowledgeable and interested in my topic?

12. How did I explain the technical terms or unfamiliar words?

13. How did I use quotations and paraphrasing effectively?

14. What did I do to make my sentences flow from one to another?

15. Highlight at least 5 transitions used in your essay. Which paragraphs include these highlighted transitions?

Show Location
above behind by into outside
across below down near over
against beneath in back of off throughout
along beside in front of onto to the right
among between inside on top of under / Conclude or Summarize
as a result
finally
in conclusion
to sum up
therefore lastly in summary all in all
add information
again another for instance finally
also and moreover as well
additionally besides next along with
in addition for example
Show Time
about first meanwhile soon then
after second today later next
at third tomorrow afterward as soon as
before till next week immediately when
during until yesterday finally
contrast thingsbut otherwise although on the other hand
however yet still even though / Compare Two Things
likewise as
similarly like

16. Does my first page include my name, my teacher’s name, and the name of the class, the date, and a title?

17. How did I cite my sources correctly?

18. How do I know my work-cited page is set up correctly?

19. What are the 1st letters in each entry on the work-cited page?

20. In your essay are there places where you list facts without showing any real interest in them?

21. You may need to add verbal cues (examples: amazingly, look how easy it is)

to sound like you want to share information with the reader.

22. How many pronouns did you include in this essay?

23. Give 3 examples of clear and precise words your chose to use in this essay.

24. Which difficult words did you need to define in your essay?

25. Count the number of words in each sentence. Make sure you have used a variety of sentence lengths.

Sentence Number / Number of Words in This Sentence
25.
  1. Identify (highlight on your rough draft) the short sentences you used to stress an important idea.
  1. List the first word in each sentence. Make sure that no two sentences begin with the same word.

Sentence Number / Beginning Word

27. Complete the chart below. Then highlight the words that could be enhanced by referring to a thesaurus or a word list.

Sentence Number / Adjectives Used in the Sentence / Nouns Used in the Sentence / Verbs Used in the Sentence
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

28. List10 words you changed as a result of referring to a thesaurus.

Original Word / Thesaurus Word
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

29. Highlight 5 prepositions used in this writing piece. Which paragraphs contain prepositions?

Examples:

about / above / across / after / around
at / before / behind / below / beside
by / down / during / for / from
in / inside / near / of / off
on / out / outside / over / through
to / under / up / with / without

1

Expository Essay

  1. Give an example of how you wrote the correct subject-verb agreement.
  1. How did you use commas to set off explanations (for example, when you explained difficult terms/definitions)?
  1. How many sentences are in your entire expository essay?
  1. How many end marks do you have?
  1. How many sentences did you begin with a capital letter?
  1. List the proper nouns used in this essay. Make sure they all begin with a capital letter.
  1. What resources did you use to insure that proper grammar and punctuation were used?
  1. What resources did you use to insure your essay is free of spelling errors?
  1. How did you punctuate compound sentences?
  1. How many compound sentences did you include in my writing piece?
  1. How did you punctuate complex sentences?
  1. How many complex sentences did you include in your writing piece?
  1. Did you use the right words (to, too, two)?

1

Expository Essay