Questions to answerQuestions to answer1.1. What is a thesis?What is a thesis?

2.2. What does supporting or substantiating your thesis mean?What does supporting or substantiating your thesis mean?

3.3. When are thesis statements especially important?When are thesis statements especially important?

4.4. What is the primary purpose of an introductory paragraph?What is the primary purpose of an introductory paragraph?

5.5. What needs to follow topic/thesis sentences?What needs to follow topic/thesis sentences?

6.6. What is the purpose of a concluding paragraph?What is the purpose of a concluding paragraph?

7.7. What will a solid concluding paragraph contain?What will a solid concluding paragraph contain?

Writing better expository Writing better expository essaysessays

You are responding to a question or prompt.You are responding to a question or prompt.

State a State a thesis thesis or or point of viewpoint of view..

As efficiently as possible you need to support with As efficiently as possible you need to support with specific facts and details your thesis or point of view.specific facts and details your thesis or point of view.

Your opinions or “feelings” [sorry but these are really Your opinions or “feelings” [sorry but these are really unimportant to the reader most of the time] are only unimportant to the reader most of the time] are only valid if they are supported and substantiated.valid if they are supported and substantiated.

If you say something or someone is a If you say something or someone is a certain waycertain way or or has certain characteristicshas certain characteristics explain how and why? explain how and why?

I don’t know what you mean until you explain it clearly.I don’t know what you mean until you explain it clearly.

Introductory ParagraphIntroductory Paragraph

Thesis statements are especially important for Thesis statements are especially important for the the introductory paragraphintroductory paragraph..

You will tell the reader what the entire essay will You will tell the reader what the entire essay will claim and prove.claim and prove.

Quotes or random opinions are not acceptable.Quotes or random opinions are not acceptable.

State what you will prove then provide multiple State what you will prove then provide multiple examples you will explain in the following examples you will explain in the following paragraphs. paragraphs.

Avoid the following terms pleaseAvoid the following terms please

SomeSome ThoseThose MostMost TheyThey ThatThat

Who or what do these terms refer to?

CapitalizationCapitalization

east=Easteast=East west=Westwest=West south=Southsouth=South north=Northnorth=North

Specific locations such the great Specific locations such the great plains need to be capitalized too.plains need to be capitalized too.

GGreat reat PPlainslains

Help me I’m out here all by myself I need some Help me I’m out here all by myself I need some support!support!

Strong topic sentences need support from the Strong topic sentences need support from the rest of the paragraph.rest of the paragraph.

A thesis or topic sentence is a statement or claim A thesis or topic sentence is a statement or claim you intend to prove.you intend to prove.

Every sentence that follows the thesis or topic Every sentence that follows the thesis or topic sentence must help to support or prove your sentence must help to support or prove your thesis.thesis.

Concluding ParagraphConcluding Paragraph

Your concluding paragraph must restate your original thesis Your concluding paragraph must restate your original thesis or claim and summarize [which can be tricky] what you or claim and summarize [which can be tricky] what you have proven throughout your essay.have proven throughout your essay.

You might want to read your essay to remind yourself what You might want to read your essay to remind yourself what you have written.you have written.

After you have restated and summarized your thesis you After you have restated and summarized your thesis you should go back and proof read your work for proper should go back and proof read your work for proper grammar [especially subject-verb agreement] and spelling.grammar [especially subject-verb agreement] and spelling.

After you have finished your work you can put your pen After you have finished your work you can put your pen down and exhale!down and exhale!

Based on what you have read on Chapter 27-29 select one of the Based on what you have read on Chapter 27-29 select one of the following questions below and use the rubric one the next slide as a following questions below and use the rubric one the next slide as a

guide. Use specific examples to support responseguide. Use specific examples to support response

What is imperialism?What is imperialism?

What is Progressivism?What is Progressivism?

Grading CategoriesGrading Categories[The following standards are per paragraph [The following standards are per paragraph averagesaverages] ]

ExcellentExcellent 3 points 3 points

CompetentCompetent 2 points 2 points

DevelopingDeveloping 1 point 1 point

Proper structureProper structure 5 paragraphs indented with clear topic 5 paragraphs indented with clear topic sentences.sentences.

Excellent paragraphs will have 5 complete, Excellent paragraphs will have 5 complete, coherent sentences, Competent 3-4, Developing coherent sentences, Competent 3-4, Developing less than 3. less than 3.

Correct SpellingCorrect Spelling

Excellent will have no errors per paragraph, Excellent will have no errors per paragraph, competent no more than 2, Developing will competent no more than 2, Developing will have more than 2 errors [includes have more than 2 errors [includes capitalization]. capitalization].

Correct grammarCorrect grammar Proper punctuation and subject verb Proper punctuation and subject verb agreement: Excellent will have no errors, agreement: Excellent will have no errors, competent will have no more than 1 error, competent will have no more than 1 error, Developing will have more than one error. Developing will have more than one error.

Proper Proper support/justification/argumentationsupport/justification/argumentation

Arguments clearly stated, logical and rooted in Arguments clearly stated, logical and rooted in historically accurate facts: Excellent in all historically accurate facts: Excellent in all paragraphs, Competent is in 2 paragraphs, paragraphs, Competent is in 2 paragraphs, Developing is in 1 paragraph or less. Developing is in 1 paragraph or less.

Specificity of details/Cliché avoidanceSpecificity of details/Cliché avoidance

Statements are free of vagueness and parts of Statements are free of vagueness and parts of speech do not include unexplained clichés or speech do not include unexplained clichés or colloquialisms: Excellent is all paragraphs, colloquialisms: Excellent is all paragraphs, Competent is in 2 paragraphs, Developing 1 or Competent is in 2 paragraphs, Developing 1 or less.less.