Review Expository Essay I

Organization

5

Fill in the blanks:

A good thesis statement does two things: _____ and _____

introduce the topic

present writer’s opinion, view and attitude

10

Fill in the blank:

A/An _______________is a brief statement that “forecasts” your major arguments (points).

essay map

15

• Rewrite the following thesis statement to make it workable for a student essay (350words).

Wars have shaped human history.

Open-ended

20

Three steps in expository/argumentative writing?

• Thesis statement
• Support the thesis with specific evidence
• Organize and connect the specific evidence

25

Add a third logical supporing point (c) that will parallel the two already provided (a and b). 

My high school algebra teacher was excellent. 

1. Extra help after class 

2. Great practice handouts for tests

3. ________________________________

Open-ended

Thesis statement

5

Announcement or Thesis

• I want to compare Beijing and Shanghai.

Announcement

10

• Rewrite the following thesis statement

The government officials in Chengdu do their jobs very well and the mayor is a responsible person.

Open-ended

15

• Rewrite the following thesis statement

My brother was admitted to Peking University last year. 

Open-ended

20

Write a thesis statement for the following subject (pay attention to the point you want to make)

Foreign language learning

Learning English is quite challenging for some college students first because they lack of interest in mastering tedious grammar rules, and second because they have to focus on their major subjects.

25

Write a thesis for the following group of supporting statement.

Thesis: _______________________________ 

a. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and helped lead the American Revolution.

b. As the third president of the United States, he negotiated the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the country.

c. He provided many books to the Library of Congress in its early years.

Open-ended

Transitional words

5

True or False

The transitional word "likewise" is in the category similarity or comparison.

True

10

Does this word mean to compare, to contrast, or to sum up: "conversely"

To contrast

15

Does this word mean to compare, to contrast, or to sum up: "correspondingly"

To compare

20

Use sentence connectors to link the following contrast sentences (name two sentence connectors we can use in the following sentence)

Many women bond by talking about troubles;

_____________, many men bond by exchanging playful insults. 

however/in contrast/in comparison/by comparison/on the other hand

25

List five verbs that can be used to show division

classify;categorize; divide; group; split

Parrallel structure

5

Correct the following sentence

• The game-show contestant was told to be cheerful, charming, and with enthusiasm.

• The game-show contestant was told to be cheerful, charming and enthusiastic.

10

Rewrite the following sentence, using parallel structure

• Many people share the same three intense fears: being in high places, working with numbers, and speeches.

• Many people share the same three intense fears: being in high places, working with numbers, making/delievering/giving speeches.

15

Fill in the blank:

Meeting new people, finding my way around the new working place and ________ made my first day on the new job nerve-racking.

Open-ended

20

Rewrite the following sentence, using parallel structure.

• We painted the trim in the living room; the wallpaper was put up by a professional.

• We painted the trim in the living room; a professional put up the wallpaper.

25

Fill in the blank:

Buying a used car is better than buying a new one first because used cars are less likely to be stolen than new cars; second because used cars don’t lose their value as quickly as most new cars; third because _______________________________ 

Open-ended

Mystery

5

One of these is not an example of expository writing. Which one is it?

Essays, newspaper and magazine articles, instruction manuals, fiction, textbooks, and encyclopedia articles.

fiction

10

Fill in the blank:

In an expository essay by division/classification, we are recommened to employ a ________principle to sort groups.

single

15

Name five sources of examples you could use to support your arguments in expository writing.

Personal experience; Observation; Film;TV program; Reading;Hypothetical situation.

20

According to the following thesis statement, what is the writing purpose?

•The Internet is not only an inexpensive way to transmit information, but also a valuable academic tool.

To explain the advantages

25

According to the following thesis statement, what strategy do you think the author is going to use to explain his/her ideas? 

•Homes using solar energy have lower heating bills than those using fossil-fuels.

To constrast