Essay Structure
This is your first impression on your reader. It grabs their attention and introduces your topic.
What is a hook?
In this type of essay, you need to tell your reader about a specific topic while taking a neutral stance.
Informative/Expository
Do you state your opinion?
Write an expository essay about the major stressors in teens’ lives.
No opinion; this prompt is expository/informative
Rephrase this prompt as a question:
Nearly all private schools require students to wear uniforms. Argue for or against school uniforms for public school students. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.
Epic heroes often battle _____natural beings with their _______human abilities.
In this type of essay, you need to pick a side, and explain why your side is correct.
Argumentative/Persuasive
A required step of writing, where you write the prompt as a question, create a thesis, and gather some evidence for your body paragraphs.
What is planning/pre-writing/ an outline?
Top professional athletes often have salaries and bonuses in the tens of millions of dollars. Using the sources, explain whether or not athletes are entitled to this income.
What is argumentative/persuasive?
Rephrase this prompt as a question:
Write an essay explaining what skills and qualities people possess that lead to success as an inventor.
What skills and qualities do people need to succeed as inventors?
Epic Heroes often always portray this TOXIC trait that you may know as arrogance.
What is hubris?
This paragraph of your essay restates your thesis, and is the last impression you get on your reader.
What is a conclusion?
The most important part of your essay; the main point that you will be making in your essay.
What is a thesis?
Some parents give children a weekly or monthly allowance regardless of their behavior because they believe an allowance teaches children to be financially responsible. Other parents only give children an allowance as a reward for completing chores or when they have behaved properly. Explain what you think parents should do and why.
What is argumentative/persuasive?
Rephrase this prompt as a question:
Write an expository essay about the qualities of a good teacher.
What are the qualities of a good teacher?
The most notable ancient Greek storyteller
Who is Homer?
You can use this helpful acronym to remember how to write your body paragraphs.
What is PEEL or PEAS?
These paragraphs function to strengthen your argument, by elaborating on one specific point each.
What is a body paragraph?
TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING THE JOB MARKET. WRITE TO EXPLAIN HOW ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY ARE AFFECTING THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF JOBS AVAILABLE FOR AMERICAN WORKERS. INCLUDE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR MAIN POINTS.
What is expository/informative?
Rephrase this prompt as a question: Write an expository essay explaining the effects that cell phone use has had in classrooms.
What effects has cell phone use had in classrooms?
The Ancient Greeks' main three values, that influenced the stories they told.
What are hospitality, loyalty, and glory?
What is a counterclaim?
In an argumentative essay, this is when you prove your counterclaim wrong, to strengthen your point.
What is a refutation?
Some states are considering changing the legal age for getting a driving license from sixteen to eighteen. The people who are in favor of this change base their views on the number of incidents that claim the lives of teenagers as well as the number of accidents they feel are caused by the reckless driving habits of young people. Write an essay where you consider the advantages and disadvantages of raising the legal driving age to eighteen.
What is expository/informative?
Rephrase this prompt as a question: In the Odyssey, Odysseus and his first mate Eurylochus both take leadership roles to try and solve problems. Using the sources, judge whether Odysseus and Eurylochus are more alike, or more different.
Are Odysseus and Eurylochus more alike, or more different?
Ancient Greek epic poems almost always begin by calling upon these nine goddesses of the arts.
Who are the Muses?