Expository Writing

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Canned Lesson

• Expository Writing

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Step 1 Read the prompt carefully before you
begin.

• Writing Situation Abraham Lincoln said, Most
  folks are about as happy as they make up their
  minds to be. How do you think you would live a
  happy life?
• Think about how you will state the purpose or
  thesis, explain the situation, show organization,
  and offer persuasive evidence to validate
  arguments and conclusions as needed.
• Directions for Writing Now write an essay
  describing how to live a happy life, offering
  three suggestions on how to do this, and support
  your suggestions with experiences from your own
  life or others.

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Step 2 State the purpose.

• Think about 3 suggestions as to how you would
  live a happy life.

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Step 3 Prepare the graphic organizer.

• Now fold your paper into 4 squares.

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Step 4 Complete the graphic organizer.

• Unfold the paper and draw a box in the center.
  In the center box write a sentence to convey your
  stand.

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Step 3 Complete the graphic organizer.
Write one way you feel you could live your life
to be happy.
Example A truly happy life would be one that is
unselfish.
Example I would be happy if I served others
through works and deeds.
Write another way you feel you could live your
life to be happy.

• I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said, Most
  folks are about as happy as they make up their
  minds to be.

Example To have lifelong happiness, I would not
be focused on material possessions.
Write another way you feel you could live your
life to be happy.
To live a truly happy life I would I serve others
through works and deeds. I would aim at
unselfishness. My life would not be focused on
material possessions. Through this lifestyle I
would be able to find true happiness.
Summarize your 3 reasons.
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Step 3 Complete the graphic organizer.
Write 3 details about this reason.

• Example A truly happy life would be one that is
  unselfish.
• Dedication of time
• Contribute
• Listening ear

• Example I would be happy if I served others
  through works and deeds.
• Career Choices
• Family Obligations
• Friends

Write 3 details about this reason

• I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said, Most
  folks are about as happy as they make up their
  minds to be.

• Example To have lifelong happiness, I would not
  be focused on material possessions.
• Give Me
• Mine
• Donations

To live a truly happy life I would I serve others
through works and deeds. I would aim at
unselfishness. My life would not be focused on
material possessions. Through this lifestyle I
would be able to find true happiness.
Summarize your 3 reasons.
Write 3 details about this reason.
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Step 3 Complete the graphic organizer.
Elaborate on one detail.
Example I would be happy if I served others
through works and deeds. Career Choices Family
Obligations Friends
ELABORATE

• I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said, Most
  folks are about as happy as they make up their
  minds to be.

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Step 3 Complete the graphic organizer.
Example Example A truly happy life would be
one that is unselfish. Dedication of
time Contribute Listening ear
The choice one makes in a career, such as
teaching, brings happiness, watching that spark
as learning take place.
Habitat for Humanity is an outstanding way to
contribute to others happiness, and your own.
ssssssssssssssss
Elaborate on one detail.
ELABORATE

• I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said, Most
  folks are about as happy as they make up their
  minds to be.

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Step 3 Complete the graphic organizer.
Congress can help or hinder families trying to
raise their children
Habitat for Humanity is an outstanding way to
contribute to others happiness, and your own.

• I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said, Most
  folks are about as happy as they make up their
  minds to be.

Americans have a generous spirit, contributing
over 679 million to charities each year.

• Example To have lifelong happiness, I would not
  be focused on material possessions.
• Give Me
• Mine
• Donations

Elaborate on one detail.
ELABORATE
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Step 5 Add transitions.
For example,
Moreover,
Example A truly happy life would be one that is
unselfish. Dedication of time Contribute Listening
ear
A list of transition words is online!

• Example I would be happy if I served others
  through works and deeds.
• Career Choices
• Family Obligations
• Friends

Habitat for Humanity is an outstanding way to
contribute to others happiness, and your own.
The choice one makes in a career, such as
teaching, brings happiness watching that spark as
learning take place.
In the same way,
For these reasons,
I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said, Most
folks are about as happy as they make up their
minds to be.
To live a truly happy life I would I serve others
through works and deeds. I would aim at
unselfishness. My life would not be focused on
material possessions. Through this lifestyle I
would be able to find true happiness.
Example To have lifelong happiness, I would not
be focused on material possessions. Give
Me Mine Donations
Americans have a generous spirit, contributing
over 679 million to charities each year.
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
For example,
Moreover,
Example A truly happy life would be one that is
unselfish. Dedication of time Contribute Listening
ear

• Example I would be happy if I served others
  through works and deeds.
• Career Choices
• Family Obligations
• Friends

Habitat for Humanity is an outstanding way to
contribute to others happiness, and your own.
Each square will become a paragraph.
The choice one makes in a career, such as
teaching, brings happiness watching that spark as
learning take place.
In the same way,
For these reasons,
I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said, Most
folks are about as happy as they make up their
minds to be.
To live a truly happy life I would I serve others
through works and deeds. I would aim at
unselfishness. My life would not be focused on
material possessions. Through this lifestyle I
would be able to find true happiness.
Example To have lifelong happiness, I would not
be focused on material possessions. Give
Me Mine Donations
Americans have a generous spirit, contributing
over 679 million to charities each year.
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.

• The introductory paragraph (the center box) sums
  up each reason.

I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said,
Most folks are about as happy as they make up
their minds to be. I find happiness by serving
others through works and deeds. Only an
unselfish person can find happiness. The happy
person is not concerned with material possessions
only, but the happiness of others.
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said,
Most folks are about as happy as they make up
their minds to be. Do you want to know the
secret of true happiness? I find happiness by
serving others through works and deeds. Only an
unselfish person can find happiness. The happy
person is not concerned with material possessions
only, but the happiness of others.

• Begin the introductory paragraph with a hook.
  Samples of hooks can be found online.

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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
For example,
Moreover,
Example A truly happy life would be one that is
unselfish. Dedication of time Contribute Listening
ear

• Example I would be happy if I served others
  through works and deeds.
• Career Choices
• Family Obligations
• Friends

Next Paragraph
Habitat for Humanity is an outstanding way to
contribute to others happiness, and your own.
The choice one makes in a career, such as
teaching, brings happiness watching that spark as
learning take place.
In the same way,
For these reasons,
I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said, Most
folks are about as happy as they make up their
minds to be.
To live a truly happy life I would I serve others
through works and deeds. I would aim at
unselfishness. My life would not be focused on
material possessions. Through this lifestyle I
would be able to find true happiness.
Example To have lifelong happiness, I would not
be focused on material possessions. Give
Me Mine Donations
Americans have a generous spirit, contributing
over 679 million to charities each year.
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Step 5 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
For example, I would be happy if I
served others through works and deeds. This would
affect my career choices. The choice one makes in
a career, such as teaching, brings happiness
watching that spark as learning take place. A
dedication to my family by fulfilling my
obligations would also bring long term happiness.
A person who lives a happy life is also
dedicated and faithful to friends, who enrich
their existence.
Next Paragraph
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
For example,
Moreover,
Example A truly happy life would be one that is
unselfish. Dedication of time Contribute Listening
ear

• Example I would be happy if I served others
  through works and deeds.
• Career Choices
• Family Obligations
• Friends

Next Paragraph
Habitat for Humanity is an outstanding way to
contribute to others happiness, and your own.
The choice one makes in a career, such as
teaching, brings happiness watching that spark as
learning take place.
In the same way,
For these reasons,
I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said, Most
folks are about as happy as they make up their
minds to be.
To live a truly happy life I would I serve others
through works and deeds. I would aim at
unselfishness. My life would not be focused on
material possessions. Through this lifestyle I
would be able to find true happiness.
Example To have lifelong happiness, I would not
be focused on material possessions. Give
Me Mine Donations
Americans have a generous spirit, contributing
over 679 million to charities each year.
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
Moreover, a truly happy life would be one that is
unselfish. This would require a dedication of
time to people and issues that face our world
today. A happy life involves contributing.
Habitat for Humanity is an outstanding way to
contribute to others happiness, and your own.
Most importantly, a happy person is always
willing to provide a sincere listening ear.
Next Paragraph
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
For example,
Moreover,
Example A truly happy life would be one that is
unselfish. Dedication of time Contribute Listening
ear

• Example I would be happy if I served others
  through works and deeds.
• Career Choices
• Family Obligations
• Friends

Habitat for Humanity is an outstanding way to
contribute to others happiness, and your own.
The choice one makes in a career, such as
teaching, brings happiness watching that spark as
learning take place.
In the same way,
For these reasons,
I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said, Most
folks are about as happy as they make up their
minds to be.
Next Paragraph
To live a truly happy life I would I serve others
through works and deeds. I would aim at
unselfishness. My life would not be focused on
material possessions. Through this lifestyle I
would be able to find true happiness.
Example To have lifelong happiness, I would not
be focused on material possessions. Give
Me Mine Donations
Americans have a generous spirit, contributing
over 679 million to charities each year.
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
In the same way, to have lifelong
happiness, I would not be focused on material
possessions. We are living in a Give Me time
with everyone looking for that one material
possession that will bring lasting happiness.
Television commercials promote the mine
concept. Through donations to worthy causes we
can find a path to a happy life. Americans have
a generous spirit, contributing over 679
million to charities each year.
Next Paragraph
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
For example,
Moreover,
Example A truly happy life would be one that is
unselfish. Dedication of time Contribute Listening
ear

• Example I would be happy if I served others
  through works and deeds.
• Career Choices
• Family Obligations
• Friends

Habitat for Humanity is an outstanding way to
contribute to others happiness, and your own.
The choice one makes in a career, such as
teaching, brings happiness watching that spark as
learning take place.
In the same way,
For these reasons,
I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said, Most
folks are about as happy as they make up their
minds to be.
To live a truly happy life I would I serve others
through works and deeds. I would aim at
unselfishness. My life would not be focused on
material possessions. Through this lifestyle I
would be able to find true happiness.
Example To have lifelong happiness, I would not
be focused on material possessions. Give
Me Mine Donations
Summary Paragraph
Americans have a generous spirit, contributing
over 679 million to charities each year.
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
For these reasons, to live a truly
happy life I would I serve others through works
and deeds. I would aim at unselfishness. My
life would not be focused only on material
possessions. Through this lifestyle I would be
able to find true happiness. The old saying is
correct, Happiness always comes from within.
Summary Paragraph
Ending PUNCH
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Step 7 Vocabulary
Review your paragraphs. Can you add adjectives
(describing words) and interesting adverbs
(describing action words)?
ADJECTIVES
ADVERBS
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Step 7 Vocabulary
BEFORE Habitat for Humanity is an outstanding
way to contribute to others happiness, and
your own.
AFTER Habitat for Humanity is a powerful way
to contribute to others happiness, and your
own.
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Step 7 Vocabulary
BEFORE A happy life involves contributing.
AFTER A happy life entails contributing.
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Step 7 Vocabulary
Remember The more sophisticated vocabulary you
usethe higher your score.
bad
dreadful
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Step 8 Visual Expression
Use metaphors and similes to give your essay more
visual expression.
Television commercials promote the mine
concept.
Television commercials promote the mine concept
making us as greedy as a pig.
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Step 9 Reread Your Work
Reread your work to make sure you have

• Taken a stand and stay on the topic
• Given your reasons in the introductory paragraph
• Have paragraphs that support each reason
• Elaborate on a reason in each paragraph
• Have a summary paragraph that restates your
  reasons
• Begin each paragraph with a transition word
• Include adjectives, adverbs, similes, and
  metaphors