Writing an Explanatory
essay-Quote
by Miss D. Valente School
No. 14
On the state test 6th -8th graders may be given an Explanatory Essay about a
quote or adage. You will have to read a famous quote or adage and explain
what it means. You will have 30 minutes. Below is a formula which will help
you organize your ideas and support your explanation.
Read Aloud: Cherish Today by Kristina Evans

Vocabulary: Persevere – to keep going; not give up

Quote: “Success is measured not only by what we’ve achieved,
but also by how we embrace the journey that lies ahead.” –
Kristina Evans

What does this quote mean to you?

What do you think your school goals have to do with this quote?

-POST IT BRAINSTORM WITH PARTNER!
Let’s get ready to write!

Step 1: Introduction
 Attention
Grabber
 Introduce
Subject (quote, author, what does it mean?)
 Write
your three main ideas
 Closing

sentence
Step 2: Body Paragraphs
 Take
each main idea and turn each into its own
paragraph using supporting details

Step 3: Conclusion
 Summarize
 Offer
main points
a life lesson learned by the quote
Answering an Explanatory Quote
1st paragraph- Explain what the QUOTE means
to you. Introduce all the ideas of the essay.
2nd paragraph- Give an example about how the
quote is true for Others.
3rd paragraph- Give an example about how the
quote is true for History/World/Media.
4th paragraph- Give an example about how the
quote is true forText/Author.
5th paragraph- Retell what the whole essay was
about. Explain what can be TAUGHT from this
quote.
Introduction
 (indent—–>)
(Insert Attention Grabber) (Restate
Quote and author) This quote
means______________ (explain what you think
this quote means to you). Another way to say
this quote is __________________ (put the
quote in your own words). I will prove how this
quote is true not only for others but to History
and a book I recently read titled, “…”. Finally,
I will conclude with what we can be taught by
this quote.
Start with an Attention Grabber
 An
attention grabber is a technique that
writers use to interest their readers to read
what they wrote.
Three types of Attention Grabbers
1.
Start with a scenario
2.
Start with a question
3.
Start with a fact or opinion
Option 1. Start with a Scenario
Picture this: You overhear your best friend bad-mouthing
you in front of a group. She doesn’t know you overheard the
conversation. Just five minutes ago, this same friend was
sweet-talking you to your face! Now what do you do? Most
people my age (13) would tell her off or hit her! But I’m not
like most people my age. I would confront her when she’s by
herself and calmly share how I feel. Some people would say
this is the proactive thing to do. Abraham Lincoln once stated,
“People are just about as happy as they make up their mind to
be.” This quote means if someone proactively seeks to be
happy and do things that make him/her happy then they will
be content with themselves. Another way to say this quote is
__________________ (put the quote in your own words). I
will prove how this quote is true not only for myself but to
everyone and a book I recently read. Finally, I will conclude
with what we can be taught by this quote.
Option 2. Start with a Question
What would you do if you overheard a close friend of yours
talking about you? Most people my age would tell him or her
off or throw punches!But I’m not like most people my age. I
would confront her when she’s by herself and calmly share
how I feel. Some people would say this is the proactive
thing to do. Abraham Lincoln once stated, “People are just
about as happy as they make up their mind to be.”This
quote means if someone proactively seeks to be happy and
do things that make him/her happy then they will be
content with themselves. Another way to say this quote is
__________________ (put the quote in your own words). I
will prove how this quote is true not only for myself but to
everyone and a book I recently read. Finally, I will conclude
with what we can be taught by this quote.
Option 3. Start with a Fact or Opinion
There are two types of people in this world: proactive
or reactive. Proactive people think before they act.
Reactive people make choices based on impulse.
Abraham Lincoln once stated, “People are just about as
happy as they make up their mind to be.” This quote
means if someone proactively seeks to be happy and do
things that make him/her happy then they will be
content with themselves. Another way to say this
quote is __________________ (put the quote in your
own words). I will prove how this quote is true not
only for myself but to everyone and a book I recently
read. Finally, I will conclude with what we can be
taught by this quote.
Your Turn

Review your first paragraph

Pick one of the attention grabbing techniques I just showed you

Practice writing your own.

HINT: Its okay to model your writing after my examples. It’s a great way to
learn how to do it until you get the hang of it!

Paragraph 2
 (indent—–>)
An example that demonstrates
this quote is true for others is
__________________________. (Insert a
Specific Example Add two or three
Concrete Details (CD’s) that tell a story
that happened in YOUR life, or make one
up, that proves the quote is true). This
confirms that the quote is true because
________________________. (Connect back
to the quote)
Paragraph 3
 (indent—–>)
Not only is this quote true for
me, but it’s also true for everyone. An
example that establishes this quote is
universal is __________________.(Insert a
Specific Example Add two or three
Concrete Details (CD’s) that tell a famous
story, or make one up, that proves the
quote is true for EVERYONE). This confirms
that the quote is true because
______________. (Connect back to the
quote)
Paragraph 4
 (indent—–>) This quote also reminds me of
a book I recently read titled, ___________
by ____________. (Insert a Specific
Example Add two or three Concrete
Details (CD’s) that tell about the text, or
make one up, that proves the quote is true
for the text). This confirms that the quote
is true because ______________. (Connect
back to the quote)
The conclusion

Is the final paragraph in the essay.

Restates the thesis (quote)

Sums up the support

Includes the writer’s reflection or observation on the
topic.

An AMAZING conclusion ends with a lesson learned, a
call to action, a quote (different), or a forceful
statement.
Conclusion
 (indent—–>) To conclude, ________ (name
of person who said quote) once stated,
“________”. It’s obvious this quote is
universal. We have seen a multitude of
ways that prove this quote is true. (Sum up
the support) (Write ONE sentence about
your opinion or observation of the quote) A
lesson we should all take away from it is
_________________.(Insert Lesson)