Expository Essay Hit List
Mini-lessons
MLA Formatting
Review
o R1 - Page numbers, as formatted below, are inserted on the first page only
and automatically fill in on each following page. They are not to be typed
in on each page. They must print out fully, so hit “return” once, if too close
to the top of the page (Google Drive).
 LastName 1
o R2 - The heading of the paper, which goes only on page 1, should include:
 Name
 English III Block ___
 Date
 Shortened name of assignment
o R3 - Double space the entire paper; no extra lines between paragraphs
o R4 - Do not use any second person pronouns in formal writing (you, your)
unless the word(s) is part of a phrase that is in quotation marks as in
someone else’s words.
1. Titles
a. Must be centered on the first page, two lines (one double space)
below the heading.
b. Space only two single lines below the title (one double space) before
starting the paper.
c. Must grab attention AND indicate the purpose of the paper.
2. Indentations: Indent each paragraph one tab (5 spaces) only.
3. Margins: Use 1-inch margins on all four sides of the paper. The page number
will be within this 1-inch margin if inserted correctly.
4. Numbers: Write out all numbers that may be spelled out in one or two words.
Use the actual numbers if three or more words are required.
a. No: 21, 3, one hundred and one
b. Yes: twenty-one, three, 101
5. Language: Formal writing requires formal language, so avoid using the
following “colloquialisms”:
a. Kids
b. Guys
c. Hang out
d. Be there for…./there for me….
Mechanics
Review
 Capitalization
o R4 - Always capitalize the first word of a sentence.
o R5 - Always capitalize “I” when used as a pronoun (I, I’m).
o R6 - Always capitalize proper nouns and proper adjectives.
 Proper noun – Elizabeth, Javier, Grandmother (when used as a
replacement for the noun)
 No: My Grandmother fed wild dolphins in Australia.
 Yes: Grandmother fed wild dolphins in Australia.
 Proper adjective (comes from a proper noun)
 No: american
 Yes: American
 Pronoun usage
o R7 - Pronoun clarity: A noun must always be used before a pronoun
can be used. (Reason: Pronouns replace nouns to add variety to a
sentence. If you haven’t used the noun first, you can’t replace it with a
pronoun.)
 No: It was going to be fun. (What is “it” referring to?)
 Yes: The homecoming game is going to be fun. It will be full of
screaming fans and great football.

Pronoun-antecedent agreement.
 R8 - Singular nouns must be referred back to with a singular
pronoun – I, me, my, mine, you, your(s), he, him, she, her(s),
it(s).
 No: Mostly everyone (singular) just wants to be by
themselves (plural)sometimes.
 Yes: Mostly everyone just wants to be by himself or
herself sometimes.
 Yes: All people (plural) just want to be by themselves
(plural) sometimes.
 R9 - Plural nouns must be referred back to with a plural
pronoun – we, us, our(s), you, your(s), them, they, their(s).
 No: Students (plural) must bring his (singular) supplies
to class.
 Yes: Students (plural) must bring their (plural)
supplies to class.
 BE CAREFUL -o to match up the correct nouns and pronouns!
o to make sure there is no other noun in between
the pronoun and its antecedent that could cause
confusion, such as which “he” you are actually
referring to.
 Mike and Paul both played a great game.
He was even selected as MVP.

Subject-verb agreement
o R10 - Singular subjects use singular verbs, even when separated by
other words.
o R 11 - Plural subjects use plural verbs, even when separated by other
words.
1. Pronoun consistency
a. Do not change “person” within a paper.
i. If you are asked to write from the first person singular
perspective (I, me), do not switch to second person (you) or
third person (he, she, it. they, them). Stay consistently in first
person. If you are in third person, do not switch to first or
second person. If you are using singular pronouns, do not
switch to plural pronouns.
1. No: In this town, I feel that everything….. but the
closer we get to the city….
2. Yes: In this town, I feel that everything….but the
closer I get to the city.
3. No: This picture represents my attitude…..When a
person approaches an obstacle…..
4. Yes: This picture represents my attitude….When I
approach an obstacle….
2. Conjunctions in sentence construction
a. Do not start a sentence with a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or,
yet, so). Conjunctions are used to join sentences, not start them.
i. No: I am uncertain about my future. But I know I want a
challenging career in the medical field.
ii. Yes: I am uncertain about my future, but I know I want a
challenging career in the medical field.
3. Commas in compound sentences
a. Use a comma before the conjunction to join two sentences.
b. See i. and ii. above for examples.
4. Sentence construction
a. Avoid writing “empty” sentences that include the words “there
is/are/was/were….”
Content
Review
 R12 - Transitions
o Do not use “time” words (first, next, finally, etc.) to introduce ideas in
an expository (informative) essay.
 These transitions are used in narratives or “how to” writing
that requires chronological order.
o Instead, use transition words that show the relationship of one idea to
another (another important reason, on the other hand, in addition,
etc.)
 Never depend on just a one-word transition, such as “also,” to
tie ideas together. Instead:
 Repeat key words
 Replace key words with synonyms
 Replace key words with pronouns
 The more transition techniques used in one sentence to tie
ideas together, the better.
1. Thesis statements
a. A thesis must reflect the writing prompt, which means repeating
key words from the prompt itself, whether it is a general thesis
statement or a three-part thesis statement.
i. Yes: This particular picture attracted my attention because
I believe it symbolically represents who I am. (general
thesis).
ii. Yes: This particular picture attracted my attention because
I believe it symbolically represents my personality, my
attitude, and my current situation in life.
2. Writing A’s
a. This is the first sentence of each body paragraph.
b. Do not write it in a three-part format. It presents the one general
topic of the paragraph.
c. It must tie back to the thesis statement by repeating key words
from the thesis statement or replacing key words with synonyms.
d. Using the thesis statement from i. and ii. above, the following
would be appropriate A’s for the three body paragraphs of this
paper.
i. The bright colors and variety of the flowers displayed in
this picture best represent my personality.
ii. Similarly, the same things in this picture that represent my
personality also symbolize my attitude toward life.
iii. I also find that the baskets and baskets of varied flora
represent my current situation in life.
3. Writing B’s
a. You must include a minimum of THREE B’s per paragraph.
b. Each B is a reason/example/etc. to support what you stated in
your A (In this essay, how each picture represents your
personality, attitude, life in 3 ways for each of these sections.)
i. Ideas for 3 B’s for personality paragraph
1. Bold, diverse, unique
ii. Ideas for 3 B’s for attitude paragraph
1. Optimistic, encouraging, beauty-seeking
iii. Ideas for 3 B’s for current life situation
1. Requires care, wilts easily, brings joy
c. You must introduce each new B by tying it back to the A through
repeating key words, and/or using synonyms/pronouns for key
words.
i. Here are the three B’s for the personality paragraph:
1. One way this picture represents my personality is
through its use bright colors, which symbolize my
boldness.
2. In addition, I believe the wide variety of flowers
displayed in this picture represents the complexity
of my personality.
3. Overall, though, it is the fact that not one flower in
this picture is exactly like the other that most
accurately reflects my personality.
4. Writing C’s
a. C’s are written using multiple sentences.
b. C’s must use specific examples to prove the point you are making.
No generalities.
c. C’s are meant to explain how what you just stated in your B proves
what you are stating in your A. Here is an example:
B - One way this picture represents my personality is
through its use bright colors, which symbolize my boldness.
C – Not one pale, pastel color exists among the flowers in
this picture, and the same may be said about my
personality. I am not shy, so I do not fade into the
background; instead, I tend to be noticed in a crowd due to
my outgoing nature. For example, when put into a group of
strangers, I am the first one to initiate conversation and to
step forward to serve as a leader. Just as the bright flowers
in front of the shop in this picture stand out, so do I.
0. Writing D’s
a. D’s are meant to summarize your overall point of the current
paragraph and hint at the topic of the next paragraph.
b. Do not state the topic of the next paragraph in your D.
i. No: Thus, while this picture may symbolically reflect my
character traits, it also shows my attitude.
ii. Yes: Thus, while this picture may symbolically reflect my
character traits, that is not the only way in which it
represents who I am.
Self-Analysis of Your Essay (Refer to the rules by section, rule number, and topic (i.e.
MLA R1 – Page numbers).
1. List 3 of these rules that you knew but that you didn’t pay attention to in
this paper.
a.
b.
c.
2. List 2 rules that you now understand more clearly after this review.
a.
b.
3. List 2 rules that you did not know or did not understand prior to this review.
a.
b.
4. Goal setting: Select 2 rules from each of the three sections that you are
going to demonstrate mastery of in the next essay.
 MLA
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 Mechanics
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 Content
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