DUE: beginning of class (10A) Thursday, June 12, 2008 or (10B) Friday, June 13,
2008
ASSIGNMENT: Choose one of the following topics and write a two and a half to three page, typed, double spaced expository essay.
Expository essays require that the writer give information, explain the topic or define something. To accomplish that, they are best developed by the use of facts and statistical information, cause and effect relationships, or examples. Since they are factual, they are written without emotion and usually written in the third person. That means that the use of the pronoun "I" is not usually found within the essay.
Expository essays also have a distinct format.
 The thesis statement must be defined and narrow enough to be supported within the essay.
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Each supporting paragraph must have a distinct controlling topic and all other sentences must factually relate directly to it. The transition words or phrases are important as they help the reader follow along and reinforce the logic.
 Finally, the conclusion paragraph should originally restate the thesis and the main supporting ideas. Finish with the a statement that reinforces your position in a meaningful and memorable way.
 Never introduce new material in the conclusion. http://www.geocities.com/soho/Atrium/1437/expo.html
CHOOSE A TOPIC:
1. Describe the killing of Candy’s dog and Lennie, and discuss the similarities and differences between them.
2. Discuss the ways in which Steinbeck lets the reader know that Lennie is mentally retarded. Give specific examples from the movie.
3. Discuss the effect of the Depression on the characters in the book. You may have to do some internet research for this essay, and include your internet sites on your works cited page.
4. Discuss one theme in the novel (dreams, loneliness or prejudice). Give examples of the theme and explain what this movie is trying to say about the theme you have chosen.
5. Discuss the relationship between George and Lennie. Give specific examples from the movie.
6. Should George have killed Lennie in the end of the film? Gives reasons and evidence. Should mercy killings be allowed? What does the film say about mercy killings?
7. Discuss the role of foreshadowing in the movie.
8. How important is Slim in Of Mice and Men ?
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Remember to include the following in your essay:
 Have a clear thesis statement in your introduction paragraph – this is what you are trying to prove in your essay (your one sentence answer to the essay question above). Remember that your whole essay is “proving” your thesis statement.
 Include sufficient details to support your thesis statement.
 Provide an example from the movie to prove your point in each paragraph (except your introduction and conclusion). Explain the example as if I have not seen the movie
 Use transition words to link ideas together.
 Pay attention to spelling and capitalization.

Avoid run-on sentences and fragments
– use an interesting variety of sentences.
 Are all verbs are in the correct tense; sections in which the plot is summarized are in the present tense.
 Remember to acknowledge the other point of view, and then show why your opinion is stronger.
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Give your essay a title that states something about the content of the essay, not just
“Of Mice and Men ”.
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avoid the use of contractions (i.e. instead of "didn't" use "did not")
 avoid the use of slang and colloquial expressions (i.e. expressions used in everyday informal talk, but not in formal speech or writing eg "they've had it", "it's a cinch")
Paragraph one (introduction)

Attention getter – get the reader’s attention. o Rhetorical question o Relevant quote from an outside source o Relevant quote from the movie o Fact or statistic o Description of initial response to the work o Shocking or amusing generalization
Whichever method you decide to use, make sure the attention-getter is relevant to the topic of your paper. The attention-getter should relate to the topic of your paper. D o not say in your introduction, "In this essay, I am going to tell you about..." Let your essay speak for itself.
Necessary information
 Director’s name – Gary Sinese
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Based on the novel by John Steinbeck
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Title of movie – Of Mice and Men
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Brief plot summary
Thesis:
Your thesis should consist of a topic and limiting ideas. It should never be a question.
Ex. The movie makes it clear that capital punishment is a bad idea and should not be practiced. The thesis should be at the end of your introductory paragraph.
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Paragraph two, three, four, five etc.
– body
A topic sentence in a body or support paragraph should:
1. Clearly state the topic of the paragraph.
2. Clearly link the topic of the paragraph back to the thesis statement.
3. Make a smooth transition between the previous paragraph and the present paragraph.
Generally the topic sentence comes at the beginning of each body paragraph.
Discussion, Support, or Elaboration of the Point Made in the Topic Sentence
Some of the weaknesses found in Grade 10 English papers occur in the development of body or support paragraphs. Usually students do not explain or discuss their topic sentence in enough detail within a body paragraph for the reader to really understand the significance of the issue. Discussion and explanation are crucial to a welldeveloped body paragraph.
Concrete Examples, Statistics, or Facts
Good writers always include concrete evidence to support the topic sentence and the explanation and development. They follow any generalization with a concrete, specific example.
A Concluding Sentence that Restates the Main Point of the Paragraph
It is very easy to wander off topic in a paragraph, and a concluding statement that restates the topic or point of the paragraph keeps the reader focused on your argument or discussion. http://www2.pvc.maricopa.edu/tutor/eng/engessbody.htm
Paragraph six?
– conclusion
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Restate, or reword, your thesis
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Synthesize, don't summarize - Don't simply repeat things that were in your paper.
They have read it. Show them how the points you made and the support and examples you used were not random, but fit together.
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Answer the question "So What?"
(remember the “what”, “so what”, “now what” prompts we used in the Tuesdays with Morrie unit?!)Show your readers why this paper was important. Show them that your paper was meaningful and useful.
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Clincher: try to end your paper with a short sentence that reinforces your position. This is like the attention-getter. And it can relate back to your attentiongetter.
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Strategies for writing a conclusion http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/conclude.html
RUBRIC
Outline
– IDEA diagram – what to include in your essay – how you are going to organize your essay – what are your big main points?
Rough draft showing revisions
Peer edit and self edit
Content
Organization
Language
/5
/5
/5
/10
/10
/10
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Grammar
MLA format
TOTAL
Helpful links:
Transition Words: http://larae.net/write/transition.html
MLA format http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/09/
Citation machine http://citationmachine.net/index.php?callstyle=1&all=
/10
/5
/60
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