EXPOSITORY ESSAY MODEL*
Expository Writing Task:
There are many individuals who make life impacting changes in other people’s lives within a society.
Choose an individual(s) who has made a significant life changing impact on others and their society for the
better or worse. Explain the significance of what they did as well as how the lives of other individuals have
changed as a result of their actions. Using an example from literature, history, science, film, world news, or
your own life, write an essay describing such actions.
Theme: Heroes/ Influence/ life struggles
Positive influences of one individual can open doors of everlasting opportunities for an
entire society. Making one decision can affect the lives of many people. People influence and are
influenced all the time; the benevolent ones, who change people’s perspectives, attitudes, and
overall morale for the better, are the real heroes. One person can change their society or even the
world for the better. Many people or characters have improved their community. There have been
multiple examples in literature and history that exemplify this idea. Many people make an impact
on others’ lives every day; fortunately, many of these influences point people in the right
direction. (thesis*)
In the non-fiction autobiography, The Color of Water, by James McBride, the author
describes the difficulties his parents faced in the 1940s in New York as a bi-racial couple. Dennis,
James’s father, introduced Christianity to James’s mother, Ruth, who was going through a
challenging period of her life dealing with prejudice injustices. Dennis’s influence of religion
changed Ruth’s life for the better. In retrospect, Dennis wanted to bring religion to others who
where also enduring life struggles. Therefore, both Dennis and Ruth decided to start their own
church in their living room in the Red Hook projects. The New Brown Church (which is what
they called it) gave others hope, faith, and a place to go when all else failed. With so many
followers, they expanded their tiny church into a real church in Brooklyn, NY which still exists
today. Moreover, the New Brown Church gave people in tough surrounding communities a place
to pray and feel salvation. Dennis and Ruth are prime examples of two individuals who changed
their community and others’ lives in a constructive way.
The tragic case of a 14 year old African American boy named Emmett Till from Chicago,
IL, took place in the 1950s in Money, Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement. Emmett Till
was hanging out with his cousins when he was dared to talk/ whistle at a white woman who
worked at the Bryant Store. As a result, he was kidnapped then brutally beaten and murdered by
two white men; Milam and Roy Bryant. This was a shocking event in history, but as his mother
explained, Emmett had more of an impact on society when he was dead than when he was alive.
This horrific event caused by racial segregation touched many people throughout the country,
especially those in the south. The case of Emmett Till changed Mississippi and the south in
several ways. For example, it opened the eyes of many throughout the country to the inequalities
done to the African American community. Most importantly, what happened to Emmett Till
helped break the racial barriers amongst whites and blacks. Emmett Till is yet another person who
even in death positively influenced society and contributed to changing the future of the United
States in a great way.
All in all, Dennis and Ruth McBride as well as Emmett Till made positive differences in
the lives of other people and their communities. Very often, it takes one or a few ordinary persons
to help society progress. Dennis and Ruth helped people with the guidance of religion, and
Emmett Till helped end segregation and mistreatment of African Americans in the South.
Although none of these people were famous or rich, it goes to show how simple people can
change the world for the better. Thanks to such influential individuals, many people’s lives
improved and the world became a better place.