Exemplification Essay Introduction

LESSON 23LESSON 23INTRO TO INTRO TO EXEMPLIFICATIONEXEMPLIFICATION

Writing PromptWriting PromptWho is your Who is your favorite music favorite music group? Provide group? Provide

at least two at least two examples of examples of

why they hold why they hold that title in that title in your mind.your mind.

AssignmentAssignment

• The Exemplification EssayThe Exemplification Essay• In In GWGW , Jonathan Swift’s “A , Jonathan Swift’s “A

Modest Proposal”, page 534Modest Proposal”, page 534– Answer #2 – MeaningAnswer #2 – Meaning– Answer #1 - LanguageAnswer #1 - Language

Assignment ReviewAssignment Review

• ExemplificationExemplification in in GWGW starting starting on page 145.on page 145.

• Using your own words, write a Using your own words, write a definition of exemplification. definition of exemplification.

Exemplification: Exemplification: Writing Essays Writing Essays

With Vivid With Vivid Examples and Examples and IllustrationsIllustrations

What is an What is an Exemplification Essay?Exemplification Essay?

Exemplification means Exemplification means providing examples providing examples to illustrate an idea.to illustrate an idea.

It is not an isolated It is not an isolated form…form…• As with all the essay models explored this As with all the essay models explored this

semester, exemplification is not an isolated semester, exemplification is not an isolated form. You see it working hard with the form. You see it working hard with the description, narration, and personal essays.description, narration, and personal essays.

• If you were writing an essay about why you If you were writing an essay about why you loved your old car, you might write a story loved your old car, you might write a story with lots of descriptive language about the car with lots of descriptive language about the car

• For exemplification, you’d provide the reader For exemplification, you’d provide the reader with several specific, convincing, and concrete with several specific, convincing, and concrete reasons (examples) of why you love your old reasons (examples) of why you love your old car.car.

Why N.Y. Yankee Alex Why N.Y. Yankee Alex Rodriguez Rodriguez

Struggles in the ClutchStruggles in the Clutch

Superstar Alex Superstar Alex RodriguezRodriguez

What examples did Frank What examples did Frank Deford use to support his Deford use to support his

essay?essay?• Many athletes may have been Many athletes may have been

happier in one-on-one sportshappier in one-on-one sports– Wilt ChamberlinWilt Chamberlin

• Some athletes have “team” Some athletes have “team” personalities and some don’tpersonalities and some don’t

• A-Rod’s slump during clutch A-Rod’s slump during clutch games was not a pitching games was not a pitching problem, it was the pressure of problem, it was the pressure of supporting his teamsupporting his team

• 1. A person is not always what he/she seems 1. A person is not always what he/she seems to be at first (could be someone famous or to be at first (could be someone famous or could come from personal experiences)could come from personal experiences)

• 2. ____________ (television, football, music, 2. ____________ (television, football, music, etc.) has changed and just isn't the same etc.) has changed and just isn't the same anymore (or maybe not as good anymore)anymore (or maybe not as good anymore)

• 3. Some people are just born lucky/unlucky3. Some people are just born lucky/unlucky• 4. Clothes can reveal a lot about someone's 4. Clothes can reveal a lot about someone's

personalitypersonality• 5. TV sitcoms often portray men as bungling 5. TV sitcoms often portray men as bungling

idiotsidiots

Some Exemplification Some Exemplification Topics…Topics…

Some Some Exemplification Exemplification

Topics…Topics…• 7. Some gifts are inappropriate or 7. Some gifts are inappropriate or

strangestrange• 8. A really good church does some 8. A really good church does some

things really wellthings really well• 9. I have learned a great deal about life 9. I have learned a great deal about life

from certain books that I have readfrom certain books that I have read• 10. Bumper stickers often reveal a 10. Bumper stickers often reveal a

person's valuesperson's values• 11. Many people treat pets like 11. Many people treat pets like

childrenchildren

Some Exemplification Some Exemplification Topics…Topics…

•11. Life in the fast lane often 11. Life in the fast lane often leads to head-on collisionsleads to head-on collisions

•12. Children have a lot of 12. Children have a lot of unfounded and strange fearsunfounded and strange fears

•13. Some kids have a difficult 13. Some kids have a difficult time in school.time in school.

•14. What three things we use 14. What three things we use everyday will not be around in everyday will not be around in 100 years.100 years.

Why We Use ExamplesWhy We Use Examples

• To persuade skeptical readers who are To persuade skeptical readers who are reluctant to accept your viewpointreluctant to accept your viewpoint

• To show a causal relationshipTo show a causal relationship• To be more interesting and take the To be more interesting and take the

reader beyond a telling statementreader beyond a telling statement• Help to explain or clarify an Help to explain or clarify an

abstractionabstraction• To avoid unintended ambiguityTo avoid unintended ambiguity

Forms of ExamplesForms of Examples• Specific names (people, places, Specific names (people, places,

products)products)• AnecdotesAnecdotes• Personal observationsPersonal observations• Expert opinions (from outside sources, Expert opinions (from outside sources,

interviews)interviews)• FactsFacts• StatisticsStatistics• Case studies via researchCase studies via research

Example TypesExample Types

1.1. Personal-experience examplesPersonal-experience examples

2.2. Typical-case examplesTypical-case examples

3.3. Hypothetical examplesHypothetical examples

4.4. Generalized examplesGeneralized examples

5.5. Extended examplesExtended examples

1. Personal-experience 1. Personal-experience ExamplesExamples

• From your own lifeFrom your own life• Lend personal authorityLend personal authority• Create dramaCreate drama

2. Typical-case 2. Typical-case ExamplesExamples

• They are objective in nature and They are objective in nature and can be especially convincingcan be especially convincing

• About an actual event/situation, About an actual event/situation, but you didn’t directly experience but you didn’t directly experience it.it.

• Source could be newspapers, Source could be newspapers, magazines, television, or the magazines, television, or the internet…internet…

3. Hypothetical 3. Hypothetical ExamplesExamples

• Speculative, but be sure it’s Speculative, but be sure it’s conceivableconceivable

• Might ask the reader to imagine Might ask the reader to imagine a scenarioa scenario

• Be sure to acknowledge that your Be sure to acknowledge that your example is inventedexample is invented– Ex:Ex: ““suppose thatsuppose that…” or “…” or “let’s for a let’s for a

momentmoment assumeassume that…” that…”

4. Generalized 4. Generalized ExamplesExamples

• Composite of the typical and usual:Composite of the typical and usual:– Ex: Ex: ““all of usall of us,, at one time or at one time or

another, have been driven to another, have been driven to distraction by a trivial annoyance distraction by a trivial annoyance like the buzzing of a fly or the sting like the buzzing of a fly or the sting of a paper cut.”of a paper cut.”

– Ex: “when Ex: “when most peoplemost people get a get a compliment, they perk up, preen, compliment, they perk up, preen, and think the praise-giver is blessed and think the praise-giver is blessed with astute power of observation.”with astute power of observation.”

5. Extended Examples5. Extended Examples

• Employ many details and Employ many details and specificsspecifics

• Last an entire paragraphLast an entire paragraph• Sometimes can encompass the Sometimes can encompass the

entire essay, but must be entire essay, but must be significant to stand alone as the significant to stand alone as the onlyonly example example

Effective Examples Effective Examples Should:Should:

• Be relevant; Have direct bearing on Be relevant; Have direct bearing on the subjectthe subject

• Be dramaticBe dramatic• Be accurate (esp. When using facts, Be accurate (esp. When using facts,

figures, statistics)figures, statistics)• Be non-contradictoryBe non-contradictory• Avoid sweeping generalizations at Avoid sweeping generalizations at

all costs, for they do not convince all costs, for they do not convince readersreaders


• Be Be representativerepresentative: avoid oddball or : avoid oddball or one-in-a-million types of examples; one-in-a-million types of examples; They distort and are not honestThey distort and are not honest– Ex: if writing a paper on the Ex: if writing a paper on the

difficulties of getting through college difficulties of getting through college and you use the example of a student and you use the example of a student who works 35 hours a week and still who works 35 hours a week and still gets straight A’sgets straight A’s, that’s not typical or , that’s not typical or representative. It does not exemplify representative. It does not exemplify what what MOSTMOST students experience. students experience.


• Use an organizational approach:Use an organizational approach:– ChronologicalChronological– SpatialSpatial– Simple to complexSimple to complex– Emphatic sequenceEmphatic sequence

Recognize & Use Key Recognize & Use Key WordsWords

• For example,For example,• For instance,For instance,• First, second, thirdFirst, second, third• Next, in additionNext, in addition

Exemplification Exemplification ExerciseExercise

•Are you an optimistic or pessimistic person?

•Answer this question, and support your answer with a few sentences that use examples to explain or clarify your answer.

: Add another example to what Add another example to what you’ve written to you’ve written to add interestadd interest to to your explanation.your explanation.

Exemplification Exercise

Add another example to Add another example to what you’ve written to what you’ve written to persuadepersuade the reader that the reader that he or she should be he or she should be optimistic or pessimistic optimistic or pessimistic too.too.

Exemplification Exercise

Remember :Remember :examples enhance examples enhance

your writing!your writing!

Exemplify!Exemplify!

Exemplification Essay Introduction

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