Elaborating a paragraph in your expository essay

each paragraph must start with a topic sentence you need not use all of the components, only use those you need to support your argument

Example Topic: Are teenagers under a lot of stress?

* note the example below uses all the components, however it is not necessary to do so as it makes the paragraph too detailed with too many points

Mrs Sharon Wong/EL/FTP/Expository Writing

Topic o% paragraph Topic sentence 'escribing an inci!ent *nec!ote

Yes. Due to academic pressures. Teenagers to!ay %ace tremen!ous pressures to !o $e in their stu!ies" (ust t$o months ago, a stu!ent %rom our schoo trie! to en! his i%e $hen he %oun! out that he cou ! not be promote! to the next e)e " * c ose %rien! o% mine a so resorte! to suici!e to put an en! to her prob ems" She %e t that she cou ! not han! e the enormous pressure o% the upcoming examinations, $hich $as ma!e much $orse $ith constant sco !ing an! remin!ers %rom her parents" ,n recent years, there has been a marincrease o% teenagers see-ing psycho ogica he p to manage their i)es better" Many ha)e state! .aca!emic pressures/ as a main cause" Many teengars in Singapore, $hether they i-e it or not, %a )ictim to aca!emic pressures" The thought o% not being ab e to gra!uate an! subse0uent y, not being ab e to %in! a $e 1 paying 2ob is o%ten the pushing %actor %or many" Teenagers here are brought up to stri)e %or that paper 0ua i%ication 3 $hether they are i-e it or not" Though it is important to be e!ucate!, it is sti not the on y goa in i%e" 4eing a person o% soun! mora )a ues is as important, i% not more" 5ot being ab e to obtain that paper 0ua i%ication !oes not mean one is $orth ess or a %ai ure" The ,nstitute o% Menta #ea th urges parents not to put un!ue stress on their chi !ren"

+sing statistics

'escribing conse0uences

*ppea ing to respecte! )a ue

6uoting a respecte! authority

Essay topic: Things are much better in the past, the o ! man sai!" #o$ %ar !o you agree $ith this&

Mrs Sharon Wong/EL/FTP/Expository Writing

Topic o% paragraph Topic sentence

'escribing an inci!ent

*nec!ote

+sing statistics

'escribing conse0uences

*ppea ing to respecte! )a ue

6uoting a respecte! authority

Mrs Sharon Wong/EL/FTP/Expository Writing