1. Expository Writing

2. Step 1: Read the prompt carefully
before you begin.
• Writing Situation: Abraham Lincoln
said, “Most folks are about as happy
as they make up their minds to be.”
How do you think you would live a
happy life?
• Think about how you will state the purpose or
thesis, explain the situation, show
organization, and offer persuasive evidence
to validate arguments and conclusions as
needed.

3. Step 2: State the purpose.
Think about 3 suggestions as to how
you would live a happy life.

4. Step 3: Complete the graphic
organizer.
In the center box write a sentence to
convey your stand.

5. Step 3: Complete the graphic
organizer.
I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said,
“Most folks are about as happy as they
make up their minds to be.”
Write one way
you feel you
could live your
life to be
happy.
Example: A
truly happy
life would be
one that is
unselfish.
Example: To have
lifelong happiness, I
would not be
focused on material
possessions.
Summarize
your 3
reasons.
Example: I would
be happy if I
served others
through works
and deeds.
Write another
way you feel
you could live
your life to be
happy.
Write another
way you feel
you could live
your life to be
happy.
To live a truly happy life I
would I serve others through
works and deeds, aiming at
unselfishness; my life would not
be focused on material
possessions. Through this
lifestyle I would be able to find
true happiness.

6. Step 3: Complete the graphic
organizer.
I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said,
“Most folks are about as happy as they
make up their minds to be.”
Write 3 details
about this
reason.
Example: A truly happy life
would be one that is
unselfish.
•Dedication of time
•Contribute
•Listening ear
Example: To have lifelong
happiness, I would not be
focused on material
possessions.
•Give Me
•Mine
•Donations
Summarize
your 3
reasons.
Example: I would be
happy if I served
others through works
and deeds.
•Career Choices
•Family Obligations
•Friends
Write 3 details
about this
reason
Write 3 details
about this
reason.
To live a truly happy life I would I
serve others through works and
deeds. I would aim at
unselfishness. My life would not
be focused on material
possessions. Through this
lifestyle I would be able to find
true happiness.

7. Step 3: Complete the graphic
organizer.
I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said,
“Most folks are about as happy as they
make up their minds to be.”
Elaborate
on one
detail.
Example: I would be
happy if I served
others through works
and deeds.
Career Choices
Family Obligations
Friends
ELABORATE

8. Step 3: Complete the graphic
organizer.
I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said,
“Most folks are about as happy as they
make up their minds to be.”
Example: Example: A truly
happy life would be one
that is unselfish.
Dedication of time
Contribute
Listening ear
The choice one makes
in a career, such as
teaching, brings
happiness, watching
that spark as learning
take place.
Elaborate
on one
detail.ELABORATE
Habitat for Humanity
is an outstanding
way to contribute to
others’ happiness,
and your own.
ssssssssssssssss

9. Step 3: Complete the graphic
organizer.
I agree with Abraham Lincoln who said,
“Most folks are about as happy as they
make up their minds to be.”
Example: To have lifelong
happiness, I would not be
focused on material
possessions.
•Give Me
•Mine
•Donations
Congress can
help or hinder
families trying to
raise their
children
Habitat for Humanity
is an outstanding
way to contribute to
others’ happiness,
and your own.
Elaborate
on one
detail.
Americans have
a generous
spirit, contributing over
$679 million to charities
each year.
ELABORATE

10. Step 4: Add transitions.
Example: I would be
happy if I served
others through works
and deeds.
•Career Choices
•Family Obligations
•Friends
Example: A truly happy
life would be one that is
unselfish.
Dedication of time
Contribute
Listening ear
Example: To have lifelong
happiness, I would not be
focused on material
possessions.
Give Me
Mine
Donations
To live a truly happy life I
would I serve others
through works and
deeds. I would aim at
unselfishness. My life
would not be focused on
material possessions.
Through this lifestyle I
would be able to find true
happiness.
I agree with Abraham Lincoln
who said, “Most folks are
about as happy as they make
up their minds to be.”
The choice one makes in a career,
such as teaching, brings happiness
watching that spark as learning take
place.
Habitat for Humanity is an
outstanding way to contribute to
others’ happiness, and your own.
Americans have
a generous
spirit, contributing over
$679 million to charities
each year.
For example, Moreover,
In the same
way,
For these
reasons,
A list of
transition
words is
online!

11. Step 5: From the graphic
organizer to the paper.
Example: I would be
happy if I served
others through works
and deeds.
•Career Choices
•Family Obligations
•Friends
Example: A truly happy
life would be one that is
unselfish.
Dedication of time
Contribute
Listening ear
Example: To have lifelong
happiness, I would not be
focused on material
possessions.
Give Me
Mine
Donations
To live a truly happy life I
would I serve others
through works and
deeds. I would aim at
unselfishness. My life
would not be focused on
material possessions.
Through this lifestyle I
would be able to find true
happiness.
I agree with Abraham Lincoln
who said, “Most folks are
about as happy as they make
up their minds to be.”
The choice one makes in a career,
such as teaching, brings happiness
watching that spark as learning take
place.
Habitat for Humanity is an
outstanding way to contribute to
others’ happiness, and your own.
For example, Moreover,
In the same
way,
For these
reasons,
Each
square will
become a
paragraph.
Americans have
a generous
spirit, contributing over
$679 million to charities
each year.

12. Step 6: Vocabulary
Review your paragraphs.
Can you add adjectives
(describing words)
and interesting adverbs
(describing action words)?
ADJECTIVES ADVERBS

13. Step 6: Vocabulary
BEFORE:
Habitat for Humanity is an
outstanding way to contribute
to others’ happiness,
and your own.
AFTER:
Habitat for Humanity is a
powerful way to
contribute
to others’ happiness,
and your own.

14. Step 6: Vocabulary
BEFORE:
A happy life involves
contributing.
AFTER:
A happy life entails
contributing.

15. Step 6: Vocabulary
Remember: The more
sophisticated
vocabulary you use…
the higher your score.
bad
dreadful

16. Step 7: Visual Expression
Use metaphors and
similes to give your
essay more visual
expression.
Television
commercials
promote the “mine”
concept.
Television
commercials promote
the “mine” concept
making us as greedy
as a pig.

17. Step 8: Reread Your Work
Reread your work to make sure you have:
Stated the topic
Given your reasons in the introductory paragraph
Have paragraphs that support each reason
Elaborate on a reason in each paragraph
Have a summary paragraph that restates your
reasons
Begin each paragraph with a transition word
Include adjectives, adverbs, similes, and
metaphors