This document discusses using examples to illustrate generalizations and support a thesis statement in an essay. It notes that examples make ideas understandable and engaging for readers. A good essay will use multiple specific examples to fully demonstrate the generalization and achieve the purpose. The examples should be carefully selected from observations of the real world to bring the abstract ideas down to an understandable level for readers.

1. Pointing to
Instances EXAMPLE

2. EXAMPLE
 An example is an instance that reveals a whole type.
 By selecting an example, a writer shows the nature or
character of the group from which it is taken.
 In a written essay, examples wi l l of ten serve to i l lustrate a
general statement, or generalization.
 Specific examples are needed elements in ef fective prose.
 They make ideas understandable and keep readers awake.

3. GENERALIZATION & THESIS
 Examples i l lustrate a generalization
 Any example essay is bound to have such a generalization as
its thesis, expressed as a thesis statement.
 E .G. : “ S ome t ime s I t h i n k we wo u l d b e b e t te r o f f [ i n d e a lin g
with social problems] if we forgot about the broad strokes and
c o n c e n t r a te d o n t h e d e t a ils . ”
 The thesis statement establ ishes the backbone, the central
idea, of an essay developed by example.
 Then the specifics bring the idea down to ear th for readers.

4. THE EXAMPLES
 An essay developed by example wi l l of ten star t with an
example or two.
 Howeve r, a me r e examp le o r two p ro b a bly wo n ’ t d emo n s tr ate
yo u r g e n e r alizat io n fo r r e a d e r s a n d t h u s wo n ’ t a c h i eve yo u r
PURPOSE.
 To a c h ieve yo u r p u rp o s e , yo u ’ l l n e e d mo r e t h a n j u s t a c o u p l e
of instances.
 Look around you and observe the world.
 Making up examples is risky, but can be wor thwhile i f you use
your imagination.
 Do n ’ t l e ave t h e example s to t h e r e a d e r. T h ey mi g h t b e j u s t a s
lazy as you and your idea might be lef t hanging.

5. PRACTICE
Pick one of the fol lowing generalizations to i l lustrate with
concrete examples:
1. Pe o p le a re g e ne ral ly g o o d a nd wa nt wh a t ’ s b e s t fo r ot h e r s .
Truly bad people are rare.
2. Pe o p le a re g e ne ral ly b a d a nd wa nt wh a t ’ s b e s t fo r
themselves. Truly good people are rare.
Try to suppor t your generalization with two or more specific
examples.