1. Exemplification Writing
Example essays are relevant & believable; examples bring an issue to life. The
structure of these essays usually begin with a topic sentence or main idea, and
then use more & more vivid examples to prove the point to be true.
Types of examples: anecdotes, facts, illustrations, stories.
Brief examples: Usually concrete, accessible, straightforward ideas that are not
too complex.
Extended examples: Longer & more detailed. Concrete illustrations of ideas are
required to support more complex ideas.
Using examples improves writing because it shows as well as tells. It also keeps
writing from being vague or general- it requires that points are proven to be true.
Exemplification is a type of analysis: you are discussing “why” or “how”
something happened. So answer as many questions as possible!
As you think about using examples…
 Play with details
 Let patterns emerge from the details
 Critique your details- make sure they help prove a point
 Adjust the order & organization of your examples