The document provides instructions for writing an expository essay about William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It explains that an expository essay uses facts rather than opinions to explain a topic. The essay assignment asks students to identify which character(s) were most to blame for Romeo and Juliet's deaths, and support their thesis with evidence quoted from the play. It defines a thesis statement as a sentence that tells what the essay will prove and previews its main points, functioning like a topic sentence for the entire essay.

1. Romeo & Juliet Expository Essay

2. What is an EXPOSITORY ESSAY? Expository essays are simply essays that explain something with facts, as opposed to opinion .

3. In this essay you will: Explain which character(s) you believe are most to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet… BASED ON TEXT EVIDENCE THAT YOU QUOTE FROM THE PLAY.

4. Your essay will consist of: A THESIS STATEMENT Several paragraphs A topic sentence for each paragraph Evidence (in each paragraph) that proves your topic sentence.

5. LET’S BREAK IT DOWN.

6. What is a THESIS STATEMENT? A sentence that tells what you will prove in your essay It also tells what your main points will be. (I.e., It’s like a topic sentence for the whole essay.)

7. What is a THESIS STATEMENT? It’s like a topic sentence for the whole essay. Just as the topic sentence tells readers what will be discussed in a particular paragraph, the thesis statement alerts readers as to what to expect from the rest of the essay.

8. What is a THESIS STATEMENT? For example: “ In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet , (1) ________________________________, (2) _____________________________, and (3) ________________________________ contribute to the deaths of the two young lovers.”