Writing 1 – The Example Essay

The Example Essay

In an example essay, each body paragraph gives examples to support the thesis statement in the Introduction. Examples are introduced with transition words.

          • To give examples, use the following transitions at the beginning of your body paragraphs:

Body paragraph 1:    
One example of [noun phrase] is…
Take, for example,
An example of [noun phrase) is…

Body paragraph 2:     
Another example of [noun phrase] is …
An additional example is…
A second example of [noun phrase] is …

Body paragraph 3:     
A final example of [noun phrase] is.
Finally, …

          • If your last example is the most important, use the following transitions:

The most important example of [noun phrase] is…
The most significant/interesting example of [noun phrase] is…

          • In your body paragraphs, you may use other specific examples to support the topic sentence of a body paragraph. The following transitions introduce examples:

For example, …
For instance, …

          • For example and for instance have the same meaning. When your sentence begins with for example or for instance, put a comma after these words. Remember that when for example or for Instance comes at the beginning of a sentence, it must be followed by a complete sentence.

EXAMPLES:   
For example, it helps me to study when the lesson is difficult.
For instance, I like everything to be neat and tidy.

          • Sometimes e.g. is used to show examples; it is an abbreviation of the Latin exempli gratia. For example and e.g. have the same meaning. Note the punctuation with e.g.        

EXAMPLES:    
I am very patient with people, too, e.g., children and senior citizens.
I am very patient with people, too, for example, children and senior citizens.

          • When for example, for instance, or e.g. is used in the middle of a sentence, use commas before and after these words.

          • For further examples, you may use also or another.