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 Brainstorm by listing anything you know about the main topic of your essay so you
can develop related ideas and specific details to support each idea. Select facts and
information from your own knowledge and experience.
 Create list here:
 Begin to formulate your clear and concise thesis statement.
 Your thesis statement is the blueprint for your essay--it is the most important
piece. The thesis statement drives the structure and content of your essay.
 It is important that your thesis statement is clear and can be supported with
facts.
 The thesis statement for an expository essay should NOT express an
opinion--rather, it is fact-based.
 You should be certain your thesis statement answers the prompt.
 Your essay will have two body paragraphs, so be sure you have TWO key
ideas/relevant facts to discuss and support in your essay.
 Example: In America, criminals often get lesser punishments than they
deserve because the society is more focused on individual rights than
collective safety of its citizens.

Write your thesis statement here:

 Gather FOUR pieces of information (supporting evidence) from “The Bet”
that can support your main topic/your thesis statement.
 Read through “The Bet” highlighting any information that could be
relevant to the main topic you have chosen to write about.
 The evidence you list can be a detail from the story, a direct quote, or
a paraphrased quote.
 You will be required to cite your quotes in MLA format in your
essay, so practice this now. Remember, all you need for an in-text
citation is the author’s last name and page number in parenthesis:
“Quote goes in quotation marks” (Chekhov 1).

Supporting Evidence 1: (5)

Supporting Evidence 2:

Supporting Evidence 3:
“Poor creature thought the banker, “he is asleep and most likely dreaming of the million!s.
And I have only to take his half-dead man, throw him on the bed, stifle him a little with the
pillow, and the most conscientious expert would find no sign of a violent death. But let us first
read what he has written here… “(31)

Supporting Evidence 4: (38)

Essay Outline
 Below is an outline of what your final essay will look like. You will complete this
as we learn about each part of the essay in class.

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