1. WR 115: Exemplification Essay
What is Exemplification Writing?
 Exemplification essays prove a point by providing specific examples as evidence.
o Example: While I love movies as much as ever, the inconvenience of going out,
the temptations of the theater, and the behavior of some patrons are reasons for
me to wait and rent the DVD.
 Exemplification essays use emphatic sequence—the main ideas are communicated in
order of importance, with the most important point appearing last.
Essay Prompt
Zora Neale Hurston, at the end of her essay “How It Feels to Be Colored Me,” describes people
as “brown bag[s] of miscellany propped against a wall…pour out the contents, and there is
discovered a jumble of small things priceless and worthless.” What are the three most
important objects in your personal bag of miscellany? These objects can be literal objects (a
guitar, tent, pine tree, etc.) or they can be special places (like Hurston’s memories of the porch,
the school in Jacksonville, and the jazz club). They will all come attached with memories that
give your readers a view of your personality.
You will write a traditional five paragraph essay in which you, via the metaphor of objects in a
brown bag, provide examples of important parts of your personality.
Example Essay Outline:
I. Thesis: My bag of miscellany contains a set of headphones, a pair of folklórico shoes,
and a stage.
II. Headphones
a. Quiet, need alone time
b. I do my thinking when I listen to music
III. Folklórico shoes
a. Diligent, hard working
b. I love to dance!
c. Practice is important
IV. Stage
a. Extrovert
b. Star of the show
V. Conclusion

2. The Writing Process
You must show evidence of each step of the writing process when you turn in your essay.
The Exemplification Essay is due at the beginning of class on
______________________________________________.
I do not accept late essays.
1. Prewriting
2. Outlining
3. Drafting
4. Revising
Essay Requirements
 Your essay must be typed in 12 pt. Times New Roman and double-spaced. See your
syllabus for complete assignment format.
 Your five paragraph essay must be 2 pages long.
 Your essay must have a title. (Be creative!)
 You must underline your thesis statement on your final draft. Do not underline it by
hand.
 Submit your essay materials in a folder with pockets. Essays must be submitted in
hardcopy. Essays submitted without a rubric will not be graded.
 If you wish to purchase an extension for 10% of your essay grade, you must contact me
at least 24 hours before the due date. No extensions will be given after this cut-off.