Understanding Essay Purpose and Structure

This video tutorial teaches how to identify the purpose of an essay by analyzing prompts. It explains the importance of recognizing action verbs and subjects in prompts to determine the essay's purpose. The tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to creating a purpose statement, using a sample prompt about cell phones in schools. By the end, viewers will understand how to focus their writing by identifying the subject, audience, and purpose.

What is the main focus of this lesson?

• How to write a conclusion for an essay

• How to identify the purpose of an essay

• How to choose a topic for an essay

• How to edit an essay

What are the three main components to look for in a prompt?

• Subject, audience, and purpose

• Introduction, body, and conclusion

• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation

• Thesis, evidence, and analysis

What is the first step in determining the purpose of an essay?

• Choose a topic

• Identify the audience

• Write a draft

• Put a box around action verbs

Which words in a prompt usually indicate the type of writing required?

• Adverbs

• Verbs

• Adjectives

• Nouns

In the example prompt, who is the audience?

• The teacher

• The principal

• The students

• The parents

What is the specific subject in the example prompt?

• The history of cell phones

• Whether cell phones should be allowed in school

• The drawbacks of cell phones

• The benefits of cell phones

What verb is used in the example to start the purpose statement?

• Describe

• Critique

• Analyze

• Explain

What should be included in the purpose statement after the verb?

• The audience

• The subject

• The introduction

• The conclusion

What is the complete purpose statement in the example?

• Explain why cell phones should be allowed in school

• Explain why cell phones should not be allowed in school

• Describe the benefits of cell phones in school

• Analyze the drawbacks of cell phones in school

What is the final step in creating a purpose statement?

• Add the introduction

• Add the subject

• Add the conclusion

• Add the audience