Explanatory Essays: Writing About California's Statehood

Questions and Answers

To compare and contrast different ideas

To inform readers about a specific topic (correct)

To persuade readers about a particular viewpoint

To tell a story about a personal experience

To provide a summary of the entire essay

To provide a clear direction for the reader (correct)

To break up the text into smaller sections

To tell a story about the author's experience

A diagram of the California state government

A picture of the California state flag

A bar graph showing the population growth of California over the 20th century (correct)

A map of the entire United States

They help readers find specific parts of the text Signup and view all the answers

They help readers understand complex concepts Signup and view all the answers

A video clip from the Internet Signup and view all the answers

Because the information may not always be reliable or true otherwise Signup and view all the answers

They are effective resources for finding graphics or multimedia Signup and view all the answers

Because online Wikipedia entries can be edited by anyone, so the information may not always be reliable or true Signup and view all the answers

Community or school library Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

An essay is a short piece of writing on a particular subject, aiming to inform readers about a specific topic.
Essays typically include headings, graphics, and multimedia elements to make the content more engaging and easy to understand.

A heading is a word or phrase at the beginning of a section that indicates what the section is about.
Headings help readers easily find specific information within the essay.
Effective use of headings includes creating descriptive titles, such as "The Beginnings of California" or "California's Founding Fathers".

Graphics are visual aids like pictures, drawings, or charts that can explain complex concepts.
Graphics are useful when explaining data, such as showing the population growth of California over the 20th century via a bar graph.
Graphics should be placed under relevant headings and be specific to the text.

Multimedia elements include video clips, sound clips, or links to audio files that can enhance the essay's content.
Multimedia elements can help readers visualize the topic, such as showing unsettled land in California through a video clip.
These elements are effective when presenting research papers on a computer.

It is crucial to find reliable sources, especially when dealing with factual information.
Effective ways to find sources include:
- Using search engines like Google
- Avoiding Wikipedia due to its editable nature
- Researching newspapers or magazines
- Visiting community or school libraries to find nonfiction books, older newspapers, or magazines.