Explanatory Essay

For Quarter 2, we will be focusing on Explanatory Writing. Explanatory Writing is an

opportunity for the writer to convey factual information to the reader for the purpose of (you
guessed it) explaining to the reader a specific topic to increase knowledge.

For this assignment, you will use the sources provided to create an explanatory essay on the topic
of the benefits of social gatherings. Use the resources in this packet to construct your essay. Be
sure to follow the directions and stay on top of your writing to ensure a timely completion.

The Assignment: An explanatory essay that explains the positive benefits of social gatherings.
Due Date: TBD
Grading: Students will be scored using the SBAC Rubric for Informative Writing
Standard: Writing Standard 2

The Prompt

Throughout the year, families and friends find opportunities to get together. Sometimes it’s for a
birthday party, a holiday, or school event, but the purpose is always the same: share an
experience with the people they love. But did you know that social gatherings can have
long-lasting effects on our wellbeing?

The Task: Read through the provided sources and write an explanatory essay on the positive
benefits of social gatherings. Your essay should include at least two positive benefits of social
gatherings. You must use a minimum of two sources.
 Source #1

“Social Well Being - Importance Of Social Connections - Social Life - Social Interactions.”
YouTube, 25 January 2017, Social Well Being - Importance Of Social Connections -
Social Life - Social Interactions
Accessed 16 October 2023.
 Source #2

Hetherington, Chelsea. “The Power of Social Connection for Longevity.” HealthNews, 11

September 2023,
https://healthnews.com/longevity/healthspan/social-connection-and-longevity/.
Accessed 22 September 2023.

The Power of Social Connection for Longevity

Published on September 11, 2023
Chelsea Hetherington, PhD

Social connections are an essential aspect of human life, and research has revealed a strong link
between social connection and longevity. However, the impact goes beyond physical health, as
social connection also significantly influences our psychological well-being.

Key takeaways:
Social connection is a vital aspect of human well-being, impacting our physical and emotional
well-being.
Research consistently demonstrates that people with strong social connections tend to live longer
than those who are socially isolated.
By investing in social connection, you can experience improved mental well-being, better
physical health, and a greater sense of fulfillment in your life.

The role of social connection in longevity

One of the biggest benefits of social connection is its impact on physical health, a key
component of living a long and fulfilling life. Research has consistently shown that maintaining
strong social ties and a sense of belonging can lead to a longer lifespan, largely through the
following factors and influences.

Improved health
People with strong social support networks have a lower risk of developing cardiovascular
diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes. Social connection has been linked to improved
immune system function, as well as decreased levels of inflammation, which is associated with
chronic diseases and accelerated aging.

Healthier habits
Having a strong social network can influence people to adopt healthier behaviors, such as
maintaining a balanced diet, getting regular medical check-ups, and avoiding harmful habits like
smoking or excessive alcohol consumption. Social connections can also provide motivation and
companionship for engaging in regular exercise, leading to improved physical fitness and overall
health.

Cognitive stimulation
Engaging with others in social settings fosters mental agility, creativity, and problem-solving
skills. Social interactions stimulate intellectual discussions, exposing us to new ideas,
perspectives, and knowledge, enhancing cognitive function and boosting longevity.

Emotional well-being
Social connections alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation, promoting a sense of belonging
and emotional well-being. Having a network of supportive relationships also provides emotional
support during difficult times, contributing to overall mental well-being and supporting
longevity.

Improved adherence to medical treatments

Social connections can positively impact adherence to medical treatments and therapies, leading
to better management of chronic conditions and improved health outcomes. Some studies have
even found that people with strong social support networks tend to experience faster recovery
and healing following surgeries, illnesses, or traumatic events.

Sense of purpose and life satisfaction

Social connections contribute to life satisfaction by fostering a sense of belonging, purpose, and
interconnectedness. Being part of social networks provides a supportive community that
enhances overall well-being and creates a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Social connection and mental well-being

Social connection is not only essential for our physical well-being, but it also has profound
effects on our mental health. Social connection plays a pivotal role in enhancing mental
well-being by providing a range of psychological benefits, including:

Reduced stress and anxiety

Social connections offer a supportive network that can alleviate stress and anxiety through
understanding and empathy. Having strong social bonds can also help with navigating
challenging situations by providing a sense of security and reassurance.

Improved self-esteem and confidence

Social connections provide validation and acceptance, which can enhance self-esteem and boost
confidence. Supportive relationships also offer feedback and encouragement, enabling personal
growth and increased self-assurance.
Enhanced resilience
Social connections provide a valuable resource for coping with life's challenges and accessing
different perspectives and solutions. Being part of a social network also fosters a sense of support
and belonging, which strengthens resilience and promotes mental well-being.

Improved mood and happiness

Engaging in pleasant social interactions promotes positive emotions and laughter, which
contribute to a happier and more joyful outlook on life. Sharing experiences and activities with
others also fosters a sense of enjoyment and connection, leading to an uplifted mood.

Strategies for enhancing social connection

For those looking to improve their social connections, the following strategies can help foster
meaningful connections and create a more fulfilling and connected life.

Build and strengthen existing relationships

Leverage your existing relationships by regularly reaching out to friends, family, and loved ones,
engaging in activities together, and creating shared experiences. Actively listening and
expressing empathy in conversations also fosters deeper connections and strengthens bonds.

Expand social networks

Participation in group activities, joining clubs or organizations, and volunteering for community
events or causes of interest can facilitate the development of new connections. Attending social
gatherings or networking events provides opportunities to meet like-minded individuals and
broaden social circles.

Embrace technology
Social media platforms or other forms of technology can help you to maintain contact with
friends and family, even when physical proximity is a challenge. Joining online communities and
forums centered around shared interests can also help you connect with new people and expand
your network.

Overcome barriers
Address any social anxiety by seeking support or professional help. Taking small steps outside
your comfort zone, such as initiating conversations or attending social gatherings, can gradually
build confidence. Support groups or therapy provide valuable resources for navigating social
challenges and learning effective strategies.

Cultivate meaningful connections

Investing time and effort in building deep and meaningful relationships, and showing
appreciation and gratitude for the presence of others, nurtures stronger bonds and fosters a sense
of belonging. Ultimately, cultivating meaningful connections not only enriches our lives but also
contributes to our overall well-being, happiness, and longevity.

Seeking professional support

Consulting therapists or counselors for guidance in improving social skills or overcoming
barriers can provide valuable insights and strategies. Engaging in group therapy or support
groups specific to social challenges offers a supportive environment for growth and learning
from others' experiences.

Building and maintaining social connections require effort and active engagement, but the
rewards in terms of improved well-being and a richer, more connected life are well worth the
investment.

Resources:
PNAS. Social relationships and physiological determinants of longevity across the human life
span.
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. The Connection Prescription: Using the Power of
Social Interactions and the Deep Desire for Connectedness to Empower Health and Wellness.
 Source #3

Novak, Sara. “Brain Scans Reveal That Loneliness Changes the Way We View the World.”
Discover Magazine, 19 September 2023,
https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/brain-scans-reveal-that-loneliness-changes-th
e-way-we-view-the-world. Accessed 22 September 2023.

Brain Scans Reveal That Loneliness Changes the Way We View the World
A recent study indicates that lonelier people may see the world as more threatening. Learn what
brain scans can tell us about loneliness on the brain.
By Sara NovakSep 19, 2023 11:00 AM

Humans are meant to be around one another. It’s been that way for millennia. We needed each
other to hunt, construct homes, procreate, care for our offspring and protect one another against
the saber-toothed tigers and dire wolves that meant to harm us. We also need each other to be
happy and to take up the burdens that sometimes weigh us down. All told, being a human is
exceedingly difficult when life is lived alone.

Research shows that socialization is so ingrained in our survival that when we’re lonely, it has
both psychological and physical effects on us. It even impacts our brains.

Lonely People View the World Differently

An April 2023 study published in Psychological Science found that the brain scans of lonely
people had different neurological responses than those who were not lonely. The differences
were the most pronounced in the cerebral portion of the brain, known as the default-mode
network.

According to study author Elisa Baek, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of
Southern California, the default-mode network is the portion of the brain that helps us to
integrate both internal and external stimuli and to make sense of our world. “It’s where we
process, understand and react to what’s happening around us,” says Baek.

In the study involving 66 first-year college students, researchers found that lonely people had
different neural responses from non-lonely people, but they also had different responses from
each other, says Baek. “This suggests that lonely people interpret and make sense of the world
around them differently.”

The research makes sense because when you’re in a chronic state of loneliness, you’re probably
more likely to see the world as more threatening and overwhelming. Other people are resources
for us that make nearly every aspect of our lives more pleasant, says Adrienne Wood, an assistant
professor of psychology at the University of Virginia.

“There’s all these tangible and intangible ways that having people in our lives makes things
easier, and if you don’t have that mental, physical and social support, then the world is going to
look more challenging,” says Wood.

Loneliness Isn’t About Isolation, It’s About Your Perception

It’s important to note that being socially isolated isn’t necessarily the main driver of loneliness;
it’s how we feel about the people we are around. Social isolation is whether you are physically
around others, whereas loneliness, says Wood, “is your perception of that experience.” Do your
social experiences and the people that you’re around meet your needs?

For example, if you’re friends with tons of people and you don’t feel connected to any of them,
you can still feel lonelier than a person who has only a few friends but feels very connected to
those friends.

“We all have different baselines for loneliness,” says Wood. Some people have much less need
for socialization. She adds that while some people may seem socially isolated with only a few
close friends, “they would not report themselves to be lonely.”

Still, it’s easy to confuse those who are considered introverts and do not really need social
connection with those who might need more than they are getting, but as a result of social
anxiety or a general fear of rejection, they may end up not getting the socialization that they
require. “While some might claim to be introverts, they’re really just afraid of social intimacy,”
says Wood.

But whether you’re socially isolated, socially awkward or a true introvert, Wood says that it has
become harder to find the connection that we need in this world because daily interactions are
less common. We don’t have as many as we used to, for example, at the post office, grocery
store, walking the kids to school or living in closer proximity to one another.

Finding social connection has become something that we often have to plan, which in our busy
lives can fall through the cracks. But Wood says that those short conversations with people in our
daily lives can go a long way to rebuilding connections, which is so important because of its
impact on both our physical and mental well-being.
 Source #4

Levasseur, Tricia. “Psychological Benefits of Holidays and Special Occasions | by Tricia

Levasseur | Medium.” Tricia Levasseur,
https://cambridgetricia.medium.com/good-vibes-winter-and-spring-2021-holidays-to-c
elebrate-58b4f87aecec. Accessed 22 September 2023.

Psychological Benefits of Holidays and Special Occasions

Tricia Levasseur
Feb 6, 2021

Festive occasions are always fun. But this year annual holidays are crucial because they are
helping people meet important physical and psychological needs during these strange COVID-19
pandemic times. Holidays can inject a bit of normalcy into our new way of living under various
levels of lockdowns. They also provide the ‘good vibes’ we crave while living under constant
uncertainty.

During times of uncertainty and danger, people often use rituals to reduce their stress and exert
control over their environment. From reciting blessings to raising a glass to make a toast, holiday
traditions are full of rituals. Laboratory experiments and field studies show that the structured
and repetitive actions involved in holiday rituals can act as a buffer against anxiety by making
our world a more predictable place.

Psychologist Michele Brennan explains that the predictability annual special occasions produce
fosters reduced anxiety by creating comfort and security especially for the younger members of a
family. When we celebrate a yearly holiday it can “take away the anxiety of the unknown and
unpredictable. Traditions are a wonderful way to anchor family members to each other, providing
a sense of unity and belonging”.

The benefits of holiday celebrations can be felt not only in our personal lives and with our
families, especially for children, but also at work too. For employees who aren’t able to work
from home during this time, taking a few minutes ‘in the office’ for the team to mark a holiday
with a short motivational speech or bakery delivery can do wonders to boost employee moral
(and productivity in the process!).

The Power of Holiday Rituals:

Holiday rituals are so powerful because we actively participate in the celebration. They also have
many sensory elements to them — smelling foods, seeing lit candles, hearing the rhythm of
words as thanks are given, dancing to the beat of music, tasting favorite dishes made with love
by family members. This sensory exuberance helps create lasting recollections of special
occasions and marks them in our memory as events worth cherishing for our entire lifetimes.

Celebrating these holidays in our socially distanced homes under pandemic lockdowns still
subconsciously awakens memories of other times in our lives when we have gone through the
same rituals with our friends and family around us. Every time we make a Valentine’s Day card,
decorate for the Easter Bunny, drink a St Patrick’s Day beer, or enjoy a slice of Mother’s Day
cake — our brain fires up our lifetime of stored festive feelings.

This is why it’s important to maintain rituals associated with celebrations: even if we won’t be
experiencing events in the same way, our brains still respond positively. Celebrating under
lockdown can still trigger happy memories and bring on good vibes just like the holidays have
done for us in years gone by.
 Source #5

The Genwell Project – The Human Connection Movement, https://genwellproject.org/. Accessed

16 October 2023.
 Graphic Organizer

Source Big Ideas Presented Evidence (Direct Quote, Summary, Elaboration

or Paraphrase)

Source #1

Source #2
Source #3

Source #4

Source #5
 Elaboration Support
In an explanatory essay, effective elaboration is crucial to provide clarity and depth to your
explanations. The type of elaboration you use will depend on the content, purpose, and audience
of your essay. Here are some common types of elaboration techniques to consider:

​ Examples and Illustrations:

● Provide real-life examples, anecdotes, or case studies to illustrate your points.
Concrete examples help readers understand abstract concepts.
​ Facts and Statistics:
● Use relevant data, facts, and statistics to support your explanations. Numbers can
add credibility and make your points more persuasive.
​ Analogies and Comparisons:
● Compare unfamiliar concepts to something more familiar to your audience.
Analogies can make complex ideas more relatable and understandable.
​ Definitions and Clarifications:
● Define key terms or concepts that might be unfamiliar to your readers. This helps
ensure that everyone has a common understanding of the topic.
​ Cause and Effect:
● Explore the cause-and-effect relationships between different elements of your
topic. Explain how one factor leads to another or how events are interconnected.
​ Expert Testimony:
● Cite experts or authorities in the field to lend credibility to your explanations.
Quotes from credible sources can strengthen your argument.
​ Historical Context:
● Provide historical context or background information to show how a situation or
concept has evolved over time.
​ Personal Experience:
● Share personal experiences or anecdotes that relate to the topic. Use your own
observations or encounters to add depth to your explanations.
​ Quotations:
● Incorporate quotes from relevant texts, speeches, or interviews to reinforce your
points. Be sure to properly attribute the quotes to their sources.
​ Emotional Appeal (Carefully):
● While explanatory essays are typically more factual, you can occasionally use
emotional stories or appeals to connect with readers on a personal level. Be
judicious with this approach and ensure it aligns with your essay's tone and
purpose.

Remember to select the type of elaboration that best suits your essay's content and goals. It's also
essential to maintain a clear and logical structure throughout your essay to ensure that your
explanations are organized and easy for the reader to follow.
 Sentence Starters

Introducing Quotations

- X states, “_____________.”
- According to X, “__________________.”
- In her book, _________________, X maintains that “_______________.”

Explaining Quotations

- Basically, X is saying _________________________.

- In other words, X believes ___________________.
- In making this comment, X urges people to ____________________.

Establishing Why Your Claims Matter

- X matters/is important because ______________________.

- Ultimately, what is at stake here is ___________________.
- These findings have important consequences/implications for the broader domain of
____________.
- These conclusions will have significant applications in _____________ as well as in
________________.
- Although X may seem of concern to only a small group of ______________, it should in
fact concern anyone who cares about _______________.
 Essay Outline

I. Introductory Paragraph
A. Hook: Think of how you will engage your reader. Do you want to use a shocking
statistic? A quote from a notable person? Whatever you choose, it should relate to
the topic of this essay.
B. Background: Introduce the topic of the essay by defining key terms and giving
important information that will help the reader further understand what you are
about to present.
C. Thesis:
1. This is the roadmap for your essay. An expository essay “exposes” the
reader to a new topic; it informs the reader with details, descriptions, or
explanations of a subject. If you are writing an expository essay, your
thesis statement should explain to the reader what she will learn in your
essay. For example:
a) The United States spends more money on its military budget than
all the industrialized nations combined.
b) Gun-related homicides and suicides are increasing after years of
decline.
c) Hate crimes have increased three years in a row, according to the
FBI.
d) Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases the risk of stroke
and arterial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat).
II. Body Paragraph #1 - Positive Benefit #1
A. Claim of Paragraph - This is your topic sentence where you introduce the reader
to the topic of the paragraph.
B. Embedded Evidence with citation
C. Embedded Evidence with citation
D. Elaboration - What is the significance of this information?
III. Body Paragraph #2 - Positive Benefit #2
A. Claim of Paragraph - This is your topic sentence where you introduce the reader
to the topic of the paragraph.
B. Embedded Evidence with citation
C. Embedded Evidence with citation
D. Elaboration- What is the significance of this information?
IV. Body Paragraph #3 - Positive Benefit #3
A. Claim of Paragraph: This is your topic sentence where you introduce the reader to
the topic of the paragraph.
B. Embedded Evidence with citation
C. Embedded Evidence with citation
 D. Elaboration - What is the significance of this information?
V. Conclusion
A. Recap of points presented
B. Larger Implication: Why does this topic matter? Why do people need to be
informed of this? What do you want your audience to do with this information?
Works Cited Page