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Examples and Explanations

Writers use examples to help readers understand their ideas. As The Longman Concise Companion explains, "Examples, whether brief or extended, help clarify a concept, explain a generalization, or provide reasons to support your position. They help a reader see an idea in action and its consequences" (43).

However, make sure you use examples thoughtfully. As the table below illustrates, vague or superficial examples won't help readers; they may even detract from your paper.

Statement with no example (weak claim)	Some television programming tries to combat childhood obesity and encourage children to be physically fit.
Statement with vague, superficial example (still weak)	Some television programming tries to combat childhood obesity. Sesame Street encourages children to be physically fit.
Statement with multiple vague, superficial examples (still weak)	Some television programming tries to combat childhood obesity. Cookie Monster, Grover, and Elmo encourage children to be physically fit.
Statement with concrete example (improved)	Some television programming tries to combat childhood obesity. Public television, for example, regularly airs segments called Healthy Habits for Life. During these spots, Cookie Monster and other Sesame Street characters tell children how the body works, how important physical activity is, and how nutritious fruits and vegetables are. (Information from “Cookie Monster Eats His Fruits and Veggies,” Good Housekeeping, May 2005: 103.)

See Chapter 7, section f (pages 43-46) of The Longman Concise Companion for suggestions on how to add details and examples to your text.

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