What could Bear Stearns deal mean to consumers?

Ben Amato | Educational consultant

"It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose yours."
Harry S Truman--American 33rd President of the United States, 1884-1972

Expository Writing--ELA Standards 1, 3 and 4
Economic instability has shaken one of the largest brokerage firms in America and has plunged our nation closer to a recession, or worse. Today's lesson looks at the collapse of Bear Stearns, once one of the top five brokerage houses on Wall Street. Its demise will touch all our lives in a negative way.

Television Component
The CW 11 News at Ten had a story about the causes and effects of the fall of Bear Stearns. View the video twice and then answer the Multiple Choice questions.

Newspaper Component
Today's Newsday contains the article "What could Bear Stearns deal mean to consumers?" Using the facts and details it contains, complete the Comprehension Crossword Puzzle.

Language Arts Component
Critical lens

"Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like."
Will Smith--American Author, Actor, Singer

Money makes the world go round, but for many on Wall Street and for the rest of us, the merry-go-round may be grinding to a sudden halt. The failure and sale of the Bear Stearns brokerage house will send ripples throughout the American economy and touch all of our lives.

Situation
Based upon the details in the article and the video clip, write an EXPOSITORY ESSAY about the significance of the demise and failure of Bear Sterns and how this will affect the every-day lives of Americans.

The Nature and Structure of an EXPOSITORY ESSAY
An EXPOSITORY ESSAY is a form of writing in which things are explained and described. The goal of this style is to inform the reader of some event, issue or discovery. Typical of all formal styles of writing, this essay will follow a set pattern of 3 paragraphs.

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
Expository essays begin with the TOPIC, where in short, direct sentences the issue or event is explained. Details about the SETTING and CAST are presented next. These sentences tell WHO the major players are and WHERE the story is being played out. The final sentence of this section is where the writer presents his/her OPINION on the issue. This is a "grabber" that makes the reader want to read the rest of the essay.

BODY PARAGRAPH
This section concerns the details of the issue. Using the information from the article and video clip, the writer should present the facts in a strong, direct manner. It is best to arrange details in an ORDER OF IMPORTANCE. Place the more significant details at the start of the essay and the lesser ones later in the paragraph. The aim of an expository essay is to inform the reader, but the writer should also try to bring the reader to their opinion by using logic and the evidence.

This section may be longer than just one paragraph, depending on how many facts and details are gathered from the article and television news story. Use the Comprehension Crossword Puzzle and the answers to the Multiple-Choice Quiz as a resource so you can make sure all the important facts have been included.

CONCLUSION
The final section of an expository essay should drive home the opinion of the writer. Repeat the TOPIC in a short, clear phrase and then answer a few questions expressing your own thoughts on the situation. How important was the failure of Bear Sterns? Was it correct for the Feds to step in to save this former economic giant? Will America slip into a recession or depression? What will the future look like, in a time of credit squeeze and jittery markets?