How to Write an Expository Essay

Posted by Splice, Essay Tips Chief Writer

How to Write an Expository Essay. An expository essay provides an explanation or information of somethin thro! h the !se of fact!al data. "acts can be f!rther explained by !sin clear and concise ideas. Towards the end of the expository essay, the writer sho!ld be able to rad!ally b!ild an ar !ment o!t of the facts provided. This can be achieved by !sin ca!se and effect analysis, comparison and contrast, as well as by ivin definitions or f!rther examples of the central topic. Here are the steps in writin an expository essay.

Step #. $dentify the main topic. Easy eno! h, b!t if yo! have the liberty to choose yo!r topic, try not to choose those that are too eneral or which have been written abo!t co!ntless of times. Select a narrow topic that is interestin b!t has plenty of information at the same time.

Step %. &ather facts and other information relevant to the topic. Select facts and information that are from credible so!rces s!ch as peer'reviewed (o!rnals, boo)s, and newspapers. *o!r facts may consist of statistical data, research findin s, chronicles of previo!s events and other historical facts and fi !res p!blished in boo)s and (o!rnals.

Step +. Write yo!r clear and concise thesis statement in yo!r expository essay,s first or introd!ctory para raph. *o! may write yo!r thesis statement as either the first or the last sentence of yo!r essay. $f yo! choose to p!t it in yo!r first sentence, ma)e s!re that the s!cceedin sentences will tell more abo!t yo!r first sentence. $n doin so, provide brief s!pportin ideas. -n the other hand, if yo! choose to p!t in yo!r last sentence, ma)e s!re that the sentences precedin it lo ically follow from one another !ntil yo!r last sentence.

Step .. /istrib!te yo!r facts in yo!r body para raphs. &ro!p yo!r facts accordin to their commonalities. Each body para raph sho!ld tac)le one )ey idea. S!pport each of yo!r ideas in every body para raph with relevant facts and fi !res. Avoid repeatin facts in different para raphs as it will ma)e yo!r essay loo) as tho! h it was not caref!lly planned. Place facts whenever needed.

Step 0. Provide lo ical and smooth transition sentences between para raphs. The way in which yo! ma)e a transition from one body para raph to another sho!ld be lo ical. -therwise, the whole str!ct!re of yo!r expository essay will collapse.

Step 1. Concl!de yo!r essay. Assess the topic in li ht of the evidence yo! provided. *o!r expository essay,s concl!sion is yo!r last chance to establish the ar !ment that yo! have derived from the )ey facts yo! disc!ssed. Tips on Writin an Expository Essay

The p!rpose of the expository essay is to explain a topic in a lo ical and strai htforward manner. Witho!t bells and whistles, expository essays present a fair and balanced analysis of a s!b(ect based on facts2with no references to the writer3s opinions or emotions.

A typical expository writin prompt will !se the words 4explain5 or 4define,5 s!ch as in, 4Write an essay explainin how the comp!ter has chan ed the lives of st!dents.5 6otice there is no instr!ction to form an opinion or ar !ment on whether or not comp!ters have chan ed st!dents3 lives. The prompt as)s the writer to 4explain,5 plain and simple. However, that doesn3t mean expository essay writin is easy.

The "ive'Step Writin Process for Expository Essays Expository writin is a life s)ill. 7ore than any other type of writin , expository writin is a daily re8!irement of most careers. 9nderstandin and followin the proven steps of the writin process helps all writers, incl!din st!dents, master the expository essay.

Expository Essay Str!ct!re 9s!ally, the expository essay is composed of five para raphs. The introd!ctory para raph contains the thesis or main idea. The next three para raphs, or body of the essay, provide details in s!pport of the thesis. The concl!din para raph restates the main idea and ties to ether the ma(or points of essay.

Here are expository essay tips for each part of the essay str!ct!re and writin process:

#. Prewritin for the Expository Essay $n the prewritin phase of writin an expository essay, st!dents sho!ld ta)e time to brainstorm abo!t the topic and main idea. 6ext, do research and ta)e notes. Create an o!tline showin the information to be presented in each para raph, or ani;ed in a lo ical se8!ence.

%. /raftin the Expository Essay When creatin the initial draft of an expository essay, consider the followin s! estions:

<The most important sentence in the introd!ctory para raph is the topic sentence, which states the thesis or main idea of the essay. The thesis sho!ld be clearly stated witho!t ivin an opinion or ta)in a position. A ood thesis is well defined, with a mana eable scope that can be ade8!ately addressed within a five'para raph essay. <Each of the three body para raphs sho!ld cover a separate point that develops the essay3s thesis. The sentences of each para raph sho!ld offer facts and examples in s!pport of the para raph3s topic. <The concl!din para raph sho!ld reinforce the thesis and the main s!pportin ideas. /o not introd!ce new material in the concl!sion. <Since an expository essay disc!sses an event, sit!ation, or the views of others, and not a personal experience, st!dents sho!ld write in the third person =4he,5 4she,5 or 4it5>, and avoid 4$5 or 4yo!5 sentences.

+. ?evisin the Expository Essay $n the revision phase, st!dents review, modify, and reor ani;e their wor) with the oal of ma)in it the best it can be. @eep these considerations in mind: </oes the essay ive an !nbiased analysis that !nfolds lo ically, !sin relevant facts and examplesA

<Has the information been clearly and effectively comm!nicated to the readerA <Watch o!t for 4para raph sprawl,5 which occ!rs when the writer loses foc!s and veers from the topic by introd!cin !nnecessary details. <$s the sentence str!ct!re variedA $s the word choice preciseA </o the transitions between sentences and para raphs help the reader3s !nderstandin A </oes the concl!din para raph comm!nicate the val!e and meanin of the thesis and )ey s!pportin ideasA

$f the essay is still missin the mar), ta)e another loo) at the topic sentence. A solid thesis statement leads to a solid essay. -nce the thesis wor)s, the rest of the essay falls into place more easily.

.. Editin the Expository Essay 6ext, proofread and correct errors in rammar and mechanics, and edit to improve style and clarity. While an expository essay sho!ld be clear and concise, it can also be lively and en a in . Havin a friend read the essay helps writers edit with a fresh perspective.

0. P!blishin the Expository Essay Sharin an expository essay with the rest of the class can be both excitin and intimidatin . ?emember, there isn3t a writer on earth who isn3t sensitive abo!t his or her own wor). The important thin is to learn from the experience and !se the feedbac) to ma)e the next essay better.

Essay Bariations Essay writin is a h! e part of a ed!cation today. 7ost st!dents m!st learn to write vario!s )inds of essays d!rin their academic careers, incl!din different types of expository essay writin : </efinition essays explain the meanin of a word, term, or concept. The topic can be a concrete s!b(ect s!ch as an animal or tree, or it can be an abstract term, s!ch as freedom or love. This type of essay sho!ld disc!ss the word3s denotation =literal or dictionary definition>, as well as its connotation or the associations that a word !s!ally brin s to mind.

<Classification essays brea) down a broad s!b(ect or idea into cate ories and ro!ps. The writer or ani;es the essay by startin with the most eneral cate ory and then defines and ives examples of each specific classification. <Compare and contrast essays describe the similarities and differences between two or more people, places, or thin s. Comparison tells how thin s are ali)e and contrast shows how they are different. <Ca!se and effect essays explain how thin s affect each other and depend on each other. The writer identifies a clear relationship between two s!b(ects, foc!sin on why thin s happen =ca!ses> andCor what happens as a res!lt =effects>. <4How to5 essays, sometimes called process essays, explain a proced!re, step'by'step process, or how to do somethin with the oal of instr!ctin the reader.

Time.Writin Teaches Expository Essay Writin Time.Writin essay writin co!rses offer a hi hly effective way to learn how to write the types of essays re8!ired for school, standardi;ed tests, and colle e applications. A !ni8!e online writin pro ram for elementary, middle school, and hi h school st!dents, Time.Writin brea)s down the writin process into mana eable ch!n)s, easily di ested by yo!n writers. St!dents steadily b!ild writin s)ills and confidence, !ided by one'on'one instr!ction with a dedicated, certified teacher. -!r middle school Welcome to the Essay and Advanced Essay co!rses teach st!dents the f!ndamentals of writin essays, incl!din the expository essay. The hi h school Excitin Essay Writin co!rse foc!ses in depth on the essay writin process with preparation for colle e as the oal. The co!rses also cover how to interpret essay writin prompts in testin sit!ations. ?ead what parents are sayin abo!t their children3s writin pro ress in Time.Writin co!rses.