How to Write an Expository Essay
Essay writing is a mandatory practice in colleges and universities. Tutors often assign learners many academic papers to measure their understanding and performance on specific course units. An expository essay is one of the research assignments you will encounter as a college student.
This article provides an in-depth guide to help you compose an excellent expository essay.
Writing an Expository Essay
Understanding what an expository essay entails is imperative before beginning the prewriting phase. An expository essay is a structured paper that needs facts and supporting evidence to investigate a particular issue.
Writing expository papers requires you to analyze a topic of interest, evaluate the evidence and present the findings clearly and logically. You can also write this paper by comparing, defining, or investigating a cause-and-effect case. The expository paper is usually short and relies on factual information. Unlike argumentative essays, you must be objective and offer a detailed explanation of a certain idea or subject matter. Avoid basing your arguments on personal views about the research topic.
The first step is to brainstorm and select a suitable essay topic of interest. Choosing a familiar topic will simplify the research and writing process since you are passionate about the subject.
Conduct comprehensive research using online resources or the college library to get relevant information about the particular topic. Composing this essay type is a skill that requires adequate preparation. Ensure you have concrete points that you will expound on in the body.
When introducing your paper, include a strong thesis statement to allow the readers to follow the essay’s direction. You can research and find expository examples online to guide you when starting your initial draft.
Ensure your composition flows logically with clear explanations to ensure the audience follows the analysis from beginning to end.
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How to Start an Expository Essay
Your introduction determines the success of the entire paper. Always begin your introduction with a hook sentence to grab the readers’ interest. Also, ensure you add a piece of background information about the research topic.
You must include a powerful thesis statement that comprises factual information to help the audience understand the paper’s significance. Attaining an A grade paper means your essay should be clear with emphasis on the main points. It helps your readers to understand the primary purpose of your research.
While composing academic papers may seem quite challenging, it is often simple when you comprehend the format. In this case, expository papers usually describe certain subject matters while incorporating objectivity. The writer’s views are irrelevant in this essay type; thus, you must evaluate each concept without coercing the readers to accept your view.
Let us explore essential steps to guide you when writing your paper:
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Pick a topic
Brainstorming is the first phase that helps you get relevant ideas for the essay topic. It will guide you during topic selection. Usually, professors often assign students research topics, but sometimes you will be required to select your own. Thus, ensure you read the essay prompt carefully to understand the tutor’s expectations. Moreover, the expository topic should neither be too broad nor too narrow to get adequate content for your paper. For instance, “The effect of social media use on mental illnesses” can be a good expository topic.
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Do your research
Once you have the main ideas, you can conduct comprehensive research to further your study. Get relevant research resources online or from scholarly journals to help you expound the points with factual information.
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Create an outline
Develop an essay outline as part of the prewriting phase to help you organize your thoughts. A standard outline comprises an introduction, body, and conclusion. It is essential to present your ideas logically to avoid boring the readers.
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Write your draft
You can now start composing the first draft. Expound on the significant points in your outline and link your ideas logically. Continue crafting the paper and refine it as you go along until you are satisfied with the results.
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Edit and Proofread
The final step entails reviewing the paper in readiness for submission to your tutor. Make sure it has zero errors with proper grammar and sentence structures. An exceptional paper should meet all the required academic standards.
Remember to be objective during the composition since expository papers do not rely on the writer’s perspective.
Structure of Expository Essay
Structuring an expository paper entails organizing your essay to follow a particular order within the academic writing standards. With a proper structure in place, you can build your arguments logically.
Thus, ensure you have a captivating introduction that poses a question, striking statement, or factual information that will keep the audience hooked from the start.
The main body should have several paragraphs with detailed explanations and arguments about the research topic. Each paragraph has a topic sentence that comprises different ideas relating to the thesis statement. Make your sentences clear and ensure the essay has proper grammar and transitional flow.
Moreover, the essay structure should have a proper articulation of thoughts flowing from one paragraph to the next to avoid confusing the audience. Finally, end your paper with powerful closing remarks that reveal the significance of the study.
The following is an overview of how you should plan your essay:
- Introduction
- Hook sentence
- Thesis statement
- Background information
- Main Body (3 paragraphs)
- Main points
- Factual information
- Supporting evidence (examples)
- Conclusion
- Summary of main points
- Significance of the study
- Rephrase thesis statement
Writing Expository Essay
Understanding how to write an expository paper is easy if you have the proper guidelines at hand. Ensure you conduct extensive research to have a concrete argument with supporting proof as examples. Since expository essays require objectivity, gather factual data to make your essay successful. Moreover, don’t forget to pick a fascinating topic that will keep your audience glued to your paper.
Below are pointers your expository paper needs to have:
- Solid thesis statement
- Clear and logical points
- Objective views
- Appropriate and factual evidence
- Transitional flow in all paragraphs
- Impact of the analysis
Ensure you emphasize the main points that develop your arguments to avoid paragraph sprawl. Include only relevant issues in the main body to keep your audience within the confines of the research topic.
Expository Essay Writing
The conclusion is a vital section since it also determines the success of your expository essay. It wraps up the entire paper leaving the readers with thoughts about the analysis. Make your conclusive paragraph brief with a detailed summary of the significant ideas presented in the body.
You need to paraphrase the thesis statement to refresh the audience about your study. Are there any recommendations for solving the research problem? Include it in the conclusive paragraph without adding your personal opinion.
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FAQ
What is an expository essay?
An expository essay relies on balanced views to present factual information. It needs you to investigate a subject matter, assess the evidence, and explain the idea while presenting logical arguments. This essay reveals the writer’s perspective in a clear explanation for the audience to understand the subject.
How many paragraphs are in an expository essay?
The essay length usually depends on the scope of the study. A standard expository paper has five paragraphs – one covers the introduction, three in the main body, and the conclusion paragraph.
How to write a good expository essay?
Ensure you pick an appropriate topic and stick to it without drifting off. Carry out extensive background research and gather facts about the subject. Remember to develop a powerful thesis statement to help set the pace for your essay. It is also essential to use a proper format, consistent style, and grammatically correct sentences.
How to write a thesis statement for an expository essay?
You must state the essay topic, mention the major points you will discuss in the paper, and support the statement with factual evidence. This structure allows the audience to know the contents of the paper. Thus, ensure it is clear and concise, covering one or two sentences in the introduction.
How to end an expository essay?
End your paper by summarizing the major points you outline in the body paragraphs. Rephrase your thesis statement to remind the audience of the purpose of your analysis. If possible, propose recommendations and solutions to improve the study and make your readers understand if your research was successful. Make sure your conclusion is impactful with striking remarks.
