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EXPOSITORY ESSAY
Characteristics of an Expository Essay
The purpose is to inform, describe, or explain Describes important facts Writer is a teacher Presents exhaustive information on a topic Written in 3rd^ person (using “it”, “he”, “she”, “they”), uses formal language to discuss someone or something
Sample focus of the paper: o a medical or biological condition
o a social or technological process
o life or character of a famous person
WARNING: If the purpose of your writing is not to inform, but rather to analyze something or to persuade a reader about something, it is possible you have wandered into the wrong essay. Please check our other handouts on the Critical and Persuasive Essays to see which one is a better match for your writing purpose.
When writing any paper, you will most likely have to follow these six steps. This handout takes you through all six steps in the process of writing an Expository Essay.
Step 1. Organizing your Thoughts (Brainstorming) Step 2. Researching your Topic Step 3. Developing a Thesis Statement Step 4. Writing the Introduction Step 5. Writing the Body of the Essay Step 6. Writing the Conclusion
Step 1: Organizing your Thoughts (Brainstorming)
Believe it or not, there is almost no topic on which your mind will draw a complete blank. Even if you know very little about the subject matter, you are likely to have something to say about it based on something you heard or read about it, or your basic values. It is imperative to take an inventory of what you know first. Sorting out what you know can be done in a number of ways:
Free writing – writing quickly, without stopping, editing, or self-correcting to become aware of what you already know, think, or feel on a topic Subject tree – related ideas, connecting outwards from the main topic, in a tree form ( See illustration 1 ) List – free flow of ideas on a topic ( See illustration 2 ) Clustering – main topic is in the middle circle, all related associations are linked to the main topic ( See illustration 3 ) Outline – framework of an essay, which includes main points, followed by the breakdown into sub-points ( See illustration 4 )
Informational
Writing
Tutoring and Testing Center
Below are visual illustrations of these brainstorming methods. When using them, simply rely on what you already know on the topic – facts, opinions, emotions, and/or concerns.
Subject Tree List
Illustration 1 Illustration 2
Cluster Outline
Illustration 3 Illustration 4
This is not the time for evaluating your ideas; instead, it is the time for an outpour of ideas on all background knowledge you have on the topic. Once your thoughts are on paper, you can start organizing them by grouping ideas and identifying areas where more information is required.
Step 2: Researching your Topic
Research may require going to a library or searching online. All research should be current (check with your instructor for acceptable time frames). Acceptable sources are reference works, books, and scholarly articles by experts. Encyclopedias and popular magazines should not be used in academic writing.
When using information from a Web site, evaluate the site for timeliness and reputability. Also, consider the site’s purpose, the reliability of its sponsors, and credibility of the author. Make sure to collect all necessary reference information in order to give credit to the authors. Refer to our Plagiarism handout for tips on how to avoid plagiarism.
NOTE: The two steps – organization of thoughts and research of the topic – interrelate. In other words, organizing your thoughts may identify gaps in your knowledge, which may lead you to conduct necessary research. However, once you conduct research, you should re-organize your thoughts to evaluate the clarity of the topic.
Changes lives
Costly
Dangerous
Drunk driving
Summer Winter Hot Cold Beach Uncomfortable Little clothes Short days Long days Hypothermia Lazy Skiing Sun radiation Layers of clothes
Smoking
Disease Addiction
Costs Hurts family Costs Bad example
I. Introduction
- What is depression
- Thesis – Depression is a complex condition as evident in its causes/symptoms/treatments II. Body
- Causes of depression
- Symptoms of depression
- Treatments of depression III. Conclusion
- Why is studying depression important
- Reiterate causes/symptoms/treatments
- Consequences of depression
Step 4: Writing the Introduction
The introduction is the most general part of the paper. It helps provide a roadmap for further discussion or analysis. This simplified formula offers components for a basic introduction:
Definition : Identify, define, and/or describe the topic, concept, or literary theme. What will you be talking about? Relevance : Show the importance of your topic, concept or theme. How does it relate to or impact society? Thesis : Copy the thesis statement generated in the previous step.
Topic: Depression Definition : Depression is a crippling condition that makes people feel despair in their lives. Relevance : While 16% of all Americans experience depression during their lifetime, most remain undiagnosed and untreated. Thesis : Depression is a complex condition, understanding of which requires an in-depth look at its causes, symptoms, and available treatments.
Step 5: Writing the Body of the Essay
The body of the essay is the most detailed part. It involves addressing each supporting detail in a separate, fully- developed paragraph. Make sure to include the necessary evidence from your research.
It is imperative that each supporting detail be announced or introduced within the text. This introduction is called a topic sentence and it is found at the beginning of a paragraph. The topic sentence is a statement you make about the supporting detail.
Topic sentence 1 : Depression is caused by several major factors. Topic sentence 2 : Though not always clearly evident, several symptoms can signal that a person is experiencing depression. Topic sentence 3 : A number of treatments are currently available for people who suffer from depression.
Step 6: Writing the Conclusion
Conclusion brings the paper to a close. It should be similar to the introduction, but worded differently. It allows you to reiterate and summarize the main points of the essay. The following components comprise a conclusion:
Relevance: Repeat the importance of your topic. Review: Reiterate the points you discussed. Summary: Summarize your conclusions.
Relevance : Depression affects thousands of men, women, and children every year; many endure it without any help. Review : This paper focused on the symptoms, causes, and available treatments of depression. Summary : Depression can have devastating consequences not only for the people experiencing it, but for those around them as well. Education about this painful condition may allow us to reach out to a greater number of people suffering from it.
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