Writing Essays:
Explanatory and
Argumentative
By Mrs. Taylor-Garcia
The Introduction
The Hook:
Anecdote
Statistics
Quotes with warrant
Background information on authors, texts, themes, etc.
Summary
The Claim:
Statement with the points to be discussed
The Transitions:
Concluding sentence to the intro
Introduction to the next paragraph (1st point)
The Conclusion
• Restate your claim
• Restate your points
• Add a personal story if necessary
• Open your essay to another issue including your
topic.
Expository/Explanatory Essay
• Expository Essays: Just the Facts
• The expository essay is an informative piece of
writing that presents a balanced analysis of a topic.
In an expository essay, the writer explains or defines
a topic, using facts, statistics, and examples.
Expository writing encompasses a wide range of
essay variations, such as the comparison and
contrast essay, the cause and effect essay, and the
“how to” or process essay. Because expository
essays are based on facts and not personal
feelings, writers don’t reveal their emotions or write
in the first person.
Expository/Explanatory Essay
• The creator of an expository text can not assume
that the reader or listener has prior knowledge or
prior understanding of the topic that is being
discussed. One important point to keep in mind for
the author is to try to use words that clearly show
what they are talking about rather then blatantly
telling the reader what is being discussed. Since
clarity requires strong organization, one of the most
important mechanisms that can be used to improve
our skills in exposition is to provide directions to
improve the organization of the text.
Explanatory Essay Structure
• Structurally, a piece of expository writing has the
following components:

An introduction that introduces the central
idea you’ll talk about in the essay or article.

The main body that presents evidence to
back up the idea. This is the meat of the essay
and should be at least 3-4 paragraphs long.

A conclusion that presents your idea again in
the light of the evidence.
The Explanatory Essay
• Description
• The author describes a
topic by listing
characteristics, features,
and examples. It
provides details about
how something looks,
feels, tastes, smells,
makes one feel, or
sounds
• Cue Words for example,
the characteristics are...
• Cause and Effects
• The author focuses on the
relationship between two or
more events or experiences.
The essay could discuss
both causes and effects, or it
could simply address one or
the other. A cause essay
usually discusses the
reasons why something
happened. An effect essay
discusses what happens
after a specific event or
circumstance.
• Cue Words reasons why;
if...then; as a result;
therefore; because
Explanatory Essay (continue)
• Sequencing or
Process
• The author lists items
or events in numerical
or chronological
order.
• Cue Words: first,
second, third; next;
then; finally
• Problem and Solution
• The author states a
problem and lists one or
more solutions for the
problem. A variation of
this pattern is the
question- and-answer
format in which the author
poses a question and
then answers it.
• Cue Words: the problem
is; the dilemma is; puzzle
is solved; question...
answer
Explanatory Essay (continue)
• Contrast and Compare
• The author explains how
two or more things are alike
and/or how they are
different. A comparison
essay usually discusses the
similarities between two
things, while the contrast
essay discusses the
differences.
• Cue Words: different; in
contrast; alike; same as; on
the other hand
Prompts: Choose one and write an
explanatory essay
• 1. Who do you admire the
most in the world? Why?
• 2. If you could be any animal
for a day, what would you be
and why?
• 3. If you could live as any one
person for a day, who would
you choose and why?
• 4. If time travel was possible,
which year would you go back
in time to? Give a reasons for
your answer.
• 5. What is your favorite book?
What did you enjoy the most
about it?
•
•
•
•
•
6. Who is your favorite teacher?
How has he/she affected your
education?
7. Describe your favorite vacation
spot. Give reasons as to why you
enjoy going there.
8. If you could change any one
thing in the world, what would it be
and why?
9. Write a paper describing a
favorite day you spent with your
family. Give at least three reasons
why you enjoyed this day so
much. Be as specific as possible.
10. What kind of music do you like
listening to? What are your
favorite singers or bands? Give
reasons for your choice.
Possible essay topics (explanatory)
•
There is a strong parent-led campaign in your city to
curb down on homework assignments given to
students. As a student, however, you feel homework
is essential to promoting learning. Write a paper
arguing your stand by giving specific examples and
statistics to show the benefits of homework.
•
2. Mobile phones are both a boon and a bane for
high school students. On the one hand, it puts you
in touch with the world, on the other, it discourages
real face-to-face interaction. Write a paper that
explores both the pros and cons of mobile phone
usage among teenagers.
3. A lot of medical research today focuses on
developing medicinal cures to ageing. Presumably,
with the right breakthrough, humankind would live
forever. How do you feel about this? Write a paper
describing the advantages and disadvantages of
extremely long life.
•
•
4. There has been a concentrated campaign in your
school to curb bullying. While the campaign has
been largely successful within schools, bullying has
now reared its ugly head in online communities.
Describe how online bullying is different from reallife bullying, and what steps can be taken to curb it.
•
5. In a globalized world, learning a foreign language
has become increasingly important. Do you agree
or disagree? Explain your answer in a detailed
essay. Use facts, statistics and studies to
supplement your views.
•
6. What are the qualities of a good leader? What
can you learn from the examples of great leaders of
the past?
•
7. You use the internet on an everyday basis. While
the internet has a huge list of benefits, it has some
downsides too. Write an essay exploring the
disadvantages of using the internet, specifically
referring to internet addiction, and information
overload.
•
8. What is your favorite hobby? Describe how
someone could go about learning this hobby, and
what benefits he can gain from it.
•
9. If you were to volunteer to work in your
community, where would you work and why?
•
10. A few members of your community have lost
their home due to a nearby forest fire. Explain how
you would help these community members and help
them recover from their loss.
Write an essay
• Choose a question from the handout and write
an explanatory essay on it.
• Refer to your notes in order to use the right
terminology.
• Re-read your work and identify your claim,
points, evidence, and warrants.
Argumentative/Persuasive Essay
Persuasive Essays: Convince Me
While like an expository essay in its presentation
of facts, the goal of the persuasive essay is to
convince the reader to accept the writer’s point of
view or recommendation. The writer must build a
case using facts and logic, as well as examples,
expert opinion, and sound reasoning. The writer
should present all sides of the argument, but must
be able to communicate clearly and without
equivocation why a certain position is correct.
The Argumentative Essay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lzGy5gizKg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaGJNxCxB-s
Write an argumentative essay
• Structure:
• Prompts:
• https://depts.washingt
on.edu/owrc/Handout
s/Argumentative%20
Paper%20Format.pdf
• http://graphics8.nytim
es.com/images/blogs/
learning/pdf/2014/200
PromptsArgumentativ
eWriting.pdf