Writing an Expository Essay
Expository writing
Exposition, which means explanation is the most
common way we communicate.
Expository Essays
• Expository Essays explain something. They answer
questions like:
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What is it?
How should we define it?
How do you do it?
How does it work?
What is the history of it?
What caused it? What are the effects?
What is the meaning of it?
An expository essay…
• Informs readers about a meaningful and interesting
subject.
• Conveys information clearly and completely.
• Does not argue for or against the subject or
make a judgement about its value or worth.
Basic Essay structure
• Introduction: introduce your topic and purpose
for writing. State your thesis.
• Body: Provide reasons and explanations for your
thesis.
• Conclusion: wrap up your ideas and restate your
thesis.
• Note: If you’ve structured an essay properly, you
should be able to read the introduction and
conclusion and they should make sense together.
Writing an Introduction
A good introduction must have the following:
• A hook (one to two sentences that grab the
reader’s attention)
• General introduction to topic
• Thesis (one sentence that states the point of
the essay).
Writing hooks
A hook is an attention-grabbing sentence or two.
Your hook could be:
• An interesting quote
• A short anecdote (brief personal story related to topic)
• An interesting fact
• Interesting or unusual statement
• A question
• A strong statement
• An exaggeration
Example introductions with hooks
•
(Using a question)
Do you own a pet? Lots of people love animals and many people share their
homes with a four legged companion. Typically people tend to have cats or dogs
for pets and, typically, people tend to classify themselves as either cat or dog
people. Some people may feel that cats make the better pet since they are
relatively independent animals, but doesn’t that mean that they really don’t need
us? Dogs, on the other hand, can play a huge part in our day-to-day routines.
Sometimes there are inconveniences but, for the most part, dogs are great pets
because they are beneficial to our lives.
Thesis statement
•
(Using a quote)
Samuel Butler states, "The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of
yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of
himself too". Although this quote is very true, perhaps the best known saying
about dogs is that they are man’s best friend. Why are dogs characterized this
way, though? Maybe, as Butler indicates, dogs are perceived as man’s best friend
because they never judge us and love us unconditionally. More importantly
maybe dogs make great pets because they are beneficial to many areas of our
lives.
Thesis statement
*Note how the thesis flows into the ideas of the paragraph and isn’t just dropped into the
paragraph awkwardly. You can always add words or rearrange your thesis in order to achieve
this – as long as the main idea of your essay is clear.
Creating your own topics:
Read through the following topics and create possible expository essay topics
Body art
smoking
Popularity
drugs
UFC and IFL
exams
Keep in mind the purpose of an expository essay is to
explain, describe or inform. Consider using these words
when creating your topics:
how?
what?
why?
Example: What is involved in getting a tattoo?
Thesis statements
• A thesis statement is one sentence that
tells what your essay is about
• The formula for writing a thesis for an
expository essay is:
Topic + point= thesis
Keep in mind that for an expository essay
your purpose is to explain, describe, or
inform.
Expository Topic suggestions:
• Describe a world-class athlete.
• Describe how communication has changed in the last 20 years.
• Write an essay explaining how decisions can shape a person’s
future.
• What is courage?
• What is a soul-mate?
• Explain why someone is a leader.
• Describe the major stresses on a teen’s life
• Explain why teens take up smoking.
• Explain why teens might turn to drugs.
• Explain why students skip school.
• Explain the importance for teens of having a driver’s license.
• Explain an important invention.
• Explain the benefits of a particular career.
Writing Effective Body Paragraphs
 Give a specific example that helps explain your thesis in
each body paragraph.
 Do not make your whole paper sound like an
introduction paragraph.
 Begin your body paragraphs with a topic sentence.
 Each body paragraph develops one clear, specific
reason or example for your thesis statement.
Body Paragraph Example
During September 11th, when the terrorists
attacked the World Trade buildings, Americans
of all races and ages helped each other escape
the crumbling buildings. The fireman and police
worked overtime and put themselves in danger
from the dust and piles of building scraps to
help pull the injured out from under the rubble.
These men and women gave everyone hope in
their heroic, selfless acts. Their actions reveal
that it is admirable to put others first.
Another Sample Body Paragraph
It is important to care about others because
then other people will like you. Everyone wants
to have friends. Caring is part of friendship.
This student received a bad score
because the body paragraph is too
vague. What does that mean?
Yet Another Sample Body Paragraph
A nurse will spend most of her or his day caring
for hurting people. Nurses are one example of
people who put others first.
• Too vague! Develop the idea! Your paragraph
must develop the idea of the nurse helping
the sick. This is an okay start, but it’s certainly
not a paragraph.
The Last Example of a Body Paragraph
The Red Cross is an organization that helps
people in need. For example, they respond to
hurricane or tornado victims with places of
shelter, blankets, clothing, and food. The Red
Cross people are volunteers that make life
bearable in times of emergencies. It is
important to help people in tough times; one
never knows when he or she will need
assistance.
Brainstorming before Writing
News/History
World Events
Books/Movies
School/Community
Brainstorming before Writing
Write an essay explaining how decisions can shape a person’s future.
News/History
World Events
Miley Cyrus
Gabby Douglas
Books/Movies
School/Community
Michael Oher – The Blind Side
The Outsiders or The Hunger Games
Expository essays - a Re-cap:
o Explains/informs/discusses a topic
o Includes a thesis
o Contains evidence and reasoning
o Provides a conclusion