Unit 9

Writing:                                                             The Expository Essay p: 136/137

The expository essay is a genre of essay that requires the student to

·         investigate a topic

·         evaluate evidence about the topic

·         explain the topic

The structure of the expository essay is held together by the following:

1.      A clear, concise, and defined topic sentence that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.

It is essential that this topic sentence be narrow enough to follow the guidelines given in the assignment. If you don’t master this portion of the essay, it will be difficult to compose an effective essay. The topic sentence should notify the reader what the topic of the essay is and what the writer thinks/feels about that topic.

2.      Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.

Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together. Without logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse.

3.      Body paragraphs that include support.

Each paragraph should be limited to one general idea that supports the topic sentence. This will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. What is more, such conciseness creates an ease of readability for one’s audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph.

4.      Support/Proof (whether factual, logical, statistical, or story-like).

As much proof should be gathered to present the author’s thoughts/ideas about the topic. However, often times, students are required to write expository essays with little or no preparation; therefore, such essays do not typically allow for a great deal of statistical or factual evidence to be researched or gathered. In such cases, the student should use good reasoning/thinking to support their position.

5.      A bit of creativity!

Though creativity and artfulness are not always associated with essay writing, it is an art form nonetheless. Try not to get stuck on the formulaic nature of expository writing at the expense of writing something interesting.

Remember, though you may not be crafting the next great novel, you are attempting to leave a lasting impression on the people evaluating youressay.

6.      A conclusion that does not simply restate the topic sentence, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.

It is at this point of the essay that students usually struggle. This is the portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize and come to a conclusion concerning the information presented in the body of the essay.