The Expository Essay An Overview

1
The Expository Essay An Overview
2
The function of the expository essay is to
explain, or to acquaint your reader with a body
of knowledge.
3
By explaining a topic to the reader, you are
demonstrating your own knowledge.
4
For example, if you are asked to write an essay
about how to drive a car, you decide what you
plan to concentrate on, create a paragraph
structure, and describe the process step by step.
5
When describing, or exposing the process by which
one drives a car, all you are doing is explaining
the steps or process.
6
An essay becomes more complicated when a position
has to be defended, as in the persuasive essay,
which is one of the reasons expository essays are
more popular.
7
Expository essays require that the writer give
information, explain the topic or define
something.
8
To accomplish that, expository essays are best
developed by the use of facts and statistical
information, cause and effect relationships, or
examples.
9
Since they are factual, they are written without
emotion and usually written in the third person.
10
The third person means that the use of the
pronoun "I" is not usually found within the
essay. Instead the writer will refer to the
first person (I) in the third person (one).
11
Expository essays also have a distinct format.
The thesis statement must be defined and narrow
enough to be supported within the essay.
12
Each supporting paragraph must have a distinct
controlling topic and all other sentences must
factually relate directly to it.
13
The transition words or phrases are important as
they help the reader follow along and reinforce
the logic.
14
Finally, the conclusion paragraph should
originally restate the thesis and the main
supporting ideas.
15
Finish with a statement that reinforces your
position in a meaningful and memorable way.
16
Never introduce new material in the conclusion.
17
As they like to state at the essay info writing
center
18
The purpose of an expository essay is to present,
completely and fairly, other people's views or to
report about an event or a situation.
19
Expository writing, or exposition, presents a
subject in detail, apart from criticism,
argument, or development i.e., the writer
elucidates a subject by analyzing it.
20
Such writing is discourse designed to convey
information or explain what is difficult to
understand.
21
Exposition usually proceeds by the orderly
analysis of parts and the use of familiar
illustrations or analogies.
22
Such an analysis requires1) Reading with
understanding the ideas developed in an article
by clearly stating another's thesis, outlining
the facts used by the author to support that
thesis, and the "values" underlying the ideas.
23
2) Putting what is read into a larger context by
relating another's article or book to other work
in the field.
24
3) Clearly and effectively communicating this
information to a defined audience.
25
4) In other words, you must write clearly and
fully enough for your readers to know how you
have arrived at your analyses and conclusions.
26
Your reader should never have to guess what you
mean give your readers everything they need to
know to follow your reasoning.
27
This practice is not "just for students."
Accurate analysis is a fundamental professional
activity in almost all careers.
28
Like any other fundamental skill, it must be
constantly practiced in order to maintain and
improve it.
29
Other goals, such as learning "time management"
and note-taking, are also developed by this
activity.
30
Do not be afraid to revise your essay! In fact,
you will probably want to change it at least
once this is called "thinking through a
'problem'" or "learning."
31
The revisions will consist of the following1)
Finding the precise words to express your
thoughts
32
2) Correcting typographical, spelling, and
grammatical errors
33
3) Making sure that your paragraphs are "tight"
and sequenced properly.
34
4) Making sure that the transition ("segue")
from one major topic to another makes sense.
35
Expository Essay Writing Prompt
TopicVoting is an Important Act of
Citizenship
36
Many US citizens do not exercise their right to
vote at any level of government.
37
They give up their right to important input on
issues because they do not take the time to
investigate the issues, or go to the polls to
cast a ballot for a candidate that may have
similar values.
38
Some think that one vote does not make a
difference so why should they bother.
39
Often elections are decided by a very small
percentage of those eligible and registered to
vote.
40
Your job is to explain the value of having and
exercising the right to vote. Use the
five-paragraph form for the explanation. 
41
Be sure to think of reasons why it is important
to vote. Think of the kinds of laws that effect
the average individual.
42
Think how the stated platforms of the various
parties influence the outcomes of actions of
lawmaking bodies.
43
Use a planner.Be sure to state that it is
important to vote in your topic sentence.
44
That is the assignment. You do not have a
choice.Think of three good reasons why everyone
should vote.
45
Once you have written them down, think about some
supporting reasons or examples.
46
If you can think of some examples from history,
you might be able to include some concrete
examples from the past of how a law came about or
was changed by the actions of the lawmakers.
47
Or you can give examples from the present or
recent times to explain how voting does make a
difference.
48
Feel free to reference things that have happened
in your school that could parallel events in the
local, state or national government.
49
Think of some excuses that you might have heard
and explain why they are not valid.
50
Once you have the three reasons and have three
supporting facts or ideas for each one, it is
time to plan for the summary ending.
51
Be sure that you have a strong summary and
restate, in an original manner, the main points
of your essay.
52
It is necessary to restate and remind people of
the main facts that you brought out throughout
the essay.
53
It is necessary to remind them of the focus and
the main points that you have brought out.When
you have finished the planner, it is time to
write.
54
Try to think of a good opening sentence that
clearly focuses in on the topic.
55
Be sure that it is sufficiently broad to cover
your points, but not so broad as to loose the
interest of the reader right off the bat.
56
Using something like, "voting is important." Does
not create interest or clearly define the topic.
57
As you write, take time to phrase each sentence
in your mind.
58
Pay attention to the arrangement of the sentence
that went before so that you are varying the
sentence structure.
59
Be sure that the subject and the verb agree. Try
to write in active voice as it is so much more
powerful.
60
Thanks to UVIC and Geo Cities for much of the
content here-in.