EXPOSITORY WRITING WRITING THAT INFORMS OR EXPLAINS IT IS FACTUAL OR BASED ON FACTS REFLECTS A WELL-THOUGHT-OUT ORGANIZATION DESPITE FORMAT, IT WILL ALWAYS INCLUDE AN INTRODUCTION, A BODY, AND A CONCLUSION

RESEARCH WRITING A SPECIFIC TYPE OF EXPOSITORY WRITING BASED ON INFORMATION FROM PRIMARY AND/OR SECONDARY SOURCES GIVES THE WRITER THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME AN EXPERT FOCUSED ON A SPECIFIC, NARROW TOPIC HAS MANY DIFFERENT PARTS/STEPS

CREATING A THESIS EVERY RESEARCH PAPER WILL HAVE SOME TYPE OF THESIS STATEMENT! YOUR THESIS IS YOUR CONTRACT. ONCE YOU WRITE IT… YOU MUST STICK TO IT. YOUR THESIS MUST BE DEBATABLE. YOUR THESIS CANNOT BE A FACT.

TWO PART THESIS YOUR THESIS WILL HAVE TWO PARTS  THE 1 ST PART WILL CONTAIN THE PRIMARY INFORMATION (TITLE AND/OR AUTHOR), THE TOPIC OF THE PAPER, AND YOUR ARGUMENT  THE 2 ND PART WILL CONTAIN YOUR PRONGS

WE CAN WRITE A THESIS… WHAT NOW? NOW THAT WE CAN SUCCESSFULLY WRITE A DEBATABLE THESIS, WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT’S ROLE IN THE MANUSCRIPT OF THE PAPER ITSELF. AS WE SAID EARLIER, THE THESIS ACTS AS A CONTRACT. THEREFORE, IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT THAT WE DRAW THE READER’S ATTENTION TO THE THESIS.

INTRO PARAGRAPH AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH FUNCTIONS TO DRAW THE READER’S ATTENTION TO THE THESIS. TO DO THIS, WE INCORPORATE A BROAD TO NARROW FLOW IN THE INTRO PARAGRAPH. THIS MEANS THAT WE WILL OPEN WITH A “BROAD” STATEMENT AND THEN CLEARLY NARROW DOWN TO THE THESIS (LAST SENTENCE).

WHAT ALL DOES AN INTRO PARAGRAPH DO? INTRODUCES THE SUBJECT AND TOPIC OF THE PAPER GRABS THE READER’S ATTENTION LEADS THE READER TO THE THESIS ESTABLISHES AN ARGUMENT OR STANCE

T.A.G IN MOST ALL LITERARY PAPERS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE WRITER INTRODUCES T.A.G. INFORMATION IN THE INTRO PARAGRAPH  T= TITLE  A= AUTHOR  G= GENRE

WHAT SHOULD AN INTRO PARAGRAPH NOT DO? IT SHOULD NOT INCLUDE QUOTES FROM OUR PRIMARY SOURCE. IT SHOULD NOT JUMP AROUND (BROAD TO NARROW TO BROAD, ETC) IT SHOULD NOT MAKE LARGE “JUMPS” IT SHOULD NOT BE ANY SHORTER THAN 5 SENTENCES.

EXAMPLE INTRO PARAGRAPH FOR ALMOST FOUR HUNDRED YEARS, PEOPLE HAVE ARGUED OVER WHETHER OR NOT HAMLET, PROTAGONIST OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S PLAY HAMLET, IS SANE OR NOT. OF COURSE, SANITY CAN BE DEFINED IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. ONE DEFINITION APPEARS IN THE PATRICIAN HANDBOOK ON MENTAL ILLNESS. IN IT, MACDONALD DEFINES SANITY AS “THE ABILITY TO DISTINGUISH TRUTH FROM FALSEHOOD” (189). IF ONE ACCEPTS THIS DEFINITION, HAMLET IS CLEARLY SANE THROUGHOUT THE PLAY AS HE CONSISTENTLY DISTINGUISHES TRUTH FROM FALSE IN HIS RELATIONSHIPS, IN WHAT HE IS TOLD, AND IN WHAT HE OBSERVES.

Body Paragraphs Your body paragraphs give you the opportunity to “prove” your argument. The content of these paragraphs will often be “researched-opinion” content. That means that the information will be your opinion, but that your opinion will be supported by outside sources. Your body paragraphs will contain evidence and commentary.

Evidence Evidence is a literary term that refers to support that is drawn from primary or secondary sources. This means that the information does not belong to you… rather, it is information that you have borrowed. Evidence can be literary or historical. Evidence is the research part of the “researched-opinion”.

Literary Evidence Literary evidence is spoken or written information that speaks directly about literature. Literary evidence is the most common type of support used in literary papers.

Historical Evidence Historical evidence refers to support that is factual. Often, historical evidence is used as support about an author and his/her society.

Types of Evidence Direct Quote: when you borrow someone’s words in a “word-for-word” manner. Paraphrase: when you borrow a small chunk of someone’s words and put it in your own words. Summary: when you borrow a large chunk of someone’s words and put it in your own words.

Commentary Commentary is a literary term that refers to your thoughts concerning a piece of evidence. Every piece of evidence must be accompanied by commentary. Commentary explains how the evidence supports your argument. The commentary follows the evidence. Commentary is the opinion part of the “researched-opinion”.

Additional Info: Evidence and Commentary As often as possible, you should preface evidence with authority. Ex: According to Author Name, “quote….” Ex: Author Name states, “quote..” Use lead-ins for your commentary. Ex: This quote is an example of…. Ex: This line suggests…..

Conclusion Paragraph The conclusion begins with a re-stated thesis statement. It should end with a worldly statement (a statement that somehow shows a connection/purpose for the reader). NEVER introduce new content in the conclusion.