Writing a good expository Essay Expository essays inform & explain

1) Start with the Thesis The thesis must tell your reader exactly what you’re going to be proving. The thesis must Answer the prompt Be clear and concise Be supported by the text Be specific Try to use key words from the prompt in your thesis!

2) Make an outline Type/write your thesis at the top of a page. Come up with three points (“claims”) you can make to prove your thesis is true. These will be the main ideas for your body paragraphs. You can put the claim idea first in the paragraph (topic sentences), or you can put it last (warrants). If you are stumped, say to yourself, “My thesis is true because ______.” What can or should you discuss as you prove your thesis? Keep thinking about that until you have written three claims.

3) Find Evidence Think about each main idea (each “claim”). How do you know it is true? What evidence from the text could you use to convince a reader that the point you’re making is true? Find and record your evidence Use your notes/study guides to find the page numbers or at least the chapters where the evidence will be. Under each claim, type or write out the evidence that proves it. Cite correctly.

4) Complete the Body Paragraphs A) First Sentence = Topic Sentence (“Claim”) This is your main idea. It should be a claim that proves the thesis. This should answer the question: “What is the point of this paragraph?” It should be very obvious that this claim proves the thesis. B) Middle = Evidence. Evidence must be cited paraphrasings and/or quotes from the text. Evidence must clearly prove the claim made in the topic sentence. Be sure to introduce (“set up”) all quotes. If you have more than one piece of evidence, transition smoothly. C) End = Analysis Clearly state/explain how the evidence proves the claim. Note: You may wish to include a transition before the claim and a warrant at the end of the paragraph.

5) Introduction C) END with your clear and concise THESIS. A) Start with a HOOK. Hooks are broader than the story/novel/poem/play; they don’t even mention the work at all. Try to grab the reader’s attention with a creative, clever, or interesting thought, mini-story, quote, or comment that is related to the topic of your paper. B) Either at the end of the hook or the start of the thesis, mention the WORK and the AUTHOR. Blend nicely from the hook; use transition words/phrases! Here, as you transition from hook to thesis, if you like, you can give a little background, mentioning characters, events, and subjects from the novel. C) END with your clear and concise THESIS.

6) Conclusion DO NOT ADD ANY NEW CLAIMS OR EVIDENCE IN THE CONCLUSION! Stick with the topics and ideas you’ve discussed in the paper! Restate thesis – restate means say it in a fresh way; do not copy and paste. Briefly summarize main points (only necessary if the paper is three or more pages). Broaden out—make an interesting statement to help show how your topic is relevant, interesting, or useful to everyone. Note: It can be nice to link back to the idea(s) in your hook as you broaden out (human beings really respond to this kind of closure – we like when things “come full circle”).

Step FOUR: Revise & Edit Re-word vague and awkward sentences. Take out ideas that go off-topic. Make sure the essay follows the basic structure rules. “EDIT” Fix any grammar or punctuation mistakes. Make sure there are no MLA formatting mistakes. Look for typos! READ YOUR WORK ALOUD BEFORE PRINTING.

Check the organization. Revision… How’s the thesis? Check the organization. Does it still match the claims? Does it need to be more or less specific in order to ensure it covers what the body paragraphs are proving? When revising, make sure it still matches up clearly with the prompt. Do paragraphs start with a transition sentence, phrase, or word? Do the body paragraphs have a nice flow? 2 organizational methods: Claim, Evidence, Analysis, trans, Evidence, Analysis… Claim, Evidence, trans, Evidence, Analysis…

Check for informal writing. Revision… Does it stay on-topic? Check for informal writing. A writer should NEVER start making new claims when he or she is supposed to be explaining the evidence! The writer can summarize a bit to set up some evidence, but must not drift into summary when he or she is supposed to be analyzing. If the essay is going off on a tangent, delete that. No contractions. “Don’t”  “Do not,” etc. No 1st & 2nd person I, WE, ME, US, MINE, MY, OURS, YOU, YOURS, YOUR STAY IN 3RD PERSON HE, SHE, HIM, HER, HIS, HERS, IT, ITS, ONE, ONES, THEY, THEM, THEIRS