What is an expository essay
Expository essays acquired the name from “exposition” which simply means explanatory communication whether in speech or writing. An expository essay is an organized prose that explains a specific topic or set of ideas to a defined audience. However, an expository essay does not have an overt argument even though it does use points of view on the discussion topic. While expository essays can have a focused analysis on the topic, it does not have the depth of research that is needed in research papers. In this essay, the do’s and don’ts of expository essay writing will be discussed.
How to write an expository essay
First, let us start with the do’s if expository writing. In expository writing, always use topics that you know a lot about. For instance, one can choose to write about pro coaches and players, favorite movies, a current book that you are reading, a song you know at heart, or even personal experiences. The purpose of an expository essay is to explain a topic in a logical and straightforward manner using analysis based on facts, which means that the writes opinions should not come first. Therefore, it is paramount to choose topics that you are passionate about to avoid any unnecessary contradictions.
Secondly, you should always start with a topic sentence in the introductory paragraph that clearly states the thesis or main idea of the essay. The thesis should be clearly stipulated without an opinion or taking a position. For instance, you can use an interesting statistic to open your introductory paragraph. In addition, your personal experiences can be used as examples. In addition, vary your word choice especially at the topic sentences. Smooth transitional words that connect the ideas of the adjoining paragraphs should be carefully chosen to make the essay interesting. Those who vary their word choices tend to do well in expository writing.
Thirdly, always stress on the use of compound and complex sentences rather than simple sentences. The reason for the use of these type of sentences is that expository essays are intended to offer an in-depth analysis of the topic. Complex sentences are a fascinating component of the English language because they can add depth to your writing when used properly. On the other hand, compound sentences assist in making your writing rich and colorful.
Don’ts to avoid
To the don’ts, you should always avoid the old tired topics for your essay. Topics such as Martin Luther harry potter, hunger games, Michael Jordan, and Steve jobs have been explored in the past and thus they might limit your creativity. Instead, use topics that have received lesser analysis to allow you to be more creative since there is not much pressure.
The second don’t is to always refrain from using a quote at the introduction. Since quotes are personal opinions, they might compromise your ability to create a clear thesis or controlling idea. Do not ever use something such as “a wise man once said …,” unless you are able to explain who the wise man was. The use of such quotes will often derail your focus on the main idea and even confuse the reader further. This problem faces those who normally use technology to dig for quotes to help in essay writing. The use of technology will make your essay to appear fake. Instead, use research facts to help you come up with a workable thesis. If at all you decide to use a quote, you must explain it to the reader precisely.
Finally, you should never try to make up statistics. Again, this affects those who use the internet to gather information from blogs. Most of those blogs have unverified information and thus are misleading. You should always aim at using scholarly evidence to support your claims because an expository essay is meant to be informative and not fake.
In conclusion, expository writing is not different from any other form of academic writing and the due process should be followed. However, one thing you need to remember is that the essay should be informative and interesting to read.
References
Walker, G. (2017). Expository Writing DO’S AND DON’TS. Retrieved September 12, 2018, from https://slideplayer.com/slide/10708984/
