Expository Essays: Expository Essays: Simple BenchmarksSimple Benchmarks

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Expository WritingExpository Writing

27 June 201327 June 2013

Opening ParagraphOpening Paragraph• The thesis appears where it “should,” The thesis appears where it “should,”

following an introduction that simultaneously following an introduction that simultaneously appeals to the reader (addressing the familiar appeals to the reader (addressing the familiar or universal) while interesting them or universal) while interesting them (indicating the readers will encounter new (indicating the readers will encounter new information or perspectives if they continue information or perspectives if they continue reading). reading).

• For example, an essay about a novel will For example, an essay about a novel will reference the book, not summarize it – we’d reference the book, not summarize it – we’d hope the audience had also read the novel hope the audience had also read the novel before picking up that essay! – while before picking up that essay! – while indicating that the essayist had drawn indicating that the essayist had drawn interesting lessons or conclusions during their interesting lessons or conclusions during their reading of the text.reading of the text.

Opening ParagraphOpening Paragraph

• The thesis clearly and concisely The thesis clearly and concisely states the paper’s guiding idea states the paper’s guiding idea without giving away everything without giving away everything the author proceeds to explore. the author proceeds to explore. – (It expresses the common link (It expresses the common link

between the topics of each body between the topics of each body paragraph rather than simply listing paragraph rather than simply listing each body paragraph’s main idea.)each body paragraph’s main idea.)

• The thesis contains words and The thesis contains words and terms that do not require terms that do not require explanation or definition.explanation or definition.

Opening ParagraphOpening Paragraph

• The thesis’s tone fits the topic as The thesis’s tone fits the topic as well as the intended audience.well as the intended audience.

• The opening paragraph makes The opening paragraph makes sense as an individual passage, yet sense as an individual passage, yet would gain additional meaning if a would gain additional meaning if a reader who had seen the final reader who had seen the final paragraph re-read the paper.paragraph re-read the paper.

Body ParagraphsBody Paragraphs

• The author signals or establishes The author signals or establishes his/her main expository method from his/her main expository method from the first body paragraph onward. the first body paragraph onward.

• If a writer wishes to use the If a writer wishes to use the “sequencing” approach, for example, “sequencing” approach, for example, the first body paragraph almost always the first body paragraph almost always begins with a signal word – something begins with a signal word – something like “firstly.” like “firstly.”

• A writer using the cause-and-effect A writer using the cause-and-effect model, on the other hand, typically uses model, on the other hand, typically uses the first body paragraph to establish the first body paragraph to establish the cause. the cause.

Body ParagraphsBody Paragraphs• The paragraphs that follow will relate to The paragraphs that follow will relate to

the first to varying degrees. the first to varying degrees. • Consider the cause-and-effect model Consider the cause-and-effect model

once again:once again:– Some writers will use their second Some writers will use their second

paragraphs to explain the effects from paragraphs to explain the effects from Paragraph #1’s cause, while their third Paragraph #1’s cause, while their third paragraphs would explore the significance paragraphs would explore the significance of the whole cause-and-effect sequence – of the whole cause-and-effect sequence – why any of it matters. why any of it matters.

– Other writers will blend cause-and-effect Other writers will blend cause-and-effect within each paragraph – #1 has cause-and-within each paragraph – #1 has cause-and-effect #1, #2 has cause-and-effect #2, and effect #1, #2 has cause-and-effect #2, and so on – which necessarily results in less so on – which necessarily results in less connection (but not connection (but not nono connection!) connection!) between the two.between the two.

Body ParagraphsBody Paragraphs

• Every paragraph should explore Every paragraph should explore evidence, not simply present it. evidence, not simply present it.

• The evidence can be factual, The evidence can be factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal, logical, statistical, or anecdotal, but it cannot be digressive – it but it cannot be digressive – it needs to help propel the reader needs to help propel the reader from Point A in the beginning from Point A in the beginning paragraph to Point X at the end. paragraph to Point X at the end.

• No piece of evidence that distracts No piece of evidence that distracts from that journey should be used!from that journey should be used!

Body ParagraphsBody Paragraphs• The sequence of each paragraph must make The sequence of each paragraph must make

sense. sense. • The first body paragraph not only belongs The first body paragraph not only belongs

before the second, but any reader who skips before the second, but any reader who skips ahead to the second paragraph should be ahead to the second paragraph should be rightly lost. rightly lost. – (Nothing in your writing should be optional for your (Nothing in your writing should be optional for your

readers!) readers!)

• 1 leads to 2 leads to 3.1 leads to 2 leads to 3.• Each paragraph, independent of the evidence Each paragraph, independent of the evidence

it contains, can be boiled down to a single-it contains, can be boiled down to a single-sentence statement of purpose. sentence statement of purpose. – That’s one way you can check whether 1 does, in That’s one way you can check whether 1 does, in

fact, lead to 2, and whether 2 leads to 3.fact, lead to 2, and whether 2 leads to 3.

Body ParagraphsBody Paragraphs

• Taken as a whole, the body paragraphs Taken as a whole, the body paragraphs attempt to move readers in one of three attempt to move readers in one of three ways: ways:

1) to reassure them of their positions by 1) to reassure them of their positions by adding information and context to their adding information and context to their pre-existing stances or beliefs; pre-existing stances or beliefs;

2) to change their minds, i.e. their pre-2) to change their minds, i.e. their pre-existing stances or beliefs; existing stances or beliefs;

3) to give readers with no pre-existing 3) to give readers with no pre-existing stances or beliefs the ability to form stances or beliefs the ability to form new stances or beliefs of their own.new stances or beliefs of their own.

Closing ParagraphClosing Paragraph• The closing paragraph respects the The closing paragraph respects the

journey the author has asked his/her journey the author has asked his/her readers to take. readers to take.

• It does not completely repeat what It does not completely repeat what came before. came before. – (If it did, why wouldn’t a reader just read (If it did, why wouldn’t a reader just read

the first and last paragraphs?) the first and last paragraphs?) • It does, however, reference the main It does, however, reference the main

points the author raised earlier in order points the author raised earlier in order to conclude the argument or exploration to conclude the argument or exploration kicked off in the opening paragraph – an kicked off in the opening paragraph – an argument that was believable, but not argument that was believable, but not self-evident, before, but which now self-evident, before, but which now makes sense to the reader. makes sense to the reader.

Closing ParagraphClosing Paragraph• The conclusion needs to have an The conclusion needs to have an

impact. impact. • It provides readers with their final It provides readers with their final

impression of the piece, and therefore impression of the piece, and therefore of the arguments and ideas the essay of the arguments and ideas the essay contains. contains.

• Every author seeking to finish an essay Every author seeking to finish an essay has to take the cause-and-effect has to take the cause-and-effect question into consideration at the end: question into consideration at the end: What will this essay What will this essay causecause the reader to the reader to do? What do? What effecteffect will it have on them? will it have on them? – (Do not write something that cannot impact (Do not write something that cannot impact

your reader. We read to be impacted. We your reader. We read to be impacted. We need to be impacted.)need to be impacted.)

Closing ParagraphClosing Paragraph

• Finally, just as the opening Finally, just as the opening paragraph gains meaning from the paragraph gains meaning from the conclusion, the concluding conclusion, the concluding paragraph’s meaning should be paragraph’s meaning should be amplified by the opening amplified by the opening paragraph’s material. paragraph’s material.

• Someone reading the fifth Someone reading the fifth paragraph alone should think it’s a paragraph alone should think it’s a pretty interesting passage. pretty interesting passage.

• Someone reading it at the end of Someone reading it at the end of the essay should think it’s the essay should think it’s profound, even perfect.profound, even perfect.