Expository writing is a writing style that focuses on explaining concepts or ideas rather than just using narrative. When you’re writing in this style, you’re not only concerned with what you write but how you write it as well. The following are some of the key things you’ll learn as you create and refine your expository writing style.
How Do You Organize An Expository Essay?
One of the first things you need to do when you’re starting to write a research paper or an expository essay is to decide how you’ll organize your thoughts and the material you’ll use to support your arguments. The type of organization you choose will depend on many factors, but the biggest one is how much time you have to write it. When you have a lot of time, you may want to use an outline to help you organize your thoughts and the information you need to include in your paper. An outline is simply a list of the main points or ideas you intend to include in your paper. The steps below will help you create an outline for your paper.
Step one: Decide on your thesis statement
One of the most important things to do before you start writing is to decide on your thesis statement. This is the main idea or point you intend to prove in your paper. Before you write a single word, you must have a clear idea of what your paper is going to be about. Your thesis statement should be a succinct summary of what you’ll cover in your paper; it should be interesting, informative, and, above all, it should make your reader want to read your paper. You should also have a clear idea of what a thesis statement is and what it is not. A thesis statement is not the same as an opinion or a theory – it is a fact that you will prove in your paper. A good thesis statement should be the starting point of your paper; it should guide, but not constrain, your narrative and your use of evidence. Think of the most successful expository papers you’ve read – they usually have a strong, clear thesis statement.
Step two: Generate topic ideas
When you have a clear idea of what your paper is going to be about, you can start generating topic ideas. Topic ideas are the things you choose to write about based on your thesis statement. You don’t need to be limited to just one topic idea, but you should choose three to five topic ideas that are closely related to one another. For example, if your thesis statement is “The music industry will change in the future because of technological advances,” then your topic ideas might include:
- The impact that technology has had on the music industry
- The changing role of the music industry
- The changing nature of the music industry
- The future of the music industry
When you’ve decided on your topic ideas, it’s time to start preparing the material you’ll need to write your paper. Remember: you’re writing an essay or a research paper so you’ll need to include both primary and secondary sources.
Step three: Select relevant primary sources
Once you have your topic ideas, it’s time to start gathering the primary sources you’ll need to prove your thesis statement. Your primary sources should be relevant to your topic ideas and should support your argument – they should not contradict your thesis statement. When writing your paper, you should try to find as many sources as possible that are relevant to your topic. Remember: the more sources you have, the more you’ll be able to prove or disprove your claim. Once you’ve collected a few relevant sources, it’s time to stop and consider whether or not those are the best sources you can find.
Step four: Create a list of important questions
Now that you have your topic ideas and your primary sources, it’s time to start asking questions. One of the best things you can do for your paper is to ask questions. When you ask questions, you give your reader more reasons to want to read your paper. Instead of passively listening to the information presented in your paper, your reader will have the opportunity to participate by asking questions and offering suggestions – this is called interactive reading. The questions you ask should be important and relevant to your topic ideas – they should not be asked just to make your paper seem more academic. Your reader should be able to ask questions about what they’re learning and not just answer yes or no, or copy and paste information from your paper. Make sure to create a list of questions you have and that will help you make the most of this interactive process.
Step five: Write the first draft
Once you’ve collected all your questions, it’s time to start writing the first draft of your paper. The first step is to answer your questions – this is also called ‘executive summaries’ in academic writing. The first draft of your paper should be a short and concise summary of what you’ve written so far. Every question you’ve asked should have a clear and succinct answer.
Once you’ve written your answer to all your questions, it’s time to start editing. The first step is to go through your paper and look for places where you can shorten it. Cut out unnecessary words and phrases, or words that don’t contribute to the big picture. Remember: your goal is to write a clear and concise paper, so be careful not to make it too wordy. Find areas where you can break down your information into smaller chunks or sentences. This will help your reader follow your argument easily.
Step six: Find supporting evidence
Now that you’ve written the first draft of your paper, it’s time to start looking for supporting evidence. This is where you’ll include the details and the facts that back up your thesis statement. In order to successfully write an expository paper, you’ll need to think of several facts or details that support your main claim – your thesis statement. What makes an effective supporting evidence piece is that it provides additional facts and details that strengthen your argument and make your thesis statement seem more believable. Your paper shouldn’t just state your thesis as fact; you should also provide some supporting evidence to prove it. Remember: the more you can include, the more you’ll be able to prove or disprove your thesis statement.
Step seven: Proofread and edit the final draft
Once you’ve written your paper and found all the spelling and grammar mistakes, it’s time to go through it again and polish it. This is very important because the last step is to edit your paper for readability and conciseness. Look for places where you can shorten your sentences and where you can break down your complex ideas into simpler and more straightforward language. Remember: your reader is still busy working their way through a lot of information, so make sure you write in a way that is easy for them to understand.
What Do You Learn in Expository Writing?
When you write an expository paper, you are demonstrating your understanding of a particular topic or concept. In order to write an effective and concise paper, you need to make sure you cover the necessary details and information regarding your topic – but you also need to organize your material in a way that is easy to understand. Using an outline to help you structure your paper and make sure you cover the necessary points will help you become a better researcher and writer.