The Art of the Expository Essay

Introductory Paragraph

Has Three Parts•Attention catcher•Thesis•PreviewIt should clearly state the subject of the essay

ThesisA thesis is a clearly worded statement telling readers exactly what the writer intends to do in the essay

This will come immediately after the attention catcher

Preview of the Main Points

•Briefly states the main points that will be discussed in the essay•The preview is not where the points are developed•The preview summarizes each point in as few words as possible•Main points will be stated in the exact order they will be developed through out the essay•Example: If I claim that my essay will discuss square, circle, and triangle my first body paragraph should be about squares, my second should be about circles, and my third should be about triangles

Body Paragraphs•All Paragraphs after the intro and before the conclusion•Think of a sandwich and the body paragraphs are the meat

Main Points•Each body paragraph should have one clearly stated main point that is expressed in the topic sentence of the paragraph•The main point should then be developed and supported with facts and citations •Your essay should have three main points and each main points should support the thesis of the essay

Topic Sentences•Clearly state the purpose of the paragraph•Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence•A topic sentence may or may not restate your thesis or position but always should state the paragraph’s central topic

Supporting DetailsUse Sentence Stems•What I mean by this is…..•Another way to say this is….•This connects to my argument because….•The reason for this is that….•To put it another way….•This shows that….•This is important because….•For Example…….

Making the Connection•Making the connection is when the last sentence in a body paragraph connects the support back to the main point

•Strong friendships can endure all. This is the theme of the drama entitled, “Brian’s Song.” Blinn’s play has two main characters who are introduced within the first few pages of the book. These two men are Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers. One is funny, outgoing, and confident. The other one is shy and really not into talking too much. With these differences, the two men have one thing in common, they are football players. Not only are they football players, but they are vying for the same spot on the same team. The story quickly begins to explain and develop the two’s relationship. It starts with Brian playing a practical joke on Gale and Gale giving it right back to him. Soon the two find out they will be rooming together and really have no choice but to get along. The pair survives being the first black man and white man in the NFL to room together. Brian sees Gale through a knee injury and ensures that he is able to get all the way back to 100%. Then Gale sees Brian through much more than that, including cancer and eventual death. The reader can easily see the two men have become very close and that their friendship truly was able to endure all from race, competitiveness, injury, illness, and even disease and death.

Conclusion ParagraphThe conclusion is the last paragraph in the

expository essayA good conclusion will not only restate the

main points of the topic, it will bring something new to the table and end with strength and resolution

Restatement of the Points•The writer briefly reviews the main points of their paper•Similar to the preview and introduction but, will maintain the sequence of the topics, do not repeat word for word

Closing Statements

•What should the reader learn and remember from your essay?