top of page

Tips for Writing a Top-Notch Expository Essay

Writer's picture: Boon Yih MahBoon Yih Mah

Updated: Oct 13, 2024


A type of expository essay commonly assigned to students is the topical essay. This essay requires the writer to define, describe, inform, explain, and explore a specific topic. The writer must provide an in-depth topic analysis, covering its features, characteristics, and implications. Additionally, the writer should establish a connection between the topic and the reader's life or experience.


To accomplish this, the writer must use formal language, avoid contractions, and ensure that the text is clear, concise, and error-free. The essay should be written in a professional tone that conveys a sense of expertise and professionalism. Appropriate vocabulary and grammar should be used throughout the essay to maintain its credibility.


A. Writing an Expository Essay  Solutions


One needs to follow a specific process to write an excellent expository essay. The process consists of three stages: pre-writing, writing, and post-writing. In the pre-writing stage, the writer should brainstorm ideas and gather information about the topic. This could be done through research, reading, or observation. Once the writer has enough information, they can create an essay outline.


In the writing stage, the writer should use the outline to write the essay. The essay should be structured into five paragraphs: an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The writer should provide background information about the topic in the introduction and state the thesis statement. The three body paragraphs should contain the essay's main points, while the conclusion should summarize the main points and restate the thesis statement.


In the post-writing stage, the writer should proofread and edit the essay to ensure that it is error-free and meets the standards of academic writing. This stage involves checking for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors and ensuring the essay is well-organized and coherent.


Overall, the topical essay is an effective way to assess a student's writing and analytical skills. By providing a detailed analysis of a specific topic, the writer can inform and engage the reader on a particular subject matter. This type of essay is commonly used in academic and business settings to convey information and persuade readers.


B. Writing Tips Solutions


a. Pre-Writing

  1. Spend 20-30 per cent of this stage's total writing time duration.

  2. Before writing, remember this: You are not required to discuss, express your opinion, argue, or persuade the reader when writing an expository essay.

  3. If you are given an essay title to write, interpret the keywords from the task, such as state, explain, express, discuss, and opinion, to determine the required essay genre.

  4. Identify the topic or subject matter and the scopes from the keywords in the given essay title.

  5. Make sure your ideas are confined within the scope based on the title.

  6. Use the mapping technique to brainstorm and list out your points.

  7. Select, sort out, and arrange your points into introduction, first body paragraph, second body paragraph, third body paragraph, and conclusion clusters.

  8. Outline your essay based on the selected points in the clusters and write them in point form instead of complete sentences as your draft.

  9. Ensure the thesis statement is written in the last sentence of the introduction.

  10. The topic sentence, supporting details (two or three sentences), and concluding sentence (optional) should be stated in each body paragraph.

  11. The conclusion summarises all the body paragraphs' main ideas (topic sentences).

  12. Emphasise the thesis statement instead of providing a new point in the conclusion.


b. Writing


  1. Spend 50-60 per cent of the total writing time duration in this stage.

  2. Follow the draft by elaborating the points into complete sentences.

  3. You can modify the points while writing based on the draft in a clear structure of introduction, body, and conclusion.

  4. Below are the tips for writing different sections in an expository essay.

    1. Introduction:

      1. Write a well-developed and engaging introduction using attention grabbers like statistics, quotes, and anecdotes.

      2. Ensure the thesis statement is clearly stated and effectively written in a general or specific form.

      3. The introduction should be shorter than any of the body paragraphs.

    2. Body:

      1. Each body paragraph must contain only one main and new idea expressed in a topic sentence.

      2. Do not repeat the same idea in different body paragraphs.

      3. Write an effective topic sentence with well-developed details and examples given.

      4. Your word choice must be accurate and concise.

      5. Write in an objective tone from the third-person perspective.

      6. A first-person or second-person perspective is acceptable if it links to a personal experience.

      7. To minimise grammatical, spelling, capitalisation, and punctuation errors, read and remember all the correct language uses by referring to Which One Is Correct in English?

      8. Use sentence patterns like simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.

      9. Avoid constructing a wordy sentence written in more than two lines.

      10. Use linkers to achieve effective, mature, and appropriate transitions in each well-organised body paragraph.

      11. Make sure the length of each body paragraph is almost similar.

    3. Conclusion:

      1. Write an effective and powerful closure beyond restating the thesis statement.

      2. Do not add new ideas to the conclusion.

      3. Emphasise the topic's importance, impact, or implication to end your conclusion.


c. Post-Writing

  1. Spend 10-20 per cent of this stage's total writing time duration.

  2. Revise your content to ensure that the essay has fulfilled the tasks' requirements.

  3. Ensure your essay's total length does not exceed the word limit.

  4. Ensure the thesis statement, main ideas, supporting details, and concluding sentences (optional) are clearly stated and well-supported.

  5. Edit your language on grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

  6. Proofread the essay's correctness, conventions, format, and organisation (cohesiveness and coherence).

  7. To request editing, proofreading, and translating services, refer to Does a Writer Need an Editor?

  8. Submit or publish your essay before the deadline if relevant.


C. Samples


Below are the samples of expository writing tasks:

  1. Write an essay of 250-300 words on the ways to create social harmony in the community.

  2. Write an essay of 250-300 words on how university students can use social media wisely.

  3. Write an essay of 250-300 words on ways to contribute to the less fortunate students in the university.

  4. Write an essay of 250-300 words on ways to improve the university's classroom learning experience.

  5. Write an essay of 250-300 words on the effects of watching violent movies on teenagers.

  6. Write an essay of 250-300 words on productive ways students can spend their leisure time.

  7. Write an essay of 250-300 words on the benefits of an internship in preparing university students for their future careers.

  8. Write an essay of 250-300 words on the benefits of taking care of personal hygiene.

  9. Write an essay of 250-300 words on ways to create awareness of endangered animals among students.

  10. Write an essay of 250-300 words on how the internet has changed the way people talk to each other.


To share your thoughts by commenting on this post, kindly sign up as a member by filling in your details in the Contact below.

1,459 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


Contact

Thanks for submitting!

Kota Permai, Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia

+6018-579 0204

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • linkedin
  • X
  • Whatsapp
  • kisspng-portable-network-graphics-computer-icons-social-me-star-industrial-co-ltd-tablewar

© 2020-2024 by WeCWI Integrated Solutions.

bottom of page