How to Write an Expository Essay - by Professor Mignano-Brady

Guidelines and Tips!

There are many important factors that contribute to an effective and successful essay. Use this sheet as a
guideline for future reference in this class and throughout your academic career.

An Essay must have:

Introduction – Provide a clear and well-established thesis. This is your main point. Introduce the topic
in an organized and coherent manner.
Tips – Use part of the question in your introduction
Incorporate the title of the novel and the character/characters you are introducing. Your introduction
should be compelling. The only thing you should concentrate on is introducing your topic to the reader,
that’s it! You should never present examples from the literature in your introduction. Your introduction
is your main focal point. The rest of the essay will support the topic (thesis) that you have presented in
your introduction.

Body – The body of an expository essay should be 2-3 paragraphs if you are writing for the Regents
examination. However, an expository essay on the collegiate level can have as many as 5 body
paragraphs. This is subject to change based on the assignment given. The body is the bulk and/or core of
your essay. The body will support your introduction. Your body paragraphs will encompass all the
things you want to say. You should be knowledgeable of your subject, clear, concise and organized.
Your body paragraphs will offer CONCRETE EXAMPLES of the literature.

What are concrete examples? – Examples that support any statements that you plan to justify in your
essay. (Example) Holden feels very alienated and isolated from society. (This is a statement.) For
example, he spends twenty minutes in a telephone booth attempting to make a phone call realizing that
he has no one to call. (a concrete example from novel that at this point can be further supported by
quotes and pg. #’s)

Conclusion – Wrap up your thesis. You can re-state your thesis or provide the reader with a creative
finally to your topic. Remember: Every good essay should have a powerful conclusion. There is a
beginning and an end to everything. It is never good to leave the reader hanging at the end of an essay.
It’s similar to a movie without an ending.

Essay NO NO’s

� Do not put yourself in the essay -Avoid the words I and me.
� Do not give your opinion. The purpose of an academic essay is to tell the reader what you know!
You must do that by providing information that you derive only from the literature. Any ideas/
insight that you have formulated in your thesis can be stated as long as you support it with evidence
from the literature.
� An expository essay should never be a plot summary. Stick to the topic (thesis) support the topic and
then wrap it up. Try to remain focused and organized by providing clear examples that support your
thesis.
 *Tip – stick to answering the question that is being asked.
� Do your best to be specific. Try never to be general. General statements do not tell the reader that
you know what you are discussing in your essay.
� Organize – stick to one thought at a time. One idea – support - Second idea – support etc….
� Never use informal language. Do not write the way you speak.
� EXAMPLES! EXAMPLES! EXAMPLES!!!
� Last but not least – ALWAYS GO THE Extra mile!!!! Surpass the reader’s expectations. Discuss
your ideas intelligently and knowledgeably in order to impress your reader. You want your reader to
know that you have a clear comprehension of the material.
� PROOFREAD!!!!! PROOFREAD!!!! PROOFREAD!!!! Spell check will not be able to decipher
between there, their, they’re OR through and threw. You must be sure to re-read your sentences.

Quick Reference for the Scholar writing an Expository Essay!

Go get em’ Writing Scholars!!!

Intro – Introduce your thesis. Your main topic! You can always re-word the question.

Body –
Paragraph one – First idea/thought/statement
Provide two examples from your research / essays to support your statements.

Paragraph two – 2nd idea/thought/statement

Provide two examples to support.

Paragraph 3 – Repeat!
So on and so forth.
Body paragraphs are a mixture of your ideas (ones that you have developed from your reading and your
research) and concrete examples from the sources.

Conclusion – wrap it up. Restate the intro. Close your argument.

See below for some Great transitional words that you can use in order to provide organization,
consistency and a steady flow to your essay.

Introduction

First
Furthermore
Finally, lastly

In Conclusion
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