Expository Writing 2
Expository Writing 2
Lecture 2
What is an essay?
Essays are a valuable tool for developing critical thinking, writing skills, and the ability to
communicate effectively.
Essay writing is a fundamental skill that requires careful planning, organization, and
execution. Here's a breakdown of the key steps involved in crafting a well-structured and
informative essay:
Read Carefully: Analyze the prompt to fully comprehend the topic, scope, and
requirements.
Identify Keywords: Pinpoint the key terms that will guide your research and writing.
Determine the Purpose: Understand whether you're supposed to argue, inform, or
persuade.
2. Brainstorming and Research
Central Argument: Develop a clear and concise thesis statement that presents your
main point.
Focus: Ensure your thesis statement is specific and addresses the prompt's
requirements.
Guideline: Your thesis statement will serve as the backbone of your essay.
4. Creating an Outline
Structure: Organize your ideas into a logical sequence (e.g., chronological, compare
and contrast, cause and effect).
Main Points: Identify the key points you'll discuss in each paragraph.
Supporting Evidence: Determine the specific evidence (examples, facts, quotes)
you'll use to support your main points.
Hook: Grab the reader's attention with a compelling opening sentence or question.
Background: Provide necessary context or background information.
Thesis Statement: Present your thesis clearly and concisely.
Topic Sentence: Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main
idea.
Supporting Evidence: Provide evidence to support your topic sentence, citing your
sources.
Analysis: Explain how the evidence supports your argument and connects to your
thesis.
Transition: Use transition words to smoothly link your paragraphs.
Remember, the essay writing process is iterative. You may need to revisit different stages as
you refine your work. Practice and patience are key to developing strong essay writing skills.