1. Expository Essays: Simple Benchmarks Feraco Expository Writing 27 June 2013

2. Opening Paragraph The thesis appears where it “should,” following an introduction that simultaneously appeals to the reader (addressing the familiar or universal) while interesting them (indicating the readers will encounter new information or perspectives if they continue reading).The thesis appears where it “should,” following an introduction that simultaneously appeals to the reader (addressing the familiar or universal) while interesting them (indicating the readers will encounter new information or perspectives if they continue reading). For example, an essay about a novel will reference the book, not summarize it – we’d hope the audience had also read the novel before picking up that essay! – while indicating that the essayist had drawn interesting lessons or conclusions during their reading of the text.For example, an essay about a novel will reference the book, not summarize it – we’d hope the audience had also read the novel before picking up that essay! – while indicating that the essayist had drawn interesting lessons or conclusions during their reading of the text.

3. Opening Paragraph The thesis clearly and concisely states the paper’s guiding idea without giving away everything the author proceeds to explore.The thesis clearly and concisely states the paper’s guiding idea without giving away everything the author proceeds to explore. –(It expresses the common link between the topics of each body paragraph rather than simply listing each body paragraph’s main idea.) The thesis contains words and terms that do not require explanation or definition.The thesis contains words and terms that do not require explanation or definition.

4. Opening Paragraph The thesis’s tone fits the topic as well as the intended audience.The thesis’s tone fits the topic as well as the intended audience. The opening paragraph makes sense as an individual passage, yet would gain additional meaning if a reader who had seen the final paragraph re-read the paper.The opening paragraph makes sense as an individual passage, yet would gain additional meaning if a reader who had seen the final paragraph re-read the paper.

5. Body Paragraphs The author signals or establishes his/her main expository method from the first body paragraph onward.The author signals or establishes his/her main expository method from the first body paragraph onward. If a writer wishes to use the “sequencing” approach, for example, the first body paragraph almost always begins with a signal word – something like “firstly.”If a writer wishes to use the “sequencing” approach, for example, the first body paragraph almost always begins with a signal word – something like “firstly.” A writer using the cause-and-effect model, on the other hand, typically uses the first body paragraph to establish the cause.A writer using the cause-and-effect model, on the other hand, typically uses the first body paragraph to establish the cause.

6. Body Paragraphs The paragraphs that follow will relate to the first to varying degrees.The paragraphs that follow will relate to the first to varying degrees. Consider the cause-and-effect model once again:Consider the cause-and-effect model once again: –Some writers will use their second paragraphs to explain the effects from Paragraph #1’s cause, while their third paragraphs would explore the significance of the whole cause-and- effect sequence – why any of it matters. –Other writers will blend cause-and-effect within each paragraph – #1 has cause- and-effect #1, #2 has cause-and-effect #2, and so on – which necessarily results in less connection (but not no connection!) between the two.

7. Body Paragraphs Every paragraph should explore evidence, not simply present it.Every paragraph should explore evidence, not simply present it. The evidence can be factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal, but it cannot be digressive – it needs to help propel the reader from Point A in the beginning paragraph to Point X at the end.The evidence can be factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal, but it cannot be digressive – it needs to help propel the reader from Point A in the beginning paragraph to Point X at the end. No piece of evidence that distracts from that journey should be used!No piece of evidence that distracts from that journey should be used!

8. Body Paragraphs The sequence of each paragraph must make sense.The sequence of each paragraph must make sense. The first body paragraph not only belongs before the second, but any reader who skips ahead to the second paragraph should be rightly lost.The first body paragraph not only belongs before the second, but any reader who skips ahead to the second paragraph should be rightly lost. –(Nothing in your writing should be optional for your readers!) 1 leads to 2 leads to 3.1 leads to 2 leads to 3. Each paragraph, independent of the evidence it contains, can be boiled down to a single-sentence statement of purpose.Each paragraph, independent of the evidence it contains, can be boiled down to a single-sentence statement of purpose. –That’s one way you can check whether 1 does, in fact, lead to 2, and whether 2 leads to 3.

9. Body Paragraphs Taken as a whole, the body paragraphs attempt to move readers in one of three ways:Taken as a whole, the body paragraphs attempt to move readers in one of three ways: 1) to reassure them of their positions by adding information and context to their pre-existing stances or beliefs; 2) to change their minds, i.e. their pre- existing stances or beliefs; 3) to give readers with no pre-existing stances or beliefs the ability to form new stances or beliefs of their own.

10. Closing Paragraph The closing paragraph respects the journey the author has asked his/her readers to take.The closing paragraph respects the journey the author has asked his/her readers to take. It does not completely repeat what came before.It does not completely repeat what came before. –(If it did, why wouldn’t a reader just read the first and last paragraphs?) It does, however, reference the main points the author raised earlier in order to conclude the argument or exploration kicked off in the opening paragraph – an argument that was believable, but not self-evident, before, but which now makes sense to the reader.It does, however, reference the main points the author raised earlier in order to conclude the argument or exploration kicked off in the opening paragraph – an argument that was believable, but not self-evident, before, but which now makes sense to the reader.

11. Closing Paragraph The conclusion needs to have an impact.The conclusion needs to have an impact. It provides readers with their final impression of the piece, and therefore of the arguments and ideas the essay contains.It provides readers with their final impression of the piece, and therefore of the arguments and ideas the essay contains. Every author seeking to finish an essay has to take the cause-and-effect question into consideration at the end: What will this essay cause the reader to do? What effect will it have on them?Every author seeking to finish an essay has to take the cause-and-effect question into consideration at the end: What will this essay cause the reader to do? What effect will it have on them? –(Do not write something that cannot impact your reader. We read to be impacted. We need to be impacted.)

12. Closing Paragraph Finally, just as the opening paragraph gains meaning from the conclusion, the concluding paragraph’s meaning should be amplified by the opening paragraph’s material.Finally, just as the opening paragraph gains meaning from the conclusion, the concluding paragraph’s meaning should be amplified by the opening paragraph’s material. Someone reading the fifth paragraph alone should think it’s a pretty interesting passage.Someone reading the fifth paragraph alone should think it’s a pretty interesting passage. Someone reading it at the end of the essay should think it’s profound, even perfect.Someone reading it at the end of the essay should think it’s profound, even perfect.