This type of
writing is also known as critical writing because the writer becomes a literary
critic by answering the essay question posed. The following form will aid
you in organizing and composing your expository (critical) essay.
An
essay may be broken down into three parts: the introduction, body, and conclusion.
An understanding of each part will make writing an essay of five or five hundred
paragraphs equally possible.
1.
The INTRODUCTION of an essay has three functions:
a) Tell the reader what you're talking about (known as the thesis)
b) Tell how you will address the topic in your essay
c) Capture the interest of the reader
2.
The BODY is the largest section of an essay. It is where you address
what you said you would address (or do what you said, or prove what you said).
The BODY uses the following form:
a) General Statement (Topic
Sentence) tells when or what -- introducing the quote
b) Quoted Material (or specific
detail) expands/ proves the general statement
c) Explanation relates the quote
to the thesis (the "what" from the introduction)– answers
the question "so what?" Remember to ask "so what does this
have to do with my thesis?" Make critical judgments here.
d) Transition ties paragraph
to next paragraph
3.
The CONCLUSION of an essay is a retelling of your thesis (what you were going to
prove). If an essay is properly set up using a solid introduction, a conclusion
flows naturally after the body.
a) Restate Thesis–
this does not mean repeat it. You said you were going to show or prove something,
now it's time to tell us that you did.
b) Summarize Salient points–
this sounds difficult, but actually you are merely touching on your EXPLANATION
points from your BODY paragraphs.
c) Concluding statement –finish
memorably... remember, leave your reader understanding that you proved your
point.
Avoid the following:
a) DO NOT begin a concluding paragraph with "in conclusion."
b) DO NOT repeat the introduction verbatim
Essay answering tips
1. Understand what the essay
is asking you to do. Are you to discuss, compare, contrast, analyze, describe,
prove, or give an opinion on something?
2. A good rule is to restate
the essay question, but do it using terminology you understand. This restatement
becomes your "Part a)" the "what" of the INTRODUCTION.
3. Often, an essay question
provides possible directions in which to take your answer. Use these avenues
-- they are "Part b)" the "how" of the INTRODUCTION.
4. Finally, you have to draw
on your own knowledge of the subject to finish the essay.