explanatory essay point of view

How to Write an Explanatory Essay: Comprehensive Guide with Examples

What Is an Explanatory Essay: Definition

Have you ever been tasked with explaining a complex topic to someone without prior knowledge? It can be challenging to break down complex ideas into simple terms that are easy to understand. That's where explanatory writing comes in! An explanatory essay, also known as an expository essay, is a type of academic writing that aims to explain a particular topic or concept clearly and concisely. These essays are often used in academic settings but can also be found in newspapers, magazines, and online publications.

For example, if you were asked to explain how a car engine works, you would need to provide a step-by-step explanation of the different parts of the engine and how they work together to make the car move. Or, if you were asked to explain the process of photosynthesis, you would need to explain how plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create energy.

When wondering - 'what is an explanatory essay?', remember that the goal of an explanatory paper is to provide the reader with a better understanding of the topic at hand. Unlike an opinion essay , this type of paper does not argue for or against a particular viewpoint but rather presents information neutrally and objectively. By the end of the essay, the reader should clearly understand the topic and be able to explain it to others in their own words.

Also, there is no set number of paragraphs in an explanatory essay, as it can vary depending on the length and complexity of the topic. However, when wondering - 'how many paragraphs in an explanatory essay?', know that a typical example of explanatory writing will have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

However, some essays may have more or fewer body paragraphs, depending on the topic and the writer's preference. Ultimately, an explanatory essay format aims to provide a clear and thorough explanation of the topic, using as many paragraphs as necessary.

20 Interesting Explanatory Essay Topics 

Now that we have defined what is explanatory essay, the next step is choosing a good explanatory topic. A well-chosen topic is interesting and relevant to your audience while also being something you are knowledgeable about and can provide valuable insights on. By selecting a topic that is too broad or too narrow, you run the risk of either overwhelming your audience with too much information or failing to provide enough substance to fully explain the topic. Additionally, choosing a topic that is too controversial or biased can lead to difficulty in presenting information objectively and neutrally. By choosing a good explanatory topic, you can ensure that your essay is well-informed, engaging, and effective in communicating your ideas to your audience.

Here are 20 creative explanatory essay topics by our admission essay service to consider:

• How does the human brain process emotions?
• The benefits and drawbacks of remote work.
• The science behind climate change and its effects.
• The history and evolution of hip-hop music.
• The impact of social media on mental health.
• The benefits of learning a second language.
• The process of how a computer operates.
• The causes and effects of bullying in schools.
• The impact of technology on modern education.
• The reasons for the decline of bee populations and their importance to the ecosystem.
• The effects of caffeine on the human body.
• The process of how vaccines work to prevent disease.
• The impact of video games on youth behavior and development.
• The reasons for the gender pay gap and how to close it.
• The benefits and drawbacks of renewable energy sources.
• The history and cultural significance of tattoos.
• The causes and effects of income inequality in society.
• The process of how a book is published.
• The impact of social media on political discourse.
• The benefits and drawbacks of the gig economy.

How to Start an Explanatory Essay: Important Steps

Starting an explanatory essay can be challenging, especially if you are unsure where to begin. However, by following a few simple steps, you can effectively kick-start your writing process and produce a clear and concise essay. Here are some tips and examples from our term paper writing services on how to start an explanatory essay:

• Choose an engaging topic : Your topic should be interesting, relevant, and meaningful to your audience. For example, if you're writing about climate change, you might focus on a specific aspect of the issue, such as the effects of rising sea levels on coastal communities.
• Conduct research : Gather as much information as possible on your topic. This may involve reading scholarly articles, conducting interviews, or analyzing data. For example, if you're writing about the benefits of mindfulness meditation, you might research the psychological and physical benefits of the practice.
• Develop an outline : Creating an outline will help you logically organize your explanatory essay structure. For example, you might organize your essay on the benefits of mindfulness meditation by discussing its effects on mental health, physical health, and productivity.
• Provide clear explanations: When writing an explanatory article, it's important to explain complex concepts clearly and concisely. Use simple language and avoid technical jargon. For example, if you're explaining the process of photosynthesis, you might use diagrams and visual aids to help illustrate your points.
• Use evidence to support your claims : Use evidence from reputable sources to support your claims and arguments. This will help to build credibility and persuade your readers. For example, if you're writing about the benefits of exercise, you might cite studies that demonstrate its positive effects on mental health and cognitive function.

By following these tips and examples, you can effectively start your expository essays and produce a well-structured, informative, and engaging piece of writing.

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Explanatory Essay Outline

As mentioned above, it's important to create an explanatory essay outline to effectively organize your ideas and ensure that your essay is well-structured and easy to follow. An outline helps you organize your thoughts and ideas logically and systematically, ensuring that you cover all the key points related to your topic. It also helps you identify gaps in your research or argument and allows you to easily revise and edit your essay. In this way, an outline can greatly improve the overall quality and effectiveness of your explanatory essay.

Explanatory Essay Introduction

Here are some tips from our ' do my homework ' service to create a good explanatory essay introduction that effectively engages your readers and sets the stage for the entire essay:

• Start with a hook: Begin your introduction with an attention-grabbing statement or question that draws your readers in. For example, you might start your essay on the benefits of exercise with a statistic on how many Americans suffer from obesity.
• Provide context: Give your readers some background information on the topic you'll be discussing. This helps to set the stage and ensures that your readers understand the importance of the topic. For example, you might explain the rise of obesity rates in the United States over the past few decades.
• State your thesis: A good explanatory thesis example should be clear, concise, and focused. It should state the main argument or point of your essay. For example, you might state, ' Regular exercise is crucial to maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.'
• Preview your main points: Give your readers an idea of what to expect in the body of your essay by previewing your main points. For example, you might explain that you'll be discussing the benefits of exercise for mental health, physical health, and longevity.
• Keep it concise: Your introduction should be brief and to the point. Avoid getting bogged down in too much detail or providing too much background information. A good rule of thumb is to keep your introduction to one or two paragraphs.

The Body Paragraphs

By following the following tips, you can create well-organized, evidence-based explanation essay body paragraphs that effectively support your thesis statement.

• Use credible sources: When providing evidence to support your arguments, use credible sources such as peer-reviewed academic journals or reputable news outlets. For example, if you're writing about the benefits of a plant-based diet, you might cite a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
• Organize your paragraphs logically: Each body paragraph should focus on a specific aspect or argument related to your topic. Organize your paragraphs logically so that each one builds on the previous one. For example, if you're writing about the causes of climate change, you might organize your paragraphs to focus on human activity, natural causes, and the effects of climate change.
• Use transitional phrases: Use transitional phrases to help your readers follow the flow of your ideas. For example, you might use phrases such as 'in addition,' 'furthermore,' or 'on the other hand' to indicate a shift in your argument.
• Provide analysis: Don't just present evidence; provide analysis and interpretation of the evidence. For example, if you're writing about the benefits of early childhood education, you might analyze the long-term effects on academic achievement and future earnings.
• Summarize your main points: End each body paragraph with a sentence that summarizes the main point or argument you've made. This helps to reinforce your thesis statement and keep your essay organized. For example, you might end a paragraph on the benefits of exercise by stating, 'Regular exercise has been shown to improve mental and physical health, making it a crucial aspect of a healthy lifestyle.'

Explanatory Essay Conclusion

Here are some unique tips on how to write an explanatory essay conclusion that leaves a lasting impression on your readers.

• Offer a solution or recommendation: Instead of summarizing your main points, offer suggestions based on the information you've presented. This can help to make your essay more impactful and leave a lasting impression on your readers. For example, if you're writing about the effects of pollution on the environment, you might recommend using more eco-friendly products or investing in renewable energy sources.
• Emphasize the importance of your topic: Use your concluding statement to emphasize the importance of your topic and why it's relevant to your readers. This can help to inspire action or change. For example, suppose you're writing about the benefits of volunteering. In that case, you might emphasize how volunteering helps others and has personal benefits such as improved mental health and a sense of purpose.
• End with a powerful quote or statement: End your explanatory essay conclusion with a powerful quote or statement that reinforces your main point or leaves a lasting impression on your readers. For example, if you're writing about the importance of education, you might end your essay with a quote from Nelson Mandela, such as, 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.'

Explanatory Essay Example

Here is an example of an explanatory essay:

Explanatory Essay Example:

Importance of Basketball

Final Thoughts

Now you understand whats an explanatory essay. However, if you're still feeling overwhelmed or unsure about writing an explanatory essay, don't worry. Our team of experienced writers is here to provide you with top-notch academic assistance tailored to your specific needs. Whether you need to explain what is an appendix in your definition essay or rewrite essay in five paragraphs, we've got you covered! With our professional help, you can ensure that your essay is well-researched, well-written, and meets all the academic requirements.

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How to Write an Explanatory Essay: Topics, Outline, Example

Have you ever been tasked with writing an explanation essay and wondered where to start? You’re not alone! Many students struggle with the challenge of presenting complex ideas in a concise and engaging manner. Fear not; with the right approach, learning how to write an explanation essay can be a rewarding experience that enhances your understanding of a topic and sharpens your writing skills.

In this blog post, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of crafting an exemplary explanation essay. We will explore the definition and purpose of explanatory essays, offer tips on topic selection, outline development, and delve into the essentials of how to write an explanatory essay. By the end of this post, you will be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to tackle any explanatory essay assignment that comes your way.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

• Explanatory essays, akin to expository essays , provide an unbiased and objective analysis of a topic with the aim of informing and clarifying.
• Choosing the right topic for your explanatory essay involves selecting a neutral, engaging, and relevant topic supported by ample researchable information.
• Writing an explanatory essay requires conducting thorough research, utilizing transitions & linking words judiciously, citing sources accurately & revising/editing to ensure high quality work.

Explanatory Essays: Definition and Purpose

An expository essay, also known as an explanatory essay or an explanatory paper, is a type of explanatory writing wherein one is required to describe and elucidate a particular point of view, incident, event, or situation. Unlike argumentative or persuasive essays, the goal of explanation essays, including expository essays, is to offer an unbiased and objective analysis of a topic, aiming to inform and clarify without arguing or persuading. By presenting information in a clear and organized manner, explanatory essays help readers develop a better understanding of the subject matter.

Explanatory essays follow the traditional explanatory essay format, which includes an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The thesis statement, located in the introduction, is a specific and argumentable statement that concisely presents the primary concept of the essay. The body paragraphs provide evidence and explanations to support the thesis, while the conclusion ties everything together and leaves the reader with a clear understanding of the author’s presentation.

Choosing the Right Topic for Your Explanatory Essay

Selecting an appropriate topic is a crucial step in crafting a successful explanatory essay. A well-written explanation essay seeks to offer an unbiased and objective analysis of a topic, with the intention of informing and elucidating without trying to convince. Therefore, it is essential to choose a topic that is neutral, engaging, and aligns with your interests and the interests of your target audience.

To generate ideas for an explanation essay, consider topics that you have personal experience with or are genuinely curious about. It is also important to ensure that the topic can be effectively researched and that there is ample information available to compose a comprehensive paper. Once you have a list of potential topics, evaluate them based on their relevance to the assignment and your familiarity with the subject matter. This will help you select a topic that will not only be engaging to your readers but also enjoyable for you to research and write about.

Crafting a Strong Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is the backbone of your explanation essay, as it sets the stage for the rest of the paper. A strong explanation essay thesis statement should be concise, debatable, and supportable, summarizing the main idea and purpose of the essay. It is important to invest time and effort into crafting a compelling thesis statement, as it will guide your research and shape the overall structure of your essay.

To develop an effective thesis statement, start by identifying the primary concept or argument that you want to convey in your essay. Then refine your statement to ensure that it is succinct and specific, while still being arguable and justifiable.

If you find yourself struggling to create a strong thesis statement, consider drafting a rough version and returning to it after you have completed the rest of the paper. This will allow you to refine your statement based on the evidence and arguments presented in your essay.

Developing an Effective Explanatory Essay Outline

An effective explanatory essay outline is essential for organizing your thoughts and ideas in a logical manner, ensuring a smooth flow throughout your essay. The outline should include an introduction, body, and conclusion, each containing specific information arranged in a logical manner to ensure the continuity of the paper. By creating a detailed outline, you can easily identify any gaps in your research or argumentation and make revisions as needed.

In the following subsections, we will delve into strategies for writing an engaging explanatory essay introduction, structuring body paragraphs, and crafting a compelling conclusion. These techniques will help you create an effective explanatory essay outline that will serve as a roadmap for your writing process.

Introduction Strategies

The introduction is the first part of your essay that your readers will encounter, and it plays a crucial role in grabbing their attention and setting the stage for the thesis statement. To create an engaging introduction, you can employ various hooks, such as rhetorical questions, quotes, or statistics, to capture the reader’s interest and provide a foundation for your thesis statement.

An effective introduction should also provide a concise overview of the subject matter and the primary concepts that the reader will encounter while perusing the essay. This background information helps your readers understand the context of your essay and prepares them for the arguments and evidence presented in the body paragraphs. By crafting an engaging and informative introduction, you set the tone for the rest of your essay and encourage your readers to continue reading.

Structuring Body Paragraphs

Structuring body paragraphs involves presenting evidence to support your thesis statement while ensuring clarity and logical organization. Each body paragraph should focus on a particular aspect of the topic and provide evidence to back it up. This can include facts, quotes, statistics, survey results, and examples that help validate your arguments and substantiate your assertions.

To ensure clarity and logical organization in your body paragraphs, you can employ various techniques, such as utilizing transitions between paragraphs, supplying examples to elucidate points, and employing linking words to connect ideas. Transitions and linking words, such as “however,” “therefore,” “in addition,” and “furthermore,” can help guide your readers through your essay and make it easier for them to follow your ideas and arguments.

By carefully structuring your body paragraphs, you can create a coherent and persuasive explanatory essay that effectively supports your thesis statement.

Crafting a Compelling Conclusion

The conclusion of your explanation essay is your final opportunity to leave a lasting impression on your readers. A compelling conclusion should summarize the main points presented in your essay, restate your thesis statement, and offer recommendations or a call to action. This helps to reinforce the key ideas and arguments in your essay and leaves your readers with something to ponder.

When crafting your conclusion, it is important to avoid introducing new information or arguments, as this can confuse your readers and weaken the overall impact of your essay. Instead, focus on providing a concise and convincing summary of the evidence presented in your essay and how it supports your thesis statement. By doing so, you can leave your readers with a clear understanding of your essay’s purpose and a sense of closure.

Writing Your Explanatory Essay: Step-by-Step Process

Now that you have a solid understanding of the key components of an explanation essay, it is time to embark on the writing process. In this section, we will outline a step-by-step process for writing an explanatory essay, which includes conducting thorough research, utilizing transitions and linking words, and citing sources to avoid plagiarism.

By following this step-by-step process, you can ensure that your explanation essay is well-structured and informative, providing your readers with a clear understanding of the subject matter. With practice and persistence, you can master the art of explanatory essay writing and create engaging, persuasive essays that effectively convey complex ideas.

Conducting Thorough Research

Conducting thorough research is essential for an explanation essay, as it helps gather credible evidence (facts, quotes, statistics, survey results, and examples) to support your thesis statement. Begin by selecting a topic that is of personal interest and has some familiarity. Once you have chosen a topic, conduct preliminary research to ensure that there is sufficient information available to compose a comprehensive paper.

When gathering information for your essay, it is crucial to utilize dependable sources, such as scholarly articles, books, and websites. Be sure to take notes and keep track of the sources you have used, as this will make it easier to reference them in your essay and avoid plagiarism. By conducting thorough research, you can ensure that your essay is well-supported and provides a comprehensive analysis of the topic.

Utilizing Transitions and Linking Words

Utilizing transitions and linking words is crucial for ensuring a smooth flow throughout your explanation essay and making it easier for readers to follow your ideas and arguments. Examples of transitions and linking words include phrases such as “however”, “therefore”, “in addition” and “furthermore”.

Incorporating these transitions and linking words in your essay helps guide your readers through the progression of your arguments and enhances the overall readability of your paper. Be sure to use them judiciously and avoid overusing a specific transition or linking word, as this may become repetitive and detract from the flow of your essay.

By employing a variety of transitions and linking words, you can create a cohesive and engaging explanatory essay that effectively conveys your ideas.

Citing Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism

Citing sources accurately and consistently is crucial for avoiding plagiarism and ensuring the credibility of your explanation essay. When composing an explanation essay, sources are typically cited following either MLA, APA, or Harvard formatting. In-text citations generally include the author’s name and the year the source was published, and for direct quotations, the page number must also be specified.

By accurately citing your sources, you not only give credit to the original authors, but also demonstrate your commitment to academic integrity and the credibility of your essay. Be sure to double-check your citations and proofread your essay for any errors or inconsistencies in your referencing style. By doing so, you can avoid plagiarism and ensure that your essay is a credible and accurate representation of your research and ideas.

Analyzing Explanatory Essay Examples

Analyzing explanatory essay examples can provide valuable insights into the structure, style, and content of successful essays, helping you improve your own writing. By examining well-written examples, you can gain a better understanding of the key elements of an explanation essay, such as the thesis statement, the organization of body paragraphs, and the overall flow of the essay.

When analyzing explanatory essay examples, pay close attention to the clarity of the explanations, the use of evidence to support the argument, and the general structure and format of the essay. Also, consider the effectiveness of the thesis statement and the essay in conveying information.

By studying and learning from exemplary essays, you can refine your own writing and create an engaging, informative, and well-structured explanation essay. In fact, knowing how to write an explanation essay is essential for developing your skills in this area.

Tips for Revising and Editing Your Explanatory Essay

Once you have completed your explanation essay, it is essential to revise and edit your work to ensure that it is of high quality and free of mistakes. Start by reviewing your essay for clarity, organization, and logical flow. Check that your thesis statement is clear and concise, and that your body paragraphs effectively support your argument.

During the revision process, ask yourself the following questions: Is the essay organized effectively? Are the transitions between paragraphs seamless? Are there any grammatical or orthographic errors? Are sources referenced accurately? If necessary, make any revisions to improve the overall quality and coherence of your essay.

Finally, proofread your essay for any remaining errors and inconsistencies. Consider presenting your essay to a trusted friend or classmate for feedback, as they may be able to spot mistakes that you may have missed. By revising and editing your essay, you can ensure that it is polished, engaging, and free of errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of an explanatory essay.

An explanation essay format typically consists of an introduction, three body paragraphs with one subtopic per paragraph, and a conclusion. It is a basic essay structure which can be further expanded as needed.

Formal language should be used and the goal is to make a connection with the reader through the text.

What is the best way to start an explanatory essay?

To begin an explanation essay, start with an attention-grabbing statement or question that draws your readers in. This should be written in a formal tone, and include a clear conclusion in the first sentence without an introduction or summary.

What are the main parts of an explanatory essay?

An explanation essay typically consists of an introduction with a hook, some background information, and a thesis statement.

It then progresses to further explain the topic and draw a conclusion.

How do you write a 5 paragraph explanatory essay?

To write a five-paragraph explanatory essay, you must create an introduction that introduces the main topic and states the thesis, three body paragraphs to support the thesis, and a concluding paragraph to wrap up the points made in the essay.

The tone should be formal throughout, with clear connections to the reader.

What is the main difference between an explanatory essay and an argumentative essay?

Explanatory essays seek to explain a topic without presenting an argument, while argumentative essays make an assertion and support it with evidence.

These two types of essays have different goals and require different approaches. Explanatory essays focus on providing information and context, while argumentative essays focus on making a persuasive argument.

When writing an essay, it is important to write an explanation.

In conclusion, writing an exemplary explanation essay requires a clear understanding of the topic, careful planning, thorough research, and effective organization. By following the step-by-step process outlined in this blog post, you can create engaging, informative, and persuasive explanatory essays that effectively convey complex ideas. With practice and persistence, you can master the art of explanatory essay writing and tackle any assignment that comes your way.

The Subtle Art of Writing an Explanatory Essay

21 July, 2020

10 minutes read

Author:  Richard Pircher

When writing an explanatory essay, you may have many questions connected with this paper type. You might wonder how to craft it, structure it, represent your thoughts, and many more. But the main question will refer to the paper type you’re working on. And the first thing you have to remember is that it’s not a persuasive essay. In this paper, you only have to describe some event or subject and explain its major aspects and importance to a reader.

Our article contains exhaustive information on writing explanatory essays. Also, we’ve written the tips that will help you craft an excellent paper. So, keep on reading for more details.

What Is an Explanatory Essay?

Before you start writing your task, it’s necessary to find out what is an explanatory essay. Without a clear understanding of this paper type, it’s impossible to craft a brilliant paper and get excellent grades. An explanatory essay is a work in which you present a point of view on some subject and describe its main features, importance, or simply answer questions, “ Why? ” and “ How? ”

This paper type requires you to research, analyze facts, and explain the opinion of other people. Of course, you’ll have your thoughts concerning the subject, but you’ll have to avoid sharing them in your essay. The writer’s opinion remains neutral, and it doesn’t matter if you agree or disagree with the topic. Your goal is to help a reader understand the problem or subject by explaining details.

When crafting an essay, you can also add statistics and examples to become the guide leading the audience through the topic. The analysis of the subject and facts you’ve found during the research will help readers understand why and how things have happened. People don’t have to agree with the information from your article – they will only have to find answers to questions concerning the topic.

6 Types of an explanatory essay

Now that you know the definition of an explanatory essay, it’s necessary to learn its major types. We’ve prepared the list that will help you cope with a task correctly. Here are 6 explanatory essay types you need to know:

• Compare and contrast. This essay type requires you to describe differences and similarities between subjects, events, people, etc.
• Definition. This essay type is written to explain the idea, term, or subject.
• Classification. When crafting this essay type, you have to divide the characteristics of a subject or idea by groups and explain their features in detail.
• Cause and effect. It’s necessary to describe the situation that has happened and the event it’s caused.
• How-to. The explanation of this paper type  is in its name – you have to explain how to do something or how things  work.
• Problem and solution. This type of essay  requires a writer to research, analyze, and evaluate a problem. It’s also necessary to provide suggestions on its solution.

How to Start an Explanatory Essay?

How to write an explanatory essay? If you haven’t ever crafted this paper, this question will disturb you most of all. Before you start writing an explanatory essay, it’s necessary to take a few preparatory steps. Comprehensive research, fact-checking, and analysis are the most important stages of task completion. When exploring the topic, write down all the relevant details because you’ll use them in your article.

Keep in mind that this essay should only contain facts and a few of your thoughts – it’s a perfect combination that will allow you to describe things without persuasion. You’ll have to find several credible resources to come up with truthful information. And our recommendations will help you craft an excellent paper:

• If a professor allows you to pick a topic, pick the neutral yet interesting one. For example, you can explain why people should learn more than two languages or how students can improve their writing skills.
• Look for credible sources. You can use Wikipedia, JSTOR, or Google Scholar to find the necessary information. Besides, the door of the college library is always open for students.
• Note essential details and quotes because you’ll use some of them in your paper.
• Create an outline.
• After researching the topic, collecting information, and writing an outline, it’s necessary to create a thesis statement. The latter explains what this topic is about. A thesis statement consists of one sentence and thoroughly describes a major idea of your essay.
• Check the data you’re planning to use and start writing an essay.

Explanatory Essay Outline

The best way to organize your thoughts and the collected details you’re planning to describe in your essay is to design an outline. It’s basically a summary of a paper and it will only contain major ideas and arguments. Typically, an explanatory essay outline has the following structure:

1) Introduction. This section is a combination of three important ingredients – it should contain a hook, a short explanation of the topic, and a thesis statement. At this stage, a writer engages the reader by adding a relevant quote, joke, fact, or question concerning the subject. A few sentences are enough for the introduction section.

2) Body text. The optimal size of this section is 3 paragraphs. However, it will depend on the complexity of your explanatory essay and the professor’s requirements. Start a new paragraph if you want to describe another thought. Write a topic sentence to explain the main idea of every section. Support your thoughts by adding the facts you’ve found. They will develop the reader’s confidence in the trustworthiness of your statements.

3) Conclusion. In this section, you have to mention your thesis statement again, summarize the information from your essay, and highlight the topic’s value. Finish a paper with a call to action to motivate readers to research the subject in the future.

Explanatory Essay Examples

Here are some online explanatory essay examples:

• http://www2.hawaii.edu/~davink/EXPOSITORY/Homesweet.html
• http://www2.hawaii.edu/~davink/EXPOSITORY/Housereturn.html

Useful Tips for Successful Explanatory Essay

Since writing an explanatory essay may be challenging, it’s necessary to start with preparation and research. We’ve created some tips on crafting an expository paper to help you impress your professor. Follow our guide to come up with an excellent essay:

1. Pick an understandable topic

If a professor allows you to choose explanatory essay topics, it’s better to focus on subjects that are easy to write about. There’s a thing called the “ writer’s block ” which doesn’t let you craft any sentence. You can’t find the necessary words, and writing turns into the impossible mission. Sometimes a complicated topic is a problem that causes the writer’s block. That’s why you have to pick it carefully. It should be neutral yet interesting to you. Here  are a few examples of topics you can select:

• Why does everyone need friends?
• How to choose a career that is right for you?
• How do technologies shape your life?
• Why do Chinese people respect the symbol of the Dragon so much?
• What are the main stressors in students’ lives?

2. Conduct comprehensive research

It’s necessary to dedicate some time to research, fact-checking, and data analysis to come up with an excellent explanatory essay. Pick reputable resources to avoid providing misinformation. Write down all the relevant details and return to them later to choose the most important ones.

3. Craft an outline

An outline is a brief model of your future paper that will help you organize your ideas. As we’ve mentioned, it will consist of three sections, including an introduction, body text, and a conclusion. Divide your outline by sections, and you’ll see how many paragraphs your piece will have. A traditional explanatory essay format is a paper with 5 paragraphs. They include an introduction and conclusion. The body section usually has 3 paragraphs. However, a number of sections will depend on the complexity of a topic and the professor’s requirements.

4. Check your essay

After you’ve written an explanatory essay, it’s necessary to check it for grammar mistakes, punctuation errors, and miswording. We recommend you to read the text aloud to make sure it sounds natural. And you can use online tools like Grammarly and Thesaurus to improve your writing.

Write an Excellent Explanatory Essay with HandmadeWriting

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Explanatory Essay Writing Guide

Before writing any type of assignment, you must understand its definition. For example, students who need to write an argumentative essay should understand its purpose, format, and how it differs from other kinds of papers. The following approach can be applied to any other type of academic writing, including an explanatory essay.

In this article, our write my essay for me service professionals will try to explain what an explanatory essay is, its primary goal, and key features. Even though many people think that there is nothing more simple than writing an explanatory essay, for most students, it can still be a challenge to distinguish explanatory paper from other types of essays.

If you study for example in one of the best colleges for astrophysics need to write an explanatory essay, we highly recommend you read this article till the end. Guidelines outlined in our manual will help you gain new knowledge and enhance your writing skills. Designing explanatory essay will become an easy task for you once you put recommendations from our professional paper writing service into practice.

What is an Explanatory Essay?

An explanatory essay is a type of academic paper in which the author presents some point of view or opinion on a particular topic, subject, event or situation. It’s worth noting that explanatory essay is also known as expository essay. 

When completing this kind of assignment you shouldn’t necessarily agree with the point of view you are writing about. Your goal is to report a certain event or situation and offer an analysis of a given subject. Try to present information or arguments of other people impartially. It’s also essential that you do not include any form of criticism in your explanatory essay. You shouldn’t argue or persuade while giving explanations. Let readers make their conclusions rather than persuading them to agree or disagree with the given point of view.

Explanatory essay is all about presenting a neutral view on the set topic by providing analysis from research. Its primary goal is to present a lucid explanation as to why things happened the way they did. After reading your essay, the audience should have a clear understanding of your point of view, even if they don’t pick your side.

Usually, the author of the explanatory essay decides upon a set topic and then approaches the issue from a specific angle. In most cases, this angle is complicated and gives room for discussion. The author presents a point of view of his or her choice that fairly explains why a certain outcome was reached.

Explanatory Essay Topics

In most cases, explanatory essay topics are pre-assigned to students by their teachers or college professors. For instance, you can be asked to explain how your brain works or outline the events that led to the 2008 financial crisis.

If you are asked to select the essay topic by yourself, remember that explanatory papers are based on facts. That’s why our custom essay writing professionals recommend that you choose a neutral topic that can be easily explained. The idea here is that the more controversial the topic, the more points of view you will need to explore in your essay, making it more complicated and time-consuming. Fortunately, we can explain almost everything as long as it falls within the parameters of the given assignment. Here are a couple of explanatory essay topics created by our paper topic generator you can choose from:

Beginner Explanatory Essay Topics

• Describe the day you came to school for the first time. How did it make you feel?
• What qualities do you believe make someone a good friend?
• Explain what makes dogs the best pet for a person.
• Who is your favorite superhero or movie/book character? Why?
• Describe your dream home.
• Who is that person you admire and look up to the most?
• Define what happiness means to you.
• Who is your favorite teacher?
• Tell what kind of food you love most and explain why you love it.
• What kind of job do you think will suit you the most?

Intermediate Explanatory Essay Topics

• What is the best lesson that parents can teach their kids?
• Describe your favorite kind of sport.
• What unique traditions does your family have?
• Tell about something you are really good at and could teach it to others.
• Does the word “responsibility” mean the same thing for adults and children?
• Describe what you believe makes a person truly rich.
• What is your favorite place on the planet?
• Explain how someone you know (a friend, teacher, parent) helped you become a better person.
• What is the school subject you enjoy the most?
• Describe how having a sibling can affect one’s personality.

Advanced Explanatory Essay Topics

• Explain one of the forms of cyberbullying and suggest ways to address it.
• Do you believe animals can really feel your fear?
• Describe a moral dilemma you have faced. How did you handle it?
• Do you believe in UFOs and aliens? Explain your point of view.
• Explain how your personality has changed as you were growing up.
• How can we measure happiness?
• Define your generation. What makes it different from other generations?
• Explain how you understand the universe.
• How do you imagine your perfect future?
• Describe your first work experience ever. What did it teach you, and how did you handle it?

College Level Explanatory Essay Topics

• Define the positive and harmful effects the Internet has on a human personality and life.
• What real-life lessons do you wish you’d learn 5 years ago?
• Tell about someone who has authority in your eyes and explain why.
• Do you think expressing the whole spectrum of emotions is better than suppressing them?
• Explain what experience was the most life-changing for you.
• How to cope with financial difficulties?
• Explain the benefits of social networks for modern students.
• What makes a person generous?
• Describe the technological advancement that took place over the last decade.
• Define what difference you see between “living” and “existing”.

Explanatory Essay Format

The typical format for an explanatory paper is the traditional 5-paragraph essay. Usually, this includes an introduction, three body paragraphs (limited to one subtopic each), and a conclusion. This is a basic essay format. 

Keep in mind that the explanatory writing doesn’t need to be limited to five paragraphs — you can make it longer. No matter how many paragraphs you decide to include in your essay, be sure that your introduction includes a powerful thesis statement. Also, double-check if the paper is based on facts rather than personal opinion. Last but not least: make sure to connect paragraphs with transitions. 

Explanatory Essay Outline

In simple terms, an explanatory essay outline is a plan for your explanatory paper. Usually, it varies based on the length of the topic and the information the author is trying to present. The goal of the outline is to organize the main points into paragraphs — it offers a so-called framework of how to write an explanatory essay. As it was mentioned in the paragraph above, most explanatory essays follow the basic essay structure. They consist of:

• Introduction;
• Body paragraphs;
• Conclusion.

Most explanatory essays tend to be a page or two in length. That's why the overall essay is usually around 5 paragraphs long. Remember that your introduction should present the topic to the audience. Also, it’s vital that you incorporate the thesis statement in the last paragraph. After you are done with it, try to develop the body paragraphs with the information detailed in the thesis statement. Finally, include a conclusion that summarizes your essay's key points after the restatement of the thesis. As you can see, creating an explanatory essay outline is not that difficult as it may seem at first glance. And now let’s dig deeper into the definition of the explanatory essay thesis.

Thesis Statement

When talking about a thesis statement, most people usually mean one or two sentences that summarize the main idea of their academic paper and clearly express what it is they are going to say about the given topic. Overall, your thesis statement identifies what topic will be discussed and the purpose of your essay. As the explanatory essay is tailored to explain or acquaint your readers with something, the goal of the explanatory thesis is to tell readers what it is you are going to explain and what aspects of the topic will be considered.

Introduction

Before you start writing your explanatory essay, there are some crucial tips to follow. The first recommendation is to carry out proper research and data collection. Explanatory essay authors should ensure that the information in their writing is a blend of personal views and ideas acquired from external sources. Explanatory essay relies heavily on solid research, focus on finding external sources that will supplement your personal opinion. Note down all the important information from those sources and use them as evidence in your essay. So, the first thing you should do is find multiple trusted sources that defend your thoughts. We suggest you look to online journals, historical dictionaries, or find relevant books in your college library to use them as trusted sources.

After collecting all the needed information, the next step is to develop a clear explanatory thesis. A concise thesis will make it easier for readers to understand the essence of the topic from a summarized point of view. In other words, explain what you will be showing to your audience. Be neutral — you are not arguing or criticizing, just stating facts. Remember, you are not supposed to take any side as that causes a loss in the outlook of an explanatory essay.

Another recommendation is to choose a neutral topic you'd like to explain. If your teacher or professor didn’t give you a specific topic, select the one that will be understandable for you. Just choose such a topic that is in line with your assignment.

Once you’ve chosen a suitable topic, it’s time to draft an outline of your explanatory essay. The best option here is to stick to five paragraphs that were mentioned above: draft an introduction, three main body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The outline helps students ensure that they follow a logical pattern to detail all their trains of thought. After completing all of the above steps - review your material and start writing your explanatory paper.

Each explanatory paper should start with an introduction. Try to capture your audience’s attention. No matter how you decide to do that - it may be a quote, rhetorical question, catchy motto, or anecdote. Feel free to improvise and use your imagination. Picking a hook thesis statement is also important. After presenting a thesis statement, include any necessary information that gives a background of the topic. The last sentence of your introduction should integrate a thesis statement to give a preview of the content in the body paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs

No matter how many paragraphs you decide to include in your explanatory essay, they all should follow a similar style. They all should be in-line with each other and maintain a certain flow in the paragraphs. Within each paragraph, you are to include a claim that is linked to the thesis statement. This way, it will be easier to connect all the points.

Try to support your claims with evidence from external sources. Make your readers feel confident about the information you present to them. Don’t forget to integrate a concluding statement that offers a summary of the claim's significance. Concluding statement should go along with the thesis statement. In simple terms, all body paragraphs in your explanatory paper should follow this format.

Conclusion Of Explanatory Essay

The explanatory essay must have a proper conclusion. When finishing your explanatory paper, follow these recommendations:

• Restate your thesis. This way you will bring your readers’ attention back to the main point as well as add strength to your presented point of view.
• Summarize your supporting points presented in each of the body paragraphs accordingly. Restate the importance of each one. This way you will logically defend your explanatory thesis.
• Provide an overall concluding statement. In other words, explain the value of the particular point of view chosen from a global perspective. Your goal here is to captivate your readers to study the subject further on. 

How to Write an Explanatory Essay - Writing Tips

Some useful tips will help you write an excellent explanatory essay. Here are some of the most powerful ones:

Take advantage of transitions and linking words

While connecting all your body paragraphs, use transition words and sentences. They will make your explanatory paper flow more smoothly. Some of the words you can use to connect your sentences are: 

• For instance;
• In comparison;
• Firstly, secondly, thirdly;
• On the other hand;
• In conclusion, to summarise.

Cite your sources

This one is an absolute requirement when writing an explanatory essay. You better try hard in this area. A successful explanatory essay will be factual and contain verifiable information. Cite your sources and make it easy for the audience to check where you drew your facts. 

Revise your essay

After completing your explanatory paper, it’s always a good tip to revise it a couple of times. To make your revision phase more effective we advise you to answer the following questions:

• Does the essay give an objective analysis that unfolds logically? Did I use relevant facts and examples in your essay?
• Has the information in my paper been communicated to the audience? Is the word choice precise?
• Did I use transitions and linking words in the essay to help the reader’s understanding?
• Does the concluding paragraph communicate the value and meaning of the thesis statement and supporting ideas?

Edit your essay

Double-check your paper for different of mistakes and typos. When proofreading your paper, make sure that nobody distracts you. It would be perfect if you revise and proofread your essay in silence. If you notice any kinds of errors - edit your paper to improve both style and clarity. Even though your essay should be clear and concise, also think on how to make it engaging and lively as well.

Share your essay with a close person

Showing your essay to your parent, friend or other readers can be both useful and exciting. They can give you their opinion on what should be changed. They can also notice some grammar or punctual mistakes you missed while writing the essay. Overall, it always good to use the feedback to make your essay even better.

Explanatory Essay Example

Read the following essay sample to understand this type of essay better. If you need more examples, don’t hesitate to buy essay samples from our website.

What are the benefits of social networks for modern students?

According to the World Health Organization, people spend around 6 years and 8 months on various social media in their lifetime. These numbers are both impressive and terrifying. Given that the average lifespan across the world is 72 years, in 2020, the time spent on social networks makes up almost 10% of our entire life. And these figures keep changing and hitting higher points every year. Unsurprisingly, students are the largest group of active social network users. There always have been plenty of controversies concerning this matter. But, there is a belief that social media can actually have quite a few benefits for them.

One of the most obvious benefits of social media is that it keeps people connected. Clearly, many modern students are using these channels to make connections and communicate with their peers. Also, though it may not sound like too big of a deal, it can have a very positive effect on their lives in college. A recent study has shown that social media can play an integral role in the process of adjustment to college. The research found that student-centered networks can provide first-year students with so-needed support and help them adapt to the new environment faster, easier, and more effectively.

Another benefit of social networks for students is that such channels can boost students’ overall literacy and reading skills. Various literacy studies confirm that the general level of literacy and reading skills among younger generations is dropping. The biggest issue behind that is the fact that young people almost never pick up a book when they are outside of the class. They are just no longer interested in books as they make them bored. However, this does not mean that students don’t read at all. In fact, they do. It’s just that they are more inclined to read the information provided in smaller chunks and, preferably, containing some eye-catching animations, videos, or images. In other words, they are much more interested in reading publications on blogs, websites, and, of course, social networks. Keeping all that in mind, it shouldn’t surprise you that, according to the National Literacy Trust, social networks really can (and already do) help modern students enhance their reading skills and overall literacy.

Finally, the last significant benefit of social media is the accessibility of education. Such channels have provided us with plenty of opportunities for distance learning. The global quarantine has shown us that the effectiveness of distance learning can equal the effectiveness of traditional learning. But only if we integrate the right tools in the process. Among such tools are various social network channels. Numerous researches have found that social media can bring extra value in terms of education. It enables students to search for information, collaborate, and stay engaged and motivated through the learning process. Also, such channels make education more accessible. They can have a practical use in creating the right conditions for efficient distance learning. At the same time, they also streamline both learning and teaching processes and help deliver better results.

Based on what has been discussed earlier, we can conclude that social networks do have a number of weighty benefits for modern students. Such channels encourage continuous learning, create new opportunities for distance learning, boost students’ levels of literacy and skills, and also serve as great tools for communication and support. We can’t deny the fact that social media is invading our lives at a rapid pace, so the only thing we can do is to adapt to this and start making the most of it.

We hope we managed to explain how to write a great explanatory essay. Now you know how this type of academic paper differs from other essays and what writing style and topic to choose when preparing such kind of assignment.

We sincerely hope that the tips outlined in our guide will help you enhance your writing and get better grades. However, if you have difficulties with completing this kind of assignment, our team of professional writers is always ready to help you draft a top-notch explanatory essay from scratch. All you need to do is order an essay you need. In addition to helping you create a great informative essay , we can also help you with other types of assignments, such as coursework, dissertation writing, or research paper. If you experience any kind of difficulties writing an explanatory essay — welcome to our first-class service!

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How to Write an Explanatory Essay With Examples

11 December 2023

last updated

Higher educational institutions require students to write papers that explain some concepts. In this case, an explanatory essay refers to academic tasks, which allow learners to provide clear explanations for some unique concepts. Basically, this guide provides detailed information on how to write an explanatory essay. For example, students must choose topics that are supposed to provide clear explanations. Besides, explanatory essay topics contain some guiding words, like “explain,” “viewpoint,” “discuss,” “describe,” and “detail.” Then, outstanding explanatory essays are products of keen considerations, collection of the necessary and adequate evidence, and drafting. Besides, such essays should include a clear introduction, a hook, and a clear thesis. In turn, other essential elements include objective and irrefutable evidence, topic sentences, supporting examples, and relevant explanations.

General Guidelines of Writing an Explanatory Essay

1. definition of an explanatory essay.

An explanatory essay refers to a type of composition that allows authors to present some perspective on a specific topic. In practice, readers may fail to agree with the writer’s point of view. However, the explanatory compositions’ primary goal is to prove the validity of some concepts. Therefore, one must rely on accurate research and logic to make an essay feasible.

2. Purpose of Writing an Explanatory Essay

Scholars write explanatory essays when showing other people’s views or report a specific situation or occurrence. In higher learning institutions, these essays are common in some subjects, like history and other humanities. Also, scholars rely on these essays to explain facts and real situations in these areas of study. Besides, they must give unbiased explanations to support facts and evidence. In turn, the approach used must allow one to discuss a specific subject effectively. Hence, students must provide sufficient evidence to reach a specific outcome.

3. Clearness

Writers prepare explanatory compositions when providing an unbiased point of view. For example, a scholar must evaluate existing evidence and create a logical and unique argument. In this case, the primary aim of presenting such facts is to ensure that readers appreciate ideas without experiencing any form of confusion. Moreover, lucid explanations must show why things happen in a specific way. In turn, outstanding papers allow readers to have a rational understanding of presented ideas, even when they disagree.

Possible Explanatory Essay Topics

Learners may come across different types of explanatory essay topics in the course of their studies. Basically, such topics differ from other types of compositions, which makes it easy for leaners to identify them. Hence, possible topics for writing an explanatory essay that one may consider are:

• Explain how two individuals of different interests and backgrounds could become unlikely allies.
• Tell about a world-class athlete. Explain why you include this person in that category.
• Describe the purposes of the Internet. Include various viewpoints, including that of users and providers.
• Discuss a public health issue that you think is serious enough to warrant immediate attention.
• Describe a significant environmental problem and what you believe should be done about it.
• Discuss some events in the life of your favorite actor, author, sports figure, famous leader, or performer. Also, explain how these events relate to the person’s achievements.
• You want to buy a new state of the art computer. Detail the steps you would have to take to ensure that you will make an appropriate decision regarding this significant investment.
• Brothers and sisters do not always get along. Describe the kinds of problems this discord creates in families and how to handle a situation like this.
• Your goal is to write a paper about an individual newly arrived from another country. Discuss some kinds of information you would include.
• Your best friend’s birthday is coming up. Describe the plan you created to make this birthday celebration the kind your friend will always remember.

Students may identify a unique pattern from explanatory essay topics. From 10 examples provides above, a writer can locate common phrases available. Moreover, such terms act as guidance to show that an essayist must provide detailed explanations of various concepts. In turn, some of these sign positing words include “explain,” “viewpoints,” “discuss,” “describe,” and “detail.” Also, one must rely on such terms to make an accurate decision on the most appropriate format for writing explanatory essays.

Writing an Explanatory Essay: A Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: preparation.

Writing an explanatory essay requires one to make necessary preparations. Basically, failing to prepare adequately can undermine the overall quality of the work presented. In most cases, writers who fail to take the required preparation score low grades. Hence, important steps that one must follow when writing explanatory essays are:

A. Defining a Topic

Students must define explanatory essay’s themes or questions clearly. For instance, writers must understand essay topics or prompts. Basically, the most effective way of defining a subject is identifying all the complex terms and finding their accurate meaning. Finally, scholars must figure out all the concepts required in the response before embarking on the writing process.

B. Addressing All the Issues

Prudent writers take their time to address all the issues that relate to a specific explanatory essay’s theme. For the topic “Discuss some events in the life of your favorite actor, author, sports figure, famous leader, or performer. Also, explain how these events relate to the person’s achievements,” one must define significant concepts that this famous person faced during his or her life. Then, students may opt to describe a “sports figure.” In this case, learners should provide a clear explanation of the preferred athlete’s performance and how it relates to personal achievements. Therefore, one must consider all the terms that can lead to an adequate description of a topic.  

C. Preparing Ideas

Outstanding writers must prepare ideas that remain relevant to assigned topics in question. For instance, one should gather all the ideas that support an explanatory issue directly. In this case, a good writer organizes the main ideas together, intending to enhance the overall flow of a topic. Also, essayists must organize thoughts before responding to explanatory prompts. In turn, some essential tools, like flow charts and flashcards, help authors to recognize vital concepts that must appear in their compositions. Therefore, one should consider preparing ideas to avoid unnecessary omissions.  

D. Considering the Audience

Explanatory essays intend to convince readers that a position taken remains valid. Basically, one should identify the intended audience together with their specific needs. In this case, good writers should prepare their work to appeal to a particular audience. For instance, one should consider the knowledge and language competency of intended readers. Then, writers should use exciting and straightforward language for young readers that may not limit their reading abilities. In practice, one should identify a unique means of persuading readers by using figurative language to support the validity of the evidence presented. In turn, the approach enhances the overall ability to pass the intended message to a specific audience.

E. Considering a Structure

The process of considering the audience requires one to identify the general structure of the writing and its role in supporting the main message. For example, learning institutions require students to utilize a unique design when communicating the main message. In this case, authors must focus on a traditional essay structure to enhance the primary ideas’ flow. Besides, this process helps identify significant flaws that may undermine the essay’s overall quality.

Step 2: Setting Up the Stage

Scholars should set up the stage for writing an explanatory essay. As a rule, one should not begin writing a composition without organizing the necessary ideas. Instead, students must take basic steps needed to understand a topic and gather the essential information to support the main arguments. In this case, writers include all the necessary details in an explanatory essay. Hence, these steps that one must follow when setting up the stage are: 

A. Finding Sources

Academic essays contain evidence obtained from credible sources . Basically, an outstanding writer must search for reliable sources to authenticate examples and facts to present them in their explanatory essays. Moreover, scholarly sources should contain credible evidence that supports the writer’s point of view directly. Then, students should gather evidence from a wide range of sources. In this case, all learning institutes require learners to use peer-reviewed articles, volumes, reports, and credible websites as evidence sources. Besides, such rules ensure that writers obtain current indisputable evidence to prepare explanatory essays. In turn, a prudent student should avoid doubtful websites that may contain information that is irrelevant to the essay’s topic.

B. Making Notes

Note-taking is an important activity in any writing process. For instance, essayists should make notes from researched sources. Basically, students should engage in a critical reading process for all the scholarly sources to identify the subject’s evidence. Then, one should take relevant notes as part of the actual preparation. In turn, quality notes play a significant role in allowing writers to remember and organize the relevant evidence to support all the arguments. Hence, a prudent author must engage in a practical note-taking process when preparing an explanatory essay.

C. Creating an Outline

The length of an essay outline varies depending on the topic and evidence presented. Basically, a prudent student writes an explanatory essay’s outline that reveals the main points of five paragraphs. However, students must focus on developing an exhaustive outline. As a rule, an exceptional outline must include a brief introduction, a working thesis statement , and main points that support central arguments. In turn, writers should provide a suitable general description for explanatory essays, which contains relevant evidence that supports established arguments and claims.

D. Writing an Annotated Bibliography for an Explanatory Essay

By definition, an annotated bibliography means a list of bibliographic entries for sources identified for writing a paper. In this case, one should follow the necessary formatting guidelines in preparing bibliographic entries. However, each entry must contain a suitable annotation that highlights essential details. As a rule, a credible annotation should have three paragraphs, namely a summary, an evaluation of a text, and a reflection on its applicability to a study. In turn, these three sections play a crucial role in ensuring that an author examines the source’s relevance in supporting main arguments. Besides, the process helps one to understand specific parts of sources that must be used to support ideas in an explanatory essay.   

Step 3: Start Writing an Explanatory Essay

The writing process plays a crucial role in preparing explanatory essays because it allows writers to bring all the ideas together. Basically, students have a primary duty of ensuring that they present essential ideas in supporting their arguments. In turn, the most important aspect is to ensure that one must follow the necessary steps in creating the most outstanding explanatory compositions.

A. Creating a Draft

One should utilize notes prepared with a working thesis previously to develop a draft of an explanatory essay. Basically, acceptable drafts should follow the essay’s format and must contain all the relevant parts and sections. In this case, writers should organize explanatory drafts with the introduction, body, and conclusion as three significant parts. In this case, the process of uniting the information together helps to create a unique picture of an explanatory essay. Besides, it helps authors to identify necessary factors that relate to their compositions. Hence, drafting an explanatory essay marks the first step in organizing information in a way that reveals a good flow.   

B. Putting Everything Together

Essayists should put the information together into a complete paper that communicates the intended message. For instance, a writer should include all the evidence gathered in the previous section of a composition. Besides, one must ensure that all the paragraphs or subsection follows a logical order. In this case, the primary goal of putting everything together is to ensure that one can read and grasp the intended message. Also, this step lays the foundation for revising a paper and ensures that all the evidence presented supports the essay’s central argument.   

C. Finding New Sources or Deleting Old Ones

A prudent writer should not stick to sources identified initially. Basically, one must become flexible when identifying credible sources that support an explanatory essay effectively. In this stage, essayists should review the sources’ applicability in enhancing the clarity of the communicated message. Moreover, if some sources fail to align with presented ideas, students must find new ones. In this case, writers should look for those scholarly articles that contain weightier evidence to support thesis statements and other opinions presented in explanatory essays. Also, scholars may add more sources to avoid distracting the flow of ideas throughout an essay. In turn, authors should delete previous sources if they fail to present weightier evidence to the central argument.  

D. Altering an Outline

Prudent essayist remains flexible enough to alter the initial procedure. As a rule, this process must take place after adjusting some sources used in the first draft. Basically, one should consider making the most essential and mandatory changes in addressing some issues that relate to a specific subject. In this case, essayists must alter some of the claims presented to ensure that they add some significance to a topic. Moreover, a reviewed essay outline plays an essential role in creating a suitable structure for a final explanatory essay. Therefore, one should revise the essay’s general description to capture the new evidence from the revised draft.  

E. Developing a Working Thesis

Each paper should have a remarkable thesis statement that covers the main ideas or central messages. Basically, arguments made in an explanatory essay should reflect a thesis statement. As a rule, a thesis sentence refers to the information that captures the writer’s position. Also, this statement should appear in the introduction paragraph. Then, students should rely on the draft and revised outline to create a working thesis statement. In turn, this approach can ensure that one understands the intended message in one sentence. Hence, the central claim must reflect on what essayists plan to communicate to the explanatory essay’s targeted audience.  

Step 4: Wrap It Up

The final stage in writing an explanatory essay involves polishing all the elements. Basically, the primary goal is to ensure that the one submits a flawless paper that effectively communicates the main message. In this case, learners bear the responsibility of polishing their work and ensuring that it captures all the intended ideas. Hence, specific steps that one must consider when preparing to polish an explanatory essay are:

A. Revisions

Outstanding papers are products of several revisions. In particular, one must engage in a rigorous revision process to ensure that an explanatory essay meets the necessary quality. Basically, writers should consider specific elements during the revision process. For example, some aspects include spelling, grammar, and paragraphs. Then, one should ensure that all words follow the accepted spelling depending on the language used. Also, the grammar in a paper should enhance the paper’s readability. In turn, wise authors rely on their friends to identify such flaws. As a result, the strategy makes it easier to identify common mistakes that can undermine the overall essay’s quality.  

Prudent writers consider the significance of the editing process in enhancing the essay’s quality. For example, an essayist should consider making essential changes in an explanatory essay during the editing process. In this case, the method may involve removing vague statements and adding more evidence to enhance the essay’s quality. Then, one should consider critics to make necessary changes in an explanatory essay and ensure that it meets desired outcomes. Hence, editing is a rigorous process that must focus on improving the paper’s ability to communicate main ideas.

C. Topic Sentences

Outstanding explanatory essays should have topic sentences that relate to the central claim. For instance, one must ensure that each paragraph begins with a topic sentence. Basically, this opening statement must dwell on a single idea and reveal a unique connection to the thesis statement presented in the introduction. In this case, writers must ensure that all the paragraphs begin with precise topic phrases. Otherwise, a paper may appear unclear and fail to provide the intended explanation about the topic. As a rule, one must avoid discussing many points in a passage to enhance the overall quality. As a result, focused explanatory essays gain more marks.

D. Concluding Sentences

Outstanding essays contain closing. Basically, the last sentence in each body paragraph must summarize the main idea covered in this part. In turn, one must ensure that this line gives a summative closure to the passage without introducing new evidence or arguments to a paper. However, failure to include effective closing can disrupt the readers’ attention to the primary message. Moreover, the last sentence in a section must connect to the ideas presented in the topic sentence of the following passage.

E. Transitions

Each passage must link to the next section through a linking phrase. For example, one must use transitioning words throughout an explanatory essay to ensure that it has an adequate flow of the main ideas. Besides, relevant transitions must appear inside the essay’s text. Unfortunately, some learners make a mistake of using many transitioning phrases in writing. Also, such flaws distract the paper’s readability and may result in the distortion of the main message. Hence, one must rely on significant transitioning elements to communicate the intended message to the audience.  

F. Formatting

Many learning institutions require students to follow specific formatting styles and guidelines. Basically, a successful writer must follow such guidelines when preparing their explanatory essays to ensure that they meet the necessary academic standards. In this case, students must make the relevant professor’s essential consultations to avoid losing grades due to poor formatting. Besides, an explanatory essay’s rubric from the appropriate faculty acts as useful formatting guidelines. In turn, a prudent writer must rely on such tools to ensure that the work submitted meets the necessary quality. Therefore, each student must consider the essential formatting guidelines for explanatory essays. 

G. Peer Reviewing

Peer reviewing is an essential step in the writing process that college students tend to ignore. For instance, writers must share their work with peers for the reading and reviewing process. In this case, one should identify other scholars with adequate knowledge in the subject matter to read an explanatory essay and provide a positive critique. Basically, such choices play an instrumental role in determining the possible flaws in written documents. Then, students should consider the feedback and its role in promoting the essay’s quality before making any changes. As a rule, essayists must consider several critics and their role in enhancing the work’s readability and significance.

Explanatory Essay Outline Template

An explanatory essay has a unique outline that enhances the ability to communicate the intended message. In this case, a writer should rely on a scheme to avoid unnecessary omissions. Hence, the main elements that one must include in an explanatory essay are:

I. Introduction

A. An attention-getter.

B. Contextual information that presents all sides that supports the argument.

C. A clear thesis statement that covers three arguments presented in the body of an explanatory essay in one sentence.

A. The first body paragraph.

• A topic sentence that identifies the first argument.
• Accurate evidence that supports this argument, which should contain an accurate citation.
• An explanation of the evidence presented, which helps readers to understand the intended message.
• A concluding statement that solidifies this argument and reveals its standing. Also, the concluding statement must be connected to the next paragraph.

B. The second body paragraph.

• A topic sentence that identifies the second argument.
• Accurate evidence that supports this argument, which should contain an accurate citation
• A concluding statement that solidifies this argument and reveals its standing. Also, the concluding statement must connect to the next paragraph.

C. The third body paragraph.

• A topic sentence that identifies the third argument.

III. Conclusion

A. A restated thesis statement.

B. A summary of three arguments presented in the essay’s body paragraphs.

C. A final statement that leaves readers with a unique impression.

Important Features of Explanatory Essays

An outline for expository essays is unique since all the sections focus on providing an adequate explanation of significant concepts. In this case, the number of body paragraphs should vary depending on the essay’s length. Moreover, one must ensure that topic sentences provide a detailed explanation of the central claim. In turn, writers should ensure that the essay’s body paragraphs offer concise and precise answers to the main arguments. Then, one may know that a paper pertains to an explanatory essay if all the statements included in an outline provide direct support to a written piece. However, other compositions, like argumentative papers, contain paragraphs that provide counterarguments and rebuttals. Hence, an expository essay’s outline appears unique since all the main points presented must support a thesis statement directly.

Breaking Down an Eplxanatory Essay’s Outline

The introduction of an explanatory essay must begin with a hook. Basically, the approach enables writers to capture the readers’ attention. In this case, essayists should give a brief overview of the topic to show the scope that the work must take. Besides, the closing sentence should include a thesis statement. In turn, outstanding papers should have debatable thesis statements.

II. Body Paragraphs

The body of an explanatory essay should contain the main arguments that support the thesis statement. Basically, students must ensure that all the topic sentences relate to the thesis statement. In this case, essayists must support the central claim with adequate evidence. Also, explanatory essays must contain accurate in-text citations in all the sentences that contain borrowed evidence.  

An explanatory essay should contain a summative conclusion. Basically, the last paragraph should restate the thesis statement and summarize all the topic sentences presented in the text. As a rule, the closing section should not contain new evidence. Instead, one should bring the work to a satisfactory closure that joins all the main ideas together.

Example of Writing an Explanatory Essay

Topic: Explain the Impact of the Rising Child Gangs

I. Sample of an Explanatory Introduction

Every human being strives to develop a sense of belonging. However, most teenagers fail in the process of creating relevant social circles. In this case, the majority of juveniles join various gangs, intending to achieve a sense of belonging. Moreover, the rise of teenage gangs is a major social problem in the twenty-first century. Although most individuals may disregard adolescent gangs’ impacts, they promote crime, drug and substance abuse, and lower education turnout among the juveniles.

II. Example of Body Paragraphs in an Explanatory Essay

A. argument 1.

Teenage gangs promote juvenile crime. For example, most teenagers who join gangs tend to engage in delinquent activities. In this case, many youths develop a sense of belonging when they engage in crime. Basically, they focus on establishing superiority among their social circles. Moreover, stealing and fighting are some of the activities that enable youths to develop a sense of belonging. In turn, gangs motivate juveniles to engage in such unbecoming activities. Besides, established bands give teenagers the courage to violate the law. Hence, the rising teenage gangs promote juvenile delinquency and encourage drug and substance abuse. 

B. Argument 2

Teenage gangs are responsible for rising rates of drug abuse among teenagers. For example, many teenagers learn how to use drugs through peer influence. In this case, they interact with friends who have access to cheap illegal drugs. Also, the process exposes most of the young teenagers to hard drugs. Then, the majority of the drug addicts began such behaviors during their teenage life. Besides, the membership to groups that engage in drug abuse contributes towards the addiction process. In other instances, gangs provide the necessary protection to the youths interested in drug abuse. Therefore, teenage gang membership has a close association with drug abuse and lower education turnouts among the juveniles.

C. Argument 3

Gang membership plays a significant role in undermining adequate education access. For example, being a member of a teenage gang distracts most students from focusing on their education. In this case, many juveniles concentrate on fulfilling the needs of their respective bands. Moreover, the process interrupts their ability to meet educational expectations. Then, the majority of teenagers who engage in delinquent activities and drug abuse records the lowest performance in their studies. In turn, the peer pressure forces them to remain in their respective gangs that promote such unfitting behaviors. Eventually, they lose the ability to focus on their academic goals and may drop out of their studies. 

III. Conclusion Sample for an Explanatory Essay

In conclusion, teenage gangs have detrimental impacts on juvenile lives. Firstly, the preceding evidence proves that teenage gangs motivate crime. In this case, the majority of youths who engage in such activities tend to embrace stealing and fighting. Besides, such children tend to engage in drug and substance abuse. Then, peer pressure and the need to remain relevant in their respective social circles motivate the juveniles to embrace drugs. Finally, gang membership lowers education turnout among youngsters. In turn, a large number of youths who belong to specific gangs tend to record poor academic performance. Thus, they may lose an opportunity to end their schools. 

Summing Up on How to Write an Explanatory Essay

Explanatory essays refer to common types of academic assignments that students must complete in their studies. Basically, explanatory essay topics give clear explanations of various ideas. Also, a scholar may choose a suitable topic from a wide range of issues in multiple areas of study. In practice, one may identify the topic to an expository essay through some phrases, like “explain,” “viewpoints,” “discuss,” “describe,” and “detail.” Besides, the explanatory writing process requires one to consider the question, gather the necessary evidence, collect adequate evidence, and create a draft. Hence, key points that one must remember when writing explanatory essays are: 

• An explanatory essay’s introduction must contain a hook. 
• All papers should contain a clear thesis statement.
• Essays should contain relevant ideas that explain a specific subject.
• A written work must end with a summative conclusion that brings the entire paper to closure.
• An explanatory essay’s outline must consist of a brief introduction, a working thesis statement, a body, and a final summary.
• The body section of an explanatory essay outline must contain topic sentences with brief points.    

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Explanatory Essay Writing Guide for Novice and Established Writers

An explanatory or expository essay is a typical assignment given to students pursuing different courses. When assigned one, you are expected to describe your opinion or point of view on something, a process to follow, an event that has occurred, or the ideas of another person without persuading your audience.

You explain pieces of information to make it easier for your readers to understand. To write one successfully, you need to know how an explanatory essay differs from other essays such as argumentative or persuasive essays.

In this guide, you will learn to write an explanatory essay, from choosing the topic to polishing the paper for submission. Our professional essay writing service can be your first resort if you are otherwise looking for someone who can reliably help you write an expository essay.

Definition of Explanatory Essay

Let?s set out our discussion by defining what an explanatory essay is. An explanatory essay is a formal piece of writing where you present a point of view on a given topic, scenario, phenomenon, event, or situation. To develop the view, you need to conduct in-depth research, logically reason, think critically, and present evidence, whether agreeing or refuting the expected idea. Its other name is an expository essay.

When writing an explanatory essay, it is not mandatory to agree with the point of view you are writing in your paper. Instead, your main aim is to offer an analysis of the topic at hand. Therefore, it is imperative to present arguments, claims, or information of other people in a manner that avoids bias.

You should be objective enough but avoid including any criticisms. You should also desist from persuading your readers while giving explanations. Your primary role is to explain what there is critically and let the readers draw their conclusions about what point of view suits their situation.

An explanatory essay shows the readers your view and gives an account of certain events or situations. You will likely be assigned an explanatory essay if you pursue journalism, English Language, composition, media studies, and history.

You must ensure that you present a neutral position or view on the topic and provide in-depth analysis backed by evidence from research. When you lucidly explain why things happened as they did, you have aced the explanatory essay. That way, your audience can understand your point of view, even if they do not side with you.

In short, explanatory essays present facts, statistics, examples, and information about situations, events, or phenomena without taking sides or persuading the readers to agree with your opinion.

Types of Explanatory Essays you?ll encounter in College and University

Let?s explore the different types of expository or exploratory essays you will most likely encounter in college, high school, or university.

Cause-and-Effect Essay

A cause-and-effect essay explains a situation that leads to a given consequence or set of consequences. For instance, not adhering to building standards could lead to the crumbling of houses. When writing this type of explanatory essay, you should strive to answer the question ?what was the reason for this cause and what are the consequences, repercussions, or outcomes.

You can organize the ideas by explaining the causes first, then the consequences last, or what is referred to as the block format. You can also write it in a chain pattern to explain each cause and its consequences. We have described this in our detailed cause-and-effect essay guide.

Some topics to consider include:

• Causes and consequences of PTSD in children
• Causes and effects of texting while driving
• Cause and consequences of drought
• Causes and consequences of global warming
• Causes and effects of homelessness in New York
• Cause and effect of smoking among teenagers
• Causes and consequences of teenage pregnancies

Problem and solution Essay

A problem and solutions or problem-solutions essay entail exploring the problem or issue that affects the society and its corresponding keys. It involves developing appropriate, innovative, and plausible solutions to common social problems.

You can explore the problem from different lenses and brainstorm for appropriate solutions with no deficiencies.

Possible topics include:

• How to end corruption in FIFA
• Stopping animal abuse in America
• How to end political wars
• Solving water shortage in India
• Solving global hunger
• Addressing homelessness and poverty in America

Classification Essay

Another common type of explanatory essay is the classification essay. A classification essay explores different attributes of a subject then categorizes the subject- objects, people, scenarios, and phenomena depending on their characteristics into different classes or categories. While at it, you must explain the reasoning behind the classification. You must illustrate and explain points and ideas when writing a classification essay to attain authority and prowess when writing.

Potential classification topics:

• Types of parenting
• Types of drugs
• Types of television programs
• Types of vacation
• Types of diets
• Types of bosses
• Types of leaders

How-to essays

How-to essays are the most common expository essay assignment. It entails writing the process or procedure of doing something. The aim is to provide readers with steps they ought to take to accomplish something.

Potential how-to essay topics include:

• How to invest in Bitcoin
• How to stay alert when studying
• How to bake a banana cake
• How to become an entrepreneur
• How to join the army
• How to drive a manual car
• How to plan a trip

Compare and contrast essays

We bet you did not imagine that a compare and contrast essay is a type of explanatory essay. Well, now you know. The purpose of a compare and contrast essay is to lay out the similarities and differences between two ideas, phenomena, situations, places, people, periods, and things.

You can begin by writing the similarities than differences or alternate similarities and differences, just like the cause-and-effect essay.

Potential topics to consider:

• Twitter vs. TikTok, which is better for education?
• iPhone vs. Samsung phones
• Men vs. Women
• Tiger vs. Cheater
• Renting vs. Owning a home, which is better?
• RV camping vs. Glamping
• Drunk vs. Distracted vs. Speeding Driver
• Smartphones vs. Tablets
• Blues, Jazz, and Hip-Hop, which is superior?
• President vs. Queen

Definition Essay

The last common type of explanatory essay is the definition essay, which entails expounding, expanding, and defining complicated concepts to help the readers digest and internalize them better.

Potential definition essay topics:

• What is glamping?
• What is bike camping?
• What is capitalism?
• What is racism?
• Define separationist
• Define sleep paralysis
• Define the circadian rhythm
• Define superhero

Explanatory Essay Format

The explanatory paper follows the standard five-paragraph essay format like other formal essays. An explanatory essay should feature the introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and the concluding paragraph.

When assigned to write an exploratory essay, ensure that it follows the format for an academic essay:

• Times New Roman font size 12
• Double-spaced pages
• One-inch margins all-round the paper
• Separate cover/title page and the references page
• Formatted in MLA, APA, or Harvard styles
• Left aligned
• Every paragraph should begin with an indentation of five spaces or one tab
• Must have a title
• Must have your credentials depending on the formatting style

Structure or Outline of Explanatory Essays

An explanatory essay describes an event, scenario, situation, or phenomenon by representing a point of view. To write an excellent explanatory essay, you must understand its structure or outline. Although this information might be repetitive, dedicating it to this section aims at ensuring everyone grasps the main components of an explanatory essay.

It is imperative to state that the length of the explanatory essay outline depends on the amount of information you want to present to your audience and your selected topic.

Just like many academic essays, it has the title page, introduction, body paragraph, conclusion, and reference pages .

The title page of an explanatory essay depends on the formatting style you are using.

For example, the APA title page will contain the title of your essay, your instructor?s name, course code and course name, institution?s name, and date of submission. The title comes three lines from the top margin (pressing enter three times), then you press enter twice or two lines and enter the rest of the details. All the details should be centered.

If you are writing the expository essay in MLA, you will include your name, course code and name, name of the instructor, and date of submission. You will then write and center the title of your explanatory essay before beginning the introduction paragraph on the next page.

Introduction

The three main components of the introduction of an explanatory essay include the hook statement, background information, and thesis statement. Sometimes you can have a sentence of two where you signpost the organization of ideas in your essay.

Body Paragraphs

The main body of an explanatory essay consists of at least three paragraphs that have a well-balanced word count. The body paragraphs comprise 80% of the total word count of your essay.

Each body paragraph focuses on one main point that supports the thesis statement. A complete body paragraph must have a topic statement, facts, evidence, examples, and a concluding sentence.

The claims in an explanatory essay present your point of view that supports the thesis statement. The evidence should be from scholarly resources you yielded during your research.

The concluding sentence should transition the paragraph to the next paragraph and summarize the idea in the paragraph about your thesis statement. Repeat the same until you are done with the body paragraphs.

An excellent way to conclude an explanatory essay is to restate the thesis to reinforce your opinion and draw the attention of the readers. You create a recall value for your markers as well.

The conclusion should also summarize the main points you covered in the main body. Explain and emphasize the main points to show how you have logically defended the thesis and your chosen point of view.

Lastly, offer your readers some call-to-action or conclusive statement that lets them ponder about your essay. You can inspire your readers to take action or think of an issue from a given perspective.

This is the last page of your essay. In MLA, it is called the ?Works Cited? page, while in APA and Harvard, it is the ?References? page.

On this page, arrange the references used in A-Z alphabetic order.

8 Steps for Writing a Perfect Explanatory Essay

Now that you can define, outline, and format an explanatory essay, it is plausible to look into the steps you can take when writing one to score the best grade.

1. Read the instructions

Like any other piece of essay assignment , writing an expository or explanatory essay begins with reading the instructions provided by the instructor. The instructions help you contextualize the paper, know the limit or scope, and understand what your instructor will focus on when marking your essay. As you read through the explanatory essay prompt, remember to take note of words such as analyze, explore, expound, define, synthesize as they define the lens or angle of analysis of your essay. You are writing an essay that explains different concepts to people so that they can understand them better. Therefore, the only way to engage your reader is to understand what is expected of you.? It does not matter whether you agree or disagree with a point of view; you need to provide information without bias.

2. Choose a suitable topic

Having known what is expected of you, you need to develop a neutral perspective, angle, or point of view in your explanatory essay. You are meant to explain or describe and not to persuade. The best way to do this is by choosing a neutral topic.

When picking an expository essay topic, ensure that it is not controversial. Instead, choose a neutral topic that will enable you to prevent facts without drawing criticisms. The topic is usually provided in some instances, or you are given a list to choose from. However, you have to develop the topic, get it approved, and proceed to the next steps in other cases.

Whichever way you arrive at your topic, you must brainstorm on it and only pick something interesting, appealing, and relevant to you and your studies. Narrow down your case to make it specific and targeted to an expository-oriented lens before evaluating the scope of the topic to determine if it can be explored further.

3. Do a preliminary research

After choosing the explanatory essay topic, your next step is to do preliminary research. During the preliminary research stage, your aim is to familiarize yourself with the topic, concepts related to it, and what others are saying or have written about it. Furthermore, you also get the chance to choose the best approach to begin your essay and develop a tentative thesis statement that is useful when outlining.

4. Develop a preliminary thesis statement

With the content of your research, craft a controlling idea for your explanatory essay. Having a solid thesis statement is mandatory for any essay that scores higher grades. It should be either one or two sentences at the end of your introductory paragraph telling your readers your main idea in the expository essay.

An effective expository essay thesis statement is focused, precise, debatable, and supportable. Ensure that you can support the essay using three body paragraphs of your essay. It is a preliminary thesis because you can tweak it when writing the body paragraphs.

5. Research in-depth

After coming up with the thesis, it is now time to research in-depth for facts, statistics, and evidence to support the thesis statement. As you gather the scholarly sources, ensure that you organize them based on the ideas they are supporting. Take notes and keep track of the sources. Your focus should be on any piece of information that can be used to back up your main arguments or claims in the expository essay.

6. Plan your paper

With the thesis done and research organized, you can proceed to the outlining phase. In this stage, write an outline for your paper. An outline is a sketch or skeleton of your paper. Outlining your ideas helps you begin your essay with the end in mind. You organize the thoughts so that there is flow from introduction to conclusion.

As you outline, each body paragraph should focus on its independent idea that supports the thesis and must be connected to other paragraphs using linking words . You will write the points you want to include in the introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs to have some logical flow in your essay.

7. Write your first draft

After outlining the last step of the pre-writing stage, you need to enter the writing stage. During the writing stage, focus on writing first and editing later.

Begin by writing the body paragraphs of your essay so that if you need to tweak the thesis, you can do so without changing the entire paper later. Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence that announces what the paragraph is about. It should be followed by a series of evidence that supports the topic sentence. End your paragraphs with a concluding sentence that wraps the paragraph and transitions it to the next paragraph.

The body paragraphs should validate your arguments using facts, examples, and evidence. Devote each paragraph to a separate idea but link them together for a better flow. Have enough evidential statements that justify your arguments and support your claims to strengthen your expository essay. Find the logical connection between the main ideas in a paragraph and your thesis statement. Finally, balance the word count of your essay paragraph to ensure that you are within the word count for your essay.

Once you are done with the body paragraphs, write the introduction paragraph . Begin your expository essay using an enticing hook statement . A hook or an attention grabber is ideal for starting an explanatory essay. You can use a shocking fact or statistic, rhetorical question, anecdote, a quote, metaphor, or anything that can lure your readers into reading your essay longer. The hook can be one or two sentences long and should precede the background information where you explain the significance of the topic. You can then signpost your ideas after writing the thesis statement to alert your readers on what to expect or how you have explained the thesis statement in your explanatory essay.

As a final step of the writing stage, wrap up your paper with a strong conclusion paragraph . A better way to end your expository essay is through writing a vivid conclusion that entices your professor or instructor. Rephrase and restate your thesis statement, write the summary of the major points in your essay, and close the essay using a powerful call to action or words to make your audience think more about the topic.

8. Revise and Proofread your essay

After the writing stage, you enter the post-writing stage, where you polish the essay. Remember when we said you focus on writing when writing the first draft? Well, that?s how it is done so that you can reserve the tedious editing and proofreading step for the last step.

It is best to take this step after taking some break from writing. Editing and proofreading with an objective mind yield an error-free paper. You can use tools such as Grammarly, ProWritingAid, Ginger, or Hemingway App to edit your work for grammar, syntax, and spelling.

Also, check that the in-text citations and the list of references or bibliography align with the formatting style recommended in the essay prompt. Check to determine that your cover/title page is written as per APA, MLA, or Harvard formats, depending on what your instructor wants. You should also check your arguments, flow of ideas, transition words, vocabulary, tenses, active and passive voice, and general format of the paper. Run the paper through a plagiarism checker to ensure that you turn in a plagiarism-free expository essay.

When everything about your paper is excellent, you can turn in the paper and wait for the grades.

10 Useful Tips when writing an explanatory essay

If you are writing an explanatory essay for the first time or after a series of failures, here are some valuable tips that successful students have used.

• Use transitions in your essay. When writing, use effective linking words to ensure a good flow of ideas between words, sentences, and paragraphs.
• Cite every borrowed idea as you write. You need to back up your ideas with evidence, examples, and facts from literature. When you do so, ensure that you acknowledge the sources through in-text citations to avoid plagiarism.
• Take breaks when done with your first draft. After completing your first draft, take a break to develop an objective mind and resume editing and proofreading the paper. You can always hire someone to edit and proofread your essay for you in case it has gotten into your nerves, or you are just tired.
• Polish your paper before submitting it. Before hitting the submit button, ensure that your essay flows and is grammatically correct. Your essay should be error-free and must answer the essay prompt. Follow the Rubric guide on editing your paper because it dictates the marks awarded and what factors the markers focus on.
• Create a strong thesis statement. A strong thesis statement signals your readers about what to expect. Ensure your explanatory essay has an arguable, debatable, and precise thesis statement included in the introduction paragraph.
• Organize your paragraphs well. Structure and organize the paragraphs of your explanatory essay to establish a good flow. Ensure that each paragraph is clear, coherent, and convent. Each body paragraph must have a topic sentence, supporting facts, and a concluding sentence. Link together the paragraphs using transition words and phrases.
• Validate the arguments using examples and facts. Research widely and deeply to get facts, examples, illustrations, and evidence to support the main claims or the thesis of your essay.
• Ask for clarifications early enough. When unsure about what to do, write an email to your professor clarifying the instructions, changing the essay topic, or asking for an opinion over your first draft. Do it early enough to avoid inconveniences.
• Format your paper appropriately. Ensure that your essay is formatted as per the preferred formatting style. The in-text, cover/title pages and the references page should follow the format. Use APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard format as advised or preferred by your professor.
• Keep within the word count. You can either do plus or minus 10% in any academic paper. However, sticking to the word count is always a good idea because, beyond the word count, the instructor ceases to be interested. Outline your paper early enough to know what falls where and the appropriate number of words to use.

130 Explanatory Essay Topics to consider

Below are some creative, innovative, and advanced topics you can consider when writing an explanatory essay. The list is not exhaustive; you can pretty much write about anything that comes to mind provided there is enough evidence and you have an interest in it.

Again, if you need someone to write your expository essay for you, you can always hire one of our professional essay writers. We have the best explanatory essay writers who can write your essay within the shortest turnaround time and desired quality.

• How to spot a scam
• What is your greatest fear?
• Why do people make bad decisions?
• Why do jails get full while criminals increase?
• Is anyone above the law?
• Why do the rich get richer?
• How to make life interesting
• How to have control over our lives
• Idiots vs. Genius
• Greatest fear for humans
• How to mourn a parent
• Happiest recollection of childhood
• How to play soccer
• Impacts of street graffiti
• Consequences of having a tattoo
• Advantages of eating healthy meals
• Pros and cons of meditation
• How to learn a second language faster
• How to read a novel in under a week
• Causes and consequences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombing
• Causes and consequences of Ukrainian-Russian war
• Impacts of depression among teenagers
• Impacts of technology during the pandemic
• Impacts of social media on youths
• How social media affects productivity
• Positive and negative impacts of air transport
• Air vs. Train transport modes
• Benefits of college education
• Reasons to admire Angela Markel
• Positive and negative effects of online education
• Causes and consequences of nurse shortages
• How to deal with bullying in school
• How to save the planet from global warming
• Causes and consequences of infidelity
• Causes and consequences of divorce
• Effects of music on our lives
• How to write a concert report
• How to launch a music career
• Jazz vs. Blues music
• Why people should go on vacations
• Benefits of using solar energy
• Causes and consequences of racism
• How gun control laws affect American society
• Benefits of learning abroad
• How to overcome culture shock
• Importance of being earnest
• Blended learning vs. traditional classes
• Causes of global warming
• Consequences of dropping out of college
• Causes and consequences of high inflation
• Process of making electric music
• Why people should never fight
• How to study for music
• Best places to study
• How songs can help cope with depression
• How to deal with the loss of a loved one
• Major stressors in teenager?s lives
• Why do many teens commit suicide?
• How teens use social media to generate income
• Why do teens do drugs?
• Effects of marijuana on health
• How to maintain a healthy weight
• Types of eating disorders
• How the environment influences our behavior
• Different strategies to reintegrate veterans into society
• How to successfully study when working
• The best university in the world
• Importance of free education
• Impacts of gender imbalance on company performance
• How diversity improves organizational performance
• Link between boredom and trouble
• Why the cost of college is going high?
• Solutions to rising student loan debt
• Impacts of decreasing the consent age
• Impacts of reducing the alcohol drinking age
• Consequences of drunk driving
• Defining neuroanatomy
• How to Invest in Bitcoin
• Benefits of blockchain technology
• The covid-19 pandemic
• The great drought in china: causes and consequences
• How to develop leadership skills
• How to prevent social loafing in the workplace
• Reasons to have four workdays instead of 5
• Nursing as a noble profession
• How to become a nurse
• How to become a pilot
• The most successful president on earth
• Importance of good sleep
• Helicopter parenting
• Types of parenting styles
• Types of bikes for kids
• Why paying taxes is good
• Why gun control is a great idea
• Exploring sky burial practices
• How to become culturally competent
• Solving the digital divide in the society
• The most reliable approach to disciplining kids
• How to eradicate discrimination
• Why do dogs make better pets?
• Strategies to attain financial literacy
• Why youths should be taught financial literacy skills
• Consequences of postpartum depression among women
• Benefits of paternal leave
• Best places to visit
• How to solve a puzzle
• How to develop good habits
• What makes a great friend?
• How music affects our moods
• Consequences of sleep deprivation
• Describe a dream home
• Define happiness
• How can the global community achieve peace?
• The person you admire the most
• Qualities of a good nurse
• Process of becoming a nun
• Your favorite teacher
• Esports vs. Sports
• Impacts of sibling rivalry on growth
• Forms of cyberbullying
• How to combat financial fraud
• How to curb human trafficking
• A perfect society
• Benefits of professional organizations
• Living vs. existing
• What makes someone generous?
• A perfect wedding you attended
• How to process a crime scene
• Role of social workers in society

Final Remarks

To write an excellent explanatory essay, you must select a neutral topic, research it, plan, write the first draft, polish the draft, and submit your final draft. In this comprehensive explanatory essay guide, we have explained everything that should set you up for success.

Remember, you should take a neutral point of view while writing on your selected topic because this is not your regular argumentative or persuasive essay. The goal of an explanatory essay is to clearly explain why things are the way they are or the way things happened the way they did. You should choose that pone angle and discuss it, so your readers are informed or knowledgeable in the end.

We have explored the correct format for this type of essay and suggested some topic ideas for your explanatory essay. We wish you the best of luck as you follow the steps we have outlined in this guide.

If, however, you are experiencing difficulties with completing an explanatory essay paper, you can bank on our professional writers. You can order an essay online and get it done within the shortest turnaround time. We also write all other types of essays and have flexible pricing strategies. Get a 100% non-plagiarized essay and get that better grade.

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Explanatory Essay: Definition, Outline, Writing Steps & Samples

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An explanatory essay  is a type of essay that aims to explain or describe a particular topic or subject. The purpose of an explanatory essay is to provide readers with information and to educate them about a topic in a concise manner.

In this article, we will discuss an explanatory writing definition, provide an outline of key components, and guide you through how to write an explanatory essay. Additionally, we will provide a well-written explanatory essay example to further illustrate required structure and format of writing the paper. Whether you are a college student or a professional, this article will offer all the tools you need to write a clear and effective explanatory essay. Our professional essay writers did their best to share all essential details on an explanatory essay – beginning with an introduction and ending with a conclusion. Let’s get started!

What Is an Explanatory Essay: Definition

An explanatory essay is a type of academic writing in which the writer presents an explanation or analysis of a specific topic or idea. Its main goal is to provide the reader with a clear, unbiased and well-supported understanding of the subject matter, through use of evidence and logical reasoning.  Instead of persuading or arguing with the reader, explanatory essays provide relevant information to them. Therefore, a writer must present information objectively, without injecting their own personal opinions or biases.  Additionally, explanatory writing can be used in professional settings as well, for example, in a scientific report, or in a business proposal to explain the process of a product or service creation, or to provide data analysis. According to definition of explanatory writing, it explains why things happen the way they are.

What is the Purpose of an Explanatory Essay?

Explanatory essay purpose is to provide an explanation or clarification of a particular topic or subject. This type of assignment is used to inform or educate readers about a specific concept or idea. Similarly to writing an informative essay , the focus is on offering a clear and comprehensive understanding of topic, rather than arguing about a particular point of view.  A writer should present information, define terms, and use evidence to support their explanations. Explanatory essay also aims to explain complex ideas in a clear and concise manner, making information accessible and understandable to reader.

Explanatory Essay Outline

Explanatory essay outline varies depending on information that author is trying to present. Aim of explanatory outline is to organize points into paragraphs and provide a framework on how to write an explanation paper. You can find an example of an essay outline online that can help guide you on what to do.  Below is an example of an explanatory essay outline template.

• Background information on the topic.
• Thesis statement.
• First point supporting thesis statement.
• Evidence or examples to support this point.
• Explanation of evidence provided.
• Concluding statement.
• Second point supporting thesis statement.
• Evidence or examples to support point.
• Third point supporting thesis statement.
• Summarize main points
• Restate thesis statement
• Call to action or future implications.

Explanatory Essay Structure

Structure of an explanatory essay typically includes an introduction , body , and conclusion .  Writing an explanatory essay begins with drafting an introduction . Introduction provides background information on topic and  thesis statement in closing sentence. Thesis statement offers the main idea of paper. Subsequent parts of an explanatory essay support the developed thesis statement using valid evidence.  Body of the paper is where writers present evidence, examples, and explanations to support their thesis statement. Body typically contains several paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of topic and providing evidence to support it.  Finally, conclusion summarizes main points and arguments of the writing, and restates thesis in different ways. It also provides a final perspective on topic, and may offer some recommendations or suggestions for further reading or research.

Explanatory Essay Introduction

Have you been wondering how to write an explanatory essay introduction? A good introduction for an explanatory essay should have three main elements:

• Background information
• Thesis statement

The hook is an attention-grabbing and interesting sentence that entices reader to continue reading. It can be a surprising fact, a quote, or a thought-provoking question. Background information provides context for the topic being discussed and helps readers to understand significance of the issue. This section should be brief and to the point. Last part of introduction paragraph for an explanatory essay is a thesis statement . This is a statement that author will support by using facts, quotes and examples throughout the body of paper before concluding with personal opinion based on provided evidence.

Explanatory Essay Thesis Statement

It is important to know what is an explanatory thesis statement before exploring its purpose. Thesis is a statement that presents main idea or topic in a clear and concise manner. Thesis statement for an explanatory essay is an essential element as it serves as a roadmap for the entire work. It should be specific and arguable.  Thesis statement should be presented early in paper, typically in introduction, to guide reader's understanding of essay's main points. It should be specific enough to clearly convey a topic, but not so specific that it limits the paper’s scope. Additionally, it should be arguable, meaning that it should be open to interpretation and debate.  With this information, you can practice how to write a thesis statement for an explanatory essay.

Explanatory Essay Body

Next step after introduction is to write a body paragraph for an explanatory essay . Explanatory essay body paragraph provides evidence that supports thesis statement. It should include facts, statistics, expert opinions, examples and other evidence that help to prove thesis statement is accurate.  Body paragraphs should be written in a clear and logical manner, making a strong case for thesis statement. It should also be written in a way that is easy for readers to understand and follow, ensuring that evidence is presented in a clear and convincing manner.  To effectively convey information in the body of an explanation essay, it is important to use a variety of different techniques and strategies. This may include use of images, infographics, examples, theories, quotes, and other relevant information. By incorporating these different elements, writers can more effectively engage readers and provide a more comprehensive understanding of topic at hand. Additionally, use of these different techniques can help to break up text and make it more visually appealing and easier to read.

Explanatory Essay Conclusion

An explanatory essay conclusion is the final section of the paper that summarizes main points and restates the thesis statement. Conclusion for explanatory essays should be written in a way that ties all of information presented in paper together, providing a clear and concise summary of main ideas.  Steps on how to write a conclusion for an explanatory essay are as follows:

• Restate the thesis statement.
• Summarize main points: conclusion should sum up key points and evidence presented in paper, highlighting most important information.
• Provide a sense of closure: indicate that paper has come to an end and that main points have been fully discussed. Your conclusion must show that the ideas have been explored fully.
• Emphasize significance of the topic.
• Provide final thoughts or recommendations: give reader something to consider after reading your work.

How to Write an Explanatory Essay Step-by-Step?

Best way to understand how to write an explanatory essay is by practicing certain steps involved in the process. By following these steps, writer will have a clear understanding of process and be able to effectively present information in a logical and easy-to-understand manner. Subsequent section will discuss how to do an explanatory essay by covering some important tips and considerations for each step, to help you produce a high-quality writing. Details on each step are discussed below.

1. Produce an Idea

First step in producing an idea in an explanatory essay is by thinking about what you are passionate about or interested in. This will make writing process more enjoyable and will also make it easier for you to have a strong understanding of the topic. When brainstorming a topic in explanatory essay writing, you should consider your audience and what they may be interested in reading about. More ways to brainstorm new ideas include looking at current events or trending topics in your field of study or area of interest.  Narrow down your list of ideas by evaluating which explanatory essay topics would make most interesting and informative writing. Once you have a topic in mind, do some preliminary research to ensure that there is enough information available to write a comprehensive paper.

2. Make a Detailed Research

Before writing an explanatory essay, you should do detailed research to collect relevant information. Here are some steps to follow when gathering information:

• Identify topic and focus of your research paper. This will help you determine what types of sources to look for and where to find them.
• Search for sources using a variety of methods, such as online databases, library catalogs, and search engines.
• Evaluate credibility of each source. Check for things like author's credentials, publisher, and date of publication.
• Take detailed notes as you read through your sources. Be sure to note author, title, and publication date for each source, as well as any key information or quotes that you plan to use in your paper.
• Finally, review all sources again, and make sure they are reliable and trustworthy before you use them in your explanatory paper.

3. Use Appropriate Examples

Examples in explanatory writing are an effective way to explain a concept or idea because they provide a concrete illustration of topic being discussed. They can make complex ideas easier to understand by providing a real-world context. Using an appropriate explanatory essay example can help to strengthen credibility of information being presented. Sources used in this paper should be applicable to the real world. Examples can be used to persuade readers to see a certain point of view. For instance, when discussing a controversial topic, providing examples can help to demonstrate validity of the writer's argument. Also, providing illustrations helps the reader to understand unfamiliar concepts.

4. Create an Explanatory Essay Outline

Best way to know how to write an explanatory essay outline is to consider the amount of information gathered through detailed research and obtaining logical arrangement to ensure flow of ideas. Created through identifying a specific idea from detailed research and ensuring readers can easily relate logical flow throughout the paper. Appropriate outline for explanatory essay entails introduction, body and conclusion each containing specific information arranged in a logical manner to provide flow of your paper.  Example of an outline provided above follows a general structure and provides the best organization of communicating directly to readers. Moreover, a sample above shows a flawless way of obtaining information and opinion of an author. Besides, it provides an outline in a manner that is easy to follow and comprehend.

5. Write an Outstanding Beginning

Capturing attention of the reader to go ahead and read entire paper is dependent on the introduction. Therefore, providing a hook seems like the best way on how to start an explanatory essay. First step to capture your audience’s attention is usually to write an introduction paragraph for an explanatory essay. Introduction becomes the first paragraph in any type of writing, and it is important in capturing interest among readers.  Writing an effective introduction involves providing a hook and general description of the topic, background information and thesis statement. These elements provide an overview of your paper and instigate readers to expect more detailed information about your topic throughout the writing.

Explanatory Essay Introduction Example

Introduction paragraph is the beginning of paper and helps to introduce general ideas about topic and to capture attention and interest of your readers to continue reading. Introduction must begin with a hook, followed by scope of the topic and closing sentence should include a debatable thesis statement. Revising explanatory essay introduction examples can help you understand the concept better. Below is an example of introduction paragraph.

Why do teenagers commit suicide? The rate of committing suicide among teenagers have been on rise. Some leave suicide notes while others left nothing to show the cause of their actions. Suicide has been linked with mental disorders. Nevertheless, there has been a need to investigate other underlying causes apart from mental disorder. Therefore, there are several underlying factors that lead to suicidal actions among youths that need to be investigated. Increase in suicide rates among teenagers can be attributed to a combination of societal pressures, mental health issues, and a lack of access to proper resources and support.

6. Come Up With an Explanatory Essay Thesis Statement

Understanding how to write a thesis statement for an explanatory essay is essential in ensuring that the reader comprehends whole idea author is trying to prove. Thesis statement for explanatory essays provides main idea in a precise manner. It is usually written in concluding statement of introduction paragraph of explanation writing.  Effective thesis statement should be specific but must consider scope of the work. In addition, an outstanding thesis statement doesn’t include your emotions or opinion. Save arguments and viewpoints for an argumentative essay .

Explanation Essay Thesis Statement Example

Thesis statement is written in the concluding sentence. It is supposed to be specific and concise in providing the main idea of your paper. Additionally, to make it effective, thesis statement should be outstanding and debatable with open interpretation. Thesis statement sums up central point of the writing, and should articulate it in a few words without providing too much information. However, reader has to note specific ideas that author is trying to relay.  Example of an explanatory essay thesis statement is stated as follows:

Increase in suicide rates among teenagers can be attributed to a combination of societal pressures, mental health issues, and a lack of access to proper resources and support.

7. Support Your Ideas With Evidence

The central idea that author intends to express can only be validated through relevant evidence from credible sources. Supporting thesis statement is based on how well one knows how to write an explanatory body paragraph. Body of an explanatory essay entails evidence to support your topic. Evidence supporting the idea is obtained from detailed research conducted after identifying a specific idea.  Main aim of the body paragraph is to prove thesis statement. Some ways used to communicate in body include examples, facts and opinions among other evidence that are deemed relevant and credible. Having an effective body in writing requires presenting evidence in a clear and convincing way that will enable reader to easily relate important ideas to thesis statement. Including different techniques of presenting evidence in body of report, provides vivid understanding and wider perception of the topic.

Example of an Explanatory Essay Body Paragraph

Body paragraph provides evidence that supports thesis statement. Below is a perfect explanatory body paragraph example about factors that cause suicide among teenagers.

Society plays a significant role in shaping mental health of teenagers. With constant pressure to fit in and meet societal expectations, many teens struggle with low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy. Social media amplifies this pressure by providing a platform for teens to compare themselves to others and constantly measure themselves against impossible standards. This can lead to depression, anxiety, and ultimately, suicide. Mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, are also major contributing factors to suicide among teenagers. These conditions are often left undiagnosed and untreated due to a lack of access to proper resources and support. Many teens may not have the means to seek out professional help or may not understand the severity of their condition. Additionally, the stigma surrounding mental health can prevent teens from seeking help, leaving them to struggle alone with their thoughts and feelings. This further increases the risk of suicide.

8. Summarize Your Explanatory Paper

Last section of the explanatory essay writing is to summarize your evidence to support the thesis statement. Explanatory summary restates thesis statement and highlights important information presented throughout the work. Main idea is to link all information in the paper together to provide a common relationship between main ideas and thesis statements. Opinion of author is provided in summary section, which is dependent on depth of evidence provided in body. Author can agree or disagree with thesis statement, if it is efficiently supported by credible and relevant sources. Besides, the summary provides necessity of the topic at hand and possible recommendations.

Example of Explanatory Essay Conclusion

Conclusion paragraph starts by restating thesis and summarizing main points. Sample of an explanatory essay conclusion as one provided below will help you understand concept better.

In conclusion, suicide among teenagers is a complex issue that is influenced by a combination of societal pressure, mental health issues, and a lack of access to proper resources and support. It is important that we take a holistic approach to addressing this issue by solving underlying causes and providing teens with support and resources they need to navigate challenges of adolescence. This includes providing mental health education, addressing societal pressures, and increasing access to professional help and support. By working together, we can help to reduce suicide rates among teenagers and give young people the chance to live happy and fulfilling lives.

9. Proofread an Explanatory Essay

Final step in writing an explanatory article involves proofreading your work properly. It entails revising paper a couple of times to check if it has proper flow of thoughts, communicate to audience with the clear ideas, and understand if conclusion provides a concise value of the thesis statement. It is usually done a day after completion to easily spot mistakes. Moreover, proofreading explanatory essays aims at detecting minor errors and grammatical mistakes that might affect clarity and quality of the paper. During proofreading, any error or mistake is noted and necessary editing done to improve the value of the paper.

Explanatory Essay Format

Format for an explanatory essay depends on the discipline provided in the paper. There are different formats to write an explanatory essay including APA style format , MLA format and Chicago style paper format which are provided in instructions. Format provided in paper also dictates the style of structure and citation of sources used in the paper. The format does not have any influence on content of the paper and is usually based on a system preferred by the author. Writer uses the recommended format that seems easier and familiar. Therefore, explanatory papers can take any format with similar structure and enable the author to communicate effectively to readers.

Explanation Essay Examples

Explanatory writing examples  provided below show the required structure of the essays. Under the structure there are possible sections with some clarifications to help the reader understand the main idea. Explanatory essay samples are necessary to readers because they help in understanding how to build up the topic under study. Moreover, each of the example of explanatory writing provided below is important in learning different formats of writing, conveying a general idea of the work.

Explanatory Essay Writing Tips

Writing tips are essential in ensuring an excellent explanation essay. Some of these writing tips are listed below:

• Take advantage of transition and linking words and write a hook for an explanatory essay.
• Cite sources from which facts were drawn. Sources should be credible and recent to ensure high value of paper. Following examples of explanatory essays is the best way of learning how to cite.
• Proofread the paper. This involves revising work to ensure topic is analyzed in a logical manner that follows correct explanatory essay layout which is easily understood by audience.
• Edit an essay. Follows after identifying and noting errors and mistakes during proofreading. It is done a day after completion of writing to ensure all mistakes are edited and paper’s value improved.
• Share the paper with a close person as a way of further improving its value and ensuring explanatory essay meaning is maintained. In addition, by sharing, authors can get feedback on where to make necessary corrections and changes to ensure writing is more understandable and clearly communicates to the audience.

Explanatory Essay Checklist

Before final submission of the explanatory essay, there are several checks it should go through first to ensure a proper flow in the paper and that the intended information is easily understood by the reader. The checklist enables one to write a good explanatory essay. The checklist includes the following:

• checkbox My explanatory writing is clear.
• checkbox Provided information has required flow and is connected with transition words.
• checkbox Supporting evidence proves my thesis statement.
• checkbox I started an explanatory essay with a hook that grabs reader’s attention.
• checkbox My writing is understandable to the reader or doesn’t leave them confused.
• checkbox My summary ties key points to the thesis statement.
• checkbox The citation and referencing style is appropriate to the paper format.

Bottom Line on How to Write an Explanatory Essay

The question of what is explanatory writing has various definitions but generally,  it is usually academic writing which provides analysis of a specific topic or idea to readers. Explanatory essay template provides the basic structure that can be followed in explanatory writing. Besides, explanatory essay examples provide vivid understanding on how to write a good explanatory paper. Through using templates and examples, one can master steps and structure of writing an explanatory essay.  Structure of explanatory paper has three parts that are logically arranged to enable readers to easily understand what the author intends to prove.  Besides, flow of ideas in a logical manner enables relating different evidence provided in body to thesis statement and accounting for correct conclusion. If you need more help on writing, feel free to seek more suggestions in our Blog. From guides on exemplification essay to tips on evaluation essay , you will find tutorial fitting any academic need.

If you are struggling with writing an expository essay, remember that you can always count on our expert academic writers. Let us know your assignment details and we will craft a custom paper in line with all requirements to your ‘ write my college essay for me ’ request.

FAQ About Explanatory Essays

1. how is an explanatory essay different from an argumentative essay.

Differences between explanatory and argumentative essay is that explanatory paper is about presenting information to explain something while an argumentative writing is about persuading the readers to agree with an opinion. In the explanatory paper, the author provides an open interpretation of the topic before finally providing links between main ideas  that proves the thesis statement. 

2. Is an explanatory essay the same as an informative essay?

No. An informative essay is based on detailed facts and data while an explanatory paper requires author’s opinion on some certain points. Explanatory essay meaning is drawn from author’s presentation of idea and how well it is supported. Despite having an open interpretation and debatable thesis statement, clear facts about topic in explanatory paper are not easily determined. Author makes rational decisions based on the weight of evidence provided.

3. What is included in explanatory essay?

Explanatory essay is a type of writing where author presents some points of view on a certain topic, event or situation. Opinion of author is generally the idea supported by most of the evidence provided in body. Remember to include introduction, body, and conclusion to adequately support your claims and understand the difference between those parts of your paper.

4. Is an explanatory essay objective or subjective?

Explanatory writing is about presenting a balanced, objective description of the topic. The paper is objective and provides an all around perception of topic both opposing and proposing evidence on thesis statement. General description provides the author's idea and reader can easily understand point of view based on provided sources and evidence.

5. How many paragraphs are in an explanatory essay?

Explanatory essay has five paragraphs though it can include more. Paragraphs vary with subheading the author decides to include in essay. General structure requires one paragraph for introduction, three for body and last one for conclusion. However, in case of extra evidence in body and long introduction, more paragraphs can be used.

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The Art of Explanation: How to write an explanatory essay

Table of contents.

Welcome to our guide on how to write an explanatory essay! An explanatory essay is a type of writing that is used to explain a specific topic or concept. It is a useful tool for providing readers with a better understanding of a subject, whether it be a historical event, scientific principle, or even a personal experience. The ability to explain complex ideas clearly is an essential skill in today’s society, as it allows us to share our knowledge and understanding with others.

But before we dive into the nitty-gritty of writing an explanatory essay, let’s take a moment to talk about why it’s important. In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with information from all different sources. It can be hard to sift through it all and make sense of what’s important. An explanatory essay is a way to help make sense of the information by breaking it down into smaller parts and providing a clear and accurate explanation of the topic.

Now that we understand the importance of explanatory essays, let’s talk about the steps involved in writing one. The process can be broken down into several manageable steps, including researching, planning, writing, and revising. By following these steps, you’ll be able to write a clear and effective explanatory essay that informs and educates your readers.

Enhance your writing skills with this informative piece, which is just one part of our comprehensive guide, “ Master the Art of Writing “.

In a hurry? Get a quick overview of the steps in our 2-minute summary

In this guide, we’ll take you through each of these steps in detail. We’ll talk about how to conduct thorough research, how to plan and organize your essay, and how to write an engaging and attention-grabbing introduction. We’ll also cover how to clearly and effectively explain complex ideas, how to write a strong conclusion, and how to revise and edit your explanatory essay to make it the best it can be.

So, grab a notebook and a pen and let’s get to the first step: researching. Conducting thorough research on your topic is essential for writing a clear and accurate explanatory essay. It allows you to identify key information and sources that will be used to support your main idea. When researching, it’s a good idea to use a variety of sources, including books, articles, and online resources. Make sure to take notes and organize your research so that you can easily access the information you need when writing your essay.

Next, we’ll move on to the planning stage. This includes outlining the main idea and key points of your essay, as well as organizing the information you have gathered. Creating an outline will serve as a roadmap for your essay , helping you to stay on track and ensure that your essay is logically structured.

With your research and planning complete, it’s time to start writing the introduction. The introduction is the first impression that readers will have of your essay, so it’s important to make it engaging and attention-grabbing. This can be done by using an interesting fact or statistic, asking a question, or providing a personal anecdote. The introduction should also establish the main idea and purpose of the essay.

The next step is writing the body of your essay. This is where you’ll provide a clear and detailed explanation of your topic or concept. It’s important to use evidence and examples to support the main idea, and to organize your information in a logical and easy-to-understand way. Use headings and subheadings to make the essay easy to follow and make sure to keep the tone friendly and engaging.

The conclusion of your essay is where you’ll summarize the main idea and key points of your essay. It’s also an opportunity to make a lasting impression on the reader. This can be done by providing a call to action, asking a thought-provoking question, or making a prediction. The conclusion should end the essay on a strong note and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Finally, it’s time to revise and edit your essay. This is an essential step in the writing process and will help you to identify and fix any mistakes, and to polish your essay to make it the best it can be. Read through your essay several times, checking for grammar and punctuation errors, and making sure that the information is presented in a clear and logical way.

And there you have it! By following these steps, you’ll be able to write a clear and effective explanatory essay that informs and educates your readers. Remember, the ability to explain complex ideas clearly is an important skill and writing explanatory essays is a great way to practice and improve this skill. So, don’t be afraid to take on a challenging topic, and don’t be discouraged if your first draft isn’t perfect. Keep practicing and you’ll be writing great explanatory essays in no time!

Identify key information using research matrix

What is an explanatory essay.

An explanatory essay is a type of writing that explains or clarifies a certain topic . This is distinct from other forms of writing such as persuasive, narrative, and expository essays. While these other types of essays often revolve around making a certain argument, an explanatory essay is meant to explain a topic to readers in a concise and straightforward manner.

At its core, an explanatory essay is all about breaking down complex topics into more manageable and digestible chunks. Rather than trying to persuade readers to agree with a certain point, the goal of this form of writing is to impart knowledge on the specified topic. It typically follows the fundamental structure of an introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion.

The body of the essay is where the majority of the information is conveyed. Here, the writer must organize their thoughts and ideas into clear, concise points that can be easily understood by the reader. Additionally, the writer should use simple language to ensure that their points are easily followed by all audiences.

Explanatory essays differ from other forms of writing in that they do not require the author to take a specific stance on the subject. Rather, they are meant to simply provide information and educate the reader on the topic at hand. By presenting facts and data in an easily digestible format, the writer can help the audience gain a better understanding of the subject.

How to Choose a Topic

When it comes to writing an explanatory essay , the most important decision you will make is choosing your topic. Selecting the right topic can be crucial to the success of your essay as it should challenge you while also providing value to the reader. Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect topic.

Consider Your Audience

Take some time to think about who your readers will be and what they might be expecting from your essay. This will help narrow down the subject matter and allow you to focus on topics that your audience will find interesting and informative.

Ask Yourself Questions

Before you settle on a topic, consider the type of questions you can ask related to it. If the questions you come up with don’t have clear answers or invite further exploration, then it likely isn’t the right topic for you. Aim to select a topic that offers plenty of food for thought.

Narrow Down Your Choices

Once you have a few topics in mind, take some time to research each one and consider the amount of available materials. If there isn’t enough material to draw upon it might not be the best choice. Additionally, make sure your topic is neither too broad nor too narrow. Aim to strike a balance between the two.

Pick the Right Topic

Choosing the right topic is an important part of writing an explanatory essay . Spend some time considering your audience, asking yourself questions related to potential topics and doing research to narrow down your list of choices. Once you’ve done all this, you should have the perfect topic to write about.

Researching the Topic

Conducting research for an explanatory essay is a key step in the writing process. Research helps you to accurately and effectively support your argument, providing evidence and authority to back up your claims. To research effectively, follow these steps:

• Decide on your topic. Be sure that it’s specific and can be explored in depth.
• Gather resources. Use both online and offline sources such as books, articles, and interviews. Utilize reliable sources such as government websites and published materials.
• Organize your research. Utilize a spreadsheet or other visual tool to keep track of all the relevant information for your essay. This will help you better understand the material and quickly locate the information you need.
• Take notes. As you are researching and gathering information, take notes on the significant points of the material. It is important to stay organized and focused on the most important points so that you don’t get distracted while writing your essay.
• Cross-check sources. Be sure to double check your sources and make sure that the information you are citing is accurate. Don’t forget to cite any sources you use in the essay.

Research is an important step when writing an explanatory essay. By researching your topic ahead of time, you can ensure that you have enough information to accurately and effectively support your argument. Taking the time to properly research and organize your material will go a long way in helping you write a successful essay.

Constructing an Outline

Constructing an outline for an explanatory essay is an important step to ensure that the essay is organized and structured. An outline provides a starting point and framework for writing, while allowing you to keep track of the main points and arguments you wish to make in the essay. It also helps you set the tone of the essay and focus on the topic.

Writing an outline can seem daunting but it doesn’t have to be. To begin, think about the overall structure of the essay and the topics or ideas you would like to include in each section. From there, start to break those topics down into smaller points. Once you have outlined the main points you want to make, create an introduction, body and conclusion structure.

The introduction should present the main topic of the essay and why it is important. The main body should contain the evidence and arguments that support the main topic. Finally, the conclusion should summarize all the points made in the essay and provide a memorable takeaway for the reader.

An outline is also a great way to make sure you are keeping your sentences and paragraphs focused and on track. Thinking through the sequencing of the essay in advance will help you avoid any potential confusion or disjointedness in the finished product.

After creating the outline, you can use it as a guide for writing the essay. This step-by-step approach will help you stay organized and focused while generating ideas and composing the essay.

Overall, constructing an outline before writing an explanatory essay is a valuable tool that will help you create a well-structured and effective essay. Not only will it help you stay organized and focused while writing, but it will also give your readers a clear and organized essay to read.

Writing an Explanatory Essay

Using clear language, organizing your ideas, developing strong arguments, proofreading and editing, creating a strong body.

Once you have finished drafting your essay’s introduction and have an outline that you are satisfied with, it’s time to move onto the body paragraphs. The body of your essay is where you’re able to provide evidence, detail and further explain the points you make in your introduction. It’s important to structure each body paragraph in a logical and organized way to ensure they are strong and effective while supporting the main points of the argument.

Key Points To Consider:

• Structure each paragraph logically and clearly around one specific idea.
• Provide supporting facts, examples and quotes to back up your main point.
• Ensure you include a transition phrase at the start of each paragraph.
• Link the paragraphs appropriately using strong transitional words .
• Analyze and evaluate evidence to provide effective support for your argument.
• Maintain focus on the topic throughout the body paragraphs.

The first step in creating strong body paragraphs is to structure them properly. Each paragraph should cover one specific main idea or point and be made up of a single sentence. You should then elaborate on this point by providing evidence, facts and quotes to back up your claim. This will help to make your argument more convincing and compelling.

It is also important to ensure that you use appropriate transition phrases at the beginning of each paragraph to make sure they are connected effectively. This can be done through the use of connecting words and phrases such as ‘nevertheless’, ‘on the other hand’, ‘in addition to’, ‘as a result’ etc.

Throughout the body of your essay, you should analyze and evaluate the evidence you are providing to ensure it is effective. This involves discussing any counterarguments or opposing viewpoints and refuting these accordingly. By doing this, you show that your argument is well-rounded and demonstrate that you have thought about the issue thoroughly.

Finally, you should maintain focus throughout your body paragraphs. Making sure you stick to the main points of your argument and don’t drift off track is key to keeping the reader engaged. If you find yourself going off-topic, simply return to the main point and refocus on it.

Creating strong body paragraphs that support the main points of your argument is essential to writing an effective explanatory essay . With the right structure, evidence and analysis, you will be able to provide compelling arguments to your readers and ensure your essay has the desired impact.

Developing a Memorable Conclusion

Once you have written the body of your essay, it’s time to craft a memorable conclusion. This is often the most challenging part for many writers. It’s important that your conclusion not only summarizes the main points of your argument and leaves a lasting impact on the reader, but also ties together all the strands of your essay. Here are some tips for writing an effective conclusion:

• Restate the main points of your essay in a concise way. This can be done in one or two sentences.
• Reflect on the significance of your argument. Why is this topic worth discussing? What can the reader take away from your essay?
• Provide a thought-provoking statement or question. This can be used to stimulate the reader to think of potential solutions or implications.
• Avoid introducing new information. Your conclusion should only include information that has already been discussed in the essay.
• Connect the conclusion back to the introduction. This can help bring the essay full circle and create a sense of closure.

A well-crafted conclusion should leave the reader with something to think about and make them remember your essay. If you put in the effort to write a compelling conclusion that ties the entire essay together, you will be sure to make a lasting impression.

Editing the Essay

The editing phase of writing an explanatory essay is essential for achieving a successful final product. Editing allows writers to ensure that their essays are effective and make sense to the reader. It also provides writers with the opportunity to improve the flow and quality of their work.

When it comes to editing your essay, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Check your essay for any spelling or grammar errors, and make sure all your facts are accurate.
• Make sure the essay has a strong introduction and conclusion that appropriately connect to each other.
• Be sure to eliminate any unnecessary language or passages that distract from the main point.
• Look for ways to make the essay more engaging and readable, such as using active voice, varying sentence structure, and including vivid narrative details.
• Read over the essay several times, paying attention to areas where more explanation or evidence may be needed.
• Have a friend or fellow student read over the essay, and ask them to provide feedback.

By making the most of the editing phase, you can create an explanatory essay that accurately expresses your message and impresses your readers. While this task may seem daunting, it’s important to remember that editing is an essential part of the writing process.

Staying Motivated and Pivoting When Challenges Arise

Writing an explanatory essay is a rewarding and challenging project. Although it can seem daunting, setting yourself up for success from the beginning will make the journey much easier. Here are some strategies for successfully completing your essay:

• Set goals and break your essay down into manageable chunks: Instead of overwhelming yourself with the entire essay, break the project down into smaller tasks such as research, outlining and drafting. Setting specific, achievable goals will help you stay motivated and track your progress.
• Reach out for help: Don’t be afraid to seek help when you need it. Ask friends, family or teachers for assistance if things start to feel overwhelming. Having a second set of eyes review your work can also be beneficial for catching mistakes.
• Find ways to stay inspired: If you find that you are getting burned out, take a break from your essay and do something else that inspires you. Take a walk, watch a movie or read a book to give yourself time to recharge.
• Be flexible: When challenges arise, be open to shifting gears and exploring different approaches. As you write, you may realize that your original plan was not the best course of action. Be prepared to pivot if a roadblock appears.

These strategies can help you stay motivated, focused and inspired while writing your essay. With the right amount of effort and the right attitude, you can create a successful explanatory essay .

Conclusion: Summarizing Our Guide to Writing an Explanatory Essay

Writing an explanatory essay is a great way to build your knowledge , strengthen your writing skills and present your point of view in a clear and concise manner. This guide has covered the essential steps of the process, from choosing a topic, researching the material and constructing an outline all the way to crafting a memorable conclusion.

We have discussed the importance of properly researching your topic and understanding the main points you want to make before structuring your essay. We also touched on the best practices for drafting, editing and proofreading your work for accuracy and clarity. Finally, we offered strategies for staying motivated throughout and finding balance in the creative process.

We hope that this guide has made the task of writing an explanatory essay much easier by providing all the information you need in one place. By following the steps outlined in this guide and utilizing the tips and techniques provided, you will be well on your way to successfully completing your next essay assignment.

• Last Edit 27 APR 2023

Nick Radlinsky

Nick Radlinsky is a devoted educator, marketing specialist, and management expert with more than 15 years of experience in the education sector. After obtaining his business degree in 2016, Nick embarked on a quest to achieve his PhD, driven by his commitment to enhancing education for students worldwide. His vast experience, starting in 2008, has established him as a reputable authority in the field.

Nick's article, featured in Routledge's " Entrepreneurship in Central and Eastern Europe: Development through Internationalization ," highlights his sharp insights and unwavering dedication to advancing the educational landscape. Inspired by his personal motto, "Make education better," Nick's mission is to streamline students' lives and foster efficient learning. His inventive ideas and leadership have contributed to the transformation of numerous educational experiences, distinguishing him as a true innovator in his field.

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7+ Explanatory Essay Examples That Get the Best Grades

Table of contents

Meredith Sell

Writing explanatory essays is hard, even for experienced scholars.

In this post, I want to try to tackle the major challenges students face when writing this type of essay, using examples of successful essays. These challenges include:

• Struggling to come up with the right idea . (solution:  brainstorming techniques )
• Difficulty in organizing the essay. (solution: working on the outline of the essay)
• Not having enough evidence or sources to back up points. (solution: doing proper research )
• Failing to come up with a conclusion. (solution: following our guide to conclusions )
• Not having enough knowledge of the topic. (solution: summarizing key articles on the topic)
• Having trouble finding the right words. (solution: writing with Wordtune )
• Not having enough time to finish the essay. (solution: working on student time management )
• Not being able to present arguments effectively. (solution: learning essay persuasion techniques )

As you can see, for every issue there is the relevant solution, but it takes time to implement it. Another way of tackling this essay is to see other people's essay examples and getting inspiration from them.

Write your explanatory essay faster with this FREE AI tool > Write your explanatory essay faster with this FREE AI tool >

What Is an Explanatory Essay?

If you google “explanatory essay”, you’ll find a bunch of sites saying that an explanatory essay is the same as an expository essay, or that it’s totally different, or not even mentioning that expository essays exist. Who’s right?

Answer: Whoever your professor agrees with.

No, seriously. Your professor decides the parameters of your assignment. So if your professor defines an explanatory essay as one that describes a perspective or analyzes the efficacy of, for example, a local housing policy—that’s the definition you should work from.

But if your professor distinguishes between explanatory essays (which simply explain what something is and how it works or was developed) and expository essays (which expose the reality of a person, place, thing, or idea through investigation and evaluation), you should distinguish between them as well.

For the purposes of this piece, we’re going to use explanatory and expository interchangeably. The dividing line that some draw between these essay types is unnecessarily technical. What’s important is that both:

• Use an objective perspective
• Let the facts speak for themselves

As long as your essay does the same (and includes analysis if required by your professor), you should be in good shape.

Example of explanatory essay

We wrote a whole article on generating essay topic ideas , but here is a good example that can help you get an idea for your own essay:

Why is having a dog as a pet such a wonderful experience?

Dogs are one of the most popular pets in the world. They are beloved companions that bring joy and happiness into the lives of their owners. Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years and have evolved to become the perfect pet for humans. In this essay, I will explain why having a dog as a pet is a wonderful experience.

One of the primary benefits of having a dog as a pet is the companionship they offer. Dogs are social animals that thrive on human interaction. They are loyal and loving creatures that are always there for their owners. Dogs can help alleviate feelings of loneliness and depression, and provide comfort and support during difficult times.

Another benefit of having a dog as a pet is the health benefits they offer. Studies have shown that owning a dog can help lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve overall health. Dogs require daily exercise, which encourages their owners to be more active and can lead to a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, having a dog can boost the immune system and reduce the risk of allergies and asthma in children.

Dogs are also great for families with children. They can help teach children about responsibility, compassion, and empathy. Children can learn to care for and nurture their pets, which can be beneficial for their emotional development. Dogs are also great playmates for children and can provide hours of entertainment and fun.

Training and caring for a dog can also be a rewarding experience. Dogs can be trained to perform a variety of tasks, such as fetching, obedience, and even therapy work. The process of training a dog can help strengthen the bond between the owner and the dog and can be a fulfilling experience. Additionally, caring for a dog requires daily attention and can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment for the owner.

In conclusion, having a dog as a pet can be a wonderful experience. Dogs offer companionship, health benefits, and can be great for families with children. Caring for a dog can also be a rewarding experience and can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment for the owner. Owning a dog is a big responsibility, but the rewards far outweigh the effort required.

Example of an explanatory paragraph, generated with AI:

A few subtypes of explanatory essays:

Description or definition essay example

‍ Perhaps the most basic, this subtype does the deceptively simple work of, well, describing or defining a concept, place, person, etc.

Example: How Suspension Bridges Work

This essay explains: The way suspension bridges are constructed and how their design enables them to carry such immense weight.

Cause-and-effect essay example

This type of essay hones in on a particular phenomenon to show what caused it (i.e., where it came from) and how it influences other things.

Example: How Federally Funded Highways Transformed the United States

This essay explains: The history of federally funded highways in the U.S., when federal programs to fund highway construction started, why politicians and others thought highways were important, and what the effect has been on the landscapes, communities, economies, and ecosystems of the country.

Compare-and-contrast essay example

Take two or more things, gather the facts about them, and then write about their similarities and differences.

Example: Hybrid vs. Electric Cars

This essay explains: The various features of hybrid and electric cars, and shows how they are either different or similar in terms of: cost, energy consumption, size, drive time, ease of use, and so on.

‍ How-to essay example

Walk your reader step-by-step through a procedure so they can do it for themselves. (We’re doing this later!)

Example: How to Prepare for an Intercontinental Bike Trip

This essay explains: How to get ready for a bike trip between nations and continents. Readers learn how to research their route, find out what travel documents they need, choose the right gear, and determine how much training they should do before leaving.

Problem and solution essay example

Explain a problem (along with its causes and effects) and then describe one or more potential solutions to that problem. This subtype could also be combined with compare-and-contrast to determine the most effective solution.

Example: How Bike Infrastructure Could Solve American Obesity

This essay explains: How American reliance on motorized vehicles promotes a sedentary lifestyle that drives obesity, whereas building bike lanes and trails could encourage Americans to be more active and improve their health one pedal at a time.

‍ Chronology essay example

Explain the history or backstory of a person, place, thing, or idea in chronological order.

Example: The Evolution of the Bicycle

This essay explains: The initial invention of the bicycle and how its shape, frame, and size changed over the years.

What type of explanatory essay are you writing? Hopefully, this list helped you hone in. Now, let’s start the writing process.

5 Steps to Write Your Essay

Whether you’re writing an explanatory/expository essay or a persuasive essay, the process of researching and writing is pretty much the same. Both genres require research, organization, and thought . But with expository essays, the thought focuses on making sure you understand your topic inside-out and determining the best way to explain it, while with persuasive essays, you’re focused on crafting a convincing argument.

Follow these steps to turn that blank page into a final manuscript:

1. Choose topic and angle. 

Do you have free rein to write about the topic of your choice? Make the most of it.

In college, my public speaking professor let us choose all of our own speech topics. A classmate gave an explanatory presentation on how to survive the zombie apocalypse . She brought props and had the class totally enchanted. Our professor encouraged creativity, so I’m sure she earned a winning grade—and had fun in the process.

You can’t use props or sound in a written essay, but you can still work some creative magic. That magic starts with choosing your topic and angle.

To choose well, first make sure you understand the assignment: 

• What exactly has your professor asked you to write? Which of the subtypes should your piece be?
• Are there any parameters for what type of topic you can write about?
• What kind of class is this? An English composition class will offer more freedom than, say, a history class focused on the French Revolution.

If you’re allowed to write about anything, brainstorm a list of topics you’re curious about. Then think of smaller topics within that area.

Example: Transportation

• Electric cars
• The highway system
• Engineering

Any of these topics you could easily write volumes about, so next, narrow down to your specific angle. One way I like to come up with angles is to think of how two or three different topics intersect.

Example 1: electric cars + the highway system 

Angle: How Much Will It Cost to Update Federal Highways with Charging Stations for Electric Cars

Notice that this angle includes a third element: cost

Example 2: bicycles + bridges

Angle: The Safest Bridges for Bicycles Have One Thing in Common: No Cars

Third element: safety

Example 3: electric cars + buses

Angle: Electric Cars vs. Buses: Which Is Better for the Environment?

Third element: environment

Your turn: Make a list of topics you’re interested in. Then, identify some intersecting topics. Based on your assignment parameters, develop an angle that narrows your focus to an intersection that interests you.

Not sure what angle to go with? Do some broad research on your topics and then return to this step.

2. Research, research, research.

Explanatory essays require solid research. These essays exist to lay out the facts for the reader so they can clearly understand the topic. Your opinion—what you think about electric cars or suspension bridges or transportation infrastructure—doesn’t matter. And it doesn’t belong here.

Where you should start your research depends on how much knowledge you already have.

If you’re writing about suspension bridges and you already know the Brooklyn Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge are suspension bridges, you probably don’t need to start with the encyclopedic entry for “suspension bridges”. But if you don’t know the basic facts about your topic, encyclopedias are a great place to start.

Thanks to the advances of technology—and this marvelous thing called the internet—you don’t have to go to a research library to gain that ground-level knowledge of your topic. But you do still need to make sure you’re drawing from credible sources.

For encyclopedias, try these to start:

• Encyclopedia.com

Dictionaries can be helpful too:

• Merriam-Webster
• Dictionary.com

Once you know your topics’ basic facts, focus on researching those topics in the context of your angle . It may help to make a list of questions you’re trying to answer so you can keep your research focused.

Example: Electric Cars vs. Buses: Which Is Better for the Environment?

• Are most buses gas-powered or electric?
• What’s the average emissions of greenhouse gas from gas-powered buses?
• How much energy do electric cars use? What’s the lifespan of their batteries? Are they just using electricity that was produced in a polluting way somewhere else? What about electric buses?
• How many people can ride a bus? How many people typically are transported by one car? 
• What would be the average energy consumption per person in an electric car versus a bus?

Once you know the questions you need to answer, look for sources that address those questions. For an academic essay, you’ll probably want to stick with academic sources : peer-reviewed studies and research papers published by academic journals. But official government databases can also be useful. And news stories from reputable publications can provide some direction as well (check with your professor to see whether or not you can use news publications as sources for your essay). Your educational institution likely provides access to all of these kinds of sources through the university library.

Your turn: Think through your angle and make a list of questions your piece needs to answer. Next, start searching academic databases for the information you need. Take notes as you research, and be sure to save any links, titles, author names, page numbers, and publication information you’ll need to properly cite your sources.

3. Outline your essay.

Call me crazy, but I actually think this is the fun part. I hated writing outlines when I was in school, but since making my living as a professional writer, they’ve become the #1 way I beat writer’s block.

First: Throw out the idea that your outline should be a series of bullet points neatly organized into sections and subsections. Your outline only needs to make sense to you , so play around to find an approach that works with your brain. The idea here is simply to make a map you’ll follow when you sit down to write.

Here’s what I do:

• Identify the specific hook I’m going to use to start things off.
• List the different examples and details I need to include.
• Use the main focus or idea of my piece to order everything in a natural, logical way.

A lot of times, my outline becomes a combination of bullet points and sentences or paragraphs I write as I’m sketching out the piece. I’m basically just thinking the piece through, from beginning to end. Instead of getting stuck while I’m writing, I work through the tough spots in the outlining stage.

This is what my outline looked like for this piece:

Okay, that’s kind of long, so I cut it off early—but you get the point. 

A lot of times, my outline starts as bare-bones bullets. As I work on it, ideas pop up that I stick in where they make sense. But when I write, those elements might move around ( notice how the examples of transportation essays got bumped up to the section on subtypes of essays ).

Your outline is just a guide. It’s not an architect’s blueprint that needs to be followed to the exact millimeter. There’s room for things to change. 

But an outline keeps you on-track when you’re writing . If you find yourself stuck (or lost) in the writing step, reference your map. You might need to backtrack, move what you’ve written around, or adjust your route. 

Your turn: Take a few minutes and sketch out your essay. Where does it start? What points does it hit? Are there any ways you see the different points connecting that should inform how you order them? As you think it through, scribble out any lines or paragraphs that come to you and stick them in the outline where they make the most sense. Even if you don’t use these exact words later, they’ll help prevent that deer-in-the-headlights stare that hits when you see a blank page.

Time to put everything together! 

With your outline and research ready, start your intro and set up your piece. Your opening should briefly introduce your readers to the topic(s) you’re writing about and the questions you’re going to answer—but don’t give everything away. You want to stir up readers’ curiosity and give them a reason to keep reading.

Depending on the length of your essay, your intro may be one to three paragraphs long (longer pieces get longer intros). But it should be concise and to the point, and smoothly transition into the body of your essay.

The body is the meat and potatoes of your piece. Answer those questions, flesh out your explanation, and give readers a thorough understanding of your topic. Show off your research! Include those bizarre and fascinating facts you learned along the way. Use a tasteful metaphor or compelling anecdote to explain some of the more difficult aspects of your topic. 

As you write, be sure to follow a consistent logic throughout your piece: 

• If you’re detailing a history or an event, use chronological order: start at the beginning and write about the events in the order that they happened.
• Are you explaining how a machine or other invention works? Start with where the movement starts—the pedals of a bicycle, the wind turning the turbines—or with the feature doing the most significant work (e.g., the wires of the suspension bridge). 
• Other logics include: size (small to large, large to small), significance (greatest to least), or space (left to right, right to left, outside to center, center to outside).

You don’t need to label everything you write about as the “next biggest” or “least significant”, but sticking to a logic helps your readers orient themselves—and helps you determine which paragraph or subtopic should go where. This way, your thoughts clearly flow from one paragraph to the next. 

‍ Quick note: If you can’t name the logic that’s guiding your piece, don’t worry. As long as your paragraphs naturally follow each other and all questions raised in the intro are answered by the end, your essay probably follows a logic just fine. But if you feel like your piece bounces around willy-nilly, play with a couple different logics and see if one smoothly orders your sentences and paragraphs.

Your turn: Get writing! If you’re stuck on the intro, try writing a working title for your piece to focus your attention. Then, follow your outline to work all the way from the beginning to a conclusion that sums everything up.

If you can, let your piece sit for at least a day. Then, for the editing process , open up that document and read through with these questions in mind:

• Does the essay fulfill the assignment? Review the assignment description from your professor. Does your essay tick all the boxes? If not, what’s missing? Can you weave that element into what you’ve already written? Revise as necessary.
• Are the sentences and paragraphs ordered in a way that makes logical sense? If your essay feels clunky in places, you might have switched logics (as explained above) or you might need to insert some more explanation that clearly ties the sentences or paragraphs together. Make sure your essay doesn’t just list facts, but also shows how they relate to each other.
• Does the hook catch your eye? The beginning of your piece should grab your reader’s attention. Check out our advice for prize-winning hooks here .
• Does the conclusion effectively sum things up? Instead of repeating everything your essay says, your conclusion should briefly distill the main takeaway or core idea for your reader. It should show that you’ve fulfilled the promise made in your intro, without being unnecessarily repetitive or redundant.
• Have you cited all your sources? Make sure to cross this off before hitting “submit.” Follow the citation style specified by your professor.
• Is spelling and grammar clean and correct? You are writing, after all, and these things matter. A bonus tip to help you catch those sneaky typos: Read your piece backwards. You might be surprised what you spot.

Did We Explain That Well Enough?

This blog was basically a long, non-academic explanatory essay, so hopefully, you’ve learned something new and are feeling less overwhelmed about your essay on medieval literature, transportation infrastructure, Persian history—or whatever you’re writing about.

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How to Write an Explanatory Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide

by  Antony W

September 12, 2022

If you’re looking for a complete guide on how to write an explanatory essay, you’ve come to the right place.

In this guide, you’ll learn what an explanatory essay is, how to write the essay, and some tips to help you ace the assignment.

Key Takeaways 

• An explanatory essay is a type of an essay that requires you to give your opinion about a process, a story, a person, or an event.
• You don’t make an argument in an explanatory essay. Rather than taking sides, you simply explain an issue to make it easy for a reader to understand.
• To write an explanatory essay, you choose a topic, conduct research, create an outline, write the essay, and then edit your final draft prior to submission. 

What is an Explanatory Essay?

Also known as an expository essay, an explanatory assignment in which you give your opinion about an event, a story,   a  person, a subject, or a process.

You don’t necessarily have to agree with the view that you give. But your point of view must be thoroughly researched and logical.

An explanatory essay is different from an argumentative writing in that instead of taking a position and debating its validity, you simply explain the issue to make it easier for your audience (readers) to understand.

In other words, you have to take a neutral position on a topic and provide a clear analysis of the subject in question.

The primary objective of an explanatory essay is to help your reader to understand why something happened the way they did.

By the time they finish reading the essay, they should get a clear picture of your explanation, even if they don’t agree with it.

How to Write an Explanatory Essay Step-by-Step

Writing an expository essay shouldn’t be difficult if you have the right lead.

Continue reading this step-by-step guide to learn how to write the best explanatory essay fast.

1. Pick a Topic

Check the essay prompt to determine if your instructor has given you a topic to focus on. 

If they have, write the essay according to the instructions that they provide.

If they haven’t, consider choosing an interesting topic that you can easily explore.

2. Research and Gather Evidence to Support Your Essay

Research your topic well and gather as much information about it as you possibly can.  

Don’t worry if part of your explanatory essay will include merely opinions.

As long as the opinion is reasonably strong, your essay should stand out.

While there’s a wealth information that covers the topic under examination, it’s best to use reliable sources to write the essay. 

Keep  a record of your source somewhere in a separate notepad, because you need to cite and reference  them at the bottom of the essay.

3. Create a Relevant Outline

All essays have one thing in common:

They follow a particular format to make ideas clear.

It follows then that your explanatory (expository) essay should also have a clear format.

Divide the essay into three parts: the introduction, body section, and the conclusion paragraph.

Don’t worry about writing the whole essay at this point. Just focus on organizing your main ideas in point form while keeling the three sections in mind.

Your instructor may ask to see the outline before you proceed with writing the essay.

But even if they don’t, you should make the outline as comprehensive as possible so that you have an easy time writing the expository.

4. Write the Body Paragraph

With a clear outline, writing the whole essay shouldn’t be difficult at all.

While it’s fine to start from the introduction, move to the body section, and then write the conclusion, writing the body of your paper makes your work a whole lot easier.

The consensus is that an expository essay should be at least  five paragraphs . 

That’s a good starting point. 

So if your instructor hasn’t specifically stated that your assignment should be this short, you shouldn’t hesitate to make the essay longer .

The rule to getting the body paragraph right is to focus on one point or idea per paragraph.

Start that with a topic sentence, write your explanation, and then end with a conclusion that easily transitions to a new idea in a completely new paragraph.

6. Write Your Introduction

Your introduction can make or break the explanatory essay. So you shouldn’t take chances here.

Read the body of the article to get a clear idea for a hook. And then start the introduction with a statement that will attract eyeballs instantly.

Include a short background. Then, end the instruction of your expository essay with a strong thesis statement .

6. Write a Conclusion

Really, there’s no magic bullet to ending an essay and this part of the assignment should be a no brainer to complete.

The approach is to end the assignment on a very strong note.

Tie your idea together into a powerful statement that gives your readers something to think about.

Tips to Write a Good Expository Essay

Below are some tips you can use to write a good explanatory essay within the shortest time possible.

1. Use an Appropriate Writing Style

An explanatory essay uses the same three-part format used in all essays.

Beyond that, however, it doesn’t require you to take a side or persuade someone to do, say, or believe something.

As such, it’s important to use an appropriate writing style when writing this assignment.

Your explanation should be more of a discussion. And while you do have to present evidence to back your topic, you shouldn’t do so to put your reader in a position where they have to make a solid case.

2. Get Help from Professional Essay Writers

Still don’t have time to write an explanatory essay yourself even after reading this guide?

You can  pay someone to write an essay for you   and get the task completed in the shortest time possible.

You can use the essay you receive from us as reference to help you write your final draft, deliver the final copy to your teacher for review, and score good grades.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

How to Write an Explanatory Essay

Published by Boni on October 26, 2022 October 26, 2022

What is an Explanatory Essay?

An explanatory essay is a type of writing where the author offers their point of view or perspective about a certain issue, subject, occurrence, or circumstance. It’s important to note that explanatory essays are also expository essays, which means their purpose is to “ show the reader why [the topic] happened in this way. “

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The purpose of an explanation essay is not to systematically explain the topic, like a history essay, but to show the reader why something occurred and answer their questions as to why certain things happened.

An explanation essay is a personal take on a specific wave in contemporary society. The author may accept the given topic of interest or begin by questioning it and then offer an overview of the subject’s meaning and importance.

This article will teach you how to write an explanatory essay about a topic you are interested in.

Types of Explanatory Essay s

The kind of expository essay you want to write depends on your goal as a writer. There are many types of explanatory essays to choose from in this case. They include:

1. Cause and effect

You must explain both the causes of an event and its effects in cause-and-effect expository writing. This kind of essay focuses on the results or impacts of a certain event. They could be favorable or unfavorable.

The cause-and-effect essay also makes the reader aware of the relationship between the two topics. The major objective is to show the cause-and-effect link between the two notions and to offer supporting evidence. Although based on assumptions, the results in the body paragraphs must be true and accurate. If the author makes unsupported assertions, they will be accused of being biased.

2. Comparison and contrast

In this writing, the author compares or contrasts two ideas or events to show how one is superior to the other. The creations of an explanatory essay usually involve a comparison between two things that are strikingly similar in some ways but vastly different in others. This contrasts the two things and clarifies how much better one thing is than another.

The main objective of the comparison and contrast essay is to emphasize the differences between things that are alike. The author will use specific evidence and examples to support his claims in this piece.

The primary purpose of the comparison and contrast essay is not to prove a point or explain an argument but to talk about how two ideas or events differ. 

3. Problem and solution

In this essay, the author takes an issue or problem along with its corresponding solution and explains them in detail. The resulting piece suggests to the audience a way to address the given problem and seeks to offer a solution for it.

The main objective of a problem and solution essay is to show how a given problem can be resolved. The author presents their perspective on not just one but several ways to solve a certain dilemma. Throughout their explanation, they provide specific evidence and examples contrary to their position on how best to handle the matter at hand.

In this expository essay, the author outlines the underlying process or steps needed to achieve a certain result. For example, they might explain how they can complete proposed tasks more efficiently.

Their main objective is to make their readers understand how a task should be completed. The author also offers specific evidence and examples for readers to understand how a certain task would be better performed correctly. The procedure of the subject can also include the benefits or disadvantages of each step taken during the process.

5. Classification

In this essay, the author classifies their subject into one particular category. This classification can be based on the topic of the essay or the work performed by a certain person or group. The main objective of a classification expository essay is not to classify things into different categories but to classify them based on their type or usage.

This essay typically looks at the same subject under different categories. It seeks to explain the difference between one classification and another. For example, a college professor might explain that their subject’s type of material is used in different ways as opposed to other types of material.

6. Definition

In this writing, the author defines the subject by explaining its meaning. The author should be able to precisely define the definition topic of interest and provide a valid reason for the audience to accept their definition.

The author’s main objective here is to show how their subject can be clearly defined based on certain characteristics. This writing does not have a simple answer or solution, but it’s designed to provide a clear reply to those who seek or seek to understand the topic better. It explains the significance of certain things and why they are important

Explanatory Essay Format or Outline

The length of the topic and the information you are attempting to convey will influence the outline of an explanatory essay. However, depending on the explanatory essay pattern, the average essay tends to be one or two pages long, making the total essay five paragraphs long.

The explanatory thesis and the topic of debate will be introduced to the reader in the introduction. The following paragraphs will support the thesis statement with details, reasoning, data, etc. Last but not least, the conclusion should provide a broad ending statement while summarizing the primary ideas of your essay. The outline of your expository essay should be sth like this:

Introduction

• A hook; a thing that draws the eye
• Background data that presents all sides of the debate
• State your thesis

Should have Three paragraphs

• Use a topic sentence to indicate the initial point being made
• Use your sources to support this topical statement
• Explain the supporting facts and relate them to your claim
• In each paragraph’s conclusion, restate your thesis and discuss its significance
• The next paragraph should flow naturally from the conclusion
• Restate the thesis
• Include a summary of each of your essay’s arguments and topic sentences
• Add a conclusion to the essay and leave the reader with your overall opinion

A proper outline will be crucial in constructing and organizing your ideas in a systematic manner and thoughtful flow. If you have an outline but stuck on how to go about your essay or you need an essay with an outline but you are stranded on how to go about it, you can seek help from an English assignment helper from Gudwriter who will provide a quality essay along with an outline.

Tips on How to Write an Explanatory Essay

The point of an explanatory essay is to analyze the issue at hand. You must figure out what your audience wants and needs to learn about the topic.

These are some helpful hints on how to write an expository essay:

1. Choose a topic that interests you

The first thing you should do before writing an explanatory essay is to choose a topic that interests you. Concentrating on your writing and finishing it if you find the work interesting or important is easier. There are many explanatory topics to choose from depending on your level of education and the subjects you have covered in class.

After choosing a topic, examine it carefully. Consider your audience and determine if they have prior knowledge of the topic. Decide how long you think it will take to produce a well-researched paper on the subject. 

2. Look for relevant sources

The second step is to ask where you will get the necessary information. You should research the topic to find out what you need. In general, finding credible and reliable sources is important. To gather enough information for your essay, revise your writing plan and set a deadline for your project. Assemble a list of resources you will use to get help, such as books and websites, and choose the ones you think are appropriate for your subject.

3. Come up with an outline                                 

The outline will show how your paper will be organized into separate paragraphs with two or more sentences. 

Examine your notes and other sources used in writing your outline. It must include the most important facts and details related to the topic. You can write new details or modify parts of the outline. The outcome should be a complete, organized list of everything you want to cover in your essay.

4. Review material and start writing

You should now put all your notes into writing. The essay must be written in a way that captures the attention of your readers and helps them understand what you’re trying to say. 

Review the material, checking for errors and ensuring your writing flows smoothly from one topic to another. You can also discuss your essay with others outside your class to ensure it has no problems.

Using proper grammar, spelling, and vocabulary for each of the sentences in your paper is an important part of writing an expository essay.

5. Make use of transitional and linking words

Transitions help your readers understand that one idea or fact is related to another. Connecting ideas to each other will determine if your essay is coherent and useful.

You can choose from several words or phrases when coming up with transitions. Some examples include, however, therefore, and as a result. Additionally, you should use synonyms for the same word, like subsequently or additionally.

A linking word can be a word such as “also” or “next,” which will bring both ideas together and explain why the topic is important and what the current topic is about. 

6. Revise Your Essay

Proofreading is the last step for you to do. You should check for your essays’ spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors. Making sure your writing is free from errors will make reading your essay more interesting. Make use of a summarizer tool and a paraphrasing tool to accurately edit your paper.

Remember that informative essays are one of the students’ most common assignments in school. It’s important to know how you can write an effective expository essay that answers all relevant questions about your topic and provides relevant suggestions for future use.

Now that you know how to write an explanatory essay, you can start planning the structure of your paper. As you are writing, keep track of the main ideas in your notes or outline so that you can use them when writing your conclusion paragraphs and thesis statement.

Get insights on how to write a narrative report .

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5 Expository Essay Examples (Full Text with Citations)

An expository essay attempts to explain a topic in-depth, demonstrating expert knowledge and understanding.

Unlike an argumentative essay, it aims to remain objective and neutral throughout.

It generally follows this essay format:

Below are five expository essays to demonstrate style and tone.

Expository Essay Examples

#1 impacts of technology on education.

955 words | 4 Pages | 15 References

Thesis Statement: “The integration of technology in education represents a complex and critical area of study crucial for understanding and shaping the future of educational practices.”

#2 Impacts of Globalization on Education

1450 words | 5 Pages | 9 References

Thesis Statement: “This essay examines the profound and multifaceted effects of globalization on education, exploring how technological advancements and policy reforms have transformed access to, delivery of, and perceptions of education.”

#3 The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Interpersonal Relationships

1211 Words | 5 Pages | 22 References

Thesis Statement: “The central thesis is that EI, defined as the ability to perceive, understand, and manage emotions, is a crucial determinant of success and well-being.”

#4 The Future of Renewable Energy Sources and Their Impact

870 words | 4 Pages | 20 References

Thesis Statement: “The essay posits that although renewable energy sources hold immense promise for a sustainable future, their full integration into the global energy grid presents significant challenges that must be addressed through technological innovation, economic investment, and policy initiatives.”

#5 The Psychology Behind Consumer Behavior

1053 words | 4 Pages | 17 References

Thesis Statement: “The thesis of this essay is that consumer behavior is not merely a product of rational decision-making; it is deeply rooted in psychological processes, both conscious and subconscious, that drive consumers’ choices and actions.”

How to Write an Expository Essay

Unlike argumentative or persuasive essays, expository essays do not aim to convince the reader of a particular point of view.

Instead, they focus on providing a balanced and thorough explanation of a subject.

Key characteristics of an expository essay include:

• Clarity and Conciseness
• Structured Organization (Introduction, Body, Conclusion)
• Objective Tone
• Evidence-Based (Cite academic sources in every body paragraph)
• Objective thesis statement (see below)
• Informative purpose (Not argumentative)

You can follow my expository essay templates with AI prompts to help guide you through the expository essay writing process:

How to write a Thesis Statement for an Expository Essay

An expository thesis statement doesn’t make an argument or try to persuade. It uses ‘is’ rather than ‘ought’ statements.

Take these comparisons  below. Note how the expository thesis statements don’t prosecute an argument or attempt to persuade, while the argumentative thesis statements clearly take a side on an issue:

💡 AI Prompt for Generating Sample Expository Thesis Statements An expository essay’s thesis statement should be objective rather than argumentative. Write me five broad expository thesis statement ideas on the topic “[TOPIC]”.

Go Deeper: 101 Thesis Statement Examples

Differences Between Expository and Argumentative Essays

Expository and argumentative essays are both common writing styles in academic and professional contexts, but they serve different purposes and follow different structures.

Here are the key differences between them:

• Expository Essay : The primary purpose is to explain, describe, or inform about a topic. It focuses on clarifying a subject or process, providing understanding and insight.
• Argumentative Essay : The goal is to persuade the reader to accept a particular point of view or to take a specific action. It’s about presenting a stance and supporting it with evidence and logic.
• Expository Essay : It maintains a neutral and objective tone. The writer presents information factually and impartially, without expressing personal opinions or biases.
• Argumentative Essay : It often adopts a more assertive, persuasive, and subjective tone. The writer takes a clear position and argues in favor of it, using persuasive language.
• Expository Essay : The reader is expected to gain knowledge, understand a process, or become informed about a topic. There’s no expectation for the reader to agree or disagree.
• Argumentative Essay : The reader is encouraged to consider the writer’s viewpoint, evaluate arguments, and possibly be persuaded to adopt a new perspective or take action.

Go Deeper: Expository vs Argumentative Essays

Ready to Write your Essay?

Take action! Choose one of the following options to start writing your expository essay now:

Read Next: Process Essay Examples

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons

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Point of View

Point of View Definition

What is point of view? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Point of view refers to the perspective that the narrator holds in relation to the events of the story. The three primary points of view are  first person , in which the narrator tells a story from their own perspective ("I went to the store");  second person , in which the narrator tells a story about you, the reader or viewer ("You went to the store"); and third person , in which the narrator tells a story about other people ("He went to the store"). Each point of view creates a different experience for the reader, because, in each point of view, different types and amounts of information are available to the reader about the story's events and characters.

Some additional key details about point of view:

• Each different point of view has its own specific qualities that influence the narrative. It's up to the author to choose which point of view is best for narrating the story he or she is writing.
• Second person point of view is extremely rare in literature. The vast majority of stories are written in either the first or third person. 
• You may hear "point of view" referred to simply as "perspective." This isn't wrong, it's just another way of referring to the same thing.

The Three "Modes" of Point of View

Stories can be told from one of three main points of view: first person, second person, or third person. Each of the different modes offers an author particular options and benefits, and the point of view that an author chooses will have a tremendous impact on the way that a reader engages with a story.  

First Person Point of View

In first person point of view, the narrator tells the story from his or her own perspective. You can easily recognize first person by its use of the pronouns "I" or "We." First person offers the author a great way to give the reader direct access to a particular character's thoughts, emotions, voice, and way of seeing the world—their  point of view  about the main events of the story. The choice of which  character gets to have first person point of view can dramatically change a story, as shown in this simple scenario of a thief snatching a lady's purse

• Thief's POV: "I was desperate for something to eat. Judging by her expensive-looking shoes, I figured she could afford to part with her purse."
• Victim's POV: "He came out of nowhere! Too bad for him, though: I only had five dollars in my bag."

Consider also one of the most famous examples of first person point of view, the very first line of Herman Melville's  Moby-Dick :

Call me Ishmael.

Melville uses first person here because he wants to establish a confessional tone for the protagonist. He wants the reader to feel like Ishmael has just sat down next to him on a bar stool, and is about to tell him his life's story. Only first person can have this colloquial and intimate effect. Saying, "His name was Ishmael," for instance, would insert more distance between the reader and the character Ishmael, because the third person narrator would sit between  the reader and Ishmael. First person, in this way, can have the effect of connecting the reader directly with the story.

First Person Point of View and the Protagonist

In a story told in the first person, the character who acts as narrator will often also be the protagonist of the story. However, some stories told from the first person do  not  make the narrator the protagonist:

• First person in which the narrator is the protagonist: In The Catcher in the Rye , the first person narrator Holden Caulfield is the clear protagonist of the story. His voice dominates the story, and the story he tells is his own.
• First person in which the narrator is  not  the protagonist:  The novel The Great Gatsby is narrated by Nick Carraway, but the protagonist of the novel is Jay Gatsby. Nick Carraway tells the story, and the reader is limited to understanding the story through what Nick himself sees, knows, and thinks, but nevertheless the story that Nick tells is not his own but rather Gatsby's.

Second Person Point of View

Second person point of view uses the pronoun "you" to immerse the reader in the experience of being the protagonist. It's important to remember that second person point of view is different from simply addressing the reader. Rather, the second person point of view places the reader "on the playing field" by putting them in the position of the protagonist—the one to whom the action occurs. Few stories are appropriate for such a perspective, but occasionally it is quite successful, as in Jay McInerney's  Bright Lights, Big City , a novel in which the reader is taken on a wild night through Manhattan.

Eventually you ascend the stairs to the street. You think of Plato's pilgrims climbing out of the cave, from the shadow world of appearances toward things as they really are, and you wonder if it is possible to change in this life. Being with a philosopher makes you think.

Of the three points of view, second person is the most rarely used, primarily because it doesn't allow the narrator as much freedom as first person and third person, so it's hard to sustain this style of narration for very long.

Third Person Point of View

In third person point of view, the narrator is someone (or some entity) who is  not  a character in the story being told. Third person point of view uses the pronouns "he," "she," and "they," to refer to all the characters. It is the most common point of view in writing, as it gives the writer a considerable amount of freedom to focus on different people, events, and places without being limited within the consciousness of a single character. Below is an example of dialogue written in third person by Joseph Heller in his novel  Catch-22 :

"What are you doing?" Yossarian asked guardedly when he entered the tent, although he saw at once. "There's a leak here," Orr said. "I'm trying to fix it." "Please stop it," said Yossarian. "You're making me nervous."

The exchange above is narrated by a narrator who is outside the interaction between Yossarian and Orr; such distance is the hallmark of third person point of view.

Third Person and Degree of Distance

The third person mode is unique from first and second person in another way as well: third person has different variants. These variants depend on how far removed the narrator is from the events of the story, and how much the narrator knows about each character:

• Third Person Omniscient Point of View: "Third person omniscient" means that the narrator knows all the thoughts and feelings of every character and can dip in and out of the the internal life of anyone, as needed. Omniscient just means "all-knowing." This type of narrator is more god-like than human, in the sense that their perspective is un limited.
• A story like Young Goodman Brown , which follows one character closely and reports on that character's thoughts and feelings (but not the thoughts and feelings of others), is an example of third person limited point of view. This type of story gives the reader the feeling that they are inside one person's head  without  using first person pronouns like "I."

Alternating Point of View

Many stories are told from alternating points of view—switching between different characters, or even between different modes of storytelling.

• Stories can switch between third person points of view: Many novels switch between different third person points of view. For instance, the chapters of George R.R. Martin's The Song of Ice and Fire books are all named after characters, and each chapter is told from the limited third person point of view of the named character. 
• Stories can switch between first person points of view: William Faulkner's novel As I Lay Dying is structurally similar to the Song of Ice and Fire books in the sense that each chapter is named after a character. However, each chapter is told in the first person by the named character. The Darl chapters are told in the first person by Darl, the Cash chapter are narrated by Cash, the Vardamon chapters by Vardamon, and so on. 
• Stories can even switch between modes of storytelling:  Though less common than other sorts of alternating points of view, some stories can shift not only between different character's points of view, but between actual modes of storytelling. For example, Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury has four parts. The first three parts are all narrated in the first person, with the first part narrated by Benjy, the second part by Quentin, and the third part by Jason. But the fourth part is told in the third person omniscient and follows a bunch of different characters at different times.

Point of View Examples

Every work of literature has a point of view, and so there are essentially endless examples of point of view in literature. The examples below were chosen because they are good examples of the different modes, and in the case of The Metamorphosis the the subtle shift in the nature of the narrator's point of view also shows how an author can play with point of view to suit the themes and ideas of a story.  

Third Person Point of View in Kafka's  Metamorphosis

A great example of third person point of view in literature is the first line from Kafka's  The Metamorphosis . 

As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.

For the remainder of the book, Kafka follows the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, in a limited third person point of view as he struggles to come to terms with his sudden transformation into an insect. For as long as Gregor remains alive, the third person narrator remains limited by Gregor's own consciousness—the story is told in the third person, but the narrator never knows or sees any more than Gregor himself does. 

However, in the few pages of the story that continue after Gregor dies, the narrator shifts into a third person omniscient point of view , almost as if Gregor's death has freed the narrator in a way not so dissimilar to how his death tragically relieves a burden on his family. 

Point of View in Tolstoy's  Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy's  Anna Karenina   is a great example of the omniscient third person point of view. In the novel, the narrator sees and knows all, and moves around between the lives of the different characters, dipping into their internal lives and thoughts, and commenting on the narrative as a whole. In Part 5, Chapter 6, the internal lives of two characters are commented on at once, in the moment of their marriage to one another:

Often and much as they had both heard about the belief that whoever is first to step on the rug will be the head in the family, neither Levin nor Kitty could recall it as they made those few steps. Nor did they hear the loud remarks and disputes that, in the observation of some, he had been the first, or, in the opinion of others, they had stepped on it together.

Point of View in Thoreau's  Walden

Henry David Thoreau's transcendental meditations on isolation were based on his actual lived experience. It makes sense, then, that  Walden  (his account of time spent alone in the woods) is written in the first person point of view :

When I wrote the following pages, or rather the bulk of them, I lived alone, in the woods, a mile away from any neighbor, in a house which I had built myself, on the shore of Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts, and earned my living by the labor of my hands only. I lived there two years and two months. At present I am a sojourner in civilized life again.

What's the Function of Point of View in Literature?

Point of view is the means by which an author relays either one or a multiplicity of perspectives about the events of their story. It is the lens crafted by the writer that allows the reader to see a story or argument unfold. Depending on how much information the writer wants to give the reader, this lens will be constructed differently—or in other words, a different mode of point of view will be chosen:

• If the writer wants the reader to have full access to a particular character's internal life, then they might choose either first person or a closely limited third person point of view.
• If the writer wants the reader to know select bits and pieces about every character, they might choose an omniscient third person point of view.
• If the writer wants the reader to know about the rich internal lives of multiple characters, they might choose an alternating first person point of view.
• Lastly, if the writer wants the reader to feel like they themselves are in the center of the action, they might choose a second person point of view.

Other Helpful Point of View Resources

• The Wikipedia Page on Point of View:  An overview of narration with a focus on literary point of view.
• The Dictionary Definition of Point of View:   A very basic definition of the term point of view.
• Examples of Second Person:  A page with some examples of writing in the less common second person point of view.

• PDFs for all 136 Lit Terms we cover
• Downloads of 1916 LitCharts Lit Guides
• Teacher Editions for every Lit Guide
• Explanations and citation info for 40,380 quotes across 1916 books
• Downloadable (PDF) line-by-line translations of every Shakespeare play
• Protagonist
• End-Stopped Line
• Bildungsroman
• Juxtaposition
• Climax (Figure of Speech)
• Personification
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Rhyme Scheme
• Tragic Hero
• Polysyndeton

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27 How do I Write a Synthesis Essay?

A synthesis essay is a type of essay that gathers information from a variety of sources to form a new idea, question, or argumentative thesis. Writers composing a synthesis essay will discuss ideas, data, and evidence from a series of sources to either explain or argue something original.

Explanatory vs. Argumentative Synthesis Essays: How Are They Different?

Though the formatting is largely the same, there are two main types of synthesis essays: explanatory and argumentative.

• 1.   Explanatory : The purpose of an explanatory synthesis essay is to use different sources to explain a particular point of view. These synthesis papers objectively examine the similarities and differences between ideas but don’t necessarily choose a side or attempt to sway the reader in any direction.
• 2.   Argumentative : An argumentative synthesis essay follows the same structure as a typical argumentative essay. The thesis of an argumentative essay will argue one specific point.

Synthesis Essay Structure

Synthesis essays typically adhere to the five-paragraph essay structure, but there are slight nuances to structuring this type of essay. Here is how a synthesis essay is structured.

•   Introduction : The foundational ideas of your essay are expressed in the introductory paragraph. You will address the general landscape of ideas around your topic, introducing some of your sources. You will also introduce the argument to be made through a thesis statement, which succinctly states your primary argument in a sentence or two. The thesis statement typically comes at the very end of your introductory paragraph.
•   Body : The body of your synthesis essay is usually about three paragraphs long. This typically includes two paragraphs synthesizing your sources in a way that supports your argument, and one paragraph that acknowledges opposing arguments.
• Conclusion : The conclusion of your synthesis essay reiterates the argument that you’ve made throughout your essay. It may emphasize how each of the points you made and the sources you’ve cited substantiate your point.

How to Write a Synthesis Essay

A great synthesis essay walks readers through a series of ideas and sources to prove or explain a larger point.

Follow this step-by-step guide for writing your essay:

• Choose a topic you’re curious about . Brainstorm a few ideas for your synthesis essay topic, prioritizing the subjects you feel passionate about.
• Do your research . Once you’ve decided on a topic, use the internet, library, and other sources to perform extensive research. You can turn to academic primary sources to find quotes from scholars and experts, or look up statistics or scientific studies relevant to your topic. This research will help you develop a point of view that is backed up by concrete information. Use credible sources that are unbiased.
• Outline your point . Your entire essay should focus on either explaining a certain perspective or making an argument. Outline how each of your sources relates to your theme and support your idea.
• Write your introduction . An introduction is the first paragraph of a paper. Its main purpose is to present the general premise of the paper, provide any necessary background information, and hopefully, capture the reader’s attention. The introductory paragraph to your synthesis essay should be where you include a strong thesis statement. This is where you will state the point of view that you’re exploring or the argument you’re making.
• Include your body paragraphs . Synthesis essays will typically contain three body paragraphs. A good body paragraph contains three main sections: a topic sentence (or key sentence), relevant supporting  sentences, and a closing (or transition)
• sentence. This structure keeps your paragraph focused on the main idea, providing clear, concise information. Each body paragraph should discuss different elements and supporting arguments of your thesis, along with evidence drawn from each source. Explain the common theme between your resources, as well as how they are relevant to your text. Include counterarguments as well as how your source material can discredit those claims and support your own idea.
• Wrap it up with a strong conclusion . A conclusion is a final piece of writing in a research paper, essay, or article that summarizes the entire work. The concluding paragraph of your synthesis essay will restate your thesis, summarize the key supporting ideas you discussed throughout the work, and offer your final impression of the central idea.
• Proofread . Always proofread your writing a few times before submitting or presenting it. A few missed words or grammatical errors can sometimes change or discredit the entire crux of an argument or opinion. Make sure that your grammar, syntax, and flow are as accurate and clear as possible. This will help you come across as a credible source.

College Reading & Writing: A Handbook for ENGL- 090/095 Students Copyright © by Yvonne Kane; Krista O'Brien; and Angela Wood. All Rights Reserved.

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• 23 Writing Explanatory Essays

Start-Up Activity

Ask your students if they know what the term elaboration means. Write the term on the board, circling the word "labor" in the middle. Elaboration actually means “the act of working out ideas." When students write explanatory essays, they need to elaborate their ideas, working them out in detail. Tell your students that when they read the explanatory essay in this chapter, they will see how one student worked out ideas.

Think About It

“Essays are how we speak to one another in print.”

—Edward Hoagland

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.5
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.A
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.B
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.5
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.A
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.B
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.D
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.D
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.C
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.E
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.C
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.E
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.4
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.5
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.7
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.8
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.9
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.4
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.5
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.7
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.8
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.9

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

Lafs.4.ri.1.1, lafs.4.ri.1.2, lafs.4.ri.2.5, lafs.4.w.1.2, lafs.5.ri.1.1, lafs.5.ri.1.2, lafs.5.ri.2.5, lafs.5.w.1.2, lafs.4.w.2.4, lafs.4.w.2.5, lafs.4.w.3.7, lafs.4.w.3.8, lafs.4.w.3.9, lafs.5.w.2.4, lafs.5.w.2.5, lafs.5.w.3.7, lafs.5.w.3.8, lafs.5.w.3.9, teks covered in this chapter, 110.6.b.9.d, 110.6.b.9.d.i, 110.6.b.9.d.iii, 110.6.b.11.b, 110.6.b.12.b, 110.6.b.11.b.i, 110.6.b.11.b.ii, 110.7.b.9.d, 110.7.b.7.d, 110.7.b.9.d.iii, 110.7.b.12.b, 110.7.b.11.a, 110.7.b.11.b.i, 110.7.b.11.b.ii, 110.6.b.11.a, 110.6.b.11.c, 110.6.b.11.d, 110.6.b.13.c, 110.6.b.13.d, 110.6.b.13.e, 110.7.b.11.c, 110.7.b.11.d, 110.7.b.13.b, 110.7.b.13.c, 110.7.b.13.d, page 166 from writers express, sample explanatory essay.

Have student volunteers read the sample explanatory essay, one paragraph at a time. Then review the essay with your class, pointing out the features listed in the side notes. Show how the writer begins by introducing the topic and leading to the focus statement.

You can also present other explanatory essays .

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Page 167 from Writers Express

Sample Explanatory Essay (Continued)

Point out to your students that each middle paragraph in the essay focuses on a different part of the topic. Also, show how the ending revisits the focus statement without repeating it word for word.

Page 168 from Writers Express

Building an essay.

Use this page to provide your students an overview of the three parts of an explanatory essay: beginning, middle, and ending. Also, show how transition words and key words link the paragraphs and the sentences within paragraphs.

Page 169 from Writers Express

Writing an explanatory essay.

Use this page to help your students get started with their explanatory writing. You may want to assign a general subject area that relates to material you are studying. Then students can select specific topics within that subject area.

For more topic ideas, see page 172 in the student handbook. Also you can consider a host of other explanatory writing topics .

You might schedule computer time or library time for your students to gather details about their topics.

Use the formula at the bottom of the page to help your students create a specific focus for their topics. The minilesson can help them form a focus as well.

Forming a Focus

Help students write strong focus statements.

Page 170 from Writers Express

Prewriting: organizing your details.

Show your students these two methods for organizing details: lists and outlines. Often, a simple list can get the job done. If students need a more rigorous approach in order to ensure that they have enough details, you can have them create an outline.

Page 171 from Writers Express

Writing: developing your first draft.

Use this page to guide your students as they create the beginning, middle, and ending of their essays.

Download and distribute the explanatory essay revising and editing checklist.

Page 172 from Writers Express

Possible writing topics.

Use this page to help spur students' imaginations in coming up with interesting explanatory writing topics.

You can also direct your students to additional explanatory writing topics .

Or you could use the freewriting minilesson to help students find possible topics.

Freewriting for Writing Topics

Have students freewrite for topic ideas.

• 01 A Basic Writing Guide
• 02 Understanding the Writing Process
• 03 One Writer's Process
• 04 Qualities of Writing
• 05 Selecting and Collecting
• 06 Focusing and Organizing
• 07 Writing and Revising
• 09 Publishing
• 10 Writing Basic Sentences
• 11 Combining Sentences
• 12 Writing Paragraphs
• 13 Understanding Writing Terms and Techniques
• 14 Understanding Text Structures
• 15 Writing in Journals
• 16 Using Learning Logs
• 17 Writing Emails and Blogs
• 18 Writing Personal Narratives
• 19 Writing Fantasies
• 20 Writing Realistic Stories
• 21 Writing Stories from History
• 22 Responding to Narrative Prompts
• 24 Writing Process Essays
• 25 Writing Comparison-Contrast Essays
• 26 Responding to Explanatory Prompts
• 27 Writing Persuasive Essays
• 28 Writing Persuasive Letters
• 29 Writing Problem-Solution Essays
• 30 Responding to Persuasive Prompts
• 31 Writing Book Reviews
• 32 Writing About Literature
• 33 Responding to Literature Prompts
• 34 Writing Reports
• 35 Writing Research Reports
• 36 Writing Summaries
• 37 Writing Plays
• 38 Writing Poems
• 39 Communicating Online
• 40 Researching Online
• 41 Staying Safe Online
• 42 Reading Strategies for Fiction
• 43 Reading Strategies for Nonfiction
• 44 Reading Graphics
• 45 Building Vocabulary Skills
• 46 Becoming a Better Speller
• 47 Giving Speeches
• 48 Improving Viewing Skills
• 49 Improving Listening Skills
• 50 Using Graphic Organizers
• 51 Thinking and Writing
• 52 Thinking Clearly
• 53 Thinking Creatively
• 54 Completing Assignments
• 55 Working in Groups
• 56 Taking Tests
• 57 Taking Good Notes
• 58 Marking Punctuation
• 59 Editing for Mechanics
• 60 Check Your Spelling
• 61 Using the Right Word
• 62 Understanding Sentences
• 63 Understanding Our Language