how to write a exploratory essay

Essay Papers Writing Online

Mastering the art of writing an exploratory essay – a comprehensive guide for success.

Exploratory essays are a unique form of writing that allows the writer to explore a topic without coming to a definitive conclusion. Instead, the goal is to delve into the subject, gather information from various sources, and present a balanced analysis of different perspectives. This type of essay is ideal for examining complex issues or controversial topics where there may be no clear-cut answer.

When writing an exploratory essay, it’s essential to maintain an open mind and approach the topic with a sense of curiosity. Rather than arguing a specific point, the writer should focus on presenting a variety of viewpoints and exploring the nuances of the issue. This can lead to a richer understanding of the topic and encourage critical thinking.

In this guide, we will provide you with tips and examples to help you craft a compelling exploratory essay. From brainstorming ideas to structuring your essay and incorporating research, we will walk you through the key steps to creating a thought-provoking piece of writing that engages readers and encourages them to consider multiple perspectives.

Tips for Crafting an Exploratory Essay

1. Choose a compelling topic that sparks curiosity and invites exploration.

2. Conduct thorough research to gather diverse perspectives and sources on the topic.

3. Clearly define the problem or question you intend to explore in your essay.

4. Structure your essay with an introduction, body paragraphs presenting different viewpoints, and a conclusion.

5. Use a neutral tone and aim to present various perspectives without bias.

6. Engage with the sources you’ve collected and analyze them critically.

7. Include personal insights and reflections based on the research conducted.

8. Provide a summary of the key points and conclusions drawn from the exploration.

9. Take the time to revise and edit your essay to ensure clarity and coherence.

10. Embrace the process of exploration and discovery throughout your writing journey.

Understand the Purpose

An exploratory essay is a unique type of academic writing that allows writers to delve into a topic without forming a definite thesis statement. The purpose of an exploratory essay is to explore a topic, gather information, and present different perspectives on the issue. It is a journey of discovery where writers can explore ideas, consider different viewpoints, and ultimately come to a deeper understanding of the topic.

When writing an exploratory essay, keep in mind that the goal is not to argue a particular point of view or persuade the reader to agree with your opinion. Instead, focus on presenting a variety of perspectives and viewpoints, giving your readers a comprehensive understanding of the topic. By approaching the topic with an open mind and a willingness to explore different ideas, you can create a rich and engaging exploratory essay that encourages critical thinking and thoughtful reflection.

Choose an Intriguing Topic

Choosing a compelling topic is crucial when writing an exploratory essay. Look for subjects that spark your curiosity and offer multiple perspectives to explore. Consider current events, controversial issues, or emerging trends that are relevant to your interests or field of study. A thought-provoking topic will not only captivate your readers but also inspire in-depth research and critical analysis.

Conduct Thorough Research

Research is a crucial part of writing an exploratory essay. It is essential to gather as much relevant information as possible to form a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Begin by exploring various sources such as books, journals, articles, and online resources. Take notes of key points, interesting facts, and different perspectives on the subject.

Create a detailed outline of the main ideas and arguments you want to address in your essay. Organize your research findings in a systematic manner to ensure that you have all the necessary information to support your arguments. Consider different viewpoints and opinions to present a well-rounded discussion in your exploratory essay.

Organize Your Ideas Effectively

When writing an exploratory essay, it’s essential to organize your ideas effectively to ensure clarity and coherence in your writing. One effective way to do this is by creating an outline before you begin writing. An outline will help you structure your thoughts and arrange them in a logical order.

Another helpful tip is to group related ideas together. This will make it easier for your readers to follow your argument and understand your perspective. You can use headings and subheadings to categorize your ideas and make your essay more organized.

Additionally, using transitional words and phrases can help you connect your ideas smoothly and guide your readers through your essay. Words like “however,” “therefore,” and “in conclusion” can signal shifts in your argument and keep your readers engaged.

Remember to review and revise your essay after writing it to ensure that your ideas flow cohesively and support your thesis statement. By organizing your ideas effectively, you can create a compelling exploratory essay that engages your readers and explores complex topics in-depth.

Develop a Strong Thesis Statement

One of the most crucial aspects of writing an exploratory essay is developing a strong thesis statement. Your thesis statement is the main idea or argument that you will explore and support throughout your essay. It should be clear, concise, and specific, providing a roadmap for your readers to understand the purpose of your exploration.

When crafting your thesis statement, consider the following tips:

By following these tips, you can develop a strong thesis statement that sets the tone for your exploratory essay and guides your readers through your exploration of the topic.

Use a Clear Structure

When writing an exploratory essay, it’s important to use a clear structure that guides your readers through your exploration of a topic. A well-organized essay will help you present your ideas in a logical and easy-to-follow manner. Here are some tips to help you create a clear structure for your exploratory essay:

• Introduction: Start your essay with an introduction that provides background information on the topic you’ll be exploring. Clearly state your research question or thesis statement to give readers an idea of what to expect.
• Body Paragraphs: Divide the body of your essay into several paragraphs, each focusing on a different aspect of the topic. Use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph and provide supporting evidence or examples to back up your points.
• Exploration Stage: In the exploration stage, consider different perspectives, arguments, and viewpoints on the topic. Be open-minded and present a balanced view of the issue.
• Conclusion: Wrap up your essay with a conclusion that summarizes your findings and key points. Reflect on what you’ve learned through the exploration process and suggest possible next steps or areas for further research.

By using a clear structure in your exploratory essay, you’ll make it easier for your readers to follow your thoughts and engage with your ideas. Remember to also use transitions between paragraphs to ensure a smooth flow of information throughout your essay.

Provide Compelling Examples

One of the most effective ways to enhance the quality of your exploratory essay is by including compelling examples. Examples help to illustrate your points and make them more relatable to readers. They can be drawn from real-life situations, historical events, personal experiences, or even hypothetical scenarios.

When selecting examples for your essay, make sure they are relevant to the topic and help to clarify your argument. Avoid using examples that are too clichéd or overused, as they may not have the desired impact on your audience.

Additionally, it’s important to provide a variety of examples to support different aspects of your exploration. This will demonstrate your depth of research and understanding of the topic. Use a mix of specific and general examples to create a well-rounded argument that is both informative and engaging.

Remember to properly introduce and explain each example to ensure that your readers can follow your line of reasoning. By including compelling examples in your exploratory essay, you can effectively enhance the persuasiveness and credibility of your arguments.

Related Post

How to master the art of writing expository essays and captivate your audience, step-by-step guide to crafting a powerful literary analysis essay, convenient and reliable source to purchase college essays online, tips and techniques for crafting compelling narrative essays.

BibGuru Blog

Be more productive in school

• Citation Styles

How to write an exploratory essay [Updated 2023]

Unlike other types of essays, the exploratory essay does not present a specific argument or support a claim with evidence. Instead, an exploratory essay allows a writer to "explore" a topic and consider tentative conclusions about it. This article covers what you need to know to write a successful exploratory essay.

What is an exploratory essay?

An exploratory essay considers a topic or problem and explores possible solutions. This type of paper also sometimes includes background about how you have approached the topic, as well as information about your research process.

Whereas other types of essays take a concrete stance on an issue and offer extensive support for that stance, the exploratory essay covers how you arrived at an idea and what research materials and methods you used to explore it.

For example, an argumentative essay on expanding public transportation might argue that increasing public transit options improves citizens' quality of life. However, an exploratory essay would provide context for the issue and discuss what data and research you gathered to consider the problem.

What to include in an exploratory essay

Importantly, an exploratory essay does not reach a specific conclusion about a topic. Rather, it explores multiple conclusions and possibilities. So, for the above example, your exploratory essay might include several viewpoints about public transit, including research from urban planners, transportation advocates, and other experts.

Finally, an exploratory essay will include some reflection on your own research and writing process. You might be asked to draw some conclusions about how you could tackle your topic in an argumentative essay or you might reflect on what sources or pieces of evidence were most helpful as you were exploring the topic.

Ultimately, the primary goal of an exploratory essay is to make an inquiry about a topic or problem, investigate the context, and address possible solutions.

What to expect in an exploratory essay assignment

This section discusses what you can expect in an exploratory essay assignment, in terms of length, style, and sources. Instructors may also provide you with an exploratory essay example or an assignment rubric to help you determine if your essay meets the appropriate guidelines .

The expected length of an exploratory essay varies depending on the topic, course subject, and course level. For instance, an exploratory essay assigned in an upper-level sociology course will likely be longer than a similar assignment in an introductory course.

Like other essay types, exploratory essays typically include at least five paragraphs, but most range from a few pages to the length of a full research paper .

While exploratory essays will generally follow academic style guidelines, they differ from other essays because they tend to utilize a more reflective, personal tone. This doesn't mean that you can cast off academic style rules, however.

Rather, think of an exploratory essay as a venue for presenting your topic and methods to a sympathetic and intelligent audience of fellow researchers. Most importantly, make sure that your writing is clear, correct, and concise.

As an exploration of your approach to a topic, an exploratory essay will necessarily incorporate research material. As a result, you should expect to include a bibliography or references page with your essay. This page will list both the sources that you cite in your essay, as well as any sources that you may have consulted during your research process.

The citation style of your essay's bibliography will vary based on the subject of the course. For example, an exploratory essay for a sociology class will probably adhere to APA style , while an essay in a history class might use Chicago style .

Exploratory essay outline and format

An exploratory essay utilizes the same basic structure that you'll find in other essays. It includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction sets up the context for your topic, addresses why that topic is worthy of study, and states your primary research question(s).

The body paragraphs cover the research that you've conducted and often include overviews of the sources that you've consulted. The conclusion returns to your research question and considers possible solutions.

• Introduction

The introduction of an exploratory essay functions as an overview. In this section, you should provide context for your topic, explain why the topic is important, and state your research question:

• Context includes general information about the topic. This part of the introduction may also outline, or signpost, what the rest of the paper will cover.
• Topic importance helps readers "buy in" to your research. A few sentences that address the question, "so what?" will enable you to situate your research within an ongoing debate.
• The last part of of your introduction should clearly state your research question. It's okay to have more than one, depending on the assignment.

If you were writing an exploratory essay on public transportation, you might start by briefly introducing the recent history of public transit debates. Next, you could explain that public transportation research is important because it has a concrete impact on our daily lives. Finally, you might end your introduction by articulating your primary research questions.

While some individuals may choose not to utilize public transportation, decisions to expand or alter public transit systems affect the lives of all. As a result of my preliminary research, I became interested in exploring whether public transportation systems improve citizens' quality of life. In particular, does public transit only improve conditions for those who regularly use these systems? Or, do improvements in public transportation positively impact the quality of life for all individuals within a given city or region? The remainder of this essay explores the research around these questions and considers some possible conclusions.

Body paragraphs

The body paragraphs of an exploratory essay discuss the research process that you used to explore your topic. This section highlights the sources that you found most useful and explains why they are important to the debate.

You might also use the body paragraphs to address how individual resources changed your thinking about your topic. Most exploratory essays will have several body paragraphs.

One source that was especially useful to my research was a 2016 study by Richard J. Lee and Ipek N. Sener that considers the intersections between transportation planning and quality of life . They argue that, while planners have consistently addressed physical health and well-being in transportation plans, they have not necessarily factored in how mental and social health contributes to quality of life. Put differently, transportation planning has traditionally utilized a limited definition of quality of life and this has necessarily impacted data on the relationship between public transit and quality of life. This resource helped me to broaden my conception of quality of life to include all aspects of human health. It also enabled me to better understand the stakeholders involved in transportation decisions.

Your conclusion should return to the research question stated in your introduction. What are some possible solutions to your questions, based on the sources that you highlighted in your essay? While you shouldn't include new information in your conclusion, you can discuss additional questions that arose as you were conducting your research.

In my introduction, I asked whether public transit improves quality of life for all, not simply for users of public transportation. My research demonstrates that there are strong connections between public transportation and quality of life, but that researchers differ as to how quality of life is defined. Many conclude that public transit improves citizens' lives, but it is still not clear how public transit decisions affect non-users, since few studies have focused on this distinct group. As a result, I believe that more research is needed to answer the research questions that I posed above.

Frequently Asked Questions about exploratory essays

You should begin an exploratory essay by introducing the context for your topic, explaining the topic's importance, and outlining your original research question.

Like other types of essays, the exploratory essay has three primary parts:

Although an exploratory essay does not make a specific argument, your research question technically serves as your thesis.

Yes, you can use "I" throughout your paper. An exploratory essay is meant to explore your own research process, so a first-person perspective is appropriate.

You should end your exploratory essay with a succinct conclusion that returns to your research question and considers possible answers. You can also end by highlighting further questions you may have about your research.

Make your life easier with our productivity and writing resources.

For students and teachers.

Exploratory Essay: The A to Z Guide

01 November, 2020

14 minutes read

Author:  Kate Smith

An exploratory essay, the most fun-filled essay writing, differs from every other essay. Here, there is no need for additional research; instead, you explore your ideas and the ideas of others. An exploratory essay entails speculation, digression, and rumination.

Unlike other forms of writing, this essay does not try to impose its thesis on its reader. To write an excellent exploratory essay, you would need to stick to its outline, thinking deeply about the topic. This article will help you understand an exploratory essay definition, and walk you through the building blocks to writing an outstanding exploratory essay.

What is an Exploratory Essay?

An exploratory essay, also called an investigative piece, is a speculatively written essay. Here, the writer peruses over the various overviews of people regarding an issue or a topic. Afterward, they walk through the problem, and air their view without refuting or drawing a biased conclusion.

This type of essay tables the different perspectives of people on a topic from a neutral angle, and at the same time, highlights their mutual understanding. To deliver a great essay, you need to think introspectively about the topic and not delve into idle speculation. An exploratory essay requires that you first reflect on the subject of discussion. 

In real cases, sentiments may cloud your judgment, especially when you’re very passionate about the topic.  You’re most likely to rush to a conclusion or try to influence others’ opinions without hearing their takes on the matter. An exploratory essay sets to beat this fashion.

It is advisable to consider the rationale of at least three persons on a topic, an event, or an issue as you can make a thorough presentation with detailed logical reasonings this way. Limiting your investigation to a few relevant sources may result in making only similar findings. Diversity creates spice in your presentation!

Exploratory Questions: Types

Having a clear understanding of the information you aim to get helps you stay on track while carrying out your investigation. Here are the types of exploratory questions you need to ask when writing this essay:

Fact questions

Convergent questions, divergent questions, evaluative questions.

A fact question usually has an exact answer. It is the “who…?” “what…? “where…?” and “when….?” question. This question aims to confirm the parties involved in the topic/event/issue, what incited the problem, if there is a case for a geographical problem, and answers if there was a similar case in the past to analyze the possibility of a future recurrence.

Example: Who invented the payphone?

Though similar to a fact question, a convergent question differs in that it calls for a lengthier explanation than those mentioned above. However, like a fact question, it has an exact answer. It often starts with words like: “according to,” “why,” and “how.”

Example: According to most health scientists, what factor is most responsible for the coronavirus’ fast spread?

A divergent question or an idea question aims to incite people’s reasoning to hear their ideas on a topic. It can have many acceptable answers. This question often starts with words like: “what if,” “how would,” “how could.” 

Example: How would you brew your coffee fast if your espresso machine broke down?

Also known as the opinion question, this question aims to provoke more detailed opinions to rule out judgment on a topic/issue. It may start with words like: “how well,” “do you think,” and “why should.”

Example: Do you think the lack of social amenities in a state is a result of poorly generated revenue or mismanagement?

Exploratory Essay Outline

Essay outlines help you organize your thoughts and structure your paragraphs better to avoid leaving out any relevant information while writing.

An excellent exploratory essay should follow this pattern:

• Introduction,
• Body paragraphs,
• Conclusion.

The essay Introduction

An introduction serves as a hook to gain the reader’s attention and keep them focused until the writing ends. This introduction must be informative, eye-catching, and promising. It should make the reader feel they would be missing out on vital information if they don’t remain engaged until the end.

This introduction should also outline the scope, describe the issue or topic being addressed, highlight its challenges, and include a brief overview of your approach to tackling the problem. This approach will have your reader yearning to know more.

A disorganized, vague, and error-filled introduction creates an overall wrong impression about your writing. Starting your essay on such a wrong foot can cause your reader’s interest level to drop! Achieving this might appear a bit difficult, and so, below are some hacks to writing a persuasive introduction:

• Start with a fascinating story related to the topic: Telling a story that connects with your readers’ emotions automatically buys their interest.
• Make the issue being tackled appear critical
• Describe the issue discussed as an unresolved puzzle: The problem-solving nature of humans would also leap to solve this riddle; that way, they will stay hooked to your essay.
• Cite a captivating quote
• Pose a thought-provoking question or series of questions: Provocative questions challenge accepted thesis and stir the reader to rethink.
• Use statistics: Quoting reputable sources, describing past events, and how long the issue has lingered also does the trick.

Body Paragraphs

After the introduction, next comes the body of the essay. The body paragraphs extensively explain the highlighted scope, context, background information, and purpose of the topic under investigation. This part of the essay is divided into two segments:

The body: Part one

The body: part two.

The first part of the body aims to answer and clarify the following:

• What the issue or problem is
• The level at which this issue has escalated
• The groups discussing the issue
• The persons that have made the topic to be of utmost importance to them
• Past opinions from many authors
• If the writer shares the same views with any of its readers
• If there is any force repressing the audience from expressing their beliefs
• What the issue has demanded overtime
• The evolution of its pitch of interest and the values it passes across

In complementing the first part of the body, this second part gives room to air people’s diverse views. It aims to explain why they understand the situation from the angle represented in the essay. In tabling their thoughts, you should take note of the following when writing:

• Elaborate their view on the issue
• Why they have such perspective
• State the cases that pitched their opinions to these
• Support their perspectives with facts
• Compare their diverse points of view

Tips on writing impressive body paragraphs:

• Start each paragraph with a topic sentence, usually the main point of interest in a paragraph, and stress this sentence. 
• Back this main interest for each paragraph up with facts, quotes, or data. These act as supporting points to give more meaning to the main point and lead to a logical conclusion.
• Try to balance the number of sentences for each paragraph where possible and where not possible, achieve a closer number. Underwritten paragraphs may appear to the reader as having underdeveloped points and vice versa.

Essay conclusion

An exploratory essay conclusion does not imply a repetition of the summary of your findings. In drawing your conclusion in this essay, you should state your contribution to the issue being discussed while maintaining a neutral tone about others’ perspectives.

In the same manner, as you’ve done in the essay body, support your claims with arguments. In most cases, people tend to think that you summarise and support one argument/ opinion while concluding. This is far from the case.

While concluding, discuss your reflections and why you think there is a need for further research on the topic you just explored. Also, give your readers the impression that you are delighted to keep it going. It is excellent to end by calling your readers or audience to action.

When drawing your conclusion, you should avoid:

• Stuffing it with unnecessary information. You should be concise while stating your insights, evaluation, and analysis.
• Statements like, “There may be other better methods” or “Better approaches to this issue state that…” These phrases undermine confidence in your opinion.
• Derailing from the initial subject of discussion. Ensure your conclusion is in line with your introduction’s objectives.

Problems with writing Your Exploratory Essay? Try our Online Essay Writer Service!

Exploratory Essay Examples

Do not be deterred. Writing an exploratory essay isn’t as tedious as it may sound. Below are some great examples of exploratory essays you can study to learn the narration style:

• https://www.thoughtco.com/battle-of-ants-henry-david-thoreau-1690218
• https://www.thoughtco.com/how-it-feels-to-be-colored-me-by-zora-neale-hurston-1688772

30 Exploratory Essay Topics

Another aspect you may need help with is finding topics for exploratory essays. While you may feel tempted to pick any topic for discussing randomly, a good exploratory essay question should tick the following boxes:

• Must be arguable
• Must be unresolved
• There should be resources and facts to back people’s opinion
• Choose a topic that lies within your strength
• Must touch  an exciting topic

There is a wide range of categories to choose a topic from. Exploratory essay topics can be crafted on :

• Entertainment
• Music & Arts
• Religion, among others.

The following make for good exploratory essay topics:

• Children with distant parents tend to grow more independent than ones inhabiting with theirs.
• The chain of divorce extends to the children.
• Handling a mobile phone at an early age inhibits a child’s creativity.
• Smartphones result in poor communication through speech.
• How does technology curb job opportunities
• Social media increases the rate of depression and anxiety among teens.
• Shelving pints of milk extend the life span.
• Professional sports affect the player’s psychological well-being.
• Is Opera overrated?
• Actors pose to be the best role models.
• Is e-learning the solution to poor teaching techniques?
• Do graphic sex and scenes influence the high rate of rape?
• What is the possibility you have a doppelganger on earth?
• What don’t women buy into the surrogacy idea when conceiving proves difficult?
• Does diversity in a workplace increase productivity?
• The maximum amount of money that guarantees happiness
• Which is healthier for newborn babies: processed or breast milk?
• Who suffers during divorce the most: the husband, wife, children, or close relatives?
• Who always seeks divorce: men or women?
• Why don’t inter-tribal marriages work out?
• Do marathon races impair the body muscles?
• Does a high concentration of plastics increase the greenhouse effect in our environment?
• Is nuclear energy the future of energy resources?
• How important is it to cite heavy industries away from the residential areas?
• Will technology ease out the work stress or worsen the situation?
• Which makes for easy reading: hard copy or soft copies?
• What is the best online dating app?
• How does the chemistry between same-sex form?
• Who is the blame for the high rate of immigration? Friends? or The government?
• Who shows the most moral decadence: boys or girls?

Writing Tips for an Exploratory Essay

Without knowing the right mountaineering tricks, the summit will look unreachable. The same goes for this writing. Without adhering to these tips, you may never know how to write an exploratory essay.

Now note the following tips to land your five-star essay:

• Try to hear as many diverse perspectives as possible.
• Note your findings
• Reflect deeply on the topic
• Stick to the outline as mentioned earlier when writing
• Include pictorial representations to back up claims, if there are any
• Write from the third-person perspective, except when told not to
• Take time to proofread and also have a second eye go over the essay for you.

Write an Exploratory Essay with Handmadewriting

Are you too busy or feeling a little too under the weather to get your essay done? It may be that you need a professional eye to help you craft the ideal exploratory essay for school work. Handmadewriting is a message away!

With many platforms offering different writing services, finding the right help can seem like an uphill task. However, with Handmadewriting, you have no worries!  Here, you have licensed and credible experts to work with. The writers always deliver top-notch writing timely. Besides, you gain 100% ownership of your original copy, and all at the best price range that you can think of. Handmadewriting aims to accommodate everyone, even if they have a tight budget. Place your order by simply signing up on the platform and filling in your requirements and a seasoned writer will do the rest!

A life lesson in Romeo and Juliet taught by death

Due to human nature, we draw conclusions only when life gives us a lesson since the experience of others is not so effective and powerful. Therefore, when analyzing and sorting out common problems we face, we may trace a parallel with well-known book characters or real historical figures. Moreover, we often compare our situations with […]

Ethical Research Paper Topics

Writing a research paper on ethics is not an easy task, especially if you do not possess excellent writing skills and do not like to contemplate controversial questions. But an ethics course is obligatory in all higher education institutions, and students have to look for a way out and be creative. When you find an […]

Art Research Paper Topics

Students obtaining degrees in fine art and art & design programs most commonly need to write a paper on art topics. However, this subject is becoming more popular in educational institutions for expanding students’ horizons. Thus, both groups of receivers of education: those who are into arts and those who only get acquainted with art […]

• Essay Guides
• Main Academic Essays
• Exploratory Essay: Definition, Outline & Examples
• Speech Topics
• Basics of Essay Writing
• Essay Topics
• Other Essays
• Research Paper Topics
• Basics of Research Paper Writing
• Miscellaneous
• Chicago/ Turabian
• Data & Statistics
• Methodology
• Admission Writing Tips
• Admission Advice
• Other Guides
• Student Life
• Studying Tips
• Understanding Plagiarism
• Academic Writing Tips
• Basics of Dissertation & Thesis Writing

• Research Paper Guides
• Formatting Guides
• Basics of Research Process
• Admission Guides
• Dissertation & Thesis Guides

Exploratory Essay: Definition, Outline & Examples

Table of contents

Use our free Readability checker

You may probably ask yourself a question like, “What is exploratory writing?” An exploratory essay displays people's shared understanding of a subject while laying forth their points of view on it. You must reflect deeply to write a fantastic essay. Although proof of answers is not required for an exploratory essay, various rules must be followed. Also, a plethora of topics can be investigated for exploratory essays, including business, education, psychology, etc. They can be anything from a lengthy research report to a brief paper. In this article, we will discuss exploratory essay samples, outline, format, and tips on how to write this paper. 

What Is an Exploratory Essay: Definition

An exploratory essay is defined as a writing type where the author examines potential solutions to an issue. Simply put, it provides an overview of issues and draws some early judgments about the proposed solution. Exploratory essays allow you to fully comprehend a subject without worrying about being right or wrong. Your principal objective when preparing this essay is to undertake a thorough investigation first, then think about and assess a few distinct viewpoints on a specific topic. These papers are used in commercial settings and colleges. Studying a minimum of three points helps you grasp the problem correctly in finding the best answer. Exploration essays aim to investigate the subject critically and then offer your readers the research results. Based on its objective, it can take many forms. For instance, a sociology review of literature is an illustration of an exploratory essay.

Peculiarities of Exploratory Writing

Exploratory essay writing is distinct from other types of essays. You will be writing to learn about an issue and find a solution to the matter presented. An exploratory paper is a type of writing that discusses how you arrive at an idea. It also sheds some light on approaches used to examine it, for instance, convincing readers of your standpoint. Conversely, an exploratory paper begins without a firm perspective. While you might support one idea above others, you will not conclude the paper with a clear solution. Instead, it considers a range of findings and alternatives you must know.

Exploratory Essay Outline

We will discuss how crucial it is to generate an outline for exploratory essay. Many overlook this stage because they want to finish writing quickly. Avoid making this error since it causes huge problems. You are ready to start as soon as you design an exploratory essay outline example. The entire writing procedure can be streamlined simply because you already understand the objectives and where to place your quotations.  In this context, outlines also give you a perspective on the next steps to take and divide your work into manageable parts. These are helpful for those who detest spending a significant amount of time thinking and writing as they can get more detail on key areas and then pause. Lastly, creating an outline will spare you time since your essay will be straightforward, accurate, and uncomplicated. Your lecturer may value the care placed into your work arrangement. The exploratory essay outline format is as follows:

The opening section (introduction and thesis statement)

• Present your subject and its significance.
• Provide background information.
• State a thesis statement.

Body paragraph 1

• Explain your source, including the author and publication date.

Body paragraph 2

• Discuss crucial information about your issue from the source.
• Explain why the information is valuable.

Body paragraph 3

• Write a reflection on how the material benefited you, changed the way you thought about the issue, or even did not meet your goals.

Last section (conclusion)

• Reintroduce your topic.
• Outline some potential solutions.

How to Write an Exploratory Essay

Preparing an exploratory essay assignment is simple and perceived differently from other essays. Here are five steps on how to write exploratory essay.

Step 1: Select a topic

Give prefenrence to contentious exploratory essay topics with various opposing viewpoints that can be investigated. Picking a subject with insufficient evidence or one that merely offers a "for" or "against" argument is not recommended. Begin with a more general topic. An example of a good topic would be "Impact of digital platforms on family and group values."

Step 2: Select three points

Choose a minimum of three viewpoints in the body paragraphs to examine in your essay after researching the subject. When undertaking research, consider several ideas related to the topic and pinpoint arguments for or against it. Note that an exploration essay is different from a persuasive essay. An exploration essay seeks to find and analyze numerous points of view on a particular topic. This contrasts with outlining the different sides of a topic and supporting one aspect over another.

Step 3: Decide on the readers

Decide on your target audience and the restrictions you might encounter during this process. These may encompass anything that reveals why specific attributes, ideas, and situations lead people to uphold their views.

Step 4: Answer questions

Respond to the inquiries raised by the research body. Determine how to address any concerns the work may raise.

Step 5: Commence writing

Finally, begin writing and use a sample exploratory essay for reference. In addition, make sure that you adhere to the steps discussed above to make your exploratory essay epic.

Exploratory Essay Introduction

Understanding how to start off an explanatory essay is vital before writing. The exploratory essay introduction paragraph lays background information on your issue and its significance. It also outlines the study questions. This section could summarize aspects covered in the remaining part of your essay and the importance of the topic, which inspires readers to trust your study. Do this by including a few phrases that answer the "so what?" query. To increase your readers' interest and engross them, begin your introduction with an attention grabber. This may be a claim predicated on your assessments of a situation or anything that would make clear why the issue is important to you. Expand on the hook by addressing some underlying causal factors of the issue if your theme permits it. Your main claim should be explicitly stated in the final section of your introduction.

Exploratory Essay Thesis Statement

The essay's central idea needs to be briefly summarized in the exploratory essay thesis statement. Use it in explaining its significance among viewers. Mapping out your facts is crucial when creating an effective thesis. In an exploration essay, you may only raise and explore questions about a subject. Choose the principal subject for your paper, which should be related to the thesis. There are numerous exploratory essay thesis examples. Assuming your topic is "How Can Technology be Improved in Schools?" The exploratory thesis statement would be:

Technology advancements significantly impact how individuals are educated and their quality of life. From calculators, which made math simple, to text editors, which revolutionized how research papers are produced and delivered. Yet, more advanced technology should be adopted to increase interactivity and improve overall school appointment.

Exploratory Essay Body

Exploratory essay structure also encompasses the body. An overriding aim of exploratory essay body paragraph is to offer facts and arguments in favor of your thesis. Begin by first explaining why you opted to pursue the initial idea that came to your mind. Next, discuss the form of materials you used and data you gleaned from them. Explore the value of researched data depending on the subject matter and present your exposition. Describe how the answer and resources you used changed your perspective on the issue. If possible, explain how it pointed you in a different path. After that, use a transition to help readers move from one section to the next. For all the following points and references, maintain this fundamental format. The second section of the body complements the initial section by providing space for expressing other points of view. It seeks to justify why people see things from their own perspective.

Exploratory Essay Conclusion

Conclude an exploratory essay by condensing the research questions, suggested solutions, and views you picked up along the way. First, reaffirm your thesis statement. This strengthens your argument and draws the reader's focus directly to the central idea. Further, summarize three supporting arguments you discussed in the body and briefly recap their relevance. This will demonstrate that you have convincingly supported your exploratory thesis, strengthening your work. Your ending must not contain brand-new information, but you can discuss new issues as you study. You may also share your thoughts and why more research should be conducted. It is a great idea to conclude by urging your viewers to take action.

Exploratory Essay Format

There are global formatting guidelines that are involved in producing high-quality papers. These standards have varied characteristics and adhere to guidelines by major corporations. To format an exploratory essay, you should utilize APA, Chicago, or MLA styles. The primary goal of these formatting styles is to disseminate knowledge to the public in the most effective manner possible. For APA, maintain uniform margins on the page's right, left, bottom, and top. Utilize it for Education, Psychology, and Sciences. Including an abstract in an example of an exploratory essay is one component of APA. MLA format requires you to leave one-inch margins across the paper. It is used for disciplines like Humanities . Each paragraph's initial word should be indented. Chicago style is widely utilized in the disciplines of History and Art. The texts should be double-spaced, and paragraphs indented by 0.5 inches.

Exploratory Essay Examples

To make you comprehend the topic better, we have prepared one of the great exploratory essay examples that will give you an overall idea of what we have discussed in this article. Feel free to download the available materials or use a short exploratory essay sample attached below as a source for inspiration. We hope this reference will help you organize your thoughts, give direction for research, and create an outstanding essay.

Liked examples? Did you know that you can place an essay order at StudyCrumb and get a custom paper written according to your instructions? All you need is to provide us with your requirements.

Exploratory Writing Proofreading Checklist

A checklist helps learners comprehend the abilities required for preparing essays. It demonstrates an easy method for a hesitant writer to incorporate the essential components. Below is a simple checklist used in preparing an exploratory draft.

• checkbox Is the opening sentence intriguing? Does it encourage you to read more?
• checkbox Does the transition between the body paragraphs make sense?
• checkbox Does language used, paper length, and sentence arrangement require any changes?
• checkbox Is the title of the essay fascinating and relevant?
• checkbox Have you used enough sources to underpin your arguments?
• checkbox Do you follow the design suggestions given by your professor (such as MLA, Chicago, and APA paper format )?

Extra Tips on Writing an Exploratory Paper

Writing an exploratory paper is not a walk in the park. You may require specific valuable tips to get started. For instance, consider the paper's length, style, and source to use. Here are a few extra tips to get started.

• Conduct detailed research on the topic Whatever your intentions for writing an exploratory paper are, research is crucial. Online resources have a ton of written information. Check out a variety of sources and choose those that are most pertinent to your work.
• Begin early Stop delaying your task. You have a limited amount of time to complete all the appropriate steps. So, get a head start to have enough time to produce a good paper.
• Design an outline Creating an outline is crucial since it ensures you cover all information that needs to be included in your exploratory writing.
• Take notes At the conclusion of your research, you will need to review your notes. Reorganize points logically and keep in mind that all claims must have insightful transitions. This will guarantee easy material flow and ensure your work is more understandable.
• Proofread your work It is okay to make errors in your work, hence, give yourself enough time to edit your paper. Check that you have done it correctly and it is coherent. Furthermore, believe in your abilities to make it work.

Final Thoughts on Exploration Essay

Exploratory essays provide a deeper understanding of an issue. They explain its causative factors, effects on readers, and potential solutions. To put it differently, an exploratory essay sheds some light on the subject and examines initial findings. Notably, learners ought to comprehend how to write an exploratory paper. Do not hesitate to read through exploratory writing examples. You must delve as deeply as you can into the issue. Nevertheless, it would help if you did not try to influence the audience to engage with your viewpoint. The key is to impartially convey a fact and response so that readers can understand what the paper entails.

Delegate this tedious task to professionals. Our college essay writers have extensive experience in preparing high-quality papers on a range of topics. Leave your instructions and have an essay done by one of our experts.

FAQ About Exploratory Essays

1. what is the purpose of an exploratory essay.

An exploratory essay asks you to consider and respond to various ideas instead of a single opinion. It is more concerned with a subject matter instead of a thesis, implying that the paper keeps track of your research activities and subsequent thoughts. The essay answers questions on specific content and rhetorical queries about potential solutions to the situation.

2. What is the difference between an exploratory essay and argumentative essay?

Argument papers look into a particular perspective, while exploratory essays clarify several points. Some self-reflection on your writing process may be included in the exploratory essay. In an argumentative essay, you may be requested to formulate findings on how to approach your subject. You may also consider proofs and links that were useful during the research investigation.

4. Can I use the first person in an exploratory essay?

A first-person viewpoint is acceptable because an exploratory essay should discuss your research procedure. As a basic rule, utilizing first-person pronouns is critical. When writing an exploratory essay, it makes the article less professional than a third-person pronoun. This makes the work more neutral in style. Exploratory writing demands subjective judgments; thus, a first-person tone is ideal.

3. How to start an exploratory essay?

To begin an exploratory essay, you need to introduce the background of your issue. Additionally, discuss its significance, and lay out your primary research query. This academic work is largely based on reliable information. Be careful to take down all the pertinent specifics from your sources and incorporate them as supporting materials in your work.

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

You may also like

Drafting an exploratory essay

Exploratory papers are NOT argument papers. An exploratory assignment is usually given so that students find ways to branch out in a specific topic without taking a stance. Exploratory papers can range from a full research paper to a short essay.

Introduction

The introduction should do several things for the reader:

Set context – this is where the author can begin to give general background information and set up a “map” of what the paper will discuss.

State importance – the introduction should also explain why the topic is important, it should compel the audience to read further and create interest in the topic.

State the question or topic of exploration – this can be one or several sentences or questions that states what the author is interested in finding out, why, and how they intend to do it.

An acceptable general structure for exploratory papers is given below:

Each paragraph or section should explain what source was used, say why it was chosen, include information found using the source, explain why the information is important, and reflect on the source and its information.

This format is meant as a basic outline and does not need to be repeated exactly the same way for every source.

The conclusion is very similar to the introduction in that it gives a general overview of what has been discussed. This section also ties up any loose ends not confronted in the body of the paper. Many times, the question is restated in the conclusion for reinforcement.

exploratory essay

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

An exploratory essay is a short work of nonfiction in which a writer works through a problem or examines an idea or experience, without necessarily attempting to back up a claim or support a thesis . In the tradition of the Essays of Montaigne (1533-1592), an exploratory essay tends to be speculative, ruminative, and digressive.

William Zeiger has characterized the exploratory essay as open : "[I]t is easy to see that expository composition —writing whose great virtue is to confine the reader to a single, unambiguous line of thought—is closed , in the sense of permitting, ideally, only one valid interpretation. An 'exploratory' essay, on the other hand, is an open work of nonfiction prose . It cultivates ambiguity and complexity to allow more than one reading or response to the work." ("The Exploratory Essay: Enfranchising the Spririt of Enquiry in College Composition." College English , 1985)

Examples of Exploratory Essays

Here are some exploratory essays by famous authors:

• "The Battle of the Ants," by Henry David Thoreau
• "How It Feels to Be Colored Me," by Zora Neale Hurston
• " Naturalization," by Charles Dudley Warner
• "New Year's Eve," by Charles Lamb
• "Street Haunting: A London Adventure," by Virginia Woolf

Examples and Observations:

• "The expository essay tries to prove all of its contentions, while the exploratory essay prefers to probe connections. Exploring links between personal life, cultural patterns, and the natural world, this essay leaves space for readers to reflect on their own experience, and invites them into a conversation..." (James J. Farrell, The Nature of College . Milkweed, 2010)
• "I have in mind a student writing whose model is Montaigne or Byron or DeQuincey or Kenneth Burke or Tom Wolfe...The writing is informed by associational thinking, a repertory of harlequin changes, by the resolution that resolution itself is anathema. This writer writes to see what happens." (William A. Covino, The Art of Wondering: A Revisionist Return to the History of Rhetoric . Boynton/Cook, 1988)

Montaigne on the Origin of the Essays

"Recently I retired to my estates, determined to devote myself as far as I could to spending what little life I have left quietly and privately; it seemed to me then that the greatest favour I could do for my mind was to leave it in total idleness, caring for itself, concerned only with itself, calmly thinking of itself. I hoped it could do that more easily from then on since with the passage of time it had grown mature and put on weight. "But I find—

Variam semper dant otia mentis [Idleness always produces fickle changes of mind]*

—that, on the contrary, it bolted off like a runaway horse, taking far more trouble over itself than it ever did over anyone else; it gives birth to so many chimeras and fantastic monstrosities, one after another, without order or fitness, that, so as to contemplate at my ease their oddness and their strangeness, I began to keep a record of them, hoping in time to make my mind ashamed of itself." (Michel de Montaigne, "On Idleness." The Complete Essays , trans. by M.A. Screech. Penguin, 1991)

*Note: Montaigne's terms are the technical ones of melancholy madness.

Characteristics of the Exploratory Essay

"In the quotation from Montaigne [above], we have several of the characteristics of the exploratory essay : First, it is personal in subject matter , finding its topic in a subject that is of deep interest to the writer. Second, it is personal in approach , revealing aspects of the writer as the subject at hand illuminates them. The justification for this personal approach rests in part on the assumption that all people are similar; Montaigne implies that, if we look honestly and deeply into any person, we will find truths appropriate to all people. Each of us is humankind in miniature. Third, notice the extended use of figurative language (in this case the simile comparing his mind to a runaway horse). Such language is also characteristic of the exploratory essay." (Steven M. Strang, Writing Exploratory Essays: From Personal to Persuasive . McGraw-Hill, 1995)

• What Is a Personal Essay (Personal Statement)?
• The Essay: History and Definition
• Topical Organization Essay
• Definition and Examples of Formal Essays
• What Are the Different Types and Characteristics of Essays?
• Periodical Essay Definition and Examples
• What is a Familiar Essay in Composition?
• Composition Type: Problem-Solution Essays
• Topic In Composition and Speech
• The Difference Between an Article and an Essay
• What Is Expository Writing?
• Definition and Examples of Analysis in Composition
• How to Write a Narrative Essay or Speech
• How to Write a Response Paper
• Expository Essay Genre With Suggested Prompts
• How to Write a Solid Thesis Statement

📕 Studying HQ

Mastering the art of exploratory essays, carla johnson.

• June 13, 2023
• Essay Topics and Ideas , How to Guides , Samples

Exploratory essays are a type of academic writing that lets the writer look at a subject or topic from many different points of view. Exploratory essays are different from other types of essays because they don’t try to prove a certain point of view or have a thesis statement. On the other hand, exploratory essays look into a topic, find different points of view, and give a full analysis. The goal of an exploratory essay is to learn a lot about a topic and show how it fits into the world as a whole. It gives the writer a chance to look into a subject, compare different points of view, and come up with results that can lead to more research and discussion. Exploratory essays are important because they teach students how to think critically, be open-minded, and improve their writing and research skills . This article will show you how to write exploratory essays by giving you tips, examples, and ideas for what to write about. We’ll talk about how to choose a topic, how to do research and analyze different points of view, and how to structure and write an effective exploratory essay. By the end of this article, you’ll know how to write a good exploratory essay that looks at a topic from different points of view. We’ll talk about what an exploratory essay is, what it’s for, and why it’s important to look at things from different points of view in the sections that follow.

What You'll Learn

Definition of an Exploratory Essay

An exploratory essay is a type of academic writing that looks at a topic from different points of view and doesn’t have a thesis statement. The goal of an exploratory essay is to look into a topic, compare different points of view, and present findings that can lead to more research and discussion. This kind of essay is often given in school to help students think more critically and be more open-minded. Argumentative essays are about arguing for a certain point of view, but exploratory essays are not about that. Instead, they are about learning more about a subject and seeing how different people see it. The point of an exploratory essay is not to get the reader to agree with a certain point of view. They are instead meant to give a complete look at a subject.

Purpose of an Exploratory Essay

The goal of an exploratory essay is to learn a lot about a topic and show how it fits into the world as a whole. The goal of the essay is to look into a topic , compare different points of view, and show results that can lead to more research and discussion. Exploratory essays are often assigned in school to help students learn to think critically and keep an open mind. You can also use exploratory essays to look into hard problems or topics that don’t have a clear answer. Exploratory essays can shed light on a topic by looking at it from different angles and analyzing different points of view. This could lead to more study or talk.

Importance of Exploring Different Perspectives

It’s important for writers to look at things from different points of view because it helps them understand a subject or topic better. By looking at things from different points of view, writers can learn new things and get a better understanding of the topic they are writing about. Exploring different points of view also helps people be more open-minded and think more critically . It gets writers to think about different points of view and question their own biases and assumptions. This is especially important in academic writing, where the goal is to carefully analyze things to find the truth and learn more. Also, looking at things from different angles can help you find new things and come up with new ideas. It can lead to more research and discussion, and it can help people understand a topic in a more nuanced and complex way. Exploratory essays are a type of academic writing that lets the writer look at a subject or topic from many different points of view. The goal of an exploratory essay is to look into a topic, compare different points of view, and present results that can lead to more research and discussion. Exploring different points of view is important because it helps people be more open-minded and think more critically. It can also lead to new insights and discoveries. In the sections that follow, we’ll show you how to write exploratory essays by giving you tips, examples, and ideas for topics .

Elements of an Exploratory Essay

To write a good exploratory essay, you need to know what the most important parts of this type of essay are. Here are the most important parts of an exploratory essay::

Introduction: The introduction of an exploratory essay should provide some background information on the topic being explored and set the stage for the rest of the essay. It should also include a clear statement of the exploratory questions being investigated.

Background Information: This section of the essay provides context and background information on the topic being explored. It may include definitions, historical information, or relevant statistics .

Exploratory Questions : These are the central questions that the essay seeks to answer. These questions are often open-ended and designed to encourage critical thinking and exploration.

Exploratory Research: This section of the essay involves researching and analyzing different perspectives on the topic being explored. It may involve reading articles, conducting interviews, or analyzing data.

Body Paragraphs: The body paragraphs of an exploratory essay should present different perspectives on the topic being explored. Each paragraph should focus on a different perspective and provide evidence to support that perspective.

Conclusion: The conclusion of an exploratory essay should summarize the main findings and insights of the essay. It should also highlight any unanswered questions or areas that require further exploration .

How to Choose a Topic for an Exploratory Essay

Choosing a topic for an exploratory essay can be challenging, but there are several strategies that can help. The following are sometips on how to choose a topic for an exploratory essay:

Brainstorming Techniques: Start by brainstorming potential topics and ideas . This can be done by free-writing, mind mapping, or listing out potential topics.

Analyzing Different Perspectives: Consider a topic that has multiple perspectives or viewpoints. This can help you explore different perspectives and provide a comprehensive analysis.

Researching Potential Topics: Conduct research on potential topics to see if there is enough information available to explore the topic in depth. This can also help you identify different perspectives and potential exploratory questions.

Selecting a Topic that Interests You: Choose a topic that is important to you and that you are interested in. This can keep you interested and motivated while you do your research and write your paper. Once you have an idea for a topic , you should narrow it down and come up with a clear research question or set of exploratory questions. This will help you stay on track and make sure that your essay covers the topic in depth. It can be hard to choose a topic for an exploratory essay. But you can find a topic that is both interesting and informative by using brainstorming techniques, analyzing different points of view, researching possible topics, and choosing a topic that interests you. You can write a good exploratory essay that gives a thorough analysis of the topic by coming up with clear exploratory questions and doing thorough research.

Exploratory Essay Outline

An outline is a helpful tool for organizing your thoughts and ideas before you start writing your exploratory essay. The following is a basic outline for an exploratory essay:

Introduction:

– Introduce the topic

– Provide some background information

– Present the exploratory questions being investigated

– Thesis statement (optional)

Body Paragraphs:

– Present different perspectives on the topic being explored

– Provide evidence to support each perspective

– Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective

– Present any unanswered questions or areas that require further exploration

Conclusion:

– Summarize the main findings and insights of the essay

– Highlight any unanswered questions or areas that require further exploration

– Emphasize the importance of exploring different perspectives

Exploratory Essay Structure

The structure of an exploratory essay is similar to other types of essays, but with some key differences. The following is a basic structure for an exploratory essay:

Thesis statement (optional): In some cases, an exploratory essay may have a thesis statement, but it is not required.

– Explain the significance of exploring different perspectives

-Summarize the main findings and insights of the essay

– Conclude with a final thought or recommendation for further research or action

When writing an exploratory essay, it’s important to keep an open mind and not take sides. The goal is to show different points of view without taking a side or trying to get the reader to agree with one point of view. You can write a good exploratory essay that looks at a topic from different points of view by using clear and concise language, giving evidence to support each point of view, and analyzing the pros and cons of each point of view.

Exploratory Essay Examples

Exploratory essays can cover a wide range of topics and subjects. Here are some examples of exploratory essay topics:

Example 1: The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

– Explores the effects of social media on mental health and well-being

– Investigates different perspectives on the issue, including the positive and negative effects of social media

– Analyzes the role of social media in shaping our behavior and attitudes

Example 2: The Pros and Cons of Online Learning

– Explores the benefits and drawbacks of online learning

– Investigates different perspectives on the issue, including the impact of online learning on student engagement , motivation, and learning outcomes

– Analyzes the role of technology in education and the potential implications of online learning on traditional classroom settings

Example 3: The Ethics of Genetic Engineering

– Explores the ethical implications of genetic engineering and genetic modification

– Investigates different perspectives on the issue, including the potential benefits and risks of genetic engineering

– Analyzes the role of science and technology in shaping our values and ethical principles

Example 4: The Effectiveness of Alternative Medicine

– Explores the effectiveness of alternative medicine in treating various health conditions

– Investigates different perspectives on the issue, including the scientific evidence supporting alternative medicine

– Analyzes the role of alternative medicine in shaping our views on health and wellness

Example 5: The Causes and Effects of Climate Change

– Explores the causes and effects of climate change on our planet and society

– Investigates different perspectives on the issue, including the role of human activity, natural factors, and policy decisions in causing climate change

– Analyzes the potential impacts of climate change on our environment , economy, and public health

Tips for Writing an Effective Exploratory Essay

Writing an effective exploratory essay requires careful analysis, research, and critical thinking . Here are some tips to help you write an effective exploratory essay:

Avoiding Bias: An exploratory essay should remain objective and neutral. Avoid using language that shows bias or takes a particular stance on the topic being explored .

Providing Evidence: Use evidence to support each perspective presented in your essay . This can include statistics, quotes, or other forms of evidence that support your analysis .

Acknowledging Different Perspectives: Acknowledge the different perspectives and viewpoints presented in your essay . Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective and present the information in a clear and concise manner.

Being Open-Minded: Approach the topic with an open mind and be willing to consider different perspectives and viewpoints. This can help you develop a more comprehensive understanding of the topic being explored.

Keeping a Neutral Tone: Keep a neutral and professional tone throughout the essay. Avoid using emotional language or making personal attacks on any particular perspective.

By using these tips and examples , you can write a good exploratory essay that looks at a topic from different points of view and gives a full analysis. Remember to stay neutral and open-minded, give evidence to support each point of view, and recognize the good and bad points of each. With practice, you can learn how to write exploratory essays and improve your ability to think critically and do research.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what is an exploratory essay.

An exploratory essay is a type of academic writing that does not have a thesis statement, but rather explores a topic from different perspectives. The goal of an exploratory essay is to investigate a subject, analyze different viewpoints, and present findings that can lead to further research and discussion.

2. What are the elements of an exploratory essay?

The essential elements of an exploratory essay include an introduction, background information, exploratory questions, exploratory research, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

3. How do I choose a topic for an exploratory essay ?

To choose a topic for an exploratory essay, you can use brainstorming techniques, analyze different perspectives, research potential topics , and select a topic that interests you.

4. What is the difference between an exploratory essay and a persuasive essay?

The main difference between an exploratory essay and a persuasive essay is their purpose. An exploratory essay is focused on exploring a topic and discovering different perspectives, while a persuasive essay is focused on arguing a particular point of view .

5. How do I structure an exploratory essay?

An exploratory essay typically includes an introduction, body paragraphs that present different perspectives on the topic being explored, and a conclusion that summarizes the main findings and insights of the essay .

Exploratory essays are an important type of academic writing because they teach students how to think critically, be open-minded, and improve their research and analysis skills. Students can learn more about complicated issues and add to ongoing discussions and debates by looking at a topic from different points of view. To be good at exploratory essays, you should avoid bias, back up each point of view with evidence, acknowledge different points of view, and keep a neutral tone. Students can write good exploratory essays that go into depth about a topic and give useful information for further research and discussion by using these tips and the parts and structure of an exploratory essay.

In conclusion, exploratory essays are a useful type of academic writing that can help students learn how to think critically, do research, and analyze. Students can learn more about complicated issues and add to ongoing discussions and debates if they keep an open mind and look at things from different points of view.

Start by filling this short order form order.studyinghq.com

And then follow the progressive flow. 

Having an issue, chat with us here

Cathy, CS. 

New Concept ? Let a subject expert write your paper for You​

Have a subject expert write for you now, have a subject expert finish your paper for you, edit my paper for me, have an expert write your dissertation's chapter, popular topics.

Business StudyingHq Essay Topics and Ideas How to Guides Samples

• Nursing Solutions
• Study Guides
• Free Study Database for Essays
• Privacy Policy
• Writing Service 
• Discounts / Offers 

Study Hub: 

• Studying Blog
• Topic Ideas 
• How to Guides
• Business Studying 
• Nursing Studying 
• Literature and English Studying

Writing Tools  

• Citation Generator
• Topic Generator
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Conclusion Maker
• Research Title Generator
• Thesis Statement Generator
• Summarizing Tool
• Terms and Conditions
• Confidentiality Policy
• Cookies Policy
• Refund and Revision Policy

Our samples and other types of content are meant for research and reference purposes only. We are strongly against plagiarism and academic dishonesty. 

Contact Us:

📧 [email protected]

📞 +15512677917

2012-2024 © studyinghq.com. All rights reserved

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy

• A Research Guide
• Writing Guide
• Essay Writing

How to Write an Exploratory Essay

• What Is an exploratory essay
• How to start
• What is particular
• Step-by-step Writing Guide
• What is a good topic
• Exploratory essay format
• Exploratory essay example

What Is an Exploratory Essay?

• An introduction;
• The body paragraphs;
• The conclusion.
• A brief presentation of the source material and why you selected it for your exploratory essay.
• Relevant or important information that you’ve uncovered relating to your problem.
• Why the information that you’ve uncovered is essential and relatable?
• A few personal introspects on how the source assisted you and enabled you to think differently about the problem. Moreover, tell shortly what you had expected and point you in a new direction.

How to Start an Exploratory Essay?

What’s particular about an exploratory essay, what makes exploratory essays different, step-by-step writing guide: how to write outstanding exploratory essay, step 1. investigate the topic, collect data, and write down all the necessary information, step 2. write a plan, step 3. write an exploratory essay, step 4: check citations and formatting, step 5: reread and edit your finished exploratory essay, what’s a good topic for an exploratory essay.

• Not solved;
• Not something that you could easily locate the answer to;
• Something that you can find at least three different views on;
• Interesting to people, at present;
• Linked to a weighted issue.

What are weighted issues?

Exploratory essay format, introduction to the exploratory essay.

• You must grab (and hold) the reader’s attention and garner interest in the problem.
• You must ensure the reader understands the problem and its importance.
• You must introduce the issue – typically at the end of the introduction.

Ideas for an introduction:

• Share a real scenario;
• Disclose statistics;
• Make up a story – but let the audience know it is fictional;
• Describe a situation or scene;
• Explain a standard situation;
• Talk about why the argument is important;
• Give a brief history of the concept;
• List out problems;
• Offer several examples of this issue;
• Ask multiple questions;
• Use interviews and relevant answers.
• Finish the story.
• Add any additional or last-minute evidence that you believe is the most compelling.
• Share your point of view with your audience.
• If you are unsure what you think, then say that and explain which points you think are the most important.
• Encourage the reader to make their own decision.
• Outline the main elements that should be considered when making decisions about the question: What is important? What isn’t?

Exploratory Essay Example

Receive paper in 3 Hours!

• Choose the number of pages.
• Select your deadline.
• Complete your order.

Number of Pages

550 words (double spaced)

Deadline: 10 days left

By clicking "Log In", you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We'll occasionally send you account related and promo emails.

Sign Up for your FREE account

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Introductions, Body Paragraphs, and Conclusions for Exploratory Papers

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Many paper assignments call for you to establish a position and defend that position with an effective argument. However, some assignments are not argumentative, but rather, they are exploratory. Exploratory essays ask questions and gather information that may answer these questions. However, the main point of the exploratory or inquiry essay is not to find definite answers. The main point is to conduct inquiry into a topic, gather information, and share that information with readers.

Introductions for Exploratory Essays

The introduction is the broad beginning of the paper that answers three important questions:

• What is this?
• Why am I reading it?
• What do you want me to do?

You should answer these questions in an exploratory essay by doing the following:

• Set the context – provide general information about the main idea, explaining the situation so the reader can make sense of the topic and the questions you will ask
• State why the main idea is important – tell the reader why they should care and keep reading. Your goal is to create a compelling, clear, and educational essay people will want to read and act upon
• State your research question – compose a question or two that clearly communicate what you want to discover and why you are interested in the topic. An overview of the types of sources you explored might follow your research question.

If your inquiry paper is long, you may want to forecast how you explored your topic by outlining the structure of your paper, the sources you considered, and the information you found in these sources. Your forecast could read something like this:

In order to explore my topic and try to answer my research question, I began with news sources. I then conducted research in scholarly sources, such as peer-reviewed journals. Lastly, I conducted an interview with a primary source. All these sources gave me a better understanding of my topic, and even though I was not able to fully answer my research questions, I learned a lot and narrowed my subject for the next paper assignment, the problem-solution report.

For this OWL resource, the example exploratory process investigates a local problem to gather more information so that eventually a solution may be suggested.

Identify a problem facing your University (institution, students, faculty, staff) or the local area and conduct exploratory research to find out as much as you can on the following:

• Causes of the problem and other contributing factors
• People/institutions involved in the situation: decision makers and stakeholders
• Possible solutions to the problem.

You do not have to argue for a solution to the problem at this point. The point of the exploratory essay is to ask an inquiry question and find out as much as you can to try to answer your question. Then write about your inquiry and findings.

Exploratory Essay

6 July 2023

last updated

This article discusses the exploratory essay type by looking into its key features. Basically, people need to learn what is an exploratory essay to write papers correctly. Apart from the introduction and conclusion parts, the paper has a section that defines an exploratory essay and another that discusses some important aspects. In turn, the last part, before the conclusion, distinguishes an exploratory essay from other types of essays.

Main Aspects

One of the essential elements in essay writing is the development of a thesis statement . Basically, the main claim becomes the foundation upon which the writer builds the argument throughout the paper. However, in an exploratory essay, a writer’s mission is to investigate a phenomenon, explain why it exists, and draw some preliminary conclusions on how it might be solved.

Definition of an Exploratory Essay

In essence, an exploratory essay, like a research paper , is a writer’s retrospective of the writing and thinking processes as a person investigates a theme. For instance, this type of essay describes when, how, and why the writer undertook certain kinds of research work. As such, introspection and reflection on one’s thinking process are essential activities in exploratory writing. An exploratory essay flows just like most other types of essays . As a result, the key features are an introductory part, body paragraphs, and a concluding section.

Introduction Part

Concerning the introduction, the writer outlines the phenomenon that the person is investigating and the main objective of doing so. In this case, the writer offers a brief discussion about some of the causes of the phenomenon, the people and institutions affected, and some possible solutions. Hence, the person also gives a brief overview of some of the researched sources that helped with the investigation.

Body Paragraphs in an Exploratory Essay

In the body paragraphs of an exploratory essay, writers discuss the investigation process that they followed in researching the phenomenon – its causes and the people or institutions affected. Basically, the information in the paragraphs should include an introduction of the source (such as the title and author) and why it is vital in the inquiry. Also, it should include essential information the writer found helpful to the inquiry. In this case, the text should indicate the importance and validity of the information to the inquiry. Lastly, the content should cover a brief personal introspection on how the source was helpful, such as giving the writer a new perspective on the phenomenon.

The conclusion is the last part of an exploratory essay where the writer restates the phenomenon they investigated. For instance, the authors outline some of the possible causes, review the audience or others affected, and highlight some possible solutions. Also, writers discuss some lingering questions that remain after investigating the phenomenon. Basically, people explain why they think these questions are essential. In their concluding remarks, the writer indicates the need for further research work to find answers to those questions.

The Difference With Other Types of Essay

The main difference between an exploratory essay and other types of essays is that the former does not try to convince a reader of the validity of a thesis. Instead, it delves into a discussion about a phenomenon. For example, the body paragraphs of an argumentative essay exist to strengthen or confirm the thesis claim. In contrast, such essays explain the causes and impacts of the phenomenon.

Summing Up on an Exploratory Essay

Exploratory essays help to broaden insight about a problem, outlining the likely causes, impacts on the audience, and possible solutions. Most types of essays involve a writer trying to convince an audience about a thesis. However, an exploratory essay investigates a matter and highlights some preliminary conclusions.

Exploratory Essay

Writing an essay could be very tiring yet a fascinating thing to do. Each of the documents and paper we write has their own unique purpose and distinguishing features. Try to observe essays such as a descriptive essay , narrative essay , informative essay , etc. They all serve a purpose intended for a specific audience. Today, we will be talking about exploratory essay. Structuring an exploratory essay may sometimes be tricky. It is not an easy task to do, but the process of writing it may be able to increase our interest. The question is “how to write an exploratory essay?”

10+ Exploratory Essay Examples

1. drafting an exploratory essay.

Size: 79 KB

2. Annotated Exploratory Essay

Size: 189 KB

3. College Exploratory Essay

Size: 654 KB

4. Fiscal Sociology Exploratory Essay

Size: 23 KB

5. Exploratory Essay on Human Resource

Size: 421 KB

6. Democracy Exploratory Essay

Size: 191 KB

7. Exploratory Essay of Humans

Size: 369 KB

8. Exploratory Essay in Documentation

Size: 83 KB

9. Water Exploratory Essay

Size: 750 KB

10. Financial Services Exploratory Essay

Size: 266 KB

11. Exploratory Essay Sheet

What is an Exploratory Essay?

An exploratory essay is a work of nonfiction where the writer deals with a problem or an idea without providing any evidence or thesis statement. A title of an exploratory essay explains the main idea. While writing this type of essay, we are not going to persuade readers. We aim to examine an idea to explore problems and arrive at a certain solution. It is also imperative to cite your sources properly.

Structure of an Exploratory Essay

Exploratory essays are said to be different from any other essays. Other essays would require to make a persuasion to convince your audience of your thesis statement . In this essay, you are to write for the purpose of finding out a problem to form initial conclusion and to look for its possible solution. It may also describe how and why you are able to complete a particular research. You introspect in order to have a well-written exploratory essay.

Below are the structures of your exploratory essay:

Introduction

Your introduction should highlight the importance of your problem and what is it all about. You should be able to discuss the causes of the problem, people involved in the problem, and the possible solutions to the problem.

These part should discuss about the process on how you researched about the problem. It should contain the title, name of the author, publisher, publication date, etc. and the reason why you chose it in your exploration. You should also put the important information you have found during your research and the explanation on why you think that the information is considered necessary. Is the information useful in finding ways to solve the problem? Lastly, you may also consider writing some personal insight about how your research helped you and allowed you think more about the problem.

The conclusion is responsible of  summary writing  about the whole idea of the essay. It should restate the problem, show an outline of the causes, give information about the people involved and highlight the solutions.

Examples of Exploratory Essays

Check out the following examples of exploratory essay written by famous authors:

“The Battle of the Ants”, by Henry David Thoreau

“How It Feels To Be Colored Me”, by Zora Neale Hurston

“Naturalization”, by Charles Dudley Warner

“New Year’s Eve”, by Charles Lamb

“Street Haunting: A London Adventure”, by Virginia Woolf

www.thoughtco.com

How to start an exploratory essay.

You may start an exploratory essay by mentioning all the issues you want to write about and outlining the purpose of your essay.

How to end an exploratory essay?

Always make sure that you end it by mentioning the main problem and writing about the main points. You should also summarize what you have researched.

What could be some of the interesting topics to use in writing an exploratory essay?

You may have topics about technology, family, culture, arts, health, business, etc.

Exploratory essays are not for persuading or for giving an advise. It is made for the purpose of providing information to find a solution for a problem. Choose a great topic for your exploratory essay. In that manner, you will be able to produce an output that will surely interests your readers.

Exploratory Essay Generator

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Write an Exploratory Essay on the ethical implications of cloning

Discuss possible solutions to climate change in an Exploratory Essay

• How to Write Exploratory Essay
• How to Write an A+ Exploratory Essay: Examples, Tips

What is an Exploratory Essay?

Exploratory questions: types, how to choose a good topic to explore, is your topic really contradictory, to what type of questions it belongs, is your topic related to one of the main needs of people, exploratory essay outline, introduction, 7 introduction tips, exploratory essay: body part, first body part of essay, second body part of exploratory paper, essay conclusion tips, exploratory essay topics, health issues, social exploratory topics, technology problems.

If you are a student who is looking for some guide, tips on how to write a good exploratory essay, that’s the ticket. Consider it done, you’ve found what you are looking for. Read the article and you will learn what is an exploratory essay , how to write it, how to choose the topic, find the problem of the essay and other important information.

It is a special type of paper which gives the writer kind of privilege to explore the problem when writing. Working on it, you don’t need to make a thesis, find and give the supporting arguments. In it, you are able to feel free to make a research on your subject and show it to people. That’s why exploratory essays are said to be one of the most fun writing assignments compared to other papers. This paper can be called as an investigative essay, because in it you supposed to investigate, not to prove your thesis statement.

Is it hard? – No. Are there some special features which you should know? – Yes. Let’s start.

In your essay, you should give overviews of different points of view on the same issue after gathering information from relevant sources and find your own point. You have to write an outline. Outlines for different papers can differ, for example, check how to write a good literary analysis outline . For exploratory essay outline, use special exploratory questions, find them below.

• Is this true? – This question shows if your topic or problem is real;
• What does your problem mean? – It is the question of definition, answering which you can show its meaning to the readers;
• Is it important and how much? – This question will show the importance of your problem. Give the value of issue which you bring up in your work;
• What was the cause? – Answer this question to explain the causes of the issue which you investigate in the essay;
• What actions should we take? - It will explain what can be done concerning this problem.

In your paper, you should investigate several points of view on your topic, that’s why you should be sure that it is actual and it is the matter of controversy. When you choose the topic, give the answers to the next questions.

You need to understand clearly is it something that is really interesting to talk about, do people discuss it currently?

• Definition question;
• Value question;
• Cause/effect;
• Policy question.

A good topic can be related to health issues, social problems , education, peace in the world and particular countries, work, government issues. If it seems too complicated, you can always order an essay online.

An outline has three main parts so you should cover all three parts and give the relevant information in each of them:

• Introduction,
• Conclusion.

Here you can find good exploratory essay examples. Just follow the structure and you will complete your paper successfully.

It is the first page of your writing assignment and the part in which you have to give some key terms of your topic and describe them. Pay maximum attention to it. It will help you to show kind of a preview to your reader and get him interested in your problem. He will understand what he will read about, so give him a good reason to keep on his reading. The idea is to grab the attention of the reader. Check the best first lines in the literature which were used by the authors to grab reader’s attention.

• The first sentence should be short;
• Try to use “you” word at the beginning;
• Say something eye-catching and unusual;
• Explain why your paper is important to read;
• Show that your issue is currently relevant;
• Make your introduction brief;
• Give at least one reference to the reliable source.

In the body paragraphs of your essay, you will discuss different points of view and give all important information which can become a strong background on the issue. This part contains the points for your main thought and against it. Make sure that you include facts, statistics, examples. In order to write a good body, you should include two parts in it.

In this part, you should give information about the rhetorical background on the issue. Pay attention to:

• People involved in the issue,
• The time during which it lays just beneath the surface,
• Development of the issue, etc.

This part should be bigger than the previous one and should reflect different points of view. Here you should explore your topic and the ways in which people talk about it. Explore different position of the people concerning your issue and try to give them in the logical consequence giving the best of the reasons.

Your conclusions should return the reader to the introduction of your essay with the help of:

• Restating the main problem of the topic;
• Outlining some important points of view;
• Summarizing causes;
• Showing different approaches.

You can challenge your reader to make up his own conclusion. Asking him a question about his own opinion, and if it has changed after reading your essay.

• Challenge your reader to make his own conclusion;
• Give the final most persuasive facts or statistics;
• Outline the actions which can be taken to solve the problem of the topic.

Find good exploratory essay topics below.

• How does eating organic food affect our health?
• Cellphones and other technologies: can they cause brain cancer? 
• Is caffeine really so addictive as we used to consider?
• How are divorces affecting English children?
• Is renewable energy a viable solution for modern society?
• Effects of early marriages
• Studying apps : Is technology good for education or no and why?
• Internet and copyright protection
• Positive and negative effects of nanotechnology.

You can find persuasive essay topics which can assure your success here.

We tried to give you the most important information and tips in this article. If you still feel unconfident and don’t know if you can cope with the exploratory essay, you can buy an essay online from professionals. Feel free to ask any question, just write it in the comments and our professional writers will answer you.

Informative essay writing is an art that every student needs to master. In order to graduate from any educational establishment, one has to accomplish a lot of writing assignments successfully. Thus, essay writing skills are of utmost importance when it comes to student’s academic performance and gr...

“Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and all that comes under thy observation in life.”Marcus AureliusEvery person faces various life situations when it is important to acquire information from a primary source to answer specific questions. Grab an...

Descriptive essay is one of the most popular types of academic writing for college, high school, and middle school students. The goal of writing a descriptive essay is to break down a certain thing, event, person, or phenomenon and provide its detailed description. A descriptive essay is a short pap...