ENG 102 Section 5

1. Expository Essay
WEEK 3

2. Lesson outline
Intro to Expository Essay
Elements of a research question
Types of focus of a research question
Rough outlines:
Thesis statements:
Characteristics of an effective thesis statement
Identifying effective thesis statements
Correct amount of information
Style

3. What is Expository Writing?
Expository writing is defined as presenting reasons, explanations,
or steps in a process
Informational writing
An expository essay should follow a logical sequence and have
three different main points
Logic and coherence is the main focus of an expository essay

4. How is it different ?
Expository writing does not tell a story
Expository writing does not persuade a reader but only gives
facts and reasons
Expository writing can also give the steps of a process

5. WHAT IS AN EXPOSITORY ESSAY?An EXPOSITORY essay is a multi-paragraph essay with a specific
structure.
It explains a position or opinion that you have regarding a topic or
text.
It provides adequate textual evidence to support that opinion.
AN EXPOSITORY ESSAY IS NOT …
It is not a summary of the book.
It is not a book review or a book report.
It is not ONLY your opinion. You must base your ideas on events from the
text.

6. Research questions
What are the causes of internet addiction?
2 parts – topic and focus

7. Research questions - topic
What are the causes of internet addiction?
The general topic is usually a noun phrase

8. Research questions - focus
What are the causes of internet addiction?
The focus suggests what you will say about the topic
and the information that you will look for.

9. 8 Types of focus
Cause
Effect
Definition
Classification
Problem and solution
Process (How to?)
Argument (Should?)
Comparison

10. What is the focus of the following
research questions?
1. How are expectations of marriage in the U.S. and India
similar or different?
2. Why do people become homeless?

11. Sourcework p33
Look at the examples on pp31-32.
Complete the questions on p 33 - 34.

12. More than one focus
Sometimes a research question has more than one focus.
For example: What are the causes and effects of
insomnia?

13. Sourcework p34
Look at the examples
Complete the 2 questions on p34.

14. Rough Outline
A good way to organize your ideas is to create a rough outline.
3 parts to a rough outline:
1.The research question
2.The focus of the research question
3.3 to 5 categories of answers to your research question.

15. Example
Research question: Why do people become addicted to
alcohol?
Focus: Causes
Answers: Emotional distress
Social Pressure
Genetic predisposition

16. Thesis Statements
4 characteristics of a good thesis statement
1.It states the topic and focus, which answers your research question.
2.It gives an overview of your supporting points, which are logically
connected to your focus.
3.It gives the correct amount of information [not to much or too little]
4.It uses correct grammar and precise vocabulary

17. Example 1
R.Q.: How are expectations of marriage in the U.S. and India
similar or different?
T.S.: Belief in romantic love, the division of family
responsibilities, and attitudes towards divorce are three
differences between American and India expectations of
marriage.

18. Example 2
R.Q.: Why do people become homeless?
T.S.: The lack of affordable housing, inadequate public
assistance, and the breakdown of the family are three causes
of homelessness.

19. Sourcework – p48
Look at the 3 thesis statements: Circle the topic
and underline the focus

20. Identifying an effective thesis statement.
Look at the 2 sample rough outlines and effective thesis
statements on pp48-49.
Now look at the thesis statements and rough outlines in the
exercises on pp49-51 and decide if they are OK or not OK
and why.

21. Look at the example rough outlines on
pp48-49 and their thesis statements.
Create a thesis statement using your rough outline
from earlier –
What makes a successful city?

22. Correct amount of information
Your thesis statement should have just enough
information to enable your reader to know the key
points you will make about your topic.

23. Too little information.
Internet addiction causes many problems.
This does not tell us what problems are caused.

24. Too much information!
Capital punishment, which is practiced in many countries such as Pakistan,
China, and parts of the United States, is a problem because it actually costs
more than a carefully planned system of rehabilitation, often leads to the
execution of innocent people when the justice system is corrupt or
operates too quickly, and can cause unreasonable pain to the person being
executed if methods like electrocution are used.

25. Identify the correct thesis statement
On page 52 which of the 3 thesis statements
gives the correct amount of information?

26. Style
Do not write your thesis statement in the first person ie:
I’m going to talk about two reasons…
I think…
Instead use the third person:
There are 2 reasons that…
It is believed that…

27. Further reading
Pages 54 – 58 : Common problems with thesis
statements

28. Lesson summary
Research Questions:
Elements of a research question
Types of focus of a research question
Rough outlines:
Thesis statements:
Characteristics of an effective thesis statement
Identifying effective thesis statements
Correct amount of information
Style