This document provides suggestions for effectively structuring an essay. It recommends beginning with an anecdote, scene, profile, background information, quotation, or dialogue to engage the reader. The body of the essay should explore the topic through specific examples and lesser known details while relating it back to the central question. The conclusion should avoid generic phrases and leave the reader with a final idea to reflect on rather than simply restating points.

1. E X P A N D

2. E X P A N D -
have a conversation with Dave
• Why? Where? Who? When?
What?
• What do you mean by _____?
• How do most people see this?
How do you see it differently?
• Are you kidding? I didn’t know
that. What else did you find
out?
• Can you give me an example?
• Did that surprise you?
• What other questions does this
raise?
• Who does this affect, mostly?
• What is being done about this?
• I’m not sure I believe this. Why do
you?
• What do you think we should do
about this?

3. E X P A N D -
“Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop”
- Lewis Carroll Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
• Anecdote – story to frame your
paper topic
• Scene – a look at some
revealing aspect of your topic
• Profile – introduction of
someone who’s important to
your topic
• Background – important or
surprising background
information
• Quotation – a great quote that
captures the question your
paper will explore
• Dialogue – conversation
between people involved in your
topic
• Question – ask what you asked
about your research
• Contrast – compare two things
that highlight the problem you
explore

4. E X P A N D -
getting into the meat of your argument
• Be engaging, not bland
• Show how your topic affects
people AND a specific person
• Use specific, relatable
examples
• Emphasize the lesser known
details about your topic
• Keep returning to the
question/thesis that is driving
the essay

5. E X P A N D -
coming to an end
• avoid “kicking in the dead horse”
• avoid saying “in conclusion” or “to
conclude”
• avoid endings that trail off onto
different topics
• DO leave with an idea to reflect on
• CONSIDER trying the “snake
bite” technique