Technology has vastly changed the educational landscape in recent decades. The introduction to the classroom of tablets, easy internet access, and learning management systems (LMS) has altered the way teachers present new material and students process it. Nevertheless, some things about formal schooling show no signs of changing anytime in the next couple generations. Children will always have to read and write. They will always be taught certain basics in math and history. And, at least based on how things currently stand, they will always have to write the expository essay.

The expository essay is both loved and hated by those in the education world. Some claim that it instructs children in the fundamentals of writing, instilling in them the central abilities to analyze, interpret, and tie everything together. Others deride expository essays as limiting and formulaic, arguing that it restricts a child’s writing ability and breeds generations of youngster’s who have no love for the art.

Regardless of your opinion, it’s hard to say that the expository essay is not conquerable. By being aware of its structure and following a few key steps, there’s really no reason why you can’t excel on your expository assignment – whether you love it or hate it. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

The Thesis is Everything
The most important part of writing a successful expository essay is coming up with a strong and clear thesis statement. The thesis must be arguable, you must be able to support it with evidence, and that evidence must be able to be broken down into body paragraphs. Ultimately, every element of the essay revolves around the thesis: the introduction builds to it, the body paragraphs aggregately support it, and the conclusion considers its implications.

Build Body Paragraphs Around Your Evidence
Whether your essay discusses a work of literature or a political controversy, you’re going to want to break it down into pieces of evidence in order to support your argument and fit the expository context. When planning a body paragraph, make sure to build it around that paragraph’s key piece of evidence. Then, set-up the evidence with a sentence beforehand and explain it with a sentence or two afterwards. Then, once the evidence is in the paragraph and enclosed by your analysis, add a topic and concluding sentence that best connect the evidence to your surrounding paragraphs and to the thesis.

Separate Yourself From the Rest
In the likely case that you’re writing this expository essay for a class, there’s a good chance that you’ll come up with a solid thesis and decent supporting paragraphs and a perfectly acceptable conclusion – just like many of your classmates. To truly separate yourself from the rest, look to make your transitions as smooth as possible and your conclusion as strong and far-reaching as you can. Organize your paragraphs in a way that naturally lead to seamless transitions for example, and don’t be afraid to discuss larger implications of your argument at the end of your conclusion. It is also helpful to have a wide repertoire of transitions from which to pull. If done right, your essay will be greatly strengthened as a result.

There are many other methods and means of improving your skills as an expository writer. Although a sometimes boring and formulaic essay approach, the expository assignment certainly forces you to think about structure. In any piece of writing, it’s undeniably an important component to consider.

As most of you around here already know, I am not the best speler speller there is. Despite this great shortcoming of mine, I still agree that knowing how to spell properly is a knowledge we all should posses. Here is a few points on correct spelling…

1. Always Use A Spell checker… if possible

2. Write Down Everything!

I want you to imagine yourself writing something and you can’t recall how a certain word is spelled. What do you do? I would say, write down all the different spelling alternatives that you think could be correct. This should give you a list of maybe 2-4 different word shapes. Now, go through them one by one while reciting each word.

It’s important you read ever word out loud since this will give help you recognize the sound of the word with the way it is spelled.

3. Dig Your Well Before You Go Thirsty

You have to remember though, by writing a lot you become better on everything related to grammar. That’s why I think it’s a shame that we skim a lot when reading newspapers or blogs. Why the hurry, take the time to read it properly and you might learn a few new words as well.

Previous entries:

¤ Time Management Skills – How to manage your time effectively.
¤ Day Timer Planner – How a timer can make you more effecient.
¤ Multitasking – Is it really that great?
¤ How To Learn Any Language – Title says it all…

:: acceptable: Several words made the list because of the suffix pronounced -êbl but sometimes spelled -ible, sometimes -able. Just remember to accept any table offered to you and you will spell this word OK.

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His name is Rudyard Kipling, and he is regarded as one of the main innovators in the art of the short story. He wrote this powerful, yet concise poem describing the 6 amazing words:

“I keep six faithful serving men
Who teach me well and true
Their names are What and Where and When
And How and Why and Who.”If you ever get stuck while writing, always think of those 6 words:

¤ What: What am I writing about? What will be included? What type of content is relevant and so forth.

¤ Where: Where does this take place? Where can I collect the information needed and so forth

¤ When: When does it take place? When will I be finished and so forth…

¤ How: How did this happen? How can I collect more information on the subject and so forth…

¤ Why: Why did this happen? Why should I have to do it in this manner, can’t I do it in this matter instead?…

¤ Who: Who was responsible for this? Who can I talk to in order to get more info and so forth…

Can you see how profound these words are? By the way, don’t forget to subscribe to this blog before you leave! I would so miss you if you just left ^^

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1. Turn Off The Inner Editor

Have you ever noticed that your writing is the most intense when it comes naturally without any external compulsion? I really don’t care why this is so, all that matters is the fact that it works like this and that you should write in this matter.

Yes, grammar is important (:oops:) but you’re not writing in stone (or are you?) which means that you can always come back later and edit your material. The important thing is; just write and let your passion splash all over your draft.

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In my opinion, you should try to develop your own style of abbreviating long words (when taking notes that is). I mean, you are the one reading the notes right? It doesn’t really matter how you abbreviate the words as long as you understand the notes.
But then again, the title did say “How To…” so I suppose I have to give you some guidelines now anyway, right?

I recommend you to check out this article from The University of North Dakota’s website. Although I think you should learn to abbreviate in your own unique style some of the tips that are mentioned there are worth looking in to.

Thank you for listening to what I had to say and don’t forget to subscribe to this blog before leaving. Or as it is said in an abbreviated form : Dnt frgt To Sbsrbe To Ths Blg!

1. Controversy Is A Powerful Weapon

Take for instance my post on the American Metric System, this entry is by far the most commented entry on the entire blog (although other entries have had more views). Why? Because it made people either agree or disagree with me, you can never please everyone!

2. Do You Ask Questions?

By asking your readers a question you are in a away “grabbing them by the eyeballs” and almost forcing them to read the rest of your content. Did you notice how I started out this post?

3. Tell A (Useful) Story

Everybody has a story to tell, so if you have a story that’s relevant and there is good point to be extracted from it, why not mention it? We all love to hear good stories, but make sure the story isn’t fabricated. Nobody wants to be fooled! This is all for today, make sure to subscribe to this blog.

“I had just opened the door when suddenly yada yada so someone called yadayda” The yada yada represents the block, instead of just stopping completely just try writing down yada yada instead. You are writing a draft anyway, nothing says it has to be perfect so who cares how it looks now. It is the end results that matters anyway, right? When you are finished, just go back and revise it… Click Here To Subscribe To This yada yada Blog

Beginning of movie: Things happen, people die, a story reveals it self. In short, people get excited.

Middle: The same basic crap they always show, some guy gets in to trouble then manages to get out of the trouble and then…

The End: Just like in the beginning. Everybody gets excited and decide that this movie was the best they’ve ever seen.
Why do you think most movies follow this pattern? Because the scriptwriters know that an average viewer is not going to remember the whole movie but they will remember the beginning and the end. What can this teach you about writing?

Well, for one thing, always try to generate excitement in the beginning and in the end, make promises and fulfill these promises. Remember that most of your content could be crap as long as the end and the beginning is really good.

Click here to subscribe to this blog! I promise that all my content will be as much crap in the beginning and ending as it is in the middle