Expository Essay (Page 2 of 4) in pdf

Below are visual illustrations of these brainstorming methods. When using them, simply rely on what you already

know on the topic – facts, opinions, emotions, and/or concerns.

Subject Tree

List

Smoking

Summer

Winter

Hot

Cold

Beach

Uncomfortable

Disease

Addiction

Little clothes

Short days

Long days

Hypothermia

Costs

Hurts family Costs

Bad example

Lazy

Skiing

Sun radiation

Layers of clothes

Illustration 1

Illustration 2

Cluster

Outline

Introduction

Dangerous

1. What is depression

2. Thesis – Depression is a complex condition

as evident in its causes/symptoms/treatments

II. Body

Drunk

1. Causes of depression

driving

2. Symptoms of depression

3. Treatments of depression

Costly

Changes

III. Conclusion

lives

1. Why is studying depression important

2. Reiterate causes/symptoms/treatments

3. Consequences of depression

Illustration 3

Illustration 4

This is not the time for evaluating your ideas; instead, it is the time for an outpour of ideas on all background

knowledge you have on the topic. Once your thoughts are on paper, you can start organizing them by grouping ideas

and identifying areas where more information is required.

Step 2: Researching your Topic

Research may require going to a library or searching online. All research should be current (check with your instructor

for acceptable time frames). Acceptable sources are reference works, books, and scholarly articles by experts.

Encyclopedias and popular magazines should not be used in academic writing.

When using information from a Web site, evaluate the site for timeliness and reputability. Also, consider the site’s

purpose, the reliability of its sponsors, and credibility of the author. Make sure to collect all necessary reference

information in order to give credit to the authors. Refer to our Plagiarism handout for tips on how to avoid plagiarism.

NOTE: The two steps – organization of thoughts and research of the topic – interrelate. In other words, organizing

your thoughts may identify gaps in your knowledge, which may lead you to conduct necessary research. However,

once you conduct research, you should re-organize your thoughts to evaluate the clarity of the topic.

Expository Essay Page 2

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