How To Write An Explanatory Essay – Present Your Point of View
Sep 12, 2021
Writing is a communication discourse; that is why there exist many styles, formats, and types in literature. However, even students not pursuing a literature major are expected to learn how to communicate through writing, that is why this article is important for a large target group.
In this blog article, we discuss how to present ideas in an exlanatory essay. It is a step-by-step explanation. We can help you complete all your essays, get in touch with our writers
Do my Essay
An explanatory essay refers to a type of academic writing where an author describes or gives a point of view on a topic, another person's idea, situation, or event. You must not always agree or disagree with the information or debate its validity. Instead, an explanatory essay focuses on explaining the issue, making it more understandable to the reader.
One error writers make when writing an explanatory essay is defending or criticizing one side of the argument or debate. It's worth understanding that an explanatory essay allows you to present neutral views on the subject matter. Follow these building blocks to write an excellent explanatory essay.
Step 1: Select a Topic That You Understand
Many students feel that writing an explanatory essay is a complex task, but it is easy to choose a topic you understand. Remember you're explaining facts about the topic falling within the assignment parameters. Here are a few topics that you can talk about;
- Explain to the readers the importance of speaking at least two languages
- Explain why the federal and state governments observe religious holidays
- Describe the Electoral College system and its effectiveness or ineffectiveness
- Discuss the process a person should follow when purchasing a new car
- Explain the events that led to WWI
Step 2: Ensure You Haven't Veered Into Other Essays' Territories.
Distinguish an explanatory essay from persuasive or process essays, although both are explanations. Stick to the explanatory style to prove to your professor that you understand the concepts. You can back up your topic and arguments with evidence but focus on making a solid argument than swaying the reader. Process descriptions should lean towards a discussion style than a step-step instructional guide. Ensure that the readers don't mistake your explanatory essay for a different essay.
Step 3: Gather Evidence
Sufficient evidence supporting your ideas characterizes an excellent explanatory essay. Use strong reasoning when presenting personal opinions to add credibility to your essay. Collect information from relevant, reliable, peer-reviewed, and other authoritative online sources. Acknowledge the sources through in-text citations and keep track of all cited sources in the reference or work cited page. Always follow the citation format as per the paper or college instruction.
Step 4: Outline the Essay
The outline offers a brief layout or sketch of your paper. You'll not support the outline unless your professor has specified it in the instructions. The outline allows you to prepare and simplify your writing process. Map the main ideas that you'll present in the essay's body paragraphs. The outline depends on the length and topic of your essay.
Step 5: Write the Essay
The explanatory essay should have at least five paragraphs, including the introduction, conclusion, and three body paragraphs. However, your essay can have more paragraphs depending on the specified number of words as per the assignment instructions.
Introduction – Introductions for explanatory essays contain the hook, topic background information, and thesis statement. It gives the reader insights into your topic. Use the hook to grab the reader’s attention. You can use a quote, interesting facts or statistics, and anything that can captivate your reader’s attention. Background information touches on the not-so general information about the topic while the thesis sets clear the focus of your essay.
Body Paragraphs – Resort to three body paragraphs except for in-depth topics. The first sentence of each paragraph is the topic sentence, followed by evidence-backed support sentences. Each paragraph should carry an independent idea.
Conclusion – Begin the conclusion by restating your thesis statement in different words to draw the reader into the essay’s main focus. Briefly summarize the body paragraph points and the essence of each. Lastly, offer a concluding statement to sum everything up but don’t introduce a new point.
Check This Summary Of Your Explanatory Essay’s Overall Structure
Introduction
- A hook
- Background information for the arguments
- Present the thesis statement
Body (3 paragraphs)
- Topic sentence for the first argument
- Support the argument using evidence and acknowledge the sources
- Explain and connect the evidence to the argument
- Conclude the paragraph with a statement solidifying your argument
Conclusion
- Restate the thesis statement
- Summarize the body paragraphs’ main arguments
- End the essay with an impressive concluding statement
Example of an explanatory essay Body Paragraph
Causes of Increasing Teenage Suicides
Peer pressure and bullying are among the primary factors behind the increasing cases of suicides among teenagers. Children who spend most of their time under the watch of loving and caring parents may not be prepared to face the mean peers who play dirty pranks on them when they join the school. Multiple psychological studies have pinned verbal and physical abuses emanating from peer pressure as one of the teenagers' challenges (Lee 56). Inability to cope with the abuses adversely affects their self-esteem, making them lose meaning in life. Suicidal tendencies begin setting in, and such children end up taking their own lives if they fail to receive the necessary support to see them through their challenges.
