How to Write a Five Paragraph Expository Essay

An expository essay is an essay in which you are given a prompt such as "If you could go anywhere on a field trip where would you go". You are then supposed to not only say where you would like to go, but explain it completely so others would want to go as well. You can write an adequate expository essay in five paragraphs. If you use the method outlined here and you practice, you will succeed in writing an expository essay you will be proud of. The prompt I stated above is going to be an example prompt for explaining the steps for writing a great expository essay.

Things You'll Need

• Several pieces of paper
• Pencil (do not use a pen; you need to be able to correct errors)

Instructions

Steps to writing an excellent five paragraph expository essay

1. Decide where you would like to go for the field trip. The place can be real or imaginary but it needs to be a place you feel you can write about and that you know something about. You may want to really go somewhere, but if you don't know much about it don't use it to write about.

2. Brainstorm six or seven different reasons why you believe the place you decided would make a good field trip. They need to be reasons that you can explain and go in to detail about. "It would be fun" is not an adequate reason because it is an opinion and others may not agree with you. Pick three of your reasons; three reasons you feel you could really write about. Those three reasons are going to make up the body of your essay.

3. Write a hook for your paper. A hook is an opening sentence in your first paragraph that will draw in your audience and make them want to continue reading. For example: "Did you hear Mrs. Neal is planning a school-wide field trip and wants suggestions?" might be a good one for this particular prompt.

4. Complete your first paragraph. Your first paragraph should include a thesis statement that lets your reader know what you are writing about such as "I think a great place for our field trip would be.....". You also need to state your three reasons for wanting to go there. Do not go in to lots of detail about your reasons; that should be saved for the body of the essay.

5. Use paragraphs two, three, and four to explain your three reasons using one paragraph for each reason. Elaborate and go in to detail about your reasons. Give personal experiences if you can. Saying "the place is educational" is not enough. Give specific things you can do there that would be considered educational and do not just list the activities but describe them. You are trying to convince the reader your place would be a great place to go. The more detail you can give about the place, the better your essay will be.

6. Complete your essay by restating your thesis statement and reasons, but do not use the exact same words. You don't want to make it sound like you are repeating yourself even though that is pretty much what you are doing. Come up with a good closing line such as "Now that you know more about it, don't you want to go too?".

Tips & Warnings

• All of your paragraphs should be about four to six sentences long but may vary depending on your writing style and the subject matter.

• Your ideas are important, but so is grammar, spelling and making sure you are understood. Make sure someone proofreads your paper so you can discover your weaknesses and work on them.

• Rewriting is the key to becoming a better writer; after someone proofreads and makes suggestions, rewrite your essay to make your paper even better.

• Do not begin your second, third and fourth paragraphs with "My first reason", "My second reason" and "My third reason". It is redundant and boring. Be creative and come up with something that will keep your reader's interest.