Structure of a General Expository Essay

The following maps a commonly used structure for many academic essays. Use this outline to guide you

as you compose your own argument, research or even

descriptive essay.

Opening Sentence

Start your paper with a general statement about your topic that

catches the reader’s attention, a relevant quotation, question,

anecdote, fascinating fact, definition, analogy, the position

opposing one you will take, or a dilemma that needs

a solution.

Introduction

Context

Provide the information the reader will need to understand the

topic.

Thesis Statement

State your arguable position on the topic that you

will support

with evidence in your body paragraphs.

Topic Sentence

Provide the main idea of the paragraph.

Supporting Evidence

Include specific textual evidence: cited quotes, paraphrases or

summary; or evidence that supports your thesis from

other

sources: anecdotes, first-person interviews or your

own

experience.

Body Paragraphs

Analysis

Explain to the reader the significance of the evidence you have

provided. Think about why you chose to include it.

How does the

piece of evidence support your thesis?

Transition

Connect each paragraph with a sentence or two that

demonstrates

how each idea leads into the next, and how they work together to

support your position.

Conclusion

Provide the reader an overview of the main ideas

you discussed,

but also be sure to highlight the progression of yo

ur thought

process, offer solutions, next steps or present new

questions that

your paper generated. Don’t only restate your thesis but show the

significance of your synthesis of the information.

find it very difficult to identify as “mixed” even if they wanted to, because dominant-group

Americans still use dark skin color as a symbol of a difference so extreme it makes anyone with

dark skin too “unlike” the dominant group to be considered completely American.

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