How to Write an Exploratory Essay: Essential Tips You Should Know
Your professor will from time to time require you to write essays on given topics to assess your knowledge and mastery of the subject matter. One of the significant considerations to help you perform exemplary is understanding the type of essay you are supposed to deliver. Traditional essays include argumentative, persuasive, and narrative.
An exploratory essay differs from other types of essays in several ways. For instance, unlike in other types of essays where you seek to convince the reader to support your point of view, writing exploratory essays means you explore diverse perspectives with an objective viewpoint on a topic or a problem. Simply, you shouldn’t focus on demonstrating why one idea is better than another.
One of the most important tips that would help you to write a good explanatory essay is to see yourself as a news reporter whose sole purpose is to share information by stating facts. You should remain objective and apply a neutral tone from the start to the end of the essay. To improve your skills and become better at writing exploratory essays, read and internalize the tips shared in this article.
Tips That Will Help You to Write a Perfect Exploratory Essay
Although exploratory essays differ from traditional essays in terms of how the writer presents information, they all share the same essay structure that includes the introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, the way you present the context under each section is different for exploratory essays as discussed below.
1. The introduction
The first paragraph of your essay should introduce the problem you researched. For an argumentative essay, your hook sentence precisely states the argument, which prepares the reader for what they expect in the essay. However, the opening sentence for an exploratory essay introduces the problem. Look at the examples below.
For an exploratory essay: “Many American divulge that they support the legalization of abortion and its entrenchment in the Constitution as a human right.”
For an argumentative essay: “Legalization of abortion and recognizing it as a human right remain a contentious issue among the USA citizens.”
Once you introduce the problem, you should then provide a precise explanation of why it is important to explore the problem. It helps your readers to develop an interest in reading through the paper.
Lastly, don’t forget to state the topic of exploration or rather the problem you are researching. Highlight what you intend to accomplish, your reasons, and the approach you employ.
2. The body paragraphs
When you write an exploratory essay, the body paragraphs help the reader understand the inquiry process you followed in addressing the problem. For instance, you should ensure that you provide your readers with the sources you used to research, explain why they were appropriate, the information you got from them, and how the information relates to the topic.
When introducing the source, you should provide information such as the title or the name of the author and publication dates, without forgetting to state why you used it for your essay. Unlike in argumentative essays where paragraphs follow a somewhat rigid structure, you are free to present your content in any way you feel so long as it is logical and easy to follow your thought process.
3. The conclusion
Like in any other essay, the conclusion is vital in exploratory essays as it provides the reader with an overview of what you have discussed. Professionals from essay writing service CustomWritings advise students to restate the problem, mention some possible solutions, as well as highlight any lingering question they feel remains unanswered, to create a lasting impression for readers. Explain how you intend to find answers for the same, explaining the type of sources you may explore or the type of research you feel would be appropriate to answer the questions.
A Guide to Writing an Exploratory Essay
If you want to write an exploratory paper that meets the anticipated standards, you should prepare adequately and spare enough time for pre-writing, writing, and post-writing activities. Here is a step-by-step guide to writing quality exploratory essays.
Choose or understand the topic: At times, you may be required to come up with a topic from a given subject or your professor may provide you with an essay prompt. Whichever the case, ensure you are confident to write any of the topics and understand what is required of you.
Research on sources: Based on your essay prompt, research the most appropriate sources that provide different points of view. Remember, an exploratory essay requires you to critically analyze the different standpoints on a given topic. Therefore, ensure you collect sources with diverse opinions.
Prepare an outline: While you conduct any research, an outline plays a central role in helping you to complete your paper. Exploratory essays are no different. Write an outline that highlights the points and sources you will use in your paper.
Consider your audience: before you commence the writing process, understand who your audience is. It will help you decide how to present your essay. You may also understand the level of English you should use to meet the anticipated standards.
Write your initial draft: When writing your draft, ensure you use transitions that align with exploratory essays. For instance, use phrases such as, “Most people believe..,” “Other people feel like…,” and “Another point of view…” The transitions help you to remain neutral as critically analyze each of the sources.
Proofread and edit: After the initial draft, read through the paper to correct common mistakes and errors that include grammatical, spelling, and formatting. In case you face challenges, use online tools or seek assistance from colleagues and professionals to ensure you deliver an exceptionally high-quality essay. Don’t forget to check for plagiarism.
Check if all instructions are met: The final step is to counter-check your essay against the instructions. Ensure that you have satisfactorily met each of the requirements provided. For instance, check that you have followed the required formatting style, used the required spacing, fonts, and font size. Ensuring that you have followed the instructions to the dot is a guarantee that you will score high grades.
Verdict
As a college or university student, you must write papers that demonstrate your knowledge of a given subject. If you are required to write an exploratory paper, you should understand how it differs from other forms of essays. It is advisable to start planning early enough so that you have adequate time to research, write, and proofread. Remember, when writing an exploratory essay, you should remain objective and therefore use a neutral tone throughout. Make sure you explore diverse points of view and critically analyze them.
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