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Exploratory Essay Writing

This document provides guidance on writing an exploratory essay. [1] An exploratory essay explores different sides of an issue without arguing for one side. It presents the positive and negative answers to a posed question. [2] The goal is to explain the issue, different views on the issue, and the author's personal response. [3] An exploratory essay typically includes an introduction outlining the issue, body paragraphs summarizing at least three major positions on the issue, and a conclusion indicating the author's personal interest.

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226 views

Exploratory Essay Writing

This document provides guidance on writing an exploratory essay. [1] An exploratory essay explores different sides of an issue without arguing for one side. It presents the positive and negative answers to a posed question. [2] The goal is to explain the issue, different views on the issue, and the author's personal response. [3] An exploratory essay typically includes an introduction outlining the issue, body paragraphs summarizing at least three major positions on the issue, and a conclusion indicating the author's personal interest.

Uploaded by

Srle
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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EXPLORATORY ESSAY

WRITING

THE BASIC FEATURES OF AN EXPLORATORY ESSAY


INTRODUCTIONS, BODY PARAGRAPHS AND
CONCLUSIONS OF EXPLORATORY ESSAYS
What is an Exploratory Essay?

An exploratory essay is one in which you explore a


problem/question in order to find out the answer.

In exploratory essays you will neither argue nor persuade.


You will look at the different sides of an arguable question.

You will be expected to answer both sides of the question


that you pose explaining to your reader - the positive and
negative answers to your problem/question. It is not your
job to refute either one, but just to present the information.
What is the goal of an exploratory essay?

1. Explaining the argument question

2. Telling the different views people have on this


question

3. Giving your personal response

*For this essay, it doesn’t matter whether you reach a


final position or solve the problem; your reader is
interested in your process, not your final product.
What are the Basic Features of an Exploratory Essay?

1. Defining/describing the issue and presenting the


arguable question/problem (introduction)

2. Identifying and summarizing at least 3 major


positions/solutions on/of this issue (body part)

3. Indicating your personal interest in this issue and


the position you favor (conclusion)
Exploratory Essay Structure
I Introduction
 The introduction should present the problem/question to
be explored

II The body paragraphs


 The body paragraphs should widen the topic

III Conclusion
 Your conclusion can indicate your personal interest in this
issue and the position you favor, but is not to offer a
solution.
Introduction
What you have to do in the introduction:
1. Make your reader interested
explain the situation and the arguable issue in an interesting
way

2. Make sure the reader understands the issue and why
it is important

3. Tell the arguable question


The arguable question is usually placed at the end of the
introduction.
This is what is called a thesis statement in other types of essays.
Body paragraphs
What you have to do in the body of the essay:

Explain the different positions people hold on this


issue or different predictions/solutions about/to it.
Provide at least three points of view that people
argue. For each position, you will need to:
Explain the position.
Tell why people believe that position.
Explain how those arguments are supported.
Position 1: Many people believe…
What is this point of view? Which facts/sources/articles
can you use for this point of view?

Position 2: Other people would contend…


What is this point of view? Which facts/sources/articles
can you use for this point of view?

Position 3: Another way to look at this question is….


What is this point of view? Which facts/sources/articles
can you use for this point of view?
Conclusion
What you have to do in the conlusion:

Indicate your personal interest in this issue and the position you favor.
 Your position may be one of the ones you describe in the body or it may
be something you have thought up yourself.

Some other ideas:


 Add the final evidence you find most convincing.
 Tell the reader your own conclusions and point of view.
 If you aren't sure what you think, then say that and explain what you
think are the most important points to consider.
 Challenge the reader to decide.
 Outline the main things we need to think about when we decide this
question—what is important and what is not.
Exploratory Papers help you look at different
audiences to help find common ground
 This type of essay explores the different audiences or
groups of people who are concerned about this issue,
giving their different viewpoints on the cause, effects and
solutions proposed.
Exploratory Papers should look at least at 3 points of
view

 Sometimes there are two sides of an issue which are most often
expressed and which polarize a debate.

 In an Exploratory paper, you are asked to look beyond and find at


least three points of view in order to help solving the problem.

 The issue of illegal immigration: conservative + liberal political


views + the viewpoint of the illegal immigrants themselves/ + the
viewpoint of the government that the illegal immigrants come
from/ +the viewpoints of the people who live on both sides of the
border where illegal immigrants cross. You might also consider
the viewpoint of the border patrol employees
The Exploratory Essay Presentation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_mlaFVNfC8
Works cited
Ramage, John D., John C.Bean, and June Johnson.Exploratory Essay. Taken
from The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing. 5th ed. New York: Longman, 2009.

http://hubpages.com/literature/How-to-Write-an-Exploratory-Essay

Writing an Exploratory Essay or Annotated Bibliography:


http://www.ftsd.org/cms/lib6/MT01001165/Centricity/Domain/122/Explorat
ory%20Essay%20text.pdf

Drafting an Exploratory Essay


https://www.unr.edu/Documents/liberal-arts/writing-center/Exploratory-Ess
ay.pdf

http://www.english.msstate.edu/comp/compmaterials/2011_Research.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_mlaFVNfC8

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