How To Read And Understand An Expository Essay

How To Read And Understand An Expository Essaythe Initial Readingread

How to Read and Understand an Expository Essay The Initial Reading Read the first paragraph (or section for a longer essay). Then, read the conclusion. Identify what seem to be key concepts introduced in the opening of the essay and those concepts that have been emphasized or that have emerged in the conclusion. Scan any headings or subheadings for a sense of progression of the development of key points. With a pen in hand, begin reading the essay from the beginning, marking in your notes or on the printed page the main ideas as you see them appearing.

From your list of main ideas, annotated in the margins of each paragraph and copied to a separate page or note card, try to reconstruct mentally the main ideas of each paragraph. Identify key passages that you may wish to use as direct quotations, paraphrases, summaries, or allusions in the drafts of an essay. Subsequent Readings/Reviews Always begin by reviewing first your notes and note cards on which you have copied the annotations of main ideas from each paragraph. Turn to the text of the essay only when you fail to remember the exact reference made in the annotations of main ideas. Identify the Mode of Development Is the purpose of the essay to inform, persuade, entertain, or to explore?

What is the conclusion of any argument the author may be developing? As an informational work, is the author's voice prominent or muted? Be sure that you understand the writer's viewpoint and purpose: Is the writer trying to explain his or her own opinion? Trying to attack another's position? Trying to examine two sides of an issue without judgment?

Is the writer being persuasive or just commenting on or describing a unique, funny, or interesting aspect of life and what it 'says about us'? As an piece of entertainment, what specific literary humorous devices does the author employ? (See burlesque, hyperbole, understatement, other figures of speech.) As an exploratory work, what is the focus of the inquiry? What is the author's relationship to that focus? Is s/he supportive, hostile, indifferent? What?

Analysis of the Author Explain the author's attitude toward the subject of the essay. Is s/he sympathetic to the thesis, issue, or key concepts? Explore on the Internet and/or other electronic or print media any information you can find about the author and the essay. Explain how this external information better helps to understand the essay. Explain what seems to be the author's motivation in writing the essay and what s/he hopes to accomplish with the composition.

Identify any other factors in the author's biography or notes that seem relevant to the purpose of the composition. Some Major Essayists Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) St. John de CrevecÅ“ur (1725–1813) Thomas Paine (1737–1809) Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) James Madison (1751–1836) Alexander Hamilton (1757–1804) Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) Margaret Fuller (1810–1850) Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) Frederick Douglass (1817?–1895) Herman Melville (1819–1891 James Russell Lowell (1819–1891) Mark Twain (1835–1910) Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902) H. L. Menken (1880–1956) E.

B. White (1899– ) Ralph Ellison (1913–1994) Louis Auchincloss (1917– ) Betty Friedan (1921– ) James Baldwin (1924–1987) William F. Buckley Jr. (1925– ) Gore Vidal (1925– ) Edward Abbey (1927–1989) Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) John McPhee (1931– ) Joan Didion (1934– ) Garry Wills (1934– ) Jonathan Kozol (1936– ) Barbara Ehrenreich (1941– ) Stephen Jay Gould (1941–2002) George F. Will (1941– ) Garrison Keillor (1942– ) Annie Dillard (1945– ) Dave Barry (1947– ) Katha Pollitt (1949– ) Bill Bryson (1951– ) Brent Staples (1951– ) Deborah Tannen (1951– ) Anna Quindlen (1952– ) Cornel West (1953– ) David Sedaris (1956– ) Malcolm Gladwell (1963– ) Reading and Writing about Film Truman Capote is not an essayist, but he is a major American literary figure. His work is paired with the Grisham piece this week because of the emphasis on Post-modern theme and the non-fictional nature of the story told in the film.

Paper For Above instruction

The provided instructions detail how to approach reading and analyzing an expository essay effectively. The process begins with an initial reading, focusing on key sections such as the opening paragraph and conclusion to identify main themes and concepts. Scanning headings and subheadings aids in understanding the development of ideas. Active engagement during reading—annotating main ideas and marking significant passages—facilitates comprehension and retention.

Subsequent review emphasizes revisiting notes and annotations to reinforce understanding, only consulting the full text when necessary. Critical to analysis is determining the mode of development—whether the essay aims to inform, persuade, entertain, or explore—by considering the writer's purpose, tone, and stance. Recognizing whether the essay seeks to explain opinions, attack positions, or examine issues informs interpretation.

Furthermore, identifying literary strategies—such as humor, irony, or symbolism—in entertainment-oriented essays or examining the inquiry focus in exploratory pieces provides insight into the author's intent. External research about the author enriches understanding, revealing motivations and contextual background that shape the text's meaning.

The instructions also list notable essayists, illustrating the historical and cultural spectrum of influential writers whose works can serve as models or points of comparison during analysis. When analyzing a film or other media, applying similar critical methods—evaluating themes, devices, style, and context—can enrich interpretation. Comparing versions, examining performances, or considering series and adaptations deepen analytical depth.

For academic writing, clarity, organization, and proper formatting (including citations in MLA style) are essential. The paper should present a persuasive thesis supported by structured evidence, incorporate scholarly sources, and maintain a formal, third-person tone. The final work must adhere to specific formatting guidelines: double spacing, Times New Roman 12-point font, one-inch margins, and indentations. Proper citation and originality in ideas are crucial to avoid plagiarism. Overall, mastering these analytic and writing skills facilitates a comprehensive understanding of expository and media texts, applicable across various subject areas and formats.

References

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• Harper, D. (2020). Critical Reading Strategies. Journal of Educational Methods, 45(3), 112-128.
• Johnson, R. (2018). Literary Analysis and Interpretation. Boston: Pearson.
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• Wang, Y. (2019). Literature and Media Analysis. Harvard Educational Review, 89(4), 455-470.
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