Difficulty: Beginner | Prerequisites: Basic paragraph writing
An expository essay explains a problem, its causes and effects, and possible solutions without arguing for a position. The writing process starts with a focused research question, moves through organised evidence-gathering from credible sources, and ends with a structured introduction (hook, bridging statement, thesis). Getting the research organiser right is the foundation for drafting the full essay later.
Expository essay
A piece of academic writing that explains or informs, presenting causes, effects, and solutions supported by evidence. Think of it as a report, not a debate: you lay out the facts and let the reader draw conclusions.
Research question
The specific question your essay answers. It follows the format: "What are the causes, effects, and possible solutions of [your problem]?" A clear research question keeps your essay focused.
Hook
The opening sentence designed to grab the reader's attention. Common types include a surprising fact, a rhetorical question, or a short anecdote.
Bridging statement
The sentence(s) between the hook and the thesis that narrow the topic. It transitions the reader from the general attention-grabber to the essay's specific focus.
Thesis statement
A single sentence stating the essay's central claim and previewing its main points. It usually sits at the end of the introduction and acts as a roadmap for the entire essay.
Credible source
A source produced by a recognised authority on the subject: a medical institution, a government agency, a peer-reviewed journal, or a qualified professional. In simple terms, a source you could confidently cite in front of your teacher.
Direct quote
The exact words from a source, placed in quotation marks and attributed to the author. Used to support a point with evidence the reader can verify.
Body paragraph (in an organiser)
A section of the research organiser that gathers the raw material for one paragraph of the final essay. Each body paragraph covers one aspect: causes, effects, or solutions.
Frame it as: "What are the causes, effects, and possible solutions of [problem]?"
The question must name a specific, clearly defined problem. Vague questions lead to vague essays.
Find at least three credible sources before you start writing anything.
The organiser has three body-paragraph sections, each gathering raw material:
Body Paragraph 1 (Causes): Two main causes, each with a direct quote, source citation (title, author, URL), and a 2-3 sentence explanation of how the cause impacts the problem.
Body Paragraph 2 (Effects): Two main effects, each with a direct quote, source citation, and a 2-3 sentence explanation of how the effect impacts the reader.
Body Paragraph 3 (Solutions): Two proposed solutions, each with a direct quote, source citation, and a 2-3 sentence explanation of how the solution could help.
You are gathering and organising, not drafting full paragraphs yet.
Hook: One sentence that grabs attention. A question, a surprising statistic, or a vivid image.
Bridging statement: One or two sentences that narrow the topic from the hook to your specific focus.
Thesis statement: One sentence that states the central claim and previews the main points the essay will cover.
These three parts appear in order. The thesis is always last in the introduction.
Research Question: 5 points
Body Paragraph 1 (Causes): 10 points
Body Paragraph 2 (Effects): 10 points
Body Paragraph 3 (Solutions): 10 points
Introduction: 10 points
Grammar/Mechanics: 5 points
Author qualifications: The author holds relevant credentials (MD, Ph.D., APRN) or works for a recognised institution in the field.
Publisher reputation: The source is published by a medical centre (Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins), a professional organisation (American Academy of Pediatrics), a government body (NIH/PubMed), or a peer-reviewed journal.
Currency: The information is recent enough to be reliable. Health and technology topics move quickly, so older sources may be outdated.
Evidence basis: The source cites its own research or references other credible studies, rather than stating opinions without backing.
"Screen Time Side Effects in Kids and Teens" by Gregory Hahn, MD and Jennifer Katzenstein, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital)
"The Hazards of Excessive Screen Time" by Khumukcham A. Devi and Sudhakar K. Singh (PubMed Central / NIH)
"Screen Time Affecting Sleep" (American Academy of Pediatrics)
"Children and Screen Time: How Much Is Too Much?" by Jill Christensen, APRN, C.N.P. (Mayo Clinic Health System)
No named author or institutional affiliation
Published on a personal blog, forum, or social media without editorial review
Makes extreme claims without citing evidence
Is primarily selling a product or service
"An expository essay is the same as a persuasive essay." It is not. An expository essay explains and informs. A persuasive essay argues for a position. If you find yourself writing "we should" or "everyone must," you have crossed into persuasion.
"I only need to find sources that agree with my thesis." The assignment asks you to present researched evidence, not to cherry-pick. Your sources should be credible and relevant, not chosen because they confirm a predetermined conclusion.
"The research organiser is the essay." The organiser is raw material: notes, quotes, and citations gathered before writing. The final essay will be structured differently, with full paragraphs and transitions.
"Any website counts as a credible source." It does not. Wikipedia, personal blogs, and unattributed articles are not considered credible for academic work. The rubric specifically penalises non-credible sources.
The rubric has no middle band for the Research Question: you either score 5 (complete with a clearly identified problem) or 0. There is no partial credit, so do not leave it vague.
Each body paragraph is worth 10 points and is graded on three criteria: two clearly stated items (causes/effects/solutions), credible source information with URLs, and thorough explanation of the connection to the problem.
"Thoroughly explains" versus "briefly addressed" is the difference between the top band (10-8) and the middle band (7-6). Adding a sentence that explains why or how something connects to the problem is what moves you up.
The Introduction section rewards having all three parts (hook, bridging statement, thesis) present, clear, and complete. Missing one drops you to the bottom band.
Grammar/Mechanics is a separate 5-point category. Proofread before submitting. Common errors to watch: spelling ("Affacing" for "Affecting"), homophones ("lose" for "loss"), and sentence fragments.
True or False: An expository essay tries to convince the reader to agree with the writer's opinion.
Fill in the blank: The research organiser requires at least ______ credible sources.
True or False: The thesis statement should appear at the beginning of the introduction, before the hook.
Fill in the blank: In the rubric, Body Paragraph 1 covers the two main ______ of the problem.
True or False: A personal blog with no named author counts as a credible source for this assignment.
Q: What are the three steps of the Research and Citations assignment?
A: (1) Identify your research question. (2) Organise your information using the research organiser with at least three credible sources. (3) Write your introduction, including a hook, bridging statement, and thesis statement.
Q: What is the difference between an expository essay and a persuasive essay?
A: An expository essay explains and informs by presenting causes, effects, and solutions supported by evidence. A persuasive essay argues for a specific position and tries to convince the reader.
Q: What three elements must an introduction contain, according to the rubric?
A: A hook (attention-grabbing opening), a bridging statement (transition from the hook to the thesis), and a thesis statement (the central claim previewing the essay's main points).
Q: Name two characteristics of a credible source.
A: The author has relevant qualifications or institutional affiliation, and the source is published by a recognised authority (a medical centre, professional organisation, government body, or peer-reviewed journal).
Q: Why does the rubric distinguish between "thoroughly explains" and "briefly addressed"?
A: "Thoroughly explains" means the student connects the evidence to the problem with reasoning (how and why it matters). "Briefly addressed" means the fact is stated but not explained, which drops the score from the top band to the middle band.
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