How to Write An Expository Essay About Love
Table of contents:
So, you’re thinking about writing an expository essay discussing the love topic. A great choice, as there are many ways you can approach this subject, from talking about falling in love at first sight to discussing what makes a good marriage to philosophically discussing what is love anyway.
Thesis
Before you do anything else, because this is such a broad topic, you should figure out your thesis, or statement of purpose, which is the ultimate point you want to make in your essay. You can write five different kinds of expository essays: how-to, comparison, descriptive, cause/effect, and problem/solution.
Remember, expository essays are meant to be factual and neutral, rather than opinion-based, but you can use your thesis to put your opinion across.
Here are some sample thesis statements you could try.
Thesis idea 1: Love has been defined very differently in different times and cultures, so that what we think of as love now is not at all how it was considered 500 years ago.
Thesis idea 2: Falling in love at first sight is the subject of many songs, poems, and romance novels, but it is also a real phenomenon.
Thesis idea 3: I can show you how to get the date of your dreams, just by following these seven easy steps!
Once you have your thesis sorted out, you should start by making a short outline of the points you want to make. These will eventually form the body of your paper.
Introduction
Now for your introduction. Start with a hook, something that captures the attention of your audience. At this same time, also make known what sort of audience you are expecting to read this. Is it forlorn lovers, or your fellow students, or even the world at large?
The last component of your introduction is your thesis. Go ahead and put it in, then move on to the body of your essay, which you will have already outlined.
Body paragraphs
The outline makes it easy. You should have at least three points, which will become paragraphs, and they should all back up your thesis. This really is the meat of expository essay writing. All your evidence should be contained in these paragraphs.
Once you’ve fleshed out your outline fully and put your points into the essay, using transition words like however, although, and therefore to move between points, it’s time to write your conclusion.
Conclusion
Your conclusion should start with a brief summary of the points you’ve made and then you should restate your thesis reflecting the new knowledge that you (and your audience) has now. Then close by framing your essay in the context of the larger question, or by asking about another aspect of something you’ve discussed.
Here are a couple of examples.
Conclusion idea 1: In summary, love is multi-faceted and complicated no matter where or when you live, but the key to making it work, in any era or culture, is good communication. Finding love is a challenge, and keeping it is an even bigger challenge. How will love seem to our descendants 500 years from now? Surely this will be as different from us as we consider the courtly love of the past.
Conclusion idea 2: I’m not sure it’s possible to fully define love. Thousands of philosophers over the years have tried and not one of them has really managed to completely sum it up. All I know is that it is necessary, beautiful, intangible, and priceless.
