Instructions Instructions for Writing the Expository Essay What is an expository

Instructions
Instructions for Writing the Expository Essay
What is an expository essay? In an expository essay you try to explain something to your audience. You begin by reading what your text has to say about a particular topic and then study the available literature related to that topic. Then you form a thesis statement based on your understanding of the material and explain and support that thesis. The thesis statement should appear at the end of the first paragraph of your essay.
What is a thesis statement? You can think of your thesis statement as the answer to the subject you are trying to explain. Remember that a thesis statement is not the first thing you come up with when writing your essay. It is the result of reading and thinking about the topic of your essay. After collecting and organizing the information about your topic you can develop your thesis statement. As you conduct your literature search, be mindful of conflicting data. Below are two examples of thesis statements for expository essays.
Depression appears to be caused by an imbalance in one or more of the biogenic amines.
Our ability to perceive color is the result of cells in the retina that are responsive to different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum and the processing of this information by specific cells in various areas of the cerebral cortex.
Length: The body of your essay should be (4) pages in length, excluding the title page, figures, graphs, and the bibliography. Add three additional pages: (1) title page, (2) abstract, and (3) references. If figures, graphs or drawings are included, the paper should not exceed 8 pages. I will not read anything beyond the maximum page limit. Late papers will not be accepted.
Topic and Content: Your paper may be about any topic that interests you within the area of biopsychology. However, the focus of your paper must be on brain function. For example, if you elect to write an essay on schizophrenia, the focus should be on what we know about the biological basis of schizophrenia and NOT on the symptoms of the disorder. Information cited in your paper must be appropriately referenced and based upon textbooks and internet material such as journal articles or Government web sites such as NIH, NIDA, etc. WIKIPEDIA IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE REFERENCE.
What to Include in Your Essay: (1) title page, (2) abstract, (3) an introductory paragraph that includes your thesis statement, (4) body of the essay that includes a review of literature that explains, supports, interprets, and analyses your thesis, (5) concluding paragraph that summarizes your thesis, interpretations, and original conclusion, (6) reference page, and (7) an optional appendix with graphs and/or drawings.
Writing: Your paper should be written in your own words. Do NOT copy and paste from other documents or web sites. Quotations should be used very sparingly and only when absolutely necessary. You may not submit work that has been submitted in any previous class.
Format: The paper must be submitted as a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)