how to end a explanation essay

How to Write an Explanatory Essay: Comprehensive Guide with Examples

What Is an Explanatory Essay: Definition

Have you ever been tasked with explaining a complex topic to someone without prior knowledge? It can be challenging to break down complex ideas into simple terms that are easy to understand. That's where explanatory writing comes in! An explanatory essay, also known as an expository essay, is a type of academic writing that aims to explain a particular topic or concept clearly and concisely. These essays are often used in academic settings but can also be found in newspapers, magazines, and online publications.

For example, if you were asked to explain how a car engine works, you would need to provide a step-by-step explanation of the different parts of the engine and how they work together to make the car move. Or, if you were asked to explain the process of photosynthesis, you would need to explain how plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create energy.

When wondering - 'what is an explanatory essay?', remember that the goal of an explanatory paper is to provide the reader with a better understanding of the topic at hand. Unlike an opinion essay , this type of paper does not argue for or against a particular viewpoint but rather presents information neutrally and objectively. By the end of the essay, the reader should clearly understand the topic and be able to explain it to others in their own words.

Also, there is no set number of paragraphs in an explanatory essay, as it can vary depending on the length and complexity of the topic. However, when wondering - 'how many paragraphs in an explanatory essay?', know that a typical example of explanatory writing will have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

However, some essays may have more or fewer body paragraphs, depending on the topic and the writer's preference. Ultimately, an explanatory essay format aims to provide a clear and thorough explanation of the topic, using as many paragraphs as necessary.

30 Interesting Explanatory Essay Topics 

Now that we have defined what is explanatory essay, the next step is choosing a good explanatory topic. A well-chosen topic is interesting and relevant to your audience while also being something you are knowledgeable about and can provide valuable insights on. By selecting a topic that is too broad or too narrow, you run the risk of either overwhelming your audience with too much information or failing to provide enough substance to fully explain the topic. Additionally, choosing a topic that is too controversial or biased can lead to difficulty in presenting information objectively and neutrally. By choosing a good explanatory topic, you can ensure that your essay is well-informed, engaging, and effective in communicating your ideas to your audience.

Here are 30 creative explanatory essay topics by our admission essay service to consider:

• The Impact of Social Media on Modern Communication
• Exploring the Rise of Renewable Energy Sources Worldwide
• The Role of Genetics in Personalizing Medicine
• How Blockchain Technology is Transforming Finance
• The Influence of Globalization on Local Cultures
• The Science Behind the Human Body’s Circadian Rhythms
• Understanding the Causes and Effects of Global Warming
• The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence and Its Future
• The Psychological Effects of Social Isolation
• The Mechanisms of Dreaming: What Happens While We Sleep?
• The History and Cultural Significance of Coffee
• How Does the Stock Market Work? An Introductory Guide
• The Importance of Bees in Ecosystem Maintenance
• Exploring the Various Forms of Government Around the World
• The Process of DNA Replication and Its Importance
• How Personal Finance Trends Are Shaping the Future of Banking
• The Effects of Music on Human Emotion and Brain Function
• Understanding Climate Change: Causes, Effects, and Solutions
• The Role of Antioxidants in Human Health
• The History of the Internet and Its Impact on Communication
• How 3D Printing is Revolutionizing Manufacturing
• The Significance of Water Conservation in the 21st Century
• The Psychological Impact of Advertising on Consumer Behavior
• The Importance of Vaccinations in Public Health
• How Autonomous Vehicles Will Change the Future of Transportation
• Exploring the Concept of Minimalism and Its Benefits
• The Role of Robotics in Healthcare
• The Economic Impact of Tourism in Developing Countries
• How Urban Farming is Helping to Solve Food Security Issues
• The Impact of Cultural Diversity on Workplace Dynamics

How to Start an Explanatory Essay: Important Steps

Starting an explanatory essay can be challenging, especially if you are unsure where to begin. However, by following a few simple steps, you can effectively kick-start your writing process and produce a clear and concise essay. Here are some tips and examples from our term paper writing services on how to start an explanatory essay:

• Choose an engaging topic : Your topic should be interesting, relevant, and meaningful to your audience. For example, if you're writing about climate change, you might focus on a specific aspect of the issue, such as the effects of rising sea levels on coastal communities.
• Conduct research : Gather as much information as possible on your topic. This may involve reading scholarly articles, conducting interviews, or analyzing data. For example, if you're writing about the benefits of mindfulness meditation, you might research the psychological and physical benefits of the practice.
• Develop an outline : Creating an outline will help you logically organize your explanatory essay structure. For example, you might organize your essay on the benefits of mindfulness meditation by discussing its effects on mental health, physical health, and productivity.
• Provide clear explanations: When writing an explanatory article, it's important to explain complex concepts clearly and concisely. Use simple language and avoid technical jargon. For example, if you're explaining the process of photosynthesis, you might use diagrams and visual aids to help illustrate your points.
• Use evidence to support your claims : Use evidence from reputable sources to support your claims and arguments. This will help to build credibility and persuade your readers. For example, if you're writing about the benefits of exercise, you might cite studies that demonstrate its positive effects on mental health and cognitive function.

By following these tips and examples, you can effectively start your expository essays and produce a well-structured, informative, and engaging piece of writing.

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Explanatory Essay Outline

As mentioned above, it's important to create an explanatory essay outline to effectively organize your ideas and ensure that your essay is well-structured and easy to follow. An outline helps you organize your thoughts and ideas logically and systematically, ensuring that you cover all the key points related to your topic. It also helps you identify gaps in your research or argument and allows you to easily revise and edit your essay. In this way, an outline can greatly improve the overall quality and effectiveness of your explanatory essay.

Explanatory Essay Introduction

Here are some tips from our ' do my homework ' service to create a good explanatory essay introduction that effectively engages your readers and sets the stage for the entire essay:

• Start with a hook: Begin your introduction with an attention-grabbing statement or question that draws your readers in. For example, you might start your essay on the benefits of exercise with a statistic on how many Americans suffer from obesity.
• Provide context: Give your readers some background information on the topic you'll be discussing. This helps to set the stage and ensures that your readers understand the importance of the topic. For example, you might explain the rise of obesity rates in the United States over the past few decades.
• State your thesis: A good explanatory thesis example should be clear, concise, and focused. It should state the main argument or point of your essay. For example, you might state, ' Regular exercise is crucial to maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.'
• Preview your main points: Give your readers an idea of what to expect in the body of your essay by previewing your main points. For example, you might explain that you'll be discussing the benefits of exercise for mental health, physical health, and longevity.
• Keep it concise: Your introduction should be brief and to the point. Avoid getting bogged down in too much detail or providing too much background information. A good rule of thumb is to keep your introduction to one or two paragraphs.

The Body Paragraphs

By following the following tips, you can create well-organized, evidence-based explanation essay body paragraphs that effectively support your thesis statement.

• Use credible sources: When providing evidence to support your arguments, use credible sources such as peer-reviewed academic journals or reputable news outlets. For example, if you're writing about the benefits of a plant-based diet, you might cite a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
• Organize your paragraphs logically: Each body paragraph should focus on a specific aspect or argument related to your topic. Organize your paragraphs logically so that each one builds on the previous one. For example, if you're writing about the causes of climate change, you might organize your paragraphs to focus on human activity, natural causes, and the effects of climate change.
• Use transitional phrases: Use transitional phrases to help your readers follow the flow of your ideas. For example, you might use phrases such as 'in addition,' 'furthermore,' or 'on the other hand' to indicate a shift in your argument.
• Provide analysis: Don't just present evidence; provide analysis and interpretation of the evidence. For example, if you're writing about the benefits of early childhood education, you might analyze the long-term effects on academic achievement and future earnings.
• Summarize your main points: End each body paragraph with a sentence that summarizes the main point or argument you've made. This helps to reinforce your thesis statement and keep your essay organized. For example, you might end a paragraph on the benefits of exercise by stating, 'Regular exercise has been shown to improve mental and physical health, making it a crucial aspect of a healthy lifestyle.'

Explanatory Essay Conclusion

Here are some unique tips on how to write an explanatory essay conclusion that leaves a lasting impression on your readers.

• Offer a solution or recommendation: Instead of summarizing your main points, offer suggestions based on the information you've presented. This can help to make your essay more impactful and leave a lasting impression on your readers. For example, if you're writing about the effects of pollution on the environment, you might recommend using more eco-friendly products or investing in renewable energy sources.
• Emphasize the importance of your topic: Use your concluding statement to emphasize the importance of your topic and why it's relevant to your readers. This can help to inspire action or change. For example, suppose you're writing about the benefits of volunteering. In that case, you might emphasize how volunteering helps others and has personal benefits such as improved mental health and a sense of purpose.
• End with a powerful quote or statement: End your explanatory essay conclusion with a powerful quote or statement that reinforces your main point or leaves a lasting impression on your readers. For example, if you're writing about the importance of education, you might end your essay with a quote from Nelson Mandela, such as, 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.'

Explanatory Essay Example

Here is an example of an explanatory essay:

Explanatory Essay Example:

Importance of Basketball

Final Thoughts

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is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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Conclusions

What this handout is about.

This handout will explain the functions of conclusions, offer strategies for writing effective ones, help you evaluate conclusions you’ve drafted, and suggest approaches to avoid.

About conclusions

Introductions and conclusions can be difficult to write, but they’re worth investing time in. They can have a significant influence on a reader’s experience of your paper.

Just as your introduction acts as a bridge that transports your readers from their own lives into the “place” of your analysis, your conclusion can provide a bridge to help your readers make the transition back to their daily lives. Such a conclusion will help them see why all your analysis and information should matter to them after they put the paper down.

Your conclusion is your chance to have the last word on the subject. The conclusion allows you to have the final say on the issues you have raised in your paper, to synthesize your thoughts, to demonstrate the importance of your ideas, and to propel your reader to a new view of the subject. It is also your opportunity to make a good final impression and to end on a positive note.

Your conclusion can go beyond the confines of the assignment. The conclusion pushes beyond the boundaries of the prompt and allows you to consider broader issues, make new connections, and elaborate on the significance of your findings.

Your conclusion should make your readers glad they read your paper. Your conclusion gives your reader something to take away that will help them see things differently or appreciate your topic in personally relevant ways. It can suggest broader implications that will not only interest your reader, but also enrich your reader’s life in some way. It is your gift to the reader.

Strategies for writing an effective conclusion

One or more of the following strategies may help you write an effective conclusion:

• Play the “So What” Game. If you’re stuck and feel like your conclusion isn’t saying anything new or interesting, ask a friend to read it with you. Whenever you make a statement from your conclusion, ask the friend to say, “So what?” or “Why should anybody care?” Then ponder that question and answer it. Here’s how it might go: You: Basically, I’m just saying that education was important to Douglass. Friend: So what? You: Well, it was important because it was a key to him feeling like a free and equal citizen. Friend: Why should anybody care? You: That’s important because plantation owners tried to keep slaves from being educated so that they could maintain control. When Douglass obtained an education, he undermined that control personally. You can also use this strategy on your own, asking yourself “So What?” as you develop your ideas or your draft.
• Return to the theme or themes in the introduction. This strategy brings the reader full circle. For example, if you begin by describing a scenario, you can end with the same scenario as proof that your essay is helpful in creating a new understanding. You may also refer to the introductory paragraph by using key words or parallel concepts and images that you also used in the introduction.
• Synthesize, don’t summarize. Include a brief summary of the paper’s main points, but don’t simply repeat things that were in your paper. Instead, show your reader how the points you made and the support and examples you used fit together. Pull it all together.
• Include a provocative insight or quotation from the research or reading you did for your paper.
• Propose a course of action, a solution to an issue, or questions for further study. This can redirect your reader’s thought process and help them to apply your info and ideas to their own life or to see the broader implications.
• Point to broader implications. For example, if your paper examines the Greensboro sit-ins or another event in the Civil Rights Movement, you could point out its impact on the Civil Rights Movement as a whole. A paper about the style of writer Virginia Woolf could point to her influence on other writers or on later feminists.

Strategies to avoid

• Beginning with an unnecessary, overused phrase such as “in conclusion,” “in summary,” or “in closing.” Although these phrases can work in speeches, they come across as wooden and trite in writing.
• Stating the thesis for the very first time in the conclusion.
• Introducing a new idea or subtopic in your conclusion.
• Ending with a rephrased thesis statement without any substantive changes.
• Making sentimental, emotional appeals that are out of character with the rest of an analytical paper.
• Including evidence (quotations, statistics, etc.) that should be in the body of the paper.

Four kinds of ineffective conclusions

• The “That’s My Story and I’m Sticking to It” Conclusion. This conclusion just restates the thesis and is usually painfully short. It does not push the ideas forward. People write this kind of conclusion when they can’t think of anything else to say. Example: In conclusion, Frederick Douglass was, as we have seen, a pioneer in American education, proving that education was a major force for social change with regard to slavery.
• The “Sherlock Holmes” Conclusion. Sometimes writers will state the thesis for the very first time in the conclusion. You might be tempted to use this strategy if you don’t want to give everything away too early in your paper. You may think it would be more dramatic to keep the reader in the dark until the end and then “wow” them with your main idea, as in a Sherlock Holmes mystery. The reader, however, does not expect a mystery, but an analytical discussion of your topic in an academic style, with the main argument (thesis) stated up front. Example: (After a paper that lists numerous incidents from the book but never says what these incidents reveal about Douglass and his views on education): So, as the evidence above demonstrates, Douglass saw education as a way to undermine the slaveholders’ power and also an important step toward freedom.
• The “America the Beautiful”/”I Am Woman”/”We Shall Overcome” Conclusion. This kind of conclusion usually draws on emotion to make its appeal, but while this emotion and even sentimentality may be very heartfelt, it is usually out of character with the rest of an analytical paper. A more sophisticated commentary, rather than emotional praise, would be a more fitting tribute to the topic. Example: Because of the efforts of fine Americans like Frederick Douglass, countless others have seen the shining beacon of light that is education. His example was a torch that lit the way for others. Frederick Douglass was truly an American hero.
• The “Grab Bag” Conclusion. This kind of conclusion includes extra information that the writer found or thought of but couldn’t integrate into the main paper. You may find it hard to leave out details that you discovered after hours of research and thought, but adding random facts and bits of evidence at the end of an otherwise-well-organized essay can just create confusion. Example: In addition to being an educational pioneer, Frederick Douglass provides an interesting case study for masculinity in the American South. He also offers historians an interesting glimpse into slave resistance when he confronts Covey, the overseer. His relationships with female relatives reveal the importance of family in the slave community.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Douglass, Frederick. 1995. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself. New York: Dover.

Hamilton College. n.d. “Conclusions.” Writing Center. Accessed June 14, 2019. https://www.hamilton.edu//academics/centers/writing/writing-resources/conclusions .

Holewa, Randa. 2004. “Strategies for Writing a Conclusion.” LEO: Literacy Education Online. Last updated February 19, 2004. https://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/conclude.html.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Explanatory Essay: Definition, Outline, Writing Steps & Samples

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An explanatory essay  is a type of essay that aims to explain or describe a particular topic or subject. The purpose of an explanatory essay is to provide readers with information and to educate them about a topic in a concise manner.

In this article, we will discuss an explanatory writing definition, provide an outline of key components, and guide you through how to write an explanatory essay. Additionally, we will provide a well-written explanatory essay example to further illustrate required structure and format of writing the paper. Whether you are a college student or a professional, this article will offer all the tools you need to write a clear and effective explanatory essay. Our professional essay writers did their best to share all essential details on an explanatory essay – beginning with an introduction and ending with a conclusion. Let’s get started!

What Is an Explanatory Essay: Definition

An explanatory essay is a type of academic writing in which the writer presents an explanation or analysis of a specific topic or idea. Its main goal is to provide the reader with a clear, unbiased and well-supported understanding of the subject matter, through use of evidence and logical reasoning.  Instead of persuading or arguing with the reader, explanatory essays provide relevant information to them. Therefore, a writer must present information objectively, without injecting their own personal opinions or biases.  Additionally, explanatory writing can be used in professional settings as well, for example, in a scientific report, or in a business proposal to explain the process of a product or service creation, or to provide data analysis. According to definition of explanatory writing, it explains why things happen the way they are.

What is the Purpose of an Explanatory Essay?

Explanatory essay purpose is to provide an explanation or clarification of a particular topic or subject. This type of assignment is used to inform or educate readers about a specific concept or idea. Similarly to writing an informative essay , the focus is on offering a clear and comprehensive understanding of topic, rather than arguing about a particular point of view.  A writer should present information, define terms, and use evidence to support their explanations. Explanatory essay also aims to explain complex ideas in a clear and concise manner, making information accessible and understandable to reader.

Explanatory Essay Outline

Explanatory essay outline varies depending on information that author is trying to present. Aim of explanatory outline is to organize points into paragraphs and provide a framework on how to write an explanation paper. You can find an example of an essay outline online that can help guide you on what to do.  Below is an example of an explanatory essay outline template.

• Background information on the topic.
• Thesis statement.
• First point supporting thesis statement.
• Evidence or examples to support this point.
• Explanation of evidence provided.
• Concluding statement.
• Second point supporting thesis statement.
• Evidence or examples to support point.
• Third point supporting thesis statement.
• Summarize main points
• Restate thesis statement
• Call to action or future implications.

Explanatory Essay Structure

Structure of an explanatory essay typically includes an introduction , body , and conclusion .  Writing an explanatory essay begins with drafting an introduction . Introduction provides background information on topic and  thesis statement in closing sentence. Thesis statement offers the main idea of paper. Subsequent parts of an explanatory essay support the developed thesis statement using valid evidence.  Body of the paper is where writers present evidence, examples, and explanations to support their thesis statement. Body typically contains several paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of topic and providing evidence to support it.  Finally, conclusion summarizes main points and arguments of the writing, and restates thesis in different ways. It also provides a final perspective on topic, and may offer some recommendations or suggestions for further reading or research.

Explanatory Essay Introduction

Have you been wondering how to write an explanatory essay introduction? A good introduction for an explanatory essay should have three main elements:

• Background information
• Thesis statement

The hook is an attention-grabbing and interesting sentence that entices reader to continue reading. It can be a surprising fact, a quote, or a thought-provoking question. Background information provides context for the topic being discussed and helps readers to understand significance of the issue. This section should be brief and to the point. Last part of introduction paragraph for an explanatory essay is a thesis statement . This is a statement that author will support by using facts, quotes and examples throughout the body of paper before concluding with personal opinion based on provided evidence.

Explanatory Essay Thesis Statement

It is important to know what is an explanatory thesis statement before exploring its purpose. Thesis is a statement that presents main idea or topic in a clear and concise manner. Thesis statement for an explanatory essay is an essential element as it serves as a roadmap for the entire work. It should be specific and arguable.  Thesis statement should be presented early in paper, typically in introduction, to guide reader's understanding of essay's main points. It should be specific enough to clearly convey a topic, but not so specific that it limits the paper’s scope. Additionally, it should be arguable, meaning that it should be open to interpretation and debate.  With this information, you can practice how to write a thesis statement for an explanatory essay.

Explanatory Essay Body

Next step after introduction is to write a body paragraph for an explanatory essay . Explanatory essay body paragraph provides evidence that supports thesis statement. It should include facts, statistics, expert opinions, examples and other evidence that help to prove thesis statement is accurate.  Body paragraphs should be written in a clear and logical manner, making a strong case for thesis statement. It should also be written in a way that is easy for readers to understand and follow, ensuring that evidence is presented in a clear and convincing manner.  To effectively convey information in the body of an explanation essay, it is important to use a variety of different techniques and strategies. This may include use of images, infographics, examples, theories, quotes, and other relevant information. By incorporating these different elements, writers can more effectively engage readers and provide a more comprehensive understanding of topic at hand. Additionally, use of these different techniques can help to break up text and make it more visually appealing and easier to read.

Explanatory Essay Conclusion

An explanatory essay conclusion is the final section of the paper that summarizes main points and restates the thesis statement. Conclusion for explanatory essays should be written in a way that ties all of information presented in paper together, providing a clear and concise summary of main ideas.  Steps on how to write a conclusion for an explanatory essay are as follows:

• Restate the thesis statement.
• Summarize main points: conclusion should sum up key points and evidence presented in paper, highlighting most important information.
• Provide a sense of closure: indicate that paper has come to an end and that main points have been fully discussed. Your conclusion must show that the ideas have been explored fully.
• Emphasize significance of the topic.
• Provide final thoughts or recommendations: give reader something to consider after reading your work.

How to Write an Explanatory Essay Step-by-Step?

Best way to understand how to write an explanatory essay is by practicing certain steps involved in the process. By following these steps, writer will have a clear understanding of process and be able to effectively present information in a logical and easy-to-understand manner. Subsequent section will discuss how to do an explanatory essay by covering some important tips and considerations for each step, to help you produce a high-quality writing. Details on each step are discussed below.

1. Produce an Idea

First step in producing an idea in an explanatory essay is by thinking about what you are passionate about or interested in. This will make writing process more enjoyable and will also make it easier for you to have a strong understanding of the topic. When brainstorming a topic in explanatory essay writing, you should consider your audience and what they may be interested in reading about. More ways to brainstorm new ideas include looking at current events or trending topics in your field of study or area of interest.  Narrow down your list of ideas by evaluating which explanatory essay topics would make most interesting and informative writing. Once you have a topic in mind, do some preliminary research to ensure that there is enough information available to write a comprehensive paper.

2. Make a Detailed Research

Before writing an explanatory essay, you should do detailed research to collect relevant information. Here are some steps to follow when gathering information:

• Identify topic and focus of your research paper. This will help you determine what types of sources to look for and where to find them.
• Search for sources using a variety of methods, such as online databases, library catalogs, and search engines.
• Evaluate credibility of each source. Check for things like author's credentials, publisher, and date of publication.
• Take detailed notes as you read through your sources. Be sure to note author, title, and publication date for each source, as well as any key information or quotes that you plan to use in your paper.
• Finally, review all sources again, and make sure they are reliable and trustworthy before you use them in your explanatory paper.

3. Use Appropriate Examples

Examples in explanatory writing are an effective way to explain a concept or idea because they provide a concrete illustration of topic being discussed. They can make complex ideas easier to understand by providing a real-world context. Using an appropriate explanatory essay example can help to strengthen credibility of information being presented. Sources used in this paper should be applicable to the real world. Examples can be used to persuade readers to see a certain point of view. For instance, when discussing a controversial topic, providing examples can help to demonstrate validity of the writer's argument. Also, providing illustrations helps the reader to understand unfamiliar concepts.

4. Create an Explanatory Essay Outline

Best way to know how to write an explanatory essay outline is to consider the amount of information gathered through detailed research and obtaining logical arrangement to ensure flow of ideas. Created through identifying a specific idea from detailed research and ensuring readers can easily relate logical flow throughout the paper. Appropriate outline for explanatory essay entails introduction, body and conclusion each containing specific information arranged in a logical manner to provide flow of your paper.  Example of an outline provided above follows a general structure and provides the best organization of communicating directly to readers. Moreover, a sample above shows a flawless way of obtaining information and opinion of an author. Besides, it provides an outline in a manner that is easy to follow and comprehend.

5. Write an Outstanding Beginning

Capturing attention of the reader to go ahead and read entire paper is dependent on the introduction. Therefore, providing a hook seems like the best way on how to start an explanatory essay. First step to capture your audience’s attention is usually to write an introduction paragraph for an explanatory essay. Introduction becomes the first paragraph in any type of writing, and it is important in capturing interest among readers.  Writing an effective introduction involves providing a hook and general description of the topic, background information and thesis statement. These elements provide an overview of your paper and instigate readers to expect more detailed information about your topic throughout the writing.

Explanatory Essay Introduction Example

Introduction paragraph is the beginning of paper and helps to introduce general ideas about topic and to capture attention and interest of your readers to continue reading. Introduction must begin with a hook, followed by scope of the topic and closing sentence should include a debatable thesis statement. Revising explanatory essay introduction examples can help you understand the concept better. Below is an example of introduction paragraph.

Why do teenagers commit suicide? The rate of committing suicide among teenagers have been on rise. Some leave suicide notes while others left nothing to show the cause of their actions. Suicide has been linked with mental disorders. Nevertheless, there has been a need to investigate other underlying causes apart from mental disorder. Therefore, there are several underlying factors that lead to suicidal actions among youths that need to be investigated. Increase in suicide rates among teenagers can be attributed to a combination of societal pressures, mental health issues, and a lack of access to proper resources and support.

6. Come Up With an Explanatory Essay Thesis Statement

Understanding how to write a thesis statement for an explanatory essay is essential in ensuring that the reader comprehends whole idea author is trying to prove. Thesis statement for explanatory essays provides main idea in a precise manner. It is usually written in concluding statement of introduction paragraph of explanation writing.  Effective thesis statement should be specific but must consider scope of the work. In addition, an outstanding thesis statement doesn’t include your emotions or opinion. Save arguments and viewpoints for an argumentative essay .

Explanation Essay Thesis Statement Example

Thesis statement is written in the concluding sentence. It is supposed to be specific and concise in providing the main idea of your paper. Additionally, to make it effective, thesis statement should be outstanding and debatable with open interpretation. Thesis statement sums up central point of the writing, and should articulate it in a few words without providing too much information. However, reader has to note specific ideas that author is trying to relay.  Example of an explanatory essay thesis statement is stated as follows:

Increase in suicide rates among teenagers can be attributed to a combination of societal pressures, mental health issues, and a lack of access to proper resources and support.

7. Support Your Ideas With Evidence

The central idea that author intends to express can only be validated through relevant evidence from credible sources. Supporting thesis statement is based on how well one knows how to write an explanatory body paragraph. Body of an explanatory essay entails evidence to support your topic. Evidence supporting the idea is obtained from detailed research conducted after identifying a specific idea.  Main aim of the body paragraph is to prove thesis statement. Some ways used to communicate in body include examples, facts and opinions among other evidence that are deemed relevant and credible. Having an effective body in writing requires presenting evidence in a clear and convincing way that will enable reader to easily relate important ideas to thesis statement. Including different techniques of presenting evidence in body of report, provides vivid understanding and wider perception of the topic.

Example of an Explanatory Essay Body Paragraph

Body paragraph provides evidence that supports thesis statement. Below is a perfect explanatory body paragraph example about factors that cause suicide among teenagers.

Society plays a significant role in shaping mental health of teenagers. With constant pressure to fit in and meet societal expectations, many teens struggle with low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy. Social media amplifies this pressure by providing a platform for teens to compare themselves to others and constantly measure themselves against impossible standards. This can lead to depression, anxiety, and ultimately, suicide. Mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, are also major contributing factors to suicide among teenagers. These conditions are often left undiagnosed and untreated due to a lack of access to proper resources and support. Many teens may not have the means to seek out professional help or may not understand the severity of their condition. Additionally, the stigma surrounding mental health can prevent teens from seeking help, leaving them to struggle alone with their thoughts and feelings. This further increases the risk of suicide.

8. Summarize Your Explanatory Paper

Last section of the explanatory essay writing is to summarize your evidence to support the thesis statement. Explanatory summary restates thesis statement and highlights important information presented throughout the work. Main idea is to link all information in the paper together to provide a common relationship between main ideas and thesis statements. Opinion of author is provided in summary section, which is dependent on depth of evidence provided in body. Author can agree or disagree with thesis statement, if it is efficiently supported by credible and relevant sources. Besides, the summary provides necessity of the topic at hand and possible recommendations.

Example of Explanatory Essay Conclusion

Conclusion paragraph starts by restating thesis and summarizing main points. Sample of an explanatory essay conclusion as one provided below will help you understand concept better.

In conclusion, suicide among teenagers is a complex issue that is influenced by a combination of societal pressure, mental health issues, and a lack of access to proper resources and support. It is important that we take a holistic approach to addressing this issue by solving underlying causes and providing teens with support and resources they need to navigate challenges of adolescence. This includes providing mental health education, addressing societal pressures, and increasing access to professional help and support. By working together, we can help to reduce suicide rates among teenagers and give young people the chance to live happy and fulfilling lives.

9. Proofread an Explanatory Essay

Final step in writing an explanatory article involves proofreading your work properly. It entails revising paper a couple of times to check if it has proper flow of thoughts, communicate to audience with the clear ideas, and understand if conclusion provides a concise value of the thesis statement. It is usually done a day after completion to easily spot mistakes. Moreover, proofreading explanatory essays aims at detecting minor errors and grammatical mistakes that might affect clarity and quality of the paper. During proofreading, any error or mistake is noted and necessary editing done to improve the value of the paper.

Explanatory Essay Format

Format for an explanatory essay depends on the discipline provided in the paper. There are different formats to write an explanatory essay including APA style format , MLA format and Chicago style paper format which are provided in instructions. Format provided in paper also dictates the style of structure and citation of sources used in the paper. The format does not have any influence on content of the paper and is usually based on a system preferred by the author. Writer uses the recommended format that seems easier and familiar. Therefore, explanatory papers can take any format with similar structure and enable the author to communicate effectively to readers.

Explanation Essay Examples

Explanatory writing examples  provided below show the required structure of the essays. Under the structure there are possible sections with some clarifications to help the reader understand the main idea. Explanatory essay samples are necessary to readers because they help in understanding how to build up the topic under study. Moreover, each of the example of explanatory writing provided below is important in learning different formats of writing, conveying a general idea of the work.

Explanatory Essay Writing Tips

Writing tips are essential in ensuring an excellent explanation essay. Some of these writing tips are listed below:

• Take advantage of transition and linking words and write a hook for an explanatory essay.
• Cite sources from which facts were drawn. Sources should be credible and recent to ensure high value of paper. Following examples of explanatory essays is the best way of learning how to cite.
• Proofread the paper. This involves revising work to ensure topic is analyzed in a logical manner that follows correct explanatory essay layout which is easily understood by audience.
• Edit an essay. Follows after identifying and noting errors and mistakes during proofreading. It is done a day after completion of writing to ensure all mistakes are edited and paper’s value improved.
• Share the paper with a close person as a way of further improving its value and ensuring explanatory essay meaning is maintained. In addition, by sharing, authors can get feedback on where to make necessary corrections and changes to ensure writing is more understandable and clearly communicates to the audience.

Explanatory Essay Checklist

Before final submission of the explanatory essay, there are several checks it should go through first to ensure a proper flow in the paper and that the intended information is easily understood by the reader. The checklist enables one to write a good explanatory essay. The checklist includes the following:

• checkbox My explanatory writing is clear.
• checkbox Provided information has required flow and is connected with transition words.
• checkbox Supporting evidence proves my thesis statement.
• checkbox I started an explanatory essay with a hook that grabs reader’s attention.
• checkbox My writing is understandable to the reader or doesn’t leave them confused.
• checkbox My summary ties key points to the thesis statement.
• checkbox The citation and referencing style is appropriate to the paper format.

Bottom Line on How to Write an Explanatory Essay

The question of what is explanatory writing has various definitions but generally,  it is usually academic writing which provides analysis of a specific topic or idea to readers. Explanatory essay template provides the basic structure that can be followed in explanatory writing. Besides, explanatory essay examples provide vivid understanding on how to write a good explanatory paper. Through using templates and examples, one can master steps and structure of writing an explanatory essay.  Structure of explanatory paper has three parts that are logically arranged to enable readers to easily understand what the author intends to prove.  Besides, flow of ideas in a logical manner enables relating different evidence provided in body to thesis statement and accounting for correct conclusion. If you need more help on writing, feel free to seek more suggestions in our Blog. From guides on exemplification essay to tips on evaluation essay , you will find tutorial fitting any academic need.

If you are struggling with writing an expository essay, remember that you can always count on our expert academic writers. Let us know your assignment details and we will craft a custom paper in line with all requirements to your ‘ write my college essay for me ’ request.

FAQ About Explanatory Essays

1. how is an explanatory essay different from an argumentative essay.

Differences between explanatory and argumentative essay is that explanatory paper is about presenting information to explain something while an argumentative writing is about persuading the readers to agree with an opinion. In the explanatory paper, the author provides an open interpretation of the topic before finally providing links between main ideas  that proves the thesis statement. 

2. Is an explanatory essay the same as an informative essay?

No. An informative essay is based on detailed facts and data while an explanatory paper requires author’s opinion on some certain points. Explanatory essay meaning is drawn from author’s presentation of idea and how well it is supported. Despite having an open interpretation and debatable thesis statement, clear facts about topic in explanatory paper are not easily determined. Author makes rational decisions based on the weight of evidence provided.

3. What is included in explanatory essay?

Explanatory essay is a type of writing where author presents some points of view on a certain topic, event or situation. Opinion of author is generally the idea supported by most of the evidence provided in body. Remember to include introduction, body, and conclusion to adequately support your claims and understand the difference between those parts of your paper.

4. Is an explanatory essay objective or subjective?

Explanatory writing is about presenting a balanced, objective description of the topic. The paper is objective and provides an all around perception of topic both opposing and proposing evidence on thesis statement. General description provides the author's idea and reader can easily understand point of view based on provided sources and evidence.

5. How many paragraphs are in an explanatory essay?

Explanatory essay has five paragraphs though it can include more. Paragraphs vary with subheading the author decides to include in essay. General structure requires one paragraph for introduction, three for body and last one for conclusion. However, in case of extra evidence in body and long introduction, more paragraphs can be used.

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

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How to Write an Explanation Essay: 9 Steps and Tips to Score

writing explanation essay

As we embark on the exploration of crafting explanation essays, I invite you on a journey where clarity meets expression.

In this guide, I will walk you through nine straightforward steps and share practical tips that have proven effective in scoring well in explanation essays.

So, what exactly are explanation essays? They serve the purpose of elucidating complex ideas, making them accessible to a broader audience.

Mastering this skill is more than an academic pursuit.  It is a gateway to effective communication in various aspects of life.

Together, we will uncover the art of crafting explanations, focusing on simplicity and proficiency.

Exhausting this skill is not just about academic success—it’s about becoming a clear and impactful communicator.

Steps How to Write an Explanation Essay

1. understanding the assignment.

My initial step is to thoroughly understand the assignment before embarking on an explanation essay. It is like deciphering a map before setting out on a journey.

I scrutinize the prompt, breaking down key instructions to grasp the essay’s nuances. Recognizing the different types of explanation essays helps me tailor my approach.

This process is a personalized exploration, aligning my understanding with the essay’s unique requirements.

Understanding the assignment isn’t just a preliminary task; it lays the foundation for a well-crafted explanation essay.

Normally, this initial step, guided by my comprehension and interpretation, ensures that every subsequent action in my writing journey aligns with the purpose and expectations set by the assignment.

2. Choose a Captivating Topic

In selecting an intriguing essay topic , it is essential to transform the mundane into the marvelous.

Aligning personal interests with assignment requirements is like finding a perfect melody that resonates with both heart and purpose.

In this quest, I’ve discovered that brainstorming is the key. Consider your passions, explore new ideas, and blend them seamlessly with the assignment’s expectations.

It is akin to choosing a book you can’t put down; the topic should be equally captivating for you and your audience.

Like selecting a gripping story to read, the chosen topic should not only meet the assignment criteria but also intrigue and engage both me and my audience.

This step is not merely about picking a subject; it’s about finding a narrative that resonates, setting the stage for an exploration that is both compelling and personally enriching.

3. Research and Information Gathering

Embarking on the research phase is akin to becoming a detective in the quest for knowledge.

In this journey, I delve into online and offline realms, utilizing many resources to unearth valuable information.

Online platforms offer a treasure trove of articles, journals, and reputable websites, while libraries and archives provide tangible sources.

However, navigating this sea of information demands a critical eye.

I scrutinize sources, evaluating credibility and reliability to ensure the information I gather is trustworthy.

It is akin to sifting through clues, separating fact from fiction. This process not only enriches my understanding but also fortifies the foundation of my essay.

As I dig deeper into the research realm, a meticulous approach to information gathering ensures a robust and well-supported exploration of my chosen topic.

4. Craft a Thesis that Speaks Volumes

In crafting a thesis, I recognize it as the heartbeat of my essay—a potent statement that echoes my central message. Clarity, specificity, and purpose become my guiding lights to make it resonate.

I ensure that every word serves a distinct purpose, like a well-tuned melody in a song. This thesis isn’t just a sentence; it’s my North Star, providing direction in the vast expanse of my essay. It encapsulates the essence of my thoughts and sets the stage for what follows.

Like a compass guiding a traveler, a strong thesis propels my essay forward, ensuring every subsequent word aligns with my articulated purpose.

Crafting this thesis becomes a powerful declaration—an invitation for readers to explore the depths of my ideas.

5. Building an Intriguing Introduction

Crafting an engaging introduction is like setting the stage for a captivating performance. I employ the “hook, line, and sinker” approach to ensure my readers are immediately drawn into the narrative.

Introducing the topic with flair is crucial—a thought-provoking quote, a surprising fact, or a relatable anecdote can be the bait that captures attention.

As the curtains rise, I seamlessly weave in my thesis, providing a glimpse of the journey ahead. This introduction isn’t just a prelude; it’s an invitation for readers to explore.

Like a skilled storyteller, I aim to make the beginning of my essay an irresistible invitation, ensuring my readers are hooked and eager to dive deeper into the unfolding narrative.

6. Write good Body Paragraphs

Within the body paragraphs , I construct the blueprint of coherence, ensuring a seamless flow of ideas.

Logical organization becomes my guiding principle, allowing each paragraph to build upon the last. It is like assembling a puzzle—each piece fits snugly, revealing a complete picture.

I anchor my arguments with solid evidence and real-world examples, substantiating my claims. Most, this process transforms my essay into a robust structure, where every paragraph serves a distinct purpose, contributing to the overall narrative.

Like a skilled architect, I carefully arrange each element, constructing a body that supports and enhances the core of my essay.

As I navigate through the body paragraphs, the logical progression and substantial evidence become the pillars, ensuring the strength and integrity of my essay’s structural foundation.

7. Tackle the Counterarguments Head-On

I anticipate objections, addressing them head-on to fortify my stance. It is a strategic move—acknowledging opposing viewpoints demonstrates a nuanced understanding and strengthens my argument.

After navigating the maze of potential objections, I am defending my position and enriching my discussion’s depth.

Like a chess player anticipating the opponent’s moves, I strategically counteract objections, turning them into opportunities to showcase the robustness of my argument. This process adds layers to my essay, creating a more comprehensive and compelling narrative.

Playing devil’s advocate becomes a dynamic dance, allowing me to showcase the strength of my position while demonstrating a thoughtful consideration of alternative perspectives.

8. Craft a lasting Conclusion

In crafting my conclusion, I orchestrate the grand finale, ensuring it leaves a lasting impression on my readers.

I revisit the key points, creating a concise summary that echoes the heart of my essay. It’s like bringing the scattered notes of a melody together for the final chord.

Restating the thesis with impact becomes my concluding anthem—a powerful reminder of the essay’s central message. This deliberate repetition reinforces the core idea, leaving a lingering resonance in the minds of my readers.

Just as a captivating story concludes with a poignant moment, my essay finds its conclusion, leaving my audience with a sense of fulfillment and a clear takeaway.

The conclusion is not just an endpoint; it is the final brushstroke that completes the canvas of my essay, making it a memorable and cohesive piece.

9. Edit and Proofread

I meticulously scrutinize every detail in the editing and proofreading phase. I conduct thorough grammar, punctuation, and spelling checks, ensuring that each word stands strong.

It is like fine-tuning an instrument—every note must be precise for the symphony to be harmonious.

Beyond the technicalities, I polish for clarity and consistency. Sentences should flow seamlessly, guiding the reader effortlessly. This process is akin to refining a piece of art, where each stroke contributes to the masterpiece.

As I navigate through the edit, I am not just correcting; I am sculpting my words to create a refined and polished final draft.

The eagle-eyed edit is my commitment to presenting a flawless piece where the language is correct and resonates with precision and clarity.

Tips on How to Draft Good Explanation Paragraphs

Use smooth transitions.

When I dive into crafting explanation paragraphs, one of my key strategies is ensuring seamless transitions. It’s like embarking on a smooth sailing adventure between paragraphs, allowing my readers to journey through my thoughts effortlessly.

I rely on transition words and phrases as the wind guiding my narrative ship. Whether it’s “furthermore,” “in addition,” or “however,” these words act as navigational aids, signaling shifts or connections in my explanation.

This intentional use of transitions maintains the flow and cohesiveness of my narrative. Each paragraph becomes a distinct yet connected part of the whole, creating a reader-friendly experience.

 Just as a well-planned sailing route enhances the voyage, these transitions make the exploration of my explanation not only easy but also enjoyable for those navigating through my words.

Use Clear and Concise Language

In writing explanation paragraphs, I prioritize clear and concise language. It’s about saying what I mean and meaning what I say, avoiding the pitfalls of jargon jumbles.

Like a clear stream that lets you see the bottom, clarity becomes my ultimate communication tool. I steer away from convoluted language, opting for simplicity without sacrificing depth.

After choosing words wisely and keeping sentences straightforward, I ensure that my readers can understand my explanation’s essence effortlessly.

Such commitment to clarity enhances understanding and fosters a connection between my ideas and the reader.

It is a conscious choice to communicate precisely, making my explanation informative, accessible, and engaging to anyone navigating the waters of my words.

Josh Jasen or JJ as we fondly call him, is a senior academic editor at Grade Bees in charge of the writing department. When not managing complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In his spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

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How to Write an Explanatory Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide

by  Antony W

September 12, 2022

If you’re looking for a complete guide on how to write an explanatory essay, you’ve come to the right place.

In this guide, you’ll learn what an explanatory essay is, how to write the essay, and some tips to help you ace the assignment.

Key Takeaways 

• An explanatory essay is a type of an essay that requires you to give your opinion about a process, a story, a person, or an event.
• You don’t make an argument in an explanatory essay. Rather than taking sides, you simply explain an issue to make it easy for a reader to understand.
• To write an explanatory essay, you choose a topic, conduct research, create an outline, write the essay, and then edit your final draft prior to submission. 

What is an Explanatory Essay?

Also known as an expository essay, an explanatory assignment in which you give your opinion about an event, a story,   a  person, a subject, or a process.

You don’t necessarily have to agree with the view that you give. But your point of view must be thoroughly researched and logical.

An explanatory essay is different from an argumentative writing in that instead of taking a position and debating its validity, you simply explain the issue to make it easier for your audience (readers) to understand.

In other words, you have to take a neutral position on a topic and provide a clear analysis of the subject in question.

The primary objective of an explanatory essay is to help your reader to understand why something happened the way they did.

By the time they finish reading the essay, they should get a clear picture of your explanation, even if they don’t agree with it.

How to Write an Explanatory Essay Step-by-Step

Writing an expository essay shouldn’t be difficult if you have the right lead.

Continue reading this step-by-step guide to learn how to write the best explanatory essay fast.

1. Pick a Topic

Check the essay prompt to determine if your instructor has given you a topic to focus on. 

If they have, write the essay according to the instructions that they provide.

If they haven’t, consider choosing an interesting topic that you can easily explore.

2. Research and Gather Evidence to Support Your Essay

Research your topic well and gather as much information about it as you possibly can.  

Don’t worry if part of your explanatory essay will include merely opinions.

As long as the opinion is reasonably strong, your essay should stand out.

While there’s a wealth information that covers the topic under examination, it’s best to use reliable sources to write the essay. 

Keep  a record of your source somewhere in a separate notepad, because you need to cite and reference  them at the bottom of the essay.

3. Create a Relevant Outline

All essays have one thing in common:

They follow a particular format to make ideas clear.

It follows then that your explanatory (expository) essay should also have a clear format.

Divide the essay into three parts: the introduction, body section, and the conclusion paragraph.

Don’t worry about writing the whole essay at this point. Just focus on organizing your main ideas in point form while keeling the three sections in mind.

Your instructor may ask to see the outline before you proceed with writing the essay.

But even if they don’t, you should make the outline as comprehensive as possible so that you have an easy time writing the expository.

4. Write the Body Paragraph

With a clear outline, writing the whole essay shouldn’t be difficult at all.

While it’s fine to start from the introduction, move to the body section, and then write the conclusion, writing the body of your paper makes your work a whole lot easier.

The consensus is that an expository essay should be at least  five paragraphs . 

That’s a good starting point. 

So if your instructor hasn’t specifically stated that your assignment should be this short, you shouldn’t hesitate to make the essay longer .

The rule to getting the body paragraph right is to focus on one point or idea per paragraph.

Start that with a topic sentence, write your explanation, and then end with a conclusion that easily transitions to a new idea in a completely new paragraph.

6. Write Your Introduction

Your introduction can make or break the explanatory essay. So you shouldn’t take chances here.

Read the body of the article to get a clear idea for a hook. And then start the introduction with a statement that will attract eyeballs instantly.

Include a short background. Then, end the instruction of your expository essay with a strong thesis statement .

6. Write a Conclusion

Really, there’s no magic bullet to ending an essay and this part of the assignment should be a no brainer to complete.

The approach is to end the assignment on a very strong note.

Tie your idea together into a powerful statement that gives your readers something to think about.

Tips to Write a Good Expository Essay

Below are some tips you can use to write a good explanatory essay within the shortest time possible.

1. Use an Appropriate Writing Style

An explanatory essay uses the same three-part format used in all essays.

Beyond that, however, it doesn’t require you to take a side or persuade someone to do, say, or believe something.

As such, it’s important to use an appropriate writing style when writing this assignment.

Your explanation should be more of a discussion. And while you do have to present evidence to back your topic, you shouldn’t do so to put your reader in a position where they have to make a solid case.

2. Get Help from Professional Essay Writers

Still don’t have time to write an explanatory essay yourself even after reading this guide?

You can  pay someone to write an essay for you   and get the task completed in the shortest time possible.

You can use the essay you receive from us as reference to help you write your final draft, deliver the final copy to your teacher for review, and score good grades.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

How to Write an Explanatory Essay

• Smodin Editorial Team
• Published: May 24, 2024

A study from the English Language Teaching Educational Journal found that students encounter difficulty in organizing thoughts, generating ideas, and understanding writing processes when writing essays [1]. These are all key components of putting together a good explanatory essay. If this sounds like you, then don’t worry.

With the right approach, you can seamlessly combine all these components. This guide will give you a simple step-by-step strategy for writing an explanatory essay. It’ll also give you handy writing tips and tool suggestions, like utilizing artificial intelligence.

With this guide, you’ll be able to write an explanatory essay with confidence.

1. Develop a strong thesis statement

Crafting a strong thesis statement is the cornerstone of any well-written explanatory essay. It sets the stage for what your essay will cover and clarifies the main point you’re going to explain. Here’s how to create a thesis:

• Find the main idea : Start by pinpointing the key concept or question you want to explain. Develop a clear purpose for the essay. This will guide your research and writing process for your explanatory paper. Use other reputable explanatory essay examples to guide your ideas. This may involve exploring other explanatory essay topics within the same field.
• Be specific : A vague thesis can confuse readers. So, make sure your statement is clear. If you’re explaining a complex process, break it down to its key points. After that, break it into a clear, concise statement that’s easy to understand.
• Reflect objectivity : Explanatory essays educate and inform. They do not argue a point. So, your thesis should take an unbiased stance on the topic. It should present the facts as they are, not as you interpret them.
• Use tools like the Smodin Writer : Smodin Writer does all the heavy lifting by leveraging the power of artificial intelligence. With it, you can generate an essay with a thesis statement. How, you ask? Through its dedicated thesis generator . It can create a statement that’s both strong and relevant. Plus, it can pull in all the most interesting information based on your topic to further enrich your thesis statement.

Make your thesis clear, informative, and neutral. This sets a strong foundation for an effective explanatory essay. Next, let’s look at how to gather the information you’ll need to support this thesis effectively.

2. Research and gather information

You need to conduct thorough research that will back your thesis with credible sources and relevant evidence. This will make your explanatory essay both informative and persuasive. Here’s a step-by-step guide to conducting effective research:

• Start with a plan: Put together an explanatory essay outline that includes the information you need to support your thesis. The plan should list the best sources, like academic journals, books, reputable websites, or scholarly articles.
• Use credible sources: They ensure the accuracy of your essay. Libraries, academic databases, and certified websites are excellent places to find trustworthy information.
• Seek detailed information: Look for the most current sources that explain your topic well and provide unique insights related to or opposing your thesis statement. This depth is crucial for explaining complex ideas clearly and thoroughly in your explanatory papers. Pay attention to the explanatory essay structure to guide your topic of choice (more on this later).
• Gather relevant evidence: Collect data, stats, and examples. They should directly support your main points. Make sure this evidence is directly related to your topic and enhances your narrative.
• Employ digital tools: Tools like Smodin’s Research Assistant can accelerate your research process. Smodin’s tools can help you find detailed information quickly, ensuring that the data you use is up-to-date and relevant.
• Document your sources: As you conduct research, keep a meticulous record of where your information comes from. This practice will help you make an accurate bibliography. It can save you time when you need to refer back to details or verify facts. Again, this is something that’s covered thanks to Smodin’s Citation Machine.
• Evaluate your findings: Critically assess the information you collect. Ensure it provides a balanced view and covers the necessary aspects of your topic to give a comprehensive overview of your essay.

By following these steps, you can gather a rich pool of information that provides a strong backbone for your explanatory essay. Now, you can start structuring your findings into well-organized body paragraphs.

3. Structure body paragraphs

Once you’ve gathered relevant evidence through thorough research, it’s time to organize it. You should put it into well-structured body paragraphs that follow a logical flow. Here’s how to structure each body paragraph for a strong explanatory essay:

• Decide how many paragraphs to use : It will depend on your topic’s complexity and the needed detail. Typically, three to five paragraphs are suitable, but longer essays may require more. An explanatory essay example on your topic of choice will be helpful.
• Start with a topic sentence : Each body paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. This sentence will act as a roadmap for the paragraph, giving the reader a sense of what to expect.
• Provide supporting evidence : After the topic sentence, share the evidence from your research. Ensure the evidence is relevant and directly supports the paragraph’s topic sentence.
• Give a detailed explanation : Follow the evidence with an analysis or explanation that ties it back to the thesis statement. This step is crucial for maintaining logical flow throughout your body paragraphs.
• Use linking words : They connect body paragraphs smoothly, ensuring the reader can follow your argument.
• End each body paragraph with a closing sentence : It should sum up the point and move to the next idea.

Following this structure will help your body paragraphs support your thesis. These paragraphs will also offer a clear, detailed explanation of your essay topic. Strong body paragraphs are essential to maintain objectivity in your writing.

4. Maintain objectivity

An explanatory essay aims to inform and educate, which makes maintaining objectivity crucial. Staying neutral lets readers form their own opinions based on facts. This ensures the writing is both reliable and informative. Here’s how to maintain objectivity:

• Avoid personal opinions: Your goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Refrain from injecting your personal opinion or biases. Instead, stick to presenting factual information that supports the thesis.
• Use relevant evidence: As mentioned, ground your arguments with relevant evidence from credible sources. Back up your main points with data and use research findings and verified details. This will make the explanatory article trustworthy.
• Provide a balanced view: In cases with multiple perspectives, offer a balanced view. Cover each side fairly. Even if one view prevails in consensus, acknowledging others gives readers a broader understanding.
• Adopt neutral language: Be careful with word choice and tone. Neutral language implies words that don’t encourage or illustrate bias. This helps avoid emotionally charged phrases and keeps the writing objective.
• Cite sources accurately: Proper citation of sources provides accountability for the evidence presented. This transparency builds credibility and shows you’ve conducted research thoroughly. It’s also worth noting that different intuitions have different citation styles like APA and Chicago, which is important to note before starting your essay.
• Review for biases: After drafting your essay, review it with an eye for biases. Ensure no part leans too much on one viewpoint. And, don’t dismiss an opposing perspective without cause.

Maintaining objectivity enhances the clarity and reliability of explanatory writing. Let’s now focus on crafting an introduction and conclusion that bookend your work effectively.

5. Craft an effective introduction and conclusion

A good introduction and a strong conclusion frame your explanatory essay. They give context at the start and reinforce the main points at the end. Here’s how to craft an effective introduction and conclusion.

In the introduction:

• Hook your reader in the introduction : Use an interesting fact, a compelling quote, or a surprising statistic.
• Provide background information : Be brief and offer only the essential context the reader needs to fully understand the topic. This should give the audience a foundational understanding before diving deeper into your main points.
• Include the thesis statement : Clearly state your thesis near the end of the introduction. This statement will outline the essay’s direction and give readers a preview of the body paragraphs.

In the conclusion:

• Summarize the key points : Start your explanatory essay conclusion with a summary. It should cover the main points from the body paragraphs. This summary should help readers recall and reinforce the information they’ve just read.
• Restate the thesis : Repeat your thesis again but in a new way. Explain how the evidence from the body paragraphs supported or clarified it.
• Provide a conclusion : End the essay with a statement that wraps up the argument. This statement should resonate with the reader. It should leave them with an impression that stresses the topic’s importance.

An effective introduction and conclusion give the essay structure and coherence. They guide readers from start to finish. The next step is revising and editing your entire essay for clarity and precision.

6. Revise and check clarity

Revising and editing are key in writing. They make sure your essay is clear, joined, and polished. Here’s how to refine your writing using an explanatory essay checklist and proven academic writing techniques:

• Take a break: Before diving into revisions, step away from your essay for a few hours or even a day. This break will help you return with fresh eyes, making it easier to spot errors or inconsistencies.
• Follow an essay checklist: Create or use a checklist to ensure your essay has all the needed parts. It needs a strong intro with a clear thesis, well-structured body paragraphs, good sources, and a short conclusion. Check that your arguments follow a logical flow and that all relevant evidence is directly linked to your thesis statement.
• Check for clarity and conciseness: Academic writing needs clarity. So, make sure each paragraph and sentence conveys your point. Don’t use unnecessary jargon or overly complex language. Keep sentences concise while maintaining detailed explanations of your main points.
• Verify facts and citations: Make sure all facts, data, and quotes in the essay are accurate. Also, check that they are cited in the required academic style (e.g. MLA, APA). Improper citations can undermine the credibility of your writing.
• Review the grammar and style: Look for common grammar mistakes, punctuation errors, and awkward phrasing. Reading the essay aloud can help catch odd sentence structures or confusing wording.
• Seek feedback: Share your essay with a peer or use online tools to get constructive criticism. A second perspective can highlight issues you might have missed.

These editing steps will help you produce a polished essay that clearly explains your main points and holds up to academic scrutiny.

Explanatory Essay Format

Understanding the explanatory essay format is key to a well-structured and logical paper. Here’s a basic breakdown of the format for an explanatory essay:

Introduction paragraph

• Begin with an interesting sentence to capture the reader’s attention.
• Give a short intro. It should set the topic and outline the essay’s purpose.
• Present a clear thesis statement summarizing the main idea of the entire essay.

Body paragraphs

• Organize the body paragraphs around logical subtopics related to the essay topic.
• Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that aligns with the thesis.
• Show evidence from good sources. Also, give key details for each main point.
• Incorporate a robust concluding statement per paragraph that drives home your point and links to the ideas in the next paragraph/section.
• Summarize the key points.
• Provide a final statement that reinforces the main idea without introducing new information.
• Craft a concluding statement that leaves your teacher or professor with a lasting impression.

Following this essay outline ensures that your paper has a clear flow. This makes it easy for readers to understand and follow your argument.

Write Better Explanatory Essays With Smodin

Explanatory essays can be overwhelming. Presenting a solid argument, keeping your professor or teacher interested, and remembering conventions like citations can be a real headache.

But, a strong thesis and thorough research make them easier. Well-structured body paragraphs also help deliver a clear, insightful essay that maintains objectivity. Just remember to revise and check for accuracy!

AI-powered platforms like Smodin simplify and enhance the process of writing explanatory essays.

Smodin’s tools help craft clear and well-structured essays that meet any of your academic standards. With Smodin’s advanced research capabilities, you can gather detailed and relevant information quickly. This will save you time and improve your work.

• Plagiarism Checker : Ensure your essay maintains originality with Smodin’s plagiarism detection tool. This feature helps maintain academic integrity by checking your work against vast databases.
• Auto Citation : Cite your sources accurately without the hassle. Smodin’s auto-citation tool ensures your references are in the right format and meet your academic institution’s rules.
• Text Shortener : If your explanatory essay is too long, use Smodin’s AI writer as an essay shortener. It will help you cut your content without losing key details. This helps keep your essay clear and relevant.
• Text Rewriter : Helps paraphrase existing content, ensuring uniqueness and a fresh perspective.
• Summarizer : The Summarizer boils down long articles into short summaries. They are perfect for making an efficient outline or conclusion.

7+ Explanatory Essay Examples That Get the Best Grades

Table of contents

Meredith Sell

Writing explanatory essays is hard, even for experienced scholars.

In this post, I want to try to tackle the major challenges students face when writing this type of essay, using examples of successful essays. These challenges include:

• Struggling to come up with the right idea . (solution:  brainstorming techniques )
• Difficulty in organizing the essay. (solution: working on the outline of the essay)
• Not having enough evidence or sources to back up points. (solution: doing proper research )
• Failing to come up with a conclusion. (solution: following our guide to conclusions )
• Not having enough knowledge of the topic. (solution: summarizing key articles on the topic)
• Having trouble finding the right words. (solution: writing with Wordtune )
• Not having enough time to finish the essay. (solution: working on student time management )
• Not being able to present arguments effectively. (solution: learning essay persuasion techniques )

As you can see, for every issue there is the relevant solution, but it takes time to implement it. Another way of tackling this essay is to see other people's essay examples and getting inspiration from them.

Write your explanatory essay faster with this FREE AI tool > Write your explanatory essay faster with this FREE AI tool >

What Is an Explanatory Essay?

If you google “explanatory essay”, you’ll find a bunch of sites saying that an explanatory essay is the same as an expository essay, or that it’s totally different, or not even mentioning that expository essays exist. Who’s right?

Answer: Whoever your professor agrees with.

No, seriously. Your professor decides the parameters of your assignment. So if your professor defines an explanatory essay as one that describes a perspective or analyzes the efficacy of, for example, a local housing policy—that’s the definition you should work from.

But if your professor distinguishes between explanatory essays (which simply explain what something is and how it works or was developed) and expository essays (which expose the reality of a person, place, thing, or idea through investigation and evaluation), you should distinguish between them as well.

For the purposes of this piece, we’re going to use explanatory and expository interchangeably. The dividing line that some draw between these essay types is unnecessarily technical. What’s important is that both:

• Use an objective perspective
• Let the facts speak for themselves

As long as your essay does the same (and includes analysis if required by your professor), you should be in good shape.

Example of explanatory essay

We wrote a whole article on generating essay topic ideas , but here is a good example that can help you get an idea for your own essay:

Why is having a dog as a pet such a wonderful experience?

Dogs are one of the most popular pets in the world. They are beloved companions that bring joy and happiness into the lives of their owners. Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years and have evolved to become the perfect pet for humans. In this essay, I will explain why having a dog as a pet is a wonderful experience.

One of the primary benefits of having a dog as a pet is the companionship they offer. Dogs are social animals that thrive on human interaction. They are loyal and loving creatures that are always there for their owners. Dogs can help alleviate feelings of loneliness and depression, and provide comfort and support during difficult times.

Another benefit of having a dog as a pet is the health benefits they offer. Studies have shown that owning a dog can help lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve overall health. Dogs require daily exercise, which encourages their owners to be more active and can lead to a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, having a dog can boost the immune system and reduce the risk of allergies and asthma in children.

Dogs are also great for families with children. They can help teach children about responsibility, compassion, and empathy. Children can learn to care for and nurture their pets, which can be beneficial for their emotional development. Dogs are also great playmates for children and can provide hours of entertainment and fun.

Training and caring for a dog can also be a rewarding experience. Dogs can be trained to perform a variety of tasks, such as fetching, obedience, and even therapy work. The process of training a dog can help strengthen the bond between the owner and the dog and can be a fulfilling experience. Additionally, caring for a dog requires daily attention and can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment for the owner.

In conclusion, having a dog as a pet can be a wonderful experience. Dogs offer companionship, health benefits, and can be great for families with children. Caring for a dog can also be a rewarding experience and can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment for the owner. Owning a dog is a big responsibility, but the rewards far outweigh the effort required.

Example of an explanatory paragraph, generated with AI:

A few subtypes of explanatory essays:

Description or definition essay example

‍ Perhaps the most basic, this subtype does the deceptively simple work of, well, describing or defining a concept, place, person, etc.

Example: How Suspension Bridges Work

This essay explains: The way suspension bridges are constructed and how their design enables them to carry such immense weight.

Cause-and-effect essay example

This type of essay hones in on a particular phenomenon to show what caused it (i.e., where it came from) and how it influences other things.

Example: How Federally Funded Highways Transformed the United States

This essay explains: The history of federally funded highways in the U.S., when federal programs to fund highway construction started, why politicians and others thought highways were important, and what the effect has been on the landscapes, communities, economies, and ecosystems of the country.

Compare-and-contrast essay example

Take two or more things, gather the facts about them, and then write about their similarities and differences.

Example: Hybrid vs. Electric Cars

This essay explains: The various features of hybrid and electric cars, and shows how they are either different or similar in terms of: cost, energy consumption, size, drive time, ease of use, and so on.

‍ How-to essay example

Walk your reader step-by-step through a procedure so they can do it for themselves. (We’re doing this later!)

Example: How to Prepare for an Intercontinental Bike Trip

This essay explains: How to get ready for a bike trip between nations and continents. Readers learn how to research their route, find out what travel documents they need, choose the right gear, and determine how much training they should do before leaving.

Problem and solution essay example

Explain a problem (along with its causes and effects) and then describe one or more potential solutions to that problem. This subtype could also be combined with compare-and-contrast to determine the most effective solution.

Example: How Bike Infrastructure Could Solve American Obesity

This essay explains: How American reliance on motorized vehicles promotes a sedentary lifestyle that drives obesity, whereas building bike lanes and trails could encourage Americans to be more active and improve their health one pedal at a time.

‍ Chronology essay example

Explain the history or backstory of a person, place, thing, or idea in chronological order.

Example: The Evolution of the Bicycle

This essay explains: The initial invention of the bicycle and how its shape, frame, and size changed over the years.

What type of explanatory essay are you writing? Hopefully, this list helped you hone in. Now, let’s start the writing process.

5 Steps to Write Your Essay

Whether you’re writing an explanatory/expository essay or a persuasive essay, the process of researching and writing is pretty much the same. Both genres require research, organization, and thought . But with expository essays, the thought focuses on making sure you understand your topic inside-out and determining the best way to explain it, while with persuasive essays, you’re focused on crafting a convincing argument.

Follow these steps to turn that blank page into a final manuscript:

1. Choose topic and angle. 

Do you have free rein to write about the topic of your choice? Make the most of it.

In college, my public speaking professor let us choose all of our own speech topics. A classmate gave an explanatory presentation on how to survive the zombie apocalypse . She brought props and had the class totally enchanted. Our professor encouraged creativity, so I’m sure she earned a winning grade—and had fun in the process.

You can’t use props or sound in a written essay, but you can still work some creative magic. That magic starts with choosing your topic and angle.

To choose well, first make sure you understand the assignment: 

• What exactly has your professor asked you to write? Which of the subtypes should your piece be?
• Are there any parameters for what type of topic you can write about?
• What kind of class is this? An English composition class will offer more freedom than, say, a history class focused on the French Revolution.

If you’re allowed to write about anything, brainstorm a list of topics you’re curious about. Then think of smaller topics within that area.

Example: Transportation

• Electric cars
• The highway system
• Engineering

Any of these topics you could easily write volumes about, so next, narrow down to your specific angle. One way I like to come up with angles is to think of how two or three different topics intersect.

Example 1: electric cars + the highway system 

Angle: How Much Will It Cost to Update Federal Highways with Charging Stations for Electric Cars

Notice that this angle includes a third element: cost

Example 2: bicycles + bridges

Angle: The Safest Bridges for Bicycles Have One Thing in Common: No Cars

Third element: safety

Example 3: electric cars + buses

Angle: Electric Cars vs. Buses: Which Is Better for the Environment?

Third element: environment

Your turn: Make a list of topics you’re interested in. Then, identify some intersecting topics. Based on your assignment parameters, develop an angle that narrows your focus to an intersection that interests you.

Not sure what angle to go with? Do some broad research on your topics and then return to this step.

2. Research, research, research.

Explanatory essays require solid research. These essays exist to lay out the facts for the reader so they can clearly understand the topic. Your opinion—what you think about electric cars or suspension bridges or transportation infrastructure—doesn’t matter. And it doesn’t belong here.

Where you should start your research depends on how much knowledge you already have.

If you’re writing about suspension bridges and you already know the Brooklyn Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge are suspension bridges, you probably don’t need to start with the encyclopedic entry for “suspension bridges”. But if you don’t know the basic facts about your topic, encyclopedias are a great place to start.

Thanks to the advances of technology—and this marvelous thing called the internet—you don’t have to go to a research library to gain that ground-level knowledge of your topic. But you do still need to make sure you’re drawing from credible sources.

For encyclopedias, try these to start:

• Encyclopedia.com

Dictionaries can be helpful too:

• Merriam-Webster
• Dictionary.com

Once you know your topics’ basic facts, focus on researching those topics in the context of your angle . It may help to make a list of questions you’re trying to answer so you can keep your research focused.

Example: Electric Cars vs. Buses: Which Is Better for the Environment?

• Are most buses gas-powered or electric?
• What’s the average emissions of greenhouse gas from gas-powered buses?
• How much energy do electric cars use? What’s the lifespan of their batteries? Are they just using electricity that was produced in a polluting way somewhere else? What about electric buses?
• How many people can ride a bus? How many people typically are transported by one car? 
• What would be the average energy consumption per person in an electric car versus a bus?

Once you know the questions you need to answer, look for sources that address those questions. For an academic essay, you’ll probably want to stick with academic sources : peer-reviewed studies and research papers published by academic journals. But official government databases can also be useful. And news stories from reputable publications can provide some direction as well (check with your professor to see whether or not you can use news publications as sources for your essay). Your educational institution likely provides access to all of these kinds of sources through the university library.

Your turn: Think through your angle and make a list of questions your piece needs to answer. Next, start searching academic databases for the information you need. Take notes as you research, and be sure to save any links, titles, author names, page numbers, and publication information you’ll need to properly cite your sources.

3. Outline your essay.

Call me crazy, but I actually think this is the fun part. I hated writing outlines when I was in school, but since making my living as a professional writer, they’ve become the #1 way I beat writer’s block.

First: Throw out the idea that your outline should be a series of bullet points neatly organized into sections and subsections. Your outline only needs to make sense to you , so play around to find an approach that works with your brain. The idea here is simply to make a map you’ll follow when you sit down to write.

Here’s what I do:

• Identify the specific hook I’m going to use to start things off.
• List the different examples and details I need to include.
• Use the main focus or idea of my piece to order everything in a natural, logical way.

A lot of times, my outline becomes a combination of bullet points and sentences or paragraphs I write as I’m sketching out the piece. I’m basically just thinking the piece through, from beginning to end. Instead of getting stuck while I’m writing, I work through the tough spots in the outlining stage.

This is what my outline looked like for this piece:

Okay, that’s kind of long, so I cut it off early—but you get the point. 

A lot of times, my outline starts as bare-bones bullets. As I work on it, ideas pop up that I stick in where they make sense. But when I write, those elements might move around ( notice how the examples of transportation essays got bumped up to the section on subtypes of essays ).

Your outline is just a guide. It’s not an architect’s blueprint that needs to be followed to the exact millimeter. There’s room for things to change. 

But an outline keeps you on-track when you’re writing . If you find yourself stuck (or lost) in the writing step, reference your map. You might need to backtrack, move what you’ve written around, or adjust your route. 

Your turn: Take a few minutes and sketch out your essay. Where does it start? What points does it hit? Are there any ways you see the different points connecting that should inform how you order them? As you think it through, scribble out any lines or paragraphs that come to you and stick them in the outline where they make the most sense. Even if you don’t use these exact words later, they’ll help prevent that deer-in-the-headlights stare that hits when you see a blank page.

Time to put everything together! 

With your outline and research ready, start your intro and set up your piece. Your opening should briefly introduce your readers to the topic(s) you’re writing about and the questions you’re going to answer—but don’t give everything away. You want to stir up readers’ curiosity and give them a reason to keep reading.

Depending on the length of your essay, your intro may be one to three paragraphs long (longer pieces get longer intros). But it should be concise and to the point, and smoothly transition into the body of your essay.

The body is the meat and potatoes of your piece. Answer those questions, flesh out your explanation, and give readers a thorough understanding of your topic. Show off your research! Include those bizarre and fascinating facts you learned along the way. Use a tasteful metaphor or compelling anecdote to explain some of the more difficult aspects of your topic. 

As you write, be sure to follow a consistent logic throughout your piece: 

• If you’re detailing a history or an event, use chronological order: start at the beginning and write about the events in the order that they happened.
• Are you explaining how a machine or other invention works? Start with where the movement starts—the pedals of a bicycle, the wind turning the turbines—or with the feature doing the most significant work (e.g., the wires of the suspension bridge). 
• Other logics include: size (small to large, large to small), significance (greatest to least), or space (left to right, right to left, outside to center, center to outside).

You don’t need to label everything you write about as the “next biggest” or “least significant”, but sticking to a logic helps your readers orient themselves—and helps you determine which paragraph or subtopic should go where. This way, your thoughts clearly flow from one paragraph to the next. 

‍ Quick note: If you can’t name the logic that’s guiding your piece, don’t worry. As long as your paragraphs naturally follow each other and all questions raised in the intro are answered by the end, your essay probably follows a logic just fine. But if you feel like your piece bounces around willy-nilly, play with a couple different logics and see if one smoothly orders your sentences and paragraphs.

Your turn: Get writing! If you’re stuck on the intro, try writing a working title for your piece to focus your attention. Then, follow your outline to work all the way from the beginning to a conclusion that sums everything up.

If you can, let your piece sit for at least a day. Then, for the editing process , open up that document and read through with these questions in mind:

• Does the essay fulfill the assignment? Review the assignment description from your professor. Does your essay tick all the boxes? If not, what’s missing? Can you weave that element into what you’ve already written? Revise as necessary.
• Are the sentences and paragraphs ordered in a way that makes logical sense? If your essay feels clunky in places, you might have switched logics (as explained above) or you might need to insert some more explanation that clearly ties the sentences or paragraphs together. Make sure your essay doesn’t just list facts, but also shows how they relate to each other.
• Does the hook catch your eye? The beginning of your piece should grab your reader’s attention. Check out our advice for prize-winning hooks here .
• Does the conclusion effectively sum things up? Instead of repeating everything your essay says, your conclusion should briefly distill the main takeaway or core idea for your reader. It should show that you’ve fulfilled the promise made in your intro, without being unnecessarily repetitive or redundant.
• Have you cited all your sources? Make sure to cross this off before hitting “submit.” Follow the citation style specified by your professor.
• Is spelling and grammar clean and correct? You are writing, after all, and these things matter. A bonus tip to help you catch those sneaky typos: Read your piece backwards. You might be surprised what you spot.

Did We Explain That Well Enough?

This blog was basically a long, non-academic explanatory essay, so hopefully, you’ve learned something new and are feeling less overwhelmed about your essay on medieval literature, transportation infrastructure, Persian history—or whatever you’re writing about.

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How to Write an Excellent Explanation Text

Welcome to our complete guide to writing an explanation text.  This guide is intended for both teachers and students to make the process of writing fun and straightforward.

This page has plenty of great content, and downloadable resources such as graphic organizer prompts and much more.  If you like what you see here, check out all our other writing genre guides.

WHAT IS AN EXPLANATION TEXT?

An explanation text tells your audience how something works or why something happens.

Explanations detail and logically describe the stages in a process , such as the water cycle or how a steam engine works.  Other examples could be how a law is made or why we blink when we sneeze.

Explanation texts are frequently incorporated into other texts, used to provide information which answers questions of interest on that topic.

TYPES OF EXPLANATION TEXT

Not all explanation texts are created equal, and they vary in complexity to research and construct. As such, we have listed them from easiest to most challenging.

• Sequential Explanations – These detail the stages in an event, e.g., how a caterpillar turns into a moth. These are excellent starting points for younger writers and those new to this genre of writing.
• Causal Explanations – Details what causes the change from one stage to the next, i.e., How a president is elected.
• Theoretical Explanations – Details the possible phenomena behind a natural or created process that is not fully understood. e.g. What caused the Nazis to lose World War II?
• Scientific– e.g. Explain the causes of climate change (Factorial)
• Historical– e.g. Explain the causes of World War 2 (Factorial)

DON’T GET CONFUSED BETWEEN EXPLANATION TEXTS AND PROCEDURAL TEXTS

An explanatory text has some similarities to a procedural text , and these can often be confused; however, an explanation text explains the how and why behind a process, such as  

• What causes a Tsunami?
• Why are our rainforests disappearing?
• The process of making aluminium.

A procedural text is about writing logical and efficient instructions to complete a task. It is all about the ‘how,’ whereas an explanation focuses more on the ‘why.’ So as we can see, although they are similar, both text types are very different in purpose.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING EXPLANATION TEXTS

Teaching students to write instruction manuals, recipes and science experiments can be challenging for the creative writer and teacher… ⭐ UNTIL NOW ⭐ Because the PERFECT PROCEDURAL WRITING UNIT offers a complete solution to teaching all styles of procedural writing, including,

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STRUCTURE AND FEATURES OF AN EXPLANATORY ESSAY

Explanatory writing structure.

TITLES Which identify the topic of your explanation. You may pose this as a question at the beginning with how? or why?

STRONG OPENING STATEMENT Identifying the process to be explained. Emphasize the process rather than the particular thing involved in the process.

SEQUENCING Use sequential paragraphs or statements describing how or why something happens. Show connections such as cause and effect or temporal sequence.

WRAPPING IT UP A strong concluding paragraph or sentence that draws everything together will add more validity to your explanation.

EXPLANATORY WRITING FEATURES

GENERALIZE Talk about your topics in groups or as a collective rather than as individuals.

CONNECTIVE LANGUAGE Use language which link cause and effect.

GET TECHNICAL & DETAILED Use technical language and terms specific to your subject. Use technical descriptions to crate richer meaning.

TENSE AND VOICE Explanations are written in the passive voice and in timeless present tense

VISUALS Use graphic organizers, labelled diagrams and even videos you are constructing a digital text to illustrate your understanding.

THE LANGUAGE FEATURES OF AN EXPLANATION TEXT

• Use technical terms such as evaporation and degradation if writing a water cycle explanation text.
• Action verbs and present tense such as runs, develop and becomes
• Cause and effect terms such as because of.., due to.., therefore, and as a result

USE YOUR TIME EFFECTIVELY

Using your writing time effectively is really crucial.  When writing an explanation, you should aim to spend about one-fifth of your time researching your topic to ensure you know what you are talking about.

Next, take an equal amount of time to structure your writing using a graphic organizer or mind map, which can be found below. If you follow this model, you only need to spend under half your time writing.  Your ideas and structure will already be formed.

This will leave you a reasonable window to edit and revise your essay for meaning, spelling and grammar and structure. Using graphic organizers , planning tools, and writing checklists will greatly assist the planning and editing time.

HOW TO WRITE AN EXPLANATORY TEXT

Points to consider before writing your explanatory essay.

• What is it about? What are you explaining? Are you explaining how or why something happens or are you explaining a process?
• What is the title?
• What are the essential parts and sections of what you want to explain? How would you describe it and its parts? Which parts need to be described as part of the explanation?
• How does it work? What happens first, next, and why?
• What else might you include?

Introduction: Because you are explaining a process, your audience will require some context about your topic. Firstly, ensure you provide some facts and insights so that it makes sense to your audience.

Secondly, You have obviously found this subject interesting enough to write an essay about it, so ensure what piqued your interest is translated to your audience by creating a hook that leaves your audience wanting to read on.

Body: Keep everything in chronological order here to ensure your explanation follows a sequence.

In this section, you want your paragraphs to really emphasise what happens in the opening of each paragraph and then lead into how and, or why things occur using relevant technical terms and action verbs.

Use the bulk of your paragraph to focus on the how and why that will both fill your reader with wonder, and lead them to ask questions about your subject area.

Use connective terms and transitional language that is not repetitive when linking paragraphs. Be sure to read our complete guide to writing perfect paragraphs for further details.

Make sure that you have entirely covered the explanation before moving on to your conclusion.

Conclusion: Use the conclusion to pose and or answer any apparent questions the audience may have on your topic.

Also, feel free to share a very personal opinion or insight about your topic to build a connection with the audience to ensure your explanation text is worthy of their time.

TIPS FOR WRITING A GREAT EXPLANATION TEXT

Explanatory writing graphic organizer template.

EXPLANATORY TEXT WRITING PROMPTS

Explanatory text tutorial videos.

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

A COMPLETE UNIT OF WORK ON EXPLANATION WRITING?

We pride ourselves on being the web’s best resource for teaching students and teachers how to write an explanation text. We value the fact you have taken the time to read our comprehensive guides to understand the fundamentals of writing stories.

We also understand some of you just don’t have the luxury of time or resources to create engaging resources when needed.

If you are time-poor and looking for an in-depth solution that encompasses all of the concepts outlined in this article, I strongly recommend looking at the Excellent Explanation Text Writing Unit.

Working in partnership with Innovative Teaching Ideas , we confidently recommend this resource as an all-in-one solution to teaching explanatory texts.

This unit will find over 91 pages of engaging and innovative teaching ideas.

EXPLANATION TEXT WRITING CHECKLISTS FOR JUNIOR, MIDDLE & SENIOR STUDENTS

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OTHER GREAT ARTICLES RELATED TO EXPLANATION TEXT WRITING

Explanation Texts: Top 5 Writing tips for younger students

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5 Procedural Writing Lesson Plans Students and Teachers will Love

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How to Conclude a Paragraph

Last Updated: December 13, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Diane Stubbs and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . Diane Stubbs is a Secondary English Teacher with over 22 years of experience teaching all high school grade levels and AP courses. She specializes in secondary education, classroom management, and educational technology. Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Delaware and a Master of Education from Wesley College. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 113,503 times.

If you want a body paragraph to be effective, you need to conclude it properly — a closing sentence is as imperative as a conclusion is to an essay or a research paper. Closing or concluding sentences act like a concluding paragraph in an essay and review the points you made in the paragraph. To effectively conclude a paragraph, restate your topic sentence and include what you taught the reader. Tailor the sentence to the type of essay you’re writing, whether it’s a persuasive or compare and contrast essay.

Reviewing Your Paragraph

• Focus on what you lay out in the topic sentence.
• Note your evidence and details.

• If your topic sentence reads, “Cats may be small, but they’re mighty predators,” then your main idea is that cats are big hunters.
• Your concluding statement should show how your paragraph supported the idea that cats are big predators. For example, a closing statement might read, “Based on these statistics, cats are predators who hunt frequently and decrease the area bird population.”

• For example, the closing statement above, “Based on these statistics, cats are predators who hunt frequently and decrease the area bird population,” reminds the reader that the paragraph just provided statistics about how often cats hunt and how they impact the local bird population. These details support the main idea, and the writer has mentioned both.

Drafting a Closing Statement

• Consequently
• As a result

• An example topic sentence might read: “Cats are natural predators because they enjoy hunting and will even hunt for sport.”
• Your concluding statement for this paragraph might read: “As a result of their continued hunts even after they’re domesticated and provided cat food, cats are proven to be natural predators.”

• As an example, “The data shows that cats hunt even when they have steady meals, which proves that they are natural hunters.”

• For example, “As the data shows, feral cats hunt 140% more than domestic cats.”

• For example, “Consequently, homes that own cats have fewer birds living in their yards.”

• For example, “In the end, cats hunt out of instinct.”

• For example, “To conclude, feral cats are more dangerous to birds than house cats because they have more hunting opportunities and kill more birds each year on average.” This sentence supports the main idea that feral cats hunt more than house cats and shows how the two details provided in the sentence link back to the topic sentence.

• For example, your closing statement could read, “In summation, statistics show that cats who wear bell collars are less of a threat to birds because they kill fewer birds even if they have the same number of hunting opportunities.” This signals to the reader that the writer has finished with one main idea and is moving onto another in a new paragraph.

Avoiding Common Errors

• You also want to avoid the word “you.” For example, don’t say, “As you can see” in your concluding sentence.
• There are some exceptions, such as if you’re writing an introductory paragraph or an opinion essay.

• Reread your concluding statement, then compare it to your paragraph. Do you reference one detail but not another? If it does, rewrite the sentence to address the main points, not the subpoints.

• A poor closing statement might read: “As you can see, the evidence suggests that cats like to hunt."
• A better closing statement could read: “Based on the data, cats look for opportunities to hunt for sport, proving they are natural predators."

Expert Q&A

• In some cases, the concluding statements in introductions and conclusions may have a slightly different format. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Remember that your goal is to show the reader your ideas. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Focus on your main idea. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Try to avoid sounding redundant. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Don’t just restate your topic sentence. Show how the details you’ve provided contribute to the main idea. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1

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• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/paragraphs/
• ↑ https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/wrd/chapter/writing-summaries/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/transitions/
• ↑ https://lsa.umich.edu/sweetland/undergraduates/writing-guides/how-do-i-write-an-intro--conclusion----body-paragraph.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/argumentative_essays.html
• ↑ https://owl.excelsior.edu/rhetorical-styles/compare-and-contrast-essay/
• ↑ https://owl.excelsior.edu/rhetorical-styles/cause-and-effect-essay/
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-an-informative-essay/
• ↑ https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/paragraphs-and-topic-sentences.html
• ↑ https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/conclusion

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Explanatory Essay Writing Guide

Before writing any type of assignment, you must understand its definition. The following approach can be applied to any other type of academic writing, including an explanatory essay.

In this article, our write my essay for me service professionals will try to explain what an explanatory essay is, its primary goal, and key features. Even though many people think that there is nothing more simple than writing an explanatory essay, for most students, it can still be a challenge to distinguish explanatory paper from other types of essays.

We highly recommend you read this article till the end. Guidelines outlined in our manual will help you gain new knowledge and enhance your writing skills. Designing explanatory essay will become an easy task for you once you put recommendations from our professional paper writing service into practice.

What is an Explanatory Essay?

An explanatory essay is a type of academic paper in which the author presents some point of view or opinion on a particular topic, subject, event or situation. It’s worth noting that explanatory essay is also known as expository essay. 

When completing this kind of assignment you shouldn’t necessarily agree with the point of view you are writing about. Your goal is to report a certain event or situation and offer an analysis of a given subject. Try to present information or arguments of other people impartially. It’s also essential that you do not include any form of criticism in your explanatory essay. You shouldn’t argue or persuade while giving explanations. Let readers make their conclusions rather than persuading them to agree or disagree with the given point of view.

Explanatory essay is all about presenting a neutral view on the set topic by providing analysis from research. Its primary goal is to present a lucid explanation as to why things happened the way they did. After reading your essay, the audience should have a clear understanding of your point of view, even if they don’t pick your side.

Usually, the author of the explanatory essay decides upon a set topic and then approaches the issue from a specific angle. In most cases, this angle is complicated and gives room for discussion. The author presents a point of view of his or her choice that fairly explains why a certain outcome was reached.

Explanatory Essay Topics

In most cases, explanatory essay topics are pre-assigned to students by their teachers or college professors. For instance, you can be asked to explain how your brain works or outline the events that led to the 2008 financial crisis.

If you are asked to select the essay topic by yourself, remember that explanatory papers are based on facts. That’s why our custom essay writing professionals recommend that you choose a neutral topic that can be easily explained. The idea here is that the more controversial the topic, the more points of view you will need to explore in your essay, making it more complicated and time-consuming. Fortunately, we can explain almost everything as long as it falls within the parameters of the given assignment. Here are a couple of explanatory essay topics created by our paper topic generator you can choose from:

Beginner Explanatory Essay Topics

• Describe the day you came to school for the first time. How did it make you feel?
• What qualities do you believe make someone a good friend?
• Explain what makes dogs the best pet for a person.
• Who is your favorite superhero or movie/book character? Why?
• Describe your dream home.
• Who is that person you admire and look up to the most?
• Define what happiness means to you.
• Who is your favorite teacher?
• Tell what kind of food you love most and explain why you love it.
• What kind of job do you think will suit you the most?

Intermediate Explanatory Essay Topics

• What is the best lesson that parents can teach their kids?
• Describe your favorite kind of sport.
• What unique traditions does your family have?
• Tell about something you are really good at and could teach it to others.
• Does the word “responsibility” mean the same thing for adults and children?
• Describe what you believe makes a person truly rich.
• What is your favorite place on the planet?
• Explain how someone you know (a friend, teacher, parent) helped you become a better person.
• What is the school subject you enjoy the most?
• Describe how having a sibling can affect one’s personality.

Advanced Explanatory Essay Topics

• Explain one of the forms of cyberbullying and suggest ways to address it.
• Do you believe animals can really feel your fear?
• Describe a moral dilemma you have faced. How did you handle it?
• Do you believe in UFOs and aliens? Explain your point of view.
• Explain how your personality has changed as you were growing up.
• How can we measure happiness?
• Define your generation. What makes it different from other generations?
• Explain how you understand the universe.
• How do you imagine your perfect future?
• Describe your first work experience ever. What did it teach you, and how did you handle it?

College Level Explanatory Essay Topics

• Define the positive and harmful effects the Internet has on a human personality and life.
• What real-life lessons do you wish you’d learn 5 years ago?
• Tell about someone who has authority in your eyes and explain why.
• Do you think expressing the whole spectrum of emotions is better than suppressing them?
• Explain what experience was the most life-changing for you.
• How to cope with financial difficulties?
• Explain the benefits of social networks for modern students.
• What makes a person generous?
• Describe the technological advancement that took place over the last decade.
• Define what difference you see between “living” and “existing”.

Explanatory Essay Format

The typical format for an explanatory paper is the traditional 5-paragraph essay. Usually, this includes an introduction, three body paragraphs (limited to one subtopic each), and a conclusion. This is a basic essay format. 

Keep in mind that the explanatory writing doesn’t need to be limited to five paragraphs — you can make it longer. No matter how many paragraphs you decide to include in your essay, be sure that your introduction includes a powerful thesis statement. Also, double-check if the paper is based on facts rather than personal opinion. Last but not least: make sure to connect paragraphs with transitions. 

Explanatory Essay Outline

In simple terms, an explanatory essay outline is a plan for your explanatory paper. Usually, it varies based on the length of the topic and the information the author is trying to present. The goal of the outline is to organize the main points into paragraphs — it offers a so-called framework of how to write an explanatory essay. As it was mentioned in the paragraph above, most explanatory essays follow the basic essay structure. They consist of:

• Introduction;
• Body paragraphs;
• Conclusion.

Most explanatory essays tend to be a page or two in length. That's why the overall essay is usually around 5 paragraphs long. Remember that your introduction should present the topic to the audience. Also, it’s vital that you incorporate the thesis statement in the last paragraph. After you are done with it, try to develop the body paragraphs with the information detailed in the thesis statement. Finally, include a conclusion that summarizes your essay's key points after the restatement of the thesis. As you can see, creating an explanatory essay outline is not that difficult as it may seem at first glance. And now let’s dig deeper into the definition of the explanatory essay thesis.

Thesis Statement

When talking about a thesis statement, most people usually mean one or two sentences that summarize the main idea of their academic paper and clearly express what it is they are going to say about the given topic. Overall, your thesis statement identifies what topic will be discussed and the purpose of your essay. As the explanatory essay is tailored to explain or acquaint your readers with something, the goal of the explanatory thesis is to tell readers what it is you are going to explain and what aspects of the topic will be considered.

Introduction

Before you start writing your explanatory essay, there are some crucial tips to follow. The first recommendation is to carry out proper research and data collection. Explanatory essay authors should ensure that the information in their writing is a blend of personal views and ideas acquired from external sources. Explanatory essay relies heavily on solid research, focus on finding external sources that will supplement your personal opinion. Note down all the important information from those sources and use them as evidence in your essay. So, the first thing you should do is find multiple trusted sources that defend your thoughts. We suggest you look to online journals, historical dictionaries, or find relevant books in your college library to use them as trusted sources.

After collecting all the needed information, the next step is to develop a clear explanatory thesis. A concise thesis will make it easier for readers to understand the essence of the topic from a summarized point of view. In other words, explain what you will be showing to your audience. Be neutral — you are not arguing or criticizing, just stating facts. Remember, you are not supposed to take any side as that causes a loss in the outlook of an explanatory essay.

Another recommendation is to choose a neutral topic you'd like to explain. If your teacher or professor didn’t give you a specific topic, select the one that will be understandable for you. Just choose such a topic that is in line with your assignment.

Once you’ve chosen a suitable topic, it’s time to draft an outline of your explanatory essay. The best option here is to stick to five paragraphs that were mentioned above: draft an introduction, three main body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The outline helps students ensure that they follow a logical pattern to detail all their trains of thought. After completing all of the above steps - review your material and start writing your explanatory paper.

Each explanatory paper should start with an introduction. Try to capture your audience’s attention. No matter how you decide to do that - it may be a quote, rhetorical question, catchy motto, or anecdote. Feel free to improvise and use your imagination. Picking a hook thesis statement is also important. After presenting a thesis statement, include any necessary information that gives a background of the topic. The last sentence of your introduction should integrate a thesis statement to give a preview of the content in the body paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs

No matter how many paragraphs you decide to include in your explanatory essay, they all should follow a similar style. They all should be in-line with each other and maintain a certain flow in the paragraphs. Within each paragraph, you are to include a claim that is linked to the thesis statement. This way, it will be easier to connect all the points.

Try to support your claims with evidence from external sources. Make your readers feel confident about the information you present to them. Don’t forget to integrate a concluding statement that offers a summary of the claim's significance. Concluding statement should go along with the thesis statement. In simple terms, all body paragraphs in your explanatory paper should follow this format.

Conclusion Of Explanatory Essay

The explanatory essay must have a proper conclusion. When finishing your explanatory paper, follow these recommendations:

• Restate your thesis. This way you will bring your readers’ attention back to the main point as well as add strength to your presented point of view.
• Summarize your supporting points presented in each of the body paragraphs accordingly. Restate the importance of each one. This way you will logically defend your explanatory thesis.
• Provide an overall concluding statement. In other words, explain the value of the particular point of view chosen from a global perspective. Your goal here is to captivate your readers to study the subject further on. 

How to Write an Explanatory Essay - Writing Tips

Some useful tips will help you write an excellent explanatory essay. Here are some of the most powerful ones:

Take advantage of transitions and linking words

While connecting all your body paragraphs, use transition words and sentences. They will make your explanatory paper flow more smoothly. Some of the words you can use to connect your sentences are: 

• For instance;
• In comparison;
• Firstly, secondly, thirdly;
• On the other hand;
• In conclusion, to summarise.

Cite your sources

This one is an absolute requirement when writing an explanatory essay. You better try hard in this area. A successful explanatory essay will be factual and contain verifiable information. Cite your sources and make it easy for the audience to check where you drew your facts. 

Revise your essay

After completing your explanatory paper, it’s always a good tip to revise it a couple of times. To make your revision phase more effective we advise you to answer the following questions:

• Does the essay give an objective analysis that unfolds logically? Did I use relevant facts and examples in your essay?
• Has the information in my paper been communicated to the audience? Is the word choice precise?
• Did I use transitions and linking words in the essay to help the reader’s understanding?
• Does the concluding paragraph communicate the value and meaning of the thesis statement and supporting ideas?

Edit your essay

Double-check your paper for different of mistakes and typos. When proofreading your paper, make sure that nobody distracts you. It would be perfect if you revise and proofread your essay in silence. If you notice any kinds of errors - edit your paper to improve both style and clarity. Even though your essay should be clear and concise, also think on how to make it engaging and lively as well.

Share your essay with a close person

Showing your essay to your parent, friend or other readers can be both useful and exciting. They can give you their opinion on what should be changed. They can also notice some grammar or punctual mistakes you missed while writing the essay. Overall, it always good to use the feedback to make your essay even better.

Explanatory Essay Example

Read the following essay sample to understand this type of essay better. If you need more examples, don’t hesitate to buy essay samples from our website.

What are the benefits of social networks for modern students?

According to the World Health Organization, people spend around 6 years and 8 months on various social media in their lifetime. These numbers are both impressive and terrifying. Given that the average lifespan across the world is 72 years, in 2020, the time spent on social networks makes up almost 10% of our entire life. And these figures keep changing and hitting higher points every year. Unsurprisingly, students are the largest group of active social network users. There always have been plenty of controversies concerning this matter. But, there is a belief that social media can actually have quite a few benefits for them.

One of the most obvious benefits of social media is that it keeps people connected. Clearly, many modern students are using these channels to make connections and communicate with their peers. Also, though it may not sound like too big of a deal, it can have a very positive effect on their lives in college. A recent study has shown that social media can play an integral role in the process of adjustment to college. The research found that student-centered networks can provide first-year students with so-needed support and help them adapt to the new environment faster, easier, and more effectively.

Another benefit of social networks for students is that such channels can boost students’ overall literacy and reading skills. Various literacy studies confirm that the general level of literacy and reading skills among younger generations is dropping. The biggest issue behind that is the fact that young people almost never pick up a book when they are outside of the class. They are just no longer interested in books as they make them bored. However, this does not mean that students don’t read at all. In fact, they do. It’s just that they are more inclined to read the information provided in smaller chunks and, preferably, containing some eye-catching animations, videos, or images. In other words, they are much more interested in reading publications on blogs, websites, and, of course, social networks. Keeping all that in mind, it shouldn’t surprise you that, according to the National Literacy Trust, social networks really can (and already do) help modern students enhance their reading skills and overall literacy.

Finally, the last significant benefit of social media is the accessibility of education. Such channels have provided us with plenty of opportunities for distance learning. The global quarantine has shown us that the effectiveness of distance learning can equal the effectiveness of traditional learning. But only if we integrate the right tools in the process. Among such tools are various social network channels. Numerous researches have found that social media can bring extra value in terms of education. It enables students to search for information, collaborate, and stay engaged and motivated through the learning process. Also, such channels make education more accessible. They can have a practical use in creating the right conditions for efficient distance learning. At the same time, they also streamline both learning and teaching processes and help deliver better results.

Based on what has been discussed earlier, we can conclude that social networks do have a number of weighty benefits for modern students. Such channels encourage continuous learning, create new opportunities for distance learning, boost students’ levels of literacy and skills, and also serve as great tools for communication and support. We can’t deny the fact that social media is invading our lives at a rapid pace, so the only thing we can do is to adapt to this and start making the most of it.

We hope we managed to explain how to write a great explanatory essay. Now you know how this type of academic paper differs from other essays and what writing style and topic to choose when preparing such kind of assignment.

We sincerely hope that the tips outlined in our guide will help you enhance your writing and get better grades. However, if you have difficulties with completing this kind of assignment, our team of professional writers is always ready to help you draft a top-notch explanatory essay from scratch. All you need to do is order an essay you need. We can also help you with other types of assignments, such as coursework, dissertation writing, or research paper. If you experience any kind of difficulties writing an explanatory essay — welcome to our first-class service!

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How long will cicadas be around this year? Here's when to expect Brood XIX, XIII to die off

Trillions of periodical cicadas from two broods are emerging from their underground habitats in over a dozen states this year, filling the air and creating a lot of noise in the process.

There are two broods hitting a combined 17 states this year: the 13-year Brood XIX located mainly in the Southeast, and the 17-year Brood XIII in the Midwest. The two broods, which have not emerged together since 1803, will be found in both Illinois and Iowa.

You may have already seen some of these cicadas emerging, but how long will they be around this year, and how long do they stay underground between emergence years?

Here's what to know about a cicada's life, both under and above ground.

2024 cicada map: See where Brood XIX, XIII cicadas are emerging around the US

When do cicadas emerge?

According to  Cicada Mania , the cicadas begin to emerge from their underground habitats when the soil 8 inches underground reaches 64 degrees, and are often triggered by a warm rain. 

Thanks to warm temperatures, cicadas have already been spotted above ground in states across the Southeast and Midwest.

Can you eat cicadas? Try these tasty recipes with Brood XIX, Brood XIII this summer

How long will the cicadas be above ground?

How long cicadas live depends on their brood and if they are an annual or periodical species.

The two periodical broods this summer are Brood XIX, which have a 13-year life cycle, and Brood XIII, which have a 17-year life cycle.

Once male and female periodical cicadas have mated and the latter has laid its eggs, the insects will die after spending only a few weeks above ground − anywhere from three to six weeks after first emerging.

That means many of this year's periodical cicadas are set to die in June, though some could die off in late May or July, depending on when they emerged.

The nymphs of annual cicadas remain underground for two to five years , according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. These cicadas are called " annual " because some members of the species emerge as adults each year.

What is the life cycle of a cicada?

The life cycle of a cicada starts with mating. The female then lays eggs in holes made in tree branches and shrubs,  National Geographic reports . The eggs will hatch after six to 10 weeks and the cicada nymphs will burrow themselves into the ground, attaching to the tree's roots.

The cicadas will remain underground for a " dormant period " of two to 17 years, depending on the species. Then they emerge in adult form, according to National Geographic.

2024 emergence map: Check out where Broods XIX, XIII are emerging

The two cicada broods were projected to emerge in a combined 17 states across the South and Midwest. They emerge once the soil eight inches underground reaches 64 degrees, expected to begin in many states in May and lasting through late June.

The two broods  last emerged together in 1803 , when Thomas Jefferson was president.

Contributing: Olivia Munson, USA TODAY.

How to End a Story: Techniques for a Satisfying Conclusion

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on May 29, 2024

Categories Storytelling , Writing

Ending a story can be just as challenging as starting one.

Many writers often wonder how to craft an ending that leaves a lasting impression on their readers.

The key to an impactful story ending is to ensure it stays true to the characters and themes established throughout the narrative.

Whether it’s a happy ending, a cliffhanger, or something more ambiguous, the conclusion should provide a sense of closure or provoke thought.

Different genres might lean towards particular types of endings.

For example, mystery novels often wrap up with a resolution that ties up all the loose ends, while literary fiction might opt for more open-ended conclusions.

The choice of ending can greatly affect how readers feel about the entire story, making it essential to choose carefully.

Exploring various ways to finish a story can offer valuable insights and inspire creativity.

Writers should focus on the emotional journey of their readers when crafting the final chapters.

It’s important to reflect on the themes addressed and ensure the ending feels earned.

Some authors also find it helpful to experiment with different endings before settling on the one that best serves their story.

Key Takeaways

• The ending of a story should reflect its themes and characters.
• Different genres may benefit from specific types of endings.
• An impactful ending often resonates emotionally with readers.

Understanding Story Endings

The way a story ends can deeply impact the reader. Different types of endings serve unique purposes, tying up plotlines and enhancing the story’s themes and character arcs.

Types of Story Endings

Story endings can vary widely. Some common types include:

• Resolved Endings : These offer clear conclusions, answering all major questions. Detectives solve the case, or lovers reunite.
• Unresolved Endings : These leave some questions unanswered. This can encourage readers to think deeply about the story’s themes.
• Ambiguous Endings : Similar to unresolved endings, ambiguous endings leave room for interpretation. Readers decide what happens next.
• Bittersweet Endings : These endings mix happy and sad elements. For example, a character may achieve a goal but at a great personal cost.
• Expanded Endings : Also known as epilogues, they show events that happen after the main story ends, providing further closure.

Character Arcs and Endings

Character arcs play a crucial role in shaping how a story ends.

Characters often start with specific traits or beliefs, and their journeys change them:

• Positive Arcs : Characters grow or improve, overcoming flaws.
• Negative Arcs : Characters fail to improve or become worse. Tragic endings are common here.
• Flat Arcs : The character remains largely the same, but their views and traits influence others.

For instance, in “ The Great Gatsby ,” Gatsby’s arc ends tragically, reinforcing themes of lost dreams and wealth’s hollowness. Understanding character arcs helps writers craft endings that feel earned and meaningful.

Thematic Resonance in Endings

For a story to resonate, the ending should echo the themes presented throughout. This consistency helps reinforce the story’s message:

• Foreshadowing : Including hints or symbols that align with the ending can make it feel more satisfying.
• Symbolism : Using symbols that reflect the story’s themes can add depth. For example, in “The Great Gatsby,” the green light symbolizes Gatsby’s unattainable dreams.

Incorporating thematic elements into the ending ensures that the story’s main ideas leave a lasting impression.

An ending that aligns with the story’s themes can elevate the narrative, leaving readers with something to ponder.

Crafting the Final Chapters

The final chapters are crucial. They build up to the climax and then bring the story to a satisfying closure.

Building Toward the Climax

The lead-up to the climax should heighten tension and conflict.

It’s essential to tie up any loose ends and ensure the stakes are clear.

Characters should face their most challenging obstacles, reflecting the overall theme and character development.

Creating an effective climax often involves a plot twist that resolves the central conflict in an unexpected way.

This twist should feel earned and believable, not forced.

Readers should see that the twist stems from previous hints scattered throughout the story. It keeps them engaged and excited about how the story will finally unfold.

Achieving Closure

After the climax, the story shifts to achieving closure.

This involves resolving subplots and answering remaining questions.

It’s important to show how characters have changed and what their futures might hold.

To provide a satisfying ending, consider an epilogue .

This can show the long-term effects of the story’s events. For example, an expanded ending hints at future outcomes for the characters, giving readers a sense of completion.

The key is to balance tying up loose ends and leaving some elements to the reader’s imagination. This approach ensures that the story feels complete, yet lingers in the reader’s mind.

Types of Endings Explored

Endings play a crucial role in shaping the reader’s experience. They can provide closure, leave lingering questions, or completely surprise the audience.

Happy Endings

A happy ending resolves the story in a positive and satisfying way.

Characters achieve their goals, conflicts are resolved, and the reader is left feeling content.

These endings are common in genres like romance and children’s literature. For instance, many fairy tales conclude with the phrase “happily ever after,” ensuring that the protagonist’s journey ends on a high note.

Resolved Endings

A resolved ending ties up all loose ends, providing a clear resolution to the story’s plot.

Every conflict is addressed, and the story reaches a definitive conclusion.

This type of ending is often used in mystery novels where revealing the culprit answers all questions. Resolved endings offer closure and leave no room for doubt.

Unresolved Endings

Unresolved endings leave some plot points hanging, making the reader think about what might happen next.

These endings can be frustrating but also thought-provoking. They invite readers to imagine possible outcomes.

An unresolved ending can be seen in series books, where the story continues in the next installment, keeping the audience eager for more.

Ambiguous Endings

Ambiguous endings are designed to leave certain aspects of the story open to interpretation.

Unlike unresolved endings, which are simply incomplete, ambiguous endings offer multiple meanings.

A famous example is the ending of “Inception,” where it’s unclear if the protagonist is still in a dream. This type of ending sparks debate and deeper analysis among readers.

Twist Endings

A twist ending introduces an unexpected turn of events , surprising the reader.

This kind of ending recontextualizes the plot and characters in a way the audience did not foresee.

Twist endings are common in thrillers and mysteries.

They rely on cleverly planted clues throughout the narrative that make the twist both shocking and believable in hindsight.

Expanded Endings

Expanded endings, or epilogues, provide a glimpse into the future of the characters and the world of the story.

They serve to wrap up any remaining questions and sometimes hint at what lies ahead.

A well-known example is the epilogue in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” which shows the characters years after the main events. Expanded endings offer additional closure and satisfaction.

Writing Effective Conclusions

Effective conclusions bring closure to the story, tie up loose ends, incorporate epilogues when needed, and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Tying Up Loose Ends

To achieve a satisfying conclusion, it is essential to address any unresolved plot points.

Characters and events should all connect logically, and any unanswered questions should be resolved.

This brings closure and helps the reader feel that the story is complete.

For instance, if a subplot involves a character searching for a lost item, ensure that this item is found or its loss is explained. This attention to detail satisfies the reader’s curiosity and brings a sense of completeness to the story.

Incorporating Epilogues

An epilogue is a useful tool for providing additional closure and insight into the story’s world after the main events have concluded. It can hint at the future of the characters and the setting, offering a glimpse into their lives beyond the main narrative.

This approach is beneficial for readers who are deeply invested in the characters and want to know more about their fates. For example, many novels use epilogues to show the long-term outcomes of the protagonists’ struggles, helping to solidify the story’s impact.

Ensuring a Lasting Impression

A memorable ending should resonate with the reader long after they have finished the book.

This can be achieved through powerful imagery, thought-provoking themes, or emotional closure. The final lines should encapsulate the story’s essence and leave the reader with a strong, enduring feeling.

Whether it’s a poignant quote, a surprising twist, or a moment of profound realization, the key is to leave the reader with something to ponder. For example, a twist ending can reframe the entire story, encouraging the reader to think back on previous events with a new perspective.

Challenges in Ending a Story

Ending a story involves wrapping up plotlines and delivering a purposeful and satisfying conclusion.

Among the key challenges are addressing plot holes, avoiding misleading clues, and balancing plot twists.

Dealing with Plot Holes

One of the biggest challenges in ending a story is dealing with plot holes.

Plot holes are gaps in the story that don’t align with the established narrative. They can confuse readers and weaken the story’s structure.

It’s essential to identify and close these gaps. This can be done by revisiting the story and looking for inconsistencies.

Authors should ask themselves if every event logically leads to the conclusion. If anything is left unexplained or contradictory, this can detach the reader from the story.

To fix plot holes, writers can add brief explanations or tweak earlier parts of the narrative.

Sometimes a small addition or change can connect the dots seamlessly. Ensuring that the storyline is coherent and all questions are answered by the end is crucial.

Avoiding Red Herrings

Avoiding red herrings is another challenge.

A red herring is a clue or piece of information meant to mislead or distract the reader. While red herrings can create suspense, using them poorly can frustrate readers.

Too many false leads can make the story seem deceptive or confusing. The key is to use red herrings sparingly and ensure they serve a purpose.

Each false clue should contribute to the story and eventually align with the main plot.

Putting thought into the placement and resolution of red herrings is key. They should make the actual conclusion more satisfying, not less. Authors must balance the use of red herrings to maintain reader trust and interest.

Balancing Plot Twists

Balancing plot twists is critical.

A plot twist can invigorate a story, providing a surprise that challenges the reader’s expectations. Yet, it’s a challenge to implement them effectively.

A good plot twist should be unexpected but still plausible within the story. It should add depth and not feel forced or out of place. The twist must also resolve itself in a way that ties up loose ends.

Timing is essential. Unveiling a twist too early or too late can lessen its impact.

Placing the twist where it naturally fits within the story’s pace ensures it feels organic and enhances the overall narrative.

Careful planning and understanding the story’s flow are necessary to balance plot twists effectively.

Genre-Specific Considerations

Different genres often require unique approaches to story endings. Understanding these nuances ensures the ending resonates with the audience and fits genre expectations.

Romance Novels

In romance novels, a satisfying conclusion is crucial.

Readers typically expect a happy ending or at least a happy for now (HFN) resolution.

Happy Ending (HEA) : The couple ends up together, having overcome obstacles. This is a staple of the genre, delivering what many romance readers seek.

Happy for Now (HFN) : The characters are together and happy, but the future is left slightly open-ended. This can be a good fit for series or less traditional romances.

Including a reunion or declaration of love scene often adds emotional depth. Such elements ensure readers feel the journey was worthwhile.

Mystery Novels

Mystery novels demand an ending that resolves the core questions posed by the plot.

Unveiling the Culprit : The identity of the person behind the crime is crucial. Clear explanations for their motives and methods should be presented.

Tying Up Loose Ends : Any subplots or red herrings introduced earlier in the story should be logically concluded. This provides closure and prevents plot holes.

An ambiguous ending can be effective if done well, but it must still offer enough clues for readers to piece together a plausible theory. This approach ensures they remain engaged and feel rewarded for their attention to detail.

Beyond the Ending

When a story ends, it’s crucial to consider what happens afterward. This involves analyzing feedback and figuring out how the ending can naturally lead to sequels.

Study and Feedback

Writers should study reader reactions and feedback. Understanding what worked and what didn’t can highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the ending.

Tools like reader surveys and social media comments can be helpful.

Author George Orwell, for example, received extensive feedback on his works, which helped him refine his storytelling techniques.

Characters’ development can be analyzed through reviews, revealing if their journeys resonated with the audience.

If a character’s ending felt abrupt, the feedback can suggest ways to improve. Detailed notes from beta readers also play a crucial role in shaping the final version of a story.

Natural Progression to Sequels

A great ending establishes a potential path for sequels without leaving the story incomplete.

It should hint at future conflicts or unresolved issues that can be expanded.

Consider how iconic series like Harry Potter or The Hunger Games wrap up each book while setting the stage for the next.

Often, introducing a new challenge or deepening existing character conflicts achieves this.

Authors should think about what new beginnings the end might introduce, ensuring that each sequel builds upon the last.

This progression keeps the narrative engaging and coherent across multiple books.

Reviewing successful examples and planning character arcs thoughtfully ensures that sequels feel like a natural extension rather than an afterthought.

Ending a story effectively is crucial. There are several common techniques that writers can use.

Types of Endings:

**1. Expanded Ending : Also known as an epilogue. This reveals future developments or the fate of characters. For instance, in The Book Thief , Death narrates what happens next.

**2. Ambiguous Ending : Leaves some questions unanswered, making readers ponder. It’s not fully resolved but allows for interpretation.

**3. Cliffhanger : Keeps the reader in suspense. This is often used to set up sequels or further installments.

**4. Reflection : A reflective ending where the main character reflects on the events. In The Great Gatsby , Nick considers the corruption and emptiness of the wealthy elite.

Each of these endings has its own impact.

Tips for Crafting a Satisfying Conclusion:

• Stay True to Your Theme : Ensure your ending aligns with the story’s main message or theme.
• Character Growth : Reflect on how your characters have evolved throughout the story.
• Wrap Up Loose Ends : Address any subplots or minor conflicts.
• Emotional Resonance : Aim for an ending that evokes an emotional response from the reader.

Choosing the right ending can make your story memorable and impactful.

Ensuring it connects with the readers, whether through clarity, emotional depth, or suspense, is key.

Different stories call for different types of conclusions, and understanding this can significantly enhance the narrative.

Want to do a solo show? Grab a friend or two first, says Alex Edelman

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I’m asked sometimes now how to craft a solo show.

Well, if you’re me, at least, here’s how you start. First, assemble all the stand-up material that you’ve mined and scrounged from comedy sets on stages in Brooklyn breweries or Midwestern cities or Scottsdale malls and put them into various notebooks, emails to yourself or backs of receipts. Then, go to London and sit down at a table with your friend, Adam Brace. Then take all that stuff and throw it like rice at a wedding, at Adam, who, fortunately, also happens to be your longtime director.

For me, the phrase “solo show” has always kind of been an oxymoron. I craft my solo shows by bouncing ideas off of other people. Especially Adam.

That’s how “Just for Us” began. Before it was a Broadway offering, a touring show that your friend’s aunt really liked or a streaming special, my solo show was a story I told a pal over three ciders to try to make him laugh. This is my process. I find the friend whom I most want to be seen as clever by, and I empty out my mental backpack onto the table in front of them.

Adam sat across that table, one drink ahead of me. He hem-hawed and “mmm”-ed and tsk-ed and scribbled in a Moleskine and, occasionally, gave me my favorite sound in the world, which was this big, booming, hurling laugh that meant there was something there. And I told Adam this story about something that had happened since I last saw him: I had gone to a meeting of white nationalists in Queens, N.Y., and sat there for a while before being found out. The story would be more interesting to Adam than to a stranger — he knew my neuroses, my desire to be liked, my Orthodox Judaism from working on two previous shows together, and from his interjections and provocations, narrative was starting to emerge. “That story,” he told me, “there’s something in there. It might be enough for a show.”

‘I can’t do it anymore’: Alex Edelman on ending ‘Just for Us,’ his hit show about antisemitism

Alex Edelman has spent six years revising and performing “Just for Us,” but now he’s ending it with an encore run in L.A. that coincides with its HBO special on April 6.

March 26, 2024

Adam was right. Besides the fact that the meeting was a setting where so many parts of me could show up for comic examination, there was a tangentially geopolitical aspect to it. The question, which audiences found interesting, was the double bind of whiteness: In that room, I was allowed in because my skin color allowed me to pass for what the attendees found socially acceptable — but they considered me excluded because of my Judaism.

In the sandbox around that, I found jokes that were timely but also age-old. And not just limited to Jews. Audiences from all backgrounds found valence to a story that I found to be more about assimilation than antisemitism. And the conversations sparked by the show rebounded into it. An answer to a tough question on a sidewalk after Tuesday’s show might wind up in it on Thursday.

Later, I found help in a different conversation, over a different table, 5,000 miles from the one I ate at with Adam. I had gone to see Mike Birbiglia’s show “The New One,” and afterward hauled him to Grand Central Market for some Thai food. After a few bites, Birbiglia said, “I hear you have a decent solo show.”

“Yeah, my last one.”

“What’s it about?”

I told him. He blinked and stopped eating for a second.

“That’s not your last show,” he told me, “that’s your next show.”

Birbiglia considered.

“Why don’t we put it up in New York for a night, and if it’s any good, maybe we’ll do something with it.”

Birbiglia’s guidance too was essential in kicking the show on. It helps that he’s probably the best solo show artist in the country, and had done this before with Jacqueline Novak’s “Get on Your Knees.” He encouraged an even stricter adherence to the main narrative, and Adam and I set about cutting 20 minutes of tangential jokes and adding 30 or so new minutes.

Entertainment & Arts

Review: A Jewish man walks into a room full of neo-Nazis. Self-exploration, empathy and sly humor ensue

Comedian Alex Edelman brings his acclaimed Broadway show, in which he muses on Jewish identity, empathy and how he came to hang out with a group of white nationalists, to the Mark Taper Forum.

Nov. 13, 2023

When the show opened in New York, it found a home with audiences off-Broadway. Fulsome word-of-mouth and additional notes from visiting comedy legends — Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Martin — helped haul it on Broadway, where it was filmed for HBO. And the conversations. They sustained the show and then me through some tough bits. A show-threatening omicron shutdown, illness and the loss of Adam, who passed away at the end of April 2023. I could not possibly miss him more. A final essential collaborator was found in the multihyphenate Alex Timbers, who, stepping in as a creative consultant and eventual director of the special, elevated it in a way that no one else could have for Broadway and capture.

When I watched the special for the first time as a finished piece, I saw behind the jokes the breadcrumbs of countless arguments, debates and the masters of the stage and eagle-eyed audience members alike who had helped me sand it into something.

As I said, people ask me all the time now how to make a solo show. It’s easy.

All you need is thousands of other people.

From the Oscars to the Emmys.

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WORTH WATCHING

Watch this: fascinating 'why it feels like the end of vfx' video essay.

by Alex Billington May 28, 2024 Source: YouTube

"It's a game called, 'Find What's Wrong With This Shot.'" Here is another must watch new video about the current state of the VFX industry in cinema. It's a 20 minute video essay created by Crafthive called " VFX r u ok? Why It Feels Like the End of VFX ." The creators take a cold, hard look at what's happening with visual effects (aka CGI and/or VFX) and all of the problems right now, from creative executives to financial struggles to bad filmmakers, and everything else going on. They explain that nowadays VFX has been turned into a commodity, they're "more artisan than artists" now, which isn't a good thing. Yes they even touch on A.I., crypto, Marvel, and all these other dangerous topics. It's not looking good... If you're wondering why, this is a great place to start. This video is also a nice complement to the 'No CGI' is Really Just Invisible CGI video essay series that debuted last year. The Phil Tippett quote they include in this (8:55) is fantastic. I'm glad they're talking about all this and being so blunt about how screwed up the whole movie industry is now.

Thanks to VFX maestro Todd Vaziri ( follow him here ) for the tip on this video. Intro from YouTube : "This video has been a long time coming. A year post strikes and our industry is still struggling to recover. Many of us are struggling to find work and make sense of everything going on. We've definitely been battling a lot of career anxiety lately... We delve into the issues the industry had for years prior, and all of the current threats to our industry like strikes, tax credit reductions, the trend of downplaying CGI (No CGI) and AI." This video essay on the VFX industry is created by Crafthive based in Canada - "just two cool 3D Artists Doing Our Best." They are described as a "Montreal-based VFX Outsourcing Company." Follow Crafthive on IG @crafthivedesign or visit their official website or watch more of their videos on their YouTube . For more on the current state of the VFX industry, watch these videos . Enjoy more video essays here . Your thoughts?

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Doctor who's alternate timeline may reveal what happened to david tennant's fourteenth doctor.

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3 Yellowstone Stars Returning For New Spinoff After Reportedly Resolving Pay Dispute

The doctor is officially not doctor who season 14's main character, 17-year-old doctor who episode explains why ruby couldn't enter the tardis in "73 yards".

• The disappearance of the Fifteenth Doctor in "73 Yards" explains how the Fourteenth Doctor must have stepped in to protect Earth in his absence.
• Despite being missing for over 65 years, the world in Ruby's Doctor Who timeline remains largely intact and free of alien invasions.
• UNIT and Kate Lethbridge-Stewart likely played a role in defending Earth during the Fifteenth Doctor's absence, alongside the Fourteenth Doctor.

The most recent episode of Doctor Who season 14 depicted an alternate timeline that may explain what happened to David Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor. Entitled "73 Yards", the fourth episode of the new season portrayed a reality where Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor mysteriously disappeared , and it fell to Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday to work out how to get him back. Doctor Who is no stranger to exploring alternate realities, but the one seen in "73 Yards" could hold the answer to an ongoing question.

After playing the Tenth incarnation of the Doctor between 2005 and 2010, David Tennant returned to Doctor Who in 2023 to portray the Fourteenth Doctor in three special episodes celebrating the show's 60th anniversary. The ending of the Doctor Who 60th specials marked the show's first bi-regeneration, which saw the Doctor split into two versions of himself. While Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor set off on new adventures, Tennant's Fourteenth incarnation retired to lead a quiet life with Donna Noble and her family. However, "73 Yards" might indicate that the Fourteenth Doctor's life hasn't been as quiet as imagined .

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Doctor Who season 14, episode 4, "73 Yards."

Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor hasn't received as much focus as his predecessors, with another character becoming the center of attention.

The World Didn't End When The Fifteenth Doctor Disappeared

Earth experienced a suspicious lack of extra-terrestrial threats.

"73 Yards" takes place over the course of 65 years, depicting the entirety of Ruby's life from the day the Doctor vanished atop a Welsh cliff to the moment of her death. In that time, Ruby is stalked by a ghoulish woman who is always exactly 73 yards away and stops a trigger-happy politician from firing a nuclear weapon. However, despite the Doctor being missing for over six decades in Ruby's Doctor Who timeline , the world remains largely intact and seemingly free of alien invasions. This is odd considering the last time the Doctor wasn't around to save the day.

Another Doctor-lite episode of Doctor Who, season 4's "Turn Left", similarly sees a companion, in this case, Donna Noble, being tasked with saving the world in an alternate version of reality where the Tenth Doctor died at the hands of the Racnoss. Unlike in "73 Yards", the version of reality depicted in "Turn Left" sees the world bombarded by a series of extra-terrestrial threats that result in the near-destruction of planet Earth . What's even more striking is that it takes just a few short years for this to be the case.

The first Doctor-lite episode of Doctor Who in the modern series was season 2's "Love & Monsters".

The Fourteenth Doctor Must Have Replaced The Fifteenth In "73 Yards"

There's no way he would turn a blind eye to an alien invasion.

The obvious explanation for how the world managed to remain safe from alien invasions for over 60 years is that another incarnation of the Doctor took care of things. Given the timey-wimey nature of the show, it's always possible that there is more than one version of the Doctor on Earth at any given time . While any number of Doctors could've been around during the events of "73 Yards", David Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor is the one that, due to his status as a retired Time Lord, was almost certainly on Earth.

If an alien threat were to present itself, it's hard to imagine the curious and adventure-loving Doctor turning a blind eye.

Of course, the whole point of the Fourteenth Doctor settling down with Donna and her family was to embrace the quiet life after spending so many years running from place to place. Nevertheless, if an alien threat were to present itself, it's hard to imagine the curious and adventure-loving Doctor would turn a blind eye, especially when it appears no one else is around to save the day. Therefore, it's safe to assume that the Fourteenth Doctor took over from the Fifteenth Doctor in the latter's absence.

This makes a lot of sense and solves a glaring Fourteenth Doctor problem . The idea of the Doctor giving up his life of adventure altogether never really made sense, particularly because he still owned a TARDIS. In many of his previous incarnations, the Doctor was shown to get easily bored with regular life after just a short amount of time. 65 years is no short amount of time, particularly given that Donna, Sylvia, Wilf, and Shaun presumably perished at some point in that time frame. With most of his family gone, it's likely the Fourteenth Doctor would've embraced his role as Earth's protector once again .

There's Another Reason The World Didn't End In Doctor Who's "73 Yards"

The doctor has allies that are always defending planet earth when he's not around.

Intervention by the Fourteenth Doctor is just one explanation for why the world didn't end in "73 Yards". Also present on Earth during that period was Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and UNIT. Owing to the fact that UNIT's sole purpose is to defend the world from alien (and increasingly supernatural) threats , it makes sense that they would be one of the primary forces in keeping the planet safe during the Fifteenth Doctor's 65-year disappearance.

Ruby Sunday's failure to enter the TARDIS in "73 Yards" is similar to another Doctor Who' character's problem in a 2007 David Tennant episode.

UNIT did play a role in "Turn Left" and managed to restore the timeline with the help of Donna and Rose. However, since the Tenth Doctor's era, when UNIT was portrayed as a fairly standard military force, the organization has grown into a more efficient and powerful entity under Kate Lethbridge-Stewart. In "Turn Left", UNIT was capable of lessening the impact of some extra-terrestrial threats but didn't have the intelligence or resources to stop them. The version of UNIT in "73 Yards" is feasibly more equipped to prevent alien invasions.

The Doctor being brought back as though he never vanished during the conclusion of "73 Yards" essentially renders the events of the episode's alternate timeline moot. Therefore, there's a good chance that Doctor Who will never return to that version of reality again, and viewers won't find out who exactly defended planet Earth in the Fifteenth Doctor's absence. It's possible that Doctor Who extended media, such as Big Finish's audio dramas, could fill this void. After all, 65 years of the Fourteenth Doctor and UNIT saving the world provides a wealth of storytelling potential.

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Originally premiered in 1963, Doctor Who is a sci-fi series that follows a powerful being known as a Time Lord, referred to as the Doctor. Using an interdimensional time-traveling ship known as the TARDIS, the Doctor travels time and space with various companions as they solve multiple problems and help avert catastrophe as much as they almost cause it. Though the Doctor is always the same character, they experience regenerations, allowing them to be recast every few seasons as a unique immortal being with new personality traits.

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Guest Essay

It’s Time to End the Quiet Cruelty of Property Taxes

By Andrew W. Kahrl

Dr. Kahrl is a professor of history and African American studies at the University of Virginia and the author of “The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft, Exploitation, and Dispossession in America.”

Property taxes, the lifeblood of local governments and school districts, are among the most powerful and stealthy engines of racism and wealth inequality our nation has ever produced. And while the Biden administration has offered many solutions for making the tax code fairer, it has yet to effectively tackle a problem that has resulted not only in the extraordinary overtaxation of Black and Latino homeowners but also in the worsening of disparities between wealthy and poorer communities. Fixing these problems requires nothing short of a fundamental re-examination of how taxes are distributed.

In theory, the property tax would seem to be an eminently fair one: The higher the value of your property, the more you pay. The problem with this system is that the tax is administered by local officials who enjoy a remarkable degree of autonomy and that tax rates are typically based on the collective wealth of a given community. This results in wealthy communities enjoying lower effective tax rates while generating more tax revenues; at the same time, poorer ones are forced to tax property at higher effective rates while generating less in return. As such, property assessments have been manipulated throughout our nation’s history to ensure that valuable property is taxed the least relative to its worth and that the wealthiest places will always have more resources than poorer ones.

Black people have paid the heaviest cost. Since they began acquiring property after emancipation, African Americans have been overtaxed by local governments. By the early 1900s, an acre of Black-owned land was valued, for tax purposes, higher than an acre of white-owned land in most of Virginia’s counties, according to my calculations, despite being worth about half as much. And for all the taxes Black people paid, they got little to nothing in return. Where Black neighborhoods began, paved streets, sidewalks and water and sewer lines often ended. Black taxpayers helped to pay for the better-resourced schools white children attended. Even as white supremacists treated “colored” schools as another of the white man’s burdens, the truth was that throughout the Jim Crow era, Black taxpayers subsidized white education.

Freedom from these kleptocratic regimes drove millions of African Americans to move to Northern and Midwestern states in the Great Migration from 1915 to 1970, but they were unable to escape racist assessments, which encompassed both the undervaluation of their property for sales purposes and the overvaluation of their property for taxation purposes. During those years, the nation’s real estate industry made white-owned property in white neighborhoods worth more because it was white. Since local tax revenue was tied to local real estate markets, newly formed suburbs had a fiscal incentive to exclude Black people, and cities had even more reason to keep Black people confined to urban ghettos.

As the postwar metropolis became a patchwork of local governments, each with its own tax base, the fiscal rationale for segregation intensified. Cities were fiscally incentivized to cater to the interests of white homeowners and provide better services for white neighborhoods, especially as middle-class white people began streaming into the suburbs, taking their tax dollars with them.

One way to cater to wealthy and white homeowners’ interests is to intentionally conduct property assessments less often. The city of Boston did not conduct a citywide property reassessment between 1946 and 1977. Over that time, the values of properties in Black neighborhoods increased slowly when compared with the values in white neighborhoods or even fell, which led to property owners’ paying relatively more in taxes than their homes were worth. At the same time, owners of properties in white neighborhoods got an increasingly good tax deal as their neighborhoods increased in value.

As was the case in other American cities, Boston’s decision most likely derived from the fear that any updates would hasten the exodus of white homeowners and businesses to the suburbs. By the 1960s, assessments on residential properties in Boston’s poor neighborhoods were up to one and a half times as great as their actual values, while assessments in the city’s more affluent neighborhoods were, on average, 40 percent of market value.

Jersey City, N.J., did not conduct a citywide real estate reassessment between 1988 and 2018 as part of a larger strategy for promoting high-end real estate development. During that time, real estate prices along the city’s waterfront soared but their owners’ tax bills remained relatively steady. By 2015, a home in one of the city’s Black and Latino neighborhoods worth $175,000 received the same tax bill as a home in the city’s downtown worth $530,000.

These are hardly exceptions. Numerous studies conducted during those years found that assessments in predominantly Black neighborhoods of U.S. cities were grossly higher relative to value than those in white areas.

These problems persist. A recent report by the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy found that property assessments were regressive (meaning lower-valued properties were assessed higher relative to value than higher-valued ones) in 97.7 percent of U.S. counties. Black-owned homes and properties in Black neighborhoods continue to be devalued on the open market, making this regressive tax, in effect, a racist tax.

The overtaxation of Black homes and neighborhoods is also a symptom of a much larger problem in America’s federated fiscal structure. By design, this system produces winners and losers: localities with ample resources to provide the goods and services that we as a nation have entrusted to local governments and others that struggle to keep the lights on, the streets paved, the schools open and drinking water safe . Worse yet, it compels any fiscally disadvantaged locality seeking to improve its fortunes to do so by showering businesses and corporations with tax breaks and subsidies while cutting services and shifting tax burdens onto the poor and disadvantaged. A local tax on local real estate places Black people and cities with large Black populations at a permanent disadvantage. More than that, it gives middle-class white people strong incentives to preserve their relative advantages, fueling the zero-sum politics that keep Americans divided, accelerates the upward redistribution of wealth and impoverishes us all.

There are technical solutions. One, which requires local governments to adopt more accurate assessment models and regularly update assessment rolls, can help make property taxes fairer. But none of the proposed reforms being discussed can be applied nationally because local tax policies are the prerogative of the states and, often, local governments themselves. Given the variety and complexity of state and local property tax laws and procedures and how much local governments continue to rely on tax reductions and tax shifting to attract and retain certain people and businesses, we cannot expect them to fix these problems on their own.

The best way to make local property taxes fairer and more equitable is to make them less important. The federal government can do this by reinvesting in our cities, counties and school districts through a federal fiscal equity program, like those found in other advanced federated nations. Canada, Germany and Australia, among others, direct federal funds to lower units of government with lower capacities to raise revenue.

And what better way to pay for the program than to tap our wealthiest, who have benefited from our unjust taxation scheme for so long? President Biden is calling for a 25 percent tax on the incomes and annual increases in the values of the holdings of people claiming more than $100 million in assets, but we could accomplish far more by enacting a wealth tax on the 1 percent. Even a modest 4 percent wealth tax on people whose total assets exceed $50 million could generate upward of $400 billion in additional annual revenue, which should be more than enough to ensure that the needs of every city, county and public school system in America are met. By ensuring that localities have the resources they need, we can counteract the unequal outcomes and rank injustices that our current system generates.

Andrew W. Kahrl is a professor of history and African American studies at the University of Virginia and the author of “ The Black Tax : 150 Years of Theft, Exploitation, and Dispossession in America.”

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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Doctors Explain What It Means When You Have Chills But No Fever

WHEN YOU START coming down with a cold or the flu , you might feel chilly and get the shivers. Usually, these symptoms accompany a fever . However, sometimes you might feel cold and have chills without a fever.

It’s not very common, though, says Robert Biernbaum, D.O. , chief medical officer at WellNow Urgent Care. “Chills and fever are usually correlated unless there are other medical conditions or circumstances at play.”

This might include thyroid conditions, malnutrition, or low blood sugar, he explains.

When you get the chills and don’t have a fever , you should see a doctor, especially when it happens frequently, says Hannah Cohan, N.P. , a board-certified nurse practitioner with Medical Offices of Manhattan.

“There could be a link to infections, long-term illnesses, or problems with the immune system ,” she explains. Your doctor may run some tests to rule out any major health problems.

Sometimes, having chills without a fever isn’t much to worry about—maybe you’re just cold -natured, or you spent too much time outside in the cold.

Your body contains systems that tightly regulate your body temperature, keeping it in a healthy zone of about 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit. When something minor or severe interferes with that process, it can leave you trembling or feeling like you suddenly stepped into a walk-in freezer.

If you seem to get the chills often without running a fever, you may wonder what’s up. There are actually several health issues or environmental factors that could be to blame.

[table-of-contents] stripped

What causes chills but no fever?

“If you're having recurrent chills, in particular, and there's no other real reason for them, that's a reason to see your physician, because it could be a number of things,” says Jeffrey Quinlan, M.D. , chair and department executive officer of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.

Here’s an overview of some things that can cause chills but no fever:

1. Being in a Cold Environment

It may sound obvious, but the most common reason for chills with no fever is that you’re actually cold. Maybe you didn’t realize your air conditioning kicked on so high, or you stayed outside for too long on a freezing day.

Here’s what happens: Your skin has special receptors that sense the cold and send messages to your brain telling you it’s time to warm up. As a result, you might adjust your behavior by moving to a warmer environment or layering on a blanket or more clothes, says Andrej A. Romanovsky, M.D., Ph.D. , an Arizona State University professor and researcher who studies body temperature regulation.

However, if you stay in that cold environment, your blood vessels can start to constrict to limit heat loss. Next, you might start shivering. Your muscles contract to increase your body’s heat production and raise your temperature.

“Shivering is very expensive because it involves burning energy,” says Dr. Romanovsky. “These dis-coordinated, high-frequency movements interfere with your performance, and so shivering is turned on usually relatively late during cold exposure.”

(Receptors in our skin also respond to certain chemicals by making us feel chilly, he says. That’s why a toothpaste or muscle rub with menthol can give you goosebumps.)

2. Cold-Weather Workouts

A workout in cold temperatures can also induce chills quickly, especially when you push hard and then stop. Active muscles produce heat, but once you stop exercising, that heat dissipates and can ultimately lower your body temperature, Dr. Quinlan says. You might even develop muscle cramps, nausea, or vomiting as a result.

What can you do? Warm up and dry off, if necessary. Wet clothing can send you into the shiver zone especially fast.

“As your body heats up, your body heat will cause evaporation of the water in your clothes, and so that just takes more heat from your body and makes you more likely to have more chills if your clothes are wet versus dry,” says Dr. Quinlan.

3. Malnutrition

When your body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs, you might get chills, says Dr. Biernbaum. Malnutrition could be linked to an eating disorder such as anorexia, a lack of access to nutritious foods, or a health condition like celiac disease where your body isn’t able to absorb some nutrients.

Malnutrition can affect your body’s ability to function normally. Along with chills, you might experience fatigue, lightheadedness, heart palpitations, and tingling in your fingers or toes.

4. Dehydration

Dehydration happens when your body loses too many fluids from sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea. You can also lose water if you go out running on a hot day or just spend time outdoors when the temperatures rise. In extreme cases, Cohan says dehydration can cause your body temperature to drop, which might make you feel cold, intolerant to heat, or get the chills. Essentially, dehydration may lead to hyperthermia because overheating can alter your body’s normal temperature. (See more about your body's response to heat and what happens when you sweat here .)

5. Hypothermia

When you’re exposed to cold temperatures for a period of time, you can be at risk for hypothermia, Dr. Biernbaum says. Exposure to the cold causes your body to lose heat more quickly than it can produce heat, causing you to use up your heat stores and your body temperature to drop, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

Chills and shivering can be a first sign of hypothermia, Dr. Biernbaum says. You also might feel confused, drowsy, exhausted, or have slurred speech.

You also don’t need to be in extremely cold temperatures to experience hypothermia. According to the CDC, it can happen in temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or above if you get cold from rain, sweat, or being in cold water.

6. Viral Infections

Infections can cause chills with or without a fever. A virus can act directly on your nervous system and indirectly influence it through protein molecules that tell neural cells that your body temperature is too low, says Dr. Romanovsky. The result: You feel cold, and your body kicks in with shivering and other natural mechanisms to heat up.

“The infection might only be in one part of the body and not affect the core temperature enough to cause a fever,” Cohan says. “Other things, like how sensitive each person is to temperature, the type of virus, and the stage of an illness, can also affect whether or not a person has a fever.”

Although fever is a common symptom of Covid-19 , some people infected with the virus report chills without a fever. So, if you have chills along with other common Covid symptoms, such as a sore throat, runny nose, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, cough, or diarrhea, it’s worth taking a Covid test, says Dr. Quinlan.

7. Bacterial Infections

If a bacterial infection goes untreated for too long, it can make you really sick. Often, this results in a fever, but chills sans fever have been reported in people with a range of infections, too. Typically, chills won’t be your only symptom of a bacterial infection, says Dr. Quinlan.

One potentially life-threatening example is meningitis, which can cause chills with or without a fever, along with symptoms like a stiff neck, sensitivity to light and sound, and lethargy. Those symptoms warrant a trip to the emergency department, Dr. Quinlan says.

Malaria is another example. This condition can make people feel chilly and shivering one minute and hot and sweaty the next. Consult a doctor if you’ve recently traveled to a destination where malaria is common—the CDC website maintains a list.

Sometimes, people with Lyme disease also report chills with no fever, says Dr. Quinlan. If you have a history of a tick bite, especially if you’ve seen a bullseye-shaped rash at the site of the bite, contact your doctor.

With bacterial infections, prompt treatment with the right antibiotic is critical. If you suspect this is the cause of your chills, see a healthcare provider right away.

8. Anxiety or Fear

That surge of adrenaline that happens when you’re scared or super stressed? It can make you feel cold or give you the chills, Cohan says.

That’s because adrenergic nerves are part of a loop of chemical and electrical signals that temporarily activate your body’s shivering response when you experience anxiety or fear, Dr. Romanovsky. Through similar pathways, strong positive feelings can also give you chills.

9. Panic Attack

Fear or anxiety that leads to a panic attack can cause shivering or chills. Cohan says feeling anxious or scared activates your body’s fight-or-flight response, triggering the release of hormones like adrenaline.

The stress hormones can narrow blood vessels, sending blood to areas of the body that need it most and causing the temperature of your extremities to drop, she explains. “This change in the body can cause shaking or chills, among other things.”

Also, during a panic attack, your breathing might become shallow or quick, throwing off the body’s balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide, making the heart beat faster, and this might make you sweat or give you chills, Cohan says.

10. Low Blood Sugar

Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can make you feel cold and shaky. “If your body doesn't have enough sugar, it is going to look for ways to try to get more energy and activate things,” says Dr. Quinlan.

One of those things it activates is the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in symptoms like chills, sweating, heart palpitations, and blurred vision. Your primary care doctor can check your blood sugar and help you determine what’s up.

11. Blood Pressure Changes

Chills might happen with a sudden blood pressure drop, Cohan says. When your blood pressure gets too low, your organs aren’t getting enough oxygen and nutrients, which can lead to shock, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute . Signs of shock include cold, sweaty skin, as well as rapid breathing and a weak, rapid pulse. Call 911 if you notice signs of shock, as it needs immediate medical attention.

12. Hypothyroidism

“Your thyroid hormone is what's really responsible for regulating your metabolism in your body, and ultimately, your metabolism helps control how cold or how warm you feel,” says Dr. Quinlan. In hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland is underactive, and your metabolism slows down, sometimes leaving you with chills.

Other common symptoms include tiredness, weight gain, constipation, dry skin and hair, and a slowed heart rate, says Dr. Quinlan. Your primary care doctor can order a blood test to check your thyroid hormone levels.

If you’re anemic, you aren’t producing enough red blood cells, and as a result, your body isn’t moving around as much oxygen as you need, says Dr. Quinlan.

You can also be short on iron and other important electrolytes. As a result, your sympathetic nervous system might kick in with shivering to warm you up and give you some energy. Your primary care provider can check for anemia—and prescribe treatment or iron supplements to reverse it.

14. Leukemia

Leukemia, a cancer of the blood-forming cells, can make some people feel chilly, especially at nighttime. The culprit? Overproduction of certain kinds of white blood cells that produce hormones and other factors that mimic or activate your body’s sympathetic nervous system to give you the sensation of chills.

Other common leukemia symptoms include fatigue, frequent infections, shortness of breath, pale skin, unexplained weight loss, pain or tenderness in your bones or joints, pain under your ribs on your left side, swollen lymph nodes, and bruising and bleeding easily, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Blood tests, imaging tests, and biopsies can help your doctor determine whether this is the culprit behind your symptoms.

15. Autoimmune Conditions

Some autoimmune illnesses, such as lupus or Crohn’s disease, can interfere with your body’s temperature control mechanism, Cohan says. So you might experience chills as an early sign of these conditions. That’s why getting any symptom that seems to appear out of nowhere checked out is crucial.

16. Reactions to Medication

“Chills can frequently be related to medication reactions, and sometimes can be a sign of some pretty serious allergies,” says Dr. Quinlan. “And so if you recently started a new medication and start developing recurrent chills, that's a reason to talk to your doctor right away.”

Diabetes medications, general anesthesia for surgery, and chemotherapy medications are more likely to cause chills.

Some people experience chills after blood transfusions and certain radiology procedures, too, he says. Drug withdrawal can also cause chills in people who use narcotics or antidepressants chronically and then suddenly stop.

17. Kidney Stones

Kidney stones happen when hard deposits of minerals and salts form inside your kidneys, according to the National Kidney Foundation . They can be caused by foods you eat, extra body weight, certain medical conditions, and some types of supplements.

Some kidney stones can be small, and you won't even know you have them. Larger ones can cause a range of symptoms, including chills. Sometimes, you might have a fever, too. Other signs of kidney stones include pain on either side of your lower back, bloody or cloudy urine, and nausea and vomiting.

18. Extreme Physical Activity

Intense physical activity can affect your core body temperature , which can cause chills. Muscle cramps, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting might happen, as well.

When the weather is warm, you might get dehydrated or end up with heat exhaustion, which triggers chills. This symptom is also likely in cold weather when you could be at risk for hypothermia and also dehydration.

Staying hydrated when you exercise is crucial for preventing chills and other effects of body temperature shifts.

19. Other Medical Conditions

Respiratory illnesses, allergies, and the early stages of sepsis may also cause chills, Cohan says.

But there's always one more thing to consider with chills—a fever could still be on the horizon. “At the beginning of a fever, we typically feel cold because our bodies want to increase body temperature,” says Dr. Romanovsky, adding that this can take several minutes, depending on a few factors, including your body size. “Shivering is like turning on the heater, but it takes time for the water in a pot to really become warm."

Home Remedies for Chills With No Fever

There are several things you can do to prevent chills, according to the Cleveland Clinic , including:

• Wearing warm clothing and dressing in layers, if you’ll be out in the cold
• Staying dry—change out of sweaty or wet clothing as soon as you can to keep your body temperature from dropping
• Drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration
• Taking medications and following your doctor’s treatment plan for any medical conditions

When to Worry About Having Chills Without a Fever

Chills that go away quickly on their own likely shouldn’t be concerning. But, if they keep coming back and persist, it’s time to call your doctor, Cohan urges.

Also, if you have any of these symptoms, in addition to chills, seek medical attention:

• Chest discomfort or pain
• Severe fatigue and body aches
• Swelling or hives
• Rapid heart rate
• Change in urine color, odor, or frequency

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