Specific, theoretical ideas, for expository article writing, for exams.

 
     Usually, such articles will have the following paragraphs: 
       1 paragraph - Introduction. 
       2 or 3 paragraphs - Body. 
       1 paragraph - Conclusion. 
     We will follow this model.  (Sometimes, however, the three “Body” parts are fused into one paragraph.) 
 
     Topic: This is given to you. 
     Title: Usually, this is also given to you. 
     Brainstorming: This process should be very short, simple, and written on a small slip of paper.  (In fact, if the exam people give you a big piece of paper, draw a small, 7 cm. x 7 cm. square on it, and force yourself to write out your plan inside it.)  This brainstorming is not like the earlier type of brainstorming you did, which was exhaustive, longer, more complex, and which took a long time to come out with.  Here, in “exam brainstorming”, you are really looking for “body-paragraph main-ideas”, and not loose pieces of information.  You just do not have time to be artistic and super-creative! 
     Plan: From your brainstorming, you should be able to quickly conceive an “exam article plan”, and write it out in just one or two minutes.  (Almost) never use sentences; use single words and phrases.  Note: Before, in the earlier section on expository articles, I said you could plan out the Body first, and then the Introduction and Conclusion.  In these “exam articles”, it is better to follow the traditional “Introduction, Body, Conclusion” order, as the content of the Body follows so directly from the Introduction. 
     The article: When you have your plan, you can “develop” it into an article.  How shall you go?  Usually, these expository exam articles are asking you to (a) choose a position and defend it, or (b) to present both sides of an argument.  (In this respect, the exam organizers are quite predictable.) 
 
     I will now discuss each one of these approaches: 
 
     (a) Choose a position, and defend it .  The structure is as follows: 
           Introduction:                Present issue, then give opinion (I feel...”). 
           Body:                           Argument #1. 
                                                Argument #2. 
                                                Argument #3. 
           Conclusion:                  Give summary, or “point ahead” (to the future). 
 
    Introduction.  When writing the introduction, state your opinion clearly.  Sometimes, you should state an opinion that you do not agree with, as it has more points that you can argue–that is, you can say more about it.  (Please remember this point: sometimes the most effective writing is not about “what you like”, but what has the most information to write about.) 
 
     Body.  On a piece of scrap paper, list five or six arguments, and choose the two best ones.  These are either very persuasive to the reader, or are sub-topics you can say more about.  Write your final choice of argument on your plan.  If you do not know which ones to choose, then follow the “negative” approach of throwing out the worst arguments (it is easier to spot trash, than gold), rather than using the “positive” approach of choosing and keeping the best arguments (you may be influenced by your personal opinions). 
 
     Conclusion.  Remember, your space is short!  Either summarize what you have said, or “point ahead” to a future line of reasoning, which this discussion might take.  (Here, you should find out which one is better for passing the exam.) 
 
     (b) Present both sides of the issue .  The structure is as follows: 
           Introduction:               Introduce the problem. 
           Body:                          Argument “for”, #1. 
                                               Argument “for”, #2. 
                                               Argument “against”, #1. 
                                               Argument “against”, #2. 
           Conclusion:                 Choose one side, and give reason. 
 
     Introduction.  Here, you must clearly present both claims.  (For example, you might say, “Some say ... , and others say ....”) 
 
     Body.  Quickly list the main points for each side of the argument, on scrap paper, and choose the two best points for each side.  Nature often places things “in opposition” to each other, so you must decide if you want the two pairs of arguments to “balance” each other, or to be “asymmetrically opposed”.  You choose.  Then write your choices on the plan. 
     In the Body, your aim is to explain both sides.  Your opinion, if you have one, should not be seen, either in open declaration, or obvious from how you are writing (i.e., style). 
 
     Conclusion.  Choose the “side” that you believe in, and give the reason why.  If possible, do not let your (final) choice be apparent in the Body : keep the reader guessing.