How To Write An Outstanding Exploratory Essay: Topics And Tips

What is an exploratory essay? An exploratory essay is a specific type of writing assignment that affords students the opportunity to “explore” a topic or issue in-depth without having to provide a specific argument or thesis, but rather should present an unbiased view of relevant information on the chosen topic or issue. The exploratory essay definition assignment is one type of writing you will likely encounter first in high school. This is kind of writing is a favorite of many students because it’s largely a pretty simple assignment that most can excel in after just a few tries.

The assignment’s main objective is to improve students’ investigative abilities by answering a series of exploratory questions – similar to the Who? What? Where? When? and Why? questions you see in journalistic writing, all of which can provide you with great examples of exploratory research at the professional level. So, before you concern yourself with how to write an intro it’s good to take a small step backward to learn exactly what this kind of assignment is asking you to do and how to best achieve the desired results by considering these five simple steps.

How to Write an Exploratory Essay

1. Brainstorm Several Topics and Choose What Interests You the Most

Start by thinking about several topics to write about. It’s recommended you choose something that you find particularly interesting. You don’t need to be an expert on the topic, but you do need to dedicate the time and effort to explore it in-depth. Consider two or three topics and then select the one you can write enthusiastically on.

2. Conduct Some Preliminary Research and Create an Essay Outline

Assuming you have picked a topic you are really interested in learning more about, you are ready to start your research. Check the web for background content and look up short articles from credible websites where you can trust that the information provided is current and accurate. Once you have done research, create an outline to guide your rough assignment draft.

3. Write a Draft Using the Exploratory Essay Outline for Guidance

It’s not enough to just create an outline; you actually need to utilize it while writing the first draft. How you design your outline is a personal preference, just be sure that it easily points to all of the major discussion topics you want to bring up in the assignment and refer to them throughout the writing process. This will keep your draft on the right track from start to finish.

4. Save the Intro and Conclusion for Last; Start with the Essay Body

The question of “how to start off an essay” is really a matter of personal preference. You can start with an interesting anecdote or quote, as long as it is appropriate for the topic at hand. Try leaving your introduction and conclusion till after you are done with the body paragraphs and have a better sense of the things you want to focus on in-depth.

5. Revise, Edit and Proofread the Assignment Before Handing It In

Good essay conclusions should summarize and synthesize the information presented in the body paragraphs, without bringing up any new topics or points of discussion. But before you get to this you must revise, edit and proofread your work in its entirety to ensure you have concisely and clearly presented the information in a logical manner and that it is error free.

20 Good Exploratory Essay Topics to Consider

The following are exploratory essay topics that are sure to pique a reader’s interest and are divided into four major categories. You’re free to use them as written or modify them as you deem appropriate. You should also consider developing some interesting topics of your own.

Information Technology Topics

1. The effects social media sites have on people’s privacy
2. Video games influence children’s social behaviors
3. Driving abilities in the age of self-driving vehicles
4. Artificial intelligence and the effects on healthcare
5. Remote medicine conducted by providers miles away

Sports and Development Topics

1. Collegiate sports and the need for fair and equal pay
2. Women’s professional sports and inequality in salary
3. Widespread misogyny in today’s professional sports
4. The decrease in sports participation leading to obesity
5. Team sports increases social interaction in teenagers

Political and Social Problems Topics

1. The impact global warming has local climate/weather
2. The responsibility that the world’s leading nations hold
3. First world nations and their commitment to peace
4. Fixing the world’s hunger problem through technology
5. Ending international conflict in the poorest countries

High School Educational Topics

1. The impact of having too much homework per night
2. Higher education becoming less affordable for most
3. Same-sex education and the impact on social relations
4. Teachers to blame for students’ low-performance scores
5. Gender disparity in students going into higher education

More Tips to Master Exploratory Writing

• Get an Outside Review to Read Your Exploratory Essay

Sometimes it’s hard to critique our own written work, which is the main reason you should ask somebody – such as a friend or classmate – to read your writing in order to give feedback. This is a great way of identifying problem spots that can be easily fixed through revision.

• Use an Exploratory Essay Example as Reference

Hiring a professional writing agency to provide original exploratory essay examples is a great method for learning how your assignment should be structured. If you don’t seek out a professional, then you should search for examples in writing guides or on the web.

• Conduct Your Editing and Proofreading on Printed Paper

This last tip can be easily skipped over as more students are finding it convenient to make corrections to an exploratory essay right on the computer screen. But students should be aware that minor mistakes can be missed – so it’s essential they print out and mark up their papers to ensure the highest quality.