Writing an exemplification essay may sound like a daunting task given by sadistic professors that like to play with their students. However, nothing can be further from the truth as there is nothing especially challenging about this type of essay. The following guide provides an overview of exemplification essays, what they are, and how to be good at writing an exemplification essay.
What Is An Exemplification Essay?
To put it in plain words, an exemplification essay is all about showing with the help of examples. It is much like an argumentative essay but more precise. The emphasis here is on the examples that need to hold the weight of your main thesis. The better your examples, the better your essay will be.
Where Do You Begin…
First of all, comes the research and the brainstorming. Make sure that you place all your thoughts and discoveries in notes. With the help of your notes, you can create an outline that you can follow.
The Structure Of An Exemplification Essay
This essay follows the same standard form seen with other types of essays: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The only difference is in the content that goes in the body paragraphs. There you need to focus on your examples that will directly prove your point. Master that, and you will have a great essay.
Introduction
Typically, the introduction should come with an attention grabber sentence that will make the reader interested in what comes next. Three or four sentences to introduce the subject and the thesis statement. That’s it. It needs to be short and on point. The main ordeal is to be served in the body paragraphs.
Body Paragraphs
This is where all the action will be. Each paragraph should start with a reason in support of an argument. Then comes the example that backs that reason. Lastly comes a short discussion on why this example is so important. That’s the basic structure of the body paragraphs for this type of essay. You can have as many body paragraphs as you fit. The main point is to prove your point while keeping the reader interested.
Conclusion
In the conclusion part, you restate your thesis, along with your main claims. Plus, you try to establish a link of your arguments with the bigger picture of history/society/life/ the future. Also, don’t try to summarize the essay but instead, try to strengthen your main thesis further. In terms of grammar and syntax, stick with simple grammar structure and short sentences.
What’s super important about this type of essay is to be on the argumentative side of things and always use facts. It is the reader that needs to see things from your point of view. And to do that, he first needs to be introduced to examples that he can relate to. Once that, he can comprehend and relate to. That’s the secret to a great exemplification essay.