How to write an expository essay

Introduction: (introduce your idea)
1st sentence: Introduce the topic (“Many students find TOEFL essays difficult to write”)
2nd sentence: Transition to thesis statement (“However, they are wrong)
3rd sentence: Thesis statement (“Because TOEFL essays follow such a strict pattern, students can easily write one in 30 minutes with just a little training”)  In other words, WHAT is your argument, and WHY should I believe it?

Body Paragraph I (give one example or reason supporting your idea)
1st sentence: introduce example or reason and restate the thesis.  “One reason why the TOEFL essay form is easy to use is because it is never different.”
2nd-3rd sentence: example or reason (“TOEFL essays always begin with an introduction, give several examples, then a conclusion)
4th sentence: conclusion, why this reason is important (“That means you only have to practice one kind of essay form when you study for the TOEFL”)

Body Paragraph II (give another example or reason)
1st sentence: link to the preceding paragraph and introduce second reason or example. (Of course, there are many detractors of the TOEFL essay structure who say that it is too rigid and artificial)
2nd-3rd sentences: give example.  Negative examples are often useful. (These people fail to realize that the purpose of the TOEFL is to determine how well a student will perform in college.  Part of the duties a college student must perform is learning new and unfamiliar essay styles.)
4th sentence: why that is important (“So TOEFL essays, although they are different from any kind of essay students will write in college, are good indicators of how well they can learn to write real essays)

Conclusion (restate the thesis and expand your idea)
1st sentence (restate the thesis):  The TOEFL essay is an excellent way to determine a student’s writing abilities.
2nd sentence (review reasons and examples): With their strict and unchanging form , TOEFL essays offer students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to learn HOW to write.
3rd sentence (broaden your idea and give the reader something to think about) If they can master writing TOEFL essays, students can master any kind of college writing.

Other tips:

Omit needless words: If you use a lot of words, but don’t prove your point, you will get a bad score.

Don’t use: Surely, well, pretty, rather, just, to put it (mildly, bluntly, honestly), etc.(or and so on)

Avoid vague and informal words: Replace these words with something clearer, and your score will improve:

It, be (is, are), this, that, thing, stuff, you, the issue, the matter, the passive voice, contractions