The Unconventional Rise of eSports

For this class, your expository essays should be written about a “problem or issue in society.” For the expository essay, I am asking you to discuss the problem/issue without mentioning solutions. Your essay will differ from more basic informative writing in the sense that you are trying to expose readers to a newly emerging or somewhat debated perspective on an issue, rather than simply presenting basic information that may be well-known to some, and not especially controversial. Topics such as “the obesity epidemic in America” and “social media addiction” are not strong expository topics due to the fact that they are so widely discussed. However, if you were to bring a new or different perspective to these issues, especially one that people may be inclined to disagree with, then your topic might be a bit stronger. To write a successful expository essay, it’s helpful to consider a topic that the average reader may not know much about or take a stance that people might need additional supporting information to understand and accept. You, as the author of the essay, are helping to expose the reader to the topic by offering a specific insider viewpoint.

Consider the following questions as you think about potential thesis ideas:

How did you come to be interested in the topic?
What types of information would an average person have about the topic?
How might the average person be mistaken or misinformed about the topic?
As an insider, what insights can you offer to help resolve any misunderstandings or misinformation?
Next, try to identify at least one interesting insight about the problem or issue you’ve chosen that might not be obvious or well-known to many people, including other “insiders” for your topic. How did you come to have that particular insight or viewpoint on the topic?