Exploratory EssayExcerpts and thoughts from the Allyn &

Bacon text

The essential move for exploratory thinking and writing is to keep a problem alive through consideration of multiple solutions or points of view.

The thinker identifies a problem, considers one possible solution or point of view, explores its strengths and weaknesses, and then moves on to consider another possible solution or viewpoint.

Consider one of the perplexing problems you noted in your writing prompt.

What is one possible solution or point of view on that issue?

What are the strengths of that point of view?

What are the weaknesses of that point of view?

Your turn!

Now, what is another possible solution or point of view on the perplexing problem you identified in your writing prompt?

What are the strengths of that possible solution/point of view? Weaknesses?

Do you feel conflicted in any way?

Still your turn.

The key to effective exploratory writing is to create tension between alternative views.

The writer uses the essay to think through the problem by exploring those alternative views.

Writing then becomes a process of inquiry and discovery.

Sees the anchor question as a genuine problem worth puzzling over.

Considers alternative views and plays them off each other.

Looks at specific examples and illustrations.

Continues the thinking process in search of some sort of resolution or synthesis of the alternative views.

The successful exploratory writer:

The assignment asks you to dwell on a problem – and not necessarily to solve the problem.

What matters is that you are actively engaged with your problem and that you demonstrate why it is problematic.

The key is to choose a question, problem or issue that truly perplexes you. The more clearly your readers sense your personal engagement with the problem, the more likely they are to be engaged by your writing.

Next week we will talk about how to weave research into these possible solutions and different points of view.

First, we will learn how to break a research question into search terms and then plug those search terms into library databases to find sources.

When we’ve mastered that, we will actively look for sources that connect to the possible solutions/points of view for our Exploratory Essay.

Research