Consider what teachers mean when they tell you to “expand” a section of your writing:

Select one sentence and expand it to a whole page by including thoughts that seem either necessary or merely tangential. Be silly or serious or both as you expand your sentence. When you are finished, read what you have written. What do you like about it? What does “expand” mean to you now?

Make a reverse outline for your draft. Justify each paragraph. If you find a weak paragraph, or one you can’t justify, delete it for now. Look at your strong, easily justified paragraphs. Expand them.

For each major assertion in your paper, write three statements of support. Are any of these statements of support in turn assertions themselves? Write three statements of support for these as well. Continue in this vein.

Incorporate your notes from a class discussion or lecture into your paper. Make a seamless transition from your draft to your notes and back to your draft. Expand your writing by finding connections between your notes and your thoughts about your topic in your paper.