How to Write an Expository Essay Step by Step

Severalbody paragraphs –presenting the factual information and evaluating the evidence, using comparison and contrast, definition, cause and effect, and example. Apparently, a thesis statement is one of the essential parts of every essay.

what is the purpose of an expository essay

If it is for class, you may be limited to certain topics and word counts, there may be restrictions on the quality of sources you can use, etc. You might write an incredible essay but get a low grade because you missed out on some small restriction or guideline. The conclusion of an expository essay aims to recap the main pieces of information in the essay and restate the hypothesis to remind the reader about the purpose of the writing. It’s important to know the slight difference between informational writing and expository writing. Informational is a straightforward relay of information, whereas expository uses facts and evidence to support a topic.

Expository Writing Pattern

In a descriptive essay, you must provide a detailed explanation of an object, event, or person. This type of essay provides the writer with room for creative freedom.

what is the purpose of an expository essay

Comparison essays can either focus on similarities, differences, or both. This lesson gave you a lot of information on expository writing. One of the best ways to make sure that you understand what you’ve learned is to teach it to someone else.

Expository

In fact, your essay should always feel like you’re speaking your mind. You just have to get creative with how to state that opinion without saying I or me. The body paragraphs are where you will develop and support your thesis statement.

In an expository paper, the thesis statement should summarize what you are trying to explain in your work. Make sure that it is not making any arguments or persuasive for one side of an issue. Before you start writing your essay, make sure that you have enough evidence and credible information to explain your idea.

Outline Your Essay

There is a wide variety of topics to choose from, and, as a result, you can write about everything you find relevant or just simply like. If you decide to share your opinion about the issue, do not make it as insistent as in a persuasive essay. However, some teachers are against self-expression in expository essays.

  • Make it memorable for the reader so that he or she will learn something from your paper.
  • He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.
  • As a result, you get a piece that can effectively convey your message to the audience and, what is important for students, that deserves an excellent grade.
  • Thus, expository writing is an essential and valuable skill in such fields of work as business, science and journalism.

If you aren’t sure about that – then, obviously, it is your task to explain the context for them. The name of the style itself suggests that you ‘expose’ a topic in a clear and logical way. This step ensures that your readers understand what is actually going on.

What is an Expository Essay?

If you plan to write more on this topic in the future, you can mention this in your conclusion as well. Typically, 1 concise paragraph would suffice for a college essay.

There’s certainly some overlap between expository essays and argumentative essays, and some people suggest it comes down to being objective or subjective. That’s a little tricky considering expository essay theses can make claims that seem opinionated but aren’t — it’s more about presenting facts and findings than picking a side. Some days, life can feel like an endless series of explanations.

Be Creative With Your Expository Essay

As an expository essay, the text should tend to focus on facts rather than assumptions. However, cause-and-effect essays sometimes explore hypothetical situations too. If you are interested in learning more about this type of writing, check out our information-packed article here. You should include any examples of the topic which are backed up by data and statistics as this will give the reader a greater knowledge on the subject by the end of the essay. Writing a problem and solution essay, first, you need to outline the problem and its impact.

what is the purpose of an expository essay

There is something about the power of story and personal testimony. We believe in it, even though common sense should dictate otherwise.

Know your audience

To write an expository essay, you will need to gather information and present it in a clear and concise way. Make sure to use evidence to support your points, and be sure to structure your essay in a way that is easy to follow.

what is the purpose of an expository essay

These food choices are cheap and make much more food than healthy, fresh options. But people who can barely put food on the table don’t have the additional money to eat healthily. The topic can either be the cause of something or the effect of something depending on how the writer wants to frame it. The following excerpt is an example of an introduction to a cause and effect essay. Using a Venn diagram to outline a comparative expository essay can help to organize information. Sequential – This can also be called a process essay where the writer explains something in sequential order. Descriptive/Definition – The writer gives a complete explanation of the topic with evidence, examples, and background history.

Expository Essay Topics About Education

The first step is to compose your expository writing outline. But it helps you quickly organize all thoughts and arrange them logically. Just make sure each of your key ideas and objects are defined. Once done, you can review it and see if anything important is missing.

  • In short, it must provide simple information on a complex topic.
  • Establish a strong connection between these parts to make a solid structure.
  • An expository essay is a type of academic writing in which an author informs the audience about a particular idea, book, movie, event or series of events, or any other chosen subject.
  • The topic must be captivating and fascinating enough to catch the reader’s attention immediately.

You cannot just write about your topic without any backing up information—that would be an opinion piece, not an expository essay! Gather at least three sources what is the purpose of an expository essay of information about your topic. These sources can be books, websites, interviews—anything that will help support the claims you make in your essay.

Wrap it like a present – The concluding paragraph is often an afterthought, especially for students, because it’s viewed as a rewording of the introduction paragraph. While it does reflect to the main paragraph, the lonely good company of books thesis it’s very important to wrap everything together like a professional gift wrapper. The purpose of an expository essay is to educate and inform the reader, in an unbiased manner, about some topic or concept.

  • Primary sources and discussing relevant social, political, and economic trends that impacted the event and influenced perceptions of it.
  • In non-academic contexts, expository essays inform readers about a new product or service, describe an event that took place, or tell the story of an important person.
  • Poor health is a huge problem amongst people living at or below the poverty line.
  • Position facts and observations to let them speak for themselves in the most effective way possible.