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Expository essays

The document provides a comprehensive guide on writing expository essays, detailing their definition, features, types, and format. It outlines a step-by-step process for writing, including topic selection, outlining, and revising, while also distinguishing expository essays from persuasive essays. Additionally, it offers topic ideas and examples to assist writers in crafting effective expository essays.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)

3 views

Expository essays

Uploaded by

Madiha Zaidi

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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Expository essays provide an investigation of an event, a place, or experience,

evaluating the evidence. It requires a lot of effort, time, and good writing skills as this
essay explains the idea in detail. It requires you to do research to collect strong
evidence and add ample details related to the topic.

Are you looking for an expository writing guide?

Read on to know more about it and to learn how to write an expository essay step by
step.

Contents
 What is an Expository Essay?
 Features of an Expository Essay
 Types of Expository Essay
 Expository Essay Format
 How to Write an Expository Essay?
o Choose a Topic
o Create an Expository Essay Outline
o Write the Expository Essay Introduction
o Expository Essay Body Paragraphs
o Write Your Expository Essay Conclusion
o Revise Your Essay
 Expository Essay Topics
 Expository Essay Examples
 Hire an Expository Essay Writer

What is an Expository Essay?

The expository essay is a genre of academic writing that discusses a topic in detail. It
explains the main topic by providing the information in chronological order. This type of
essay aims to provide the reader with all the information that they need to understand a
topic easily.

According to the expository essay definition:

“It is a type of essay in which a writer investigates the topic by evaluating the evidence
to explain, clarify, and illustrate the idea in a way that it becomes clear for the reader.”

An expository essay may seem like a descriptive essay but it is different from it.
Similarly, an argumentative essay looks similar but it is not. An argumentative essay is
written to present an argument and to prove a certain point of view. Whereas,
expository essays are written to provide information, define, and illustrate a certain
topic.

Features of an Expository Essay

Types of Expository Essay
There are six types of expository essay:

1. 1. Compare and contrast essay: It is a type of essay that compares and

contrasts two things. Learn to write a compare and contrast essay from our
ultimate guide.
2. 2. Cause and effect essay: This essay tries to find out the causes of
somethings and its effects on something. Learn cause and effect essay
writing with this guide.
3. 3. Process essay: This essay explains the process of making or doing
something.
4. 4. Problem and solution essay: This essay presents a problem and provides
its possible solutions.
5. 5. Classification essay: In this essay, the topic is divided into categories. The
examples, ideas, and characters defined for each category in the form of groups.
Follow the link for a detailed guide of classification essay writing.
6. 6. Definition essay: This essay defines what the topic exactly means.
A definition essay provides clear and specific information about the topic and
uses examples to clarify it.

Difference Between Persuasive Essay And The Expository Essay

Expository essay Persuasive essay

Describe and Define and explain

explain the topic in the topic on the
detail with the help basis of a personal
of evidence point of view

Written to provide
Written to persuade
details on a specific
the reader
topic

Written in the third Written in the first

person person

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Expository Essay Format

The format for every essay is generally the same. It has an introduction, a thesis
statement, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. What makes these essays different from
each other is the purpose due to which they are written. A typical 5 paragraph
expository essay follows the pattern given below:

1. 1. Introduction
o a. A captivating hook statement
o b. Brief background information
o c. An intriguing thesis statement
2. 2. Body Paragraphs
o a. Body paragraph 1: First main point, its supporting evidence and
transition to the second body paragraph
o b. Body paragraph 2: Second main point, its supporting evidence and
transition to the third body paragraph
o c. Body paragraph 3: Third main point, its supporting evidence and
transition to the conclusion
3. 3. Conclusion
o Reinstate the thesis statement
o Summarize all the main points
o Provide a good message

The expository essay structure is no different as far as the sections are concerned.
However, it is different because of its highly explanatory nature. It explains the specific
topic in detail while evaluating the evidence.

Expository Essay Graphic Organizer

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How to Write an Expository Essay

Before you start writing your essay, make sure that you have enough evidence and
credible information to explain your idea.

Here is a step by step procedure of how to write an expository essay.

1. Choose an expository essay topic

2. Create an expository essay outline
3. Write the introduction
4. Prepare the body paragraphs
5. Craft a compelling conclusion
6. Revise your essay
Choose a Topic
Pick an interesting and good expository essay topic to write an essay on. The topic must
be captivating and fascinating enough that immediately catches the reader's attention.

Create an Expository Essay Outline

An expository essay outline helps you give a proper structure to your essay. The idea of
an outline is to organize all the content that helps in compiling a good expository essay.

Write the Introduction

Expository writing informs the readers or explains a certain topic. Therefore, adding an
unknown and engaging fact will help you hook your reader and keep them glued to your
essay.

Don’t assume that your reader already knows everything about the topic. Create a
background regarding your topic for the readers. This will help them understand the
topic better.

Pay careful attention to the opening lines and take into account the following points
while writing an introductory paragraph:

 Provide interesting information or ask a question

 Introduce all the necessary information to help the reader understand what the
expository paper is all about
 Write an effective thesis statement

Prepare the Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs are written to provide supporting evidence and to explain the
topic in detail. Every paragraph discusses a separate point of the topic.

Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence, provides facts and opinions to
expand and explain the topic. Transition words are used to logically connect the
paragraphs and to maintain the smooth flow of the essay.

The number of body paragraphs can vary according to the topic. Keep in mind the
following points when you proceed to the body of the essay:

 Provide a key idea of each paragraph

 Include supporting sentences in each of your body paragraphs
 Explain the significance of your provided facts and examples
Craft a Conclusion
To conclude your essay, begin the concluding paragraph by restating your thesis
statement. Your conclusion should be strong and powerful to give a concise overview of
your topic.

Add questions or propose further action to engage the readers. Don’t add any new
details in the concluding paragraph, just wrap up your essay and restate the thesis
briefly.

Ensure the following information to come up with an effective and interesting expository
composition.

 Provide an overview of the essay

 Discuss the possible solutions
 Discuss the importance of your research

Revise Your Essay

Do not forget to revise your essay as a good thorough read helps you refine your essay.
Revise your essay to check the following things:

 Correct any spelling and grammatical errors

 Correct the punctuation errors
 Make sure that your essay is making sense
 Check if your content is in a logical flow
 Check the sentence structure
 Remove any irrelevant information

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Expository Essay Topics

Below are some useful expository essay topic ideas for your ease.

 Effects of diversity in a classroom

 Why are some people dog lovers while others are cat lovers?
 Explain the relationship between education and quality of life
 What is the reason for fantasy books becoming best sellers these days?
 What is a smart consumer?
 What changes need to be done in your lunchroom?
 Explain why parents are strict at times
 Explain why teenagers indulge in drugs
 What are the consequences of selling drugs?
 Describe productive ways a student can utilize their free time
 Explain why kids have a rough time when their parents are getting a divorce
 Explain how music affects your life
 Describe the effects of marijuana
 Describe the consequences of taking drugs

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Expository Essay Examples

Here are some expository essay examples to further clarify how an expository essay
should look like. Read the essay examples and know the basic structure of this essay.