Most expository essays use a range of tones and writing styles:
A narrative essay isn’t strictly divided into introduction, body, and conclusion, but it should still begin by setting up the narrative and finish by expressing the point of the story—what you learned from your experience, or why it made an impression on you.
An expositional paper is most easily written when you have a “tight” thesis. This means that the focus of your topic is extremely specific. When your thesis is concise, you can write at length because you know exactly what you should be writing about. But when you have a sloppy, vague thesis, you can become lost and your writing reflects this. This goes back to choosing a topic focus that deals with something specific, and not overly general. A thesis makes a claim regarding your focus and is supported by details and facts. It is written in one or two complete sentences. An example of a thesis would be: “Gardening can be a rewarding hobby because of the creativity involved, the variety of plants, and the many uses of plants.” Like reading and writing, writing and talking work in unison. Teachers often observe classes that actively read and then discuss what they have read are often much stronger writers. Moreover, some students find that discussion is an important step in articulating their ideas and galvanizing their viewpoints on a topic. The introduction of an expository essay states your topic and provides some general background, the body presents the details, and the conclusion summarizes the information presented. Expository essays test your familiarity with a topic and your ability to organize and convey information. They are commonly assigned at high school or in exam questions at college level. Too often we don’t begin writing because we are stuck—don’t be, just start writing. You can begin anywhere. Start writing where you feel the most comfortable. When you have your outline, as sketchy as it may be, it reminds you of ideas that you want to include in your paper. Remember though that readers are interested in what YOU have to say—they don’t want to read regurgitated quotes and opinions of others, so make sure that your point is being heard. First you must find a specific aspect of a topic that would interest you. This means you will and must read about the topic. You will have to research the topic extensively so that you can explain it—what exposition is all about. Research your topic extensively if necessary. You will probably have to spend quite a bit of time, but remember that the researching can be exciting. The general initial researching may even provide some valuable information that you want to explain. Researching is like exercising: at first it hurts, but with time you become stronger and it’s easier to flex your researching muscles. After you have decided upon a topic, you can create a thesis.
Here is a simple expository essay definition:
Unlike an argumentative essay, which is built around defending a particular point of view with evidence and persuasion, an expository essay maintains a neutral stance, focusing on delivering straightforward facts and explanations.
offers guidance for writing expository essays.
Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and descriptive essays are about exercising creativity and writing in an interesting way.
H3 What Is the Purpose of Expository Writing?
By contrast, expository essays more often get grouped into “academic writing,” which generally requires a . That doesn’t mean avoiding your own thoughts and opinions. 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.
What is an expository essay… and how do I write one?
Essays are an art form unto themselves. Even if you’re not telling an outright narrative, can play a really important role in your expository essay by building flow, supporting your thesis, and just making your writing feel a bit more human. , , and all of those good can be great tools in your expository essay, so don’t ignore them.
The core elements of a good expository essay include the following:
Sounds a little basic, but that reliability and consistency is part of the draw with these types of essays. The uniqueness is in the subject itself and what you bring to the essay.
How to Write an Expository Essay
Expository essays tend to be the most standard when it comes to their structure. The best news: If you’ve written a typical for class, you already know what an expository essay outline will look like (an intro, some body paragraphs, and a conclusion).