What Is Expository Writing?

How to Write an Expository Essay

By Richard Nordquist
Updated January 21, 2019

Mario Tama / Getty Images

Expository writing is used to convey factual

information (as opposed to creative writing,
such as fiction). It is the language of learning
and understanding the world around us. If
you've ever read an encyclopedia entry, a
how-to article on a website, or a chapter in a
textbook, then you've encountered examples
of expository writing.

Key Takeaways: Expository Writing

Just the facts, M'am: Expository writing is

informational, not creative writing.
Anytime you write to describe or explain, you
use expository writing.
Use a logical flow when planning an
expository essay, report, or article:
introduction, body text, and conclusion.
It's often easier to write the body of your
article first, before composing the
introduction or conclusion.

Expository writing is everywhere in everyday

life, not just academic settings, as it's present
anytime there's information to be conveyed. It
can take form in an academic paper, an article
for a newspaper, a report for a business, or
even book-length nonfiction. It explains,
informs, and describes.

Types of Expository Writing

In composition studies, expository writing

(also called exposition) is one of the four
traditional modes of discourse. It may include
elements of narration, description,
and argumentation. Unlike creative
or persuasive writing, which can appeal to
emotions and use anecdotes,
expository writing's primary purpose is to
deliver information about an issue, subject,
method, or idea using facts.

Exposition may take one of several forms:

Descriptive/definition: In this style of writing,

topics are defined by characteristics, traits,
and examples. An encyclopedia entry is a kind
of descriptive essay.
Process/sequential: This essay outlines a
series of steps needed in order to complete a
task or produce something. A recipe at the
end of an article in a food magazine is one
example.
Comparative/contrast: This kind of
exposition is used to demonstrate how two or
more subjects are the same and different. An
article that explains the difference between
owning and renting a home and the benefits
and drawbacks of each is one such an
example.
Cause/effect: This kind of essay describes
how one step leads to a result. An example is
a personal blog chronicling a workout regimen
and documenting the results over time.
Problem/solution: This type of essay
presents a problem and possible solutions,
backed by data and facts, not just opinion.
Classification: A classification essay breaks
down a broad topic into categories or
groupings.

Tips for Expository Writing

As you write, keep in mind some of these tips

for creating an effective expository essay:

Start where you know the information best.

You don't have to write your introduction first.
In fact, it might be easier to wait until the end
for that. If you don't like the look of a blank
page, move over the slugs from your outline
for the main body paragraphs and write the
topic sentences for each. Then start putting in
your information according to each
paragraph's topic.

Be clear and concise. Readers have a limited

attention span. Make your case succinctly in
language that the average reader can
understand.

Stick to the facts. Although an exposition

can be persuasive, it should not be based on
opinion only. Support your case with facts,
data, and reputable sources that can be
documented and verified.

Consider voice and tone. How you address

the reader depends on the kind of essay
you're writing. An essay written in the first
person is fine for a personal travel essay but is
inappropriate if you're a business reporter
describing a patent lawsuit. Think about your
audience before you begin writing.

Planning Your Essay

1. Brainstorm: Jot down ideas on a blank

piece of paper. Connect them with
arrows and lines, or just make lists. Rigor
doesn't matter at this stage. Bad ideas
don't matter at this stage. Just write
down ideas, and the engine in your head
will lead you to a good one.When you've
got that idea, then repeat the
brainstorming exercise with ideas that
you want to pursue on that topic and
information you could put in. From this
list, you'll start to see a path emerge for
your research or narrative to follow.
2. Compose your thesis: When your ideas
coalesce into a sentence in which you
can summarize the topic you're writing
about, you're ready to compose your
thesis sentence. Write down in one
sentence the main idea that you'll
explore in your paper.
3. Examine your thesis: Is it clear? Does it
contain opinion? If so, revise that out. For
this type of essay, you stick to the facts
and evidence. This isn't an editorial. Is
the thesis' scope manageable? You don't
want your topic too narrow or too broad
to be covered in the amount of space
you have for your paper. If it's not a
manageable topic, refine it. Don't be
dismayed if you have to come back and
tweak it if your research finds that your
initial idea was off-kilter. It's all just part
of the process of focusing the material.
4. Outline: It may seem inconsequential,
but making even a quick outline can save
you time by organizing your areas of
pursuit and narrowing them down. When
you see your topics in an organized list,
you may be able to discard off-topic
threads before you research them—or as
you're researching them and you find
they just don't work.
5. Research: Find your data and sources to
back up the areas you want to pursue to
support your thesis statement. Look for
sources written by experts, including
organizations, and watch for bias.
Possible sources include statistics,
definitions, charts and graphs, and
expert quotes and anecdotes. Compile
descriptive details and comparisons to
make your topic clear to your reader,
when applicable.

What Is an Expository Essay?

An expository essay has three basic parts: the

introduction, the body, and the conclusion.
Each is crucial to writing a clear article or
effective argument.

The introduction: The first paragraph is

where you'll lay the foundation for your essay
and give the reader an overview of your
thesis. Use your opening sentence to get the
reader's attention, and then follow up with a
few sentences that give your reader some
context for the information you're about to
cover.

The body: At a minimum, include three to five

paragraphs in the body of your expository
essay. The body could be considerably longer,
depending on your topic and audience. Each
paragraph begins with a topic sentence where
you state your case or objective. Each topic
sentence supports your overall thesis
statement. Then, each paragraph includes
several sentences that expand on the
information and/or support the topic
sentence. Finally, a concluding sentence
offers a transition to the following paragraph
in the essay.

The conclusion: The final section of your

expository essay should give the reader a
concise overview of your thesis. The intent is
not merely to summarize your argument but
to use it as a means of proposing further
action, offering a solution, or posing new
questions to explore. Don't cover new material
related to your thesis, though. This is where
you wrap it all up.

Expository Examples

An expository article or report about a lake,

for example, could discuss its ecosystem: the
plants and animals that depend on it along
with its climate. It could describe physical
details about its size, depth, amount of rainfall
each year, and the number of tourists it
receives annually. Information on when it was
formed, its best fishing spots, or its water
quality could be included, depending on the
audience for the piece.

An expository piece could be in third person

or second person. Second-person examples
could include, for example, how to test lake
water for pollutants or how to kill invasive
species. Expository writing is useful and
informative.

In contrast, someone writing a creative

nonfiction article about a lake might relate the
place to a defining moment in his or her life,
penning the piece in first person. It could be
filled with emotion, opinion, sensory details,
and even include dialogue and flashbacks. It's
a much more evocative, personal type of
writing than an expository piece, even though
they're both nonfiction styles.