How to Write an Expository Essay That Gets Noticed

What Is an Expository Essay?

Incomprehensible and complicated at first glance, this assignment isn’t all that difficult once you get to know it better. Expository means informative, explanatory, or descriptive. You come across this writing style multiple times throughout the day, in textbooks, scientific articles, news reports, or blog posts like this one. 

Expository Essay Definition Controversy

There’s no consensus among writing experts and teachers on the purpose of expository writing. Some believe it’s to pick a point and argue in its favor, but then, it would be no different from argumentative writing, which is another one of the four writing styles (narrative, descriptive, argumentative, and expository). Others believe expository papers should inform without arguing the point.

If you’re unsure of your professor’s stance on expository essays, analyze the assignment prompt carefully. If you see words like “explain” or “define”, your piece should be informative. But if the prompt includes phrases like “argue in favor” or “support your opinion”, your paper should take on more argumentative qualities.

The tone and contents of your paper also depend on the assignment type. In-class writing tasks are usually less focused on fact-checking and are designed to assess your eloquence and composition skills. Homework essays may be more focused on research and credible sources.

What Are Expository Essays Types?

As we’ve established, professors do not share the same understanding of expository writing style. Moreover, a typical expository writing prompt does not usually include “expository essay” verbatim. Instead, you’ll see other keywords and action verbs that should guide your research, planning, and writing. In fact, based on the prompt alone, you should be able to come up with a rough idea of an outline best-suited to a specific essay type. 

5 Types of Expository Essays

You’re probably familiar with most of these but haven’t realized they all fall under expository writing style:

1. Definition essays. The easiest and most common type requires you to provide objective and relevant information on a subject, event, personality, etc. Think of it as an extended dictionary entry, each paragraph devoted to different subject characteristics.
2. Classification essays. Similar to the previous type, classification expository essays are usually about different aspects or categories within the chosen issue, such as types of educational software. Each body paragraph is generally devoted to one category. Wikipedia entries can be considered an example of this writing type.
3. Process essays. For this assignment, clearly explain how something is done, devoting one passage to every step of the process. If you need inspiration, look into cooking recipes, online tutorials, and how-to posts (like this one).
4. Compare and contrast essays. As the name suggests, this essay type calls for a comparison of similarities and differences between two or more subjects. You can also go through the advantages and disadvantages of a sole matter. Think of a product comparison or a list of pros and cons if you don’t know where to start working on this assignment.
5. Cause and effect essays. For this assignment, you can go from results to reasons or vice versa, explaining the relationship between events. You can dedicate one paragraph to each notable event in the sequence like investigative journalists do when unearthing shady schemes. 

Expository Essay Structure

The structure of your expository essay comprises the same three core components all other essays include: introduction, body, and conclusion.

The Introduction 

The opening passage introduces your topic to the reader, though there are secrets to making a lasting first impression. An expository essay begins with a hook, an attention-grabbing statement or question that surprises or excites the reader to learn more. Next comes the background information on the topic. Finally, the introduction concludes with a thesis statement that presents your principal idea and gives the reader an impression of the key points you’re about to make. 

The Body

For a classic 5-paragraph essay, you’ll need three body passages, each devoted to a specific idea or point. If your assignment is a bit more complex, consider the type of expository writing you’re expected to deliver and pick the paper structure accordingly. For instance, for a cause and effect essay, a chronological or reverse chronological order may be the most logical. The spatial layout may work well when dealing with international or global issues. The thematic or topical outline is universal, though finding the correct sequence of points to discuss may take some time.

The Conclusion

The final paragraph should give the reader a sense of closure and leave them with a pleasant lasting impression. Instead of repeating the thesis statement verbatim, rephrase it and highlight the topic’s relevance. The conclusion is not the right place for introducing new information, though you may add final thoughts or potential further research avenues.

Step by Step Guide to Writing an Expository Paper

Find Examples of Expository Essays Online

If you’ve never worked on an expository essay, skimming a couple of samples is an excellent way to get into the right mind frame for writing. Unless your professor provides examples, consider online sample collections, writing contests, etc. You can even ask around campus to get your hands on A-worthy papers by senior students.

Pick an Expository Essay Topic

In-class assignments usually come with a specific topic, but professors may let you choose a research question on your homework assignments. Make the most of this opportunity to pick an issue that gets you excited and eager to write. Narrow the scope to fit your word count, and keep the title short but specific. For instance, “Religion in the US” is too broad a topic to cover in an essay, but “The religious causes of the US abortion ban” will fit your assignment better.

Craft an Expository Essay Outline

While your essay will definitely need an introduction and conclusion, the body passages will depend on the expository essay type. First, note down the key facts you want to include, then shuffle them until the order makes sense. If you’re working on the paper at home, add relevant reference data to support each significant point to make the next step easier.

Write the First Draft

To beat the writer’s block and shut up your inner perfectionist, remember that no author ever published the first draft. Some of your favorite books would be utterly unrecognizable if you’d seen the initial version. So don’t try to make every word choice and sentence perfect from the get-go. Instead, set a timer and start typing. The more words you can put on the screen within the time limit, the better. Repeat this brain dump session a few times, and you’ll get a rough sketch of your final submission. 

After a short break, come back to the draft and start editing ruthlessly, eliminating anything that doesn’t make sense and adding new information to make the writing clearer. You may need two or more editing rounds until you’re happy with the contents of your paper.

Polish the Final Draft

Once you feel you’ve done your best, make your expository essay look good. Use writing software like Grammarly instead of your default spell check to catch grammar mistakes, correct comma splices, and remove typos. Finally, format the paper according to the formatting style requirements. And remember to cite your sources if you use any. You can automatically generate in-text citations and the reference list using online tools, but check every entry before using it, as mistakes are possible.

Mistakes to Avoid in Your Expository Essay

Now that you know how to write a great expository essay, let’s review a few glaring errors that can ruin your grade. 

DO NOT:

1. Make an expository essay too personal. First-person writing and personal opinions have no place in dictionaries, encyclopedias, or new reports. And expository essays have a neutral point of view, presenting facts, numbers, and data objectively and without bias. Otherwise, it’s a personal or persuasive essay, or else a rant, not an academic paper.
2. Overuse “smart” words from a thesaurus. Simple words can be more potent than outdated multisyllabic monstrosities you pull out of a dictionary. If you’re tempted to use words to make the essay look smarter, consider making stronger points by using better sources and improving your analysis. 
3. Make your paper wordy to meet the word count requirement. “The reason why is because” is a construct students use to make sentences longer, though it does not add useful information. Go over your paper and remove parts that seem too verbose. Hemingway Editor may help resolve this issue.
4. Struggle on your own when help is a few mouse clicks away. If you’re short on time or feel out of your depth, getting a professional writer to complete the assignment for you is the smartest choice. Our experts can deliver an A-worthy piece within 24 hours while you catch up on other projects, take a break, or work on achieving your goals outside the classroom. So contact us now, and download your submission-ready essay asap.