How to Write an Expository Essay – A Guide with Examples

An expository essay is meant to examine an idea or a topic, evaluate the existing sources, and put forth the main argument without justifying a particular point of view. Expository essays are all about describing or explaining an idea, a topic, or a method rationally and reasonably without personal bias. Unlike an argumentative essay, it does not present supporting evidence. 

You can write an expository essay by picking a clear thesis statement defining your main idea, organising the essay into an introduction, body explaining each point with references, and a conclusion as a precise summary of key ideas. It is all about explaining a topic or an idea clearly or logically, not to argue or entertain.

What’s the Definition of an Expository Essay?

“An expository is a type of essay that involves presenting an unbiased, neutral, and balanced explanation of any given idea, process, topic, or set of ideas, backed by supporting evidence.”

Key Differences Between Expository, Argumentative, and Descriptive Essays

When Should You Write an Expository Essay?

Expository essays are a common type of academic assignment in colleges and universities throughout the world. You could be asked to produce an expository essay as a standalone assignment or as part of a larger project.

Sometimes, the assignment brief may not indicate the type of essay you should complete. If you are unsure about whether the assigned essay is an expository type, then try to find keywords like “describe,” “explain,” and “explicate,” or check with your tutor to be sure what is expected.

If you are asked to write about a particular term or concept, make sure that you;

• Explain it in detail, concisely, and clearly.
• Do not let your personal opinions and thoughts form the basis of your expository essay.
• In your writing, do not use the personal pronouns like ‘I’ and ‘You’.

3 Steps to Write an Expository Essay

The expository essay follows the standard five-paragraph template, which includes an introduction, three main body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. However, it is recommended to check your school’s guidelines to be sure of the structure you are expected to follow.

• Introduction

Like other essay types, an expository essay starts with an introductory paragraph, including a hook, background, and rationale, and a thesis statement.

• A hook helps to grab your audience’s attention.
• The background sentence provides context for the information discussed throughout the essay.
• The thesis statement states the topic and the key aspects of the topic discussed in the essay.

• Main Body

The expository essay’s main body should include a minimum of three paragraphs, although you can add more paragraphs to it depending on the length of the essay.

The main body is, undoubtedly, the trickiest part of the essay because it includes the use of logical transitions so the reader can move from one paragraph to another without losing the plot. Transitions are like the mortar that keeps your essay from falling apart, so it is vitally important to make sure that you use correct and appropriate transitions.

Each paragraph of the main body includes;

• A topic sentence.
• A clear and concise explanation of an idea or topic that links back to the thesis statement in the introduction.
• A concluding line.

• Conclusion

The conclusion paragraph should consist of the following three parts;

• A summary sentence that provides a comprehensive overview of the research undertaken.
• The overview sentence (s) link back to the key aspects of the topic.
• A key takeaway point for the readers in the form of a concluding statement that emphasises the importance and relevance of what has been investigated.

Tip: The conclusion paragraph serves to provide a summary of the research. Never introduce a new piece of information or evidence in this part of the expository essay. Here, you only need to fortify the points you made in the main body.

Frequently Asked Questions