Expository Essay Tips

What is an Expository Essay?

An expository essay is a paper in which you provide an explanation of a particular subject. This essay is meant to  be strictly based on facts, and will not contain opinions or emotions. An expository essay can include the writer's analysis and predictions, as long as those are based on verifiable facts. Most expository essays, at least for undergraduate students, will follow the common five paragraph essay format (Introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion). If you would like to know how to write an expository essay, keep reading. Here are several tips that you can use to make writing an expository essay as easy as possible.

1.      Select a Topic That is Familiar

If you have any leeway in selecting your topic, choose one that is familiar and interesting to you. This doesn't mean that you won't have to do any research. You will. After all, even if you know all about something, you still need to be able to provide resources for those facts. It just means that the research process will be significantly shorter and easier.

2.      Plan to Spend More Time on Research Than Writing

Because expository essays are all about facts, you will need plenty of them when you write your paper. You will need to find a lot of unbiased, fact based sources to use. You are best off if you stick with academic, medical, and scientific sources when you do your research. However, if you are explaining the inner workings of something, it is also a good idea to reference owners and users manuals. Just be sure to concentrate on sites that offer information that answer the following questions:

What is this?

Why does it exist?

Who does it help or hurt?

How does it work?

Who created it?

Why are people happy/distressed/angry when they think about this?

Where can this be found?

Who would use this?

3.      Tailor Your Essay to Your Audience

When you write an expository essay, it is your job to make sure that your readers gain an understanding of your topic. This could be anything from understanding how an internal combustion engine works to understanding the basic tenets of a religion. In order to do this successfully, you must write at a level that your audience can understand. If your writing is too high level, you will lose your audience. On the other hand, if you make things too simple, your readers will feel as if they are being patronized. In fact, knowing your audience might be the most important part of learning how to write a expository essay.

4.      Avoid Phrases that Indicate You Are Giving an Opinion

When you are first learning how to write expository essay, it can be quite a challenge to keep your opinion out of the process. Be vigilant as you write your paper. Avoid using terms such as “I feel”, “in my opinion”, “I believe”, or “I think”. If you are providing an analysis, be prepared to reference a source that backs up your predictions.