It can be difficult to describe exactly what an expository essay is, but essentially an expository essay is one that describes an idea or thought using only fact. Unlike a formal or opinion essay, you do not inject your opinions into an expository essay.
There are many instances where you may be asked to write an expository essay. They are commonly assigned in many high school courses, such as literature & science, and continue to be assigned in college. However, expository essays are not restricted to academia.
It is very well possible that you would be asked to write an expository essay for work. For instance, a technical writer may be asked to write an expository essay on how to change the battery in an automobile, which may later be used in a handbook. Or, a lawyer may be asked to draft an expository essay comparing and contrasting a contract. Expository essays are useful for many different occasions.
Expository essays can take many different forms. For instance, these can all be topics for an expository essay:
- What are the differences between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray?
- How does a microwave work?
- Describe a typical essay
In all these examples, you would focus on using only facts. For an expository essay, when comparing HD-DVD to Blu-Ray you would say “HD-DVD can support 2gb/sec of data transfer whereas Blu-Ray can only support 1.7gb/sec”. These are facts which cannot be disputed.
An incorrect version of the same sentence would read “HD-DVD is better than Blu-Ray because it is a more technologically advanced product”. This is more of an opinion statement, which would be proper for a formal essay, but not an expository essay.
An en effective expository essay will take the same general essay structure as a formal essay. That is, there will be an introductory paragraph, followed by the body, and then the conclusion. However, the most significant departure from a formal essay would be the lack of a thesis.
A thesis is generally an opinion stated as fact, which will then later be proven. In an expository essay, since there is no opinion, the introductory paragraph will usually introduce the reader to the subject matter. For example, in your introductory paragraph, you would say something like this: “There are several differences between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. They are…” Remember, you are using only facts to describe a thought or idea.
Your introductory paragraph will shape the body of your expositor essay.
Depending on the introduction, you must decide what type of essay will best describe your subject matter. Common essay types are sequence essays, cause and effect essays, descriptive essays, comparison essays, and classification essays. Choose the one that is most logical to follow your introduction paragraph.
In the conclusion paragraph, you should not be adding in any new ideas. This is especially important in an expository essay. You want to summarize key points in your expository essay, without regurgitating information.
The conclusion is difficult for many writers, but remember: the conclusion is the last thing the reader will see. Put some thought into the conclusion, and give the reader a lasting impression.
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