expository essay for junior secondary school

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How to Write an Expository Essay | Structure, Tips & Examples

Published on July 14, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

“Expository” means “intended to explain or describe something.” An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a particular topic, process, or set of ideas. It doesn’t set out to prove a point, just to give a balanced view of its subject matter.

Expository essays are usually short assignments intended to test your composition skills or your understanding of a subject. They tend to involve less research and original arguments than argumentative essays .

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Table of contents

When should you write an expository essay, how to approach an expository essay, introducing your essay, writing the body paragraphs, concluding your essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about expository essays.

In school and university, you might have to write expository essays as in-class exercises, exam questions, or coursework assignments.

Sometimes it won’t be directly stated that the assignment is an expository essay, but there are certain keywords that imply expository writing is required. Consider the prompts below.

The word “explain” here is the clue: An essay responding to this prompt should provide an explanation of this historical process—not necessarily an original argument about it.

Sometimes you’ll be asked to define a particular term or concept. This means more than just copying down the dictionary definition; you’ll be expected to explore different ideas surrounding the term, as this prompt emphasizes.

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An expository essay should take an objective approach: It isn’t about your personal opinions or experiences. Instead, your goal is to provide an informative and balanced explanation of your topic. Avoid using the first or second person (“I” or “you”).

The structure of your expository essay will vary according to the scope of your assignment and the demands of your topic. It’s worthwhile to plan out your structure before you start, using an essay outline .

A common structure for a short expository essay consists of five paragraphs: An introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Like all essays, an expository essay begins with an introduction . This serves to hook the reader’s interest, briefly introduce your topic, and provide a thesis statement summarizing what you’re going to say about it.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.

The body of your essay is where you cover your topic in depth. It often consists of three paragraphs, but may be more for a longer essay. This is where you present the details of the process, idea or topic you’re explaining.

It’s important to make sure each paragraph covers its own clearly defined topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Different topics (all related to the overall subject matter of the essay) should be presented in a logical order, with clear transitions between paragraphs.

Hover over different parts of the example paragraph below to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

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The conclusion of an expository essay serves to summarize the topic under discussion. It should not present any new information or evidence, but should instead focus on reinforcing the points made so far. Essentially, your conclusion is there to round off the essay in an engaging way.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a conclusion works.

The invention of the printing press was important not only in terms of its immediate cultural and economic effects, but also in terms of its major impact on politics and religion across Europe. In the century following the invention of the printing press, the relatively stationary intellectual atmosphere of the Middle Ages gave way to the social upheavals of the Reformation and the Renaissance. A single technological innovation had contributed to the total reshaping of the continent.

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An expository essay is a broad form that varies in length according to the scope of the assignment.

Expository essays are often assigned as a writing exercise or as part of an exam, in which case a five-paragraph essay of around 800 words may be appropriate.

You’ll usually be given guidelines regarding length; if you’re not sure, ask.

An expository essay is a common assignment in high-school and university composition classes. It might be assigned as coursework, in class, or as part of an exam.

Sometimes you might not be told explicitly to write an expository essay. Look out for prompts containing keywords like “explain” and “define.” An expository essay is usually the right response to these prompts.

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

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25 Expository essay topics for Middle School by Category

Expository Essays explain a particular topic in a detailed, logical and straightforward manner. These types of essays are completely informative. They do not include any references or any opinion of the writer. The tone of an expository essay is kept neutral. Hence, while writing an expository essay you will be expected to illustrate, define, explain or clarify the topic in a way that the readers can easily understand it completely. You may provide arguments, conduct an investigation or evaluate things in order to provide a clear explanation to your readers.

Essay writing is an art. It is an essential skill to have which is why you’re going to require essay topics for Grade 7 , 8, 9, and 10. You may have to do a lot of creative writing in middle school . Writing is a must-have school and these activities in school prepare you for it.

Types of Expository Essays

• Descriptive Essay – describes a place, thing or an experience
• Problem-Solution Essay – presents a problem and its solution
• Cause-Effect Essay – finds the cause of something and its impact
• Comparison Essay – compares and contrasts two things
• Process Essay – explains a process

How to Choose a Topic for your Expository Essay?

The most difficult and important aspect of essay writing is choosing the ‘right topic’. Many times students choose a difficult topic for which they need to conduct a lot of research which however makes essay writing difficult. Here are 4 quick tips on picking up the right topic –

• Understand the purpose of writing the essay
• Brainstorm some ideas and hence make an informed choice
• Always conduct background research on the topic that you choose to understand its scope
• Start with an outline first! Do not start writing straight away.

Expository Essay Samples

To help you get a better idea of what an expository essay is, consider the samples given below –

Topic: How Students can spend Their Leisure Time

Students have got a lot to handle! From attending classes to completing assignments, and participating in extracurricular activities, the small amount of leisure time that remains for them should be utilized in the best way possible. Students must choose their activities wisely as the way they spend their leisure time can reflect upon their physical and mental well-being.

Sports and Exercises

With most activities being sedentary nowadays, students should find some time to indulge in any kind of sports activity or a workout routine of their choice. Studies have shown that continuous sitting can lead to adverse effects on the health of students. Hence exercise and sports are good choices for students.

Developing Hobbies

Gardening, reading, writing, drawing, painting, or even cooking, there are numerous hobbies to choose from. Students should find some time for pursuing their hobbies, exploring new ones and enhancing their skills as a part of their leisure activity. No one knows when your hobby becomes your passion and hence gives a pathway to your success!

Time to Relax!

It is essential for us to learn to quiet our minds in this busy world. Hence students should develop a habit to relax and practice mindfulness every day. They can pick up any activity for this like meditation, yoga, listening to music, or even sitting with their family and friends. It is crucial for students to stay calm and find time, particularly for them for their mental and spiritual well-being.

These activities can help students take control of their lives. Picking up an activity that does not involve intellect, that is unlike school activities, can help students find a balance in their life. They can relax, play, grow and discover their true potential only through proper utilization of their leisure time.

Expository Essay Topics

Got a gist of how to write an expository essay? Let us have a look at some easy yet interesting expository essays that you can use –

Descriptive Essay

1. Describe your School 2. Describe your Pet 3. How Diversity can affect a Classroom? 4. Why do we Celebrate Christmas? 5. When you saw Snow for the first time

Problem-Solution Essay

1. Many students do not watch the news. How can this be a matter of concern for them? Are there any solutions to this issue? 2. Animal Abuse and Its Solutions 3. Global Warming and Its Solutions 4. What is Deforestation? Why is it a serious issue? How can this issue be solved? 5. How can we make our Community a Better Place?

Cause-Effect Essay

1. How air Pollution is affecting our Health? 2. Bullying in Schools – Causes and Effects 3. Peer Pressure and its Effects 4. Effects of Using Social Media 5. How Poverty affects urban and rural areas

Comparison Essay

1. Compare your two favourite sportspersons 2. Compare your current house to your dream home 3. Compare your two favourite TV shows 4. Watches – then and now! 5. Compare a place you visited recently with your city

Process Essay

1. How to Make Friends 2. How to Study 3. How to Take Care of your Dog 4. How to Fix a Table Fan 5. How to Write a Diary Entry

Got some inspiration to start with your own essay? So why delay? Start wiring your essay today itself. We hope that these topics would have given you a fair idea of what topic you can choose for your expository essay. Happy Writing!

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Expository Essay

Expository Essay Examples

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Are you a student struggling to understand the intricacies of expository essay writing? 

Do you find yourself in need of clear guidance and practical examples to master this essential skill? Look no further! 

In this guide, we'll look into 10+ expository essay examples, providing you with the knowledge you need to start writing. From understanding the fundamentals to dissecting real examples, we've got you covered. 

Let's get started on this journey!

• 1. What is Expository Essay Writing?
• 2. Expository Essay Examples 
• 3. How to Write an Expository Essay - Example

What is Expository Essay Writing?

An expository essay is a form of academic writing that aims to inform, explain, or describe a particular topic to the reader. 

The primary purpose of an expository essay is to provide a clear presentation of facts, ideas, or concepts, often without the writer's personal bias or opinion. The expository essay is a genre of essay that is similar to a descriptive essay .

There are several types of expository writing , including:

• Definition essay
• Classification essay
• Process analysis essay
• Cause and effect essay
• Problem solution essay  
• Compare and contrast essay  

Newspaper articles, journals, and essays that define and explain a particular topic demonstrate expository essay writing.

Read the examples and learn to write a good expository essay for your school or college assignment.

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Expository Essay Examples 

While writing an expository essay, you might face difficulties in formatting and logically connecting your information. Below we have presented some amazing examples to help you understand how to write and organize an expository essay.

Expository Essay Outline Examples

Whenever you write an expository essay, the first thing you should do is craft an outline. The expository essay outline gives shape to your essay and keeps you organized. 

Here are some good expository essay outline examples that you can follow to outline your essay.

Expository Essay Outline Example

Expository Essay Outline Template Sample

Expository Essay Format Example

While writing an essay, you need to follow a proper format to present your information in a logical sequence. 

The typical 5 paragraph essay consists of 1 introduction, 3 body, and 1 conclusion paragraph. 

Below we have given expository essay format examples in both APA and MLA format to help you understand the formatting. Check out: 

Expository Essay Examples APA Format

Expository Essay Examples MLA Format

Short Expository Essay Examples

As we have discussed above, expository essay writing requires you to describe and explain a particular subject in detail. Achieving this level of detail can be quite challenging when working with a limited word count. 

To illustrate how to effectively convey information within limited words, we have provided a short expository essay example.

Short Expository Essay Example

Expository Essay Examples for Middle School

Here are some informative expository essay examples for middle school students to help you grasp the basics of expository essay writing.

Expository Essay Example For Middle School

Expository Essay Example Grade 7

Expository Essay Examples 5th Grade

Expository Essay Examples 4th Grade

Expository Essay Examples for High School

Here are some helpful expository essay examples PDFs for high school students. Check out:

Expository Essay Examples For High School

Expository Essay Examples for College

Looking for a college-level expository essay example? Check out the pdf below:

Expository Essay Examples For College

Expository Essay Examples for University 

Here are some good sample expository essay pdf examples for university students. 

Expository Essay Example About Life

Expository Essay Examples About Covid 19

Informative Expository Essay Example

How to Write an Expository Essay - Example

While writing an expository essay, you need to follow a proper structure. So that you can easily present your information and evidence in a logical sequence.

Here is a step-by-step process of how to write an expository essay:

Step 1. Choose an Appropriate Topic

• Brainstorm different ideas to select a compelling expository essay topic. Check out our expository essay topics blog for inspiring ideas.
• Ensure it has the potential to turn into an informative essay by being able to explain and inform effectively.

Step 2. Craft an Engaging Introduction

• Begin with a captivating hook statement to grab the reader's attention.
• Provide a brief background on the chosen topic to clarify its relevance.
• Formulate an informative thesis statement that encapsulates the core idea of your essay.

Step 3. Develop the Body Paragraphs

• Start each body paragraph with a clear topic sentence , representing the main idea of that particular paragraph.
• Support the topic sentence with credible evidence, facts, or examples that bolster your thesis statement.
• Ensure a smooth transition between paragraphs for a logical flow of ideas.

Step 4. Conclude Effectively

• Start the essay conclusion paragraph by reasserting your thesis statement.
• Summarize the key points and main arguments presented in the essay.
• Encourage the reader with a call to action, prompting them to contemplate or engage further with the topic.

Step 5. Proofread and Edit 

• Proofread your essay for grammatical and spelling mistakes and check if the information is presented in a proper sequence. 
• Write multiple drafts and edit as needed to ensure your essay is free of errors.

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In conclusion, these expository essay examples offer a valuable resource for students. They serve as effective learning tools, providing insight into the art of expository writing. By studying these examples, students can improve their writing skills, and gain a deeper understanding of essay structure.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are 3 examples of expository.

The three main examples of expository are; 

• Scientific reports 
• Magazine articles 
• Academic essays 

What are the 4 characteristics of expository text?

The main characteristics of expository text are; 

• Informative 
• Clarity 
• Unbiased 
• Impersonal 
• Organization of the text 

What is the first important step in writing an expository essay?

To write an expository essay, you must first decide how to structure your work. An expository essay generally contains an introduction, followed by three body paragraphs and a conclusion. 

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How to Write Excellent Expository Essays

WHAT IS AN EXPOSITORY ESSAY?

An Expository essay ‘exposes’ information to the reader to describe or explain a particular topic logically and concisely.

The purpose of expository writing is to educate or inform the reader first and foremost.

Though the term is sometimes used to include persuasive writing , which exposes us to new ways of thinking, a true expository text does not allow the writer’s personal opinion to intrude into the text and should not be confused.

Expository Writing follows a structured format with an introduction, body paragraphs presenting information and examples, and a conclusion summarising key points and reinforcing the thesis. Common expository essays include process, comparison/contrast, cause and effect, and informative essays.

EXPOSITORY ESSAY STRUCTURE

TEXT ORGANIZATION Organize your thoughts before writing.

CLARITY Use clear and concise wording. There is no room for banter.

THESIS STATEMENT State position in direct terms.

TOPIC SENTENCE Open each paragraph with a topic sentence.

SUPPORTING DETAIL Support the topic sentence with further explanation and evidence.

LINK End each body paragraph by linking to the next.

EXPOSITORY ESSAY TYPES

PROCESS Tell your audience how to achieve something, such as how to bake a cake.

CAUSE & EFFECT Explore relationships between subjects, such as climate change and its impact.

PROBLEM & SOLUTION Explain how to solve a problem, such as improving physical fitness.

COMPARE & CONTRAST Compare and contrast two or more items, such as life in China life vs life in the United States or Australia.

DEFINITION Provides a detailed definition of a word or phrase, such as self-confidence.

CLASSIFICATION Organizes things into categories or groups, such as types of music.

STRUCTURE & FEATURES OF EXPOSITORY WRITING

While there are many types of expository essays, the basic underlying structure is the same. The Hamburger or 5-Paragraph Essay structure is an excellent scaffold for students to build their articles. Let’s explore the expository essay outline.

INTRODUCTION:

This is the top bun of the burger, and here the student introduces the exposition topic. This usually consists of a general statement on the subject, providing an essay overview. It may also preview each significant section, indicating what aspects of the subject will be covered in the text. These sections will likely relate to the headings and subheadings identified at the planning stage.

If the introduction is the top bun of the burger, then each body paragraph is a beef patty. Self-contained in some regards, each patty forms an integral part of the whole.

EXPOSITORY PARAGRAPHS

Each body paragraph deals with one idea or piece of information. More complex topics may be grouped under a common heading, and the number of paragraphs will depend on the complexity of the topic. For example, an expository text on wolves may include a series of paragraphs under headings such as habitat, breeding habits, what they eat, etc.

Each paragraph should open with a topic sentence indicating to the reader what the paragraph is about. The following sentences should further illuminate this main idea through discussion and/or explanation. Encourage students to use evidence and examples here, whether statistical or anecdotal. Remind students to keep things factual – this is not an editorial piece for a newspaper!

Expository writing is usually not the place for flowery flourishes of figurative imagery! Students should be encouraged to select a straightforward language that is easy for the reader to understand. After all, the aim here is to inform and explain, and this is best achieved with explicit language.

As we’ve seen, several variations of the expository essay exist, but the following are the most common features students must include.

The title should be functional. It should instantly inform the reader what they will learn about in the text. This is not the place for opaque poetry!

A table of contents in long essays will help the reader locate helpful information quickly. Usually, the page numbers found here will be linked to headings and subheadings to be found in the text.

HEADINGS / SUBHEADINGS:

These assist the reader in finding information by summarizing the content in their wording.

Usually listed alphabetically, the glossary defines unusual or topic-specific vocabulary and is sometimes accompanied by pictures, illustrations etc.

The index lets the reader identify where to find specific information in longer texts. An index is much more detailed than a table of contents.

VISUAL FORMS OF INFORMATION

Expository essays sometimes support the text with visuals, such as:

• Pictures / Illustrations / Photographs:

These can be used to present a central idea or concept within the text and are often accompanied by a caption explaining what the image shows. Photographs can offer a broad overview or a close-up of essential details.

Diagrams are a great way to convey complex information quickly. They should be labelled clearly to ensure the reader knows what they are looking at.

• Charts and Graphs:

These are extremely useful for showing data and statistics in an easy-to-read manner. They should be labelled clearly and correspond to the information in the nearby text.

Maps may be used to explain where something is or was located. 

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Types of expository essay

There are many different types of expository texts (e.g. encyclopaedias, travel guides, information reports , etc.), but there are also various expository essays, with the most common being.

• Process Essays
• Cause and Effect Essays
• Problem and Solution Essays
• Compare and Contrast Essays
• Definition Essays
• Classification Essays

We will examine each of these in greater detail in the remainder of this article, as they have slight nuances and differences that make them unique. The graphic below explains the general structure for all text types from the expository writing family.

THE PROCESS ESSAY

This how-to essay often takes the form of a set of instructions. Also known as a procedural text , the process essay has very specific features that guide the reader on how to do or make something.

To learn more about this type of writing, check out our information-packed article here .

Features of a process essay

Some of the main features of the process essay include:

• ‘How to’ title
• Numbered or bullet points
• Time connectives
• Imperatives (bossy words)
• List of resources

Example Expository Process Essay:

The cause and effect essay.

The purpose of a cause-and-effect essay is to explore the causal relationships between things. Essays like this often bring the focus back to a single cause. These essays frequently have a historical focus.

The text should focus on facts rather than assumptions as an expository essay. However, cause-and-effect essays sometimes explore hypothetical situations too.

There are two main ways to structure a cause-and-effect essay.

The Block Structure presents all the causes first. The writer then focuses on the effects of these causes in the second half of the essay.

The Chain Structure presents each cause and then immediately follows with the effects it created.

Example Expository Cause and Effect Essay:

The problem and solution essay.

In this type of essay, the writer first identifies a problem and then explores the topic from various angles to ultimately propose a solution. It is similar to the cause-and-effect essay.

While the problem and solution essay can use the block and chain structures as outlined above – substitute cause with problem and effect with a solution – it will also usually work through the following elements:

• Identifies a problem
• Contains a clear thesis statement
• Each paragraph has a topic sentence
• Supports with facts, examples, evidence
• The conclusion summarizes the main points

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Example Expository Problem and Solution Essay:

The compare and contrast essay.

In this type of essay, students evaluate the similarities and differences between two or more things, ideas, people, etc. Usually, the subjects will belong to the same category.

The compare-and-contrast expository essay can be organized in several different ways. Three of these are outlined below.

In the three structures outlined, it is assumed that two subjects are being compared and contrasted. Of course, the precise number of paragraphs required in the text will depend on the number of points the student wishes to make and the number of subjects being compared and contrasted.

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DEFINITION ESSAYS

This type of essay provides a detailed description and definition of a word or phrase. It can be a concrete term, such as car or glass, or a more abstract concept, such as love or fear .

A definition essay comprehensively explains a term’s purpose and meaning. It will frequently contain some or all of the following elements:

• A definition of the term
• An analysis of its meaning
• The etymology of the term
• A comparison to related terms
• Examples to illustrate the meaning
• A summary of the main points

Example Expository Definition Essay:

CLASSIFICATION ESSAYS

Like definition essays, a classification essay sorts or organizes things into various groups or categories and explains each group or category in detail.

Classification essays focus on:

• Sorting things into functional categories
• Ensuring each category follows a common organizing principle
• Provides examples that illustrate each category.

Example Expository Classification Essay:

One of the best ways to understand the different features of expository essays is to see them in action. The sample essay below is a definition essay but shares many features with other expository essays.

EXPOSITORY WRITING PROMPTS

Examples of Expository Essay Titles

 Expository essay prompts are usually pretty easy to spot.

 They typically contain keywords that ask the student to explain something, such as “define,” “outline,” “describe,” or, most directly of all, “explain.”

 This article will examine the purpose of an expository essay and its structure. It will also examine the primary language and stylistic features of this vital text type.

 After this, we’ll explore five distinct tips for helping your students get the most out of writing their expository essays.

Expository Essays vs Argumentative Essays

 Expository essays are often confused with their close cousin, the argumentative essay. Still, it’s easy to help students distinguish between the two by quickly examining their similarities and differences.

 In an expository essay, students will attempt to write about a thing or a concept neutrally and objectively, unlike an argumentative essay where the writer’s opinions permeate the text throughout. Simple as it sounds, this may take some doing for some students as it requires the writer to refine their personal voice almost out of existence!

 Luckily, choosing the correct viewpoint from which to write the essay can go a long way to helping students achieve the desired objectivity. Generally, students should write their expository essays from the third-person perspective.

Contrastingly, argumentative essays are subjective in nature and will usually be written from the first-person perspective as a result.

 In an expository essay, the text’s prime focus is the topic rather than the writer’s feelings on that topic. For the writer, disassociating their personal feelings on a topic is much easier when they’re a step removed from the narration by using the third-person POV rather than the first-person POV.

Expository Essay Tips

Follow these top tips from the experts to craft an amazing expository essay.

 Tip #1: Choose the Right Tool for the Job

Surprising as it may seem, not all expository essays are created equal.

 In fact, there are several different types of expository essays, and our students must learn to recognize each and choose the correct one for their specific needs when producing their own expository essays.

 To do this, students will need to know the 5 types of expository essays:

• The Cause and Effect Essay : This type of essay requires that the writer explain why something happened and what occurred due to that event and subsequent events. It explores the relationship between people, ideas, events, or things and other people, ideas, events, or things.
• The Compare and Contrast Essay: In a compare and contrast essay, the writer examines the similarities and differences between two subjects or ideas throughout the body of the piece and usually brings things together in an analysis at the end .
• The Descriptive Essay: This is a very straightforward expository essay with a detailed description or explanation of a topic. The topic may be an event, place, person, object, or experience. This essay’s direct style is balanced with the freedom of the writer can inject some of their creativity into the description.
• The Problem and Solution Essay : In this expository essay, the student will work to find valid solutions to a specific problem or problem.
• The Process Essay : Also called a how-to essay, this essay type is similar to instruction writing, except in essay form. It provides a step-by-step procedure breakdown to teach the reader how to do something.

 When choosing a specific topic to write about, students should consider several factors:

 ●      Do they know the topic well enough to explain the ins and outs of the subject to an unfamiliar audience?

 ●      Do they have enough interest in this topic to sustain thorough research and writing about it?

 ●      Is enough relevant information and credible sources available to fuel the student’s writing on this topic?

Tip # 2: Research the Topic Thoroughly

Regardless of which type of expository essay your students are working on, they must approach the research stage of the writing process with diligence and focus. The more thorough they are at the research stage, the smoother the remainder of the writing process will be.

A common problem for students while researching is that sometimes they don’t have a clear understanding of the objective of their research. They lack a clear focus on their efforts.

Research is not mindlessly scanning documents and scrawling occasional notes. As with any part of the writing process, it begins with determining clear objectives.

Often, students will start the research process with a broad focus, and as they continue researching, they will naturally narrow their focus as they learn more about the topic.

Take the time to help students understand that writing isn’t only about expressing what we think; it’s also about discovering what we think.

When researching, students should direct their efforts to the following:

• Gather Supporting Evidence : The research process is not only for uncovering the points to be made within the essay but also the evidence to support those points. The aim here is to provide an objective description or analysis of the topic; therefore, the student will need to gather relevant supporting evidence, such as facts and statistics, to bolster their writing. Usually, each paragraph will open with a topic sentence, and subsequent sentences in the paragraph will focus on providing a factual, statistical, and logical analysis of the paragraph’s main point.
• Cite Sources : It’s an essential academic skill to be able to cite sources accurately. There are several accepted methods of doing this, and you must choose a citation style appropriate to your student’s age, abilities, and context. However, whatever style you choose, students should get used to citing any sources they use in their essays, either in the form of embedded quotations, endnotes, or bibliography – or all three!
• Use Credible Sources: The Internet has profoundly impacted knowledge sharing as the Gutenberg Press did almost 600 years ago. It has provided unparalleled access to the sum total of human knowledge as never before, with each student having a dizzying number of sources available at their fingertips. However, we must ensure our students understand that not all sources are created equal. Encourage students to seek credible sources in their research and filter out the more dubious sources. Some questions students can ask themselves to help determine a source’s credibility include:

●      Have I searched thoroughly enough to find the most relevant sources for my topic?

●      Has this source been published recently? Is it still relevant?

●      Has the source been peer-reviewed? Have other sources confirmed this source?

●      What is the publication’s reputation?

●      Is the author an expert in their field?

●      Is the source fact-based or opinion-based?

Tip #3: Sketch an Outline

Every kid knows you can’t find the pirate treasure without a map, which is true of essay writing. Using their knowledge of the essay’s structure, students start whipping their research notes into shape by creating an outline for their essay.

The 5-paragraph essay or ‘Hamburger’ essay provides a perfect template for this.

Students start by mapping out an appealing introduction built around the main idea of their essay. Then, from their mound of research, they’ll extract their most vital ideas to assign to the various body paragraphs of their text.

Finally, they’ll sketch out their conclusion, summarize their essay’s main points, and, where appropriate, make their final statement on the topic.

Tip #4: Write a Draft

Title chosen? Check! Topic researched? Check! Outline sketched? Check!

Well, then, it’s time for the student to begin writing in earnest by completing the first draft of their essay.

They’ll already have a clear idea of the shape their essay will take from their research and outlining processes, but ensure your students allow themselves some leeway to adapt as the writing process throws up new ideas and problems.

That said, students will find it helpful to refer back to their thesis statement and outline to help ensure they stay on track as they work their way through the writing process towards their conclusions.

As students work through their drafts, encourage them to use transition words and phrases to help them move smoothly through the different sections of their essays.

Sometimes, students work directly from an outline as if on a checklist. This can sometimes be seen as the finished essay resembling Frankenstein. That is an incongruous series of disparate body parts crudely stitched together.

Learning to use transitions effectively will help students create an essay that is all of a whole, with all the joins and seams sanded and smoothed from view.

Tip #5: Edit with a Fresh Pair of Eyes

Once the draft is complete, students enter the final crucial editing stage.

But, not so hasty! Students must pencil in some time to let their drafts ‘rest’. If the editing process occurs immediately after the student finishes writing their draft, they’ll likely overlook much.

Editing is best done when students have time to gain a fresh perspective on their work. Ideally, this means leaving the essay overnight or over a few nights. However, practically, this isn’t always possible. Usually, though, it will be possible for students to put aside their writing for a few hours.

With the perspective that only time gives, when returning to their work, students can identify areas for improvement that they may have missed. Some important areas for students to look at in the editing process include:

• Bias : Students need to remember the purpose of this essay is to present a balanced and objective description of the topic. They need to ensure they haven’t let their own personal bias slip through during the writing process – an all too easy thing to do!
• Clarity : Clarity is as much a function of structure as language. Students must ensure their paragraphs are well organized and express their ideas clearly. Where necessary, some restructuring and rewriting may be required.
• Proofread: With stylistic and structural matters taken care of, it’s now time for the student to shift their focus onto matters of spelling , vocabulary choice, grammar, and punctuation. This final proofread represents the last run-through of the editing process. It’s the students’ final chance to catch mistakes and errors that may bias the assessor (aka You! ) against the effectiveness of the piece of writing. Where the text has been word-processed, the student can enlist inbuilt spelling and grammar checkers to help. Still, they should also take the time to go through each line word by word. Automatic checkers are a helpful tool, but they are a long way from infallible, and the final judgement on a text should employ the writer’s own judgement.

Expository essays are relatively straightforward pieces of writing. By following the guidelines mentioned above and practising them regularly, students can learn to produce well-written expository essays quickly and competently.

Explaining and describing events and processes objectively and clearly is a useful skill that students can add to their repertoire. Although it may seem challenging at first, with practice, it will become natural.

To write a good expository essay, students need a good understanding of its basic features and a firm grasp of the hamburger essay structure. As with any writing genre, prewriting is essential, particularly for expository writing.

Since expository writing is designed primarily to inform the reader, sound research and note-taking are essential for students to produce a well-written text. Developing these critical skills is an excellent opportunity for students through expository writing, which will be helpful to them as they continue their education.

Redrafting and editing are also crucial for producing a well-written expository essay. Students should double-check facts and statistics, and the language should be edited tightly for concision.

And, while grading their efforts, we might even learn a thing or two ourselves!

ARTICLES RELATED TO EXPOSITORY ESSAY WRITING

How to Start an Essay with Strong Hooks and Leads

How to write a perfect 5 Paragraph Essay

Top 5 Essay Writing Tips

Top Research strategies for Students

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Expository Essays

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The Modes of Discourse—Exposition, Description, Narration, Argumentation (EDNA)—are common paper assignments you may encounter in your writing classes. Although these genres have been criticized by some composition scholars, the Purdue OWL recognizes the wide spread use of these approaches and students’ need to understand and produce them.

What is an expository essay?

The expository essay is a genre of essay that requires the student to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner. This can be accomplished through comparison and contrast, definition, example, the analysis of cause and effect, etc.

Please note : This genre is commonly assigned as a tool for classroom evaluation and is often found in various exam formats.

The structure of the expository essay is held together by the following.

• A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.

It is essential that this thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth in the assignment. If the student does not master this portion of the essay, it will be quite difficult to compose an effective or persuasive essay.

• Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.

Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together. Without logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse.

• Body paragraphs that include evidential support.

Each paragraph should be limited to the exposition of one general idea. This will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. What is more, such conciseness creates an ease of readability for one’s audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph.

• Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal).

Often times, students are required to write expository essays with little or no preparation; therefore, such essays do not typically allow for a great deal of statistical or factual evidence.

• A bit of creativity!

Though creativity and artfulness are not always associated with essay writing, it is an art form nonetheless. Try not to get stuck on the formulaic nature of expository writing at the expense of writing something interesting. Remember, though you may not be crafting the next great novel, you are attempting to leave a lasting impression on the people evaluating your essay.

• A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.

It is at this point of the essay that students will inevitably begin to struggle. This is the portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize and come to a conclusion concerning the information presented in the body of the essay.

A complete argument

Perhaps it is helpful to think of an essay in terms of a conversation or debate with a classmate. If I were to discuss the cause of the Great Depression and its current effect on those who lived through the tumultuous time, there would be a beginning, middle, and end to the conversation. In fact, if I were to end the exposition in the middle of my second point, questions would arise concerning the current effects on those who lived through the Depression. Therefore, the expository essay must be complete, and logically so, leaving no doubt as to its intent or argument.

The five-paragraph Essay

A common method for writing an expository essay is the five-paragraph approach. This is, however, by no means the only formula for writing such essays. If it sounds straightforward, that is because it is; in fact, the method consists of:

• an introductory paragraph
• three evidentiary body paragraphs
• a conclusion

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Secondary Student's Guide: 5 Ways to Master Expository Essay Writing

Contributed by Jenna Wong, Head of Secondary English, United Square.

Even though students are introduced to the expository essay as early as in primary school, many secondary school students still find this essay type daunting. This article shares 5 ways to help secondary school students master expository essay writing. 

Why Students to Shy Away from Expository Essays

Unfamiliar with the format and hesitant about what content needs to be written, many students prefer to stick to the tried and true forms of narrative or descriptive essays. Ultimately, students are afraid that they may not score well for the expository essay. However, there are ways to overcome these hesitations. 

"How do I start my essay?" "How do i know what to write about?" "What should I include in my content paragraph?"

These are some of the questions that stump students who are just learning how to manage the expository essay. 

To answer these questions and more, here are 5 ways to help students see that there is a systematic, effective approach to planning and writing this essay type. In addition, we will explore some writing techniques students can adopt to improve their writing. 

1. Understanding the Structure of an Expository Essay

What Is an Exposition? 

The expository essay seeks to inform the reader about a particular subject or issue. One way to help students cope with this essay type is to help them build a firm understanding of the structure of an expository. 

Understanding the structure gives students a ‘template’ to adhere to, ensuring that there is a logical, coherent flow to the essay as they inform the reader about the particular subject or issue. 

An expository essay is comprised of 3 main parts:

An Introduction

The content body

A conclusion

What Is an Introduction? 

The introduction gives readers an overview of how the main topic or idea of the expository essay question will be addressed. This includes definitions or an analysis of the key terms given in the question. 

Such definitions help the reader understand the parameters within which the writer discusses main ideas.

These definitions help students if they begin to write out of point — they can refer back to the definitions they’ve set for themselves and continue writing appropriate content. 

Additionally, it will also include the thesis statement — a single sentence or several short sentences that respond(s) directly to the question, outlining the points that will be covered in the essay.

What Is the Main Content of an Expository Essay?

The content paragraphs form the main ‘body’ content of the essay. Each paragraph will elaborate on and explains one key point that responds to the essay question. 

Students are typically expected to write three content paragraphs for each expository essay. 

What Is the Conclusion? 

The concluding paragraph wraps up the entire essay and reminds readers about what was developed in the main content paragraphs.

Great essays also end off with a ‘wow’ factor that will set readers thinking about the topic that has been discussed.

Related Article: 3 Common Challenges That Lower Secondary Students Face

2. Identify the Requirements of the Question

An easy way to understand the requirements of the question is to analyse the key words of the question. 

Looking at the Directive Word

It is important to identify the directive word in the essay question, as it will confirm that the essay is indeed an expository essay question and not a descriptive nor an argumentative essay. 

This will ensure that students meet the question requirements of the expository essay.

Common directive words for expository essays include: “what”, “explain”, “identify”, and “outline”. Each word signals how students should approach the essay. 

Explaining Additional Keywords 

Apart from identifying the directive word of the question, it is important for students to identify and analyse the other keywords in the question. 

Students should be mindful of seemingly insignificant words that change the scope of the question. Such words include “you”, “some”, “majority” and “today”. These words have a great impact on the content.

For example, the word “you” requires the student to take on the use of strong personal voice and hence, the student may cite personal observations which are tied to facts in the content body. 

Meaning and Implications of Keywords 

Upon identifying these keywords, it is also important for students to consider the meaning and implications each word has. 

For example, the keyword “change” requires students to think about the concept of comparison — identifying change between two different time periods or situations and identifying the turning point. 

Furthermore, students need to think about whether this “change” has a positive or negative impact on the situation. 

3. Establish an Effective Essay Map

An essay map is a plan that will guide students in writing their essays. Specific to the expository essay, an essay map has three topic sentences that outline the three points of the essay. 

Moreover, students can also cite examples that they may use to support each point.

When crafting the essay map, it is important to ensure that each point answers every key word of the given essay question. 

Why Is an Essay Map Important?

It is important to have an essay map planned out before writing the essay as it will help students develop a logical piece of work that shows a depth of thought. 

Taking time to write out the essay map will ensure that students have a firm plan to constantly refer back to while writing the essay. The essay map is an extremely valuable tool to help students avoid writing off topic. 

Get Valuable Tips that Work

Download our full guide on “5 Ways To Master Expository Writing” where Jenna shares more about setting the right tone in the introduction and crafting a strong content paragraph.

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Lower secondary Writing Series 1 – E03: Expository writing

Have you found Tr Rachael previous lessons about  analysing your essay questions ,   how to write a good essay  useful? Here is a new lesson for you showcasing the Expository Writing technique.

Expository Writing (Discursive & Argumentative)

In this lesson 3, the learning objectives are:

1. Be familiar with the structure of an expository essay 2. Know what the essential elements are in an expository essay

Read the discursive essay below, then watch the video and write your annotations. You may also download the handout which highlights the elements.

DOWNLOAD THE HANDOUT 1 (PDF FILE)

DOWNLOAD THE HANDOUT 2 (PDF FILE)

Celebrities are terrible role models for young people. What are your views?

Introduction.

“I don’t want children cursing. I’m very strict with my nieces and my little brother. They have to listen to clean versions of music. Even my music.” This quote by American singer Nicki Minaj, also known as the Queen of Rap, might surprise many people because her music is infamous for profanities. Quotes such as these show us how even though celebrities are often blamed for being terrible role models for young people, many famous people in entertainment, sports and politics in fact strive to leave a positive impact. Some celebrities serve as great role models because they have admirable achievements that inspire young people to push themselves to succeed. Others use their fame to support social causes and motivate others to do good. However, there are some who promote unhealthy values by their words and actions, and are thus a negative influence. As such, I believe that celebrities are more of a positive influence for young people.

Body Paragraph (BP1) – AGAINST

To begin with, some celebrities are positive role models because their achievements may encourage young people to aspire for excellence. Outstanding athletes and musicians often set the standards for excellence in their field. With these role models, young people may feel motivated to follow in their footsteps in pursuit of personal achievement. The journey of Singaporean swimmer Joseph Schooling is one such example. When Schooling first met his hero world champion swimmer Michael Phelps in a competition, Schooling lost, but Phelps encouraged him to not give up. Eight years later, Schooling not only won Singapore’s first Olympic gold medal in swimming, but he did so by beating his role model, Michael Phelps. This example shows us how celebrities can be positive points of reference for young people, challenging them to achieve their dreams.

BP2 – Use a connector to suggest another point AGAINST

Moreover,  there are stars who use their fame to raise awareness of social causes and encourage others to take positive action . From causes ranging from mental health, gender equality to environmental sustainability, celebrities can  catalyse  public support for beneficial change. British royal Prince Harry regularly uses the media attention on him to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and promote his initiative, Heads Together. Similarly, a  spate  of recent suicide cases in the Korean popular music industry has led celebrities such as Kim Dong-wan of Shinhwa and Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation to speak out against toxic and abusive attitudes towards gender, body image and work culture in the music industry. When influence is used to support the wellbeing of others, celebrities can encourage their fans to also take action for good.

BP3 – Use a transitional statement to show another point of view.

While some celebrities may exert a positive influence on youth, not all of them do. There are  celebrities known glamourising unhealthy body image ideals . One example of this is American social media star Kim Kardashian, famous for her controversial scandals and cosmetic surgery procedures. Other stars have publicly  espoused  negative values such as racism. For instance, American professional boxer Floyd Mayweather has publicly shared racist slurs and made offensive comments about Asian culture with reference to Filipino world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao. As we can see, there are celebrities whose behaviour or values are damaging for young people to emulate.Even though some celebrities do serve as positive role models for young people, this is not always the case.

On the whole, celebrities can serve as positive role models for young people, though there are some whom youths have to be wary of emulating. Given that some celebrities are known for controversial or damaging behaviour, other celebrities have qualities and contributions that can inspire young people to do better. Even though Nicki Minaj’s music can be  divisive , she is also known for her public support of personal empowerment and self-confidence. Ultimately, celebrities will continue to be a part of our lives. As we become increasingly critical thinkers and  discerning  consumers of the media, we will have to make our own informed choices when deciding which role models are worthy of us to follow.

Expository writing assignment

If you would like more practice on narrative writing, download the assignment below.

DOWNLOAD THE ASSIGNMENT (PDF FILE)

Check the other articles from this section

• Narrative Writing: Tips and Tricks
• Tackling the Situational Essay: Using persuasive speech techniques
• How to write a good Situational Essay: Analyse, Amplify and Apply the appropriate tone
• Lower secondary Writing Series 1 – E02: Narrative writing (or how to write good essays)
• Lower secondary Writing Series 1 – E02: Narrative writing practice
• Lower secondary Writing Series 1 – E01: How to analyse essay questions
• Lower secondary Writing Series 1 – E04: Hybrid writing
• Taking the Leap from Primary to Secondary English with Confidence!
• Secondary English Paper 1 components: Diagnosing your strengths and weaknesses
• Lower secondary Writing Series 1 – E05: Avoiding writing pitfalls
• From primary to secondary English: What’s new and challenging?
• Tackling the Situational Essay (Part 3): Making Your Feature Article an Engaging Read
• Post-Exam Reality Check in 3Rs
• Sec 2: 5 tips to help you write great English expository essays
• 3 tips for tackling the summary Question
• Discursive essay: Writing a well-developed body Paragraph
• A Sneak Preview of the Secondary English Writing in the Sec 2 class
• Secondary 2 English – Editing through clue-finding
• Secondary 1 English: An introduction on how to create interesting characters

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Essays Every High School Student Should Read

December 4, 2016 in  Pedagogy

One of the most important goals of any English class should be to help students learn how to express themselves to an audience — how to tell their own stories, how to provide much-needed information, and how to convince others to see things from a different perspective.

Below are some essays students can read, not only to help them see how such writing is done in the real world, but also to learn more about the world around them.

[bctt tweet=”Need a #mentortext for student essays? Check out these exemplars for personal narrative, argumentative, and expository essay writing.”]

Note : This is a living list. I will continue adding to it as I find important essays and articles, and as my readers make suggestions.

If You Think Racism Doesn’t Exist by Jordan Womack | Lesson Plan

A 17-year-old Oklahoma author details incidents of discrimination he has faced within his own community. Brief, yet impactful, the author’s authenticity strikes readers at their core and naturally leads the audience to consider other perspectives.

Facebook hack ‘worse than when my house burned down’ says teacher by Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

When a hacker destroyed my Facebook account and I couldn’t find a way to reach out to Facebook, I decided to use my story, voice, and platform to shed light on a situation faced by people around the world. This can serve as a mentor text for students writing personal narratives on shared experiences in the context of current events.

Letter from a Vietnamese to an Iraqi Refugee by Andrew Lam

Vietnamese lecturer, journalist, and author Andrew Lam offers advice in this letter to a young Iraqi refugee he sees in a photograph on the Internet.

Allowing Teenage Boys to Love Their Friends by Jan Hoffman

Learn why early and lifelong friendships are as vital for boys as they are for girls and what happens when those friendships are fractured.

Chris Cecil: Plagiarism Gets You Fired by Leonard Pitts Jr

The Miami Herald columnist and 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary winner castigates a Georgia newspaper editor for plagiarizing his work. This column would go great with this followup article from The Boston Globe: Ga. Editor is Fired for Lifting Columns .

Class Dismissed by Walter Kirn

The author of Lost in the Meritocracy postulates that getting rid of the high school senior year might be good for students.

Complaint Box | Packaging by Dylan Quinn

A high school junior complains about the impossible-to-open packaging faced by consumers of everything “from action figures to zip drives.”

Drowning in Dishes, but Finding a Home  by Danial Adkison

In this 2014 essay, a teenager learns important lessons from his boss at Pizza Hut.

How to Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anzaldua

An American scholar of Chicana cultural theory discusses how she maintained her identity by refusing to submit to linguistic terrorism.

Humble Beast: Samaje Perine by John Rohde

The five-time Oklahoma Sportswriter of the Year features the University of Oklahoma’s running back.

In Praise of the F Word by Mary Sherry

An adult literacy program teacher argues that allowing students to fail will actually help them.

The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me by Sherman Alexie

A Native American novelist recounts his experience loving reading and finally writing in spite of a culture that expected him to fail in the “non-Indian world” in order to be accepted.

Lane’s Legacy: One Final Ride by Keith Ryan Cartwright

A heartbreaking look back at the hours before and the circumstances surrounding Lane Frost’s untimely death, followed by reflections on his rise to fame — before and after death.

Learning to Read by Malcolm X

The 1960s Civil Rights leader writes about how educating himself in prison opened his mind and lead him to become one of the leading spokesmen for black separatism.

Learning to Read and Write by Frederick Douglass

A former slave born in 1818 discusses how he learned to read in spite of laws against teaching slaves and how reading opened his eyes to his “wretched condition, without remedy.”

Learning From Animal Friendships by Erica Goode

Scientists consider studying the phenomenon of cross-species animal friendships like the ones you see on YouTube.

Losing Everything, Except What Really Matters by Dan Barry

After a 2011 tornado destroys a house, but spares the family, a reporter writes about what’s important.

The Marked Woman by David Grann

How an Osage Indian family in Oklahoma became the prime target of one of the most sinister crimes in American history.

Meet Mikey, 8: U.S. Has Him on Watch List by Lizette Alvarez

Read about what happens if you happen to share a name of a “suspicious person” on the U.S. No-Fly List.

Newly Homeless in Japan Re-Establish Order Amid Chaos by Michael Wines

After the tsunami that resulted in nuclear disaster in 2011, a reporter writes about the “quiet bravery in the face of tragedy” of the Japanese people.

No Ordinary Joe by Rick Reilly

Why in creation did American Football Conference’s 1981 best young running back Joe Delaney jump into that pit full of water that day, even though he couldn’t swim?

Politics and the English Language By George Orwell

Animal Farm and 1984 author, Orwell correlates the degradation of the English language into multi-syllabic drivel and the corruption of the American political process.

Serving in Florida by Barbara Ehrenreich

The Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America author tells about her experiences attempting to survive on income of low-paying jobs.

Starvation Under the Orange Trees by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck, who later authored the fictionalized account of Okies in California, The Grapes of Wrath, first wrote this essay documenting the starvation of migrant workers in California during the Great Depression.

To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This by Mandy Len Catron

Is falling in love really a random event, or can two people “love smarter?”

We’ll Go Forward from this Moment by Leonard Pitts

The 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary winner pens a column chronicling the toughness of the American family’s spirit in the face of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks. He wrote the column one day after the attacks.

What’s Wrong with Black English? by Rachel L. Jones

Jones, a student at Southern Illinois University in the 1980s, wrote this piece for Newsweek. In her essay, Jones adds her story and perspective to the debate over Black English.

Related topics: Mentor Texts , Teaching Writing

About the author 

Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

I am a secondary English Language Arts teacher, a University of Oklahoma student working on my doctorate in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum with an concentration in English Education and co-Editor of the Oklahoma English Journal. I am constantly seeking ways to amplify students' voices and choices.

A wonderful list of essays! I have neglected to teach essays as literature (only as student writing samples before we began work on an essay, after a novel). I’m looking forward to using these!

Thank you very much! I’d love to hear (or read) your feedback on the selections. Your input can help other teachers decide which essays to teach their students.

This list looks really great. Unfortunately, the first two links I chose were not working. One took me to a professors homepage and the other never opened.

Thank you for letting us know. I checked the “If you think racism doesn’t exist” went to the WordPress.com site where the author wrote his article and “Letter from a Vietnamese to an Iraqi Refugee” went to the Huffington Post article. Is it possible that your school web filter is blocking WordPress and Huffington Post?

Thank you for this. I am teaching a summer class that prepares 8th graders for high school essay writing. Trying to find a way to make it more creative and interesting, even interactive. I like the essays. If you have ideas about specific ways to use them, beyond reading and discussion, I would love to hear them.

You’re welcome! I think additional activities would depend on who your students are, their interests, and which essay(s) you plan to use. Perhaps if you join our RTE Facebook group and tell us about your kids and the essay you want to use, we can devise some activities to help them engage. Check us out here .

Comments are closed.

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Expository Essays Made Easy: 5 Tips to Writing Better

• July 27, 2021
• Posted by: Eliana
• Category: Study Tips & Advice Educational Guides

Generally, expositions or expository essays are non-fiction pieces of writing with the purpose of informing the audience about a certain topic or issue. Thus, it is built on facts and a logical presentation of perspectives, rather than imagination and storylines.

The question is, how exactly do you write a good expository essay? How can you make your essay score?

As expository writing is a crucial part of O Level English and the A Level General Paper, we think the advice below will definitely be helpful to those in secondary school and JC!

1. Analyse the question

Before you proceed to begin your essay, think about what the question is really asking. Going out of point is one of the most costly mistakes of expository writing – and it happens more commonly than you think!

Mark out the keywords so that you know what topics and concepts you must touch upon in your essay. It will also be useful to think about how you will define these in your writing, as this determines the scope of your points.

For example:

Failure is not the opposite of success. Do you agree?

Main keywords: failure, success, opposite

As ‘failure’ and ‘success’ are quite abstract terms, it is important to define them in the introductory paragraph of your essay. For example, you can consider ‘success’ in terms of material wealth, happiness and satisfaction, or – in more specific circumstances – academic achievement, or achieving proficiency in a skill. It will be messy if you try to cover all these senses of the word ‘success’ in one essay. So, it is best to define your scope and your key terms early on.

Another important word to notice is ‘opposite’. What do we really mean when we say X is the opposite of Y? Your entire essay will be centred around this statement, so you have to make sure you are doubly sure about what you mean.

Finally, have a look at the phrasing of the question. Here, ‘Do you agree?’ means that your essay must have a stance on whether you agree or not. To be safe, it is good practice to directly answer the question in your thesis statement, e.g. ‘I agree that…’

Other common question types:

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of X? (Ensure you describe both advantages and disadvantages. The purpose is to describe, not evaluate.)
• What are the benefits of X? (Focus on describing the benefits.)
• What are your views on X? (You should describe various perspectives to show that your views are balanced.)

2. Plan your essay

“No one plans to fail, but many fail to plan.” Cliché, but true. Many teachers and secondary school English tutors have to constantly nag at their students before they remember to do this.

Take at least 5 minutes to plan your essay before you begin writing. During this time, you should structure your essay, listing out the points and examples you want to mention in each paragraph. Of course, all your points should be tied together by your thesis statement, which sets the direction of your entire essay.

Typically, the structure of an expository essay starts with the introduction, followed by the body paragraphs, and finally the conclusion.

3. Have a compelling introduction

A good start is half the battle won! The introduction sets the tone for the essay, including the topic, scope, and thesis statement. It makes a good impression when you manage to write a compelling introduction that really draws in your reader (in most cases, your teacher or the examiner).

What, then, are some good ways to begin your essay?

Here are some ideas you can try when you are writing your next few expositions:

• Use a famous quote: Make sure it is relevant to the topic, and preferably, by someone truly influential!
• Mention a key statistic: Present important facts to draw attention to the scale of the issue. Remember to cite your information accurately, including the year and source of the statistic.
• Personal anecdote: This may be suitable for certain topics or mixed genre topics which ask you to draw from your personal experience.

This few ideas are by no means exhaustive. Take the effort to explore and experiment with different techniques to see which is more effective for you and for different topics.

4. Signpost

Unlike a narrative essay, where the flow of events can drive the essay quite naturally, expository essays can feel disjointed and static when not written well. That’s why it is especially crucial to remind yourself to incorporate signposting into your expository essay.

Signposting are words and phrases that direct the flow of your essay. This helps readers better understand the line of reasoning you are presenting to them. Only when your reader can understand can they begin to be convinced of what you are saying!

Below are some useful examples to use in each part of your essay:

5. Convince your reader

Not all expository essays are argumentative in nature, meaning that not all require you to have a stance (e.g. agree VS disagree, true VS false). However, you still want to be able to convince your reader that the information you are presenting to them is valid and factual.

The best ways to do so is by presenting strong pieces of evidence. This can come in the form of anecdotes, research findings, and news reports. Always think that your reader will ask you ‘Why should I believe you? How would I know this is true?’ and seek to answer these with authoritative sources of information.

As you would expect, this requires you to be well-read and well-informed about a vast scope of topics, from current affairs to history, politics and society, and even arts and philosophy. Unfortunately, this is not something you can acquire overnight, so get started reading now!

Even after committing the structure and these tips to memory, mastering expository writing still requires practice! Another huge challenge is building up your common knowledge to have enough examples and evidence to present in your essay.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and you don’t know how to start improving, it’s best to have a trusted tutor you can look to for guidance. The best secondary school or even JC GP tuition teacher will help you identify areas for improvement and provide specific advice and practice suggestions to help you get better at exposition writing.

Right here at Future Academy, our experienced English tutors will do all that for you and more! From regular progress tracking to exclusive worksheets and practice questions, we are right here to guide you along towards mastery of essay-writing and other aspects of the English or GP syllabus. IP students, don’t feel left out – we also have English tuition for IP students , including language arts and literature subjects!

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Research Basics for Junior and Senior High School Students: Getting Started - Essay Type & Topic

• Getting Started - Essay Type & Topic
• Find & Evaluate Sources
• Write & Edit Your Paper
• Presenting your research

Types of Essays

Narrat ive Essays: Telling a Story  In a  narrative essay , the writer tells a story about a real-life experience. When writing a narrative essay, writers should try to involve the reader by making the story as vivid as possible.

Descriptive Essays: Painting a Picture  A  descriptive essay  paints a picture with words. A writer might describe a person, p lace, object, or even memory of special significance. The descriptive essay strives to communicate a deeper meaning through the description. 

Expository Essays: Just the Facts  The  expository essay  is an informative piece of writing that presents a balanced analysis of a topic. In an expository essay, the writer explains or defines a topic, using facts, statistics, and examples. 

Persuasive Essays: Convince Me  While like an expository essay in its presentation of facts, the goal of the  persuasive essay  is to convince the reader to accept the writer’s point of view or recommendation. The writer must build a case using facts and logic, as well as examples, expert opinion, and sound reasoning. 

Source: Time4Writing.com,  Types of Essays: End the Confusion .   https://www.time4writing.com/writing-resources/types-of-essays/  

Check it out!

The Research Process

Chosing your topic is research

Step One: Choose a topic 

1) Choose a topic of interest as you will be spending a lot of time with it

2) Test your topic against the research: is the topic to broad (overwhelming information) or to narrow (not enough information)

3) Tweek your topic (broaden or narrow as needed)

Before choosing a topic, watch - Picking your topic is research NCSU Libraries 

Slides from 7th-12th Grade Research Skills and Writing Workshop

• Next: Find & Evaluate Sources >>
• Last Updated: Feb 20, 2024 2:23 PM
• URL: https://lpl.libguides.com/researchbasics

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How To Write An Excellent Expository Essay

The huge difference between primary and secondary school English can be said to lie in paper 1, where in primary school, it is known as continuous writing, where students are required to write a composition, which is actually narrative, as compared to now in secondary school, students are required to write an essay. So we need to know how to write an excellent expository essay.

Here comes the problem, there are so many types of essay – Narrative, Descriptive, Expository, Argumentative and so on. Most students tend to fall back on the knowledge they already have and choose to write a narrative essay.

However, this article will try to convince you that an expository essay is actually easy to write, as long as you are equipped with the right skills and knowledge.

Table of Contents

Of course, the most important thing would be how to start writing the expository essay. Firstly, it is crucial that you are aware of the general structure of the essay. Understanding the structure serves as a ‘template’ for students to adhere to, contributing to a logical, coherent flow. There are generally 5 paragraphs in an expository essay:

Introduction    

The introduction usually consists of a hook to capture the reader’s attention and an overview of the main topic and the 3 main points you are going to discuss in the body of this essay (thesis statement).

Three body paragraphs

Each body paragraph will expand and elaborate on one key point that directly responds to the essay question. 

The conclusion usually consists of a short summary of the 3 main points again and ends off with something deeper about the essay topic for the reader to ponder about.

Expository essays require you to carefully examine a topic, collect and organize your thoughts, and present them in a clear and concise way. This can be a challenge, but it is well worth the effort. By learning how to write excellent expository essays, you will be able to communicate your ideas effectively and persuasively. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Question analysis and planning

When you receive the question paper, analyse the question carefully and highlight the keywords. For example, if the question is “Who is the person you admire the most and why?”, the keywords will be “person” and “admire the most”. You will need to specify who the person is and the 3 reasons why you admire him/her. The person can be your mother, your father or even your teacher.

Do spend around five to ten minutes to brainstorm, plan and organise your essay. Time spent for essay planning is not time wasted at all! In fact, it helps to ensure a smooth flow of ideas and helps to prevent you getting stuck in the middle of writing and have no idea how to continue.

Planning will help ensure that your essay is well-organized and flows smoothly. There are a few things to keep in mind when planning:

• Your goal is to explain something to your reader. Make sure that you are clear about what you want to explain, and that your explanation is easy to follow.
• Use evidence to support your explanation. This could include examples, data, or quotes from experts.
• Be sure to structure your essay in a way that makes sense. An introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion will help ensure that your essay is well-organized and easy to follow. It is recommended to follow the structure mentioned at the beginning.

PEEL format for body paragraphs

For the 3 body paragraphs, students can try to adopt the PEEL format (Point, Explanation, Evidence, Link). This would allow a neater and more coherent presentation of ideas in the body paragraphs.

Point: Make a point about the topic in each paragraph. For example, if the question is “Who is the person you admire the most and why?”, your points might be “The person I admire the most is my mother because she is responsible and is able to balance both her household and work commitments well.”

Explanation: Explain why you admire this person and her qualities. This is where you will need to provide evidence to support your claims.

Evidence: Use examples, data, or quotes from experts to support your explanation. In this case, you can probably use anecdotes – real-life experiences to support your reason.

Link: Link your point back to the question. For example, if the question is “Who is the person you admire the most and why?”, you might say something like “I admire my mother because she is very responsible and never fails to perform up to her own standards.” Basically, it is reinforcing the point at the start of the paragraph.

Reread and double check

After you’ve finished writing your expository essay, it is important to read it again a few times to ensure that all your grammar and punctuation are accurate, and there are no spelling mistakes. For homework or class assignments, you might also want to get someone else to read it for you, to see if they can understand everything you’ve written. Once you’re sure that your essay is error-free and flows well, you’re ready to submit it!

Expository essays are a common assignment in secondary schools. By following these simple tips, you can be sure to write an impressive expository essay that will stand out from the rest. So don’t be discouraged – with a little hard work and practice, you’ll be getting the highest marks in no time!

At Sophia Education, we place tremendous emphasis on building a strong foundation in language and literacy skills from a young age. We offer a range of courses and tuition services to help students improve their language skills and writing techniques, from primary school all the way through to JC.

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Expository Essay Writing

Expository Essay Examples

Interesting Expository Essay Examples For Your Help

Published on: Jan 19, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 19, 2023

On This Page On This Page

High school and college students are mostly assigned to write expository essays. This type of essay is written to explain something to the readers.

If you are assigned to write an expository essay, know what to do and what to avoid for an A+ paper.

You can also refer to the following great expository essay examples to better understand the basics.

Expository Essay Definition and Examples

An expository essay is a genre of writing that explores several aspects of a particular topic to provide information.

For a perfect  expository essay , the topic should be discussed in an objective manner. The writer should not try to convince the reader about any side of the issue.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job

The following are some other ways of writing expository essays.

• Descriptive essays
• Cause and effect essays
• Problem solution essays
• Compare and contrast essays
• Process essays

The structure of an expository essay will vary according to the scope of the assignment and the nature of your topic.

Refer to the following section and find interesting expository essay examples for students of all academic levels. These examples will help you understand the basic writing process for a great expository essay.

Expository Essay Examples for Different Grades

No matter if you are in grade 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th, the following examples will help you understand the expository writing style.

4th Grade Expository Essay Examples

5th Grade Expository Essay Examples

6th Grade Expository Essay Examples

7th Grade Expository Essay Examples

8th Grade Expository Essay Examples

9th Grade Expository Essay Examples

Expository Essay Examples for Different Academic Levels

Expository essays explain and evaluate an idea and provide an argument in a clear and concise manner. Similar to other types of essays, expository essays also consist of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Usually, the body section contains three paragraphs but it can be increased according to the essay requirements and topic.

For a perfect expository essay, understand its purpose and follow the required steps for this type of academic writing.

Expository Essay Examples Middle School

Expository Essay Examples for High School

Expository Essay Examples College

Expository Essay Examples University

5 Paragraph Expository Essay Examples

There are many ways to write an expository essay but the most common approach is the 5-paragraph structure.

Here is how a 5-paragraph expository essay should be written.

Have a look at them in detail now.

Introduction -  Here present a brief description of your essay. It should end with a strong thesis statement.

3 Body Paragraphs -  Expand the idea in the body paragraphs and present evidential information. Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence followed by relevant details and examples. Make sure all the ideas discussed in the body paragraph should correlate to one another. Information provided through topic sentences and paragraphs of an essay is the main essence of the topic under discussion.

Conclusion -  Here summarize the whole point in a strong and memorable way.

Informative Expository Essay Examples

Expository Essay Examples on Bullying

Expository Essay Structure Examples

As we know, it is not easy to write an effective expository essay without the right disposition and enthusiasm.

This type of essay examines and evaluates a topic in great detail. The main purpose of expository writing is to provide all the details about an idea in a definite and concise manner.

An expository essay does not usually have in-depth research as compared to other academic essays. It follows a 5-paragraph structure approach which includes an introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Expository Essay Introduction Paragraph Examples

Expository Essay Conclusion Examples

Hopefully, now you know what a perfect expository essay looks like. All the above examples are for assistance purposes only. You can also read our  free essays  if you are looking for more essay examples to improve your writing skills.

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Expository Essay Writing Help

Writing a perfect expository essay is never an easy task. It takes time, attention, and skills to handle such an important writing task.

With the right guidelines and some examples in hand, you will be able to handle this task easily. After this blog, you can easily write your essay in a great way.

But if you still think that you can not cope up with this task on your own, better get professional help.

A professional  essay writer  at  FreeEssayWriter.net  can help you create a top-notch expository essay.

Contact us and get the best expository essay writing help from experts.

Leanne R. (Law, Education)

Leanne is one of the most experienced writers on our platform and holds a Ph.D. degree from Cambridge. She has worked as a journalist, an editor, and a content creator for newspapers, magazines, and websites around the world. Leanne’s research and writing skills are unsurpassed making her one of the best-reviewed writers on our platform.

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80 Intriguing Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for Kids and Teens

Android vs. iPhone? Capitalism vs. communism? Hot dog vs. taco?

In compare and contrast essays , writers show the similarities and differences between two things. They combine descriptive writing with analysis, making connections and showing dissimilarities. Remind students that in this type of writing, they’re not necessarily trying to sway the reader to one opinion or another—they’re just presenting and analyzing facts. These compare and contrast essay topics will give them plenty of practice.

• School and Life Essay Topics
• Entertainment Essay Topics
• History and Politics Essay Topics
• Just for Fun Essay Topics

School and Life Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

• Public and private schools
• Online school and in-person school
• Any two schools or colleges
• Going to college vs. starting work full-time

• Working your way through college as you go or taking out student loans
• Parents and grandparents
• Elementary school and high school
• Learning to read vs. learning to write
• The importance of any two school subjects
• Wearing glasses vs. having braces
• You and your best friend
• Friendship vs. romantic love

• Group work and individual work
• Only child vs. having siblings
• Nature vs. nurture
• Anxiety and depression
• Old friends and new friends
• Your teacher vs. your parent/guardian
• Car ownership and public transportation

• Learning to ride a bike vs. learning to drive a car

Entertainment Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

• iPhone vs. Android
• Instagram vs. Twitter (or choose any other two social media platforms)
• Xbox vs. PlayStation

• Any two sports, like American football vs. soccer
• Cooking at home and dining out
• A movie based on a book and the book it was based on
• Reading and watching TV
• Opera music and pop music (or any two music genres)
• Vegetarian and vegan

• Giving and receiving gifts
• Going to a play vs. going to a movie
• Playing a video game and watching a movie
• Horse racing vs. NASCAR
• Laptop vs. tablet
• Sprint vs. marathon
• Poetry and rap music
• Ping-Pong vs. tennis
• DC vs. Marvel
• Netflix and YouTube
• Shopping online and shopping in person

History and Politics Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

• Capitalism vs. communism
• Socialism vs. communism
• Monarchy/dictatorship and democracy
• Two political candidates in a current race

• Spanish flu pandemic vs. COVID-19 pandemic
• World War I and World War II
• American pioneers vs. first space explorers
• Gen X vs. Gen Z
• Abraham Lincoln vs. Barack Obama (or any other two presidents)
• Any two U.S. states

• Any two historic eras
• Queen Elizabeth I vs. Queen Elizabeth II
• Republicans and Democrats
• Hitler and Stalin
• The first airplane flight vs. the first manned spaceflight
• American president vs. U.K. prime minister

• Fox News vs. CNN
• Legislative branch and executive branch and/or judicial branch
• Equality and equity
• Elected politicians vs. lobbyists

Just for Fun Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

• Dogs vs. cats as pets

• Paper books or e-books
• Hot dogs vs. tacos
• Summer and winter
• Fall and spring
• Big Mac vs. Whopper
• Coke vs. Pepsi
• Chocolate shake vs. hot chocolate
• Any two superheroes or villains
• Mondays and Fridays
• Mornings vs. evenings

• First day of school vs. last day of school
• Christmas vs. birthdays
• Hurricane vs. tornado
• Birthday as a kid and birthday as an adult
• Going barefoot vs. wearing shoes
• Appetizers and desserts

• Phone calls and texting
• Pants vs. skirts
• Electric cars vs. gas-powered cars

What are some of your favorite compare and contrast essay topics? Come share your prompts on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out the big list of essay topics for high school (100+ ideas).

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34 Compelling Compare and Contrast Essay Examples

Topics cover education, technology, pop culture, sports, animals, and more. Continue Reading

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Expository essay prompts for high school | Homeschool essay topics

by Kim Kautzer | May 3, 2021 | High school , Writing & Journal Prompts

Expository writing is a kind of writing that’s used to inform. It’s the type of writing students will use most often, both in school and in the working world. 

This set of expository essay prompts for high school students uses engaging topics to help teens practice their informative writing skills. Invite your homeschoolers to write about high-stress occupations, the mark of a true leader, or the influence of a personal object.

Firefighters, airline pilots, and newspaper reporters work in some of the highest-stress jobs . Logging, ranching, and roofing are among the 10 most dangerous occupations . And not surprisingly, athletes who have chosen careers in in extreme sports really live on the edge!

✏️ Think about an occupation that is considered difficult, demanding, or dangerous. Write an essay explaining why you think this career is one of the most stressful or physically challenging, supporting your position with logic and examples.

2. True Leadership

“ Leadership is the art of serving others by equipping them with training, tools and people as well as your time, energy and emotional intelligence so that they can realize their full potential, both personally and professionally. ” – Daphne Mallory, family business expert, The Daphne Mallory Company

“ Leadership is about three things: To listen, to inspire, and to empower. ” – Larry Garfield, president, Garfield Group

“ A leader is someone who has the clarity to know the right things to do, the confidence to know when she’s wrong and the courage to do the right things even when they’re hard .” – Darcy Eikenberg, founder, RedCapeRevolution.com

✏️ Write an essay that describes true leadership. Choosing one of the above quotes as your thesis statement , support each claim or main point with facts, examples, and logic.

3. It’s Personal

Personal objects can be meaningful for any number of reasons. Think about one object in your home that has influenced you in an important way. You can write about something you use or interact with on a regular basis (a journal, a photo, your cell phone, a pair of running shoes) or something you don’t use or handle much at all (a certain book, your dad’s fishing rod, a letter from your grandfather).

✏️ Write an essay explaining how this item has affected, inspired, or transformed you.

Need extra help getting started teaching 5-paragraph essays and persuasive writing in your homeschool? WriteShop II  offers a solid introduction to opinion writing, definition essays, compare and contrast essays, and timed essays.

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The narration in my narrative work needs to be smooth and appealing to the readers while writing my essay. Our writers enhance the elements in the writing as per the demand of such a narrative piece that interests the readers and urges them to read along with the entire writing.

Can you write essays for free?

Sometimes our managers receive ambiguous questions from the site. At first, we did not know how to correctly respond to such requests, but we are progressing every day, so we have improved our support service. Our consultants will competently answer strange suggestions and recommend a different way to solve the problem.

The question of whether we can write a text for the user for free no longer surprises anyone from the team. For those who still do not know the answer, read the description of the online platform in more detail.

We love our job very much and are ready to write essays even for free. We want to help people and make their lives better, but if the team does not receive money, then their life will become very bad. Each work must be paid and specialists from the team also want to receive remuneration for their work. For our clients, we have created the most affordable prices so that a student can afford this service. But we cannot be left completely without a salary, because every author has needs for food, housing and recreation.

We hope that you will understand us and agree to such working conditions, and if not, then there are other agencies on the Internet that you can ask for such an option.