Expository Essay Characteristics

Study Notes

An expository essay is designed to inform or educate readers with facts and evidence to support a topic or thesis argument.
The primary goal is to present information and support ideas with evidence.
A neutral approach is key. A neutral journalist presents all information and evidence without taking a side.
Expository writing avoids personal opinions to sway the reader. It focuses on presenting factual information without influencing the reader's opinion.
A structured approach is important; present the topic in a structured way, using evidence to support points.
Informational writing is a straightforward relay of information, while expository writing uses evidence and facts to support a topic.
A neutral journalist presenting multiple points of view without taking a side is a good way to think about expository writing.
Expository writing is best when the writer assumes the reader has no prior knowledge of the topic.
A five-paragraph essay (introduction, three body paragraphs, and conclusion) is a common structure.
Choosing a topic is the first step in writing an expository paper.
The thesis statement summarizes the main topic or theme of the paper.

Descriptive essay: Explains a topic by describing its characteristics, traits, or sensory information.
Process writing: Lists steps to guide the reader through a specific task.
Comparative and contrast writing: Compares and contrasts two topics while maintaining an unbiased perspective.
Cause and effect writing: Examines the relationship between two subjects by describing the cause and effect of a particular situation.
Problem and solution writing: Discusses an issue and suggests potential solutions.