Types of Essays and Expository Essay Structure

What is the main focus of expository essays?

In expository writing, what type of pronouns are typically avoided?

How many paragraphs typically make up a traditional expository essay?

What is the recommended structure for compare and contrast expository essays?

How are cause and effect expository essays typically structured?

There are four main types of essays: expository, persuasive, descriptive, and narrative, with expository essays focusing on teaching and explaining information objectively.
Expository passages are written in the third person, avoiding pronouns like "I" or "you," and are structured chronologically to present information clearly and quickly.
A typical expository essay consists of five paragraphs: an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion, with each body paragraph relating back to the main ideas introduced in the introduction.
In compare and contrast expository essays, equal numbers of paragraphs are usually dedicated to each topic being compared, with a recommended structure of explaining each topic individually before discussing their relation.
For cause and effect expository essays, a similar approach can be taken with one paragraph introducing the topic, the second discussing the cause, and the third explaining the effect, with the inclusion of factual evidence and quotations to support claims.

Learn about the four main types of essays: expository, persuasive, descriptive, and narrative, with a focus on expository essays that teach and explain information objectively. Explore the typical structure of an expository essay, consisting of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.