What Is Expository Writing

Expository writing is used to convey factual information (as opposed to creative writing, such as fiction). It is the language of learning and understanding the world around us. If youve ever read an encyclopedia  entry, a how-to article on a website, or a chapter in a textbook, then youve encountered examples of  expository writing. Key Takeaways: Expository Writing Just the facts, Mam: Expository writing is informational, not creative writing.Anytime you write to describe or explain, you use expository writing.Use a logical flow when planning an expository essay, report, or article: introduction, body text, and conclusion.Its often easier to write the body of your article first, before composing the introduction or conclusion. Expository writing is everywhere in everyday life, not just academic settings, as its present anytime theres information to be conveyed. It can take form in an academic paper, an article for a newspaper, a report for a business, or even book-length nonfiction. It explains, informs, and describes. Types of Expository Writing In  composition studies, expository writing (also called exposition) is one of the four traditional  modes of discourse. It may include elements of  narration,  description, and  argumentation. Unlike creative or  persuasive writing, which can appeal to emotions and use anecdotes, expository  writings primary  purpose  is to deliver information about an issue, subject, method, or idea using facts. Exposition may take one of several forms: Descriptive/definition:  In this style of writing, topics are defined by characteristics, traits, and examples. An encyclopedia entry is a kind of descriptive essay.  Process/sequential:  This essay outlines a series of steps needed in order to complete a task or produce something. A recipe at the end of an article in a food magazine is one example.Comparative/contrast:  This kind of exposition is used to demonstrate how two or more subjects are the same and different. An article that explains the difference between owning and renting a home and the benefits and drawbacks of each is one such an example.Cause/effect:  This kind of essay describes how one step leads to a result. An example is a personal blog chronicling a workout regimen and documenting the results over time.Problem/solution: This type of essay presents a problem and possible solutions, backed by data and facts, not just opinion.Classification: A classification essay breaks down a broad topic into categories or groupings. Tips for Expository Writing As you write, keep in mind some of these tips for creating an effective expository essay: Start where you know the information best. You dont have to write your introduction first. In fact, it might be easier to wait until the end for that. If you dont like the look of a blank page, move over the slugs from your outline for the main body paragraphs and write the topic sentences for each. Then start putting in your information according to each paragraphs topic. Be clear and concise.  Readers have a limited attention span. Make your case succinctly in language that the average reader can understand.   Stick to the facts.  Although an exposition can be persuasive, it should not be based on opinion only. Support your case with facts, data, and reputable sources that can be documented and verified. Consider voice and tone.  How you address the reader depends on the kind of essay youre writing. An essay written in the first person is fine for a personal travel essay but is inappropriate if youre a business reporter describing a patent lawsuit. Think about your audience before you begin writing. Planning Your Essay Brainstorm: Jot down ideas on a blank piece of paper. Connect them with arrows and lines, or just make lists. Rigor doesnt matter at this stage. Bad ideas dont matter at this stage. Just write down ideas, and the engine in your head will lead you to a good one.When youve got that idea, then repeat the brainstorming exercise with ideas that you want to pursue on that topic and information you could put in. From this list, youll start to see a path emerge for your research or narrative to follow.Compose your thesis: When your ideas coalesce into a sentence in which you can summarize the topic youre writing about, youre ready to compose your thesis sentence. Write down in one sentence the main idea that youll explore in your paper.Examine your thesis: Is it clear? Does it contain opinion? If so, revise that out. For this type of essay, you stick to the facts and evidence. This isnt an editorial. Is the thesis scope manageable? You dont want your topic too narrow or too broad to be cover ed in the amount of space you have for your paper. If its not a manageable topic, refine it. Dont be dismayed if you have to come back and tweak it if your research finds that your initial idea was off-kilter. Its all just part of the process of focusing the material.Outline: It may seem inconsequential, but making even a quick outline can save you time by organizing your areas of pursuit and narrowing them down. When you see your topics in an organized list, you may be able to discard off-topic threads before you research them—or as youre researching them and you find they just dont work.Research: Find your data and sources to back up the areas you want to pursue to support your thesis statement. Look for sources written by experts, including organizations, and watch for bias. Possible sources include statistics, definitions, charts and graphs, and expert quotes and anecdotes. Compile descriptive details and comparisons to make your topic clear to your reader, when applicabl e. What Is an Expository Essay? An expository essay has three basic parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. Each is crucial to writing a clear article or effective argument. The introduction: The first paragraph is where youll lay the foundation for your essay and give the reader an overview of your thesis. Use your opening sentence to get the readers attention, and then follow up with a few sentences that give your reader some context for the information youre about to cover. The body:  At a minimum, include three to five paragraphs in the body of your expository essay. The body could be considerably longer, depending on your topic and audience. Each paragraph begins with a topic sentence where you state your case or objective. Each topic sentence supports your overall thesis statement. Then, each paragraph includes several sentences that expand on the information and/or support the topic sentence. Finally, a concluding sentence offers a transition to the following paragraph in the essay. The conclusion:  The final section of your expository essay should give the reader a concise overview of your thesis. The intent is not merely to summarize  your argument but to use it as a means of proposing further action, offering a solution, or posing new questions to explore.  Dont cover new material related to your thesis, though. This is where you wrap it all up. Expository Examples An expository article or report about a lake, for example, could discuss its ecosystem: the plants and animals that depend on it along with its climate. It could describe physical details about its size, depth, amount of rainfall each year, and the number of tourists it receives annually. Information on when it was formed, its best fishing spots, or its water quality could be included, depending on the audience for the piece. An expository piece could be in third person or second person. Second-person examples could include, for example, how to test lake water for pollutants or how to kill invasive species. Expository writing is useful and informative. In contrast, someone writing a creative nonfiction article about a lake might relate the place to a defining moment in his or her life, penning the piece in first person. It could be filled with emotion, opinion, sensory details, and even include dialogue and flashbacks. Its a much more evocative, personal type of writing than an expository piece, even though theyre both nonfiction styles.