Everything You Need to Know to Write an Expository Essay

Expository essays are must-items throughout higher levels of study. These essays express facts in a linear objective manner while maintaining a neutral point of view. Expository essays range from process essays and compare-and-contrast essays to problem and solution assignments. 

It is thus essential to master the best tips for writing these essays to manage your assignments with ease. This expository writing guide will tackle the structure of an expository essay and offer some tips to guide you in writing your paper

How long is an expository essay?

The length of an expository essay may vary depending on your tutor’s instructions. If the length has not been specified, settle for the 5-paragraph expository essay structure. Typically, this structure ranges between 700-900 words. 

How to write an expository essay?

  1. Choose a topic

After receiving your essay prompt, brainstorm various ideas on the topic and check for the idea that has not been covered. You could also consult some emerging issues in your topic and address the topics. 

  1. Write a thesis

We recommend that you write a thesis before writing your essay. The thesis should summarize the key discussion of your paper. You could start by writing the goal of your paper i.e., my paper will… and use this statement to write the key arguments in your essay. 

  1. Create an outline

After research, jot down your points and organize them in a manner that ensures coherence in your arguments. You may indicate your sources against each point, making it easy to retrieve the materials for the sake of revision and reference. 

  1. Draft your paper

After preparing an outline, write your essay, paying attention to various rules to format your paper. Pass your draft through multiple rounds of revision to identify various issues and rectify your paper, ensuring clarity and cohesion of your argument.

You may consider engaging an expert for editing to get a deeper insight into the needed changes. Also, use various tools to save time, sparing ample time for other commitments. 

Structure of expository essay

Like all academic papers, an expository essay is divided into three parts. The introduction, the body, and a conclusion. 

The introduction

This paragraph should start with an attention grabber and offer some background on the topic to build on the relevance of your thesis. Your thesis statement should condense your arguments to a single sentence, giving a reader a gist of your arguments.

The body

The body is divided into paragraphs that build upon each other, introducing claims to support your thesis. Your paper should be divided into paragraphs, with each paragraph carrying a unique idea.

An expository paragraph should be divided into the topic sentence, the support, and a transition to the next paragraph. The topic sentence presents the idea you intend to argue, followed by the support from credible sources. 

The conclusion

The conclusion for an expository essay should sum up all you have discussed and restate your thesis in a precise manner. You could also use this paragraph to share your opinion and recommend various changes in a field. 

Be keen not to introduce new ideas in this section as this could leave some arguments hanging, limiting your performance. 

Expository essay tips

Writing an expository essay can prove a hard task if you approach it wrong. These tips ought to help you as you write your essay:

  1. When choosing an expository essay topic, go for one that piques your interest. This will allow you to investigate your ideas in depth and make your essay writing process more enjoyable.
  2. When choosing your thesis, ensure that it can be exhausted within your specified word count. You may research the topic to determine various arguments that you may make on the topic. 
  3. Always prepare an outline to gauge the extent to which various ideas have been examined. The outline will also help you keep on track with the arguments on your paper, reducing the likelihood of veering off your claims.
  4. Ensure to revise your paper and correct various errors to ensure a great performance in your essay. When revising your essay, ensure that you have formatted your paper properly and that all references are styled in the recommended format. 
  5. Find some samples of expository essays to familiarize yourself with the structure of arguments. 

Final take

We hope that this expository writing guide has been of some help. If you have further questions, consult our team for custom help with essays and guidance along your academic journey.

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