Writing is a hard vocation. There are many known and unknown variables that writers need to acknowledge and balance in the writing to ensure the final product has the desired effect on the readers.
Expository essay writing is considered to be the hardest among other essay types. It is because it relies on research and an objective approach to the subject matter. Students in schools and colleges often get stumped when they have to write an expository essay. Since there is always a better way to write, this guide will help writers understand that way and incorporate it into their workflow.
Expository Essay Writing
Expository essays are not hard to define and identify among other types. They are objective in their approach to the subject matter. This is one of the distinguishing hallmarks. Apart from this, the primary motive behind expository writing is to provide unambiguous information to the readers that they can follow in practice. That’s why common types of expository writing include how-to articles and manuals where readers can follow the writing verbatim to achieve a goal.
The structure and formatting of expository essays are the same as that of other essays. They have an introduction to provide the context and thesis statement; the main body that makes the arguments and evidence of the essay; and a conclusion to summarize the discussion for the readers.
When it comes to expository essay writing, research and proofreading are a must because writers cannot produce arguments and proofs through the sheer power of their memories and minds. This is what makes it harder than other essays.
Differences Between Expository And Persuasive Essays
Expository essays are often compared with argumentative or persuasive essays but they are different from each other. A persuasive essay is often charged with subjectivity where a writer defends a single argument based on personal experience or opinion. On the contrary, an expository essay is about providing factual information based on evidence from credible sources.
The main point of difference between these two types of essays is that one is subjective and opinionated whereas the other is objective and neutral. One carries a single argument throughout the length of the essay whereas the other can have three or more in the main body.
Practical Expository Essay Writing Tips
Merely learning the nature and understanding the structure of expository essay writing does not help writers with writing. That’s why even after attending many lectures and taking notes, they do not have the tools and training to get started on their essay. In this section, we will share some of the best tips from experts that will help students write exceptional expository essays. These tips can also be used to cover other essay types but they are specifically found and shared for optimizing the process of expository essay writing.
Choosing The Right Topic
Many times, teachers assign topics to the students. These are based on what they have taught them and what would help students understand the world better. It is also a practice in schools and colleges where a teacher shares multiple options for the whole class and they can choose one based on their preferences. If that is the case, the first step in writing excellent expository essays is to choose the right topic that can check all the boxes for you.
Understanding The Essay Question/ Problem
Whether your instructor assigned a topic or problem to you or you came up with one for your own sake, it is necessary to understand its needs and demands. This will help you get started on the right foot and ensure that your expository essay is on the mark. You can also determine the type of expository essay you have to write to illuminate the subject. So, this is one of the crucial things to remember before you get started.
Coming Up With A Catchy Title
Many students make the mistake of thinking that a topic is a title. This a common misconception as there are a lot of differences between them. A topic is a broad category of subjects, whereas a title is something more specific and sharp. For instance, a topic can be SUV vehicles, but the title can be characteristics of those SUVs such as engine performance, durability, etc. After choosing the topic, it is necessary to turn it into a catchy title.
Using Multiple Sources For Data Gathering
Before the internet, it was a vocation on its own to research and gather data from multiple sources. The virtual world has made it easier for us to access and sample works from libraries across the world through online portals. Still, it is necessary to understand the quality and quantity of data collected for expository essay writing. It will directly affect your essay and how it fares in terms of grades. Using multiple, credible sources is the key.
Creating A Roadmap/ Outline
Writing intuitively is the way for fiction writers because it keeps the narrative fresh, even for themselves. But when it comes to expository essay writing, it is important to trace the steps beforehand. This starts with creating a roadmap or an outline for the complete essay. Apart from saving time and writer’s block, this can help writers to determine the level of research and scope of the finished product. Without a roadmap, there are chances of writers losing the path.
Putting Pertinent Vocabulary To Use
An expository essay is about showcasing extensive knowledge and research skills to the readers. The hallmark of this essay type is clear, unambiguous, instruction-like prose. That’s the reason the language and vocabulary of the essay should be pertinent to the problem at hand. There is no need to dabble into flowery prose and phrases, but it should not be flat or bland to bore the readers to death. Reading other expository essays by experts can help students improve their own.
Getting References From Credible Sources
The quality and quantity of references and citations often determine the overall worth of an expository essay. Contrary to narrative and descriptive essays, writers need to rely on credible sources to stake their arguments and postulates. That’s why it is necessary to start by collecting these resources while outlining the essay. This will speed up the process and ensure that writers are on the right track. Anything less and it will be hard for students to start and finish a quality essay.
Having an Objective, Unbiased Approach
The distinguishing characteristics of expository essays include a hard-boiled approach toward the facts of the topic. There is no room for subjectivity or personal experience because these are the hallmarks of argumentative essays. Students often get suggestive or opinionated when it comes to writing expository essays. This can harm the outcomes of the essay, either in poor structure and format or the scores from the instructors. The voice and tone should also be in line with the norms of expository writing.
Concluding On A High Note
The conclusion is one of the crucial parts of the essay. This is where the readers sign off the essay with key takeaways. These takeaways should be clear and camp up on the main arguments and points made in the body of the essay. There is no need to add new points to the discussion or change the premise of the essay in the end. The conclusion should conclude on a high note to make things memorable for the readers.
F.A.Q
What is the structure of an expository essay?
The structure of an expository essay is the same as that of a narrative or an argumentative essay. But experts emphasize organized information in this because the purpose of writing one is to help readers reach a predictable conclusion.
Here are the main sections of an expository essay:
Introduction
Main Body
Conclusion
How can I balance the elements in an expository essay?
The elements of an expository essay include an objective approach, unbiased, neutral voice and tone, pieces of evidence for all the arguments, and organized information. Through outlining and researching at the same time, you can balance all the elements. In addition, you can see the integrity of all the elements in the proofreading and editing phase.
Is there a strict word count for school and college essays?
There is no strict word count or rules of length for expository essays. But there is a common norm that advises students to keep the essay around 1200 to 1500 words. In any case, it should not be any less than 1000 words.
Can I use emotional language in expository essays?
The expository essays are composed of mere facts and supporting evidence. There is no room for writers to show their opinions and comments, even when they add value. The information should be actionable with no subjectivity or bias. So, you cannot use emotional language in expository essays because it will denature it.
What are the differences between expository and descriptive essays?
Expository essays are objective, actionable essays where only factual information is provided to the readers. They are highly structured and come in different types, including classification essays, definition essays, process essays, and so on. Descriptive essays, on the other hand, are the description of subjects under consideration, including a person, a thing, a place, an event, or even an idea.
How can I ensure maximum scores in my essay?
While writing an expository essay, these tips will help you to get maximum scores in your writing:
Researching and outlining at the same time
Formulating a bold and brief thesis statement
Understanding the purpose of each section
Finding reliable sources for references and citations
Striving To Excel In Expository Essay Writing
It is an unending journey to excel in writing. For expository essay writing, students need to learn the art and craft of data gathering, writing, and editing to ensure they get maximum scores in the essay.
In this blog, we have covered 9 of the best and most practical tips for expository essay writing. These include the basics, such as understanding the problem and choosing the right topic, to using multiple and credible sources for expository essay writing. We have also shared answers to some frequently asked questions that will clear the doubts of students about different things.
So, if you were having a hard time getting started with your essay, we hope that these tips would have paved the way to sure success for you!
Table of Contents1 Popular Referencing Styles1.1 Modern Language Association (MLA)2 Structure & Formatting For Journal Article References3 Closing Remarks Writing is easy, writing …
