How to Write an Expository Essay: Step-by-Step Guide

In an expository essay, you have to explain something clearly. Sounds easy, right? Perhaps.

This is one of the things which can be easier said than done.

But don’t worry. 

This blog explains how to write an expository essay to the point you won’t need help from any other guide. 
First, let’s explore what is an expository essay in essence, and its main types.

What Is an Expository Essay?

An expository essay is one of the most simple styles of writing you’ll encounter, yet it often stumps people when they first hear about it.

Let’s clear the confusion about what is an expository essay once and for all. 

Definition and Purpose

An expository essay is one with a focused goal of, well… explaining something.

The keyword here is “exposition” i.e. shining a light on a topic to demystify it for the readers.

You usually observe this style when teaching someone about a concept, a process, or a phenomenon without overwhelming them with personal opinions or unnecessary fluff.

When you’re asked to write an expository essay, you don’t have to argue, persuade, or entertain.

You simply have to give the reader the facts with a thorough explanation of each.

By the end, your reader should walk away with a well-rounded understanding of the topic. 

Emotional appeals to get the point across are not needed here. Because, unlike other types of essays, expository essays require logic and evidence. 

Common Uses of Expository Essays

In school, you might write an expository essay to explain, let’s say, a historical event. 

If your teacher assigns you the topic “Causes of the Civil War” or asks you to describe a scientific process, know that you’ll write in expository style.

If you read or write a research paper, you’d note the results section always uses the expository style. 

Research papers, manuals, and some news articles also fall into the expository category because they prioritize explaining over persuading.

Types of Expository Essays

Source: PaperWriter.com

Before showing how to write an expository essay, you need to know multiple ways of writing it.

All these ways share the common goal of explaining a topic clearly and logically.

However, picking the right one from these depends on your essay’s topic.

Here’s a quick overview of each type:

• Descriptive essay: This one lists facts by bringing the subject to life using detailed, sensory-rich language. A descriptive expository essay makes the topic as tangible and engaging as possible. You’ll usually come across this style in encyclopedias or academic settings.

• Compare-and-contrast essay: This type examines the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. It works best when you’re analyzing relationships and offering a balanced view of multiple subjects. 

• Process essay: A type of expository writing that walks the reader through a series of steps to achieve a specific outcome. This is why it’s often referred to as a “how-to” essay. Make sure the steps are easy to follow so the reader can replicate the process without confusion. Making a homemade pizza would fall under this category.  

• Cause-and-effect essay: This type of essay explains why things happen and what results from them. You might analyze how the rise of social media has affected communication habits, leading to both good and bad outcomes.

• Problem-solution essay: This type involves identifying a specific problem and proposing practical ways to address it. For example, if you were writing about the issue of food waste, you’d first lay out its causes and then suggest strategies as solutions.

How to Structure an Expository Essay

A well-written expository essay ensures your readers can follow along easily. But that requires following the correct structure.

The structure has three main sections.

Let’s begin with how to write an expository essay introduction.

The Introduction

The intro paragraph is where you capture your reader’s interest while laying the groundwork for your essay. It should set the tone and give readers a glimpse of what’s to come.

So how to start an expository essay in a way that captivates? 

You only have the 1st sentence, aka the hook, to perform this trick.

So write something thought-provoking or surprising. A rhetorical question can also work wonders here.

Exhibit A: An essay about renewable energy could start with

“Did you know that the sun provides enough energy in a single hour to power the entire planet for a year?” 

After the hook, briefly introduce your topic.

Don’t spill the beans here, spare those details for the body paragraphs. 

Lastly, the introduction usually ends with a thesis statement.

This statement clearly explains the main idea or argument of your essay. 

The Body Paragraphs

The body of your expository essay is where you unpack your topic in detail.

This section typically consists of three paragraphs (longer essays may require more).

Here’s how to structure each paragraph:

• Each paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main idea of that section.
• Then provide facts, statistics, quotes, or examples to back up the point(s) raised in your topic sentence.
• Don’t just list facts. Elaborate on them and answer the “how” and “why”.
• Each body paragraph and the ideas within it should be linked through smooth transitions. Appropriate transition words and phrases guide your readers from one idea to the next without confusion.

The Conclusion

Your conclusion is your final chance to leave an impression, so it needs to contain more than just a summary.

You can rephrase your thesis and add it here.

Then briefly touch on the main ideas you discussed in the body. Avoid going into too much detail here. You’ve already done that.

In the end, leave your readers with something to think or act upon. This is usually a call to action.

How to Write an Expository Essay: Step-by-Step

Breaking down your expository essay into manageable steps makes the writing process easier. 

That’s exactly what I’ve shown here.

Let’s learn how to write an expository essay step by step. 

Step 1: Understand the Prompt

The first step is to fully understand what’s expected of you.

Carefully read the essay prompt that’s in front of you. 

Ask yourself: What is the essay’s purpose?

Is the prompt demanding you to explain, define, or analyze something?

Next, if you’re given the freedom to choose, pick a subject that interests you and offers enough material to explore. 

But if the prompt already mentions the topic, simply identify and choose the right expository style for it.

Step 2: Research the Topic

Solid expository essays become possible with good research. 

Gather accurate and reliable information from authoritative sources. 

Take detailed notes and keep your sources organized.

If you find conflicting information during your research, don’t be confused.

Let it be an opportunity to address potential questions your readers might have.

Step 3: Create a Strong Thesis Statement

Writing a strong thesis takes some thought.

To come up with it, ask yourself what your essay will explain or clarify.

Then, condense that idea into one concise sentence.

Also, avoid being vague.

The statement needs to provide specific insight into what your essay will cover.

Step 4: Outline the Essay Structure

As I discussed earlier, an expository essay should have three main parts, introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. 

Based on the points you’ve gathered, plan the flow and order of the essay.

Decide the number of paragraphs and what ideas will go in each one of them.

Take a few minutes to outline your essay to save you time and frustration later on.

Step 5: Write the First Draft

With your outline ready, start writing your first draft.

Begin with the introduction and take one paragraph at a time. 

For body paragraphs, remember to stick to one main idea per paragraph or two at most.

And yes, use transitions so your essay flows smoothly.

And since this is the first draft, don’t worry too much about perfection.

Your immediate concern should be to get your ideas down on paper.

Step 6: Edit and Revise

Once your draft is complete, it’s time to improve it for better clarity and readability.

For example, pay attention to how well your ideas are connected.

Are your transitions smooth? Does each paragraph support your thesis?

Check for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.

Take the time to rework sentences that feel awkward or unclear.

Most importantly, make sure you’re maintaining the objectivity needed in an expository essay.

If your essay copy needs editing and revising feels difficult, our AI paraphraser is available to lend a helping hand.

Step 7: Proofread the Final Version

The final stage is proofreading, where you catch any remaining errors or inconsistencies before submitting your work.

Read your essay carefully.

For best results, take a break before proofreading.

Returning to your essay with fresh eyes can help you spot mistakes you might have missed earlier.

If possible, you can also ask someone else (but experienced) to review your essay. 

Examples of Expository Essay Topics

Our guide on how to write an expository essay only applies to topics with an actual expository intent.  

But how do you tell what is an expository essay and what is not, based on the topic?

The best way to understand this is to look at examples. 

The following topics are best fits for expository writing:

• How Solar Energy Works: This is expository because you’ll be providing clear and universally acknowledged steps. You’ll be purely informing the reader, not arguing for or against solar energy use.

• The History and Evolution of the Internet: This topic fits the expository essay style because it involves tracing a historical timeline. There’s no need for subjective opinions.  

• The Role of Nutrition in Maintaining Good Health: Here, you’ll be educating readers without swaying them toward a specific diet plan. Thus it falls under expository style. 

Now let’s explore some examples of topics that ought not be written in expository style. 

• Why Everyone Should Switch to Electric Cars: This topic leans more toward a persuasive essay. The word “should” immediately signals that the writer is advocating for a particular stance, which shifts the focus from explaining to convincing.

• A Day in My Life During the Pandemic: This makes for a compelling narrative essay because it involves personal stories and anecdotes and that doesn’t align with the expository essay’s goal of presenting facts and analysis objectively.

Tools to Help Write an Expository Essay

Writing expository essays can feel overwhelming, especially due to the extensive research required and keeping your opinions to yourself.

Thankfully, there are tools to make the process multiple times quicker and easier. 

AI Essay Writer: You can assign our AI Essay Writer to write the entire essay.

In return, you get a draft that’s easier to refine further. It can give you a rough draft to start with.

• AI Paraphraser: This tool rewrites sentences to make them more concise while preserving their original meaning. It can help reduce redundancy, improve readability and sentence flow, and more.

• Word Counter: This tool takes your essay and returns its total number of words, characters, sentences, and more. By knowing your exact word count, you can identify which sections of your essay need more detail.

• AI Humanizer: We all take help from conversational AIs in our studies. And there’s nothing wrong with it at all. Just make sure to run the AI-generated text through an AI humanizer to change its boring, robotic tone.

Test the AI Humanizer now and see how it changes your bland tone into a fun-to-read one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrapping Up

Learning how to write an expository essay gets much easier when you follow the right structure and steps.

And make sure you conduct thorough research before writing and careful editing after your first draft is ready.

Lastly, don’t hesitate to use Undetectable AI’s tools to save time and for a more efficient job.
Sign up for Undetectable AI now.