How to Write an Expository Essay: Outline, & Example

What is an expository essay? This type of writing aims to inform the reader about the subject clearly, concisely, and objectively.

The keyword here is “inform”. You are not trying to persuade your reader to think a certain way or let your own opinions and emotions cloud your work. Just stick to the facts.

Want to learn more? This article by Custom-writing experts will tell you how to write an expository essay step by step! It provides a definition and describes types of expository writing. It also contains tips on choosing a topic and making an outline, ideas for an introduction and conclusion, as well as useful structuring and formatting tips.

❓ What’s an Expository Essay?

An expository essay is a paper that educates readers about a subject. This paper explores a topic from different angles to provide the audience with objective and comprehensive information. When writing this essay, you don’t have to take a stand on an issue or try to persuade your readers.

🔖 Types of Expository Writing

Whenever an essay or article explains complicated details or simplifies a bulk of hard-to-understand information, this type of writing is called expository.

Imagine you are talking to a curious child who keeps asking you “how” and “why” things are such or another. You need to explain everything from scratch, yet making it sound compelling. Small and peculiar details are essential here.

The principal purpose of an expository essay is to elucidate a topic logically and consistently. It is an objective analysis of facts without any reference to the writer’s emotions or opinions.

1. Problem & Solution. Here you need to identify the issue, provide its details and causes, and develop a solution. A problem can have several possible solutions, so you can list several alternatives, highlighting the best one. In such a case, dedicate one main body paragraph to one solution and be sure to explain your choice. Otherwise, if you give only one variant, describe it in detail, justify it, and propose its implementation plan.
2. Cause & Effect. The focus of this essay is on the reason why something happened and the consequences it has entailed. The most popular examples of cause and effect expository essays are environmental problems, historical events, biodiversity issues, and economic analysis. If the predicted result is based on assumptions, it requires validation.
3. Compare & Contrast. This essay requires you to compare the similarities of two phenomena or ideas and contrast their differences. For example, you can be asked to compare and contrast homeschooling and attending a public school. The common feature will be the teacher’s presence, but the difference is the number of pupils attending the class.

4. Definitions & Classification. The best example of this type of writing is this article. Here you are explained what a notion or phenomenon is and what kinds it can be divided into.
5. How-to. These essays describe a task and the process of its completion. E.g., in an article on how to perform a Japanese tea ceremony, you have to briefly overview this tradition and then give a step-by-step plan of its implementation.

👣 How to Write an Expository Essay Step by Step

🔍 Step 1: Choose Your Expository Essay Topic

The first step of the writing process implies that you brainstorm, make a list of expository essay ideas, and then choose the topic you like most. Note that your topic shouldn’t be either too broad or too narrow.

Let’s take a look at the expository essay topic examples:

❌ TOO BROAD	❌ TOO NARROW	✔️ JUST OK
The negative consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle	The negative consequences of eating French fries with salsa sauce	The negative impact of junk food on life duration and quality

And here are some good expository essay topics that would be a good choice:

1. Why does the human body need food and water?
2. What are the different ways to travel long distances?
3. General information about audit report.
4. Compare the legacy of any two US presidents.
5. How can crime be reduced in your local community?
6. What is the best way to learn a new language?
7. Establishing successful communication between managers and employees.
8. Why do companies use memes as branding strategy?
9. The meaning of the terms diversity and identity.
10. Describe how the work climate influence employee performance.
11. What emotional appeal is and its role in communication.
12. Information’s importance in warfare and commerce.
13. Ways to use social media in modern business.
14. Basic information and requirements of police detective career.
15. What is health information exchange?
16. Characteristics of demonstrative communication.
17. The history of the Cow Palace, Daly City.

18. Describe the specifics of insurance company business.
19. Ways to success in dealing with other people.
20. Discuss the significant role of polis in ancient Greece.
21. General information about cardiovascular disease.
22. What are futuristic fabrics and how are they used in the modern fashion industry?
23. Outline the peculiarities and cultural aspects of Indian cuisine.
24. Describe the role of waiter in tourism industry.
25. Ways to help students with learning disabilities to retain information.
26. Four components of information system.
27. Code of ethics: definition and its role in decision–making.
28. The importance of listening skills.
29. Present the similarities and differences between Mesopotamia and Ancient Egyptian culture.
30. Give details on climate change in Africa.
31. What is emotional intelligence and why is it important?
32. Report the main methods to improve student learning.
33. Describe the basic components of management practices.
34. Contingency theory for effective crisis management.
35. Ways of determining the validity of information sources.
36. The specifics of coffee culture in different countries.
37. Represent the main approaches to managing the team of international managers.
38. Describe the peculiarities of popular culture.
39. Information about Ferrero company.
40. What is a leadership theory and how is it applicable in management?
41. Tell about the ways to cite sources for an informative speech.
42. The impact of vitamin D on human health.
43. Definition and types of plastic surgery.
44. How climate changes influence food security.
45. Available information about silicon.
46. Describe the mediation process and the difficulties usually connected with it.
47. What is intelligence and how is it measured?
48. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of electric and gas cars.
49. General information about mental disorders.
50. Outline the most high-risk nutritional practices and their impact on human health.

You might be given a specific topic, or you might have the freedom to choose one. Either way, your starting point is to look at the task you have been set and be sure that your focus remains within its boundaries.

If you do have a choice, then go for a subject that you already have some knowledge of as this will give you a head start at the planning stage. And choose something that interests you—you are probably going to be doing a lot of reading, so that process will be much easier if your curiosity is carrying you forward.

📑 Step 2: Research and Plan Your Essay

Consider Your Audience

It’s always worth clarifying with your teacher who your essay’s intended audience is if it’s not clearly stated in the instructions. Your readership might be limited to your teacher or whoever is assessing your work, so the main goal, in that case, is to convince them that you have a good understanding of the subject and can organize your thoughts in a clear and appropriate way.

Either way, you should be mindful of who you intend to inform as you carry out your research and planning.

Choose Your Sources

You will need to find multiple sources that are relevant and reliable in order to deal with your subject matter accurately and comprehensively. Below is a checklist that might help you choose the right sources for your essay.

Academic Sources Checklist

✔️ Author’s credentials	Is the author qualified to write about the subject?
✔️ Publisher’s reputation	Is the work published by a well-respected organization that has checks and standards in place?
✔️ Citations	Has the author cited a sufficient number of respected sources to support his/her work?
✔️ Bias	Does the author and/or publication have an agenda that might cloud the objectivity of the work?
✔️ Publication date	Is the work up to date and still relevant?

Take notes as you read, and cross-check sources. Your goal is to formulate the points you need to deal with the set task and find evidence to support them.

Once you’ve completed this, you will have a clear sense of direction, and if it hasn’t already been assigned, you will be able to compose a thesis statement for your essay that meets the requirements of the task and fits your sources. If you still struggle with the statement, consider trying an expository essay thesis generator to help yourself out.

Now you’re ready to lay down your expository essay outline!

✍️ Step 3: Make Your Expository Essay Outline & Draft

The five-paragraph essay is a classic literary composition and a perfect template for your expository essay format—even if your set task demands something longer.

The outline for a 5-paragraph expository essay is simple:

• Introduction (one paragraph)
• Main body (three paragraphs)
• Conclusion (one paragraph)

Expository Essay Structure: Useful Tips

• Make the introduction of your expository essay short and sweet. Start with a focus statement that will grab your reader’s attention and make them want to read on. Then give an overview of your subject matter and set out the direction that the rest of your essay is going to take. There’s no need to back up your words with evidence at this stage—save the meat and potatoes for the main course.
• Organize the three (or more if necessary) paragraphs of the main body in a logical order. Each of them should deal with a different point and address the focus statement you started with. Begin each paragraph with a clear topic sentence, then support it with your evidence. Each paragraph’s final sentence should lead your reader into the next—just like this one, which says you’re now ready to tie it all up.
• Restate your original focus statement in your expository essay conclusion. This time, include the weight of all the evidence you have provided in the main body. Follow this with a powerful closing statement, and your reader will be on the ropes.

🏁 Step 4: Review Your Expository Essay

Think of your expository essay’s first draft as an uncut diamond—the value is there, but you still have some work to do before it’s ready for the display cabinet at Tiffany and Co.

First, you need to look at the overall content of your essay and ask the questions below.

Expository Essay Checklist: Content

Be hard on yourself when you go through this process. Step into the shoes of the most critical person you know who loves to highlight your faults. You will come out the other side leaner, meaner, and stronger.

You’re almost there now—just some final polishing required. Your essay is now almost perfect, but proofreading will make it shine. Run it through a spell-checker, then read slowly from the beginning again, asking the questions below.

Expository Essay Checklist: Style

Done all that? Congratulations! Your diamond was purchased by Jennifer Lopez, and she plans to show it off on the Oscars red carpet.

The great thing about expository essays is that you only need to concern yourself with the facts. If you follow these four steps, you can’t go wrong. And in addition to your A+ grade, you will also have gained an incredibly useful life skill. The ability to explain a concept to someone in a way that makes them better informed will take you a long way in any environment.

✒️ Expository Essay Example

In this section, you’ll find a free expository essay sample. It focuses on the factors that cause stress in adolescents. Note that the full version of the text is downloadable!

Major Stressors in Teenagers’ Lives

🔗 References

1. Taking Notes from Research Reading:University of Toronto
2. Expository Essays // Purdue Writing Lab
3. What Is Expository Writing? – ThoughtCo
4. Tips on Writing an Excellent Expository Essay – YourDictionary
5. 10 Ways Expository Writing Skills: NY Tymes
6. Expository Essays: Types, Characteristics & Examples – Study.com