Expository Essay
The Expository Essay – Scope and Ingredients
What is an Expository Essay?
An expository essay is one in which the writer simply describes or explains a subject, a concept, or a process. Unlike other types of essays, the writer is not supposed to inject his/her opinion, and there is absolutely no need to pick a point of view. The challenge in writing an expository or explanatory essay is selecting a subject that is interesting to readers, and that warrants enough description to be the focus of an entire essay. Read below for several essay ideas.
Ideas Related to Describing Subjects
If you are going to describe a subject or an object in your essay, be certain to select one that is compelling enough to warrant the attention of an entire essay.
- Describe the points of interest in your home town.
- Describe a character from your favorite book, movie, or television show.
- Describe the plot of your favorite movie.
- Describe the personality of a well-liked or universally disliked political figure.
- Describe the details of an event that many people remember.
Ideas Related to Describing Concepts
- Describe the rationale behind the ten-run rule.
- Write about the scientific method.
- Describe the platform of a specific political party.
- Explain the concept of living green or eating locally to your audience.
Ideas Related to Describing Processes
- Write an essay describing how to cook your favorite recipe.
- Describe to your reader the steps they must take to change their oil.
- Write about the process students use to apply for financial aid.
- Describe the necessary steps to redecorate a bedroom.
- Explore and describe the process of navigating through the federal health care exchange website
Taking Careful Notes
No matter what the subject of the expository essay is, the most important step is to be as detailed as possible. You don't want your reader to walk away having missed an important step or fact. This means that you must take detailed notes. One guideline to consider is that you should never assume your reading audience knows anything. Are you describing a recipe that involves chopping an onion? Don't assume the reader knows how to chop an onion! Remember that there is no room for you to expand on an opinion, relate a funny story, or engage your readers' emotions. Your only way of communicating via expository essay is through fact and detail.
Work on a Solid Introduction and Conclusion
Just because your description cannot be filled with emotion or creative description, it doesn't mean that your essay cannot provoke an emotional response. After all, you can write an expository essay on baking bread, or you can write an expository essay on baking the most delicious Amish bread in the country. You can conclude in the final paragraph of your essay that the movie plot you have described has changed your life, or you can point to the emotions that were stimulated by participating in an event, such as the 50th anniversary of the Selma March.
Consider Providing Related Anecdotal Information
When you write an expository essay, context is important. Try using a personal story or anecdote to get the reader interested. Lead the reader in with a relevant story and then begin with the description. For example, if you personally know someone who participated in the original 1965 Selma March, you might want to re-tell that person’s story very briefly before you describe the anniversary event.
Getting Help when You Need It!
Whether you are having difficulty identifying an appropriate topic for a specific course or you have other issues related to completion of an expository writing assignment (other assignments, job responsibilities, due date you cannot meet, etc.), it is certainly a smart option to contact an academic writing service, provide the assignment details, and say “Write my essay.” You are never going to be an “expert” in all types of writing genres and subject fields – no one is. The important thing is that you understand your strengths and weaknesses and find the help you need to accommodate for those challenges you face.
