Expository Writing: Types and How To Write in This Style

Expository writing is a compositional style that you may use when writing essays, but this form of writing also
can have uses in business settings. The primary goal of expository writing is to inform or educate the reader
with facts, statistical data and information, which means it can benefit you when writing reports on professional
topics such as finance or research. Learning more about this style of writing can help produce documents that
explain important technical information in ways people can easily comprehend and remember.
In this article, we discuss what expository writing is, list the common types of it, explain how you can write an
expository paper and provide tips for doing so.
Key takeaways:
• Expository writing is a useful style when you're presenting research or data to help inform readers about
a topic
• When writing in this format, it's important to rely on facts from reliable sources instead of opinions or
conjecture.
• This style of writing has various professional uses, including for people who work in journalism,
academics or research.

What is expository writing?

Expository writing is a style of composition that exposes or explains a topic using facts. Expository writing
often includes a thesis statement, supportive information, explanatory paragraphs and a conclusion that
summarizes the information. With this, expository writing primarily focuses on presenting factual information
that's free of any biases or opinions. Instead, these documents discuss proven details about a topic, allowing the
reader to make informed conclusions on their own.

When writing in an expository style, it's often important to assume the reader has minimal or no knowledge of
the topic. It's the writer's responsibility and goal to include as much unbiased information about the topic as
possible without encouraging the reader to feel a certain way or choosing a specific stance on the topic. Texts
that employ expository writing may include:

• Essays
• Newspapers
• Magazine articles
• Instructional manuals
• Encyclopedias
• School Textbooks

Types of Expository Writing

Expository writing can be any type of writing that explains something in detail to a reader. For example, people
who work in academics often use expository writing because it contains information to educate others on a
topic. The most common forms of expository writing include:

Descriptive Essay:

A descriptive essay uses characteristics, traits and sensory information to describe a topic or theme to the
reader. While this form of expository writing includes data, it also includes imagery and specific details that
encourage the reader to imagine a situation. Common types of descriptive essays include those about fiction,
poetry or advertising.

Process Writing:
Process writing includes a list of steps that guide the reader through the process of completing a certain task that
relates to the topic. For example, learning how to write a paper is an example of process writing because it
might include steps for brainstorming, writing a rough draft, editing and completing the paper. A few other
examples of process writing might include recipes or how-to guides.

Comparative and Contrast:

Comparative and contrast writing analyzes two ideas against each other. This type of writing discusses the
similarities and differences between two topics while maintaining an unbiased perspective. Comparative writing
also may discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a topic, allowing the reader to make their own
conclusion. For example, comparative and contrast writing may be useful when crafting a guide to helping
readers decide between two options, such as buying or renting a home and going to college right after high
school or taking a gap year.

Cause and Effect:

Cause and effect writing describes the cause of a topic and its outcome. This form attempts to demonstrate how
one topic or theme influences another topic or theme. For example, a writer may use this style to craft a paper
that discusses the cause and effect of a college preparatory class on standardized testing scores. These forms of
writing often rely on research that links two subjects and aims to describe their relationship simply and
definitively.

Problem and Solution:

Problem and solution writing discusses an issue and a potential way to address or fix the issue. This style uses
facts to present potential solutions to the problem topic. The first few paragraphs of the paper often discuss
potential solutions after introducing the problem, and the conclusion paragraph often summarizes the most
practical solutions. Writers may use this writing style when discussing current news events or writing an article
on how to overcome specific challenges.

Classification Essay:

A classification essay covers a broad topic by dividing it into smaller subcategories. This is a common method
that can help writers organize an educational paper with multiple separate parts. Using this style, writers can
educate the reader through different sections of a paper, including specific details and facts that support the idea
of each one. The classification form often is common in academic papers and research reports.

How to write in an expository style?

You can create a piece of expository writing using the following steps:

1. Choose your topic:

Try to choose a topic that you feel comfortable writing about and that you understand well. Having a strong
knowledge of your subject can allow you to prioritize and simplify the information to help you write about it in
a clear, easy-to-understand manner. This can include a subject you're already knowledgeable about or one you'd
like to research. When choosing your topic, you may benefit from considering the type of expository writing
you plan to use, such as descriptive or process writing.

2. Create a thesis:

Most expository writing types have a thesis statement that summarizes the topic or theme you plan to discuss in
your paper. Because expository writing includes facts, try to create a thesis you can explain with data or
evidence. Creating a thesis statement that's broad enough to include the information you want to discuss while
still being specific can help readers know what to expect when reading the paper.

3. Gather your data:

Once you chose a topic, you can gather the data to help you discuss it. It's often best to choose data that
educates and doesn't direct the reader toward a specific opinion or claim about the topic. The investigative
process is one of the most important parts of expository writing. Because this form of writing includes only
proven data, try to collect as much information as you can during this step. There are various types of
information you can present within expository writing. You may use anecdotes, comparisons, quotes or charts
and graphs to provide additional information about topics.

4. Make an Outline:

To make an outline, consider dividing your essay into an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. This
is an opportunity to determine what points you want to discuss in each paragraph and which details you can use
to help prove each point. You also can divide your data points and assign them to a section of the outline.

You can format your expository essay or paper depending on its topic and the information you want to include.
A common method is to use the basic essay format using an outline of five paragraphs, but you may use
additional paragraphs. The first paragraph is the introduction, the next three paragraphs are body paragraphs
that include supportive information about the topic and the final paragraph is the conclusion.

5. Write your paragraphs:

The introduction is an important part of expository writing because lets the reader know what to expect. Some
choose to use a hook in their introduction, which is a statement that captures the reader's attention. It's also a
standard practice to include your thesis in the introduction. Next, you can fill in your expository paper with each
paragraph. At the beginning of each paragraph, try to include a topic sentence that introduces the next topic. As
you write, you can include data or facts to support each paragraph's main topic, which helps you maintain a
common theme in your paper.

As you write your body paragraphs using data to support the points you make, try to cite credible sources that
list where you found the information. This allows readers to analyze the source and verify its accuracy, which
can add credibility to your writing. Finally, you can use the conclusion to summarize information from the
previous paragraphs. Although you can paraphrase information, try to include information or data you discussed
in the paper.

6. Edit your writing:

It's typically standard practice to write a rough draft and then edit your paper to strengthen its quality. You can
read through your paper a few times, focusing on items like grammar or voice. Try to check that each paragraph
serves a purpose and provides value to the reader. You may also have a trusted friend or colleague review the
paper. After reading it, you make any necessary changes and review the final draft.

Tips for effective Expository Writing:

Here are some tips you can consider to help improve your expository writing:

• Be clear and Concise:

Because expository writing often relies on the assumption that readers aren’t familiar with the topic, it’s
important to write I clear language and avoid any jargon they might not understand. This can allow you to keep
the writing focused and avoid long thoughts or explanations that detract from your topic.

• Verify your information.

When performing research on your topic, it's important to check all the facts you plan to use to ensure they're
accurate. Even if it's a fact you heard before, it's still important to verify it to ensure you have the right
understanding and don't spread misinformation.

• Consider your voice and tone.

Before writing, try to think about your audience and topic to help you determine an appropriate tone for your
article. If you're writing about a sensitive or potentially negative subject, for example, you might want to avoid
getting too creative or whimsical when you present facts.

• Write out of order.

After finishing your outline, you can start writing your document at any point. For example, if you already have
a compelling conclusion in mind, you can write that first to help you start your process and find your voice for
the paper.