Introduction to Expository Writing
Expository writing is a form of non-fictional writing that is used to expose some
concept or idea. It is primarily focused on providing information, explaining a topic,
or presenting an idea in a clear and concise manner. Its primary purpose is to convey
facts, concepts, ideas, or instructions to the reader, often in a straightforward and
objective fashion. Expository writing is used to educate, inform, or clarify a subject,
making it a common style in various non-fictional contexts. It is generally found in
textbooks, academic essays, letters, manuals, reports, news articles, pamphlets,
magazines, guidebooks etc.
Expository writing is:
• Factual
• Usually presented in a linear format
• Always presented in a logical format
• Objective
• Clear about its purpose
Expository writing is not:
• The author’s opinion
• An attempt to change the reader’s mind or shape their perspective
• Subjective
• Nonlinear or otherwise unconventional in how it presents content
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
• Instruction manuals
• Encyclopedias
• School textbooks
Purpose of Expository Writing
Expository writing has a clear purpose: to educate the reader. While it may also
entertain or persuade the reader, these are secondary benefits and not the author’s
goal. Well-crafted expository writing demonstrates the author’s expertise on the
subject and in many cases demonstrates how they learned about their subject. For
example, you might be assigned to write an essay about the mock trial your class held.
In this essay, you would introduce the assignment and the case your class worked on
through the trial. Then in the following body paragraphs, you would describe each
stage in the mock trial process (discovery, opening statements, cross-examination,
closing statements, jury deliberation, and verdict) and how your class completed each
of these stages. In the final paragraph, you would state the verdict your class reached
and the judge’s ruling. Your essay about the mock trial doesn’t argue that the ruling
was right or wrong. It merely explains the process your class used to work through the
trial process and learn how real court cases move through the court system. In other
words, your essay would present facts and process rather than opinion and
commentary.
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. Expository writing uses a
logical flow with a proper introduction, body, and conclusion. There are other forms
of expository writing, and these include descriptive, sequential, comparative,
cause/effect, problem/solution, and classification. 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
