5 Expository Essay Examples (Full Text with Citations)
Chris Drew (PhD)
Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]
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An expository essay attempts to explain a topic in-depth, demonstrating expert knowledge and understanding.
This form of essay is structured around the clear, factual presentation of information, devoid of the writer’s personal opinions or arguments.
The primary goal is to inform or explain rather than persuade.
Unlike an argumentative essay, which is built around defending a particular point of view with evidence and persuasion, an expository essay maintains a neutral stance, focusing on delivering straightforward facts and explanations.
An example of expository writing could be an article explaining the process of photosynthesis.
The article would systematically describe each stage of how plants convert sunlight into energy, detailing the role of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.
It would explain the sequence of reactions – first, second, third, fourth, fifth – that occur and the importance of each step in supporting the life of the plant.
An expository essay generally follows this essay format:
- A) To persuade the reader to adopt a particular viewpoint
- B) To inform or explain a topic clearly
- C) To present the writer’s personal opinions and arguments
- D) To entertain the reader with creative writing
- A) An expository essay uses creative storytelling techniques
- B) An expository essay remains neutral and avoids personal opinions
- C) An expository essay focuses on persuading the reader with evidence
- D) An expository essay prioritizes the writer’s personal experiences
Expository Essay Examples
#1 impacts of technology on education.
955 words | 4 Pages | 15 References
Thesis Statement: “The integration of technology in education represents a complex and critical area of study crucial for understanding and shaping the future of educational practices.”
#2 Impacts of Globalization on Education
1450 words | 5 Pages | 9 References
Thesis Statement: “This essay examines the profound and multifaceted effects of globalization on education, exploring how technological advancements and policy reforms have transformed access to, delivery of, and perceptions of education.”
#3 The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Interpersonal Relationships
1211 Words | 5 Pages | 22 References
Thesis Statement: “The central thesis is that EI, defined as the ability to perceive, understand, and manage emotions, is a crucial determinant of success and well-being.”
#4 The Future of Renewable Energy Sources and Their Impact
870 words | 4 Pages | 20 References
Thesis Statement: “The essay posits that although renewable energy sources hold immense promise for a sustainable future, their full integration into the global energy grid presents significant challenges that must be addressed through technological innovation, economic investment, and policy initiatives.”
#5 The Psychology Behind Consumer Behavior
1053 words | 4 Pages | 17 References
Thesis Statement: “The thesis of this essay is that consumer behavior is not merely a product of rational decision-making; it is deeply rooted in psychological processes, both conscious and subconscious, that drive consumers’ choices and actions.”
How to Write an Expository Essay
Unlike argumentative or persuasive essays, expository essays do not aim to convince the reader of a particular point of view.
Instead, they focus on providing a balanced and thorough explanation of a subject.
Key characteristics of an expository essay include:
- Clarity and Conciseness
- Structured Organization (Introduction, Body, Conclusion)
- Objective Tone
- Evidence-Based (Cite academic sources in every body paragraph)
- Objective thesis statement (see below)
- Informative purpose (Not argumentative)
You can follow my expository essay templates with AI prompts to help guide you through the expository essay writing process:
How to write a Thesis Statement for an Expository Essay
An expository thesis statement doesn’t make an argument or try to persuade. It uses ‘is’ rather than ‘ought’ statements.
Take these comparisons below. Note how the expository thesis statements don’t prosecute an argument or attempt to persuade, while the argumentative thesis statements clearly take a side on an issue:
💡 AI Prompt for Generating Sample Expository Thesis Statements An expository essay’s thesis statement should be objective rather than argumentative. Write me five broad expository thesis statement ideas on the topic “[TOPIC]”.
Go Deeper: 101 Thesis Statement Examples
Differences Between Expository and Argumentative Essays
Expository and argumentative essays are both common writing styles in academic and professional contexts, but they serve different purposes and follow different structures.
Here are the key differences between them:
- Expository Essay : The primary purpose is to explain, describe, or inform about a topic. It focuses on clarifying a subject or process, providing understanding and insight.
- Argumentative Essay : The goal is to persuade the reader to accept a particular point of view or to take a specific action. It’s about presenting a stance and supporting it with evidence and logic.
- Expository Essay : It maintains a neutral and objective tone. The writer presents information factually and impartially, without expressing personal opinions or biases.
- Argumentative Essay : It often adopts a more assertive, persuasive, and subjective tone. The writer takes a clear position and argues in favor of it, using persuasive language.
- Expository Essay : The reader is expected to gain knowledge, understand a process, or become informed about a topic. There’s no expectation for the reader to agree or disagree.
- Argumentative Essay : The reader is encouraged to consider the writer’s viewpoint, evaluate arguments, and possibly be persuaded to adopt a new perspective or take action.
Go Deeper: Expository vs Argumentative Essays
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A 4th Grade Informational Student Writing Sample
Read Time 1 mins | March 3, 2020 | Written by: Empowering Writers
One way that I found to ease the tremendous stress of a research project was to break it into manageable chunks for my students. Upon introducing the topic or subject of writing we began by creating a list of everything we knew about the topic and then sorting and categorizing that list. From there, students decided what they wanted to know more about or what we only had a little information about. This focused our research in a way that students could feel successful right away. Instead of researching “The Ocean,” as a whole topic students focused on one aspect of that very big idea. Some students chose a particular ocean animal, others wanted to learn about the tides, while still others had an interest in learning about the coral reef.
Our journey into the research then became much easier to manage. Students focused on one aspect of the big topic and then began to notice several smaller main ideas that matched each focused area. Students found information about the main ideas and then it was time to write. The following piece of exposition is a result of breaking the writing process down into small chunks and writing one section of the piece each day for a total of seven days ( see the Expository/Informative Writing Summarizing Framework . ) In the real world, authors do not just write in one big blur, or what some might call flash drafts. They in fact write a section, reflect on that section, and revise it as they go. That is exactly what my students were able to do quite successfully.
What really works in this piece:
- Organizational structure – the pillar
- Word choice – word referents
- Distinct Main Ideas
- The use of research: quote, amazing facts, anecdote
- The voice and tone
Empowering Writers has a proven methodology, specific strategies, and lessons to teach each of these skills.
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