That’s okay. I can’t blame you—writing an expository essay can be frustrating. It doesn’t have to be that difficult, though. All you need is a gentle push in the right direction. That’s what I’m here for.

In this post, I’ll show you how to write an expository essay outline. I’ve even included a downloadable outline template you can use to create your own outline.

But Wait … What’s an Expository Essay?

That’s a great question. Sadly, the answer is probably a bit more vague than you want it to be. An expository essay is a catch-all category that describes any essay where you thoroughly expose the inner workings of a topic and teach the reader something new.

In fact, this blog post could be considered an informal expository essay.

Usually, your teacher will ask you to write an expository essay to prove that you have done your research on a subject. Your goal is to effectively explain what a reader needs to know about the topic and answer relevant and interesting questions.

For the purpose of this blog post, let’s say we’re writing an expository essay on the effects of social media on daily life. (I grabbed this idea straight from Crystal’s blog post about expository writing—if you haven’t read it yet, you should hop over there now. I’ll wait).

My goal in this expository essay is to expose interesting information about the topic through the revelation of factual evidence.

To avoid the daunting stare of the blank page and to ensure your information is organized, always start with an outline.

Expository Essay Outline Structure

There is more than one way to pattern an expository essay, including sequential, cause and effect, compare and contrast, spatial, topical, and many other patterns.

Since we’re writing about the effects of social media, we’ll use a cause and effect pattern for this example. (Remember, just because you’re using a cause and effect pattern, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll need to focus on both causes and effects. Check your assignment guidelines to see what your teacher requires.)

Here’s how the general structure will look for this sample outline:

1. INTRODUCTION

A. Hook
B. Background
C. Thesis

2. FIRST BODY PARAGRAPH

A. Main idea 1
B. Evidence to support main idea 1
C. Evidence to support main idea 1
D. Analysis

3. BODY PARAGRAPH 2

A. Main idea 2
B. Evidence to support main idea 2
C. Evidence to support main idea 2
D. Analysis

4. BODY PARAGRAPH 3

A. Main idea 3
B. Evidence to support main idea 3
C. Evidence to support main idea 3
D. Analysis

5. CONCLUSION

A. Restate or summarize your thesis or focus
B. Discuss the larger significance/implications of topic or reveal unanswered questions

Here’s a graphic in case you’d like a visual reminder to follow along with:

Now, keep reading to see what a sample outline might look like with the details filled in.

Expository Essay Outline: Introductory Paragraph

Hook

Start with a hook sentence to get your readers’ attention. Remember, your hook should be both interesting and directly related to your topic.

My hook might look something like this:

Is social media ruining people’s lives?

By posing such a salient question right off the bat, I’m encouraging readers to continue reading.

(What if it is ruining lives?!)

Background

Provide background and context for the topic. Don’t assume your readers know anything about social media or its effects (as one of my English professors once taught me, to assume makes an ass out of u and me).

For example, I might include the following as background:

Social media allows people to connect online, keep in touch with family and friends, market themselves, or connect with customers. With the abundance of social media platforms—such as Twitter, SnapChat, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook (to name a few)—people can spend countless hours in virtual connectivity.

Thesis statement

Write a clear, focused thesis statement. The thesis statement is like a roadmap to your paper. It’s where you get to the point of your essay.

My thesis statement might be something like this:

Even though social media can be a great tool to connect with others, most people don’t realize how much social media interferes with their daily lives.

(If your expository essay takes an argumentative stance, you might want to check out these examples of argumentative thesis statements with a more serious tone.)

What exactly your thesis statement might look like depends a lot on what your prof requires, obviously. But it also depends on the exact type of expository essay you’re writing and the scope of your topic. Make sure you get the structure right by considering any thesis statement myths it might be okay to ignore for your specific essay.

Expository Essay Outline: Body Paragraphs

Now that you’ve caught your readers’ attention, brought them up to speed on the basics, and laid out your thesis statement, your body paragraphs are set up to offer a deeper investigation into the topic of your essay.

The exact number of body paragraphs you incorporate will depend entirely on the parameters of your assignment and/or topic. My example includes three body paragraphs.

Each body paragraph should include the following elements:

• A topic sentence that gives the main idea of your paragraph.

• Factual evidence that answers your question or supports your thesis. In my example, I’ve incorporated two pieces of factual evidence for each topic, but your essay may use more or fewer.

• Your analysis of said evidence. This is where you dig in with your commentary on the importance of the evidence. (Remember to check with your teacher about point of view. Even though this is your analysis, you will likely need to write in third person point of view.)

• A good transition sentence to weave your essay together and seamlessly connect ideas. (Without the use of transitions, your essay can seem choppy and like a random set of vaguely related points.)

Because this example will include the effects of social media on daily life, each paragraph will focus on one key effect. (Remember, separate your main ideas into individual paragraphs. Don’t try to cram everything into one ginormous paragraph.)

Body paragraph 1

Main idea 1: Because it’s so accessible and distracting, social media is an easy way to procrastinate, which causes people to miss deadlines and fail to meet other obligations.

• Evidence: Students who don’t feel like writing an essay can easily spend hours on social media in order to avoid working on their papers. Because students wasted time, they don’t have enough time to work on their papers and end up with a lousy grade (or worse yet, failing the course).

• Evidence: People who aren’t engaged at their jobs could use every free moment to check social media to procrastinate and avoid their real work, such as someone who should be clearing tables. Procrastinating too much means that too many tables in the restaurant are dirty, customers don’t have any place to sit, and the person is soon fired for spending too much time on Twitter—#Unemployed.

Analysis: Some people who use social media as a way to procrastinate (or avoid other tasks completely) may experience minimal consequences, but extreme procrastination due to excessive time on social media can lead to life-changing negative effects.

Body paragraph 2

Main idea 2: Too much time on social media can make someone anti-social.

• Evidence: Before social media, a self-proclaimed cat lady who preferred to spend time with her cats would still need to hang out with people once in awhile to maintain social connections. After spending more and more time on social media, she withdraws from the real world and spends all her time with her cats and online with people who adore their cats as much as she does.

• Evidence: Before social media, college students might go to the movies with friends or to someone’s house to binge-watch their favorite zombie series. With heavy use of social media, those same college students might become more and more like zombies themselves, staring at the TV and chatting only with online friends through seven seasons of Zombie Apocalypse.

Analysis: Moderate use of social media can be an awesome way to connect with friends. Too much time spent on social media, however, makes it easy for people to become isolated, living only in the virtual world.

Body paragraph 3

Main idea 3: Social media can make people feel inadequate or that they’re living a boring life.

• Evidence: After a perfectly normal day of going to the grocery store, doing laundry, and catching up on homework, a woman checks Instagram, and she sees her best friend at the Super Bowl. Doing laundry hardly compares to attending the game, so she feels like her life isn’t as good as her friend’s.

• Evidence: A person scrolls through Pinterest and sees a friend’s version of the newest trending craft: an amazing bottle cap wall art masterpiece worthy of a spot in MoMA. When she compares her own attempt to her friend’s, she feels that her creation is only worthy of the garbage can.

Analysis: Even though people may be talented and lead perfectly normal lives, comparing their lives to their friends’ on social media can lead people to feel that they can’t compete and simply aren’t as good as others.

Expository Essay Outline: Concluding Paragraph

Finally, it’s time to write your concluding paragraph. In this paragraph, you can do any of the following:

Summarize your question or thesis

To focus on something that summarizes my thesis, I might write the following:

Though social media is an excellent tool to connect people, it’s important to use it wisely as it can do more harm than good.

Discuss the larger significance of the topic

A conclusion focused on the larger significance of my topic might include a statement like this:

Social media is a powerful tool that can end up creating an isolated society full of procrastinating, distracted people with feelings of inadequacy.

Reveal unanswered questions

A conclusion focused on unanswered questions about my topic might include this statement:

Even though social media can be used to connect people, wouldn’t it just be better to speak with people in person?

If you find you need more help with outlining and shaping the concluding paragraph, read these posts:

• 20 Essay Conclusion Examples to Help You Finish Strong
• Loose Ends: How to End an Essay With Authority
• Wrap It Up: 15 (Better) Concluding Transitions

Expository Essay Outline Download

If you’re in the position where you need to write an expository essay but aren’t sure where to begin, feel free to get started with this expository essay outline template (Word .doc download).

Check out these example expository essays if you need writing inspiration to get started.

If you have a draft and are looking for even more help with the finishing touches of your paper, you might find these posts helpful:

• How to Title an Essay When You’re Absolutely Stumped
• 33 Commonly Misused Words (and How to Get Them Right)
• 5 Punctuation Rules You Need to Know
• Why Eliminating Wordiness Is So Important for Your Essay

Once you’ve shaped your outline into a completed essay, get a Kibin editor to review your paper before you turn it in. We’ve edited tens of thousands of papers, and we can help you with yours too.

Good luck!

Editor’s note: This post was originally published on August 11, 2014, but has been updated for freshness and relevance.

Stuck on Your Expository Essay?

Check out these example expository essays.

Yes! Show Me Examples.

That’s a lot of expository essay writing! If you’re going to be writing this type of essay over and over again, you need to understand how to write a good one.

But that’s not my purpose here. My goal for this post is to give you a quick overview of the expository essay and provide you with 30 expository essay topics for an outstanding paper.

If you need to know more about writing an awesome expository essay, check out Expository Advice From a Kibin Editor. Need help outlining? Check out this article.

If you need a few minutes to read the links above before choosing your expository essay topic, go ahead. I’ll wait.

Cue the Muzak:

Finished reading the links? Have a better understanding of the expository essay? Then before we dive into those expository essay topics, let’s move on to a quick summary to remind you of the key points in an expository essay.

The Expository Essay: A Brief Overview

• Expository essays take many forms, including how-to (or process), classification, definition, cause and effect, and compare and contrast essays.

• An expository essay explains a topic in a clear, specific, and logical manner.

• The goal when writing an expository essay is to inform readers without including your own personal bias or opinion.

• An expository essay examines a topic, evaluates the supporting evidence, and asserts an argument. Be sure to pick a topic that you can argue or somehow take a stance on.

• Expository essays are not research-based argument essays or persuasive essays.

• Expository essays generally do not require outside research.

• Your prof might ask you to write an expository essay as an exam or in-class writing assignment. So you’ll need to be able to write quickly and with little preparation.

30 Expository Essay Topics for an Outstanding Paper

To write an outstanding paper, you need to start with an outstanding topic.
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To write an outstanding paper, you need to start with an outstanding topic.

Here are 30 expository essay topics to get you started.

#1. How to eat healthy while living on a college student’s budget

Waiting for mom or dad to transfer money into your account or living off your part-time gig at the bookstore might leave your pockets and your stomach empty. What tips and tricks can you offer readers to help them survive on a budget?

#2. How can bullying in schools be prevented?

You might start this essay with a short discussion of why kids bully (or cyberbully) and how bullying in schools affects kids. Then explain what kids, parents, and teachers can do to prevent bullying.

#4. What effect does technology have on relationships?

Have you ever dated someone who spent more time on Facebook or texting than talking to you? Would you rather chat online or text people instead of actually talking to them in person? If so, you may have a good start to your expository essay.

Interested in writing about technology but not too keen on the relationship angle? Take a look at the following articles for added inspiration:

• 20 Technology Addiction Articles to Support Your Essay
• 10 Sources on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology to Support Your Essay

#5. How to treat severe allergic reactions

This type of essay might compare treatments and evaluate which one is best for specific allergies or groups of people.

#6. Do aliens really exist?

Have you ever seen mysterious lights in the sky? Have aliens taken you to the mothership? Maybe you can finally prove that aliens exist!

#7. Why is there an increase in depression in the United States?

Many people point to the added pressures of daily life as a leading cause of depression. In this essay, you might focus on how increased stress from school, work, and personal relationships can lead to depression.

#8. What does it mean to have a genius IQ?

Do you think you’re smarter than all your friends? Maybe you even think you’re a bonafide genius! How might such a high IQ have a positive or negative impact on one’s life or relationships?

#9. Explain the benefits and drawbacks of teen curfews

Sure, moms and dads usually demand that their teens come home at a specific time, but should cities be allowed to do the same? Your essay might explain how curfews help or harm cities or teens.

#10. How do video games affect children?

Many people automatically think that video games harm children, but your essay might take the opposite approach and focus on how video games can help children learn or even improve social skills.

#11. What are the positive and negative aspects of materialism?

Do you love your cell phone? What about your new heels? If you absolutely cannot live without your most prized possessions, this might be a perfect topic for you.

#12. Explain how the internet has had a positive effect on communication

Face it, your life wouldn’t be the same without the internet. What would become of the world if Facebook or Instagram no longer existed? Focus your essay on how these types of communication have positively affected the way we interact with others.

#13. Explain how to be a happy camper

If sitting by a bonfire is your thing, you might write about how to set up the perfect campsite. If you feel the phrase “happy camper” simply means being happy, you might write about how readers can organize their lives and become happy campers.

#14. How to plan a killer party

I really don’t think this one needs any explanation, does it?

#15. Explain the causes and effects of impulse buying

For those of us who have ever made an impulse buy and immediately regretted it, writing about why we buy and how we feel afterward might actually be better than retail therapy.

#16. Why do couples break up?

The list of reasons that couples split is almost endless, but your essay might focus on one or two of the most popular, such as infidelity or money problems.

#17. How to choose the perfect pet

While an iguana might be the perfect pet for your roommate, it might be far from ideal for you. Your essay could examine personality types, lifestyles, and budgets to decide how to choose the perfect pet.

#18. Explain why working while attending college can be beneficial

An obvious benefit to any job is money. (We all need money to survive, right?) Working part-time while going to school can also help develop skills that will benefit you in future jobs and can help build a strong resume.

#19. How does doping in sports harm not only the athlete but also the reputation of the sport?

High school athletes, professional athletes, and even Olympians have been caught doping. How and why do athletes risk their health for sports? How does doping change the way people view a sport and its athletes?

#20. Does multitasking help or hinder students’ academic performance?

Most of us are guilty of trying to do too many things at once. But if students balance their tasks effectively, can they actually accomplish more through multitasking?

#21. How to plan a vacation

Vacation planning means you’ll need to consider time, budget, location, and travel companions. You might want to try to fit all of these points into a paper, or you could focus on only one of these aspects of planning.

#22. Define friendship

Is a friend someone who will stand by you through thick and thin? What qualities do friends possess? Can Facebook friends by true friends? What makes a BFF different than other friends? Can you be friends with your parents?

#23. Compare and contrast parenting styles

Whether you address permissive, authoritarian, authoritative, or uninvolved parenting, there are positive and negative aspects to each. (If you’re writing a shorter paper, don’t try to compare all four styles. Narrow your focus to just two.)

#24. How to break a bad habit or addiction

This topic is broad, so you can narrow your focus to something silly or something serious. Maybe you want to write about a small and harmless habit like leaving your dirty socks on the floor. Perhaps you want to focus on steps to break a harmful addiction to alcohol, tobacco, or another drug.

#25. Compare and contrast two types of employees or two types of bosses

If you’re comparing employee types, you might start by looking at the people you work with. (If you’re not employed, try observing employees at a restaurant.) Employees might be helpful, lazy, eager to please, or apathetic.

If you’re comparing bosses, you might consider management styles, how bosses treat customers, and how they treat employees.

#26. How to throw a card

Knowing a cool card trick can make you the life of the party. If you have a few tricks up your sleeve, explain how to perform one.

Need a video to help with the visuals?

#27. Compare and contrast religions

There’s a lot of possible ground to cover in any religion, so before you begin, decide your focus. You might consider examining religious holidays and celebrations, moral values, or gender roles.

#28. How to actually listen to people

Ever accused your boyfriend or girlfriend of not listening to you? Has someone accused you of not listening?

If so, you may have some insights into how to actually tell people the proper way to listen. (Or if you’re one of those people who doesn’t do such a great job at listening, you might write about how to seem like you’re listening.)

#29. Compare and contrast two historical figures

Comparing two people can be challenging, so it’s crucial to decide your basis of comparison before beginning. For instance, if you’re comparing two political figures, you might examine their ideologies or their roles in a specific conflict, war, or political movement.

Need help tackling historical topics? Check out these posts:

• How to Start a History Essay Without Boring Your Readers to Death
• How to Write a History Paper That Will Go Down in History

#30. Define happiness

The term “happiness” is pretty broad and can mean so many different things to people. Some are happy sitting on a crowded beach, while others want to be hiking on an isolated trail in a forest.

Does money make people happy? Does a career? Can someone else complete you?

After You’ve Written a Draft on Your Outstanding Expository Essay Topic

Don’t forget that writing just one draft of a paper doesn’t always mean that you’ve written an outstanding essay (even if you do have a genius IQ).

Leave yourself enough time to take a look at your paper to see whether you’ve covered the basics.

For instance, is your paper formatted correctly? Do you have an effective thesis statement? Do you use sufficient evidence and examples to support your point? Are you persuasive enough?

Have you read, re-read, and revised so much that you can no longer tell whether your paper is worth submitting to your professor? Why not let a Kibin editor help with revision?

Good luck!

Stuck on Your Expository Essay?

Check out these example expository essays.

Yes! Show Me Examples.

Perhaps you’ve written this type of essay before. But even if you think you can write an explanatory essay standing on your head or standing on one foot and blindfolded, every once in awhile you find yourself with an essay assignment that you’re not quite sure you know how to handle.

If you’re in that position right now and could use a little help, check out these two explanatory essay examples. They will remind you of what a well-written explanatory essay looks like.

Hopefully, the examples also provide inspiration for your own paper.

2 Explanatory Essay Examples That Make the Grade

Explanatory essay example #1: How to Conduct a Good Job Interview

The first essay is a how-to essay that explains how someone conducted a job interview.

The writer speaks from experience, without the use of any evidence from sources to support ideas. While this strategy is certainly acceptable, you’ll want to check with your professor as to whether you should be using sources to support your explanatory how-to essay.

I’ve included a few additional comments to point out what the writer does well in this paper and what the writer might do to improve.

(Click any image below to enlarge.)

Explanatory essay example #2: Is the Little Mermaid a Bad Role Model?

This essay is a critique of an article. Remember, an explanatory essay essentially explains information. It doesn’t offer the opinion of the writer.

For the most part, the writer of this essay sticks to that rule and objectively reviews the article without offering personal opinion about the topic.

I’ve included a few additional comments throughout the paper to point out its strengths and identify areas that might be revised.

(Click any image below to enlarge.)

Writing Your Own Explanatory Essay

Armed with a few reminders of what to do (and not do) in an explanatory essay, you’re ready to move on to writing your own.

If you’re feeling a little unsure about a topic for your paper after reading the explanatory essay examples, read 24 Explanatory Essay Topics That Will Expand Your Horizons.

And if you need help putting it all together, read How to Write an Explanatory Essay That Explains It All or this quick breakdown of an explanatory (a.k.a. expository) essay.

Still struggling? If you want a few more tips about getting started, try prewriting or outlining. These strategies are sure to help you get the creative juices flowing!

Of course, always remember to complete the final step of the writing process: revision. Kibin editors are at your service.

Good luck!

Stuck on Your Expository Essay?

Check out these example expository essays.

Yes! Show Me Examples.

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

Of course, nowadays it’s a little less romantic. We “lose sight of the shore” after putting our seat backs and tray tables in their full upright positions and assuring the flight attendant that our portable electronic devices are set to “airplane” mode.

And of course by the time we “discover new oceans,” we have already learned pretty much everything there is to know about that “ocean” from Wikipedia.

A little less romantic indeed, but you know what Ralph Waldo Emerson said:

“Life is a journey, not a destination.”

So who cares if you’ve already decided everything you’ll do on your trip based on Yelp reviews before you’ve even taken off. It’s about the journey, not the destination!

Side note: How many cheesy travel quotes do you think I can cram into this intro? I’ll tell you what, allow me one more and I promise to stop:

I had to throw these quotes in here because they’re quite relevant to the idea of writing an exploratory essay, which is really what we’re going to talk about today.

An exploratory essay is all about pushing away from the shore of the known to discover something new. And unlike other essays, the exploratory essay is less about the destination than your journey to get there.

An exploratory essay is all about pushing away from the shore of the known to discover something new.
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And last but not least, the whole idea of an exploratory essay is to go exploring, learn something new, gain a new perspective, and then come back to the place where you started. Then you write about your journey.

So let’s go on a journey together to discover how to write an exploratory essay worth exploring.

What Is an Exploratory Essay, and How Is It Different Than an Argumentative Essay?

The most popularly assigned essay is the argumentative essay. A whole lot of ink has been spilled on this topic here at the Kibin Blog, so I’m not going to spend much time explaining it today.

For our purposes, you need to know that an argumentative essay includes an argument in the form of a thesis. It’s written to persuade the readers of said argument. An exploratory essay does no such thing.

Instead, the purpose of an exploratory essay is to explore a topic. (Clearly whoever came up with the names of these essays was the straightforward type.)

The idea is to find a topic that piques your interest, develop questions related to that topic, research those questions, and then share your findings (and process) with your reader.

The point isn’t to argue a point or even find a definitive answer to your questions. Instead, you follow the research, wherever it may take you.

It’s kind of like the difference between a business trip and a spur-of-the-moment vacation to a place of interest. The first has a clear purpose from the beginning and may require various forms of arguing and convincing along the way, depending on your profession. The second, however, is fueled by curiosity and often unfurls in unforeseen ways.

An exploratory essay is like a last-minute vacation to an interesting locale, fueled by curiosity.
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Moreover, the exploratory essay often is a bit more personal and introspective than the argumentative essay.

Whereas the writing in an argumentative essay should steadfastly stick to third person so as to add credence to your arguments, part of the “exploration” in an exploratory essay is focused on the writer’s personal journey of discovery related to the essay topic.

This means that exploratory essays will sometimes require a first-person account of your research and thinking process.

Choosing Your Destination

Choosing a topic for exploratory essays is similar to choosing where to take a trip. This often starts with an important question: What topic (or destination) interests me?

Much like when planning a trip, it doesn’t hurt to do a bit of preliminary research before making a final decision. I suggest that you come up with a list of various topics and then look into each a bit to see if they will work well for an exploratory essay.

There are certain aspects to topics for exploratory essays that will make them worth exploring. Here are a few questions to think about when deciding on a topic:

1. Are there multiple ways to look at this topic? Although you will not be making an argument in your paper, it’s best if you present a topic that other people will be motivated to talk and argue about.
2. Will I be able to take a neutral position and have an objective tone? If the topic is something that causes your blood to boil because you’re so passionately for or against one side, you will probably find it hard to objectively present each side in your paper.
3. Is there plenty of potential when it comes to research? The backbone of your exploratory essay will be the research you do. If your preliminary research on a topic proves difficult, you may want to go in a different direction.

If, in the end, you still have a few different topics that sufficiently satisfy each of the above questions, I suggest you return to the very first question I presented above: What topic interests me the most?

It’s incredibly important when tackling a research-heavy essay that you have a high level of interest in the topic at hand.

An uninspiring vacation destination will always suffice if there’s a beach and a bar. But you’re going to be a lot happier diving into that research if it’s on a topic that piques your curiosity.

Exploring

My mother is a beautiful and intelligent human being. In a lot of ways, we’re quite similar (Zing!). However, we’re very different travelers.

My mother’s travel itineraries are the stuff of legends (and high stress levels). Every meal, sightseeing stop, and bathroom break is seemingly planned in advance. I, on the other hand, rarely plan anything beyond my port of entry.

In that sense, my dear old mom is like the argumentative essay, not just because her unbending itinerary often leads to arguments, but because she knows what she’s looking for in advance.

On the other hand, as the explorer of the family, I’m more like the exploratory essay. I have a general idea of what I’m interested in checking out, but I’m open to letting the journey progress organically.

Because you’re likely to be researching a controversial topic for your exploration essay, you should have a good idea of the competing schools of thought related to it. These opinions and the questions that arise from them are not only a great point from which to begin your research, but they will often form your essay outline.

The goal isn’t really to find cut-and-dry answers to these questions, but to simply explore them. While doing this, it’s extremely important that you document your entire process. That includes what resources you used and how, when, and why you used them.

Think of it like a travel journal. It may seem a bit tedious in the moment, but it will be an incredible resource in the future. In the case of your exploratory essay, your research journal will be needed in the very near future.

Writing about Your Journey

As T. S. Eliot’s quote informed us way up there in that seemingly cheesy introduction, writing an exploration essay starts after you’ve finished your exploring and returned to the beginning with a new perspective.

This means returning to the original issue and the related questions. Then you present your findings on the matter, including how exactly you came up with your findings.

Think of it kind of like writing a travel blog. You’ve been on your trip, had your experiences, and hopefully, learned something along the way. Now it’s time to write about your journey.

This is where your handy travel/research journal will come in handy. It will make it much easier to write about your process, experience, and findings.

As you start putting together your essay, think about these essential parts:

• Introduction: Give an overview of the issue you’re exploring and why your reader should find it important. Briefly describe the competing schools of thought on this issue. Present the reader with the main question(s) that you explored in relation to your topic.
• Body: The body paragraphs of your exploratory essay will focus on the various points of view in relation to your topic, the sources you used, how, when, and why you used them (as documented in your research), and what you learned from them. You’re allowed to get a bit personal at this point, explaining how your views have changed. Introspection is a key part of your exploration essay.
• Conclusion: The conclusion is your chance to look back at the journey as a whole. Take the time to restate the original issue, summarize what you’ve learned, and explain any lingering questions you may have.

Hopefully, you arrive at the end of your exploration essay with a new understanding of the issue and an appreciation for the journey. And of course, let’s hope you have written an essay that brings your reader along for the ride.

If, instead, you arrive at the end of your draft with the feeling that something is missing, it’s quite okay to return to the issue and do some further research. Writers rarely get it right on the first draft. Just make sure you address that feeling and subsequent research in your next draft.

And of course, don’t forget to have your essay edited by someone who can provide an honest, fast, and thorough appraisal of your work.

Happy exploring!

Stuck on Your Expository Essay?

Check out these example expository essays.

Yes! Show Me Examples.

How many times did you complain that you didn’t like any topics on the list? I bet you’ve done it at least once or twice.

You yearn for the freedom to choose your own topic, wishing you could write about something that interests you.

Here’s your chance. Your professor has assigned an explanatory essay. You can write about almost any topic you like.

The problem is, you’ve already wasted two hours of precious time trying to think of something to write about.

Be careful what you wish for, right?

Worry no more. I am here to grant your wish. I’ll bestow upon you 24 explanatory essay topics that will expand your horizons.

Explanatory Essay Basics

You’ll write an explanatory essay many times in your academic career. (An explanatory essay is also sometimes called an expository essay.)

Like an expository essay, the explanatory essay can take a  number of forms. Some example forms include the example, compare/contrast, definition, how-to, and cause/effect essay formats.

The goal of the explanatory essay is to inform readers of a topic or situation. But it also seeks to clarify any information readers may find confusing.

Explanatory essays inform about a topic/situation and clarify any confusing information.
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Don’t include your opinion or try to convince readers. You’re not writing an argumentative or persuasive essay.

Instead, objectively present ideas. Remember, your goal is to inform and educate your audience. You don’t have to convince them of your point of view.

24 Explanatory Essay Topics That Will Expand Your Horizons

You can be assigned an expository essay in just about any class. I’ve divided the topics below into six basic subjects. In some cases, I’ve included a link to an example essay on the topic.

History explanatory essay topics

1. What are the key causes of the Vietnam War?

While the causes of any war are complex, your essay might examine the roles of the U.S., China, and France and various components of the Cold War.

2. What are the causes of the Civil Rights Movement?

A discussion of Civil Rights would most certainly include the civil unrest of the 1950s and 1960s. It would also likely include the roles both Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. played in the movement.

3. Compare and contrast the Great Depression to today’s economic conditions.

An essay that compares these two time periods could provide an overview of the stock market and housing speculations and crashes, the banking crisis, and high unemployment rates. The essay could also look at how these elements affected society during the Great Depression. Then, you could address how those effects are similar to those felt today.

4. How did the British invasion and rule of India affect India and its citizens?

Clearly, this is a large topic. But you might narrow your focus to the religious impact, socioeconomic impact, or economic impact.

Social science explanatory essay topics

1. What are the key causes of poverty?

Consider how aspects such as the economy and educational levels affect poverty.

2. How do child beauty pageants affect children?

Some argue that pageants can promote self-esteem. Others argue that pageants can be harmful by encouraging eating disorders and the sexualization of children.

3. Define laziness.

Sometimes, inspiration for a definition essay might be as easy as looking at the habits of your younger brother or your roommate.

4. How can noise pollution affect society or individuals?

We often become used to loud noises in cities and can even find them comforting. However, noise pollution can be harmful. People can experience hearing damage and sleep disturbances. Wildlife can experience similar problems and may be unable to communicate.

Health explanatory essay topics

1. What are the effects of health or nutrition education on children?

Here, you might explore issues surrounding Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move program. There’s also her involvement in school nutrition and lunch programs to consider. You might also choose a different direction. You could, for example, discuss advertising or parental influence.

2. Identify several possible health benefits of drinking red wine (responsibly, of course!).

Benefits of red wine might include a lower risk of cancer and a lower risk of heart disease.

3. How can college students avoid gaining weight?

Sure, you could simply stop eating. You could just exist on ramen noodles alone. But what about other ways you might avoid gaining weight? For example, weight maintenance might involve joining a sports team, visiting the gym, or enrolling in a kickboxing course.

4. Explain positive and negative effects of the Affordable Care Act.

The positive effects might include the number of people now insured. They could also include the fact that more health screenings are now covered. The negative effects might be that some insurance premiums have gone up. Or you could point out that some employers have cut workers’ hours to avoid paying health insurance for their employees.

Technology and media explanatory essay topics

1. How can music influence someone’s mood?

Having a bad day? Put in your earbuds, and play your favorite song. Relax, dance, or sing along. Hey, it’s important to do some research to see how the music affects you, right?

2. How might prescription drug direct-to-consumer advertising affect consumers?

Never mind how annoying prescription drug ads can be and how sick of watching them you might be. Instead, consider whether the ads encourage people to speak to their doctors about health concerns. You might also consider how the cost of drugs is impacted by the extra cost of advertising.

3. How does alcohol advertising impact consumers (especially teens)?

Alcohol ads make everything surrounding their adult beverages sexy, fun, and cool. How might teens be influenced by these images? Are teens more likely or less likely to consume alcohol based on these ads?

4. What are positive and negative impacts of technology in the classroom?

Technology can be a positive influence. It can help students master material. It can make learning more fun and engaging. But it can also be a negative influence. For example, it can distract students. (Think of the temptation to Snapchat or check Instagram during class.)

Literature explanatory essay topics

1. What are three key symbols in Romeo and Juliet?

There’s a lot of symbolism to explore in this play. You might consider the following symbols as a start: death, poison, and love.

2. Compare the American Dream of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman to today’s American Dream.

Willy Loman believes that being popular and liked by others will help him achieve the American Dream. In many ways, his American Dream mirrors that of many people’s American Dream today. Consider how his attitude and his dreams for material possessions compare to the attitudes and dreams of people today.

3. Identify several gender roles in A Doll’s House, and compare those roles to gender roles today.

Nora is expected to be the helpless housewife. Her husband, Torvald, believes he is dominant and the ultimate protector. Despite all that, the play also addresses feminism and Nora’s independence.

4. Explain the most prominent theme of Macbeth.

Most would agree that the most prominent theme in the play is power and its ability to corrupt. Your essay might explore this theme and how it is portrayed in Macbeth. You might also expand the discussion to compare the theme and its portrayal in other works. For example, you could compare the same theme in Lord of the Flies or Animal Farm.

Science explanatory essay topics

1. What are the causes and effects of a polar vortex?

In basic terms, a polar vortex is caused when a low pressure system pushes cold air into an area. What are the effects? (Besides lots of cold and often miserable people, of course!)

2. Identify several examples why nuclear power may or may not be safe.

An essay about nuclear power might highlight the fact that the risk at nuclear power plants is statistically low. The same essay might also point to the dangers should an accident occur.

3. Explain why GMOs (genetically modified organisms) may or may not be safe for consumers.

Some point to studies that illustrate that GMOs are perfectly safe. Others argue that studies show a link between GMOs and health concerns, such as kidney or liver damage.

4. Explain how to make a cloud in a bottle or how to make a mini volcano in your kitchen.

Either of these is a good topic for a more lighthearted essay that still discusses solid scientific principles. It might be fun to create a volcano in your kitchen too!

Your Wish Has Been Granted

Sometimes, having a list of topics can be exactly what you need to finally pick the perfect explanatory essay topic and get writing!

Don’t tell me. You still aren’t happy with the topics I’ve included here? Read 17 Expository Essay Topics for an Outstanding Paper. Maybe you’ll find one on the list that inspires you.

Remember, once you’ve finished your paper, don’t simply wish for a good grade.

Get help with proofreading, editing, and revising. Send your paper our way, and let us help grant your wish!

Stuck on Your Expository Essay?

Check out these example expository essays.

Yes! Show Me Examples.

First, a stranger visits Detective Holmes and his sidekick Watson, presenting them with a mysterious criminal quandary. Then Holmes and Watson visit the scene of the crime where Holmes is able to come up with a hypothesis.

Watson doesn’t fully understand the theory, but he follows Holmes throughout the investigation to see if he can prove it.

As the investigation progresses, Watson and other detectives fumble about, while Holmes is able to discover, analyze, and piece together certain elements that lead to the correct conclusion.

In the end, Holmes is proven right, but still has to explain it all to Watson, who is left awestruck by the great detective’s unsurpassed intuition.

It turns out, a classic Sherlock Holmes story has a lot in common with an explanatory essay.

In this example, you, the essay writer, are Sherlock, coming up with a hypothesis, finding evidence and clues, and explaining it all to Watson, your reader, in a clear and concise way that he can understand.

So let’s go on an adventure to discover how to write an explanatory essay that, like Sherlock Holmes, explains it all.

Brainstorm

Detective Holmes approaches each case with a blank mind, allowing him to come up with a theory uninfluenced by preconceived notions. I encourage you to approach the brainstorming phase of your writing project with a similar openness.

When I’m looking for a good topic for an explanatory essay, I like to find the right balance between what I already know and what I want to learn. It’s hard to write an essay meant to explain something in detail if you’re starting from scratch.

For example, I would never try to write an explanatory essay on how to be a detective of an actual crime. I know nothing outside of what I’ve seen on True Detective. I’m not sure that qualifies as a reliable source.

If you know nothing about a subject, it’s probably better to explore it in your free time than to choose it for an essay topic.

On the other hand, I would also advise you to avoid choosing a subject you already know everything about. For example, if you’re an actual detective, you could probably write a good explanatory essay on how to solve crimes. You’re unlikely to learn anything new in the process, though.

And if you aren’t learning something along the way, then what’s this all for?

Sometimes, you’ll be given a prompt to follow when writing your explanatory essay. In those instances, you won’t need to brainstorm a topic.

If you’re not given a prompt, then you need to come up with an idea on your own. Feeling stumped? Explore some example expository essays to get a feel for what a good topic might look like fleshed out into a full paper. Try these to get started:

• The Mass Appeal of Starbucks
• Generation Voyeur
• The Influence of Ancient Greece on Western Civilization
• Too Much Homework and Its Negative Effects

However, in either case, you’ll need to take the time to brainstorm a preliminary hypothesis based on what you already know, much like Detective Holmes does.

Research

Every theory that Sherlock comes up with during a case is based on the evidence he has and the clues he finds.

So while you will develop a working thesis for your paper very early in the process, you’ll need to do additional research to either prove that view or evolve it in a different direction. The more research you gather, the more prepared you’ll be to explain the situation to the reader.

For example, let’s imagine you’re writing about falling crime rates in your city, state, or country. You may have a strong idea for why those rates are dropping. But your explanatory essay is for explaining the actual reason for those dropping rates.

That means you either need to find hard evidence that supports your idea or start looking in a different direction.

Remember, in an explanatory essay, the main point is to analyze an idea or view. Part of any good analysis is data, data, data!

Moreover, since you’re explaining something to your reader, with the idea of providing a thorough analysis, don’t waste your time with sources that aren’t universally considered reputable.

There’s no quicker way to lose an explanatory essay reader than to provide evidence from the likes of a forum or Wikipedia.

Read How to Apply the CRAAP Test to Your Essay Sources.

You cannot make a brick without clay, and you cannot write a serious essay without serious sources.

Pattern and Outline

Once you have finished doing research and come up with a direction for your explanatory essay, it’s human nature to want to jump right into writing it. Genius, however, rarely results from jumping in without a plan.

It’s human nature to want to jump right into writing, but genius rarely results without a plan.
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Instead, after gathering research, I encourage you to come up with an organizational pattern for your essay and prepare an outline. This work may sound like a pain now, but it can be the difference between an essay that explains it all and one that explains a bit.

Various patterns of organization work well in an explanatory essay, including compare/contrast, problem/solution, and chronological patterns.

When choosing a pattern, remember that it serves two purposes. One, it helps logically guide you through the writing process. Two, it lays out the information in a way that’s easy for the reader to read, understand, and retain.

Once you have organized all of the evidence you gathered, start creating an outline of your paper. The five-paragraph essay outline can work great for an explanatory essay.

Just as Sherlock Holmes pieces every parcel of evidence together before reaching a logical conclusion, you want to outline all of the pertinent information before writing your essay.

Introduction and Thesis

Just like Sherlock has to explain everything to Watson, you, the writer, must assume the reader knows nothing. Therefore, you must explain everything.

A good introduction allows space for you to break down these elementary aspects before moving on to the aspects of higher importance to your essay.

Begin your essay by grabbing the reader’s attention in some way. Propose a question or a stunning fact. This will hook your readers into the essay. It will guide them toward the ever-important thesis statement.

Begin your essay by grabbing the reader’s attention—propose a question or a stunning fact.
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Before getting to the thesis statement, which should be located at the end of your first paragraph, use the space after your hook to provide any critical background information.

Once that’s out of the way, hit your reader with the gist of your paper, a one-sentence summation of the idea that will be explained in your essay. At this point, you can assume that your reader, like Watson, needs a bit more convincing. This is where the body of your paper comes in.

Be Supportive

Once you’ve established your thesis at the end of your introduction, it’s your job as the writer to use the body paragraphs of your paper to convincingly support that thesis.

Generalities are not convincing, as Holmes alludes to in the quote above. Sherlock would not be a successful and entertaining detective if he wasn’t able to give a detailed explanation for each theory he presents.

Similarly, you must be able to present detailed explanations on important aspects of your subject.

There’s a specific structure for body paragraphs that can be used to make the greatest impression on your reader. It starts with a strong topic sentence. You should consider each the thesis of the paragraph.

Use this sentence, the first of each body paragraph, to let the reader know what important point you’re going to make in the paragraph.

You should follow the topic sentence with supporting sentences that back up and explain your topic sentence with details from your research. You will then cap your paragraph with a concluding sentence.

That final sentence wraps up any loose ends and explains the importance of the previously presented evidence.

Conclusion

Imagine Sherlock Holmes, with his magnifying glass, following the footprints of a criminal, recounting the details of the crime as he goes. A conclusion traces your own footsteps, so to speak.

A killer conclusion paragraph gives you a chance to review and summarize your thesis and main points, and tie up loose ends. It also lets you offer readers something to think about.

You could achieve this by discussing the larger significance of your subject or by presenting any unanswered questions related to your topic.

For an explanatory essay, this could be a chance to encourage your reader to get involved with your subject, whether it’s an activity or a subject worth further exploration.

Be Creative, and Break the Rules

Now that you know the rules related to writing a strong explanatory essay, feel free to break them. This isn’t the first time, nor will it be the last, that I have encouraged my readers to break the rules when writing an essay.

Just as I encourage you to push yourself to learn something new when writing your explanatory essay, I also find it infinitely important for you, as a writer, to find new and interesting ways to deliver information.

Consider the above instructions for writing an explanatory essay as a tried-and-true strategy.

However, tapping into your own creativity and imagination when writing is natural. Take it from Sherlock Holmes or, in this instance, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Reverse Outline

An extremely useful, yet seldom-used practice in essay writing is the reverse outline. A reverse outline allows you to change directions after finishing your explanatory essay draft. It allows you to reason backward, if you will.

The idea is that you create an outline of your finished product, taking notes to ensure that you have sufficiently stayed on topic and focused on your thesis.

This practice can be equally useful in creating a focused final draft of your explanatory essay and in checking the alibi of your prime witness.

Proofread Your Explanatory Essay

Once you’ve settled on a final draft of your explanatory essay that explains it all, one that establishes an amazing thesis built on strong evidence and a clear structure, don’t forget to have someone proofread it.

I have recurring nightmares of bright students throwing their precious time and energy into an amazing essay draft just to lose points at the finish line. Why? They make common grammar and wording mistakes that distract from their great ideas.

So for the sake of my sleeping habits, proofread your essay.

It is elementary, my dear reader.

Stuck on Your Expository Essay?

Check out these example expository essays.

Yes! Show Me Examples.

By now, you’ve probably made plans in one form or another. You’ve marked quizzes and paper due dates on a calendar. Maybe you’ve put together a surprise birthday party for your friend. Thinking about setting a wedding date with your significant other? Now you’re really talking about planning.

But why do we plan? What makes us set a schedule for a series of events ahead of time? In this post, I’ll answer these questions and focus on why outlining your papers is a vital part of the writing process.

Then you’ll get the chance to access some awesome essay outline templates to help you start writing a well-planned and strongly organized paper that wows your professor.

Planning Saves Lives … or Grades

Okay, so your freshman analysis paper on gender roles in 50 Shades of Grey may not win a Pulitzer or change anybody’s life. But if you don’t outline your paper, you’re probably heading for a crash.

If you don’t outline your paper, you’re probably heading for a crash.
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Speaking of crashes, think about something you probably do on a daily basis, driving—or riding in—a car. A lot of planning went into that machine to make it work and get you safely from point A to point B.

If the engineers hadn’t carefully blueprinted all the working parts and how they fit together, then that car wouldn’t run at all. Essays are similar. An unplanned essay that isn’t outlined usually won’t pass your professor’s inspection and just gets you nowhere.

An essay outline denotes how you’ll structure your paper. You can (and should!) make changes along the way. But you want to get everything written down so that you can refer to the outline while you’re writing your rough draft.

If you start out with a good idea of how your paper will function and transition between ideas and paragraphs, then you’ll stay on track and avoid writing yourself into a corner.

Beware the corners—this is what happens when you get to a point in your paper and feel like you have run out of ideas or have no place else to go. Don’t let this happen to you—plan ahead!

Got It–But How Do I Start?

Good time management skills definitely don’t hurt. But just like your paper won’t write itself, your essay is going nowhere if you don’t sit down and start working on that outline.

But maybe it’s been awhile since you’ve composed an outline, and some forms are better than others. No worries—instead of starting from scratch, we’ve got you covered with these templates. You just have to fill in the blanks and keep moving forward!

That said, it’s a good idea to think about the process behind writing a paper before moving forward with your outline. Most papers—like most cars—have the same basic working parts.

Most papers—like most cars—have the same basic working parts.
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You usually need a thesis statement in your introductory paragraph, body paragraphs that follow a logical order and support that thesis, and a conclusion that wraps it all up.

And though most essay have those same working parts, there are different types of essays. Each one requires a different approach to outlining. So without further ado …

7 Super-Awesome Essay Outline Templates

1. Analytical essay outline

Download the template!

This outline template can help you pick apart a topic and support your thesis so well that your professor’s jaw will drop. An analytical essay isn’t a summary—it requires you to concentrate on how a book or poem was written, why a song was composed, what themes are prevalent in a movie, and why that matters.

You come up with an answer and then explain why you’re right. This template covers the basics and narrows the focus, so you can write a killer thesis statement and use strong evidence to support your claim.

2. Argumentative essay outline

Download the template!

Nearly all college students will write an argumentative essay, so steel yourself and get ready to create a powerful outline. In this type of essay, you’ll try to persuade your readers that your thoughts on a given topic are the right ones.

But unlike a persuasive essay, you’ll have to do some solid research and back up your ideas with hard facts. This is a great template to guide you through writing your intro, developing your argument, refuting your opponent’s arguments, and bringing your essay over the finish line with the conclusion.

In an argument essay, you must consider the opposing side(s). This handy template will also show you how to tackle the best of them.

3. Compare and contrast essay outline

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A compare and contrast essay takes two subjects and focuses on their similarities and differences. Sounds easy, right? Wait—there’s more!

Like all good essays, this one also serves a larger purpose—maybe you’re trying to state something unknown, clear up a misunderstanding, or show that one topic is better than another.

This template can help you reach these goals using the point-by-point comparison method. Check it out.

4. Expository essay outline

Download the template!

Do you like helpful advice? Me too. That’s what you get with this awesome expository essay template. An expository essay is kind of like a book report. Your teacher makes you write one of these to show that you’ve aptly researched a topic.

Though there are many ways to organize this type of essay, start with this outline, and you’ll be in good shape. It will help you explain your topic using facts, evidence, and analysis—all of which will help you showcase the larger significance at hand.

5. Persuasive essay outline

Download the template!

Prove it to me. A persuasive essay’s goal is to convince your readers that your viewpoint is the right one. It’s kind of like an argument essay, except that you don’t have to use well-researched facts in order to support your thesis. You can focus on emotional anecdotes and stories to convince your reader that you’re 100% correct.

This is a great outline template that really delivers from intro to conclusion. Need to define your audience and lay down your best hook? Look no further than this stellar template.

6. Reflective essay outline

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In a reflective essay, you get to recall an event, object, or person that helped you become who you are today. This is a fun essay to write because all the material for it exists in your own head. You don’t have to research or argue. You simply offer the reader a meaningful glimpse into your life.

These essays don’t have to be serious—just ask David Sedaris—but there are good and bad ways to write them. Never fear—this template is here to guide you in setting up your hook, descriptive body paragraphs, and an impactful conclusion.

7. Research essay outline

Download the template!

Research essays are beastly—they’re longer than most papers to start. They also typically require more effort because you’re gathering sources and revealing what experts are saying about your topic. But this type of essay is cool because it helps you sharpen both your writing skills and knowledge about a topic.

So learn something, and slay that research essay beast by starting with the best weapon. This template will help you put a framework to your ideas—covering the thesis, context, and history behind your topic, the existing arguments, and why the topic/research matters.

From Outline to Essay

Outlining your essay before you begin writing it has so many advantages. It’s easier to change and reorganize a few points on a page than doing the same for large paragraphs in a rough draft.

Outlines save you time and provide peace of mind when it comes to writing papers. Even when you’re putting words to the page, you can always refer back to an outline to keep you on the right track and avoid getting stuck in one of those scary corners we talked about.

Want to win the essay-writing race? Then make a habit of outlining your essays from now on.

Some Inspiration

Sometimes it just helps to see how others have tackled essays in the past. Check out some of these great example essays from the Kibin database to inspire your next trip down essay-writing lane.

• Analytical essay examples
• Argumentative essay examples
• Compare and contrast essay examples
• Expository essay examples
• Persuasive essay examples
• Research essay examples
• Reflective essay examples

Now you’re ready to rev your outline-writing engine. Kick your typing into gear, and drive that paper from point A to point B with a well-organized structure that’ll show your professor you know what’s what.

And don’t forget—your Kibin pit crew is standing by to proofread that next paper to make sure it runs like a dream when you’re ready to turn it in.

*Pop: to suddenly break open or come away from something often with a short, loud noise (Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary).

Option 1: Write expository essay in gunpowder. Light. Run.

Option 2: Use ink to string together words in a way that makes your reader say, “Whoa.”

I recommend the second option for various reasons, not the least of which is that I kind of like having ten fingers. I know what you are thinking: “Gunpowder go boom. Boom is fun.” Well, turn off Spike TV for a second, put on some pants, and give me a chance to show you a better way to write an expository essay.

Understanding the Basics of an Expository Essay

An expository essay involves coming up with an idea that you believe in, doing some investigation on said idea, taking a stance, and then formulating these thoughts into a clear and concise essay that, usually, argues your idea.

I know what you are thinking. Sounds a heck of a lot like an argumentative essay. True, they are similar. The difference lies in the preparation and depth of research.

Argumentative essays are often assigned as capstone projects. There is a reason many programs give you a semester to finish one.

On the other hand, expository essays are often presented on tests or in-class writing assignments. This means that the “research” step is sometimes done in your own head.

While expository essays will have some of the same structural qualities of an argumentative essay, they tend to take on a more personal tone. But, don’t mistake “personal tone” for “opinion.” Expository essays must inform based on logic.

The expository essay is one of the most traditional essay forms. If you are a student at any level, these bad boys are unavoidable. You will have to write one, or many. And, the most traditional way to write this most traditional essay is the 5 paragraph essay (cue lightning and thunder sounds).

Don’t worry. You’re going to have ample opportunity to put your own creative touches on your expository essay, but first you have to understand the basics. Read on for how to write an expository essay.

How to Write an Expository Essay that Pops — in the Wrong Way

I know you’re excited about poppin’ that essay like it’s hot, but there are certain aspects of an expository essay that are untouchable. If your essay lacks one of the following, your teacher might pop it straight into the trash.

A supportable topic: When choosing a topic, make sure you can argue it or take a stance in some way. Many times, the expository essay you write will be based on an essay prompt that is provided to you.

Choose an answer that can be expounded. If you can’t come up with at least 3 strong pieces of evidence in support of your answer, you better keep brainstorming.

Reliable sources: If you are working on an expository essay assignment that allows you to do some research, use reliable sources.

It sounds self-explanatory, but I can’t tell you how often Tim Howard is the U.S. Secretary of Defense.

That kind of information is going to make your paper pop for the wrong reasons. Unless you are writing an expository essay about Wikipedia being an unreliable source, keep its information out of your paper.

An appropriate method of development: It is important to choose the best method for organizing your essay before you tackle the outline.

Methods include compare and contrast, definition, description, and many more. Think about which method will allow you to formulate your ideas in the most convincing and informative way.

For example, perhaps the prompt asks, “What is the best online editing service?” You could use “compare and contrast,” but there are tons of redundant companies out there that would waste too much of your and the readers’ time. Instead, you could use the “exemplification” model to give a few examples why Kibin is obviously the coolest kid at school.” 

A clear outline: Before you jump into writing your essay, create an outline so you can stay on track during the writing process.

This writing skeleton allows you to see your topic and method of development on paper, so you don’t get lost during the writing process. It can include your thesis, topic sentences, and evidence. It may end up being quite similar to that of an argumentative essay outline.

An introduction, body, and conclusion: No matter how you decide to structure your paper, you’re going to need these three in there somewhere.

Your introduction should, you guessed it, introduce the topic. First, provide some background information. Tell the reader why this topic is important. Grab their attention.

Then, to avoid creating one of the unfocused papers that land on many teachers’ desks, end your introduction with a thesis statement. This will clearly set forth the topic you will be describing, arguing for or against, etc. The thesis statement is the star around which your entire essay orbits.

The body paragraphs contain the meat and potatoes, and by meat and potatoes I mean the nuts and bolts, and by nuts and bolts I mean the evidence and information. Each section of the body should contain one piece of your evidence or info. This allows your writing to stay focused, and it allows your reader to easily transition from one point to the next.

Your conclusion should restate the importance of your topic. You can quickly review the information and evidence you have already presented, but do not add any new information at this point.

Final Touches: Once you finish writing, it is important to go back and double check your work.

• You want to make sure that your topic is clearly presented or argued in your thesis statement.
• You want to make sure that each piece of evidence in the body of your essay strengthens the idea of your thesis in some way.
• You want to look for any holes that can be punched in your information or argument.
• And, of course, remove any mistakes that could distract the reader from your awesome ideas. A great way to do this is to have someone else look at your work, like the highly skilled editors at Kibin.

Tips for Turning that Dud of an Essay into a Roman Candle

Now that you understand all of the essential aspects of how to write an expository essay, let’s look at ways to spice it up a bit.

Focus your topic: So, you want to write your paper on the Beat Generation? That’s great! But, you do realize that the Beat Generation was AN ENTIRE FREAKIN’ GENERATION, RIGHT!?! We’re talking about dozens of writers over a decade that inspired obscenity trials in the 50s, new movements in the 60s, and meh movies in the 2000s. That’s a lot to tackle and, frankly, it’s too much for an expository essay.

Instead, focus on something that interests you within the Beat Generation, like the qualities of Dean Moriarty in Kerouac’s On the Road.

The interest part is important, because if you are bored with the topic, you’re words aren’t going to pop off the page (more on that later).

By narrowing your focus, you give yourself more wiggle room for creativity, because the amount of information you need to cover is less overwhelming.

Break the rules: One of my favorite things to do when writing is to break the rules.

Call me a rebel, but just the fact that we call them “grammar rules” makes me want to scream, “Anarchy!” and then proceed to write my entire paper as one run-on sentence.

Some of my favorite writers (Cormac McCarthy, Jack Kerouac, Hubert Selby Jr.) said to H-E-double hockey sticks with all that jazz and did what they wanted.

The beat writers, like Kerouac, loved to laugh in the face of literary conformity (I mean, c’mon, dingledodies?). They could get away with it because they knew the rules they were breaking, and then they did it because they believed it made their writing pop like those roman candles.

So, now that you know how to write an expository essay in the standard, proper, correct way, get creative with it. Take some chances. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new structures and methods of developing your essay.

Someone has to be the first, right?

Have a little fun: If you are having fun writing an essay, the odds are that the reader is going to enjoy reading it.

On the other hand, if you think essays about lowering the legal drinking age have been written about 72,589 times too many, and yet you choose this topic for your essay, chances are you will be bored while you are writing it.

Can you guess what emotion your reader is most likely to feel?

Instead, write about something that is unique and interesting to you. Perhaps you believe Coca Cola is the black liquid of Yankee imperialism. Or, maybe you believe you can write a one paragraph essay arguing that five paragraph essays are fascist.

The expository essay allows you to explore your ideas, as long as you can produce them in a logical way. So, do it. You might just make it pop and keep all of your digits.

For some creative writing prompts, check out this author’s list.

For some examples of expository essays, check out the example expository essays over at Kibin.com.

Finally check out this post for more information on the dos and don’ts of expository writing.

Good luck!

Stuck on Your Expository Essay?

Check out these example expository essays.

Yes! Show Me Examples.

In simple terms, what is an expository essay?

An expository essay exposes something—no, not that—sheesh, get your mind out of the gutter! It lays out all the facts, and only facts, to inform, investigate, evaluate and, in some cases, propose an argument. It’s not an argumentative essay, however. While you can pick a side, it’s not mandatory. The focus is on explaining.

You encounter expository writing everywhere—nonfiction books, textbooks, newspaper articles, biographies, online articles, just to name a few. What makes something expository is one key feature: it answers a question. Below are just a handful (or two) of relevant questions.

1.  What is X?
2.  How does X work?
3.  What does X mean?
4.  How are X and Y similar? Different?
5.  What’s the connection between X and Y?
6.  What is the history of X?
7.  How has X evolved?
8.  How do you do X?
9.  What causes X?
10.  What are the effects of X?

So, for example, you might create one of the following corresponding expository topics:

1.  Down and Dirty in the White House: The Clinton Sex Scandal
2.  How Urban Legends Are Born
3.  Honey on the Brink: What Bee Extinction Means for the World
4.  Why the Internet Turns Everyone Into a Nosey Neighbor
5.  Why Cops and Donuts Go Together Like Bread and Butter
6.  Wall Street Swindlers: How the Pyramid Scheme Got Started
7.  The Evolution of Donald Trump’s Hair
8.  How to See Invisible People: Making Introverts Feel Welcome
9.  Why a Butterfly Sneezing in Guatemala Might Mean Higher Prices at the Pump
10.  Binge or Purge? Effects of Social Media on Daily Life

What makes for a particularly good expository essay?

A good expository essay sticks to the facts, follows a logical pattern, and teaches readers something they didn’t know—whether it’s how to fix anything with duct tape and WD-40 or learning about dog shaming. You should assume your reader has no background knowledge of the topic unless it’s super common knowledge.

For example, if you’re comparing and contrasting the superpowers and feats of Batman and Captain America, don’t assume your readers know what each superhero’s powers are or how each has (in theory) saved the world from extinction and utter annihilation.

Instead, inform readers about the powers and major feats, use facts to investigate how those powers were used, and evaluate how the use of the powers saved the world. Most importantly, stick to facts you can (and do) prove by using appropriate resources. 

What makes for a particularly bad expository essay?

If I read your expository essay and you’ve taught me nothing or the information you’ve provided is all subjective and biased, that’s bad—bad like Donald Trump’s wayward (alleged) toupee.

Using superheroes again, a bad essay would provide only subjective support. Since your goal is simply to inform, you don’t need to convince someone why Batman or Captain America is the best superhero in the galaxy. So avoid writing subjective information like “Batman is way better than Captain America.”

Assumptions also create a particularly bad expository essay. Assume nothing, and describe every step or element. If you’re explaining a process—how to shame your dog online, for example—don’t assume readers know what takes place. You will need to explain what “dog shaming” is, that they should write a note about their dog’s bad behavior and take a photo of the dog proudly showcasing the note, and where to submit the picture of their unapologetic pooch.

What are three simple steps that a writer can do to write a better expository essay?

Step #1: Choose an appropriate organizational pattern before outlining.

While creating an outline is essential to keep your essay focused, you first need to know how you intend to organize the information. With expository writing, you can organize your information in a variety of essay patterns—comparison/contrast, sequential, spatial, problem/solution, topical, chronological. These are just a few examples.

Each pattern has certain characteristics, so a strong thesis will guide you to the appropriate organizational patterns for expository essays. For example, an essay on how gas prices are affected by various events—big and small—throughout the world (cue the sneezing butterflies in Guatemala) is best organized in a topical structure that details what influences gas prices, organized by type of events/occurrences. So you might have three main topics/sets of examples: natural disasters, political unrest, and the seemingly inconsequential.

Step #2: Understand the power of everyday language.

Don’t fall into the trap of trying too hard to make your essay sound “academic.” Words are powerful because of how you use them, not because of the words themselves. Your writing should be clear, concise, and—gasp—simple. Your facts and support can be huge in theory, but the words themselves should be common language. One of my favorite Kibin blog posts is How to Become a Better Writer: Don’t Use Words That Sound Smart. If you haven’t read it, you should! It imparts delightful morsels of simple-wording goodness. For more advice on word choice, check out this handout from the UNC Writing Center.

Step #3: Learn to love reverse outlining.

While you’re probably familiar with outlining before you write, reverse outlining can benefit the relevancy and strength of your essay. It’s exactly what it sounds like—you outline your written draft to examine how well you stay on topic and write to your thesis.

If you’re unsure about how to reverse outline, you can read a brief resource, watch a video or complete a reverse-outline worksheet for a few ideas. However you approach it, a reverse outline helps you ensure you wrote about what you set out to write about and that you do it effectively.

What is your biggest writing pet peeve?

That’s an easy one—it drives me crazy when people use the words “reason,” “why,” and “because” in the same sentence to explain something. I often see “the reason why” and “the reason why is because.” These constructions are redundant. “Reason,” “why,” and “because” all have very similar meanings—they are used to explain—so only one should appear in an explanatory sentence.

Committing this redundancy is fairly easy in expository writing, so being aware of it can help you write stronger sentences.

Good: “The reasons for gas price hikes can include natural disasters that affect distribution channels, political unrest in or near oil-producing countries, and seemingly mundane non-events like butterflies sneezing in Guatemala.”

Bad: “The reasons why gas prices increase can include natural disasters…”

Even Worse: “The reasons why gas prices increase are because of natural disasters….”

About Crystal

Crystal W. is one of Kibin’s most seasoned editors. She’s edited over 3 million words at Kibin (and counting), and this includes her fair share of expository essays. Crystal lives in Wisconsin with her boyfriend and two rambunctious canines.

• Favorite food: pickles
• Favorite animal: gorrillas
• Favorite vacation spot: Camping in the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest
• Favorite book: Anna Karenina

Stuck on Your Expository Essay?

Check out these example expository essays.

Yes! Show Me Examples.