Chapter: 1.

EXPOSITORY WRITING

Introduction

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.

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 [Link] 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

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.

Definition

This type of expository writing defines a subject. For example, you might
write a piece that defines a historic figure by exploring their actions,
motivations, and circumstances.

Classification

In a classification piece, you write about the characteristics of multiple

subjects within one category. For example, you might write a blog post about
the types of expository writing. In that blog post, you explain each type of
expository writing, covering their differences as well as their similarities.

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
[Link] 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.

How to present 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 the readers aren't familiar with the topic, it's important to
write in 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.

Characteristics of Expository Writing:

Expository writing explains an idea and thing with a thorough analysis. It is
written to instruct or enlighten people and also includes relevant evidences
and mainly, it gives a clear conception about the topic. It is a type of essay
that requires a thorough investigation, along with the delineation of the idea.
The structure of this kind of essay will always be concise, clear and cogent.
However, in schools, students usually write expository essays. Essays,
reports and articles all come under this category. In detail, scientific reports,
reports, encyclopedia articles, term papers are expository writing.

Descriptive: It is one of the main features of this essay. Science related

writing needs a background description. However, description should be
written about a thing or a process and it is usually done chronologically or
hierarchically.

Illustrative: Illustration is essential in this kind of essay and it should be

relevant. Explicit references need to be included to support the theoretical
points.

Explanatory: The pertinent theory should be explained to support your points

added in the essay. To perceive results, the reasons are evaluated and the
entire explanation should be supported with suitable information.

Analytical: It is an imperative part of an expository writing as through this

process, the topic is broken down into parts in order to categorize.

Clarity: It is the important aspect of the expository writing. The idea or

thought of the author should be clearly mentioned in the essay.

Unbiased: The approach of the essay should be unbiased.

Impersonal: The first-person pronouns should not be used in this essay.