5 Expository writing

Writing that describes a condition or process, compares or contrasts people, places, or things, explains cause and effect, or proposes a solution to a problem, is considered expository writing. It is not narrative – there is no story to tell. It is not an opinion piece, although the writer’s opinion fills each line. It is not a conversation – it does not require a response. Expository writing states the facts by introducing a topic and developing main points with supporting evidence. Read this comparison essay example and note how the author compares similarities and contrasts the differences between London and Washington DC.

Exercise

Go to the Expository Writing Boot Camp and read about discourse, analysis, thesis, and research as a primer for preparing to draft an expository essay.