What are expository essays?

Expository essays provide a clear and focused explanation of a topic, with an assumption that the audience has little to no background knowledge about the main topic. It is not the same as argumentative essays as it does not set out to prove a point. Instead, students present facts rather than views.

What are the 5 common types of expository writing?

• Descriptive or Definition Essays
• Procedure/Process or “How-To” Essays
• Comparison Essays
• Cause-and-Effect Essays
• Problem/Solution Essays

Structure of Expository Essay

An expository essay follows this structure:
1. Introduction (topic sentence, capture attention)
2. Three body paragraphs (one idea per paragraph with supporting information and appropriate transitions)
3. Conclusion. (closure, restates the 3 main points)

Wht is a Topic Sentence

Every topic sentence will always have a topic and a controlling/supporting idea. (topic sentence = topic + controlling idea)

Example: Smoking is bad for everyone because it can cause fatal diseases such as pneumonia, emphysema and lung cancer.
Topic: ‘Smoking is bad for everyone’
Controlling idea: ‘because it can cause fatal diseases such as pneumonia, emphysema and lung cancer.’

2. White blood cells help fight infections by attacking bacteria, viruses and germs that invade the body.
Topic: ‘White blood cells help fight infections’
Controlling idea: ‘by attacking attacking bacteria, viruses and germs that invade the body’

3. Education helps us to lead a good and healthy life.
Topic: ‘Education helps us’
Controlling idea: ‘to lead a good and healthy life’