expository essay and argumentative essay

Expository Essay vs. Argumentative Essay: Similarities and Differences

Expository and argumentative essays involve research, strong thesis statements, factual body paragraphs, and well-thought-out conclusions. And when asked to write an expository essay, the key is to thoroughly understand the topic and research to inform the readers of new information.

But while the two writing pieces are similar in the work that creates them, they differ extensively in many other aspects. Their differences are diverse, and without proper scrutiny, it is possible not to tell these essays apart.

Conversely, expository essays provide coherent information and explanations about a specific issue. On the other hand, argumentative essays aim to convince readers the writer’s point of view is correct and for them to agree with you.

The definitions provide a clear path for their distinction such that you can easily tell them apart. But overall, the main difference can be seen in their names. One exposes an issue, while the other provides for an adoption of a specific position.

Let us now look at the expository essay vs. argumentative essay analysis to help you understand them better.

What Is an Expository Essay?

An expository essay is a type of writing that explains, describes, or illustrates something. It is not a persuasive essay and does not have a specific purpose other than to explain something in detail. It’s not a research paper, although it requires some research, and the information generated gives the reader information on a particular topic.

These essays can be written about anything from the history of your town to how to bake bread. They are used in many academic disciplines, including science, business, and social sciences. Their purpose is to inform the reader about something rather than persuade them to do something.

New Service Alert !!!

We are now taking exams and courses

In addition, an expository essay provides facts and evidence rather than opinion or conjecture. It should also be objective and neutral rather than subjective in its approach. Despite these essays aiming to educate readers, they also offer an opportunity for a writer to show their subject mastery. However, as mentioned, you should not show bias in the information you portray.

Expository essays classification

Compare and contrast.

These essays entail analyzing similarities and differences between a topic or issue

This essay type involves defining a concept through facts and figures.

They describe a step-by-step guide on how to do something or a particular procedure.

Classification essays

are those describing things in a category.

Cause and effect

These essays show how and why something occurs due to a previous action.

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is a kind of academic writing that requires an author to develop a position on a specific topic. This type of paper aims to convince the reader that your point of view is correct based on your provided evidence.

Ideally, you take a side and defend it by presenting evidence. The most important thing about an argumentative essay is that it is not just a story or narrative but an explanation of why you believe certain things. It is also not merely stating your opinion but proving your point with facts and evidence.

Also see: How Do You Write a Toulmin Argumentative Essay

Additionally, an argumentative essay should be clear and concise. It should also be organized logically and clearly with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The introduction states the main idea of the essay as well as gives some background information related to the topic being discussed.

The body paragraphs explain why you believe your thesis statement to be accurate, using evidence from your research sources. Each paragraph should have its topic sentence that clearly states what you are trying to prove with each paragraph.

Similarly, the final paragraph should summarize your points and restate your thesis statement to leave your reader with a lasting impression of what you have said throughout the essay.

These essays have three main ways to write them;

• You can argue in favor of something (pro)
• You can argue against something (con)
• You can argue for two sides at once (both pro and con)

What is the Difference Between Expository and Argumentative Essays?

An expository essay is a writing piece that explains some idea or concept. It is not an opinion piece but rather a piece that presents information clearly and concisely. For example, if you were to write about the history of Western culture, your goal would be to give information about this topic without bias or prejudice.

On the other hand, an argumentative essay presents its point of view on a particular topic. It does not present facts but offers opinions on how things should be done by giving evidence supporting their position.

For instance, if asked to write about whether or not children should be allowed to play football, you would write about why it is good for them or bad for them based on your beliefs and research.

Both essays vastly differ in purpose. The primary purpose of an expository essay is to explain something, such as a concept or theory. You can also use an expository essay to describe a situation or event in detail. In either case, the purpose of an expository essay is not to persuade people to agree with you. It’s simply to inform them about something they don’t know much about.

In contrast, the purpose of an argumentative essay is to prove why you’re right. For example, if there is an article describing cats as better pets than dogs, you could write an argumentative essay about why dogs are better than cats. Your goal would be to convince your reader that dogs are better than cats as pets by using evidence from personal experience and research findings.

Thesis Statement

Thesis statements are the backbone of an essay and offer a clear direction for the rest of your paper. It also helps you to organize your thoughts and decide what points to include in the body paragraphs.

An expository essay’s thesis statement introduces the topic broadly and generally but specifically to serve as a starting point for further research. For example, an expository essay on the history of the automobile industry could begin with a broad statement like “The automobile industry has changed significantly over time.” This statement allows you to explore many aspects of car manufacturing, including technological changes, manufacturing processes, and marketing strategies.

On the other hand, an argumentative essay’s thesis statement comes in the form of stating your argument. It gives your readers a clear idea about which side of an issue you will take and how you will argue for that position. For example, if you are writing about whether or not gun control laws should be stricter, your thesis might look like this, “Gun control laws should be stricter because they help prevent crime.”

Point of View

In an expository essay, a writer explains a concept or idea in detail, providing evidence and examples to support the position taken. An argumentative essay, on the other hand, presents an opinion or position on a topic and supports it with evidence and reasoning.

With these different purposes, their viewpoints are also different. Expository essays typically use a third-person point of view (he/she) because they are factual and objective rather than personal. Argumentative essays often use the first-person point of view (I) because they are personal interpretations of events or issues rather than objective descriptions.

Further, expository essays are usually non-biased because the writer neutrally provides information without any emotional attachment aiming to inform or explain.

On the other hand, argumentative essays try to persuade the readers about their point of view by using facts and logical reasoning. Thus they are biased and subjective.

The Opening Line

The opening line of an expository essay is a general statement about your topic and presents your case. For example, if you’re writing about the history of baseball, you might write: “Baseball has been played in America since the nineteenth century.”

On the other hand, the opening line in an argumentative essay introduces your topic. For example, if you’re writing about whether or not schools should have dress codes for male students who wear athletic shorts and tank tops, your first sentence might be, “Dress codes are necessary to ensure school safety.”

An argumentative essay also uses logical, emotional, and ethical appeals. These appeal to logic, emotion, and ethics to persuade readers that your position is correct. On the other hand, an expository is devoid of such appeals.

Judgment/ Wayforward

The two essays differ in judgment emanating from their purposes. An expository essay does not give any decision because it aims to inform. But an argumentative ends by challenging or asking readers to agree with the writer’s position based on the reasons given.

In a nutshell, an expository essay summarizes the information provided by a factual source or source material. An argumentative essay, on the other hand, bases its claims on evidence and asserts the truth value of that position. It is worth noting here, though, that both essays rely on facts to prove the point the writer wants to make.

And with that, we know you can now clearly differentiate between the two essays.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to write an a+ argumentative essay.

Miscellaneous

You'll no doubt have to write a number of argumentative essays in both high school and college, but what, exactly, is an argumentative essay and how do you write the best one possible? Let's take a look.

A great argumentative essay always combines the same basic elements: approaching an argument from a rational perspective, researching sources, supporting your claims using facts rather than opinion, and articulating your reasoning into the most cogent and reasoned points. Argumentative essays are great building blocks for all sorts of research and rhetoric, so your teachers will expect you to master the technique before long.

But if this sounds daunting, never fear! We'll show how an argumentative essay differs from other kinds of papers, how to research and write them, how to pick an argumentative essay topic, and where to find example essays. So let's get started.

What Is an Argumentative Essay? How Is it Different from Other Kinds of Essays?

There are two basic requirements for any and all essays: to state a claim (a thesis statement) and to support that claim with evidence.

Though every essay is founded on these two ideas, there are several different types of essays, differentiated by the style of the writing, how the writer presents the thesis, and the types of evidence used to support the thesis statement.

Essays can be roughly divided into four different types:

#1: Argumentative #2: Persuasive #3: Expository #4: Analytical

So let's look at each type and what the differences are between them before we focus the rest of our time to argumentative essays.

Argumentative Essay

Argumentative essays are what this article is all about, so let's talk about them first.

An argumentative essay attempts to convince a reader to agree with a particular argument (the writer's thesis statement). The writer takes a firm stand one way or another on a topic and then uses hard evidence to support that stance.

An argumentative essay seeks to prove to the reader that one argument —the writer's argument— is the factually and logically correct one. This means that an argumentative essay must use only evidence-based support to back up a claim , rather than emotional or philosophical reasoning (which is often allowed in other types of essays). Thus, an argumentative essay has a burden of substantiated proof and sources , whereas some other types of essays (namely persuasive essays) do not.

You can write an argumentative essay on any topic, so long as there's room for argument. Generally, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one, so long as you support the argumentative essay with hard evidence.

Example topics of an argumentative essay:

• "Should farmers be allowed to shoot wolves if those wolves injure or kill farm animals?"
• "Should the drinking age be lowered in the United States?"
• "Are alternatives to democracy effective and/or feasible to implement?"

The next three types of essays are not argumentative essays, but you may have written them in school. We're going to cover them so you know what not to do for your argumentative essay.

Persuasive Essay

Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative essays, so it can be easy to get them confused. But knowing what makes an argumentative essay different than a persuasive essay can often mean the difference between an excellent grade and an average one.

Persuasive essays seek to persuade a reader to agree with the point of view of the writer, whether that point of view is based on factual evidence or not. The writer has much more flexibility in the evidence they can use, with the ability to use moral, cultural, or opinion-based reasoning as well as factual reasoning to persuade the reader to agree the writer's side of a given issue.

Instead of being forced to use "pure" reason as one would in an argumentative essay, the writer of a persuasive essay can manipulate or appeal to the reader's emotions. So long as the writer attempts to steer the readers into agreeing with the thesis statement, the writer doesn't necessarily need hard evidence in favor of the argument.

Often, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one—the difference is all in the approach and the evidence you present.

Example topics of a persuasive essay:

• "Should children be responsible for their parents' debts?"
• "Should cheating on a test be automatic grounds for expulsion?"
• "How much should sports leagues be held accountable for player injuries and the long-term consequences of those injuries?"

Expository Essay

An expository essay is typically a short essay in which the writer explains an idea, issue, or theme , or discusses the history of a person, place, or idea.

This is typically a fact-forward essay with little argument or opinion one way or the other.

Example topics of an expository essay:

• "The History of the Philadelphia Liberty Bell"
• "The Reasons I Always Wanted to be a Doctor"
• "The Meaning Behind the Colloquialism ‘People in Glass Houses Shouldn't Throw Stones'"

Analytical Essay

An analytical essay seeks to delve into the deeper meaning of a text or work of art, or unpack a complicated idea . These kinds of essays closely interpret a source and look into its meaning by analyzing it at both a macro and micro level.

This type of analysis can be augmented by historical context or other expert or widely-regarded opinions on the subject, but is mainly supported directly through the original source (the piece or art or text being analyzed) .

Example topics of an analytical essay:

• "Victory Gin in Place of Water: The Symbolism Behind Gin as the Only Potable Substance in George Orwell's 1984"
• "Amarna Period Art: The Meaning Behind the Shift from Rigid to Fluid Poses"
• "Adultery During WWII, as Told Through a Series of Letters to and from Soldiers"

There are many different types of essay and, over time, you'll be able to master them all.

A Typical Argumentative Essay Assignment

The average argumentative essay is between three to five pages, and will require at least three or four separate sources with which to back your claims . As for the essay topic , you'll most often be asked to write an argumentative essay in an English class on a "general" topic of your choice, ranging the gamut from science, to history, to literature.

But while the topics of an argumentative essay can span several different fields, the structure of an argumentative essay is always the same: you must support a claim—a claim that can reasonably have multiple sides—using multiple sources and using a standard essay format (which we'll talk about later on).

This is why many argumentative essay topics begin with the word "should," as in:

• "Should all students be required to learn chemistry in high school?"
• "Should children be required to learn a second language?"
• "Should schools or governments be allowed to ban books?"

These topics all have at least two sides of the argument: Yes or no. And you must support the side you choose with evidence as to why your side is the correct one.

But there are also plenty of other ways to frame an argumentative essay as well:

• "Does using social media do more to benefit or harm people?"
• "Does the legal status of artwork or its creators—graffiti and vandalism, pirated media, a creator who's in jail—have an impact on the art itself?"
• "Is or should anyone ever be ‘above the law?'"

Though these are worded differently than the first three, you're still essentially forced to pick between two sides of an issue: yes or no, for or against, benefit or detriment. Though your argument might not fall entirely into one side of the divide or another—for instance, you could claim that social media has positively impacted some aspects of modern life while being a detriment to others—your essay should still support one side of the argument above all. Your final stance would be that overall , social media is beneficial or overall , social media is harmful.

If your argument is one that is mostly text-based or backed by a single source (e.g., "How does Salinger show that Holden Caulfield is an unreliable narrator?" or "Does Gatsby personify the American Dream?"), then it's an analytical essay, rather than an argumentative essay. An argumentative essay will always be focused on more general topics so that you can use multiple sources to back up your claims.

Good Argumentative Essay Topics

So you know the basic idea behind an argumentative essay, but what topic should you write about?

Again, almost always, you'll be asked to write an argumentative essay on a free topic of your choice, or you'll be asked to select between a few given topics . If you're given complete free reign of topics, then it'll be up to you to find an essay topic that no only appeals to you, but that you can turn into an A+ argumentative essay.

What makes a "good" argumentative essay topic depends on both the subject matter and your personal interest —it can be hard to give your best effort on something that bores you to tears! But it can also be near impossible to write an argumentative essay on a topic that has no room for debate.

As we said earlier, a good argumentative essay topic will be one that has the potential to reasonably go in at least two directions—for or against, yes or no, and why . For example, it's pretty hard to write an argumentative essay on whether or not people should be allowed to murder one another—not a whole lot of debate there for most people!—but writing an essay for or against the death penalty has a lot more wiggle room for evidence and argument.

A good topic is also one that can be substantiated through hard evidence and relevant sources . So be sure to pick a topic that other people have studied (or at least studied elements of) so that you can use their data in your argument. For example, if you're arguing that it should be mandatory for all middle school children to play a sport, you might have to apply smaller scientific data points to the larger picture you're trying to justify. There are probably several studies you could cite on the benefits of physical activity and the positive effect structure and teamwork has on young minds, but there's probably no study you could use where a group of scientists put all middle-schoolers in one jurisdiction into a mandatory sports program (since that's probably never happened). So long as your evidence is relevant to your point and you can extrapolate from it to form a larger whole, you can use it as a part of your resource material.

And if you need ideas on where to get started, or just want to see sample argumentative essay topics, then check out these links for hundreds of potential argumentative essay topics.

101 Persuasive (or Argumentative) Essay and Speech Topics

301 Prompts for Argumentative Writing

Top 50 Ideas for Argumentative/Persuasive Essay Writing

[Note: some of these say "persuasive essay topics," but just remember that the same topic can often be used for both a persuasive essay and an argumentative essay; the difference is in your writing style and the evidence you use to support your claims.]

KO! Find that one argumentative essay topic you can absolutely conquer.

Argumentative Essay Format

Argumentative Essays are composed of four main elements:

• A position (your argument)
• Your reasons
• Supporting evidence for those reasons (from reliable sources)
• Counterargument(s) (possible opposing arguments and reasons why those arguments are incorrect)

If you're familiar with essay writing in general, then you're also probably familiar with the five paragraph essay structure . This structure is a simple tool to show how one outlines an essay and breaks it down into its component parts, although it can be expanded into as many paragraphs as you want beyond the core five.

The standard argumentative essay is often 3-5 pages, which will usually mean a lot more than five paragraphs, but your overall structure will look the same as a much shorter essay.

An argumentative essay at its simplest structure will look like:

Paragraph 1: Intro

• Set up the story/problem/issue
• Thesis/claim

Paragraph 2: Support

• Reason #1 claim is correct
• Supporting evidence with sources

Paragraph 3: Support

• Reason #2 claim is correct

Paragraph 4: Counterargument

• Explanation of argument for the other side
• Refutation of opposing argument with supporting evidence

Paragraph 5: Conclusion

• Re-state claim
• Sum up reasons and support of claim from the essay to prove claim is correct

Now let's unpack each of these paragraph types to see how they work (with examples!), what goes into them, and why.

Paragraph 1—Set Up and Claim

Your first task is to introduce the reader to the topic at hand so they'll be prepared for your claim. Give a little background information, set the scene, and give the reader some stakes so that they care about the issue you're going to discuss.

Next, you absolutely must have a position on an argument and make that position clear to the readers. It's not an argumentative essay unless you're arguing for a specific claim, and this claim will be your thesis statement.

Your thesis CANNOT be a mere statement of fact (e.g., "Washington DC is the capital of the United States"). Your thesis must instead be an opinion which can be backed up with evidence and has the potential to be argued against (e.g., "New York should be the capital of the United States").

Paragraphs 2 and 3—Your Evidence

These are your body paragraphs in which you give the reasons why your argument is the best one and back up this reasoning with concrete evidence .

The argument supporting the thesis of an argumentative essay should be one that can be supported by facts and evidence, rather than personal opinion or cultural or religious mores.

For example, if you're arguing that New York should be the new capital of the US, you would have to back up that fact by discussing the factual contrasts between New York and DC in terms of location, population, revenue, and laws. You would then have to talk about the precedents for what makes for a good capital city and why New York fits the bill more than DC does.

Your argument can't simply be that a lot of people think New York is the best city ever and that you agree.

In addition to using concrete evidence, you always want to keep the tone of your essay passionate, but impersonal . Even though you're writing your argument from a single opinion, don't use first person language—"I think," "I feel," "I believe,"—to present your claims. Doing so is repetitive, since by writing the essay you're already telling the audience what you feel, and using first person language weakens your writing voice.

For example,

"I think that Washington DC is no longer suited to be the capital city of the United States."

"Washington DC is no longer suited to be the capital city of the United States."

The second statement sounds far stronger and more analytical.

Paragraph 4—Argument for the Other Side and Refutation

Even without a counter argument, you can make a pretty persuasive claim, but a counterargument will round out your essay into one that is much more persuasive and substantial.

By anticipating an argument against your claim and taking the initiative to counter it, you're allowing yourself to get ahead of the game. This way, you show that you've given great thought to all sides of the issue before choosing your position, and you demonstrate in multiple ways how yours is the more reasoned and supported side.

Paragraph 5—Conclusion

This paragraph is where you re-state your argument and summarize why it's the best claim.

Briefly touch on your supporting evidence and voila! A finished argumentative essay.

Your essay should have just as awesome a skeleton as this plesiosaur does. (In other words: a ridiculously awesome skeleton)

Argumentative Essay Example: 5-Paragraph Style

It always helps to have an example to learn from. I've written a full 5-paragraph argumentative essay here. Look at how I state my thesis in paragraph 1, give supporting evidence in paragraphs 2 and 3, address a counterargument in paragraph 4, and conclude in paragraph 5.

Topic: Is it possible to maintain conflicting loyalties?

Paragraph 1

It is almost impossible to go through life without encountering a situation where your loyalties to different people or causes come into conflict with each other. Maybe you have a loving relationship with your sister, but she disagrees with your decision to join the army, or you find yourself torn between your cultural beliefs and your scientific ones. These conflicting loyalties can often be maintained for a time, but as examples from both history and psychological theory illustrate, sooner or later, people have to make a choice between competing loyalties, as no one can maintain a conflicting loyalty or belief system forever.

The first two sentences set the scene and give some hypothetical examples and stakes for the reader to care about.

The third sentence finishes off the intro with the thesis statement, making very clear how the author stands on the issue ("people have to make a choice between competing loyalties, as no one can maintain a conflicting loyalty or belief system forever." )

Paragraphs 2 and 3

Psychological theory states that human beings are not equipped to maintain conflicting loyalties indefinitely and that attempting to do so leads to a state called "cognitive dissonance." Cognitive dissonance theory is the psychological idea that people undergo tremendous mental stress or anxiety when holding contradictory beliefs, values, or loyalties (Festinger, 1957). Even if human beings initially hold a conflicting loyalty, they will do their best to find a mental equilibrium by making a choice between those loyalties—stay stalwart to a belief system or change their beliefs. One of the earliest formal examples of cognitive dissonance theory comes from Leon Festinger's When Prophesy Fails . Members of an apocalyptic cult are told that the end of the world will occur on a specific date and that they alone will be spared the Earth's destruction. When that day comes and goes with no apocalypse, the cult members face a cognitive dissonance between what they see and what they've been led to believe (Festinger, 1956). Some choose to believe that the cult's beliefs are still correct, but that the Earth was simply spared from destruction by mercy, while others choose to believe that they were lied to and that the cult was fraudulent all along. Both beliefs cannot be correct at the same time, and so the cult members are forced to make their choice.

But even when conflicting loyalties can lead to potentially physical, rather than just mental, consequences, people will always make a choice to fall on one side or other of a dividing line. Take, for instance, Nicolaus Copernicus, a man born and raised in Catholic Poland (and educated in Catholic Italy). Though the Catholic church dictated specific scientific teachings, Copernicus' loyalty to his own observations and scientific evidence won out over his loyalty to his country's government and belief system. When he published his heliocentric model of the solar system--in opposition to the geocentric model that had been widely accepted for hundreds of years (Hannam, 2011)-- Copernicus was making a choice between his loyalties. In an attempt t o maintain his fealty both to the established system and to what he believed, h e sat on his findings for a number of years (Fantoli, 1994). But, ultimately, Copernicus made the choice to side with his beliefs and observations above all and published his work for the world to see (even though, in doing so, he risked both his reputation and personal freedoms).

These two paragraphs provide the reasons why the author supports the main argument and uses substantiated sources to back those reasons.

The paragraph on cognitive dissonance theory gives both broad supporting evidence and more narrow, detailed supporting evidence to show why the thesis statement is correct not just anecdotally but also scientifically and psychologically. First, we see why people in general have a difficult time accepting conflicting loyalties and desires and then how this applies to individuals through the example of the cult members from the Dr. Festinger's research.

The next paragraph continues to use more detailed examples from history to provide further evidence of why the thesis that people cannot indefinitely maintain conflicting loyalties is true.

Paragraph 4

Some will claim that it is possible to maintain conflicting beliefs or loyalties permanently, but this is often more a matter of people deluding themselves and still making a choice for one side or the other, rather than truly maintaining loyalty to both sides equally. For example, Lancelot du Lac typifies a person who claims to maintain a balanced loyalty between to two parties, but his attempt to do so fails (as all attempts to permanently maintain conflicting loyalties must). Lancelot tells himself and others that he is equally devoted to both King Arthur and his court and to being Queen Guinevere's knight (Malory, 2008). But he can neither be in two places at once to protect both the king and queen, nor can he help but let his romantic feelings for the queen to interfere with his duties to the king and the kingdom. Ultimately, he and Queen Guinevere give into their feelings for one another and Lancelot—though he denies it—chooses his loyalty to her over his loyalty to Arthur. This decision plunges the kingdom into a civil war, ages Lancelot prematurely, and ultimately leads to Camelot's ruin (Raabe, 1987). Though Lancelot claimed to have been loyal to both the king and the queen, this loyalty was ultimately in conflict, and he could not maintain it.

Here we have the acknowledgement of a potential counter-argument and the evidence as to why it isn't true.

The argument is that some people (or literary characters) have asserted that they give equal weight to their conflicting loyalties. The refutation is that, though some may claim to be able to maintain conflicting loyalties, they're either lying to others or deceiving themselves. The paragraph shows why this is true by providing an example of this in action.

Paragraph 5

Whether it be through literature or history, time and time again, people demonstrate the challenges of trying to manage conflicting loyalties and the inevitable consequences of doing so. Though belief systems are malleable and will often change over time, it is not possible to maintain two mutually exclusive loyalties or beliefs at once. In the end, people always make a choice, and loyalty for one party or one side of an issue will always trump loyalty to the other.

The concluding paragraph summarizes the essay, touches on the evidence presented, and re-states the thesis statement.

How to Write an Argumentative Essay: 8 Steps

Writing the best argumentative essay is all about the preparation, so let's talk steps:

#1: Preliminary Research

If you have the option to pick your own argumentative essay topic (which you most likely will), then choose one or two topics you find the most intriguing or that you have a vested interest in and do some preliminary research on both sides of the debate.

Do an open internet search just to see what the general chatter is on the topic and what the research trends are.

Did your preliminary reading influence you to pick a side or change your side? Without diving into all the scholarly articles at length, do you believe there's enough evidence to support your claim? Have there been scientific studies? Experiments? Does a noted scholar in the field agree with you? If not, you may need to pick another topic or side of the argument to support.

#2: Pick Your Side and Form Your Thesis

Now's the time to pick the side of the argument you feel you can support the best and summarize your main point into your thesis statement.

Your thesis will be the basis of your entire essay, so make sure you know which side you're on, that you've stated it clearly, and that you stick by your argument throughout the entire essay .

#3: Heavy-Duty Research Time

You've taken a gander at what the internet at large has to say on your argument, but now's the time to actually read those sources and take notes.

Check scholarly journals online at Google Scholar , the Directory of Open Access Journals , or JStor . You can also search individual university or school libraries and websites to see what kinds of academic articles you can access for free. Keep track of your important quotes and page numbers and put them somewhere that's easy to find later.

And don't forget to check your school or local libraries as well!

#4: Outline

Follow the five-paragraph outline structure from the previous section.

Fill in your topic, your reasons, and your supporting evidence into each of the categories.

Before you begin to flesh out the essay, take a look at what you've got. Is your thesis statement in the first paragraph? Is it clear? Is your argument logical? Does your supporting evidence support your reasoning?

By outlining your essay, you streamline your process and take care of any logic gaps before you dive headfirst into the writing. This will save you a lot of grief later on if you need to change your sources or your structure, so don't get too trigger-happy and skip this step.

Now that you've laid out exactly what you'll need for your essay and where, it's time to fill in all the gaps by writing it out.

Take it one step at a time and expand your ideas into complete sentences and substantiated claims. It may feel daunting to turn an outline into a complete draft, but just remember that you've already laid out all the groundwork; now you're just filling in the gaps.

If you have the time before deadline, give yourself a day or two (or even just an hour!) away from your essay . Looking it over with fresh eyes will allow you to see errors, both minor and major, that you likely would have missed had you tried to edit when it was still raw.

Take a first pass over the entire essay and try your best to ignore any minor spelling or grammar mistakes—you're just looking at the big picture right now. Does it make sense as a whole? Did the essay succeed in making an argument and backing that argument up logically? (Do you feel persuaded?)

If not, go back and make notes so that you can fix it for your final draft.

Once you've made your revisions to the overall structure, mark all your small errors and grammar problems so you can fix them in the next draft.

#7: Final Draft

Use the notes you made on the rough draft and go in and hack and smooth away until you're satisfied with the final result.

A checklist for your final draft:

• Formatting is correct according to your teacher's standards
• No errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Essay is the right length and size for the assignment
• The argument is present, consistent, and concise
• Each reason is supported by relevant evidence
• The essay makes sense overall

#8: Celebrate!

Once you've brought that final draft to a perfect polish and turned in your assignment, you're done! Go you!

Be prepared and ♪ you'll never go hungry again ♪, *cough*, or struggle with your argumentative essay-writing again. (Walt Disney Studios)

Good Examples of Argumentative Essays Online

Theory is all well and good, but examples are key. Just to get you started on what a fully-fleshed out argumentative essay looks like, let's see some examples in action.

Check out these two argumentative essay examples on the use of landmines and freons (and note the excellent use of concrete sources to back up their arguments!).

The Use of Landmines

A Shattered Sky

The Take-Aways: Keys to Writing an Argumentative Essay

At first, writing an argumentative essay may seem like a monstrous hurdle to overcome, but with the proper preparation and understanding, you'll be able to knock yours out of the park.

Remember the differences between a persuasive essay and an argumentative one, make sure your thesis is clear, and double-check that your supporting evidence is both relevant to your point and well-sourced . Pick your topic, do your research, make your outline, and fill in the gaps. Before you know it, you'll have yourself an A+ argumentative essay there, my friend.

What's Next?

Now you know the ins and outs of an argumentative essay, but how comfortable are you writing in other styles? Learn more about the four writing styles and when it makes sense to use each .

Understand how to make an argument, but still having trouble organizing your thoughts? Check out our guide to three popular essay formats and choose which one is right for you.

Ready to make your case, but not sure what to write about? We've created a list of 50 potential argumentative essay topics to spark your imagination.

Courtney scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT in high school and went on to graduate from Stanford University with a degree in Cultural and Social Anthropology. She is passionate about bringing education and the tools to succeed to students from all backgrounds and walks of life, as she believes open education is one of the great societal equalizers. She has years of tutoring experience and writes creative works in her free time.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Expository Essays

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

What is an expository essay?

The expository essay is a genre of essay that requires the student to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner. This can be accomplished through comparison and contrast, definition, example, the analysis of cause and effect, etc.

Please note : This genre is commonly assigned as a tool for classroom evaluation and is often found in various exam formats.

The structure of the expository essay is held together by the following.

• A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.

It is essential that this thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth in the assignment. If the student does not master this portion of the essay, it will be quite difficult to compose an effective or persuasive essay.

• Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.

Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together. Without logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse.

• Body paragraphs that include evidential support.

Each paragraph should be limited to the exposition of one general idea. This will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. What is more, such conciseness creates an ease of readability for one’s audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph.

• Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal).

Often times, students are required to write expository essays with little or no preparation; therefore, such essays do not typically allow for a great deal of statistical or factual evidence.

• A bit of creativity!

Though creativity and artfulness are not always associated with essay writing, it is an art form nonetheless. Try not to get stuck on the formulaic nature of expository writing at the expense of writing something interesting. Remember, though you may not be crafting the next great novel, you are attempting to leave a lasting impression on the people evaluating your essay.

• A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.

It is at this point of the essay that students will inevitably begin to struggle. This is the portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize and come to a conclusion concerning the information presented in the body of the essay.

A complete argument

Perhaps it is helpful to think of an essay in terms of a conversation or debate with a classmate. If I were to discuss the cause of the Great Depression and its current effect on those who lived through the tumultuous time, there would be a beginning, middle, and end to the conversation. In fact, if I were to end the exposition in the middle of my second point, questions would arise concerning the current effects on those who lived through the Depression. Therefore, the expository essay must be complete, and logically so, leaving no doubt as to its intent or argument.

The five-paragraph Essay

A common method for writing an expository essay is the five-paragraph approach. This is, however, by no means the only formula for writing such essays. If it sounds straightforward, that is because it is; in fact, the method consists of:

• an introductory paragraph
• three evidentiary body paragraphs
• a conclusion

• Customer Reviews
• Extended Essays
• IB Internal Assessment
• Theory of Knowledge
• Literature Review
• Dissertations
• Essay Writing
• Research Writing
• Assignment Help
• Capstone Projects
• College Application
• Online Class

Expository vs Argumentative Essay: What are the Differences?

by  Antony W

November 2, 2021

One of the most commonly asked questions about essay writing is on the differences and similarity between expository essay vs argumentative essay. 

While they both have some common elements, the two essays have a number of attributes that set them far apart.

That’s what we’re going to look at in this guide. Before we get deeper into the topic, let’s first make sure you understand, in summary, what each type of these essays focus on.

What is the Focus Angle of an Expository Essay?

If asked to write an expository essay, your focus angle will be to explain a subject in a clear and concise manner. Unlike with an argumentative essay, an expository assignment doesn’t have to make an argument.

However, you have to be as objective as possible in your approach to writing, while making sure you present a balance exploration of a topic.

In expository essay writing, students shouldn’t take a position on an issue. Rather, your writing needs to include a set of evidence, facts, and statistics for the entire topic.

More often than not, your instructor will ask you to write this type of essay primarily to test your knowledge and understanding of a given issue, which explains why they are a lot more common in the universities than argumentative essays are.

If you check the prompt of an expository essay, part of the instruction will ask you to classify concepts, compare and contrast a subject, explain how something works, or simply give a clear definition and explanation.

Notice here that you don’t have a room to take a side and therefore you shouldn’t try to convince your audience on anything.

Get Expository Writing Help

Are you stuck on your expository essay and feel like you would do good with some help? Let us write the essay for you.

What is the Focus Angle of an Argumentative Essay?     

The focus of an argumentative essay is to make a claim and give an original argument based on a given subject.

You will have to do a lot of independent research to come up with a claim. Besides making a strong claim in the thesis statement of your argument , you will have to provide objective, statistical, and factual evidence to defend your position.

While the length of an argument writing tends to vary depending on the topic, the essay will be longer than an expository. Your primary goal with this assignment is to try to convince your audience that your side of an issue is the correct one so that they can agree with you even if they initially hadn’t.

When it comes to writing an argumentative essay , the number one mistake you need to avoid is being biased.

Keep in mind that while you have taken a position and you’re willing and able to convince your readers that your position on an issue is the correct one, it doesn’t mean the other side is wrong.

If you make your entire essay look so, you end up portraying yourself as prejudiced and narrow-minded. But this is something you can avoid. You do that by including counterclaims in the persuasion, so you show that you have looked at both sides of an issue before arriving to your conclusion.

Don't Have Time to Construct Arguments? 

No problem. Our expert writers are ready to help you write that argumentative essay for an A-grade score. 

Now that you know the focus angle of an argumentative and expository essay, it’s time to look at how the two differ from each other. Knowing the difference will enable you to handle each assignment with the right approach.

Expository vs Argumentative Essay: Arguments

An expository essay doesn’t require you to make a value judgment. As such, the essay shouldn’t reflect a personal position on an issue in question. 

On the other hand, an argumentative essay requires that you take a personal position on an issue and then use reasonable evidence and arguments to convince an audience that your stand on a subject is the right one. It’s here that you can even make valuable judgments.

Expository vs Argumentative Essay: Writing

These two essays even differ in terms of writing, so it’s important to know the rules to get the writing concept right.

When it comes to writing an expository essay, the general rule of thumb is that you should use third person pronoun.

Also, you need to analyze an issue in question in-depth and then look at the topic from all the possible angles. In other words, instead of being taking a side, look at the issue from multiple perspective.

It’s different with an argumentative essay. Sometimes your professor may instruct you to use a first person language.

An argumentative essay also requires you to look at an issue in-depth and explore it on multiple perspective. 

However, you eventually do have to take a position which you feel the most appropriate for the subject and then support your stand with reasonable, objective evidence.

Expository vs Argumentative Essay: What are the Similarities?

There are some similarities between argumentative and expository essays that we’d like you to know before you start writing either assignment.

Frist, both essays must have an introduction, which should include a thesis statement, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Make sure that every paragraph covers one primary idea, each starting with a topic sentence and ending with a strong closing link.

Second, your essay should include referencing to back any point that you make in the assignment. You can learn more about sources and citations .

Third, an important rule to observe when writing either essay is to make sure you refrain from using subheadings in the essay. This is something you shouldn’t even do in the first place.

Help With Essay Writing

You now know the difference between an argumentative essay and an expository essay. And you can comfortably write either assignment given that you have all the knowledge and resources to do so.

However, what about if you don’t have the time to complete the assignment within the assigned deadline? Or maybe you have too many assignments to complete for the week to write your essays?

Don’t worry. Our team is here for you.

Don’t Worry. Our team Is Here 

You can  buy an argumentative essay online   from Help for Assessment and get high quality paper that will earn you the best grades.

For general essay writing,  check this page .  If you need a custom essay ,  simply get in touch with us and we will help you get the work done.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

expository essay

What is expository essay definition, usage, and literary examples, expository essay definition.

An  expository essay  [ik-SPOZ-ih-tohr-ee ess-ay] is an essay in which the writer researches a topic and uses evidence to inform their readers or clarify the topic. They can take many forms, including a how-to essay, an essay that defines something, or an essay that studies a problem and offers a solution.

The Five-Paragraph Model

Most expository essays follow the five-paragraph essay model:

• Introduction:  The introduction contains the thesis statement or main point of the essay. Here, the writer describes the subject and gives necessary  context .
• Body:  This section is usually three or more paragraphs and offers supporting evidence for the thesis.
• Conclusion:  The conclusion revisits the thesis and summarizes the writer’s main points.

Types of Expository Essays

There are several types of expository essays that can be written.

• Cause and Effect:  These essays question why something happened and the outcome of that occurrence. For example, an essay of this type might question why there’s a large homeless population in Seattle and what effects it has on the city and its citizens.
• Classification:  These break a broad subject down into several, in-depth subcategories. A classification essay might study the various kinds of movies, define genres, and break the most common genres down by subgenre (for example, action thriller and action adventure as subgenres of the action genre).
• Compare and Contrast:  These essays lay out the similarities and differences of at least two subjects. One such essay might compare two different novels by the same author. These essays can explore the pros and cons of different choices as well, like living in the city versus living in the country.
• Definition:  As indicated, a definition essay describes or defines something. For example, it might define the internet and provide a detailed explanation of how it works.
• How-To:  Also called a process essay, a how-to essay gives the reader steps for creating or doing something. For example, a process essay might walk its reader through setting a table, step by step.
• Problem and Solution:  This type of essay explores a problem and, using evidential support, offers potential solutions. For example, a writer might consider the example of Seattle’s homeless population, cite a solution that other cities have used successfully, and propose that same solution for Seattle.

Other Forms of Expository Writing

In addition to the aforementioned, there are other uses for expository writing. Most commonly:

• Newspaper articles
• Encyclopedic entries
• Manuals/assembly instructions

Expository vs. Argumentative Essays

Expository essays are like argumentative essays in that they both require research. Unlike argumentative essays, expository essays are meant to inform their audience rather than persuade it.

Argumentative essays are often controversial and contain the writer’s personal opinions, whereas expository essays give factual information and explore a topic from many  perspectives . Educational spheres often use expository essays to test writing ability, reading comprehension, and/or the writer’s understanding of a topic.

Examples of Expository Essays

1. Susan Sontag, “Notes on ‘Camp’”

This is a definition essay that explores the meaning and usage of the slang word  camp . When she wrote the essay in 1964, people used the word to describe a person or thing as exaggerated, effeminate, or theatrical. Sontag suggests that camp isn’t a solid concept but rather a sensibility, and she acknowledges its connection to contemporary gay culture. Her definition of camp is given in the following passage:

[Camp] is not a natural mode of sensibility, if there be any such. Indeed the essence of Camp is its love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration. And Camp is esoteric–something of a private code, a badge of identity even, among small urban cliques.

2. David Foster Wallace, “Consider the Lobster”

Herein, Wallace reviews the 2003 Main Lobster Festival and questions the morality of boiling lobsters alive. He examines the problem from all facets, including whether a lobster feels pain, without directly asserting his opinion. After descriptions of the festival, physical properties of lobsters, and the common use of the crustaceans, Wallace poses the main question of the essay:

So then here is a question that’s all but unavoidable at the World’s Largest Lobster Cooker, and may arise in the kitchens across the U.S. Is it all right to boil a sentient creature alive just for our gustatory pleasure? A related set of concerns: Is the previous question irksomely PC or sentimental? What does “all right” even mean in this context? Is it all just a matter of individual choice?

3. Rebecca Solnit, “The Longest War”

From Solnit’s 2014 book of essays,  Men Explain Things to Me , “The Longest War” explores issues of male violence against women. Solnit uses both statistical and  anecdotal  evidence to inform her audience of the issue, which supports some of her argumentative essays that appear later in the book:

[T]hough a rape is reported only every 6.2 minutes in this country, the estimated total is perhaps five times as high. Which means that there may be very nearly a rape a minute in the United States. It all adds up to tens of millions of rape victims. A significant portion of the women you know are survivors.

Further Resources on Expository Essays

You can find more examples of expository essays on  LiteraryDevices.net .

Bibme.org  offers guidance for writing expository essays.

Essaytigers.com  provides step-by-step writing instructions and an additional argumentative essay and expository essay comparison.

Related Terms

• Argumentative Essay
• Expository Writing

Home » Language » English Language » Difference Between Argumentative and Expository Essay

Difference Between Argumentative and Expository Essay

Main difference – argumentative vs expository essay.

Argumentative essay and Expository Essay are two types of essays that deal with facts and information. The main difference between Argumentative essay and expository essay is that Argumentative essay is a genre of writing that attempts to convince the reader to accept writer’s point of view while expository essay is a genre of writing that provide information and explanations in a straightforward manner to the readers .

What is an Expository Essay

Expository Essay is a type of writing that evaluates and explains a certain issue or a topic. A writer should always maintain an objective, neutral tone throughout the essay. In this type of an essay, the writer should refrain from pointing out his personal ideas and beliefs. The structure of an expository essay includes an introduction containing a thesis/opening statement, a body that contains sufficient facts, information to cover the topic and a conclusion that briefly summarizes all the points explained in the body. Some expository essay topics include, ” The role of social media in contemporary society”,”Causes for Global Warming”, “Analysis of a piece of literature,” “The economic growth of the country in the last 10 years.”

What is an Argumentative Essay

An Argumentative Essay is a type of writing in which the writer attempts to convince his audience that his argument is valid. An argumentative essay contains a combination of facts and writer’s personal ideas. A writer preparing to start an argumentative essay have to do a  lot of research and gather evidence to prove as well as to defend his point. An argumentative essay is biased and subjective, although the writer has to be aware of the opposing views on the subject. This type of essay appeals to the logic and the reasoning. Examples for some argumentative essays are “Should English be the official language in the United States?”, “Is dieting useless ?” ,”Should cigarettes be banned from the society?” etc.

The main difference between argumentative and expository essay is that an expository essay contains only information, explaining the topic, whereas an argumentative essay contains statistics, facts and writer’s personal ideas. Another vital difference between argumentative and expository essay is that an expository essay always give a balanced account of a subject while an argumentative essay may be unbiased and subjective. First person point of view is usually used in an argumentative essay (I strongly believe, In my opinion, I do not agree with…, etc.) while, in an expository essay, third person narration is preferred. It should be also noted that an argumentative essay can contain elements of an expository essay, as argumentative essays also state explanations and information. Another central difference between argumentative and expository essay can be noted in the opening sentence in the essay; the opening sentence in an argumentative essay states the argument, and the opening line in an expository essay introduces the topic.

What are the Types of Essays

How to write an essay.

About the Author: Hasa

Hasanthi is a seasoned content writer and editor with over 8 years of experience. Armed with a BA degree in English and a knack for digital marketing, she explores her passions for literature, history, culture, and food through her engaging and informative writing.

​You May Also Like These

5 Expository Essay Examples (Full Text with Citations)

• Video Overview
• Quick Example
• Formatting Guide

An expository essay attempts to explain a topic in-depth, demonstrating expert knowledge and understanding.

This form of essay is structured around the clear, factual presentation of information, devoid of the writer’s personal opinions or arguments.

The primary goal is to inform or explain rather than persuade.

Unlike an argumentative essay, which is built around defending a particular point of view with evidence and persuasion, an expository essay maintains a neutral stance, focusing on delivering straightforward facts and explanations.

An example of expository writing could be an article explaining the process of photosynthesis.

The article would systematically describe each stage of how plants convert sunlight into energy, detailing the role of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

It would explain the sequence of reactions – first, second, third, fourth, fifth – that occur and the importance of each step in supporting the life of the plant.

An expository essay generally follows this essay format:

• A) To persuade the reader to adopt a particular viewpoint
• B) To inform or explain a topic clearly
• C) To present the writer’s personal opinions and arguments
• D) To entertain the reader with creative writing
• A) An expository essay uses creative storytelling techniques
• B) An expository essay remains neutral and avoids personal opinions
• C) An expository essay focuses on persuading the reader with evidence
• D) An expository essay prioritizes the writer’s personal experiences

Expository Essay Examples

#1 impacts of technology on education.

955 words | 4 Pages | 15 References

Thesis Statement: “The integration of technology in education represents a complex and critical area of study crucial for understanding and shaping the future of educational practices.”

#2 Impacts of Globalization on Education

1450 words | 5 Pages | 9 References

Thesis Statement: “This essay examines the profound and multifaceted effects of globalization on education, exploring how technological advancements and policy reforms have transformed access to, delivery of, and perceptions of education.”

#3 The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Interpersonal Relationships

1211 Words | 5 Pages | 22 References

Thesis Statement: “The central thesis is that EI, defined as the ability to perceive, understand, and manage emotions, is a crucial determinant of success and well-being.”

#4 The Future of Renewable Energy Sources and Their Impact

870 words | 4 Pages | 20 References

Thesis Statement: “The essay posits that although renewable energy sources hold immense promise for a sustainable future, their full integration into the global energy grid presents significant challenges that must be addressed through technological innovation, economic investment, and policy initiatives.”

#5 The Psychology Behind Consumer Behavior

1053 words | 4 Pages | 17 References

Thesis Statement: “The thesis of this essay is that consumer behavior is not merely a product of rational decision-making; it is deeply rooted in psychological processes, both conscious and subconscious, that drive consumers’ choices and actions.”

How to Write an Expository Essay

Unlike argumentative or persuasive essays, expository essays do not aim to convince the reader of a particular point of view.

Instead, they focus on providing a balanced and thorough explanation of a subject.

Key characteristics of an expository essay include:

• Clarity and Conciseness
• Structured Organization (Introduction, Body, Conclusion)
• Objective Tone
• Evidence-Based (Cite academic sources in every body paragraph)
• Objective thesis statement (see below)
• Informative purpose (Not argumentative)

You can follow my expository essay templates with AI prompts to help guide you through the expository essay writing process:

How to write a Thesis Statement for an Expository Essay

An expository thesis statement doesn’t make an argument or try to persuade. It uses ‘is’ rather than ‘ought’ statements.

Take these comparisons  below. Note how the expository thesis statements don’t prosecute an argument or attempt to persuade, while the argumentative thesis statements clearly take a side on an issue:

💡 AI Prompt for Generating Sample Expository Thesis Statements An expository essay’s thesis statement should be objective rather than argumentative. Write me five broad expository thesis statement ideas on the topic “[TOPIC]”.

Go Deeper: 101 Thesis Statement Examples

Differences Between Expository and Argumentative Essays

Expository and argumentative essays are both common writing styles in academic and professional contexts, but they serve different purposes and follow different structures.

Here are the key differences between them:

• Expository Essay : The primary purpose is to explain, describe, or inform about a topic. It focuses on clarifying a subject or process, providing understanding and insight.
• Argumentative Essay : The goal is to persuade the reader to accept a particular point of view or to take a specific action. It’s about presenting a stance and supporting it with evidence and logic.
• Expository Essay : It maintains a neutral and objective tone. The writer presents information factually and impartially, without expressing personal opinions or biases.
• Argumentative Essay : It often adopts a more assertive, persuasive, and subjective tone. The writer takes a clear position and argues in favor of it, using persuasive language.
• Expository Essay : The reader is expected to gain knowledge, understand a process, or become informed about a topic. There’s no expectation for the reader to agree or disagree.
• Argumentative Essay : The reader is encouraged to consider the writer’s viewpoint, evaluate arguments, and possibly be persuaded to adopt a new perspective or take action.

Go Deeper: Expository vs Argumentative Essays

Ready to Write your Essay?

Take action! Choose one of the following options to start writing your expository essay now:

Read Next: Process Essay Examples

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Self-Actualization Examples (Maslow's Hierarchy)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Forest Schools Philosophy & Curriculum, Explained!
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Montessori's 4 Planes of Development, Explained!
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Montessori vs Reggio Emilia vs Steiner-Waldorf vs Froebel

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• login Sign up

My saved ads

My saved searches, navigating different types of academic essays.

Academic writing encompasses various genres, each with its own unique requirements and conventions. Understanding the nuances of different types of academic essays is essential for students to excel in their coursework. If you find yourself grappling with the complexities of essay writing, seeking help with your assignment can provide invaluable support. Let's explore the different types of academic essays and how to navigate them effectively.

Understanding the Diversity of Academic Essays

1. argumentative essays.

Argumentative essays require students to present a well-reasoned argument on a specific topic. This involves thorough research, clear articulation of the thesis statement, and supporting evidence to back up the claims. A strong argumentative essay anticipates counterarguments and refutes them effectively.

2. Descriptive Essays

Descriptive essays aim to paint a vivid picture of a person, place, event, or object. They rely on sensory details and vivid language to engage the reader's imagination. Descriptive essays often appeal to the reader's emotions and senses, creating a memorable and immersive experience.

3. Expository Essays

Expository essays aim to explain, clarify, or inform the reader about a particular topic. They provide a detailed analysis of a subject, presenting facts, evidence, and examples in a logical manner. Expository essays may include compare and contrast, cause and effect, or process analysis essays.

4. Narrative Essays

Narrative essays tell a story, often drawing on personal experiences or fictional narratives. They follow a chronological sequence of events and include elements such as characters, plot, setting, and conflict. Narrative essays may convey a moral or lesson and are often written in the first person.

5. Analytical Essays

Analytical essays require students to analyze and interpret a piece of literature, film, artwork, or other media. They delve deep into the text or subject matter, examining its themes, motifs, characters, and symbolism. Analytical essays require critical thinking and close textual analysis.

Tips for Navigating Different Essay Types

1. understand the assignment prompt.

Carefully read and understand the assignment prompt to determine the type of essay required. Pay attention to any specific instructions or guidelines provided by your instructor.

2. Identify the Purpose and Audience

Consider the purpose of your essay and the audience you are writing for. Tailor your approach and tone accordingly, whether you are persuading, informing, describing, or analyzing.

3. Research Thoroughly

Conduct thorough research using credible sources to gather evidence and support your arguments. Take notes and organize your research materials to facilitate the writing process.

4. Outline Your Essay

Create a clear and detailed outline before you start writing. This will help you organize your ideas, structure your essay effectively, and ensure coherence and flow.

5. Revise and Edit Carefully

After completing your essay, take the time to revise and edit it carefully. Check for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors, as well as clarity and coherence of ideas. Consider seeking feedback from peers or instructors to improve your essay further.

Seeking Professional Assistance

If you find yourself struggling with any type of academic essay, remember that help is available. For students in Australia, options to pay for assignment assistance in Australia can provide customized support tailored to your needs. Whether you need help with research, writing, editing, or proofreading, professional assistance can help you navigate the challenges of academic writing successfully.

Navigating different types of academic essays requires a solid understanding of their distinctive features and requirements. By familiarizing yourself with the characteristics of each essay type and following these tips, you can approach your assignments with confidence and produce high-quality work. Don't hesitate to seek professional assistance if needed, as it can make a significant difference in your academic success.

• Share : Share

More from Qatar Living

Qatar’s top beaches for water sports thrills

Most Useful Apps In Qatar - Part Two

Most Useful Apps In Qatar - Part One

Winter is coming – Qatar’s seasonal adventures await!

7 Days of Fun: One-Week Activity Plan for Kids

Wallet-friendly Mango Sticky Rice restaurants that are delightful on a budget

Places to enjoy Mango Sticky Rice in high-end elegance

Where to celebrate World Vegan Day in Qatar

• Shared Accommodation
• Cars for Sale
• Classifieds
• Furniture & Decor
• Electronics
• Fashion & Beauty
• Phones & Tablets
• Labor & Moving
• Household Services
• Cleaning Services
• Freelancers

Qatar Living Classifieds App

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates

• Advertising Terms
• Website Terms
• Rules for posting ads
• Residential
• Find More Vehicles
• Furniture & Decor
• Fashion & Beauty
• Phones & Tablets
• Find More Classifieds
• Labor & Moving
• Computer Services
• Find More Services
• Find More Jobs
• Restaurants
• Find More Pages

Sorry, your request has been denied.