Expository essay meaning

An expository essay is a type of academic writing where you investigate the topic by evaluating the evidence and expounding the idea to describe, explain, and provide the information to a reader. So, it happens again: a teacher assigns an expository essay to you. Nothing special, right? After all, who doesn’t know anything about expository writing?

Expository writing is writing that seeks to explain, illuminate or 'expose' (which is where the word 'expository' comes from). This type of writing is different from creative writing.

It doesn’t set out to prove a point, just to give a balanced view of its subject matter. Expository essays are usually short assignments intended to test your composition skills or your understanding of a subject. They tend to involve less research and original arguments than argumentative essays.

Simply put, to expose something means to lay something bare, uncover, or discover information in a way to make it understandable for a reader. Thus, an expository essay is a structured academic paper that investigates an idea, expands on it, provides argumentation, and presents everything in simple language to make the concept clear for everyone.