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How to Write an Expository Essay | Structure, Tips & Examples

Published on July 14, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

“Expository” means “intended to explain or describe something.” An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a particular topic, process, or set of ideas. 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 .

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Table of contents

When should you write an expository essay, how to approach an expository essay, introducing your essay, writing the body paragraphs, concluding your essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about expository essays.

In school and university, you might have to write expository essays as in-class exercises, exam questions, or coursework assignments.

Sometimes it won’t be directly stated that the assignment is an expository essay, but there are certain keywords that imply expository writing is required. Consider the prompts below.

The word “explain” here is the clue: An essay responding to this prompt should provide an explanation of this historical process—not necessarily an original argument about it.

Sometimes you’ll be asked to define a particular term or concept. This means more than just copying down the dictionary definition; you’ll be expected to explore different ideas surrounding the term, as this prompt emphasizes.

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An expository essay should take an objective approach: It isn’t about your personal opinions or experiences. Instead, your goal is to provide an informative and balanced explanation of your topic. Avoid using the first or second person (“I” or “you”).

The structure of your expository essay will vary according to the scope of your assignment and the demands of your topic. It’s worthwhile to plan out your structure before you start, using an essay outline .

A common structure for a short expository essay consists of five paragraphs: An introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Like all essays, an expository essay begins with an introduction . This serves to hook the reader’s interest, briefly introduce your topic, and provide a thesis statement summarizing what you’re going to say about it.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.

The body of your essay is where you cover your topic in depth. It often consists of three paragraphs, but may be more for a longer essay. This is where you present the details of the process, idea or topic you’re explaining.

It’s important to make sure each paragraph covers its own clearly defined topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Different topics (all related to the overall subject matter of the essay) should be presented in a logical order, with clear transitions between paragraphs.

Hover over different parts of the example paragraph below to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

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The conclusion of an expository essay serves to summarize the topic under discussion. It should not present any new information or evidence, but should instead focus on reinforcing the points made so far. Essentially, your conclusion is there to round off the essay in an engaging way.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a conclusion works.

The invention of the printing press was important not only in terms of its immediate cultural and economic effects, but also in terms of its major impact on politics and religion across Europe. In the century following the invention of the printing press, the relatively stationary intellectual atmosphere of the Middle Ages gave way to the social upheavals of the Reformation and the Renaissance. A single technological innovation had contributed to the total reshaping of the continent.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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An expository essay is a broad form that varies in length according to the scope of the assignment.

Expository essays are often assigned as a writing exercise or as part of an exam, in which case a five-paragraph essay of around 800 words may be appropriate.

You’ll usually be given guidelines regarding length; if you’re not sure, ask.

An expository essay is a common assignment in high-school and university composition classes. It might be assigned as coursework, in class, or as part of an exam.

Sometimes you might not be told explicitly to write an expository essay. Look out for prompts containing keywords like “explain” and “define.” An expository essay is usually the right response to these prompts.

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

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Expository Writing: Definition and Examples

By Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

What is expository writing, what is an expository paragraph, expository writing examples, how prowritingaid can help you with expository composition.

One of the most common types of writing is expository writing. Whether you’re a student taking an English class or a professional trying to communicate to others in your field, you’ll need to use expository writing in your day-to-day work.

So, what exactly does this term mean?

The short answer is that expository writing refers to any writing designed primarily to explain or instruct.

Read on to learn the definition of expository writing as well as some examples of what this type of writing can look like.

Before we look at examples of expository writing, let’s start with a quick definition of what this term actually means.

Expository Writing Definition

The term expository writing refers to any writing that’s designed to explain something. We use the word expository to describe any passage of writing that’s supposed to present information and help you understand it in an objective way.

Some common examples of expository writing include academic essays, textbooks, instructional guides, and news reports. Good expository writing should be factual, objective, and clear.

To better understand what this term means, think about the difference between a scientific article, a short story, and an advertisement.

The scientific article is considered expository writing because its primary purpose is to explain a particular topic in more detail. It presents data, analyzes what that data means, and focuses on the facts.  

On the other hand, the short story isn’t considered expository writing, because its core purpose isn’t to explain or inform—instead, it’s probably trying to entertain you or to take you on a journey. Short stories are narrative writing.

Similarly, an advertisement isn’t expository writing because its core purpose isn’t to explain or inform—instead, it’s trying to persuade you to buy what it’s selling. Advertisements are persuasive writing.   

Here’s a quick rundown of what expository essays should and shouldn’t do.

An expository essay should:

Teach the reader about a particular topic

Focus on the facts

Follow a clearly organized structure

Present information and details from credible sources

An expository essay should not:

Try to change the reader’s mind about something

Present the author’s personal opinions

Include made-up narratives or stories

Follow experimental or nonlinear structures

An expository paragraph is exactly what it sounds like—a paragraph of expository writing.

A well-written expository paragraph should follow a specific format to make it as clear and easy to read as possible. Most expository paragraphs do the following things:

Start with a topic sentence, which explains what the paragraph will be about

Then, include 3 – 5 body sentences that provide supporting details for the topic sentence

Finally, wrap things up with a closing sentence that summarizes what the paragraph has said

Writing an expository paragraph is a great way to practice expository writing. That’s because the paragraph follows the same structure as a more complex expository essay, just on a smaller scale.

Most expository essays should follow this format:  

Start with an introductory paragraph that includes the thesis statement, which tells the reader the core statement of the essay

Then, include 3 – 5 body paragraphs that provide factual evidence to support the thesis statement

Finally, wrap things up with a concluding paragraph that summarizes what the body paragraphs and thesis statement said

You can see the similarities between the two formats. If you can write a fantastic expository paragraph, you’ll be well-prepared to move on to writing a full expository essay.

Example of Expository Paragraph

Here’s an example of an expository paragraph that follows the structure described above.

The leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease, which can be fatal if it leads to heart attack or cardiac arrest. Heart attacks occur when a blockage in the coronary artery prevents oxygenated blood from reaching the heart. Cardiac arrests occur when the heart stops pumping entirely, which prevents the patient from breathing normally. Both of these problems can be deadly, even in seemingly healthy people who don’t have noticeable risk factors. As a result, heart disease is an important problem that many doctors and scientists are researching.

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There are many ways you can present information in an expository essay. Here are four of the most popular ways, along with examples of each one.  

Problem and Solution Essay

A problem and solution essay presents the reader with a problem and then considers possible solutions to that problem. 

Here’s an example passage you might find in a problem and solution essay:

Among the many proposed solutions to rising carbon emissions, one promising possibility is carbon trapping. Scientists are figuring out how to pull carbon emissions out of the atmosphere and trap it in less harmful forms, such as by injecting carbon dioxide underground so it will turn to stone.

Compare and Contrast Essay

This type of essay takes two subjects and compares and contrasts them. It focuses on highlighting the differences and similarities between those two things.

Here’s an example passage of this type of expository writing:

Though country music and R&B music have very different sounds, they also share many similarities. For one thing, both types of music embody a specific cultural identity. For another, both genres trace their roots back to the 1920s, when the Victor Talking Machine Company signed singers from the American South.

Classification Essay

In a classification essay, you describe the categories within a certain group of things.  

Here’s an example passage you might find in a classification essay:

There are three ways in which artificial intelligence might become stronger than humans in the future: high speed, high collective intelligence, and high quality. A speed AI would be able to perform calculations and experience the world much faster than humans. A collective intelligence, like a hive mind, would be able to break down a complex task into several parts and pursue them simultaneously. Finally, a quality AI would simply be able to solve more complex problems than humans could.

Process Essay

In a process essay, you give the reader the steps for completing a specific process. This is similar to a how-to guide or an instruction manual.   

Here’s an example passage you might find in this type of expository writing:

Caramelize the chopped onions in a frying pan. When the onions have caramelized, mix in the bell peppers, mushrooms, and tomatoes and stir for 4 – 6 minutes or until all the ingredients have softened. If you want to add meat, you can add ground beef and cook for another 4 – 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.  

Good expository writing should be easy to read. After all, the purpose of exposition is to explain things to your readers, and you won’t be able to accomplish that if they have trouble understanding your writing.

That’s why ProWritingAid can help you write an expository essay. The grammar checker can help you ensure your sentences flow well, you’re not missing any necessary punctuation, and all your words are precise and clear.

Good luck, and happy writing!

Hannah Yang

Hannah is a speculative fiction writer who loves all things strange and surreal. She holds a BA from Yale University and lives in Colorado. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her painting watercolors, playing her ukulele, or hiking in the Rockies. Follow her work on hannahyang.com or on Twitter at @hannahxyang.

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Expository Essays

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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

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What Is Exposition? How to Use It in Writing, with Examples

by Fija Callaghan

Fija Callaghan is an author, poet, and writing workshop leader. She has been recognized by a number of awards, including being shortlisting for the H. G. Wells Short Story Prize. She is the author of the short story collection Frail Little Embers , and her writing can be read in places like Seaside Gothic , Gingerbread House , and Howl: New Irish Writing . She is also a developmental editor with Fictive Pursuits. You can read more about her at fijacallaghan.com .

Exposition in writing can make or break a story. Exposition that’s artfully placed throughout the narrative with just the right balance of discovery and suspense can elevate an average novel or short story into a bestseller. Exposition that’s used poorly, however, can drag down a brilliant idea and turn it into something unreadable.

It’s no exaggeration to say that managing exposition is one of the most difficult skills in writing—even experienced novelists often need a pumped-up playlist and an extra-strong cup of tea when tackling this precarious, necessary evil of storytelling.

But what is exposition, exactly, and how can you find the perfect balance? Let’s explore how to convey exposition in the best possible way to take your writing to the next level.

What is exposition in writing?

Exposition is a literary device that communicates key background information to your reader. This can be about your characters, the setting, important plot points, or historically significant events that contribute to your story. Exposition can be conveyed to the reader directly through narration or dialogue, or indirectly through clues in the characters’ environment.

For example, if your protagonist is a recently divorced woman, telling or showing the reader what led to the divorce before your book began is exposition. It’s something that isn’t actually happening in the plot, but that’s important for the reader to know. These background details helps the reader understand the character’s thoughts and choices later on.

In the classic story structure Freytag’s pyramid , exposition is listed as the very first stage of the plot. This is because most of the time, you need to try and get this necessary background information to your reader early on in the first chapter so that they can follow along with the rest of the plot.

However, exposition can happen at any time. In the above example, you might tell the reader that the woman has just been divorced at the start of your story, but you might choose not to reveal the reason for the divorce until closer to the end. It’s up to you to decide how much background information your reader needs to get oriented in your world and how much to withhold.

How much exposition does your story need?

Using narrative exposition is a double-edged sword: too much, and your novel gets bogged down with extraneous information. Too little, and your readers won’t know what’s going on.

The key is to include only as much background information as the reader needs to follow the plot. Unfortunately, this won’t be the same every time—that would make our job too easy!

Some stories, especially shorter ones, will need very little expository writing for the reader to understand what’s happening in front of them. Others, particularly genre fiction, will need a lot more.

If you’re setting your book in a landscape that’s unfamiliar to the average reader—things like fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction—you’ll want to tell them as much as they need to understand your story’s world and why things happen there the way they do.

This means sharing important details like your magical or technological systems, any political structures that influence the plot, and any cultural or societal stigmas that will have an impact on your characters and the choices that they make. In historical fiction, providing historical context is important so the reader understands the limitations your main character is facing.

In character-driven fiction, you’ll often need to give your reader some essential details about the relationships between your characters, why they formed the way they did, and what each character wants out of those relationships, as well as their individual wants and needs. These are all things that will help your reader understand why the events of the novel unfold the way they do.

Exposition helps ground your readers in the world of your story. It helps them relate to your characters and feel more connected to their trials and triumphs as they follow them from beginning to end.

Direct vs. indirect exposition

You can introduce exposition into your story in two ways: directly and indirectly. Let’s look at the difference.

1. Direct exposition

Direct exposition is where you say something clearly to the reader, either through your narration or through expository dialogue. In direct exposition the narrative will usually be put on hold for a moment (or several) while you communicate some important piece of information. Most classic faerie tales and many stories from classic literature open like this. For example:

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Little Red Riding Hood who lived with her mother in a cottage at the edge of a dark forest. Little Red’s grandmother lived on the opposite end of the forest, and every morning Red would cross the woods to bring her grandmother a basket of treats.

It certainly has a cozy, fireside quality to it, but it lacks immediacy. We feel as though we’re being told a story instead of living it. Direct exposition can also happen in the middle of a narrative. For example:

John stared down at the scrap of paper with the girl’s phone number on it. He hadn’t been on a date in more than two years, not since his last girlfriend left him for someone she originally thought was her cousin, but then turned out to just be her step-cousin and therefore completely unrelated to her. John’s friends had tried over the years to set him up with various co-workers and mutual acquaintances, but he’d never felt ready. The last one had been a model, and John’s friend Kevin couldn’t understand why…

Blah, blah, blah. I’ve almost forgotten there was a scrap of paper to begin with, i.e. the plot . Some of this might actually be important information for the reader to know, but heaping it all in a pile all at once takes us away from what’s really happening (this is sometimes called an “information dump”). Instead, try breaking it into small manageable bites and conveying some of it indirectly instead.

2. Indirect exposition

You’ve probably heard that old reliable adage, “ Show, don’t tell. ” Indirect exposition is what they’re talking about. Indirect exposition gives the reader enough clues through the narrative, dialogue, and setting for them to absorb the information you’re giving them without the need to state it outright. For example:

The morning sun was just reaching the tips of the fir trees as Little Red Riding Hood left her mother’s cottage. She adjusted the weight of the basket on her arm, making sure that the treats for her grandmother were safe, and started off down the path through the woods. Long shadows reached out to her.

This feels much more present and intimate. By gently working the expository information into the action of the narrative, the reader understands the same level of detail but feels like they’re right there alongside Little Red.

Indirect exposition is even more essential when you’re in the midst of your story. The goal is to convey key information to your reader while allowing the action to keep moving forward. For example:

John stared down at the scrap of paper with the phone number on it. That familiar feeling of dread curled up in the pit of his stomach, where it had been living since Charlotte left him two years ago. His fingers moved towards his phone, and he wondered how he was going to explain that he’d turned down Kevin’s friend from the Harper’s Bazaar shoot but took a chance on a strange girl he’d met at a bus stop.

Now we’ve covered all our important background information, but the story maintains its continuous forward momentum. Good exposition should heighten emotional stakes while giving insight into the character’s backstory.

Direct exposition is okay in small doses, but try to relay information indirectly as much as you can. It will vastly improve the pacing of your plot and close the distance between your story and your reader.

4 ways to convey exposition in your story

There are a few different ways you can work background information into your writing. Let’s look at where exposition can show up in your story.

1. Narrative exposition

Narration makes up the bulk of your story. This is the description, the action tags, all the words you use to give the reader key details about what’s happening in any given moment. As you’re describing what’s happening, you can sneak in hints of what led up to that moment.

This might be by telling us what your character is feeling, how their bodies are reacting to what’s around them, memories that are dredged up in response to their surroundings, and questions they have about their environment.

For example, if you show your main character walking into an old house at the beginning of your story, you can say something like, “It was the first time she’d been back in her childhood home since her brother’s death.” (Direct exposition.)

Or, “If she unfocused her eyes, she could almost see her own ghost playing at the foot of the stairs, safe and warm in the belief that she and her brother would both have a chance to grow up.” (Indirect exposition.)

2. Dialogue exposition

Dialogue is conversation between two or more characters . You can use their conversation to convey background information to your reader, too. This might be through your characters talking about something that’s happened, one character explaining something to another, or from them discovering something new together.

If two characters are walking into the old house together, you could have one character say to the other, “I haven’t been back here since my brother died.” (Direct exposition.)

Or, “Here’s where my brother and I used to record our heights every year. If he had lived just another few months he probably would have been taller than me.” (Indirect exposition.)

3. Internal monologue exposition

An internal monologue is where your character is talking to themselves inside their thoughts. In first person perspective , this will usually be a part of the narration. In third person perspective , however, the character’s thoughts will be distinct from the rest of the story.

We all talk to ourselves and sort things out in our heads all the time. In a story, you can use this in the same way as dialogue to convey new information to the reader. It’s also where a character processes what they’re feeling about a given situation.

For example, if your first-person narrator is moving through their old house on their own, they might say to themselves, “I can’t believe Alan and I were ever this small. I thought that was going to be the year he outgrew me. If I’d known he wouldn’t have the chance I would have been a lot nicer to him.”

You can intersperse your characters’ thoughts and internal monologue with details that show how the setting is affecting your characters and how they’re reacting to it.

An internal monologue should always be indirect exposition ; the reason is that when we’re talking to ourselves, we don’t naturally convey information in a very direct way. We turn things over in our heads based on what we already know and consider only the details we need to process those things.

Your character wouldn’t say to themselves, “I haven’t been back here since my brother died”; they might say something like, “It feels like it’s been a lot less than twenty years. Everything still looks like home.”

When a character has an internal monologue that acts as an info dump and explains background information in a very obvious way, that’s often a sign of inexperienced writing. That’s why great exposition is such an art form!

4. Flashback exposition

Flashbacks are where instead of describing key plot points that have happened, your reader actually gets to see them happening. This can take the form of an isolated section of the story, such as a prologue or a separate chapter, or it can happen as a short deviation from the events happening in the present.

For example, you might say:

Sunshine streamed through the skylight and illuminated the bannister where Alan had been playing that day. She looked up and remembered how scared she had been, yelling at him to get down and stop messing around. His confidence had just made her more angry, and more scared. She tried not to show her fear, but Alan had always been able to see right through her. He laughed at her and climbed up onto the bannister, arms outstretched, balanced precariously on a thin strip of polished wood. The sunlight poured through the skylight and illuminated his hair like a renaissance painting just before he fell.

Flashbacks always need to be triggered by something—usually something sensory. Specific sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures are deeply linked to our memories, and you can use those sensory stimuli to reveal information to your reader.

In this example, the protagonist’s memory was triggered by the sight of sunlight on the wooden bannister. Through it she was able to show us what really happened.

All of these exposition methods can be useful in a story, but any of them will become cumbersome when used too extensively or exclusively. The best way to create exposition in your story is to use some or all of these methods together, building the backstory of your novel or short story piece by piece.

Pros and cons of using exposition

Exposition is an important literary device in your story, but it has to be used with finesse. Here are a few of the risks and rewards of using exposition in your writing.

Pro: It opens up new worlds

Exposition is a marvellous tool when it comes to building imaginary worlds in your story. Whether your story is set in a fantastical faerie tale kingdom, a distant colony in the farthest reaches of the galaxy, or an alternate version of Victorian-era London, exposition introduces your readers to the most minute details of what makes your story world special and unique.

Con: Too much can drag down your pacing

The tricky thing about exposition is that it can slow your plot way down. One of the biggest challenges in expository writing is taking the time to share necessary information with your readers, without losing sight of your main goal as a writer—which is to tell the story .

Using too much exposition at once, or using it clumsily, will slow down the action of your story and make your readers lose interest in the struggles your characters are facing.

Pro: It brings complexity to your characters

Great stories are built out of dynamic, multi-layered characters , and the best way to accomplish this is to give your characters dynamic, multi-layered lives. Exposition gives you a way to show the readers the sort of conflicts your characters have faced in the past, what their hopes and desires are, and what sort of experiences—good and bad—have made them into the people they are today. This makes them feel more real to the reader.

Con: It can distract from your story

Unfortunately, the temptation when using exposition can be to tell your readers too much, which pulls them away from the scene you’re showing in that moment. As a writer, it’s great for you to know what your protagonist had for breakfast every day when they were five years old. But does that time of their life influence the choices they’re making right now? If not, your readers don’t need to know about it.

It’s the same when you’re building fantastical worlds. Should you know how the people surviving together on a floating piece of space jetsam go to the bathroom? Yes, probably. Does the reader need to know? Only if it becomes relevant to the plot.

Pro: It’s relatable

Exposition is a great way to address any questions or uncertainties that your reader may have. You can use exposition in dialogue as a “stand in” for the reader to help make sense of anything that might feel out of place.

This is a common tactic in mystery novels, where one character might not understand everything that’s happened, and so another character needs to explain it to them. In the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, Holmes often explains his thought process to Watson, who is usually just as confused as any of us would be.

This accomplishes the double duty of giving the reader important information and helps the different characters feel more believable and relatable.

Con: It can take you out of the moment

The biggest risk when it comes to clumsy exposition is that it can pull your reader out of your story. Readers will be most engaged with your writing when your characters feel intimate and present and real. Exposition, unfortunately, can detract from that intimacy.

For instance, you might say, “Sophie waved to her friend Julie as she entered the classroom. Julie had been her best friend for more than ten years, when they met on the playground back in primary school and Julie stood up to a bully who was making fun of Sophie’s ratty old clothes. Since then, they’d always done everything together.”

The problem? People don’t actually think like this. This isn’t what’s going through Sophie’s head in this moment. Clunky exposition can put an unnecessary distance between your reader and your characters.

Sometimes you’ll need to sneak in little asides of direct exposition in your story, and that’s okay. Just make sure you don’t pile them one on top of each other, and you don’t lose sight of your goal: to keep the story moving.

3 examples of exposition in literature

Exposition is all about communicating the most possible information in the least amount of words, while maintaining the forward motion of the story. Here are a few examples of exposition in literature that show whole worlds in just a few moments.

1. Pick-Up by Charles Willeford

It must have been around a quarter to eleven. A sailor came in and ordered a chilli dog and coffee. I sliced a bun, jerked a frank out of the boiling water, nested it, poured a half-dipper of chilli over the frank and sprinkled it liberally with chopped onions. I scribbled a check and put it by his plate. I wouldn’t have recommended the unpalatable mess to a starving animal.

Without directly stating it, this first paragraph tells us that we’re in a diner by the sea—probably somewhere in America. Right away we can tell that the point of view is from someone working in the diner, and the short, snappy quality of the sentences suggests a worker who has gone through these motions a thousand times before.

The final sentence shows us the narrator’s personality, his view of his job, and his begrudging acceptance of his place in it.

2. The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman

Gecko opens the dryer door and staggers back from a blast of arid heat that sears his skin and bakes the moisture out of his eyes, nose, and mouth. He reaches in, burning his fingers on the metal snaps of at least thirty orange jumpsuits. The industrial-size equipment in the laundry room of the Jerome Atchison Juvenile Detention Center must be powered by volcanic heat, accessed straight from the earth’s core, Gecko reflects, trying to blink some tears back to his eyes. Strange that it would be hard to cry in a place like this. It took all his strength to hold himself back from bawling on day one, when they marched him through the tall gates topped with razor wire.

Here the exposition smoothly and deftly establishes the setting. “Orange jumpsuits” is the first clue indirectly dropped in for the reader, followed by the name of the place that our story is taking place. Not only do we know that we’re in a prison, but the “Juvenile” sneakily tells us something very important about our character—the fact that they’re very young.

Using the heat and the reference to tears as a sensory point allows the author to drop in a brief, vivid flashback of the character’s arrival, which also suggests some more background on the character Gecko’s youth and vulnerability. Korman manages to say quite a lot in a very small space.

3. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Mike Bowman whistled cheerfully as he drove the Land Rover through the Cabo Blanco Biological Reserve, on the west coast of Costa Rica. It was a beautiful morning in July, and the road before him was spectacular: hugging the edge of a cliff, overlooking the jungle and the blue Pacific. According to the guidebooks, Cabo Blanco was unspoiled wilderness, almost a paradise. Seeing it now made Bowman feel as if the vacation was back on track.

This opening paragraph allows itself a moment to enjoy the view in peaceful harmony. It directly tells the reader where they are, but also manages to drop some subtle hints in along the way: a guidebook, suggesting that the character Mike is unfamiliar with the location, and the the idea that his vacation is “back on track,” which loads a lot of back story into a minuscule moment. It tells us that something has already gone wrong, but he’s feeling optimistic that things are going to get better.

Use exposition to sharpen your story

Exposition is an essential part of every narrative—not just in the beginning, but throughout its entire journey. By using exposition in writing you can give your readers a wider view of the world you’re creating; you can give your characters new depth and new facets; and you can broaden your core story to include a greater range of space and time.

While poorly written exposition risks dragging down your story’s plot, effective exposition takes your fiction writing to a whole new level and makes the humanity within it feel even more real.

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Expository Writing (Exposition)

Table of contents, introduction, what is exposition, features of expository writing, types expository writing.

Expository writing encompasses various types, each serving distinct purposes. Some common types include:

Expository Essay Structure

How to write an expository essay, preparation: reading a sample expository essay, topic selection and understanding, revising and editing, tips for writing an exposition, expository essay sample.

Here is an expository essay example about online learning:

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The term “expository” refers to expounding on, or elaborating on a topic. Hence, the main goal of an expository essay is to provide factual information on a particular subject. Although writing an engaging essay is definitely a plus, it is secondary. The main goal of writing an expository essay is to educate. 

An expository essay is a relatively unbiased piece of writing that explores a topic from all angles. In this article, we will explore the meaning of an expository essay and how to write one with the help of a few expository essay examples. Let’s take a look.

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What is an expository essay?

An expository essay is an unbiased, factual piece of writing that provides an in-depth explanation of a topic or set of ideas. It aims to explain a topic from all angles and takes no decisive stance on it.

Expository essays make no new arguments on a topic but rather explain preexisting information in a structured format. They are mainly used in assignments or exams to test the student’s knowledge of a subject. 

However, the expository essay definition remains incomplete without understanding the different types of expository essays. An “expository essay” is an umbrella term used to describe different types of essays. These essays include classification essays, definition essays, process essays, compare and contrast essays, and cause-and-effect essays.

Now that we’ve understood what is an expository essay, let’s look at its types.

1. Classification essay

A classification essay aims to group objects into distinct categories. It also involves comparing objects within the same group and highlighting their similarities and differences. For example, if the essay topic is evergreen trees, it would explore different types like pine and fir and discuss the similarities and differences between them.

2. Definition essay

A definition essay aims to provide a comprehensive explanation of a particular topic. As the name implies, the main goal is to define the subject matter in detail. So if you were writing a definition essay on the Victorian era, you would begin by defining the historical period. Then, you would move on to describe the cultural aspects such as fashion styles, notable figures, and societal norms that characterized that period.

3. Process essay

A process essay is a step-by-step guide to performing a particular task. It follows a logical, chronological order of detailed steps on how to achieve a desired outcome. For instance, if you want to write a process essay on “how to make a paper airplane” you will provide a step-by-step chronological guide on how to fold the paper in different ways to create the airplane. 

4. Compare and contrast essay

A compare and contrast essay aims to point out the subtle differences or unexpected similarities between two or more subjects. For instance, a compare and contrast essay about the types of ramen served in different parts of Japan may include the differences and similarities in the broth, ingredients used, types of noodles, and flavor profiles in each of them. 

5. Cause and effect essay

A cause-and-effect essay seeks to explore the aftermath of a specific incident. So a cause-and-effect essay on the Himalayan mountain range may analyze the movement of the tectonic plates that led to the formation of the Himalayas.

Now that we’ve fully understood what’s an expository essay let’s understand its structure.

Expository essay structure

An expository essay is written in the third person and the expository essay format, like any other essay format, consists of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. There is no limit on the length of your essay unless instructed by your teacher or professor. 

The expository essay format typically consists of one paragraph for the introduction and conclusion and three paragraphs for the body. But you can add additional body paragraphs depending on the scope of your topic. Here’s the expository essay paragraph structure:

1. Introduction

The purpose of an introduction is to acquaint your reader with‌ your topic or thesis statement. It also involves using engaging information and a relevant context to captivate the reader.

The thesis statement for an expository essay should be unbiased and should aim to provide the reader with more information on a topic. Here’s an example of an introductory paragraph for an expository essay:

• Background information
• Thesis statement

The Victorian era, spanning from 1837 to 1901, left an indelible mark on English society. With its strict expectations governing everything from fashion to employment, it was known to be a conservative society. But amidst the rigidity, the period also saw remarkable progress in industry, technology, and science. It’s a time of paradox, where tradition and innovation coexisted. In this essay, we’ll delve into the fascinating complexities of the Victorian era and how they shaped English society for generations to come.

2. Body paragraph

After understanding how to start an expository essay the next step is to construct substantial body paragraphs. Each body paragraph in an expository essay consists of a topic sentence, its explanation, and a transition statement. A single idea should be introduced in each paragraph. 

These ideas can be arranged chronologically, in the order of importance, or even in a random manner, depending on the purpose and the message of your essay. For instance, a step-by-step guide will always be written chronologically, from the first to the final step.  Let’s take a look at an example of a body paragraph for an expository essay.

• Topic sentence
• Explanation
• Transition statement

During the Victorian era, the social hierarchy was rigid, with the aristocracy and landed gentry holding most of the power, wealth, and privilege . Shockingly, the upper class comprised only 0.7% of the population, yet dominated England’s resources and politics. Meanwhile, the working class, who made up the majority of society, faced harsh living and working conditions and had limited opportunities for upward mobility. Working-class men in industrial cities had an average life expectancy of just 16 years. Despite these challenges, the Victorian era also saw a growing movement towards social reform, such as the National Health Service and Factory Act, aimed at improving the working class’s quality of life. Although the oppressive social hierarchy was highly apparent, the Victorian era represented a time of progress and change in England for many.

3. Conclusion

The purpose of the conclusion is to tie up loose ends and to provide a short summary of your essay. End your essay with a strong, meaningful statement that leaves a lasting impression. This helps reinforce the significance of your thesis statement to the reader.

The conclusion should introduce no new information but rather focus on the broader impact and applications of your topic and central idea. Here’s an example of a concluding paragraph for an expository essay.

• Updated thesis statement
• Brief overview
• Concluding statement

The Victorian era brought about significant changes in society, culture, and technology, including the rise of the middle class, the expansion of the British Empire, the emergence of new literary and artistic movements, and the advancement of science and technology. Despite its flaws, it laid the foundation for modern society and continues to impact contemporary culture. This essay explored the Victorian era’s impact on literature, social norms, and technological advancements, providing a comprehensive overview of this era’s influence on society and culture. Overall, the Victorian era’s legacy continues to shape our world today.

Now that we’re familiar with the structure of an expository essay, let’s understand how to write it.

How to write an expository essay  

Although an essay is a highly versatile piece of writing, it follows the same basic steps. This involves choosing a relevant topic, crafting a clear thesis statement, creating a structured outline, and writing and revising your essay. Here are some simple steps to write an expository essay.

1. Choose an appropriate topic

An expository essay is based on accurate facts and information, so it makes sense to choose a topic you’re already familiar with. This will not only make the research process much easier but will also help you approach your topic in depth.

2. Craft the thesis statement

Create an interesting and succinct thesis statement that you can expound on. A thesis statement that is both intriguing and clear creates a strong foundation for your essay.

3. Create an essay outline

You can better understand how to structure your expository essay by constructing an outline.

An outline not only provides flow to your essay but also serves as a base to fall back on when in doubt. It is created by constructing relevant topic sentences that support your thesis statement and arranging them in a logical order. 

4. Write the first draft

Once you have created the outline, the next step is to flesh it out and start writing your essay. Make sure that you use reliable sources of information and accurately cite them during your writing process.

5. Revise and proofread 

After the first draft of your essay is complete, make sure to proofread it and revise any structural, grammatical, or factual inconsistencies. If you have the option, it always helps to hire essay editing services that can handle this crucial task for you.

Expository essay outline 

Before embarking on your essay writing journey, make sure that you have a solid base to fall back on. This can be done by creating a comprehensive expository essay outline with a detailed thesis statement, relevant topic sentences, and supporting bits of information. 

Here’s an example of an expository essay outline on the impact of the wheel on modern-day technology: 

The Impact of the Wheel on Modern-Day Technology

I. Introduction

A. Hook: An interesting fact or a historical anecdote about the invention of the wheel

B. Context: The significance of the wheel in ancient times

C. Thesis statement: The wheel has been a crucial invention that has influenced modern-day technology in various fields.

II. History and Evolution of the Wheel

A. Origin and early uses of the wheel

B. Development of the wheel and axle

C. Role of the wheel in ancient civilizations, such as Mesopotamia, China, and Egypt

D. The role of the wheel in the Industrial Revolution

III. The Influence of the Wheel on Transportation Technology

A. The invention of the modern-day car and its components

B. The development of airplanes and trains

C. The influence of the wheel on space exploration

IV. The Influence of the Wheel on Manufacturing Technology

A. The role of wheels and conveyors in modern factories

B. The use of wheels in heavy machinery and equipment

C. The influence of the wheel in assembly line production

V. The Influence of the Wheel on Everyday Technology

A. The role of the wheel in household appliances and gadgets

B. The use of wheels in sporting equipment and toys

C. The influence of the wheel on modern-day robotics

VI. Conclusion

A. Restate thesis statement

B. Summarize the main points of the essay

C. Final thoughts: The significance of the wheel on modern-day technology

D. Call to action or recommendation for further research or action

Expository essay example

To help you in your writing process, we’ve provided a comprehensive expository essay example. It discusses the impact of Shakespeare’s work on modern-day literature. This expository essay sample deviates from the original five-paragraph structure and consists of an introductory paragraph, four body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.

Influence of Shakespeare on Modern-Day Literature

William Shakespeare is widely regarded as one of the greatest playwrights in the history of English literature. His works have had a significant influence on modern-day literature, and his plays continue to be performed and adapted into various forms, including films, television shows, and novels. In this essay, we will explore the influence of Shakespeare on modern-day literature.

Shakespeare’s influence on the English language cannot be overstated. He is credited with the invention of over 1,700 words and phrases, including “eyeball,” “fashionable,” “addiction,” and “bedazzled,” to name a few. His writing style, characterized by poetic language, rich imagery, and powerful themes, has inspired countless writers and poets over the centuries. Many writers have attempted to imitate his style or use his works as a reference for their writing.

Moreover, Shakespeare’s plays, which were written over 400 years ago, still resonate with audiences today. His exploration of universal themes such as love, jealousy, power, and ambition, continues to captivate readers and audiences worldwide. The characters in his plays, such as Romeo and Juliet , Hamlet , Macbeth , and Othello , are iconic and have become part of our cultural heritage.

As a result, today’s media and entertainment have been heavily influenced by Shakespeare’s works. Many writers have adapted his plays into modern settings, retelling the stories in contemporary contexts. For example, the musical West Side Story , which is based on Romeo and Juliet , is set in 1950s New York City, while the film 10 Things I Hate About You is a modern retelling of The Taming of the Shrew .

Shakespeare’s influence is not only evident in media but also in the language and themes used in modern literature. His exploration of human nature and the human condition has inspired many writers to delve deeper into the human psyche, exploring complex emotions and motivations. His use of metaphors, symbolism, and imagery has become a hallmark of literary writing, inspiring many writers to use similar techniques in their works.

In conclusion, William Shakespeare’s influence on modern-day literature cannot be overstated. His works continue to be read and performed, inspiring writers and artists around the world. His use of language, themes, and characters has become part of our cultural heritage and continues to shape how we view the world. Shakespeare’s impact on modern-day literature is a testament to his enduring legacy as one of the greatest writers of all time.

Now that you have clarity about expository essays, you can use this information to write expository essays. As providers of essay editing services , we realize that you may also have doubts about other types of essays like narrative essays, argumentative essays, and more.

Keep reading with more resources from your loyal editors and proofreaders:

• Narrative Essay | Step-by-Step Guide with Examples
• 8 Types of Essays | Quick Summary with Examples
• How to Write an Essay in 8 Simple Steps (Examples Included)
• What Is an Essay? Structure, Parts, and Types
• How to Write an Argumentative Essay with Examples

Frequently Asked Questions

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Exposition in Literature: Definition, Examples, and a Complete Guide for Writers

by Joe Bunting | 0 comments

How do good stories start? In the middle of the action? With a slow buildup to the action? What would you say really is  the literary definition of exposition, and how can knowing it help you write better stories?

Exposition is a literary term that deals with how to start a story .

In this article, I’ll define exposition, talk about how it fits into the dramatic structure, give examples of exposition from popular novels, plays, and films, and then give a few tips on how to use the exposition best in your writing.

Let’s get started.

Note : this article contains an excerpt from my #1 best-selling book The Write Structure , which is about the hidden structures behind bestselling and award-winning stories. If you want to learn more about how to write a great story, by mastering storytelling musts like the exposition literary definition, you can get the book for a limited time low price. Click here to get The Write Structure ($5.99).

Exposition Literary Definition

The exposition is a set of scenes in a story that are meant to introduce the audience to the characters, world, and tone of the story. It is relatively short, and no major changes occur during these opening scenes.

While we will focus on how exposition works in a narrative in this article, the term is also used in music, marketing ( expo), and academic, expository essays, where it relates to a comprehensive argumentation for a theory or idea.

Origin of the Term Exposition

The word exposition originates from two Latin words expōnere , meaning “to display,” and expositio meaning “a setting forth.”

The combination is helpful to understanding to what is happening in the exposition of a story: the setting forth of a display, like how an author brings forward the pieces of a story, including the characters, the setting, and the key details of the plot before the story truly begins.

The music world gives us clues as to what is happening in an exposition, too. An exposition is the first section of a fugue or sonata form during which the main melodic themes are introduced for first time. In the same way, in a story, the exposition can be the place where the theme and the main ideas are first stated.

Synonyms for exposition in storytelling include introduction (used by Freytag) and sometimes hook.

Knowing the origins of the exposition literary definition can help you purposefully use exposition in scenes structuring your story.

Where Exposition Fits in the Dramatic Structure

At The Write Practice , we talk about the six elements that make up dramatic structure. They are:

• Inciting Incident
• Rising Action/Progressive Complications

In dramatic structure, the exposition occurs at the beginning of the story and is meant to set up the inciting incident, which is a moment where the action kicks off in the story.

How Long Is the Exposition in Most Stories?

Since stories are about change and values in conflict, the exposition, which contains no change, is necessarily quite short.

Most exposition is just two or three scenes, and in some cases, as short as half a scene.

For example, in  The Hobbit , there are just a couple of pages of exposition before Gandalf shows up and invites Bilbo on an adventure.

Think about how this works well in the story as you recall the exposition literary definition—how it establishes the Shire, the tone for the novel, and the quaint setting that will drastically shift once Bilbo leaves home.

Exposition Examples

Here are a few examples of exposition in literature:

Example: The Exposition in Romeo and Juliet

In Romeo and Juliet , the exposition is actually fairly long, even longer depending on where you put the inciting incident (Freytag puts it earlier than I would, but then, Freytag has a different way of thinking about story structure ):

• Servants of the two leading families in the city, the Montagues and Capulets, feud in the streets.
• Romeo, a young son of the Montagues, is depressed after being rejected by a woman, and his friends attempt to cheer him up.
• Juliet, the daughter of the Capulets, chafes at her parents setting her up with a man.
• Romeo’s friends convince him to attend a party at the Capulets’ house.

At this party, Romeo meets Juliet, and falls in love at first sight, creating the inciting incident. This is when the main action of the play begins.

But it isn’t until the fifth scene that the inciting incident occurs, which makes this one of the longer examples of exposition.

Note: Gustav Freytag argues that the invitation to the Capulets’ party is actually the inciting incident, which would make the exposition a bit shorter, just three scenes. I get this, from a certain perspective, since it’s the party that throws the two families together irrevocably, but I think that event is dwarfed by instant attraction between the two lovers.

Exposition Length : four scenes

Example: The Exposition in  Gravity

In contrast, the film  Gravity , about an astronaut attempting to survive a disaster in space, has an exposition that is quite short.

The story begins with Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and astronaut Matt Kowalksi (George Clooney) who are on a spacewalk on the Hubble Space Telescope.

But their spacewalk is interrupted when a missile strike causes a chain reaction of space debris that threatens to destroy much of the spacecraft around the planet.

This missile strike and the space debris chain reaction occurs right at the end of the first scene, meaning the exposition is less than a scene long.

Exposition Length : less than one scene

6 Tips for a Great Exposition

Now that we've looked at some great examples, let's explore how to do it in your story. If you’re writing a novel, screenplay, or other narrative, thinking about the exposition literary definition and how it works in storytelling can help you write a strong opening with these six tips.

1. Begin With Your Story’s Core Value

As we’ve talked about in our discussion of story arcs , every story has a core value scale that it moves on, and when you begin a story, your very first scene should be about the core value of your story.

There are traditionally six value scales:

• Life vs. Death
• Life vs. a Fate Worse than Death
• Love vs. Hate
• Accomplishment vs. Failure
• Maturity vs. Naiveté
• Right vs. Wrong

Stories rise and fall on the scale of these values. A love story might begin in the middle of the love vs. hate scale, rise during the meet cute, fall during a breakup, and end high on the love scale.

In your exposition, part of a writer’s job is to establish what scale your story is moving on. Your story may play with several of these values, but your core value must be presented from the very first scene.

Are you telling an adventure story on the life vs. death scale? Then begin with your first life vs. death moment.

Are you telling a performance story about a team competing to win a major tournament? Then begin with a scene that deals with accomplishment and failure.

Are you telling a story about good and evil? Well, show the audience a moment when good confronts evil right at the start.

Your exposition is not just about introducing your setting and your main characters' background information. It’s also about introducing the values at play in your story.

Then, when you start with these values and keep them in mind throughout the rest of your story, you’ll find the story comes together.

2. Include Conflict

Just because there’s no major change doesn’t mean there’s no conflict or choice in the opening.

Stories can feel slow and boring during the exposition, even when they’re written by great authors. But they can really drag when inexperienced authors make the mistake of thinking the exposition is just to introduce characters, provide backstory, and develop their world.

No. Please, dear writer, do not do this.

The exposition is still part of the story, and all story relies on conflict and choice to create plot movement.

Otherwise your reader will read five pages of your story and then put it down in boredom.

Your exposition must still be a good story.

How do you actually do that though? How do you make sure your exposition has conflict and choice so that it can develop the plot?

Here’s how: just as a story has the six elements of dramatic structure, so every scene must incorporate them as well. It is these six elements within every scene that will keep your story moving.

For more help writing scenes, see my article The Definitive Guide to Scene Structure .

That means every scene, even a scene in the exposition, must have exposition, an inciting incident, rising action, a crisis, a climax, and a denouement.

For example, let’s look at the opening scene in Romeo and Juliet , in which the servants from the Montagues and Capulets feud on the streets.

We could outline the scene like this:

• Exposition: Two Capulet servants talk about their hatred of the Montagues.
• Inciting Incident: Two Montague servants come onstage and a verbal feud begins.
• Rising Complication: Benvolio, a Montague, tries to stop the fight, but Tybalt, a Capulet, insults him.
• Crisis: Benvolio must choose whether to fight and break the peace or allow himself to be called a coward.
• Climax: Tybalt and Benvolio fight until their fight is broken up by armed citizens.
• Denouement: The Prince declares that anyone who breaks the peace will be executed.

See how, even though this is just a scene in the exposition, it still contains all the elements of dramatic structure?

So, too, any scene in your exposition should have this dramatic structure, or else risk feeling like boring info-dumping.

3. Introduce Most of Your Characters

First impressions matter. How you introduce your characters is how they will be remembered by the reader throughout the story. Take care to introduce them with the exact impression you want the reader to take away.

You can introduce them through narrative, description, or internal monologue (a character's thoughts), but the best way to first  introduce a character is through dialogue and action.

Also be sure to introduce all or at least most  of the important characters in your story in the exposition.

While you can introduce characters throughout the first act of your story (it’s usually not a good idea to introduce them afterward) it’s your exposition’s job to introduce most of your cast.

This is a lesson I learned the hard way in my memoir Crowdsourcing Paris , when I introduced a pivotal character all the way at the end of act two.

When a beta reader gave me feedback that I needed to introduce the character earlier, I did a massive facepalm. I should have known better! So I moved up the character’s introduction, and it made the story flow much better.

4. Establish the Point of View (POV)

Establish your point of view in the exposition, and then don’t change it.

The point of view is the perspective from which you tell the story. It will determine how your readers receive information, which is crucial to how they experience the plot.

The main options are third person limited, third person omniscient, and first person.

Just like understanding the exposition literary definition is crucial to storytelling, so is understanding the definition and application of point of view. For more on this, you can read our ultimate point of view guide here .

5. Save the Cat

One tried and true method of introducing a central character in the best possible light is to have them “ save the cat ,” a screenwriting term popularized by Blake Snyder in his book of the same name. The term refers to a character who does a selfless, or at least admirable, act to prove they are “worth rooting for” and endear themselves to the reader early on in the story.

The term comes from Roxanne , the 1987 film starring Steve Martin and Darryl Hannah. In the beginning of the film, Martin, who has a strangely long nose, literally saves a cat from a tree, thus making sure you love him despite his strange appearance.

The admirable act, of course, does not have to be saving a cat.

Here are some examples of this device in popular stories:

• Aladdin . After stealing a loaf of bread and escaping the police, Aladdin offers his share to two hungry-looking children, proving that he’s a thief with character.
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone . If being an orphan and bullied by the uncle, aunt, and cousin he lives with isn’t enough for readers to bond with Harry, he also befriends and then saves a snake from humiliating captivity. (“Save the snake” is a less catchy guideline, but it works!)
• Pride and Prejudice . Elizabeth Bennet is first singled out as worth rooting for by her father, when he compares her to her sisters, saying, “Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.” Then later, we cheer for her when she’s insulted by Mr. Darcy and instead of getting angry, she laughs it off.
• The Hobbit . Bilbo Baggins, like many of us, both longs for adventure (because of his Took ancestry, as Tolkien explains) and is very uncomfortable with it. This inner turmoil makes him the perfect “everyman” hero thrown into the midst of a very tumultuous situation involving dwarves and dragons. He is like us, and we always want to root for ourselves.

While a selfless or admirable act is not required, it is important to somehow develop a bond with your characters early on, and this technique is one of the best, most efficient ways to do it.

6. Build to the Inciting Incident Quickly

As we showed in our example, the exposition isn’t meant to be long: as short as half a scene and as long as four.

The point here is to get to the point: the inciting incident .

The inciting incident is when the story will begin moving, and a story that doesn’t move doesn’t make for a good story.

So don’t dawdle.

Do what you need to do to set up the inciting incident, and then move on.

Some Books Don’t Start With the Exposition

Just because great writers understand the exposition literary definition and how to use it in stories doesn't mean all stories have an exposition.

In some stories, especially action, thriller, or horror stories, it’s appropriate to begin with a short scene of heightened tension.

There are several ways to handle this:

In Medias Res

In medias res , meaning “in the middle” in Latin, is a literary technique to start a story in the middle of the action. This begins the story with a heightened level of suspense at the expense of clarity for the sake of the reader.

The audience, who doesn’t after all know the characters who are caught up in the action, can easily feel distant or even confused. However, in certain stories and genres this is well worth it for the sake of an immediate shot of action.

A good example of a story that starts in medias res is almost every film in the  Mission Impossible  franchise.

Flash Forward

Similarly, a story that starts with a flash forward (as opposed to a flashback) begins not in the exposition but in the climax—not a full climax but a shortened glimpse of the climax. Then, in the middle of the crisis of that scene, you pull away from the scene and flash back to the start of the story, the exposition.

A good example of this technique is  Fight Club  by Chuck Palahniuk (both the novel and film versions).

There are drawbacks to beginning with a moment deep in the action of the story, whether in medias res or a flash forward. You can miss the opportunity to build a bond between your audience and your characters. You also risk confusing and disorienting the audience.

The writers who do it the best draw the audience out of the action as quickly as they drew them in, soon beginning normal exposition.

What is always true of successful stories is you have to get through the exposition at some point, even if it’s not in the first scene.

Good Stories Start With Clear Choices

If you want to write a great story, you don’t start too fast with a climactic moment. You also don’t want to start too slow with no choices or conflict.

No, you want to start with strong exposition, using crisis choices to introduce characters in a way your reader can root for them, not giving away too much information, not creating much movement.

Instead, you want to set the foundation of all the story that is going to happen in the future, starting with your inciting incident.

Understanding the exposition literary definition and studying examples of stories (like the ones covered in this post) that include exposition with purpose will help you apply exposition (well) in your own story,

So get started, and have fun!

What are your favorite opening scenes or exposition scenes in film or novels? Share in the comments.  

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Now that you've read this post, how well do you understand the exposition literary definition? Let’s put the exposition to use with the following creative writing exercise :

Use the following story structure as a creative writing prompt to write an exposition of your own.

• Exposition: ___________ (Fill in the blank.)
• Inciting incident: A master thief shares the plan for the greatest heist of his/her career with his/her team.
• Rising action: The team plans the heist.
• Crisis: Best bad choice. Risk losing the heist for the sake of the team, or choose to save the team and give up the profit from the heist?
• Climax: The master thief gives up the profit, saving his/her team.
• Resolution: Missing out on the heist, or appearing to, was all part of the thief’s plan, and he/she shares the profits with his/her team.

Start by outlining the missing exposition in a single sentence. Then set your timer for fifteen minutes and write your exposition as quickly as you can.

When your time is up, post your practice (and your exposition sentence)in the Pro Practice Workshop for feedback. And if you post, be sure to leave feedback on a few pieces by other writers.

Happy writing!

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

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• Literary Terms
• Definition & Examples
• When & How to Build the Exposition

I. What is Exposition?

The exposition of a story is the first paragraph or paragraphs in which the characters , setting (time and place), and basic information is introduced. A lot of movies show the exposition by panning over the city or countryside and showing the main character doing something such as walking, working, or waking up. These scenes allow the readers to understand where the story is taking place and who’s in it.

II. Examples of Exposition

Expositions are the place to show the reader a little bit of the location and what kind of time is involved in the story, along with some of the major characters.

Tommy kicked angrily at the rocks in front of him as he walked to the little store up the road. The gravel road was quiet, with only the dust from his feet rising up from the ground. The Texas spring was hotter and drier than normal, causing a slight drought. Tommy wished he still had his bike, but he had broken the frame last fall when he and his friends did some trick rides. “Man, that was some fun, though!” he remembered with a smile.

His smile went back to a frown as his thoughts returned to why he was walking on this hot Saturday morning. His sister Rachel was home from college for the weekend, so he didn’t understand why HE had to go get the milk. She could have driven in her car. It was always, “Rachel’s busy. Rachel needs to study.” Today it was, “Rachel’s tired from her drive home last night.” Whatever! He had work to do, too. What about how busy he was? Everyone treated him like he was a little kid. But he had his 10 th grade exams coming up in two weeks. He was busy, too!

In this example, we see the protagonist, Tommy, battling some inner conflict as he deals with issues with his older sister. The setting is in Texas, somewhere out in the country; he’s in high school, and it is spring. There is also a slight drought going on, which may or may not affect the story as it progresses. From his reflection on what happened to his bike, we get the idea that he’s a little adventurous and active. These two paragraphs give us a good opening to understanding the protagonist and the setting.

III. Methods of Exposition

A. backstory/prologue.

Some books or stories will have a “Prologue” before the first chapter or a scene showing something from the past. This prologue or backstory sets the story by giving a description of events that have affected or lead the main character up to the present time in the story. It will also show other characters and perhaps the antagonist.

b. Inner Monologue/Flashback

The story may start with the character in his or her present time, showing the time and place (setting) at that moment. Then the protagonist (main character) may have a flashback or have an inner monologue (speaking to him- her-self) that shows the reader a previous event which impacts the story or is the cause of a later conflict along with the possible antagonist.

c. Character Dialogue

Another way of creating the exposition is through characters talking to each other. They may discuss previous events, issues that impact the story, and other characters. This conversation clues us in as to the where, when, and who.

IV. The Importance of Exposition

Exposition is important in a story because it allows the reader to see the location and factors of time, such as season, year of life, etc. It also introduces the characters. Without an idea of where and when the characters are, readers will be confused about why certain events are happening. Without a clear idea of how the characters are connected, readers may be confused, as well. The exposition is like that introductory paragraph in an essay – readers need to know where the story takes place and what characters they’ll be following.

V. Examples of Exposition in Literature

An interesting book about the magic of words in a story is “Inkheart” by Cornelia Funke. When Meggie was a toddler, her mother disappeared as her father read a story to her. That story was Inkheart. He is now searching the world for another copy of the book because as he was reading, bad guys magically appeared from the book as his wife disappeared into it. The bad guys took the book so that he couldn’t read them back into it. The excerpt below introduces Meggie and her father, showing that they have a close relationship. It also hints at the mysterious power books have on our characters. This story, which gives new meaning to the concept of “the power of words,” has been made into a movie.

Rain fell that night, a fine, whispering rain. Many years later, Meggie had only to close her eyes and she could still hear it, like tiny fingers tapping on the windowpane. A dog barked somewhere in the darkness, and however often she tossed and turned Meggie couldn’t get to sleep. The book she had been reading was under her pillow, pressing its cover against her ear as if to lure her back into its printed pages. ‘I’m sure it must be very comfortable sleeping with a hard, rectangular thing like that under your head,’ her father had teased the first time he found a book under her pillow. ‘Go on, admit it, the book whispers its story to you at night.’ (Funke).

A classic example of exposition can be found in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Many plays start with prologues or monologues to cue viewers into the setting and characters. The prologue gives us background information such as the families involved, where they are, why there is a problem with Romeo and Juliet’s affection for each other, and the result of their feelings. This play is still a part of many schools’ curriculum due to its timeless story of forbidden love.

PROLOGUE Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life; Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents’ strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love, And the continuance of their parents’ rage, Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend” (Shakespeare).

VI. Examples of Exposition in Pop Culture

Super heroes have been a popular part of our culture for many decades. A popular comic book brand, Marvel comics, is best known for the Avengers, heroes with super powers who save the world over and over. A television series, Marvel’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” features a group of Avengers who attempt to protect the world after the Battle of New York. This series, like most others, features an exposition at the start of a new season and each episode. The scenes are relevant past events that are needed to pick up the next story line.

A very clear and strong example of an exposition is from the movie “Pride and Prejudice,” which stars Kiera Knightly  and is adapted from Jane Austen’s book written in 1813. Our protagonist, Elizabeth (Lizzy), is featured walking in from the meadows while reading a book, illustrating her love of walks and books. The scene pans through her yard and home, letting viewers have an impression of the family’s status and manner of living. As she walks by a window, she hears her mother and father talking about a prospective new bachelor in the area. Since they have five daughters, her mother is frantic to ensure all five are safely married since their home will go to a distant male relative upon their father’s death. Thus the story line is set for the viewers to understand the coming events.

VII. Related Terms

Introduction.

The introduction is the opening paragraphs or sentences in a piece of writing that gives the topic and what will be said about it. Additional information may be the thesis and a preview of the main ideas. To introduce the topic, an interesting fact or short story may be given.

VIII. Conclusion

The exposition is an important part to any narrative or tale. A clear description of the setting and introducing characters will make your story easy to follow and much more interesting. Without it, readers will not have a context or understanding of events as the story unfolds.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
• Verisimilitude
• Essay Guide
• Cite This Website

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Exposition Definition

What is exposition? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Exposition is the description or explanation of background information within a work of literature. Exposition can cover characters and their relationship to one another, the setting or time and place of events, as well as any relevant ideas, details, or historical context.

Some additional key details about exposition:

• Writers can introduce exposition into a story in a variety of ways, but it appears across all genres and styles of storytelling.
• The individual pieces of background information that writers use to create exposition are known as expository details .
• The word exposition comes from the Latin word exponere , which means to put out, exhibit, or explain.
• Some people use the term "exposition" as if it's a bad thing, which awkwardly breaks up the flow of a story with chunks of background detail. It's important to understand that all literature involves some sort of exposition, and it can be done either well (such that as a reader you almost don't realize it's happening) or badly (such that it lamely messes up the pacing or energy of the story).

Exposition Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce exposition: ek -spuh-zih-shun

Understanding Exposition

Classic fairy tales often use the words "once upon a time" to introduce expository details, like who the main characters are, where the story is set, and what the major conflict or problem of the story might be. Exposition isn't always quite that easy to spot, but some form of exposition appears in almost every work of literature, and readers typically rely on exposition and background information to give context to the main events of a story.

Exposition in Linear vs. Non-linear Narratives

In linear narratives (stories in which a writer describes events in the chronological order in which they occur), writers often include the bulk of the story's exposition near the beginning, then add additional expository details throughout the story—for example, each time a new character, setting, or key idea is introduced. In non-linear narratives (stories that include flashbacks or move backward and forward in time), writers are more likely to scatter expository details throughout the work. Writers can also build suspense by withholding expository details, and then revealing them later in a story.

Direct and Indirect Exposition

Though writers can use many different techniques to create exposition, it comes in two main forms: direct and indirect exposition.

• Direct exposition occurs when the narrator or a character briefly pauses or delays the action of the story to introduce expository details. For example, in the opening chapter of I Capture the Castle by Dodi Smith, the novel's narrator uses direct exposition when she describes her sister as "nearly twenty-one and very bitter with life."
• Indirect exposition occurs when the narrator or a character provides details that allow the reader to infer key background information and gradually assemble a fuller understanding of the world of the story. For example, if a narrator mentions that a woman is biting her fingernails and fidgeting with her purse, the reader can infer that the woman feels nervous.

It's helpful to understand the distinction between direct and indirect exposition, but bear in mind that most works of literature use a combination of both direct and indirect exposition to convey important information to the reader. Below, we'll take a look at some of the major techniques that writers use to create both direct and indirect exposition.

Prologue and Epilogue

Prologues and epilogues are two tools writers can use to create exposition, providing readers with information that allows them to better understand the story or themes of a work of literature.

• A prologue is a short introduction to a work of literature that provides context and background information for the story that follows, and which may briefly summarize the story's main events.
• An epilogue is a section at the end of a work of literature which may contextualize, reflect on, and/or briefly summarize the story's main events, or may give readers information about what happened to characters after the end of the main story.

Flashbacks and Memories

Writers who begin their story in media res (in the middle of the action) often use flashbacks and memories to convey important information about events that occurred before the beginning of the narrative. For example, in her dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale , Margaret Atwood uses her narrator's memories to gradually explain how an ultra-conservative sect of Christianity overthrew the United States government and installed a repressive regime. The use of flashbacks in this case is an example of exposition in a nonlinear narrative.

Characters' Thoughts, Dialogue, and Monologue

Writers can also use characters' thoughts as an effective expository tool. Though this is similar to using a character's memories to fill in important information for the reader, a character's thoughts in the present moment can be used to indicate their opinions and worldview, relationships with other characters, and can even give readers important information about other characters. For example, if a writer wants to show that a character who is working as a cashier longs to be a musician, they might write something like, "Ellen gave the customer his change and sighed. If only I could find a practice space and a drummer, she thought. This could be the year we finally get the band back together."

In theater and film, characters' thoughts are often represented through monologue or dialogue . The words that characters speak—either in dialogue or monologue—are often used to communicate both direct and indirect exposition, and can convey important background information to the reader. Dialogue and monologue are especially important expository tools for playwrights and screenwriters, because most plays and films rely solely on a combination of visual storytelling, dialogue, and monologue to introduce the world of the story and its characters.

Media and In-Universe Media

Non-fiction writers may quote media (such as books, newspapers, websites, text-messages, magazines, letters, or emails) in order to convey important information directly to readers. Similarly, fiction writers may use "in-universe media," meaning forms of media that exist within the world of a story, to contextualize key events or convey background information to the reader. For example, Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein tells the story of Dr. Frankenstein and his monster through the letters of a peripheral character who is recounting the story to his sister.

Sometimes, narrators use in-universe media to convey new information to the reader and to a character simultaneously. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone , for instance, Harry and the reader discover that he has been accepted into Hogwarts at the same time: when he finally gets to read the letter of admission. And throughout the Harry Potter series, various information is conveyed, to both Harry and the reader, through articles from the wizarding newspaper, The Daily Prophet .

Exposition Examples

Exposition examples in literature.

All literature that involves a story includes some sort of exposition. If it didn't the characters would exist in a world without context, without histories or a setting.

Exposition in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare opens Romeo and Juliet with a prologue delivered by a chorus. It begins as follows:

Two households, both alike in dignity In fair Verona, where we lay our scene From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

With this prologue, Shakespeare uses direct exposition to convey important background information. He is telling the audience that the play is set in Verona and is about two feuding families who are of equal status and share equal blame for the feud and the deaths of civilians. The entire fourteen-line prologue, in fact, reveals even the fact that Romeo and Juliet will ultimately die: the entire plot, and the character's fate, is provided in the exposition of the prologue.

Exposition in Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Speak tells the story of a young girl named Melinda's first year of high school, as she grapples with depression after something terrible happens to her at a party. As she celebrates Christmas with her parents, Melinda tells the reader about her struggle to hide her secret:

I almost tell them right then and there. Tears flood my eyes. They noticed I’ve been trying to draw. They noticed. I try to swallow the snowball in my throat. This isn’t going to be easy. I’m sure they suspect I was at the party. Maybe they even heard about me calling the cops.

Melinda does not tell her friends, family, or even the reader what exactly happened to her until later in the novel, so Anderson uses a combination of direct and indirect exposition—including flashbacks and Melinda's thoughts—to gradually clue readers into why she feels so isolated and depressed. In this passage, the reader learns that whatever happened at the party caused Melinda to call the police.

Exposition in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's narrator uses dialogue to introduce Mrs. and Mr. Bennet, their relationship, and their differing attitudes towards arranging marriages for their daughters:

"A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!” “How so? How can it affect them?” “My dear Mr. Bennet,” replied his wife, “how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.” “Is that his design in settling here?” “Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.”

This conversation provides indirect exposition, showing readers—without explaining it directly—that Mrs. Bennet is preoccupied with arranging marriages for her daughters, and that Mr. Bennet has a deadpan sense of humor and enjoys teasing his wife.

Exposition in Howard's End by E.M. Forster

Forster begins Howard's End with a series of letters from Helen to her sister, Meg. Helen is staying with family friends at a house called Howard's End when she writes the letter that closes Chapter 1, which reads as follows:

Howard's End, Sunday. Dearest, dearest Meg, I do not know what you will say: Paul and I are in love, the younger son who only came here Wednesday.

Though Helen and Paul quickly break off their relationship, Helen's declaration of love gives readers (and Helen's sister) key information they would not have known otherwise, and sets the action of the novel in motion. This is an example of the use of "in-universe media" to create exposition.

Exposition in Pop Music

Songs often tell stories just as novels or other literature does. While not all songs tell stories that require exposition, those that do often contain exposition.

Exposition in We Are Never Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift

In the opening lines of "We Are Never Getting Back Together," Taylor Swift sings:

I remember when we broke up the first time Saying, "This is it, I've had enough," 'cause like We hadn't seen each other in a month When you said you needed space. (What?) Then you come around again and say, "Baby, I miss you and I swear I'm gonna change, trust me." Remember how that lasted for a day?

Swift draws from memories and uses dialogue to establish that she and the person she is addressing have broken up and gotten back together several times. This exposition provides context for the resolution she reaches in the chorus: to "never get back together."

Exposition in Hotline Bling by Drake

In the opening lines of "Hotline Bling," Drake sings:

You used to call me on my cellphone Late nights when you need my love

These lines, which form part of the song's chorus, establish that Drake is addressing a person with whom he used to have a relationship. They also provide context for the events and feelings that he describes throughout the song's verses.

What's the Function of Exposition in Literature?

Exposition locates readers in the world of the story: it establishes the "who, what, where, when," and sometimes "why" of a plot. Depending on a writer's goals and the style in which they are writing, they may place exposition at the beginning of a story, or they may introduce it gradually throughout the text, often with the aim of creating mystery or building suspense by withholding key details that contextualize important events and explain characters' world-views or motivations. This can have the advantage of encouraging the audience to keep reading or watching as the story unfolds.

In journalistic writing, it is common practice to open a story with a "lede," or a sentence that sums up the main event that the story is reporting on. Then, each time a new place, person, or idea is introduced throughout the story, the writer will offer a brief explanation. Journalists use this kind of direct exposition because news reporting is intended to give readers important information in a clear, direct, and succinct fashion.

Other Helpful Exposition Resources

• A guide to writing exposition in literature: Award-winning author Rachel Simon offers a writer's perspective on how to use direct and indirect exposition.
• A guide to exposition in film: Advice on how to work exposition into film.
• 18 Genius Pieces of Movie Exposition : A list that gives good examples of the different ways that some directors worked exposition into their movies.

• Tragic Hero
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• Colloquialism
• Dramatic Irony
• Dynamic Character
• Deus Ex Machina
• Figure of Speech
• Red Herring
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5 Expository Essay Examples (Full Text with Citations)

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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]

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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

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What Is Expository Writing?

How to Write an Expository Essay

• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

Expository writing is used to convey factual information (as opposed to creative writing, such as fiction). It is the language of learning and understanding the world around us. If you've ever read an encyclopedia entry, a how-to article on a website, or a chapter in a textbook, then you've encountered examples of expository writing.

Key Takeaways: Expository Writing

• Just the facts, M'am: Expository writing is informational, not creative writing.
• Anytime you write to describe or explain, you use expository writing.
• Use a logical flow when planning an expository essay, report, or article: introduction, body text, and conclusion.
• It's often easier to write the body of your article first, before composing the introduction or conclusion.

Expository writing is everywhere in everyday life, not just academic settings, as it's present anytime there's information to be conveyed. It can take form in an academic paper, an article for a newspaper, a report for a business, or even book-length nonfiction. It explains, informs, and describes.

Types of Expository Writing

In  composition studies , expository writing (also called exposition ) is one of the four traditional  modes of discourse . It may include elements of  narration ,  description , and  argumentation . Unlike creative or  persuasive writing , which can appeal to emotions and use anecdotes, expository writing's primary  purpose  is to deliver information about an issue, subject, method, or idea using facts.

Exposition may take one of several forms:

• Descriptive/definition:  In this style of writing, topics are defined by characteristics, traits, and examples. An encyclopedia entry is a kind of descriptive essay. 
• Process/sequential:  This essay outlines a series of steps needed in order to complete a task or produce something. A recipe at the end of an article in a food magazine is one example.
• Comparative/contrast:  This kind of exposition is used to demonstrate how two or more subjects are the same and different. An article that explains the difference between owning and renting a home and the benefits and drawbacks of each is one such an example.
• Cause/effect:  This kind of essay describes how one step leads to a result. An example is a personal blog chronicling a workout regimen and documenting the results over time.
• Problem/solution: This type of essay presents a problem and possible solutions, backed by data and facts, not just opinion.
• Classification: A classification essay breaks down a broad topic into categories or groupings.

Tips for Expository Writing

As you write, keep in mind some of these tips for creating an effective expository essay:

Start where you know the information best. You don't have to write your introduction first. In fact, it might be easier to wait until the end for that. If you don't like the look of a blank page, move over the slugs from your outline for the main body paragraphs and write the topic sentences for each. Then start putting in your information according to each paragraph's topic.

Be clear and concise.  Readers have a limited attention span. Make your case succinctly in language that the average reader can understand. 

Stick to the facts.  Although an exposition can be persuasive, it should not be based on opinion only. Support your case with facts, data, and reputable sources that can be documented and verified.

Consider voice and tone.  How you address the reader depends on the kind of essay you're writing. An essay written in the first person is fine for a personal travel essay but is inappropriate if you're a business reporter describing a patent lawsuit. Think about your audience before you begin writing.

Planning Your Essay

• Brainstorm: Jot down ideas on a blank piece of paper. Connect them with arrows and lines, or just make lists. Rigor doesn't matter at this stage. Bad ideas don't matter at this stage. Just write down ideas, and the engine in your head will lead you to a good one. When you've got that idea, then repeat the brainstorming exercise with ideas that you want to pursue on that topic and information you could put in. From this list, you'll start to see a path emerge for your research or narrative to follow.
• Compose your thesis: When your ideas coalesce into a sentence in which you can summarize the topic you're writing about, you're ready to compose your thesis sentence. Write down in one sentence the main idea that you'll explore in your paper.
• Examine your thesis: Is it clear? Does it contain opinion? If so, revise that out. For this type of essay, you stick to the facts and evidence. This isn't an editorial. Is the thesis' scope manageable? You don't want your topic too narrow or too broad to be covered in the amount of space you have for your paper. If it's not a manageable topic, refine it. Don't be dismayed if you have to come back and tweak it if your research finds that your initial idea was off-kilter. It's all just part of the process of focusing the material.
• Outline: It may seem inconsequential, but making even a quick outline can save you time by organizing your areas of pursuit and narrowing them down. When you see your topics in an organized list, you may be able to discard off-topic threads before you research them—or as you're researching them and you find they just don't work.
• Research: Find your data and sources to back up the areas you want to pursue to support your thesis statement. Look for sources written by experts, including organizations, and watch for bias. Possible sources include statistics, definitions, charts and graphs, and expert quotes and anecdotes. Compile descriptive details and comparisons to make your topic clear to your reader, when applicable.

What Is an Expository Essay?

An expository essay has three basic parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. Each is crucial to writing a clear article or effective argument.

The introduction: The first paragraph is where you'll lay the foundation for your essay and give the reader an overview of your thesis. Use your opening sentence to get the reader's attention, and then follow up with a few sentences that give your reader some context for the information you're about to cover.

The body:  At a minimum, include three to five paragraphs in the body of your expository essay. The body could be considerably longer, depending on your topic and audience. Each paragraph begins with a topic sentence where you state your case or objective. Each topic sentence supports your overall thesis statement. Then, each paragraph includes several sentences that expand on the information and/or support the topic sentence. Finally, a concluding sentence offers a transition to the following paragraph in the essay.

The conclusion:  The final section of your expository essay should give the reader a concise overview of your thesis. The intent is not merely to summarize your argument but to use it as a means of proposing further action, offering a solution, or posing new questions to explore. Don't cover new material related to your thesis, though. This is where you wrap it all up.

Expository Examples

An expository article or report about a lake, for example, could discuss its ecosystem: the plants and animals that depend on it along with its climate. It could describe physical details about its size, depth, amount of rainfall each year, and the number of tourists it receives annually. Information on when it was formed, its best fishing spots, or its water quality could be included, depending on the audience for the piece.

An expository piece could be in third person or second person. Second-person examples could include, for example, how to test lake water for pollutants or how to kill invasive species. Expository writing is useful and informative.

In contrast, someone writing a creative nonfiction article about a lake might relate the place to a defining moment in his or her life, penning the piece in first person. It could be filled with emotion, opinion, sensory details, and even include dialogue and flashbacks. It's a much more evocative, personal type of writing than an expository piece, even though they're both nonfiction styles.

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