27 February,2025
Table of Contents
You write numerous essays of different types in school – each with unique characteristics and structures. Some essays aim to illustrate your argument, while others may require you to compare the differences and similarities between two literary works. Beyond these pieces, you might also get essays where you have to explain events, ideas, and processes to the reader, also known as explanatory essay writing.
Unlike argumentative or persuasive papers, explanatory writing aims to provide a clear understanding of the topic of discussion. It doesn’t argue or present a particular stance but presents data and facts objectively and neutrally. Expository essay writing is important in academics because it builds knowledge. As a writer, you should answer the whys and hows with relevant evidence, facts, and examples and educate readers with straightforward information. Keep reading for more insights.
An explanatory essay is an academic paper where you describe a topic clearly, concisely, and logically for readers’ clear comprehension. The primary goal of argumentative essay writing is to help readers develop a deeper knowledge of the subject matter without expressing biases or personal opinions.
Your role in explanatory writing is to communicate factual information through process essays, compare and contrast, or cause and effect essays. Knowing how to write an expository essay is essential because you cannot be cute or edgy! Instead, your writing should present facts and observations that speak for themselves effectively.
| AIMS OF AN EXPLANATORY ESSAY | |
|---|---|
| Topic Explanation | An explanatory essay explains a concept or idea in a concise and clear manner. |
| Provide Relevant Information & Examples | One of the main goals of explanatory writing is to provide details on a specific subject or topic backed by examples, facts, and logical reasoning. |
| Be Unbiased | A well-structured explanatory essay aims to investigate a topic and present information objectively and neutrally. |
| Promote Awareness | An explanatory essay primarily aims to improve readers’ understanding of new topics, ideas, and concepts. |
This essay aims to explore a butterfly’s life cycle and describe the different stages – from egg to larva to pupa to adult butterfly. Explaining each stage will help readers understand the entire biological process without using details other than scientific facts.
Let’s take another explanatory essay example:
A paper on how to write an explanatory essay would highlight the purpose, the types of expository essays, the outline and format, and a step-by-step guide on structuring and writing the essay. The goal here would be to educate readers about how to craft an explanatory essay, what outline to follow, how to format the essay, and what tricks to consider while writing for a top-notch outcome.
Explanatory and expository essays are somewhat similar as they both investigate and explain things. However, the difference lies in the structure, depth, and purpose.
Objective: Like we said earlier, an explanatory essay aims to explain a topic or an idea without digging deep into the analysis.
Focus: It only explains why or how behind an event without making any argumentative comments.
Example:
How the Water Cycle Works?
| “The water cycle is the movement of water through the Earth’s atmosphere. The Sun with its scorching heat turns water into vapor. The vapor then rises and cools down in the atmosphere. Soon after, heavy clouds come into formation due to condensation. Eventually, precipitation occurs where the water falls back into the earth as rain, hail, and snow. Finally, it goes back into the water bodies, thus completing the cycle and helping to sustain life.” |
Objective: An expository essay also informs about something, but goes beyond simple explanation. It conducts extensive study and supports the analysis with concrete facts, evidence, and examples.
Focus:Provides a thorough explanation with extensive analysis and also might explore different aspects of a subject for a holistic understanding
Example:
Global Warming – Causes & Effects
| “Global warming is caused due to the earth’s continuous increase in surface temperature. Although both human-made and natural factors are major contributors, excessive carbon dioxide emission and reckless deforestation for urbanization are two fundamental concerns. Due to the increase in temperature, glaciers and polar ice are melting, and animals are losing their habitats. There is a sudden increase in sea levels and coastal flooding. Not to forget the extreme weather patterns worldwide. It’s only a matter of time before the situation will worsen and humans will fight for existence.” |
| Factors | Explanatory Essays | Expository Essays |
|---|---|---|
| Depth and Detail |
Describes or explains a process/event in simple and clear terms Example: Explaining the Process of the Water Cycle |
Provides a thorough, evidence-based explanation Example: Global Warming – Evaluating the Causes and Effects with Research and Data |
| Use of Evidence |
Doesn’t rely on external sources and solely focuses on clarifying a context. Example: Explaining the water cycle process using basic steps |
Uses facts, examples, or statistics to support the main idea Example: Using data to explain how the increase in CO2 levels directly contributes to global warming |
| Purpose | Helps readers understand the process without analysis | Explains in detail, often analyzing various aspects or comparisons |
Both essay types focus on explaining, while an expository essay is more research-oriented and analytical. An explanatory essay, however, is simpler and provides neutral and easy-to-understand explanations.
Generally, most writers use a 5-paragraph explanatory essay structure (an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.) to communicate their message with any omissions.
| I. Introduction a. A hook b. Contextual details supporting the argument c. A clear and concise thesis statement covering the three main arguments in the body written in one sentence II. Body a. First body paragraph ✔ A topic sentence focusing on the first argument ✔ Strong evidence with accurate citations supporting the argument ✔ An explanation of the evidence provided ✔ A concluding statement to solidify its standing and connect the next section. a. Second body paragraph ✔ A topic sentence focusing on the second argument ✔ Strong evidence with accurate citations supporting the argument ✔ An explanation of the evidence provided ✔ A concluding statement to solidify its standing and connect the next section. b. Third body paragraph ✔ A topic sentence focusing on the third argument ✔ Strong evidence with accurate citations supporting the argument ✔ An explanation of the evidence provided ✔ A concluding statement to solidify its standing and connect the next section. III. Conclusion a. A restated explanatory thesis statement b. A summary of the three arguments from the body sections c. A unique closing statement that leaves readers impressed. |
Unlike other academic essays, an explanatory essay outline is unique because all sections provide adequate explanations of the key concepts. Even though a 5-paragraph outline is widely used for explanatory writing, the standard count depends on the essay’s length. Moreover, write topic sentences that give a detailed explanation of the main idea. All points should be concise and precisely answer the main context.
The right explanatory essay format will depend on the discipline. However, the popular formats include APA, Chicago, and the MLA style. A format is usually based on a supervisor’s preferences and holds great importance because it dictates the style to follow and the guidelines to adhere to for citing sources.
A well-defined essay structure is important. Why?
Considering the importance of an essay structure, you must get every element right from the start. The last thing you want is to redo the entire structure after completing 80% of your work. That would be depressing! Then, why not get it right on the first try? Just remind yourself of the following aspects while structuring your paper.
A lot of students fear explanatory writing because they don’t know how to go about the task. Writing an effective explanatory essay requires necessary preparations. If you fail to prepare yourself beforehand, your effort will be in vain. Hence, heed the following suggestions to write an exemplary explanatory essay.
I. Define a topic
The first step of how to write an explanatory essay is to define your essay theme/question clearly. Figure out the concepts necessary for a particular response before beginning writing. Moreover, use flow charts and flashcards to organize your ideas. Consider your target audience so you can present adequate evidence supporting your message.
II. Research, Research, Research
Before learninghow to start an explanatory essay, focus on improving your research abilities. Finding the right evidence that supports your views directly can speak volumes of your credibility and skills. Therefore, make notes from researched sources so you don’t miss any when writing your explanatory essay.
III. Prepare Bibliographic Entries
Write an annotated bibliography following the standard formatting guidelines. Remember this thumb rule, all credible annotations must have three important elements – a summary, a text evaluation, and a reflection on its applicability to a particular study. These sections are crucial as the mentors examine the sources’ relevance in supporting the main arguments.
IV. Putting Everything Together
A prudent writer always keeps their notes close while writing. So, stick to the outline and follow the standard format to draft your paper. Refer to your notes to ensure all paragraphs and subsections include the details you intended to present. Further on, use supporting ideas and transitions to maintain a logical flow of information.
V. Wrap It Up
The final stage of essay writing is revising and making corrections wherever needed. Invest time in a rigorous revision process to ensure your essay meets the required standards. From reviewing the thesis and transitions to editing the sentences and citations, identify and correct mistakes that can undermine your work’s quality.
What is an explanatory thesis? An explanatory thesis statement outlines the main purpose of the essay. It highlights what the paper is about and the approach it will take. In short, your explanatory thesis should capture your position and help your readers understand the message you want to convey.
Here’s an explanatory thesis example on the topic “Importance of Exercising:”
| “This essay highlights how regular exercise nourishes physical and mental well-being, promotes clearing thinking, and improves muscle strength and cardiovascular health.” |
Also, use these tips to create a solid thesis statement for your explanatory essay:
Explanatory Essay Examples
Explanatory writing becomes less tiresome and manageable when you have a quality explanatory essay example for reference. Here are a few for your quick reference:
For more explanatory essay examples and AI-free expository essay sample papers, visit myassignmenthelp.com.
Now that we have covered the essentialities of an explanatory essay, it’s time to choose good explanatory essay topics. A well-chosen essay prompt showcases your knowledge and allows you to give valuable insights. Choosing a topic that is too broad/narrow or too biased/controversial can pose difficulties in presenting your ideas coherently. So, opt for topics that give you enough scope to create a well-informed copy.
Here’s a list of 30+ interesting explanatory essay topics you should consider:
Good writing tips are essential to create an explanatory essay you are proud of. Below are effective tricks to streamline the explanatory writing process:
Before you submit your explanatory essay, carefully review the paper to ensure everything is logical and well organized. Prepare a checklist like the following to cross-check the key details:
An explanatory essay provides an analysis of a specific topic or subject. The essay follows a basic structure, and all information can be logically arranged in a 5-paragraph essay format for readers’ easy understanding. Consider a specific topic, gather relevant information and evidence, and start with the first draft.
By now, you must have learned how to write an explanatory essay. Still, if you need comprehensive guidance from writing specialists, trust MyAssignmentHelp.com. We are active 24/7!
Hi, I am Mark, a Literature writer by profession. Fueled by a lifelong passion for Literature, story, and creative expression, I went on to get a PhD in creative writing. Over all these years, my passion has helped me manage a publication of my write ups in prominent websites and e-magazines. I have also been working part-time as a writing expert for myassignmenthelp.com for 5+ years now. It’s fun to guide students on academic write ups and bag those top grades like a pro. Apart from my professional life, I am a big-time foodie and travel enthusiast in my personal life. So, when I am not working, I am probably travelling places to try regional delicacies and sharing my experiences with people through my blog.
WhatsApp
