The core feature of an expository essay is that it seeks to expose a given topic, idea or process by providing an objective description of it. The core purpose of an expository essay is to provide a coherent and thesis-driven description of any given entity. Writing an expository essay thus diverges significantly from writing other types of traditional academic essays because of how an expository essay is not centered on a subjective line of argumentation. With it instead being centered on an objective form of description meant to inform the reader about a certain entity or topic, it is a unique type of essay because of the descriptive and objective nature of its thesis.
Writing an expository essay requires that you maintain absolute objectivity when describing the topic, idea, phenomenon or process that you have chosen to write an expository essay one on. There is no place in writing an expository essay for injecting your opinion into the writing process. The only exception to this is when your professor specifically requests that you write an expository essay that has a conclusion in which you subjectively reflect on the description your have provided. Otherwise, writing an expository essay involves using only facts to describe a given phenomenon or situation.
In writing most expository essays, your perspective must be backed up by facts. Because writing an expository essay is based on description rather than argumentation, you must ensure that all of your data and sources are neutral in their treatment of what you are writing an expository essay on. Writing an expository essay will involve the use of class or outside sources because of the need to provide objective facts about the subject of your expository essay. These sources should not show a bias or the subjective perspective of a given author but should instead be focused on describing the objective and measurable characteristics of the topic you are writing an expository essay on.
Ultimately, the expository essay is a very simple descriptive form of the traditional academic essay. Where it becomes slightly tricky is when you realize that you must maintain absolute objectivity when you write an expository essay! To mitigate this challenge, write an expository essay as if you were attempting to describe something objectively to a person who was blind or deaf. Because this person would care about knowing the real details of what you are describing rather than your opinion on what you are describing, writing an expository essay in an effective manner means leaving your opinions at the door throughout the writing process.
