There are so many types of essays that sometimes it’s hard to figure out what is what. Take an expository essay, for example. Topics for an expository essay may look so diverse it’s confusing. However, everything falls into place when you learn, that an expository essay is not so much a genre as the family of genres.
The purpose of an expository essay is to expose, that is, lay something bare, shine light upon something (not to be confused with an exposé: your expository essay doesn’t have to be shocking or discreditable). An expository essay explores its subject in detail, investigates, expands on the idea, and explains something by presenting evidence.
The types of essays within the expository family are the following:
- Descriptive essay
- Process essay
- Compare and contrast essay
- Cause and effect essay
- Problem and solution essay
Unlike in an argumentative or persuasive essay, the tone of an expository essay must be neutral and objective. You don’t take sides in the expository essay – you just state facts and explain.
Pretty straightforward, isn’t it? Now let’s try to come up with some good expository essay topics to understand this genre of academic writing better.
How to Find Expository Essay Ideas?
The best way to come up with expository writing ideas is to let your curiosity lead the way. Is there a question you would like to see answered? Is there anything you’d like to learn more about? For example, why Australia is full of pouched animals, while other continents aren’t? Is nature or nurture a key to artistic talent? How long will Earth’s oil supplies last?
Of course, you may also choose to write about something that you know well and want to share with others – descriptive essays and process essays are perfect for that.
However, the best way to learn is by looking at some examples. Below you will find sample expository essay topics for different academic levels.
Funny and Easy Topics for Expository Essays for Beginners
Let’s start with the topics that are great for young students who are yet developing their English writing skills. These are easy to write about and don’t require much research or prior expertise. Their primary purpose is to introduce learners to the format of structured, consistent writing.
Here are some easy expository essay, or rather expository paragraph topics, because to explore them you need just a paragraph or two.
- What is Your Favorite Animal and Why?
- How is Your Favorite Food Made?
- Why People Live in Houses?
- What Are The Differences Between Cats and Dogs?
- Why Keep Pot Plants at Home?
- What People Wear on a Rainy Day?
- What Should One Take on a Picnic?
- Why There Are So Many Ice-Cream Flavors?
- Reasons to Love Autumn
- Why People Keep Pets?
- What Bodies of Water Exist in Your Town
- What Will Happen If You Skip School?
- How Does Your Average Weekday Look?
Expository Essay Topics for High School and Middle School
Middle- and high-school students already possess necessary writing and research skills to seek for answers to questions they find fascinating. On this stage, problem-solving essays and some more challenging subjects can be introduced. Here are the examples of expository essay topics for this academic level:
- Popularity Essay: Effects of Popularity
- Racism in America Essay
- McDonaldization Essay
- Cell Phones in School Essay
- What Are the Characteristics of a Good Student Essay
- The Search for Identity in American Born Chinese Essay
- Power of Love and Relationships Essay
- Getting Driver’s License as a Modern-Day Initialization Rite
- Why People Use Makeup?
- Why Fantasy is Such a Popular Genre Among Teenagers?
- Bullying at School: Why Does it Happen?
- Why Some People Are More Likely to Try Drugs?
- Why Some Teenagers Join Cliques?
- Megalithic Structures of Europe
College Expository Essay Topics
For college students, an expository essay is probably one of the easiest academic writing formats. As a rule, instructors let students themselves to come up with ideas for expository essays in order to explore their academic interests.
However, if you are out of ideas, here are some good topics for the college level. Note that some of the topics have real college essays examples attached via links, so feel free to browse through them at your convenience.
- Society and Employment Essays
- Recycling Essay Example
- Parenting License Essay
- Essay on Anger Management
- Community Problem Solving Paper
- Juveniles Should Be Tried as Adults Essay
- Essay on Unemployment in America
- Should Prostitution Be Legalized Essay
- How Cultural Significance of Lipstick Changed Over Ages
- Comparing the Effects of Alcohol vs. Marijuana on Human Health
- China's Experience with Demographic Regulation
- The Problem of Rural Sanitation in Developing Countries
- The Role of Traditional Cultural Practices in Sanitary Problems in India
Expository Topics for University and Postgrad Research
Expository paper topics are still relevant for University and Postgrad research; however, they must be innovative and original. For an expository paper on this academic level, you can choose a subject that has never been investigated before, for example, findings from the resent excavation sight.
Here is our proposed expository essay topics list:
- Why Does Family Wealth Affect Learning Essay
- Challenges Facing E-Business Start-Ups in the United Kingdom
- What Future Threats Does the US Face Essay
- Factors Contributing to Child Marriages in the USA
- Parenting in Ancient Rome
- Sexuality in Ancient Egypt
- The History of Mirrors in Human Culture
- The Neurological Basis of Laughter
- Can CRISPR Editing Be Safely Used on Embryos in the Foreseeable Future?
- Ethical Problems of Gene Editing
- The Perspectives of Using Viruses Against Harmful Bacteria and Other Viruses
- Can We Ever Safely Break Down Plastic Waste?
- The Perspectives Of Solar Power and Potential Problems
Didn’t Find Your Perfect Topic for Expository Essay?
If you didn’t find our sample topics for expository essay suitable or interesting enough, you can always dig down in our ever-growing free non plagiarized essays database for inspiration. Browse by the type of paper, subject, or search via keywords! We are sure you will find something eye-opening!
