Expository Paragraph - reader's question answered.

Posted by Daria Przybyla Apr 29, 2009

I recieve questions from readers who seek further advice on composing academic papers more and more often. Here's the latest question and my answer.

Question:

Hi Daria Just wanted you to clarify whether academic essays or writing consist of mainly expository paragraphs or is it dependable on the type of questions given?

Answer:

Clearly, expository paragraphs are most commonly used in essays whose main purpose is validating the thesis, rather than explaining what sth means (definition paragraphs), how sth functions (explanatory paragraphs), etc. It really depends on the context of your writing. Let's say you write an essay or an article about "The Impact of Armed Conflicts on the US Internal Affairs". In this case, you will use expository paragraphs to explain the relation between war and internal politics in general; then exemplification paragraph to define the relation in more generic terms; compare and contrast paragraph to clarify and reinforce your own thesis, and so on. Expository paragraphs will contain mostly quoted sources, objective facts (how wars abroad are used for political intrigues inside the country), and not your interpretation or views (that a particular war was started because the President wanted to increase his social rankings, for example). Exposition provides your reader with theoretical background of the problem that will be discussed in the paper.

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