Expository essays require that the the writer give information, explain the topic or define something. To accomplish that, they are best developed by the use of facts and statistical information, cause and effect relationships, or examples. Since they are factual, they are written without emotion and usually written in the third person. That means that the use of the pronoun "I" is not usually found within the essay.

     Expository essays also have a distinct format.

• The thesis statement must be defined and narrow enough to be supported within the essay.
• Each supporting paragraph must have a distinct controlling topic and all other sentences must factually relate directly to it. The transition words or phrases are important as they help the reader follow along and reinforce the logic.
• Finally, the conclusion paragraph should originally restate the thesis and the main supporting ideas. Finish with the a statement that reinforces your position in a meaningful and memorable way.
• Never introduce new material in the conclusion.

     Here are some sites that review the specifics of writing an expository essay:

• The Expository Essay  Explains and includes an example
• Writing Expository Essay
• Writing a Process Essay  includes a sample essay
• Essay Helpers - good information and scroll down for a good essay example

Here are some expository prompts that have some additional guidance provided for development:

• Voting is an Important Act of Citizenship
• An Interesting Book or TV Show
• Colonial Ingenuity
• Important Guest
• Important Invention

Here are some listed topics.

• Additional Topics
• Expository Prompts
• Sample Essay - shows organizational models and the essay
• Expository Prompts
• FCAT Expository Prompts
• Essay Prompts - for the younger student
• b>Writing Prompts - more for the younger student, but they are easily adapted