What is expository writing?

Expository writing is a type of writing that aims to define, explain and impart information based on the premise that the reader has no prior knowledge of the subject matter being discussed. One important criterion for expository writing is clarity, which requires coherence and a strong organization of text.

The content of the exposition is structured around a single topic and elaborated using a pattern or combination of patterns. Some common patterns used in exposition include description, cause and effect, problem and solution, sequence or process and comparison. These patterns have their own cue words that serve as guides in expository writing.