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Expository Essay Examples for Middle and High School

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When you write an expository essay , you are explaining something to your audience. It is different from technical writing (also known as process essays), which explains how to do or use a product. Expository writing is also different from argumentative writing , which is meant to convince the audience to agree with the writer’s perspective. News articles are good examples of expository writing, as are any pieces that focus on the 5 Ws (who, what, where, when, and why).

Types of Expository Essays

Even though expository essays are meant to inform, they can serve different purposes depending on the writer’s objective. Here are the four different kinds of expository essays.

• Cause and Effect : The writer details the reasons for an event or situation before discussing the effect(s). These essays are common in literary essays or social studies reports.
• Problem and Solution : After identifying a problem in today’s world, the writer poses a possible solution. The problem/solution essay is similar to the cause/effect essay. It can become an argumentative essay depending on the writer’s tone.
• Descriptive : A descriptive essay requires the writer to describe something in their own words. The topic can be an event from the writer’s own life, a relationship in a book, or a significant moment in history. Though the essay can be from the writer’s perspective, it does not tell a story like in narrative writing .
• Compare and Contrast : How is this different than that? A compare and contrast essay takes two subjects and explains how they are similar and different. It is a more analytical version of a descriptive essay.

Expository Essay Format

Expository essays typically follow the standard five-paragraph format. After you outline the three main points of your essay, you’re ready to start writing. Your essay should include these sections:

• Introduction: Start with a “hook” to get your reader’s attention. In one or two sentences, transition to a strong thesis statement to tell your reader what the essay will be about (but don’t start with “My essay will be about….”).
• Body: Each of body paragraphs typically start with a topic sentence that directly links to the thesis statement. Discuss different information in each paragraph, leading up to your most compelling or relevant point. Be sure to include quotes from credible sources along with insightful commentary. End with transition sentences that introduce your next topic sentence.
• Conclusion: Restate your thesis statement before making a broader statement about your topic. Do not introduce new information here; if you didn’t cover a point in your body paragraphs, you may not need it in the essay.

Middle School Expository Essay Example

It’s helpful to see the format and structure of expository essays at different levels. Here is one example of how a middle schooler may write a compare and contrast essay about two characters in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Harry and Draco: Not As Different as They Seem

Whether you’re sorted into Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin, your background and behavior tells a lot about who you are. Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone are in opposite houses, and at times they seem like opposite characters. Even though Harry and Draco appear different in every way, readers can see how alike these two rivals really are.

The first difference between Harry and Draco is their upbringing. Harry was raised by Muggles (non-magical people), while Draco comes from an elite wizarding family that hates Muggles. When the boys meet for the first time, Draco talks about whether Muggle-born wizards should even attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry:

“I really don’t think they should let the other sort in, do you? They’re just not the same, they’ve never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families.” (Rowling 61)

Harry doesn’t respond to Draco’s comment. Even though Harry is from an “old wizarding family” like Draco’s, he is one of those people who had not heard of Hogwarts because of his Muggle upbringing. Draco’s negative opinion about families he believes to be “lower” than his family creates his first conflict with Harry.

The way that Draco and Harry treat people from other backgrounds is another difference between them. On the Hogwarts Express, Harry and Draco meet again, this time with Ron Weasley. Harry makes friends with Ron, while Draco immediately insults him.

“You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.” [Draco] held out his hand to shake Harry’s, but Harry didn’t take it. “I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks,” he said coolly. (Rowling 81)

Harry won’t join in with Draco’s put-down and even refuses to shake his hand. Harry is the kind of person who stands up for people, while Draco tears them down. But even though Harry and Draco are early enemies, their character traits can be quite similar, too.

They are both competitive and passionate about their houses. Both boys are even willing to break Hogwarts rules for their own purposes. When Hagrid, the school groundskeeper, has an illegal dragon that is about to hatch, Harry convinces his friends to break the rules and see it.

“Hermione, how many times in our lives are we going to see a dragon hatching?” (said Harry.) “We’ve got lessons, we’ll get into trouble, and that’s nothing to what Hagrid’s going to be in when someone finds out what he’s doing.” (Rowling 171)

Harry and his friends end up sneaking out to see the dragon. But, as they are about to leave, they find out that another student has also broken the rules to see the dragon: Draco.

Harry bolted to the door and looked out. Even at a distance there was no mistaking him. Malfoy had seen the dragon. (Rowling 172)

Harry broke the rules to protect Hagrid, and Draco broke the rules to get Harry in trouble. Their motivations are different, but neither character seems to care too much about Hogwarts rules. Later on, they both get detention at Hogwarts for different reasons, demonstrating that their behavior is treated the same way.

Even though Harry and Draco are enemies throughout the book, they are not completely different. Their similarities help them grow, and their differences help them make choices that are right for their character. Their houses may be opposites, but their characters certainly aren’t.

High School Expository Essay Example

Read another example of an expository essay. This Cause and Effect essay about World War I is from the perspective of a high school student.

The Cause and Lasting Effects of World War I

It’s almost impossible to imagine a war that involved 32 countries, 40 million fatalities, and 186 billion dollars. But World War I, also known as The Great War or The War to End All Wars, ended up being one of the costliest global conflicts in terms of both funds and human lives. While it’s difficult to understand the magnitude of World War I, it’s even harder to comprehend how the actions of Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian assassin, could trigger such an international chain event.

Though there were many underlying causes to World War I, the events of June 28, 1914 are considered the inciting incident. Princip’s assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie in Sarajevo was designed to influence the creation of Yugoslavia. As a result, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia one month later during the July Crisis.

Though Serbia effectively accepted all of Austria’s demands except for one, the Austrian government broke diplomatic relations with the other country on July 25 and went ahead with military preparedness measures. (“Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia,” History.com)

When Austria-Hungary entered the war, Germany was immediately involved. Serbia’s ally, Russia, posed a significant threat to Austria-Hungary’s objective. What could have been a small-scale skirmish turned into a larger operation when Germany then declared war on Russia.

His Majesty the Emperor, my august Sovereign, in the name of the German Empire, accepts the challenge, and considers himself at war with Russia.” (“The German Declaration of War on Russia,” wwi.lib.byu.edu/ )

By bringing Russia to the war, Germany found itself at war with Russia’s ally, France. Soon after, Germany began “The Rape of Belgium,” in which it illegally invaded Belgium in an attempt to bring its troops to Paris. The atrocity quickly attracted international attention, including that of Britain, who declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914. Britain’s declaration of war is considered the true beginning of World War I. The assassination that caused the initial conflict was left behind long ago, as its effects were rapidly escalating long past that fateful day.

The effects of Princip’s actions quickly ricocheted around the world. The Ottoman Empire entered the war after making a secret alliance with Germany, and Montenegro and France declared war against Austria-Hungary. The Battle of the Marne in 1914 between Germany, France, Russia, and Britain began four years of constant trench warfare. Soldiers suffered from the advances of chemical warfare, as detailed by nurse Vera Brittain in her 1933 memoir Testament of Youth.

“I wish those people who talk about going on with this war whatever it costs could see the soldiers suffering from mustard gas poisoning. Great mustard-coloured blisters, blind eyes, all sticky and stuck together, always fighting for breath, with voices a mere whisper, saying that their throats are closing and they know they will choke.” (Brittain)

Operations continued in the Pacific as Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa declared war against Germany. Italy, having already proclaimed their neutrality, declared war on Germany after the Treaty of London. In 1917, Germany tried to coerce Mexico to declare war against America, leading President Woodrow Wilson to finally bring the United States into the strife.

But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts—democracy. . . . .” (Wilson)

Immediately following the United States’ entrance into the war was Cuba and Panama, who declared war on Germany the next day. Greece followed suit in June 1917, followed closely by Liberia and China. Over the next year, countless battles and operations pushed boundaries and lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers to the cause. The final offensive of World War I, the Hundred Days Offensive, led Germany to the brink of defeat. After Germany signed the Armistice of Compiègne on November 11, 1918, the fighting was officially over – but the effects of the war were just beginning.

World War I may seem like it took place over four very busy years, but the effects of the international strife would come to define the 21st century. By the time the Paris Peace Conference began in January 1919, Germany’s economy and morale had plummeted. They had fought against nearly 30 countries and had come close to complete destruction, only to feel cheated by the Versailles Treaty.

The social and economic upheaval that followed World War I gave rise to many radical right wing parties in Weimar Germany. The harsh provisions of the Treaty of Versailles led many in the general population to believe that Germany had been "stabbed in the back" by the "November criminals." (“WWI: Aftermath,” encyclopedia.ushmm.org/ ).

The discouraged nation was resistant to the provisions of the treaty and to their new democratic rule. Many German citizens longed for more authoritarian rule as they’d had prior to World War I. A ruined economy led to hyperinflation, which made Germany fearful of Communism as well. Adolf Hitler, an Austrian extremist and leader of the Nazi Party, became a welcome voice in right-wing nationalist politics.

Beyond Marxism he believed the greatest enemy of all to be the Jew, who was for Hitler the incarnation of evil. (“Rise To Power,” britannica.com)

Hitler’s leadership in the years following World War I was a direct result of the war’s events. The next global crisis, World War II, would result in atrocities far beyond the scope of its predecessor. The world would spend the second half of the 20th century recovering from the enormous costs of both of these wars.

One assassin on an ordinary day in 1914 ended up starting an unfathomable chain of events. The wars that resulted would define an entire century, several generations, and countless government actions. It’s important to consider the effects of any action, political or not, to decide whether it’s the best path to take.

More Expository Writing Ideas

Need some ideas to get started on your expository essay? Check out a list of 100 writing prompts for middle school students. You can also find some writing strategy tips or more examples of informative essays to get your creative juices going.

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• How to write an expository essay

How to Write an Expository Essay | Structure, Tips & Examples

Published on July 14, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

“Expository” means “intended to explain or describe something.” An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a particular topic, process, or set of ideas. It doesn’t set out to prove a point, just to give a balanced view of its subject matter.

Expository essays are usually short assignments intended to test your composition skills or your understanding of a subject. They tend to involve less research and original arguments than argumentative essays .

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Table of contents

When should you write an expository essay, how to approach an expository essay, introducing your essay, writing the body paragraphs, concluding your essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about expository essays.

In school and university, you might have to write expository essays as in-class exercises, exam questions, or coursework assignments.

Sometimes it won’t be directly stated that the assignment is an expository essay, but there are certain keywords that imply expository writing is required. Consider the prompts below.

The word “explain” here is the clue: An essay responding to this prompt should provide an explanation of this historical process—not necessarily an original argument about it.

Sometimes you’ll be asked to define a particular term or concept. This means more than just copying down the dictionary definition; you’ll be expected to explore different ideas surrounding the term, as this prompt emphasizes.

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An expository essay should take an objective approach: It isn’t about your personal opinions or experiences. Instead, your goal is to provide an informative and balanced explanation of your topic. Avoid using the first or second person (“I” or “you”).

The structure of your expository essay will vary according to the scope of your assignment and the demands of your topic. It’s worthwhile to plan out your structure before you start, using an essay outline .

A common structure for a short expository essay consists of five paragraphs: An introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Like all essays, an expository essay begins with an introduction . This serves to hook the reader’s interest, briefly introduce your topic, and provide a thesis statement summarizing what you’re going to say about it.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.

The body of your essay is where you cover your topic in depth. It often consists of three paragraphs, but may be more for a longer essay. This is where you present the details of the process, idea or topic you’re explaining.

It’s important to make sure each paragraph covers its own clearly defined topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Different topics (all related to the overall subject matter of the essay) should be presented in a logical order, with clear transitions between paragraphs.

Hover over different parts of the example paragraph below to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

The conclusion of an expository essay serves to summarize the topic under discussion. It should not present any new information or evidence, but should instead focus on reinforcing the points made so far. Essentially, your conclusion is there to round off the essay in an engaging way.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a conclusion works.

The invention of the printing press was important not only in terms of its immediate cultural and economic effects, but also in terms of its major impact on politics and religion across Europe. In the century following the invention of the printing press, the relatively stationary intellectual atmosphere of the Middle Ages gave way to the social upheavals of the Reformation and the Renaissance. A single technological innovation had contributed to the total reshaping of the continent.

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An expository essay is a broad form that varies in length according to the scope of the assignment.

Expository essays are often assigned as a writing exercise or as part of an exam, in which case a five-paragraph essay of around 800 words may be appropriate.

You’ll usually be given guidelines regarding length; if you’re not sure, ask.

An expository essay is a common assignment in high-school and university composition classes. It might be assigned as coursework, in class, or as part of an exam.

Sometimes you might not be told explicitly to write an expository essay. Look out for prompts containing keywords like “explain” and “define.” An expository essay is usually the right response to these prompts.

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

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Basic Guide To Elaborating A Great Expository Essay Outline For 6th Grade

An expository essay is a task that requires students to educate their readers about some topic. Teachers may give particular topics for students to write about or give them an opportunity to select the subjects that they like. Anyway, the key element of writing a good expository paper is making an outline for it first. This article contains recommendations on how you should outline your work in order to earn a high score.

• Outline an introduction.

The first paragraph of your paper should introduce your topic to the readers. It should consist of such elements:

This is a sentence that should be placed at the beginning of the introduction with a purpose to attract your readers’ attention to your essay. A hook might be a provocative question or statement, interesting fact, or famous quote.

• Background.

Give a brief summary about the topic of your paper. You should understand that not all your readers may know as much about the subject of your work as you, so this information will be very helpful for them.

At the end of your introduction paragraph, you should place your thesis statement, a sentence that focuses on the main question of your research and determines the direction of your paper.

• Outline a body.

This is a largest section of any paper. A body should consist of several paragraphs that describe different aspects of your topic. Each paragraph should consist of such components:

• Topic sentence.

This is a sentence at the beginning of a paragraph that describes the main idea of what you’re going to tell in this paragraph.

• Facts and evidence.

Here you should present some factual information that supports your thesis. To find necessary evidence, you should do an investigation before you start writing.

• Your commentary.

Often, you need to comment and explain your evidence for your readers to understand it clearly.

• Transition.

This is a sentence at the end of a paragraph that logically leads to the subtopic that will be discussed in the following paragraph.

• Outline a conclusion.

A good concluding paragraph is also very important. It helps you leave a lasting impression on your readers. Structure your conclusion like this:

Restate your thesis and topic sentences to summarize your main points.

• Discussion.

Discuss the significance of your topic and the importance of your own study.

• Proposition.

Reveal the questions that you couldn’t answer with your essay and propose your readers to conduct their own investigations to research these issues.

• Mar 24, 2021

Essays in 6th Grade: A Basic Format that Elevates the Standard 5-Paragraph Structure

6th grade is such a funny year. Funny haha and funny weird. Student writing levels are all over the map. You will have students coming to you writing on a very elementary level, still needing loads of help with grammar and paragraph formation. Then, you will have students ready to write critique pieces and analyses. How do you navigate this? Read to find out more!

Give Them a Format...to Start

I've learned that 6th graders still need format . They still need structure. They still need checklists. As much as I loathe limiting them in this way, I think it is very reassuring to them. That's not to say you can't tweak for the strong writers, but I do still feel they need it.

For my students in particular, I like to let them dabble in looser formats of non-fiction writing in other ways. They do book reviews , a debate , podcasting , etc. They are offered choices in reading responses to non-fiction reading and analysis, too. My classes actually write digital eBooks, too. But on the whole, they are expected to write two essays with a very similar format twice a year.

Bye-Bye 5-Paragraph Essay

Alright, so this is kind of not totally true. My students do end up writing 5 paragraphs, but that typical structure we all commonly know, I navigate away from. I think it's a fine format, but as they get into middle school they are expected to compare a LOT more and not focus on one specific topic . They are expected to follow through on a thread, a claim, a theme, an idea and how it is shown in various sources. And this is super new for them, analyzing various sources on the same concept. They really need a structure for this.

So, the typical essay, before they get to me, goes like this, and it is a good precursor:

Introduction that states your thesis and 3 major reasons to support your claim.

Conclusion that looks a whole lot like the introduction.

This format does not allow analysis of multiple sources and if you throw in other sources, it gets messy. Instead, I gear my students to focus on each source separately, then comparing them all.

The Format that Works (Research and Literary Analysis)

First of all, it's important to know what essays I actually do with my kiddos. I do a research unit. This changes almost every year, but typically they choose some kind of topic, I group them based on their topic choice. First, they do research (non-fiction skills) using a book, article, and video. They then use those sources to write an essay on a claim they make based on their topic. Later, they make eBooks in groups based on their topic.

The other essay I do is Literary Analysis . This follows a dystopian unit . They read a dystopian book in book clubs. Then, I have them choose from a short list of short stories that are dystopian. Lastly, we watch the movie The Truman Show . (This year I had them watch "The Scarecrow" on YouTube since we were hybrid due to the pandemic). They then determine a theme that is true for all three sources and write an essay based on that theme.

This essay format works for both of these essays. So here it goes!

Introductory and Conclusion Statements

In a traditional essay, students have to write a hook, their claim/thesis, and essentially ANOTHER three sentences that state what their essays will be about. In my opinion, all of this is completely unnecessary. How many times do you read introductions in books? Okay, real avid readers do, but in reality many people don't. So for these, I tell my students to get right to the point .

Here's what should be in their introductory and conclusion statements:

A statement that introduces the topic. (This is a hook of some kind. I sometimes tell them to start it with "in our world..." or "in our lives..." and something that relates to their topic. Or just starting it with their topic and explaining what it is.)

The claim/thesis.

A statement that references there are differences and similarities in the sources. (For example: "[Title of sources] support this claim in different and similar ways." That's it.)

This all ends up being 2-3 sentences.

Topic Sentences

I have my students start their essay prep with topic sentences. This helps them get a sense of where their essays will go.

The big thing to understand here is how the paragraphs are set up .

Body #1 : Focus on source #1 and how it shows claim/thesis.

Body #2 : Focus on source #2 and how it shows claim/thesis.

Body #3 : Focus on source #3 and how it shows claim/thesis.

Body #4 : Focus on how ALL SOURCES show the claim/thesis in the same way.

So they start with creating topic sentences for those paragraphs. Each topic sentence is set up like this. The last topic sentence would start with "all sources..." instead of "source title".:

Body Paragraph Format

In the picture you see below, I have specific colors for specific aspects of body paragraphs. ALL body paragraphs follow this format in that exact sequence/order. I will be completely honest, I don't give them a ton of wiggle room since this is pretty new to them. However, my stronger writers dabble in mixing evidence stems and elaboration stems around.

Their paragraph starts with the topic sentence they already prepared. From there, the next sentence begins with an evidence stem . Here are a few examples of evidence stems:

According to the text,

The author states,

In [title],

Right after the evidence stem, in the same sentence, they add their text detail to support their topic sentence. I encourage them to quote exactly from the text for most text details. They can paraphrase, too, but should really try to get exact lines.

In regards to quoting, I also mention to them not to quote plop . I made this up. I plan on making a product for this at some point. A quote plop is bad . It's when students take a line from the text and just plop it in their essay. I show them how to break up the quote from the text with their own words.

So, a first sentence may look like this: According to the text [evidence stem, highlighted green] , when Luke was hiding due to being a third child, "they took the woods away" , [text detail with context, a.k.a. not just plopping the quote in the sentence, highlighted yellow].

Directly after that sentence should be an elaboration stem with an elaboration explaining how the text detail shows their claim/thesis. Students highlight this entire sentence in blue and their claim within it dark blue. Here are some elaboration stems:

This proves [claim] because...

This shows [claim] because ...

After that they do the same process two more times; two more text details with elaborations. Lastly they do a closing sentence .

Comparison Paragraph: This is set up almost exactly the same, except the focus is on how ALL the sources show the claim in the same way. They then provide a NEW text detail from each source to prove how the claim is being shown similarly in each.

Once all their body paragraphs are written, I have them go review their introductory and conclusion statements, put everything into a final draft and leave the highlights in the essay . This helps them visualize all the components and helps me grade!

For revision, the focus is on not quote plopping, being sure their details support their thesis, changing up the wording of claims/theses, and rearranging for strong writers.

Bottom Line

While this is very limiting for some, it is super helpful for struggling writers. Having that checklist and having the highlights helps students visualize what they need to compare sources in an essay format.

I'd say it'd be great to introduce this in 6th and by 8th, they can certainly make these more interpretive, creative, and unique.

You can find a lot more detail about this in the product below . What you see here is only a taste. This contains a full sample essay, checklists, tips, and more. You can also edit it to meet your needs.

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Really interesting - thank you!!

This exactly the kind of thing I've been looking for, and even better! I love your approach and it's so well explained. I couldn't disagree more with any of the negative feedback to this article. I think it's perfect for my style of teaching and my standard of writing. Most of all, the way you explained this and broke it down into small steps will make it so achievable for even lagging students to develop great writing skills and feel confident in the process! You nailed it. Thank you so much!

I read all the essay writing format instructions. All the points are useful for any kind of essay writing. But at the age of high-level essay writing learners need to be essay writer experts like the 6 Dollars Essay Website , ready to do professional essay writing for any essay grade.

This is beyond me and I teach HS English. Where does this lady teach, at Princeton? I do not know any 6th grader that does this or would understand this. I see why so many of our young people have become disinterested in the learning process. I also see why so many teachers quit. The profession is stale, boring, and antiquated. This article was not fun to read and I'm thinking this new 5 paragraph writing style would be a drag for the average ela teacher to teach.

. In the blog post, I mention the various types of writing I do with students. I also have other blog posts that discuss these other formats. This is not the end all be all. In my over a decade experience with teaching writing, having a structure helps struggling writers. This is not a writing style. This a format for one type of writing. As teachers, we should be offering all types of formats, especially with younger writers who are still learning how to write.

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by Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.  

28 Expository Writing Prompts for Middle School

October 12, 2014 in  Pedagogy

The ability to provide information in different contexts is essential to effective communication. Students must practice expository writing throughout their academic careers. The sooner they start, the better. Below are some descriptive, sequential, compare and contrast, cause and effect, and problem/solution writing prompts to help you give your students the practice they need.

Descriptive

• Write an essay describing your school to a potentially new student.
• Write an essay describing the appeal of reality TV shows.
• Write an essay describing a rainy night.
• Write an essay describing your first pet.
• Write an essay describing your first memory.
• It’s Christmas morning and there is a package under the tree containing exactly what you requested. Describe the contents of your package..
• Write an essay describing how you feel when you wake up and discover snow on the ground outside — and school has been cancelled.
• Writing an essay explaining the process you use to style your hair in the morning.
• You have invited your two best friends to spend the afternoon at your home. Write an essay telling how your prepare for their visit.
• Everyone has lost something at one time or another. Write an essay telling what you did to find what you had lost.
• Describe how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
• Tell how you wash your hair.
• Describe the plot of your favorite book.

Compare and Contrast

• Write an essay comparing and contrasting ownership of cats and dogs.
• Compare and contrast this year in school to last year.
• Compare and contrast your two favorite characters.
• Compare and contrast your family’s home and the home of your dreams.
• Compare and contrast a typical day in your life today and what you think a typical day in your life will be like when you are 25.
• Compare and contrast your two favorite teachers.

Cause and Effect

• Write an essay telling how peer pressure has affected you this year.
• Write an essay explaining what causes students to drop out of high school.
• Discuss the causes and effects of bullying in schools.
• Discuss the causes and effects of poverty in rural (urban) areas.
• Discuss the causes and effects of drug or alcohol use on families.

Problem/Solution

• Most students do not read or watch news, resulting in a lack of knowledge about the world outside of their immediate neighborhood. Write an essay describing why this is a problem and telling how this problem might be solved.
• Think about the community in which you live. What could you do to make it a better place? Choose one problem that needs to be solved to make your community a better place to live. Write a letter to the editor describing how solving this problem would make your community a better place, and tell what you would do. Give reasons why you think your plan would work.
• Think about what you could do to make your school more beautiful. Think about how you would do this. How could you persuade the people in your school that your idea is a good one? Write a letter to the principal of your school asking for support for your plan for making your school more beautiful. Tell what you would do and how you would do it. Explain why you think your plan is important and why it would work.
• Think about animal abuse. Some people abuse animals by being intentionally cruel to them or neglecting their basic needs; others abuse animals out of ignorance. Think about what could be done to prevent both kinds of animal abuse. Write a letter to leaders in your community describing how you would solve this problem, and how treating animals better would improve the lives of animals and people. Explain why you think your plan will work.

Related topics: Informative Writing , Quickwriting

About the author 

Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

I am a secondary English Language Arts teacher, a University of Oklahoma student working on my doctorate in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum with an concentration in English Education and co-Editor of the Oklahoma English Journal. I am constantly seeking ways to amplify students' voices and choices.

• Pingback: Writing in the Middle School-Thoughts and Ideas | Teachers Pondering

the prompt should be harder,and including a think about and quote.

Thank you very much for your input, Amelia!

this info is very helpful and all but right now at school (i am in middle school) i have to write an expisitory essay on any topic i am really having trouble finding a topic but it has to be something u can argue like for example: football: people think it is a dangerous sport but the rules have changed more saftey… yeah stuff like that something u can argue ur opinion and so far i have nothing i was really hoping this would help but no but thx anyways i am gonna go to another website but in the future this could really help thx!!!!

But it makes your teacher happy to know what your input is for example what your input is about bullying and drugs.

Thank you so much for this. I need to give my 8th-grader, reluctant writer, some options for what he writes as practice on spring break. This is a great list. I added one about describing the appeal of the YouTube videos he watches, and another about the cause-and-effect of DOnald Trump’s candidacy, since my son is very interested in Trump.

Thank you this helped a lot when I didn’t know what to write for my essay.

I really like this website because i like writing essays for practice and these are a little difficult but It is good for it to be a little diffcult because it is more challenging.

These are great! I will be using these suggestions with my 6th graders! I love expository writing!!!! 🙂

Comments are closed.

6th Grade Essay Topics – Best 100 Essay Ideas for Sixth Graders

6th grade essay topics don’t have to be boring and uninspiring. With the right essay topics, sixth graders can express themselves in depth and descriptively. This article aims to highlight 100 amazing essay topics for 6th graders that’ll enhance their writing skills and improve their mental performance. These essay topics all meet the Common Core Standards.

Since the 6th grade is the bridge to middle school, teachers will ensure students are prepared for middle school. The emphasis will be laid on the quality of writing and frequent writing assignments and tasks. The key to boosting the writing creativity of 6th graders is allowing them to research essay topics in advance. This will enable you to be more prepared and organised. To find the perfect 6th-grade essay topics, you have to allow your students to sift through the list of essay topics and select the one they feel interested in.

Narrative Essay Topic for 6th Grade 

Whether you want your students to recount an event that happened shortly or an adventure that need them to fuel their imaginative spirit, narrative essays tell a story. The narrative essay is structured with a plot, which organizes it into beginning, middle and end.

Here are some narrative essay topic for 6th graders:

• Think about the best day of your life. What made it so great?
• Who is the oldest person you know?
• Describe a friend situation that changed over only one day.
• Write about how it feels when you’re alone.
• Describe your favourite vacation.
• Has a book, movie, or album ever changed your life?
• Think about your future self. Write about a day in your life, one year from today.
• Tell a family story from your perspective.
• Describe a memory you have of extreme weather.
• Think about a time you had to work hard to learn something.
• Your first day of school.
• Your most exciting day of school
• A field trip that your class took.
• Your favourite summer vacation.
• A trip that included something unexpected or surprising.
• A time that you experienced something spooky.
• A time that you experienced something truly frightening.
• A time that you learned something new that changed you in some way.
• The moment when you met someone who changed your life.
• The day that you got your first pet.
• A move from one place to another.
• Something funny that happened to you.
• Something funny that happened to one of your family members or friends.
• Something embarrassing that happened to you.
• Your favourite birthday party.
• A birthday that was disappointing.
• A big storm (rain, snow or even a tornado!).
• A time that the power went out.
• A summer day when the temperature got much higher than expected.
• A time when you went to an amusement park
• A time when you got lost somewhere.
• A memorable experience with a favourite family member
• A sad experience with someone about whom you care
• Your most exciting moment playing sports
• Your most exciting moment is performing in a play, singing, playing music, or dancing.
• An experience that left you feeling frustrated.
• An experience that was hard but ended up being worth it.
• A time that you experienced rejection.
• A weird encounter with a stranger
• A random act of kindness.
• A time that you took a stand for someone or for an issue that you care about.
• A moment when you thought you might get hurt but didn’t.
• Breaking a bone (or otherwise suffering an injury).
• Your first time away from home for the night (or longer).
• A time when you experienced a historic event.
• Where were you when a major event happened? (Note: You don’t need to have been at the site of the event; this prompt is about where you were when you found out about the event and how you reacted.)
• A time when you rebelled against your parents or teacher.
• A dangerous experience.
• A misunderstanding between yourself and someone else.
• A difficult decision that you had to make.
• The end of a friendship or relationship.
• The beginning of a friendship or relationship.
• A time when you judged someone first and then realized that you were wrong about the person.
• A time when someone judged you first and then realized that he or she was wrong about you.
• A moment when you felt that you were starting to grow up.
• A time when you saw one or both of your parents in a different light.
• A time when you looked up to your older sibling
• A time when your younger sibling looked up to you
• A time when you were grateful to be an only child.
• An experience that you think has only ever happened to you!

Expository essay topic for the 6th Grade

Expository essays are informative. They are fantastic tools you can use to teach your 6th graders about the method of exploring and researching. You’d want to build their writing skills. So here are some Expository essay topic for the 6th graders:

• Write an extended  definition essay  on one of your vocabulary words.
• Pretend a friend hasn’t seen your favorite TV show. And what is it about?
• Compare and contrast two of your friends.
• Describe your school year so far. And what have been the most important events?
• Choose a problem at your school. And what’s the best solution?
• What was the cause of a recent argument you had? And what was the effect?
• Compare and contrast two of your favorite sports or activities.
• Discuss a conflict in a movie you like. And how was it resolved?
• Write a definition essay about the concept of empathy.
• Explain how to send a friendly text message.
• Teach a reader how to play your favorite board or card game.
• Write about the steps needed to tie a shoe.
• Create a user manual for something you use a lot (e.g., hair straightener or cell phone).
• Describe how you get home after school.
• Tell a younger reader how to do homework without wasting time.
• How do you get to the library from your classroom?
• How do you choose what to watch on a streaming service?
• Explain how to pass a difficult level in a video game.
• Write about the steps you follow to listen to your favourite music.

Argumentative essay topic for the 6th Grade

Read:  How to Write a Unique Scholarship Application

The argumentative essay is about debating. It is formal writing that aims to persuade readers to the writer’s line of thought or point of view. It is one way of spurring curiosity in your 6th grader, allowing them to passionately research and boost their writing skills.

Here are some argumentative essay topics for the 6th grade:

• Would you rather get or give a gift?
• If you were anybody when you grow up, who’d you be?
• What is the most selfless thing that you have ever done?
• Do you believe that there are things that only men or only women can perform? Why or why not?
• Do you think that astrological horoscopes are true?
• What are some of the problems faced by immigrants to a new country? How did this experience make you feel?
• What was the funniest moment you’ve ever experienced? Why?
• How do you talk to somebody who has political or spiritual beliefs which are different than your own?
• What is the longest time that you have ever kept a secret? What was the key?
• Write about an experience where you thought you knew something for certain, but were later turned out to be wrong.
• Name and explain somebody that has been a inspiration to your life.
• In 20 years, where do you think you’ll be? What will you do?
• How do you start a conversation with somebody that you do not know?
• What is your deepest, darkest fear?
• What would you believe at the most? How can you create this belief? What’s it about?
• What is your favorite thing to do after school or on this weekend?
• Have you ever been lost? How did you end up finding your way?
• Should kids have homework?
• Is your city a good place to live?
• Is it important to learn math?
• Should school start later?
• What’s the best way to eat an ice cream cone?
• Should skateboarding be allowed in private parking lots?
• Is Monday through Friday the best school schedule?
• Does pizza make a good breakfast?
• Are hamsters fun pets?
• Should students be allowed to go anywhere they want on the Internet?

Narrative essay topic for the 6th Grade

The Narrative essay is used to motivate students to tell a beautiful story and craft pictures in the mind of readers. Here are some Narrative essay topic for the 6th graders,

• Your favorite summer vacation.
• Your favorite birthday party.
• A time when you went to an amusement park.
• A memorable experience with a favorite family member.
• A sad experience with someone about whom you care.
• Your most exciting moment playing sports.
• Your most exciting moment performing in a play, singing, playing music or dancing.
• A weird encounter with a stranger.
• A moment when you thought you might get hurt but didn’t.
• Where you were when a major event happened. (Note: You don’t need to have been at the site of the event; this prompt is about where you were when you found out about the event and how you reacted.)
• A time when you looked up to your older sibling.
• A time when your younger sibling looked up to you.

Descriptive essay topic for the 6th Grade

Here are some fun and inspiring essay topic for 6th graders:

• Describe your favourite place.
• Describe your ideal bedroom.
• Describe the house in which you grew up.
• Describe what the first house on the moon would look like.
• Describe some of your favourite places in your hometown.
• Describe a peaceful place that you’ve visited.
• Describe a place that exists only in your imagination.
• Describe a friend’s or family member’s house where you enjoy spending time.
• Describe your perfect fantasy vacation destination.
• Describe your favourite store.
• Describe your favourite teacher’s classroom.
• Describe a museum that you’ve visited recently.
• Describe a place you have dreamed about that doesn’t exist in real life.
• Describe a place where your pet likes spending time.
• Describe an outdoor place that you know well.
• Describe your favourite person.
• Describe each of your family members.
• Describe a famous person that you would like to meet.
• Describe one of your friends.
• Describe one aspect of someone that you like (for example laugh, style of dress, words that the person likes to use, etc.)
• Describe yourself to someone who has never met you.
• Describe the average human to an alien who has never before seen a person.
• Describe your pet.
• Look at some old family photos and describe an older family member as he or she was when at your age.
• Describe someone whom you miss.
• Describe an object that is special to you.
• Give a tour of one room in your house by describing the most important objects in that room.
• Describe one of your favorite outfits.
• Describe your favorite toy as a child.
• Describe how you get around (for example: a bicycle, skateboard, sneakers, your parents’ car, the school bus).
• Describe your favorite piece of furniture where you like to spend time and relax.
• Describe something that you would bury in a time capsule to tell people about what life is like today.
• Describe an object that has been in your family for a long time.
• Choose a piece of food to eat; then, write a description of it that includes the way it looks, smells and tastes.
• Describe a smartphone to a time traveler from the 1900s.
• Describe your oldest memory.
• Describe your best summer vacation.
• Describe a memorable concert you attended.
• Describe a memorable trip you took.
• Describe a special time that you and your family had together.
• Describe the first time you met one of your friends.
• Describe a time you met someone famous.
• Describe one of your happiest memories.
• Describe one of your saddest memories.
• Describe a time that you felt scared.
• Describe a time that you felt excited.
• Describe a time that something totally unexpected happened.
• Describe a memory of someone whom you miss.
• Describe one of your most memorable first days of school.
• Describe one of your most embarrassing moments.

Creative Essay Topics for 6th Grade

• What is the best thing someone has ever given to you?
• What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?
• Write about what you can teach others. Everyone is good at something. This question helps children think about what they’re good at and how they can help others.
•  Did you ever get into an argument with a friend or family member? How did that make you feel?
• Did you ever hurt someone’s feelings? Explain what happened and how it made you feel.
•  Did someone ever hurt your feelings? How did it make you feel? Did you talk to that person about it?
•  Is there anyone you would like to switch places with? who and why?
• What does it mean to be loyal?
•  When was a time you were loyal to a friend or a friend who was loyal to you?

Self-Esteem Essay Topics for 6th Grade

• Has a friend ever betrayed you? How did it make you feel? What do you think your friend should have done differently.
• Have you ever been friends with someone who was unpopular or not part of the group? This is a great question to ask children when teaching them about acceptance and how it feels not to be part of a group.
• When was a time you felt you were treated unfairly? How did it make you feel?
• Is it fair to give someone a head start in a race? When is it fair? When is it not fair?
• Write about a time when you had a strong opinion about something? Why did you feel so strongly about it?
• Write about a time you made a big mistake. How did you fix it? Everyone makes mistakes. This writing topic helps children understand that mistakes are part of the learning experience.
• Write about a time when you were very angry. What happened? How did being angry make you feel? I find that many times children will feel sad when they are angry. Did I make a good choice when I was angry?
•  If you heard a rumour about a friend that you knew wasn’t true, what would you do? How would it make you feel?
• \Write about a time when you cheered someone up. What did you do? How did it make you feel? How did it make that person feel?
• Write about a time when you used your inner strength to get through a tough situation.
•  Write about 3 things that are hard for you and why.
• When was the last time you were afraid? What scared you? How did you react?
•  What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
•  Who is your hero and why?
• What do you think risk-taking is? Have you ever taken a risk?
• Write about your best friend. Who are they, how long have you known them, why are they your best friends?
• What does it mean to have good character? Do you think you have a good character? Why?

Compare and contrast essays for grade 6

• Group work and individual work
• Only child vs. having siblings
• Nature vs. nurture
• Anxiety and depression
• Old friends and new friends
• Your teacher vs. your parent/guardian
• Car ownership and public transportation
• Working your way through college as you go or taking out student loans
• Parents and grandparents
• Elementary school and high school
• Learning to read vs. learning to write
• The importance of any two school subjects
• Wearing glasses vs. having braces
• You and your best friend
• Friendship vs. romantic love
• Public and private schools
• Online school and in-person school
• Any two schools or colleges
• Going to college vs. starting work full-time

2 thoughts on “6th Grade Essay Topics – Best 100 Essay Ideas for Sixth Graders”

I don’t like those give me feed back how you could give me gaming stuff for narrative essay

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25 Expository essay topics for Middle School by Category

Expository Essays explain a particular topic in a detailed, logical and straightforward manner. These types of essays are completely informative. They do not include any references or any opinion of the writer. The tone of an expository essay is kept neutral. Hence, while writing an expository essay you will be expected to illustrate, define, explain or clarify the topic in a way that the readers can easily understand it completely. You may provide arguments, conduct an investigation or evaluate things in order to provide a clear explanation to your readers.

Essay writing is an art. It is an essential skill to have which is why you’re going to require essay topics for Grade 7 , 8, 9, and 10. You may have to do a lot of creative writing in middle school . Writing is a must-have school and these activities in school prepare you for it.

Types of Expository Essays

• Descriptive Essay – describes a place, thing or an experience
• Problem-Solution Essay – presents a problem and its solution
• Cause-Effect Essay – finds the cause of something and its impact
• Comparison Essay – compares and contrasts two things
• Process Essay – explains a process

How to Choose a Topic for your Expository Essay?

The most difficult and important aspect of essay writing is choosing the ‘right topic’. Many times students choose a difficult topic for which they need to conduct a lot of research which however makes essay writing difficult. Here are 4 quick tips on picking up the right topic –

• Understand the purpose of writing the essay
• Brainstorm some ideas and hence make an informed choice
• Always conduct background research on the topic that you choose to understand its scope
• Start with an outline first! Do not start writing straight away.

Expository Essay Samples

To help you get a better idea of what an expository essay is, consider the samples given below –

Topic: How Students can spend Their Leisure Time

Students have got a lot to handle! From attending classes to completing assignments, and participating in extracurricular activities, the small amount of leisure time that remains for them should be utilized in the best way possible. Students must choose their activities wisely as the way they spend their leisure time can reflect upon their physical and mental well-being.

Sports and Exercises

With most activities being sedentary nowadays, students should find some time to indulge in any kind of sports activity or a workout routine of their choice. Studies have shown that continuous sitting can lead to adverse effects on the health of students. Hence exercise and sports are good choices for students.

Developing Hobbies

Gardening, reading, writing, drawing, painting, or even cooking, there are numerous hobbies to choose from. Students should find some time for pursuing their hobbies, exploring new ones and enhancing their skills as a part of their leisure activity. No one knows when your hobby becomes your passion and hence gives a pathway to your success!

Time to Relax!

It is essential for us to learn to quiet our minds in this busy world. Hence students should develop a habit to relax and practice mindfulness every day. They can pick up any activity for this like meditation, yoga, listening to music, or even sitting with their family and friends. It is crucial for students to stay calm and find time, particularly for them for their mental and spiritual well-being.

These activities can help students take control of their lives. Picking up an activity that does not involve intellect, that is unlike school activities, can help students find a balance in their life. They can relax, play, grow and discover their true potential only through proper utilization of their leisure time.

Expository Essay Topics

Got a gist of how to write an expository essay? Let us have a look at some easy yet interesting expository essays that you can use –

Descriptive Essay

1. Describe your School 2. Describe your Pet 3. How Diversity can affect a Classroom? 4. Why do we Celebrate Christmas? 5. When you saw Snow for the first time

Problem-Solution Essay

1. Many students do not watch the news. How can this be a matter of concern for them? Are there any solutions to this issue? 2. Animal Abuse and Its Solutions 3. Global Warming and Its Solutions 4. What is Deforestation? Why is it a serious issue? How can this issue be solved? 5. How can we make our Community a Better Place?

Cause-Effect Essay

1. How air Pollution is affecting our Health? 2. Bullying in Schools – Causes and Effects 3. Peer Pressure and its Effects 4. Effects of Using Social Media 5. How Poverty affects urban and rural areas

Comparison Essay

1. Compare your two favourite sportspersons 2. Compare your current house to your dream home 3. Compare your two favourite TV shows 4. Watches – then and now! 5. Compare a place you visited recently with your city

Process Essay

1. How to Make Friends 2. How to Study 3. How to Take Care of your Dog 4. How to Fix a Table Fan 5. How to Write a Diary Entry

Got some inspiration to start with your own essay? So why delay? Start wiring your essay today itself. We hope that these topics would have given you a fair idea of what topic you can choose for your expository essay. Happy Writing!

If you need help in writing essays or in the preparation for NAPLAN , you can find online English tutors  and  online Math tutors  on CrunchGrade .

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