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If you think about it, as a student, one of the most challenging prospects you will encounter in school is selecting topics for explanatory essays. Although this task may seem daunting, you can rest easy knowing that we have you covered. To make your work simpler, we have provided more than 220 explanatory essay ideas to choose from or inspire you to develop your own topic. All you have to do is go through the explanation essay topics from college essay writing services and select the one that interests you. Before delving into this list, we would first like to define what explanatory essay topics are, enumerate their characteristics, and clarify the process involved in picking them.

What Are Explanatory Essay Topics?

Explanatory topics refer to research titles that enlighten or explain any confusing situation or information. In other words, topics for an explanatory essay mainly focus on investigating and expounding ideas, evaluating all evidence provided, and forming and defining clear thesis statements. Unlike descriptive writing style, explanatory essays are fact-based. In this respect, they are very similar to exploratory essay topics , where you aklso need to dicuss different facts on the subject. Explanatory essay topics are essential in helping your target readers increase their knowledge of a subject, comprehend a process or procedure, or understand a particular concept. As a student, you must know how and always be ready to write expository essays because they are among the most widely proposed academic papers. Some common examples of explanation papers include cause and effect, definition, and how-to essays.

Purpose of Explanatory Essay Topics

Characteristics of Good Explanatory Essay Topics

Before you feel excited and rush into selecting a unique title for your paper, you should keep in mind the key characteristics that are integral to valid explanatory writing topics. Having a clear idea of the qualities of good topics for an explanatory essay will get you closer to your goal. Some of those vital features include the following:

  • Simple It should be easy for your readers to understand.
  • Clear and precise The language used ought to be unambiguous.
  • Meaningful The title should add value or have a purpose it seeks to fulfill.
  • Attractive The topic should capture your reader’s attention.
  • Expressive It must convey your thoughts and intentions.

How to Choose an Explanatory Essay Topic?

Before writing your essay, you should first come up with an explanatory topic that will interest you and your audience. The title is the first thing that will attract readers to your paper. Deciding on topics for an explanatory essay can be very challenging. Sometimes you may end up experiencing mental blocks, which may prevent you from coming up with creative ideas for your essay. When this happens, the following steps will guide you in choosing unique and exciting explanation writing topics:

  • Brainstorm ideas and list all topics that interest you and might engage your potential audience.
  • From your list, evaluate the most appropriate titles and eliminate irrelevant ones.
  • Narrow down your focus to include only topics that are interesting to you and meaningful to your audience.
  • Determine the title you can confidently call your favorite.
  • Ensure that your chosen title adheres to the guidelines set by your professor or school.

Best Topics for Explanatory Essays

Now that you are more familiar with selecting explanatory essay topics , your next job is to actually choose the most suitable one that can guarantee you the highest grade. For your inspiration, check the list of the best topics to write an explanatory essay on that we have provided below:

  • Public vs. private school: which one is better?
  • Impacts of higher education on students' future careers.
  • Significant consequences that will be witnessed if the internet crashes today.
  • Psychological impacts of teen pregnancies.
  • How does the brain forget simple things?
  • What is the meaning of life?
  • Processes involved in making electronic music.
  • Reasons why people should aim to prevent air pollution.
  • Effects of depression on high school students.
  • Short-term effects of global warming.

Interesting Explanatory Essay Ideas

Refrain from settling for common explanatory essay ideas. To excite your target readers, always seek interesting topics for your paper. Below are stimulating ideas for an explanatory essay. 

  • Negative impacts of America’s space exploration.
  • How has social media affected socialization?
  • How do dogs smell fear in humans?
  • How important is mental health in today’s society?
  • Impacts of the Cold War on America-Russia relationship.
  • Importance of having basic IT skills now and in the future.
  • Advantages that people get from expressing their emotions.
  • How does a person’s personality change in various stages of development?
  • Human brain: latest development and impacts in its study.
  • How teachers can manage school bullying in middle school.
  • Personal and societal problems brought by obesity.
  • Impacts of social media on enhancing education.
  • Why should people embrace gardening as a hobby?
  • Effective ways to reduce electricity consumption at home.
  • How America helped end World War II.

Simple Topics for Explanatory Essay

However, if complicated titles are not your everyday cup of tea, you should look at simple explanation writing topics. To get you started, here are examples of topics for an explanatory essay that you can use:

  • Negative impacts of smartphones on marriages.
  • Managing gender inequalities in the workplace.
  • How to write an informative essay.
  • Ways of preventing racism in America.
  • How can frequent internet usage negatively affect students?
  • Negative impacts brought by junk food on people’s health.
  • How COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted education.
  • How does music affect people’s moods?
  • Benefits that people get from being multilingual.
  • Efficient ways that can be used to maintain an active lifestyle.
  • Ways in which overpopulation and poverty are related.
  • How to remain optimistic in the midst of financial hardships.
  • Effective ways to treat soldiers suffering from PTSD.
  • How communication has changed in the past 10 years.
  • How would life be without computers?

Creative Explanatory Essay Topics

Being creative in choosing explanatory topics can ensure you get the highest grades. Inspire yourself with the following innovative explanation essay topics: 

  • Efficient ways in which animals can relieve stress.
  • Tactics that can be employed to win in a chess match.
  • How is social media used for income generation?
  • Using music to boost productivity at work.
  • Reasons why building a house is more manageable than buying one.
  • Efficient measures for helping a drowning person.
  • Effective methods that can help manage gambling addictions.
  • Effects of social media on people’s subconscious.
  • What is the correlation between eating disorders and loneliness?
  • How virtual communication has replaced real one.
  • How does memory affect people’s personalities?
  • How technology has contributed to increasing number of divorce cases.
  • Using various forms of art therapy in managing people with Alzheimer’s disease.
  • How does the immediate environment affect a person’s perception of racism?
  • Rise of exam cheating due to the internet.

Good Explanatory Essay Topics

Conducting an online search of ideas for explanatory essay can leave you confused because of the vast number of potential titles. However, you should not be scared by this because we have narrowed down the list of good topics for explanatory essays below to make your work easier:

  • How did the Civil War impact America?
  • Key reasons why people should use renewable energy sources.
  • Factors that have contributed to rising cases of obesity.
  • Measures that can be taken for treating mental disorders.
  • Challenges faced by Queen Victoria during her reign.
  • Dangers brought by military activities in East Asia.
  • Why is it challenging to fight against the impacts of global warming?
  • Measures used in preventing early pregnancies among teenagers.
  • Advantages and disadvantages of eating organic food.
  • How to prevent the effects of cyberbullying.
  • Ways that can improve quality of public education.
  • Effective tactics that can be used in identifying lies.
  • Impacts of getting bad grades in education.
  • How does jazz music affect the brain?
  • Dangerous habits that affect a person’s memory.

Unique Topics for an Explanatory Essay

To stand out from the crowd of other students, you need unique ideas for an explanatory essay. Below is a list of exceptional explanatory writing topics:

  • Why is being influential better than richness?
  • Steps involved in learning basic magic tricks.
  • How do cats manage to land on their feet when falling?
  • Effective survival techniques that can be used when one is stranded in the forest.
  • Ways in which age changes people's needs.
  • Measures that ordinary people may take to help homeless people.
  • Future challenges that technological advancements may bring into communication.
  • Is space exploration a viable solution for overpopulation?
  • How will parental roles change in future?
  • Are emotions affecting people’s intelligence?
  • How a teacher’s personality influences students.
  • Influence of astronomy in Ancient Greece .
  • Positive impacts of the Great Depression on marriages.
  • How do antidepressants negatively affect the brain?
  • How movies have influenced violent tendencies among the youths.

Explanatory Essay Topics & Ideas for Students

Explanatory research essay topics are among the most popular in education. Their popularity means that, in one way or another, high school and college students must encounter such assignments. But you should be chill about it. The next time your professor asks you to write a paper on explanatory essay ideas, visit this article for inspiration. Below we have provided expository titles for high school and college students.

Explanatory Essay Topics for High School

If you are a high school student and are having trouble coming up with suitable explanatory essay topics for your paper, relax and let us help you out. Below we have compiled various examples of topics to write an explanatory essay on: 

  • Types of cognitive bias and how to overcome them.
  • How can people rebuild relationships with lost friends?
  • Political recognition of indigenous languages in America.
  • Ways in which students can use technology to enhance their education.
  • How Cold War influenced American culture.
  • Major benefits of art therapy in physical health.
  • Reasons for the increase in social media addiction among students.
  • Modern forms of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs.
  • How do pets increase the levels of happiness in people?
  • Impacts of imperialism and internal colonization in America.
  • How did Stone Age technology impact farming methods?
  • Why is it difficult to achieve perpetual motion?
  • Applications of colloids and suspension in everyday life.
  • How can people use food waste as a key source of clean energy?
  • Are high school students focusing more on science and forgetting art?

Explanatory Essay Topics for College Students

Sometimes, getting ideas for an explanatory essay becomes challenging for college students. You will need inspiration upon finding yourself in this situation. As a result, we have come up with a list of explanatory essay topics for college students that can trigger your imagination: 

  • Benefits of using social media as a source of income.
  • How has communication changed in the past decade?
  • Adverse effects that social media has on human interaction processes.
  • Reasons for the rising cases of suicide among college students.
  • Major achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. in his fight for justice and equality.
  • Reasons for rising number of divorce cases in America.
  • Christopher Columbus’ explorations and their impacts on today’s world.
  • How did Bill Gates' initiative in creating Microsoft change the world?
  • Effective ways to ensure future financial success.
  • How childhood experiences impact behavior during adulthood.
  • What are the major differences between living and existing?
  • How did Nikola Tesla’s invention of the coil change the world?
  • Is public speaking an essential tool for college students?
  • Should there be restrictions on social media usage among teenagers?
  • Measures that can be taken to prevent early pregnancies.

Explanatory Essay Topics by Subjects

Explanation writing topics can be used to write different papers that cover various issues. However, due to the vast number of subjects to choose from, students may find it challenging to pick a suitable title for their papers. For that reason, we have decided to narrow down and classify these topics for explanatory essays into definite groups: literature, history, social issues, science, technology, business, and health. Go through the list below and select the one you will be able to easily and comprehensively discuss. 

Explanatory Essay Topics in Literature

There are many explanatory topics that you can write on different aspects of literature. But to narrow your search, below we have presented the best literature explanatory essay ideas: 

  • How is the theme of change depicted in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart ?
  • Mood expressions in Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita .
  • Societal roles of women in the 18th century as portrayed in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice .
  • How the sacrificial gender roles are depicted in A Doll’s House .
  • In what ways did classic writers' style enhance their credibility?
  • Effectiveness of literature in managing stress.
  • Romeo and Juliet : major symbols and their importance.
  • How does Shakespeare tackle the issue of witchcraft in Macbeth ?
  • The theme of ‘sexuality’ as depicted in The History Boys .
  • What is the central theme of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People ?
  • Which character deserves a happy ending in Oedipus Rex ?
  • Implications of Bella Swan turning into a vampire.
  • Did Harry Potter’s life in an abusive home impact his behavior?
  • How compelling are secondary characters developed in A Song of Ice and Fire ?
  • Feminist movement of the 18th century and its impact on male authors.

History Explanatory Essay Topics

History topics for an explanatory essay are common subjects that students love writing about. To set you off, here are historical topics for explanatory writing:

  • How did colonialism negatively affect countries in Africa?
  • What key factors led to Hitler starting World War II?
  • Significant contributions that Abraham Lincoln made in the war against slavery.
  • Causes and impacts of Cuban Revolution.
  • In what ways have political developments in Western countries impacted other countries?
  • What factors led to the French Revolution, and what was its impact?
  • The Soviet Union: causes and consequences of its collapse on the rest of Europe.
  • Means of transport that took enslaved people to America.
  • Origin and impacts of Salem Witch trials.
  • How the invention of gunpowder became significant.
  • Impacts of major changes during the Middle Ages on the modern world.
  • Impacts of Japanese Samurai honor on industrial development
  • How was the first newspaper launched?
  • Impacts of the Cold War on the relationship between America and Russia.
  • How Ming Dynasty rule impacted trade in China.
Read more: Historical Research Topics & Ideas for Students 

Explanatory Essay Topics on Social Issues

Many studies have been conducted on social issues. For your paper to stand out, you need compelling explanatory essay ideas that can shed some new light on societal matters. Below we have provided some explanation essay topics that can make this task easy for you: 

  • Why is it important for people to learn social values?
  • How COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the high cost of living in developing nations.
  • Impacts of gun control laws on how people live.
  • What impacts have mental illnesses had on society?
  • Consequences brought by obesity on how people interact with each other.
  • How have parental roles changed over time?
  • Causes and prevention of homelessness in the US.
  • Urbanization: negative consequences for Americans.
  • Social stratification and its impacts on society.
  • How to curb rising unemployment cases among American youths.
  • Effective measures for preventing cases of racism in high school.
  • Mental health problems brought by social media addiction.
  • How do online social relationships differ from face-to-face interactions?
  • Challenges faced in teaching the older generation modern technology.
  • How poverty contributes to the increased spread of HIV/AIDS.
View more: Sociology Research Topics

Science Topics for Explanatory Essays

Science is a subject that cuts across many areas, including mathematical, social, physical, and biological. As a result, science topics for an explanatory essay are fairly widespread among students. To get you going, here are great science ideas for an explanatory essay: 

  • How do fats and calories relate to one another?
  • Which part of the brain is responsible for enhancing creativity?
  • How does the white blood cell fight disease-causing organisms in the body?
  • Periodic table: its history and development.
  • Albert Einstein: his biography and scientific contributions.
  • Biological changes that occur in the body when one is living a sedentary lifestyle.
  • Human nervous system: its makeup and primary functions.
  • Processes involved in the synthesis of protein.
  • How do weather and climate differ?
  • Mechanisms involved in pumping blood throughout the body.
  • Similarities and differences between plant and animal cells.
  • How do animals dream?
  • Physical and chemical properties of mercury as an element of the periodic table.
  • Roles played by bacteria in human bodies.
  • How does the law of inertia affect motion?
Read more: Science Topics to Write About

Technology Explanatory Essay Topics

Due to the ever-changing nature of technology and innovation, it is tough to exhaust all explanatory topics that may be written about them. Since technology covers an exceedingly broad scope, simplify your search and consider the ideas for explanatory essay that we have narrowed down for you: 

  • Roles played by robotics in the health industry.
  • How has virtual reality impacted the world?
  • Nanotechnology: its impacts on dentistry.
  • How is it possible for people on Earth to migrate to another planet?
  • Most efficient alternative sources of energy that can be used instead of electricity.
  • How has surrogacy affected the concepts of marriage?
  • Disadvantages associated with artificial intelligence in education.
  • Advantages and disadvantages of using 3D printers.
  • How has development of atomic technology impacted world security?
  • Advantages of having self-parking cars.
  • How genetic engineering projects changed human life.
  • Role of quantum physics in comprehending the laws of nature.
  • Impacts of using drones on modern warfare.
  • Consequences of cellular technology on electrical engineering.
  • How technology has contributed to positive growth of the music industry.

>> View more: Technology Topics

Business Explanatory Essay Topics

Business is a broad subject that can provide you with an array of ideas for your explanatory writing topics. However, remember that you must maintain uniqueness in order to stand out. Below are exclusive business explanation essay topics that will keep you at the top: 

  • Methods used by employers to ensure their employees remain physically and mentally healthy.
  • Negative impacts brought by office politics on staff performance.
  • Environmental responsibilities performed by an organization.
  • How can employees report harassment cases by the Human Resources department?
  • How can a business use social media for advertising its products and services?
  • Business culture: advantages and disadvantages of having one.
  • Why do many businesses choose to employ people with experience over recent graduates?
  • Significant challenges facing the world economy.
  • How did Brexit affect foreign business relations in Europe?
  • Negative impacts of poor service on an organization.
  • How can companies ensure fairness in the allocation of duty?
  • Steps taken by companies to solve internal conflicts.
  • How do companies deal with sexual harassment cases in the workplace?
  • Long-term benefits of non-disclosure agreements to a company.
  • How can businesses participate in raising awareness of global warming?
Read more: Business Research Topics  

Explanatory Essay Topics About Health

One of the contemporary issues that people have taken a keen interest in is their well-being. As a result, explanatory topics about health have risen in popularity among readers. The following are perfect examples of explanatory essay ideas for you to choose from:

  • Reasons why protecting your health should begin from a young age.
  • Methods employed to manage flat feet in children.
  • What are the health risks associated with participation in sports?
  • Negative impacts of a sedentary lifestyle on a student's health.
  • Does heavy school workload impact high school students' health?
  • Natural ways used in joint pains among the elderly.
  • How metformin is used in the prevention of diabetes.
  • Best methods that can protect your heart from cardiovascular complications.
  • Existing methods used in treating Duchene muscular dystrophy.
  • Steps involved in maintaining a healthy body weight.
  • Types and causes of eating disorders that affect a person’s health.
  • Effective ways that can be employed in managing symptoms of depression.
  • What is the relationship between obesity and fast foods?
  • Clinical trials: what are the advantages of participating in them?
  • Natural ways of managing Huntington's diseases.

Explanatory Writing Prompts

Explanatory writing prompts refer to 1-3 topic sentences that ask a question or raise an issue that can be informatively answered in an essay. Explanatory prompts aim at guiding or centering the contents of your writing on informing your target readers or professors. If you wish to write explanatory essay prompts, you should look at the list below for inspiration:

  • What is the definition of a family? Who is considered part of the family?
  • Events that led to the Cold War starting.
  • What steps are involved in caring for a vegetable garden during the summer?
  • Are TV advertisements effective in influencing purchasing habits? Why or why not?
  • Rise of plastic use in the world. Has it had a positive or negative effect on the environment?
  • Famous inventions that have changed people’s lives in the past five years, and who invented them?
  • Step-by-step guide on how to play baseball.
  • Best community to live in between rural, suburban, and urban.
  • How would the world survive without electricity?
  • Best book that every person should read in their lifetime.
  • Easy ways in which people can reduce their carbon footprint.
  • Best method for dealing with bullies.
  • What qualities should a good friend possess?
  • How connecting with people digitally will change in the future.
  • How sports are important in managing delinquents.

Bottom Line on Explanatory Essay Topics

Now that you know more about topics for explanatory essays, their characteristics, and how to select them, we hope you will never be scared to tackle your expository assignments. We have also provided you with a list of topics for explanatory writing that you can choose from. A catalog of explanatory essay ideas can inspire you to develop a suitable topic for your paper. It is our opinion that selecting a right title for your essay should be able to make the experience of writing your paper enjoyable.

In case you need more suggestions, don't hesitate to look for titles in our blog. From satire essay topics  to expository essay topics , you will find ideas for any taste.

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How to Write an Explanatory Essay: Comprehensive Guide with Examples

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What Is an Explanatory Essay: Definition

Have you ever been tasked with explaining a complex topic to someone without prior knowledge? It can be challenging to break down complex ideas into simple terms that are easy to understand. That's where explanatory writing comes in! An explanatory essay, also known as an expository essay, is a type of academic writing that aims to explain a particular topic or concept clearly and concisely. These essays are often used in academic settings but can also be found in newspapers, magazines, and online publications.

For example, if you were asked to explain how a car engine works, you would need to provide a step-by-step explanation of the different parts of the engine and how they work together to make the car move. Or, if you were asked to explain the process of photosynthesis, you would need to explain how plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create energy.

When wondering - 'what is an explanatory essay?', remember that the goal of an explanatory paper is to provide the reader with a better understanding of the topic at hand. Unlike an opinion essay , this type of paper does not argue for or against a particular viewpoint but rather presents information neutrally and objectively. By the end of the essay, the reader should clearly understand the topic and be able to explain it to others in their own words.

Also, there is no set number of paragraphs in an explanatory essay, as it can vary depending on the length and complexity of the topic. However, when wondering - 'how many paragraphs in an explanatory essay?', know that a typical example of explanatory writing will have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

However, some essays may have more or fewer body paragraphs, depending on the topic and the writer's preference. Ultimately, an explanatory essay format aims to provide a clear and thorough explanation of the topic, using as many paragraphs as necessary.

Explanatory Essay Topics

20 Interesting Explanatory Essay Topics 

Now that we have defined what is explanatory essay, the next step is choosing a good explanatory topic. A well-chosen topic is interesting and relevant to your audience while also being something you are knowledgeable about and can provide valuable insights on. By selecting a topic that is too broad or too narrow, you run the risk of either overwhelming your audience with too much information or failing to provide enough substance to fully explain the topic. Additionally, choosing a topic that is too controversial or biased can lead to difficulty in presenting information objectively and neutrally. By choosing a good explanatory topic, you can ensure that your essay is well-informed, engaging, and effective in communicating your ideas to your audience.

Here are 20 creative explanatory essay topics by our admission essay service to consider:

  • How does the human brain process emotions?
  • The benefits and drawbacks of remote work.
  • The science behind climate change and its effects.
  • The history and evolution of hip-hop music.
  • The impact of social media on mental health.
  • The benefits of learning a second language.
  • The process of how a computer operates.
  • The causes and effects of bullying in schools.
  • The impact of technology on modern education.
  • The reasons for the decline of bee populations and their importance to the ecosystem.
  • The effects of caffeine on the human body.
  • The process of how vaccines work to prevent disease.
  • The impact of video games on youth behavior and development.
  • The reasons for the gender pay gap and how to close it.
  • The benefits and drawbacks of renewable energy sources.
  • The history and cultural significance of tattoos.
  • The causes and effects of income inequality in society.
  • The process of how a book is published.
  • The impact of social media on political discourse.
  • The benefits and drawbacks of the gig economy.

How to Start an Explanatory Essay: Important Steps

Starting an explanatory essay can be challenging, especially if you are unsure where to begin. However, by following a few simple steps, you can effectively kick-start your writing process and produce a clear and concise essay. Here are some tips and examples from our term paper writing services on how to start an explanatory essay:

How to Start an Explanatory Essay

  • Choose an engaging topic : Your topic should be interesting, relevant, and meaningful to your audience. For example, if you're writing about climate change, you might focus on a specific aspect of the issue, such as the effects of rising sea levels on coastal communities.
  • Conduct research : Gather as much information as possible on your topic. This may involve reading scholarly articles, conducting interviews, or analyzing data. For example, if you're writing about the benefits of mindfulness meditation, you might research the psychological and physical benefits of the practice.
  • Develop an outline : Creating an outline will help you logically organize your explanatory essay structure. For example, you might organize your essay on the benefits of mindfulness meditation by discussing its effects on mental health, physical health, and productivity.
  • Provide clear explanations: When writing an explanatory article, it's important to explain complex concepts clearly and concisely. Use simple language and avoid technical jargon. For example, if you're explaining the process of photosynthesis, you might use diagrams and visual aids to help illustrate your points.
  • Use evidence to support your claims : Use evidence from reputable sources to support your claims and arguments. This will help to build credibility and persuade your readers. For example, if you're writing about the benefits of exercise, you might cite studies that demonstrate its positive effects on mental health and cognitive function.

By following these tips and examples, you can effectively start your expository essays and produce a well-structured, informative, and engaging piece of writing.

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Explanatory Essay Outline

As mentioned above, it's important to create an explanatory essay outline to effectively organize your ideas and ensure that your essay is well-structured and easy to follow. An outline helps you organize your thoughts and ideas logically and systematically, ensuring that you cover all the key points related to your topic. It also helps you identify gaps in your research or argument and allows you to easily revise and edit your essay. In this way, an outline can greatly improve the overall quality and effectiveness of your explanatory essay.

Explanatory Essay Introduction

Here are some tips from our ' do my homework ' service to create a good explanatory essay introduction that effectively engages your readers and sets the stage for the entire essay:

  • Start with a hook: Begin your introduction with an attention-grabbing statement or question that draws your readers in. For example, you might start your essay on the benefits of exercise with a statistic on how many Americans suffer from obesity.
  • Provide context: Give your readers some background information on the topic you'll be discussing. This helps to set the stage and ensures that your readers understand the importance of the topic. For example, you might explain the rise of obesity rates in the United States over the past few decades.
  • State your thesis: A good explanatory thesis example should be clear, concise, and focused. It should state the main argument or point of your essay. For example, you might state, ' Regular exercise is crucial to maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.'
  • Preview your main points: Give your readers an idea of what to expect in the body of your essay by previewing your main points. For example, you might explain that you'll be discussing the benefits of exercise for mental health, physical health, and longevity.
  • Keep it concise: Your introduction should be brief and to the point. Avoid getting bogged down in too much detail or providing too much background information. A good rule of thumb is to keep your introduction to one or two paragraphs.

The Body Paragraphs

By following the following tips, you can create well-organized, evidence-based explanation essay body paragraphs that effectively support your thesis statement.

  • Use credible sources: When providing evidence to support your arguments, use credible sources such as peer-reviewed academic journals or reputable news outlets. For example, if you're writing about the benefits of a plant-based diet, you might cite a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
  • Organize your paragraphs logically: Each body paragraph should focus on a specific aspect or argument related to your topic. Organize your paragraphs logically so that each one builds on the previous one. For example, if you're writing about the causes of climate change, you might organize your paragraphs to focus on human activity, natural causes, and the effects of climate change.
  • Use transitional phrases: Use transitional phrases to help your readers follow the flow of your ideas. For example, you might use phrases such as 'in addition,' 'furthermore,' or 'on the other hand' to indicate a shift in your argument.
  • Provide analysis: Don't just present evidence; provide analysis and interpretation of the evidence. For example, if you're writing about the benefits of early childhood education, you might analyze the long-term effects on academic achievement and future earnings.
  • Summarize your main points: End each body paragraph with a sentence that summarizes the main point or argument you've made. This helps to reinforce your thesis statement and keep your essay organized. For example, you might end a paragraph on the benefits of exercise by stating, 'Regular exercise has been shown to improve mental and physical health, making it a crucial aspect of a healthy lifestyle.'

Explanatory Essay Conclusion

Here are some unique tips on how to write an explanatory essay conclusion that leaves a lasting impression on your readers.

How to Start an Explanatory Essay steps

  • Offer a solution or recommendation: Instead of summarizing your main points, offer suggestions based on the information you've presented. This can help to make your essay more impactful and leave a lasting impression on your readers. For example, if you're writing about the effects of pollution on the environment, you might recommend using more eco-friendly products or investing in renewable energy sources.
  • Emphasize the importance of your topic: Use your concluding statement to emphasize the importance of your topic and why it's relevant to your readers. This can help to inspire action or change. For example, suppose you're writing about the benefits of volunteering. In that case, you might emphasize how volunteering helps others and has personal benefits such as improved mental health and a sense of purpose.
  • End with a powerful quote or statement: End your explanatory essay conclusion with a powerful quote or statement that reinforces your main point or leaves a lasting impression on your readers. For example, if you're writing about the importance of education, you might end your essay with a quote from Nelson Mandela, such as, 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.'

Explanatory Essay Example

Here is an example of an explanatory essay:

Explanatory Essay Example:

Importance of Basketball

Final Thoughts

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How to Write an Explanatory Essay: Topics, Outline, Example

Have you ever been tasked with writing an explanation essay and wondered where to start? You’re not alone! Many students struggle with the challenge of presenting complex ideas in a concise and engaging manner. Fear not; with the right approach, learning how to write an explanation essay can be a rewarding experience that enhances your understanding of a topic and sharpens your writing skills.

In this blog post, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of crafting an exemplary explanation essay. We will explore the definition and purpose of explanatory essays, offer tips on topic selection, outline development, and delve into the essentials of how to write an explanatory essay. By the end of this post, you will be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to tackle any explanatory essay assignment that comes your way.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

  • Explanatory essays, akin to expository essays , provide an unbiased and objective analysis of a topic with the aim of informing and clarifying.
  • Choosing the right topic for your explanatory essay involves selecting a neutral, engaging, and relevant topic supported by ample researchable information.
  • Writing an explanatory essay requires conducting thorough research, utilizing transitions & linking words judiciously, citing sources accurately & revising/editing to ensure high quality work.

Explanatory Essays: Definition and Purpose

An expository essay, also known as an explanatory essay or an explanatory paper, is a type of explanatory writing wherein one is required to describe and elucidate a particular point of view, incident, event, or situation. Unlike argumentative or persuasive essays, the goal of explanation essays, including expository essays, is to offer an unbiased and objective analysis of a topic, aiming to inform and clarify without arguing or persuading. By presenting information in a clear and organized manner, explanatory essays help readers develop a better understanding of the subject matter.

Explanatory essays follow the traditional explanatory essay format, which includes an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The thesis statement, located in the introduction, is a specific and argumentable statement that concisely presents the primary concept of the essay. The body paragraphs provide evidence and explanations to support the thesis, while the conclusion ties everything together and leaves the reader with a clear understanding of the author’s presentation.

Choosing the Right Topic for Your Explanatory Essay

Selecting an appropriate topic is a crucial step in crafting a successful explanatory essay. A well-written explanation essay seeks to offer an unbiased and objective analysis of a topic, with the intention of informing and elucidating without trying to convince. Therefore, it is essential to choose a topic that is neutral, engaging, and aligns with your interests and the interests of your target audience.

To generate ideas for an explanation essay, consider topics that you have personal experience with or are genuinely curious about. It is also important to ensure that the topic can be effectively researched and that there is ample information available to compose a comprehensive paper. Once you have a list of potential topics, evaluate them based on their relevance to the assignment and your familiarity with the subject matter. This will help you select a topic that will not only be engaging to your readers but also enjoyable for you to research and write about.

Crafting a Strong Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is the backbone of your explanation essay, as it sets the stage for the rest of the paper. A strong explanation essay thesis statement should be concise, debatable, and supportable, summarizing the main idea and purpose of the essay. It is important to invest time and effort into crafting a compelling thesis statement, as it will guide your research and shape the overall structure of your essay.

To develop an effective thesis statement, start by identifying the primary concept or argument that you want to convey in your essay. Then refine your statement to ensure that it is succinct and specific, while still being arguable and justifiable.

If you find yourself struggling to create a strong thesis statement, consider drafting a rough version and returning to it after you have completed the rest of the paper. This will allow you to refine your statement based on the evidence and arguments presented in your essay.

Developing an Effective Explanatory Essay Outline

An effective explanatory essay outline is essential for organizing your thoughts and ideas in a logical manner, ensuring a smooth flow throughout your essay. The outline should include an introduction, body, and conclusion, each containing specific information arranged in a logical manner to ensure the continuity of the paper. By creating a detailed outline, you can easily identify any gaps in your research or argumentation and make revisions as needed.

In the following subsections, we will delve into strategies for writing an engaging explanatory essay introduction, structuring body paragraphs, and crafting a compelling conclusion. These techniques will help you create an effective explanatory essay outline that will serve as a roadmap for your writing process.

Introduction Strategies

The introduction is the first part of your essay that your readers will encounter, and it plays a crucial role in grabbing their attention and setting the stage for the thesis statement. To create an engaging introduction, you can employ various hooks, such as rhetorical questions, quotes, or statistics, to capture the reader’s interest and provide a foundation for your thesis statement.

An effective introduction should also provide a concise overview of the subject matter and the primary concepts that the reader will encounter while perusing the essay. This background information helps your readers understand the context of your essay and prepares them for the arguments and evidence presented in the body paragraphs. By crafting an engaging and informative introduction, you set the tone for the rest of your essay and encourage your readers to continue reading.

Structuring Body Paragraphs

Structuring body paragraphs involves presenting evidence to support your thesis statement while ensuring clarity and logical organization. Each body paragraph should focus on a particular aspect of the topic and provide evidence to back it up. This can include facts, quotes, statistics, survey results, and examples that help validate your arguments and substantiate your assertions.

To ensure clarity and logical organization in your body paragraphs, you can employ various techniques, such as utilizing transitions between paragraphs, supplying examples to elucidate points, and employing linking words to connect ideas. Transitions and linking words, such as “however,” “therefore,” “in addition,” and “furthermore,” can help guide your readers through your essay and make it easier for them to follow your ideas and arguments.

By carefully structuring your body paragraphs, you can create a coherent and persuasive explanatory essay that effectively supports your thesis statement.

Crafting a Compelling Conclusion

The conclusion of your explanation essay is your final opportunity to leave a lasting impression on your readers. A compelling conclusion should summarize the main points presented in your essay, restate your thesis statement, and offer recommendations or a call to action. This helps to reinforce the key ideas and arguments in your essay and leaves your readers with something to ponder.

When crafting your conclusion, it is important to avoid introducing new information or arguments, as this can confuse your readers and weaken the overall impact of your essay. Instead, focus on providing a concise and convincing summary of the evidence presented in your essay and how it supports your thesis statement. By doing so, you can leave your readers with a clear understanding of your essay’s purpose and a sense of closure.

Writing Your Explanatory Essay: Step-by-Step Process

Now that you have a solid understanding of the key components of an explanation essay, it is time to embark on the writing process. In this section, we will outline a step-by-step process for writing an explanatory essay, which includes conducting thorough research, utilizing transitions and linking words, and citing sources to avoid plagiarism.

By following this step-by-step process, you can ensure that your explanation essay is well-structured and informative, providing your readers with a clear understanding of the subject matter. With practice and persistence, you can master the art of explanatory essay writing and create engaging, persuasive essays that effectively convey complex ideas.

Conducting Thorough Research

Conducting thorough research is essential for an explanation essay, as it helps gather credible evidence (facts, quotes, statistics, survey results, and examples) to support your thesis statement. Begin by selecting a topic that is of personal interest and has some familiarity. Once you have chosen a topic, conduct preliminary research to ensure that there is sufficient information available to compose a comprehensive paper.

When gathering information for your essay, it is crucial to utilize dependable sources, such as scholarly articles, books, and websites. Be sure to take notes and keep track of the sources you have used, as this will make it easier to reference them in your essay and avoid plagiarism. By conducting thorough research, you can ensure that your essay is well-supported and provides a comprehensive analysis of the topic.

Utilizing Transitions and Linking Words

Utilizing transitions and linking words is crucial for ensuring a smooth flow throughout your explanation essay and making it easier for readers to follow your ideas and arguments. Examples of transitions and linking words include phrases such as “however”, “therefore”, “in addition” and “furthermore”.

Incorporating these transitions and linking words in your essay helps guide your readers through the progression of your arguments and enhances the overall readability of your paper. Be sure to use them judiciously and avoid overusing a specific transition or linking word, as this may become repetitive and detract from the flow of your essay.

By employing a variety of transitions and linking words, you can create a cohesive and engaging explanatory essay that effectively conveys your ideas.

Citing Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism

Citing sources accurately and consistently is crucial for avoiding plagiarism and ensuring the credibility of your explanation essay. When composing an explanation essay, sources are typically cited following either MLA, APA, or Harvard formatting. In-text citations generally include the author’s name and the year the source was published, and for direct quotations, the page number must also be specified.

By accurately citing your sources, you not only give credit to the original authors, but also demonstrate your commitment to academic integrity and the credibility of your essay. Be sure to double-check your citations and proofread your essay for any errors or inconsistencies in your referencing style. By doing so, you can avoid plagiarism and ensure that your essay is a credible and accurate representation of your research and ideas.

Analyzing Explanatory Essay Examples

Analyzing explanatory essay examples can provide valuable insights into the structure, style, and content of successful essays, helping you improve your own writing. By examining well-written examples, you can gain a better understanding of the key elements of an explanation essay, such as the thesis statement, the organization of body paragraphs, and the overall flow of the essay.

When analyzing explanatory essay examples, pay close attention to the clarity of the explanations, the use of evidence to support the argument, and the general structure and format of the essay. Also, consider the effectiveness of the thesis statement and the essay in conveying information.

By studying and learning from exemplary essays, you can refine your own writing and create an engaging, informative, and well-structured explanation essay. In fact, knowing how to write an explanation essay is essential for developing your skills in this area.

Tips for Revising and Editing Your Explanatory Essay

Once you have completed your explanation essay, it is essential to revise and edit your work to ensure that it is of high quality and free of mistakes. Start by reviewing your essay for clarity, organization, and logical flow. Check that your thesis statement is clear and concise, and that your body paragraphs effectively support your argument.

During the revision process, ask yourself the following questions: Is the essay organized effectively? Are the transitions between paragraphs seamless? Are there any grammatical or orthographic errors? Are sources referenced accurately? If necessary, make any revisions to improve the overall quality and coherence of your essay.

Finally, proofread your essay for any remaining errors and inconsistencies. Consider presenting your essay to a trusted friend or classmate for feedback, as they may be able to spot mistakes that you may have missed. By revising and editing your essay, you can ensure that it is polished, engaging, and free of errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of an explanatory essay.

An explanation essay format typically consists of an introduction, three body paragraphs with one subtopic per paragraph, and a conclusion. It is a basic essay structure which can be further expanded as needed.

Formal language should be used and the goal is to make a connection with the reader through the text.

What is the best way to start an explanatory essay?

To begin an explanation essay, start with an attention-grabbing statement or question that draws your readers in. This should be written in a formal tone, and include a clear conclusion in the first sentence without an introduction or summary.

What are the main parts of an explanatory essay?

An explanation essay typically consists of an introduction with a hook, some background information, and a thesis statement.

It then progresses to further explain the topic and draw a conclusion.

How do you write a 5 paragraph explanatory essay?

To write a five-paragraph explanatory essay, you must create an introduction that introduces the main topic and states the thesis, three body paragraphs to support the thesis, and a concluding paragraph to wrap up the points made in the essay.

The tone should be formal throughout, with clear connections to the reader.

What is the main difference between an explanatory essay and an argumentative essay?

Explanatory essays seek to explain a topic without presenting an argument, while argumentative essays make an assertion and support it with evidence.

These two types of essays have different goals and require different approaches. Explanatory essays focus on providing information and context, while argumentative essays focus on making a persuasive argument.

When writing an essay, it is important to write an explanation.

In conclusion, writing an exemplary explanation essay requires a clear understanding of the topic, careful planning, thorough research, and effective organization. By following the step-by-step process outlined in this blog post, you can create engaging, informative, and persuasive explanatory essays that effectively convey complex ideas. With practice and persistence, you can master the art of explanatory essay writing and tackle any assignment that comes your way.

Explanatory Essay Topics for Students

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Table of contents

  • 0.1 Key Points
  • 1 How to Select Students’ Explanatory Essay Topics?
  • 2 Interesting Explanatory Essay Topics
  • 3 Explanatory Essay Topics For College Students
  • 4 Expository Essays on Science and Technology
  • 5 Expository Essay Ideas On Personal Experience
  • 6 Explanatory Essay Topics About History
  • 7 Explanatory Essay Topics To Get Creative
  • 8 Explanatory Essay Ideas for Advanced Writing
  • 9 Social Issue Explanatory Essay Topics
  • 10 Health Related Explanatory Essay Topics
  • 11 Explanatory Essay Topics: Takeaway

Are you a student struggling to write a good explanatory essay? Then you’ve come to the right place. The following prompts are designed for students wanting to write unique explanatory essays.

Our article will inspire you to write compelling explanatory essays. If you struggle to pick a topic, explanatory writing essay help will come in handy. Professional authors provide expert guidance that guarantees excellent grades. So grab your pen and paper, and get ready for the best explanatory essay ideas to spark your imagination.

  • Good explanatory essay topics explain an issue or concept without arguing for or against it
  • A compelling topic should make students curious and lead to a credible explanatory essay
  • To find great topics, students should research and write an essay on something they enjoy
  • Students need to make sure there are enough sources to support their arguments

How to Select Students’ Explanatory Essay Topics?

An explanatory essay needs to strike a balance between the demands of the curriculum and the student’s interests. But the end goal is for students to express their thoughts clearly. Picking topics that leave room for different viewpoints is the most important rule for explanatory essay writing. With this in mind, consider the following points on how to choose the best topic.

  • Interesting and engaging Visit the library and get your research game on. Instead of writing about the same old ideas, try and put a spin on a subject you want to learn more about. This is going to make the task more fun to write.
  • Scope and complexity If you write an explanatory essay that’s too broad, you’ll struggle to cover it within the word limit. But if it’s too narrow, you won’t have enough information to support your arguments.
  • Relevance Write an explanatory essay explaining a current issue or trend. In doing so, you’ll prove your understanding of current events. And show how you apply critical thinking skills in the real world.

Interesting Explanatory Essay Topics

Explanatory writing on something interesting ranges from simple to complex. For younger students, the topics are usually as straightforward as their favorite book. Older students tend to look at more complex issues like cyberbullying or global warming. It depends on what you’re interested in, as long as the paper is engaging for you and your readers. Think about current social media trends or what’s making headlines. Research topical events while thinking about how to write an explanatory essay on the following interesting topics.

  • The Implications Of Social Media On Mental Wellness
  • E-Commerce Vs. Retail (Write A Comparison-Contrast Essay Explaining The Pros And Cons)
  • The History And Impact Of Hip-Hop Culture
  • Working From Home: The Positive And Negative Impacts
  • Analyze The Writing Of Your Favorite Book With A Literature Review
  • What Character Deserves The Most Sympathy In Game Of Thrones?
  • The Influence Of Ai On Modern Art
  • Write An Essay Explaining Why A Person’s Dream Home Is Either In The City Or In The Country
  • A Cultural Perspective Of Tattoos
  • Describe The Role Of Fashion In Society

Explanatory Essay Topics For College Students

At the college level, explanatory essay writing is a bit more advanced. With these, students need to research evidence and examples, writing them clearly. With these explanatory prompts, you’ll prove your analytical skills and ability to think critically.

  • Career Success And School Education
  • Describe The Significance Of College Athletics
  • School And College Greek Life: Origins And Influence
  • The Role Of Diversity In Higher Education
  • Write An Essay On Student Loans And College Graduates
  • Online Learning (Write A Comparison-Contrast Essay Explaining The Pros And Cons)
  • The Importance Of Internships For College Students
  • School Students’ Mental Health And Social Media
  • The Effect Of College Majors On Employment Prospects
  • The Role Of School Education In Personal Growth And Development

Expository Essays on Science and Technology

When it comes to writing about science and technology , the possibilities for students are endless. From the advancements in astronomy to the impact of modern engineering, there are tons of fascinating ideas to research. Write an explanatory essay describing any of the following suggestions. You’ll learn things you didn’t realize were possible.

  • How Will Artificial Intelligence Impact Humanity In The Future?
  • The Effects Of Climate Change
  • What Impact Has AI Had On The Music Industry?
  • Product Development For New Technologies
  • The Interest And Societal Development
  • Is Genetic Engineering Ethical?
  • Space Exploration In The Future
  • Does AI Help Or Hinder The Film Industry?
  • Video Games: Social Impact And Development
  • How Renewable Energy Sources Affect The Environment

Expository Essay Ideas On Personal Experience

There’s nothing better than writing a paper on personal experiences. Even though you don’t need to express your opinion in such an explanatory essay, knowing how to write an opinion essay will come in handy. Since basic writing rules apply to all paper types. Sharing stories is a great way for students to connect with their work. It’s also perfect for self-reflection. One possible topic includes a good friend who influenced you (in a good way or not). Or your writing could take a twist and describe a typical day in the life of the average blue-collar worker.

  • Personal Growth And Development After A Life Changing Event
  • How Personal Experience Shapes Identity
  • A Difficult Personal Experience Teaches Us Valuable Lessons
  • How Travel Changes Mindset
  • A Mentor’s Influence On Personal And Professional Success
  • Relationships And Psychological Well-Being
  • The Negative Influence Of Hypnosis On Overcoming Phobia
  • Mindfulness And Emotional Well-Being: Hobbies
  • The Influence Of Personal Values On Decision-Making
  • Is One Good Friend Better Than Many Acquaintances?

Explanatory Essay Topics About History

To write an explanatory essay on historical studies, school students analyze historical events or concepts. The most common essay types examine different perspectives and challenge conventional narratives.

  • The Impact Of The Renaissance On Culture in Europe
  • Industrial Revolution: How It Has Changed The Way We Live
  • The Role Of Women In World War Ii
  • Describe Why The Cold War Was Called “Cold”?
  • America’s Response To The Civil Rights Movement
  • How The Great Depression Changed The Way We Live
  • The Role Of Religion In The Colonization Of The Americas
  • How Martin Luther King Jr Became The Most Influential Person In America
  • War In Vietnam: Causes And Consequences
  • Explain The Use Of Propaganda In World War I

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Explanatory Essay Topics To Get Creative

Creative explanatory essays help school students prove their writing skills. No matter if you’re writing about quantum physics or a vegetable garden. Remember to choose your own topic that’ll make your explanatory paper a joy to write as well as read. If you’re still looking for inspiration, consider these essays for sale that cover all types of subjects. Expert writers know what it takes to create something special and craft a paper that deserves an excellent grade. Plus, you’re guaranteed timely delivery and compliance with all your requirements. Meanwhile, take a look at these topics, and don’t be afraid to think outside the box.

  • Contemporary Culture And The Art Of Storytelling
  • Mental Well-Being And Humor
  • The Role Of Imagination In Problem-Solving
  • How Creativity Affects The Brain
  • Why Do We Procrastinate?
  • Explain Why Graffiti Is Considered Art
  • Is Cultural Identity Shaped By Music?
  • The Process Of Creating A New Invention: From Idea To Sales
  • Do Secondary Characters Receive Enough Development In Stories?
  • Audience Reception Of The Circus From The 19th Century To Today (Write An Essay Explaining How Things Have Changed And Why)

Explanatory Essay Ideas for Advanced Writing

When writing explanatory synthesis essay topics, it’s important for students to showcase their abilities. You’ll do this by helping the reader understand the subject. This is because advanced explanatory essay writing goes beyond the surface level. So when considering topics for explanatory essay writing, choose one that allows for multiple angles and interpretations.

  • The Psychology Of Decision-Making And Its Social Consequences
  • Explain The Treatment Of Addiction
  • How Has Artificial Intelligence Affected Job Automation? (Write A Comparison-Contrast Essay Explaining Job Loss)
  • Impact Of Globalization On History And Culture
  • The Effects Of Social Class On Opportunities (Positive Or Negative Effect)
  • Corporate Responsibility And Ethics In Business
  • Modern Work Culture And The Gig Economy
  • Immigration Impact On The Past And Present
  • Memory And Its Effects On Cognition
  • The Social Response To Political Polarization

Social Issue Explanatory Essay Topics

To write an explanatory essay on social issues, school students examine and explain a societal problem. Examples include poverty, climate change, and racial discrimination. Practicing and improving cohesive writing skills is essential to excel in crafting such essays. This is because students need to connect their ideas logically to maintain the smooth flow of information in their papers.

  • The Effects Of Global Warming
  • How Has Feminism Changed The World?
  • How Does Plastic Use Impact The Environment?
  • Influence Of Media On Public Opinion
  • The Impact Of Income Inequality On Societal Structures
  • Black Lives Matter: An Anthology
  • Marginalized Communities And Climate Change
  • Explain How Education Reduces Social Inequality
  • Society And Social Media
  • The Development And Impact Of LGBTQ+ Rights Movements

Health Related Explanatory Essay Topics

Well-being covers a broad range of subjects. Some general topics for school students include mental or personal health and healthcare. You might also write an explanatory essay on more specific topics. These include less talked about health issues such as eating disorders, schizophrenia, and autism.

  • Nutrition And How It Affects The Mind (Positive Or Negative Effect)
  • How Does Technology Affect Sleep And Mental Well-Being?
  • The Impact Of Stress On Mental And Physical Functioning
  • A Historical Overview Of The Opioid Overdose Epidemic
  • Addiction And Its Impact On The Body
  • Does Exercise Affect Mental Well-being?
  • Explain The Stigma Surrounding Mental Health
  • Social Isolation (Write An Essay Explaining The Mental And Physical Side Effects)
  • The Impact Of Public Health Policy On Access To Care
  • Mindfulness And Mental Wellness

Explanatory Essay Topics: Takeaway

Choosing the right explanatory essay topic is so important when it comes to getting a good grade at school. Writing a paper on something you’re interested in tends to make research less boring and your writing more compelling.

And don’t worry about what other students are writing. Just make sure you research, outline your topic ideas, and write following a structure. Having a plan means you’ll be well on your way to writing a unique and persuasive explanatory essay paper.

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explanatory essay prompts

468 Explanatory Essay Topics & Good Ideas

18 January 2024

last updated

Explanatory essay topics delve into complex subjects, dissecting them to expose underlying components for better understanding. These themes may range from scientific phenomena, social issues, and technological advancements to historical events. The goal is to clarify obscure aspects, spotlighting how individual elements interact within a broader context. These topics demand detailed research, critical thinking, and clear, comprehensive writing, ultimately striving to inform, educate, and enlighten readers, enhancing their understanding and perspective of the chosen subject. The successful explanation of such topics illuminates intricacies otherwise overlooked, extending the conversation and potentially catalyzing new thought and innovation.

Top Explanatory Essay Topics

  • Understanding Blockchain Technology and Its Significance
  • Unraveling the Process of Photosynthesis
  • How Does Emotional Intelligence Influence Interpersonal Relationships?
  • Decoding the Mystery of Dreams
  • Elucidating the Causes and Effects of Climate Change
  • Why Are Plant-Based Diets Gaining Popularity?
  • Demystifying the Concept of Quantum Physics
  • Steps to Start a Successful Online Business
  • Influence of Social Media on Teenagers’ Self-Esteem
  • Unveiling the Mechanism of Vaccines
  • Beneath the Surface: Understanding Ocean Currents
  • Solar Power: How It Works and Its Advantages
  • Decoding Cryptocurrency: Bitcoin and Its Functionality
  • Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Performance
  • How Is AI Transforming the Modern World?
  • Growth of E-Commerce Post-Pandemic
  • Understanding Volcanic Eruptions and Their Consequences
  • How Does Art Therapy Enhance Emotional Well-Being
  • Space Travel: Challenges and Future Prospects

Explanatory Essay Topics & Good Ideas

Simple Explanatory Essay Topics

  • Understanding the Food Pyramid
  • How Does Photosynthesis Work?
  • Steps in Making a Peanut Butter Sandwich
  • Process of Creating a DIY Birthday Card
  • Elements of a Balanced Diet
  • Understanding How a Rainbow Forms
  • How Do Bees Produce Honey?
  • Unfolding the Journey of a Letter in the Mail System
  • Elements of a Successful Garage Sale
  • Breaking Down the Process of Baking Bread
  • How Day and Night Occur?
  • Decoding the Concept of Time Zones
  • Understanding the Water Cycle
  • Basic Steps to Plant a Seed
  • How Do Animals Prepare for Winter?
  • Journey of Milk From Farm to Market
  • How Does a Bicycle Work?
  • Understanding Cloud Formation
  • What Happens During an Eclipse?

Interesting Explanatory Essay Topics

  • Unraveling Secrets of Domestic Cat Life
  • Origami: Journey to the Heart of an Ancient Art
  • Dreaming: Unveiling the Hidden Realm
  • Magic Tricks and Their Hidden Mechanisms
  • Bee Communication: A Closer Look
  • Deep Sea Exploration: What We Know and What We Don’t
  • Astronaut Training: An Insider’s Perspective
  • Hummingbird Hover: A Phenomenon Explained
  • From Larva to Butterfly: The Stages Unfolded
  • Roller Coasters: The Science of Thrills
  • The Human Immune System: A Comprehensive Breakdown
  • Black Holes: Comprehension of the Incomprehensible
  • Making Movies: The Process Behind the Screen
  • Northern Lights: An Illuminating Exploration
  • Ant Colonies: Life Beneath the Surface
  • Our Solar System: Grasping Its Vast Scale
  • Coral Reefs: A Dive Into Vibrant Ecosystems
  • Bermuda Triangle: Unlocking the Mystery
  • Wine Making: Understanding Its Intricacies
  • Deja Vu: Decoding the Phenomenon

Explanatory Essay Topics for High School

  • Fundamentals of Human Nutrition
  • Creating a Personal Budget: An Overview
  • The Beauty of Geometry in Architecture
  • Cryptocurrencies: Understanding Digital Money
  • Exploring the Biomechanics of Sports
  • Photosynthesis: A Simple Explanation
  • Climate Change: Causes and Consequences
  • Origins and Influences of Pop Art
  • The Fascinating World of Ants
  • Artificial Intelligence: A Glimpse Into the Future
  • Ice Age: Understanding Its Significance
  • Globalization: A Brief Overview
  • Sustainable Agriculture: Practices and Benefits
  • Quantum Physics: A Simplified Introduction
  • Constitutional Law: Breaking Down Its Complexity
  • Recycling Process: A Step-By-Step Guide
  • Modern Robotics: An Exciting Journey
  • Journey Through the Human Digestive System
  • Myths and Facts About Space Travel

Explanatory Essay Topics for Middle School

  • Solar System’s Planets: A Journey Through Space
  • Life Cycle of a Butterfly: Transformation Stages
  • Food Pyramid: A Balanced Diet Guide
  • Volcanoes: A Peek Into Their Formation
  • Origins of Common Superstitions
  • Rainbows: A Colorful Phenomenon Explained
  • Creation of Comic Books: The Behind-the-Scenes
  • Understanding Tides: Moon’s Effect on Earth’s Waters
  • Video Games Design: The Creative Process
  • Saving Money: Importance of Financial Literacy
  • Earthquake Science: Understanding Seismic Activities
  • Origami: The Art of Paper Folding
  • Ecosystems: Exploring Forest Habitats
  • Tsunamis: Oceanic Waves of Destruction
  • Why Do Leaves Change Color in Autumn?
  • Photosynthesis: The Miracle of Plant Life
  • Internet: How Has This Technology Changed Our Lives?
  • Understanding the Phases of the Moon
  • Global Warming: A Simplified Overview
  • History of Animated Movies: From Drawings to Digital

Explanatory Essay Topics for College Students

  • Cryptography: Securing Information in the Digital Age
  • Artificial Intelligence: Disruption in Modern Industry
  • Sustainability: Strategies for Achieving Green Goals
  • Climate Change: Decoding Science and Misinformation
  • Blockchain Technology: Beyond Cryptocurrency
  • Jazz Music: Roots and Influence on Modern Sound
  • Machine Learning: Applications in Everyday Life
  • Public Health: Global Pandemic Response
  • Cybersecurity: Challenges in the Age of the Internet
  • Green Architecture: Design for a Sustainable Future
  • Cultural Appropriation: Navigating the Fine Line
  • Modern Politics: Intersection With Social Media
  • Nuclear Energy: Balancing Benefits and Risks
  • Space Exploration: Future Possibilities and Challenges
  • Bioethics: Delicate Matters in Modern Medicine
  • Consumer Behavior: Psychological Perspectives
  • Urban Planning: Creating Livable Cities
  • Foreign Language Acquisition: Cognitive Benefits
  • Quantum Computing: Future of Information Processing

Social Issues Explanatory Topics

  • Understanding Systemic Racism: An Ongoing Challenge
  • Gender Inequality: Breaking the Glass Ceiling
  • Poverty: An International Dilemma
  • Child Labor: Exploitation of Innocence
  • Religious Intolerance: Barriers to Coexistence
  • Globalization: Harmonizing Cultures and Economies
  • Human Trafficking: A Hidden Crisis
  • Cyberbullying: Virtual Threats, Real Consequences
  • Refugee Crisis: A Humanitarian Challenge
  • Euthanasia: Dilemmas at the End of Life
  • LGBTQ+ Rights: Road to Equality
  • Mental Health Stigma: Confronting Misunderstandings
  • Climate Change: A Social and Environmental Issue
  • Drug Abuse: Understanding Addiction
  • Education Inequality: Bridging the Gap
  • Homelessness: Unveiling the Invisible Population
  • Digital Divide: Access in an Information Age
  • Racial Profiling: Discrimination in Justice
  • Internet Privacy: Safeguarding Personal Information
  • Child Soldiers: Warfare’s Innocent Victims

Explanatory Topics on Technology

  • Deciphering Quantum Computing: A Revolutionary Leap
  • Nanotechnology: A New Frontier in Medicine
  • Artificial Intelligence: Bridging the Gap between Humans and Machines
  • Interconnected World: Unraveling the Internet of Things
  • Cybersecurity: Safeguarding Our Digital Universe
  • Space Technology: Exploring Extraterrestrial Existence
  • Machine Learning: An Algorithmic Paradigm
  • Blockchain Technology: A New Age of Decentralization
  • Biotechnology: Decoding the Blueprint of Life
  • Smart Cities: Blueprint for a Sustainable Future
  • 3D Printing: Crafting a New Dimension
  • Virtual Reality: A Paradigm Shift in Interaction
  • Augmented Reality: Overlaying Digital on Physical
  • Renewable Energy Technologies: A Sustainable Power Matrix
  • Bioinformatics: The Fusion of Biology and Information Technology
  • Big Data: Unveiling Patterns, Trends, and Associations
  • Neural Networks: Mimicking the Human Brain
  • Advanced Robotics: Machines With Human-Like Characteristics
  • Cryptography: The Science of Secure Communication

Education Explanatory Essay Topics

  • Bilingual Education: Fostering Multicultural Understanding
  • Challenges in Special Education: Inclusion and Diversity
  • Holistic Education: A More Comprehensive Approach
  • Standardized Testing: Merits and Drawbacks
  • Homeschooling: An Alternative Educational Route
  • Innovative Methods in Early Childhood Education
  • E-Learning: The Future of Education
  • Curriculum Development: Customizing Learning
  • Education Funding: Exploring Disparities
  • Education Technology: Tools for Enhanced Learning
  • Gifted Education: Catering to Exceptional Learners
  • Character Education: Building Integrity in Students
  • Classroom Management: A Key to Successful Learning
  • Teacher Training: Professional Development in Education
  • Literacy: Foundation of Learning
  • Student Motivation: Fuel for Educational Success
  • Parental Involvement: An Integral Part of Education
  • Inclusive Education: Equal Opportunities for All
  • School Nutrition: Influencing Student Health and Performance
  • Foreign Language Education: The Path to Global Citizenship

Health and Medicine Explanatory Topics

  • Genomic Medicine: Unfolding Genetic Mysteries
  • Epidemiology: Tracking Disease Patterns
  • Precision Medicine: Personalizing Treatments
  • Bioethics: Navigating Moral Dilemmas in Healthcare
  • Digital Health: Technology Meets Medicine
  • Pharmacogenomics: Genetic Influence on Drug Response
  • Healthcare Policy: Influences and Consequences
  • Mental Health: Unveiling Invisible Illnesses
  • Environmental Health: Linking Ecology and Well-Being
  • Medical Errors: Mitigating Unintended Consequences
  • Telemedicine: Remote Care Possibilities
  • Immunotherapy: A Revolutionary Approach to Cancer Treatment
  • Neuroscience: Unraveling the Mind’s Complexities
  • Aging and Geriatrics: Understanding Longevity
  • Pediatric Care: Tailoring Medicine for Children
  • Alternative Medicine: Beyond Conventional Practices
  • Chronic Illness Management: Improving Quality of Life
  • Global Health Disparities: Bridging the Gap
  • Health Informatics: Data-Driven Care

Science and Technology Explanatory Topics

  • Artificial Intelligence: Future Prospects
  • Quantum Computing: Beyond Binary Logic
  • Space Exploration: Mars and Beyond
  • Nanotechnology: Manipulating Matter on an Atomic Scale
  • Renewable Energy: Harnessing Sun, Wind, and Sea
  • Gene Editing: CRISPR and Its Applications
  • Virtual Reality: Immerging Experiences in Digital Domain
  • Climate Change Modeling: Predicting Environmental Future
  • Cybersecurity: Safeguarding Digital Assets
  • Data Science: Turning Information Into Insights
  • Biotechnology: Innovations in Medicine and Agriculture
  • Autonomous Vehicles: Redefining Transportation
  • 3D Printing: From Prototypes to Body Parts
  • Dark Matter and Dark Energy: Unseen Cosmic Forces
  • Internet of Things: Interconnecting Everyday Devices
  • Robotics: Automating the Future
  • Astrophysics: Probing the Universe’s Secrets
  • Deep Learning: Advanced Machine Learning Techniques
  • Sustainable Technology: Balancing Progress and Preservation

History and Culture Explanatory Essay Topics

  • Decoding Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs
  • Dance Forms: Expressions of Cultural Identity
  • Medieval Europe: Feudalism and Power Structures
  • Graffiti: Artistic Expression or Vandalism?
  • Silk Road: Trade, Culture, and Conflict
  • Famous Artists in the Renaissance Period
  • Architectural Marvels of Ancient Rome
  • Historical Influence of the Latin Language
  • Native American Culture: Traditions and Beliefs
  • French Revolution: Causes and Consequences
  • African American Music: From Blues to Hip Hop
  • Cultural Implications of the Japanese Tea Ceremony
  • History of European Colonization in Africa
  • Legacy of Greek Philosophy
  • Civil Rights Movement: Achievements and Aftermath
  • Harlem Renaissance: Influence on African American Literature
  • Significance of the Mayan Calendar
  • Indian Caste System: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
  • Mysteries of Bermuda Triangle

Politics and Government Explanatory Topics

  • Foreign Policies: An Examination of US-Sino Relations
  • Decentralization: Swiss Confederation Case Study
  • Analyzing Iran’s Theocratic Structure
  • Brexit: A Retrospective Analysis
  • Cuba’s Socialism: Key Determinants and Outcomes
  • Exploring the Phenomenon of Populism in Modern Politics
  • North Korea’s Political System: A Detailed Examination
  • Influence of Social Media on Political Campaigns
  • Analysis of the Israel-Palestine Conflict
  • India’s Political Landscape: A Study of Coalition Politics
  • Understanding Neoliberalism Through Chile’s Economic Transformation
  • Political Power Dynamics in the European Union
  • Russian Federation: The Politics of Autocracy
  • US Electoral College: Purpose and Criticisms
  • Political Stability: A Detailed Study of Singapore’s Government
  • Political Upheavals: A Case Study of Arab Spring
  • Understanding the Politics of South Africa Post-Apartheid
  • Feminism in Politics: A Study of Women’s Political Representation
  • Analyzing Political Corruption: The Case of Brazil

Explanatory Topics About Environmental Issues

  • Climate Change: Predictive Modelling of Future Scenarios
  • Decoding the Mystery of Coral Reef Bleaching
  • Plastic Pollution: Analyzing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
  • Urban Sprawl: Environmental Consequences and Sustainable Solutions
  • Endangered Species: A Close Look at Sumatran Tigers
  • Understanding Ocean Acidification and Its Consequences
  • Forest Conservation: Successful Strategies in Costa Rica
  • Melting Polar Ice Caps: Implications for Global Sea Levels
  • Hydraulic Fracturing: An Environmental Perspective
  • Deforestation in the Amazon: Causes and Consequences
  • Sustainable Agriculture: A Detailed Study of Permaculture
  • Biodiversity Loss: Unraveling the Sixth Mass Extinction
  • Sustainable Energy: The Prospects of Hydrogen Fuel
  • Air Quality: The Perils of Indoor Air Pollution
  • Waste Management: Innovative Solutions in Sweden
  • Freshwater Scarcity: Exploring Solutions in Arid Regions
  • Unsustainable Fishing Practices: A Case Study of the North Sea
  • Understanding the Environmental Impacts of Fast Fashion
  • E-Waste: Challenges and Opportunities in Recycling
  • Urban Green Spaces: Benefits and Implementation Strategies

Explanatory Essay Topics on Business and Economics

  • Blockchain Technology: Potential in Streamlining Supply Chains
  • Demystifying the Concept of Behavioral Economics
  • Cryptocurrency Market: Analyzing Trends and Predictions
  • Circular Economy: Probing the Possibility of Zero Waste
  • Startups: Unraveling the Success Story of Silicon Valley
  • Digital Marketing: Power of Social Media Platforms
  • Understanding Financial Crises: Lessons From the Great Depression
  • Globalization: Case Study on Multinational Corporations
  • Trade War: Evaluating the US-China Conflict
  • Inflation: Detailed Study of Hyperinflation in Zimbabwe
  • Income Inequality: Analyzing Global Disparity
  • Economic Growth: The Asian Tigers’ Phenomenon
  • E-Commerce: The Rise and Dominance of Amazon
  • Sustainable Businesses: Unpacking the Triple Bottom Line
  • Microfinance: Prospects in Poverty Alleviation
  • Understanding the Gig Economy: Uber as a Case Study
  • Market Monopolies: Implications in the Tech Industry
  • Corporate Social Responsibility: Unraveling the Case of Patagonia
  • Economic Impact of Climate Change: A Global Perspective
  • Green Economy: Probing the Growth of Renewable Energy Sector

Literature and Art Explanatory Topics

  • Unpacking Magical Realism: “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and Gabriel García Márquez’s Legacy
  • Gothic Literature: Edgar Allan Poe’s Influence and “The Fall of the House of Usher”
  • Narrative Structure in “Mrs. Dalloway”: An In-Depth Look at Stream of Consciousness
  • Surrealism in Art: Salvador Dali’s “The Persistence of Memory”
  • Postmodernism in Literature: Decoding Don DeLillo’s “White Noise”
  • Feminist Literature: An Examination of Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar”
  • Harlem Renaissance: Highlighting Zora Neale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God”
  • Transcendentalism in Literature: Understanding Thoreau’s “Walden”
  • Abstract Expressionism in Art: Analyzing Jackson Pollock’s “No. 5, 1948”
  • Symbolism in Literature: Deciphering Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
  • Modernism: Probing Into Virginia Woolf’s “To the Lighthouse”
  • Film Adaptation of Literature: Evaluating Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange”
  • Beat Generation Literature: Investigating Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road”
  • Dystopian Literature: Delving Into Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”
  • Romanticism in Literature: Unveiling the Themes in Wordsworth’s “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”
  • Expressionism in Art: Analyzing Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”
  • Metafiction: Understanding the Intricacies in Barth’s “Lost in the Funhouse”
  • Epic Poetry: Exploring the World of Homer’s “Iliad”
  • Graphic Novels: The Art and Narrative in “Maus” by Art Spiegelman

Explanatory Topics About Psychology and Sociology

  • Social Dynamics in Diverse Communities: An Analytical Approach
  • Exploring Human Behavior: Understanding the Psychology of Crime
  • Emotional Intelligence: A Comprehensive Review and Critique
  • Milgram’s Experiment: The Ethical Implications and Lessons Learned
  • Child Development: Language Acquisition in Early Childhood
  • Jungian Archetypes: Their Influence on Personality Development
  • Cognitive Dissonance: A Detailed Analysis
  • Intersectionality: Exploring Its Influence on Individual Identity
  • Psychoanalytic Theory: Revisiting Sigmund Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams
  • Bystander Effect: A Critical Examination in the Context of Modern Society
  • Nature Versus Nurture: The Enduring Debate in Personality Development
  • Cult Behavior: Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Collective Action
  • False Memories: A Deep Dive Into the Phenomenon and Its Implications
  • Stereotypes and Prejudice: Deconstructing Social Constructs
  • Gender Identity: A Comprehensive Look at Its Formation
  • Neuroplasticity: The Revolutionary Concept in Neuroscience
  • Attachment Theory: A Review of Its Role in Human Relationships
  • Operant Conditioning: A Critical Appraisal of B.F. Skinner’s Experiments
  • Cultural Norms: Their Influence on Social Behavior
  • Happiness: Exploring the Psychological and Sociological Aspects of Subjective Well-Being

Philosophy and Religion Explanatory Essay Topics

  • Analyzing Nietzsche’s Assertion of God’s Death: Implications for Modern Philosophy
  • Descartes and the Cartesian Doubt: An Explanatory Analysis
  • Eastern Philosophy: Unraveling the Concepts of Taoism
  • Kierkegaard’s Leap of Faith: An Existentialist Perspective
  • Just War Theory: An Evaluation in the Context of Modern Conflicts
  • Aristotle’s Metaphysics: Understanding the Doctrine of Hylomorphism
  • Reincarnation Concept in Hindu Philosophy: An In-Depth Analysis
  • Spinoza’s Pantheism: A Critical Examination of Divine Nature
  • Transcendentalism: Emerson and Thoreau’s Contributions to American Philosophy
  • Sufism: Understanding the Mystical Branch of Islam
  • Theodicy Problem: An Exploration of Evil in a World Created by an Omnipotent God
  • Buddhism: An Investigation Into the Four Noble Truths
  • Kantian Ethics: Exploring the Categorical Imperative
  • St. Thomas Aquinas’s Five Ways: Proving the Existence of God
  • Jain Philosophy: Non-Absolutism and Its Implications
  • Confucian Ethics: Analyzing the Doctrine of Reciprocity
  • Zoroastrianism: Tracing the Ancient Persian Religion and Its Impact
  • Stoicism: Its Relevance in Contemporary Life
  • Derrida’s Deconstruction: Challenging Traditional Philosophical Concepts

Sports and Leisure Activities Explanatory Topics

  • Judo Techniques: An Examination of Kuzushi and Tsukuri
  • Hiking as a Form of Mindfulness Practice: An In-Depth Study
  • Chess Strategies: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
  • Scuba Diving: Safety Protocols and Equipment Usage
  • Marathon Training: Essential Guidelines for Optimal Performance
  • Soccer Tactics: Analyzing the Tiki-Taka Style
  • Mountaineering: Necessary Skills for Conquering High Peaks
  • Origins of Basketball: A Detailed Study of James Naismith’s Invention
  • Tennis: A Study of Different Court Surfaces and Their Effects on Gameplay
  • Exploration of Surfing: Understanding Wave Selection and Riding Techniques
  • Archery: The Science Behind Precision and Accuracy
  • Yoga: Unraveling the Meaning and Purpose of Different Asanas
  • Cricket: Appreciating the Nuances of Spin Bowling
  • Kiteboarding: Techniques and Safety Measures
  • Pilates: Core Principles and Their Health Benefits
  • Badminton Footwork: The Key to Effective Game Play
  • Fishing: An Exploration of Different Techniques and Their Success Rates
  • Ballet: Understanding the Significance of Pointe Work
  • Table Tennis: The Importance of Spin in Gameplay
  • Equestrian Sports: The Art of Dressage Explained

Current Events and News Explanatory Topics

  • Dynamics of Hybrid Workplaces in the Post-Pandemic World
  • Cryptocurrency Regulations: Diverse Approaches Around the Globe
  • Migration Patterns Altered by Climate Change
  • Decoding China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Strategic Aims and Implications
  • Brexit: Detailed Examination of Long-Term Economic Consequences
  • Online Privacy: Discussing Data Protection Laws Across Different Jurisdictions
  • Vaccine Diplomacy: Covid-19 and Global Health Politics
  • Influence of Social Media on Contemporary Political Movements
  • Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Ethical Questions and Future Challenges
  • Emerging Trends in Renewable Energy Technologies
  • Global Plastic Waste Crisis: Potential Solutions and Challenges
  • Digital Currency: Understanding Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)
  • The Proliferation of Cybercrime in the Digital Age
  • Analysis of Refugee Crisis in the Mediterranean: Causes and Responses
  • Global Disparities in Covid-19 Vaccination Rates and Their Implications
  • Space Tourism: A New Frontier or a Futile Endeavour?
  • Decarbonization Strategies in the Global Shipping Industry
  • Gig Economy: Analyzing Workers’ Rights and Legal Frameworks
  • Global Rise of Right-Wing Populism: Causes and Consequences

Explanatory Essay Topics About Personal Experiences

  • Solo Travel Decoded: My Insights and Lessons
  • Living in a Non-English-Speaking Country: My Story of Overcoming Language Barriers
  • How I Coped With Loss: Personal Narratives and Healing
  • Living With a Chronic Illness: My Personal Experience
  • My Adoption Journey: Insights From an Adoptive Parent
  • Surviving Unemployment: My Personal Coping Strategies
  • My Struggle With Imposter Syndrome: A Personal Reflection
  • From Novice to Mastery: My Journey in Learning a New Skill
  • One Year in a Monastery: My Journey of Self-Discovery
  • Moving Across Continents: My Immigrant Experience
  • My Road to Recovery: Battling Addiction and Finding Sobriety
  • Parenting in a Digital Age: My Personal Experiences and Observations
  • Navigating the Loss of a Loved One: My Personal Experience With Grief
  • Transitioning to a Vegan Lifestyle: My Personal Journey and Lessons
  • Turning a Hobby Into a Business: My Personal Journey
  • Mid-Life Career Change: My Insights and Challenges
  • My Adult Friendship Experiences: Navigating the Dynamics
  • Resilience After Failure: My Personal Setbacks and Lessons
  • Entering the World of Self-Publishing: My Personal Journey and Advice
  • Adapting to the New Normal: My Experience With Remote Work

Explanatory Topics on Hobbies and Interests

  • Digital Photography: An Exploration of Techniques and Styles
  • Origins of Scrapbooking: A Creative Form of Personal History
  • Understanding the Basics of Stamp Collection
  • Insights Into the World of Amateur Astronomy
  • Gardening Techniques: A Look Into Sustainable Practices
  • Knitting Patterns: A Journey Through Textures and Designs
  • Home Brewing: A Guide to Crafting Your Own Beer
  • Origami Art: The Beauty of Paper Folding
  • Underwater Exploration: Basics of Scuba Diving
  • Vintage Car Restoration: The Allure and Techniques
  • Numismatics: Unraveling the History of Coin Collecting
  • Exploring Bird Watching: Species Identification and Habitats
  • Board Games: Strategy, Skill, and Luck
  • Cooking Techniques: Exploring Different Cuisines
  • Piano Playing: An Introduction to Techniques and Styles
  • Biking Trails: An Overview of Types and Safety Measures
  • Meditation Practices: A Journey Into Mindfulness
  • Pottery: A Look Into Clay Molding Techniques
  • Aquarium Setup: Understanding Fish Care and Aqua Scaping

Travel and Tourism Explanatory Topics

  • Cultural Nuances: Exploring World Customs Through Travel
  • Backpacking Through Europe: An In-Depth Overview
  • Understanding Ecotourism: Balancing Leisure and Sustainability
  • Tourism in Antarctica: A Unique and Fragile Frontier
  • Essentials of Planning a Cruise Holiday
  • Historic Sites in Egypt: A Journey to the Ancient World
  • Exploring Hospitality Traditions around the World
  • Intricacies of Wine Tourism in Bordeaux
  • Wildlife Safari Experience in African Countries
  • Culinary Tourism: A Taste of Global Cuisines
  • Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness: A New Dimension to Tourism
  • Camping Essentials: A Guide to Outdoor Adventures
  • Journey Through the Silk Road: Historical and Cultural Insights
  • Revealing the Mysteries of Dark Tourism
  • World’s Most Scenic Train Rides: A Traveler’s Perspective
  • Cultural Festivals: An Excursion Into Global Celebrations
  • Deep Dive Into Underwater Hotels: A New Trend in Tourism
  • Touring Space: The Future of Tourism?
  • Navigating the Grand Canyons: Geological Wonders and Tourism
  • Asia’s Hidden Gems: Lesser-Known Tourist Destinations

Explanatory Essay Topics for Food and Cooking

  • Understanding Food Pairings in Fine Dining
  • Sourdough Bread Making: A Detailed Overview
  • Culinary Traditions of the Mediterranean Diet
  • Journey through French Pastries: A Sweet Exploration
  • Demystifying Molecular Gastronomy: A Science or an Art?
  • Basics of Sushi Preparation: Japanese Culinary Art
  • Slow Cooking Techniques: Enhancing Flavor and Nutrition
  • Brewing Techniques: A Guide to Craft Beers
  • Barbecue Styles Around the World: Smoky Delights
  • Deconstructing Wine Tasting: Notes, Bouquet, and Terroir
  • Vegetarian Cuisine: Diverse and Nutrient-Rich Dishes
  • Exploring the Art of Making Artisan Cheese
  • Indian Spices and Their Culinary Uses
  • Culinary Innovations: Food Presentation and Plating Techniques
  • Understanding the Health Benefits of Fermented Foods
  • Italian Pasta Varieties: More Than Just Spaghetti
  • Unfolding the Mysteries of Truffle Hunting
  • Mexican Street Food: A Tour of Tacos, Tamales, and Tortas
  • Tea Cultures Around the World: Beyond the Cup
  • Baking Basics: From Simple Cookies to Elaborate Cakes

To Learn More, Read Relevant Articles

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Explanatory Essay Writing Guide for Novice and Established Writers

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An explanatory or expository essay is a typical assignment given to students pursuing different courses. When assigned one, you are expected to describe your opinion or point of view on something, a process to follow, an event that has occurred, or the ideas of another person without persuading your audience.

Explanatory Essay Guide for beginners

You explain pieces of information to make it easier for your readers to understand. To write one successfully, you need to know how an explanatory essay differs from other essays such as argumentative or persuasive essays.

In this guide, you will learn to write an explanatory essay, from choosing the topic to polishing the paper for submission. Our professional essay writing service can be your first resort if you are otherwise looking for someone who can reliably help you write an expository essay.

Definition of Explanatory Essay

Let?s set out our discussion by defining what an explanatory essay is. An explanatory essay is a formal piece of writing where you present a point of view on a given topic, scenario, phenomenon, event, or situation. To develop the view, you need to conduct in-depth research, logically reason, think critically, and present evidence, whether agreeing or refuting the expected idea. Its other name is an expository essay.

When writing an explanatory essay, it is not mandatory to agree with the point of view you are writing in your paper. Instead, your main aim is to offer an analysis of the topic at hand. Therefore, it is imperative to present arguments, claims, or information of other people in a manner that avoids bias.

You should be objective enough but avoid including any criticisms. You should also desist from persuading your readers while giving explanations. Your primary role is to explain what there is critically and let the readers draw their conclusions about what point of view suits their situation.

An explanatory essay shows the readers your view and gives an account of certain events or situations. You will likely be assigned an explanatory essay if you pursue journalism, English Language, composition, media studies, and history.

You must ensure that you present a neutral position or view on the topic and provide in-depth analysis backed by evidence from research. When you lucidly explain why things happened as they did, you have aced the explanatory essay. That way, your audience can understand your point of view, even if they do not side with you.

In short, explanatory essays present facts, statistics, examples, and information about situations, events, or phenomena without taking sides or persuading the readers to agree with your opinion.

Types of Explanatory Essays you?ll encounter in College and University

Let?s explore the different types of expository or exploratory essays you will most likely encounter in college, high school, or university.

Cause-and-Effect Essay

A cause-and-effect essay explains a situation that leads to a given consequence or set of consequences. For instance, not adhering to building standards could lead to the crumbling of houses. When writing this type of explanatory essay, you should strive to answer the question ?what was the reason for this cause and what are the consequences, repercussions, or outcomes.

You can organize the ideas by explaining the causes first, then the consequences last, or what is referred to as the block format. You can also write it in a chain pattern to explain each cause and its consequences. We have described this in our detailed cause-and-effect essay guide.

Some topics to consider include:

  • Causes and consequences of PTSD in children
  • Causes and effects of texting while driving
  • Cause and consequences of drought
  • Causes and consequences of global warming
  • Causes and effects of homelessness in New York
  • Cause and effect of smoking among teenagers
  • Causes and consequences of teenage pregnancies

Problem and solution Essay

A problem and solutions or problem-solutions essay entail exploring the problem or issue that affects the society and its corresponding keys. It involves developing appropriate, innovative, and plausible solutions to common social problems.

You can explore the problem from different lenses and brainstorm for appropriate solutions with no deficiencies.

Possible topics include:

  • How to end corruption in FIFA
  • Stopping animal abuse in America
  • How to end political wars
  • Solving water shortage in India
  • Solving global hunger
  • Addressing homelessness and poverty in America

Classification Essay

Another common type of explanatory essay is the classification essay. A classification essay explores different attributes of a subject then categorizes the subject- objects, people, scenarios, and phenomena depending on their characteristics into different classes or categories. While at it, you must explain the reasoning behind the classification. You must illustrate and explain points and ideas when writing a classification essay to attain authority and prowess when writing.

Potential classification topics:

  • Types of parenting
  • Types of drugs
  • Types of television programs
  • Types of vacation
  • Types of diets
  • Types of bosses
  • Types of leaders

How-to essays

How-to essays are the most common expository essay assignment. It entails writing the process or procedure of doing something. The aim is to provide readers with steps they ought to take to accomplish something.

Potential how-to essay topics include:

  • How to invest in Bitcoin
  • How to stay alert when studying
  • How to bake a banana cake
  • How to become an entrepreneur
  • How to join the army
  • How to drive a manual car
  • How to plan a trip

Compare and contrast essays

We bet you did not imagine that a compare and contrast essay is a type of explanatory essay. Well, now you know. The purpose of a compare and contrast essay is to lay out the similarities and differences between two ideas, phenomena, situations, places, people, periods, and things.

You can begin by writing the similarities than differences or alternate similarities and differences, just like the cause-and-effect essay.

Potential topics to consider:

  • Twitter vs. TikTok, which is better for education?
  • iPhone vs. Samsung phones
  • Men vs. Women
  • Tiger vs. Cheater
  • Renting vs. Owning a home, which is better?
  • RV camping vs. Glamping
  • Drunk vs. Distracted vs. Speeding Driver
  • Smartphones vs. Tablets
  • Blues, Jazz, and Hip-Hop, which is superior?
  • President vs. Queen

Definition Essay

The last common type of explanatory essay is the definition essay, which entails expounding, expanding, and defining complicated concepts to help the readers digest and internalize them better.

Potential definition essay topics:

  • What is glamping?
  • What is bike camping?
  • What is capitalism?
  • What is racism?
  • Define separationist
  • Define sleep paralysis
  • Define the circadian rhythm
  • Define superhero

Explanatory Essay Format

The explanatory paper follows the standard five-paragraph essay format like other formal essays. An explanatory essay should feature the introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and the concluding paragraph.

When assigned to write an exploratory essay, ensure that it follows the format for an academic essay:

  • Times New Roman font size 12
  • Double-spaced pages
  • One-inch margins all-round the paper
  • Separate cover/title page and the references page
  • Formatted in MLA, APA, or Harvard styles
  • Left aligned
  • Every paragraph should begin with an indentation of five spaces or one tab
  • Must have a title
  • Must have your credentials depending on the formatting style

Structure or Outline of Explanatory Essays

An explanatory essay describes an event, scenario, situation, or phenomenon by representing a point of view. To write an excellent explanatory essay, you must understand its structure or outline. Although this information might be repetitive, dedicating it to this section aims at ensuring everyone grasps the main components of an explanatory essay.

It is imperative to state that the length of the explanatory essay outline depends on the amount of information you want to present to your audience and your selected topic.

Just like many academic essays, it has the title page, introduction, body paragraph, conclusion, and reference pages .

The title page of an explanatory essay depends on the formatting style you are using.

For example, the APA title page will contain the title of your essay, your instructor?s name, course code and course name, institution?s name, and date of submission. The title comes three lines from the top margin (pressing enter three times), then you press enter twice or two lines and enter the rest of the details. All the details should be centered.

If you are writing the expository essay in MLA, you will include your name, course code and name, name of the instructor, and date of submission. You will then write and center the title of your explanatory essay before beginning the introduction paragraph on the next page.

Introduction

The three main components of the introduction of an explanatory essay include the hook statement, background information, and thesis statement. Sometimes you can have a sentence of two where you signpost the organization of ideas in your essay.

Body Paragraphs

The main body of an explanatory essay consists of at least three paragraphs that have a well-balanced word count. The body paragraphs comprise 80% of the total word count of your essay.

Each body paragraph focuses on one main point that supports the thesis statement. A complete body paragraph must have a topic statement, facts, evidence, examples, and a concluding sentence.

The claims in an explanatory essay present your point of view that supports the thesis statement. The evidence should be from scholarly resources you yielded during your research.

The concluding sentence should transition the paragraph to the next paragraph and summarize the idea in the paragraph about your thesis statement. Repeat the same until you are done with the body paragraphs.

An excellent way to conclude an explanatory essay is to restate the thesis to reinforce your opinion and draw the attention of the readers. You create a recall value for your markers as well.

The conclusion should also summarize the main points you covered in the main body. Explain and emphasize the main points to show how you have logically defended the thesis and your chosen point of view.

Lastly, offer your readers some call-to-action or conclusive statement that lets them ponder about your essay. You can inspire your readers to take action or think of an issue from a given perspective.

This is the last page of your essay. In MLA, it is called the ?Works Cited? page, while in APA and Harvard, it is the ?References? page.

On this page, arrange the references used in A-Z alphabetic order.

8 Steps for Writing a Perfect Explanatory Essay

Now that you can define, outline, and format an explanatory essay, it is plausible to look into the steps you can take when writing one to score the best grade.

1. Read the instructions

Like any other piece of essay assignment , writing an expository or explanatory essay begins with reading the instructions provided by the instructor. The instructions help you contextualize the paper, know the limit or scope, and understand what your instructor will focus on when marking your essay. As you read through the explanatory essay prompt, remember to take note of words such as analyze, explore, expound, define, synthesize as they define the lens or angle of analysis of your essay. You are writing an essay that explains different concepts to people so that they can understand them better. Therefore, the only way to engage your reader is to understand what is expected of you.? It does not matter whether you agree or disagree with a point of view; you need to provide information without bias.

2. Choose a suitable topic

Having known what is expected of you, you need to develop a neutral perspective, angle, or point of view in your explanatory essay. You are meant to explain or describe and not to persuade. The best way to do this is by choosing a neutral topic.

When picking an expository essay topic, ensure that it is not controversial. Instead, choose a neutral topic that will enable you to prevent facts without drawing criticisms. The topic is usually provided in some instances, or you are given a list to choose from. However, you have to develop the topic, get it approved, and proceed to the next steps in other cases.

Whichever way you arrive at your topic, you must brainstorm on it and only pick something interesting, appealing, and relevant to you and your studies. Narrow down your case to make it specific and targeted to an expository-oriented lens before evaluating the scope of the topic to determine if it can be explored further.

3. Do a preliminary research

After choosing the explanatory essay topic, your next step is to do preliminary research. During the preliminary research stage, your aim is to familiarize yourself with the topic, concepts related to it, and what others are saying or have written about it. Furthermore, you also get the chance to choose the best approach to begin your essay and develop a tentative thesis statement that is useful when outlining.

4. Develop a preliminary thesis statement

With the content of your research, craft a controlling idea for your explanatory essay. Having a solid thesis statement is mandatory for any essay that scores higher grades. It should be either one or two sentences at the end of your introductory paragraph telling your readers your main idea in the expository essay.

An effective expository essay thesis statement is focused, precise, debatable, and supportable. Ensure that you can support the essay using three body paragraphs of your essay. It is a preliminary thesis because you can tweak it when writing the body paragraphs.

5. Research in-depth

After coming up with the thesis, it is now time to research in-depth for facts, statistics, and evidence to support the thesis statement. As you gather the scholarly sources, ensure that you organize them based on the ideas they are supporting. Take notes and keep track of the sources. Your focus should be on any piece of information that can be used to back up your main arguments or claims in the expository essay.

6. Plan your paper

With the thesis done and research organized, you can proceed to the outlining phase. In this stage, write an outline for your paper. An outline is a sketch or skeleton of your paper. Outlining your ideas helps you begin your essay with the end in mind. You organize the thoughts so that there is flow from introduction to conclusion.

As you outline, each body paragraph should focus on its independent idea that supports the thesis and must be connected to other paragraphs using linking words . You will write the points you want to include in the introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs to have some logical flow in your essay.

7. Write your first draft

After outlining the last step of the pre-writing stage, you need to enter the writing stage. During the writing stage, focus on writing first and editing later.

Begin by writing the body paragraphs of your essay so that if you need to tweak the thesis, you can do so without changing the entire paper later. Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence that announces what the paragraph is about. It should be followed by a series of evidence that supports the topic sentence. End your paragraphs with a concluding sentence that wraps the paragraph and transitions it to the next paragraph.

The body paragraphs should validate your arguments using facts, examples, and evidence. Devote each paragraph to a separate idea but link them together for a better flow. Have enough evidential statements that justify your arguments and support your claims to strengthen your expository essay. Find the logical connection between the main ideas in a paragraph and your thesis statement. Finally, balance the word count of your essay paragraph to ensure that you are within the word count for your essay.

Once you are done with the body paragraphs, write the introduction paragraph . Begin your expository essay using an enticing hook statement . A hook or an attention grabber is ideal for starting an explanatory essay. You can use a shocking fact or statistic, rhetorical question, anecdote, a quote, metaphor, or anything that can lure your readers into reading your essay longer. The hook can be one or two sentences long and should precede the background information where you explain the significance of the topic. You can then signpost your ideas after writing the thesis statement to alert your readers on what to expect or how you have explained the thesis statement in your explanatory essay.

As a final step of the writing stage, wrap up your paper with a strong conclusion paragraph . A better way to end your expository essay is through writing a vivid conclusion that entices your professor or instructor. Rephrase and restate your thesis statement, write the summary of the major points in your essay, and close the essay using a powerful call to action or words to make your audience think more about the topic.

8. Revise and Proofread your essay

After the writing stage, you enter the post-writing stage, where you polish the essay. Remember when we said you focus on writing when writing the first draft? Well, that?s how it is done so that you can reserve the tedious editing and proofreading step for the last step.

It is best to take this step after taking some break from writing. Editing and proofreading with an objective mind yield an error-free paper. You can use tools such as Grammarly, ProWritingAid, Ginger, or Hemingway App to edit your work for grammar, syntax, and spelling.

Also, check that the in-text citations and the list of references or bibliography align with the formatting style recommended in the essay prompt. Check to determine that your cover/title page is written as per APA, MLA, or Harvard formats, depending on what your instructor wants. You should also check your arguments, flow of ideas, transition words, vocabulary, tenses, active and passive voice, and general format of the paper. Run the paper through a plagiarism checker to ensure that you turn in a plagiarism-free expository essay.

When everything about your paper is excellent, you can turn in the paper and wait for the grades.

10 Useful Tips when writing an explanatory essay

If you are writing an explanatory essay for the first time or after a series of failures, here are some valuable tips that successful students have used.

  • Use transitions in your essay. When writing, use effective linking words to ensure a good flow of ideas between words, sentences, and paragraphs.
  • Cite every borrowed idea as you write. You need to back up your ideas with evidence, examples, and facts from literature. When you do so, ensure that you acknowledge the sources through in-text citations to avoid plagiarism.
  • Take breaks when done with your first draft. After completing your first draft, take a break to develop an objective mind and resume editing and proofreading the paper. You can always hire someone to edit and proofread your essay for you in case it has gotten into your nerves, or you are just tired.
  • Polish your paper before submitting it. Before hitting the submit button, ensure that your essay flows and is grammatically correct. Your essay should be error-free and must answer the essay prompt. Follow the Rubric guide on editing your paper because it dictates the marks awarded and what factors the markers focus on.
  • Create a strong thesis statement. A strong thesis statement signals your readers about what to expect. Ensure your explanatory essay has an arguable, debatable, and precise thesis statement included in the introduction paragraph.
  • Organize your paragraphs well. Structure and organize the paragraphs of your explanatory essay to establish a good flow. Ensure that each paragraph is clear, coherent, and convent. Each body paragraph must have a topic sentence, supporting facts, and a concluding sentence. Link together the paragraphs using transition words and phrases.
  • Validate the arguments using examples and facts. Research widely and deeply to get facts, examples, illustrations, and evidence to support the main claims or the thesis of your essay.
  • Ask for clarifications early enough. When unsure about what to do, write an email to your professor clarifying the instructions, changing the essay topic, or asking for an opinion over your first draft. Do it early enough to avoid inconveniences.
  • Format your paper appropriately. Ensure that your essay is formatted as per the preferred formatting style. The in-text, cover/title pages and the references page should follow the format. Use APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard format as advised or preferred by your professor.
  • Keep within the word count. You can either do plus or minus 10% in any academic paper. However, sticking to the word count is always a good idea because, beyond the word count, the instructor ceases to be interested. Outline your paper early enough to know what falls where and the appropriate number of words to use.

130 Explanatory Essay Topics to consider

Below are some creative, innovative, and advanced topics you can consider when writing an explanatory essay. The list is not exhaustive; you can pretty much write about anything that comes to mind provided there is enough evidence and you have an interest in it.

Again, if you need someone to write your expository essay for you, you can always hire one of our professional essay writers. We have the best explanatory essay writers who can write your essay within the shortest turnaround time and desired quality.

  • How to spot a scam
  • What is your greatest fear?
  • Why do people make bad decisions?
  • Why do jails get full while criminals increase?
  • Is anyone above the law?
  • Why do the rich get richer?
  • How to make life interesting
  • How to have control over our lives
  • Idiots vs. Genius
  • Greatest fear for humans
  • How to mourn a parent
  • Happiest recollection of childhood
  • How to play soccer
  • Impacts of street graffiti
  • Consequences of having a tattoo
  • Advantages of eating healthy meals
  • Pros and cons of meditation
  • How to learn a second language faster
  • How to read a novel in under a week
  • Causes and consequences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombing
  • Causes and consequences of Ukrainian-Russian war
  • Impacts of depression among teenagers
  • Impacts of technology during the pandemic
  • Impacts of social media on youths
  • How social media affects productivity
  • Positive and negative impacts of air transport
  • Air vs. Train transport modes
  • Benefits of college education
  • Reasons to admire Angela Markel
  • Positive and negative effects of online education
  • Causes and consequences of nurse shortages
  • How to deal with bullying in school
  • How to save the planet from global warming
  • Causes and consequences of infidelity
  • Causes and consequences of divorce
  • Effects of music on our lives
  • How to write a concert report
  • How to launch a music career
  • Jazz vs. Blues music
  • Why people should go on vacations
  • Benefits of using solar energy
  • Causes and consequences of racism
  • How gun control laws affect American society
  • Benefits of learning abroad
  • How to overcome culture shock
  • Importance of being earnest
  • Blended learning vs. traditional classes
  • Causes of global warming
  • Consequences of dropping out of college
  • Causes and consequences of high inflation
  • Process of making electric music
  • Why people should never fight
  • How to study for music
  • Best places to study
  • How songs can help cope with depression
  • How to deal with the loss of a loved one
  • Major stressors in teenager?s lives
  • Why do many teens commit suicide?
  • How teens use social media to generate income
  • Why do teens do drugs?
  • Effects of marijuana on health
  • How to maintain a healthy weight
  • Types of eating disorders
  • How the environment influences our behavior
  • Different strategies to reintegrate veterans into society
  • How to successfully study when working
  • The best university in the world
  • Importance of free education
  • Impacts of gender imbalance on company performance
  • How diversity improves organizational performance
  • Link between boredom and trouble
  • Why the cost of college is going high?
  • Solutions to rising student loan debt
  • Impacts of decreasing the consent age
  • Impacts of reducing the alcohol drinking age
  • Consequences of drunk driving
  • Defining neuroanatomy
  • How to Invest in Bitcoin
  • Benefits of blockchain technology
  • The covid-19 pandemic
  • The great drought in china: causes and consequences
  • How to develop leadership skills
  • How to prevent social loafing in the workplace
  • Reasons to have four workdays instead of 5
  • Nursing as a noble profession
  • How to become a nurse
  • How to become a pilot
  • The most successful president on earth
  • Importance of good sleep
  • Helicopter parenting
  • Types of parenting styles
  • Types of bikes for kids
  • Why paying taxes is good
  • Why gun control is a great idea
  • Exploring sky burial practices
  • How to become culturally competent
  • Solving the digital divide in the society
  • The most reliable approach to disciplining kids
  • How to eradicate discrimination
  • Why do dogs make better pets?
  • Strategies to attain financial literacy
  • Why youths should be taught financial literacy skills
  • Consequences of postpartum depression among women
  • Benefits of paternal leave
  • Best places to visit
  • How to solve a puzzle
  • How to develop good habits
  • What makes a great friend?
  • How music affects our moods
  • Consequences of sleep deprivation
  • Describe a dream home
  • Define happiness
  • How can the global community achieve peace?
  • The person you admire the most
  • Qualities of a good nurse
  • Process of becoming a nun
  • Your favorite teacher
  • Esports vs. Sports
  • Impacts of sibling rivalry on growth
  • Forms of cyberbullying
  • How to combat financial fraud
  • How to curb human trafficking
  • A perfect society
  • Benefits of professional organizations
  • Living vs. existing
  • What makes someone generous?
  • A perfect wedding you attended
  • How to process a crime scene
  • Role of social workers in society

Final Remarks

To write an excellent explanatory essay, you must select a neutral topic, research it, plan, write the first draft, polish the draft, and submit your final draft. In this comprehensive explanatory essay guide, we have explained everything that should set you up for success.

Remember, you should take a neutral point of view while writing on your selected topic because this is not your regular argumentative or persuasive essay. The goal of an explanatory essay is to clearly explain why things are the way they are or the way things happened the way they did. You should choose that pone angle and discuss it, so your readers are informed or knowledgeable in the end.

We have explored the correct format for this type of essay and suggested some topic ideas for your explanatory essay. We wish you the best of luck as you follow the steps we have outlined in this guide.

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The Subtle Art of Writing an Explanatory Essay

21 July, 2020

10 minutes read

Author:  Richard Pircher

When writing an explanatory essay, you may have many questions connected with this paper type. You might wonder how to craft it, structure it, represent your thoughts, and many more. But the main question will refer to the paper type you’re working on. And the first thing you have to remember is that it’s not a persuasive essay. In this paper, you only have to describe some event or subject and explain its major aspects and importance to a reader.

Explanatory Essay

Our article contains exhaustive information on writing explanatory essays. Also, we’ve written the tips that will help you craft an excellent paper. So, keep on reading for more details.

how to write an explanatory essay

What Is an Explanatory Essay?

Before you start writing your task, it’s necessary to find out what is an explanatory essay. Without a clear understanding of this paper type, it’s impossible to craft a brilliant paper and get excellent grades. An explanatory essay is a work in which you present a point of view on some subject and describe its main features, importance, or simply answer questions, “ Why? ” and “ How? ”

This paper type requires you to research, analyze facts, and explain the opinion of other people. Of course, you’ll have your thoughts concerning the subject, but you’ll have to avoid sharing them in your essay. The writer’s opinion remains neutral, and it doesn’t matter if you agree or disagree with the topic. Your goal is to help a reader understand the problem or subject by explaining details.

When crafting an essay, you can also add statistics and examples to become the guide leading the audience through the topic. The analysis of the subject and facts you’ve found during the research will help readers understand why and how things have happened. People don’t have to agree with the information from your article – they will only have to find answers to questions concerning the topic.

6 Types of an explanatory essay

Now that you know the definition of an explanatory essay, it’s necessary to learn its major types. We’ve prepared the list that will help you cope with a task correctly. Here are 6 explanatory essay types you need to know:

  • Compare and contrast. This essay type requires you to describe differences and similarities between subjects, events, people, etc.
  • Definition. This essay type is written to explain the idea, term, or subject.
  • Classification. When crafting this essay type, you have to divide the characteristics of a subject or idea by groups and explain their features in detail.
  • Cause and effect. It’s necessary to describe the situation that has happened and the event it’s caused.
  • How-to. The explanation of this paper type  is in its name – you have to explain how to do something or how things  work.
  • Problem and solution. This type of essay  requires a writer to research, analyze, and evaluate a problem. It’s also necessary to provide suggestions on its solution.

How to Start an Explanatory Essay?

How to write an explanatory essay? If you haven’t ever crafted this paper, this question will disturb you most of all. Before you start writing an explanatory essay, it’s necessary to take a few preparatory steps. Comprehensive research, fact-checking, and analysis are the most important stages of task completion. When exploring the topic, write down all the relevant details because you’ll use them in your article.

topics for explanatory essays

Keep in mind that this essay should only contain facts and a few of your thoughts – it’s a perfect combination that will allow you to describe things without persuasion. You’ll have to find several credible resources to come up with truthful information. And our recommendations will help you craft an excellent paper:

  • If a professor allows you to pick a topic, pick the neutral yet interesting one. For example, you can explain why people should learn more than two languages or how students can improve their writing skills.
  • Look for credible sources. You can use Wikipedia, JSTOR, or Google Scholar to find the necessary information. Besides, the door of the college library is always open for students.
  • Note essential details and quotes because you’ll use some of them in your paper.
  • Create an outline.
  • After researching the topic, collecting information, and writing an outline, it’s necessary to create a thesis statement. The latter explains what this topic is about. A thesis statement consists of one sentence and thoroughly describes a major idea of your essay.
  • Check the data you’re planning to use and start writing an essay.

Explanatory Essay Outline

The best way to organize your thoughts and the collected details you’re planning to describe in your essay is to design an outline. It’s basically a summary of a paper and it will only contain major ideas and arguments. Typically, an explanatory essay outline has the following structure:

1) Introduction. This section is a combination of three important ingredients – it should contain a hook, a short explanation of the topic, and a thesis statement. At this stage, a writer engages the reader by adding a relevant quote, joke, fact, or question concerning the subject. A few sentences are enough for the introduction section.

2) Body text. The optimal size of this section is 3 paragraphs. However, it will depend on the complexity of your explanatory essay and the professor’s requirements. Start a new paragraph if you want to describe another thought. Write a topic sentence to explain the main idea of every section. Support your thoughts by adding the facts you’ve found. They will develop the reader’s confidence in the trustworthiness of your statements.

3) Conclusion. In this section, you have to mention your thesis statement again, summarize the information from your essay, and highlight the topic’s value. Finish a paper with a call to action to motivate readers to research the subject in the future.

Explanatory Essay Examples

Here are some online explanatory essay examples:

  • http://www2.hawaii.edu/~davink/EXPOSITORY/Homesweet.html
  • http://www2.hawaii.edu/~davink/EXPOSITORY/Housereturn.html

Useful Tips for Successful Explanatory Essay

Since writing an explanatory essay may be challenging, it’s necessary to start with preparation and research. We’ve created some tips on crafting an expository paper to help you impress your professor. Follow our guide to come up with an excellent essay:

1. Pick an understandable topic

If a professor allows you to choose explanatory essay topics, it’s better to focus on subjects that are easy to write about. There’s a thing called the “ writer’s block ” which doesn’t let you craft any sentence. You can’t find the necessary words, and writing turns into the impossible mission. Sometimes a complicated topic is a problem that causes the writer’s block. That’s why you have to pick it carefully. It should be neutral yet interesting to you. Here  are a few examples of topics you can select:

  • Why does everyone need friends?
  • How to choose a career that is right for you?
  • How do technologies shape your life?
  • Why do Chinese people respect the symbol of the Dragon so much?
  • What are the main stressors in students’ lives?

2. Conduct comprehensive research

It’s necessary to dedicate some time to research, fact-checking, and data analysis to come up with an excellent explanatory essay. Pick reputable resources to avoid providing misinformation. Write down all the relevant details and return to them later to choose the most important ones.

3. Craft an outline

An outline is a brief model of your future paper that will help you organize your ideas. As we’ve mentioned, it will consist of three sections, including an introduction, body text, and a conclusion. Divide your outline by sections, and you’ll see how many paragraphs your piece will have. A traditional explanatory essay format is a paper with 5 paragraphs. They include an introduction and conclusion. The body section usually has 3 paragraphs. However, a number of sections will depend on the complexity of a topic and the professor’s requirements.

4. Check your essay

After you’ve written an explanatory essay, it’s necessary to check it for grammar mistakes, punctuation errors, and miswording. We recommend you to read the text aloud to make sure it sounds natural. And you can use online tools like Grammarly and Thesaurus to improve your writing.

Write an Excellent Explanatory Essay with HandmadeWriting

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When crafting an explanatory essay, follow such fundamental rules as picking an understandable topic, researching, using credible sources, writing an outline, and revising your paper. Hiring a professional writer from HandmadeWriting is another way to get an excellent writing piece done. So, choose the solution that works best for you and hurry up to improve your scores.

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65 Explanatory Essay Topics

Any essay writing meant to define, explain, compare, or present is usually deemed an explanatory essay.

Most commonly an assignment in journalism, history, and civics courses, these essays provide an insight into how something works, how it came to be, its effects on a population/person who created it, or its function and purpose.

There are several different types of explanatory essays that can be written, but the most common include:

  • biographical
  • journalistic
  • instructional/how-to
  • personal experience
  • political analysis
  • product analysis
  • social guidance

Each type of explanatory essay is employed to answer a specific question about these topics related to a person, event, or situation.

Is Writing an Explanatory Essay Hard?

Writing an explanatory essay may or may not be difficult for students depending on their ability to:

  • come up with a neutral topic
  • research and gather relevant information and facts
  • outline thesis and examples into a logical format
  • stay unbiased in the writing

If a student has strong research and writing skills, then writing an explanatory essay may be somewhat easier. However, it may be more challenging for students who struggle with these skills to complete this type of assignment.

Regardless of ability level, students need to take the time to plan and organize their thoughts before beginning the writing process. This will help ensure a more successful outcome.

How to Write an Explanatory Essay?

When writing an explanatory essay, many students struggle with the first most crucial step, coming up with a topic. Fortunately, this article concludes with a list of 65 explanatory essay topics perfect for any level of writing ability or grade.

But before students jump to the bottom to check out the list of explanatory essay topics, it’s important to understand how to write an explanatory essay so that they know how to approach their topic and research.

When it comes to explanatory essays, students need to ask three key questions:

  • What is the best way for me to learn about this?
  • What information or facts should I gather or find?
  • How do I structure my explanations and examples into a logical essay format?

Often, asking these questions allows students to more effectively come up with a topic suited to their abilities and interests.

Once a topic is selected, it’s time for students to research their essay. Students should look to history or current news sources for factual information and statistics for topics that deal with people, events, or devices.

To make writing an explanatory essay easier, it’s recommended to choose topics that are non-fiction or can easily be backed up with facts or resources. This is because the overall tone of an explanatory essay should be unbiased and neutral – not a representation of the writer’s personal thoughts or feelings.

Once the research is complete, it’s time for students to start organizing their thoughts and information into a logical format. This is usually done by creating an outline that has three major sections: introduction, body, and conclusion.

The introduction should introduce the topic of the essay with an interesting hook statement such as:

“In the early 1900s, people who wanted to travel from Europe to America would have to board a ship and endure an extremely long journey.”

The hook statement draws readers in by explaining the main topic. After the hook statement, students should include a brief bit of background information on the main topic and define any key terms the reader should know. Continuing the example from above:

“Today, the process of traveling from Europe to America is much easier and can be done in a matter of hours. However, this was not always the case.”

This background information will help set up the rest of the essay by explaining why it is important or relevant to the topic at hand.

After introducing the topic and providing relevant background information, the student should lay out the essay’s thesis statement or overall point. Continuing with the current example, a good thesis statement would be:

“The process of traveling from Europe to America has dramatically changed over the years due to technological advances.”

This thesis statement states the essay’s main point and will be further developed in the body paragraphs.

The body of the explanatory essay is where students will provide detailed explanations and examples to support their thesis statement. Each paragraph should have one main point that is explained and supported with evidence.

The conclusion of the essay should summarize the main points that have been made and leave the reader with a final thought on the topic.

By following this structure while writing an explanatory essay, students can ensure that they can stay on topic and provide the information required in an unbiased, neutral, and informative way.

Any of the following 65 explanatory essay topics will be instrumental in helping students craft a well-written and informative explanatory essay.

Explanatory Essay Topics About History

  • What was the cause of the American Civil War?
  • What were the effects of the Black Plague on medieval Europe?
  • How did Ancient Greece influence western civilization?
  • What was the fall of the Roman Empire like?
  • What caused World War II?
  • How has terrorism changed over the years?
  • What caused the Cold War?
  • What is the impact of the Industrial Revolution?
  • How did the fall of the Berlin wall impact European governments?
  • Why was the Treaty of Versaille so important for its time?
  • What was the significance of The Great Depression in America?
  • How did World War I impact European countries?
  • What is the role of the United Nations today, and how has it changed over time?
  • How did human rights policies change after World War II?

Explanatory Essay Topics About Science

  • What is the difference between a galaxy and a universe?
  • How does the human brain work?
  • What is an element?
  • What are the three states of matter?
  • What does photosynthesis do for plants?
  • How do earthquakes happen?
  • What are black holes?
  • Why do we have seasons?
  • What is the difference between a meteor and an asteroid?
  • How does light travel from one place to another?
  • Why do humans need sleep?
  • How do fireworks operate?
  • What causes tsunamis?
  • What are four ways to treat illness or disease in the body?

Explanatory Essay Topics About Literature

  • What is the difference between a protagonist and an antagonist?
  • What is the difference between a fiction and a non-fiction text?
  • How does point of view affect a story?
  • What are the different types of literary devices?
  • How does symbolism create meaning in a text?
  • What is the difference between a monologue and a dialogue?
  • How does the setting impact a story?
  • What is the difference between plot and theme?
  • How does genre affect a story?
  • What is a literary device?
  • How does character development occur in literature?

Explanatory Essay Topics About Technology

  • How did social media change the way we communicate?
  • What are the benefits and drawbacks of new technology?
  • How has the Internet changed the way we live our lives?
  • What is the future of technology?
  • How will artificial intelligence impact the world?
  • What are the effects of technology on children?
  • What are five ways that technology can help the environment?
  • How has social media changed politics?
  • How has social media impacted local news stations?
  • Why should students learn how to code?
  • How did video games change over the years?
  • What are the effects of technology on our mental health?

Explanatory Essay Topics About Everyday Life

  • What is the best way to clean a swimming pool?
  • What are the three best recipes when cooking for one person?
  • What does it mean to be a successful student?
  • How can people save money when grocery shopping?
  • What is the best way to pack for a trip?
  • How can people stay healthy during the winter?
  • What is the best way to study for exams?
  • Why is it important to volunteer in your community?
  • How can people reduce their stress levels?
  • What are the best ways to stay organized?
  • How can people make time for themselves?
  • What is the best way to develop a budget?
  • How can people build good credit over time?
  • What are the three benefits of exercising regularly?

With these topics, any student can research and craft a well-informed explanatory essay that will earn them a good grade.

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7+ Explanatory Essay Examples That Get the Best Grades

7+ Explanatory Essay Examples That Get the Best Grades

Table of contents

explanatory essay prompts

Meredith Sell

Writing explanatory essays is hard, even for experienced scholars.

In this post, I want to try to tackle the major challenges students face when writing this type of essay, using examples of successful essays. These challenges include:

  • Struggling to come up with the right idea . (solution:  brainstorming techniques )
  • Difficulty in organizing the essay. (solution: working on the outline of the essay)
  • Not having enough evidence or sources to back up points. (solution: doing proper research )
  • Failing to come up with a conclusion. (solution: following our guide to conclusions )
  • Not having enough knowledge of the topic. (solution: summarizing key articles on the topic)
  • Having trouble finding the right words. (solution: writing with Wordtune )
  • Not having enough time to finish the essay. (solution: working on student time management )
  • Not being able to present arguments effectively. (solution: learning essay persuasion techniques )

As you can see, for every issue there is the relevant solution, but it takes time to implement it. Another way of tackling this essay is to see other people's essay examples and getting inspiration from them.

Write your explanatory essay faster with this FREE AI tool > Write your explanatory essay faster with this FREE AI tool >

Explanatory essay generator

What Is an Explanatory Essay?

What Is an Explanatory Essay?

If you google “explanatory essay”, you’ll find a bunch of sites saying that an explanatory essay is the same as an expository essay, or that it’s totally different, or not even mentioning that expository essays exist. Who’s right?

Answer: Whoever your professor agrees with.

No, seriously. Your professor decides the parameters of your assignment. So if your professor defines an explanatory essay as one that describes a perspective or analyzes the efficacy of, for example, a local housing policy—that’s the definition you should work from.

But if your professor distinguishes between explanatory essays (which simply explain what something is and how it works or was developed) and expository essays (which expose the reality of a person, place, thing, or idea through investigation and evaluation), you should distinguish between them as well.

For the purposes of this piece, we’re going to use explanatory and expository interchangeably. The dividing line that some draw between these essay types is unnecessarily technical. What’s important is that both:

  • Use an objective perspective
  • Let the facts speak for themselves

As long as your essay does the same (and includes analysis if required by your professor), you should be in good shape.

Example of explanatory essay

We wrote a whole article on generating essay topic ideas , but here is a good example that can help you get an idea for your own essay:

Why is having a dog as a pet such a wonderful experience?

Dogs are one of the most popular pets in the world. They are beloved companions that bring joy and happiness into the lives of their owners. Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years and have evolved to become the perfect pet for humans. In this essay, I will explain why having a dog as a pet is a wonderful experience.

One of the primary benefits of having a dog as a pet is the companionship they offer. Dogs are social animals that thrive on human interaction. They are loyal and loving creatures that are always there for their owners. Dogs can help alleviate feelings of loneliness and depression, and provide comfort and support during difficult times.

Another benefit of having a dog as a pet is the health benefits they offer. Studies have shown that owning a dog can help lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve overall health. Dogs require daily exercise, which encourages their owners to be more active and can lead to a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, having a dog can boost the immune system and reduce the risk of allergies and asthma in children.

Dogs are also great for families with children. They can help teach children about responsibility, compassion, and empathy. Children can learn to care for and nurture their pets, which can be beneficial for their emotional development. Dogs are also great playmates for children and can provide hours of entertainment and fun.

Training and caring for a dog can also be a rewarding experience. Dogs can be trained to perform a variety of tasks, such as fetching, obedience, and even therapy work. The process of training a dog can help strengthen the bond between the owner and the dog and can be a fulfilling experience. Additionally, caring for a dog requires daily attention and can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment for the owner.

In conclusion, having a dog as a pet can be a wonderful experience. Dogs offer companionship, health benefits, and can be great for families with children. Caring for a dog can also be a rewarding experience and can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment for the owner. Owning a dog is a big responsibility, but the rewards far outweigh the effort required.

Example of an explanatory paragraph, generated with AI:

explanatory essay prompts

A few subtypes of explanatory essays:

Description or definition essay example

‍ Perhaps the most basic, this subtype does the deceptively simple work of, well, describing or defining a concept, place, person, etc.

Example: How Suspension Bridges Work

This essay explains: The way suspension bridges are constructed and how their design enables them to carry such immense weight.

Cause-and-effect essay example

This type of essay hones in on a particular phenomenon to show what caused it (i.e., where it came from) and how it influences other things.

Example: How Federally Funded Highways Transformed the United States

This essay explains: The history of federally funded highways in the U.S., when federal programs to fund highway construction started, why politicians and others thought highways were important, and what the effect has been on the landscapes, communities, economies, and ecosystems of the country.

Compare-and-contrast essay example

Take two or more things, gather the facts about them, and then write about their similarities and differences.

Example: Hybrid vs. Electric Cars

This essay explains: The various features of hybrid and electric cars, and shows how they are either different or similar in terms of: cost, energy consumption, size, drive time, ease of use, and so on.

‍ How-to essay example

Walk your reader step-by-step through a procedure so they can do it for themselves. (We’re doing this later!)

Example: How to Prepare for an Intercontinental Bike Trip

This essay explains: How to get ready for a bike trip between nations and continents. Readers learn how to research their route, find out what travel documents they need, choose the right gear, and determine how much training they should do before leaving.

Problem and solution essay example

Explain a problem (along with its causes and effects) and then describe one or more potential solutions to that problem. This subtype could also be combined with compare-and-contrast to determine the most effective solution.

Example: How Bike Infrastructure Could Solve American Obesity

This essay explains: How American reliance on motorized vehicles promotes a sedentary lifestyle that drives obesity, whereas building bike lanes and trails could encourage Americans to be more active and improve their health one pedal at a time.

‍ Chronology essay example

Explain the history or backstory of a person, place, thing, or idea in chronological order.

Example: The Evolution of the Bicycle

This essay explains: The initial invention of the bicycle and how its shape, frame, and size changed over the years.

What type of explanatory essay are you writing? Hopefully, this list helped you hone in. Now, let’s start the writing process.

5 Steps to Write Your Essay

Whether you’re writing an explanatory/expository essay or a persuasive essay, the process of researching and writing is pretty much the same. Both genres require research, organization, and thought . But with expository essays, the thought focuses on making sure you understand your topic inside-out and determining the best way to explain it, while with persuasive essays, you’re focused on crafting a convincing argument.

Follow these steps to turn that blank page into a final manuscript:

1. Choose topic and angle. 

Do you have free rein to write about the topic of your choice? Make the most of it.

In college, my public speaking professor let us choose all of our own speech topics. A classmate gave an explanatory presentation on how to survive the zombie apocalypse . She brought props and had the class totally enchanted. Our professor encouraged creativity, so I’m sure she earned a winning grade—and had fun in the process.

You can’t use props or sound in a written essay, but you can still work some creative magic. That magic starts with choosing your topic and angle.

To choose well, first make sure you understand the assignment: 

  • What exactly has your professor asked you to write? Which of the subtypes should your piece be?
  • Are there any parameters for what type of topic you can write about?
  • What kind of class is this? An English composition class will offer more freedom than, say, a history class focused on the French Revolution.

If you’re allowed to write about anything, brainstorm a list of topics you’re curious about. Then think of smaller topics within that area.

Example: Transportation

  • Electric cars
  • The highway system
  • Engineering

Any of these topics you could easily write volumes about, so next, narrow down to your specific angle. One way I like to come up with angles is to think of how two or three different topics intersect.

Example 1: electric cars + the highway system 

Angle: How Much Will It Cost to Update Federal Highways with Charging Stations for Electric Cars

Notice that this angle includes a third element: cost

Example 2: bicycles + bridges

Angle: The Safest Bridges for Bicycles Have One Thing in Common: No Cars

Third element: safety

Example 3: electric cars + buses

Angle: Electric Cars vs. Buses: Which Is Better for the Environment?

Third element: environment

Your turn: Make a list of topics you’re interested in. Then, identify some intersecting topics. Based on your assignment parameters, develop an angle that narrows your focus to an intersection that interests you.

Not sure what angle to go with? Do some broad research on your topics and then return to this step.

2. Research, research, research.

Explanatory essays require solid research. These essays exist to lay out the facts for the reader so they can clearly understand the topic. Your opinion—what you think about electric cars or suspension bridges or transportation infrastructure—doesn’t matter. And it doesn’t belong here.

Where you should start your research depends on how much knowledge you already have.

If you’re writing about suspension bridges and you already know the Brooklyn Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge are suspension bridges, you probably don’t need to start with the encyclopedic entry for “suspension bridges”. But if you don’t know the basic facts about your topic, encyclopedias are a great place to start.

Thanks to the advances of technology—and this marvelous thing called the internet—you don’t have to go to a research library to gain that ground-level knowledge of your topic. But you do still need to make sure you’re drawing from credible sources.

For encyclopedias, try these to start:

  • Encyclopedia.com

Dictionaries can be helpful too:

  • Merriam-Webster
  • Dictionary.com

Once you know your topics’ basic facts, focus on researching those topics in the context of your angle . It may help to make a list of questions you’re trying to answer so you can keep your research focused.

Example: Electric Cars vs. Buses: Which Is Better for the Environment?

  • Are most buses gas-powered or electric?
  • What’s the average emissions of greenhouse gas from gas-powered buses?
  • How much energy do electric cars use? What’s the lifespan of their batteries? Are they just using electricity that was produced in a polluting way somewhere else? What about electric buses?
  • How many people can ride a bus? How many people typically are transported by one car? 
  • What would be the average energy consumption per person in an electric car versus a bus?

Once you know the questions you need to answer, look for sources that address those questions. For an academic essay, you’ll probably want to stick with academic sources : peer-reviewed studies and research papers published by academic journals. But official government databases can also be useful. And news stories from reputable publications can provide some direction as well (check with your professor to see whether or not you can use news publications as sources for your essay). Your educational institution likely provides access to all of these kinds of sources through the university library.

Your turn: Think through your angle and make a list of questions your piece needs to answer. Next, start searching academic databases for the information you need. Take notes as you research, and be sure to save any links, titles, author names, page numbers, and publication information you’ll need to properly cite your sources.

3. Outline your essay.

Call me crazy, but I actually think this is the fun part. I hated writing outlines when I was in school, but since making my living as a professional writer, they’ve become the #1 way I beat writer’s block.

First: Throw out the idea that your outline should be a series of bullet points neatly organized into sections and subsections. Your outline only needs to make sense to you , so play around to find an approach that works with your brain. The idea here is simply to make a map you’ll follow when you sit down to write.

Here’s what I do:

  • Identify the specific hook I’m going to use to start things off.
  • List the different examples and details I need to include.
  • Use the main focus or idea of my piece to order everything in a natural, logical way.

A lot of times, my outline becomes a combination of bullet points and sentences or paragraphs I write as I’m sketching out the piece. I’m basically just thinking the piece through, from beginning to end. Instead of getting stuck while I’m writing, I work through the tough spots in the outlining stage.

This is what my outline looked like for this piece:

explanatory essay prompts

Okay, that’s kind of long, so I cut it off early—but you get the point. 

A lot of times, my outline starts as bare-bones bullets. As I work on it, ideas pop up that I stick in where they make sense. But when I write, those elements might move around ( notice how the examples of transportation essays got bumped up to the section on subtypes of essays ).

Your outline is just a guide. It’s not an architect’s blueprint that needs to be followed to the exact millimeter. There’s room for things to change. 

But an outline keeps you on-track when you’re writing . If you find yourself stuck (or lost) in the writing step, reference your map. You might need to backtrack, move what you’ve written around, or adjust your route. 

Your turn: Take a few minutes and sketch out your essay. Where does it start? What points does it hit? Are there any ways you see the different points connecting that should inform how you order them? As you think it through, scribble out any lines or paragraphs that come to you and stick them in the outline where they make the most sense. Even if you don’t use these exact words later, they’ll help prevent that deer-in-the-headlights stare that hits when you see a blank page.

Time to put everything together! 

With your outline and research ready, start your intro and set up your piece. Your opening should briefly introduce your readers to the topic(s) you’re writing about and the questions you’re going to answer—but don’t give everything away. You want to stir up readers’ curiosity and give them a reason to keep reading.

Depending on the length of your essay, your intro may be one to three paragraphs long (longer pieces get longer intros). But it should be concise and to the point, and smoothly transition into the body of your essay.

The body is the meat and potatoes of your piece. Answer those questions, flesh out your explanation, and give readers a thorough understanding of your topic. Show off your research! Include those bizarre and fascinating facts you learned along the way. Use a tasteful metaphor or compelling anecdote to explain some of the more difficult aspects of your topic. 

As you write, be sure to follow a consistent logic throughout your piece: 

  • If you’re detailing a history or an event, use chronological order: start at the beginning and write about the events in the order that they happened.
  • Are you explaining how a machine or other invention works? Start with where the movement starts—the pedals of a bicycle, the wind turning the turbines—or with the feature doing the most significant work (e.g., the wires of the suspension bridge). 
  • Other logics include: size (small to large, large to small), significance (greatest to least), or space (left to right, right to left, outside to center, center to outside).

You don’t need to label everything you write about as the “next biggest” or “least significant”, but sticking to a logic helps your readers orient themselves—and helps you determine which paragraph or subtopic should go where. This way, your thoughts clearly flow from one paragraph to the next. 

‍ Quick note: If you can’t name the logic that’s guiding your piece, don’t worry. As long as your paragraphs naturally follow each other and all questions raised in the intro are answered by the end, your essay probably follows a logic just fine. But if you feel like your piece bounces around willy-nilly, play with a couple different logics and see if one smoothly orders your sentences and paragraphs.

Your turn: Get writing! If you’re stuck on the intro, try writing a working title for your piece to focus your attention. Then, follow your outline to work all the way from the beginning to a conclusion that sums everything up.

If you can, let your piece sit for at least a day. Then, for the editing process , open up that document and read through with these questions in mind:

  • Does the essay fulfill the assignment? Review the assignment description from your professor. Does your essay tick all the boxes? If not, what’s missing? Can you weave that element into what you’ve already written? Revise as necessary.
  • Are the sentences and paragraphs ordered in a way that makes logical sense? If your essay feels clunky in places, you might have switched logics (as explained above) or you might need to insert some more explanation that clearly ties the sentences or paragraphs together. Make sure your essay doesn’t just list facts, but also shows how they relate to each other.
  • Does the hook catch your eye? The beginning of your piece should grab your reader’s attention. Check out our advice for prize-winning hooks here .
  • Does the conclusion effectively sum things up? Instead of repeating everything your essay says, your conclusion should briefly distill the main takeaway or core idea for your reader. It should show that you’ve fulfilled the promise made in your intro, without being unnecessarily repetitive or redundant.
  • Have you cited all your sources? Make sure to cross this off before hitting “submit.” Follow the citation style specified by your professor.
  • Is spelling and grammar clean and correct? You are writing, after all, and these things matter. A bonus tip to help you catch those sneaky typos: Read your piece backwards. You might be surprised what you spot.

Did We Explain That Well Enough?

This blog was basically a long, non-academic explanatory essay, so hopefully, you’ve learned something new and are feeling less overwhelmed about your essay on medieval literature, transportation infrastructure, Persian history—or whatever you’re writing about.

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30 Great Explanatory Essay Topics

Explanatory Essay Topics

Explanatory essays are one of the most common essay types students are asked to write. Teachers and students may find it hard at first to come up with interesting topics for explanatory essays, and so we have put together this list of explanatory essay topics for students to write about. First, let’s take a look at what exactly an explanatory essay is.

An Explanatory essay is a type of essay in which the author explains a topic, event, or situation in detail and presents a point of view on the subject. This point of view can be based on the author’s own opinion, or from a different point of view as long as the reasons behind it at explained.

Now that you know what an explanatory essay is, here are some great topics for an explanatory essay. If this is the first time your students are writing this type of essay, you may want to provide them with an explanatory essay example to help them understand the style and format of this kind of essay.

30 Great Explanatory Essay Topics For Students

  • What is the most exciting sport to watch? Write an explanatory essay explaining why you feel that way.
  • Do you think kids and teenagers should be allowed access to social media ? Provide at least 3 reasons to support your answer.
  • What’s the best meal or snack you can make at home? Explain step by step how to make it.
  • What do you think is the most important rule to follow at school and why?
  • Write an explanatory essay about a tradition or holiday that you do not celebrate.
  • Which animals make the best pets? Write an essay explaining why you feel that way.
  • What an explanatory essay about an event that had a big impact on your life.
  • What is the most helpful piece of technology you own? Write an explanatory essay explaining why you think it is the most useful.
  • Who is the most influential person in your country? Write an explanatory essay explaining why you think they are so influential.
  • What does it mean to be ‘responsible’? How does being responsible change with age?
  • What is ‘cyberbullying’, and what are some things you and your peers can do to prevent cyberbullying.
  • What are the main differences between your generation and your parents’ generation?
  • Write about a 21st-century invention or innovation that has significantly changed how we live our lives.
  • Everyone is different! What makes you unique?
  • What does it mean to be a good friend? Write at least three qualities a good friend should have.
  • If you could build your dream home, what would it be like?
  • Name one thing you are really good at. Write an explanatory essay explaining how you would teach this skill to others.
  • What’s more important, being rich or being happy? Provide three reasons why you feel the way you do.
  • Do you think the school lunch in your school is good? Write an explanatory essay explaining why you like or dislike your school lunch.
  • Has the rise of social media had a positive or negative effect on society? Provide at least three reasons why you feel this way?
  • What’s the best sandwich you’ve ever had? Write an essay explaining the ingredients and how to make the perfect sandwich.
  • Should children and teenagers be allowed to play computer games? Write an explanatory essay justifying your answer.
  • What does freedom mean to you?
  • Do you think big tech companies have too much power? Write an explanatory essay justifying your answer.
  • Should advertisers be allowed to target children in their ads? Write an essay explaining and justifying your answer.
  • What job would you like to do in the future? Write an explanatory essay detailing a typical day at the position you chose.
  • What important issues would you address if you were the president? Explain why these issues are important to you.
  • Write an essay explaining the plot of your favorite book or movie and why you like it so much.
  • Which season do you like the most? Write an explanatory essay explaining what it is like at that time of year and why you like it.
  • What would you do if you couldn’t use your cellphone for a week? How would your typical day be different?

Explanatory Essay Topics

Download And Print

Download and print these Explanatory Essay Topics.

As you can see, there are lots of interesting explanatory essay topics students can write about. No matter which topic students choose, be sure to let them know the more they write the more they will improve and enjoy writing. Be sure you go, make sure to check out the related writing resources below for many more topic ideas.

Related Writing Resources

Argumentative Writing Topics Adventure Writing Prompts Writing Prompts For Writing About Yourself

explanatory essay topics

Explanatory Essay Writing Guide

explanatory essay prompts

Before writing any type of assignment, you must understand its definition. For example, students who need to write an argumentative essay should understand its purpose, format, and how it differs from other kinds of papers. The following approach can be applied to any other type of academic writing, including an explanatory essay.

In this article, our write my essay for me service professionals will try to explain what an explanatory essay is, its primary goal, and key features. Even though many people think that there is nothing more simple than writing an explanatory essay, for most students, it can still be a challenge to distinguish explanatory paper from other types of essays.

If you study for example in one of the best colleges for astrophysics need to write an explanatory essay, we highly recommend you read this article till the end. Guidelines outlined in our manual will help you gain new knowledge and enhance your writing skills. Designing explanatory essay will become an easy task for you once you put recommendations from our professional paper writing service into practice.

What is an Explanatory Essay?

An explanatory essay is a type of academic paper in which the author presents some point of view or opinion on a particular topic, subject, event or situation. It’s worth noting that explanatory essay is also known as expository essay. 

When completing this kind of assignment you shouldn’t necessarily agree with the point of view you are writing about. Your goal is to report a certain event or situation and offer an analysis of a given subject. Try to present information or arguments of other people impartially. It’s also essential that you do not include any form of criticism in your explanatory essay. You shouldn’t argue or persuade while giving explanations. Let readers make their conclusions rather than persuading them to agree or disagree with the given point of view.

Explanatory essay is all about presenting a neutral view on the set topic by providing analysis from research. Its primary goal is to present a lucid explanation as to why things happened the way they did. After reading your essay, the audience should have a clear understanding of your point of view, even if they don’t pick your side.

Usually, the author of the explanatory essay decides upon a set topic and then approaches the issue from a specific angle. In most cases, this angle is complicated and gives room for discussion. The author presents a point of view of his or her choice that fairly explains why a certain outcome was reached.

Explanatory Essay Topics

In most cases, explanatory essay topics are pre-assigned to students by their teachers or college professors. For instance, you can be asked to explain how your brain works or outline the events that led to the 2008 financial crisis.

explanatory essay

If you are asked to select the essay topic by yourself, remember that explanatory papers are based on facts. That’s why our custom essay writing professionals recommend that you choose a neutral topic that can be easily explained. The idea here is that the more controversial the topic, the more points of view you will need to explore in your essay, making it more complicated and time-consuming. Fortunately, we can explain almost everything as long as it falls within the parameters of the given assignment. Here are a couple of explanatory essay topics created by our paper topic generator you can choose from:

Beginner Explanatory Essay Topics

  • Describe the day you came to school for the first time. How did it make you feel?
  • What qualities do you believe make someone a good friend?
  • Explain what makes dogs the best pet for a person.
  • Who is your favorite superhero or movie/book character? Why?
  • Describe your dream home.
  • Who is that person you admire and look up to the most?
  • Define what happiness means to you.
  • Who is your favorite teacher?
  • Tell what kind of food you love most and explain why you love it.
  • What kind of job do you think will suit you the most?

Intermediate Explanatory Essay Topics

  • What is the best lesson that parents can teach their kids?
  • Describe your favorite kind of sport.
  • What unique traditions does your family have?
  • Tell about something you are really good at and could teach it to others.
  • Does the word “responsibility” mean the same thing for adults and children?
  • Describe what you believe makes a person truly rich.
  • What is your favorite place on the planet?
  • Explain how someone you know (a friend, teacher, parent) helped you become a better person.
  • What is the school subject you enjoy the most?
  • Describe how having a sibling can affect one’s personality.

Advanced Explanatory Essay Topics

  • Explain one of the forms of cyberbullying and suggest ways to address it.
  • Do you believe animals can really feel your fear?
  • Describe a moral dilemma you have faced. How did you handle it?
  • Do you believe in UFOs and aliens? Explain your point of view.
  • Explain how your personality has changed as you were growing up.
  • How can we measure happiness?
  • Define your generation. What makes it different from other generations?
  • Explain how you understand the universe.
  • How do you imagine your perfect future?
  • Describe your first work experience ever. What did it teach you, and how did you handle it?

College Level Explanatory Essay Topics

  • Define the positive and harmful effects the Internet has on a human personality and life.
  • What real-life lessons do you wish you’d learn 5 years ago?
  • Tell about someone who has authority in your eyes and explain why.
  • Do you think expressing the whole spectrum of emotions is better than suppressing them?
  • Explain what experience was the most life-changing for you.
  • How to cope with financial difficulties?
  • Explain the benefits of social networks for modern students.
  • What makes a person generous?
  • Describe the technological advancement that took place over the last decade.
  • Define what difference you see between “living” and “existing”.

explanatory essay prompts

Explanatory Essay Format

The typical format for an explanatory paper is the traditional 5-paragraph essay. Usually, this includes an introduction, three body paragraphs (limited to one subtopic each), and a conclusion. This is a basic essay format. 

Keep in mind that the explanatory writing doesn’t need to be limited to five paragraphs — you can make it longer. No matter how many paragraphs you decide to include in your essay, be sure that your introduction includes a powerful thesis statement. Also, double-check if the paper is based on facts rather than personal opinion. Last but not least: make sure to connect paragraphs with transitions. 

Explanatory Essay Outline

In simple terms, an explanatory essay outline is a plan for your explanatory paper. Usually, it varies based on the length of the topic and the information the author is trying to present. The goal of the outline is to organize the main points into paragraphs — it offers a so-called framework of how to write an explanatory essay. As it was mentioned in the paragraph above, most explanatory essays follow the basic essay structure. They consist of:

  • Introduction;
  • Body paragraphs;
  • Conclusion.

Most explanatory essays tend to be a page or two in length. That's why the overall essay is usually around 5 paragraphs long. Remember that your introduction should present the topic to the audience. Also, it’s vital that you incorporate the thesis statement in the last paragraph. After you are done with it, try to develop the body paragraphs with the information detailed in the thesis statement. Finally, include a conclusion that summarizes your essay's key points after the restatement of the thesis. As you can see, creating an explanatory essay outline is not that difficult as it may seem at first glance. And now let’s dig deeper into the definition of the explanatory essay thesis.

Thesis Statement

When talking about a thesis statement, most people usually mean one or two sentences that summarize the main idea of their academic paper and clearly express what it is they are going to say about the given topic. Overall, your thesis statement identifies what topic will be discussed and the purpose of your essay. As the explanatory essay is tailored to explain or acquaint your readers with something, the goal of the explanatory thesis is to tell readers what it is you are going to explain and what aspects of the topic will be considered.

Introduction

Before you start writing your explanatory essay, there are some crucial tips to follow. The first recommendation is to carry out proper research and data collection. Explanatory essay authors should ensure that the information in their writing is a blend of personal views and ideas acquired from external sources. Explanatory essay relies heavily on solid research, focus on finding external sources that will supplement your personal opinion. Note down all the important information from those sources and use them as evidence in your essay. So, the first thing you should do is find multiple trusted sources that defend your thoughts. We suggest you look to online journals, historical dictionaries, or find relevant books in your college library to use them as trusted sources.

After collecting all the needed information, the next step is to develop a clear explanatory thesis. A concise thesis will make it easier for readers to understand the essence of the topic from a summarized point of view. In other words, explain what you will be showing to your audience. Be neutral — you are not arguing or criticizing, just stating facts. Remember, you are not supposed to take any side as that causes a loss in the outlook of an explanatory essay.

Another recommendation is to choose a neutral topic you'd like to explain. If your teacher or professor didn’t give you a specific topic, select the one that will be understandable for you. Just choose such a topic that is in line with your assignment.

Once you’ve chosen a suitable topic, it’s time to draft an outline of your explanatory essay. The best option here is to stick to five paragraphs that were mentioned above: draft an introduction, three main body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The outline helps students ensure that they follow a logical pattern to detail all their trains of thought. After completing all of the above steps - review your material and start writing your explanatory paper.

Each explanatory paper should start with an introduction. Try to capture your audience’s attention. No matter how you decide to do that - it may be a quote, rhetorical question, catchy motto, or anecdote. Feel free to improvise and use your imagination. Picking a hook thesis statement is also important. After presenting a thesis statement, include any necessary information that gives a background of the topic. The last sentence of your introduction should integrate a thesis statement to give a preview of the content in the body paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs

No matter how many paragraphs you decide to include in your explanatory essay, they all should follow a similar style. They all should be in-line with each other and maintain a certain flow in the paragraphs. Within each paragraph, you are to include a claim that is linked to the thesis statement. This way, it will be easier to connect all the points.

Try to support your claims with evidence from external sources. Make your readers feel confident about the information you present to them. Don’t forget to integrate a concluding statement that offers a summary of the claim's significance. Concluding statement should go along with the thesis statement. In simple terms, all body paragraphs in your explanatory paper should follow this format.

Conclusion Of Explanatory Essay

The explanatory essay must have a proper conclusion. When finishing your explanatory paper, follow these recommendations:

  • Restate your thesis. This way you will bring your readers’ attention back to the main point as well as add strength to your presented point of view.
  • Summarize your supporting points presented in each of the body paragraphs accordingly. Restate the importance of each one. This way you will logically defend your explanatory thesis.
  • Provide an overall concluding statement. In other words, explain the value of the particular point of view chosen from a global perspective. Your goal here is to captivate your readers to study the subject further on. 

How to Write an Explanatory Essay - Writing Tips

Some useful tips will help you write an excellent explanatory essay. Here are some of the most powerful ones:

explanatory tips

Take advantage of transitions and linking words

While connecting all your body paragraphs, use transition words and sentences. They will make your explanatory paper flow more smoothly. Some of the words you can use to connect your sentences are: 

  • For instance;
  • In comparison;
  • Firstly, secondly, thirdly;
  • On the other hand;
  • In conclusion, to summarise.

Cite your sources

This one is an absolute requirement when writing an explanatory essay. You better try hard in this area. A successful explanatory essay will be factual and contain verifiable information. Cite your sources and make it easy for the audience to check where you drew your facts. 

Revise your essay

After completing your explanatory paper, it’s always a good tip to revise it a couple of times. To make your revision phase more effective we advise you to answer the following questions:

  • Does the essay give an objective analysis that unfolds logically? Did I use relevant facts and examples in your essay?
  • Has the information in my paper been communicated to the audience? Is the word choice precise?
  • Did I use transitions and linking words in the essay to help the reader’s understanding?
  • Does the concluding paragraph communicate the value and meaning of the thesis statement and supporting ideas?

Edit your essay

Double-check your paper for different of mistakes and typos. When proofreading your paper, make sure that nobody distracts you. It would be perfect if you revise and proofread your essay in silence. If you notice any kinds of errors - edit your paper to improve both style and clarity. Even though your essay should be clear and concise, also think on how to make it engaging and lively as well.

Share your essay with a close person

Showing your essay to your parent, friend or other readers can be both useful and exciting. They can give you their opinion on what should be changed. They can also notice some grammar or punctual mistakes you missed while writing the essay. Overall, it always good to use the feedback to make your essay even better.

Explanatory Essay Example

Read the following essay sample to understand this type of essay better. If you need more examples, don’t hesitate to buy essay samples from our website.

What are the benefits of social networks for modern students?

According to the World Health Organization, people spend around 6 years and 8 months on various social media in their lifetime. These numbers are both impressive and terrifying. Given that the average lifespan across the world is 72 years, in 2020, the time spent on social networks makes up almost 10% of our entire life. And these figures keep changing and hitting higher points every year. Unsurprisingly, students are the largest group of active social network users. There always have been plenty of controversies concerning this matter. But, there is a belief that social media can actually have quite a few benefits for them.

One of the most obvious benefits of social media is that it keeps people connected. Clearly, many modern students are using these channels to make connections and communicate with their peers. Also, though it may not sound like too big of a deal, it can have a very positive effect on their lives in college. A recent study has shown that social media can play an integral role in the process of adjustment to college. The research found that student-centered networks can provide first-year students with so-needed support and help them adapt to the new environment faster, easier, and more effectively.

Another benefit of social networks for students is that such channels can boost students’ overall literacy and reading skills. Various literacy studies confirm that the general level of literacy and reading skills among younger generations is dropping. The biggest issue behind that is the fact that young people almost never pick up a book when they are outside of the class. They are just no longer interested in books as they make them bored. However, this does not mean that students don’t read at all. In fact, they do. It’s just that they are more inclined to read the information provided in smaller chunks and, preferably, containing some eye-catching animations, videos, or images. In other words, they are much more interested in reading publications on blogs, websites, and, of course, social networks. Keeping all that in mind, it shouldn’t surprise you that, according to the National Literacy Trust, social networks really can (and already do) help modern students enhance their reading skills and overall literacy.

Finally, the last significant benefit of social media is the accessibility of education. Such channels have provided us with plenty of opportunities for distance learning. The global quarantine has shown us that the effectiveness of distance learning can equal the effectiveness of traditional learning. But only if we integrate the right tools in the process. Among such tools are various social network channels. Numerous researches have found that social media can bring extra value in terms of education. It enables students to search for information, collaborate, and stay engaged and motivated through the learning process. Also, such channels make education more accessible. They can have a practical use in creating the right conditions for efficient distance learning. At the same time, they also streamline both learning and teaching processes and help deliver better results.

Based on what has been discussed earlier, we can conclude that social networks do have a number of weighty benefits for modern students. Such channels encourage continuous learning, create new opportunities for distance learning, boost students’ levels of literacy and skills, and also serve as great tools for communication and support. We can’t deny the fact that social media is invading our lives at a rapid pace, so the only thing we can do is to adapt to this and start making the most of it.

We hope we managed to explain how to write a great explanatory essay. Now you know how this type of academic paper differs from other essays and what writing style and topic to choose when preparing such kind of assignment.

We sincerely hope that the tips outlined in our guide will help you enhance your writing and get better grades. However, if you have difficulties with completing this kind of assignment, our team of professional writers is always ready to help you draft a top-notch explanatory essay from scratch. All you need to do is order an essay you need. In addition to helping you create a great informative essay , we can also help you with other types of assignments, such as coursework, dissertation writing, or research paper. If you experience any kind of difficulties writing an explanatory essay — welcome to our first-class service!

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  • 26 Responding to Explanatory Prompts

explanatory essay prompts

Start-Up Activity

Put this explanatory prompt on the whiteboard:

In an essay, explain how do to something. Be sure to include the important steps.

Then give students 5 minutes to plan their writing. They should quickly analyze the prompt, create a focus statement, and list the steps. After 5 minutes, see how well they completed these tasks. Assure them that this chapter teaches strategies to help them do all of these tasks.

Think About It

“Writing comes more easily if you have something to say.”

—Sholem Asch

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.2
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.4
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.2
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.4
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.A
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.B
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.E
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.A
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.B
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.E
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.5
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.10
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.5
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.10

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

Lafs.4.ri.1.1, lafs.4.ri.1.2, lafs.4.w.1.2, lafs.4.w.2.4, lafs.5.ri.1.1, lafs.5.ri.1.2, lafs.5.w.1.2, lafs.5.w.2.4, lafs.4.w.2.5, lafs.4.w.4.10, lafs.5.w.2.5, lafs.5.w.4.10, teks covered in this chapter, 110.6.b.9.d, 110.6.b.9.d.i, 110.6.b.11.b, 110.6.b.12.b, 110.6.b.11.a, 110.7.b.9.d, 110.7.b.7.d, 110.7.b.12.b, 110.7.b.11.a, 110.6.b.11.b.i, 110.6.b.11.b.ii, 110.7.b.11.b.i, 110.7.b.11.b.ii, 110.6.b.11.c, 110.6.b.11.d, 110.7.b.11.c, 110.7.b.11.d, page 190 from writers express, writing to an explanatory prompt.

Use this page to teach the PAST strategy for analyzing prompts. PAST is an acronym of P urpose, A udience, S ubject, and T ype. This strategy helps your students quickly analyze any writing prompt, making sure they understand it and create an on-target response.

Analyzing Writing Prompts

Practice studying the parts of a test prompt.

Photo of a blue exam book

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Page 191 from Writers Express

Sample explanatory prompt.

Use this page to help your students understand what an explanatory prompt might look like and how they can analyze it. Have them cover the PAST box on the right and try to identify the P urpose, A udience, S ubject, and T ype in the prompt. Then have them uncover the box and check their thinking.

Afterward, have student volunteers read the explanatory response aloud, one paragraph at a time. Then discuss the side notes.

Page 192 from Writers Express

Sample Explanatory Response (Continued)

Page 193 from

Prewriting: planning your response.

Use this page to help your students gain quick strategies for timed explanatory writing: finding a focus, listing and arranging details, and managing time. Advise your students to use a compacted version of the writing process. They should spend about 5 minutes up front in prewriting, most of their time writing the response, and about 5-10 minutes afterward revising and editing it.

Forming a Focus

Help students write strong focus statements.

illustration of squirrel looking through a telescope

Page 194 from Writers Express

Writing, revising, editing, and proofreading.

Remind your students that they need to develop an effective beginning, middle, and ending . Download and distribute the explanatory essay revising checklist to help students know what to look for during the revising step.

After you finish reviewing the compacted writing process for timed writing, give your students practice by having them analyze and respond to the following explanatory prompt.

In every household, different people have different responsibilities. Some people do the shopping. Some do the cleaning. Some do the homework. How are responsibilities split up in your household? Who does what? Write an explanatory essay that names the main responsibilities and explains who does them. Make sure to include specific details so that your classmates understand how things get done at your house.

File

Page 195 from Writers Express

Responding review.

After students complete their practice explanatory assessment writing, review their experience, using this page as a guide. Ask your students what part was easiest for them. Ask them what part was hardest. Decide whether you need to provide students more help with the harder parts.

  • 01 A Basic Writing Guide
  • 02 Understanding the Writing Process
  • 03 One Writer's Process
  • 04 Qualities of Writing
  • 05 Selecting and Collecting
  • 06 Focusing and Organizing
  • 07 Writing and Revising
  • 09 Publishing
  • 10 Writing Basic Sentences
  • 11 Combining Sentences
  • 12 Writing Paragraphs
  • 13 Understanding Writing Terms and Techniques
  • 14 Understanding Text Structures
  • 15 Writing in Journals
  • 16 Using Learning Logs
  • 17 Writing Emails and Blogs
  • 18 Writing Personal Narratives
  • 19 Writing Fantasies
  • 20 Writing Realistic Stories
  • 21 Writing Stories from History
  • 22 Responding to Narrative Prompts
  • 23 Writing Explanatory Essays
  • 24 Writing Process Essays
  • 25 Writing Comparison-Contrast Essays
  • 27 Writing Persuasive Essays
  • 28 Writing Persuasive Letters
  • 29 Writing Problem-Solution Essays
  • 30 Responding to Persuasive Prompts
  • 31 Writing Book Reviews
  • 32 Writing About Literature
  • 33 Responding to Literature Prompts
  • 34 Writing Reports
  • 35 Writing Research Reports
  • 36 Writing Summaries
  • 37 Writing Plays
  • 38 Writing Poems
  • 39 Communicating Online
  • 40 Researching Online
  • 41 Staying Safe Online
  • 42 Reading Strategies for Fiction
  • 43 Reading Strategies for Nonfiction
  • 44 Reading Graphics
  • 45 Building Vocabulary Skills
  • 46 Becoming a Better Speller
  • 47 Giving Speeches
  • 48 Improving Viewing Skills
  • 49 Improving Listening Skills
  • 50 Using Graphic Organizers
  • 51 Thinking and Writing
  • 52 Thinking Clearly
  • 53 Thinking Creatively
  • 54 Completing Assignments
  • 55 Working in Groups
  • 56 Taking Tests
  • 57 Taking Good Notes
  • 58 Marking Punctuation
  • 59 Editing for Mechanics
  • 60 Check Your Spelling
  • 61 Using the Right Word
  • 62 Understanding Sentences
  • 63 Understanding Our Language

Common App announces 2024–2025 Common App essay prompts

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We are happy to announce that the Common App essay prompts will remain the same for 2024–2025.

Our decision to keep these prompts unchanged is supported by past research showing that overall satisfaction with the prompts exceeded 95% across our constituent groups - students, counselors, advisors, teachers, and member colleges. Moving forward, we want to learn more about who is choosing certain prompts to see if there are any noteworthy differences among student populations and incorporate feedback into future decisions.

While some schools are beginning discussions with juniors and transfer students about college options, it's important to clarify that this doesn't mean students need to start writing their essays right away. By releasing the prompts early, we hope to give students ample time for reflection and brainstorming. As you guide students with their planning, feel free to use our Common App Ready essay writing resource, available in both English and Spanish .

For students who wish to start exploring the application process, creating a Common App account before August 1 ensures that all their responses, including their personal essays, will be retained through account rollover .

Below is the full set of essay prompts for 2024–2025.

  • Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
  • The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
  • Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
  • Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
  • Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
  • Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
  • Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

We will retain the optional community disruption question within the Writing section. Over the next year, we'll consult with our member, counselor, and student advisory committees to ensure we gather diverse perspectives and make informed decisions.

News and updates

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Washington State University applications surge with help from Common App

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COMMENTS

  1. 220+ Explanatory Essay Topics for Excellent Writing

    Explanatory topics refer to research titles that enlighten or explain any confusing situation or information. In other words, topics for an explanatory essay mainly focus on investigating and expounding ideas, evaluating all evidence provided, and forming and defining clear thesis statements. Unlike descriptive writing style, explanatory essays ...

  2. 22 Explanatory Writing Prompts » JournalBuddies.com

    22 Explanatory Writing Topics & Prompt Ideas for Students. One of the best ways to improve a student's ability to write thoroughly and effectively is to introduce the concept of explanatory writing. Wonderfully, you'll soon discover some great topics and prompts to use with your writers or for yourself. Yes!

  3. 21 Explanatory Essay Topics for Students » JournalBuddies.com

    One of the most common essay types is the explanatory essay. An explanatory essay is a piece of writing that explains a topic in further detail. Now… A student could write an opinion-based explanatory essay, in which they write about their own opinion about a topic and explain the reasoning behind it. A student also may write an explanatory ...

  4. 15 Engaging Explanatory Writing Prompts

    When you want your students to practice explanatory writing, present them with one or more of the following prompts, grouped by difficulty. You can also introduce students to the PAST strategy to help them understand what each explanatory prompt is asking them to do. Beginning Explanatory Prompts (Grades 4-5) The following explanatory prompts are meant for students who are moving from ...

  5. How to Write an Explanatory Essay: Topics, Outline, Example

    For example, you might organize your essay on the benefits of mindfulness meditation by discussing its effects on mental health, physical health, and productivity. Provide clear explanations: When writing an explanatory article, it's important to explain complex concepts clearly and concisely. Use simple language and avoid technical jargon.

  6. How to Write an Explanatory Essay: Topics, Outline, Example

    To write a five-paragraph explanatory essay, you must create an introduction that introduces the main topic and states the thesis, three body paragraphs to support the thesis, and a concluding paragraph to wrap up the points made in the essay. The tone should be formal throughout, with clear connections to the reader.

  7. Explanatory Essay Topics for Students

    Health Related Explanatory Essay Topics. Well-being covers a broad range of subjects. Some general topics for school students include mental or personal health and healthcare. You might also write an explanatory essay on more specific topics. These include less talked about health issues such as eating disorders, schizophrenia, and autism.

  8. 468 Explanatory Essay Topics & Good Ideas

    Explanatory essay topics delve into complex subjects, dissecting them to expose underlying components for better understanding. These themes may range from scientific phenomena, social issues, and technological advancements to historical events. The goal is to clarify obscure aspects, spotlighting how individual elements interact within a ...

  9. How to Write an Expository Essay

    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.

  10. Explanatory Essay Guide with tips, 130 topic ideas, and Examples

    130 Explanatory Essay Topics to consider. Below are some creative, innovative, and advanced topics you can consider when writing an explanatory essay. The list is not exhaustive; you can pretty much write about anything that comes to mind provided there is enough evidence and you have an interest in it.

  11. How to Write an Explanatory Essay

    Follow our guide to come up with an excellent essay: 1. Pick an understandable topic. If a professor allows you to choose explanatory essay topics, it's better to focus on subjects that are easy to write about. There's a thing called the " writer's block " which doesn't let you craft any sentence.

  12. Explanatory Writing Prompts

    Explanatory Writing Prompts. Instructor Adam Nystrom. Adam owns a Master's degree in Professional and Digital Media Writing. During his time as a graduate assistant, he developed lesson plans for ...

  13. Expository Writing Prompts: 30 Writing Prompts for School and College

    These topics require a bit more research and test the writer's expository writing skills. They are best used for high school students, although secondary students in advanced writing classes can also benefit from them. 1. There is a strong parent-led campaign in your city to curb down on homework assignments given to students.

  14. How to Write an Explanatory Essay

    Begin an explanatory essay with a sentence that defines the topic. Next, write a sentence that includes background information about the subject. Write another sentence with the main idea of the essay. Following that, provide reasons why the reader should care about the topic. To complete your essay, write a conclusion sentence that briefly ...

  15. 65 Explanatory Essay Topics

    Continuing with the current example, a good thesis statement would be: "The process of traveling from Europe to America has dramatically changed over the years due to technological advances.". This thesis statement states the essay's main point and will be further developed in the body paragraphs. The body of the explanatory essay is ...

  16. 7+ Explanatory Essay Examples That Get the Best Grades

    A few subtypes of explanatory essays: Description or definition essay example ‍Perhaps the most basic, this subtype does the deceptively simple work of, well, describing or defining a concept, place, person, etc. Example: How Suspension Bridges Work This essay explains: The way suspension bridges are constructed and how their design enables them to carry such immense weight.

  17. 30 Great Explanatory Essay Topics

    30 Great Explanatory Essay Topics. Writing Topics. Explanatory essays are one of the most common essay types students are asked to write. Teachers and students may find it hard at first to come up with interesting topics for explanatory essays, and so we have put together this list of explanatory essay topics for students to write about.

  18. How to Write Explanatory Essay: Example Guide and Tips

    Even if the prompt doesn't say directly that this is an explanatory essay, you can easily deduce that from the cue words, such as "explain," "define," "compare," "explore," and ...

  19. 22 Writing Explanatory Essays

    The Type of writing is an explanatory essay. Then lead students through the topic-selection strategies. Point them also to pages 44-45 for more topic ideas. Afterward, download and distribute the KWL Chart to help students reflect on their prior knowledge of the topic and organize questions for research.

  20. Explanatory Essay Writing Guide

    Explanatory Essay Topics. In most cases, explanatory essay topics are pre-assigned to students by their teachers or college professors. For instance, you can be asked to explain how your brain works or outline the events that led to the 2008 financial crisis.

  21. 51 Great Explanatory Writing Prompts

    Using these prompts, learners will practice clearly explaining a topic. They may even need to do research and organize their thoughts. Following is a collection of explanatory writing prompts that students may use to sharpen their writing skills. Explanatory Writing Prompts. 1. Write the characteristics of the four seasons. 2.

  22. Blog postal: 15 Engaging Explanatory Writing Prompts

    When you want your students to practice explanatory writing, present yours equipped one or more of the following prompts, grouped by difficulty. You can also intro students to the BY strategy to helped them understand what each explanatory query lives asks them to do. Beginning Expository Prompts (Grades 4-5) The ensuing explanatory ask are means for learners who are moving from paragraph ...

  23. 26 Responding to Explanatory Prompts

    Start-Up Activity. Put this explanatory prompt on the whiteboard: In an essay, explain how do to something. Be sure to include the important steps. Then give students 5 minutes to plan their writing. They should quickly analyze the prompt, create a focus statement, and list the steps. After 5 minutes, see how well they completed these tasks.

  24. Common App announces 2024-2025 Common App essay prompts

    We are happy to announce that the Common App essay prompts will remain the same for 2024-2025. Our decision to keep these prompts unchanged is supported by past research showing that overall satisfaction with the prompts exceeded 95% across our constituent groups - students, counselors, advisors, teachers, and member colleges.