30 Expository Essay Topics and Writing Prompts

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Good expository essay topics can be hard to find. Still, there is no need to panic! We have prepared for you 30 wonderful ideas, suggestions and prompts – you will surely find what you need among them.

Expository essays are those that explain things with facts rather than opinions. They require students to evaluate and investigate, setting forth arguments in a clear and concise manner. These essays are often used by teachers as part of assessments, especially in college level courses. Therefore, to help students achieve success it is important that they practice writing expository essays.

One task presents an expository prompt that introduces a topic for an essay. You will use the prompt to develop key ideas for the essay, but you will also need to ground the ideas using an illustrative example from literature, history, science, film, or your own experience as support.

You will not be expected to retell or summarize a story or event from the source you select, but rather, you should use your discussion of specific and pertinent aspects of your reference to serve as confirming examples or support for the ideas you develop in your essay.

Structure of a General Expository Essay

Introduction
Introduction
Body Paragraphs
Body Paragraphs
Conclusion
Conclusion

The following maps a commonly used structure for many academic essays. Use this outline to guide you as you compose your own research, argument or even descriptive essay.

30 expository essay topics
  1. Describe the consequences of smuggling goods;
  2. Describe the effect of Art on your life;
  3. Describe the effects of listening loud music;
  4. Describe three things you would like to change about the world and explain why you would change them;
  5. Describing the benefits of leading an active lifestyle;
  6. Excessive control resulting in lack of children’s autonomy;
  7. Explain any three benefits of knowing a foreign language;
  8. Explain how life for a teenager changes once she has a baby;
  9. Explain how the Eiffel Tower was built;
  10. Explain the dangers of texting while driving;
  11. Explain the growth of population in China;
  12. Explain the importance of IT in the XXI Century;
  13. Explain the likely consequences of being sexually active without using protection;
  14. Explain the necessity to set clear goals;
  15. Explain what is poverty in your opinion;
  16. Explain where the tradition of making a pumpkin cake for Thanksgiving Day comes from;
  17. Explain why nerds are unpopular;
  18. Explain why people should have life insurance;
  19. Explain why some students forced to leave school once they are sixteen;
  20. Explain why we press harder on a remote control when we know that batteries are getting weak;
  21. How to go to a supermarket and buy only what you planned to buy;
  22. How to increase your savings;
  23. How to organize community volunteer work;
  24. Interpret the key idea of green marketing;
  25. Poor memory resulting in good mood;
  26. Specify the characteristics of effective leadership;
  27. What are the effects of smoking and substance abuse on our life;
  28. What are the popular hairstyle trends in women?
  29. What are the skills required to be a fashion designer?
  30. What are the symptoms and treatments for breast cancer?