What is the difference between persuasive and expository

Read Also: What is an Illustration Essay? An argumentative essay is also often called a persuasive essay. In other words, the major difference between expository and argumentative essays is that argumentative essays try to convince, while expository essays do not.

To avoid bias in argumentative essay, you need to convince your reader that you have taken a close and open-minded look at the evidence on both sides of an issue, weighed them up, and come to your conclusions based on an informed understanding of all the issues. You should show deep insights into the topic to avoid bias in both expository and argumentative essays.

To show an in-depth understanding of the topic in an argumentative essay, you can compare and contrast two ideas and then make a value judgement after showing all sides of the issue. My favourite approach to help you go deep is to use a pros and cons list for each of the different sides of an argument.

You could, for example, brainstorm different perspectives like this:. Therefore, it is the position of this essay that Perspective 1 is the most valuable perspective. Here, you can brainstorm a ton of different things to discuss about the topic.

Then, once you have shown a thoughtful discussion of both perspectives, you can take an informed position. Showing deep understanding and comparing perspectives before taking a position makes your argumentative essay … more persuasive!

Should go into depth on the issue and look at it from multiple perspectives. Then, it should take a position on which perspective is most appropriate. Should have an introduction, body and conclusion. As you can see, there are more similarities between an argumentative and persuasive essay than differences.

Remember, your argumentative essay and expository essay both provide in-depth, balanced information on the topic. However, the argumentative essay goes one step further and lets you take a personal position on the issue once you have presented the key information. What is an Expository Essay? This is the most common form of essay at university level. Use your lecture notes , assigned readings and readings you find from google scholar to show that you have a very deep and detailed understanding of the issue; Compare Ideas.

Ensure you present two sides of an argument and compare them. Use critical thinking strategies like pros and cons lists and Venn diagrams to assist you in thinking deeply about the topic; Avoid dictionary definitions.

Instead, use scholarly definitions from textbooks or journal articles. If there are multiple definitions of a term or topic , compare each of them. Be objective. You should avoid using first person language I, we, us, you, our and do not take a position on the issue. Your job is to inform, not convince.

Provide a clear explanation of how an internal combustion engine produces motion. Explore with evidence how carbon dating approximates the age of the earth. Examine, with examples, the ways in which nuclear engineers prevent nuclear meltdowns in power plants. Explore how the judicial system is designed to ensure justice is served in western democracies. Provide evidence to back up what you are saying.

Support your arguments with facts and reasoning. Do not simply list facts, incorporate these as examples supporting your position, but at the same time make your point as brief as possible. The essay should be concise. Make your point and conclude your essay. Do not make the mistake of believing that repetition and over-stating your case will score point with your readers.

The most important qualities of a persuasive essay are: Have a definite point of view. Persuasive writing can be classified as part of expository writing since argumentative writing is part of expository writing.

Expository writing aims to describe, inform, clarify, analyze, instruct, explain or describe its subject matter based on personal subjective experience and observations. The tone of expository writing is formal, wanting to remain factual, whereas the tone of persuasive writing is informal and personal, wanting to appeal to both emotion and reason.

Persuasive writing aims to influence views or change behaviors of others, pro or con, usually according to its claim, the thesis; as a result, persuasive writing invariably includes prejudgment and the bias of the writer.

See Reference 3. Yoon Kim earned a Ph. His editing experience includes Ph. How to Compose a Good Essay. How to Write an Argumentive Essay. Components of a Thesis Statement. How to Make an Introduction in a Research Paper.