Expository Essay vs. Narrative Essay

Attribute	Expository Essay	Narrative Essay
Purpose	To inform or explain a topic	To tell a story or recount events
Structure	Introduction, body paragraphs with supporting evidence, conclusion	Introduction, plot with characters and setting, climax, resolution
Tone	Objective and formal	Subjective and personal
Point of View	Third person or second person	First person
Use of Dialogue	Minimal or none	Often includes dialogue to enhance storytelling

Introduction

Expository essays and narrative essays are two common types of essays that students encounter in their academic careers. While both types of essays aim to communicate information to the reader, they have distinct differences in terms of structure, purpose, and content. In this article, we will compare the attributes of expository essays and narrative essays to help you understand the unique characteristics of each.

Structure

One of the key differences between expository essays and narrative essays lies in their structure. Expository essays typically follow a five-paragraph format, with an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction of an expository essay provides a thesis statement that introduces the main idea of the essay, while the body paragraphs present supporting evidence and analysis. The conclusion restates the thesis and summarizes the main points of the essay.

In contrast, narrative essays do not follow a strict structure like expository essays. Instead, narrative essays often have a more fluid and flexible structure that allows for storytelling. While narrative essays may still have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, the focus is on telling a story or recounting a personal experience. This storytelling element sets narrative essays apart from expository essays.

Purpose

Another important distinction between expository essays and narrative essays is their purpose. Expository essays are written to inform, explain, or describe a topic to the reader. The goal of an expository essay is to provide factual information and analysis in a clear and concise manner. Expository essays often use evidence, examples, and statistics to support the main idea.

On the other hand, narrative essays are written to entertain, engage, or evoke emotions in the reader. The purpose of a narrative essay is to tell a story or share a personal experience in a compelling and engaging way. Narrative essays often include descriptive language, dialogue, and sensory details to create a vivid and immersive experience for the reader.

Content

When it comes to content, expository essays and narrative essays also differ in their approach. Expository essays focus on presenting objective information and analysis on a specific topic. The content of an expository essay is typically based on research, facts, and evidence that support the thesis statement. Expository essays may include definitions, comparisons, cause and effect analysis, or problem-solution discussions.

Conversely, narrative essays focus on storytelling and personal experiences. The content of a narrative essay is often based on real-life events, personal anecdotes, or fictional stories. Narrative essays may include characters, settings, plot development, and conflict resolution to engage the reader and create a sense of narrative arc.

Conclusion

In conclusion, expository essays and narrative essays have distinct attributes that set them apart in terms of structure, purpose, and content. While expository essays follow a structured format and aim to inform the reader, narrative essays have a more flexible structure and aim to entertain or engage the reader through storytelling. Understanding the differences between these two types of essays can help you choose the appropriate style and approach for your writing assignments.