What Is The Difference Between An Expository And A Persuasive Essay?
Expository and persuasive essays both employ thesis statements and supportive research evidences to write their content in an organized way. However there are a few differences-
Difference between an expository and a persuasive essay
An expository explains the topic whereas the persuasive essay approaches the topic with a debatable attitude. Basically the expository essay offers clarification and information regarding the topic by asking question in “What” structure whereas the persuasive paper, the writer asks question in “What if” format.
- An expository paper is written in an investigation mode where students are required to do an intensive research. The information evaluated is based on an idea. The focus lies on the statement where student needs to clarify and support the statement with proper evidences.
- An example of an expository paper is – “How the incidence of Pearl Harbour devastated the entire nation?
- An example of Persuasive paper on the same topic can be like - “Pearl harbour became a major catastrophe which President Roosevelt could have easily avoided”.
- Persuasive essay is an argumentative form of essay that becomes highly debatable where the writer needs to support the theory with evidences supporting them with a particular viewpoint.
- Expository writing explains the things while offering lots of information. Business writing, technical writing and research writing requires an expository style of writing where management communicates with its employees offering vast explanation regarding the policies. Things are compared by offering contrasting information too highlighting similarities as well as the differences. The writer bears the sole purpose of offering information in a clear and crisp way but in a smooth manner.
- Persuasive styles are used in advertisements. Here the writer supports a view point providing the facts and strong evidences convincing the reader regarding the efficacy of the topic. Almost all the speeches are written in this style so that maximum voters can be diverted to vote for a particular political party. It is usually used to influence the pattern and thinking process of the readers.
- Persuasive paper employs a personal and informal tone. On the other hand expository papers employ a formal and a cold approach.
- Persuasive papers end up with a call for action whereas expository papers restrict the topic and provide information and facts in a simple way.
- Expository style of writing best facilitates dissemination of information and spreading of facts whereas the approach lacks on this end in persuasive style.