What is the Difference Between Argumentative and Expository Essay?

05/15/2025 • Felipe Moraes

The main difference between argumentative and expository essays lies in their purpose and the approach they take towards the topic. Here are the key differences between the two:

Argumentative Essay:

Subjective in nature, as it presents the writer's personal opinions and arguments.
Aims to convince the reader of the writer's chosen position on a topic.
Contains facts, statistics, and the writer's personal opinions.
Often written in the first person point of view.
Requires more research and evidence to support the argument.

Expository Essay:

Objective in nature, as it provides information about the topic without trying to convince the reader of a specific position.
Aims to explain a topic clearly and concisely.
Contains only information that explains the topic, without personal opinions.
Usually written in the third person point of view.
Requires research to provide accurate and relevant information.

In summary, an argumentative essay focuses on presenting a persuasive argument and convincing the reader to adopt a particular stance, while an expository essay aims to educate and inform the reader about a specific topic without taking a subjective position.

Comparative Table: Argumentative vs Expository Essay

The main difference between argumentative and expository essays lies in their purpose and structure. Here is a table comparing the two types of essays:

Feature	Argumentative Essay	Expository Essay
Purpose	To convince the reader of a specific argument or stance on a topic	To explain or inform the reader about a topic in a clear and concise manner
Bias	Subjective and often presents the writer's opinion	Unbiased and neutral, focusing on providing factual information
Structure	Introduces the topic, presents evidence and arguments, and provides a conclusion	Introduces the topic, presents information about the topic, and provides a conclusion
Originality	Presents an original argument and requires independent research	Does not require an original argument and may rely less on research
Thesis Statement	Contains a contentious claim that must be supported by evidence	Presents a clear and well-organized view of the topic without a contentious claim

In summary, argumentative essays aim to persuade the reader to accept a specific argument or stance, while expository essays focus on explaining or informing the reader about a topic in a clear and unbiased manner.