Essay Writing Guide

Types Of Essay

Nova A.

Explore Different Types of Essays, their Purpose, and Sub-types

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Published on: Sep 20, 2017

Last updated on: Dec 30, 2023

types of essay

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Are you a college or high school student ready to start on a journey through the fascinating world of essay writing ? Brace yourself because you'll encounter a variety of essay types that will challenge your writing skills and creativity.

Picture this: You're handed an assignment, a blank canvas on which to express your thoughts and ideas. But here's the catch – your teacher won't always specify the type of essay you should craft. It's up to you to solve the riddle hidden within the assignment question.

But fear not! 

In this blog, we'll discuss the four most common types of essays you're likely to encounter during your academic years. While these essays may share a common foundation and structure, each possesses its own unique characteristics. Let’s get started!

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Major Types of Essays In Academic Writing

When it comes to academic writing, understanding the different types of essays is essential. Each type serves a distinct purpose and requires a specific approach. Let's explore these essay types along with their descriptions and example prompts in the table below:

Understanding these major types of essays and the skills they assess will empower you to approach your academic writing with confidence. Depending on your assignment's requirements, you'll be better equipped to choose the appropriate essay type and showcase your writing abilities effectively. 

Each type offers a unique opportunity for you to express your ideas, and arguments and perfect your specific writing skills.

Here are the key types of essay formats explained in detail, along with examples to enhance your understanding.

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Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay is an essay type that presents a well-structured argument supported by evidence and reasoning. The primary goal is to engage the reader in a discussion, provide evidence, and logically demonstrate why a particular viewpoint is more valid.

In simple words, the writer must provide evidence and remain consistent in their stance. While argumentative essays present both sides of an issue, they strongly support one perspective. 

Characteristics of Argumentative Essay

  • Clear Thesis: It should have a clear thesis statement to state the writer's position.
  • Balanced Presentation: An argumentative essay addresses opposing views.
  • Evidence: It relies on credible and relevant evidence.
  • Logical Reasoning: The essay presents arguments coherently and logically.
  • Persuasive Techniques: It uses persuasive techniques like ethos, pathos, and logos effectively.
  • Introduction: The introduction introduces the topic and thesis, engaging the reader's interest.
  • Body: The body paragraphs present arguments with supporting evidence.
  • Counterargument: It addresses opposing viewpoints and refutes them.
  • Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes key points and reinforces the thesis, leaving a strong impression.

Argumentative Essay Example

Before beginning the writing process, it is better to go through some expertly crafted argumentative essay examples . This approach enables you to grasp the argumentative essay outline and writing style more effectively.

Descriptive Essay

A descriptive essay is a form of writing that aims to immerse readers in a sensory-rich experience. Unlike informational or persuasive essays, its primary goal is to vividly depict a person, place, object, event, or experience.   The descriptive essay must evoke the senses and emotions of the reader. In simple terms, the reader should see what you saw and feel what you felt. To make it better, you can use several literary devices such as;

  • Alliteration

All of them help in making the experience and your essay better.

Key Characteristics 

  • Sensory Detail: Descriptive essays appeal to the five senses to create a multisensory experience.
  • Vivid Imagery: They use figurative language and descriptive adjectives to bring the narrative to life.
  • Emotional Connection: These essays often aim to establish an emotional bond between the reader and the subject.
  • Structured Approach: They typically follow an introduction-body-conclusion structure.
  • Introduction: Introduces the subject and purpose, sometimes with a thesis statement.
  • Body Paragraphs: Focus on specific aspects or details using sensory language and vivid descriptions.
  • Conclusion: Summarizes the central theme and leaves a lasting impression.

Descriptive Essay Example

Creating a perfect descriptive essay for an assignment is not difficult if you go through some expert descriptive essay examples first. 

Need more examples? Read our Descriptive Essay Examples and Writing Tips blog to get inspired!

Expository Essay

An expository essay is a type of writing that provides clear and objective explanations of a topic without expressing personal opinions. It aims to inform and educate by presenting factual information and analysis.

Therefore, it is important that you make a focused outline and stick to it throughout the process. 

An expository essay incorporates a wide array of essays such as:

  • Cause and effect essays
  • Process essays
  • Analytical essays
  • Compare and contrast essays

Key Characteristics

  • Objective Presentation: Expository writing maintains an impartial tone, avoiding personal biases.
  • Informativeness: They focus on explaining complex ideas or processes in a straightforward manner.
  • Structured: These essays follow a clear structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
  • Use of Evidence: They rely on credible evidence, facts, and examples to support the topic.
  • Introduction: Introduces the topic and often includes a thesis statement.
  • Body Paragraphs: Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect and provides explanations and evidence.
  • Conclusion: Restates the main idea and summarizes key points.

Expository Essay Example

Looking for more sample essays? Check out our Expository Essay Examples blog and take inspiration from a range of expository essays!

Narrative Essay

A narrative essay is a type of academic writing that tells a story or recounts a personal experience. Unlike other essays, its primary purpose is to engage and entertain the reader through storytelling.

  • Narrative Structure: Follows a chronological sequence with an introduction, body, climax, and conclusion.
  • First-Person Perspective: Typically written from the first-person point of view (e.g., "I" and "we") , sharing personal experiences and emotions.
  • Vivid Description: Relies on descriptive language and imagery to create a clear picture of events, characters, and settings.
  • Emotional Connection: Aims to establish an emotional bond with the reader by conveying the writer's thoughts and feelings.
  • Introduction: Sets the stage and introduces the central theme or problem.
  • Body: Presents events or experiences in chronological order with sensory details.
  • Climax: Often includes a central event or turning point.
  • Conclusion: Reflects on the narrative, offering insights, lessons, or resolution.

Narrative Essay Example

Wondering how to get your story into an interesting narrative? Learn the best way to write a perfect narrative essay with the help of expert narrative essay examples. 

For more examples visit our blog on narrative essay examples .

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Other Essay Types

In addition to the major types of essays discussed earlier, there are several other specialized types that cater to specific audiences. These essays provide diverse avenues for writers to communicate their ideas effectively. 

We will go through these essay types here.

Persuasive Essay

A persuasive essay is another type of academic essay. In this essay type, the writer utilizes logic and reasoning to show one’s idea is more convincing than another idea. 

In writing a persuasive essay, the main aim is to persuade the reader to accept a certain point of view. The presented argument or claim must use solid evidence and sound reasoning by stating facts, examples, and quotes. 

Persuasive Essay Example

Since persuasive essays are the most common type of essay, it is essential to get familiar with their writing style. For that, here is an interesting persuasive essay example that you can explore for your better understanding. 

Read our persuasive essay examples blog for more samples!

Analytical Essay

An analytical essay is a type of academic essay in which the writer analyzes a topic bit by bit. Writing an analytical essay is not about convincing readers of your point of view. But wanting readers to agree with what you have written. 

So, there is no need to use strong persuasive language in an analytical essay. Rather you should aim to provide enough analysis to make sure your argument is clear to the readers. 

Analytical Essay Example

Let’s take a look at a sample analytical essay: 

Read our analytical essay examples blog if you are looking for more sample essays!

Reflective Essay

A reflective essay type of essay requires you to examine your personal experiences through self-reflection. In the process of writing a reflective essay, you provide insight into what you have gained from those experiences. 

What makes reflective essays different from other essay types is the fact that it examine the past experience from the present. Reflective essays take the reader through a journey of self-growth. 

Reflective Essay Example

The following reflective essay example will help you get a clear idea of how to structure your analytical essay. 

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

It is a form of a textual analysis essay in which the student examines and analyzes a persuasive text. It is like an essay, speech, or visual art and analyzes the rhetorical devices used in it. Writing a rhetorical analysis essay is different from writing other essays because it will be more than adding facts only.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Here is a rhetorical analysis essay example that will help you learn better. 

Check out our rhetorical analysis essay examples blog for more samples!

Literary Analysis Essay

A literary analysis essay is based on close reading and analysis of a work of literature like poetry and novel. It identifies different literary factors like themes, setting,  characters, setting, and the kind of language used in it. A literary analysis essay has the same 5 paragraphs as any other essay but the main subject and topic are different.

Literary Analysis Essay Example

Need help with your literary analysis essay? Below is a sample essay to help you understand better.

Summing it Up! Now you know what are the different types of essays in academic writing that you are most likely to get assigned. However, if you still find it difficult to compose your essay, leave your piece of writing to our experts. 

Whether you need an argumentative essay, narrative essay,  descriptive essay, or expository essay we are here to help. Our expertise extends to all types of essays, ensuring that your academic writing needs are met with precision and excellence.

Request 'write my essay' today and let our professional writing service help you write A+ grade essays within your specified timeline! 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important element in any essay.

A thesis statement is the most important part of any essay. Other than the research itself, the thesis statement is the most important part of an essay or research paper. A thesis statement summarizes the main point and essence of the argument.

What type of essay is most common at university?

Usually, university students get argumentative kinds of essays. No matter what kind of essay you write, you will need to develop an argument.

Here are some kinds of essays and the kind of arguments added to them. 

  • Analysis and interpretation of literary texts are discussed in literary analysis essays. 
  • The importance of a particular event or theory is analyzed in a history argumentative essay. 
  • A political theory is examined in a political argumentative essay. 

Besides, there are a number of different kinds of argumentative and analysis essays.

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Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

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What Are the 5 Different Types of Essays? A Complete Guide

For high school or college students, essays are unavoidable – worst of all, the essay types and essay writing topics assigned change throughout your academic career. As soon as you’ve mastered one of the many types of academic papers , you’re on to the next one.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

This article by Custom Writing experts provides the tools you need to attack any essay. It describes the five current major types of essays and five additional types! The article includes some thesis statement examples and numerous useful links to resources with sample essay papers. Keep reading and good luck with your assignment!

  • 📑 5 Main Types of Essay Writing

🎈 Other Essay Types

  • 👌 Essay Writing Tips

🔗 References

📑 what are the 5 different types of essays.

The five main essay types are:

  • Argumentative
  • Descriptive

The Five Main Essay Types Are: Expository, Argumentative, Persuasive, Descriptive, & Narrative.

Expository Essay

An expository essay aims to present opinion-free information on a topic that may be broad or narrow. This essay type is often assigned as an in-class or an exam task. Please find below useful expository writing tips!

  • An expository essay introduction should clarify the topic and briefly lay out its elements.

“The oil industry is a very large portion of the energy sector, and it has significant impacts on the climate and economy.”

  • The body paragraphs of your expository essay should contain enough evidence to support your thesis statement.
  • Your expository essay conclusion should readdress the thesis in the light of the evidence provided in the body.
  • The transitions between the different parts of your expository essay should be very logical and clear.

Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay requires a profound investigation of a topic leading to the collection and evaluation of evidence. Such an in-depth study shall result in an established position on the topic, written down concisely.

As a rule, this type of writing presupposes extensive literature research . Sometimes, argumentative assignments may require empirical investigation through surveys, interviews, or observations. Detailed research ensures a clear understanding of the issue and the different points of view regarding it. Thanks to the preliminary study, you will be able to make an unbiased decision on which opinion to adhere to, and your argumentation will be more persuasive.

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An argumentative essay shall follow the strict structure rules:

Difference between Expository and Argumentative Essay

Expository and argumentative essays abound in similarities and are often mistaken for one another. The principal difference is the amount of preliminary research . Argumentative essays are often assigned as final projects summing up the corpus of information mastered during a course. Expository essays are shorter and less based on research. They are used for in-class unprepared writing.

Persuasive Essay

Persuasive writing is the polar opposite of expository writing. For this style of essay, your opinion should be the focus . A persuasive essay attempts to persuade its reader to have a specific opinion.

“Though the oil industry is an important part of our economy, it has negatively impacted our environment through climate change, smog, and the building of roads.”

  • Your position should be set from the introduction of your persuasive essay. Take care to maintain it throughout the text.
  • Your persuasive essay body should contain the arguments in progression: from the least important to the most important.
  • Use ethos, logos, and pathos to persuade your readers.

Descriptive Essay

There is no more clearly-named essay than the descriptive one. Here, the goal is to describe something : a person, an object, a place, etc. The oil industry theme used to demonstrate an expository thesis statement would not be typical for a descriptive essay. Instead, descriptive writing would far more likely focus on an object associated with the oil industry, such as an oil drum, an oil tanker, or even the liquid oil itself.

  • A sample descriptive thesis statement could sound like this: “Crude oil is a black, viscous liquid that gives off an odd smell like plastic or many sorts of fuel.”
  • Your descriptive essay body should be very logical. Each of its paragraphs is to focus on one of the aspects of the topic.
  • The language you use in your descriptive essay should be vivid and varied. It is a good idea to appeal to the senses of the reader when you are describing something.

Narrative Essay

The meaning of narrative writing is very similar to a story. It may be moving, emotional, anecdotal, or insightful. You are allowed to write using first-person pronouns, and creativity is appreciated. A narrative essay is subject to all the story rules and shall comprise an introduction, characters, plot, setting, climax, and conclusion. The only case when a narrative assignment does not have to comply with a story outline is a book report. This informative narration is impersonal and unemotional.

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  • The thesis is the purpose of your narrative essay . Although it doesn’t need to sound as formal as in other academic papers, make it clear why you decided to tell the story.
  • First-person narration is not a must but is welcomed.
  • Don’t switch between points of view . If you decide to write a third-person narrative, keep it consistent throughout the text.
  • A narrative essay is closer to fiction than to a scientific document . Use artistic language that will have an emotional response in the reader.
  • Although this is not a standard five-paragraph essay, it should have an introduction and a conclusion . An unfinished piece of writing is as bad as a too wordy one.

Difference between Narrative and Descriptive Essay

A narrative essay is aimed to tell the reader a complete story of personal experiences . A descriptive essay dwells upon a separate object, place, concept, or phenomenon. It does not have a climax or any development of action.

Cause and Effect Essay

In a cause and effect essay, the text should focus on the impact of some phenomenon or physical thing —in other words, a cause and its effect.

The simplicity of this essay allows you to explore any topic . All you need to do is consider its consequences and write. Again, the oil industry can be the focus of a cause and effect essay thesis statement :

“The oil industry has had a tremendous impact on our world, enabling the automotive industry, contributing to climate change, and generating great wealth.”

Reflective Essay

In this essay, the goal is simply to respond to or reflect upon a species person, place, thing, event, or phenomenon. You may be required to reflect upon a poem, a military battle, or perhaps even another essay. By its definition, reflective essays should be very subjective. You should use personal pronouns like “I” and “me” in these essays! This type of essay should be very personal. Check out some examples of reflective writing to see this yourself.

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For example, this would be a great thesis statement for a reflective essay :

“The oil industry has provided many benefits to society, but I worry deeply about its potential costs to our planet and its species.”

Analytical Essay

In many ways, analytical writing is the objective cousin of reflective writing. Prior to attempting this style of essay, you should reflect. But you should also conduct research. The reflection is personal, while the analysis is rooted in facts and logic.

Compare the following example thesis statement with the one from the previous type of essay:

“As the oil industry has grown, the levels of greenhouse gases have increased along with temperatures and concentrations of particulate matter in the atmosphere.”

This statement outlines factors that will be analyzed in the body of the essay. It DOES NOT insert personal feelings, personal pronouns, or subjective language. You can even try and use an informative thesis statement generator and then compare the results to see it more clearly.

By staying objective, an analytical essay is much more like a report. In fact, an outline for an analytical paper should be interchangeable with a section of an outline for a much longer research project. But most importantly, any analytical paper should avoid using personal pronouns .

Comparison and Contrast Essay

In a compare and contrast essay , you make a comparison of two or more issues . You may look at their similarities, differences, or both. The focus of your analysis should be reflected in your thesis statement. Consider this example:

“While both the oil industry and the solar-power industry will be major sources of energy in the future, oil has more environmental costs than green solar power.”

Exemplification Essay

An exemplification or illustration essay is one of the most flexible essays you might be assigned. In simple terms, this essay is all about picking vivid examples. In other words, you want to make points that exemplify or illustrate your thesis statement.

For an exemplification essay, you should focus on the examples that will make your point without serious effort. In other words, if you are trying too hard, you are missing the point of the essay. Consider the following example thesis statement:

“The oil industry has had serious effects on the environment as demonstrated by the impact of massive oil spill on wildlife, the uncontrolled fires and explosions caused by oil and oil derivatives, and the melting of the polar ice caps caused by climate change.”

In the body of this exemplification essay, the writer should devote a paragraph to each of these arguments. Descriptions of seagulls or penguins coated in oil would be perfect examples of the effect of the oil industry on wildlife. Similarly, descriptions of major oil refinery explosions will also grab the reader’s attention.

Once again, the conclusion should restate the introduction, providing less background, and reminding the reader of the examples one last time.

👌 Remember These Important Essay Tips

These tips and tricks are just the basics of essay writing .

When you are writing any assignment, always pay close attention to the instructions . The standard interpretation of any particular essay style is never as important as your teacher’s definition of the assignment. When in doubt, ask questions! No teacher will be upset with you asking for reasonable clarifications. It is better to write the essay your teacher expected, rather than surprise your teacher with a creative effort. And, subsequently, get a poor grade.

  • You may also notice that every one of the rough examples described fits into the 5-paragraph essay format . This essay structure is a powerful way to organize your thoughts. Becoming skilled at applying this structure will strengthen your writing. Soon after, you’ll write both shorter and longer essays with ease.
  • If you’re still confused, watch one of the many helpful videos on essay writing .
  • Start writing your essay early! No matter the essay type, your revisions will be better than your first drafts. If you have time for second, third, and fourth drafts, you will be much happier with your final grade.
  • Essay Structure | – Harvard College Writing Center
  • Writing: Types of Essays – Smith College
  • Essay Writing // Purdue Writing Lab
  • Types of academic writing – The University of Sydney
  • Guide to Different Kinds of Essays – Gallaudet University
  • What are the types of essays? – Quora
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Beauty lasts only a short time. But in the realm of art, in the field of poetry, beauty lasts forever. Sonnet 73 is addressed to a lover who is younger than the speaker. The poem uses three metaphors to depict the speaker’s age and impending death. First, the speaker says that he is autumn, the time of year when the beauty of summer is gone, and the death of winter is about to set in. Then he says that he is the end of the day when only a faint light lingers on the western horizon, and deathly darkness is about to engulf the world. Then he says that he is an almost burned out fire, nearly reduced to ashes. This sonnet doesn’t look to art for consolation, but to love. It concludes by saying, You love me even though you know you’re soon going to lose me, and that makes your love all the greater.

Awesome post as usual! Your posts make me accumulate knowledge about writing various college papers! Thanks a lot for this assistance!

These are amazing tips for compare and contrast essay writing. Will definitely use them when writing my compare and contrast essay. Thanks for sharing them!

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The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples

An academic essay is a focused piece of writing that develops an idea or argument using evidence, analysis, and interpretation.

There are many types of essays you might write as a student. The content and length of an essay depends on your level, subject of study, and course requirements. However, most essays at university level are argumentative — they aim to persuade the reader of a particular position or perspective on a topic.

The essay writing process consists of three main stages:

  • Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline.
  • Writing : Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion.
  • Revision:  Check your essay on the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.

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Table of contents

Essay writing process, preparation for writing an essay, writing the introduction, writing the main body, writing the conclusion, essay checklist, lecture slides, frequently asked questions about writing an essay.

The writing process of preparation, writing, and revisions applies to every essay or paper, but the time and effort spent on each stage depends on the type of essay .

For example, if you’ve been assigned a five-paragraph expository essay for a high school class, you’ll probably spend the most time on the writing stage; for a college-level argumentative essay , on the other hand, you’ll need to spend more time researching your topic and developing an original argument before you start writing.

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Before you start writing, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you’re going to say it. There are a few key steps you can follow to make sure you’re prepared:

  • Understand your assignment: What is the goal of this essay? What is the length and deadline of the assignment? Is there anything you need to clarify with your teacher or professor?
  • Define a topic: If you’re allowed to choose your own topic , try to pick something that you already know a bit about and that will hold your interest.
  • Do your research: Read  primary and secondary sources and take notes to help you work out your position and angle on the topic. You’ll use these as evidence for your points.
  • Come up with a thesis:  The thesis is the central point or argument that you want to make. A clear thesis is essential for a focused essay—you should keep referring back to it as you write.
  • Create an outline: Map out the rough structure of your essay in an outline . This makes it easier to start writing and keeps you on track as you go.

Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you want to discuss, in what order, and what evidence you’ll use, you’re ready to start writing.

The introduction sets the tone for your essay. It should grab the reader’s interest and inform them of what to expect. The introduction generally comprises 10–20% of the text.

1. Hook your reader

The first sentence of the introduction should pique your reader’s interest and curiosity. This sentence is sometimes called the hook. It might be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or a bold statement emphasizing the relevance of the topic.

Let’s say we’re writing an essay about the development of Braille (the raised-dot reading and writing system used by visually impaired people). Our hook can make a strong statement about the topic:

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

2. Provide background on your topic

Next, it’s important to give context that will help your reader understand your argument. This might involve providing background information, giving an overview of important academic work or debates on the topic, and explaining difficult terms. Don’t provide too much detail in the introduction—you can elaborate in the body of your essay.

3. Present the thesis statement

Next, you should formulate your thesis statement— the central argument you’re going to make. The thesis statement provides focus and signals your position on the topic. It is usually one or two sentences long. The thesis statement for our essay on Braille could look like this:

As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness.

4. Map the structure

In longer essays, you can end the introduction by briefly describing what will be covered in each part of the essay. This guides the reader through your structure and gives a preview of how your argument will develop.

The invention of Braille marked a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by blind and visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

Write your essay introduction

The body of your essay is where you make arguments supporting your thesis, provide evidence, and develop your ideas. Its purpose is to present, interpret, and analyze the information and sources you have gathered to support your argument.

Length of the body text

The length of the body depends on the type of essay. On average, the body comprises 60–80% of your essay. For a high school essay, this could be just three paragraphs, but for a graduate school essay of 6,000 words, the body could take up 8–10 pages.

Paragraph structure

To give your essay a clear structure , it is important to organize it into paragraphs . Each paragraph should be centered around one main point or idea.

That idea is introduced in a  topic sentence . The topic sentence should generally lead on from the previous paragraph and introduce the point to be made in this paragraph. Transition words can be used to create clear connections between sentences.

After the topic sentence, present evidence such as data, examples, or quotes from relevant sources. Be sure to interpret and explain the evidence, and show how it helps develop your overall argument.

Lack of access to reading and writing put blind people at a serious disadvantage in nineteenth-century society. Text was one of the primary methods through which people engaged with culture, communicated with others, and accessed information; without a well-developed reading system that did not rely on sight, blind people were excluded from social participation (Weygand, 2009). While disabled people in general suffered from discrimination, blindness was widely viewed as the worst disability, and it was commonly believed that blind people were incapable of pursuing a profession or improving themselves through culture (Weygand, 2009). This demonstrates the importance of reading and writing to social status at the time: without access to text, it was considered impossible to fully participate in society. Blind people were excluded from the sighted world, but also entirely dependent on sighted people for information and education.

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5 common types of essay

The conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. It should generally take up no more than 10–15% of the text . A strong essay conclusion :

  • Returns to your thesis
  • Ties together your main points
  • Shows why your argument matters

A great conclusion should finish with a memorable or impactful sentence that leaves the reader with a strong final impression.

What not to include in a conclusion

To make your essay’s conclusion as strong as possible, there are a few things you should avoid. The most common mistakes are:

  • Including new arguments or evidence
  • Undermining your arguments (e.g. “This is just one approach of many”)
  • Using concluding phrases like “To sum up…” or “In conclusion…”

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

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Checklist: Essay

My essay follows the requirements of the assignment (topic and length ).

My introduction sparks the reader’s interest and provides any necessary background information on the topic.

My introduction contains a thesis statement that states the focus and position of the essay.

I use paragraphs to structure the essay.

I use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph.

Each paragraph has a single focus and a clear connection to the thesis statement.

I make clear transitions between paragraphs and ideas.

My conclusion doesn’t just repeat my points, but draws connections between arguments.

I don’t introduce new arguments or evidence in the conclusion.

I have given an in-text citation for every quote or piece of information I got from another source.

I have included a reference page at the end of my essay, listing full details of all my sources.

My citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required citation style .

My essay has an interesting and informative title.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (e.g. font, page numbers, line spacing).

Your essay meets all the most important requirements. Our editors can give it a final check to help you submit with confidence.

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An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

  • An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
  • Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
  • A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

  • It gives your writing direction and focus.
  • It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

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Essay Writing

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Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The Modes of Discourse—Exposition, Description, Narration, Argumentation (EDNA)—are common paper assignments you may encounter in your writing classes. Although these genres have been criticized by some composition scholars, the Purdue OWL recognizes the wide spread use of these approaches and students’ need to understand and produce them.

This resource begins with a general description of essay writing and moves to a discussion of common essay genres students may encounter across the curriculum. The four genres of essays (description, narration, exposition, and argumentation) are common paper assignments you may encounter in your writing classes. Although these genres, also known as the modes of discourse, have been criticized by some composition scholars, the Purdue OWL recognizes the wide spread use of these genres and students’ need to understand and produce these types of essays. We hope these resources will help.

The essay is a commonly assigned form of writing that every student will encounter while in academia. Therefore, it is wise for the student to become capable and comfortable with this type of writing early on in her training.

Essays can be a rewarding and challenging type of writing and are often assigned either to be done in class, which requires previous planning and practice (and a bit of creativity) on the part of the student, or as homework, which likewise demands a certain amount of preparation. Many poorly crafted essays have been produced on account of a lack of preparation and confidence. However, students can avoid the discomfort often associated with essay writing by understanding some common genres.

Before delving into its various genres, let’s begin with a basic definition of the essay.

What is an essay?

Though the word essay has come to be understood as a type of writing in Modern English, its origins provide us with some useful insights. The word comes into the English language through the French influence on Middle English; tracing it back further, we find that the French form of the word comes from the Latin verb exigere , which means "to examine, test, or (literally) to drive out." Through the excavation of this ancient word, we are able to unearth the essence of the academic essay: to encourage students to test or examine their ideas concerning a particular topic.

Essays are shorter pieces of writing that often require the student to hone a number of skills such as close reading, analysis, comparison and contrast, persuasion, conciseness, clarity, and exposition. As is evidenced by this list of attributes, there is much to be gained by the student who strives to succeed at essay writing.

The purpose of an essay is to encourage students to develop ideas and concepts in their writing with the direction of little more than their own thoughts (it may be helpful to view the essay as the converse of a research paper). Therefore, essays are (by nature) concise and require clarity in purpose and direction. This means that there is no room for the student’s thoughts to wander or stray from his or her purpose; the writing must be deliberate and interesting.

This handout should help students become familiar and comfortable with the process of essay composition through the introduction of some common essay genres.

This handout includes a brief introduction to the following genres of essay writing:

  • Expository essays
  • Descriptive essays
  • Narrative essays
  • Argumentative (Persuasive) essays

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5 Common Types of Essays

Dive into the vibrant world of essay writing, where each type unfolds like a unique flower in a vast garden of expression. From sharing personal journeys to debating hot topics, this guide illuminates the path to mastering the art of essay crafting, inviting you to leave a mark with your words. Ever wondered about different essay types? Dive into our quick guide to explore narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive, and argumentative essays.

  • By: James Wilson

5 common types of essay

In the vast garden of writing, where words bloom like flowers and sentences intertwined like vines, a unique path leads explorers through the enchanting world of essays. Each turn reveals a different type of essay, a unique blossom, each with its fragrance and hue, inviting you to share your thoughts, experiences, and arguments in myriad ways. Whether you're a seasoned writer or setting foot in this garden for the first time, let's embark on a journey to uncover the five common types of essays equipped with a magical map—the Academic Writing Guide—to navigate this vibrant landscape.

5 common types of essay

Narrative Essay

In narrative essays, you become the storyteller, weaving tales from the threads of your life. Here, every event is a scene, every emotion a color, painting a vivid picture for your audience. It's like sitting around a campfire, sharing adventures that made you laugh, cry, or learn. To bring your story to life, imagine using a palette of descriptive language, creating a plot that guides your readers from one chapter to the next. Tools like essay writing helpers can be your companions, suggesting ways to make your narrative more engaging and helping you find the right word to describe the sparkle in someone's eye or the stormy sea of emotions within.

Descriptive Essay

As we wander further, we encounter the descriptive essay, a canvas where you paint with words. This essay asks you to capture the essence of a moment, the beauty of a landscape, or the intricacy of an artwork using nothing but your words. It challenges you to engage all five senses, inviting readers to see, hear, taste, touch, and smell the world you're describing. Imagine an essay writer who helps whisper in your ear, encouraging you to delve deeper into your memories and perceptions, guiding you to express the warmth of a summer day or the tranquility of a quiet snowfall with rich, sensory details.

Expository Essay

On the path of clarity and enlightenment, we find the expository essay, a beacon that shines light on complex topics. This essay is your compass, guiding you to explain, clarify, and inform, devoid of the frills of personal opinion. It's like being an explorer, mapping uncharted territories for your readers, from the mechanics of a solar eclipse to the principles of quantum computing. With tools like essay writing software, you can organize your facts and explanations precisely, ensuring your expedition through information is as enlightening as it is exhilarating.

Persuasive Essay

Next, we step into the arena of persuasion, where words wield the power to change minds. The persuasive essay is your stage, and your goal is to sway the audience to your side, using the sword of logic and the shield of evidence. It's a dance of debate, where every argument you make is a step, every piece of evidence a spin, leading your readers to your desired conclusion. Whether it's convincing your readers to protect the environment or supporting space exploration, essay-helping experts can train you in persuasion, helping you craft arguments that are as compelling as they are cogent.

Argumentative Essay

Finally, at the heart of the garden lies the most vigorous of blooms—the argumentative essay. This essay invites you into an arena where ideas clash and opinions duel, challenging you to defend your stance with the might of evidence and the reasoning strategy. It's not just about stating your position but also understanding the counterarguments and engaging in a respectful battle of wits. Here, essay writing helper apps and paper help experts are:

  • Your allies.
  • Sharpening your arguments and fortifying your evidence.
  • Ensuring that your voice is heard loud and clear above the fray.

As we conclude our journey through the garden of essays, it's clear that each type, from narrative to argumentative, offers a unique way to share your voice with the world. Whether you seek the assistance of essay writing software or the guidance of essay-helping experts, remember that the true magic lies in your perspectives, stories, and arguments. So, take up your quill, for the world is eager to read what you have to write.

Similar Guide: Common Structure of Essays - From introduction to conclusion, learn the foundational structure that makes an essay stand out.

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What is an Essay?

10 May, 2020

11 minutes read

Author:  Tomas White

Well, beyond a jumble of words usually around 2,000 words or so - what is an essay, exactly? Whether you’re taking English, sociology, history, biology, art, or a speech class, it’s likely you’ll have to write an essay or two. So how is an essay different than a research paper or a review? Let’s find out!

What is an essay

Defining the Term – What is an Essay?

The essay is a written piece that is designed to present an idea, propose an argument, express the emotion or initiate debate. It is a tool that is used to present writer’s ideas in a non-fictional way. Multiple applications of this type of writing go way beyond, providing political manifestos and art criticism as well as personal observations and reflections of the author.

what is an essay

An essay can be as short as 500 words, it can also be 5000 words or more.  However, most essays fall somewhere around 1000 to 3000 words ; this word range provides the writer enough space to thoroughly develop an argument and work to convince the reader of the author’s perspective regarding a particular issue.  The topics of essays are boundless: they can range from the best form of government to the benefits of eating peppermint leaves daily. As a professional provider of custom writing, our service has helped thousands of customers to turn in essays in various forms and disciplines.

Origins of the Essay

Over the course of more than six centuries essays were used to question assumptions, argue trivial opinions and to initiate global discussions. Let’s have a closer look into historical progress and various applications of this literary phenomenon to find out exactly what it is.

Today’s modern word “essay” can trace its roots back to the French “essayer” which translates closely to mean “to attempt” .  This is an apt name for this writing form because the essay’s ultimate purpose is to attempt to convince the audience of something.  An essay’s topic can range broadly and include everything from the best of Shakespeare’s plays to the joys of April.

The essay comes in many shapes and sizes; it can focus on a personal experience or a purely academic exploration of a topic.  Essays are classified as a subjective writing form because while they include expository elements, they can rely on personal narratives to support the writer’s viewpoint.  The essay genre includes a diverse array of academic writings ranging from literary criticism to meditations on the natural world.  Most typically, the essay exists as a shorter writing form; essays are rarely the length of a novel.  However, several historic examples, such as John Locke’s seminal work “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding” just shows that a well-organized essay can be as long as a novel.

The Essay in Literature

The essay enjoys a long and renowned history in literature.  They first began gaining in popularity in the early 16 th century, and their popularity has continued today both with original writers and ghost writers.  Many readers prefer this short form in which the writer seems to speak directly to the reader, presenting a particular claim and working to defend it through a variety of means.  Not sure if you’ve ever read a great essay? You wouldn’t believe how many pieces of literature are actually nothing less than essays, or evolved into more complex structures from the essay. Check out this list of literary favorites:

  • The Book of My Lives by Aleksandar Hemon
  • Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin
  • Against Interpretation by Susan Sontag
  • High-Tide in Tucson: Essays from Now and Never by Barbara Kingsolver
  • Slouching Toward Bethlehem by Joan Didion
  • Naked by David Sedaris
  • Walden; or, Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau

Pretty much as long as writers have had something to say, they’ve created essays to communicate their viewpoint on pretty much any topic you can think of!

Top essays in literature

The Essay in Academics

Not only are students required to read a variety of essays during their academic education, but they will likely be required to write several different kinds of essays throughout their scholastic career.  Don’t love to write?  Then consider working with a ghost essay writer !  While all essays require an introduction, body paragraphs in support of the argumentative thesis statement, and a conclusion, academic essays can take several different formats in the way they approach a topic.  Common essays required in high school, college, and post-graduate classes include:

Five paragraph essay

This is the most common type of a formal essay. The type of paper that students are usually exposed to when they first hear about the concept of the essay itself. It follows easy outline structure – an opening introduction paragraph; three body paragraphs to expand the thesis; and conclusion to sum it up.

Argumentative essay

These essays are commonly assigned to explore a controversial issue.  The goal is to identify the major positions on either side and work to support the side the writer agrees with while refuting the opposing side’s potential arguments.

Compare and Contrast essay

This essay compares two items, such as two poems, and works to identify similarities and differences, discussing the strength and weaknesses of each.  This essay can focus on more than just two items, however.  The point of this essay is to reveal new connections the reader may not have considered previously.

Definition essay

This essay has a sole purpose – defining a term or a concept in as much detail as possible. Sounds pretty simple, right? Well, not quite. The most important part of the process is picking up the word. Before zooming it up under the microscope, make sure to choose something roomy so you can define it under multiple angles. The definition essay outline will reflect those angles and scopes.

Descriptive essay

Perhaps the most fun to write, this essay focuses on describing its subject using all five of the senses.  The writer aims to fully describe the topic; for example, a descriptive essay could aim to describe the ocean to someone who’s never seen it or the job of a teacher.  Descriptive essays rely heavily on detail and the paragraphs can be organized by sense.

Illustration essay

The purpose of this essay is to describe an idea, occasion or a concept with the help of clear and vocal examples. “Illustration” itself is handled in the body paragraphs section. Each of the statements, presented in the essay needs to be supported with several examples. Illustration essay helps the author to connect with his audience by breaking the barriers with real-life examples – clear and indisputable.

Informative Essay

Being one the basic essay types, the informative essay is as easy as it sounds from a technical standpoint. High school is where students usually encounter with informative essay first time. The purpose of this paper is to describe an idea, concept or any other abstract subject with the help of proper research and a generous amount of storytelling.

Narrative essay

This type of essay focuses on describing a certain event or experience, most often chronologically.  It could be a historic event or an ordinary day or month in a regular person’s life. Narrative essay proclaims a free approach to writing it, therefore it does not always require conventional attributes, like the outline. The narrative itself typically unfolds through a personal lens, and is thus considered to be a subjective form of writing.

Persuasive essay

The purpose of the persuasive essay is to provide the audience with a 360-view on the concept idea or certain topic – to persuade the reader to adopt a certain viewpoint. The viewpoints can range widely from why visiting the dentist is important to why dogs make the best pets to why blue is the best color.  Strong, persuasive language is a defining characteristic of this essay type.

Types of essays

The Essay in Art

Several other artistic mediums have adopted the essay as a means of communicating with their audience.  In the visual arts, such as painting or sculpting, the rough sketches of the final product are sometimes deemed essays.  Likewise, directors may opt to create a film essay which is similar to a documentary in that it offers a personal reflection on a relevant issue.  Finally, photographers often create photographic essays in which they use a series of photographs to tell a story, similar to a narrative or a descriptive essay.

Drawing the line – question answered

“What is an Essay?” is quite a polarizing question. On one hand, it can easily be answered in a couple of words. On the other, it is surely the most profound and self-established type of content there ever was. Going back through the history of the last five-six centuries helps us understand where did it come from and how it is being applied ever since.

If you must write an essay, follow these five important steps to works towards earning the “A” you want:

  • Understand and review the kind of essay you must write
  • Brainstorm your argument
  • Find research from reliable sources to support your perspective
  • Cite all sources parenthetically within the paper and on the Works Cited page
  • Follow all grammatical rules

Generally speaking, when you must write any type of essay, start sooner rather than later!  Don’t procrastinate – give yourself time to develop your perspective and work on crafting a unique and original approach to the topic.  Remember: it’s always a good idea to have another set of eyes (or three) look over your essay before handing in the final draft to your teacher or professor.  Don’t trust your fellow classmates?  Consider hiring an editor or a ghostwriter to help out!

If you are still unsure on whether you can cope with your task – you are in the right place to get help. HandMadeWriting is the perfect answer to the question “Who can write my essay?”

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Types of Essays

Feb 22, 2024

Essays can vary widely in their purpose, style, and content. Here are some common types of essays:

  • Descriptive
  • Argumentative
  • Cause and effect essays
  • Compare and contrast essays
  • Definition essays
  • Critical analysis
  • Critical essays
  • Rhetorical analysis
  • Literary analysis
  • Five-paragraph essay

Let’s explain each of them.

1. Descriptive Essay

“A descriptive essay is a type of essay that aims to create a vivid and detailed picture of a person, place, object, event, or experience for the reader.”

Read more at Purdue University .

Key Elements of Descriptive Essay:

  • Detailed description: It should efficiently describe all the details about the person, place, event, or object that is being described. 
  • Sensory details: It is essential to have a touch of all five senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing) for an immersive reader experience. 
  • Organization: Format the essay in a spatial or chronological order to guide the readers smoothly. 
  • Figurative language: Must contain figures of speech such as similes, metaphors, and personification to add depth to the essay.
  • Emotional connection or impact: A descriptive essay aims to evoke emotions or convey a particular mood or atmosphere.
  • Strong intro & conclusion : Always starts with a hook and ends with a strong yet concise overview of the entire essay to leave a long-lasting impression. 

Examples of Descriptive Essays:  

Essay 1: “ The Necklace " by Guy de Maupassant is a perfect example of a descriptive essay. It discusses the story of a middle-class woman named “ Mathilde Loisel ” who longs for a wealthy lifestyle. 

Essay 2: “ The Old Man and the Sea " by Ernest Hemingway : It is a descriptive novel about a Cuban fisherman named “ Santiago ” who thinks he is too unlucky as he hasn’t caught a single for around 84 days. But in the end, he catches a “ big shark ” on his own.

2. Narrative Essay:

“A narrative essay is a piece of art that focuses on storytelling and describing a personal experience, fictional events, or even historical narratives.”

Get more info about narrative essay at Study.com .

Key Elements of Narrative Essay:

  • Plot: It should have a clear yet engaging plot that includes the sequence of events that make up the story.
  • Characters: Must contain characters that can either refer to the writer or other individuals that are involved in the story. 
  • Settings: The essay should establish a vivid yet immersive setting that reflects the atmosphere and mood of your story.
  • Conflict: A conflict either internet or external is essential in a narrative essay. This is because it creates drives the arguments/story forward.
  • Storytelling: Use a clear and engaging narrative arc with a beginning, middle, and end that propels the reader forward.
  • Theme: It should efficiently explore a deeper meaning or theme. This could be about human nature, relationships, societal issues, or any other thought-provoking concept.
  • Sensory details: The narrative essay must engage the reader's senses through vivid descriptions of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. 

Examples of Narrative Essays:

Essay 1: “ The Lottery " by Shirley Jackson can be taken as an excellent example of a narrative essay. It describes a small town gathering to hold a yearly lottery festival. But instead of winning money, the " winner " gets stoned by the whole community. That's the shocking twist in "The Lottery," where a seemingly normal tradition masks a disturbing hidden practice

Essay 2: “ The Things They Carried " by Tim O'Brien. Here the writer describes the emotional and psychological impact of the Vietnam War on young American soldiers.

3. Argumentative Essay

“An argumentative essay is one that efficiently explains the opinions about both sides of an issue. It aims to persuade the reader to agree with a particular viewpoint by presenting evidence, reasoning, and counterarguments.”

Check Argumentative Essay guide by University of Toledo

Key Elements of Argumentative Essay:

  • Clear thesis statement: The essay should start with a clear and concise thesis statement that presents the writer's position on the topic and the main arguments they will use to support it.
  • Evidence support: It should contain facts, statistics, expert opinions, research, and examples to back up the claims and strengthen the argument. 
  • Counterarguments: Briefly mention and refute opposing arguments to demonstrate the strength of your own.
  • Logical structure: All the arguments should be structured properly so that readers can easily go through them. 
  • Formal language: Academic tone and style are maintained, avoiding informal language and emotional appeals.

 Examples of Argumentative Essays:

Essay 1: “ Should Everyone Go to College? ” is an example of an argumentative essay in which the writer has efficiently described the arguments to address the main question. 

Essay 2: “ Performance Enhancements Through Biotechnology Has No Place in Sports ” discusses that athletes use performance-enhancing substances especially biotechnologies like gene therapy. 

4. Persuasive Essay

“A persuasive essay aims to persuade the reader to adopt your point of view on a particular issue through arguments and evidence.”

Visit 11trees to get more info. 

Key Elements of Persuasive Essay

  • Compelling thesis statement: It states the specific opinion or belief that the writer wants the reader to adopt engagingly and attractively.
  • Credible evidence & sources : Should contain accurate statistics, and expert opinions to strengthen your claims and build trust with the reader.
  • Appeal to emotions: The essay must evoke feelings like concern, hope, fear, or excitement to influence the reader's perspective.
  • Formal or informal language: Can have a more relaxed and engaging tone compared to the formal style of argumentative essays.
  • Proper structure or format: To persuade and engage the readers, the persuasive essay should be formatted or structured properly. 
  • Call to action: Although this is not necessary, many persuasive essays contain Call-to-action (CTA) encouraging the readers to take some kind of action. 

Examples of Persuasive Essays:

Essay 1: “ Why Students Should Eat Breakfast Every day . ” In this essay sample, the writer has tried to convince the students about the importance of breakfast every day by addressing multiple reasons. 

Essay 2: “ How Does Outdoor Exercises Impact Our Health & Well Being ” is another good example of a persuasive essay. The writer has provided four reasons about how outdoor exercises can contribute to better health. 

5. Cause and Effect Essays

“A cause-and-effect essay explores the connections between events or situations. It aims to explain how a specific cause leads to a particular effect or, conversely, how an effect can be traced back to its various causes.”

You check detailed instructions and guides on “Cause and Effect Essays” at Excelsior University .

Key Elements of Cause & Effect Essays:

  • Type: The essay either can be “ Cause focused ’’ or “ Effect focused ” or both. 
  • Thesis statement: This should start with a clear thesis statement that efficiently presents the main cause-and-effect relationship being explored.
  • Evidence and examples: The essay should provide evidence and examples to support the cause-and-effect relationship being discussed.
  • Logical organization: It should be organized in such a logical way that makes the relationship between causes and effects clear to the reader.
  • Inclusion of transitional words: The essay must contain transitional words and phrases because these will give the readers a feel that each cause and effect is properly connected with each other. 
  • Analysis & Interpretation: Include analysis and interpretation to efficiently explain the causes and effects that are being described. 
  • Conclusion: Should have a concise conclusion explaining causes and effects while referring to the thesis statement. 

Examples of Cause-and-Effect Essays:

Essay 1: “ The Effect of Divorce on Children .” This was written by a student in which he/she has discussed both positive and negative consequences of divorce on children. 

Essay 2: “ The Causes of Air Pollution ” is another good example in which the writer has explained some of the major causes or sources of air pollution. 

6. Compare and Contrast Essays

“A compare and contrast essay analyzes two or more subjects, highlighting their similarities and differences to provide a deeper understanding of each.”

Visit Del Mar College for more information. 

Key Elements of Compare & Contrast Essays:

  • Focus: It is always written on two subjects that can be meaningfully compared and contrasted, avoiding vague or unrelated topics.
  • Clear thesis statement: Always start with a clear thesis statement that identifies the subjects being compared and contrasted and presents the main points of comparison or contrast.
  • Strong structure: The essay should compare or contrast both subjects using a strong structure like point-by-point or subject-by-subject. 
  • Evidence & examples: Must contain evidence and examples to support the comparisons and contrasts.
  • Fairness & balance: The essay should acknowledge both the similarities and differences of the subjects, instead of just favoring one. 
  • Use of transitional words & phrases: The inclusion of transition words and phrases will make it easier for the readers to efficiently go through the analysis. 
  • Effective conclusion: It must have a conclusion that efficiently summarizes the main points of comparison or contrast while also reinforcing the thesis statement.

Example of Compare and Contrast Essays:

Essay 1: “ The Senate & the House of Representatives (Page 4) ” is a perfect example of a compare and contrast essay as it efficiently highlights both the differences and similarities between “ Senate ” and “ The House of Representatives. ”

7. Definition Essays

“A definition essay is a type of essay that defines and explains the meaning of a particular term, concept, or idea.”

For more: https://paradisevalley.libguides.com/ENG102/definition_essay

Key Elements of Definition Essays:

  • Clear and concise definition: It provides a simple yet short definition for the term, idea, or topic that is being addressed. 
  • Explanation & interpretation: The essay must explain or interpret the main topic in complete detail, providing insights into its origin, history, usage, and significance.
  • Examples & illustrations: Examples and illustrations can help to clarify and reinforce the definition of the chosen topic.
  • Structure or organization: It should follow a logical and clear structure, typically beginning with a definition, exploring different aspects, and concluding with a final thought.
  • Language & delivery: A definition essay is always written in a clear and engaging writing style, instead of technical or complex language. 

Examples of Definition Essays:

Essay 1: “ What is trust ” is an example of a definition essay in which the writer has efficiently described the meaning and the concept behind the word “ Trust .”

Essay 2: “ Definition of Cultural Romance ” is another excellent example of a definition essay.

8. Process Essay

“A process essay explains the step-by-step explanation of how something is done or how something works. It provides a clear and informative guide for readers who want to understand or undertake the process themselves.”

Read more about process essays at Lumen Learning .

Key Elements of Process Essay:

  • A clear purpose: It is always written on a topic that has well-defined steps that can be logically explained to the audience. 
  • Break-down of step-by-step instructions: Obviously, the essay should explain step-by-step instructions for completing the process being described.
  • A list of materials, equipment, or ingredients: It should highlight the use of necessary materials, equipment, or ingredients for the efficient completion of the task. 
  • Use of clear and concise: Using clear & concise is necessary during the step-by-step procedure for ease of understanding of the readers. 
  • Chronological order: Each step mentioned in a process essay should relate to the previous one. 
  • Visuals: Depending on the process complexity, the essay can include visuals such as tables, charts, and diagrams for ease of understanding. 
  • Conclusion: The conclusion should concisely wrap the entire essay while sticking to the main idea. 

Examples of Process Essay:

Essay 1: “ How to live a Happy Life ” in this process essay example, the writer has explained multiple that readers can consider following to live a happy life. 

9. Reflective Essay

“A reflective essay is an academic essay where you explore a past experience, event, or situation and analyze how it impacted your thoughts, feelings, and overall understanding of yourself and the world.”

More help on “what is Reflective Essay and how to write” at Australian College of Applied Professions

Key Elements of Reflective Essay:

  • Meaningful personal experience: Reflective essays always revolve around personal experiences, thoughts, and emotions.
  • Compelling thesis statement : It always starts with compelling yet emotional thesis statements to engage the readers. 
  • Description of the experience: Provides a detailed description of the experience being reflected upon, including the context, setting, and events that occurred.
  • Deep analysis & interpretation: A reflective essay goes beyond superficial descriptions. It efficiently explores and explains the thoughts, feelings, and motivations before, during, and after the experience.
  • Connection to universal themes: It is necessary to connect your personal experiences to broader theoretical concepts or academic frameworks.
  • Organization: The essay follows a logical structure (intro, main body, conclusion) to guide the readers. 
  • Meaningful conclusion: The conclusion of a reflective essay should offer a concluding thought, reflection, or insight that encapsulates the overall learning and personal journey.

Example of Reflective Essay:

Essay 1: “ Fieldwork Experience ” can be a good example of a reflective essay. Because it describes both the negative and positive experiences, emotions, and feelings of a person who belongs to fieldwork. 

10. Critical Analysis Essay

“A critical analysis essay examines and evaluates someone else's work, such as a book, an essay, a film, or a piece of art.”

More info is available at Thompson River University .

Key Elements of Critical Analysis Essay:

  • A strong thesis statement: A critical analysis essay efficiently presents a focused argument about the work's strengths, weaknesses, effectiveness, or impact in the thesis statement. 
  • In-depth analysis: The essay requires in-depth analysis and evaluation of the work being analyzed.
  • Evidence & Examples: All the analysis or arguments in it should be supported by evidence or examples for maximum credibility. 
  • Use of formal & engaging language: It is written in a formal and engaging to show both the writer’s professionalism and keep the readers engaged. 
  • Insightful conclusion: The conclusion should efficiently relate all the key points in a concise while making the final statement/verdict. 

Example of Critical Analysis Essay:

Essay 1: “ Oklahoma Movie Critical Analysis ” discusses every detail about the movie from ticket price to the experience of buying a ticket inside the cinema, movie scenes, and many more. 

11. Critical Essays

“There is only a minor difference between a critical essay and a critical analysis essay. A critical essay is a form of academic writing that analyzes and evaluates a text, artwork, film, or any other kind of creative work.”

Read more at Literary Devices .

Key Elements of Critical Essays:

  • Thesis statement: Always start with a clear thesis statement that presents the main argument or interpretation of the work being analyzed.
  • Based on deep analysis: The essay is written by performing an in-depth analysis of the work using critical thinking abilities to make it broader. 
  • Engagement with secondary sources: Depending on the type of work, a critical essay may involve engaging with secondary sources such as literary criticism, scholarly articles, or theoretical frameworks.
  • Critical perspective: The essay must require a critical perspective, which involves questioning, challenging, and evaluating the assumptions, biases, and intentions of the work being analyzed. 
  • Evidence & Reasoning: All the claims or arguments should be supported with specific examples from the work, expert opinions, historical references, or other relevant evidence. 
  • Conclusion: End up with a short conclusion, summarizing all the main points discussed in the critical essay. 

Example of Critical Essay:

Essay 1: “ Critical Essay on Tess of the d’Urbervilles ” can be a good example of a critical essay.

12. Expository Essay

“An expository essay aims to explain, inform, or describe a particular topic, idea, or concept.”

Find more info here CSUEastbay.edu

Key Elements of Expository Essay:

  • Fully focused thesis statement: An expository essay efficiently states the intended outcome: what the reader will learn by the end of your essay.
  • Follow a certain tone: The essays are written in an informative and objective tone, presenting factual information and avoiding personal opinions or biases.
  • Contains transition words: Loaded with words like “ Then ,” “ Next ,” etc. so that a logical connection is created between the sentences. 
  • Simple organization: The essay follows a simple sequential structure so that readers can be guided easily toward the end. 
  • Conclusion: The essay should conclude by summarizing the main points and restating the thesis statement.

Examples of Expository Essay:

Essay 1: “ Understanding Mental Health and Its Impact on Individuals and Society ” has efficiently discussed the definition, explanation, causes, and impacts of mental health on both individuals and society. 

13. Review Essay

“A review essay evaluates and analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of a particular work, such as a book, film, artwork, or academic paper.”

Get more info at Best Essays

Key Elements of Review Essay:

  • Introduction: Efficiently describes the main thesis or argument of the review essay. It should also offer necessary background information about the subject.
  • Analysis: The review essay should also evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the work through evidence and examples. 
  • Critique: It should explain the reviewer's opinion or perspective on the work while also highlighting notable aspects that contribute to the work's value or significance.
  • Maintain a neutral yet critical tone: The essay should acknowledge different perspectives while expressing the writer’s own informed opinion.
  • Conclusion: It must have a short conclusion that summarizes the entire information discussed in the essay within a few sentences. 

Example of Review Essay:

Essay 1: “ Place-Based Learning Geographies of Writing & How Place Still Matters in Writing Studies ” is an excellent example of a review essay. As it efficiently evaluates how the location of writing affects the student’s abilities. 

14. Rhetorical Analysis Essay

“A rhetorical analysis essay examines how authors or speakers use rhetorical devices and strategies to achieve their intended purpose and persuade their audience.”

Learn more about Rhetorical Analysis Essay (a guide by studysmarter.co.uk)

Key Elements Rhetorical Analysis Essay:

  • Impactful introduction: It must start with an introduction that provides context for the rhetorical analysis.
  • Identification of Rhetorical Strategies: The essay should identify and analyze the rhetorical strategies used in the text, such as ethos (appeals to credibility), pathos (appeals to emotions), and logos (appeals to logic).
  • Evaluation of effectiveness: The essay should evaluate the effectiveness of the author's rhetorical strategies in achieving their intended purpose.
  • Textual Evidence : The analysis needed to be supported by textual evidence from the text being analyzed.
  • Contextualization: Analysis should be situated within the broader context of the text, as well as its historical, cultural, and social context.
  • Clear organization: Must organized logically, typically structuring it with an introduction, body paragraphs analyzing specific aspects of the rhetoric, and a concluding reflection.
  • Conclusion: Briefly summarize your key points and restate your thesis in a new light.

Example of Rhetorical Analysis Essay:

Essay 1: “ Rhetorical Strategies in Grose's "Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier ” discussed how the author “ Grose ” used rhetorical strategies to efficiently convey the intended message. 

15. Analytical Essay

“An analytical essay takes a subject and examines it critically, dissecting its components and exploring its deeper meaning, significance, or impact.”

Key Elements of Analytical Essay:

  • Clear & focused thesis statement: It should have a statement that succinctly summarizes your central argument about the subject's meaning, significance, or unique qualities.
  • In-depth analysis: The analytical essay needed to be based on in-depth analysis and interpretation of the topic being analyzed.
  • Inclusion of evidence: All the analysis in the essay should be supported with credible evidence or examples. 
  • Objective & informed perspective: The essay should maintain a neutral and objective tone, avoiding personal opinions or biases.

Find more about “writing an analytical essay” at Habib University .

Example of Analytical Essay:

Essay 1: “ Critical Thinking & Writing for Nursing Students ” in this analytical essay example, the nursing students are introduced to both critical and reflective thinking, so that they can become successful in their nursing careers. 

16. Literary Analysis Essay

“A literary analysis essay is a type of analytical essay that focuses specifically on analyzing a piece of literature, such as a novel, short story, poem, or play.”

Key Elements of Literary Analysis Essay:

  • Strong introduction: It presents a specific and arguable claim about the work's meaning, technique, or impact.
  • Analysis of literary elements: The essay should analyze the literary elements used in the work, such as plot, character, setting, theme, symbolism, and imagery.
  • Evidence & reasoning: Support the author's claims with specific textual evidence (quotes, examples, descriptions) and relevant critical analysis.
  • Engaging with multiple perspectives: The essay should acknowledge and discuss differing interpretations of the work.
  • Engagement with secondary sources: Depending on the requirements of the assignment, literary analysis essays may involve engaging with secondary sources such as literary criticism, scholarly articles, or theoretical frameworks.
  • Conclusion: The conclusion should offer reflections on the significance of the analysis and its implications for understanding the work being analyzed.

How to write a Literary analysis essay, key points and precautions: Bucks County Community College .

Example of Literary Analysis Essay:

Essay 1: “ The Old Man & The Sea (Page 2) ” in this example, the writer has done an in-depth analysis of the famous novel written by Ernest Hemingway .

17. Five-Paragraph Essay

“Five-paragraph essay is a widely known essay type that is usually taught to primary school students. It is based on a 5Ws rule (What, Who, When, Why, and Where sometimes “how” as well).”

Key Elements of Five Paragraph Essay:

  • Introduction (1 paragraph): It should have an introduction that provides background information on the topic and presents the main thesis or argument.
  • Main body (3 paragraphs): The main body should describe or address the main topic in detail using evidence and examples. 
  • Conclusion (1 paragraph): The conclusion should describe the summary of the main points made in the body paragraphs and a restatement of the thesis statement. 

University of Maryland Global Campus has described how you can write a perfect five-paragraph essay. 

Example of a paragraph Essay:

Essay 1: “ The Benefits of Regular Exercise ” explained the advantages of working out regularly within five paragraphs. 

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What are the seven different types of academic essay?

5 common types of essay

This is the third and final chapter about Essays . To complete this reader, read each chapter carefully and then unlock and complete our materials to check your understanding.   

– Discuss why essays may vary in type

– Describe the seven different essay types

– Provide example essay questions for each type

Chapter 1: What is an academic essay?

Chapter 2: What are the six different essay lengths?

Chapter 3: What are the seven different types of academic essay?

Before you begin reading...

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  • skills practices, tasks and assignments

There are many different  essay types   that you may be required to write throughout your university education, and each type will generally depend upon the task you’ve been set – which is often indicated by the essay question . Of course, the type of essay you’re required to write can depend on the level of education you are in (secondary vs. tertiary) and the courses you are studying (skills vs. content, or arts vs. sciences). The following seven essay types are likely the most common types that you’ll find in academic writing courses.

1. Cause and Effect Essays

The purpose of a  cause and effect essay   is usually to explain to the reader the connection between an event or situation (the cause) and the result that such an event or situation has created (the effect). Such essay types may well include an evaluation of that cause as well as the general implications or wider impact of those effects – such as what would happen to a select group of people or a particular country in those circumstance. Below is one possible essay question :

About Essay Types 3.1 Cause and Effect Question

2. Compare and Contrast Essays

The main purpose of a compare and contrast essay  is to take two or more concepts, events or ideas and compare them for similarities or contrast them for differences. Such essays may cover any kind of topic, although are usually determined by the subject that the student is studying. One such compare and contrast essay question might be:

About Essay Types 3.2 Compare and Contrast Question

3. Descriptive Essays

Descriptive essays are often described as being the essay type which brings a topic ‘alive’ for the reader by describing that topic in significant detail. The idea is that the writer explains a topic in such a level of detail that the reader will be able to hear, see or feel what’s being described. Such essays then will clearly draw on the five human senses and may be more poetic or reflective in nature (and perhaps therefore more restrictive in the types of essay question possible):

About Essay Types 3.3 Descriptive Question

4. Evaluative Essays

Evaluative essays are intended to help the writer present their opinion through criteria and evidence. Although similar to persuasive essays in that the writer will provide a stance on an argument, the focus of an evaluative essay is instead that the writer provides their overall opinion on a topic, a judgement of that opinion (such as its strengths and weaknesses), criteria for arriving at that conclusion, and evidence to support that particular viewpoint. Such essay questions for this essay type are varied, but might look somewhat similar to the following:

About Essay Types 3.4 Evaluative Question

5. Persuasive Essays

Persuasive (or argumentative) essays tend to demonstrate that there are two (or possibly more) opinions to any given topic and provide evidence for both sides of the argument. Commonly, the writer will take a stance in this essay type and provide more evidence for one side of the debate than the other. Despite the writer’s overall opinion, persuasive essays should always include counter arguments  to the writer’s argument so as to remain objective, as would be necessary for the following question:

About Essay Types 3.5 Persuasive Question

6. Problem-Solution Essays

The purpose of a problem-solution essay is so that a problem (which may be the writer’s choice or at the discretion of the tutor) may be identified and possible solutions determined for that issue. This essay type usually involves also providing an evaluation of those solutions (such as their strengths, weaknesses and viability) as well as evidence to support them. One such problem-solution essay question might be similar to the following:

About Essay Types 3.6 Problem-Solution Question

7. Process Essays

The final, and perhaps easiest, type of common academic  essay is the process essay ,  the purpose of which is to explain to the reader how something happens or how to replicate a process themselves. Also known as a ‘how-to’ essay, this essay type involves the writer explaining a particular process either through defining it, by showing the particular processes in a step-by-step manner, or by describing in detail how something works. Such essay questions for this type might be as follows:

About Essay Types 3.7 Process Question

Please note that although listed separately here, it is possible that an essay could have aspects of more than one of these seven essay types. Having an understanding of these types will therefore help you to utilise them and hopefully improve your writing. If you’d like to check comprehension of these concepts as explained in Chapters 1 to 3, consider downloading our beginner-, intermediate– and advanced-level worksheets for this topic.

To reference this reader:

Academic Marker (2022) Essays . Available at: https://academicmarker.com/academic-guidance/assignments/essays/ (Accessed: Date Month Year).

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Understanding 17 Different Types of Essays and Their Uses in Academic Writing

Jan 27, 2024 | 0 comments

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Essay writing is a popular form of academic writing that allows individuals to express their thoughts and ideas on a specific topic. There are various types of writing out there, and essay writing is just one type of writing. In an essay, the writer presents a thesis statement, which is the main point of the piece of writing. Different essays use different methods to analyze and explain the topic they are writing about. From analytical essays to expository writing, there are many different kinds of essays that one may come across. A definition essay seeks to explain the meaning of a term or concept, while a literary analysis essay delves into the deeper meaning of a piece of literature. College essays often require students to write persuasive essays, while reflective essays require individuals to tell a story and reflect on their experiences. Other types of essays include narrative and descriptive essays, critical essays, and more. Each essay is unique and requires different techniques in the body paragraph to effectively convey the message you’re writing. This comprehensive guide will explore the different types of essays and provide insight into the various writing styles and purposes they serve.

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What are the four main types of essays?

I. narrative essays.

In a narrative essay, you tell a story. It’s like sharing a personal experience with your readers. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Definition and Characteristics : A narrative essay is one where you narrate events or experiences. It’s like spinning a tale, but it’s based on real-life events. The key characteristic is the storytelling aspect, where you engage readers with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
  • Examples of Narrative Essays : Think of essays where you recount your first day of school, a memorable trip, or a significant life event. These are all narrative essays that draw readers into your world.
  • Start with a strong hook to grab your readers’ attention.
  • Use vivid descriptions and sensory details to paint a picture in your readers’ minds.
  • Organize your essay chronologically to ensure a smooth flow of events.

II.  Descriptive Essays

In descriptive essays, you paint a vivid picture using words. It’s all about creating an emotional response through your descriptions.

  • Definition and Characteristics : A descriptive essay is one where you vividly describe a person, place, object, or event. It’s like taking your readers on a sensory journey, engaging their senses to imagine what you’re describing.
  • Examples of Descriptive Essays : Imagine describing a bustling city street, a serene beach at sunset, or your favorite childhood memory. These are all examples of descriptive essays that appeal to the senses.
  • Appeal to all five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
  • Use metaphors and similes to make your descriptions more vivid and engaging.
  • Show, don’t tell. Instead of simply stating facts, let your readers experience the scene through your words.

III. Expository Essays

Expository essays are all about presenting facts and explaining ideas. They’re like informative pieces that delve into a topic.

  • Definition and Characteristics : An expository essay is meant to explain or inform. It’s a well-structured piece of writing that involves presenting facts, evidence, and examples to support your ideas.
  • Examples of Expository Essays : Essays that explain the process of photosynthesis, analyze the causes of climate change, or discuss the impact of technology on society are all examples of expository writing.
  • Start with a clear thesis statement that states the main idea of your essay.
  • Use logical transitions to guide your readers through your ideas.
  • Support your arguments with reliable sources and evidence.

IV.  Persuasive Essays

In persuasive essays, you aim to convince your readers to agree with your viewpoint or take a specific action. It’s about building a strong argument and presenting it convincingly.

  • Definition and Characteristics : A persuasive essay is one where you try to persuade your audience to adopt your point of view or take a particular course of action. It relies on logic, reasoning, and emotional appeals to make a compelling argument.
  • Examples of Persuasive Essays : Essays that argue for stricter gun control laws, advocate for environmental conservation, or promote healthier eating habits are all examples of persuasive writing.
  • Clearly state your position and provide strong evidence to support it.
  • Anticipate and address counterarguments to strengthen your case.
  • Use persuasive language and emotional appeals to connect with your readers and inspire action.

🎈 Other Essay Types

I. argumentative essays.

Argumentative essays are distinct from persuasive essays in that they focus more on presenting evidence and logical reasoning rather than emotional appeals.

  • Definition and Differences from Persuasive Essays : Argumentative essays aim to present evidence and logical arguments to support a specific viewpoint, while persuasive essays often rely on emotional appeals to convince the audience.
  • Examples of Argumentative Essays : Essays debating the legalization of marijuana, the impact of technology on society, or the effectiveness of standardized testing are common examples of argumentative writing.
  • Acknowledge and address opposing viewpoints to demonstrate fairness.
  • Provide credible evidence and logical reasoning to support your claims.
  • Use clear and concise language to articulate your position and refute counterarguments.

II.  Cause and Effect Essays

Cause and effect essays explore the relationship between actions and consequences, examining why things happen and their outcomes.

  • Definition and Characteristics : Cause and effect essays analyze the causes of a particular phenomenon and the effects or consequences. They aim to explain the chain of events leading to a specific outcome.
  • Examples of Cause-and-Effect Essays : Essays on the causes of obesity, the effects of climate change, or the impact of social media on relationships illustrate the structure and purpose of cause-and-effect writing.
  • Identify the primary causes and their corresponding effects.
  • Use transitional phrases to indicate causal relationships, such as “as a result,” “consequently,” or “therefore.”
  • Provide concrete examples and evidence to support your analysis.

III. Compare and Contrast Essays

Compare and contrast essays highlight similarities and differences between two subjects, helping readers gain a deeper understanding of both.

  • Definition and Characteristics : Compare and contrast essays examine the similarities and differences between two subjects or ideas. They typically involve analyzing the features of each subject and identifying commonalities and distinctions.
  • Examples of Compare and Contrast Essays : Essays comparing different leadership styles, contrasting cultural traditions, or analyzing two literary works showcase the structure and purpose of compare and contrast writing.
  • Use a clear organizational structure, such as point-by-point or subject-by-subject, to facilitate comparison.
  • Focus on significant similarities and differences that help the reader understand the subjects more deeply.
  • Provide specific examples and evidence to support your comparisons and contrasts.

IV.  Process Essays

Process essays explain how to do something or how something works, guiding readers through a series of steps or procedures.

  • Definition and Characteristics : Process essays describe a process or procedure sequentially, detailing each step involved. They aim to help the reader understand how something is done or how it works.
  • Examples of Process Essays : Essays outlining how to bake a cake, how to build a website, or how photosynthesis occurs in plants exemplify the structure and purpose of process writing.
  • Break down the process into clear, logical steps that are easy to follow.
  • Use transition words and phrases to indicate the sequence of steps, such as “first,” “next,” “then,” and “finally.”
  • Include descriptive details and practical tips to help the reader complete the process.

V. Analytical Essays

Analytical essays delve into the components of a topic or issue, examining its elements and relationships in detail.

  • Definition and Characteristics : Analytical essays analyze a subject by breaking it down into its constituent parts and examining how they contribute to the whole. They aim to provide insight and understanding through careful examination and interpretation.
  • Examples of Analytical Essays : Essays analyzing the themes in a literary work, dissecting the components of a scientific theory, or evaluating the effectiveness of a marketing campaign demonstrate the structure and purpose of analytical writing.
  • Clearly define the scope and focus of your analysis.
  • Break down complex ideas into manageable components for examination.
  • Support your analysis with evidence, examples, and logical reasoning.

VI.  Reflective Essays

Reflective essays explore personal experiences and insights, encouraging introspection and self-discovery.

  • Definition and Characteristics : Reflective essays recount personal experiences or moments of self-discovery, offering insights and reflections on their significance. They aim to evoke an emotional response and encourage readers to contemplate their own experiences.
  • Examples of Reflective Essays : Essays reflecting on a transformative life event, recounting a meaningful conversation, or exploring personal growth and development illustrate the structure and purpose of reflective writing.
  • Be honest and introspective in your reflections, sharing both successes and challenges.
  • Use descriptive language to convey emotions and sensory details.
  • Reflect on the lessons learned and the impact of the experience on your personal growth.

VII. Critical Analysis Essays

Critical analysis essays evaluate and critique ideas, arguments, or works of art, offering informed judgments and interpretations.

  • Definition and Characteristics : Critical analysis essays assess the strengths and weaknesses of a subject, offering thoughtful critiques and interpretations. They aim to help the reader gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the subject matter.
  • Examples of Critical Analysis Essays : Essays analyzing a film’s cinematography, critiquing a scholarly article, or evaluating a political speech demonstrate the structure and purpose of critical analysis writing.
  • Approach the subject with an open mind, considering multiple perspectives and interpretations.
  • Provide evidence and examples to support your analysis and conclusions.
  • Engage with scholarly sources and reputable sources of information to inform your critique.

Common Essays in College

I.  Definition Essay : In a definition essay, you elucidate the meaning of a term or concept. This type of essay doesn’t merely offer a dictionary definition; rather, it delves into the nuances and various interpretations of the term, providing clarity and depth to its meaning.

II. Research Essays : Research essays entail extensive investigation and analysis of a topic. Unlike other essays that rely on personal experiences or opinions, research essays necessitate a thorough examination of existing literature, data, and scholarly sources to formulate and support a coherent argument or thesis statement.

III.  Review Essays : Review essays critically evaluate a particular work, such as a book, film, or piece of art. They offer insightful commentary on the strengths, weaknesses, and overall significance of the work, providing readers with a nuanced understanding and informed perspective.

IV. Autobiography Essay : Autobiography essays narrate the life experiences and personal journeys of the author. They allow writers to reflect on significant moments, challenges overcome, and lessons learned, offering readers glimpses into the author’s unique perspective and the fleeting nature of life.

V.  Explicatory Essays : Explicatory essays aim to elucidate complex literary or philosophical texts. They involve a detailed analysis and interpretation of the text’s themes, symbols, and narrative techniques, providing readers with deeper insights and appreciation for the work’s artistic merit.

VI. Synthesis Essays : Synthesis essays require an original argument that integrates ideas from multiple sources. They involve synthesizing diverse perspectives, theories, and empirical evidence to construct a coherent and compelling thesis statement, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

VII.  Informative Essays : Informative essays provide factual information on a topic, presenting it in a clear, concise manner. They aim to educate and enlighten readers on various subjects, from scientific principles to historical events, empowering them to form their own opinions and positions on the topic.

Choosing the Right Type of Essay

Choosing the right type of essay can greatly enhance the effectiveness of your message and engage your audience more effectively. Here’s how to navigate through the decision-making process:

  • Understand Your Purpose : Before selecting an essay type, consider the purpose of your writing. Are you aiming to narrate a personal experience, inform your audience about a topic, persuade them to adopt a particular viewpoint, or analyze complex concepts? Clarifying your purpose will guide you toward the most appropriate essay form.
  • Consider Your Audience : Think about who will be reading your essay. Are they academic peers, professionals in your field, or a general audience? Tailoring your writing to the preferences and expectations of your audience will help you choose an essay type that resonates with them and effectively communicates your message.
  • Evaluate Your Topic : Examine the nature of your topic and the type of information you need to convey. Is it primarily factual and informational, requiring an expository or informative approach? Or does it involve contrasting viewpoints and arguments, suggesting a persuasive or argumentative essay? Understanding your topic’s nuances will inform your choice of essay type.
  • Assess Your Strengths : Reflect on your strengths and preferences as a writer. Are you skilled at crafting vivid narratives, analyzing complex ideas, or presenting logical arguments? Choosing an essay type that aligns with your strengths and interests will enable you to showcase your abilities and produce more compelling writing.

Get Help from our Experts with any Type of Essay

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What are the most common types of essays?

An essay may take on many forms, including like narrative essays , narrative writing , reflective writing , and persuasive writing . These essays are common in academia and can vary significantly in their approach to writing .

What is the purpose of an argumentative essay?

The purpose of an argumentative essay is to convince the reader of a particular viewpoint or idea. These essays aim to showcase the writer’s writing skills and their ability to use personal or figurative language to make a strong case for their argument.

What is the purpose of an expository essay?

An expository essay serves the purpose of providing a quick summary or complete story of a particular topic, without necessarily taking a stance. This type of essay provides factual information clearly and concisely.

What are the four types of essays?

The four types of essays include expository and argumentative essays , as well as another type known as persuasive and narrative essays . Each type serves a different purpose and essays are often used to gauge a student’s comprehension of a topic.

How are expository essays different from narrative essays?

Expository essays typically present factual information in a well-organized and structured manner, while narrative essays are focused on telling a story and creating a complete narrative around a specific event or experience. Unlik e narrative essays

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5 Common Types of High School Essays (With Examples)

  • Last modified 2023-10-18
  • Published on 2021-08-28

5 common types of essay

When it comes to high school essays, descriptive and narrative essays are very similar in the sense that they encourage writers to be creative in expressing their ideas. Expository and argumentative essays focus on providing clear information and making compelling points. Analytical essays require writers to present their arguments and are intended to enhance readers’ understanding of a topic, while persuasive writers try to persuade readers to accept a point of view.

In this article, we will go into details about each one to help you better define the type and the writing method when you start writing. 

1. Descriptive high school essays

A descriptive essay asks writers to describe something vividly —object, person, place, experience, emotion, situation, etc., but more commonly you will be asked to describe something abstract —emotions, experiences, or something outside of your typical experience.

A descriptive essay allows writers to be creative and have the freedom to express, especially when the topic is personal about them and what they care about, for example, their favorite food or their culture. Even though this sounds easy, this type of essay tests the writer’s ability to make appropriate word choices and have a strong creativity to help readers visualize the overall picture of what they are writing about. A descriptive essay normally starts with introducing the subject or object of description, continuing with giving an overall picture, and then going into details.

Below is an example of a descriptive essay from Yourdictionary :

I watched a thunderstorm, far out over the sea. It began quietly, and with nothing visible except tall dark clouds and a rolling tide. There was just a soft murmur of thunder as I watched the horizon from my balcony. Over the next few minutes, the clouds closed and reflected lightning set the rippling ocean aglow. The thunderheads had covered up the sun, shadowing the vista. It was peaceful for a long time.

I was looking up when the first clear thunderbolt struck. It blazed against the sky and sea; I could see its shape in perfect reverse colors when I blinked. More followed. The thunder rumbled and stuttered as if it could hardly keep up. There were openings in the cloud now, as if the sky were torn, and spots of brilliant blue shone above the shadowed sea.

I looked down then, watching the waves. Every bolt was answered by a moment of spreading light on the surface. The waves were getting rough, rising high and crashing hard enough that I could hear them.

Then came the rain. It came all at once and in sheets, soaking the sand, filling the sea. It was so dense I could only see the lightning as flashes of light. It came down so hard the thunder was drowned. Everything was rhythmic light and shadow, noise and silence, blending into a single experience of all five senses.

In an instant it stopped. The storm broke. The clouds came apart like curtains. The rain still fell, but softly now. It was as if there had never been a storm at all, except for a single signature. A rainbow, almost violently bright, spread above and across the water. I could see the horizon again.

2. Narrative Essay

A narrative high school essay is similar to a descriptive essay but focuses more on the story description rather than object description. The story can be about a personal experience that the writer has had, an event, a story, an incident. Writers can even narrate a fictional experience that they haven’t had. Narrative essays are typically written in the first person. For example, the personal statement high school students have to write for college applications.

The purpose of a narrative essay is not only to tell a story, but also to highlight the importance of the experience. Therefore, to write a perfect narrative essay, writers must include the elements of settings, context, plot, ending, and climax.

We have an example from a student’s work, which was published on the blog: People’s Republic of Creativity

Glup, glup.

I sat watching the plunger slowly make its way down the tube and into Miriam’s body. Inside the tube was a clear unknown liquid that would soon be injected into my own body. This was the third time this week, the twelfth time this month, and who knows how many times since we have been trapped in this hell on earth. Each day, we have only been given the bare minimum of food, water, and sleep. I don’t know how much longer we can survive before deemed useless by him.

Miriam fell out of her chair and onto the cold concrete floor, screaming in pain. She scrambles for something she can grasp onto to prop her malnourished body up. Then the piercing sound just suddenly stopped. Her thin arms that look only of bones and skin drop to the ground and she lay still on the floor, as if she were…dead. Please don’t tell me she’s dead! No, she couldn’t be; we promised each other to live until the day of liberation.

She needs to live.

It was my turn. He walked over with a syringe full of what had just been injected into Miriam. I try to focus on the red, black, and white badge on his left arm instead of letting the fear crawl in and take over my brain. But the unsettling tension stirs my thoughts around and around.

“Twin A1387, let’s hope what happened to your sister doesn’t happen to you.” He smirked. The needle pierced through my skin and my body was suddenly aflame. The raging blaze spread through every one of my veins, until I was shrouded in darkness.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in an empty confinement. The space next to me, the space for Miriam, was empty too. Where was everyone? Most importantly, where was Miriam?

I got up and set my bare foot onto the dirty, wooden floor. Suddenly, my head started spinning and along with it, the world spun too. I fell to the ground, and when I could finally lift my head, what I saw above me terrified me. It was him, death in human form, and beside him were four of his helpers. They grabbed my arms and forced me to stand up.

“Good morning A1387. I am afraid your dear twin sister couldn’t handle the injections from yesterday. Let’s hope your fragile little limbs can endure those chemicals. I wonder how many more injections it will take for you to meet your pathetic sister,” he said, patting my head. His tone was playful, but deadly.

I froze. What? Miriam…dead? That one word, “twins”, has taken away everything of what feels like my past life, and now my last hope? I felt a surge of anger, hatred, sadness, fear, devastation swirling inside me like boiling lava in a volcano, ready to erupt. I wanted to scream, to shout, to kill him, but I couldn’t. My soft limbs felt as if they would collapse merely by trying to stand up. They would be harmless and defenceless against the Angel of Death. When he saw the hatred on my face, he started laughing hysterically and simply said, “What a shame; she was only 13. I cannot wait to see how long it will take for you to fall apart!”

3. Expository Essay

According to Purdue University , the expository essay is a genre of essay that requires the student to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner. To accomplish this, writers use the method of comparison and contrast, definition, example, cause, and effect, etc.

Writers are not required to argue or make a personal opinion, but to present balanced and well-organized facts and figures.

In an expository essay–as the name suggests–you need to expose the particular subject in question by providing enough information. It is an informative piece of writing that provides a balanced analysis of the topic. It does not contain any personal opinion; instead, it is based on real facts and figures. Therefore, this kind of high school essay is commonly assigned in high school or college in order to test students’ familiarity with a topic and ability to convey information.

This is an example from College Board’s SAT Writing Prompt.  

In response to our world’s growing reliance on artificial light, writer Paul Bogard argues that natural darkness should be preserved in his article “Let There be dark”. He effectively builds his argument by using a personal anecdote, allusions to art and history, and rhetorical questions.

Bogard starts his article off by recounting a personal story – a summer spent on a Minnesota lake where there was “woods so dark that [his] hands disappeared before [his] eyes.” In telling this brief anecdote, Bogard challenges the audience to remember a time where they could fully amass themselves in natural darkness void of artificial light. By drawing in his readers with a personal encounter about night darkness, the author means to establish the potential for beauty, glamour, and awe-inspiring mystery that genuine darkness can possess. He builds his argument for the preservation of natural darkness by reminiscing for his readers a first-hand encounter that proves the “irreplaceable value of darkness.” This anecdote provides a baseline of sorts for readers to find credence with the author’s claims.

Bogard’s argument is also furthered by his use of allusion to art – Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” – and modern history – Paris’ reputation as “The City of Light”. By first referencing “Starry Night”, a painting generally considered to be undoubtedly beautiful, Bogard establishes that the natural magnificence of stars in a dark sky is definite. A world absent of excess artificial light could potentially hold the key to a grand, glorious night sky like Van Gogh’s according to the writer. This urges the readers to weigh the disadvantages of our world consumed by unnatural, vapid lighting. Furthermore, Bogard’s alludes to Paris as “the famed ‘city of light’”. He then goes on to state how Paris has taken steps to exercise more sustainable lighting practices. By doing this, Bogard creates a dichotomy between Paris’ traditionally alluded-to name and the reality of what Paris is becoming – no longer “the city of light”, but moreso “the city of light…before 2 AM”. This furthers his line of argumentation because it shows how steps can be and are being taken to preserve natural darkness. It shows that even a city that is literally famous for being constantly lit can practically address light pollution in a manner that preserves the beauty of both the city itself and the universe as a whole.

Finally, Bogard makes subtle yet efficient use of rhetorical questioning to persuade his audience that natural darkness preservation is essential. He asks the readers to consider “what the vision of the night sky might inspire in each of us, in our children or grandchildren?” in a way that brutally plays to each of our emotions. By asking this question, Bogard draws out heartfelt ponderance from his readers about the affecting power of an untainted night sky. This rhetorical question tugs at the readers’ heartstrings; while the reader may have seen an unobscured night skyline before, the possibility that their child or grandchild will never get the chance sways them to see as Bogard sees. This strategy is definitively an appeal to pathos, forcing the audience to directly face an emotionally-charged inquiry that will surely spur some kind of response. By doing this, Bogard develops his argument, adding gutthral power to the idea that the issue of maintaining natural darkness is relevant and multifaceted.

Writing as a reaction to his disappointment that artificial light has largely permeated the presence of natural darkness, Paul Bogard argues that we must preserve true, unaffected darkness. He builds this claim by making use of a personal anecdote, allusions, and rhetorical questioning.

4. Argumentative Essay

The argumentative high school essay is similar to the expository essay, because it requires writers to present their evidence-based arguments. Writers have to present a thesis statement, gather and evaluate evidence, and establish a position on the topic. Many people think argumentative and expository essays are the same. They belong to a similar genre, but an argumentative essay requires more research than an expository essay. An expository essay is normally used in the SAT test, because test takers are required to investigate and present points from the prompts given. An argumentative essay is generally used in a final project or a capstone, which requires length and detailed research. The essay is divided into 3 parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction has a topic and thesis statement, the body has evidence and arguments, and the conclusion summarizes the arguments and potential directions for future research.

Below is an example from a GRE writing answer from ETS : 

Prompt : The best ideas arise from a passionate interest in commonplace things

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement above and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how those considerations shape your position.

Passion is clearly necessary for a truly great idea to take hold among a people—passion either

on the part of the original thinker, the audience, or ideally both. The claim that the most lucrative

subject matter for inspiring great ideas is “commonplace things” may seem initially to be counterintuitive. After all, aren’t great ideas usually marked by their extraordinary character? While this is true, their extraordinary character is as often as not directly derived from their insight into things that had theretofore gone unquestioned. While great ideas certainly can arise through seemingly pure innovation… say, for example, Big Bang cosmology, which developed nearly all of its own scientific and philosophical precepts through its own process of formation, it is nevertheless equally true that such groundbreaking thought was, and is, still largely

a reevaluation of previous assumptions to a radical degree… after all, the question of the ultimate nature of the universe, and man’s place in it, has been central to human thought since the dawn of time. Commonplace things are, additionally, necessary as material for the generation of “the best ideas” since certainly the success among an audience must be considered in evaluating the significance and quality of an idea.

The advent of Big Bang cosmology, which occurred in rudimentary form almost immediately upon Edwin Hubble’s first observations at the Hooker telescope in California during the early 20th century, was the most significant advance in mankind’s understanding of the universe in over 400 years. The seemingly simple fact that everything in the universe, on a very large scale, is moving away from everything else in fact betrays nearly all of our scientific knowledge of the origins and mechanics of the universe. This slight, one might even say commonplace, distortion of tint on a handful of photographic plates carried with it the greatest challenge to Man’s general, often religiously reinforced, conception of the nature of the world to an extent not seen since the days of Galileo. Not even Charles Darwin’s theory, though it created more of a stir than Big Bang cosmology, had such shattering implications for our conceptions of the nature of our reality. Yet it is not significant because it introduced the question of the nature of what lies beyond Man’s grasp. A tremendous number of megalithic ruins, including the Pyramids both of Mexico and Egypt, Stonehenge, and others, indicate that this question has been foremost on humankind’s collective mind since time immemorial. Big Bang cosmology is so incredibly significant in this line of reasoning exactly because of the degree to which it changed the direction of this generally held, constantly pondered, and very ancient train of thought.

Additionally, there is a diachronic significance to the advent of Big Bang cosmology, which is that, disregarding limitations such as the quality of optical devices available and the state of theoretical math, it could have happened at any point in time. That is to say, all evidence points to roughly the same raw intellectual capacity for homo sapiens throughout our history, our progress has merely depended upon the degree of it that a person happens to inherit, a pace that has been increasing rapidly since the industrial revolution. Yet this discovery had to happen at a certain point in time or another—it cannot have been happening constantly or have never happened yet still be present—and this point in time does have its own significance. That significance is precisely the fact that the aforementioned advent must have occurred at precisely the point in time at which it truly could have occurred—that is to say, it marks the point in our history when we had progressed sufficiently to begin examining, with remarkable substantiated acuity, the workings of the universe across distances that would take millions of human lifetimes to reach or to traverse. The point for the success of this advent must necessarily have been, additionally, the point at which the audience concerned was capable and prepared to accept such a radical line of reasoning.

Both factors, a radical, passionate interpretation of the commonplace and the preparedness to accept such an interpretation, are necessary for the formulation of a truly great idea. If the passion is absent from an inquiry by the thinker or by the bulk of an audience, the idea will die out if it comes to fruition at all. If the material is not sufficiently commonplace to be considered by an informed audience of sufficient size, the same two hazards exist. Given these two factors, the idea must still be found palatable and interesting by the audience if it is to hope to gain a foothold and eventually establish itself in a significant fashion.

5. Analytical Essay

An analytical essay is a writing genre that provides an in-depth analysis of a topic, ranging from art, music, literary text to politics, science and philosophy, etc. Analytical essays can boost a writer’s writing skills and overall comprehension of a topic, while helping readers become more educated about the subjects of importance. This type of essay is not to persuade readers to a certain point of view, but to provide a well-rounded and comprehensive analysis for the readers. The analytical essay is normally used in the GRE writing section.

A good analytical essay includes a thesis statement that states your main argument, followed by an analysis of your thesis and evidence to support it.

We will take an example from a student’s work about CRISPR, a genetic engineering method. The full essay can be accessed here , but below is the preview of the essay:

No matter how much money people are willing to pay for health care, they may still suffer terribly from incurable diseases such as AIDS and cancer because of the underdevelopment of medical technology. However, today, the advancement in human knowledge has led to the introduction of human gene-editing, turning impossibility to possibility. In particular, the recent technology for genome editing called CRISPR has been having a groundbreaking impact on research in genetic science. This is due to its remarkable potential to simply cure genetic diseases in an embryo before they have a serious effect on further developmental progression. Although currently, there have been numerous debates regarding its extension in research for widespread uses, CRISPR is a completely promising technology because of the benefits it brings to people.

CRISPR, or Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, is the newest innovation in genetic engineering. The way CRISPR works is similar to “the scissor-like action of Cas 9 to target… any specific DNA sequence” (Baylis and Rossant). By making cuts in specific locations in DNA, CRISPR can cure diseases and make alterations in an embryo’s DNA, which prevent diseases from being passed down to following generations (Baylis and Rossant). Throughout the history, governments and researchers came up with different approaches politically and scientifically in attempt to control population. They hoped to encourage the “richest, wisest and healthiest to breed like rabbits” and the “sick, stupid, and poor to take one for the empire and remain childless” (Comfort 28). The second attempt happened during the 20th century, when the U.S government passed the law preventing marriage and immigration that would threaten a perceived core American “stock.” Another more extreme example was when Nazi sterilization law further advanced this population control approach. Later in the century, a biotechnological approach was established as a safer and more humane way to manage population health (qtd in Comfort 28). “Gene surgery,” which is similar to CRISPR technology, was established and followed by contentious debates regarding ethical issues between disease treatment and human trait enhancements. Currently, there has been a halt in the use of CRISPR because of the increase in concern from the public about the pros and cons of this technology.

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5 common types of essay

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IELTS Task 2 Essays Understand the 5 Different Types

There are 5 main types of IELTS Task 2 essays:

1)    Opinion Essays  

2)    Discussion Essays

3)    Problem Solution Essays

4)    Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

5)    Double Question Essays

Most questions fit one of these categories. However, questions can be written in many different ways, which can make it difficult to determine which type they are.

On this page, I want to give you an overview of all 5 IELTS Task 2 essay types, with samples questions to help you recognise some of the different wording often used. I’ve also included a basic structure for each that you can use to as a guide for essay planning, a vital step in the writing process.

I go into each type of question in more detail on its own page.  Click the links above or at the bottom of this page to see these. 

First, here’s the basic 4 part structure I recommend that you use for Task 2 essays:

1)  Introduction

2)  Main Body Paragraph 1 

3)  Main Body Paragraph 2 

4)  Conclusion

Want  to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

The sort of information you include in each of the 4 sections will vary depending on the question type and that’s what I’m now going to outline for you.

These easy to learn structures will enable you to quickly plan and write any IELTS Task 2 essay.

The structures below are not the only ones you could use but they are the ones I recommend because they’re simple and give proven results.

1) Opinion Essays

These are sometimes called ‘agree or disagree’ or ‘argumentative’ essays and are one of the most common types of IELTS Task 2 question.

The first part of the question will be a statement. You will then be asked to give your own opinion about the statement. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

  • What is your opinion?
  • Do you agree or disagree?
  • To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Here is an example of each:

5 common types of essay

  • Choose one side of the argument.
  • State your opinion clearly in the introduction.
  • Keep the same opinion throughout the essay.
  • Give reasons why you hold this view.

It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you take or even that you agree with it. Choose the one you can develop the best argument for.

Don’t change your opinion part way through the essay and don’t give reasons for the opposing idea.

Essay Structure

1) Introduction

  • Paraphrase the question
  • Give your opinion
  • State two supporting reasons

2) Main body paragraph 1

  • Topic sentence – outline 1st reason for supporting this view
  • Explanation – explain this idea
  • Example – give an example

3)  Main body paragraph 2

  • Topic sentence – outline 2nd reason for supporting this view
  • Summarise opinion and key reasons

2) Discussion Essays

In discussion essays, you have to discuss both sides of an argument. Usually, you will be asked for your own opinion as well.

The easiest way to approach this type of IELTS Task 2 question is to choose one point of view to agree with and one side to disagree with.

Here are 3 examples of discussion essay questions:

5 common types of essay

  • Develop both sides of the argument.
  • Talk about the view you don’t agree with first.

A big mistake many students make is to fully develop only one point of view. This leads to an unbalanced essay and a low score for task achievement. 

It is easier to begin by discussing the opinion you don’t agree with and then present the reasons for your opposing view.

2)  Main body paragraph 1 – Negative Viewpoint

  • Topic sentence – outline the view you don’t agree with
  • Explanation – explain why this view is held by some people

3)  Main body paragraph 2 – Positive Viewpoint

  • Topic sentence – outline the view you do agree with
  • Summarise the key points and state your opinion

3)  Problem Essays  

These are sometimes called ‘causes and solutions’ or ‘problems and solutions’ essays. This type of IELTS Task 2 question starts with a statement, then asks you to discuss the problems or causes and the solutions.

  • Don’t list lots of causes and solutions.
  • Choose just one or two and develop them fully.
  • Be sure to link each problem/cause and its solution.

A common mistake is for candidates to list all the problems/causes and solutions they can think of, not necessarily linking them together.  They also fail to explain any of them in detail and don’t include any examples.

The wording of this type of essay question can vary considerably.  Here are 3 examples of problem essay questions:

5 common types of essay

  • State 1 key problem/cause and related solution

2)  Main body paragraph 1 – Problem or Cause

  • Topic sentence – state the problem or cause
  • Explanation – give detail explaining the problem or cause

3)  Main body paragraph 2 – Solution

  • Topic sentence – state the solution
  • Explanation – give detail explaining the solution

4)  Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

The first part of the question will be a statement. You will be asked to write about both the advantages and disadvantages of the idea stated.

Here is some typical wording that might be used:

  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of….?
  • Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
  • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.

Here are 3 examples of advantages and disadvantages essay questions:

5 common types of essay

Each of these different types of questions fits into one of two slightly different essay structures. We’ll look at these in detail on the main IELTS Task 2 Advantages & Disadvantages Essays page. For now, I’ll give you the basic structure.

  • Outline the view or views stated the statement

2)  Main body paragraph 1 – Advantage

  • Topic sentence – state 1 advantage
  • Explanation – give detail explaining the advantage
  • Result – state the result

3)  Main body paragraph 2 – Disadvantage

  • Topic sentence – state 1 disadvantage
  • Explanation – give detail explaining the disadvantage
  • Summarise the key points
  • State your opinion if required

5)  Double Question Essays

This type of IELTS Task 2 question is sometimes called a ‘direct question’ or ‘two questions’ essay. It has one statement with two different questions after it. The questions may or may not be linked.

  • You must answer both questions fully.
  • Don’t confuse it with an opinion or a discussion essay.
  • Be careful that you don’t end up with too many ideas to write about.

Here are 3 examples of double question essay questions:

5 common types of essay

  • Outline sentence – state your answer to both questions

2)  Main body paragraph 1 – Answer question 1

  • Topic sentence – state your answer
  • Explanation – explain why you think this

3)  Main body paragraph 2 – Answer question 2

  • Summarise both questions and answers

I hope you’ve found this information useful. You can learn lots more about writing the 5 different types of IELTS Task 2 essay and see sample answers on these pages:

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

   Opinion Essays

   Discussion Essays

  Problem Solution Essays

  Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

  Double Question Essays

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More help with ielts task 2.

IELTS Writing Task 2  – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

Understanding Task 2 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay  – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write a Task 2 Introduction  – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs  – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid. 

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions  – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria  – Find out how to meet the marking criteria for IELTS Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

Other related pages:

IELTS Writing Test  – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

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Why Data Breaches Spiked in 2023

  • Stuart Madnick

5 common types of essay

And what companies can do to better secure users’ personal information.

In spite of recent efforts to beef up cybersecurity, data breaches — in which hackers steal personal data — continue to increase year-on-year: there was a 20% increase in data breaches from 2022 to 2023. There are three primary reasons behind this increased theft of personal data: (1) cloud misconfiguration, (2) new types of ransomware attacks, and (3) increased exploitation of vendor systems. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the impact of each of these factors.

For many years, organizations have struggled to protect themselves from cyberattacks: companies, universities, and government agencies have expended enormous amounts of resources to secure themselves. But in spite of those efforts, data breaches — in which hackers steal personal data — continue to increase year-on-year: there was a 20% increase in data breaches from 2022 to 2023 . Some of the trends around this uptick are disturbing. For example, globally, there were twice the number of victims in 2023 compared to 2022, and in the Middle East, ransomware gang activity increased by 77% in that same timeframe.

  • Stuart Madnick  is the John Norris Maguire (1960) Professor of Information Technologies in the MIT Sloan School of Management, Professor of Engineering Systems in the MIT School of Engineering, and Director of Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan (CAMS): the Interdisciplinary Consortium for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. He has been active in the cybersecurity field since co-authoring the book Computer Security in 1979.

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All You Need to Know About 5 Common Types of Essays

Common Types of Essays

If you are a college or high school student, you must be well-aware of the importance of essay writing tasks assigned by the teacher during the academic year. Teachers expect students to work on a variety of assignments during their academic days, and an essay writing task is one of them. Knowing all about essay writing is necessary for students because their grades and degrees depend on the way they work on these assignments and deliver their papers.

According to an  essay writing service UK , there are 5 common types of essays that students are most likely to be assigned; the teacher will not tell which type of essays you need to write every time. It is up to you to figure out how to tackle these essay writing tasks and impress the teachers with their research, writing, and editing skills. It is also important to remember that while most of these essay writing types share the same basic information and format, there are some distinguished differences, as well. This article discusses the 5 most common types of essays that students use during their academic years and gives them a chance to understand the differences amongst each of them to know them better.

Descriptive Essay:

A descriptive essay ‘describes’ the main topic in detail. This essay is written to let the reader relate to your experience. The topic, or the object in the discussion, could be anything from a place or a person. Writing a descriptive essay is all about working with details, information, and discussion regarding the subject in question. It describes the topic or the matter in der study from various angles and perspectives. Students need to understand that a descriptive essay must evoke the senses and emotions of the readers; the readers should be able to see what you saw and feel what you have been through, with the right choice of words.

Read More: Tips to Prepare Annual Performance Report of Students

Narrative Essay:

This type of essay refers to the narration of a study or an experience by the writer. This essay is written in the first person and revolves around the main topic with details. It is necessary to understand that the purpose of writing a narrative essay is to indulge the reader in a personal experience of the writer. The main purpose is to create content that is clear, detailed, and explores the main topic, which can be a story, an event, or an accident to the reader. You must explain this event, story, or accident in such detail that the readers feel as if they were there with you at that time.

Expository Essay:

This type of essay deals with facts and factors only as compared to their types of essays where the writer has the freedom to add his analysis and ideas. Expository essays are simple as they only contain facts, but sometimes they can be challenging to write as using facts to make an essay interesting can be tough. To write this type of essay, you must create a focused outline and stick to it to avoid making any mistakes and present the truth with evidence to the readers.

Argumentative Essay:

The argumentative essay aims to convince the reader about any particular point of view. This type of essay examines the information available regarding a subject and develops an argument based on it. However, the writer must support the claims that are being made and stick to one side. An argumentative essay offers both sides of a particular issue, but it only establishes one approach. The writer must conduct research, develop the argument, and defend his stance with solid proofs and evidence.

Read More: Should High School Math Contests Be Banned?

Persuasive Essay:

It is another type of academic essay in which the writer uses logic and reasoning to show how one idea is more convincing and better than the other idea. When you work on a persuasive essay, you should persuade the readers to accept a certain point of view. To make the readers understand what you are saying, you must present the argument or claim with the help of solid evidence and reasoning that are accompanied by facts, examples, and quotes.

Writing effective essays is critical to academic success as an essay writing task is a common school and college assignment and must be taken seriously. You must identify the type of essay you are assigned with and the methods involved while composing it; as knowing about correct essay types is important for success in class and helps to achieve the goals most efficiently.

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17 Tips to Take Your ChatGPT Prompts to the Next Level

5 blue balls riding on 5 randomly arranged curved black tubes against a bright green backdrop

ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and other tools like them are making artificial intelligence available to the masses. We can now get all sorts of responses back on almost any topic imaginable. These chatbots can compose sonnets, write code, get philosophical, and automate tasks.

However, while you can just type anything you like into ChatGPT and get it to understand you. There are ways of getting more interesting and useful results out of the bot. This "prompt engineering" is becoming a specialized skill of its own.

Sometimes all it takes is the addition of a few more words or an extra line of instruction and you can get ChatGPT responses that are a level above what everyone else is seeing—and we've included several examples below.

While there's lots you can do with the free version of ChatGPT, a few of these prompts require a paid ChatGPT Plus subscription —where that's the case, we've noted it in the tip.

ChatGPT can give you responses in the form of a table if you ask. This is particularly helpful for getting information or creative ideas. For example, you could tabulate meal ideas and ingredients, or game ideas and equipment, or the days of the week and how they're said in a few different languages.

Using follow-up prompts and natural language, you can have ChatGPT make changes to the tables it has drawn and even produce the tables in a standard format that can be understood by another program (such as Microsoft Excel).

If you provide ChatGPT with a typed list of information, it can respond in a variety of ways. Maybe you want it to create anagrams from a list of names, or sort a list of products into alphabetical order, or turn all the items in a list into upper case. If needed, you can then click the copy icon (the small clipboard) at the end of an answer to have the processed text sent to the system clipboard.

Screenshot of ChatGPT

Get ChatGPT to respond as your favorite author.

With some careful prompting, you can get ChatGPT out of its rather dull, matter-of-fact, default tone and into something much more interesting—such as the style of your favorite author, perhaps.

You could go for the searing simplicity of an Ernest Hemingway or Raymond Carver story, the lyrical rhythm of a Shakespearean play, or the density of a Dickens novel. The resulting prose won't come close to the genius of the actual authors themselves, but it's another way of getting more creative with the output you generate.

ChatGPT can really impress when it's given restrictions to work within, so don't be shy when it comes to telling the bot to limit its responses to a certain number of words or a certain number of paragraphs.

It could be everything from condensing the information in four paragraphs down into one, or even asking for answers with words of seven characters or fewer (just to keep it simple). If ChatGPT doesn't follow your responses properly, you can correct it, and it'll try again.

Another way of tweaking the way ChatGPT responds is to tell it who the intended audience is for its output. You might have seen WIRED's videos in which complex subjects are explained to people with different levels of understanding. This works in a similar way.

For example, you can tell ChatGPT that you are speaking to a bunch of 10-year-olds or to an audience of business entrepreneurs and it will respond accordingly. It works well for generating multiple outputs along the same theme.

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Tell ChatGPT the audience it's writing for.

ChatGPT is a very capable prompt engineer itself. If you ask it to come up with creative and effective inputs for artificial intelligence engines such as Dall-E and Midjourney , you'll get text you can then input into other AI tools you're playing around with. You're even able to ask for tips with prompts for ChatGPT itself.

When it comes to generating prompts, the more detailed and specific you are about what you're looking for the better: You can get the chatbot to extend and add more detail to your sentences, you can get it to role-play as a prompt generator for a specific AI tool, and you can tell it to refine its answers as you add more and more information.

While ChatGPT is based around text, you can get it to produce pictures of a sort by asking for ASCII art. That's the art made up of characters and symbols rather than colors. The results won't win you any prizes, but it's pretty fun to play around with.

The usual ChatGPT rules apply, in that the more specific you are in your prompt the better, and you can get the bot to add new elements and take elements away as you go. Remember the limitations of the ASCII art format though—this isn't a full-blown image editor.

Screenshot of ChatGPT

A ChatGPT Plus subscription comes with image generation.

If you use ChatGPT Plus , it's got the DALL-E image generator right inside it, so you can ask for any kind of photo, drawing, or illustration you like. As with text, try to be as explicit as possible about what it is you want to see, and how it's shown; do you want something that looks like a watercolor painting, or like it was taken by a DSLR camera? You can have some real fun with this: Put Columbo in a cyberpunk setting, or see how Jurassic Park would look in the Victorian era. The possibilities are almost endless.

You don't have to do all the typing yourself when it comes to ChatGPT. Copy and paste is your friend, and there's no problem with pasting in text from other sources. While the input limit tops out at around 4,000 words, you can easily split the text you're sending the bot into several sections and get it to remember what you've previously sent.

Perhaps one of the best ways of using this approach is to get ChatGPT to simplify text that you don't understand—the explanation of a difficult scientific concept, for instance. You can also get it to translate text into different languages, write it in a more engaging or fluid style, and so on.

If you want to go exploring, ask ChatGPT to create a text-based choose-your-own adventure game. You can specify the theme and the setting of the adventure, as well as any other ground rules to put in place. When we tried this out, we found ourselves wandering through a spooky castle, with something sinister apparently hiding in the shadows.

Screenshot of ChatGPT

ChatGPT is able to create text-based games for you to play.

Another way to improve the responses you get from ChatGPT is to give it some data to work with before you ask your question. For instance, you could give it a list of book summaries together with their genre, then ask it to apply the correct genre label to a new summary. Another option would be to tell ChatGPT about activities you enjoy and then get a new suggestion.

There's no magic combination of words you have to use here. Just use natural language as always, and ChatGPT will understand what you're getting at. Specify that you're providing examples at the start of your prompt, then tell the bot that you want a response with those examples in mind.

You can ask ChatGPT for feedback on any of your own writing, from the emails you're sending to friends, to the short story you're submitting to a competition, to the prompts you're typing into the AI bot. Ask for pointers on spelling, grammar, tone, readability, or anything else you want to scrutinize.

ChatGPT cleared the above paragraph as being clear and effective, but said it could use a call to action at the end. Try this prompt today!

Screenshot of ChatGPT

Get ChatGPT to give you feedback on your own writing.

In the same way that ChatGPT can mimic the style of certain authors that it knows about, it can also play a role: a frustrated salesman, an excitable teenager (you'll most likely get a lot of emoji and abbreviations back), or the iconic western film star John Wayne.

There are countless roles you can play around with. These prompts might not score highly in terms of practical applications, but they're definitely a useful insight into the potential of these AI chatbots.

You can type queries into ChatGPT that you might otherwise type into Google, looking for answers: Think "how much should I budget for a day of sightseeing in London?" or "what are the best ways to prepare for a job interview?" for example. Almost anything will get a response of some sort—though as always, don't take AI responses as being 100 percent accurate 100 percent of the time.

If you're using the paid ChatGPT Plus tool, it will actually search the web (with Bing) and provide link references for the answers it gives. If you're using the free version of ChatGPT, it'll mine the data its been trained on for answers, so they might be a little out of date or less reliable.

Your answers can be seriously improved if you give ChatGPT some ingredients to work with before asking for a response. They could be literal ingredients—suggest a dish from what's left in the fridge—or they could be anything else.

So don't just ask for a murder mystery scenario. Also list out the characters who are going to appear. Don't just ask for ideas of where to go in a city; specify the city you're going to, the types of places you want to see, and the people you'll have with you.

Your prompts don't always have to get ChatGPT to generate something from scratch: You can start it off with something, and then let the AI finish it off. The model will take clues from what you've already written and build on it.

This can come in handy for everything from coding a website to composing a poem—and you can then get ChatGPT to go back and refine its answer as well.

You've no doubt noticed how online arguments have tended toward the binary in recent years, so get ChatGPT to help add some gray between the black and the white. It's able to argue both sides of an argument if you ask it to, including both pros and cons.

From politics and philosophy to sports and the arts, ChatGPT is able to sit on the fence quite impressively—not in a vague way, but in a way that can help you understand tricky issues from multiple perspectives.

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  26. All You Need to Know About 5 Common Types of Essays

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