How to write an essay_ Types of essay
Definition of essay types
An essay is a short academic composition. The word “essay” is derived from the French word “essai” or “essayer”, which means “trail”. In composition, however, an essay is a piece of nonfiction that talks about or discusses a specific topic. Nowadays, the essay is part of every study program.
Each subject has specific essay writing requirements. Some subjects require longer essays, while others require shorter essays, such as a five-paragraph essay. Compositionally, it is based on a five-paragraph essay. There are seventeen types of essays based on the requirements.
Essay format
Generally, a simple five-paragraph has five paragraphs including an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, an argumentative essay has another paragraph that presents the counterargument or opposing arguments in the same order. However, at the end of this paragraph, both arguments are weighed in favor of the stronger arguments presented earlier in the three main paragraphs.
Types of Essays
- Definition essay – As the name suggests, the definition type of essay defines different things, ideas, and perceptions.
- Narrative essay – A narrative essay is a narrative like a short story. However, it differs from a short story in that it is written in the form of an essay.
- Descriptive essay- A descriptive essay describes something that makes the reader feel, sense, see, taste, or hear what is being described.
- Expository Essay – An expository essay reveals things in detail so that readers can understand without any complications.
- Persuasive essay- A persuasive essay is intended to persuade the target audience to do or not do something.
- Argumentative essay – An argumentative essay is supposed to present arguments in favor of something. It has another fourth main paragraph to present opposing arguments.
- Analytical Essay – An analytical essay analyzes something such as in literature an analytical essay analyzes a piece of literature from different points of view.
- Compare and Contrast Essay – A compare and contrast essay makes either a comparison, a contrast, or both between two different or similar things.
- Essay on cause and effect – A cause and effect essay allows readers to understand the cause of things and their effects on other things.
- Critical Essay – A critical essay is written on literary works that evaluates them based on their strengths or weaknesses.
- Edit the essay – A process essay outlines the process of making, breaking, or doing something that readers fully understand and can do after reading it.
- Synthesis Essay- A synthesis essay means synthesizing different ideas to assess their strengths and weaknesses.
- Expository essay – An expository essay is meant to explain a piece of literature. Poems, short stories, and novels are often written about.
- Rhetorical Analysis Essay – A rhetorical analysis essay evaluates a speech or rhetoric based on the rhetorical strategies and devices used in it.
- Check the essay – A review essay discusses the strengths and weaknesses of a book and evaluates it through a review.
- Simple Essay – A Basic and general essay is just a five-paragraph essay that is written on any topic after it is specified.
- Research Essay – A research essay revolves around a research question to answer some specific question through a survey of relevant literature.
Essay Types Features
An essay is a specific discussion or debate on a topic from a specific point of view. The student discusses the topic from his specific angle. Readers not only get a glimpse of what the next aspect of the topic is but also learn about the tone and voice of the student writers so they can decide if they have reached a certain level of writing ability. In literary essays, the writer discusses the effect that a literary work has on the reader from a certain point of view. Essays are also useful in gaining public approval for certain political ideas.
Essays are long written assignments that persuade or inform readers about a particular topic. It is important to know what type of essay to use to best deliver your message to your readers. By choosing the type of essay that is most relevant to your topic, you can tailor your essay to your readers and be more organized.
In some cases, such as school or job applications, someone decides what type of essay you write. At other times, you choose what type of essay to write. You can use an essay to persuade readers to take your side, explore an abstract topic, or try to evoke an emotional response. You often choose the type of essay based on what you are trying to achieve. For example, if you want to teach the reader how to do something, you can use a process essay that breaks down the instructions into steps.
Narrative Essay Types
Narrative essays tell a story and are often the most personal type of essay you can write. They allow you to exercise creativity and imagination and can be based on a specific challenge, such as the first time you drove a car by yourself, or an open-ended challenge, such as overcoming a fear. You can submit a narrative essay, usually called a personal statement, for college or graduate school applications.
In narrative essays, you can use literary techniques to create an essay that reads like fiction. To apply this, consider including metatags, analysis, alliteration, imagination, and work vocals. A narrative essay generally has an introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and provides enough background information to make sense of the story.
A conclusion helps summarize the main point of your essay or restate your goals. For example, if you are writing a narrative essay for a job application, you might conclude by summarizing how your experience solidified your desire to become a lawyer.
Expository essays explain a topic neutrally. Writers use expository essays to demonstrate their knowledge or expertise in a particular field. Teachers often assign expository essays to test students’ understanding of a topic. These essays often avoid emotion or opinion and instead focus on factual information. For example, if you’re writing about environmental protection, try to avoid suggesting that someone should do something or take a position on a controversial issue. Expository essays can take a variety of formats but typically include:
An introduction with a thesis statement explaining exactly what the essay will be about
A body detailing facts about a subject often cites sources
A conclusion that summarizes the main points.
