Definition of Types of Essay
An essay is a short academic composition. The word “essay” is derived from a French word “essai” or “essayer,” which mean “trail.” In composition, however, an essay is a piece of non-fiction writing that talks or discusses a specific topic. Presently, essay is part of every degree program.
Effectively writing different types of essays has become critical to academic success. Essay writing is a common school assignment, a part of standardized tests, and a requirement on college applications. Often on tests, choosing the correct type of essay to write in response to a writing prompt is key to getting the question right. Clearly, students can’t afford to remain confused about types of essays.
There are over a dozen types of essays, so it’s easy to get confused. However, rest assured, the number is actually more manageable. Essentially there are four major types of essays, with the variations making up the remainder.
Four
Major Types of Essays
Distinguishing between types of essays is
simply a matter of determining the writer’s goal. Does the writer
want to tell about a personal experience, describe something, explain
an issue, or convince the reader to accept a certain viewpoint? The
four major types of essays address these purposes:
1.
Narrative Essays: Telling a Story
In
a narrative
essay,
the writer tells a story about a real-life experience. While telling
a story may sound easy to do, the narrative essay challenges students
to think and write about themselves. When writing a narrative essay,
writers should try to involve the reader by making the story as vivid
as possible. The fact that narrative essays are usually written in
the first person helps engage the reader. “I” sentences give
readers a feeling of being part of the story. A well-crafted
narrative essay will also build towards drawing a conclusion or
making a personal statement.
2.
Descriptive Essays: Painting a Picture
A
cousin of the narrative essay, a descriptive
essay paints
a picture with words. A writer might describe a person, place,
object, or even memory of special significance. However, this type of
essay is not description for description’s sake. The descriptive
essay strives to communicate a deeper meaning through the
description. In a descriptive essay, the writer should show, not
tell, through the use of colorful words and sensory details. The best
descriptive essays appeal to the reader’s emotions, with a result
that is highly evocative.
3.
Expository Essays: Just the Facts
The expository
essay is
an informative piece of writing that presents a balanced analysis of
a topic. In an expository essay, the writer explains or defines a
topic, using facts, statistics, and examples. Expository writing
encompasses a wide range of essay variations, such as the comparison
and contrast essay, the cause and effect essay, and the “how to”
or process essay. Because expository essays are based on facts and
not personal feelings, writers don’t reveal their emotions or write
in the first person.
4.
Persuasive Essays: Convince Me
While
like an expository essay in its presentation of facts, the goal of
the persuasive
essay is
to convince the reader to accept the writer’s point of view or
recommendation. The writer must build a case using facts and logic,
as well as examples, expert opinion, and sound reasoning. The writer
should present all sides of the argument, but must be able to
communicate clearly and without equivocation why a certain position
is correct.