According to Purdue University, there are five different types of essays. Irrespective of the genre, they must be progressive, depict a good thought process, and expound on the topical issue. For a student to graduate, they must explain their ideas in a focused, clear, and well-organized manner. Our essay experts leads us in understanding the 5 types of essays and how to approach each cluster. We also offer essay writing help, right from the development to final editing.
The Five Different Types of Essays
An essay is meant to relay information or persuade readers on a particular topic. It advances its arguments, concepts and claims via analysis, proof, and interpretation, making it a mandatory exercise in college and high school. There are different types of essays for lower learning levels like elementary, middle, and high school and higher learning levels like universities and colleges. Here are the five major essay types.
- Explanatory essay
- Persuasive essay
- Descriptive essay
- Narrative essay
- Argumentative essay
- Discursive essay
Explanatory Essay
The main aim of an explanatory essay is to bring forward an option-free paper following the topic, which may be broad in information or narrow. The essay format type is often assigned to the student to tackle in class or as an exam. It can be given as an assignment. Below are essay experts’ tips and tricks for writing an explanatory essay!
- The introduction of an explanatory essay clarifies the paper’s main topic and presents the elements in a brief orderly manner.
- The body paragraphs should contain a thesis statement that is well and adequately defined. Example The following are some samples of excellent thesis statements:
“The oil industry is just an example of a huge energy sector potion, and it has impacts that are significant to the climate economy.”
From the above example, you should observe that the oil industry, as mentioned in the example, is criticized in any manner. The climatic effects are not categorized as unfavorable. While many think the oil industry is not good, many believe it is vital. Whereas the example of the essay’s thesis statement keeps off from taking a side in the argument. This kind of objective element is needed in your explanatory essay.
- In the body paragraphs, enough evidence to support your thesis statement should be present in your explanatory essay.
- The expletory essay conclusion is supposed to readdress the thesis statement following the evidence presented in the body.
- All types of essay writing should follow an apparent and logical flow.
Argumentative Essay
This kind of essay requires a scholar to investigate the topic at hand deeply. Doing this will lead to the gathering of evidence and its evaluation. When this is properly and keenly carried out, it will establish the topic’s position, written below, concisely.
The carrying out of extensive literature research is a rule to be followed when a scholar is writing an argumentative essay. Imperial investigations through interviews, surveys, and observations are sometimes required to write a successful argumentative essay. The detailed research presentation ensures that the reader has a precise understanding of the main topic, not forgetting the different points of view that relate to it. When you have done a preliminary study, you will present an unbiased decision on the kind of opinion you will follow, thus making your argumentative essays more persuasive.
Structure
| Paragraph 1 The introduction | Present the context and make a review of the whole topic. Explain why the topic is that important and why the readers must care about the topic’s issue. Create a thesis statement that is direct to the point. |
| The 2nd and the 3rd Paragraph | Pick an idea supporting your thesis statement in each of the two paragraphs. Impose more than one idea in each paragraph, and the same paragraph can bring about confusion. In each paragraph, you start with a topic sentence. Present facts and evidence. Explain in which manner the information confirms your thesis. |
| 4th paragraph of the Body | Present a counterargument. Give the evidence that makes people support or oppose the point of view. The reason why their position is not correct Is the argument opposing the thesis statement. |
| 5th paragraph of the body The conclusion | Restate your thesis statement. Make some concluding remarks as you finish off. |
Expository and argumentative essays have many similarities, and many people need to differentiate between the two. Different types of essays are distinguished by the kind of research conducted in each. The argumentative essay is assigned as the last project, thus encompassing all the information you have learned in a student’s course. On the other hand, explanatory essays are shorter in length and rely less on research. They are for unprepared writing typically used in class.
Persuasive Essay
Persuasion is one type of essay writing where your opinion is key. A persuasive essay aims to persuade the reader toward a specific opinion.
The thesis statement in your essay should have a clear definition that the essay contains an opinion. Below is is a good persuasive thesis statement:
“Though the oil industry is essential to the economy and plays an important role, it has negatively impacted our economy through the change in climate, the smog, and the creation of roads.”
- The position that you are in is to be set right from the introduction of your persuasive essay.
- The body of your persuasive essay should have the arguments in the progression of the essay. It is should range from the least one to the most important one.
- Using logos, ethos, and pathos is essential as you persuade the persons reading your essay all the way through.
Descriptive Essay
The name is more explicit about the essay: a descriptive essay. A point the main aim is to describe something. In simpler terms, you are describing something. It may be a place, an object, a person, a school, or anything you may think of describing. The theme we use above may be unique in a descriptive essay. In this instance, tell the oil industry: an oil drum, the oil itself, an oil tanker, or an oil industry worker.
- An example descriptive thesis statement could sound like this:
“Crude has a black appearance. It is dense in nature and in liquid form. It produces an odd smell that is plastic-like and sorts of fuel.”
- Logical is one thing that your descriptive essay should present itself. Each paragraph should focus on its aspect under the main topic.
- The language used in such an essay is very descriptive. Appealing to the reader’s senses is advised, as it should be applied when describing something.
A Narrative Essay
A narrative essay is similar to a story. They are different types of essays but serve the same purpose. This may be emotional, moving, anecdotal, or even insightful. Writing using first-person pronouns and imposes creativity. In a narrative essay, all rules of story writing apply. It also contains the introduction, the characters, the setting, the plot, the climax, and also the conclusion. The only instance where a narrative essay doesn’t have to follow the story writing outline is when a person is writing a book report.
- The thesis is the purpose of your narrative essay. Though not formal, just like other academic papers, it must be precise.
- First-person narration is optional.
- You are not supposed to switch on any point of view, may it be two or more: if you decide to write a 3rd personal narrative, you are supposed to keep it consistent throughout the text.
- Fiction and narrative essays are closer in terms of similarities. So that you can get a response from the reader, use artistic language.
- However, this is different from the typical standard essay format. The narrative essay should have an introduction and a conclusion at the end.
The Difference Between Narrative and Descriptive Types of Essays
The narrating of a story is entirely based on personal experiences. On the other hand, a descriptive essay revolves around a separate object, place, or phenomenon, but they are entirely different types of essays. This kind of essay doesn’t contain a climax or any active development.
Other Types of Essay Writing
The main aim of a cause-and-effect essay is to focus on a phenomenon or something relating to physics. Just as the word implies “cause and effect.”
The simple thing about this essay is that it allows exploring any topic. The only thing that you should do is to take the consequences of writing into consideration. The above oil industry can be a good sample topic for a cause-and-effect essay thesis statement:
“The oil industry has caused a big impact on our world, the enabling of the car industry is also adding onto the climatic change, this is also a source of major wealth.”
A Reflective Essay
A reflective essay aims to respond to or reflect the species, person, place, event, phenomenon, or even thing. You may reflect on a poem, a battle of the military, and a time in other scholars’ essays. A reflective essay is subjective in nature. Personal pronouns like “I” and “ME” are OK in a reflective essay. The reflective essay is mostly personal.
Example of a Thesis Statement for a Reflective Essay
“Society, planets, and different species benefit from the oil industry. I deeply worry about their future.”
Analytical Essay
The analytical essay is an objective cousin to a reflective essay. Before you begin doing an essay, you should reflect on the topic. You are also to perform research. The reflection is personal.
Compare the Following Sample of Thesis Statements with the Previous One.
“The oil industry has grown, the greenhouse gases level has increased, together with particulate matter concentration in the atmosphere and the temperature.”
This statement analyzes the essay topic. Personal feelings, are subjective, and pronouns are irrelevant. You can use a thesis statement of an informative essay and then mod a comparison of the results.
An analytical essay is more like a report if you stay on point. The outline is interchangeable with a much longer research paper outline. An analytical essay should keep off the use of pronouns.
The Contrast and Comparison Essay
This is an exemption from the different types of essays since you compare two main issues. You can take similarities or differences or even take both. The main aim of your essay should be relatable to the thesis statement.
For Example
“Though the oil and solar industries are big energy sources, oil industries have an environmental impact compared to solar-power industries.”
Exemplification Essay
This is one of the most flexible essays one can assign you. This essay’s main aim is to choose vivid examples. You can make points that exemplify the thesis statement and illustrate it.
With little effort, you should focus on the point that will make your point. You are missing the point of the essay if you are trying too hard. Below is a thesis statement sample of this kind of essay
“Oil industry has major impacts on the climate as observed due to the uncontrollable fires and explosions caused by the oil, the oil spillage on wildlife, and melting of ice due to the rise of temperatures.”
Tips to Use for All Types of Essay Writing
- You can observe that the above rough samples fit the standard 5-paragraph essay format. Use this format as it keeps your thoughts organized, and applying it will lead to a winning essay.
- Write your essay as early as possible: take time to write your essay. Take your time writing your essay when the deadline is near.
- All types of essay writing should follow an outline
Still Need Help with Different Types of Essays?
Our expert writers have identified five types of essay writing above and how to navigate each. If you need clarification or help writing your essay, we are ready to help you in the shortest time possible.
