There are many different types of essays that students may be assigned to write during their academic careers. Essays demonstrate a student’s ability to write clearly, concisely and persuasively on a topic. Some of the most common types of essays include:
Narrative Essay: A narrative essay tells a story. It should have characters, a setting, clearly developed plot, a climax, and a conclusion. Narrative essays are usually written in first person from the perspective of the author. Some examples of narrative essay topics are an important life event or experience, a childhood memory, or story about someone else’s life that taught the author an important lesson.
Descriptive Essay: Descriptive essays aim to describe a person, place, object, experience or event in great detail using vivid language to help the reader visualize what is being described. The author should use sensory details about what they saw, heard, smelled, tasted and felt. Good descriptive essays appeal to the five senses of the reader. Some descriptive essay topics are a description of a natural setting, a place of interest, a person the author admires, an interesting experience, or an important event.
Persuasive Essay: Persuasive essays attempt to convince the reader of a certain point of view on a controversial issue or topic. A persuasive essay must take a clear stance, supply logic and facts to back up arguments, and also address counterarguments. Persuasive essays need to convince readers using rhetorical devices such as logos (logical appeals), pathos (emotional appeals) and ethos (credibility appeals). Some common persuasive essay topics are issues related to politics, ethics, education, healthcare, technology, and society.
Compare and Contrast Essay: In compare and contrast essays, the author analyzes the differences and similarities between two or more topics or subjects. The key is to point out how the subjects are similar as well as different. These essays organize information by subject, using facts and supporting evidence, and are sometimes arranged point-by-point or topic-by-topic. Some examples of compare and contrast essay topics are the evolution of mammals vs. birds, life in the city vs. the country, two famous artists or historical figures, films based on books versus the books themselves.
Classification Essay: This type of essay categorizes different types, kinds, groups, and classes for a certain topic. It breaks down a broad topic into specific subgroups. For example, dogs can be broken down into categories like herding dogs, hunting dogs, toy dogs, etc. Classifications essays provide specifics for each category, include examples and explanations for each type. Some common classification essay topics are types of sports, foods, activities, personalities, television shows, or forms of transportation.
Process Essay: If an essay describes a process, procedure, recipe, or set of step-by-step directions on how to do or make something, it is considered a process essay. Good process essays should be written clearly and each step logically must follow the previous one. It gives precise instructions and information for accomplishing the step. Appropriate process essay topics are how to bake cookies, solve a math problem, repair a bike, apply for a passport or scholarship, host a dinner party, or tie knots.
Definition Essay: A definition essay clearly defines a term, abstraction or concept and gives multiple examples to fully depict what the defined term means. The key is to provide a specific, concise and detailed definition. Common definition essay topics are abstract concepts like freedom, justice, truth, courage, love; concrete terms like wisdom, irony, reliability, privacy; types of people like optimist, cynic, introvert, extrovert.
Cause and Effect Essay: This essay analyzes the reasons (causes) of some occurrence and the specific impacts or results (effects) of an action, condition or event. An effective cause and effect essay should identify specific reasons as well as concrete impacts. Example topics include how social media affects communication, how smoking affects health, how video games affect behavior, how divorce affects children, how natural disasters affect communities, how lack of exercise affects the body.
Scholarship and Application Essays: These essays are found on college and university applications. Scholarship essays aim to explain to a scholarship committee why the applicant deserves the award, their personal and academic achievements, career aspirations and how the award would help achieve those goals. Application essays emphasize a student’s traits, strengths, experiences and self-reflection which make them stand out as a candidate for the college or program. Some scholarship essays prompt applicants to share a problem they’ve solved or overcome challenges they’ve faced.
Argumentative Essay: Similar to persuasive essays, argumentative essays take a definitive stance on a controversial issue, but have a stronger emphasis on research and using facts and data to develop logical arguments to support the stance. Argumentative essays analyze issues from all angles looking at both pros and cons to see which argument is stronger and more valid. Example topics include gun control, immigration, educational reform, global warming, social issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, death penalty etc.
The different essay types serve different purposes and require students to think critically and demonstrate unique writing skills. A student’s proficiency and comfort level with these various types of essays depends on practice, experience and feedback from instructors. Understanding what each essay type entails better equips students to effectively research, outline, draft and polish essays for diverse assignments.
Andrew Stroud