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Essay Writing Guide

Types Of Essay

Common Types of Essays - Sub-types and Examples

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Ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of "essays" out there? Essays are fundamental tools in education and communication, designed to inform, persuade, and narrate experiences. 

Understanding the different types of essays is important in academics. There are four primary categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive and each type serves a distinct purpose. 

This guide will explore each type and its subtypes with examples providing clear examples to improve your writing skills.

Let’s get started!

• 1. 4 Main Types of Essays In Academic Writing
• 2. Argumentative Essay
• 3. Descriptive Essay
• 4. Expository Essay
• 5. Narrative Essay
• 6. Other Common Essay Types

4 Main Types of Essays In Academic Writing

In academic years, essay writing develops essential skills. At the university level, argumentative essays are most common, honing critical thinking and persuasive writing.           

In high school and college, textual analysis essays test close reading and interpretation, enhancing analytical thinking and clear articulation. Let's explore these essay types along with their descriptions and example prompts in the table below:

Please note that the length of these essays depends on academic level, assignment requirements, and topic complexity. University essays are usually longer due to deeper analysis, while high school essays are shorter and more focused on foundational skills. Argumentative essays often require more length than narrative or descriptive essays to support thorough argumentation. 

Let’s take a look at these types of essays in detail, along with examples to further your understanding.

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 terms, the writer must provide evidence and stay consistent with their viewpoint, focusing on a specific type of argument . While argumentative essays discuss both sides of an issue, they clearly advocate for 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.

The argumentative essay outline follows the same basic structure as other essays but includes an additional section for the counterargument.

• 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 . 

Here is a sample argumentative essay example for you to get an idea. 

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 stimulate the senses and emotions of the reader. To put it simply, the reader should see what you saw and feel what you felt. To make it better, you can use several literary devices like;

• 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.

A descriptive essay outline typically follows a 5-paragraph essay format, consisting of the following basic components:

• 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

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

Here, we have provided a well-written descriptive essay for you to get inspired from and start the writing process confidently. 

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.

There are various types of expository writing :

• 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.

Like other types of essays, an expository essay outline also follows the standard essay format :

• 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

Here is an expository essay example from one of our expert writers to understand the basics. For more samples visit our dedicated blog on Expository Essay Examples !

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 narrative essay examples . 

Other Common Essay Types

Besides the main types of essays, there are other specialized types for specific audiences. These essays offer various ways for writers to communicate their ideas.

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.  It uses persuasive techniques like ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade the audience.

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, make sure to read the persuasive essay examples for better understanding. 

Here is a sample in PDF format: 

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!

A reflective 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 they 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. For more examples 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 the different types of essays in academic writing that you're most likely to get assigned. However, if you still find it challenging to compose your essay, why not ask, "Can someone do my essay for me ?" and leave your 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important element in any essay.

The most important element in any essay is its thesis statement. The thesis statement presents the main idea or argument of the essay and sets the direction for the entire piece. It provides a clear, concise summary of what the essay will cover, helping to guide the reader and ensure that the content remains focused and coherent.

What type of essay is most common at university?

The most common type of essay at university is the argumentative essay Other common types include:

• Expository essay
• Persuasive essay
• Narrative essay
• Descriptive essay
• Cause and effect essay
• Compare and contrast essay
• Process essay
• Definition essay
• Classification essay
• Critical essay
• Analytical essay
• Argumentative essay
• Reflective essay
• Research paper
• Literature review

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Four Main Types of Essays – Quick Intro & Examples

Published by Carmen Troy at August 22nd, 2021 , Revised On October 10, 2023

An  essay  is the most common academic assignment at college and university. It presents an argument and persuades the readers to believe in the rightness of the author’s point of view. While there are many types of essays, they can be broadly categorised into the following four main types:

• Argumentative essays
• Expository essays
• Narrative essays
• Descriptive essays

Argumentative essays and expository essays present arguments to convince the readers of the author’s position. In narrative essays and descriptive essays, you can use informal language and imagination to engage the readers.

At high school, college, and university, argumentative essays are the most widely recognized kind of essay.

Another important essay type from the academic perspective is the textual analysis essay, which tests students’ reading and analysis skills.

Argumentative Essays

In an argumentative essay, you present an argument and back it with supporting evidence. An argumentative essay requires the author to take a clear position on the topic and persuade the readers to agree to the author’s opinion, analysis, and interpretation. The  thesis statement  provides the main argument of an argumentative essay.

Argumentative essays help to evaluate your ability to conduct independent research and form well-informed opinions on the issue. The inclusion of the supporting evidence adds weight to your argument.

An argumentative essay is the most common type of essay in the academic world. It follows the standard essay structure, which includes an  introduction ,  main body , and a  conclusion .

• The introduction of an argumentative essay introduces the topic, provides background information, presents the thesis statement, and maps out the essay structure.
• The main body presents the main argument, which is reinforced through evidence and interpretation.
• The conclusion summarises the essay’s main argument, links back to the thesis statement, and fortifies the significance of the argument.

Argumentative Essay Example Paragraph

Here is an example of a paragraph taken from the main body of an argumentative essay on the effects of distance learning on education.

You May Also Like

This article aims to provide you to understand the concept of descriptive and narrative essay style along with the necessary tips required for these essays.

This article explains the important conceptions of rhetorical writing and provides tips on writing a first-class rhetorical analysis essay.

A good essay introduction will set the tone for succeeding parts. Unsure about how to write an essay introduction? This guide will help you to get going.

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4 Major Types of Essay with Examples

Writing various sorts of essays effectively has become important to academic success. Essay writing is a regular school task, a requirement on college applications, and an element of standardized tests.

Choosing the proper sort of essay to write in response to a writing prompt is crucial to answering the question correctly on examinations. Clearly, students cannot afford to be puzzled about the many forms of essays.

It’s easy to become perplexed because there are over a dozen different varieties of essays. However, rest assured that the figure is more manageable. There are four basic categories of essays, with variations accounting for the remaining.

Argumentative and Expository Essays are concerned with delivering facts and making clear arguments, but Narrative and Descriptive Essays are concerned with expressing oneself creatively and writing in an engaging manner. Argumentative essays are the most prevalent sort of essay at the university level.

You must know how to write an essay before knowing the 4 major types of Essays.

Here are the 4 Major Types of Essays for you to Learn, Once you are Clear with the Structure of an Essay.

1. narrative essay :.

The writer of a narrative essay presents a story about a real-life experience. While it may appear that narrating a tale is simple, the narrative essay requires students to think about and write about themselves.

When writing a narrative essay, authors should make the story as vivid as possible in order to engage the reader. Because narrative essays are frequently written in the first person, the reader is more engaged.

Readers will feel as if they are a part of the tale if you use “I” statements. A well-written narrative essay will also progress toward a conclusion or a personal statement.

The Christmas Cake

“First of all, let me clarify that I have grown up to be a complete amateurish in cooking. My parents performed their jobs quite efficiently and they always baked those perfect cakes for me every Christmas. That night, it was me, the inexpert chef, who took the initiative to make a Christmas cake and surprise them.

To today’s date, I’ve only made several hamburgers on my own. Unfortunately, I had no clue about baking a cake. All I knew were the ingredients that I would use throughout the process. He dived completely in-depth into the recipe reflected on a book and started to set for the Christmas cake.

Then I cleaned the kitchen first and made a huge bowl sit in front of me to mix the essentials. I was excited and tensed at the same time, as it was something I tried for the first time…”

Guidelines for Writing a Narrative Essay :

These are the most basic guidelines for writing an excellent narrative essay:

• Use conversations in your article to make it more realistic.
• When structuring the document, keep the chronological sequence in mind.
• In the first paragraph of your essay , there must be a purpose.
• To interest your readers, use highlighted descriptions and sensory data.
• All of the characters, storylines, and the beginning, or climax, must be significant.

All of these factors work together in your article to accurately depict the entire scene in front of your readers’ eyes. So, if you want to write a good narrative essay, make sure you follow these rules to the letter.

2. Descriptive Essay:

A descriptive essay, like that of a narrative essay, uses words to create a picture. A writer could describe a person, a location, an item, or even a memorable memory. This is not, however, a descriptive essay for the sake of description. The goal of a descriptive essay is to convey a deeper meaning through description.

Through the use of vivid words and sensory details, the writer should show, not tell, in a descriptive essay. The finest descriptive essays appeal to the reader’s emotions, producing a vivid effect.

“Moving up to our north cabin and spending time there had always been something that I enjoyed and looked up to. It was a nice, beautiful, and serene place. It offered a lot in terms of peace and serenity that you will not find in cities. We used to look forward to our summer vacations.

So that we can go up north and experience things that we cannot do in the city. Even though time has changed and things are not as they used to be, the memory is still fresh. The atmosphere up north was quite different than in the city. When in the cabin, I marvel at how different the atmosphere and life here are then the cities.

Life in the city is full of noise and tension. You have to get up for work, and the noise of traffic would never let you relax and enjoy nature. Only if you are lucky to have it around. Things up north were different, you can enjoy the sunshine and greenery, and there is no hustle-bustle.

The air was fresh, healthy, and clean. The nights are quiet, and you can hear the animals coming out to hunt for food. Cities are filled with polluted air. This abundance of polluted air is mainly due to the heavy traffic and factories.

The air is thick due to smoke, smog, and other types of air contaminators that no one wants to breathe in. Getting clean air in a city is next to impossible…”

Guidelines of Writing a Descriptive Essay:

• Make a decision on a certain issue. Descriptive essays that are well-written stay focused at all times.
• Gather information.
• Make a rough sketch.
• Write the first paragraph of your essay.
• Body paragraphs should be written.
• In the final paragraph, summarize the essay .
• Look for methods to make your language more lively.

3. Argumentative Essay :

An argumentative essay is a piece of writing that offers a lengthy, evidence-based case. It necessitates a solid thesis statement—a well-defined viewpoint on your subject. Your goal is to persuade the reader of your argument by providing evidence like quotes and analysis.

Argumentative essays put your abilities to investigate and convey your own point of view on a subject to the test. At the undergraduate level, this is the most prevalent style of essay—almost every paper you write will include some form of argumentation.

Students Who Study Abroad Achieve Greater Success

“Much of our learning takes place outside the classroom. We learn how to maintain budgets, forge friendships, develop business relationships, and more. Imagine extending those skills on a global level.

We would immediately cease to believe the world only contains the people and things we can see but, rather, a wide variety of opinions, customs, beliefs, and ethics. This is why every college-level student must study abroad during their undergraduate years. They will learn more in that semester abroad than in any other academic year.

According to IES Abroad, a company that encourages students to become international leaders, students who study abroad are more likely to be accepted into the graduate degree program of their choice. In fact, 90% of students who studied abroad with IES are admitted to their first or second choice for graduate school.

Imagine walking into an interview and being able to discuss preparing the most popular dish in India or organizing the best route to take from Sydney, Australia to Perth. Not only does this strike up a memorable conversation, but it also demonstrates a student’s fierce independence and determination.

All this makes someone who has studied abroad a more desirable candidate for their dream job. As if IES Abroad’s statistic above was not astounding enough, it has been proven that 97% of students who study abroad find employment within 12 months of graduation…..”

Guidelines of Writing an Argumentative Essay:

• The thesis that is well-structured. The introduction to the argument is the first step in writing an argumentative essay.
• Body Paragraphs that support the thesis statement.  The essay has three body paragraphs that support the thesis’ statements.
• Arguments in opposition.
• A conclusion that is persuasive.
• Phrases that bridge the gap.

4. Expository Essay:

An expository essay is a piece of writing that provides a balanced overview of a subject. In an expository essay, the writer uses facts, data, and examples to illustrate or clarify a topic.

Expository writing includes a variety of essay types, including comparison and contrast essays, cause and effect essays, and “how to” or process essays . Expository essays do not show emotions or write in the first person since they are based on facts rather than personal feelings.

“This morning at 9 am, a school bus collided with a car at the intersection of Jones and Heard streets. There were no injuries on the school bus, but medical personnel performed checks on each student and the driver before those students were transported to their schools.

The driver of the car sustained slight, non-life-threatening injuries. He was transported to the local hospital. The accident is still under investigation at this time.

Advances in science and technology have made the use of “green” energy possible. In places where climate conditions permit, people are able to use solar energy or wind energy for power. Solar energy is the use of sunlight for energy and power.

Humans are able to harness the energy of the sun by installing solar panels on their homes or businesses . Humans have also found ways to harness the power of the wind by using wind turbines to capture wind energy. Both of these forms of “green” energy are being used more and more.

The school science fair was a success again this year! We had 15 teams participating, and they all had amazing projects. Each team consisted of two students who designed a science experiment to test a hypothesis, created a display of their experiment and results, and presented their display to the judges.

The winners this year are Sarah Jones and Mark Gordon, who hypothesized that students get into less trouble in the classroom on days when it is sunny outside.

The judges were very impressed with their data collection methods, which included asking teachers to share information on how many students earned stars at the end of each day. They correlated this information with their own data about the weather-sunny, cloudy, or rainy…”

Guidelines for Writing an Expository Essay:

• Choose the essay structure
• Start with an outline
• Verify point of view requirements
• Focus on clarity

Now that you know how to write an essay and the different types of essays, what are you waiting for? Start writing your essay today itself. Oh, do not worry about the errors and mistakes. We always have your back for that. You can close your eyes and rely on editing and proofreading services to make your essay completely immaculate.

-Isabell S.

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Discover the 4 Main Essay Types (and How to Write Them)

Introduction

Not all essays are created equal. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or an aspiring writer, understanding the 4 main types of essays can significantly improve your writing skills. Each type serves a unique purpose and requires a distinct approach.

In this guide, we’ll explore the four main essay types, provide key features, and offer practical writing tips for each. Plus, you’ll find helpful examples and external resources to deepen your understanding.

1. Narrative Essays

A narrative essay tells a story. Unlike other essay types, the focus is on storytelling with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Key Features

• Purpose: To tell a story or recount an experience.
• Structure: Includes an introduction, plot, characters, climax, and conclusion.
• Language: Uses descriptive language to engage the reader’s senses and emotions.

How to Write a Narrative Essay

• Choose a compelling story : Focus on a personal experience that has a clear lesson or takeaway.
• Follow the story arc : Use the classic structure of introduction, rising action, climax, and resolution.
• Use vivid descriptions : Employ sensory details to make your story come to life.

External Resource: Check out Purdue OWL's guide to narrative essays for more detailed instructions and examples.

2. Descriptive Essays

A descriptive essay paints a vivid picture of a person, place, object, or event. Unlike narrative essays, the primary goal is not storytelling but rather description .

• Purpose: To create a sensory experience for the reader.
• Structure: Introduction, body paragraphs (each focusing on a specific aspect), and conclusion.
• Language: Uses sensory details, figurative language, and vivid adjectives.

How to Write a Descriptive Essay

• Choose a topic : Pick a subject that can be described in detail (e.g., a memorable trip, a favorite object).
• Engage the senses : Describe sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures to immerse the reader.
• Use figurative language : Metaphors, similes, and personification bring descriptions to life.

External Resource: For more guidance, read Scribbr’s descriptive essay writing guide .

3. Expository Essays

An expository essay explains, informs, or clarifies a concept. It’s one of the most common types of essays found in academic settings.

• Purpose: To inform or explain a topic logically and clearly.
• Structure: Introduction with a thesis, body paragraphs (each presenting a key point), and conclusion.
• Language: Uses clear, concise, and factual language.

How to Write an Expository Essay

• Select a specific topic : Narrow it down to a clear, focused idea.
• Conduct research : Use credible sources to back up your claims and examples.
• Organize logically : Present points in a clear, step-by-step manner with topic sentences.

External Resource: Explore Grammarly’s guide to expository essays for tips and examples.

4. Argumentative Essays

An argumentative essay requires you to present a claim and support it with evidence and reasoning. The goal is to persuade the reader to agree with your viewpoint.

• Purpose: To convince the reader of a specific position or point of view.
• Structure: Introduction with a clear thesis, body paragraphs (each addressing a point), counterarguments, and conclusion.
• Language: Uses formal tone, logical reasoning, and evidence-based arguments.

How to Write an Argumentative Essay

• Choose a debatable topic : Select an issue with clear opposing viewpoints.
• Form a clear thesis : Make your position clear in the introduction.
• Use evidence : Support claims with data, research, and credible sources.
• Address counterarguments : Acknowledge opposing views and refute them logically.

External Resource: Visit Scribbr’s guide to argumentative essays for a step-by-step tutorial.

How to Identify Which Essay Type to Use

Sometimes it’s not clear which essay type you’re being asked to write. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:

TypeWhen to Use ItNarrative Personal statements, storytelling assignments Descriptive Descriptions of people, places, or experiences Expository Explanatory essays, how-to guides, and analysis Argumentative Persuasive essays, opinion pieces, and debates

Tip: If unsure, check the essay prompt for words like "explain," "describe," or "argue" to determine which type is required.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Misidentifying the Essay Type : Ensure you understand the essay’s purpose before writing.
• Weak Thesis Statement : Make your main argument clear from the start.
• Lack of Structure : Each type of essay follows a specific structure—don’t mix them up.
• Insufficient Evidence : Especially in argumentative and expository essays, always back up claims with credible sources.

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PaperGen bridges the gap between traditional academic composition and modern technology, empowering learners to achieve academic excellence with less stress. By integrating this tool into your workflow, you can focus more on developing ideas and less on the mechanics of writing..

Understanding the 4 main types of essays — narrative, descriptive, expository, and argumentative — can dramatically improve your writing skills. Each type serves a distinct purpose, so mastering them allows you to tackle any writing task with confidence.

Use the resources linked in this guide to practice, learn, and refine your approach to essay writing. Whether you’re crafting a compelling story, explaining a concept, or building an argument, you now have the tools to write clear, effective, and persuasive essays.

Now that you’re equipped with the knowledge, start writing essays that stand out from the rest!

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At Sheridan, you are likely to come across four types of essays. Each essay types has different requirements and produces different outcomes. In this section, you will find descriptions of the four essay types: Expository, Argumentative or Persuasive, Reflective, and Descriptive.

Expository Essay

The purpose of an expository essay is to inform, describe, or explain a topic. It requires you to help the reader understand a topic through your own insights and ideas. Using information from credible sources, your essay should provide definitions, facts, explanations, and details about the subject. The essay may also include examples, comparison and contrast and analysis of cause and effect.

Many academic and workplace writing assignments are expository. These topics, for example, often require expository type of writing:

• A medical or biological condition.
• A social or technological process.
• A marketing strategy.
• Life or character of a famous person.

Argumentative or Persuasive Essay

The purpose of an argumentative essay is to persuade readers on a certain point of view, opinion, or position on a topic. It requires you to identify key issues, present the common or existing arguments about the issues, evaluate evidence behind these arguments and argue why your position on the topic is more convincing or stronger than the opposing view. The subject you choose for an argumentative or persuasive essay needs to be debatable.

An argument is an evidence-based opinion supported and explained by sound, credible sources. "To argue in writing is to advance knowledge and ideas in a positive way" (Warkentin & Filipovic, 2019, p. 207). A well-thought-out argument is one that considers facts and various opinions, some of which may be opposing to each other, and analyzes strengths and weaknesses in each. An argumentative essay should not present only evidence on the position you are supporting. It is more convincing when the information presented is not biased towards a position.

Reflective Essay

This type of essay is more personal because you have to consider or "reflect" upon your own experiences and perspectives on the topic you are writing about.

Experiential reflection is commonly assigned in college courses. It involves reflecting on an experience by connecting theory and practice. For example, in an essay about a field placement experience, you may be asked to assess a theory or concept based on your observations and interactions. This type of writing is common in fields such as social work, health care, and business.

Another type of reflective writing involves examining what shapes your perspectives on an issue. The process helps you examine how your thoughts are shaped by your assumptions and environmental factors and may help you understand and appreciate the experiences of other people. Also, you may be challenged to re-examine your preconceived ideas and judgments.

Descriptive Essay

A descriptive essay allows you to describe something, usually an experience, in details so that the reader can get a good impression of it. Similar to the reflective essay, this type of writing is more subjective although information or data from sources may be incorporated to provide more context and support your descriptions. This type of essays tends to be brief. For example, describe an observation in one to two paragraphs.

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What are the Main types of An Essay – Comparison & Examples

Published by Ellie Cross at November 1st, 2021 , Revised On February 1, 2024

An essay is a focused piece of academic writing that aims to persuade and convince readers of the author’s argument. While there are many types of essays, they can all be essentially grouped into the following four categories:

• Descriptive essays
• Narrative essays
• Argumentative essays
• Expository essays

Narrative and descriptive essays allow you to be more creative in your writing style. Argumentative and expository essays present arguments that persuade readers to agree with your opinion. In academic writing, an argumentative essay is the most popular type.

You may also be asked to write a textual analysis essay in high school and college, which tests students’ reading and analysis skills.

Argumentative Essays

Argumentative essays present an argument using supporting evidence. It requires you to take a specific position on your topic, which is presented in the form of a thesis statement . An argumentative essay aims to persuade the reader to agree to the author’s opinion using evidence and interpretation.

With an argumentative essay, your tutor can evaluate your ability to independently conduct research on a given topic and present your argument and analysis along with supporting evidence.

Argumentative essays are the most common academic essay assignments at the college and university level. The structure of an argumentative essay is divided into the following three parts:

• The introduction includes a hook, background statement, thesis statement , and essay structure map.
• The main body  presents your main argument, analysis, and evidence.
• The conclusion summarises your central argument and stresses its significance.

Argumentative Essay Example Paragraph

The following paragraphs are taken from the main body of an argumentative essay on the impact of distance learning on education.

Distance learning is one of the most economical and viable forms of education available to adult students juggling many responsibilities due to financial and time constraints in their lives. The burden of responsibilities prevents adult students from studying in a foreign country or another city. Distance learning enables them to overcome these challenges and complete their education. Learning in a distant mode can also mitigate economic, social, psychological, and cultural difficulties. Distance learning students often achieve better results when compared with on-campus students because the pursuit of knowledge is undertaken for its own sake rather than as an obligation.

Descriptive Essays

A descriptive essay presents a sensual description of something – situation, emotion, experience, place, person, etc. This type of essay tests a student’s ability to write an account of a specific experience and use language creatively.

Descriptive essays allow you to be more creative, but the essay’s content should be specific and focused. You can make your descriptive essay stand out by using salient words that paint an unforgettable picture of what you are describing through writing.

A descriptive essay begins with an introduction to the object you aim to describe and ends by painting a complete picture of it. Still, its structure is flexible as compared to argumentative essays. What matters most in descriptive essay writing is the choice of words and language to present a real account of the object.

Descriptive Essay Example

The following descriptive essay paragraph example from the essay “My first visit to the dentist” can improve your descriptive essay writing skills.

One of my earliest childhood memories is going out with my parents to the dentist. It was early in the morning on a joyful day. The sun was shining bright. I was just four years old when my mom convinced me to see the dentist have my milk teeth checked.

I was excited not only because it was my first visit to the dentist but also because it was the first time I saw a dentist. I thought of myself as a fearless and courageous boy, so I readily agreed to the trip.

While we drove to the dentist, my stomach grumbled suddenly. Mom said, “Shall we get some snacks for you?” So we stopped at the next service area to grab some crisps and juice. I thoroughly enjoyed the snacks and felt at ease thereafter. A few minutes later, we finally reached the dental clinic.

I must say I was a little surprised to see how clean the place was. I immediately asked my mom, “what is this place?”. There was a large reception area with a receptionist behind the counter. There were posters of dental treatment and dental hygiene on the walls.

I looked at the posters and loved them. I wondered again, what could this place be? My curiosity led me to ask my mom, “Mom, where are we? What is this place?”. But my mom didn’t respond and continued to read the newspaper that she had been looking at since we arrived at the place. As we waited for our turn, I went to sleep.

A few minutes later, my mom woke me up, and I went to the dentist’s room with my parents. I saw a stranger dressed in a white overcoat. He had a stethoscope around his neck.

I analyzed his desk and saw a dental syringe and dental drill. I freaked out and quickly ran out of the room at that very moment. My dad came after. I couldn’t escape. I was back in the dentist’s room and tried to muster up some courage. My dad held on to my arms tightly, and the dentist started to examine my milk teeth.

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Narrative Essays

A narrative essay aims to tell a story creatively. The story generally relates to the authors’ personal experience, even though it can also be fiction that describes imaginary events and people.

In narrative essay writing, you will be required to build up an intriguing story in a structured way. Narrative essays allow the author to be more creative in writing than other essays.

A personal statement for college or university admission requires the writer to demonstrate similar skills as a narrative essay.

There is no fixed structure for a narrative essay, but it should start with an introduction to set up the narrative. It ends by concluding the story’s moral – how the experience (s) will help you improve your response to a particular situation in the future.

Narrative Essay Example

See below a short narrative essay responding to the topic “Explain why you have chosen to apply to the University College of London.”

Scrutinizing nature beyond any limit is a goal shared by both the University College of London and me. I have always found myself fond of disciplines like math and science than humanities. For me, these subjects are of more production value than any other subject.

Courtesy of my experience at the World Science Festival Series, I realized science is more than just a hobby for me. It has instilled in me a passion never known before. There is one thing for sure. University College of London Student Science Training Program can mark the beginning of a journey as I set out to quench my thirst to explore this discipline.

I was completely naïve to the World Science Festival until one of my friends introduced it to me. I was sure it was going to be a boring session on scientific theories and ideas that would fail miserably to keep the audience at the edge of their seats. But I was so wrong because the presenter, Professor, and Doctor Brian Greene gave the most interesting and gripping explanation of the Sting theory that sent my brain into a tailspin.

The talk was an unparalleled experience for me and my friend Robert – who said “This is just the beginning of our love for science”, and we were in constant reverence and admiration of it.

The speaker engaged with us on our level instead of indulging in intricate details of complicated scientific concepts. As he explained the superstring theory, the idea that every particle and force in the universe originates from an infinitesimal strand of energy vibrating in 11 dimensions from a beginner’s perspective, I found myself visualizing various forces at play in my surroundings using a string theory lens. As the talk concluded, it had for sure ignited in me a passion for pursuing science than any other subject by then.

The University College of London Department of Physics will help me make the most of my passion for science. As the department is recognized throughout the world for its world-class teaching faculty and unmatched research facilities, I am sure I can continue my journey towards scientific excellence. While this is just the beginning for me, I am confident that, if given a chance, my time at the University College of London will enable me to live my dream true.

Expository Essays

An expository essay provides a clear and concise account of a topic. Unlike an argumentative essay, it doesn’t incorporate the authors’ personal opinions. Instead, it aims to provide a balanced and well-informed view of the issue in discussion.

Expository essays are designed to test student skills to organize and convey information without bias. They are among the more popular forms of essay at the high school and college levels.

The structure of an expository essay includes the introduction , the body , and the conclusion.

The introduction states the topic and provides background information. The body presents evidence logically and clearly. The conclusion recaps the details presented.

Expository Essay Example Paragraph

Here is an example expository essay paragraph about the significance of the conquest of Mecca by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions. Before the conquest of Makkah, the Muslims were often subject to abuse and prosecution. Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions had to go through hardships of all kinds at the hand of the Quraysh tribe after they embraced Islam. In 619 CE, the Islamic Prophet and the entire clan of Banu Hashim were expelled from Makkah and forced into exile. The tribal council of Makkah believed that the exile would bring Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions to their knees.

Textual Analysis Essays

Textual analysis essays test your reading and critical analysis skills. While all types of essays test your writing skills, a textual analysis essay will additionally require you to present information on a topic based on a critical analysis of text to demonstrate how it achieves specific effects.

Literary Analysis

Literary analysis involves a careful reading of a piece of literature such as a novel or poem. It presents the key text’s themes by examining the choice made by the author. Unlike a book review, a literary analysis essay provides a careful and comprehensive interpretation of the text.

In a literary analysis essay, things like symbols, themes, characters, and setting are explored to figure out the author’s message through reading and detailed analysis of the text.

Like other types of essays, the structure of a literary analysis essay begins with an introduction that consists of the text, background information, and thesis statement. The main body includes quotations from the text and analysis to back your arguments. It ends with a conclusion to underline how your approach decodes the text.

Rhetorical Analysis

A rhetorical analysis essay examines the rhetorical devices used in a persuasive text (e.g., political cartoon, an essay, or speech notes) and analyses their efficacy.

This type of essay establishes how the author has constructed their argument rather than proving it right or wrong.

Rhetorical analysis essays also consist of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The introduction includes the text, background information, and a thesis statement. The main body presents the analysis of the text, and finally, the conclusion emphasizes its relevance to broader issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i know what type of essay i have been asked to write.

If you have been given just a prompt, look for keywords such as explain, describe, argue, examine, etc. The word “describe” suggests a descriptive essay , while the word “explain” implies you are required to produce an expository essay .

An argumentative essay prompt will include words such as “argue”, “examine”, and “evaluate”.

However, in most cases, the college or university will tell you the type of essay you are required to write.

What are the most common types of essays at college or university?

Argumentative essays are the most common type of essays at the college and university level. Most essay assignments will require you to conduct research on a particular topic and present analysis and evidence to support your argument.

There are many ways you can construct an argument. For example:

• In a science essay, you could present an argument for the validity of a particular scientific theory.
• A history essay will require you to present your argument to emphasize the significance of a particular event from the past.
• In a literary analysis essay , you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text.

What is the difference between a descriptive essay and a narrative essay?

Both descriptive essays and narrative essays allow for more creativity. Similar skills can be used to write both these types of essays.

A descriptive essay presents an in-depth description of a place, person, idea, or event, whereas a narrative essay aims to tell a complete story.

What is the difference between an argumentative and an expository essay?

An argumentative essay involves independent research and requires the author to construct an original topic on a certain topic. The thesis statement presented in the introduction must be backed by analysis, evidence, and interpretation.

An expository essay provides clear and concise information on the topic but doesn’t present an original argument. Expository essays are shorter in length as compared to argumentative essays.

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A summative assessment synthesizes students’ learning and understanding of a particular academic source and almost always takes place at the end of term or a complete academic year. Such assessments determine the overall understanding or proficiency of the assessed topic.

It would be best if you planned the structure of your essay before you start writing. An essay outline is perhaps one of the most underrated aspects of the essay writing process.

A standard academic essay consists of an introduction, the main body, and a conclusion. However, it is not the structure of an essay that challenges many students but the order of information within the body.

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Literary English

Different Types of Essays | Describing Main Types

What are different types of essays | describing main types.

An essay is a piece of writing used to persuade someone of something. People write several types of essays for different purposes. In general, the essay must have a purpose. The aim can be to:

There are four main types of essays. These types are divided into further sub types. In this article we will discuss them in detail.

• Argumentative
• Descriptive

Argumentative Essay

Argumentative essay is based on writer’s opinion. Writer explains their reasons and give evidence to support their beliefs. The topics this essay type covers are:

• Health care

When we have to make someone agree with our opinions, we use argumentative essay. Universities and colleges teach this type of essay commonly.  It uses three different kinds of arguments to present your opinion

Classical : It presents the argument and express your perspective. Writers try to influence audience about their stance. It works well when your audience do not know much about that topic.

Rogerian : This type is used when we have to consider other’s opinions as well. This form of argument is excellent for controversial issues, because it respects all viewpoints. It provides the middle ground through evidences.

Toulmin : State your argument and provide solid evidence to support it. Similar to the previous argument type, this one is also helpful for controversial matters. It just offers one side rather than both. It is supported by evidence in a way that makes the opinion hard to reject.

This type of essay is divided into following parts:

Introduction Paragraph: The first paragraph should introduce the topic. It should provide background details of argument. Introduction paragraph also presents the thesis.

Thesis statement: This is a sentence in your first paragraph. It is a brief explanation of your main point in one sentence.

Paragraph bodies: An argumentative essay often has three or more paragraphs that provide supporting evidence for your topic.  In the body paragraphs, you should provide examples, research, statistics, studies, and text citations to support your points.

Conclusion: One paragraph that summarizes all of the arguments in your body paragraphs, restates your thesis, and concludes your essay.

Expository Essay

A writing which conveys information through fact is known as expository writing. Expository essay provides clear knowledge of the topic. This essay type can have different kinds of structures to convey the point of view. Such as:

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

It’s the style of writing you write when you study the material you are researching. Think critically about the ideas you’ve learned in class, and justify the thought processes and conclusions you’ve drawn.

For expository essay, it is important that you know well about the chosen topic. It requires the ability to convey and organize facts. Like argumentative essays this type is also assigned to college and university students the most.

It is divided into three parts as well:

Introduction: It should be small and clear. Introduction paragraph should present the facts you are going to explain in your essay. Thesis statement is the part of this paragraph.

Body paragraph: Expository essay’s first paragraph should be short and well defined. It presents the evidences that support your opinion. For each evidence you provide, there must be a separate paragraph to explain it. Paragraphs of expository essay should be small and easy to read.

Conclusion: It concludes the essay and restate the facts described in the essay.

Use of transition words in body paragraphs is necessary. These words help in hooking up your readers and urge them to read the essay till end. These types of essays have many further categories. Each one serves their own purpose.

Narrative Essay

Narrative essay is not like expository or argumentative essay. It tells a story based on personal experiences. Narrative essay allows the writer to express their beliefs and opinions on some topic in a creative way. It also allows imaginative writing (writing about something you have never experienced yourself).

In narrative essay, sentences should increase the curiosity of readers. Engaging and well-structured paragraphs are important for this type of essay.

There is not any rule to divide narrative essay type in three parts; intro, body and conclusion. But it should have a start that hooks up the audience. Body paragraphs to explain why this certain thing is important to you. What impact did it leave on you. An end is required to conclude your essay gracefully. We cannot leave it in the middle for sure.

Narrative essays allow one to be as creative as they can. For example, you can write on any of these topics below:

What happened at your first day of school

When you got admission in your dream university

When you first held your baby daughter

Go on with the imaginations and creations. This type is well suited for people with creative minds

Descriptive Essay

As clear with its name, descriptive essay allows the writer to describe something. That can be a bird, a toy, a situation or an emotion. Descriptive essay encourages the person to write freely about the topic. It allows to add creativity in situation. Everyone has their own perception of viewing the world and descriptive writing permits it to share with the world.

There are three major forms of descriptive essay

Writing about a person

Writing about an object

Writing about a place

Some key points for writing this essay type

When writing sequentially, every incident must make sense.

Use figures of speech: expressions that aren’t exactly literal but convey a powerful meaning

Use stronger verbs instead of technical terms; for example, “she walked pleasantly” is preferable than “she strolled.

Try to use sensory details like touching, seeing and feeling etc.

Before writing, stop to think, then finish by editing and correcting.

These tips can make your descriptive essay stand-out.

Other Subtypes of Essays Include:

Process essay, compare and contrast essay, persuasive essay, cause and effects essay, critical essay, definition essay.

It is the type of expository essay. It explains how to do something and give explanations about it.  You can write this type of essay in a certain sequence in order to maintain it.

Essays that compare and contrast two topics and highlight their similarities and distinctions. These essays feature an introduction, at least one paragraph outlining the similarities and contrasts between the themes, and a conclusion. In academic environments, compare and contrast essays are common.

Facts and emotional appeals are used in persuasive essays to persuade readers to form an opinion or support a particular position. In persuasive essays, moral and emotional justification can be used to support a claim or cause and engage the reader.

It is also a type of expository essays; therefore, they present facts rather than personal opinions. Cause and effect essays explain how some circumstances resulted in other occurrences.

Critical essays offer a thorough examination of a subject. They may offer criticism on books, plays, parks, or food outlets. Critical essays support their opinions with evidence from the issue.

An exposition essay type that defines a phrase or concept is known as a definition essay. These writings often offer in-depth analysis and explanations of challenging topics.

Conclusion :

In the world of essay writing, each type serves a different purpose. Each write-up will stand significantly if right category of essay is used. Sometimes writers want to give opinion or explain a fact. Other times they want to describe or narrate a story. For each of this purpose, distinct types of essays are available. Grab your pen and start writing your essay on whatever topic you want.

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• Writing Tips

Essay Tips: The 4 Types of Essay

• 3-minute read
• 16th November 2017

Every essay is different, depending on the length, subject matter, etc. Nevertheless, we can still sort essays into four broad ‘types’: expository essays, descriptive essays, persuasive essays, and narrative essays.

There are overlaps between these essay types (e.g. a narrative essay may be very descriptive). But knowing the differences is useful when planning your work . As such, we’ve prepared this quick guide to the four main types of essay.

1. Expository Essays

Expository essays focus on explaining something. The aim is to test how well you understand a topic (and how well you can communicate that understanding). This may involve asking you to compare and contrast two ideas, or to define something and give an example. They are typically structured like this:

• An introduction that sets out the subject that you are writing about and how you will answer the essay question.
• A series of logically connected paragraphs setting out your understanding of the subject matter, along with evidence to support your claims.
• A conclusion that answers your essay question using the evidence.

This type of essay is often used for short assignments, as well as exams.

2. Descriptive Essays

Descriptive essays are less about arguing a point and more about painting a mental picture. These can be more personal and creative than other essay types ( reflective essays often include a descriptive element).

However, they should still have a clear structure and you should always aim to make your work clear and concise, even if you also use detailed, vivid language.

The key is giving your reader a clear sense of what you’re describing. This is a useful skill to have in any form of writing, as it will make your work more compelling.

3. Persuasive Essays

Like expository essays, persuasive (or argumentative ) essays ask you to answer a question via research. They may also be similarly structured.

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However, persuasive essays are usually longer. This is because you need to argue your point strongly, which could involve doing more research or even a practical experiment. For example, rather than just setting out and comparing two competing theories, for a persuasive essay, you might need to research different aspects of these theories, address them critically, and argue for one over the other.

A persuasive essay is thus about presenting a clear, defendable thesis (i.e. an idea or point you’re defending) and backing this up with evidence or arguments.

These essays are commonly given as end-of-module assignments at university.

4. Narrative Essays

Finally, narrative essays tell a story. This doesn’t mean that you have to write your essay as a short story, but it will draw on the conventions of storytelling.

These essays can be quite personal or anecdotal, but they should also have a point (i.e. a moral to the story or a lesson that you have learned by experience).

The language used in a narrative essay should be clear and concise, but it can also be descriptive and emotive. Using the first-person pronoun ‘I’ is common in this type of essay, too, as you will often be writing about your own experiences.

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