In academic writing, there are several different types of essays that students need to write for university assignments and for grading. Here, the four main types of essays will be explored, with a focus on how to start, the main writing procedures, and how to conclude.
Essays can be classified into four main categories. These categories are distinguished based on their purpose: to tell a story, to paint a picture with words, to explain a concept, or simply to convince a reader of a particular perspective. So, how do these categories differ from one another? This is what this blog will evaluate.
Exploring the Different Essay Types
The four main types of essays can be classified as:
1. Narrative Essay
The narrative essay tells a story, which is often a personal one, and may often include some creative storytelling elements.
2. Descriptive Essay
A descriptive essay uses sensory details and creates a vivid picture of a person, a place, or even of a specific reader.
3. Argumentative Essay
An argumentative essay aims to direct a reader towards a specific perspective or viewpoint, or even shift towards a particular action. This form of essay targets presenting a clear argument, which is supported by evidence.
4. Expository Essay
The expository essay type informs or explains to the reader about a specific topic with the help of facts, evidence, or a logical organisation of thoughts. This form of essay completely forgoes any type of personal opinion.
Having provided a basic explanation of all the types of essays, let’s now explore the four types of essays in significant detail.
Narrative Essay: Narrating an Experience
A narrative essay consists of an engaging hook that provides context, before the main content of the essay focuses on providing a consistent point of view. This type of essay is designed to tell a story. And that is why the story’s point of view is developed by reflecting on the significance of the experience, a show of growth, as well as providing a sense of closure.
How to Start
The introductory segment of a narrative essay should begin with a strong opening to grab the reader’s attention. Thus, it’s best to start the essay with a clear description, an interesting observation, or a thought-provoking question.
Also, make sure that you can briefly introduce the topic and your story’s setting to ease your reader into the main content in this section.
How to Write
So, how can you frame a proper narrative essay? The first thing to keep in mind is that you need to use a clear and consistent point of view, preferably in first-person. Moreover, taking a “show, don’t tell” approach can help create a vivid narrative to transfer the experience to the readers.
How to Conclude
The concluding stage of the essay should look into the story as a reflective experience. And in this stage, it will be for the best that you show growth or change, wrapping up the whole essay in a satisfying end. Finally, connecting the conclusion back to the introduction for a full-circle effect will be the perfect place to end the essay.
A conclusion is a crucial aspect of an essay, and our professional assignment service will be able to craft a compelling and though-provoking end to your essay.
Descriptive Essay: A Vivid Exploration
A descriptive essay needs to have a hook that can grab the readers’ attention, provide context, and include a thesis statement, which states the primary point of the essay. Sensory details explained in vivid language can be ideal for exploring the primary objective of such an essay, which is to paint a picture with words.
How to Start
Starting a descriptive essay can be explained as a three-pronged approach. The hook, context, and thesis. The hook captures the reader’s interest, while the context offers an overview of the topic or the subject you are describing. Furthermore, considering the thesis, your essay’s central impression will be stated in this section.
How to Write
So, how is the main body of a descriptive essay framed? You can follow some basic outlines for this. These outlines can include the usage of sensory details to stimulate the reader’s senses of sound, sight, smell, taste, or touch to create an immersive description.
Additionally, try to focus more on precise language to offer a clear picture to the reader by avoiding making general statements. Also, your paragraphs should be structured in a way that makes sense, describing things in a specific order.
How to Conclude
The conclusion to a descriptive essay is more of a recap of everything learned while constructing the main thesis. Briefly restating the primary point of the essay, bringing together all the key inferences, and ending with a strong closure.
Argumentative Essay: A Battle of Logic and Perspective
An argumentative essay is constructed with the aim of convincing the reader of a very specific viewpoint, which uses logical reasoning and factual evidence. In such an essay, the primary task is to convince the reader of a certain perspective. And, for that to occur, arguments, counterarguments, and evidence need to be presented at every stage.
How to Start
The introduction essentially exists to set the stage and provide a roadmap for the reader. So, you need to begin with a hook, a relevant anecdote, or even a thought-provoking question that grabs the readers’ attention.
Also, this section will ensure that you put forward the necessary background information about the issue you are discussing, so that the readers are aware of the context and the different existing viewpoints and arguments. And this will form your thesis statement.
How to Write
The body paragraphs in an argumentative essay become very crucial to establishing the points and the arguments. Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that introduces one specific point that supports your overall thesis.
Moreover, every statement that you make should be accompanied by well-researched and credible evidence, including facts, statistics, examples, and even expert opinions. These should also come with counterarguments and address them across several viewpoints, all connecting to your main thesis.
How to Conclude
In the concluding sections of an argumentative essay, your target will be to not only provide closure but to create a lasting impression for the reader. You need to rehash your original thesis statement and reflect upon it with the evidence you have collected. Moreover, you also need to end with a strong final statement.
Expository Essay: A Fact-Based Narration
Writing an expository essay involves presenting facts in a completely objective and unbiased manner. Therefore, your focus should be on starting with a hook and a thesis statement that will pave your way towards the facts and evidence. The most important aspect to keep in mind here will be to ensure that each evidence is not presented in a disconnected manner, but with the help of connecting sentences and smooth transitions.
How to Start
Again, like in the other essay examples, here, you need to start with a hook as well. This hook, accompanied by your thesis statement, will declare your intent to write the essay. Moreover, you should also try to briefly explain the topic and offer key background information on your topic.
How to Write
The main body of the essay will be divided into paragraphs, with each paragraph being dedicated to a single main idea to support the thesis. Here, you need to ensure supporting your points with facts, examples, and other evidence that make your argument clear and convincing.
How to Conclude
The final statements or the concluding statements of the expository essay will ensure that a lasting impression is left, with a likely call to action, a suggestion for future research, or even a comment on the broader implications.
Final Thoughts
All four types of essays tell a different type of story, with a different type of focus area, and a different aim. A narrative essay tells a story, while a descriptive essay creates a picture. Alternatively, an argumentative essay presents evidence-based arguments, and an expository essay explains facts to the reader.
Planning on Writing an Essay? Ensure Proper Format and Research
An essay might look like a simple piece of literature. However, there’s more to an essay than one would think. The main body of the essay requires a coherent account of an event, facts, and so on. So, ensure thorough research and proper explanations, and your essay will garner the right attention.
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Frequently Asked Questions
All essays essentially follow the same format of introduction, body, and conclusion. For the two mentioned, the contents of the body and their structural divisions will differ.
These 4 types of essays are the primary classifications of essays, which implies that they are the major types that most are aware of. However, other common types also exist, such as compare and contrast, cause and effect, and so on.
It is for the best that no data is directly presented in the body of an essay. Instead, you should try to present the data in the appendices, and you can cite the data presented in the essay’s body, and present your argument.
Usually, the type of essay that deals with personal experiences is a reflective essay. However, a reflective approach can be considered for a narrative essay.
