Posted: July 12th, 2024

Essay Writing

This resource starts with an overview of essay writing and then delves into common essay genres that students may encounter across various subjects. The four main types of essays—description, narration, exposition, and argumentation—are typical assignments in writing classes. While these genres, also referred to as modes of discourse, have faced criticism from some composition scholars, essayby.com acknowledges their widespread use and the importance for students to understand and master these forms. We hope these resources will be helpful.

Overview

The essay is a frequently assigned form of writing that every student will encounter throughout their academic journey. Therefore, it is beneficial for students to become proficient and comfortable with this type of writing early in their education.

Essays can be both rewarding and challenging. They are often assigned either to be completed in class, requiring prior planning, practice, and a bit of creativity, or as homework, which similarly demands preparation. Many poorly crafted essays result from a lack of preparation and confidence. However, students can avoid the discomfort often associated with essay writing by understanding some common genres.

Before exploring the various genres of essays, let’s start with a basic definition of what an essay is.

WHAT IS AN ESSAY?

Though the word “essay” is now understood as a type of writing in Modern English, its origins provide us with useful insights. The term entered the English language through the French influence on Middle English. Tracing it further back, the French form of the word comes from the Latin verb exigere, meaning “to examine, test, or (literally) to drive out.” This etymology reveals the essence of the academic essay: to encourage students to test or examine their ideas on a particular topic.

Essays are shorter pieces of writing that often require students to develop various skills, such as close reading, analysis, comparison and contrast, persuasion, conciseness, clarity, and exposition. As evidenced by this list of attributes, there is much to be gained by students who strive to excel in essay writing.

The purpose of an essay is to encourage students to develop ideas and concepts with minimal external direction, relying primarily on their own thoughts. It may be helpful to view the essay as the converse of a research paper. Essays are, by nature, concise and require clarity in purpose and direction. There is no room for the student’s thoughts to wander or stray from their purpose; the writing must be deliberate and engaging.

This handout aims to help students become familiar and comfortable with the process of essay composition by introducing some common essay genres.

This handout includes a brief introduction to the following genres of essay writing:

1. Expository Essays

   The expository essay is a type of academic writing where students delve into an idea, assess evidence, elaborate on the concept, and present a well-structured argument in a clear and concise manner. This involves utilizing methods like comparison and contrast, definition, providing examples, and analyzing cause and effect relationships. Read…

2. Descriptive Essays

   In the realm of academic writing, essays come in various forms, each with its unique purpose and style. Among these, the descriptive essay stands out as a vivid canvas where words are the brushstrokes that create immersive experiences for the reader. Unlike its analytical or argumentative counterparts, the descriptive essay focuses on evoking sensory experiences, painting scenes, and capturing emotions through detailed observation and language. Read…

3. Narrative Essays

   Narrative essays are essays that tell a story from a defined point of view. They can be based on personal experiences or fictional stories, but they always include a clear narrative arc—a beginning, middle, and end. The narrative essay’s primary goal is to engage the reader by presenting events in a compelling and organized manner. This form of writing relies heavily on descriptive detail, character development, and an emotional connection to convey its message. Read…

4. Argumentative Essays

   An argumentative essay is a type of writing that presents a clear stance on a particular issue and supports it with evidence and reasoning. Unlike expository essays, which aim to inform or explain, argumentative essays aim to persuade the reader to accept or at least consider the writer’s viewpoint. They require a thorough investigation of a topic, including collecting, generating, and evaluating evidence, and then establishing a concise and clear position. Read…