What are the Most Popular Types of Essays?
An essay discusses, analyzes or describes a particular topic. There are different types of essay. The choice of essay type depends mostly on the topic as well as on style of the writer.
Most common types of essays are as follows:
- Descriptive:
- Definition:
- Compare/contrast:
- Cause/effect:
- Narrative:
- Process:
- Argumentative:
- Critical:
A descriptive essay is about details of a thing, phenomenon or event. It describes in details the existence and functioning of things. The details provided are often point by point which also use sensory details.
In a definition essay, writer tries to define a particular term or concept. It is a deeper analysis rather than a simple definition. There are two ways to write my admission essay online. One is to only define the term and give explanation of that term. The other way is to tell a story through which reader could infer the meaning.
Compare and contrast type of essay describes or discusses similarities and differences between ideas, concepts, people etc. An essay may contain both comparison and contrast. It can also focus on one aspect, that is, comparison or contrast.
As the name suggests, cause and effect essay explains causes and their consequences. It explores relationship between cause and effect. Its focus is on how a certain cause has a particular kind of effect or consequence.
In a narrative essay, writer conveys message through narration of an experience. The experience is styled in the form of a story. Usually in narrative essay, writer does not form a conclusion as it is left for the reader to imply.
A process essay focuses on the step wise process or method of a phenomenon. It elaborates actions regarding that process that lead it to finishing point.
An argumentative essay is chosen when you have an opinion to establish. In argumentative essay, opinion is given in the form thesis statement. Then a paragraphs comprising of arguments are written. These arguments support the main thesis of essay. That is why it is called argumentative essay.
A critical essay analyzes and interprets strengths, weakness or methods of work. It can analyze some literary piece of work or scientific research paper. The choice is made by writer.
All these types of essays vary according to topic of discussion. It also depends on what writer intends to discuss on a certain topic. Sometimes the type of essay is specified by the teacher.