7 types of essay writing

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Types of Essays in Academic Writing - Quick Guide (2024)

Table of Contents

Essay writing is an integral part of academic progress, playing a crucial role in enhancing critical thinking and communication skills among students.

There are different types of essays in academic writing, each with its unique purpose and requirements. Understanding these different essay types is essential for students to effectively convey their thoughts and ideas while demonstrating comprehension of the subject matter. In this article, let's learn more about the essay types and it's importance in academic writing.

Why is understanding essay types important in academic writing?

Essays serve as a medium for students to express their knowledge and opinions in a structured and coherent manner. They allow students to showcase their understanding of various concepts and ideas while adhering to the rules of academic writing. The different types of essays provide students with opportunities to explore different types of academic essays and develop their analytical and communication skills.

When it comes to academic writing, essay types play a crucial role in shaping the content and style of the writing. Each essay type serves a specific purpose and requires a distinct approach. By understanding the different types of essays, students can effectively convey their thoughts and ideas to their readers.

What are the types of essays in academic writing?

Academic writing encompasses a wide range of essay types, each serving a specific purpose and following distinct guidelines. Here's a brief overview of the major 7 types of essays commonly encountered in academic writing:

Expository Essay:

Expository essays is one of the types of essays aim to provide clear and concise explanations of a topic or concept. They present information objectively, without personal opinions or biases. The focus of expository essay is on organizing and conveying facts, ideas, or processes in a structured manner.

Key Features of expository essay:

• Informative and objective
• Presents a balanced and unbiased view
• Uses clear and concise language
• Follows a logical structure, often with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion

Source: mtsac.edu

Argumentative Essay:

Argumentative essays is one of the most prominent types of essays which aim to persuade the reader to adopt a particular stance on a debatable issue. They present a well-structured argument backed by evidence and reasoning. The goal of argumentative essay is to convince the reader of the validity of the author's position.

Key Features OF argumentative essay:

• Presents a clear thesis statement
• Provides supporting evidence, such as facts, statistics, expert opinions, or examples
• Uses logical reasoning and counterarguments to address opposing views
• Maintains an objective and formal tone

Source: University of Washington

Narrative essay:

Narrative essays tell a story, recounting events or personal experiences in chronological order. They engage the reader by incorporating vivid descriptions, sensory details, and emotional language.

Key Features of narrative essay:

• Strong opening hook to capture the reader's attention
• Follows a clear narrative arc, including rising action, climax, and resolution
• Conveys emotions and personal reflections

Comparative essay:

Comparative essays analyze similarities and differences between two or more subjects. They highlight common themes, contrasting features, and unique characteristics. The goal of comparative essay is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subjects and their relationships.

Key Features of comparative essay:

• Clear identification of the subjects and their key attributes
• Organized comparison, often using a point-by-point or block format
• Evidence-based analysis of similarities and differences
• A balanced and objective approach

Cause and effect essay:

Cause-and-effect essays investigate the relationships between events, actions, or phenomena. They explore the reasons behind occurrences and the consequences that follow. The purpose of Cause and effect essay is to understand the underlying mechanisms and implications.

Key Features Cause and effect essay:

• Clear identification of the cause and effect
• Logical explanation of the causal relationship
• Evidence-based support for the proposed connection
• Consideration of alternative explanations or counterarguments

Problem solution essay:

Problem-solution essays identify a problem or issue and propose potential solutions. They analyze the causes and implications of the problem, evaluate different solutions, and recommend the most effective approach. The goal is to provide a practical and well-reasoned solution.

Key Features problem solution essay:

• Clear definition of the problem and its scope
• Analysis of the causes and consequences of the problem
• Evaluation of different solution options, considering feasibility and effectiveness
• Recommendation of the most viable solution with supporting arguments

Analytical essay:

Analytical essays break down a complex topic or concept into its constituent parts and examine the relationships between them. They provide a deeper understanding of the subject's structure, nuances, and underlying principles. The purpose is to offer critical insights and interpretations.

Key Features of analytical essay:

• In-depth examination of a topic or concept
• Breakdown of the subject into its components or underlying principles
• Analysis of relationships between different parts or aspects of the subject
• Identification of patterns, themes, or underlying theories

What are the structures and formats of different types of essays?

While each essay type has its unique structure and requirements, several elements are common across different types of essays.

Common Elements in Essay Structures

Most essays follow a similar structure, beginning with an introduction that provides background information and presents the thesis statement. The body paragraphs contain the main arguments, supported by evidence and examples. The conclusion summarizes the key points and restates the thesis, leaving the reader with a final thought or call to action.

Unique Formatting Requirements for Each Type of Essay

In addition to the common structural elements, each essay type may have specific formatting requirements. These may include the use of headings and subheadings, citation styles, and the inclusion of specific sections such as literature reviews or methodology explanations. It is crucial for students to familiarize themselves with the unique formatting guidelines for each essay type to ensure their work meets the expected standards.

By understanding the various types of essays and their distinct characteristics, students can adapt their essay writing style and approach to effectively communicate their ideas. Developing proficiency in each essay type equips students with valuable skills that extend beyond their academic journey, empowering them to articulate their thoughts clearly and persuasively in various professional and personal backdrops.

Wrapping up

In conclusion, the diverse range of types of essays in academic writing offers students opportunities to develop their critical thinking, persuasive writing, and storytelling abilities. Understanding the purpose and requirements of each essay type allows students to excel in conveying their knowledge and ideas effectively. Each essay type serves as a building block in the development of well-rounded academic writers. So, embrace the diversity of essay types, explore different writing styles, and tailor your approach accordingly to excel in the realm of academic writing.

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What are the seven different types of academic essay?

This is the third and final chapter about Essays . To complete this reader, read each chapter carefully and then unlock and complete our materials to check your understanding.   

– Discuss why essays may vary in type

– Describe the seven different essay types

– Provide example essay questions for each type

Chapter 1: What is an academic essay?

Chapter 2: What are the six different essay lengths?

Chapter 3: What are the seven different types of academic essay?

Before you begin reading...

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There are many different  essay types   that you may be required to write throughout your university education, and each type will generally depend upon the task you’ve been set – which is often indicated by the essay question . Of course, the type of essay you’re required to write can depend on the level of education you are in (secondary vs. tertiary) and the courses you are studying (skills vs. content, or arts vs. sciences). The following seven essay types are likely the most common types that you’ll find in academic writing courses.

1. Cause and Effect Essays

The purpose of a  cause and effect essay   is usually to explain to the reader the connection between an event or situation (the cause) and the result that such an event or situation has created (the effect). Such essay types may well include an evaluation of that cause as well as the general implications or wider impact of those effects – such as what would happen to a select group of people or a particular country in those circumstance. Below is one possible essay question :

2. Compare and Contrast Essays

The main purpose of a compare and contrast essay  is to take two or more concepts, events or ideas and compare them for similarities or contrast them for differences. Such essays may cover any kind of topic, although are usually determined by the subject that the student is studying. One such compare and contrast essay question might be:

3. Descriptive Essays

Descriptive essays are often described as being the essay type which brings a topic ‘alive’ for the reader by describing that topic in significant detail. The idea is that the writer explains a topic in such a level of detail that the reader will be able to hear, see or feel what’s being described. Such essays then will clearly draw on the five human senses and may be more poetic or reflective in nature (and perhaps therefore more restrictive in the types of essay question possible):

4. Evaluative Essays

Evaluative essays are intended to help the writer present their opinion through criteria and evidence. Although similar to persuasive essays in that the writer will provide a stance on an argument, the focus of an evaluative essay is instead that the writer provides their overall opinion on a topic, a judgement of that opinion (such as its strengths and weaknesses), criteria for arriving at that conclusion, and evidence to support that particular viewpoint. Such essay questions for this essay type are varied, but might look somewhat similar to the following:

5. Persuasive Essays

Persuasive (or argumentative) essays tend to demonstrate that there are two (or possibly more) opinions to any given topic and provide evidence for both sides of the argument. Commonly, the writer will take a stance in this essay type and provide more evidence for one side of the debate than the other. Despite the writer’s overall opinion, persuasive essays should always include counter arguments  to the writer’s argument so as to remain objective, as would be necessary for the following question:

6. Problem-Solution Essays

The purpose of a problem-solution essay is so that a problem (which may be the writer’s choice or at the discretion of the tutor) may be identified and possible solutions determined for that issue. This essay type usually involves also providing an evaluation of those solutions (such as their strengths, weaknesses and viability) as well as evidence to support them. One such problem-solution essay question might be similar to the following:

7. Process Essays

The final, and perhaps easiest, type of common academic  essay is the process essay ,  the purpose of which is to explain to the reader how something happens or how to replicate a process themselves. Also known as a ‘how-to’ essay, this essay type involves the writer explaining a particular process either through defining it, by showing the particular processes in a step-by-step manner, or by describing in detail how something works. Such essay questions for this type might be as follows:

Please note that although listed separately here, it is possible that an essay could have aspects of more than one of these seven essay types. Having an understanding of these types will therefore help you to utilise them and hopefully improve your writing. If you’d like to check comprehension of these concepts as explained in Chapters 1 to 3, consider downloading our beginner-, intermediate– and advanced-level worksheets for this topic.

To reference this reader:

Academic Marker (2022) Essays . Available at: https://academicmarker.com/academic-guidance/assignments/essays/ (Accessed: Date Month Year).

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• Leeds University Library
• Purdue Online Writing Lab

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Once you’ve completed all three chapters about essays , you might also wish to download our beginner, intermediate and advanced worksheets to test your progress or print for your students. These professional PDF worksheets can be easily accessed for only a few Academic Marks .

Our essays academic reader (including all four chapters about this topic) can be accessed here at the click of a button.

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Are you a college or high school student ready to start on a journey through the fascinating world of essay writing ? Brace yourself because you'll encounter a variety of essay types that will challenge your writing skills and creativity.

Picture this: You're handed an assignment, a blank canvas on which to express your thoughts and ideas. But here's the catch – your teacher won't always specify the type of essay you should craft. It's up to you to solve the riddle hidden within the assignment question.

But fear not! 

In this blog, we'll discuss the four most common types of essays you're likely to encounter during your academic years. While these essays may share a common foundation and structure, each possesses its own unique characteristics. Let’s get started!

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

Major Types of Essays In Academic Writing

When it comes to academic writing, understanding the different types of essays is essential. Each type serves a distinct purpose and requires a specific approach. Let's explore these essay types along with their descriptions and example prompts in the table below:

Understanding these major types of essays and the skills they assess will empower you to approach your academic writing with confidence. Depending on your assignment's requirements, you'll be better equipped to choose the appropriate essay type and showcase your writing abilities effectively. 

Each type offers a unique opportunity for you to express your ideas, and arguments and perfect your specific writing skills.

Here are the key types of essay formats explained in detail, along with examples to enhance your understanding.

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Argumentative Essay

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 words, the writer must provide evidence and remain consistent in their stance. While argumentative essays present both sides of an issue, they strongly support 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.
• Persuasive Techniques: It uses persuasive techniques like ethos, pathos, and logos effectively.
• 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 . This approach enables you to grasp the argumentative essay outline and writing style more effectively.

Descriptive Essay

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 evoke the senses and emotions of the reader. In simple terms, the reader should see what you saw and feel what you felt. To make it better, you can use several literary devices such as;

• 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.
• 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

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

Need more examples? Read our Descriptive Essay Examples and Writing Tips blog to get inspired!

Expository Essay

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.

Therefore, it is important that you make a focused outline and stick to it throughout the process. 

An expository essay incorporates a wide array of essays such as:

• 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.
• 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

Looking for more sample essays? Check out our Expository Essay Examples blog and take inspiration from a range of expository essays!

Narrative Essay

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 expert narrative essay examples. 

For more examples visit our blog on narrative essay examples .

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Other Essay Types

In addition to the major types of essays discussed earlier, there are several other specialized types that cater to specific audiences. These essays provide diverse avenues for writers to communicate their ideas effectively. 

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. 

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, here is an interesting persuasive essay example that you can explore for your better understanding. 

Read our persuasive essay examples blog for more samples!

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!

Reflective Essay

A reflective essay type of 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 it 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. 

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 what are the different types of essays in academic writing that you are most likely to get assigned. However, if you still find it difficult to compose your essay, leave your piece of 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.

Request 'write my essay' today and let our professional writing service help you write A+ grade essays within your specified timeline! 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important element in any essay.

A thesis statement is the most important part of any essay. Other than the research itself, the thesis statement is the most important part of an essay or research paper. A thesis statement summarizes the main point and essence of the argument.

What type of essay is most common at university?

Usually, university students get argumentative kinds of essays. No matter what kind of essay you write, you will need to develop an argument.

Here are some kinds of essays and the kind of arguments added to them. 

• Analysis and interpretation of literary texts are discussed in literary analysis essays. 
• The importance of a particular event or theory is analyzed in a history argumentative essay. 
• A political theory is examined in a political argumentative essay. 

Besides, there are a number of different kinds of argumentative and analysis essays.

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12.2: Types of Essays and Suggested Structures

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Introduction

The structural organization of an essay will vary, depending on the type of writing task you’ve been assigned. Below are outline templates for specific types of writing projects. Keep in mind these are just a starting point: there is always room for variation and creativity in how a subject is most effectively presented to a reader.

Analytical essay

This is perhaps the most common structure. Examples of this include questions which ask you to discuss , analyze , investigate , explore, or review . In an analytical structure you are required to break the topic into its different components and discuss these in separate paragraphs or sections, demonstrating balance where possible.

• Background information on topic
• Overall point of view of the topic (thesis)
• Overview of components to be discussed (structure)
• Topic sentence outlining first component
• Sentences giving explanations and providing evidence to support topic sentence
• Concluding sentence – link to next paragraph
• Topic sentence outlining second component
• Sentences giving explanations and providing evidence to back topic sentence
• These follow the same structure for as many components as you need to outline
• Summary of the main points of the body
• Restatement of the main point of view
• Justification/evaluation (if required by task)

Argumentative essay

Examples of this type of essay include questions which ask you to take a position on a topic, such as a particular decision or policy, and present arguments which support your position. An effective way to argue a point can be to present the opposing view first then counter this view with stronger evidence.

• Statement of your position on the topic (thesis)
• Overview of arguments to be presented (structure)
• Topic sentence outlining first argument
• Topic sentence outlining second argument
• These follow the same structure for as many arguments as you wish to put forward in support of the topic.
• Restatement of the position

Interpretive essay

Examples of this type of essay include assignments where you are given data such as a case study or scenario, a diagram, graphical information, or a picture and expected to interpret this information to demonstrate your application of knowledge when answering the task. Based on this data, you may be asked to do a range of things such as provide recommendations or solutions, develop a nursing care plan, a teaching plan, suggest legal advice, or plan a marketing strategy.

• Brief background information on topic
• Overview of issues to be addressed in the essay (structure)
• State overall interpretation (thesis)
• Topic sentence outlining first issue identified from the data
• Sentences giving further explanation and providing evidence from both the literature and the data, e.g. the case study to support the topic sentence (it is very important in this types of essays to make reference to the data you have been supplied to give your essay context).
• Topic sentence outlining second issue identified
• These follow the same structure for as many issues as you wish to discuss from the data you have been supplied.
• Statement of overall interpretation
• Summary of the main issues from the data supplied
• Make recommendations or suggest solutions to address the issues arising from the data supplied.

Comparative essay

Examples of this type of essay include compare , compare and contrast , or differentiate questions. In this structure the similarities and/or differences between two or more items (for example, theories or models) are discussed paragraph by paragraph. Your assignment task may require you to make a recommendation about the suitability of the items you are comparing.

• Outline of two (or more) things being compared or contrasted
• Purpose for making the comparison / contrast
• Overview of the specific points to be compared / contrasted
• Topic sentence outlining first similarity or difference
• Topic sentence outlining second similarity or different
• These follow the same structure for as many items or aspects as you need to compare/contrast
• Restatement of the main purpose for the comparison / contrast
• Summary of the main similarities and differences
• Recommendation about suitability of compared items for purpose (if requirement of assessment task)
• Overall conclusion

Problem and solution essay

These essay questions often require you to structure your answer in several parts. An example may be to ask you to investigate a problem and explore a range of solutions. You may also be asked to choose the best solution and justify your selection, so allow space for this in your essay if needed.

• Background information about the problem
• Description of the problem and why it is serious
• Overview of the solutions to be outlined
• Topic sentence outlining first solution
• Explanation of the positive and negative aspects of the solution
• Evidence to support explanations
• Concluding sentence
• Topic sentence outlining second solution
• Evidence to support explanation
• These follow the same structure for as many solutions as you need to discuss
• Summary of the problem and overview of the solutions
• Evaluation of solutions and recommendation of best option

Note : Depending on the topic, body paragraphs in a problem and solution essay could be devoted to discussing the problem in more detail, as well as the solution. It’s up to the writer to assess the needs of the project, in order to decide how much time is spent on each part.

Cause and effect essay

Examples of this type of essay include questions which ask you to state or investigate the effects or outline the causes of the topic. This may be, for example, an historical event, the implementation of a policy, a medical condition, or a natural disaster. These essays may be structured in one of two ways: either the causes(s) of a situation may be discussed first followed by the effect(s), or the effect(s) could come first with the discussion working back to outline the cause(s). Sometimes with cause and effect essays you are required to give an assessment of the overall effects, such as on a community, a workplace, an individual. Space must be allocated for this assessment in your structure if needed.

• Background information on situation under discussion
• Description of the situation
• Overview of the causes or effects to be outlined
• Topic sentence outlining first cause or effect
• Sentences giving explanations and providing evidence to support the topic sentence
• Concluding sentence – linking to next paragraph
• Topic sentence outlining second cause or effect
• These follow the same structure for as many causes or effects as you need to outline
• Conclusion, prediction or recommendation

Finally, consider that some essay assignments may ask you to combine approaches, especially in more advanced classes. At that point, you may have to vary your body paragraph strategy from section to section.

This chart gives an idea of what different roles paragraphs can play in a mixed-structure essay assignment.

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)

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Types of Essays

Learn about different types of essays here. We have examples of different kinds of essays, definitions of different kinds of essays. With this resource you’ll have no problem distinguishing between different kinds of essays.

Putting your ideas into writing can be challenging, but the structure of an essay can help you organize and express your thoughts more clearly. An essay can vary in length, but it is typically a nonfiction piece of writing organized into paragraphs that includes a clear introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Different types of essays are useful for communicating information, persuading an audience, sharing a personal story, or analyzing the various aspects of a piece of literature or art or a moment in history or politics. The ability to write a clear, structured essay is a skill students typically begin to build during their grade school and high school years. College courses will continue to build this skill so that students can write longer and more complicated types of essays and be better prepared to transfer these skills into professional settings or the pursuit of graduate degrees.

When writing an essay, it’s important to understand which type of essay format will work best for your topic. Read on for a brief description of some of the most common types of essays.

Expository Essays

One of the most common types of essays are at your disposal, the expository essay is used when the writer wants to clearly communicate information. An expository essay can be strictly informative, such as a research report, but expository types of essays can also include examples and analysis to support a larger point. When writing expository types of essays, you can tailor your essays in several different ways. Two of the most common approaches are the “compare and contrast” essay and the “cause and effect” essay. The compare and contrast types of essays are structured to allow the writer to present information and examples and then point out the similarities and differences. This is a good way to provide information without inserting any opinion or argument. The cause and effect essay also relies on the presentation of information, but the information is typically structured to explain the root cause of a later effect. This type of essay is useful when providing background information on a historical topic and can even be appropriate for constructing lab reports in some science courses.

Descriptive Essays

While less common in high school and college, descriptive types of essays are frequently used as a way to begin thinking creatively in elementary and middle school classrooms. A descriptive essay uses creative language to bring the subject of the essay to life. These types of essays can focus on a person, a place, an animal, a moment in time — there are nearly limitless possibilities for a descriptive essay. Descriptive essays typically rely on figurative language to capture the reader’s interest and can be a great opportunity for students to apply some of the more interesting tools in their writing tool kits, including simile , metaphor and personification .

Narrative Essays

A narrative essay can focus on the writer’s personal experience or take a close look at someone else’s experience. These essays typically sound similar to a fictional story in that they have a clear beginning, middle and end and usually include some sort of main event that prompts new understanding or a change in the subject of the essay. A narrative style offers more room to bring in emotion and unique descriptive details than an expository essay, but it usually includes more of a “story” than a descriptive essay. Prompts for narrative types of essays often ask students to consider an important moment in their lives and then create an essay that walks the reader through that moment.

Argumentative (Persuasive) Essays

Argumentative types of essays are all about presenting an opinion to readers and backing it up with evidence to persuade them to agree with your position. Argumentative types of essays, also known as persuasive essays, can be used to discuss an opinion on a work of literature, art or film or to discuss a current event or moment in history. The main feature of this type of essay is a clearly articulated argument in the first paragraph of the essay. This is often called the “thesis statement” of the essay. The goal of an argumentative essay is to include enough evidence and explanation to prove that the argument in the opening paragraph is sound. Writers do this by providing evidence, explaining the source and credibility of the evidence, and even explaining why the counter-argument is not believable. These essays should have a clear conclusion that summarizes the argument and makes a final appeal to the reader to consider and accept the writer’s opinion.

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7 types of essay writing you will see in school.

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Essay writing is a necessary part of school, whether you are a high school, undergraduate or graduate student. However, writing can often be intimidating, especially when you are given your first 10 or 20-page essay assignment. Where is the best place to start? How do you get started?

In this post, we will talk about the most common types of essay writing you will find in college, what to expect, how to handle each type of assignment, when to look for assistance and where to find help from an essay writing service.

The 7 most common types of essay writing

There are many different types of essays you will probably encounter in school, depending on your subject of study. However, these 7 types of essays are the most common. Especially if you are completing your undergraduate prerequisites, you will most likely have to write at least a couple of these types of essays. We will review the basics of each type so that you can feel confident when your next assignment is given out-- whether it is a 2 page or a 20-page essay.

1. Narrative

Narrative essays are traditionally intended to tell a story based on the writer’s real-life experiences. Generally, a narrative essay tells a story to make a point. For example, you may receive a narrative essay prompt that asks you to “write about your most memorable childhood experience.” Narrative essays include a motif (main or central point), and follow a standard essay format (introduction, body and conclusion). They also include characters and action.

Best approach:

The best way to approach writing a narrative essay is to first define the essay’s central point, (which can usually be derived from the essay prompt). Once the motif is defined, create an outline of the narrative you will write. This is one of the few essays in which using “I” (first person language) is appropriate. Conclude the essay by explaining how it relates back to the main point. If you get stuck, consider reaching out to a high-quality essay writing service for help.

2. Descriptive

Descriptive essays essentially paint a picture of something. When you write a descriptive essay, expect to be describing your main topic, and plan to use a lot of adjectives. Your topic of description may be a person, place or even an experience or emotion. But, unlike a narrative essay, you will most likely be required to write in third person.

A logical approach for writing a descriptive essay is to first define what you will describe. Write an introduction that explains what will be described and why. Write the body using rich description, and conclude by explaining the significance of the description (why it is important). Essay writing services are a great resource for help if you are stumped.

3. Expository

Expository essays present facts. They require students to research, investigate and present an idea based purely upon factual evidence, rather than based on an opinion. Expository essays use empirical, scholarly sources and are written with clear logic.

If you are embarking on writing an expository essay, it is critical to make sure that the sources you use in your essay are credible and present information that supports the idea or topic that you are describing. As always, use third person when writing an expository essay, and start by creating a clear outline. Reach out to a credible essay writing service if you need help creating your outline or finding scholarly research.

4. Persuasive

As the name implies, persuasion is the primary goal of a persuasive essay. Persuasive essays should be convincing, argumentative and logical. Unlike expository essays, which may also support a position or certain argument, persuasive essays rely less on concrete fact alone, and may also incorporate opinion-based writing.

If you are writing a persuasive essay, do use logic and facts. However, you may also write about your opinion, as long as you write in third person and the facts you present suggest the validity of your opinion. In other words, your opinion itself doesn’t need to be fact-based, but the facts you include should strongly suggest that your opinion is legitimate.

Once again, the nuances of this type of writing can be tricky, so if you are still scratching your head, do not be afraid to ask for help and explore essay writing service options to get you started.

Writing a persuasive essay? Use our step-by-step guide on how to write a persuasive essay .

5. Compare and contrast

Essay assignments that ask you to compare and contrast something are a little different than essays that simply present facts or an opinion. Compare and contrast essays evaluate differences and similarities between two things.

Outlines are especially helpful when writing a compare and contrast essay. Because you will likely be switching back and forth between whatever two topics, or things, you are describing, creating an outline will help you to connect your ideas logically and write an essay that flows. For instance, it is helpful to follow a systematic process within the body of the essay.

To see examples of a compare and contrast essay outline, look for credible examples from an essay writing service.

6. Reflective

Like expository essays, reflective essays also introduce ideas that are based on facts, But, in contrast to expository essays, reflective essays ponder and reflect on what the topic or idea means, and its significance.

For example, a reflective essay about the shortage of healthcare workers in America would not only cite facts about this problem, but would also synthesize and interpret the facts to explain how or why they are significant to America’s society.

Within this example, a conclusion may be drawn such as: “If the shortage of qualified healthcare workers in America is not successfully addressed, the nation’s state of health and access to healthcare may continue to decline, which could have negative social and economic impacts.”

When writing a reflective essay:

• Start with an outline that presents facts based upon your research.
• In conclusion of each paragraph , explain the significance of the facts you discuss.
• Conclude the essay by interpreting the overall significance of the subject.

The key to a successful reflective essay is to synthesize and interpret facts. If you are stuck, quality essay writing services are usually able to help with reflective essays as well. Some essay writing services, such as Ultius, offer assistance researching, outlining and editing in addition to helping with the writing process itself.

7. Personal

Depending on the nature of the assignment you receive, most personal essays will allow the use of first person, as the name implies. Like narrative essays, personal essays may describe the writer’s own experiences.

However, personal essays are often used for a wider variety of purposes than a narrative essay, which is similar to a story. For instance, personal essays may be used to demonstrate or show your personal goals and interests. For this reason, they are often used as college application essays.

One key to writing a great personal essay is to first get clear on the “why” of the essay. In other words, what purpose will it serve? Is it for a class assignment that asks you to write about your personal experience of something (like a narrative essay)? Or, is it a college application essay that will show your admissions board why you are a good candidate for the school based on your goals and experiences?

Essay writing services like Ultius are also a great resource if you are wanting to polish a personal essay and make your impression stand out.

When to look for essay writing service assistance

We mentioned the fact that an essay writing service can be a helpful resource during the writing process. But, you may be wondering if you really need to pay a writing service for help. Here are some general instances in which writing services are especially helpful:

• If a final grade is contingent upon your essay and you want to make sure your outline, research and writing align with the instructions and thoroughly meet the requirements.
• If you are stumped trying to understand the essay’s instructions or feel overwhelmed with writer’s block.
• If you are writing a college entrance essay, or another type of essay , and want to be sure you hand in polished, proofread content. Essay writing services can be a great resource for editing and proofreading.
• If your schedule is super busy and you could use help with the outlining and research process to make writing more efficient.

Where to find help from a top quality essay writing service

There are numerous writing services online. But, if you are looking for help with any of the above types of essays, it is critical to find an essay writing service that can offer assistance with the specific type of essay you need to write. Essay services like Ultius hire skilled writers that specialize in a variety of subjects and are able to create high-quality, undergraduate and graduate level content.

So, before opting for the first or least expensive service, be sure you choose a top essay writing service that offers custom, original writing and helpful guidance, on time.

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• How to structure an essay: Templates and tips

How to Structure an Essay | Tips & Templates

Published on September 18, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction , a body , and a conclusion . But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body.

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Table of contents

The basics of essay structure, chronological structure, compare-and-contrast structure, problems-methods-solutions structure, signposting to clarify your structure, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay structure.

There are two main things to keep in mind when working on your essay structure: making sure to include the right information in each part, and deciding how you’ll organize the information within the body.

Parts of an essay

The three parts that make up all essays are described in the table below.

Order of information

You’ll also have to consider how to present information within the body. There are a few general principles that can guide you here.

The first is that your argument should move from the simplest claim to the most complex . The body of a good argumentative essay often begins with simple and widely accepted claims, and then moves towards more complex and contentious ones.

For example, you might begin by describing a generally accepted philosophical concept, and then apply it to a new topic. The grounding in the general concept will allow the reader to understand your unique application of it.

The second principle is that background information should appear towards the beginning of your essay . General background is presented in the introduction. If you have additional background to present, this information will usually come at the start of the body.

The third principle is that everything in your essay should be relevant to the thesis . Ask yourself whether each piece of information advances your argument or provides necessary background. And make sure that the text clearly expresses each piece of information’s relevance.

The sections below present several organizational templates for essays: the chronological approach, the compare-and-contrast approach, and the problems-methods-solutions approach.

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The chronological approach (sometimes called the cause-and-effect approach) is probably the simplest way to structure an essay. It just means discussing events in the order in which they occurred, discussing how they are related (i.e. the cause and effect involved) as you go.

A chronological approach can be useful when your essay is about a series of events. Don’t rule out other approaches, though—even when the chronological approach is the obvious one, you might be able to bring out more with a different structure.

Explore the tabs below to see a general template and a specific example outline from an essay on the invention of the printing press.

• Thesis statement
• Discussion of event/period
• Consequences
• Importance of topic
• Strong closing statement
• Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages
• Background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press
• Thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation
• High levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe
• Literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites
• Consequence: this discouraged political and religious change
• Invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg
• Implications of the new technology for book production
• Consequence: Rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible
• Trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention
• Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation
• Consequence: The large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics
• Summarize the history described
• Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period

Essays with two or more main subjects are often structured around comparing and contrasting . For example, a literary analysis essay might compare two different texts, and an argumentative essay might compare the strengths of different arguments.

There are two main ways of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay: the alternating method, and the block method.

Alternating

In the alternating method, each paragraph compares your subjects in terms of a specific point of comparison. These points of comparison are therefore what defines each paragraph.

The tabs below show a general template for this structure, and a specific example for an essay comparing and contrasting distance learning with traditional classroom learning.

• Synthesis of arguments
• Topical relevance of distance learning in lockdown
• Increasing prevalence of distance learning over the last decade
• Thesis statement: While distance learning has certain advantages, it introduces multiple new accessibility issues that must be addressed for it to be as effective as classroom learning
• Classroom learning: Ease of identifying difficulties and privately discussing them
• Distance learning: Difficulty of noticing and unobtrusively helping
• Classroom learning: Difficulties accessing the classroom (disability, distance travelled from home)
• Distance learning: Difficulties with online work (lack of tech literacy, unreliable connection, distractions)
• Classroom learning: Tends to encourage personal engagement among students and with teacher, more relaxed social environment
• Distance learning: Greater ability to reach out to teacher privately
• Sum up, emphasize that distance learning introduces more difficulties than it solves
• Stress the importance of addressing issues with distance learning as it becomes increasingly common
• Distance learning may prove to be the future, but it still has a long way to go

In the block method, each subject is covered all in one go, potentially across multiple paragraphs. For example, you might write two paragraphs about your first subject and then two about your second subject, making comparisons back to the first.

The tabs again show a general template, followed by another essay on distance learning, this time with the body structured in blocks.

• Point 1 (compare)
• Point 2 (compare)
• Point 3 (compare)
• Point 4 (compare)
• Advantages: Flexibility, accessibility
• Disadvantages: Discomfort, challenges for those with poor internet or tech literacy
• Advantages: Potential for teacher to discuss issues with a student in a separate private call
• Disadvantages: Difficulty of identifying struggling students and aiding them unobtrusively, lack of personal interaction among students
• Advantages: More accessible to those with low tech literacy, equality of all sharing one learning environment
• Disadvantages: Students must live close enough to attend, commutes may vary, classrooms not always accessible for disabled students
• Advantages: Ease of picking up on signs a student is struggling, more personal interaction among students
• Disadvantages: May be harder for students to approach teacher privately in person to raise issues

An essay that concerns a specific problem (practical or theoretical) may be structured according to the problems-methods-solutions approach.

This is just what it sounds like: You define the problem, characterize a method or theory that may solve it, and finally analyze the problem, using this method or theory to arrive at a solution. If the problem is theoretical, the solution might be the analysis you present in the essay itself; otherwise, you might just present a proposed solution.

The tabs below show a template for this structure and an example outline for an essay about the problem of fake news.

• Introduce the problem
• Provide background
• Describe your approach to solving it
• Define the problem precisely
• Describe why it’s important
• Indicate previous approaches to the problem
• Present your new approach, and why it’s better
• Apply the new method or theory to the problem
• Indicate the solution you arrive at by doing so
• Assess (potential or actual) effectiveness of solution
• Describe the implications
• Problem: The growth of “fake news” online
• Prevalence of polarized/conspiracy-focused news sources online
• Thesis statement: Rather than attempting to stamp out online fake news through social media moderation, an effective approach to combating it must work with educational institutions to improve media literacy
• Definition: Deliberate disinformation designed to spread virally online
• Popularization of the term, growth of the phenomenon
• Previous approaches: Labeling and moderation on social media platforms
• Critique: This approach feeds conspiracies; the real solution is to improve media literacy so users can better identify fake news
• Greater emphasis should be placed on media literacy education in schools
• This allows people to assess news sources independently, rather than just being told which ones to trust
• This is a long-term solution but could be highly effective
• It would require significant organization and investment, but would equip people to judge news sources more effectively
• Rather than trying to contain the spread of fake news, we must teach the next generation not to fall for it

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Signposting means guiding the reader through your essay with language that describes or hints at the structure of what follows.  It can help you clarify your structure for yourself as well as helping your reader follow your ideas.

The essay overview

In longer essays whose body is split into multiple named sections, the introduction often ends with an overview of the rest of the essay. This gives a brief description of the main idea or argument of each section.

The overview allows the reader to immediately understand what will be covered in the essay and in what order. Though it describes what  comes later in the text, it is generally written in the present tense . The following example is from a literary analysis essay on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .

Transitions

Transition words and phrases are used throughout all good essays to link together different ideas. They help guide the reader through your text, and an essay that uses them effectively will be much easier to follow.

Various different relationships can be expressed by transition words, as shown in this example.

Because Hitler failed to respond to the British ultimatum, France and the UK declared war on Germany. Although it was an outcome the Allies had hoped to avoid, they were prepared to back up their ultimatum in order to combat the existential threat posed by the Third Reich.

Transition sentences may be included to transition between different paragraphs or sections of an essay. A good transition sentence moves the reader on to the next topic while indicating how it relates to the previous one.

… Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.

However , considering the issue of personal interaction among students presents a different picture.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

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• Write a College Essay
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• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

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The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

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7 Major Types of Writing Formats You Must Know

• Post author By admin
• October 11, 2022

Writing is a powerful tool for communication, allowing us to express our thoughts, ideas, and emotions. However, the effectiveness of our message usually depends on the format in which it is presented. 

Different writing formats serve different purposes and focus on different audiences. This blog will explore the most common types of writing formats and their basic page formation. 

Whether you are a student, a professional, or simply interested in improving your writing skills, understanding these formats will help you to convey your message effectively.

So, let’s get started!

Table of Contents

What are Writing Formats?

Formats for writing are the ways that written text is put together and shown. There are many different ways to write, each with its style and goal. Some of the most popular ways to write are:

Expository : This type of writing is used to explain something or describe it. The structure of most expository writing is clear and logical, with each line building on the one before it.

Argumentative : This type of writing is meant to convince the reader to agree with a certain point of view. Argumentative writing usually backs up its claims with facts and reasoning.

Narrative : This type of writing is used to tell a story. Most narratives are written in order of time, with each event leading to the next.

Descriptive : This type of writing is used to explain something in detail. Most descriptive writing uses strong words and images to paint a clear picture in the viewer’s mind.

Procedural : This type of writing shows how to do something. Writing about how to do something usually goes step by step, clearly describing each step.

The style you choose for your writing will depend on why and who you are writing for. For example, you may use an expository style when writing a research paper. You can use a narrative style when writing a blog post.

It’s important to know the different writing styles to choose the one that best fits your needs. Many writing guides and style manuals have more knowledge about writing styles.

7 Major Types of Writing Formats in Detail with Suitable Examples

Writing formats express your ideas in a certain way or structure. There are seven major types of writing formats:

• Chicago style or CMS
• Turabian style
• Harvard style

In academic papers, several writing formats are used to organize the content, which can also help you get better marks on your project. These writing styles include Chicago or CMA, APA, MLA, Turabian, and IEEE. We have explained seven major types of writing formats below:

What is Chicago style or CMS?

This style is known as Chicago or CMS because the University of Chicago Press published the style in 1906. It is used for formatting your academic essays and making references. The Chicago style is somehow less common than APA or MLA style. 

Chicago style is mainly used in humanity, literature, arts, and history. Chicago style is rarely used outside of it.

This style is also known as CMS ( Chicago Manual Style ). This is the first format from the types of writing formats. 

General Format of Chicago Style:

• Print the paper standard-sized (8.5 X 11 inches).
• The body text of the paper should be double-spaced in Chicago style.
• Set the paper margins to not less than 1 inch on all sides and not greater than 1.5 inches.
• Use readable fonts on the paper.
• The font size should be not less than 10 points. On the other hand, a 12-point font size is preferable. 
• The paper header should have a number in the upper right-hand corner.

Title Page 

• The title page should be double-spaced and center-aligned. 
• The page title is in the same font as the rest of your text.
• The title should be in the middle of the page, in the headline and bold text.
• Use subtitles after the main title ends with a colon if you have subtitles. The subtitle should be bold and the same size as the main title  

What is APA style?

The American Psychological Association created the APA style in the year of 1929. The APA style is generally used in education, engineering, social science, etc. It consists of in-text citations that mention the Author’s last name, the date of publication, and the page number, if necessary. This is the second format of the types of writing formats.

APA Formatting Basics:

• All text should be double-spaced in APA style.
• Set the paper margin to one inch on all sides.
• All paragraphs in the body end with intended lines.
• Ensure the title is centered on the page with your name, institution, or school.
• A 12-point font is preferable in APA style.
• The paper number should be in the upper right-hand corner.
• It is recommended to use one space after most punctuation marks.

Title page 

• Do not use unnecessary words on the title page. Hence, use only those words which are suitable.
• Always center the title on the page. In other words, place it about 3-4 lines from the top.
• The title should be bold.
• Do not underline your main title. 
• The title page should be double-spaced.
• Do not include any titles in the Author’s name. 

What is MLA style?

The Modern Language Association created the MLA style in the year of 1951. This type of style is used in various humanities disciplines, especially in the language. This style of writing is popular among students of literature and language. This is the third format from the types of writing formats. 

Some of the key features of the MLA style writing format:

• The MLA style uses the font Times New Roman with a font size of 12.
• Set Margins with one-inch space on all sides.
• The titles of the MLA style are always in Italics.
• The essay is always double-spaced in MLA.
• Make sure the title is in the center. 
• Indent every new paragraph with one and a half-inch.

Here are the steps you need to take to create the MLA title page:

• Skip down one-third of the page and type the title of your paper.
• If you have a subtitle, write it in the following line to the title.
• You can skip to the bottom third of the page to type your first and last name.
• After that line, type the course name and number if needed.
• Then type your instructor’s name.
• On the next line, type your paper’s due date in the format of Day, Month and Year.

What is Turabian style?

Kate Larimore Turabian designed the Turabian style in the year of 1937. The Turabian format is commonly considered under the Chicago format because both are identical. It is designed for students and researchers. Turabian style is a version of Chicago style and follows conventions of Chicago style but also adds extra points for the formatting of research papers.  

Turabian style made a few modifications to the format so that notes can be used instead of parenthetical citations that is used to modify the flow of the text. This is the fourth format of the types of writing formats.

General Format of Turabian Style:

• You can always set the margins to one inch on all sides.
• A 12-point font is preferable in Turabian style.
• Indent every new paragraph with one and a half-inch from the body.
• Double-space the whole paper.
• Except for table titles, blockquotes, bibliography entries, footnotes, reference lists, and figure captions.
• Text on your title page should be in the font you used for the main content.
• Text is always double-spaced and center-aligned.
• Do not feature a page number on the title page.

What is IEEE Style?

IEEE stands for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. It is an association of electrical engineering and its associated disciplines. It was formed in the year of 1963 based on two American establishments.

IEEE also uses the Chicago style as its foundation. The in-text references are also similar to the Chicago style. The main difference lies in how the citation references are formatted in the bibliography. It is widely used by students and researchers in technical fields and computer science. 

IEEE is the largest association of technical professionals globally that sets the bar for aspiring technical researchers. The IEEE has established its writing style manual. This is the last format from the types of writing formats.

Basic page formation in IEEE format:

• The paper title should be 24pt font, placed on the front page and centered at the top.
• The byline should be placed below the paper title after the line break. The byline includes information like Author’s name, City location, E-mail address, and Author’s affiliation.
• The main body text is written in a 10pt font size.
• Use four levels of hierarchy in the Heading.
• The page titles of all IEEE digital pages include the article’s title, byline, membership, and footnote.
• Any hyphenated word will be in capital letters.

What is Harvard style?

The Harvard style is widely used in social sciences, particularly in fields like business, economics, and political science. It highlights author-date citations and a reference list at the end of the document. This format is also known as the Author-Date style.

Basic page formation in Harvard format:

• All text citations must be at the end of your paper.
• The reference list must contain all the important information that one must know to find the source of your writing.
• The reference list must be in alphabetical order.
• Start your reference list from a new page.

Title page:

• Typically the title page is not recommended in Harvard-style format.

What is AMA (American Medical Association) style?

The AMA format is used in the medical and biological sciences. It provides guidelines for mentioning sources and formatting research papers, case reports, and other medical documents.

Basic page formation in AMA format:

• The 1-inch margin on all sides of the paper
• The paper is double-spaced, including the block quotes, title page, and references.
• Use the serif typeface Times New Roman or Arial.
• Use a 12pt font size throughout. 
• All text is center aligned and must be double-spaced.
• The full title of the paper begins a quarter down the page. 
• Author’s full name(s), including middle initials.
• Course Number – Course Name
• Assignment: Assignment Name if required
• Affiliated institution

Final Words

If you think you’re the one choosing the writing format, then you’re wrong. The writer doesn’t get to choose the correct writing format for the project. 

Rather than a professional or manager will often assign the format for you. This blog provides you with seven major types of writing formats: Chicago or CMS, APA, MLA, Turabian, IEEE , Harvard, and AMA. 

We also provide you with basic page formation of each writing format.  Hope you like this Blog!

Also, Read: Different Types of Writing Styles

What are the different types of writing?

There are many types of writing that are used in multiple aspects of life: 1. Advertisement Writing 2. Letter Writing 3. Precis Writing 4. Message Writing 5. Report Writing 6. Speech Writing 7. Essay Writing 8. Summary Writing 9. Playwriting 10. Feature Writing

What are the different types of tones in writing styles?

The writing style has four main tones: descriptive, persuasive, expository and narrative.

Can a single piece of writing include multiple formats?

Yes, combining different writing formats within a single piece of writing is possible. This can improve the richness and effectiveness of the message, allowing the writer to cover different aspects of the topic or engage various reader preferences.

Do writing formats change over time?

Writing formats can evolve due to technological changes, cultural shifts, and communication styles. Writers need to stay informed about current trends and adapt their writing accordingly.

Are there any specific guidelines for each writing format?

Yes, each writing format has its own set of guidelines and patterns. Familiarize yourself with the expectations and style guides specific to each format to ensure your writing meets the standards.

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10 Main Types of Essays: Definitions, Purpose and Examples

For almost all students, whether in high school or college, essays are unavoidable – they are the most common type of academic writing in any institution. There are over 10 different types of essays, and in this article, you’ll know their purpose and get some writing tips.

But first, what are essays ? Simply put, an essay refers to any piece of text written to convince the reader of something or enlighten someone about a particular topic. A standard short essay comprises an introduction, conclusion, and 3 body paragraphs – but there could be more.

To write a fantastic paper, you should comprehend the instructions to tell which type of paper the professor is looking for. In so doing, you can know what topic to select, write an excellent article using correct wording, and then format it correctly.

You probably would get disappointed when your professor comments, “Your essay is too descriptive; be more critical, or lose marks!” It may seem unlikely, but think about it.

How do you differentiate a descriptive essay or research paper from a critical or definition analytical one? You need to know when to describe, define, include facts, and give your opinion. Now, let’s explore the types of essays once and for all – and avoid the confusion!

10 Main Types of Essays in College

You’d probably want to know how understanding the type or genre of essay could impact your academic writing skills. And we have the answer! It helps you select an appropriate topic for your paper, use correct wording, and format your essay appropriately.

In fact, you are more likely to earn higher marks than a person who wrote a 5-paragraph essay with no particular attention to the category of essay the professor requested.

That being said, let’s have a deep look at the meaning of the following types of essays – with topics, examples, and writing tips. If you have any concerns or want clarification about any of these essays or even more examples, let’s connect in the comment section. So, shall we?

1. Descriptive Types o f Essays

Do you know what Descriptive Essays are ? They logically describe or narrate an event, emotion, object, or person. According to the Oxford Learner Dictionary , the genre is derived from the verb ‘describe,’ which means “to say what somebody or something is like.”

They test the writer’s ability to explain experiences in writing. So, you ought to give an account of something and provide as many details as possible. The professor may ask you to describe the origin of abortion in the United States. Or describe the major types of gambling.

There are about four different types of descriptive essays. They include essays about a person, an object, an opinion, or about a place. Let’s list some examples of Descriptive essay topics. The professor may ask you to describe your favorite place, venue, or person;

• Your favorite place (e.g., a hotel, country, or village)
• A country’s struggle for independence
• A place you have visited recently
• The area in which you grew up
• A favorite shop, store, or country
• Your teacher’s leadership skills

Now, using the examples above, write at least five descriptive essay topic examples about a particular object, person, opinions, and memories in the comment section. Then, we can move on to the second category of essays – p ersuasive or argumentative essays.

2. Persuasive/Argumentative Types of Essays

Just like a seller convincing a buyer to purchase a particular product, your persuasive essay should convince the reader to take your point of view on a particular subject. It would be best to defend your argument using logical reasoning and convincing facts.

Argumentative essays, just like other academic writing, call for an extensive understanding of the topic under consideration. The genre does not ask you to describe your perspective – this is not a mere opinion essay. You need to gather reliable evidence to back up your arguments.

You should first select an appropriate topic, conduct background research on it, examine the evidence, and take a position, either “ for ” or “ against, ” to build the strongest argument.

While writing your essay, make sure you take a position with more strength (facts), as you have to explain your reasons for taking that direction. And, of course, you ought to support your claim using relevant sources , examples, and, where appropriate, tables and figures.

How to Format an Argumentative Essay

Argumentative or persuasive essays follow a unique writing format. Remember, if you’re exploring a debatable topic or subject, then give your opinion on which side you think, based on substantial evidence, weighs more. Don’t forget to justify taking a stance.

For instance, if you argue in support of organ donation, the reader needs to see the logic in your writing. Give ‘enough’ details and evidence, and cite (acknowledge) the sources.

Bonus Writing Tip – the general format of a persuasive or argumentative essay includes;

• Cover page (with student’s credentials and essay topic)
• Title (Essay Topic) – should be relevant and researchable
• Introduction paragraph (with a thesis statement, background, and hook)
• Paragraphs on one side of the argument (like why abortion should be permitted)
• Paragraphs on the other side of the argument (like why abortion is immoral)
• Your position – which side has more weight? What have you learned?
• Conclusion – summarize the main point and opinion, and restate your thesis
• Reference page – list of materials used to back up arguments
• Appendices – information or data not included in the text but relevant

Some examples of persuasive or argumentative essay topics may include;

• Are we too dependent on computers?
• Should online gambling be delegalized?
• Do we need online dating apps in the 21st century?
• Does social media impact one’s life?
• Should content on the internet be more restricted?

Exercise – think of additional 5 additional topics and share them in the comment section.

3. Compare and Contrast Essays

The purpose of a compare and contrast essay is to explore the similarities and differences of two separate but relatable things. And the professor expects you to illuminate subtle disparities or unexpected similarities rather than just stating the obvious.

While writing such an essay, first identify the basis to compare the two things and then identify how they differ. It is essential to compare and contrast items that relate in some way.

For instance, you cannot compare driving a motorcycle and reading an article – they are not comparable and don’t seem to have anything in common.

However, you may compare reading a book and reading an article or the similarities and differences between gambling today and 100 years ago. Another possible topic to write your comparison essay on is the level of abortion in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Let’s list some examples of compare and contrast essay topics:

• Economic development in developed and underdeveloped countries or regions
• The education system in the USA and Canada
• College life vs. high school life
• Two articles, books, or magazines
• Leadership styles of two presidents or governors of your choice (or pre-selected)

While writing this category of essays, it is fundamental to find some common grounds to base the comparison. For example, while comparing two leaders based on leadership style, leader A may be endorsing democracy while leader B applies dictatorship .

It is up to you to find relevant bass for the comparison. An example of a wrong comparison could be – leader A endorses democracy while leader B is tall. I hope you get the point. The basis of comparison should match. Next in line is the cause-and-effect essay.

4. Cause and Effect Essay Types

A cause-and-effect essay first recognizes the causes or reasons for the occurrence of something and then goes deeper into explaining the consequences or effects .

The genre is prevalent in academic writing and mostly in medical studies, especially while examining health problems like HIV, Covid-19, and Malaria.

For example, you could be asked to explain the causes and effects of abortion in the United States. You need to understand what abortion is to give the correct answer. Another example is – to explain the causes and effects of undocumented immigration in Mexico.

You may also consider writing your cause-and-effect paper on the following topics:

• Pollution, climate change, or global warming (related topics)
• The Civil Rights Movement and its effects
• World War I, II, or any other conflict
• Tsunami or earthquake in a particular region
• Stress is any other health problem

This type of essay demands a more profound understanding of the topic, for you would not be simply describing but investigating the how, when, why, and effect of an aspect in life.

More so, you need to conduct relevant research on the topic. Most importantly, you can opt to investigate the effect of a particular aspect on a country’s sociodemographic, economic, or political status. However, always consult with the professor or essay guidelines (instructions).

Now, let’s move on to the following genre of essays – the pros and cons of essays.

5. Pros and Cons Essays

For ages, pros and cons analysis has been regarded as the quickest way to make objective, considered decisions in real life. While writing one, understand the topic clearly and then examine the advantages and disadvantages of the subject to write a quality paper.

For instance, you could explain the pros and cons of social media. While it connects learners from other educational systems, social media users are prone to cyberbullying. Now, explain the points separately – not listing the pros and cons in the same paragraph.

Here are some topics that you can write your paper on:

• Online dating
• Going to college.
• Cryptocurrency
• Online shopping
• Animal experiments
• Legalizing prostitution
• Self-employment

Additional Tip : To write a good pros and cons essay or any of the different types of academic writing, you need to conduct extensive research.

6. Expository Essays

An expository essay requires the learner to investigate a particular idea, examine the existing evidence, expound on it, and then form an argument clearly and concisely. You can accomplish this by analyzing the cause and effects, comparing and contrasting ideas, etc.

This genre is prevalent in classroom evaluation. For instance, you could explain why parents are strict sometimes. Or why do you prefer a particular English teacher?

An expository essay evaluates your investigative, evaluative, or argumentative abilities. Some expository essay topic examples may include;

• Explain why  parents  are sometimes strict
• What is your favorite school subject?
• How was your first day in college?
• Does Alcohol solve problems?
• Has technology made communication easier?
• What would you do if you were to live forever?

Expository essays describe a particular aspect broadly and coherently. Understood? So, make sure you back up your arguments with peer-reviewed sources, as always, and go deeper into the topic. Have you heard of definition essays ?

7. Definition Types of Essays

Definition essays are a genre that requires you to explain the meaning of a particular term – from a broad perspective. While terms like tree and book have definite and concrete meanings, others like honor and love depend on a person’s perspective.

For instance, the professor can ask you to define terms like respect, optimism, natural beauty, or kindness. You need to be very creative to avoid repetition in such essays. Some of the terms or topic examples you may be asked to write a definition essay on include;

• Communication

While writing a definition essay, do not simply write its dictionary meaning. It would help if you explored it deeper. You may as well explore what other authors have defined the term in their writings and give your opinion on whether you think their definition is appropriate.

8. Process Essays

A process essay is a genre of academic writing that guides or directs a reader to do something . It explains the steps one by one and consistently. Never skip any steps while writing a process essay. Instead, your directions should follow a chronological order .

For instance, a professor can ask you to write a process essay on the topic:

• How to cook pilau
• Writing an essay step by step
• How to format a paper in APA
• Riding a bicycle
• How to insert a table of contents in Microsoft Word

Please note that your steps should be factual and verifiable. You have to understand the process for you to write an outstanding essay. Otherwise, you may end up losing marks.

9. Critical Analysis Types of Essays

Critical analysis essays are most popular in advanced learning levels, especially Master’s and Doctorate. They are regarded as the hardest among the outlined 10 types of essays . In fact, they have made many students hire online essay-writing companies to help them out.

A critical analysis essay is a genre of essay that requires you to analyze the effectiveness of a particular literature and explain, obviously with supporting evidence, what it does or does not do well . You are not asked to describe but to investigate the work in detail.

It would be best to examine what other scholars say about the topic. For instance, while analyzing a particular article, book, or film, you need to understand the article’s content; otherwise, you may not manage to defend your arguments on its strengths and weaknesses.

However, your paper must not always analyze a particular article or film. You could explore a particular theory or defend a certain quote, explaining its relevance in a particular context. Regardless of your topic, back up your arguments with evidence from credible sources.

Some examples of critical analysis essay topics include;

• Racism in sports is real. Discuss.
• WWI was a necessary tragedy that transformed the world. Discuss.
• Analyze Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn and its impact on racism in America
• Analyze the effect of betting on the sporting community

While writing a critical analysis essay, it would be best to describe or summarize the content but critically analyze it with logical arguments and reliable sources.

Make sure you identify the reliable article, find similarities and differences in authors’ opinions, generate your own opinions, identify research gaps, suggest solutions, etc. Last on our list of different types of papers, we have problem and solution essays.

10. Problems and Solution Essays

A problem and solution essay is a piece of writing that describes a particular problem and offers practical solutions to solve the issue. It aims to convince the audience why a problem needs to be solved urgently or why a particular solution is the most appropriate to it.

To write an outstanding essay, think of a problem you have experienced or witnessed and suggest how it could be solved. You can discuss one ideal solution to the problem or a couple of multiple solutions. So, briefly, the basic parts of a problem and solution essay include:

• Problem description and justification
• Proposing a solution(s)
• Argue why the proposed solution is practical and cost-effective
• Explain why the solution is different or better than other solutions
• Conclude your essay

Some of the common topics that you could write your paper on include:

• How can the body-shaming issue be solved?
• How can police brutality be eliminated?
• What are the ways to control inflation?
• How do you develop confidence?
• What are the legal ways to stop human trafficking?

Understanding the different types of essays is critical in writing outstanding academic papers since each category has a unique format and wording and serves different purposes.

However, the exact number of essays is undecided – some scholar says it’s 4, while others say it’s 5, 6, 7, 9, or 10. It depends on what one understands by the term ‘types of essays.’

For instance, while we included argumentative and persuasive essays under one category, some scholars claim that they differ. Some argue that persuasive essays depend on opinions and emotions , while argumentative essays use logic and reasoning .

Nevertheless, the ten most common types of essays include;

• Descriptive Essays
• Persuasive or Argumentative Essays
• Compare and Contrast Essays
• Pros and Cons Essays
• Expository Essays
• Definition Essays
• Process Essays
• Cause and Effect Essays
• Critical Analysis Essays
• Problem and Solution Essays

I hope the article has answered your questions. We would greatly appreciate your feedback. Leave a comment or suggestion – and share the article. And let us know which is the easiest and most demanding type of essay to write . And also, share some tips in the comment section.

Related Posts

100+ good compare and contrast essay topics for everyone, 100+ great argumentative essay topics for students in 2023.

7 Sensational Essay Hooks That Grab Readers’ Attention

by Suzanne Davis | Jul 14, 2022 | Writing Essays and Papers | 12 comments

Do you want people to feel excited when they read your essay?

The secret is to get them interested in reading your essay by making the first part of your introduction intriguing. The best way to do that is by using attention-grabbing essay hooks.

So, what is a hook? It’s a piece of writing at the beginning of your essay that engages your reading audience. Usually, a hook is a sentence or group of sentences that draw people into reading your essay or research paper.  A hook sparks a person’s curiosity. You want whoever reads your essay to wonder what happens next. Hooks also make an introduction stand out (which raises your chance of getting a high grade on your essay). 

If you want to see all the elements of great introductions for research papers check my post, How to Write a Strong Introduction to a Research Paper at https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/how-to-write-a-strong-introduction-to-a-research-paper/.

When you write essay hooks that make your rea ders curious, you’ve taken the first step toward making them fall in love with your writing. Let’s dive in and look at essay hooks that will elevate your writing style!

7 Types of Essay Hooks

Here are 7 writing hooks that make readers want to find out what you will say in the rest of your essay.

• Interesting Question Hook
• Strong Statement/Declaration Hook
• Fact/Statistic Hook
• Metaphor/ Simile Hook
• Description Hook
• Quotation Hook.   

1.  The Interesting Question Hook

An interesting question hook is when you ask a question that relates to your essay or paper. And the only way a person can know the answer to that question is by reading your writing.

People are inquisitive. When we hear or read a question we want to know the answer. If we don’t have an answer then we need to find out.

So, when you start your essay with a question hook, this signals to your readers that if they keep reading you’ll give them the answer.

Here’s an example of an interesting question hook on the topic of succeeding in college:

What is the difference between successful college students and unsuccessful college students? 

The goal of this essay hook is to make you want to learn what students who succeed in college do, and what college students who don’t succeed in college do wrong. 

2.  The Strong Statement/Declaration Hook

A strong statement hook is a sentence that makes an assertive claim about your topic. It connects to the thesis statement and shows the importance of your essay or paper.

A strong statement is a great technique because it doesn’t matter if your reader agrees or disagrees with your statement. They will want to see how you support your statement.

This is an example of a strong statement on the topic of the vegan diet. 

Vegans are the healthiest group of people in the world.  

This statement either supports your point of view about the vegan diet, or it makes you want to argue against it (especially if you love meat). Either way, you are curious about what the writer says.

3.  The Fact/ Statistic Hook

Facts and statistics hook your reader because they give real information about a topic. You can impress your reader with your knowledge and evidence from the very beginning of your essay. But, you need to include facts that are accurate, interesting, and reliable. Evaluate your information and make sure it comes from a credible source. Some places to visit for statistics are The Pew Research Center   https://www.pewresearch.org/ , and The CIA World Fact Book, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/. 

Here’s an example of a factual hook about an essay on gun ownership in the United States.

Almost two-thirds of American adults at some point in their life lived in a home with at least one gun.

The Pew Research Center, “America’s Relationship With Guns: An In-Depth Look at the Attitudes and Experiences of US Adults”   http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2017/06/22/americas-complex-relationship-with-guns/  

4.  The Metaphor / Simile Hook

The metaphor/simile hook engages your readers because it makes them think about a topic in a different way.  Your audience wonders what you mean and how you compare a topic to something that seems unconnected.

A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares one thing to another, but these two things seem unrelated.  An example of a metaphor is: Her boyfriend is a rat.  The boyfriend is not really a rat, but he behaves like one.

 If your essay topic is on business blogging you could write the metaphor hook:

A business blog is a magnet pulling clients to a company. 

A simile is like a metaphor.  Both compare two unrelated things to each other, but a simile uses the words like or as to connect them. A simile is less strong than a comparison in a metaphor. An example of a simile is : Writing a research paper is like running a marathon when it’s 95 degrees Fahrenheit. 

A simile hook for the essay about business blogging could be: 

A business blog is like a magnet that pulls clients to a company.

5. The Story Hook

This is a hook where you begin with a short story or episode that relates to your topic.  Readers love stories, especially a well-written story that is memorable.  The key to a great story hook is making sure the story directly connects to your essay or paper topic. Your story can be personal or someone else’s story.

Here’s an example of a story hook for an essay about the differences between British and American English.   I used my own story about a trip to England.

I got off the train and pulled my luggage behind me.  A cab pulled up to the curb, and the driver got out.  He lifted my luggage and said, “Miss, I’m just going to put your stuff in the boot.”  I didn’t know what he meant until I saw him open the car’s trunk.  Then I realized the boot means car trunk.  I got in the cab, wondering how many other words would be different in England. 

You’ll see this sto ry hook is longer than other types of essay hooks.  That’s okay. Your hook can be longer, but it shouldn’t be a large part of your essay or paper. Compare the length of your hook to the length of the essay.

Also, consider your audience (especially an academic audience). Ask yourself, “Will a story hook be acceptable in this course?” If you’re unsure you can ask your teacher or professor or you could select a different type of hook.

6.  The Description Hook

This is a hook where a vivid description of a scene draws your readers into your writing. A good description hook will make your reader want to know what comes next in your writing.  It’s most popular in narrative essays, but you can use a description hook with any type of writing (yes even academic papers). But, like the story hook ask yourself, “Will this description hook be acceptable in this course?”

Here’s an example of a description hook for a personal narrative essay about saving a dog:

The dog howled in pain and limped along the side of the road. His leg was cut and blood streamed down his leg. 

Doesn’t this scene make you curious about what will happen to the dog?

7.  The Quotation Hook

This is a hook where you begin your essay with a quotation.  The quotation could be from a famous person, but it doesn’t have to be. You can quote anyone if it connects to what you’re writing about.

If you write an essay on the topic of education you could start

Nelson Mandela said, “ Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world .”

If you want to use a quotation for a hook, make sure you quote the words exactly.  Choose quotations where the words are striking, powerful, and/ or memorable.

Writing Challenge:  Write 2 Essay Hooks

Essay hooks are a great way to intrigue all your readers.  Select your favorite 2 types of essay hooks.  Then write a hook for each kind you choose. Comment below and share your favorite one! 

Have fun and be creative.

Photo by  Bram Naus  on  Unsplash

I find that switching it up makes my content better. My favorite is to start with a question or a strong statement. I love this infographic. Well done!

Thanks Joanne! Question and strong statement hooks are great for getting readers to wonder what’s in your essay. I’m so glad you liked the infographic.

This is a great article, showing the variety of openings you can use in writing. Thank you for the tips!

I’m glad you liked it. I think hooks are great for writing.

[…] For more information about essay hooks see-https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/7-sensational-types-of-essay-hooks/ […]

Very good blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything.

Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m totally overwhelmed ..

Any suggestions? Many thanks!

Hi Cindy, Those are great questions about blogging. I think the beginning point with starting a blog is determining your niche/focus, goals and your ideal readers. The next piece of advice is to really learn the style of writing blog posts. It’s a craft, so you should really start with a good grasp of the formatting, style, and techniques, etc. Since I don’t know your blog’s focus I can’t offer you more specific advice.

If you can afford it, I suggest paying for a domain name and hosting. There are free ones like WordPress.com etc. These will get you started, but if you want to use your blog for a business I really recommend starting with a paid option. I hope this helps you. Good luck blogging!

Thank you for this informative Eda’ya. My favorite hooks are question, strong statement and the fact. I think these are the best for an academic paper. Your infographic is excellent and memorable. Thank you! ??

Mehmet, Those are all great hooks! I think they would each be a great way to begin an academic paper too. I’m glad the infographic is useful to you. Thank you for the compliment.

These are great. I’ll have to file this away for my next writing student (and my next blog post!). For research papers, I used to use the fact/statistic hook a lot.

Beth, I’m glad you liked these essay hooks. I like the fact/statistic hook a lot too, and you’re right it is a great one for research papers.

I like question hooks & metaphoric ones…

I need to write to essays for tomorrow at English (preparing for Baccalaureate) & I’ll choose “success is not about luck” & “the importance of music in our lives” …

For the first one I’ll choose the first type of hook (for me it’s the easiest): “How can you be sure that when it comes to success, luck isn’t so important” or sth like this.

But for the second essay I’ll choose a metaphoric hook “music is the spot of light who makes shine in gray tones” or sth like this.

For the first one I was also thinking about sth statistically but idk not a kind of statistics about luck help in success or sth like this…

Ik, you can’t give me advices till tomorrow but I’ll be OK. Thx for this gorgeous inform. God bless you. All the best!

I think those are 2 great hooks to use with those essays. I love the metaphoric hook you came up with–it’s beautiful. I hope you do well with your essays. Good luck!

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