Essay Types PDF
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This document provides a breakdown of various essay types, including argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive. It outlines characteristics, purpose, and structure of each type, and also offers suggestions for essay topics.
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essay An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays. Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conve...
essay An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays. Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and descriptive essays are about exercising creativity and writing in an interesting way. At university level, argumentative essays are the most common type. Types of essays 1. Argumentative An argumentative essay presents an extended, evidence- based argument. It requires a strong thesis statement—a clearly defined stance on your topic. Your aim is to convince the reader of your writing using evidence (such as quotations) and analysis. Argumentative essays test your ability to research and present your own position on a topic. This is the most common type of essay at college level—most papers you write will involve some kind of argumentation. The essay is divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion: The introduction provides your topic and thesis statement The body presents your evidence and arguments The conclusion summarizes your argument and emphasizes its importance 2. Expository An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a topic. It doesn’t require an original argument, just a balanced and well- organized view of the topic. Expository essays test your familiarity with a topic and your ability to organize and convey information. They are commonly assigned at high school or in exam questions at college level. The introduction of an expository essay states your topic and provides some general background, the body presents the details, and the conclusion summarizes the information presented. 3. Narrative essays A narrative essay is one that tells a story. This is usually a story about a personal experience you had, but it may also be an imaginative exploration of something you have not experienced. Narrative essays test your ability to build up a narrative in an engaging, well-structured way. They are much more personal and creative than other kinds of academic writing. Writing a personal statement for an application requires the same skills as a narrative essay. A narrative essay isn’t strictly divided into introduction, body, and conclusion, but it should still begin by setting up the narrative and finish by expressing the point of the story—what you learned from your experience, or why it made an impression on you. 4. Descriptive essays A descriptive essay provides a detailed sensory description of something. Like narrative essays, they allow you to be more creative than most academic writing, but they are more tightly focused than narrative essays. You might describe a specific place or object, rather than telling a whole story. Descriptive essays test your ability to use language creatively, making striking word choices to convey a memorable picture of what you’re describing. A descriptive essay can be quite loosely structured, though it should usually begin by introducing the object of your description and end by drawing an overall picture of it. The important thing is to use careful word choices and figurative language to create an original description of your object. Assignment no 1 Argumentative or persuasive essays Money cannot buy happiness. Has the internet positively or negatively impacted human society? Superstitions Expository essays Write an expository essay on some productive ways students can spend their leisure time. Career of your choice Procrastination affects students grades Descriptive essays Favorite personality The book you loved reading Your happiest moments of life. Narrative essays Learning a life lesson A memorable trip Summer vacations