Types of Essays
... and why we write them.
Why do we write essays?
Hint: The answer is NOT ‘because sir/miss told
me to’
Why do we write essays?
Measurement
Development
Professionalism
Measurement??!!??
Implying that it is to:
Assess your knowledge and understanding?
Grade your achievements?
Judge your writing skills?
Measure you against your peers?
Measurement??!!??
Implying that it is to:
Assess your knowledge and understanding?
Grade your achievements?
Judge your writing skills?
Measure you against your peers?
Of course, but it isn’t the main reason
Development
Far more important is that you are given the
opportunity:
to explore what you think
to improve how you think
to practice communicating your thoughts
Development
Writing is a tool which can allow us to:
Organise our thoughts clearly
give ourselves room to examine
what we think
why we think it
whether we should continue to think it
Professionalism
Sustained, coherent and complex thinking
cannot be done silently.
That is to say, most people cannot sit alone
and think CLEARLY about something
COMPLICATED for A LONG PERIOD of time
Professionalism
But, what do you do when there is no-one you
can talk to
Professionalism
Planning an essay is like having that
conversation with yourself
Writing the essay is sharing those thoughts with
other people
Professionalism
Which is important because….
Professionalism
Anybody can make a gut decision
but
only someone who is practiced in
communicating and reasoned argument will
be able to justify how the more difficult
decision was made
So anyway, …..
….what kind of essays are there.
There are generally considered to be three
types of essay
Descriptive
Contrast/compare
Argumentative
The descriptive
essay
In describe essays, you are
merely asked to describe,
something, be it an event, object,
graph or table.
Your OPINION is not required
unless specifically asked for
1. The descriptive essay
Description of object or place
Describing a sequence of events.
Describing a process
Describing and explaining
Plan – Object or place
Questions are
often introduced
by:
•Describe ....
•Narrate...
•Tell....
Introduction
major aspects of the subject.
description of aspect A
description of aspect B
etc.
Conclusion
Plan – Sequence of Events
Questions are
often introduced
by:
•Give an
account of...,
•Trace...,
•Examine
developments
in...
Introduction
First situation
then A happened
then B happened
etc.
Final situation
Conclusion
Plan – A Process
Questions are
often introduced
by:
•Explain/What
is the
connection
between....
•Describe the
procedures by
which...
Definition of process
Main equipment/Main steps
Step One
leads to
Step Two
leads to
Step Three
Conclusion
Summary of process
Plan – Describing and explaining
Questions often introduced by:
•Explain the causes/reasons....
•Account for....
•Analyse the causes....
•Comment on (the reasons for)....
•Show that....
•Show why...
•Examine the effect of....
•Suggest reasons for....
•Why did...?
•What are the implications of...?
•Discuss the causes of....
•Discuss the reasons for....
Plan – Describing and explaining
Introduction to causes of A
Cause 1 + example
Introduction to causes of A
Effects 1
Causes + examples
Cause 2 with example
OR
Transition
Effects 2
Effects
etc.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Compare and contrast
essays
Contrast or distinguish between
questions usually present you with
two or more terms, instruments,
concepts or procedures that are
closely connected, and sometimes
confused. The purpose of the essay is
to explain the differences between
them.
2. Compare and contrast
essays
The contrast essay
The compare essay
The compare and contrast essays
Plan – Contrast
Questions are
often introduced
by:
•Contrast ....
•Distinguish between ...
•What is the difference
between....
•What are the
differences between....
•How are ... and ...
different?
Introduction to differences
between A and B
Contrast A & B in terms of first
difference
Contrast A & B in terms of second
difference
etc
Conclusion
Plan – Compare
Questions are
often introduced
by:
•Compare ....
•What features do ...
and ... have in
common?
•What are the
similarities
between....
•How are ... and ...
similar?
Introduction to similarities between A
and B
Compare A & B
in terms of first similarity
Compare A & B
in terms of second similarity
etc.
Conclusion
Plan – Compare/Contrast
Questions are
often introduced
by:
•Compare ....
•What features do ...
and ... have in
common?
•What are the
similarities
between....
•How are ... and ...
similar?
Argumentative essays
The purpose of an
argumentative essay
is to persuade the reader to
follow your point of view. You do
this by supporting your point with
facts or relevant ideas.
The argument essay
The balanced view
The persuasive essay
The to what extent essay.
The argument essay
The balanced view
If the essay title begins with something like:
 Give the arguments for and against....
 Assess the importance of....
 Examine the arguments for and against....
 What are the advantages and disadvantages
of...?
 Evaluate....
Then you will need a BALANCED essay
The argument essay
The balanced view
That is to say:
 Present BOTH sides of the argument in an
unbiased fashion
 State your opinion in the conclusion, based on
the evidence you have provided
The argument essay
Plan –
The
balanced
view
Introduce the argument to the reader.
e.g. why it is particularly relevant topic nowadays
or refer directly to some comments that have been
voiced on it recently.
Reasons in favour of the argument
Reasons against the argument
After summarising the two sides,
state your own opinion,
and explain why you think as you do
The argument essay
The persuasive essay
If the essay title begins with something like:
 Give your views on....
 What do you think about...?
 Do you agree that...?
 Consider whether....
Then you will need a PERSUASIVE essay
The argument essay
The persuasive essay
In which you
 state your opinion immediately
 try to convince the reader, by reasoned
argument, that you are right
The argument essay
Plan –
Introduce the topic briefly in general terms,
and then state your own opinion.
Explain what you plan to prove in the essay.
The
persuasive
essay
Reasons against the argument.
Dispose briefly of the main objections to your case.
Reasons for your argument
the arguments to support your own view,
with evidence and examples.
Conclusion - Do not repeat your opinion again.
End your essay with something memorable
e.g. a quotation or a direct question.
The argument essay
The to what extent essay
If the essay title begins with something like:
 To what extent ....
 How true ....
 How far do you agree....
Then you will need a TO WHAT EXTENT
essay
The argument essay
The to what extent essay


Because the truth is never 100%
so, how true is it?
The argument essay
Introduction to problem
Plan –
Aspect 1 - true
The to what
extent essay
Aspect 1 - false
Aspect 2 - true
etc
Conclusion
a ‘subtraction’ sum
Which brings us on to
….how to write