Types of essays
by Denisse Michelle Holguin Castro
Expository Essay
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.
Persuasive Essay
Persuasive essays aim to persuade readers to have an opinion or take a side using facts and emotional appeals.
To support an argument or cause, persuasive essays can include moral and emotional reasoning to connect to the reader.
Presents a clear thesis statement that outlines the writer’s position. Supports arguments with evidence, such as facts, examples, or expert opinions. Appeals to logic (logos), emotion (pathos), and credibility (ethos). Often addresses and refutes opposing viewpoints.
Descriptive Essay
A descriptive essay provides a detailed sensory description of something. 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.
Narrative Essay
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.
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.