What is an Essay? Types, Structure, and Best Practices
An essay is a nonfiction writing piece, structured in a particular way to express and convey ideas, arguments, or information to the readers.
Essays can be formal or informal. These are primarily used in journalism, education, and professional fields to share opinions, inform readers, and/or explore subjects. They are all-round communication tools that vary in purpose and style.
In this article, you will uncover the essentials of essay writing. This guide covers types, structures, and strategies to effectively convey your ideas and arguments to readers.
Table of Contents
Types of Essays
Essays have many types for different purposes, such as:
a) Descriptive Essay
A descriptive essay provides a detailed yet sensory description of a subject. It aims to make the reader feel like they are experiencing the subject themselves.
In descriptive essays, the languages used are both expressive and creative. To create a multi-sensory experience, essays use
- imagery,
- metaphors, and
- similes.
For example, if you have to write about a crowded city street at night, you can bring in elements like sights (neon lights, mixed people), sounds (honking cars, street musicians), and smells (food stands, fresh coffee).
Used for: Creative assignments, travel blogs, or emotions-evoking writing pieces
b) Narrative Essay
A narrative essay tells a story. This story is often about the writer’s personal experiences or events and is used to share it with the readers.
The first-person approach is used to create a closer connection with the reader. The language used is often conversational, with a clear beginning, middle, and end to the story.
NOTE: These essays aren’t strictly divided into the typical structure of introduction, body, and conclusion. They should still start by setting up the narrative and finish by conveying the point, lessons, and experience of the story.
Used for: Personal statements, college applications, or any situation where storytelling can help show a point or theme.
c) Expository Essay
An expository essay explains, clarifies, or provides information on a topic in a factual manner. It does not include the writer’s personal opinions or emotions.
This type of essay is structured and logical. It focuses on clear explanations, definitions, or step-by-step processes in a straightforward, formal tone.
For example, an expository essay could explain
- the stages of the water cycle,
- the process of photosynthesis or
- the impact of social media on teenagers.
The goal is purely to inform.
Used for: Typically assigned in school and used in manuals, instructional guides, and informational articles
d) Argumentative Essay
An argumentative essay is used to persuade readers, like a persuasive essay, but it is more balanced and evidence-based. It presents both sides of an argument before favoring one.
Argumentative essays often use a formal, academic tone and require
- extensive research,
- critical thinking, and
- the ability to analyze different perspectives.
For example, suppose there is an essay topic of “the effects of social media on mental health.” An argumentative essay would present studies that show both positive and negative impacts before it concludes which side is more substantial.
Used for: Research papers, scholarly articles, and position papers in academic and professional settings
e) Compare and Contrast Essay
A compare-and-contrast essay analyzes the similarities and differences between two or more subjects to provide a deeper understanding of each.
Two primary ways used for compare and contrast essays are:
- Altering method
- Blog method
The alternating method compares two subjects side-by-side in each paragraph, focusing on one difference at a time. On the other hand, the block method discusses each subject separately in its own section. This essay type is useful for argumentative topics.
For example, it can be used to describe differences between the Russian and American space programs or in a literary analysis paper that compares two different novels or authors.
Used for: Situations where readers need to compare or describe the pros and cons of different options or ideas.
f) Cause and Effect Essay
A cause-and-effect essay digs into the causes of something and its effects (as the name suggests). It explains the relationship between events or concepts.
These essays are structured logically and use phrases like “as a result” or “due to” to connect causes with effects. They use factual evidence for clear connections.
For example, suppose the topic is “the effects of pollution”. The cause-and-effect essay can discuss the causes of air pollution (industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, etc.) and its effects on human health and the environment.
Best for: Used to discuss the factors that cause specific outcomes in fields like social science, history, and science
Basic Structure of an Essay
a) Introduction
This is the first paragraph that introduces the topic and sets the stage for the essay. It captures the reader’s interest and presents the thesis—the main argument/focus of the essay.
An effective introduction consists of these components:
- Hook
- Background information
- Thesis statement
Hook
The first sentence of the introduction that is used to grab the reader’s attention.
This can be done through:
| Type | Example |
| A vivid description or anecdote | Think of a world where coral reefs are just memories and polar bears exist only in books. |
| A surprising statistic or fact | The temperatures worldwide have increased faster than ever in the past 50 years. |
| A relevant quote | As Greta Thunberg, the climate activist, said, “Future generations are watching what we do today.” |
| A question that makes readers think | What would you do if tomorrow’s forecast warned of severe droughts lasting half the year? |
Background Information
Provide context for the topic without going too in-depth. This section gives readers a basic understanding of the subject and why it’s significant.
For an essay on “climate change”, mention recent events like
- wildfires,
- floods, or
- extreme weather patterns
to showcase the climate’s shifting nature. This would be the background information.
Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is the core of your essay. It summarizes the main argument/purpose in one or two sentences.
Example: The thesis statement for the “climate change” topic can be like:
“We need to take quick action on climate change to avoid long-term environmental damage and create a safe future for everyone.”
b) Body
The body section is the main ‘crux’ of the essay. It holds all the key points and information to solidify the thesis statement. It acts as the ‘meat’ part of the essay, sandwiched between the body and conclusion.
The body part can be one, two, three, or even more paragraphs. All the paragraphs concentrate on one key idea to support the thesis statement directly.
The PEEL (Point-Evidence-Explanation-Link) method is used to write each paragraph. Here is how you can implement this strategy:
Point — Start with the main point or argument of the paragraph. Introduce the topic sentence in order to explain precisely what the paragraph is about.
| Example: “Bringing carbon emissions down is important to fight global warming.” |
Evidence — Support your point with valid sources, statistics, examples, or quotes. This helps you show that your argument is grounded in facts.
| Example: “The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that to keep global warming under 1.5°C, we need to cut carbon emissions by 45% by 2030.” |
Explanation — Show how the evidence you provided supports your point and why it matters. This section clarifies your argument for the reader.
| Example: “This information highlights how important it is to take action now to avoid even worse climate effects that could harm both nature and people.” |
Link — Connect the paragraph back to the thesis or provide a transition to the next point to keep the essay unified. Doing so also make each paragraph contribute to the overall argument.
| Example: “When we focus on cutting emissions, we create a strong starting point for better, sustainable environmental practices.” |
NOTE: Each paragraph should flow logically into the next and guide the reader through a balanced and complete argument.
| Example Structure If writing an essay on climate change, you can follow this body structure: First Paragraph: Talk about how greenhouse gasses cause global warming. Second Paragraph: Highlight the effects of global warming on biodiversity and habitats. Third Paragraph: Consider economic impacts, such as natural disasters and health care costs. |
c) Conclusion
A conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. It wraps up the ideas you presented in the body section and showcases how all those relate to each other.
The aim of the conclusion is to leave a lasting impression or a final thought in the mind of the reader. This is how you can write the conclusion part:
- Restate the Thesis
Start with summarizing the thesis statement. However, use totally different words to remind the reader of the essay’s main argument without simply repeating it.
| Example: “With all the proof we have, it’s very clear that we need to act now to stop climate change and protect the future of our planet.” |
- Summarize Main Points
Review the main arguments that you presented in the body briefly. DO NOT introduce new details, but use key points used in the essay.
| Example: “We can start to undo the effects of climate change by reducing carbon emissions, saving natural resources, and employing sustainable habits.” |
- Closing Thought or Call to Action (CTA)
The conclusion can also include a call-to-action sentence, but it depends on the topic. If your topic allows CTA, use it to motivate your readers to take action.
| Example: “People, communities, and governments must work together to fight climate change. After all, a healthier planet depends on the choices we make now.” |
Best Practices for Writing an Essay
Here are some best practices to create a well-written essay with maximum clarity, readability, and impact:
Know Your Audience—Create a reader persona in your mind. Learn who they are, their education, expertise level, and other factors to decide the right tone, style, and level of detail.
Plan Your Essay—Create an outline for your essay to organize your thoughts and write clearly. Don’t forget to create a picture of
- how you’ll write the essay, and
- what you’ll add to it.
Use Easy-to-Understand Language—An essay aims to convey your thoughts clearly, not to show your high-end vocabulary. So, DO NOT add jargon or complex sentences. Use words that the reader can easily understand.
Vary Your Sentence Structure—It may seem odd but you should mix short and long sentences to keep the writing engaging. Yes, you heard right, and it actually works.
Use AI Tools—If you find it difficult to create an essay outline or see how you should go through it, get a rough draft via the AI Essay Writer tool. Submit your essay topic into the tool, and it will write you a complete essay to learn from.
Edit and Proofread—Review your essay for grammar mistakes, clarity, and flow—use tools like Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, etc., for this purpose.
Avoid Plagiarism—Before finalizing the essay, check plagiarism via Prepostseo Plagiarism Checker, Quetext, or Copyscape. Always credit sources if you’re using information, quotes, or ideas from other authors.
Practice Writing Regularly—Practice makes a man perfect. Right? If so, regularly write and practice essay writing skills to be comfortable with different styles and formats.
Conclusion
An essay is a structured, nonfiction piece of writing that shares ideas, arguments, or information with readers.
Essays come in different types, such as descriptive, narrative, expository, argumentative, compare-and-contrast, and cause-and-effect, to serve different purposes.
A basic essay structure includes an introduction with a hook and thesis, a body with detailed points, and a conclusion summarizing the main ideas.
To write a strong essay, it’s helpful to know your audience, plan an outline, use clear language, add transitions, and edit thoroughly.
Written by FilipiKnow
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