Types of Essay - Quick Guide

7/9/24, 12:14 PM The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples
The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples
Published on September 4, 2020 by Jack Caulfield. Revised on July 23, 2023.
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.
Argumentative
 Forming an opinion via research

 Building an evidence-based argument
Has the rise of the internet had a positive or negative impact on education?
Expository
 Knowledge of a topic
 Communicating information clearly
Explain how the invention of the printing press changed European society in the 15th century.
https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/essay-types/ 1/14
Narrative
 Creative language use

 Presenting a compelling narrative
Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself.
Descriptive
 Creative language use

 Describing sensory details
Describe an object that has sentimental value for you.
In high school and college, you will also often have to write textual analysis essays, which test
your skills in close reading and interpretation.
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 Table of contents
1. Argumentative essays
2. Expository essays
3. Narrative essays
4. Descriptive essays
5. Textual analysis essays
6. Other interesting articles
7. Frequently asked questions about types of essays
Argumentative essays
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 thesis 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
The example below is a paragraph from the body of an argumentative essay about the effects
of the internet on education. Mouse over it to learn more.
Argumentative essay example paragraph
A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing.
Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the
students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian
stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from
engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in
viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages
engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-
evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into
other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include
warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear
that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the
references and check whether they really do support what the article says”
(“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is
their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia
therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.
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Expository essays
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.
A typical body paragraph from an expository essay about the invention of the printing press is
shown below. Mouse over it to learn more.
Expository essay example paragraph
The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes
Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the
press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for
the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be
reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The
Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up
across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed
cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant
Reformation.
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.
Mouse over the example below, a short narrative essay responding to the prompt “Write
about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” to explore its structure.
Narrative essay example
Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the
humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than
classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an
experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took
my first philosophy class.
Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and
wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something
pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was
something quite different.
A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired,
buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic
arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will,
we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves.
By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the
most interesting ones.
The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just
because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually
get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways
than one—to look at things with an open mind.
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.
Mouse over the example below, a response to the prompt “Describe a place you love to spend
time in,” to learn more about descriptive essays.
Descriptive essay example
On Sunday afternoons I like to spend my time in the garden behind my house. The garden is
narrow but long, a corridor of green extending from the back of the house, and I sit on a lawn
chair at the far end to read and relax. I am in my small peaceful paradise: the shade of the tree,
the feel of the grass on my feet, the gentle activity of the fish in the pond beside me.
My cat crosses the garden nimbly and leaps onto the fence to survey it from above. From his
perch he can watch over his little kingdom and keep an eye on the neighbours. He does this
until the barking of next door’s dog scares him from his post and he bolts for the cat flap to
govern from the safety of the kitchen.
With that, I am left alone with the fish, whose whole world is the pond by my feet. The fish
explore the pond every day as if for the first time, prodding and inspecting every stone. I
sometimes feel the same about sitting here in the garden; I know the place better than
anyone, but whenever I return I still feel compelled to pay attention to all its details and
novelties—a new bird perched in the tree, the growth of the grass, and the movement of the
insects it shelters…
Sitting out in the garden, I feel serene. I feel at home. And yet I always feel there is more to
discover. The bounds of my garden may be small, but there is a whole world contained within
it, and it is one I will never get tired of inhabiting.
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Textual analysis essays

Though every essay type tests your writing skills, some essays also test your ability to read
carefully and critically. In a textual analysis essay, you don’t just present information on a
topic, but closely analyze a text to explain how it achieves certain effects.
Rhetorical analysis
A rhetorical analysis looks at a persuasive text (e.g. a speech, an essay, a political cartoon) in
terms of the rhetorical devices it uses, and evaluates their effectiveness.
The goal is not to state whether you agree with the author’s argument but to look at how they
have constructed it.
The introduction of a rhetorical analysis presents the text, some background information, and
your thesis statement; the body comprises the analysis itself; and the conclusion wraps up
your analysis of the text, emphasizing its relevance to broader concerns.
The example below is from a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream”
speech. Mouse over it to learn more.
Rhetorical analysis example paragraph
King’s speech is infused with prophetic language throughout. Even before the famous “dream”
part of the speech, King’s language consistently strikes a prophetic tone. He refers to the
Lincoln Memorial as a “hallowed spot” and speaks of rising “from the dark and desolate valley
of segregation” to “make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” The assumption of this
prophetic voice constitutes the text’s strongest ethical appeal; after linking himself with
political figures like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, King’s ethos adopts a distinctly
religious tone, recalling Biblical prophets and preachers of change from across history. This
adds significant force to his words; standing before an audience of hundreds of thousands, he
states not just what the future should be, but what it will be: “The whirlwinds of revolt will
continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This
warning is almost apocalyptic in tone, though it concludes with the positive image of the
“bright day of justice.” The power of King’s rhetoric thus stems not only from the pathos of his
vision of a brighter future, but from the ethos of the prophetic voice he adopts in expressing
Concluding sentence
this vision.
The paragraph concludes by
stating the overall point made by
the analysis presented here.
Literary analysis
A literary analysis essay presents a close reading of a work of literature—e.g. a poem or novel
—to explore the choices made by the author and how they help to convey the text’s theme. It
is not simply a book report or a review, but an in-depth interpretation of the text.
Literary analysis looks at things like setting, characters, themes, and figurative language. The
goal is to closely analyze what the author conveys and how.
The introduction of a literary analysis essay presents the text and background, and provides
your thesis statement; the body consists of close readings of the text with quotations and
analysis in support of your argument; and the conclusion emphasizes what your approach
tells us about the text.
Mouse over the example below, the introduction to a literary analysis essay on Frankenstein,
to learn more.
Literary analysis example introduction
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of
scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist
Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science
throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the
character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an
increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but
sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in
his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay
begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on
to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift
toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.
Other interesting articles

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!
 Fallacies
Ad hominem fallacy
7/9/24, 12:17 PM How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay | A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay | A Step-by-Step

Guide
Published on January 30, 2020 by Jack Caulfield. Revised on August 14, 2023.
Literary analysis means closely studying a text, interpreting its meanings, and exploring why
the author made certain choices. It can be applied to novels, short stories, plays, poems, or
any other form of literary writing.
A literary analysis essay is not a rhetorical analysis, nor is it just a summary of the plot or a
book review. Instead, it is a type of argumentative essay where you need to analyze elements
such as the language, perspective, and structure of the text, and explain how the author uses
literary devices to create effects and convey ideas.
Before beginning a literary analysis essay, it’s essential to carefully read the text and come up
with a thesis statement to keep your essay focused. As you write, follow the standard
structure of an academic essay:
1. An introduction that tells the reader what your essay will focus on.
2. A main body, divided into paragraphs, that builds an argument using evidence from the
text.
3. A conclusion that clearly states the main point that you have shown with your analysis.

https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/literary-analysis/ 1/15
Step 1: Reading the text and identifying literary devices

The first step is to carefully read the text(s) and take initial notes. As you read, pay attention
to the things that are most intriguing, surprising, or even confusing in the writing—these are
things you can dig into in your analysis.
Your goal in literary analysis is not simply to explain the events described in the text, but to
analyze the writing itself and discuss how the text works on a deeper level. Primarily, you’re
looking out for literary devices—textual elements that writers use to convey meaning and
create effects. If you’re comparing and contrasting multiple texts, you can also look for
connections between different texts.
To get started with your analysis, there are several key areas that you can focus on. As you
analyze
 each aspect
Table of the text, try to think about how they all relate to each other. You can
of contents
use highlights or notes to keep track of important passages and quotes.
Language choices
Consider what style of language the author uses. Are the sentences short and simple or more
complex and poetic?
What word choices stand out as interesting or unusual? Are words used figuratively to mean
something other than their literal definition? Figurative language includes things like
metaphor (e.g. “her eyes were oceans”) and simile (e.g. “her eyes were like oceans”).
Also keep an eye out for imagery in the text—recurring images that create a certain
atmosphere or symbolize something important. Remember that language is used in literary
texts to say more than it means on the surface.
Narrative voice
Ask yourself:
Who is telling the story?

How are they telling it?
Is it a first-person narrator (“I”) who is personally involved in the story, or a third-person

narrator who tells us about the characters from a distance?
Consider the narrator’s perspective. Is the narrator omniscient (where they know everything
about all the characters and events), or do they only have partial knowledge? Are they an
unreliable narrator who we are not supposed to take at face value? Authors often hint that
their narrator might be giving us a distorted or dishonest version of events.
The tone of the text is also worth considering. Is the story intended to be comic, tragic, or
something else? Are usually serious topics treated as funny, or vice versa? Is the story
realistic or fantastical (or somewhere in between)?
Structure
Consider how the text is structured, and how the structure relates to the story being told.
Novels are often divided into chapters and parts.

Poems areof
 Table divided into lines, stanzas, and sometime cantos.
contents
Plays are divided into scenes and acts.
Think about why the author chose to divide the different parts of the text in the way they did.
There are also less formal structural elements to take into account. Does the story unfold in
chronological order, or does it jump back and forth in time? Does it begin in medias res—in
the middle of the action? Does the plot advance towards a clearly defined climax?
With poetry, consider how the rhyme and meter shape your understanding of the text and
your impression of the tone. Try reading the poem aloud to get a sense of this.
In a play, you might consider how relationships between characters are built up through
different scenes, and how the setting relates to the action. Watch out for dramatic irony,
where the audience knows some detail that the characters don’t, creating a double meaning
in their words, thoughts, or actions.
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Step 2: Coming up with a thesis

Your thesis in a literary analysis essay is the point you want to make about the text. It’s the
core argument that gives your essay direction and prevents it from just being a collection of
random observations about a text.
If you’re given a prompt for your essay, your thesis must answer or relate to the prompt. For
example:
Essay question example

Is Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law” a religious parable?
Your thesis statement should be an answer to this question—not a simple yes or no, but a
statement of why this is or isn’t the case:
Thesis statement example
Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law” is not a religious parable, but a story about bureaucratic
alienation.
Sometimes you’ll be given freedom to choose your own topic; in this case, you’ll have to come
up with an original thesis. Consider what stood out to you in the text; ask yourself questions
about the elements that interested you, and consider how you might answer them.
Your thesis should be something arguable—that is, something that you think is true about the
text, but which is not a simple matter of fact. It must be complex enough to develop through
evidence and arguments across the course of your essay.
Say you’re analyzing the novel Frankenstein. You could start by asking yourself:
How is the character of Frankenstein portrayed?
Your initial answer might be a surface-level description:
The character Frankenstein is portrayed negatively in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
However, this statement is too simple to be an interesting thesis. After reading the text and
analyzing its narrative voice and structure, you can develop the answer into a more nuanced
and arguable thesis statement:
Example thesis statement for a literary analysis essay
Mary Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly

negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic
idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own
telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.
Remember that you can revise your thesis statement throughout the writing process, so it
doesn’t need to be perfectly formulated at this stage. The aim is to keep you focused as you
analyze the text.
Finding textual evidence

To support your thesis statement, your essay will build an argument using textual evidence—
specific parts of the text that demonstrate your point. This evidence is quoted and analyzed
throughout your essay to explain your argument to the reader.
It can be useful to comb through the text in search of relevant quotations before you start
writing. You might not end up using everything you find, and you may have to return to the
text for more evidence as you write, but collecting textual evidence from the beginning will
help you to structure your arguments and assess whether they’re convincing.
Step 3: Writing a title and introduction

To start your literary analysis paper, you’ll need two things: a good title, and an introduction.
The title
Your title should clearly indicate what your analysis will focus on. It usually contains the name
of the author and text(s) you’re analyzing. Keep it as concise and engaging as possible.
A common approach to the title is to use a relevant quote from the text, followed by a colon
and then the rest of your title.
If you struggle to come up with a good title at first, don’t worry—this will be easier once
you’ve begun writing the essay and have a better sense of your arguments.
Example title for a literary analysis essay
“Fearful symmetry”: The violence of creation in William Blake’s “The Tyger”

The introduction
The essay introduction provides a quick overview of where your argument is going. It should
include your thesis statement and a summary of the essay’s structure.
A typical structure for an introduction is to begin with a general statement about the text and
author, using this to lead into your thesis statement. You might refer to a commonly held idea
about the text and show how your thesis will contradict it, or zoom in on a particular device
you intend to focus on.
Then you can end with a brief indication of what’s coming up in the main body of the essay.
This is called signposting. It will be more elaborate in longer essays, but in a short five-
paragraph essay structure, it shouldn’t be more than one sentence.
Example introduction for a literary analysis essay
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of
scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist
Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science
throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the
character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an
increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but
sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in
his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay
begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on
to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift
toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.
Some students prefer to write the introduction later in the process, and it’s not a bad idea.
After 
all, you’ll
Tablehave a clearer idea of the overall shape of your arguments once you’ve begun
of contents
writing them!
If you do write the introduction first, you should still return to it later to make sure it lines up
with what you ended up writing, and edit as necessary.
Step 4: Writing the body of the essay

The body of your essay is everything between the introduction and conclusion. It contains
your arguments and the textual evidence that supports them.
Paragraph structure
A typical structure for a high school literary analysis essay consists of five paragraphs: the
three paragraphs of the body, plus the introduction and conclusion.
Each paragraph in the main body should focus on one topic. In the five-paragraph model, try
to divide your argument into three main areas of analysis, all linked to your thesis. Don’t try to
include everything you can think of to say about the text—only analysis that drives your
argument.
In longer essays, the same principle applies on a broader scale. For example, you might have
two or three sections in your main body, each with multiple paragraphs. Within these
sections, you still want to begin new paragraphs at logical moments—a turn in the argument
or the introduction of a new idea.
Example body paragraph for a literary analysis essay
Robert’s first encounter with Gil-Martin suggests something of his sinister power. Robert feels
“a sort of invisible power that drew me towards him.” He identifies the moment of their
meeting as “the beginning of a series of adventures which has puzzled myself, and will puzzle
the world when I am no more in it” (p. 89). Gil-Martin’s “invisible power” seems to be at work
even at this distance from the moment described; before continuing the story, Robert feels
compelled to anticipate at length what readers will make of his narrative after his approaching
death. With of
 Table this interjection, Hogg emphasizes the fatal influence Gil-Martin exercises from
contents
his first appearance.
Topic sentences
To keep your points focused, it’s important to use a topic sentence at the beginning of each
paragraph.
A good topic sentence allows a reader to see at a glance what the paragraph is about. It can
introduce a new line of argument and connect or contrast it with the previous paragraph.
Transition words like “however” or “moreover” are useful for creating smooth transitions:
… The story’s focus, therefore, is not upon the divine revelation that may be waiting
beyond the door, but upon the mundane process of aging undergone by the man as he
waits.
Nevertheless, the “radiance” that appears to stream from the door is typically treated
as religious symbolism.
This topic sentence signals that the paragraph will address the question of religious
symbolism, while the linking word “nevertheless” points out a contrast with the previous
paragraph’s conclusion.
Using textual evidence

A key part of literary analysis is backing up your arguments with relevant evidence from the
text. This involves introducing quotes from the text and explaining their significance to your
point.
It’s important to contextualize quotes and explain why you’re using them; they should be
properly introduced and analyzed, not treated as self-explanatory:
Blake asks “What dread hand” could have created the tiger, subverting the usual sense
of joy in God’s creation and conveying instead a sense of fearful awe.

It isn’t always necessary to use a quote. Quoting is useful when you’re discussing the author’s
language, but sometimes you’ll have to refer to plot points or structural elements that can’t be
captured in a short quote.
In these cases, it’s more appropriate to paraphrase or summarize parts of the text—that is, to
describe the relevant part in your own words:
The initial and final sections of the novel consist of Walton’s letters to his sister, and it
is significant that the entirety of Frankenstein’s and the creature’s narratives are
ostensibly transcribed by Walton in these letters.

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Step 5: Writing a conclusion

The conclusion of your analysis shouldn’t introduce any new quotations or arguments.
Instead, it’s about wrapping up the essay. Here, you summarize your key points and try to
emphasize their significance to the reader.
A good way to approach this is to briefly summarize your key arguments, and then stress the
conclusion they’ve led you to, highlighting the new perspective your thesis provides on the
text as a whole:

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Example conclusion for a literary analysis essay
By tracing the depiction of Frankenstein through the novel’s three volumes, I have
demonstrated how the narrative structure shifts our perception of the character. While the
Frankenstein of the first volume is depicted as having innocent intentions, the second and
third volumes—first in the creature’s accusatory voice, and then in his own voice—
increasingly undermine him, causing him to appear alternately ridiculous and vindictive. Far
from the one-dimensional villain he is often taken to be, the character of Frankenstein is
compelling because of the dynamic narrative frame in which he is placed. In this frame,
Frankenstein’s narrative self-presentation responds to the images of him we see from others’
perspectives. This conclusion sheds new light on the novel, foregrounding Shelley’s unique
layering of narrative perspectives and its importance for the depiction of character.
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7/9/24, 12:14 PM How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips
How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips
Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield. Revised on July 23, 2023.
An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement.

The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based
case for it.
Argumentative essays are by far the most common type of essay to write at university.

https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/argumentative-essay/ 1/13
1. When do you write an argumentative essay?

2. Approaches to argumentative essays
3. Introducing your argument
4. The body: Developing your argument
5. Concluding your argument
7. Frequently asked questions about argumentative essays
When do you write an argumentative essay?

You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a
composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may
include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.
Example: Two-sided argumentative essay prompt
Has the rise of the internet had a net positive or negative impact on education?
Support your argument with evidence.
The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could
make.
Example: Open argumentative essay prompt
What is the greatest challenge facing young people today?
Argumentative writing at college level

At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of
argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve
making arguments about texts.
In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an
evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be
your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.
Examples of argumentative essay prompts

At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate
response.
Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then
argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence,
evaluation and analysis.
Discuss the effects of globalization on the economy of Nigeria.
 Don’t just list all the effects you can think of.
 Do develop a focused argument about the overall effect and why it matters,
backed up by evidence from sources.
Assess the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures in the last

decade.
 Don’t just provide a selection of data on the measures’ effectiveness.

 Do build up your own argument about which kinds of measures have been most
or least effective, and why.
Analyze the role of the doppelgänger in 19th-century Gothic fiction.
 Don’t just analyze a random selection of doppelgänger characters.

 Do form an argument about specific texts, comparing and contrasting how they
express their thematic concerns through doppelgänger characters.

formatting
 Academic style
 Vague sentences
 Grammar
See an example
Approaches to argumentative essays

An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on
logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.
There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common
models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian
model.
Toulmin arguments
The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as
necessary for the argument:
1. Make a claim
2. Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim
3. Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim)
4. Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and
showing that you have considered alternative perspectives
The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these
specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between
your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.
Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination

measures. You might:
1. Claim that unconscious bias training does not have the desired results, and resources
would be better spent on other approaches
2. Cite data to support your claim
3. Explain how the data indicates that the method is ineffective
4. Anticipate objections to your claim based on other data, indicating whether these
objections are valid, and if not, why not.
Rogerian arguments
The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:
1. Discuss what the opposing position gets right and why people might hold this position
2. Highlight the problems with this position
3. Present your own position, showing how it addresses these problems
4. Suggest a possible compromise—what elements of your position would proponents of
the opposing position benefit from adopting?
This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It
is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing
you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.
Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:
1. Acknowledge that students rely too much on websites like Wikipedia

2. Argue that teachers view Wikipedia as more unreliable than it really is
3. Suggest that Wikipedia’s system of citations can actually teach students about
referencing
4. Suggest critical engagement with Wikipedia as a possible assignment for teachers who
are skeptical of its usefulness.
You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both
in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure
your arguments.
Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an
introduction, a body, and a conclusion.
Introducing your argument

Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction. The
introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present
your thesis statement, and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.
Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.
Introduction
The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of
education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning
is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem
alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The
negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as
a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and
engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.
The body: Developing your argument

The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here
you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis
statement is true.
In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five
paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections
with headings.
Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence. Each of these topics
must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.
This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the
opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.
Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.
Body
A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing.
Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the
students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian
stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from
engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in
viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages
engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-
evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into
other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include
warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear
that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the
references and check whether they really do support what the article says”
(“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is
their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia
therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

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Concluding your argument

An argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the
arguments made in the body.
No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the
strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all
conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.
Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.
Conclusion
The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls
aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the
possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the
popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered
by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s
dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet
is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

 Fallacies
Ad hominem fallacy
Post hoc fallacy
False cause fallacy
Sunk cost fallacy
 College essays
Choosing Essay Topic

7/9/24, 12:18 PM Textual Analysis | Guide, 3 Approaches & Examples
Textual Analysis Essay

Textual Analysis | Guide, 3 Approaches & Examples
Published on November 8, 2019 by Jack Caulfield. Revised on June 22, 2023.
Textual analysis is a broad term for various research methods used to describe, interpret and
understand texts. All kinds of information can be gleaned from a text – from its literal meaning
to the subtext, symbolism, assumptions, and values it reveals.
The methods used to conduct textual analysis depend on the field and the aims of the
research. It often aims to connect the text to a broader social, political, cultural, or artistic
context. Relatedly, it’s good to be careful of confirmation bias when conducting these sorts of
analyses, grounding your observations in clear and plausible ways.
1. What is a text?
2. Textual analysis in cultural and media studies
3. Textual analysis in the social sciences
4. Textual analysis in literary studies
What is a text?
The term “text” is broader than it seems. A text can be a piece of writing, such as a book, an
email, or a transcribed conversation. But in this context, a text can also be any object whose
meaning and significance you want to interpret in depth: a film, an image, an artifact, even a
place.
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The methods you use to analyze a text will vary according to the type of object and the
purpose of your analysis:
Analysis of a short story might focus on the imagery, narrative perspective and structure
of the text.
To analyze a film, not only the dialogue but also the cinematography and use of sound
could be relevant to the analysis.
A building might be analyzed in terms of its architectural features and how it is
navigated by visitors.
You could analyze the rules of a game and what kind of behaviour they are designed to
encourage in players.
While textual analysis is most commonly applied to written language, bear in mind how broad
the term “text” is and how varied the methods involved can be.

formatting
 Academic style
 Vague sentences
 Grammar
See an example
Textual analysis in cultural and media studies

In the fields of cultural studies and media studies, textual analysis is a key component of
research. Researchers in these fields take media and cultural objects – for example, music
videos, social media content, billboard advertising – and treat them as texts to be analyzed.
Usually working within a particular theoretical framework (for example, using postcolonial
theory, media theory, or semiotics), researchers seek to connect elements of their texts with
issues in contemporary politics and culture. They might analyze many different aspects of the
text:
Word choice
Design elements
Location of the text
Target audience
Relationship with other texts
Textual analysis in this context is usually creative and qualitative in its approach. Researchers
seek to illuminate something about the underlying politics or social context of the cultural
object they’re investigating.
Textual analysis in the social sciences

In the social sciences, textual analysis is often applied to texts such as interview transcripts
and surveys, as well as to various types of media. Social scientists use textual data to draw
empirical conclusions about social relations.
Textual analysis in the social sciences sometimes takes a more quantitative approach, where
the features of texts are measured numerically. For example, a researcher might investigate
how often certain words are repeated in social media posts, or which colors appear most
prominently in advertisements for products targeted at different demographics.
Some common methods of analyzing texts in the social sciences include content analysis,
thematic analysis, and discourse analysis.
Textual analysis in literary studies

Textual analysis is the most important method in literary studies. Almost all work in this field
involves in-depth analysis of texts – in this context, usually novels, poems, stories or plays.
Because it deals with literary writing, this type of textual analysis places greater emphasis on
the deliberately constructed elements of a text: for example, rhyme and meter in a poem, or
narrative perspective in a novel. Researchers aim to understand and explain how these
elements contribute to the text’s meaning.
However, literary analysis doesn’t just involve discovering the author’s intended meaning. It
often also explores potentially unintended connections between different texts, asks what a
text reveals about the context in which it was written, or seeks to analyze a classic text in a
new and unexpected way.
Some well-known examples of literary analysis show the variety of approaches that can be
taken:
Eve Kosofky Sedgwick’s book Between Men analyzes Victorian literature in light of more
contemporary perspectives on gender and sexuality.
Roland Barthes’ S/Z provides an in-depth structural analysis of a short story by Balzac.
Harold Bloom’s The Anxiety of Influence applies his own “influence theory” to an analysis
of various classic poets.

formatting
 Academic style
 Vague sentences
 Grammar
See an example

If you want to know more about statistics, methodology, or research bias, make sure to check
out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
 Statistics
7/9/24, 12:18 PM How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis | Key Concepts & Examples
Rhetorical Essay
Key concepts in rhetoric

Rhetoric, the art of effective speaking and writing, is a subject that trains you to look at texts,
arguments and speeches in terms of how they are designed to persuade the audience. This
section introduces a few of the key concepts of this field.
Appeals: Logos, ethos, pathos

Appeals are how the author convinces their audience. Three central appeals are discussed in
rhetoric, established by the philosopher Aristotle and sometimes called the rhetorical triangle:
logos, ethos, and pathos.
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Logos, or the logical appeal, refers to the use of reasoned argument to persuade. This is the
dominant approach
 Table in academic writing, where arguments are built up using reasoning and
of contents
evidence.
Ethos, or the ethical appeal, involves the author presenting themselves as an authority on
their subject. For example, someone making a moral argument might highlight their own
morally admirable behavior; someone speaking about a technical subject might present
themselves as an expert by mentioning their qualifications.
Pathos, or the pathetic appeal, evokes the audience’s emotions. This might involve speaking
in a passionate way, employing vivid imagery, or trying to provoke anger, sympathy, or any
other emotional response in the audience.
These three appeals are all treated as integral parts of rhetoric, and a given author may
combine all three of them to convince their audience.
Text and context

In rhetoric, a text is not necessarily a piece of writing (though it may be this). A text is
whatever piece of communication you are analyzing. This could be, for example, a speech, an
advertisement, or a satirical image.
In these cases, your analysis would focus on more than just language—you might look at
visual or sonic elements of the text too.
The context is everything surrounding the text: Who is the author (or speaker, designer,
etc.)? Who is their (intended or actual) audience? When and where was the text produced,
and for what purpose?
Looking at the context can help to inform your rhetorical analysis. For example, Martin Luther
King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech has universal power, but the context of the civil rights
movement is an important part of understanding why.
Claims, supports, and warrants

A piece of rhetoric is always making some sort of argument, whether it’s a very clearly
defined and logical one (e.g. in a philosophy essay) or one that the reader has to infer (e.g. in
a satirical article). These arguments are built up with claims, supports, and warrants.
A claim is the fact or idea the author wants to convince the reader of. An argument might
centeronTable
a single claim, or be built up out of many. Claims are usually explicitly stated, but
of contents
they may also just be implied in some kinds of text.
The author uses supports to back up each claim they make. These might range from hard
evidence to emotional appeals—anything that is used to convince the reader to accept a
claim.
The warrant is the logic or assumption that connects a support with a claim. Outside of quite
formal argumentation, the warrant is often unstated—the author assumes their audience will
understand the connection without it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still explore the implicit
warrant in these cases.
For example, look at the following statement:
Rhetorical statement
Neither candidate was well liked; voter turnout in the election was very low.
We can see a claim and a support here, but the warrant is implicit. Here, the warrant is the
assumption that more likeable candidates would have inspired greater turnout. We might be
more or less convinced by the argument depending on whether we think this is a fair
assumption.
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Analyzing the text

Rhetorical analysis isn’t a matter of choosing concepts in advance and applying them to a
text. Instead, it starts with looking at the text in detail and asking the appropriate questions
about how it works:
What is the author’s purpose?

Do they focus closely on their key claims, or do they discuss various topics?
What tone do they take—angry or sympathetic? Personal or authoritative? Formal or
informal?
Who seems to be the intended audience? Is this audience likely to be successfully
reached and convinced?
What kinds of evidence are presented?
By asking these questions, you’ll discover the various rhetorical devices the text uses. Don’t
feel that you have to cram in every rhetorical term you know—focus on those that are most
important to the text.
The following sections show how to write the different parts of a rhetorical analysis.
Introducing your rhetorical analysis

Like all essays, a rhetorical analysis begins with an introduction. The introduction tells readers
what text you’ll be discussing, provides relevant background information, and presents your
thesis statement.
Hover over different parts of the example below to see how an introduction works.
Rhetorical analysis introduction
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is widely regarded as one of the most
important pieces of oratory in American history. Delivered in 1963 to thousands of civil rights
activists outside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the speech has come to
symbolize the spirit of the civil rights movement and even to function as a major part of the
American national myth. This rhetorical analysis argues that King’s assumption of the
prophetic
 Table voice, amplified by the historic size of his audience, creates a powerful sense of
of contents
ethos that has retained its inspirational power over the years.
The body: Doing the analysis

The body of your rhetorical analysis is where you’ll tackle the text directly. It’s often divided
into three paragraphs, although it may be more in a longer essay.
Each paragraph should focus on a different element of the text, and they should all contribute
to your overall argument for your thesis statement.
Hover over the example to explore how a typical body paragraph is constructed.
Rhetorical analysis body paragraph
King’s speech is infused with prophetic language throughout. Even before the famous
“dream” part of the speech, King’s language consistently strikes a prophetic tone. He refers to
the Lincoln Memorial as a “hallowed spot” and speaks of rising “from the dark and desolate
valley of segregation” to “make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” The assumption of
this prophetic voice constitutes the text’s strongest ethical appeal; after linking himself with
political figures like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, King’s ethos adopts a distinctly
religious tone, recalling Biblical prophets and preachers of change from across history. This
adds significant force to his words; standing before an audience of hundreds of thousands, he
states not just what the future should be, but what it will be: “The whirlwinds of revolt will
continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This
warning is almost apocalyptic in tone, though it concludes with the positive image of the
“bright day of justice.” The power of King’s rhetoric thus stems not only from the pathos of
his vision of a brighter future, but from the ethos of the prophetic voice he adopts in
expressing this vision.
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Concluding a rhetorical analysis

The conclusion of a rhetorical analysis wraps up the essay by restating the main argument
and showing how it has been developed by your analysis. It may also try to link the text, and
your analysis of it, with broader concerns.
Explore the example below to get a sense of the conclusion.
Rhetorical analysis conclusion
It is clear from this analysis that the effectiveness of King’s rhetoric stems less from the
pathetic appeal of his utopian “dream” than it does from the ethos he carefully constructs to
give force to his statements. By framing contemporary upheavals as part of a prophecy whose
fulfillment will result in the better future he imagines, King ensures not only the effectiveness
7/9/24, 12:16 PM How to Write an Expository Essay | Structure, Tips & Examples
How to Write an Expository Essay | Structure, Tips &

Examples
Published on July 14, 2020 by Jack Caulfield. Revised on July 23, 2023.
“Expository” means “intended to explain or describe something.” An expository essay

provides a clear, focused explanation of a particular topic, process, or set of ideas. It doesn’t
set out to prove a point, just to give a balanced view of its subject matter.
Expository essays are usually short assignments intended to test your composition skills or
your understanding of a subject. They tend to involve less research and original arguments
than argumentative essays.

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1. When should you write an expository essay?

2. How to approach an expository essay
3. Introducing your essay
4. Writing the body paragraphs
5. Concluding your essay
7. Frequently asked questions about expository essays
When should you write an expository essay?

In school and university, you might have to write expository essays as in-class exercises,
exam questions, or coursework assignments.
Sometimes it won’t be directly stated that the assignment is an expository essay, but there
are certain keywords that imply expository writing is required. Consider the prompts below.
Explain how the invention of the printing press changed European society in the 15th
century.
The word “explain” here is the clue: An essay responding to this prompt should provide an
explanation of this historical process—not necessarily an original argument about it.
Define the term “free speech” and explore how it is used today.
Sometimes you’ll be asked to define a particular term or concept. This means more than just
copying down the dictionary definition; you’ll be expected to explore different ideas
surrounding the term, as this prompt emphasizes.

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How to approach an expository essay

An expository essay should take an objective approach: It isn’t about your personal opinions
or experiences. Instead, your goal is to provide an informative and balanced explanation of
your topic. Avoid using the first or second person (“I” or “you”).
The structure of your expository essay will vary according to the scope of your assignment
and the demands of your topic. It’s worthwhile to plan out your structure before you start,
using an essay outline.
A common structure for a short expository essay consists of five paragraphs: An introduction,
three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Introducing your essay

Like all essays, an expository essay begins with an introduction. This serves to hook the
reader’s interest, briefly introduce your topic, and provide a thesis statement summarizing
what you’re going to say about it.
Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.
Expository essay example: Introduction
In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The
medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political
stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and
was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for
much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.
Writing the body paragraphs

The body of your essay is where you cover your topic in depth. It often consists of three
paragraphs, but may be more for a longer essay. This is where you present the details of the
process, idea or topic you’re explaining.
It’s important to make sure each paragraph covers its own clearly defined topic, introduced
with a topic sentence. Different topics (all related to the overall subject matter of the essay)
should be presented in a logical order, with clear transitions between paragraphs.
Hover over different parts of the example paragraph below to see how a body paragraph is
constructed.
Expository essay example: Body paragraph
The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes
Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the
press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for
the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be
reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The
Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up
across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed
cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant
Reformation.
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Concluding your essay

The conclusion of an expository essay serves to summarize the topic under discussion. It
should not present any new information or evidence, but should instead focus on reinforcing
the points made so far. Essentially, your conclusion is there to round off the essay in an
engaging way.
Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a conclusion works.
Expository essay example: Conclusion
The invention of the printing press was important not only in terms of its immediate cultural
and economic effects, but also in terms of its major impact on politics and religion across
Europe. In the century following the invention of the printing press, the relatively stationary
intellectual atmosphere of the Middle Ages gave way to the social upheavals of the
Reformation and the Renaissance. A single technological innovation had contributed to the
total reshaping of the continent.

 Fallacies
Ad hominem fallacy
Post hoc fallacy
False cause fallacy
Sunk cost fallacy
 College essays
7/9/24, 12:16 PM How to Write a Descriptive Essay | Example & Tips
How to Write a Descriptive Essay | Example & Tips
Published on July 30, 2020 by Jack Caulfield. Revised on August 14, 2023.
A descriptive essay gives a vivid, detailed description of something—generally a place or

object, but possibly something more abstract like an emotion. This type of essay, like the
narrative essay, is more creative than most academic writing.
Descriptive essays test your ability to use language in an original and creative way, to convey
to the reader a memorable image of whatever you are describing. They are commonly
assigned as writing exercises at high school and in composition classes.

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1. Descriptive essay topics

2. Tips for writing descriptively
3. Descriptive essay example
5. Frequently asked questions about descriptive essays
Descriptive essay topics

When you are assigned a descriptive essay, you’ll normally be given a specific prompt or
choice of prompts. They will often ask you to describe something from your own experience.
Personal descriptive essay prompts
Describe a place you love to spend time in.

Describe an object that has sentimental value for you.
You might also be asked to describe something outside your own experience, in which case
you’ll have to use your imagination.
Imaginative descriptive essay prompts
Describe the experience of a soldier in the trenches of World War I.

Describe what it might be like to live on another planet.
Sometimes you’ll be asked to describe something more abstract, like an emotion.
Conceptual descriptive essay prompt
Describe the feeling of envy.
If you’re not given a specific prompt, try to think of something you feel confident describing in
detail. Think of objects and places you know well, that provoke specific feelings or
sensations, and that you can describe in an interesting way.

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Tips for writing descriptively

The key to writing an effective descriptive essay is to find ways of bringing your subject to life
for the reader. You’re not limited to providing a literal description as you would be in more
formal essay types.
Make use of figurative language, sensory details, and strong word choices to create a
memorable description.
Use figurative language

Figurative language consists of devices like metaphor and simile that use words in non-literal
ways to create a memorable effect. This is essential in a descriptive essay; it’s what gives
your writing its creative edge and makes your description unique.
Take the following description of a park.
Literal description
There are patches of woodland in the park.
This tells us something about the place, but it’s a bit too literal and not likely to be memorable.
If we want to make the description more likely to stick in the reader’s mind, we can use some
figurative language.
Figurative description
Small groves are dotted across the face of the park like a patchy beard.
Here we have used a simile to compare the park to a face and the trees to facial hair. This is
memorable because it’s not what the reader expects; it makes them look at the park from a
different angle.
You don’t have to fill every sentence with figurative language, but using these devices in an
original way at various points throughout your essay will keep the reader engaged and convey
your unique perspective on your subject.
Use your senses

Another key aspect of descriptive writing is the use of sensory details. This means referring
not only to what something looks like, but also to smell, sound, touch, and taste.
Sensory details
I feel the bonfire’s heat on my face, and smell the rich smoke filling the air.
Obviously not all senses will apply to every subject, but it’s always a good idea to explore
what’s interesting about your subject beyond just what it looks like.
Even when your subject is more abstract, you might find a way to incorporate the senses
more metaphorically, as in this descriptive essay about fear.
Sensory details used metaphorically
Fear is the smell of sweat, and the feeling you can’t breathe.
Choose the right words

Writing descriptively involves choosing your words carefully. The use of effective adjectives is
important, but so is your choice of adverbs, verbs, and even nouns.
It’s easy to end up using clichéd phrases—“cold as ice,” “free as a bird”—but try to reflect
further and make more precise, original word choices. Clichés provide conventional ways of
describing things, but they don’t tell the reader anything about your unique perspective on
what you’re describing.
Try looking over your sentences to find places where a different word would convey your
impression more precisely or vividly. Using a thesaurus can help you find alternative word
choices.
 My cat runs across the garden quickly and jumps onto the fence to watch it from
above.
 My cat crosses the garden nimbly and leaps onto the fence to survey it from
above.
However, exercise care in your choices; don’t just look for the most impressive-looking
synonym you can find for every word. Overuse of a thesaurus can result in ridiculous
sentences like this one:
 My feline perambulates the allotment proficiently and capers atop the palisade to
regard it from aloft.

An example of a short descriptive essay, written in response to the prompt “Describe a place
you love to spend time in,” is shown below.
Hover over different parts of the text to see how a descriptive essay works.
On Sunday afternoons I like to spend my time in the garden behind my house. The garden is
narrow but long, a corridor of green extending from the back of the house, and I sit on a lawn
chair at the far end to read and relax. I am in my small peaceful paradise: the shade of the
tree, the feel of the grass on my feet, the gentle activity of the fish in the pond beside me.
My cat crosses the garden nimbly and leaps onto the fence to survey it from above. From his
perch he can watch over his little kingdom and keep an eye on the neighbours. He does this
until the barking of next door’s dog scares him from his post and he bolts for the cat flap to
govern from the safety of the kitchen.
With that, I am left alone with the fish, whose whole world is the pond by my feet. The fish
explore the pond every day as if for the first time, prodding and inspecting every stone. I
sometimes feel the same about sitting here in the garden; I know the place better than
anyone, but whenever I return I still feel compelled to pay attention to all its details and
novelties—a new bird perched in the tree, the growth of the grass, and the movement of the
insects it shelters…
Other
Sitting interesting
out in the garden, I articles
feel serene. I feel at home. And yet I always feel there is more to
discover. The bounds of my garden may be small, but there is a whole world contained within
it, and it is one I will never get tired of inhabiting.

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7/9/24, 12:14 PM The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples

The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples

Published on September 4, 2020 by Jack Caulfield. Revised on July 23, 2023.

 Forming an opinion via research

 Creative language use

Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself.

 Creative language use

Describe an object that has sentimental value for you.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

The essay is divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion:

The introduction provides your topic and thesis statement

Argumentative essay example paragraph

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Expository essay example paragraph

Narrative essay example

Descriptive essay example

Receive feedback on language, structure, and

Textual analysis essays

Rhetorical analysis example paragraph

Literary analysis example introduction

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How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay | A Step-by-Step

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Step 1: Reading the text and identifying literary devices

Who is telling the story?

Is it a first-person narrator (“I”) who is personally involved in the story, or a third-person

Novels are often divided into chapters and parts.

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Step 2: Coming up with a thesis

Essay question example

Thesis statement example

How is the character of Frankenstein portrayed?

Your initial answer might be a surface-level description:

The character Frankenstein is portrayed negatively in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

Example thesis statement for a literary analysis essay

Mary Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly

Finding textual evidence

Step 3: Writing a title and introduction

Example title for a literary analysis essay

“Fearful symmetry”: The violence of creation in William Blake’s “The Tyger”

Example introduction for a literary analysis essay

Step 4: Writing the body of the essay

Example body paragraph for a literary analysis essay

Using textual evidence

of joy in God’s creation and conveying instead a sense of fearful awe.

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Step 5: Writing a conclusion

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Choosing Essay Topic

Example conclusion for a literary analysis essay

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How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips

An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement.