Seven Common Types of Essays

Essays don't just focus on one specific tone. There are actually several types of essay writing which depends on the topic or on what is preferred. Each type basically comes with a specific purpose. There are actually seven most common types of essays.

First is the Expository Essay. Among the many kinds of essays, this is one of the easiest write-ups to do. Expository Essay focuses in giving directions or instructions about how to do a particular task, or how a particular thing is being done.

Second is the Cause and Effect type of Essays. Unlike the first one, this focuses on a specific condition or situation. This type of essay answers the questions why or the cause, and what or the effect or result.

Third on the list is the Definition Essay. From the name itself, this essay defines a particular topic or subject concretely and abstractly. Defining it concretely means looking at its meaning in the dictionary, while concretely means the extended definition of your subject or topic.

Fourth is the Comparison and Contrast type of Essay. Obviously, this type of essay focuses on two important thing, the difference and the similarities between two things, persons, ideas, places, religions, and other stuff. But it can also be done separately. Meaning, the writer can either just cite the disparity of his subject or just focus on the resemblance of his topic.

Fifth among the different types of essays is the Argumentative or Pro/Con Essay. This type of essay requires the writer's opinion on a particular topic to come out. It should be based on the author's reasoning and understanding on that particular subject or topic. The writer can either view out his objections or present points that support his position on the given topic.

Sixth on the list is the Literary Analysis type of essay. Those writers who love literature and arts, this is the type of essay they should do. Literary analysis focuses on the author's observations about a particular book they've read, a story, a poem, or a play maybe. It's like the writer is giving his review o that particular subject he chose.

And lastly, the seventh common type of essay is the Character Analysis essay. This is actually almost similar with the sixth type for it focuses on the writer's observations on a particular character in a literary piece. The essay is about the writer's view on the character as a whole. Meaning, with what he does, says, or opinions or comments of other character about the character being analyzed.

Through citing these seven most common types of essays, it'll help future writers know how they are going to come up with a more specific tone of essay writing. It'll help them realize as well on which among the said types are they going to use so they'll not be out of focus.

Author:

Sherry Richard is a graduate of Communications at the Adelphi University in New York. She is currently working as an English tutor to foreign students who are engaging themselves in the US. Besides doing tutorial lessons, she is also working as a freelance writer wherein she is entitled to write essays, blogs, and other related stuff. She is a mother of three wonderful kids, and married with a successful businessman.