Have you been assigned an essay and you’re not sure what’s expected of you? Here’s a range of guides to each of the different types of essay and assignments most often given to students. Using our guides, you’ll be able to choose the right essay structure to fully address what is being asked of you. We also have an overview of essay types here. Underneath the essay writing guides on this page you can read a guide to breaking down the essay question.
Understanding the Thesis A thesis is the final research project conducted as the capstone to a postgraduate degree. In the United States, a thesis refers to the final project for a master’s degree, while the final project for a doctoral degree is called a dissertation. In the United Kingdom, however, the term “thesis” is not … Read more
Understanding Descriptive Essays In a descriptive essay, the writer uses the five senses to describe something as vividly as possible for the reader. This type of essay goes beyond mere reporting to bring an experience to life for the reader through detailed, sensory-rich descriptions. A descriptive essay may describe an object, a person, a place, … Read more
Understanding Simple Essays A routine or formula can make writing a simple essay relatively painless. There are many types of essay formats, such as narrative, analysis, argumentative, or comparison and contrast. Familiarizing yourself with these different conceptual frameworks can improve and enrich your writing. But for a simple essay, all you really need to know … Read more
The Purpose of the Scholarship Essay Many scholarships awarded by private schools, universities, and private organizations require that applicants write a scholarship essay as part of the application process. The purpose of this essay is to get a better sense of who the applicant is as a person. The theme of the essay is often … Read more
What is a report? In writing, a report is a document that is both systematic and defines or analyzes the subject matter. Systematic is relative to the content, which should be written in such a way that the data is presented in the correct order, making the document very readable. A report can be an … Read more
Understanding Research Essays A research essay combines many of the skills learned from writing other types of essays. In a research essay, the writer must incorporate the ideas of others, analyzing and integrating information to support their own thesis. This type of essay can overlap with other essay formats such as literary analysis, persuasive essays, … Read more
A process essay explains how something is done. It gives the reader specific instructions, guiding them through the steps of a particular task or procedure. Writing a process essay involves a detailed, step-by-step explanation of a process that leads to a specific outcome. Whether the task is simple or complex, the key to success lies … Read more
An exploratory essay is a unique form of writing that focuses on investigating a topic, presenting the research, and explaining different perspectives without drawing conclusions or making recommendations. This type of essay encourages students to explore a topic in depth, gather information, and present it objectively. It is often assigned as a precursor to more … Read more
Purpose The purpose of the deductive essay is to guide students in the process of using deductive reasoning. In Western countries, deductive reasoning is the most commonly used method to arrive at a valid conclusion. Deductive reasoning uses facts to draw a conclusion. For example, a simple deductive argument might be: “Only depressive students exhibit … Read more
Purpose In a literary essay, a writer analyzes some aspect of a piece of literature. The goal is to explore and interpret the deeper meanings, themes, and elements of the work. This type of essay goes beyond summarizing the plot and delves into the various components that make up the literature, providing a deeper understanding … Read more
A guide to writing effective research proposals This article explains how to write a research proposal, including the purpose of the proposal, what to include, the structure and common problems that are encountered by students as they research or write their proposal. Purpose of the research proposal A research proposal may have several purposes, including to receive … Read more
Purpose Response essays are typically assigned as a precursor to an evaluative essay or a critique. These papers are typically written in response to a short literary passage, an editorial, a speech, or an artistic work. The response essay is useful because it gives students the opportunity to express their opinions in a professional manner … Read more
Proper referencing is a crucial aspect of writing a dissertation. It not only gives credit to the original authors whose work has informed your research but also helps you avoid the serious academic offense of plagiarism. In this guide, we will explore the importance of referencing, the different types of plagiarism, how to avoid it, … Read more
Purpose Writing a business research proposal is a valuable exercise that can help students develop critical thinking skills and enhance their career opportunities. The proposal serves as the first attempt to tackle an issue that is interesting to the writer and/or the business community. It introduces the concern and acts as a promise to investigate … Read more
A review essay examines a piece of writing, a film, or some other form of art. However, it differs from a literary essay in a couple of key ways. A review essay is evaluative, meaning that its purpose is to tell the reader whether the work is good or not and whether it is recommended. … Read more
