The expository essay

 

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What is it?

An expository essay is an explanation of a theme, an idea or an issue to a targeted audience. The expository essay can also be used to give a personal response to a world event, political debate, football game, work of art, etc.

 

Most important qualities of an expository essay

 

In order to keep your reader’s attention, your expository essay should:

 

• Have a well-defined thesis, to avoid wandering from your topic. 

• Provide evidence to support what you are saying. Support your aspects with facts, arguments and examples, and use them to explain your position. You should not simply present a list of facts or arguments.  You must validate your position.

• The essay should be succinct. Make your point and conclude your essay. Repetitions and/or over-stating your position will not convince you reader more.

 

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The persuasive essay

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What is it?

The goal of a persuasive essay is to convince the reader in adopting your position or your point of view on an issue. In this type of essay, your arguments are the most important. They are the key to winning the reader to your point of view.

 

A persuasive essay …

• has a clear and definite point of view. 

• maintains the reader’s interest. 

• uses a well-built reasoning and solid evidence. 

• considers the targeted audience.

• Is not sentimental or passionate

• follows the rule of good paragraph writing: One single topic per paragraph with a natural progression from one to the next. 

• ends with a strong conclusion. 

 

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The analytical essay

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What is it?

The analytical essay analyzes, examines and interprets pieces of work like an event, a book, a poem, a play or another work of art. 

 

An analytical essay should follow the following structure: 

 

First, the analytical essay should begin with an introductory paragraph where the reader is told about the piece of work that will be discussed in the text and the idea or issue that you will be examining in your analysis. This will help narrow the focus of your essay.

Then comes the longest part of the essay, the analysis of the text. After stating the issue related to the piece of work, present your argumentation. Pay attention to the way the author uses stylistic devices to communicate some specific meanings.

-Does the author accomplish his goal in communicating his ideas to the reader?  Support your analysis with examples and intelligent judgment.

 

The next section should focus on a personal response, which will provide the reader with a deeper understanding of the piece of work. This is your personal understanding of the piece of work. You should be honest with your readers and share a response that may or may not be positive. You need to be critical. Always base your response on the evidences or details from the piece of work. The reader should feel your personal response throughout the entire essay.

 

Finally, you should conclude your analytical essay by explaining the relationship between the analysed piece of work and your argumentation.

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The argumentative essay

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What is it?

The argumentative essay is the type of text where you prove that your opinion, your theory or your hypothesis about an issue is accurate or more reliable than those of others. In short, it is very similar to the persuasive essay, but the difference is that you are opposing your argumentation to the argumentation of others rather than persuading someone to adopt your point of view.

An argumentative essay should:

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• Present a focused argumentation

• Be composed of arguments that are clear statements (a question cannot be an argument)

• Be composed of solid evidence

• Be based on pros and cons

• Use good transition words/phrases

• Consider the targeted audience.

• Use the rules of the good paragraph. One single topic per paragraph, and natural progression from one to the next.

• End with a strong conclusion.