Essay Types: E–F

Essay Types: E–F

by Owen Fourie

What is involved in each of these kinds of essays?

(If you are a new reader of this blog, the introduction to this particular category will help you to understand how this post fits into the bigger picture.)

Evaluation or Evaluative

Consider the value, the worth, of topics (suitably narrowed-down) in areas such as literature, art, movies, plays, music, the green movement, the oil industry, the Internet, the United Nations, the prison system, virtually anything if it is not too frequently evaluated.

It requires a thesis statement, well-defined criteria, research, evidence, analysis, comparison and contrast, weighing up the pros and cons, knowing the views of proponents and opponents, your judgment and opinion, and argumentation.

Explanatory

Look under Definition, Explanatory, Expository, Informative.

Exploratory

From your research on an issue, take into account the entire academic conversation about it.

Develop an overall view, a macro-view, of the problem as you analyze all the arguments exploring the matter as a whole.

Find out where these arguments agree and where they differ and establish your own position and insight as you contribute to the conversation.

Do this by raising a question that you attempt to answer based on the information that you gather. As you do so, ask more questions and let one question lead to another and another as you keep your reader informed of the exploratory process and the sources of your research.

Your purpose is not to provide final answers but to stir further inquiry and exploration as you share your information.

Let your writing reflect your thoughts about the matter and write freely while also supporting your position with sound logic and examples. Weigh up the strengths and weaknesses of potential solutions to the problem. Allow for a synthesis of contrary elements in the debate.

The exploratory essay, which takes a macro-view of a situation, expands on the inquiry essay, which takes a micro-view of that situation.

Look under Inquiry.

Expository

Look under Definition, Explanatory, Expository, Informative.

Expressive

Write in the first person about a particular topic expressing your thoughts and feelings and finding substance in your experiences and memories.

An expressive essay may be written to fulfill the requirements of a college application.

Look under Autobiographical , Memoir, Narrative, Personal Narrative and also under Descriptive as well as Informal. Refer to the notes for these types in the glossary as well as the related articles by clicking on the links.

Five-Paragraph

Write an argument in five paragraphs: the introductory paragraph, followed by three body paragraphs and a concluding paragraph.

For more advanced requirements:

• present an overview of the topic and a thesis statement in the introduction;
• In the second paragraph, give the detail of the background of the topic and how it will be treated in the essay;
• In the third paragraph, argue in support of the thesis;
• In the fourth paragraph, present arguments against the thesis and also refute the objections;
• In the conclusion, summarize the arguments and restate the thesis.

The five-paragraph essay is used in persuasive, expository, and creative writing.

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What good or bad experiences have you had with any of the kinds of essays mentioned in this post? Under any of the types in this post, are there points about them that you feel are missing and should be included? Do you have any useful insights? What are your particular struggles? Your comments, observations, and questions are welcome.

Here are more articles to help you with English words, grammar, and essay writing.

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