High school and college students write hundreds of thousands of essays every year. Writing an essay isn’t easy and at the beginning, you have to decide what type of essay you are going to write. It depends on the topic of your essay. 

Besides, very often according to the assignment you are to write a certain type of essay. So, it’s important to know the specific features of these essay types.

A narrative essay is similar to a story when the author just describes events or presents information.

  • Persuasive essay – The author presents his point of view and persuades the reader it’s true.
  • Expository essay – It’s a lot like an instruction when the author describes a certain process step-by-step.
  • Descriptive essay – It’s somewhat similar to a narrative essay, but with a special accent on details, like the weather and feelings of people.

An argumentative essay is usually about a contradictory issue where the author should provide evidence to support his/her arguments.

  • Compare and contrast essay – The author shows what is similar and different about two positions, objects, or issues. Usually, the writer also expresses his/her attitude towards the discussed issue.
  • Problem solution essay -In this type of essay the author describes a problem, offers a solution, and tries to convince his/her readers that the problem should be solved.

An informative essay should provide facts about a certain issue to have the readers informed.

Generally, essays written at high schools and colleges should be structured. Usually, such essays should have an introduction, then two or three paragraphs of the main body, and a conclusion.

Structure of an Essay

The essay introduction usually presents the problem your essay is about. But the tricky thing is to make such an introduction involving, making the reader interested in what he/she is going to read. So, rhetorical questions or shocking facts are very much to the point there. Usually, this introductory paragraph should also have a sentence connecting the introduction with the main body, previewing what will be discussed further.

The number of body paragraphs of an essay can be different depending on the topic and the kind of essay you are writing.  Usually, each paragraph has a sentence or sentences presenting your argument or subtopic. Then you should give some proof, facts, or evidence to support your arguments. And in the end, you have to provide a connection of your argument with your main topic/ thesis.

The concluding paragraph is very important. As blogger Jim Todd from cheap custom writing service claims, “a conclusion is like icing on the cake, it makes the taste of the whole piece”. The author should again refer to his/her main thesis and also to the “hook” he/she used to make the reader interested in the topic. It’s also necessary to paraphrase all the arguments and main proofs you’ve introduced in your essay. In the end, you need to explain what you want your readers to think about or do. In many cases, it’s perfect to offer certain actions to make the situation better. The author can also make a strong summary of his/her thesis and provoke the reader’s thinking.

Some Tips to Make Your Essay Perfect

  1. You have to understand the topic of your essay clearly. Make thorough research and remember that it may take some time to formulate your thesis and arguments.  Find facts and citations to support your position.
  2. Plan your work at the essay and follow it while writing. Many people recommend having a “study- buddy” to discuss your writing with.
  3. Organize your thoughts and arguments well and make your essay clear and not wordy.
  4. In a narrative essay, you are supposed to describe your senses (what you see, smell, hear, etc.) 
  5. If you use a citation, choose a proper format style. It’s important to know that plagiarism is unacceptable.
  6. It’s better not to use the passive voice and personal pronouns which are acceptable only in narrative essays.
  7. Double-check the usage of scientific terms and proofread your writing. Remember that your essay s a formal paper, so the language you use should be concise, clear, precise, and scientific enough.
  8. They say that practice makes perfect. So, take your time and practice writing different essays, especially if you are to write an essay at an exam.