This document discusses the four main types of essays: expository, descriptive, narrative, and argumentative. Expository essays investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, and form an argument. Descriptive essays require describing an object, person, place, or experience through sensory details. Narrative essays are anecdotal and personal stories told from a point of view. Argumentative essays require investigating a topic, collecting evidence, and establishing a position on the issue.

1. Essay Writing
By Bree Williams

2. What are Essays?
• An assigned form of writing that every student
encounters at some point in their education.
• Rewarding and challenging assignments designed
to test or examine students ideas concerning a
particular topic.
• There are 4 main types of essays:
– Expository
– Descriptive
– Narrative
– Argumentative (Persuasive)

3. Expository Essays
• Essays in which an idea is investigated, evidence is
evaluated and an argument is formed in a clear and
concise manner.
• Five Paragraph Approach:
– Introductory paragraph
– (3) Evidentiary body paragraphs
– Conclusion
• Examples include:
– Compare/Contrast
– Definition
– Example
– Cause/Effect

4. Descriptive Essays
• An essay requiring the description of an
object, person, place, experience, emotion, sit
uation, etc.
• Allows for creative expression and artistic
freedom.
• Play with the readers senses:
– How does it smell, taste, feel, look, sound?

5. Narrative Essays
• Anecdotal, experiential and personal.
• These essays should have a point, be written
from a clear point of view, use clear and
concise language throughout and be
organized!
• “I” is welcomed but not always necessary.

6. Argumentative Essays
• Requires investigation into a topic, collection
and organization of evidence and
establishment of a position on the topic.
• Must be complete, leaving no doubt as to its
intent or argument.
• Five paragraph approach is commonly used
but essays may, of course, be longer.