This document provides an overview of different types of essays and their characteristics, including: analogies, argumentative, narrative, comparison/contrast, definition, descriptive, literary analysis, character analysis, illustrative, and process analysis essays. For each type, the document discusses what they are used for and strategies for writing them effectively, such as including examples, sensory details, quotes, and breaking processes into clear steps. The goal is to teach students the essential elements of various essay formats to improve their writing skills.

1. Essays With Ease
Designed by
Elisa Paramore

2. Introduction
 Although the ability to write is an in-
borne gift as far as a having a natural
aptitude for words and their
management, it is also the result of
planning, directed effort and practice. All
of which can be taught skills as long as
a person is willing to learn the steps and
apply them correctly.

3. Different Types of Essays
 There are many different types of
essays and each one has its own
unique characteristics and ways to best
write them. The rest of this workshop
will discuss each of the essays and their
characteristics.
3

4. Analogies
 This is a special type of comparison It is
what is also referred to as an extended
comparison. It is most widely used to
relate two items that on the surface
appear to have nothing in common but,
do have at least some of the same
underlying characteristics.

5.  Analogies are not good when used as
arguments because no matter how many
similarities may be shared, there are always
some differences. Therefore, a writer
cannot assume that because two things
have some things in common that they are
exactly the same.
 Take for example the ways that learning to
be a good driver is like learning to be a
good writer. The only way that these two
circumstances are the same is the fact that
as people get more practice they become
better.

6. Argumentative Essays
 Argumentative essays are used to either
explain or defend a personal opinion.
 Before starting to write this type of essay take
a few moments and ask yourself the following
questions:
 What have I read recently ,or what can I read
quickly & easily, before I write that will help
me to support my reason for holding this
opinion?

7.  What have I learned about this subject
from TV, movies or radio that will help
me to support my opinion?
 What have I learned from reliable
friends, parents, other relatives &
teachers that will help me to support my
reason for my opinion?

8. Other considerations for
Argumentative Essays
 What is my opposition’s reason for believing
differently ?
 Who is my audience?
 Which points about my topic best illustrate
why I believe as I do?
 Use of a pro and con sheet may help to clarify
the points most relevant to your argument.
 Use the appropriate tense

9.  This type of essay can be done in one of four
different ways:
 By first presenting your points and then
refuting the points of your opposition
 By refuting your opposition’s points then
presenting your points and their support
 By presenting your first point and its support
which refutes your opposition’s first point,
and continue the same process with your
second and third point, etc.
 By presenting a point for your belief and then
a point that refutes the opposition’s belief.

10.  Keep in mind that it is necessary to
select evidence that effectively supports
your claim. This evidence may be in the
form of personal experiences,
experiences or testimony from others,
factual information, statistics from
reliable sources, charts, graphs or
diagrams, or expert testimony

11. Narratives
 Narratives are essays that relate one moment in
which a writer reveals an experience he/she has had.
They are used to tell a story in such a way so the
reader can easily follow the events.
 Before writing this type of essay it is best to keep the
following suggestions in mind:
 What moment in my life best illustrates the point I
want to write about? Remember that a moment is
limited as much as possible in time. It is best to use
the moment in your life that you recall most sharply.

12.  What kinds of details would make this
moment come alive? Remember to show the
setting in which the moment occurred through
such things as color, smell, touch & sound.
Describe the people who were there and use
important bits of dialogue that occurred while
the moment was developing.
 Also keep the following things in mind:
 What is the purpose of the narrative?
 Be consistent in your viewpoint.
 Follow a logical time sequence.

13.  Make your characters believable and
come alive with as much description as
possible
 Limit the the scope of the moment as
much as possible so that your reader
does not get bogged down in a bunch of
irrelevant material.
 Use dialogue sparingly. Only include the
most important dialogue that directly
relates to the moment you are
describing.

14. Comparison/Contrast Essays
 The comparison/contrast essay discusses the
likenesses & differences between 2 or more
items
 This comparison/contrast can be written in
two different ways :
point by point format, or
block format

15. Point By Point
 The point by point style is one in which
each point that is shared between the
items is discussed one after the other in
one paragraph and the differences are
covered point by point in another
paragraph

16. Example of Point by Point
 Paragraph 1:
 Item A & B both have this kind of climate
 Item A& B both have this kind of weather
 Item A & B both have this kind of population
 Paragraph 2:
 Item A & B differ in terms of tourist industry
 Items A & B differ in terms of economic development
 Items A & B differ in terms of medical care available

17. Block Format
 In this format the items are discussed in separate
paragraphs but the same topics must be covered
about both so that the paragraphs are balanced and
show a direct comparison and contrast between the
two items
 In this format the items of least importance are
mentioned first and the most important items are
mentioned last so that the reader will have a better
chance of being able to remember the main points
being stressed

18. Example of Block Format
 Paragraph 1
 Climate, weather, population, tourist
industry, economic development and
medical care found in ITEM 1
 Paragraph 2
 Climate, weather, population, tourist
industry, economic development and
medical care found in ITEM 2

19. Which Format is LEAST
Effective
 The point by point format of
comparison/contrast is least effective
because it is not possible to go into as
much detail about each point. However,
if you decide to follow this type of format
anyway, it is necessary to use more
lively illustrations and more varied
vocabulary to make it as interesting as
possible.

20. Definition Essay
 The definition essay is one that offers an extended
definition of some word or term that has special
meaning to the writer
 In this type of essay it is recommended that the
writer use the following strategies to help clarify the
definition as much as possible: state examples,
describe the parts of the object being defined,
compare/contrast term to similar terms, explain the
operation or process used, give familiar synonyms,
define by what the term does not mean, present a
history of the term, discuss causes & effects

21. Descriptive Essays of Places
 The descriptive type of essay relies on
concrete sensory details
 It can be written by using narration,
comparison/contrast, supporting instances
that discuss one aspect of the place you are
describing or by mood sketches which
describe the mood that is evoked in the place
or physical description

22. Literary Analysis Essays
 The literary analysis essay may discuss only one, or
several, of the following items in relation to a story or
book:
 character analysis
 overall theme
 action
 structure
 tone
 language

23. Character Analysis Essays
 This type of essay discusses specific traits of
a character’s personality this may be done in
several different ways:
 Each paragraph discusses a moment in the
story that illustrates a specific trait
 Discusses important moment(s) in a
character’s development
 Using specific quotes to illustrate specific
trait(s)

24.  Show how a character changes from
the beginning of the story to the end of
the story
 Show how a character responded to a
moment of crisis and how a moment in
the writer’s life was similar or different
 Show how the writer would have
responded in a particular instance
 Show how the same instance was
portrayed differently in the story and the
movie version

25. Illustrative Essays
 This type of essay uses several similar
examples to examine or explain one
main point.
 Illustration is done by using sensory
details to support the main point as well
as using transitions to move smoothly
from one example to the next.

26. Process Analysis Essays
 This type of essay gives directions or
shows the reader how to do something
or to explain how something has been
done in the past. Therefore, it is
necessary to use the most clear, precise
language possible.
 This type of essay breaks down the
process of how to do something into
steps

27.  Keep these things in mind when preparing to
write this type of essay:
 It is necessary to include all relevant details-
first include major steps that need to be
followed & all materials needed
 Provide any descriptive information that will
serve as an attention getter
 Use concrete sensory details
 Steps may be given in chronological order or
by order of importance, depending on
process being discussed

28. When to Use Chronological
Order & Order of Importance
 If you are describing how to make
something, use chronological order
because it is important to follow a
certain order in completing the steps
 If you are describing how to care for
something, for instance, caring for
puppies, use order of importance

29. Conclusion
 I hope that this workshop on essay writing has been
helpful in explaining the characteristics and ways to
write different types of essays. Don’t forget to come
by Student Support Services to complete an
Academic Enrichment Summary so we may
document your participation. If you are viewing this
workshop via the internet you may click on the link in
the directions box on the Workshop page and print
one out or
 e-mail it to: rcrews@wallace.edu . Handouts
available upon request.
 EXIT
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