Types of Essays

... and why we write them.

Adapted from:
web.binus.ac.id/.../Types%20of%
20Essays_63499823094012125..
.
Why do we write essays?

Hint: The answer is NOT ‘because sir/miss told

me to’
Why do we write essays?

Measurement

Development

Professionalism
Measurement??!!??
Implying that it is to:
Assess your knowledge and understanding?
Grade your achievements?
Judge your writing skills?
Measure you against your peers?
Measurement??!!??
Implying that it is to:
Assess your knowledge and understanding?
Grade your achievements?
Judge your writing skills?
Measure you against your peers?

Of course, but it isn’t the main reason

Development
Far more important is that you are given the
opportunity:
to explore what you think
to improve how you think
to practice communicating your thoughts
Development
Writing is a tool which can allow us to:
Organise our thoughts clearly
give ourselves room to examine
what we think
why we think it
whether we should continue to think it
Professionalism
Sustained, coherent and complex thinking
cannot be done silently.

That is to say, most people cannot sit alone

and think CLEARLY about something
COMPLICATED for A LONG PERIOD of time
Professionalism

But, what do you do when there is no-one you

can talk to
Professionalism
Planning an essay is like having that
conversation with yourself

Writing the essay is sharing those thoughts with

other people
Professionalism

Which is important because….

Professionalism
Anybody can make a gut decision
but

only someone who is practiced in

communicating and reasoned argument will
be able to justify how the more difficult
decision was made
So anyway, …..
….what kind of essays are there.
There are generally considered to be
four types of essay

Analytical
Descriptive
Contrast/compare
Argumentative
Compare and contrast
essays
Contrast or distinguish between
questions usually present you with
two or more terms, instruments,
concepts or procedures that are
closely connected, and sometimes
confused. The purpose of the essay is
to explain the differences between
them.
2. Compare and contrast
essays

The contrast essay

The compare essay

The compare and contrast essays

 Plan – Contrast

Questions are Introduction to differences

between A and B
often introduced
by: Contrast A & B in terms of first
•Contrast .... difference
•Distinguish between ...
•What is the difference
between.... Contrast A & B in terms of second
•What are the difference
differences between....
•How are ... and ...
different? etc

Conclusion
 Plan – Compare

Questions are Introduction to similarities between A

and B
often introduced
by: Compare A & B
•Compare .... in terms of first similarity
•What features do ...
and ... have in Compare A & B
common? in terms of second similarity
•What are the
similarities
etc.
between....
•How are ... and ...
similar? Conclusion
 Plan – Compare/Contrast

Questions are often introduced by:

•Compare ....
•What features do ... and ... have in
common?
•What are the similarities between....
•How are ... and ... similar?
Which brings us on to
….how to write