Essays are the basis of almost all functional writing. Essays are a series of paragraphs oriented around a central theme, carrying a consistent tone, attitude, and perspective. The word essay comes from French and denotes “a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose”. The theme of an essay determines its approach and tone, to which the author adds a perspective.
Generally, essays are classified into four types: narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive.
Narrative essays: In this type, the writer tells a story based on a real-life experience. It is usually written in the first person, and a personal statement is made at the conclusion.
Descriptive essays: They paint a picture with words by describing a person, object or place. Colourful words and sensory details are unique to this type of essay, which evoke emotions in the readers.
Expository essays: This type is dominated by facts. The writer provides information by explaining or defining a topic, using statistics and examples to support their points. It is never written in the first person and is not intended to evoke emotions.
Persuasive essays: They persuade the reader. The writer persuades the reader to accept their point of view or recommendation. The writer uses examples, expert opinion and sound reasoning to present his argument.
WORKS CITED
Clanchy, John, and Brigid Ballard. Essay Writing for Students: A Practical Guide. 4th ed., Longman, 2011
Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL). “Essay Writing: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.” Purdue University, 2024, https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/essay_writing.html.
Dr Aswathy Aravindakshan is a teacher, bilingual writer and artist with over two decades of experience in teaching English language and literature. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of English at NSS College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Her blog, ashlit.in brings together academic resources, creative writing in Malayalam and English, and visual art. The platform features lecture notes, study materials, poems, reflections, short prose, and a curated collection of her paintings. Through this space, she seeks to foster learning, creativity, and meaningful engagement with literature and the arts.
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