Types of writing

Nathan A. Magcamit
Descriptive Essay
A descriptive essay, as the name implies, is a form of essay that describes
something. In this genre, students are assigned the task of describing objects,
things, places, experiences, persons, and situations. The students use sensory
information to enable readers to use their five senses of touch, taste, smell,
hearing, and sight to understand the topic of the essay.
Qualities of a Descriptive Essay
 Clear and Concise
 Use of Images
 Use of Five Senses
As far as clear and concise language is concerned, it is necessary to describe
things precisely. Imagery is used to make things seem real and remarkable. The
use of the five senses creates the imagery, or a mental picture, for each reader.
Example

  The Corner Store (by Eudora Welty)

“Our Little Store rose right up from the sidewalk; standing in a street of family
houses, it alone hadn’t any yard in front, any tree or flower bed. It was a plain
frame building covered over with brick. Above the door, a little railed porch ran
across on an upstairs level and four windows with shades were looking out. But I
didn’t catch on to those. Running in out of the sun, you met what seemed total
obscurity inside. There were almost tangible smells — licorice recently sucked in a
child’s cheek, dill pickle brine1 that had leaked through a paper sack in a fresh
trail across the wooden floor, ammonia-loaded ice that had been hoisted from
wet croker sacks and slammed into the icebox with its sweet butter at the door,
and perhaps the smell of still untrapped mice.”
This description of the “Little Store” is not only clear and concise, but also has
images and sensory information about the store building.
Travel Essay
A travel/place essay takes travel or a place as its point of origin. The essay
is probably not simply about a place or a journey, but rather is about what one
may discover about people or life on that journey or in that place.
A essay about place begins with an author's recognition that some aspect
of a particular place is worth writing about. Most of us have special or meaningful
places in our lives. But again, a essay about place goes beyond just describing the
place.
Definition Essay
Definition essays are a form of expository writing in which the writer
provides information about the term to their audience. They typically follow a
standard essay format and include both a definition and an analysis of the term.
Example Essay: Bravery (Abstract Concept)
The basic structure of a definition essay is the same whether you’re defining a concrete or
abstract concept. Here is an example definition essay for an abstract concept.
Everyone feels afraid from time to time. From feeling the jitters to facing a lifelong phobia, it’s
difficult to put fears aside when trying to accomplish a goal. But, one doesn’t need to forget
that they are afraid in order to be brave; in fact, bravery doesn’t exist without real fear behind
it.
Bravery is the mindset one takes when facing a challenge that could be dangerous or difficult.
The task could be objectively dangerous, such as engaging in battle or driving in adverse
conditions. A person could also perceive a seemingly harmless situation as challenging, such as
climbing a flight of stairs or talking to someone they’d like to date. A brave act requires one to
face and embrace the task rather than withdraw from it.
There are examples of bravery in every community. Look no farther than your local fire station
or police station to see acts of bravery. Community heroes help others in small and large ways
every day, often at great risk to their own lives. Students are brave when they stand up to a
bully or present a project in front of the whole class. Practicing small acts of bravery can
prepare a person to lead a heroic life.
“Fearlessness” can be a connotation of bravery, but it’s not a true synonym (although
bystanders may believe that a brave person acts without fear). If a task does not seem
frightening in some way, it would be simple to complete, requiring no bravery at all. Heroes
who exhibit bravery often put themselves at risk to help others. The closest synonym for
bravery would be “courage.” The ability to do what’s right despite a real or perceived threat
requires strength, making “fortitude” another near-synonym for bravery.
Bravery doesn’t exist without fear. No matter how challenging or dangerous a task can be,
bravery allows a person to work alongside their fear rather than forget about it. The next time
you see someone acting heroically, remind yourself that they are probably terrified in that
moment – and that makes them even braver.
Analytical Essay
Analytical implies the breaking down of something into parts, or the
discussion of something in a way that it becomes a dissection of the whole. An
analytical type of essay differs from other types of essays in that its primary goal is
to explain something bit by bit to enhance understanding. Most of the times, an
analytical essay is written about the analysis of a text, or a process, or an idea. In
literature, however, it is a critical analysis of some literary text which is done to
enhance its understanding.

Example: Freedom (by Joyce M. Jarett)

“On the first day of school, I was escorted by hordes of national guardsmen.
Like a funeral procession, the steady stream of official-looking cars followed me to
the campus. Some patrolmen were parked near campus gates, while others, with
guns strapped to their sides, stood near building entrances. Though many of my
escorts had given me smiles of support, still I was not prepared for what I
encountered upon entering my new school.”
This is a paragraph from a process analysis. The author, Joyce M. Jaret, has
beautifully described her experience of the security in this paragraph, and how it
is deployed when an important figure faces security issues in his life. This is an
analysis of the process of security deployment.
Compare and contrast essay
A comparison and contrast essay compares two similar objects, or contrasts
dissimilar objects, in a way that readers become informed about the advantages
and disadvantages of both the objects. Readers are then able to weigh pros and
cons of the objects compared and contrasted to select a better product. It,
however, does not mean that it is only a comparison or contrast of products, it
could be a situation after which readers are to make a decision, weighing pros and
cons. Although a comparison and contrast essay is set to demonstrate both
similarities as well as differences, sometimes it only shows similarities, and at
other times, only differences.

Example: Reality TV: Surprising Throwback to The Past? (by Patricia Cohen)

“To many critics, Cupid and other matchmaking shows that mix money and
real-life marital machinations represent a cynical and tasteless new genre that is
yet another sign of America’s moral decline. But there’s something familiar about
the fortune hunters, the status seekers, the thwarted loves, the meddling friends,
the public displays, the comic manners, and the sharp competitiveness—all find
their counterparts in Jane Austen and Edith Wharton. Only now, three-minute
get-to-know-you tryouts in a TV studio substitute for three-minute waltzes at a
ball. Traditional family values, it turns out, are back on television after all.”
In this passage, Patricia Cohen compares two attitudes: one of materialism, and
the other of morality. She bemoans moral decline, but praises the literary taste.
Cause and Effect Essay
Human beings often try to find root causes of things, happenings and
phenomena. This research leads to the discovery of effects, too. It is because
human beings always desire to understand reasons for things, and why they
happen. A composition written to find out reasons and results is called a cause
and effect essay. It makes discovery of the causes of something and resultantly
finds out effects.
Example: Black Men and Public Space (by Brent Staples)
“My first victim was a woman—white, well dressed, probably in her early
twenties. I came upon her late one evening on a deserted street in Hyde Park, a
relatively affluent neighborhood in an otherwise mean, impoverished section of
Chicago. As I swung onto the avenue behind her, there seemed to be a discreet,
uninflammatory distance between us. Not so. She cast back a worried glance. To
her, the youngish black man—a broad six feet two inches with a beard and
billowing hair, both hands shoved into the pockets of a bulky military jacket—
seemed menacingly close. After a few more quick glimpses, she picked up her
pace and was soon running in earnest. Within seconds she disappeared into a
cross street.”
This passage describes the cause of a woman’s fear in a narrative, as well as the
effect of her fear. As it is part of a long essay, the next passage sheds light on the
effects on women.
References

Descriptive Essay
https://literarydevices.net/descriptive-essay/

Travel Essay
https://www.mshogue.com/English_11/travel.html

Definition Essay
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/definition-essay-examples-
and-topic-ideas.html

Analytical Essay

https://literarydevices.net/4243-2/

Compare and contrast essay

https://literarydevices.net/comparison-contrast-essay/

Cause and Effect Essay

https://literarydevices.net/cause-effect-essay/