Essays

An essay is a short piece of writing that discusses, describes or analyzes one topic. It can range in length from one paragraph to more than twenty. It can be about anything, and be written in almost any style. It can be serious or funny, straight-forward or symbolic. It can describe personal opinions, or just report information.

The Structure of an Essay

• Structure of an Essay
• Structure of an Essay: Outline
• Short Essay and Outline "The Hazards of Moviegoing"
• Short Essay "My Job in an Apple Plant"
• 5-Paragraph Essay and Outline "The Hazards of Moviegoing"
• 5-Paragraph Essay "My Job in an Apple Plant"

Common Types of Essays

• Different Kinds of Essays

Argumentative

• Argumentative Essays
• Writing Argumentative Essays
• Essays that Answer a 'Should' Question

Links:

• The Argumentative Essay (Purdue Online Writing Lab)

Comparison/Contrast

• Comparison/Contrast Essays
• Comparison/Contrast Essays: Two Patterns

Links:

• Writing the Comparison and Contrast Essay (College of DuPage)

Definition>

• Definition Essays
• Sample Essay - "The Real Meaning of Honesty"

Descriptive

• Descriptive Essays
• Sample: "A Small, Close-Knit Community"
• Sample: "English is a Crazy Language"

Links:

• Writing Descriptions (Purdue University)

Narrative

• Narrative Essays
• Sample: "Attitude is Everything"
• Sample: "Josie's Triumph

Cause-Effect

• Cause-Effect Essays
• Cause-Effect Essays Sample: "Town Meetings"

Process Essay

• Process Essays

Critical Essays

• Critical Essays
• Writing Critical Essays about Literature
• Writing A Critical Analysis of a Painting
• Writing a Book Review
• Writing Abstracts and Critiques

Links:

• Critiques (The Writing Center at Rensselaer)

General Essay Links

• The Elements of Style (Bartleby.com)
• The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing (Hackett Publishing Co.)