Common Types of Essays

descriptive
- provides details of how something looks, feels, tastes, smells, etc.
- or what something is
- or how something happened
- lots of details
- Ex: what happened over your summer vacation
definition
- tries to define a specific term
- usually a word or concept that is not concrete
- Ex. what is friendship
compare/contrast
- looks at how two things are the same (compare)
- or different (contrast)
- or both
- lots of details and facts
- Ex. school when your were a child and school now
cause/effect
- why something happened (cause)
- or what happened because it did happen (effect)
- Ex. why tsunamis occur
process
- steps in how to do something
- needs to follow a very logical order
- Ex. how to distil salt from salt water
argumentative (persuasive)
- tries to persuade the reader to the writers point of view
- Ex. mandatory recycling
critical
- strengths and weaknesses of someone elses work
- Ex. the use of color in !onets paintings
Ex 1 Identify the topics below as to what type of essay they could be
a. critical b. argumentative c. process d. cause"effect e. compare"contrast f. definition g. descriptive
#. $$$$$ public transportation is better for the environment than driving
%. $$$$$ what happened to a town after a volcano erupted
&. $$$$$ what honesty means
'. $$$$$ what a skier has to do to become a champion skier
(. $$$$$ two ways of celebrating birthdays
). $$$$$ how to be successful at math
*. $$$$$ every college should offer free basic courses to the public
+. $$$$$ similes in the work of poet ,angston -ughes
Commonly Used Task Words
Task word Meaning
analyse examine closely. examine something in terms of its parts and how they are related to
each other
argue present a case for and"or against /
assess decide the value of /
compare discuss two or more things in terms of their similarities and differences
contrast discuss two or more things, emphasi0ing their differences
criticize give a 1udgment about the value of / and support that 1udgment with evidence
define make clear what is meant by /. use a definition or definitions to explore the concept of
/
describe present a detailed account of /
discuss consider and offer some interpretation or evaluation of /. present and give a 1udgment
on the value of arguments for and against /
enumerate give an item by item account
evaluate attempt to form a 1udgment about /
examine inspect / in detail and investigate the implications
explain make clear the details of /. show the reason for, or underlying cause of, or the means
by which / occurs
illustrate offer an example or examples to show how or that, or make concrete the concept of /
interpret make clear the meaning of / and its implications
justify give reasons why certain decisions should be made, or certain conclusions reached
outline go through and identify briefly the main features of /
prove show by logical argument
review report the chief facts about /.offer a criticism of /
summarise describe / concisely
trace identify and describe the development or history of / from some point, or from its origin