The word “essay” was coined from the French word “essayer,” which means “to attempt” or “to try.” An essay is said to be a non-fiction writing that discusses or focuses on a specific topic.
According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, “an essay is a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view.”
An essay can also be defined as a piece of writing that outlines w writer’s perspective. It is usually written in a particular format and has its different types with different functions.
Essays have been categorized as either formal or informal. That is, pieces that possess logical organization, specific length, and unique purpose are regarded as formal essays. In contrast, those that are products of a writer’s taste and experiences, the quest for self-revelation, are considered to be informal.
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According to Aldous Huxley, an essayist, “an essay is a literary device for saying almost everything about almost anything.”
In this article, we focus on the essay, and it’s functions, types, and format of writing.
Table of Contents
Types of Essay
There are different types of essays, but the major ones are Expository essay, Persuasive essay, Narrative essay, and Descriptive essay.
1. Descriptive essay: A descriptive essay is a type of essay that presents a bright and vivid picture of something- which could be a person, a place, an object, or an event.
Persuasive essays are written in such a way that the reader visualizes the entire picture of the topic. It is about describing a problem in detail. Below is an example of a descriptive essay.
” As I walked into the giant black gate of the company, a pale-looking middle-aged man came from behind a tree to say hello, and then he showed me where to sit as I await my employer.
He was barefooted; he wore oversized black trousers and a brown skyrta shirt with holes on both sides of the sleeves. He glided a stick around his mouth. Then I asked him if he would show me around the office. He ejected the contents of his mouth, picked up his red pileus cap, and led the way.”
2. Narrative essay: This is a type of essay that involves telling a story. The story could be a product of the writer’s past experiences, recent encounters, or an ongoing event.
Narrative essays require the use of tools such as flashbacks, flashforwards to establish meaningful storytelling. A narrative essay is written in the first person, told in a rather casual communication style with the frequent use of “I.” The example below is typical of a narrative essay;
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“Last year, in December to be precise, my colleagues and I decided to go for an adventure into the forest. The forest was characterized by thick growth and giant trees. We started treading an already cleared path into the deeper part of the forest.
All we could hear was the chirping sound of birds and that of falling leaves. We walked tirelessly until we arrived at a point where I would say is the deepest part of the forest. Suddenly, a hungry-looking wolf started running towards our direction, and my cerebrum could not think of any other thing than to run.
We ran in different directions, and I ended up alone in the bush. I tried to find my way back home, but the path was unclear, at this point, I knew that I was lost.”
The above story is a perfect example of a narrative essay.
3. Expository essay: A descriptive essay is an essay written for the sole purpose of enlightening a reader on a particular topic or subject. Its function is targeted at informing, describing, and explaining a problem by referencing essential facts, which ultimately makes the reader understand the question without any complications.
It is written in the third-person, making use of “it,” “she,” “he,” “they,” etc.
4. Persuasive essay: Also known as argumentative essay. A persuasive essay is a type of essay written in such a way that convinces a reader to accept the views, opinions, and ideas based on reasonable facts provided.
This type of essay requires extensive research on the topic and also a sound and sufficient understanding of both angles to the topic of discussion.
An excellent persuasive essay not only tells a reader why the writer’s opinions are valid and correct, but it also presents reasons why a counter viewpoint is incorrect and invalid.
Some Features of the Essay
- Unity: Concerning essay writing, integration is the continuity of a specific idea throughout the essay. To write a good essay, every detail and example should be built logically and must point back to the original focus.
- Coherence: An essay must be coherent in terms of logical or systematic connection of individual points that make up the essay. This is one crucial feature that can fuel a reader’s interest in reading an article.
Format of Essays
Essays are not just any piece of writing that can be done without a structural backbone. Articles are linearly written and require a proper arrangement of ideas from start to finish.
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Parts of the Essay
- The introduction: this section is technically written to guide the reader into the piece by introducing the topic. Its primary function is to give an insight or overview of the contents of the entire essays would look like.
- The body: this section incorporates the main idea of the essay. The contents of the body of an essay must agree with the introductory chapter; that is, there must be unity. Each point is developed by one or more paragraphs and buttressed with specific details.
- Transition: this is the section between the body of an essay and the conclusion. It is the section where a writer includes additional information about what must have been talked about within the body of the piece. It involves the use of one or a combination of two words, for example -“next,” “in addition to,” “furthermore.”
- Conclusion: The conclusion summaries the entire work. It also contains the topic sentence and a concise explanation of the main idea of the essay.
Best Essay Writing Scholarships for International Students
Below we’ve listed some of the “Best Essay Writing Scholarships” which will be a great way to pay for your financial needs.
Student Scholarship Essay Contest at Fraser Institute
Highly motivated aspirants from all over the globe are invited to apply for the Student Scholarship Essay Contest in Canada. Organized by Fraser Institute, the program is designated just for high school students. Winning essays may be published in Fraser Institute journals and authors will have the opportunity to experience the peer-review process.
Provided By: Fraser Institute
Course: Any degree
Award: $9,000-$3,000
Application Deadline: June 1, 2020
Apply Now
Queen’s Commonwealth Scholarship Essay Competition
The Royal Commonwealth Society is inviting applicants to take part in the scholarship essay competition. The QCEC is open to all citizens and residents of the Commonwealth aged 18 and under. Entries can be submitted in a number of different formats: for example, a poem, letter, article, story, essay or a short play/script.
Provided By: Royal Commonwealth Society
Course: Any degree
Award: Varies
Application Deadline: June 30, 2020
Apply Now
Ayn Rand Institute Scholarship Essay Contest 2020
The Ayn Rand Institute (ARI) have open entries for Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest for the year 2020 from grade 12, college undergraduate and graduate students from all over the world. It offers various educational programs to enable students at all levels of knowledge. Candidates will get 1 winner receives $ 3,000, 2nd place: 2 winners receive $ 1,000 and 3rd place: 10 winners receive $ 500.
Provided By: Ayn Rand Institute (ARI)
Course: Undergraduate and graduate
Award: $ 3,000, $ 1,000 and $ 500
Application Deadline: April 30, 2020
Apply Now
Essaypro Writing Contest Scholarship 2020
Waiting for an opportunity to get a scholarship? If yes, then go ahead and apply for the EssayPro Writing Contest Scholarship for international aspirants having excellent writing skills. To apply for this opportunity, applicants need to demonstrate academic excellence. Top three winners will get the cash prizes. The first place holding applicant will receive $500, and the second and third place, winning candidates will receive $250 each!
Provided By: Essaypro
Course: Any degree
Award: $500, $250
Application Deadline: June 1, 2020
Apply Now
American Indian College Fund Scholarship Essay Competition
The American Indian College Fund is providing scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native college students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees at tribal colleges, nonprofit, and accredited schools. U.S. citizen or Canadian citizens are eligible to attend college in the U.S. under provisions of the Jay Treaty.
Provided By: The American Indian College Fund
Course: Undergraduate and graduate
Award: Fund
Application Deadline: August 1, 2020
Apply Now
Top Universities for International Students to Study Abroad
| Ranking | University Name | Tuition fee |
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 48,452 USD |
| 2 | Stanford University | 47,940 USD |
| 3 | Harvard University | 47,074 USD |
| 4 | University of Oxford | 9,250 GBP |
| 5 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | 47,577 USD |
| 6 | ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) | 1,229 CHF, International tuition 1,229 CHF |
| 7 | University of Cambridge | 9,250 GBP, International tuition 21,732 GBP |
| 8 | UCL (University College London) | Domestic tuition 9,250 GBP, International tuition 17,710 GBP |
| 9 | Imperial College London | Local tuition 9,250 GBP |
| 10 | University of Chicago | 53,649 US |
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