expository essay persuasive essay difference

What is the Difference Between Expository Essay and Persuasive Essay?

• No comments
• 13 minute read

What’s the Difference Between Halibut And Flounder?

Share article, table of contents hide, expository vs. persuasive essays, definition and purpose of an expository essay, characteristics of an expository essay, definition and purpose of a persuasive essay, characteristics of a persuasive essay, writing style, tone and language, goal and objective, structure and organization, use of evidence and examples, when to use each type of essay, what is the difference between an expository essay and a persuasive essay, how does an expository essay present information, what does it mean to “take a stand” in a persuasive essay, what kind of evidence is required in a persuasive essay, can a persuasive essay include opposing arguments, where are expository essays commonly used.

Expository essays aim to explain or inform, while persuasive essays seek to convince or persuade the reader of a particular viewpoint or argument .

Expository and persuasive essays differ in their purpose and approach:

Expository Essays:

• An expository essay aims to inform, explain, or describe a topic to the reader.
• The writer presents factual information and provides a balanced analysis of the topic.
• The focus is on presenting objective information and supporting evidence rather than trying to persuade the reader.
• Examples of expository essays include research papers, informative articles, and explanatory essays .

Persuasive Essays:

• A persuasive essay aims to convince or persuade the reader to adopt a certain viewpoint or take a specific action.
• The writer presents arguments, opinions, and evidence to support their position.
• The focus is on persuading and influencing the reader through logical reasoning , emotional appeals, and strong arguments.
• Examples of persuasive essays include opinion editorials, argumentative essays, and advertisements .

While expository essays primarily focus on providing information and explaining a topic, persuasive essays aim to change the reader’s perspective or behavior through persuasive techniques and compelling arguments.

What Is an Expository Essay?

An expository essay is a type of essay that aims to inform or explain a specific topic to the reader. This form of writing focuses on presenting facts , evidence, and logical explanations to provide a clear understanding of the subject matter. It does not involve personal opinions or bias.

An expository essay is a type of essay that aims to explain or describe a specific topic in an objective and factual manner. The purpose of an expository essay is to provide information , educate the reader, and present a clear understanding of the subject matter. This type of essay does not involve personal opinions or biases.

The definition and purpose of an expository essay involve presenting a balanced and unbiased view of the topic. The writer should focus on providing evidence , facts , and examples to support their claims and help the reader understand the subject. The aim is to clarify and illuminate the topic, leaving no room for ambiguity or confusion.

The purpose of an expository essay is to inform , instruct , or explain . It may involve exploring a concept, analyzing a process, or defining a term . The writer’s goal is to convey information in a clear and concise manner, using appropriate evidence and examples to support their points.

An expository essay serves the purpose of enlightening the reader about a particular subject, presenting facts and evidence, and providing a comprehensive understanding of the topic. It is important for the writer to maintain objectivity , stick to the facts, and avoid any personal biases or opinions.

The characteristics of an expository essay, which are clarity , objectivity , and a focus on providing information or explaining a topic, are essential for effective writing.

• Clarity: An expository essay aims to present information in a clear and concise manner. It avoids ambiguity, vague language , and unnecessary complexity. The writer should use simple and straightforward language to ensure that the readers easily understand the information being presented.
• Objectivity: Unlike a persuasive essay, an expository essay does not aim to persuade or convince the readers of a particular viewpoint. Instead, it focuses on presenting facts, evidence, and unbiased information. The writer should maintain a neutral tone and avoid personal opinions or biases.
• Factual Assertions: In an expository essay, the writer should utilize factual assertions rather than modal verbs. This strengthens the credibility and reliability of the information being presented.
• Logical Organization: An expository essay typically follows a logical structure, such as an introduction , body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The information should be organized in a logical manner, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect or sub-topic.
• Use of Evidence and Examples: To support the information being presented, an expository essay should include relevant evidence, examples, and data. These help to strengthen the arguments and provide further understanding to the readers.

Pro-tip: When writing an expository essay, be sure to thoroughly research the topic and gather reliable sources. This will ensure that the information presented is accurate and credible.

What Is a Persuasive Essay?

A persuasive essay is designed to convince the reader to adopt the writer’s viewpoint or take a specific action. This type of essay employs persuasive techniques, such as emotional appeals and logical reasoning, to sway the reader’s opinion. It involves the use of arguments and evidence to support the writer’s stance.

The definition and purpose of a persuasive essay are to convince the reader to adopt a particular viewpoint or take a specific action. The writer aims to persuade the audience by presenting arguments, evidence, and examples that support their position.

• The definition of a persuasive essay is an academic paper that seeks to convince the reader of a particular idea or point of view.
• The purpose of a persuasive essay is to influence the reader’s beliefs , attitudes, or behaviors on a specific topic.
• The writer’s objective is to present logical and compelling arguments that support their position.
• A persuasive essay uses rhetoric and persuasive techniques to appeal to the reader’s emotions and values.
• The writer must establish credibility and trustworthiness by providing evidence and examples to support their claims.

In a persuasive essay, the writer takes a clear stance on the issue and uses persuasive language and rhetorical devices to convince the reader of their viewpoint. The writer must anticipate and address counterarguments to strengthen their position and undermine opposing viewpoints.

The purpose of a persuasive essay is not only to inform but also to persuade and compel the reader to adopt the writer’s perspective. It is essential for the writer to use persuasive strategies effectively and present a well-structured and coherent argument.

A persuasive essay incorporates various characteristics that make it effective in convincing readers. It utilizes persuasive language, a clear thesis statement, evidence and examples, counterarguments and rebuttals, appeals to emotions, and a strong call to action.

• Persuasive language: A persuasive essay makes use of persuasive language to sway readers towards a specific point of view or encourage them to take certain actions. The language used in this type of essay is often passionate , emotional, and impactful.
• Clear thesis statement: Every persuasive essay presents a clear and concise thesis statement that outlines the main argument or position of the writer. This statement serves as a guide for the essay and helps the reader understand the writer’s standpoint.
• Evidence and examples: A persuasive essay relies heavily on the use of evidence and examples to support its main argument. The writer presents facts, statistics , expert opinions, and anecdotes to convince the reader of their perspective.
• Counterarguments and rebuttals: Acknowledging counterarguments is an important aspect of a persuasive essay. It involves presenting opposing viewpoints fairly and then providing strong rebuttals to discredit them. This strengthens the credibility of the essay.
• Appeal to emotions: An effective persuasive essay often appeals to the reader’s emotions. This can be achieved through the use of powerful language, personal anecdotes, or emotional examples that evoke a strong response from the reader.
• Call to action: Typically, a persuasive essay concludes with a strong call to action. This urges the reader to take specific measures or adopt the writer’s viewpoint. The aim is to prompt the reader to actively engage with the essay’s argument.

The Differences Between Expository and Persuasive Essays

The differences between expository and persuasive essays can be summarized in several key aspects.

When it comes to writing style, the key factor to consider is the tone and language used in the essay. The Writing Style of an essay can greatly influence how the information is conveyed to the reader.

In an expository essay , the Writing Style is typically objective and informative . It focuses on presenting facts , evidence , and examples in a clear and unbiased manner. The language used is formal and precise , avoiding personal opinions and emotions. The goal of an expository essay is to educate the reader and provide them with a deeper understanding of the topic.

On the other hand, in a persuasive essay, the Writing Style tends to be more subjective and persuasive. The language is often more passionate and uses rhetorical devices to appeal to the reader’s emotions and beliefs. The tone can be assertive and persuasive, aiming to convince the reader to adopt a certain viewpoint or take a specific action. The objective of a persuasive essay is to change or reinforce the reader’s opinion on a particular subject.

The Writing Style in an expository essay is focused on presenting factual information, while the Writing Style in a persuasive essay aims to convince and persuade the reader. Both styles have their own characteristics and approaches, but understanding the differences can help writers effectively convey their message to their audience.

The manner and choice of words employed in an essay are critical factors in effectively communicating the intended message and purpose to the readers. In expository essays specifically, the tone typically assumes an informative, unbiased, and impartial stance. The language utilized is concise , transparent , and devoid of any bias or emotional influence. The objective is to present verifiable information, elucidate concepts, and offer logical explanations to the audience. This approach enables readers to comprehend the subject matter in an impartial manner.

Conversely, persuasive essays employ a more assertive and compelling tone. The language used often exudes passion and conviction, with the aim of convincing readers to adopt the writer’s viewpoint or take action. In persuasive essays, rhetorical devices, emotional appeals, and potent, vivid language may be employed to craft a persuasive argument.

Authors must consider the tone and language employed in their essays in order to effectively convey their message and captivate the readers. The tone and language should be suitable for the purpose and target audience of the essay. Utilizing an informative and neutral tone in an expository essay ensures objectivity and enhances credibility. On the other hand, adopting a persuasive tone in a persuasive essay assists in influencing and persuading readers.

To elevate the tone and language of your essay, it is advisable to employ rhetorical techniques, appropriate vocabulary , and well-structured sentences. Utilize precise and specific language to clearly convey ideas, while avoiding vague or ambiguous statements. Additionally, maintaining consistency in tone and language throughout the essay will ensure a cohesive and coherent flow of ideas.

By giving due attention to the tone and language, writers can effectively convey their message and influence their audience in both expository and persuasive essays. Thus, it is essential to carefully select the appropriate tone and language to make a profound impact on readers.

The goal and objective of a persuasive essay are different from those of an expository essay. Here are the differences:

• The goal and objective of a persuasive essay are to convince the reader to adopt a certain viewpoint or take a specific action. The objective is to persuade and influence the reader’s opinion or behavior.
• In contrast, the goal and objective of an expository essay are to inform or explain a topic to the reader. The objective is to present factual information and provide a clear understanding of the subject matter.
• A persuasive essay uses language and techniques that appeal to emotions , logic , and credibility in order to sway the reader’s opinion. The objective is to persuade the reader through the use of persuasive devices such as rhetorical questions , anecdotes , and expert opinions .
• An expository essay, on the other hand, uses an objective and neutral tone. The language is focused on providing factual information and evidence to support the topic. The objective is to educate the reader and present a balanced view of the subject matter.
• In terms of structure, a persuasive essay usually follows the introduction, body paragraphs with supporting evidence, and a conclusion with a call to action . The objective is to guide the reader towards a specific viewpoint or action.
• An expository essay typically follows a logical and organized structure with an introduction, body paragraphs that present facts and evidence, and a conclusion that summarizes the main points. The objective is to present information in a clear and coherent manner.

The goal and objective of a persuasive essay are to persuade and influence the reader’s opinion or behavior, while the goal and objective of an expository essay are to inform and explain a topic in a neutral and factual manner.

Structure and organization are vital components of both expository and persuasive essays. When crafting your essay, it is essential to consider the following key points:

• Clear structure: Both types of essays should possess a clear and logical framework. This includes an introductory section that provides context and presents a thesis statement, body paragraphs that offer evidence and arguments, and a conclusion that succinctly summarizes the main points.
• Organized paragraphs: Each paragraph should revolve around a single idea or argument. Begin with a topic sentence that clearly articulates the main point, support it with evidence or examples, and conclude with a sentence that smoothly transitions to the next paragraph.
• Coherence and flow: It is crucial to ensure that your ideas flow seamlessly and are logically connected throughout the essay. Employ transitional words and phrases to guide your readers through the various sections and paragraphs.
• Use of evidence: Both expository and persuasive essays necessitate the use of evidence to bolster your claims. Be sure to utilize reliable and pertinent sources, and properly cite them following the appropriate citation style.
• Formatting and presentation: Pay close attention to the overall formatting and presentation of your essay. Employ a consistent font, font size , and formatting style. Additionally, thoroughly proofread your essay to rectify any grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

By adhering to these guidelines, you can ensure that your expository or persuasive essay demonstrates a well-structured and organized format, enabling your ideas to be conveyed clearly and effectively.

The use of evidence and examples is crucial in both expository and persuasive essays. These elements play a vital role in supporting the claims made by the writer and effectively convincing the reader of the validity of the argument.

In an expository essay, evidence and examples are utilized to provide factual information and explanations. The writer will skillfully present data, statistics, and expert opinions to support their topic and offer a deeper understanding to the reader. For instance, if the essay discusses climate change , the writer may incorporate scientific studies and research to present compelling evidence of its impact on the environment.

Similarly, in a persuasive essay, evidence and examples are employed to sway the reader towards adopting the writer’s point of view. The writer will present compelling facts, intriguing anecdotes, and real-life examples to reinforce their argument and persuade the reader to agree with their stance. For example, if the essay highlights the benefits of exercise , the writer may provide personal stories and success stories from individuals who have achieved improved health through regular exercise.

Both types of essays heavily rely on the use of evidence and examples to support their claims. In an expository essay, evidence is used to inform and educate, whereas in a persuasive essay, evidence is used to influence and persuade. By effectively incorporating relevant and compelling evidence and examples, writers can successfully convey their message and enhance the overall impact of their essays.

Knowing when to use an expository essay or a persuasive essay depends on the purpose and goal of your writing. Here are some guidelines to help you determine when to use each type:

• Expository Essay:

An expository essay is used when:

• You want to inform or explain a topic or concept to your readers.
• You want to present facts, evidence, and examples to support your points.
• Your goal is to provide a clear and objective analysis of a subject.
• You want to educate and increase knowledge on a specific topic.
• You want to describe a process, event, or phenomenon in a straightforward manner.
• Persuasive Essay:

A persuasive essay is used when:

• You want to convince or persuade your readers to adopt your viewpoint or take a specific action.
• You want to present arguments and evidence that support your position on a particular issue.
• Your goal is to influence the reader’s opinion or behavior through logical reasoning and emotional appeal.
• You want to address and refute counterarguments to strengthen your position.
• You want to call for action or propose a solution to a problem.

Understanding the purpose and goal of your writing will help you determine whether an expository essay or a persuasive essay is more appropriate. Consider your audience and the desired outcome of your writing to make an informed decision.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You May Also Like

What is the difference between adjourn and postpone?

• February 14, 2023

What is the difference between created and make

• November 4, 2022

What is the difference between juxtaposition and oxymoron?

• December 31, 2022

Sewer vs. Drain: Understanding the Key Differences

• Difference Digest
• April 29, 2024

Torque Converter vs Fluid Coupling: Key Differences

• March 21, 2024

Conscious vs. Unconscious: Key Distinctions

• March 16, 2024

Debt Consolidation vs. Debt Relief: Key Differences

Expository vs. Persuasive: What's the Difference?

Key Differences

Comparison chart, expository and persuasive definitions, where is expository writing commonly found, can expository writing include opinions, what distinguishes persuasive writing, what structure does expository writing follow, is expository writing subjective or objective, are persuasive texts factual, can persuasive writing change someone's mind, is expository writing suitable for debates, what is the tone of persuasive writing, what is expository writing, what are examples of expository content, what is a key element in persuasive writing, how does persuasive writing engage the reader, what role does evidence play in persuasive writing, can persuasive writing be factual, can persuasive writing be unbiased, how do expository and persuasive writings differ in advertising, is narrative writing a type of expository writing, do expository texts use first-person narration, how do expository and persuasive writing differ in education.

Trending Comparisons

Popular Comparisons

New Comparisons

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between an expository essay and an argumentative essay.

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

Frequently asked questions: Writing an essay

For a stronger conclusion paragraph, avoid including:

• Important evidence or analysis that wasn’t mentioned in the main body
• Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion…”)
• Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g. “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)

Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.

Your essay’s conclusion should contain:

• A rephrased version of your overall thesis
• A brief review of the key points you made in the main body
• An indication of why your argument matters

The conclusion may also reflect on the broader implications of your argument, showing how your ideas could applied to other contexts or debates.

The conclusion paragraph of an essay is usually shorter than the introduction . As a rule, it shouldn’t take up more than 10–15% of the text.

An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.

To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

Let’s say you’re writing a five-paragraph  essay about the environmental impacts of dietary choices. Here are three examples of topic sentences you could use for each of the three body paragraphs :

• Research has shown that the meat industry has severe environmental impacts.
• However, many plant-based foods are also produced in environmentally damaging ways.
• It’s important to consider not only what type of diet we eat, but where our food comes from and how it is produced.

Each of these sentences expresses one main idea – by listing them in order, we can see the overall structure of the essay at a glance. Each paragraph will expand on the topic sentence with relevant detail, evidence, and arguments.

The topic sentence usually comes at the very start of the paragraph .

However, sometimes you might start with a transition sentence to summarize what was discussed in previous paragraphs, followed by the topic sentence that expresses the focus of the current paragraph.

Topic sentences help keep your writing focused and guide the reader through your argument.

In an essay or paper , each paragraph should focus on a single idea. By stating the main idea in the topic sentence, you clarify what the paragraph is about for both yourself and your reader.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

• Ask a question about your topic .
• Write your initial answer.
• Develop your answer by including reasons.
• Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

• In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
• In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
• In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

In rhetorical analysis , a claim is something the author wants the audience to believe. A support is the evidence or appeal they use to convince the reader to believe the claim. A warrant is the (often implicit) assumption that links the support with the claim.

Logos appeals to the audience’s reason, building up logical arguments . Ethos appeals to the speaker’s status or authority, making the audience more likely to trust them. Pathos appeals to the emotions, trying to make the audience feel angry or sympathetic, for example.

Collectively, these three appeals are sometimes called the rhetorical triangle . They are central to rhetorical analysis , though a piece of rhetoric might not necessarily use all of them.

The term “text” in a rhetorical analysis essay refers to whatever object you’re analyzing. It’s frequently a piece of writing or a speech, but it doesn’t have to be. For example, you could also treat an advertisement or political cartoon as a text.

The goal of a rhetorical analysis is to explain the effect a piece of writing or oratory has on its audience, how successful it is, and the devices and appeals it uses to achieve its goals.

Unlike a standard argumentative essay , it’s less about taking a position on the arguments presented, and more about exploring how they are constructed.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor.

When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.

You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay outline before you start writing your essay . Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly.

Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an essay outline is an important part of the writing process . It’s a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but it’s important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isn’t really any connection between them to justify the comparison.

You’ll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.

Some essay prompts include the keywords “compare” and/or “contrast.” In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.

Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

If you’re not given a specific prompt for your descriptive essay , think about places and objects you know well, that you can think of interesting ways to describe, or that have strong personal significance for you.

The best kind of object for a descriptive essay is one specific enough that you can describe its particular features in detail—don’t choose something too vague or general.

If you’re not given much guidance on what your narrative essay should be about, consider the context and scope of the assignment. What kind of story is relevant, interesting, and possible to tell within the word count?

The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to reflect on a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

Don’t worry too much if your topic seems unoriginal. The point of a narrative essay is how you tell the story and the point you make with it, not the subject of the story itself.

Narrative essays are usually assigned as writing exercises at high school or in university composition classes. They may also form part of a university application.

When you are prompted to tell a story about your own life or experiences, a narrative essay is usually the right response.

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

An expository essay is a common assignment in high-school and university composition classes. It might be assigned as coursework, in class, or as part of an exam.

Sometimes you might not be told explicitly to write an expository essay. Look out for prompts containing keywords like “explain” and “define.” An expository essay is usually the right response to these prompts.

An expository essay is a broad form that varies in length according to the scope of the assignment.

Expository essays are often assigned as a writing exercise or as part of an exam, in which case a five-paragraph essay of around 800 words may be appropriate.

You’ll usually be given guidelines regarding length; if you’re not sure, ask.

Ask our team

Want to contact us directly? No problem.  We  are always here for you.

• Email [email protected]
• Start live chat
• Call +1 (510) 822-8066
• WhatsApp +31 20 261 6040

Our team helps students graduate by offering:

• A world-class citation generator
• Plagiarism Checker software powered by Turnitin
• Innovative Citation Checker software
• Professional proofreading services
• Over 300 helpful articles about academic writing, citing sources, plagiarism, and more

Scribbr specializes in editing study-related documents . We proofread:

• PhD dissertations
• Research proposals
• Personal statements
• Admission essays
• Motivation letters
• Reflection papers
• Journal articles
• Capstone projects

Scribbr’s Plagiarism Checker is powered by elements of Turnitin’s Similarity Checker , namely the plagiarism detection software and the Internet Archive and Premium Scholarly Publications content databases .

The add-on AI detector is powered by Scribbr’s proprietary software.

The Scribbr Citation Generator is developed using the open-source Citation Style Language (CSL) project and Frank Bennett’s citeproc-js . It’s the same technology used by dozens of other popular citation tools, including Mendeley and Zotero.

You can find all the citation styles and locales used in the Scribbr Citation Generator in our publicly accessible repository on Github .

Differences Between A Persuasive Essay & An Expository Essay

Table of Contents

Understanding the differences before writing.

When teachers assign essays to students, they must understand the differences between different types of essays. These essays indeed share many characteristics, but certain exclusive things make them what they are.

Understanding the differences before writing can help students set up a specific course and pace for their essays. Otherwise, they will have to go through various rounds of course correction and editing before they can even complete the first draft.

What Is A Persuasive Essay?

A persuasive essay, as the name suggests, is at the heart of convincing and influencing readers. A simple but comprehensive definition of a persuasive essay is that it is the kind of essay where a writer uses logic and reasoning to convince readers of his point of view. 

The subject or point to which he needs to persuade the readers can vary, from political to economic to social and sociological issues. The language of this is often objective but writers can employ signature prose to add further dramatic elements to their writing.

One thing that differentiates a persuasive essay from an expository essay is that writers can express their opinions and comment on issues. But this is not it. They need to provide evidence to prove that their findings are well-grounded.

Reliance On Reasoning And Logic

Narrative essays rely on the power of story-telling; descriptive essays rely on figurative language and sensory details. Compared to these, a persuasive essay relies on reasoning and logic. It means that writers can make a stance based on their personal experience and biases, but they need to provide empirical evidence through references from credible sources, quotes from experts, and so on. Persuasive essays are also called argumentative essays because the writer put forward an argument and then provides supporting materials to further strengthen it. This is another thing that sets them apart from expository essays where writers can only provide actionable information in objective language and unbiased tone and voice.

Steps In Writing A Persuasive Essay

A persuasive essay is composed of both impassioned arguments and personal opinions. What sets it apart from a truly subjective piece of writing is its reliance on reasoning and logic to get to the readers. It is perhaps one of the many types of essays where readers and their level of understanding matter even before getting started.

This section will cover the process of writing a quality persuasive essay.

Understanding Readers’ Persona

Just like writing for a brand or any audience to convince them about a product or service, a persuasive essay writer needs to understand his readers’ persona before getting started. In schools and colleges, the readers are instructors and professors with extensive knowledge and experience who will evaluate the essays. This automatically raises the bar for everyone because they need to produce the finest work.

Highlighting Your Stance Early On

Also called an argumentative essay, writers should clear their position regarding an argument early on. It means there is no need to mince words or start with a long shot. Writers should get to the brass tacks from the introduction and clear their position to the readers. This will help them in understanding the whole essay. All sections should be written with the intent to convince readers.

Drawing A Roadmap – From Start To Finish

Like outlining, a roadmap identifies the major milestones in the journey before a writer reaches them. This starts with research and collecting necessary information and then connects with the main arguments and opinions of the essay. It is best to outline as extensively as possible because it will keep the direction true and make sure there are no bottlenecks in the process of writing.

Supporting Arguments And Opinions With Evidence

This is common between expository and persuasive essays in that they are both grounded in evidence and proof. Since the whole text of expository essays is baked in objective views and impersonal statements, the contents of persuasive essays can be passionate and personal. But they need anchors in the form of evidence and references from credible sources. Otherwise, the whole essay will fall flat and could not get to the readers.

What Is An Expository Essay?

An expository essay is a type of essay where writers provide factual information to the readers through arguments and evidence. Compared to narrative and descriptive essays, expository essays are considered complicated because writers cannot rely on memory and personal narrative.

An expository essay is similar to manuals and how-to articles where readers receive actionable knowledge to reach a predictable conclusion. There are different types of expository essays that writers can employ to get their points across. These include definition essays, classification essays, compare and contrast essays, as well as cause and effect essays.

The structure and formatting of an expository essay are similar to conventional essays, with three major sections covering all the bases.

Conveying Factual Information Objectively

Writers need to provide factual information to the readers through expository essays. The introduction starts with a logical hook to lure the readers in. Then, comes the main body where writers can put forward postulates and support them with empirical evidence and proofs.

One of the major mistakes that students make while writing an expository essay is to add personal opinions and commentary to the text. This is admissible in a persuasive essay but not in an expository one. Also, a subjective language with sensory experience or figurative language is not suitable for expository essays.

It should be just facts, backed by credible sources to help readers reach a predictable conclusion.

Steps In Writing An Expository Essay

Research and outline is the first step in writing an expository essay. There is no way they can wing it and make it up as they go. The best way to cover these is by researching and outlining at the same time. This will determine the heading, depth, and scope of the topic for the writers. This is necessary for persuasive essays also, but it is a must-have for expository essays.

A hook is a statement that can attract readers and grab their attention toward the essay. It is introduced at the very beginning of the essay. It can be a statement with bold claims or shocking facts, a question to the readers, or a statistic that can provide context to the topic or thesis of the essay. Since the introduction is the most important section of the essay, this should be composed with great care.

A thesis statement is the compact form of the theme and main idea of the topic. All the sections and elements of an essay exist to justify the existence of the thesis statement. Mostly, it is a single bold and brief statement, but exceptions can be made, depending on the word count and scope of the essay. No matter the length of the thesis statement, it should come at the end of the introduction.

This makes the bulk of the expository essays because this is where all the magic happens. The introduction provides context and hooks to this, whereas a conclusion summarizes the main points discussed in this section. Writers should aim for objective and unbiased information free from any commentary or speculation. Each paragraph should be allotted to a single argument with supporting evidence and proof. This will help readers to follow the information through.

The conclusion is often the last part that readers go through in the essay. It is also the section that can make the difference for them in terms of keeping the details. The purpose of writing a conclusion is to summarize the main ideas from the body of the essay and reproduce them in a compact form. This does not mean that conclusion does not add any value to the essay. It does, but it is subtle.

After completing the first draft, it is best to let the manuscript be and come back to it with fresh eyes and perspective. The best way to proofread and edit the draft is by dividing the main items, including grammar, punctuation, syntax, context, etc. Students can also take advantage of online tools such as Grammarly and Hemingway Editor to tighten their prose. The end product should reflect the best quality in expository essay writing.

Can I provide my opinion in a persuasive essay?

Yes, you can. A persuasive essay is about giving your opinion and then persuading the readers through evidence, proof, and so on. On the other hand, expository essays are about providing factual information to the readers with no room for suggestions and comments.

Is there any room for emotions and sentimentality in expository essays?

Expository essays are about conveying factual information to the readers in objective language with an unbiased tone and voice. There is no room for sentimentality and subjectivity in expository essays.

What are the major sections in persuasive and expository essays?

The following are three main sections that are common in both expository and persuasive essays:

• Introduction/ opening
• Conclusion/ Closing

How can I make the word count for college essays?

College essays have a set word count. In most cases, it is around 1250 to 1500 words. For students who struggle with making the word count, it is best to take a look at the essay and expand the ideas and arguments that are central to the premise. This way, it will not only make the word count but strengthen the narrative.

Why is it necessary to research before writing a persuasive or expository essay?

When it comes to writing expository and persuasive essays, it is necessary to go through the research and collect all the necessary information. This will help writers compose their arguments around empirical evidence. Since there is no place for personal opinions in expository essays, writers should go through this phase before moving forward.

What is the importance of editing and proofreading in essay writing?

Editing and proofreading are important parts of essay writing. First drafts, no matter how much care and attention has gone under them, have inconsistencies and errors. That’s why writers should set time to go through the proofreading and editing phase before submitting the essay.

Writing Exceptional Essays For Exceptional Scores

In schools and colleges, students’ research and writing skills are gauged through expository and persuasive essay writing . Whether it is about understanding the mechanics of essay writing or learning about the differences between various essay types, students must go through them as soon as possible.

This blog post was dedicated to knowing what are expository and persuasive essays, how they are both written, through which we have learned about their key differences.

We hope that students will find this resource helpful in understanding the nature of their assignments before sitting down to write. This will help them save time and effort.

Free Features For You

Related articles.

How To Write A Short Essay Read More »

How To Write a Informative Essay Read More »

How Many Words is a Perfect Essay? Read More »

How Are a Persuasive Essay and an Expository Essay Different?

There are many different approaches to essay categorization. Hence, there is no single view on how many essay types exist. According to the simplest and most common classification, there are narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive essays. In this article, we are going to explain what is unique about the last two essay types and highlight the main differences between them. 

What is an Expository Essay?

An expository essay is one of the most common forms of writing tasks given to students. Simply put, ‘expository’ means intended to explain or describe something. Expository is the synonym to explanatory, so obviously, an expository essay is aimed at explaining a particular idea. 

This type of writing doesn’t require you to take a position on an issue so that the reader knows which side you’re on. Instead, you should introduce data, facts, and statistics on a topic and present the information in an unbiased manner.

The main goal of an expository essay is to prove your knowledge and deep understanding of a problem. That’s the reason why such tasks are very common at the university level. 

Tips to Write an Expository Essay

• Get reliable information from assigned readings and your lecture notes to demonstrate that you have profound knowledge.
• Analyze ideas to offer two sides of an argument and compare them. Resort to different critical thinking strategies like Venn diagrams or pros and cons lists to evaluate the topic. 
• Avoid using dictionary definitions. Try to use scholarly ones instead. You can find them in textbooks or journal articles. It would be great to compare multiple definitions of a term or topic if they exist.
• Don’t use the first-person language as well as don’t take a stance on the issue in order to stay objective. Remember that your goal is to provide the information, not to convince. 

Types of Expository Essays:

• Classification
• Cause and effect
• Problem and solution
• Comparative

What is a Persuasive Essay?

A persuasive essay requires you to take a particular position on an issue. Its aim is to convince the reader to accept your arguments and agree with your point of view. 

Using logic and reasoning is essential for this type of academic writing. It is necessary to show that your opinion is more legitimate than any other. A persuasive essay requires presenting clear arguments and convincing facts. 

This type of writing always starts with a thesis statement, which is the argument or the point you are trying to make. In general, you need to describe the problem in your introduction and explain to the readers why they should care about it. Then, mention the counterargument and do your best to present it fairly. Include the main objections to it in order to refute the argument opposite to yours. After that, you can move to the body of your essay that consists of paragraphs supporting your thesis with evidence. A persuasive essay must be finished with a conclusion summarizing the main points and restating the thesis.

Tips to Write a Persuasive Essay

• Don’t be prejudiced while expressing your point of view. The fact that you need to take a position doesn’t allow you to be biased or narrow-mindedly convinced by only one side. On the contrary, you need to show the reader that you have taken an open-minded look at the problem. Weigh up the evidence on both sides of an issue and draw your conclusions based on objective information.
• Go deep into the topic and compare a few ideas to make a value judgment. Brainstorm different perspectives and contrast them, so you can demonstrate your profound understanding of the problem and sound more persuasive. 

A key element of any persuasive essay is rhetoric. Its forms include the following: ethos, pathos, and logos. Let’s have a closer look at each of them. 

• Ethos. This type of rhetoric means that you are trying to convince the reader in your point of view by proving your expertise on the subject. 
• Pathos. If you are appealing to emotions in order to persuade someone, it means you’re using pathos. 
• Logos. Giving specific fact-based reasons and supporting them with details means that you resort to logos. 

What’s the Difference Between Persuasive and Expository Essays?

Now that you know the definitions of these essay types, let’s summarize the key differences and similarities between them.

• Value judgments. It is allowed to make value judgments in a persuasive essay, while you cannot do it in expository writing. 
• Personal pronounces. A persuasive essay sometimes allows using First Person Language, while it’s forbidden in an expository one. You should use Third Person Language only. 
• Expressing opinion. The aim of a persuasive essay is to prove to the reader that the author’s personal position on the issue is right, while it doesn’t have to be done in an expository essay.
• Depth of research. Both types of writing require profound research on the issue in order to present multiple perspectives on the subject. In contrast with expository writing, one needs to take a position on the most viable perspective in a persuasive essay. 
• Referencing. Both forms of essay require the writer to add references in order to back up all points. 
• Structure. An expository essay as well as a persuasive one consist of an introduction, body, and conclusion. Any of them shouldn’t include subheadings. 

Final Thoughts 

As you may see, there are similarities in the structure, referencing, and approach to research in both types of essays. They have to provide in-depth information on the topic as well as consist of an introduction, body, and conclusion backed up by credible references. However, the major difference between them is that the persuasive essay goes one step further and lets the writer take a personal position on the problem after presenting the key information.

Argumentative Essay vs. Expository Essay

What's the difference.

Argumentative essays and expository essays are both types of academic writing that aim to inform and persuade the reader. However, they differ in their purpose and approach. An argumentative essay presents a clear and concise argument on a specific topic, supported by evidence and logical reasoning. The writer takes a stance and attempts to convince the reader to agree with their viewpoint. On the other hand, an expository essay provides a balanced and objective analysis of a topic, presenting facts and information without personal bias. The goal is to educate the reader and enhance their understanding of the subject matter. While both essays require research and critical thinking, the argumentative essay is more focused on presenting a strong argument, while the expository essay is more focused on providing information.

Further Detail

Introduction.

When it comes to academic writing, two common types of essays that students often encounter are argumentative essays and expository essays. While both essays serve different purposes and require distinct approaches, they share some similarities as well. In this article, we will explore the attributes of argumentative essays and expository essays, highlighting their differences and similarities.

Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay aims to present a well-reasoned argument on a specific topic. The primary goal of this type of essay is to persuade the reader to adopt the writer's point of view or take a particular action. In an argumentative essay, the writer must provide evidence, logical reasoning, and counterarguments to support their claim.

One of the key attributes of an argumentative essay is the presence of a clear thesis statement. The thesis statement presents the main argument or position that the writer will defend throughout the essay. It serves as a roadmap for the reader, guiding them through the writer's line of reasoning.

Additionally, argumentative essays often include a strong introduction that grabs the reader's attention and provides background information on the topic. The body paragraphs present the main arguments, supported by evidence and analysis. These arguments are usually structured in a logical and coherent manner, with each paragraph focusing on a specific point. Finally, the essay concludes by summarizing the main arguments and restating the thesis statement.

Furthermore, argumentative essays require the writer to anticipate and address counterarguments. By acknowledging opposing viewpoints and refuting them with evidence, the writer strengthens their own argument and demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the topic. This aspect of argumentative essays distinguishes them from other types of essays, as it encourages critical thinking and the ability to consider multiple perspectives.

Expository Essay

An expository essay, on the other hand, aims to explain or describe a particular topic in a clear and concise manner. Unlike argumentative essays, expository essays do not require the writer to take a stance or persuade the reader. Instead, they focus on providing information, analyzing a concept, or exploring a specific subject.

One of the key attributes of an expository essay is its informative nature. The writer must present factual information, statistics, examples, or expert opinions to support their analysis. The essay should be well-researched and rely on credible sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Similar to argumentative essays, expository essays also have a clear and concise thesis statement. However, the thesis statement in an expository essay does not present an argument but rather states the main idea or purpose of the essay. It serves as a guide for the reader, informing them about the topic that will be explored in the subsequent paragraphs.

Moreover, expository essays often follow a logical structure, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect or subtopic related to the main idea. The body paragraphs provide detailed explanations, examples, or evidence to support the thesis statement. The essay concludes by summarizing the main points and restating the thesis statement, reinforcing the overall message of the essay.

Furthermore, expository essays may include different types of organizational patterns, such as cause and effect, compare and contrast, or problem and solution. These patterns help to structure the information and make it easier for the reader to understand the topic being discussed.

Similarities

While argumentative essays and expository essays have distinct purposes and approaches, they also share some similarities. Both types of essays require a clear thesis statement that presents the main idea or argument of the essay. Additionally, both essays should be well-structured, with each paragraph focusing on a specific point and providing evidence or analysis to support it.

Moreover, both argumentative essays and expository essays require the use of reliable sources to support the claims made. Whether it is statistical data, expert opinions, or examples, the information presented in both types of essays should be accurate and credible.

Furthermore, both types of essays benefit from a strong introduction that engages the reader and provides context for the topic. The introduction should clearly state the purpose of the essay and grab the reader's attention, setting the stage for the subsequent paragraphs.

Lastly, both argumentative essays and expository essays require a well-crafted conclusion that summarizes the main points and reinforces the thesis statement. The conclusion should leave a lasting impression on the reader and provide a sense of closure to the essay.

In conclusion, argumentative essays and expository essays serve different purposes in academic writing. While argumentative essays aim to persuade the reader and present a well-reasoned argument, expository essays focus on providing information and analyzing a specific topic. Despite their differences, both types of essays require a clear thesis statement, a logical structure, and the use of reliable sources. By understanding the attributes of argumentative essays and expository essays, students can effectively approach these essay types and excel in their academic writing.

Comparisons may contain inaccurate information about people, places, or facts. Please report any issues.

• Testimonials
• Free essays

Expository & Persuasive, Analytical & Argumentative Essays

Essay type #1. Expository

What is an expository essay.

This type of essays explains a topic, theme, or idea. When writing an expository essay, imagine that you are explaining your topic to the target audience. You can choose to write an expository essay if you need to discuss any topic, from your reaction to a movie or a book to explaining how something works. This type of an essay is also the best choice when you need to give a reaction to a recent event, such as political debate, football match, or ecological issue.

What Are the Criteria of a Good Expository Essay?

Regardless of the type of the essay, you need to attract the reader’s attention. To achieve this, follow these rules:

• Include a clear thesis statement. In the introductory paragraph, be sure to include a thesis statement/research question/description of the purpose, etc. Having informed the reader about the purpose of the essay, do not digress;
• Your essay should contain ample evidence to support your claim. This means referencing relevant research, including good examples, facts, and statistics. However, remember to properly incorporate the evidence into the body of the paper. Be sure to illustrate your point succinctly.
• Make sure your essay is concise. Repetitions, vague statements, and lack of clarity will never work to your advantage. Try to be as clear as possible and do not leave the readers guessing.

Expository Essay Sample

Are cell phones dangerous, introduction.

Nowadays, almost every household in the world has a cell phone device. The number of mobile users keeps growing every day, and it revolutionizes the way people interact. Cell phones are a common feature among all age groups. The dynamics of the role that the mobile device plays may vary from one age group to another depending on the preferences of the various groups. Today, the cell phone is an integral feature in the lives of people. The discussion as to whether or not cellular devices are dangerous is dependent on how users use the device.

The potential usefulness of cell phones far outweighs the potential dangers. The invention of any piece of technology including the mobile phone is to improve the quality of life of the end user. The technologies may pose potential dangers; however, the intent at the innovation level is to benefit the user rather than harm the user. There are numerous reasons for arguing that cell phones are useful rather than dangerous. Below are some of the arguments why cell phones are beneficial to the users. First, communication is the primary function for which manufacturers create cell phones. Cell phones ensure ease and convenience of communication among people across the world. Call services and messaging services provide constant interaction between people. Moreover, smartphones have video call applications that further sophisticate the way people communicate. During emergencies, cell phones come in handy as people can use them to call for help ensuring a timely response to a distress. Long distance communication that was problematic a few decades ago has seen a tremendous improvement in the cell phone era. Second, cell phones enable people to have broad access to information through the internet. Today cell phones are equivalent to mini personal computers. Learners are increasingly using the internet to gain access to all kinds of information to conduct academic research. Educators are increasingly incorporating the use of mobile devices and other forms of technology to support the learning process. Internet connection on smartphones means that cell phone users can access information from books, newspapers, websites, and journals with just a click. Access to information on a mobile device is not only convenient but also cost effective. Sharing information is also easy using email services, messaging applications, and social media. Third, the cell phone is growing in popularity as a tool for entertainment. The entertainment feature of mobile devices is prevalent among the younger generation. Youthful mobile device consumers prefer devices that offer multiple entertainment options. The most popular entertainment options include video players, cameras, music players, social media interaction, and games. The versatility of the cell phone ensures that users can use it for multiple functions. Fourth, the mobile device also has other additional features that make it useful on a day to day basis. The massive adoption of e-commerce has made mobile devices an important tool for transaction. The user can conveniently shop for goods online without stepping into a physical store. The daily schedules that people have today make it necessary for marketers and businesses to offer a convenient mode of purchasing products from the comfort of one's home. Users have the option of using mobile and wireless money transfer services from their mobile phones. The conference call feature available on most smartphones enables to conduct business meetings with partners in different locations in a cost efficient and convenient manner. Partners do not need to travel to a specific place for the meeting as they can hold meetings via mobile devices. Both consumers and businesses appreciate the usefulness of mobile devices in the conduct of business. Mobile technology like any other technology that has benefits has its' limitations. The potential dangers arising from the use of cell phones are created by the human beings. The elimination of such threats is easy; however, the casual manner in which mobile users approach the issues makes it difficult to win the battle. The dangers of cell phones in today's society are as follows. First, the society is slowly losing personal interaction making people anti-social. Socialization involving real interaction is drastically reducing as mobile device use gains popularity. Social media platforms and messaging applications are taking over the overall interaction between people. Messaging and communicating via social media is not wrong; however, it could make people distant by eliminating one-on-one interaction. The lack of personal connection resulting from cell phone use may break friendships and close family ties. The second danger of cell phones is that they are a major source of distraction at work, when driving, at school, and at home. Mobile phone distractions account for a large percent of all traffic accidents in the world. While driving, a person may get distracted by a text or call making them lose control causing an accident that could be fatal. Drivers can avoid such accidents by avoiding the use of cell phones while driving. At work and at school cell phones are nuisances resulting in time wastage, hence, poor performance at school and work. The constant interruption by the phone calls, messages, and social media divert attention from studies or work making it difficult to fulfill school or workplace requirement. Third, while it appears extremely convenient to have personal information on a mobile device, there is a potential danger due to security and privacy breaches. Compromising of personal information may be damaging especially because some malicious people use the information to blackmail and extort victims. Some people leak other people's personal information on the internet causing them public humiliation and bullying. In some instances, victims of public shaming more often than not commit suicide to avoid the public humiliation. Criminals use stolen bank account information to steal from unsuspecting victims. People use various security features such as passwords to ensure the security of their devices. The security features are at times not enough to stop hackers from remotely accessing personal information from people's devices. The fourth potential danger of cell phone is that it exposes teenagers and children to inappropriate information such as pornography. Children can quickly access inappropriate information on the Internet. The information is toxic to young minds and could lead to inappropriate behavior and pornography addiction. Failure of parents and guardians to control the content their children access online could be potentially dangerous. Children may learn an inappropriate and disrespectful language online. The internet is also an avenue for bullying. Bullying is a major problem among teenagers that often results in suicide, low self-esteem, and dropping out of school. Parents should be keen on the online activities their children engage in to ensure that they are not perpetrators or victims of bullying. Timely intervention could help save lives.

The issue of whether or not the cell phone is dangerous varies from one user to another. If mobile phone users choose to use devices for the right purpose, the device is beneficial. However, if users want to use gadgets for evil things such as bullying, and fraud the device is seen to be dangerous. The purpose of technology is to improve the lives of end users by offering convenience and an easy way of doing things. Users can only realize the benefits of the innovative and ever improving cell phone technology if they use it appropriately.

Essay type #2. Persuasive

What is a persuasive essay.

  In this kind of essay, the author aims at convincing the reader to accept his or her point of view. To make an essay persuasive, your argument and its premises have to be strong. If you want to convince the reader, you have to present a reasonable rationale.

What Are the Criteria of a Good Persuasive Essay?

• The point of view has to be expressed clearly.
• The content has to be interesting for the readers.
• Support your claims with solid evidence and careful reasoning.
• Know your target reader. What can convince them?
• Be sure to conduct a thorough research before trying to persuade your reader.
• Beware of emotional language. Being too passionate about your topic, you might easily lose your audience.
• Avoid repetitions.
• Show respect of the reader by choosing appropriate language.
• Do not ignore the rules of writing a good essay. Remember that all paragraphs have to be structured well. Discuss only one topic in one paragraph and add the transition to make the writing coherent.
• Do not forget to write a strong concluding paragraph.

Persuasive Essay Sample

It is the desire of every human being to have the body systems functioning harmoniously in order to enjoy life and live it to the fullest. Good health is a priority to everyone, but how often do we make efforts to eliminate undesirable and unhealthy lifestyle habits that often leave our bodies unfit to function at the optimum? Indeed, most people understand that regular exercise is very important. Engaging in regular exercise not only improves our health holistically but also shapes our bodies and boosts our performance making one feel upbeat. The exercise entails any type of physical exertion, a jog in the morning, brisk walking, skipping rope, a swimming session or attending an aerobic dance are just but some forms of exercise. Apart from the compelling health benefits of exercise, it is also fun. Most of the diseases and conditions affecting people today are directly related to sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, obesity, heart diseases, cancer, and other diseases can be avoided through regular exercise. This one of the major benefits of regular exercise. Our bodies are made to move, but with the technological advancement permeating our lives, it is easier to use the lift rather than climb the stairs just as it is to drive to work rather walk even if it is just a few kilometers. This inactivity is a great health risk affecting most of the population. “Use it or lose it”, this is an expression that evidences the truth about our bodies. If you do not use your body, you are likely to lose it. The efficient functioning of our hearts, lungs, joints and the brain can only be realized through regular exercise. In addition, inactive lifestyle coupled with feeding on junk food has resulted in many health problems in our society today. They include obesity especially in young children which predisposes them to other diseases such as high blood pressure and heart diseases. Exercise is a remedy to these lifestyle issues. We all desire to look and feel better about ourselves, having well toned muscles and even that good posture. Exercise is no doubt the solution; it strengthens and tones our bodies. This in turn is a great boost to our self-esteem and self-confidence. Exercise develops our muscles, bones and the ligaments improving our strength and endurance levels. It also makes our bodies more efficient in the way they function, for instance, less energy will be utilized due to improved stamina. Flexibility or having joint full range of movement is yet another vital benefit of exercise. In fact, most tasks require flexibility in our daily chores, the ability to move our legs and arms from one place to the other cannot be underestimated. Many undesirable features that characterize old age can be eliminated through regular exercise. Exercise slows the aging process keeping one looking and feeling much younger in the entire life. It reduces depression often associated with old age and keeps the body systems strong, functional and in good shape. The loss of balance and coordination in old age is also improved. Exercise has been proven to release the hormone endorphin, which lowers stress, and anxiety that in turn improves the mental well-being. Precisely, life can never be better without exercise and it is hard to manage without it. The rewarding benefits in terms of good health are incredible. Regular exercise is key to holistic health mentally, socially, physically and emotionally. In addition, exercise improves the quality of life, reduces stress and boosts our moods leaving us feeling happier and satisfied in our lives.

Essay type #3. Analytical

What is an analytical essay.

An essay in which you analyze, investigate, and interpret a topic is called analytical. You can choose this type of an essay when analyzing books, important events, artworks, or abstract phenomena.

What Are the Criteria of a Good Analytical Essay?

To write a successful essay, be sure to do the following:

• Introduce the argument

The introductory paragraph is very important because it tells the readers what they are going to read about. Just vaguely naming the book/work of art/issue, etc. that you will analyze is not enough. Remember that every topic can have numerous interpretations, so it is necessary to make a clear thesis statement. The focus of the essay has to be as narrow as possible.

• Analyze the subject

Having stated the problem, say what your argument is. Only after that can you start analyzing the subject. For example, when analyzing a text, describe the stylistic devices the author employs to convey his/her ideas. In other words, you have to explore how exactly the author conveys his/her ideas. Remember to support your claims with text evidence, i.e. quotes, passages from the text, etc. This will make your discussion stronger.

• Provide your reaction

This means you have to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the subject matter by including your personal response to what you are writing about. However, this does not mean your response must always be positive. For instance, if you are analyzing a text which was supposed to be persuasive but failed to fulfill its purpose, do not hesitate to say the truth. Just remember your tone has to be critical, so be sure to explain why your reaction is negative or positive. Draw on evidence from the text to illustrate your claims. In addition, your reaction has to be seen throughout the whole essay, not just in the conclusion.

• Provide a conclusion

In the last paragraph, make a conclusion about how the analysis is related to your argument.

Analytical Essay Sample

In the 18th century, the Chinese became the first Asians to settle in the United States. As a result, the rate of immigration increased in the 19th century. This was because of the Gold Rush. The first immigrants were rich Chinese who had the aim to run the business. They received a warm welcome by the Americans because they were considered to be extremely hard-working. Some also moved in order to look for jobs in hotels or industries. There was also overpopulation in China and, so there was a need to look for new settlement. However, the Chinese population started to decrease when the American government made laws chasing the Asians out of their land. Among them was the Chinese Exclusion Act. Many Chinese started to return home and this also reduced the population. This essay is aimed at analyzing the challenges encountered by two persons as their families immigrated to the United States. This is achieved by discussing the similarities and differences of their families’ background during the time of the migration. The essay also gives the overall impact of Asians immigration on the economy of the United States. Both Guo and Liu had a Chinese origin. Philip Guo was born in Taiwan, a town in China, and Eric Liu was born in New York in the United States. Their migration to the United States was due to domestic reasons. In spite of having the same originality, Guo and Liu faced challenges as they were brought up. Some of these challenges were similar and others different. One of the similarities in their family background was the way they were brought up. In the case of Guo, he was left by his parents when he was just eleven months old. His mother left for the United States to further her studies, and later the father left for Switzerland for business matters. During this time, the young boy was left under the care of the extended family. In this, his grandmother played a significant role. The parents later came together after five years, at the time when Guo had lost the parent-child relationship. In the case of Liu, his father passed away when the boy was young. Therefore, the mother had to spend more time in looking for ways to meet the family's needs. This resulted in him being left with some other people. The other similar challenge was the migration and settlement. For example, at the age of twelve, Guo had stayed in three different continents, six cities, and had attended seven different schools which had different systems of education. This implied that coping with the new environment was a problem and getting along with a new way of living was a challenge. Even after that, he moved to the United States with his family. At that time he was seven and was left with another family when the father went for work. The better part of Liu’s life was that he was born in the United States. Therefore, he did not suffer the problem of settlement much. However, his mother moved from one place to another within the United States to get a way of earning a living. This was also inconvenience to some extent. However, their settlement was favored because the Chinese Exclusion Act was appealed in 1943. Also, the 1964 Immigration and Nationality Act had removed all the barriers to immigration. Racism was also a considerable challenge to Liu and Guo. It was a time when the Asian American legend and myth were on the ground. In any matter, concerning either social or political, one’s race was a main consideration. In one time, Liu wanted to dismiss the myth, but he ended up in frustration when tried to get into a relationship with the white girls. The basis for identity was ethnicity, social class, and gender. So, Liu was against this form of identification. Guo says that, even if he was a Chinese, he felt different from the other Chinese in the streets of the China towns. This suggests that different levels of classes had a different degree of respect. Guo viewed that his communication in English was fluent and his parents were well-educated with graduate level degrees. Liu and Guo were also the victims of the violation of Asians’ rights. It was claimed that the Asians undermined the rights of non-Asians. Thereby, the United States concluded that the Asians were possibly going to violate the rights of the Americans. As the matter of fact, the Asian tribes were looked down upon, and it was viewed that they should not have any government powers. This is caused by the failure to understand the Asian culture. These social fights can only be stopped if the level of understanding among various cultural groups is enhanced. However, there were some differences in the family background and settlement of Liu and Guo. For instance, at a younger age, Guo was treated like a king in the extended family. This was because he was the first-born son. At the time of his birth, a male child was more valued than a female child. It was also a time when the Chinese government had implemented a one-child family to regulate the population of China which was increasing rapidly. This had resulted in the rise in abortion cases, if in any case, a fetus was suspected to be a female. The government also issued a birth permit. The permits were applied per year, and the list of the families which were supposed to conceive in a year was displayed. If a family failed to conceive in their schedule, then it had to reapply, and it was not a guarantee to get the permit. Therefore, it was a privilege to get a permit and conceive and more so to give birth to a boy. Consequently, the male population exceeded that of female at a range. This made the government ban the checking of the fetus’ sex. In the case of Liu, it seems that he lacked all that care a child deserves. Only the mother was alive and the grandmother took care of him. However, he grew up to be a clever boy, and went as far as Harvard Law School. The other difference is that, at the age of twelve years, Guo was able to communicate in three different languages including Chinese. On the other hand, Liu was unable to read Chinese even if he knew how to communicate. This implies that Guo was brought up by a caring individual who was ready to instruct him from the ground roots. Guo grew up even knowing his background, unlike Liu who was born and raised in the United States. In general, the Asian migration has contributed to the development of the United States. At the mid 19th century, Asian Americans became a part in the entertainment industry. They acquired various roles in acting films. They have also set up businesses like stores, laundries, hotels and have become dominant entrepreneurs. In so doing, they have become rather influential in the American economy. Asian Americans have also acquired top political positions in America. This is due to the increased voting population. They have also been incorporated to the U.S military. However, there were some reactions on the immigration of Asians. On one side the United States government reacted, and on the other side the common people. The government allowed in all the immigrants before the start of the First World War, provided one had a white skin color. This however, came to change towards the end of the 19th century. Some groups were restricted from going to the United States. For example in 1875, prostitutes, criminals and drug addicts were not allowed to immigrate. It was worse in 1917, when the United States government excluded all Asians from immigrating to America. The common people also started to treat the immigrants with hostility at the end of 19th century.

Essay type #4. Argumentative

What is an argumentative essay.

In an argumentative essay, you have to justify your position on a subject by proving that it is more reasonable than the positions expressed by other people.  As you can see, this type of essays is similar to the persuasive ones except for in argumentative essay, you argue against the positions of the others to defend your own. Instead of simply persuading the reader to accept your opinion, you have to provide strong argumentation.

What Are the Criteria of a Good Argumentative Essay?

• Do not lose focus when providing the arguments.
• Express your argument in a clear thesis statement. Remember that you cannot present an argument in a form of a question.
• Choose to write on topics you understand. Otherwise, it will be hard for you to present strong evidence.
• An effective argumentative essay includes a discussion of both advantages and disadvantages of a certain issue.
• You still have to properly structure your essay. This means discussing only one idea per paragraph and writing good topic sentences.
• Remember to use transitions to make the essay coherent.
• Make sure you know your target reader. What do you have to say to convince them?
• Include only reliable evidence.
• Try to make your essay not only convincing but also interesting.
• Summarize your discussion in a concluding paragraph.

Argumentative Essay Sample

Education is the means that dictates the way people think, feel, and act. An educated person is the person who thinks, acts, and feels according to the expectation of the community. An educated person has the knowledge on the expectations of the community and has the appropriate skills, values, and behaviors. In order for a person to be educated, he or she must undergo the process of learning. Learning is the process in which human beings acquire new or modify existing knowledge, skills, behaviors, and values. Learning involves the synthesis of different, types and pieces of information.A person can gather information needed for the learning process through many ways. To be educated, one can gather information through listening to other educated people, observation, or reading. Among the different ways to acquire knowledge and get educated, reading is the most important. In order for a person to be educated, that person must be a reader. The aim of this essay is to argue the notion that in order for a person to be educated, he or she must be a reader. In order to be educated, a person needs to gather a lot of information from many sources on different issues. An educated person should have the knowledge on most of the fields that affect human life. The fields range from environment, technology, fashion, and other social factors affecting interaction between people. An educated person needs to have the knowledge on the current matters of the world. Most of the information a person needs to be educated is in written mode. To obtain such information one must read different sources like newspapers, web articles, books, journals and many other written materials. To get the information from this many sources, of which many are writing, one must be a reader. There is no education without reading. A person cannot claim to be educated if he or she is not a reader. Reading skill is one of the components of education. If a person does not have the reading skills, then that person can never be educated. A person who cannot do some other small things does not qualify as educated. For example, all new home and office appliances come with written instructions of use, an educated person should be able to read the information and use the appliance in the right manner. Being able to read the instruction simplifies the life of a person. A person who cannot read such instructions does not qualify as educated. Referring to a person who is not a reader as educated is like referring to a vehicle without wheels as a vehicle. The vehicle needs to have wheels to attain all the requirements of being a vehicle. A vehicle without wheels is useless, as it cannot move, in the same way; a person does not attain all the requirements of being educated if he or she is not a reader. A person cannot sustain the education he or she has attained if he is not a reader. Some other people argue that other forms of attaining information are enough to obtain and sustain the knowledge. The people argue that a person can obtain knowledge, and thus be educated, through observation and listening. The people argue that, even in the very old days, when people did not have the ability to read or write there were people who were educated. Whereas it is true that one can obtain knowledge through other ways apart from reading, the ways are not enough. It is also true that in the very old days educated people did not have the reading skill. In the old days, the community needed to interact among themselves, few people with the same methods of life survival. In today’s world, an educated man needs to communicate with people all over the world. There are new things in the world each day, this is the reason the today’s man needs reading skills to be able to cope with the world today. If any person is not up to date with the current issues, then that person do not qualify the requirement of being educated.

In order to be educated, a person must be a reader. Whereas there are many ways to obtain knowledge and become educated, reading is arguably the most important. Some people say that other ways of obtaining knowledge is enough to be educated, but this is not the case considering that most of the information today is in writing form. Therefore, the conclusion is that in order to be educated, someone must be a reader.

for 1st order

for 30+ pages

for 50+ pages

for 100+ pages

The Difference Between Informative Essays and Persuasive Essays

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Informative essay, persuasive essay, the differences between informative and persuasive essays.

In academic writing, there are many types of essays, each of which has its own peculiar structure and purpose. These include, for example, informative and persuasive essays, which both provide information and facts on the given issue. However, there are a number of differences between the two, as their objectives are markedly different.

An informative essay is such type of academic writing that informs the reader about a certain topic. Sometimes, it is also called an expository essay and basically consists in describing or explaining something to readers. The objective of such writing is not in giving an author’s opinion on a particular matter, but simply in providing the facts that are necessary for its understanding. In general, an informative essay might pursue the following goals: to educate the audience about some issue; to present the research on the given topic; to compare and contrast controversial ideas; to reveal cause-effect relationships; to state a problem and provide possible solutions. The typical structure of an informative essay comprises an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. The statements in such an essay must be clear and supported by the reliable sources. Writing an informative essay, the author should always remain neutral and objective, as well as refrain from expressing their personal ideas and arguing in favor of one viewpoint over another.

A persuasive essay, also known as an argumentative essay, explains a certain topic while rationalizing the superiority of one idea over another. In other words, this type of academic writing aims at convincing the audience that the author’s position is the most logical, valid, and justified. In essence, a persuasive essay is a combination of facts and a writer’s personal ideas. In order to prove their point, the author has to conduct a prolific research and find sufficient evidence on the given topic. Typical means of persuasion in such writing are logical reasoning, facts, statistic, examples, and quotes. The basic structure of a persuasive essay includes an introduction with a clear thesis, a few body paragraphs with argumentative points, counterarguments and their rebuttal, and a conclusion that summarizes the paper. Even though an argumentative essay is often subjective, the author’s claims should always be justified and challenged with opposing views on the issue.

Clearly, there are some vital differences between informative and persuasive academic essays. The main difference is that an informative essay only presents information in order to explain a certain issue, while a persuasive essay uses information and facts that support a writer’s personal opinion. The basic structure of a persuasive essay is more complex and strict than that of an informative essay. One more crucial difference is that the opening sentence in informative writing introduces the topic, and in persuasive writing it states an argument. Last but not least, an informative essay should always provide an objective and balanced account of the issue, whereas a persuasive essay tends to be subjective and biased.

Informative and persuasive essays are pieces of academic writing that provide the audience with certain information. However, the purpose of an informative essay is to give an objective picture of an issue, while a persuasive essay aims to incline the reader towards a certain viewpoint. Nevertheless, in both cases, the data is obtained through profound research, and each statement must be supported with sufficient evidence.

• Analyzing Scholarly Writing: Plagiarism and Parahrasing
• Whats Summarizing in Texts
• Informative and Persuasive Speeches
• Has the Internet Positively or Negatively Impacted Human Society? Argumentative Essay
• Pros and Cons of Abortion to the Society Argumentative Essay
• Academic Dishonesty Classification
• Dissertation Writing Challenges
• Dissertation Research: Considering a Relevant Topic
• Researching the Sources for Writings
• Supporting Web-Based Learning in III Structured Domains Using Question Prompts
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2022, January 20). The Difference Between Informative Essays and Persuasive Essays. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-difference-between-informative-essays-and-persuasive-essays/

"The Difference Between Informative Essays and Persuasive Essays." IvyPanda , 20 Jan. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/the-difference-between-informative-essays-and-persuasive-essays/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'The Difference Between Informative Essays and Persuasive Essays'. 20 January.

IvyPanda . 2022. "The Difference Between Informative Essays and Persuasive Essays." January 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-difference-between-informative-essays-and-persuasive-essays/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Difference Between Informative Essays and Persuasive Essays." January 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-difference-between-informative-essays-and-persuasive-essays/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Difference Between Informative Essays and Persuasive Essays." January 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-difference-between-informative-essays-and-persuasive-essays/.

Expository vs. Persuasive — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Expository and Persuasive

Table of contents, key differences, comparison chart, primary purpose, uses of evidence, audience engagement, common forms, compare with definitions, common curiosities, is expository writing only found in educational materials, can persuasive writing use facts and logic, are expository writings devoid of opinions, can a piece of writing be both expository and persuasive, what's the main goal of persuasive texts, share your discovery.

Author Spotlight

Popular Comparisons

Trending Comparisons

New Comparisons

Trending Terms

Difference Between an Expository Essay and a Persuasive Essay

• How it works

What are the Different Types of Persuasive Essays?

Published by Grace Graffin at August 17th, 2021 , Revised On October 9, 2023

If you have been asked by your academic tutor to  write an essay  but are unsure what type of essay you should write, then this article will serve as a guide to help you distinguish between different types of essays.

Academic essays require authors to present their viewpoints and arguments on a range of topics with reasoning and evidence. So, what is a persuasive essay, and what are the different styles of persuasive essay writing?

This article aims to discuss the similarities and differences between the most common types of persuasive essays, including  argumentative ,   expository , discursive, and exegetical.

All these four types of essays can be combined under one essay group: persuasive essays. As the name suggests, persuasive essays are developed to persuade readers to believe the author’s opinions and arguments.

Here is all you need to know if you are unsure about the different types of persuasive essays.

Types of Persuasive Essays, with Definitions

Before you look into the similarities and differences between the different types of persuasive essays, it will be sensible to define these four kinds of essays briefly.

While it is important to recognise the characteristics and features that differentiate the various types of persuasive essays, it is equally important to consider the writer’s role.

Here is a similar article;  How to Write an Essay?

Argumentative Essays

Argumentative essays  give authors and scholars the chance to convince their readers that there is something new in their research area that needs to be considered. This is likely to be a result of collection of data by the author. Argumentative essays are the most popular type of essay at the college and university level.

A well written argumentative essay improves the scholar’s credibility and authority in the respective field of research.

The Purpose of an Argumentative Essay

•  An argumentative essay’s primary purpose is to add value to the existing literature in any given area of study.
•  It involves in-depth research and consideration of the opinions of others.
•  Arguments are backed by evidence.
•  Argumentative essays are generally longer than other types of essays.
•  The author should have implications and recommendations for other academicians in the future; they should be original and clearly positioned in existing debates surrounding the essay topic .

What is the Role of the Author in an Argumentative Essay?

The role of the author in an argumentative essay is significant. Based on a given thesis statement , you will be required to demonstrate that your own personal opinions and viewpoints should be considered a new approach, and focus on how this new approach will add value to the existing literature.

This type of essay should be based on rational thinking, with an objective approach from the author. Logic and evidence should take precedence.

Want to know what essay structure and style will work best for your assignment?

Problem fixed! We can write any type of essay in any referencing style. We ensure every essay written is beyond your expectations.

Expository Essays

This particular type of persuasive essay helps to persuade the readers to believe the conclusions of the author through a  critical evaluation  of the literature material. It should present a balanced and objective argument using readily available material on the topic. The word ‘expository’ is from the word ‘expose’, meaning to lay bare and reveal something. A likely part of your coursework , an expository essay reveals and discusses the evidence around the topic in question.

The Purpose of an Expository Essay

•  All expository essays intend to grab the attention of the readers by presenting a unique discussion about a topic.
•  You will be required to back your reasoning with solid evidence.
•  As an author of an expository essay, you must demonstrate your ability to create an argumentative view and provide the necessary framework.
•  You will be expected to showcase the ability to critically evaluate information.
•  An expository essay must include the reasoning for the readers to accept your view as convincing and conclusive.

What is the Role of the Author in an Expository Essay?

Your role in an expository essay assignment is substantial because you will be expected to convince the readers that they should consider your findings on the topic as the most formidable. This can be achieved through thoroughly critical and independent analysis.

The evidence you present for the argument should not be your own opinions and the essay should not show bias. As the essay progresses, it should become clear that one viewpoint or set of evidence is the more convincing; it should not be achieved through the subjective view of the author. Therefore, you should not use the pronouns ‘I’ or ‘you’.

Stuck on a difficult essay? We can help!

Our Essay Writing Service Features:

• Expert UK Writers
• Plagiarism-free
• Timely Delivery
• Thorough Research
• Rigorous Quality Control

Discursive Essays

Discursive essays are the less common type of academic persuasive essays. They aim to convince the readers that there is another approach to a topic and that it is important to consider all sides of the debate before coming to any conclusion. It does not necessarily look at polarising for-and-against arguments, and there may be several competing, nuanced viewpoints.

If your tutor does not specifically state, “Write a discursive essay”, you can deduce the type of essay you are being asked to write from the thesis statement : It should not take any stance on the argument or ask you to do so. An example of such a thesis statement is this:

“Where some studies show that the use of IT in primary classrooms is beneficial to learning, other studies suggest there is no benefit or that it can be detrimental.”

The Purpose of a Discursive Essay

•  Discursive essays aim to discuss different viewpoints surrounding any given topic. The views presented in discursive essays can be either taken from recognised arguments in existing studies or be the writer’s own.
•  It should present both sides of an argument and then the author’s stance.
•  It should be based on correct logic and interpretation.
•  The author needs to showcase the ability to consider all views fairly and without any bias.

What is the Role of the Author in a Discursive Essay?

Discursive essays do not require the authors to play a significant role in terms of presenting their own views, except that they should clearly differentiate between arguments of other scholars and act as a guide to opposing interpretations. This said, the tone should be formal and balanced without use of the personal pronouns ‘I’ and ‘you’.

The author should be impartial to the various viewpoints. The essay body should develop all sides of the argument equally, providing the same quantity of evidence in support of each. The conclusion should not deliver a definitive answer, it should leave the reader in the position of being able to weigh up the evidence.

The main role of the author in a discursive essay is to present and explore ideas, not to persuade the readers that one idea is best.

Interested in ordering:  Persuasive Essay Writing Service

Exegetical Essay

Exegetical essays help writers persuade their readers to understand a certain concept in a new light – giving the writers the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to understand and interpret challenging topics. This type of essay is frequently used in the examination of religious writings, as many ancient religious texts are interpreted in different ways.

The structure of an exegetical essay is similar to that of other persuasive essays. It has an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion.

The Purpose of an Exegetical Essay

• Exegetical essays aim to provide an exegesis (correct interpretation) of the theories and viewpoints of other authors who have explored a particular topic in the past.
• Appraisal of arguments and theories on the  topic is beyond the scope of this particular type of persuasive essay.
• The essay should provide reasoning, evidence, and logic concerning viewpoints and theories.

What is the Role of the Author in an Exegetical Essay?

The writer plays little to no role in exegetical essays because the aim is to present other authors’ views. The meaning of exegesis is to explain to the readers what the original writer said – to make it clearer and more accessible. It is not to argue, change, or add anything to that original view.

Difference Between Persuasive Essays and Scientific Articles

The most notable difference  between scientific articles and persuasive essays  is that scientific articles and journal papers present the facts as they can be seen by anyone else. In contrast, in persuasive essays, the author’s own opinions are the driving force.

How to Write Persuasive Essays

While there are similarities and differences between different types of persuasive essays, it is important to recognise the fact that the author of a persuasive essay may have to mix these approaches in one essay.

For example, you might have to present a brief exegesis of another author’s viewpoints to support your arguments as part of your own argumentative essay. It is possible to have many such combinations but in general, when working with an argumentative essay you will also need to use one or more of the other three styles: exegetical, discursive, and expository.

While there are four types of persuasive essays, all of them are argumentative in nature. You should not be surprised when you see people refer to all these styles of persuasive essay writing as argumentative essays.

The term “argumentative essay”, loosely speaking, is applicable to all four types of persuasive essays because they all involve an expert presentation of arguments to persuade the audience to believe something.

How ResearchProspect can Help with your Persuasive Essay Assignment

Still confused about what the different types of persuasive essays are? And struggling under the burden of looming deadlines? At ResearchProspect, we have highly qualified essay writers in all academic subjects.

Whether you need help with a persuasive essay or any other type of essay, simply place your order on our website. Our client relationship team will assign a suitable academic to your essay order immediately after your order is confirmed.

Learn More About Our Essay Services Order Your Bespoke Essay Now

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i know what type of essay to write.

Sometimes you will have clear instructions to write a particular type of essay . But on occasion you will have to deduce for yourself what is required by examining the key words in the prompt. The key words used in prompts are suggestive of what is required, but it is not a fixed code. There can be overlap where one key word could mean writing one type of essay or another. If you are unsure, you should seek help to make sure you have the appropriate approach when you start your essay .

Generally, when you see the words ‘assess’ or ‘argue’, you might be required to write an argumentative essay . The words ‘explain’ and ‘explore’, or being asked to ‘compare & contrast’ something suggests that an expository essay is needed. If you are asked to ‘demonstrate’ something, this is likely to require a discursive essay. An exegetical essay could be the requirement when you are asked to ‘clarify’, but the same essay could also be needed if asked to ‘explain’.

What is the most common type of essay required at university?

The most common form of essay at university is an argumentative essay . Argumentative is by no means a fixed and singular type – there are different types of essays under this heading. The large majority of academic writing comprises making arguments around a vast number of topics. There are several other types of essays; working out what you have been asked to write can often be found by examining the essay prompt or asking an expert .

Writing a Persuasive Essay Checklist

You may also like.

You can see the word ‘discursive’ is close to the word ‘discourse’; in short, it means involving discussion. In a discursive essay you explore

Before you totally lose your mind here let’s see whether the broken argument in an essay needs to be dumped or just neatly reworked and fixed.

Having problems with writing a thesis statement for an essay? This article can help you in writing a tremendous essay thesis statement.

USEFUL LINKS

LEARNING RESOURCES

COMPANY DETAILS

• How It Works

5 Expository Essay Examples (Full Text with Citations)

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

Learn about our Editorial Process

• Video Overview
• Quick Example
• Formatting Guide

An expository essay attempts to explain a topic in-depth, demonstrating expert knowledge and understanding.

This form of essay is structured around the clear, factual presentation of information, devoid of the writer’s personal opinions or arguments.

The primary goal is to inform or explain rather than persuade.

Unlike an argumentative essay, which is built around defending a particular point of view with evidence and persuasion, an expository essay maintains a neutral stance, focusing on delivering straightforward facts and explanations.

An example of expository writing could be an article explaining the process of photosynthesis.

The article would systematically describe each stage of how plants convert sunlight into energy, detailing the role of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

It would explain the sequence of reactions – first, second, third, fourth, fifth – that occur and the importance of each step in supporting the life of the plant.

An expository essay generally follows this essay format:

• A) To persuade the reader to adopt a particular viewpoint
• B) To inform or explain a topic clearly
• C) To present the writer’s personal opinions and arguments
• D) To entertain the reader with creative writing
• A) An expository essay uses creative storytelling techniques
• B) An expository essay remains neutral and avoids personal opinions
• C) An expository essay focuses on persuading the reader with evidence
• D) An expository essay prioritizes the writer’s personal experiences

Expository Essay Examples

#1 impacts of technology on education.

955 words | 4 Pages | 15 References

Thesis Statement: “The integration of technology in education represents a complex and critical area of study crucial for understanding and shaping the future of educational practices.”

#2 Impacts of Globalization on Education

1450 words | 5 Pages | 9 References

Thesis Statement: “This essay examines the profound and multifaceted effects of globalization on education, exploring how technological advancements and policy reforms have transformed access to, delivery of, and perceptions of education.”

#3 The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Interpersonal Relationships

1211 Words | 5 Pages | 22 References

Thesis Statement: “The central thesis is that EI, defined as the ability to perceive, understand, and manage emotions, is a crucial determinant of success and well-being.”

#4 The Future of Renewable Energy Sources and Their Impact

870 words | 4 Pages | 20 References

Thesis Statement: “The essay posits that although renewable energy sources hold immense promise for a sustainable future, their full integration into the global energy grid presents significant challenges that must be addressed through technological innovation, economic investment, and policy initiatives.”

#5 The Psychology Behind Consumer Behavior

1053 words | 4 Pages | 17 References

Thesis Statement: “The thesis of this essay is that consumer behavior is not merely a product of rational decision-making; it is deeply rooted in psychological processes, both conscious and subconscious, that drive consumers’ choices and actions.”

How to Write an Expository Essay

Unlike argumentative or persuasive essays, expository essays do not aim to convince the reader of a particular point of view.

Instead, they focus on providing a balanced and thorough explanation of a subject.

Key characteristics of an expository essay include:

• Clarity and Conciseness
• Structured Organization (Introduction, Body, Conclusion)
• Objective Tone
• Evidence-Based (Cite academic sources in every body paragraph)
• Objective thesis statement (see below)
• Informative purpose (Not argumentative)

You can follow my expository essay templates with AI prompts to help guide you through the expository essay writing process:

How to write a Thesis Statement for an Expository Essay

An expository thesis statement doesn’t make an argument or try to persuade. It uses ‘is’ rather than ‘ought’ statements.

Take these comparisons  below. Note how the expository thesis statements don’t prosecute an argument or attempt to persuade, while the argumentative thesis statements clearly take a side on an issue:

💡 AI Prompt for Generating Sample Expository Thesis Statements An expository essay’s thesis statement should be objective rather than argumentative. Write me five broad expository thesis statement ideas on the topic “[TOPIC]”.

Go Deeper: 101 Thesis Statement Examples

Differences Between Expository and Argumentative Essays

Expository and argumentative essays are both common writing styles in academic and professional contexts, but they serve different purposes and follow different structures.

Here are the key differences between them:

• Expository Essay : The primary purpose is to explain, describe, or inform about a topic. It focuses on clarifying a subject or process, providing understanding and insight.
• Argumentative Essay : The goal is to persuade the reader to accept a particular point of view or to take a specific action. It’s about presenting a stance and supporting it with evidence and logic.
• Expository Essay : It maintains a neutral and objective tone. The writer presents information factually and impartially, without expressing personal opinions or biases.
• Argumentative Essay : It often adopts a more assertive, persuasive, and subjective tone. The writer takes a clear position and argues in favor of it, using persuasive language.
• Expository Essay : The reader is expected to gain knowledge, understand a process, or become informed about a topic. There’s no expectation for the reader to agree or disagree.
• Argumentative Essay : The reader is encouraged to consider the writer’s viewpoint, evaluate arguments, and possibly be persuaded to adopt a new perspective or take action.

Go Deeper: Expository vs Argumentative Essays

Ready to Write your Essay?

Take action! Choose one of the following options to start writing your expository essay now:

Read Next: Process Essay Examples

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 25 Number Games for Kids (Free and Easy)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 25 Word Games for Kids (Free and Easy)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 25 Outdoor Games for Kids
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 50 Incentives to Give to Students

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How are a persuasive essay and an expository essay different?

2 answers by expert tutors.

David W. answered • 06/18/15

Experienced Prof

Casey W. answered • 06/17/15

Mathematics (and Science) Instruction by a Mathematician!

Still looking for help? Get the right answer, fast.

Get a free answer to a quick problem. Most questions answered within 4 hours.

Choose an expert and meet online. No packages or subscriptions, pay only for the time you need.

RELATED TOPICS

Recommended tutors.

Colleen Marie R.

Jonathan K.

Gabrielle M.

find an online tutor

• IRS Enrolled Agent tutors
• CAIA tutors
• Algebra 2 tutors
• Chiropractic tutors
• Cosmetology tutors
• Pycharm tutors
• Boolean Algebra tutors

related lessons

• Numbers and Math Operations
• Saturn, Sixth Planet from the Sun
• Origins of Planet Names: A Quick Guide
• Need help with something else? Try one of our lessons.

Home » Language » English Language » Difference Between Argumentative and Expository Essay

Difference Between Argumentative and Expository Essay

Main difference – argumentative vs expository essay.

Argumentative essay and Expository Essay are two types of essays that deal with facts and information. The main difference between Argumentative essay and expository essay is that Argumentative essay is a genre of writing that attempts to convince the reader to accept writer’s point of view while expository essay is a genre of writing that provide information and explanations in a straightforward manner to the readers .

What is an Expository Essay

Expository Essay is a type of writing that evaluates and explains a certain issue or a topic. A writer should always maintain an objective, neutral tone throughout the essay. In this type of an essay, the writer should refrain from pointing out his personal ideas and beliefs. The structure of an expository essay includes an introduction containing a thesis/opening statement, a body that contains sufficient facts, information to cover the topic and a conclusion that briefly summarizes all the points explained in the body. Some expository essay topics include, ” The role of social media in contemporary society”,”Causes for Global Warming”, “Analysis of a piece of literature,” “The economic growth of the country in the last 10 years.”

What is an Argumentative Essay

An Argumentative Essay is a type of writing in which the writer attempts to convince his audience that his argument is valid. An argumentative essay contains a combination of facts and writer’s personal ideas. A writer preparing to start an argumentative essay have to do a  lot of research and gather evidence to prove as well as to defend his point. An argumentative essay is biased and subjective, although the writer has to be aware of the opposing views on the subject. This type of essay appeals to the logic and the reasoning. Examples for some argumentative essays are “Should English be the official language in the United States?”, “Is dieting useless ?” ,”Should cigarettes be banned from the society?” etc.

The main difference between argumentative and expository essay is that an expository essay contains only information, explaining the topic, whereas an argumentative essay contains statistics, facts and writer’s personal ideas. Another vital difference between argumentative and expository essay is that an expository essay always give a balanced account of a subject while an argumentative essay may be unbiased and subjective. First person point of view is usually used in an argumentative essay (I strongly believe, In my opinion, I do not agree with…, etc.) while, in an expository essay, third person narration is preferred. It should be also noted that an argumentative essay can contain elements of an expository essay, as argumentative essays also state explanations and information. Another central difference between argumentative and expository essay can be noted in the opening sentence in the essay; the opening sentence in an argumentative essay states the argument, and the opening line in an expository essay introduces the topic.

What are the Types of Essays

How to write an essay.

About the Author: Hasa

Hasanthi is a seasoned content writer and editor with over 8 years of experience. Armed with a BA degree in English and a knack for digital marketing, she explores her passions for literature, history, culture, and food through her engaging and informative writing.

​You May Also Like These

Argumentative vs. Persuasive Essays: What’s the Difference?

The difference between an argumentative and persuasive essay isn’t always clear. If you’re struggling with either style for your next assignment, don’t worry. The following will clarify everything you need to know so you can write with confidence.

First, we define the primary objectives of argumentative vs. persuasive writing. We then compare the best strategies for starting the writing process. In both cases, the key is knowing your audience, which we will discuss later in this article by Custom-Writing.org experts.

• 🎯 Primary Objectives
• 🎬 Starting Your Essay
• ✍️ Writing Technique
• 👁️ Point of View
• ❓ So, what’s the difference?

🔗 References

🎯 persuasive vs. argumentative writing: primary objectives.

Both argumentative and persuasive essays require you to present your point of view on a specific topic. However, your approach will differ between the two. The words “argumentative” and “persuasive” should help you recognize what you are expected to achieve. Let’s see how.

For the argumentative essay, it is sufficient to present your point of view and nothing more. That said, the information you present should come across as being reliable enough for the readers. They don’t need to agree with your take on the issue at hand. The reader need only acknowledge that your point of view is worth considering.

In a persuasive essay, however, your goal is to get the reader on your side. And so, in addition to presenting sensible information, you want the reader to share your opinion.

Here are some examples to show you the difference. For more examples try and use a thesis statement generator for persuasive essay and for argumentative one, and you’ll clearly see what sets them apart.

Additionally, you can take a look at any example of term paper for college , which will clearly show you the differences between the types. Remember, though, that the more controversial your topic is, the more likely it is that the reader will disagree with you!

🎬 Argumentative vs. Persuasive Essay: How to Start

For either type of essay, the foundation is generally the same. Before even thinking about your introduction, settle on a topic that genuinely interests you. What follows will differ for argumentative and persuasive essays.

In the case of argumentative writing, it’s crucial to have all the information you need to build up a strong set of arguments and examples. Therefore, don’t forget to spend some time researching your topic in earnest. Once you have all the data, you can easily choose which side to take. Never force a paper to align with your personal opinion if you don’t have enough supporting evidence.

In the case of a persuasive essay, your job is to make sure you have a decent topic and identify which side to support. The starting point is a bit less complicated.

✍️ Persuasive vs. Argumentative Essays: Writing Technique

This is where things get interesting in the clash between persuasive and argumentative writing. For college-level writing, it’s never enough to follow a general essay outline . Getting that coveted higher mark requires that you know the unique yet subtle features of both writing styles.

Topical and relevant reasons are the backbone of any argumentative text. This is where preliminary research comes in. Having requisite evidence and facts from credible sources ensures the worthiness of your essay. That way, the reader can validate your point of view.

As with argumentative writing, persuasive essays should include some measure of supporting facts. What distinguishes persuasive writing is that you must also engage the reader on an emotional level. Moreover, there’s no need to present opposing opinions. Your goal is to make the reader take your side. All’s fair in love and war!

👁️ Persuasive vs. Argumentative Essays: Point of View

Let’s talk more about presenting different opinions. You were probably taught that an academic essay includes at least three arguments and an additional counterargument . Keep in mind, however, that this rule applies only to argumentative essays, in which you introduce three or more arguments with evidence to support your point of view. You then offset that point of view by including an opposing opinion. By doing so, you allow the reader to choose a side, even though the facts, as you’ve presented them, are in favor of your opinion. This is a logic-based approach.

In a persuasive essay, you’re not likely to entertain the opposition. Your conviction is the very essence of the essay. Your take on the issue in question must come across as the only sensible approach. If you’re feeling confident, you’re welcome to include a counterargument, but only if you decimate it right away!

👏 The Audience of Argumentative vs. Persuasive Essays

We’ve seen the differences and similarities between argumentative and persuasive writing and walked you through the technical aspects of both. But there’s one final piece of the puzzle to be considered: the question of your audience. This is the biggest difference of them all.

When writing an argumentative essay, remember that you don’t need to convince anyone. There is no audience. You’re simply presenting the information you gathered without expecting anything in return (except maybe a pat on the back from your teacher).

Without an audience, there’s no one to persuade. This touches on another crucial element of the writing process : understanding what and how your readers think. This allows you to pick the best strategy to convince them to join your side.

❓ What’s the Difference between a Persuasive Essay and an Argumentative Essay?

The main difference between a persuasive essay and an argumentative essay comes down to your audience. For persuasive writing, it’s necessary to feel out your audience and wield that knowledge to prove the efficacy of your perspective. For argumentative writing, opt for a logical approach and just present the facts with no intent to persuade anyone.

Persuasive Essay Topics

• Cigarettes manufacturers must be banned. 
• Unrestricted access to women’s health care is crucial for the welfare of future generations.
• College sports need to benefit student-athletes .
• Lowering TOEFL scores across university will benefit international students. 
• American football promotes violence and jeopardize sportsmen’s health.
• Tattoos are fine art. 
• Animal transplantation can reduce the problem of organs shortage.
• Smoking in public places should be banned to protect and improve public health.
• Job drug test has to be made obligatory.  
• It is necessary to prohibit using cellphones while driving .
• Gun control legislation must be revised.
• Surveillance cameras have to be installed in all public places.  
• Mandatory overtime for nurses must be made illegal.  
• Marijuana should be legalized for medical use.
• Business should switch to remote work for an increased talent pool.  
• Experimentation on animals has to be banned.  
• It is crucial to limit clear cutting in rainforest. 
• It is necessary to forbid guns in college campuses .
• Companies should prioritize the development of biometric security.  
• Abortions should be legalized worldwide.
• Children should not have grades in school .
• Wearing face mask in public places should be mandatory.
• English language learners have to be immersed in English. 
• Net neutrality should be supported.  
• Body organs sale should not be allowed.

Argumentative Essay Topics

• Should celebrities be a positive role model ?
• Does the use of social media in nursing violate patients’ rights regarding privacy?
• Is it right to abolish capital punishment ?
• Is it ethical to use animals for research?  
• Should bullies be expelled from school?
• Is it fair to try juveniles as adults ?
• Do you think it wise to lower drinking age to 18?  
• Will implementation of free higher education diminish economic disparities? 
• Should the voluntary euthanasia be permitted?
• Is stem cells use ethical?
• Should schoolchildren study the evolution theory?  
• Is container deposit legislation an urgent issue?
• Is marriage based on love more successful than arranged?
• Should the use of cell phones in public places be banned?
• Is it right for celebrities to be involved in political activism? 
• Do you agree that health insurance has to cover art and music therapy ?
• Does the government have right to monitor its citizens using technology? 
• Is it ethical to perform gene editing on human embryos?
• Do you think online dating as serious as dating in person?  
• Should vaccination of children be compulsory?
• Are the social media platforms a threat to human relationships?
• Are there limits to what should be questioned? 
• Should modern society become vegan?
• Do you think the cigarette smoking should be made illegal?
• Should illegal immigrants have full access to all social services?
• Argumentative Essays // Purdue Writing Lab
• Argumentative Essay Structure (University of Washington)
• Suggestions for Developing Argumentative Essays (UC Berkeley)
• Argumentative essay | Quick guide (article) | Khan Academy
• Writing a Persuasive Essay: Hamilton College
• Persuasion (UMN Libraries)
• Persuasive Writing – Georgetown Law
• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to LinkedIn
• Share to email

You don’t need to be a nerd to understand the general idea behind cause and effect essays. Let’s see! If you skip a meal, you get hungry. And if you write an essay about it, your goal is achieved! However, following multiple rules of academic writing can be a tough...

An argumentative essay is a genre of academic writing that investigates different sides of a particular issue. Its central purpose is to inform the readers rather than expressively persuade them. Thus, it is crucial to differentiate between argumentative and persuasive essays. While composing an argumentative essay, the students have to...

It’s not a secret that the reader notices an essay title first. No catchy hook or colorful examples attract more attention from a quick glance. Composing a creative title for your essay is essential if you strive to succeed, as it: Thus, how you name your paper is of the...

The conclusion is the last paragraph in your paper that draws the ideas and reasoning together. However, its purpose does not end there. A definite essay conclusion accomplishes several goals: Therefore, a conclusion usually consists of: Our experts prepared this guide, where you will find great tips on how to...

A five-paragraph essay is one of the most common academic assignments a student may face. It has a well-defined structure: an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Writing an introduction can be the most challenging part of the entire piece. It aims to introduce the main ideas and present...

Exemplification essays, also called illustration essays, are one of the easiest papers to write. However, even the simplest tasks require experience and practice. It is a good idea to find and analyze free exemplification essay examples. You can also ask your teacher to give you some sample exemplification essays from...

During their school years, students may not always have the opportunity to select a topic for their essay or research paper. Instructors tend to assign one or offer a list of ideas that might not seem engaging. Moreover, even the topic that you choose yourself can sometimes end up being...

Sorry to disappoint you, but if you think that your high scores and grades would be enough to get accepted into the university of your dreams, you’re wrong… The best colleges worldwide, such as the Ivy League schools receive applications from thousands and thousands of talented students. You gotta stand...

Writing an essay is a task that everyone has to deal with. The first encounter most likely happens at primary school. Compositions in primary school are quite basic and only require a good imagination and somewhat decent writing skills. But… As time passes, essay writing becomes more and more complicated....

Often when you’re completing academic writing, especially essays, you need to use pronouns. In academic writing, the use of the word you is unacceptable. You can find yourself in a sticky situation, deciding upon gender-neutral pronouns in your academic writing. How can students deal with it? In most situations today,...

A divorce is a life-changing experience that affects spouses and their children (if there are any). Since divorce rates are relatively high in modern society, more and more people face this problem nowadays. When you are assigned to compose an argumentative essay about divorce, you should be as careful as...

Corruption is an abuse of power that was entrusted to a person or group of people for personal gain. It can appear in various settings and affect different social classes, leading to unemployment and other economic issues. This is why writing an essay on corruption can become a challenge. One...

Difference between Expository and Persuasive

Instructions

Expository Writing: Expository writing style aims to equip the reader with the relevant information. An expository essay is basically an informative article which discusses every aspect of the topic. One does not need to be artistic in this style of writing as the writer simply mentions the cause and effect of anything and leaves the choice to the reader. Business report is the prime example of this style as you just highlight the positive and negative points of something and give an unbiased opinion. There also sub categories of this writing style. The first one is called technical writing while the other one is known as research writing. - Image Courtesy: thegototeacher.blogspot.com

Persuasive Writing: Persuasive essay is more like a publicity article as the writer tries to sway the reader’s opinion. Advertisement is the prime example of this writing style as you support your point of view and try to influence the target audience. - Image Courtesy: fun-in-first.blogspot.com

• Print Article

People Who Read This Also Read:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Prove You\'re Human * × 2 = four

Search in Site

The Ultimate Guide to Writing Essays That Stand Out

By rctadmin on August 8, 2024 No Comment

Essay writing is a fundamental skill that plays a pivotal role in academic and professional success. Whether crafting a persuasive argument for a college application, dissecting complex theories for a class assignment, or presenting a coherent analysis in a professional report, the ability to articulate thoughts clearly and compellingly through writing is invaluable. This guide is designed to equip you with the tools and techniques necessary to elevate your essays from good to great. By focusing on clarity, originality, and depth, we aim to transform the essay writing process into an opportunity for creativity and intellectual exploration, helping your work to stand out in any context.

Understand the Assignment

The first step to writing an outstanding essay is to thoroughly understand the assignment. Misinterpreting the essay prompt can lead to off-topic writing, which can significantly impact your grade. Start by carefully reading the assignment prompt, paying close attention to the verbs used, such as “analyze,” “compare,” “contrast,” or “describe,” as they dictate the approach your essay should take. If any part of the prompt seems unclear, don’t hesitate to ask your instructor for clarification. In today’s digital age, resources like forums or even services that provide an online paper writer can offer guidance on essay prompts and expectations. For those who need extra assistance, they might consider services where professionals write my essays from EssayPro to ensure they meet the assignment requirements. However, the most accurate understanding will always come directly from your instructor or official assignment guidelines.

Research and Planning

Before you put pen to paper, a thorough research phase is essential to gather the relevant information and evidence to support your thesis. Utilize academic databases, scholarly articles, and credible sources to ensure the reliability of your essay’s foundation. As you research, take detailed notes, including citations for your sources, to streamline the referencing process later.

Planning your essay structure is equally important. An outline serves as a roadmap, guiding you through the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. This step not only ensures a logical flow of ideas but also helps you stay on track and focused on your thesis statement throughout the writing process. Effective planning can make the difference between an essay that reads coherently and one that seems disjointed and unfocused.

Crafting a Strong Thesis Statement

At the heart of every great essay is a strong thesis statement. This concise sentence or two sets the direction for your essay, outlining the main argument or point that you will support with evidence throughout your text. A compelling thesis is specific, arguable, and sets the tone for your analysis. 

To formulate a robust thesis statement, start by identifying the central question your essay addresses. Then, condense your answer to this question into a clear statement that reflects your position or perspective. Your thesis should not only state your argument but also hint at the structure of your essay, giving the reader a glimpse of what to expect. Crafting a thesis that captures the essence of your argument is crucial for guiding your writing and focusing your research, ensuring that every paragraph contributes to the defense of your position. 

The first few sections lay the groundwork for writing essays that not only meet academic standards but captivate and persuade readers. Understanding the assignment ensures alignment with expectations, while effective research and planning set the stage for a well-argued essay. The thesis statement, pivotal for direction, primes the essay for depth and insight, promising an engaging read.

Developing Compelling Arguments and Supporting Evidence

A standout essay is built on the foundation of compelling arguments supported by solid evidence. Each body paragraph should focus on a single main idea that supports your thesis, beginning with a topic sentence that clearly states the argument. Follow this with evidence such as statistics, quotes, examples, or analysis from reputable sources to substantiate your claim. 

Critical to this process is the integration of your evidence into the essay’s narrative. Simply listing facts or quotations is not enough; you must explain how each piece of evidence supports your argument and connects to the overall thesis. This may involve analyzing data, interpreting quotes within the context of your argument, or drawing parallels between examples and your main idea. The strength of your essay lies in your ability to convince the reader through logical reasoning and the quality of your supporting evidence.

Incorporating Original Ideas and Personal Insights

While research and evidence are critical, the inclusion of original ideas and personal insights can elevate your essay, making it truly stand out. This involves going beyond merely summarizing sources or restating common arguments. Engage critically with the material, question assumptions, and explore alternative perspectives. 

Your insights could stem from connecting disparate ideas, applying theories to contemporary issues, or reflecting on personal experiences that relate to the topic. These unique viewpoints can provide depth to your essay, demonstrating not only your understanding of the subject matter but also your capacity for independent thought and creativity.

Enhancing Readability with Effective Language Use

The readability of your essay is significantly influenced by your choice of language and sentence structure. Opt for clarity and precision in your writing, avoiding overly complex sentences or jargon that could confuse readers. Varying sentence length and structure can also help maintain reader interest, creating a rhythm that enhances the flow of your argument.

Furthermore, maintaining a consistent tone that matches the purpose of your essay is essential. Whether formal or informal, the tone should reflect the seriousness of your topic and your audience’s expectations. Effective language use not only makes your essay more enjoyable to read but also reinforces the strength of your arguments.

Revising and Polishing the Final Draft

Revision is a crucial step in the essay-writing process, allowing you to refine your arguments, enhance clarity, and ensure coherence throughout your work. Begin by reviewing your essay at the structural level, ensuring that each paragraph flows logically and contributes to your thesis. Then, focus on sentence-level adjustments, such as correcting grammatical errors, refining word choice, and eliminating redundancies.

Seeking feedback from peers, instructors, or writing centers can provide valuable insights that might be overlooked in self-revision. Incorporating this feedback and making the necessary revisions can significantly improve the quality of your essay.

Writing essays that stand out requires a blend of critical thinking, creativity, and meticulous attention to detail. From understanding the assignment to crafting a compelling thesis, developing arguments, and incorporating original insights, each step is crucial for creating a persuasive and engaging piece. Remember, the key to a great essay is not just in the information it conveys but in how it engages and resonates with the reader. While mastering essay writing is an ongoing journey, utilizing resources like the best essay writing service can offer additional support and inspiration along the way. Embrace each essay as an opportunity to showcase your unique perspective and intellectual rigor, and you’ll find your work not only stands out but also significantly contributes to your academic and professional growth.

The Ultimate Guide to Writing Essays That Stand Out added by rctadmin on August 8, 2024 View all posts by rctadmin →

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God — Jonathan Edwards and The Persuasive Writing Convention

Jonathan Edwards and The Persuasive Writing Convention

• Categories: Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

About this sample

Words: 657 |

Published: Aug 1, 2024

Words: 657 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

The intriguing hook and thesis statement, use of rhetorical devices, utilization of vivid imagery, emotional appeals, implications of edwards' persuasive techniques.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Heisenberg

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3 pages / 1428 words

2 pages / 1022 words

5.5 pages / 2475 words

1.5 pages / 674 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Jonathan Edwards' sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," delivered in 1741 during the First Great Awakening in America, remains one of the most influential and controversial religious texts in American history. In this [...]

Edwards declared, “There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is hell’s wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor any thing to take hold of”(Edwards 1). This quote is a great [...]

Jonathan Edwards’ sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” is a powerful and controversial piece of literature that has sparked debates and discussions for centuries. This essay will analyze the key themes and arguments [...]

Born in East Windsor, Connecticut, Johnathan Edwards was a graduate from Yale and a Prime Minister in his later years at a church in Massachusetts. Edwards soon became a powerful preacher, delivering sermons resulting in [...]

When it comes to persuasive writing, one of the most powerful tools at an author's disposal is the use of personification. This literary device allows the writer to breathe life into inanimate objects or abstract concepts, [...]

Jonathan Edwards' sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" is a powerful and influential piece of literature that uses vivid and intense figurative language to convey the wrath of God and the dire consequences of sin. [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free