A well-written essay article can help a student make an impact and stand out in a classroom. An essay is a type of discursive writing that has a clear structure and a precise argument. It can present an opinion, an assumption or a theory that is supported by real-life events and statistical data. It can also compare and contrast different works such as a film or an article, but it is essential that the writer sticks to a narrowly defined topic and makes a clear argument.

Essays have many purposes – they are used as literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections and reflections of the author. Usually, the essay is written in prose, although poems have also been described as essays (such as Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Criticism and An Essay on Man). Unlike a news report, an essay is more objective than an op-ed or editorial.

The essay has a clear structure that starts with the purpose and audience of the writing. The essay then lists all the possible topics that fit this purpose and then eliminates the ones that are too difficult or not relevant. The final list is then compared and weighed to find the most suitable one. Once this is done, the essay can then be structured around this question and a thesis statement can be formed.

A good essay begins with a strong statement of the purpose of the writing, such as “To explain why something is true” or “To persuade the reader to think about something”. This can then be backed up by a list of premises that show why this claim is valid.

This evidence should include quotations, statistics, illustrations and examples that are backed up by scholarship and research. The essay can then use this evidence to argue its point and also provide a counter-argument. This can be done using a logical chain of reasoning or a table of contents. The conclusion should then round off the essay by summing up, analyzing the evidence and providing a broad statement on its implications or future directions for research.

Often, students can confuse an essay with an article because they share the same format and are both written for an audience. However, the differences between these two types of writing are significant and must be remembered at all times. A well-written essay should be concise, precise and logically presented, while an article should be engaging, informative and relatable to the audience. Articles should be based on the latest trends and news, as well as be balanced, offer advice and include quotes from experts in their field. Essays, on the other hand, should explore personal experiences and analyse ideas and concepts in depth.