Learn to Write

Every piece of writing is as unique as the topic you are writing about.  A business letter communicates information differently than an essay.  When writing an essay, you also need to know what kind of essay you are writing.  Are you explaining an opinion about character motivations in a comparison contrast essay?  Or describing your thoughts and feelings about a particular topic?  What if your essay is telling a story?  Or are you trying to prove a point and convince the reader you are right?  Here you will find information for different types of writing.

Narrative

• Develops a story based on true or untrue facts; the author/creator has complete control of the way the story will be told
• Examples: fictional stories (novels, short stories, fairy tales, etc.), personal essays, autobiographies, screenplays/film scripts, oral storytelling

Descriptive

• Offers a detailed and rich visualization of an event, character, situation, place, etc. by incorporating precise and fact-based details through the narration; the author/creator is trying to create a picture in the mind of the reader
• Examples: poetry/poems, advertisements, diary entries, travel blogs, case studies, similes, metaphors

Persuasive

• Used to influence a reader to agree with the author/creator's point of view through different arguments
• Examples: opinion or editorial news articles, resumes and cover letters, advertisements, book reviews

Expositive/Expository

• Explains or informs about a fact, theory, or hypothesis without involving the author/creator's personal opinion; fact based
• Examples: historical non-fiction books, step-by-step instructions or how-to guides, encyclopedia articles, textbooks

Academic

• A highly structured form of expository writing

• Specifically used at post-secondary schools (colleges, universities) - includes most types of writing and/or research assignments

• Characteristics include that it is evidence- or research-based, precise, objective, uses very formal language, and analytical/critical in outlook

• Examples: research essays, scholarly/academic research articles, nursing care plans, annotated bibliographies

Business

• Specific to a workplace, this writing is formal, professional, clear, concise, and intends to convey relevant information to a reader in the most effective and straightforward way possible

• Examples: business letters, emails, business plans/strategic plans, reports (formal and informal), resumes, cover letters, letters of transmittal