Types of essays pages

Types of essays:

Scholarship essays are typically analytical, informative, or reflective. This means you will either review a person, thought, or historical moment and provide insight on this subject, discuss, and instruct your audience on something your accomplished or participated in, or share personal experiences that have shaped your opinions or future. These all sound a little overwhelming, but they do not have to be. Once you can determine what the required or requested information is, you will be able to decide the type of essay you need to write.

For example, if your essay prompt asks you to discuss the importance of social media on today’s politics, you could write an analytical essay. This would require research and academic resources and quotes but often very effective because it proves to your audience your willingness to work hard for this scholarship. If you are not familiar with the topic that is requested, it is imperative you research! Nothing looks worse than talking about something you know nothing about.

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If your essay prompt asks you to describe a leader you admire and their qualities, this would be an informative essay. This theme could also ask what your desired career path and college major is. Known as a “what could I do with...” essay, your audience is wanting to be informed about what your interests and academic goals are. Informative essay’s subject matter can be about you too!

Reflective essays are written from your standpoint or point of view. Usually, these prompts ask you to think about what has happened in your life, someone that influences you, or your goals and dreams. Sometimes easier to write, they can also cause the writer to ramble. These scholarships are the perfect gateway for drama or hardships, but the point is how you overcame the struggle and your desire to make a difference in someone else’s life. Adversity can build character and the concept of community. This type of essay is a great way to give your audience the best idea of who you are, what you want in life, and how hard you are going to work to achieve your goals.

Learning Activity Three:

Look at the examples of these thesis statements and select which type of essay was written. Match the letter, Iinformative, R-reflective, and A-analytical for each one.

______ Naval aerospace engineering not only instructs future aviators, but this program also builds future leaders, naval officers, and continues research opportunities for future scientists.

______ Who is someone that influences you and why?

Does social media have a psychological effect on today’s student?

Should student athletes be held to the same academic standards as other students?

______ What defines a leader and what leadership roles have you held?

______ Food insecurity is a growing problem. How do you define food insecurity and can it be solved.

______ How could your school better prepare its students for college?

Is the ACT or SAT still a fair depiction of how a student will perform in college?

You may notice that sometimes your essay prompts can be multiple styles. In other words, they may fit different writing styles. That is okay! Read the scholarship description, essay prompt, and if possible, look up past winners. All of these can help you write your essay.