We explain what an essay is and what its general characteristics are. Also, how to do a test, and the most frequent mistakes to avoid.
An essay is a relatively short piece of writing in which ideas are developed based on arguments (by way of analysis, interpretation or evaluation) about a topic. It is a subjective approach, although rigorous in terms of the quality or veracity of the information.
It is written in prose form, that is, without a particular division or structure unlike other genres.
An essay should present your ideas in the order in which they make the most sense for the correct decoding of the reader. Although there are certain guidelines for writing an essay, this genre offers a lot of freedom.
The main characteristics of the trial are:
There is no single stipulated structure that must be rigorously followed to develop an essay . The essays can have various structures.
The introduction and conclusion usually respect their order of appearance , but other parts such as context, counterarguments, biographical information, among others, can be included in a paragraph or be part of a separate section.
To define the best structure of an essay it is useful to think of the different sections as possible answers to a series of questions that the reader could ask, such as:
It is important to have a reliable endorsement, but it is the author who must elaborate his own arguments , in addition to using different discursive resources such as the quotation, the definition, the anecdote or the memory, among others.
An essay should not be confused with a monograph or a degree thesis. Although the possible topics to be addressed with an essay are innumerable, its less formal, freer structure and its limited length differentiate it from other genres or specialized content.