There are lots of types of college papers but the most important ones are discussed below:
Reports: Reports are also known as expository essays. The aim of a report is to accurately relate the views of others, or to summarize the main ideas in a text. Thus, a report might set out the most recent views surrounding an area of research, such as genetics.
Descriptive Essays: The aim of descriptive essays is to provide a vivid picture of a person, location, object, event, or debate. It will offer details that will enable the reader to imagine the item described.
Narrative Essays: The aim of a narrative essay is to describe a course of events from a subjective vantage point, and may be written in first-person present or first-person past tense. Though not always chronological, narrative essays do follow the development of a person through a series of experiences and reflections. The focus of the essay is often to more clearly identify the point of view of the narrator, and to express common features of subjectivity.
Compare and Contrast Essays: The aim of a compare and contrast essay is to develop the relationship between two or more things. Generally, the goal is to show that superficial differences or similarities are inadequate, and that closer examination reveals their unobvious, yet significant, relations or differences.
Argumentative Essays: Argumentative essays are most often used to address controversial issues - i.e. serious issues over which there is some evident disagreement. An argument is a position combined with its supporting reasons. Argumentative papers thus set out a main claim and then provide reasons for thinking that the claim is true.
An argumentative paper is graded on
- the clarity and accuracy of the exposition,
- its analysis of alternative positions, and
- the strength of the author's argument.
The strength of the author's argument depends on the strength of the supporting reasons provided in the college paper. You will need strong supporting reasons for your argument. A strong supporting reason is a reason that can withstand critical scrutiny. It is often most useful to begin by setting out the position of at least one other person clearly and fairly. Then, analyze that position to identify its flaws. Last, turn to your position, giving good reasons for the position you take. |
