Structure & Types of College Essays

Here are some possible types and structures of essays. You can try any or none of these... the important thing is that you have some semblance of purpose and how you're getting there so you don't just ramble!

Narrative & Montage

Narrative is the type of essay with which you are probably most familiar -- such as the "This I Believe" essay or other types of personal narrative. A narrative goes deep, discussing a moment that fundamentally changed your life.

Montage is a technique that involves creating a new whole from separate fragments (pictures, words, music, etc.). In filmmaking, the montage effect is used to condense space and time so that information can be delivered in a more efficient way. An essay that jumps from an experience in grade school to middle school to high school -- or even a much narrower time frame -- can show how you were impacted by a thematically linked sequence of events. Where a narrative goes deep, a montage goes wide, showing how a series of events come together to shape your life.

Division & Classification

Division refers to separating a class of things into categories following a clear principle or basis. Classification, on the other hand, groups individual objects or ideas into already established categories. For example, a division essay may focus on how clothing might be appropriate or inappropriate for a particular occasion based on its formality, whereas a classification essay might talk about the merits of different dogs based on their breed.

Definitional

Start with a term and commonplace definition to give it greater clarity with the events in your life, perhaps arriving at a redefinition of it based on your life experience. For example, in approaching a question asking about "courage," a writer may define courage outside the traditional meaning of bravery in the face of physical danger -- such as social consequences associated with taking a particular action.

Compare & Contrast

A comparison or contrast essay will often take two different people, places, or things and discuss their similarities and differences. In a college essay, a student might use this to discuss how two very different things have contributed to their personal or intellectual development.

Process Analysis

A process analysis gives a precise explanation of how to accomplish a particular task. For instance, a student may write an essay on a perfect golf swing to convey the skill, work ethic, and attention to detail that it takes in order to accomplish a goal.

Exemplification or Illustration

This kind of essay begins with a statement of truth or principle and supports it with facts, opinions, anecdotes, etc. For a college essay, a student might start with an example of a lesson learned and how it stands up to their real-life experience.