• Key Differences

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Difference Between Article and Essay

article vs essay

An article is nothing but a piece of writing commonly found in newspapers or websites which contain fact-based information on a specific topic. It is published with the aim of making the reader aware of something and keeping them up to date.

An essay is a literary work, which often discusses ideas, experiences and concepts in a clear and coherent way. It reflects the author’s personal view, knowledge and research on a specific topic.

Content: Article Vs Essay

Comparison chart.

Basis for ComparisonArticleEssay
MeaningAn article refers to a written piece of information, usually appears in newspaper, magazine, encyclopedias and website.An essay is a piece of literary work, wherein a particular issue or topic is analysed and discussed.
NatureObjectiveSubjective
ToneConversationalEducational and Analytical
Headings and SubheadingsYesNo
ReaderAlways written with a specific objective and reader group in mind.Not written with a specific reader group in mind.
Backed byPhotographs, charts and reports.Not required
Citation and ReferenceNot RequiredRequired

Definition of Article

An ‘article’ can be described as any form of written information which is produced either in a printed or electronic form, in newspaper, magazine, journal or website. It aims at spreading news, results of surveys, academic analysis or debates.

An article targets a large group of people, in order to fascinate the readers and engage them. Hence, it should be such that to retain the interest of the readers.

It discusses stories, reports and describes news, present balanced argument, express opinion, provides facts, offers advice, compares and contrast etc. in a formal or informal manner, depending upon the type of audience.

For writing an article one needs to perform a thorough research on the matter, so as to provide original and authentic information to the readers.

Components of Article

  • Title : An article contains a noticeable title which should be intriguing and should not be very long and descriptive. However, it should be such that which suggests the theme or issue of the information provided.
  • Introduction : The introduction part must clearly define the topic, by giving a brief overview of the situation or event.
  • Body : An introduction is followed by the main body which presents the complete information or news, in an elaborative way, to let the reader know about the exact situation.
  • Conclusion : The article ends with a conclusion, which sums up the entire topic with a recommendation or comment.

Definition of Essay

An essay is just a formal and comprehensive piece of literature, in which a particular topic is discussed thoroughly. It usually highlights the writer’s outlook, knowledge and experiences on that particular topic. It is a short literary work, which elucidates, argues and analyzes a specific topic.

The word essay is originated from the Latin term ‘exagium’ which means ‘presentation of a case’. Hence, writing an essay means to state the reasons or causes of something, or why something should be done or should be the case, which validates a particular viewpoint, analysis, experience, stories, facts or interpretation.

An essay is written with the intent to convince or inform the reader about something. Further, for writing an essay one needs to have good knowledge of the subject to explain the concept, thoroughly. If not so, the writer will end up repeating the same points again and again.

Components of the Essay

  • Title : It should be a succinct statement of the proposition.
  • Introduction : The introduction section of the essay, should be so interesting which instantly grabs the attention of the reader and makes them read the essay further. Hence, one can start with a quote to make it more thought-provoking.
  • Body : In the main body of the essay, evidence or reasons in support of the writer’s ideas or arguments are provided. One should make sure that there is a sync in the paragraphs of the main body, as well as they,  should maintain a logical flow.
  • Conclusion : In this part, the writer wraps up all the points in a summarized and simplified manner.

Key Differences Between Article and Essay

Upcoming points will discuss the difference between article and essay:

  • An article refers to a written work, published in newspapers, journals, website, magazines etc, containing news or information, in a specific format. On the other hand, an essay is a continuous piece of writing, written with the aim of convincing the reader with the argument or merely informing the reader about the fact.
  • An article is objective in the sense that it is based on facts and evidence, and simply describes the topic or narrate the event. As against, an essay is subjective, because it is based on fact or research-based opinion or outlook of a person on a specific topic. It analyses, argues and criticizes the topic.
  • The tone used in an article is conversational, so as to make the article easy to understand and also keeping the interest of the reader intact. On the contrary, an essay uses educational and analytical tone.
  • An article may contain headings, which makes it attractive and readable. In contrast, an essay does not have any headings, sections or bullet points, however, it is a coherent and organized form of writing.
  • An article is always written with a definite objective, which is to inform or make the readers aware of something. Further, it is written to cater to a specific niche of audience. Conversely, an essay is written in response to a particular assertion or question. Moreover, it is not written with a specific group of readers in mind.
  • An article is often supported by photographs, charts, statistics, graphs and tables. As opposed, an essay is not supported by any photographs, charts, or graphs.
  • Citations and references are a must in case of an essay, whereas there is no such requirement in case of an article.

By and large, an article is meant to inform the reader about something, through news, featured stories, product descriptions, reports, etc. On the flip side, an essay offers an analysis of a particular topic, while reflecting a detailed account of a person’s view on it.

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Anna H. Smith says

November 15, 2020 at 6:21 pm

Great! Thank you for explaining the difference between an article and an academic essay so eloquently. Your information is so detailed and very helpful. it’s very educative, Thanks for sharing.

Sunita Singh says

December 12, 2020 at 7:11 am

Thank you! That’s quite helpful.

Saba Zia says

March 8, 2021 at 12:33 am

Great job!! Thank u for sharing this explanation and detailed difference between essay and article. It is really helpful.

Khushi Chaudhary says

February 7, 2021 at 2:38 pm

Thank you so much! It is really very easy to understand & helpful for my test.

Dury Frizza says

July 25, 2022 at 8:18 pm

Thanks a lot for sharing such a clear and easily understood explanation!!!!.

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The Difference Between an Article and an Essay

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In composition studies , an article is a short work of nonfiction that typically appears in a magazine or newspaper or on a website. Unlike essays , which often highlight the subjective impressions of the author (or narrator ), articles are commonly written from an objective point of view . Articles include news items, feature stories, reports , profiles , instructions, product descriptions, and other informative pieces of writing.

What Sets Articles Apart From Essays

Though both articles and essays are types of nonfiction writing, they differ in many ways. Here are some features and qualities of articles that differentiate them from essays.

Subject and Theme in Articles

"A useful exercise is to look at some good articles and name the broader subject and the particular aspect each treats. You will find that the subject always deals with a partial aspect examined from some viewpoint; it is never a crammed condensation of the whole.

"...Observe that there are two essential elements of an article: subject and theme . The subject is what the article is about: the issue, event, or person it deals with. (Again, an article must cover only an aspect of a whole.) The theme is what the author wants to say about the subject—what he brings to the subject." (Ayn Rand, The Art of Nonfiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers , ed. by Robert Mayhew. Plume, 2001)

"An article is not everything that's true. It's every important thing that's true." (Gary Provost, Beyond Style: Mastering the Finer Points of Writing . Writer's Digest Books, 1988)

Article Structure

"There are five ways to structure your article . They are:

- The inverted pyramid - The double helix - The chronological double-helix - The chronological report - The storytelling model

Think about how you read a newspaper: you scan the captions and then read the first paragraph or two to get the gist of the article and then read further if you want to know more of the details. That's the inverted pyramid style of writing used by journalists, in which what's important comes first. The double-helix also presents facts in order of importance but it alternates between two separate sets of information. For example, suppose you are writing an article about the two national political conventions. You'll first present Fact 1 about the Democratic convention, then Fact 2 about the Republicans, then Fact 2 about the Democrats, Fact 2 about the Republicans, and so on. The chronological double-helix begins like the double helix but once the important facts from each set of information have been presented, it then goes off to relay the events in chronological order...

"The chronological report is the most straightforward structure to follow since it is written in the order in which the events occurred. The final structure is the storytelling model, which utilizes some of the techniques of fiction writing, so you would want to bring the reader into the story right away even if it means beginning in the middle or even near the end and then filling in the facts as the story unfolds." (Richard D. Bank, The Everything Guide to Writing Nonfiction . Adams Media, 2010)

Opening Sentence of an Article

"The most important sentence in any article is the first one. If it doesn't induce the reader to proceed to the second sentence, your article is dead. And if the second sentence doesn't induce him to continue to the third sentence, it's equally dead. Of such a progression of sentences, each tugging the reader forward until he is hooked, a writer constructs that fateful unit, the ' lead .'" (William Zinsser, On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction , 7th ed. HarperCollins, 2006)

Articles and Media

"More and more, article content written for printed media is also appearing on digital devices (often as an edited version of a longer article) for readers who have short attention spans due to time constraints or their device's small screen. As a result, digital publishers are seeking audio versions of content that is significantly condensed and written in conversational style. Often, content writers must now submit their articles with the understanding they will appear in several media formats." (Roger W. Nielsen, Writing Content: Mastering Magazine and Online Writing . R.W. Nielsen, 2009)

Writer's Voice in Articles and Essays

"Given the confusion of genre minglings and overlaps, what finally distinguishes an essay from an article may just be the author's gumption, the extent to which personal voice , vision, and style are the prime movers and shapers, even though the authorial 'I' may be only a remote energy, nowhere visible but everywhere present. ('We commonly do not remember,' Thoreau wrote in the opening paragraphs of Walden , 'that it is, after all, always the first person that is speaking.')" (Justin Kaplan, quoted by Robert Atwan in The Best American Essays, College Edition , 2nd ed. Houghton Mifflin, 1998)

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Difference Wiki

Article vs. Essay: What's the Difference?

how to difference between essay and article

Key Differences

Comparison chart, primary goal, publication, article and essay definitions, are "essays" only academic, can an "article" be subjective, can an "essay" be a fictional narrative, what's the purpose of an "article", are there different types of "essays", is an "essay" always written in the first person, is every written piece in a newspaper an "article", how is an "essay" structured, what's a photo essay, where might i find an "article", can "article" refer to an item, are all "articles" short, what distinguishes a news "article" from a feature one, can an "article" be a primary source, do "articles" always present unbiased information, who writes essays, why might someone write an "essay", why are articles important in grammar, are "essays" only for students, is every "essay" personal.

how to difference between essay and article

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Difference between Article and Essay - wordscoach.com

Difference between Article and Essay

An article and an essay are both forms of written communication, but they serve different purposes and follow distinct structures.

What is an Article?

An article is a piece of writing intended for a broad audience, published in newspapers, magazines, journals, or online platforms. It provides information, discusses a topic, or offers opinions, and is typically structured to engage and inform readers.

What is an Essay?

An essay is a piece of writing that presents an argument or a perspective on a particular topic. It is usually more formal and structured compared to articles and is often used in academic settings. Essays allow the writer to explore ideas, analyze concepts, and present their own interpretations.

Typically written to inform, educate, or entertain the readers about a particular topic. Articles are often found in newspapers, magazines, journals, or online platforms.Generally written to present an argument or the author’s viewpoint on a specific topic. Essays are more analytical or interpretative and are commonly used in academic settings.
Aimed at a broader audience, including the general public. The language is often more accessible and engaging.Typically intended for academic or educated readers, such as teachers, peers, or examiners.
Usually includes a headline, introduction, body, and conclusion. It often starts with a catchy introduction to grab attention, followed by detailed information and a concluding summary.Essays have a clear structure, generally consisting of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Can be formal or informal, depending on the publication and audience. It often uses accessible language and may include subheadings, bullet points, and visuals.Formal and academic, using precise language and avoiding colloquialisms. Essays often follow specific citation styles like APA, MLA, or Chicago.
May include references and research, especially in feature articles or investigative pieces, but often relies on a mix of factual reporting and personal insight.Requires thorough research and proper citations. It often includes references to academic sources, studies, and literature to support the arguments made.
Varies widely; short articles can be around 300-500 words, while feature articles can be much longer, up to several thousand words.Generally has a more standardized length, particularly in academic contexts, often ranging from 500 to 3000 words.
A news report on a recent event, a magazine feature on a celebrity, a blog post on travel tips.A college assignment analyzing a piece of literature, a persuasive essay on climate change, a reflective essay on personal growth.

Types of Articles:

News Articles: Provide factual information about recent events.

Feature Articles: Offer in-depth analysis or narratives on topics of interest.

Opinion Articles: Present the author’s viewpoints on various issues.

How-To Articles: Give step-by-step instructions on performing tasks or activities.

Review Articles: Critique books, movies, products, or services.

Types of Essays:

Expository Essays: Explain or describe a topic clearly and logically.

Argumentative Essays: Present a well-reasoned argument on a controversial issue, supported by evidence.

Descriptive Essays: Paint a picture of a person, place, object, or event using detailed observations and sensory details.

Narrative Essays: Tell a story or recount an event, often using personal experiences.

Analytical Essays: Break down a concept, text, or piece of art to examine its components and their relationships.

Both articles and essays are valuable forms of communication , but they differ significantly in purpose, structure, audience, and style. Understanding these differences can help in choosing the appropriate format for a specific writing task.

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  • Difference Between Article And Essay

Difference between Article and Essay

Are an article and an essay the same? Is there something that makes one different from the other? Check out this article to find out.

What is an Article?

An article is a report or content published in a newspaper, magazine, journal or website, either in printed or electronic form. When it comes to articles, a sizable readership is considered. It might be supported by studies, research, data, and other necessary elements. Articles may be slightly brief or lengthy, with a maximum count of 1500 words. It educates the readers on various ideas/concepts and is prepared with a clear aim in mind.

Articles, which can be found in newspapers, journals, encyclopaedias, and now, most commonly, online, inform and keep readers informed about many topics.

What is an Essay?

An essay is a formal, in-depth work of literature that analyses and discusses a specific problem or subject. It refers to a brief piece of content on a specific topic. Students are frequently required to write essays in response to questions or propositions in their academic coursework. It doesn’t target any particular readers.

Through essays, the author or narrator offers unique ideas or opinions on a given subject or question while maintaining an analytical and formal tone.

1. An article is a bit of writing intended to be shared in a magazine, newspaper, or other type of publication. An essay is a composition which belongs to a specific issue, or topic.
2. Articles tend to be objective. Essays tend to be subjective.
3. The purpose of the article is to tell the readers about some prospects, information and concepts. The major goal of the essay is to respond to a query.
4. In an article, we need charts, photographs, statistical data, etc., to create a masterpiece. In the essay, we do not need any reports, charts, or photographs.
5. When it comes to articles, we have to follow a particular heading and subheading format. When it comes to essays, there is no need to follow a heading format.
6. Articles are always long in nature and they should cover at least 1500 words at least. Essays are also longer in nature and the word count may reach up to 3000 words.
7. In an article, the conclusion part is not mandatory. In an essay, the conclusion part is mandatory.

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Difference Between Article and Essay

College writing is divided into two types: articles and essays. Despite a few resemblances, they also have significant distinctions respectively to each other. These disparities are premised on layout, intention, and information. Prior to delving into the distinction between those assignments, we should first examine their meanings. Continue reading to understand all terminology and ideas on how to approach creative writing.

General Definitions

Key rules of an article.

This editorial is a form of reporting that appears alongside other posts in a journal, reviews, or other press. It follows a factual and documentary composing pattern. Media, dictionaries, webpages, advertisements, and other blogs also may contain these writings. The layout and information of this text may differ depending on the origin. An opinion column, evaluation, showcase post, university paperwork, and so on are all examples of articles.

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The Concept of an Essay

This assignment is a type of literature in which you classify, assess, and appraise a specific subject or problem. It is a quick, precise type of communication that includes an opening, a body with a few supporting chapters, and a summary. Here you should give an overview, support an assertion, analyze a problem, or expound on a theory. Understand that this text must be a collection of statistical data, evidence, and the author’s thoughts and viewpoints.

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Difference Between Article and Essay

Main difference – article vs essay.

Articles and essays are two forms of academic writing. Though there are certain similarities between them, there are also distinct differences between them. These differences are based on the format, purpose and content. Before looking at the difference between article and essay, let us first look at the definitions of these two words. An essay is a piece of writing that describes, analyzes and evaluates a particular topic whereas an article is a piece of writing that is included with others in a newspaper or other publications. The main difference between article and essay is that an article is written to inform the readers about some concept whereas an essay is usually written in response to a question or proposition .

What is an Article

An article is a piece of writing that is included with others in a newspaper, magazine or other publication . It is a written composition that is nonfiction and prose. Articles can be found in magazines, encyclopedias, websites, newspapers or other publications; the content and the structure of an article may depend on the source. For example, an article can be an editorial, review, feature article, scholarly articles, etc.

Main Difference - Article vs Essay

What is an Essay

An essay is a piece of writing that describes, analyzes and evaluates a certain topic or an issue . It is a brief, concise form of writing that contains an introduction, a body that is comprised of few support paragraphs, and a conclusion. An essay may inform the reader, maintain an argument, analyse an issue or elaborate on a concept. An essay is a combination of statistics, facts and writer’s opinions and views.

Difference Between Article and Essay

Article is a piece of writing that is  included with others in a newspaper, magazine or other publication.

Essay is a short piece of writing on a particular subject.

Article is written to inform the readers about some concept.

Essay is generally written as a response to a question or proposition.

Articles follow heading and subheadings format.

Essays are not written under headings and subheadings.

Articles do not require citations or references.

Essays require citations and references.

Visual Effects

Articles are often accompanied by photographs, charts and graphs.

Essays do not require photographs.

Articles are objective as they merely describe a topic.

Difference Between Article and Essay- infographic

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how to difference between essay and article

The Difference Between an Article and an Essay

how to difference between essay and article

The terms “essay” and “article” are often used interchangeably by many people, but there is a distinct difference between the two. While both essays and articles are written to inform readers, there are some key differences between the two.

Essays are typically longer and more in-depth than articles. They are usually written to present an argument to persuade readers of a certain point of view. Essays are usually structured in an organized and formal manner, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Essays often focus on analysis, argument, and persuasion rather than simply providing information.

In contrast, articles are generally more concise than essays. They are written to give readers a broad overview of a topic or issue. Articles are typically written in a more informal and conversational style, and they are often broken up into different sections to make them easier to read. The focus of articles is usually on providing information rather than analysis or persuasion.

Another key difference between essays and articles is how the material is referenced. Essays often require in-text citations and a bibliography to back up the writer’s argument. Articles, on the other hand, typically do not require such citations and bibliographies.

In conclusion, although essays and articles are written to inform the reader, the two have many differences. Essays are longer, more in-depth, and focus on analysis, argument, and persuasion. Articles are shorter, more concise, and focus on providing information. How the material is referenced also differs between essays and articles. Understanding the differences between the two will help ensure you can create the type of writing appropriate for your particular assignment.   

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Article vs Essay: Difference and Comparison

how to difference between essay and article

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Articles and Essays are two different types of Compositions in the English language. They are written for other purposes, have different writing formats, and target a diverse readership.

Key Takeaways An article is a piece of writing that provides information, analysis, or commentary on a specific topic, intended for publication in newspapers, magazines, or online platforms; an essay is a more formal, structured piece of writing that presents an argument or analysis on a particular subject, for academic or professional purposes. Articles are shorter, more straightforward, and written for a broader audience. At the same time, essays are longer, more in-depth, and targeted toward a specific readership, such as academics or professionals in a given field. Both articles and essays are forms of written communication. Still, articles aim to inform, entertain, or provide commentary, while essays present a well-reasoned argument or analysis on a specific topic.

Article vs Essay

An article is a piece of writing that is published in a newspaper, magazine, or website, providing information, analysis, or opinion on a specific topic or issue. An essay is a longer piece of writing that explores a specific topic or idea in more depth and can be formal or informal.

Article vs Essay

An Article is a written piece meant to be published in print mediums like newspapers, magazines, and journals or an electronic medium like websites. These are written from a neutral point of view, that is, the third person, and are meant for a large readership.

On the other hand, an Essay is a form of literary composition through which the writer or narrator expresses their views or opinions on a particular topic or question. Such expression may be overt or covert. However, the term Essay is used to cover any literary composition.

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Whether it is meant for sharing information or expressing one’s personal views, or simply narrating a story doesn’t matter.

Nonetheless, an Essay differs from other literary compositions because it follows a particular line of thought that is ordered, coherent, and reflects the writer’s mind.

Comparison Table

Parameter of ComparisonArticleEssay
DefinitionIt is a written composition to be published in newspapers, journals, magazines, websites, etc.It is a literary composition, written in prose, to describe and analyze any subject.
Point of viewObjectiveSubjective
ReadershipWritten with a target readership in mind.They are not written with a specific readership in mind.
Accompanied byStatistical data, reports and charts, photographs, etc.No photographs, charts, reports, etc., are required.
FormatSubheadings are required. Citations are not necessary.Subheadings are not used. References and Citations are required.

What is Article?

An Article is a form of composition written for a large readership to disseminate information on a particular topic. It is meant to be published in print or electronic media.

It tends to be objective and based on facts and is written in the third person.

An article’s theme or topic can be based on current issues or a subject of the writer’s interest. However, it is meant to catch the reader’s attention and, therefore, uses conspicuous headings and subheadings.

Some of the objectives of writing an article are:

  • To bring out specific themes and subjects to the reader’s attention.
  • To share information on particular topics and issues.
  •  To give suggestions and advice.
  • To persuade the readers to think in a certain way keeping in mind the facts and information presented.
  • To discuss certain persons, issues, places, stories, etc.

The following steps are to be followed while writing an article:

  • Title/Heading: A title should be given to arrest the reader’s attention , which needs to be brief yet suggestive of the article’s theme.
  • Introduction: The opening part must distinctly give a brief outline of the topic so that the article’s theme is intelligible to the readers. Also, a strong opening statement addressing the readers may serve as a plus point.
  • Body: It is the central portion of the article and is supposed to give an elaborate description and explanation of the article’s theme. While dealing with this part, the ideas and thought process of the writer must be as straightforward as possible so that the information presented in the article is perceptible to the readers.
  • Conclusion: It is the end of the article and is supposed to summarize the argument presented throughout it with a comment or a suggestion.

Article

What is Essay?

It is a form of literary work written in prose and tends to express one’s ideas and views on a particular subject. In its present form, the term has been derived from the French word essayer, which means ‘to try or attempt.’

It was first used by Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) – a French author who used the term to refer to his literary works. He said these were ‘attempts’ on his part to express his views and ideas.

However, the term’s origin can be traced back to the Latin word exagium, meaning ‘to present one’s case.’ Therefore, composing an essay involves stating the reasons behind a particular case or an argument through analysis, contemplation, and interpretation.

Essays may be formal, exhibiting characteristics like seriousness, unity, dignity, and orderly organization, or informal showcasing features like individuality, humor, sophisticated style, and novelty.

The composition of an essay is a creative and continuous process. So, it cannot be restricted within a particular structure.

However, following a basic structure to keep the unity and orderly arrangement of a particular line of thought intact is beneficial.

That would make the essay perceptible and exciting for the readers.

The following are the components of an essay:

  • Title: It should be brief but suggestive of the theme of the Essay.
  • Introduction: The introductory part must be eye-catching and pertinent to the subject. It can be made interesting using proverbs, quotations, a brief story, or a general remark leading up to the subject.
  • Body: This is the central portion of the essay. The house to which the introduction is the front door, and the conclusion is the back door or exit. While dealing with this part, one should ensure that due weight is given to each paragraph. They should be related to one another and logically arranged to reflect consistency and continuity in the presented line of thought.
  • Conclusion: It is essential to make this part effective and satisfying. For that, the arguments presented in the essay must be summed up with a conclusion comprising a quotation or a striking expression.

Essay

Main Differences Between Article and Essay

  • Articles and Essays are two different forms of written compositions. An article is written to publish either in print media like newspapers, journals, magazines, etc., or in an electronic medium. At the same time, an essay is written to describe or analyze a particular subject.
  • An article is mainly written from an objective point of view; therefore, various views and thoughts are combined in a particular piece of writing. While an Essay reflects the subjective views and opinions of the writer and hence, follows a single and coherent line of thought.
  • Various headings and subheadings are used to make an article exciting and readable. However, sub-headings, bullet points, etc., are not used in Essay writing. This is done to provide unity and continuity in the line of thought expressed in the composition.
  • Essays are not written with a particular objective or readership in mind. They are written to express particular views, observations, reflections, and criticisms. At the same time, a particular objective and a target readership define an Article and distinguish it from an Essay.
  • An article tends to be objective and fact-based and therefore needs to be backed by statistical data, charts, reports, and photographs. Conversely, Essays need citations and references and not be backed by data, reports, and photographs.

Difference Between Article and Essay

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What’s The Difference Between An Article, A Paper, And An Essay? (Detailed Analysis)

School and college life revolves around different types of writing, including opinion articles, review articles, research papers, and essays. Each of these has a different length, structure, and level of research.

You can write articles on various topics and niches if you gather enough information. It is possible to format an interview into an article so that it can be published in a magazine or online publication.

A paper, on the other hand, is longer than an essay or article, and one must follow a specific sequence. There is an abstract at the beginning, followed by a paragraph, a conclusion, and citations at the end. 

There are a few paragraphs in the essay, all of which should be transitioned smoothly. The purpose of the essay is to persuade the reader through your logic and ideas. Different types of essays require different thoughts and writing processes. 

This article is all about differentiating between an article, paper, and essay, so if it interests you, stick around while we explore these topics.   Let’s get into it .

Page Contents

What Is An Article?

Articles are read by thousands of people around the globe and are generally written to educate people about something they’re unaware of. They are either published on an online website, magazine, or newspaper.

In the article, the writer expresses his or her perspective on a certain topic. The articles, mainly, are written to make people aware of a particular topic. 

What is an article?

Instructional articles include “how-to topics”. Interestingly, Google is crowded with this type of content. Look at these examples: 
The objective of this type of article is to convince the reader. 
Educating the reader is the main reason for generating these articles. These types of articles mostly help readers solve a specific problem. 
The components of a review article are similar to the research paper. Both start with an abstract, and an introduction and are always winded up on a conclusion. 

What Is A Paper? 

The purpose of writing a research paper is to fill the gaps other authors left while writing on a similar topic.

There’s a structure that one must follow while writing a paper . Before writing a paper, make sure you’ve read the relevant papers.

Another important step is knowing your audience. It’s worth noting that the papers have a different outline of the paper than the essay or article. 

What is a research paper?

Structure of the Paper 

  • Introduction
  • Literature review
  • Methodology
  • References 

Steps To Write A Paper 

  • First of all, you need to pick a topic that you’re interested in. Choosing a topic you’re not interested in is never a good idea. 
  • Read at least five relevant papers. There’s no need to read the papers thoroughly; you should only go through the abstract part, the introduction paragraph, and the conclusion.
  • Write down the findings and gaps that you can work on. Most of your writing covers areas that other papers do not cover. 
  • The paper always starts with an introduction. Your thesis statement also goes here. 
  • Since the body part of a paper is almost 8 to 12 pages, you can add as many paragraphs as you want. 
  • In the end, you conclude your findings and give references to the sources. 

What Is An Essay?

The word essay originates from the Latin word ‘exagium’ which refers to the presentation of the case .

An essay is all about giving a verdict on the issue after looking at all sides of the topic with an open mind. However, you need to consider all the evidence . 

Essay writing comes with tremendous benefits. It builds a habit of looking at topics from various angles. Additionally, you get an opportunity to express your opinion after thorough research. 

There are three parts to the essay: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. 

Introduction 

One has to catch the reader’s attention from the first line of the introduction. The purpose of this is to arouse curiosity, which then leads your readers to read more.

In the introduction section, you give a little bit of an overview of the topic you’re writing about. It gives readers an insight into what’s coming next .

This would prevent most people from reading the bottom of your essay. Therefore, it’s really important to keep your audience hooked and curious.

Starting the introduction with some statistics or research findings is the best way to accomplish this. The most important thing to write in the introduction is the thesis statement. 

When writing a paragraph in the body section, it’s important to keep sentences linked with each other. They must be coherent.

There should also be backing to your ideas from some relevant studies or sources. The best way to do this is by citing quotations, statistics, and research papers.

Additionally, you should never include irrelevant data in your essay. 

The conclusion part includes a summary of the whole essay. You also write your findings or main points in this section of the essay. 

Is the Article Different From The Essay? 

There is always a thesis statement in an essay, along with reliable sources supporting the argument whereas an article solely represents your idea or opinion.

You’ll see very few articles that are written to persuade someone, while essays are only meant to persuade the readers. 

Is Article Different From The Essay? 

The tone and the structure of the article are indeed different from the essay. The articles are written in simple English, so users of all ages will be able to understand them.

The length of both pieces of writing also differs. There is no limit to the word count when writing an article. An essay can be as long as a page or as short as a paragraph.

It is recommended that an essay be between 1500 and 2000 words in length. 

Articles, Papers, and Essays: Differences and Similarities

 
 It can be as short as a paragraph and as long as an essay.The length of a paper is between 8 to 15 pages. The word count of an essay falls between 1500 to 2000 words. 
 The tone of the article depends on the niche you’re writing in. It can either be formal or informal. The tone of the paper is scholarly. Like other academic writings, the tone of the essay is formal unless you’re writing with humor.
  • Articles, papers, and essays have different purposes in academic and professional writing.
  • Articles inform readers on diverse topics. They engagingly present the author’s viewpoint. They’re often found in magazines or online platforms.
  • Research papers have sections like abstracts, introductions, reviews, methodologies, findings, and conclusions. They aim to fill gaps in the literature .
  • Essays look at different sides of a topic. They give a conclusion backed by facts and careful thinking.
  • Articles can be long or short and can be written in many different ways. Papers need a lot of research and must sound serious and smart. Essays use smart arguments to convince people.
  • These are different types of writing with different lengths, tones, and reasons for writing. Essays try to convince people of something. Papers are written to share information. Articles give people information that’s easy to understand.
  • Knowing these differences is crucial. It helps you communicate well especially when you’re doing school or college work.
  • There are different types of academic writing. Each type has its purpose. They each have different ways to make things easy to understand.
  • When you get the little details of these types of writing, it makes it easier to understand how they work. This helps both in school and at work.

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The Difference between an Essay and an Article

Imagine opening your favorite entertainment magazine or your local newspaper and finding a collection of essays. How long, in that case, would the money you spend on magazines and newspapers be considered part of your entertainment budget?

Essay vs. Article

Articles can be informative and not all of them are entertaining. However, it's more likely to find articles in magazines that offer entertainment for readers than an essay.

The most notable difference between an essay and an article is the tone. Essays traditionally are subjective pieces of formal writing that offers an analysis of a specific topic. In other words, an essay writer studies, researches, and forms a factually-based opinion on the topic in order to inform others about their ideas.

An article is traditionally objective instead of subjective. Writing an article doesn't always require that an opinion to be formed and expressed, and there's no requirement that an analysis be offered about the information being presented.

Scroll through a copy of Cosmopolitan, National Geographic, and today's edition of your local newspaper, and you'll get a sense of how articles can be structured in numerous different ways. Some include headings and subheadings along with accompanying photos to paint a picture for the reader to form their own thoughts and opinions about the subject of an article.

Essays, however, have more strict guidelines on structure depending on which type of essay a writer has chosen. Traditionally, readers will see an introductory paragraph that presents a thesis statement, body paragraphs with topic sentences that relate back to and flesh out the thesis, and a conclusion with the author's take on the information presented.

Entertainment Factor

While narrative essays can tell entertaining stories, it is articles that are most often included in magazines and newspapers to keep their subscribers informed and reading.

It's up to the writer of an article what message they want to convey. Sometimes that message is informative and sometimes it's humorous. For an essay writer, it's all about learning as much as possible about a topic, forming an opinion, and describing how they came to that opinion and why.

You're not likely to find essays in entertainment magazines. A person seeking in-depth information on a subject is going to seek out an essay, while a person looking for an entertaining piece of writing that allows them to draw their own conclusions will be more likely to seek out an article.

how to difference between essay and article

What’s The Difference Between An Article A Paper And An Essay

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Table of Contents

When it comes to writing, you may wonder what the difference is between an essay, article, and paper. Even the most experienced writers sometimes confuse these terms, but once you understand what they represent, you’ll be able to choose which kind of writing suits your purposes best. With a little help from an essay writer service, you can be certain that each one of your pieces of writing will be polished and ready to impress upon completion.

Introduction

There are three main types of academic writing: essays, articles, and papers. While these categories are similar, there are some major differences. This post will help you identify what separates these terms from one another. Here’s a quick breakdown of each type of academic writing.

Essay vs. Article vs. Paper

Why are they different? What’s in a title? We hear them used all of the time interchangeably in different contexts, but what makes these three so different from one another? To understand how essay writing differs from articles and papers, we need to look at how each differs from another. So let’s get started by exploring some of their main differences: Essay vs. Article vs. Paper – Key Differences 1. Length 2. Subject Matter 3. Author 4. Purpose 5. Audience.

Essays are typically 1–3 pages long. Articles vary in length but run longer than essays. Papers typically range from 10 to 15 pages or more. It’s important to note that essay writer services have very different writing styles. Some writers write with a conversational tone, while others use a formal style for essays and articles. The best way to figure out which type of writing fits your needs is by looking at samples of their work or asking them about their process.

  The three types of writing are intended for different purposes. The purpose is often reflected in both length and tone. For example, a paper is generally longer than an essay or an article because it must be more comprehensive. It also tends to be more formal because it’s intended to be read by experts in a particular field (e.g., doctors reading a medical journal). On the other hand, an essay is usually shorter than a paper because it doesn’t have to cover as much ground and can take a more casual tone since it’s not necessarily directed at experts. Finally, articles tend to fall between essays and papers in terms of length, formality, and audience (i.e., they’re generally shorter than papers but longer than essays).

The difference between essays, articles, and papers can be found in the audience. In other words, you will write them for different people and in different situations. If you need to explain something (from a textbook or another piece of writing) or if you are explaining a procedure to someone new to that topic, then your best bet would be to write an essay. Alternatively, if your purpose is simply to inform someone about something they might find interesting, articles would do just fine. Finally, if you want to share some information with a large group of people with similar interests, then a paper would be your choice. So which one should you choose? It depends on what exactly it is that you want to achieve with your writing.

Subject Matter

There are a few distinct differences in subject matter for these different types of written work. Essays should be focused and concise; articles cover a broader scope. For example, if you were writing about gun control in America from a historical standpoint, your essay would focus on one distinct period throughout American history (likely before modern times), while your articles could each look at a different time during which gun laws were passed, enacted or changed. Papers are similar to essays in that they have a narrow focus, but papers typically take on more of an academic tone than essays do. Papers may also have footnotes, bibliographies, and other citations within them. It’s important to note that there isn’t always a clear distinction between essay and paper; some papers can even read like essays!

Unlike essays and articles, papers do not focus on a single topic. Papers are meant to convey complex information that may have been derived from numerous sources of information. Papers are also typically longer than essays or articles, ranging from five to more than 20 pages in length. This makes papers a relatively demanding form of academic writing. While essays often focus on personal reflections or observations, papers delve into specific topics with objective research findings drawn from secondary sources such as newspapers, journals, or books. An essay writer can be anyone who writes essays for money. An essay writer can be someone who has experience working with students in high school, college, or university-level institutions.

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A comprehensive guide to crafting a successful comparison essay.

How to write comparison essay

Comparison essays are a common assignment in academic settings, requiring students to analyze and contrast two or more subjects, concepts, or ideas. Writing a comparison essay can be challenging, but with the right approach and guidance, you can craft a compelling and informative piece of writing.

In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with valuable tips and examples to help you master the art of comparison essay writing. Whether you’re comparing two literary works, historical events, scientific theories, or any other topics, this guide will equip you with the tools and strategies needed to create a well-structured and persuasive essay.

From choosing a suitable topic and developing a strong thesis statement to organizing your arguments and incorporating effective evidence, this guide will walk you through each step of the writing process. By following the advice and examples provided here, you’ll be able to produce a top-notch comparison essay that showcases your analytical skills and critical thinking abilities.

Understanding the Basics

Before diving into writing a comparison essay, it’s essential to understand the basics of comparison writing. A comparison essay, also known as a comparative essay, requires you to analyze two or more subjects by highlighting their similarities and differences. This type of essay aims to show how these subjects are similar or different in various aspects.

When writing a comparison essay, you should have a clear thesis statement that identifies the subjects you are comparing and the main points of comparison. It’s essential to structure your essay effectively by organizing your ideas logically. You can use different methods of organization, such as the block method or point-by-point method, to present your comparisons.

Additionally, make sure to include evidence and examples to support your comparisons. Use specific details and examples to strengthen your arguments and clarify the similarities and differences between the subjects. Lastly, remember to provide a strong conclusion that summarizes your main points and reinforces the significance of your comparison.

Choosing a Topic for Comparison Essay

When selecting a topic for your comparison essay, it’s essential to choose two subjects that have some similarities and differences to explore. You can compare two books, two movies, two historical figures, two theories, or any other pair of related subjects.

Consider selecting topics that interest you or that you are familiar with to make the writing process more engaging and manageable. Additionally, ensure that the subjects you choose are suitable for comparison and have enough material for analysis.

It’s also helpful to brainstorm ideas and create a list of potential topics before making a final decision. Once you have a few options in mind, evaluate them based on the relevance of the comparison, the availability of credible sources, and your own interest in the subjects.

Remember that a well-chosen topic is one of the keys to writing a successful comparison essay, so take your time to select subjects that will allow you to explore meaningful connections and differences in a compelling way.

Finding the Right Pairing

When writing a comparison essay, it’s crucial to find the right pairing of subjects to compare. Choose subjects that have enough similarities and differences to make a meaningful comparison. Consider the audience and purpose of your essay to determine what pairing will be most effective.

Look for subjects that you are passionate about or have a deep understanding of. This will make the writing process easier and more engaging. Additionally, consider choosing subjects that are relevant and timely, as this will make your essay more interesting to readers.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when finding the right pairing. Sometimes unexpected combinations can lead to the most compelling comparisons. Conduct thorough research on both subjects to ensure you have enough material to work with and present a balanced comparison.

Structuring Your Comparison Essay

When writing a comparison essay, it is essential to organize your ideas in a clear and logical manner. One effective way to structure your essay is to use a point-by-point comparison or a block comparison format.

Point-by-Point Comparison Block Comparison
In this format, you will discuss one point of comparison between the two subjects before moving on to the next point. In this format, you will discuss all the points related to one subject before moving on to the next subject.
Allows for a more detailed analysis of each point of comparison. Provides a clear and structured comparison of the two subjects.
Can be helpful when the subjects have multiple similarities and differences to explore. May be easier to follow for readers who prefer a side-by-side comparison of the subjects.

Whichever format you choose, make sure to introduce your subjects, present your points of comparison, provide evidence or examples to support your comparisons, and conclude by summarizing the main points and highlighting the significance of your comparison.

Creating a Clear Outline

Before you start writing your comparison essay, it’s essential to create a clear outline. An outline serves as a roadmap that helps you stay organized and focused throughout the writing process. Here are some steps to create an effective outline:

1. Identify the subjects of comparison: Start by determining the two subjects you will be comparing in your essay. Make sure they have enough similarities and differences to make a meaningful comparison.

2. Brainstorm key points: Once you have chosen the subjects, brainstorm the key points you want to compare and contrast. These could include characteristics, features, themes, or arguments related to each subject.

3. Organize your points: Arrange your key points in a logical order. You can choose to compare similar points side by side or alternate between the two subjects to highlight differences.

4. Develop a thesis statement: Based on your key points, develop a clear thesis statement that states the main purpose of your comparison essay. This statement should guide the rest of your writing and provide a clear direction for your argument.

5. Create a structure: Divide your essay into introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each section should serve a specific purpose and contribute to the overall coherence of your essay.

By creating a clear outline, you can ensure that your comparison essay flows smoothly and effectively communicates your ideas to the reader.

Engaging the Reader

When writing a comparison essay, it is crucial to engage the reader right from the beginning. You want to hook their attention and make them want to keep reading. Here are some tips to engage your reader:

  • Start with a strong opening statement or question that entices the reader to continue reading.
  • Use vivid language and descriptive imagery to paint a clear picture in the reader’s mind.
  • Provide interesting facts or statistics that pique the reader’s curiosity.
  • Create a compelling thesis statement that outlines the purpose of your comparison essay.

By engaging the reader from the start, you set the stage for a successful and impactful comparison essay that keeps the reader engaged until the very end.

Point-by-Point vs Block Method

Point-by-Point vs Block Method

When writing a comparison essay, you have two main options for structuring your content: the point-by-point method and the block method. Each method has its own advantages and may be more suitable depending on the type of comparison you are making.

  • Point-by-Point Method: This method involves discussing one point of comparison at a time between the two subjects. You will go back and forth between the subjects, highlighting similarities and differences for each point. This method allows for a more detailed and nuanced analysis of the subjects.
  • Block Method: In contrast, the block method involves discussing all the points related to one subject first, followed by all the points related to the second subject. This method provides a more straightforward and organized comparison but may not delve as deeply into the individual points of comparison.

Ultimately, the choice between the point-by-point and block methods depends on the complexity of your comparison and the level of detail you want to explore. Experiment with both methods to see which one best suits your writing style and the specific requirements of your comparison essay.

Selecting the Best Approach

When it comes to writing a comparison essay, selecting the best approach is crucial to ensure a successful and effective comparison. There are several approaches you can take when comparing two subjects, including the block method and the point-by-point method.

The block method: This approach involves discussing all the similarities and differences of one subject first, followed by a thorough discussion of the second subject. This method is useful when the two subjects being compared are quite different or when the reader may not be familiar with one of the subjects.

The point-by-point method: This approach involves alternating between discussing the similarities and differences of the two subjects in each paragraph. This method allows for a more in-depth comparison of specific points and is often preferred when the two subjects have many similarities and differences.

Before selecting an approach, consider the nature of the subjects being compared and the purpose of your comparison essay. Choose the approach that will best serve your purpose and allow for a clear, organized, and engaging comparison.

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Difference Between Article and Essay

Articles and essays are both common forms of written communication that are utilized in a variety of sectors of study and vocations. Their goal, organization, and writing style, however, differ.

Difference Between Article and Essay

Articles are pieces of text that are published in a newspaper, magazine, journal, or website, either in print or electronically. It is intended for a big audience. It is founded on surveys, research, data, and analysis, among other things. Articles can be short or somewhat more than 1500 words. It is written with a certain goal in mind and teaches the readers about an idea.

Articles inform readers and keep them up to date by appearing in newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, and, increasingly, websites. Let us use an example to better understand what an article is. Assume that in a research center, a scientist discovered any new notions and published a brief essay in a popular magazine, so that individuals in the same area found it useful and were also informed about a new thing.

Examples of articles include news articles, feature articles, and opinion pieces.

An essay is a formal and comprehensive piece of literature that describes a particular issue or topic analyzed and discussed. It refers to a short piece of writing on a particular subject. Mainly students in their academics are asked to write essays on some topics as a response to a question or proposition. It does not have a specific readership in mind.

Through essays, the writer or narrator expresses his or her personal views or opinion on a particular topic or a question and it is based on an educational and analytical tone. Let’s take an example and understand what is essay clearly suppose a school student has an exam and in the question paper he has been asked to write something explaining about Floods in India which is an example of an essay.

Examples of essays include academic essays, personal essays, and argumentative essays.

Tabular Differences between Article and Essay:

Written on a specific topic. Expresses the author’s opinion on a particular topic.
Informative in nature Persuasive in nature
Usually published in a magazine, newspaper, or website. Can be published in various formats, such as a book or academic journal.
Can be written in a formal or informal style. Can be written in a formal or informal style.
Can vary in length from a few hundred to a few thousand words Can vary in length from a few paragraphs to several pages.
The article has a target readership. An essay has no specific readership.
Articles are slightly long may be up to 1500 words. Essays may be very long and may contain up to 3000 words.
Articles follow the heading and subheading format. Essays may or may not follow the heading and subheading format.
Citation and Reference are not required. Citation and Reference are required.
It is short and a descriptive account of something or some topic.  It is a long account of an event or a concept or a historical happening
Examples: 5 Tips for Traveling on a Budget, The Benefits of Yoga, The Rise of Veganism Examples: The Importance of Budget Travel, Why I Became a Vegan, The Importance of Budget Travel

Conclusion:

In summary, articles and essays are two different forms of written communication that serve different purposes. Articles are used to provide information about a particular topic, while essays are used to express personal opinions or persuade the reader to take a certain course of action. Understanding the differences between the two can help you choose the appropriate format for your writing task.

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Comparing and Contrasting

What this handout is about.

This handout will help you first to determine whether a particular assignment is asking for comparison/contrast and then to generate a list of similarities and differences, decide which similarities and differences to focus on, and organize your paper so that it will be clear and effective. It will also explain how you can (and why you should) develop a thesis that goes beyond “Thing A and Thing B are similar in many ways but different in others.”

Introduction

In your career as a student, you’ll encounter many different kinds of writing assignments, each with its own requirements. One of the most common is the comparison/contrast essay, in which you focus on the ways in which certain things or ideas—usually two of them—are similar to (this is the comparison) and/or different from (this is the contrast) one another. By assigning such essays, your instructors are encouraging you to make connections between texts or ideas, engage in critical thinking, and go beyond mere description or summary to generate interesting analysis: when you reflect on similarities and differences, you gain a deeper understanding of the items you are comparing, their relationship to each other, and what is most important about them.

Recognizing comparison/contrast in assignments

Some assignments use words—like compare, contrast, similarities, and differences—that make it easy for you to see that they are asking you to compare and/or contrast. Here are a few hypothetical examples:

  • Compare and contrast Frye’s and Bartky’s accounts of oppression.
  • Compare WWI to WWII, identifying similarities in the causes, development, and outcomes of the wars.
  • Contrast Wordsworth and Coleridge; what are the major differences in their poetry?

Notice that some topics ask only for comparison, others only for contrast, and others for both.

But it’s not always so easy to tell whether an assignment is asking you to include comparison/contrast. And in some cases, comparison/contrast is only part of the essay—you begin by comparing and/or contrasting two or more things and then use what you’ve learned to construct an argument or evaluation. Consider these examples, noticing the language that is used to ask for the comparison/contrast and whether the comparison/contrast is only one part of a larger assignment:

  • Choose a particular idea or theme, such as romantic love, death, or nature, and consider how it is treated in two Romantic poems.
  • How do the different authors we have studied so far define and describe oppression?
  • Compare Frye’s and Bartky’s accounts of oppression. What does each imply about women’s collusion in their own oppression? Which is more accurate?
  • In the texts we’ve studied, soldiers who served in different wars offer differing accounts of their experiences and feelings both during and after the fighting. What commonalities are there in these accounts? What factors do you think are responsible for their differences?

You may want to check out our handout on understanding assignments for additional tips.

Using comparison/contrast for all kinds of writing projects

Sometimes you may want to use comparison/contrast techniques in your own pre-writing work to get ideas that you can later use for an argument, even if comparison/contrast isn’t an official requirement for the paper you’re writing. For example, if you wanted to argue that Frye’s account of oppression is better than both de Beauvoir’s and Bartky’s, comparing and contrasting the main arguments of those three authors might help you construct your evaluation—even though the topic may not have asked for comparison/contrast and the lists of similarities and differences you generate may not appear anywhere in the final draft of your paper.

Discovering similarities and differences

Making a Venn diagram or a chart can help you quickly and efficiently compare and contrast two or more things or ideas. To make a Venn diagram, simply draw some overlapping circles, one circle for each item you’re considering. In the central area where they overlap, list the traits the two items have in common. Assign each one of the areas that doesn’t overlap; in those areas, you can list the traits that make the things different. Here’s a very simple example, using two pizza places:

Venn diagram indicating that both Pepper's and Amante serve pizza with unusual ingredients at moderate prices, despite differences in location, wait times, and delivery options

To make a chart, figure out what criteria you want to focus on in comparing the items. Along the left side of the page, list each of the criteria. Across the top, list the names of the items. You should then have a box per item for each criterion; you can fill the boxes in and then survey what you’ve discovered.

Here’s an example, this time using three pizza places:

Pepper’s Amante Papa John’s
Location
Price
Delivery
Ingredients
Service
Seating/eating in
Coupons

As you generate points of comparison, consider the purpose and content of the assignment and the focus of the class. What do you think the professor wants you to learn by doing this comparison/contrast? How does it fit with what you have been studying so far and with the other assignments in the course? Are there any clues about what to focus on in the assignment itself?

Here are some general questions about different types of things you might have to compare. These are by no means complete or definitive lists; they’re just here to give you some ideas—you can generate your own questions for these and other types of comparison. You may want to begin by using the questions reporters traditionally ask: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? If you’re talking about objects, you might also consider general properties like size, shape, color, sound, weight, taste, texture, smell, number, duration, and location.

Two historical periods or events

  • When did they occur—do you know the date(s) and duration? What happened or changed during each? Why are they significant?
  • What kinds of work did people do? What kinds of relationships did they have? What did they value?
  • What kinds of governments were there? Who were important people involved?
  • What caused events in these periods, and what consequences did they have later on?

Two ideas or theories

  • What are they about?
  • Did they originate at some particular time?
  • Who created them? Who uses or defends them?
  • What is the central focus, claim, or goal of each? What conclusions do they offer?
  • How are they applied to situations/people/things/etc.?
  • Which seems more plausible to you, and why? How broad is their scope?
  • What kind of evidence is usually offered for them?

Two pieces of writing or art

  • What are their titles? What do they describe or depict?
  • What is their tone or mood? What is their form?
  • Who created them? When were they created? Why do you think they were created as they were? What themes do they address?
  • Do you think one is of higher quality or greater merit than the other(s)—and if so, why?
  • For writing: what plot, characterization, setting, theme, tone, and type of narration are used?
  • Where are they from? How old are they? What is the gender, race, class, etc. of each?
  • What, if anything, are they known for? Do they have any relationship to each other?
  • What are they like? What did/do they do? What do they believe? Why are they interesting?
  • What stands out most about each of them?

Deciding what to focus on

By now you have probably generated a huge list of similarities and differences—congratulations! Next you must decide which of them are interesting, important, and relevant enough to be included in your paper. Ask yourself these questions:

  • What’s relevant to the assignment?
  • What’s relevant to the course?
  • What’s interesting and informative?
  • What matters to the argument you are going to make?
  • What’s basic or central (and needs to be mentioned even if obvious)?
  • Overall, what’s more important—the similarities or the differences?

Suppose that you are writing a paper comparing two novels. For most literature classes, the fact that they both use Caslon type (a kind of typeface, like the fonts you may use in your writing) is not going to be relevant, nor is the fact that one of them has a few illustrations and the other has none; literature classes are more likely to focus on subjects like characterization, plot, setting, the writer’s style and intentions, language, central themes, and so forth. However, if you were writing a paper for a class on typesetting or on how illustrations are used to enhance novels, the typeface and presence or absence of illustrations might be absolutely critical to include in your final paper.

Sometimes a particular point of comparison or contrast might be relevant but not terribly revealing or interesting. For example, if you are writing a paper about Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey” and Coleridge’s “Frost at Midnight,” pointing out that they both have nature as a central theme is relevant (comparisons of poetry often talk about themes) but not terribly interesting; your class has probably already had many discussions about the Romantic poets’ fondness for nature. Talking about the different ways nature is depicted or the different aspects of nature that are emphasized might be more interesting and show a more sophisticated understanding of the poems.

Your thesis

The thesis of your comparison/contrast paper is very important: it can help you create a focused argument and give your reader a road map so they don’t get lost in the sea of points you are about to make. As in any paper, you will want to replace vague reports of your general topic (for example, “This paper will compare and contrast two pizza places,” or “Pepper’s and Amante are similar in some ways and different in others,” or “Pepper’s and Amante are similar in many ways, but they have one major difference”) with something more detailed and specific. For example, you might say, “Pepper’s and Amante have similar prices and ingredients, but their atmospheres and willingness to deliver set them apart.”

Be careful, though—although this thesis is fairly specific and does propose a simple argument (that atmosphere and delivery make the two pizza places different), your instructor will often be looking for a bit more analysis. In this case, the obvious question is “So what? Why should anyone care that Pepper’s and Amante are different in this way?” One might also wonder why the writer chose those two particular pizza places to compare—why not Papa John’s, Dominos, or Pizza Hut? Again, thinking about the context the class provides may help you answer such questions and make a stronger argument. Here’s a revision of the thesis mentioned earlier:

Pepper’s and Amante both offer a greater variety of ingredients than other Chapel Hill/Carrboro pizza places (and than any of the national chains), but the funky, lively atmosphere at Pepper’s makes it a better place to give visiting friends and family a taste of local culture.

You may find our handout on constructing thesis statements useful at this stage.

Organizing your paper

There are many different ways to organize a comparison/contrast essay. Here are two:

Subject-by-subject

Begin by saying everything you have to say about the first subject you are discussing, then move on and make all the points you want to make about the second subject (and after that, the third, and so on, if you’re comparing/contrasting more than two things). If the paper is short, you might be able to fit all of your points about each item into a single paragraph, but it’s more likely that you’d have several paragraphs per item. Using our pizza place comparison/contrast as an example, after the introduction, you might have a paragraph about the ingredients available at Pepper’s, a paragraph about its location, and a paragraph about its ambience. Then you’d have three similar paragraphs about Amante, followed by your conclusion.

The danger of this subject-by-subject organization is that your paper will simply be a list of points: a certain number of points (in my example, three) about one subject, then a certain number of points about another. This is usually not what college instructors are looking for in a paper—generally they want you to compare or contrast two or more things very directly, rather than just listing the traits the things have and leaving it up to the reader to reflect on how those traits are similar or different and why those similarities or differences matter. Thus, if you use the subject-by-subject form, you will probably want to have a very strong, analytical thesis and at least one body paragraph that ties all of your different points together.

A subject-by-subject structure can be a logical choice if you are writing what is sometimes called a “lens” comparison, in which you use one subject or item (which isn’t really your main topic) to better understand another item (which is). For example, you might be asked to compare a poem you’ve already covered thoroughly in class with one you are reading on your own. It might make sense to give a brief summary of your main ideas about the first poem (this would be your first subject, the “lens”), and then spend most of your paper discussing how those points are similar to or different from your ideas about the second.

Point-by-point

Rather than addressing things one subject at a time, you may wish to talk about one point of comparison at a time. There are two main ways this might play out, depending on how much you have to say about each of the things you are comparing. If you have just a little, you might, in a single paragraph, discuss how a certain point of comparison/contrast relates to all the items you are discussing. For example, I might describe, in one paragraph, what the prices are like at both Pepper’s and Amante; in the next paragraph, I might compare the ingredients available; in a third, I might contrast the atmospheres of the two restaurants.

If I had a bit more to say about the items I was comparing/contrasting, I might devote a whole paragraph to how each point relates to each item. For example, I might have a whole paragraph about the clientele at Pepper’s, followed by a whole paragraph about the clientele at Amante; then I would move on and do two more paragraphs discussing my next point of comparison/contrast—like the ingredients available at each restaurant.

There are no hard and fast rules about organizing a comparison/contrast paper, of course. Just be sure that your reader can easily tell what’s going on! Be aware, too, of the placement of your different points. If you are writing a comparison/contrast in service of an argument, keep in mind that the last point you make is the one you are leaving your reader with. For example, if I am trying to argue that Amante is better than Pepper’s, I should end with a contrast that leaves Amante sounding good, rather than with a point of comparison that I have to admit makes Pepper’s look better. If you’ve decided that the differences between the items you’re comparing/contrasting are most important, you’ll want to end with the differences—and vice versa, if the similarities seem most important to you.

Our handout on organization can help you write good topic sentences and transitions and make sure that you have a good overall structure in place for your paper.

Cue words and other tips

To help your reader keep track of where you are in the comparison/contrast, you’ll want to be sure that your transitions and topic sentences are especially strong. Your thesis should already have given the reader an idea of the points you’ll be making and the organization you’ll be using, but you can help them out with some extra cues. The following words may be helpful to you in signaling your intentions:

  • like, similar to, also, unlike, similarly, in the same way, likewise, again, compared to, in contrast, in like manner, contrasted with, on the contrary, however, although, yet, even though, still, but, nevertheless, conversely, at the same time, regardless, despite, while, on the one hand … on the other hand.

For example, you might have a topic sentence like one of these:

  • Compared to Pepper’s, Amante is quiet.
  • Like Amante, Pepper’s offers fresh garlic as a topping.
  • Despite their different locations (downtown Chapel Hill and downtown Carrboro), Pepper’s and Amante are both fairly easy to get to.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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In the realm of writing, articles, and essays stand as two fundamental forms of expression, each with its unique purpose, structure, and audience. While often used interchangeably, they serve distinct functions and adhere to different conventions.

Articles serve various purposes, ranging from informing and educating readers to entertaining them. They are typically found in newspapers, magazines, journals, and websites, catering to a wide audience. One of the defining characteristics of articles is their reliance on research, data, and analysis to convey information effectively. This distinguishes them from other forms of writing, such as creative fiction or personal narratives.

This article reports on the findings of a recent scientific study highlighting the impact of climate change on wildlife in the Arctic region. It presents factual information about the study's methodology, results, and implications for the environment. In this feature article, the author examines the growing trend of plant-based diets from a health perspective. It provides insights into the benefits of plant-based eating, backed by scientific research and expert opinions. This opinion piece argues for the importance of renewable energy in achieving a sustainable future. The author presents persuasive arguments and supporting evidence to advocate for the adoption of renewable energy sources. This how-to guide offers practical advice and step-by-step instructions for beginners interested in practicing yoga. It explains various yoga poses (asanas) and their benefits for achieving inner peace and physical well-being. Reports on recent events, developments, or newsworthy topics. News articles provide factual information concisely and objectively, often following the inverted pyramid structure with the most important information at the beginning. This type of article explores a specific topic in-depth, providing background information, analysis, and insights. Feature articles are often longer and more detailed than news articles, offering readers a deeper understanding of the subject. An opinion piece presents the author's personal opinion or viewpoint on a particular issue or topic. Opinion pieces may include editorials, columns, or commentary, and they aim to persuade or provoke thought among readers. This type of article provides step-by-step instructions or guidance on how to do something. How-to articles are practical and informative, offering readers actionable advice and tips to achieve a specific goal or outcome. Evaluate and critique a product, service, book, movie, or other cultural artifact. Review articles provide readers with an assessment of the subject's strengths and weaknesses, helping them make informed decisions. This type of article features an interview with a notable individual, expert, or personality. The article may include quotes, insights, and anecdotes from the interviewee, providing readers with valuable information and perspectives. This type of article profiles a person, organization, or group, highlighting their background, achievements, and contributions. It offers readers an in-depth look at the subject's life, career, or impact on society. Presents information in the form of a list, often with brief descriptions or explanations accompanying each item. Listicles are popular for their readability and ability to convey information quickly and succinctly. Articles provide factual information on a particular subject, offering insights, analysis, or updates. They aim to answer the questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how regarding the topic. Typically, articles maintain an objective tone, presenting information without personal bias or opinion. They strive to provide an accurate representation of the subject matter, allowing readers to form their own opinions. Articles are often concise, delivering information efficiently within a limited word count or space. They prioritize clarity and brevity to engage readers and convey key points effectively. They usually follow a clear structure, with headings, subheadings, and paragraphs to organize content logically. This structured format facilitates readability and comprehension for the audience. Articles can take different formats depending on the publication's style and audience. They may include news reports, profiles, reviews, listicles, interviews, and investigative pieces, among others.

Essays, on the other hand, are more reflective and analytical. They delve deeply into a particular topic or issue, exploring various perspectives and arguments. Unlike articles, which aim to inform or entertain a broad audience, essays often target a more specialized readership, such as academics or individuals with a keen interest in the subject matter. Essays can take many forms, including academic essays, personal essays, and argumentative essays. What distinguishes essays from other forms of writing is their emphasis on critical thinking, analysis, and interpretation. They provide a platform for writers to express their opinions, share their experiences, and engage in meaningful discourse with readers.

This argumentative essay explores the effects of social media on the mental health of young people. It presents evidence from psychological studies and real-life examples to argue for the need to strike a balance between online connectivity and mental well-being. In this literary analysis essay, the author examines the use of symbolism in Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby. The essay analyzes various symbols, such as the green light and the Valley of Ashes, to uncover deeper meanings and themes in the text. This persuasive essay advocates for the implementation of universal healthcare as a fundamental right for all citizens. It presents arguments based on economic, social, and ethical considerations to persuade readers of the benefits of accessible and affordable healthcare for societal well-being. This personal reflection essay recounts the author's experiences and insights gained from traveling alone. It explores themes of self-discovery, resilience, and cultural immersion, offering introspective reflections on the transformative power of travel. This type of essay tells a story or recounts a personal experience. It often includes vivid descriptions, sensory details, and a chronological structure to engage the reader. This type of essay focuses on describing a person, place, object, or event in detail. It uses sensory language and imagery to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. An expository essay presents information, explains a topic, or clarifies a concept. It is often used in academic settings to provide analysis, compare and contrast different ideas, or discuss cause-and-effect relationships. This type of essay aims to convince the reader to adopt a particular viewpoint or take a specific action. It uses logical reasoning, evidence, and emotional appeals to support the author's argument. This type of essay is similar to a persuasive essay but with a stronger emphasis on presenting evidence and logical reasoning. Argumentative essays require the author to consider opposing viewpoints and refute counterarguments. This type of essay offers a critical analysis of a literary work, piece of art, or cultural phenomenon. Critical essays evaluate the subject's strengths and weaknesses, often drawing on theories and frameworks from literary criticism or cultural studies. Essays present a central argument or thesis statement supported by evidence, analysis, and reasoning. They aim to persuade readers to accept the author's viewpoint or interpretation of the topic. Unlike articles, essays often reflect the author's voice, personality, and perspective. They allow for a more subjective approach, enabling writers to express their opinions, insights, and emotions. Essays delve deeply into the topic, exploring multiple facets, perspectives, and interpretations. They examine the complexities of the subject matter and provide nuanced insights to enhance understanding. Essays follow a specific structure, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, to convey the argument effectively. This structured format helps organize ideas coherently and guides readers through the logical progression of the argument. Essays typically adhere to a formal writing style, employing academic language, citations, and references. They demonstrate a scholarly approach to the topic and maintain a level of professionalism in presenting arguments and evidence.
Aspect Article Essay
Inform, persuade, or entertain a broad audience Explore a particular idea or argument in depth
More structured with clear sections or headings More flexible, may not include distinct sections
Formal, objective, and factual Personal, subjective, and based on the author's insights
Broad, general public Academic audience or specific reader group
Requires thorough research and often references from credible sources It May or may not involve research, focusing more on personal reflections
Objective and straightforward Personal, reflective, and exploratory
Can range from brief news snippets to long features Usually longer, especially academic essays
Often includes images, charts, graphs Rarely includes images or media, mostly text-based
Simple and straightforward, accessible to a broad audience May use complex language, depending on the topic and audience
Newspapers, magazines, websites Academic journals, anthologies, or standalone books
Informative, factual Argumentative, analytical
Neutral Reflects the author's perspective

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How to Write an Expository Essay | Structure, Tips & Examples

Published on July 14, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

“Expository” means “intended to explain or describe something.” An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a particular topic, process, or set of ideas. It doesn’t set out to prove a point, just to give a balanced view of its subject matter.

Expository essays are usually short assignments intended to test your composition skills or your understanding of a subject. They tend to involve less research and original arguments than argumentative essays .

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Table of contents

When should you write an expository essay, how to approach an expository essay, introducing your essay, writing the body paragraphs, concluding your essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about expository essays.

In school and university, you might have to write expository essays as in-class exercises, exam questions, or coursework assignments.

Sometimes it won’t be directly stated that the assignment is an expository essay, but there are certain keywords that imply expository writing is required. Consider the prompts below.

The word “explain” here is the clue: An essay responding to this prompt should provide an explanation of this historical process—not necessarily an original argument about it.

Sometimes you’ll be asked to define a particular term or concept. This means more than just copying down the dictionary definition; you’ll be expected to explore different ideas surrounding the term, as this prompt emphasizes.

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An expository essay should take an objective approach: It isn’t about your personal opinions or experiences. Instead, your goal is to provide an informative and balanced explanation of your topic. Avoid using the first or second person (“I” or “you”).

The structure of your expository essay will vary according to the scope of your assignment and the demands of your topic. It’s worthwhile to plan out your structure before you start, using an essay outline .

A common structure for a short expository essay consists of five paragraphs: An introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Like all essays, an expository essay begins with an introduction . This serves to hook the reader’s interest, briefly introduce your topic, and provide a thesis statement summarizing what you’re going to say about it.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.

The body of your essay is where you cover your topic in depth. It often consists of three paragraphs, but may be more for a longer essay. This is where you present the details of the process, idea or topic you’re explaining.

It’s important to make sure each paragraph covers its own clearly defined topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Different topics (all related to the overall subject matter of the essay) should be presented in a logical order, with clear transitions between paragraphs.

Hover over different parts of the example paragraph below to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

The conclusion of an expository essay serves to summarize the topic under discussion. It should not present any new information or evidence, but should instead focus on reinforcing the points made so far. Essentially, your conclusion is there to round off the essay in an engaging way.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a conclusion works.

The invention of the printing press was important not only in terms of its immediate cultural and economic effects, but also in terms of its major impact on politics and religion across Europe. In the century following the invention of the printing press, the relatively stationary intellectual atmosphere of the Middle Ages gave way to the social upheavals of the Reformation and the Renaissance. A single technological innovation had contributed to the total reshaping of the continent.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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An expository essay is a broad form that varies in length according to the scope of the assignment.

Expository essays are often assigned as a writing exercise or as part of an exam, in which case a five-paragraph essay of around 800 words may be appropriate.

You’ll usually be given guidelines regarding length; if you’re not sure, ask.

An expository essay is a common assignment in high-school and university composition classes. It might be assigned as coursework, in class, or as part of an exam.

Sometimes you might not be told explicitly to write an expository essay. Look out for prompts containing keywords like “explain” and “define.” An expository essay is usually the right response to these prompts.

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

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Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write an Expository Essay | Structure, Tips & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved August 22, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/expository-essay/

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    Key Differences Between Article and Essay. Upcoming points will discuss the difference between article and essay: An article refers to a written work, published in newspapers, journals, website, magazines etc, containing news or information, in a specific format. On the other hand, an essay is a continuous piece of writing, written with the aim ...

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    14. While both "Article" and "Essay" can be factual, articles primarily aim to provide information or report on news, events, or findings. Essays, conversely, focus on exploring ideas, arguments, and often integrate personal insights or interpretations. 13. The structure of an "Article" usually adheres to journalistic standards, including ...

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  9. Essays and Articles: Differences and Similarities Explained by Experts

    An article (in journalism) is an informal form of writing, typically published in newspapers, magazines, and web sources for a broad, general audience. Articles typically intend to entertain or inform the reader. An essay is a formal writing form typically published in academic and scholarly contexts for a specific audience.

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    Main Differences Between Article and Essay. Articles and Essays are two different forms of written compositions. An article is written to publish either in print media like newspapers, journals, magazines, etc., or in an electronic medium. At the same time, an essay is written to describe or analyze a particular subject.

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    Paper is often used as a synonym for an essay. A research paper is usually an essay that requires a lot of research, relates to some very scholarly topic and should have a very formalized and clear structure. In academic circles - in 'real science', we mean - a paper is a key document that presents findings and results of the work of ...

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    Make sure they have enough similarities and differences to make a meaningful comparison. 2. Brainstorm key points: Once you have chosen the subjects, brainstorm the key points you want to compare and contrast. These could include characteristics, features, themes, or arguments related to each subject. 3.

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  23. How to Write an Expository Essay

    The structure of your expository essay will vary according to the scope of your assignment and the demands of your topic. It's worthwhile to plan out your structure before you start, using an essay outline. A common structure for a short expository essay consists of five paragraphs: An introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.