Narrative Essay:  Narrative essays tells a story. It is often difficult to determine whether a  narrative is an essay or a short story. Only the author knows for sure  whether the characters in the essay are real or imaginary and whether  the events are literally true or slightly embroidered.

 
 

Expository Essay:  An expository essay is centered around a main idea expressed in the  first paragraph. The essay's body elaborates upon the main idea with  a blend of fact and opinion; the writer's purpose, audience, and tone  determine this balance.

 
 

Argumentative Essay:  Argumentation is a form of exposition that adopts a position to be  proved. There are two routes to convincing your audience -- through  logic (the head) and emotion (the heart). Argumentation in its pure  form appeals primarily to the intellect; the writer builds a logical case  through verifiable evidence.

 
 

Persuasive Essay:   Persuasion is a form of exposition which attempts to convince the  audience of a claim, or thesis, through appeals to both the heart and  the head. Persuasion differs from argumentation in the degree to which  emotion enters into the discussion. More emphasis is placed on emotional  appeals which are meant to entice the audience to take some from of action.

 
 
 (Adapted from Essays: Patterns and Perspectives (ea. Judith Barker-Sandbrook,
 Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1992.)