Beyond the four basics: Exploring different types of writing in college

[Disser]

We all learn about narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive in high school. But college has introduced me to so many more types of writing that I never even knew existed.

This semester alone, I've written:

• Analytical writing – breaking down a topic into parts and examining relationships
• Technical writing – explaining specialized information clearly and concisely
• Literary analysis – examining themes and techniques in literature
• Reflective writing – exploring personal thoughts and experiences
• Argumentative writing – similar to persuasive but focused on logic and evidence rather than emotion

The coolest discovery was technical writing. I took a class where we wrote instruction manuals and reports, and it's such a practical skill. It's all about clarity, brevity, and helping the reader understand complex information .

For anyone feeling overwhelmed by all these categories, don't be. They're just different tools for different jobs. Once you know what each one does, you can pick the right one for any assignment. I actually love having variety now—it keeps writing interesting!

 

[PeterBar]

This is so helpful! I'm a freshman and had no idea there were this many types. Analytical writing sounds intimidating—any tips for someone just starting out?