Essay Vs Research Paper
An essay and a research paper are two different types of academic writing assignments that students are often required to complete during their academic careers.
Essay
An Essay is a piece of academic writing that typically presents the author’s personal opinion or interpretation on a particular topic. It is a relatively short piece of writing that may be persuasive, descriptive, or informative in nature. Essays may be assigned to students as homework, in-class assignments, or as part of an exam.
Research Paper
A Research Paper, on the other hand, is a type of academic writing that involves conducting research on a particular topic, analyzing and interpreting the findings, and presenting the results in a written format. Research papers are usually longer and more complex than essays, and require a more extensive analysis of the topic. Research papers are often assigned to students as part of a course, such as a research methods course or a capstone project.
Difference Between Essay and Research Paper
Here’s a comparison table that highlights the differences between essays and research papers:
| Essay | Research Paper | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To present the author’s personal opinion or interpretation on a particular topic | To conduct research on a particular topic, analyze the findings, and present the results |
| Length | Shorter in length, typically a few pages | Longer in length, typically several pages or more |
| Research | Minimal research required, if any | Extensive research required |
| Sources | May or may not require sources, depending on the assignment | Requires sources to support arguments and analysis |
| Format | Flexible in terms of structure and format | Follows a specific format and structure, such as an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, and conclusion |
| Style | Can be creative, persuasive, descriptive, or informative | Follows a formal academic writing style and tone |
| Example | Writing a personal response to a book or article | Conducting a literature review and empirical research on a particular topic |
Also see Research Methods
