Linda's Kennel

From Argumentative to Narrative: What Types of Essays Do Students Order Most?

I’ve read enough essays to confidently say: if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen… well, one. That’s the thing about student writing—it ranges wildly. Sometimes it’s razor-sharp. Other times, it’s held together by sheer panic and a hope that font size 12.5 isn’t noticeable.

But one thing that’s always fascinated me is which essay types students outsource most. And not just because I’m nosy (though, yes, a little)—it actually says a lot about where the academic pain points are. From what I’ve seen and heard, certain types of essays consistently show up in student requests for help. And it's not just about difficulty. It's also about style, structure, and (sometimes) soul.

Argumentative Essays: The Overachievers of Essayland

No surprises here. Argumentative essays top the list. They’re the academic workhorse—assigned in everything from high school English to upper-division political science.

Why are they so frequently ordered? Because they’re deceptively hard.

On the surface, it seems simple: pick a side, present evidence, make a point. But what trips students up is the balance. You’re expected to assert a claim while addressing counterarguments, synthesize research without sounding like a robot, and tie it all together with logic that doesn’t feel forced.

I’ve seen students write pages of solid information only to lose marks because their thesis was buried on page three or their conclusion introduced a whole new idea (why do we do that?).

So yes, these essays get ordered a lot—because getting that blend of critical thinking and clarity is harder than it looks.

Analytical Essays: Less Debate, More Dissection

Close behind in popularity are analytical essays. These show up in literature, film, psychology, you name it. You’re not arguing a position—you’re breaking something down to show how it works.

Think of it like an academic autopsy.

What makes analytical essays tricky is that students often summarize instead of analyze. They describe what happened in a novel or article without explaining why it matters or how it connects to the bigger theme.

I remember helping a student with an essay on Toni Morrison’s Beloved. They had five pages of summary and one paragraph of insight. We flipped the ratio, and suddenly, the paper clicked.

That kind of restructuring is what a solid example or writing service can offer: not just the words, but the scaffolding.

Compare and Contrast: Twice the Work, Half the Joy

These essays are popular to outsource for one reason—they’re a trap.

They sound easy. “Just compare two things.” But when you actually sit down to do it, you realize you have to juggle two subjects, build a consistent structure, and make sure you’re actually comparing, not just alternating descriptions.

Students often get stuck deciding between the block method (talk about one topic entirely, then the other) and the point-by-point method (compare across shared themes). Both can work, but if you choose the wrong one, the essay becomes a mess of repetition.

So yes, these get ordered. A lot. And I get it. It’s not double the effort—it’s a different kind of effort that requires planning most students don’t have time for mid-semester.

Narrative Essays: The Surprisingly Tricky Personal Ones

According to Purdue OWL, narrative essays are supposed to feel natural. They’re often personal, reflective, and “story-driven.” Sounds easy, right?

Until you sit down and realize you have no idea how to structure a story for an academic audience without sounding like you’re writing your memoir in a rush.

These essays show up most during college applications, creative writing classes, or general education courses with unexpected prompts. They trip students up not because they require research, but because they require voice.

And writing in your own voice? That’s weirdly hard when you’ve spent years being taught to sound like a textbook.

When students order narrative essays, they’re usually looking for help finding the balance between conversational tone and academic expectation. Between story and structure.

The best narrative essays I’ve read? They’re not just about what happened. They’re about why it mattered. And that “why” is often the hardest part to capture.

Expository Essays: The Unsung Utility Players

Expository essays don’t get the same dramatic reputation as argumentative or narrative pieces. They’re straightforward: explain a process, concept, or idea. No flair. No opinion. Just structure, clarity, and accurate information.

But that’s why students often outsource them. They seem boring. Dry. Mechanically demanding. If you’re juggling four other assignments, spending three hours explaining the process of DNA replication in perfect structure feels like a bad trade-off. So students turn to writing services—not because they can’t do it, but because it feels like time theft.

The irony? A well-done expository essay can teach you a lot about clarity, transitions, and flow. Even if it’s about something as thrilling as photosynthesis.

What This Pattern Really Tells Us

The essays students order most aren’t always the hardest. They’re the ones that fall into one of three categories:

• Structurally complex (argumentative, compare/contrast) • Emotionally demanding (narrative) • Time-consuming but low-stakes (expository)

This isn’t about laziness—it’s about strategy. Students are triaging their workload. And when they outsource an essay, it’s not always to cheat the system. Sometimes, it’s to get an example, a starting point, or simply a bit of breathing room during crunch season.

So, what types of essays do students order most? The ones that ask for too much, too fast, or too vaguely.

And honestly, I get it.

Because whether you’re writing a policy argument, breaking down a novel, or trying to tell your life story in 800 words and a thesis statement, writing is hard. Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is ask for help—not to escape the work, but to figure out how to do it better next time.

That’s not just survival. That’s smart academic growth.

Reference List:

EssayPay. (March 22, 2025). Common formats used by essay writing services. EssayPay. https://essaypay.com/blog/common-formats-used-by-essay-writing-services/

Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.). Narrative essays. Purdue University. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/narrative_essays.html

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