THE 6 MOST RELEVANT ESSAY FUNCTIONS - LITERATURE - 2025

Among the main functions of an essay, it stands out to express the position or point of view of an author on a particular topic through the presentation of ideas and arguments.

It is a piece of prose writing. It can be considered one of the literary forms with more freedom of development.

However, it is not exempt from following certain parameters to guarantee its consumption effectiveness.

The essays are thematic and free extension. Any concern of a person can easily be reflected in an essay.

For the reader, the essay is a way of approaching personal perceptions that leave aside the mere informative and objective presentation, and also introduces new approaches of greater depth on a content or topic.

It is a format that is present both in the academic and professional fields. The essay serves a variety of functions depending on the original intentions of the author on the topic he wants to address.

The essay has multiple purposes, the main one being to convince the reader of an idea. In general, it can be classified according to styles, such as argumentative, reflective, historical, economic, political, narrative, dialectical, descriptive, photographic, among others.

The 6 main functions of an essay

1- Argue

Once a main idea and a position with respect to it are raised, the author of an essay must shape a series of arguments that reinforce his position.

The amount or length of the arguments is not limiting, but they must be well supported and, above all, stay within the discursive line that is being handled in the essay.

The correct structuring of a reasoning about a topic provides logical and precise continuity to an essay, whatever its nature or subject.

Arguments cannot deviate from the main idea. This must be preceded by secondary ideas that also add to the main body of the text.

Through the arguments the author gives himself security in front of the reader, at the same time that he obtains the supported details of what he set out to read.

2- Show

Once an idea and position have been raised, every effort should be made to show that such position is verifiable or considerable and, therefore, can be considered true.

Here comes the importance of the proof in the essay. Being a content of a certain depth, both the author and the reader should not underestimate each other.

The main tool to demonstrate and prove a position on an issue is the argument.

The correct disposition of these will manage to build a solid defense on the point of view in question.

3- Persuade

Persuasion in the essay is the ability to seduce the reader and influence their social and personal beliefs and opinions about an issue.

The essay can use literary devices to achieve this task; however, it is not a novel or a work of fiction, so you should not depend entirely on these.

The persuasive effectiveness in an essay already depends on the expository, argumentative and even narrative capacity of its author, added to his prestige or renown as such.

In any case, if the purpose of an essay is to change your reader's opinion of something, the author should do everything possible to achieve this without being tedious or sobering.

If virtuous gifts are absent, the correct exposition of ideas and structuring of arguments may be enough for a reader to be persuaded and willing to reflect on the contents and his own view on them.

4- Expose a way of thinking

The functions described above are specific to the formal structure of an essay.

Now, looking at it in a slightly broader way, the function of an essay is also to expose a way of thinking so that it is understood in the best way, or even adopted, presenting its contents in a particular way.

The author does not seek to influence the reader through the mere sequential exposure of data and unprocessed information.

Rather, it seeks to influence through the correct structuring of a discourse that sounds personal and not evangelistic, leaving the final reflection in the hands of the reader.

5- The versatile content management

Through the essay it is possible to approach an infinite number of topics and manage to present them in an entertaining way, both for a general and specialized public.

Even from its structure, the essay allows versatility of content and presentation. There may be different versions of the same topic that allow the reader to approach according to their own abilities.

This function of the essay is also conditioned by the qualities of each author, which affects the attraction that it can generate towards a reader.

6- Potential and scope

Due to its conception and formal structure, the essays can be used as a powerful instrument with local potential, and even worldwide.

The contents most susceptible to being treated in essays that can go around the world are usually political or social manifestos.

The presentation of ideas regarding phenomena and scenarios whose consequences are repeated in different societies also demonstrates the scope of an essay, and its intention to serve as an instrument of reaction or change.

For example, it is not surprising that large mass reactions to specific situations may have started from the mere presentation, argumentation and defense of a series of ideas and positions contrary to a hegemonic system.

The essay then functions as a text with literary, descriptive and reflective qualities.

Likewise, it is an instrument for persuasion and the search for individual or massive reactions on issues or situations of the political and social present in the world.

References

1. Adorno, TW, Hullot-Kentor, B., & Will, F. (1984). The Essay as Form. New German Critique, 151-171.
2. Well, G. (1966). On the concept of «essay». Father Feijoo and his century (pp. 89-112). Oviedo: University of Oviedo.
3. Cerda, M. (2005). The Broken Word: Essay on Essay; Desk. Tajamar Editores.
4. Gómez-Martínez, JL (1981). Theory of the essay. Salamanca: University of Salamanca.