The origins of essay papers: How essays came to be

origins of essay papers

A modern-day student would not finish any of their college courses without writing essay papers. It is one of the fundamental assignments at college and university, allowing teachers to assess students’ knowledge and ability to view information critically. However, it may seem quite complex, and that’s why students often resort to third-party solutions, such as buy IB history extended essay from experts rather than composing them from scratch.

While it’s one of the least favorite student tasks, it’s useful. Composing essays allows you to describe and compare things, prove your point of view, and argue and seek valid arguments and proofs. All in all, it teaches many life skills.

But have you ever wondered where essays come from and who was the first to start writing essays? Let’s trace it.

Where was the term ‘essay’ used first?

The roots of essays go back to the 16th century when self-portrayal was at its peak of popularity. Initially, an essay was a part of a self-portrayal made by the philosopher Michele de Montaigne and was used for description.

There is no exact data of when was the first essay written, but we know when was the word essay invented. The term ‘essay’ comes from the French word ‘essayer’, which means ‘to attempt, to try.’ However, the true meaning of what we now see in essays comes from Latin. The French borrowed the verb ‘essayer’ from the Latin verb ‘exagere’ – ‘to sort through.’ At the time, it was considered equal to a literary piece and wasn’t widely adopted.

However, we can also trace the connection of essays to the French word. Since de Montaigne was the first human to call his works essays, he attempted to persuade readers and put his thoughts into clear writing.

Later on, the circles of the so-called essayists expanded. Essays lost their formality and found use in science and fiction literature.

The story doesn’t stop at de Montaigne. Afterward, there was a man who got all the credit for essay writing instead of him – Abraham Cowley, the ‘father of English essay.’ Other writers developing essays were Burton, Hall, Earle, and Defoe, who took writing to a new level by adding irony and plain language.

What changed in written essays after cowley

If the early essay paper conveyed a point of view or informed about something, Cowley added a personal touch to them, although they remained difficult to read and perceive.

After Cowley, writers discovered that literally anything suits essays. So they took challenging and interesting ideas and details from their own lives and analyzed what they thought was relevant.

So, the most significant shift during this period is the tone shift – from cold and distant to intimate and free. 

The definition and meaning of essay in the 21st century

These days, under ‘an essay,’ we understand a piece of writing that demonstrates an idea, encourages a debate, proves a point, or describes something. As a rule, it is a short paper with less systematization than in term papers, yet, analytic and interpretative. The closest types of modern essays are, perhaps, descriptive and narrative essays aimed at the detailed presenting of a thing/event or telling a story.

Essays are grouped into formal and informal. Hence, a formal piece must contain formal vocabulary, be written in an official style, have a logical structure, and be usually limited in length. In informal essays, there is much more freedom for writers.

Thus, from a self-descriptive piece of antiquity, an essay has been transformed into an educational tool that can take many forms and serve various purposes:

  • deliver solutions
  • inform
  • give recommendations
  • prove someone right or wrong, etc.
  • research

Types of essays we have today: what essays college students are required to compose

origins of essay papers

Today college students most often write essays of these types:

Aim at proving one viewpoint with evidence and sound analysis.

  • Expository

Aim at delivering information and making it clear for the reader.

  • Descriptive

Aim at rendering the appearance or idea in detail creatively and engagingly.

  • Narrative

They are written as creative stories, often in chronological order. Describe events or changes in something, or give a short retelling.

Here are some tips to help you write a worthy essay.

Without a doubt, argumentative essays are required most often since they let young people use their logical and critical thinking to the fullest.

Modern-Day essay layout and tone

Preparing academic essays for college has many requirements. One of the most significant ones is the structure and tone.

So, the structure needs to have three parts. Regardless of the essay size, it remains the same unless anything other is stated in the task:

  1. Introduction

Names essay topic and background. It hooks the reader with exciting details and facts related to the topic. Includes a thesis statement – a sentence that expresses the essay’s central point (or something you will try to prove).

  1. Body

The body discusses the key arguments (not less than 3) and analyzes them, together with evidence. These points should be strong. Evidence needs to come from reliable sources.

  1. Conclusion

Ties everything together and summarizes. The conclusion often paraphrases the thesis and your viewpoint in short and can end with an inspiring quote or call to action. 

The tone, however, depends on the topic and requirements. For example, if an essay is informal, you are free to use slang, write in a friendly tone, and choose emotionally colored lexis.

Conclusion

Now, with this overview of essays, you can clearly understand what it looks like. So, essays are short pieces of non-fiction writing, often written in academic settings and targeted at specific topics relevant to society and science.

Writing academic essays is expected to be polished and well thought through. So, every detail matters – style, grammar, lexical units, evidence, and sources. Along with strict requirements, essays are a short form of writing meant to inform, persuade, or engage a reader.

If you follow all the advice and build great structure, supplying the writing with real-life examples, your paper will surely succeed. 

Other articles from mtltimes.ca – totimes.ca – otttimes.ca

U.S. shoot down unidentified object

U.S. shoot down unidentified object over Yukon

Montreal traffic camera
snowy owl captured by Montreal traffic camera

Montreal traffic camera captures soaring snowy owl

F-35

Canada is buying 88 F-35 Fighters

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Dryer-machine-on-fire.jpg

Mtl Duct Cleaning and dryer vent cleaning answering all your questions

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
safest cities

Why Montreal is one of the safest cities to visit in 2025

If you’re planning a trip to Canada, Montreal has been ranked the sixth safest cities to travel to in 2025, according to a recent report by insurance company Berkshire Hathaway. When you break it down, Montreal’s safety is a combination of aspects that makes this city a favourite destination among safety-conscious travelers. Here’s a look

dermal fillers

The ultimate guide to dermal fillers: Are they worth it?

For decades now, dermal fillers have remained the go-to treatment for fighting the signs of aging, such as lines, wrinkles, and sagging. Apart from these, they are also extensively used to elevate some facial features by adding contour and volume to areas like lips, cheeks, and chin. Although the average cost of a dermal filler

Winnipeg’s Bold Commerce announces new PayPal integrations

Winnipeg’s Bold Commerce announces new PayPal integrations

Bold Commerce has built on its existing long-standing relationship with financial services platform PayPal. The firm has announced that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada currently using its OpenCart and Gravity Forms solutions will benefit from the integration of PayPal’s full payments suite. This includes digital wallets, Venmo, Fastlane, as well as its Buy

Montreal Bungee

Montreal Bungee jumping in the Old Port of Montreal

Get ready, Montreal! The team behind MTL Zipline is taking adrenaline to new heights with Montreal Bungee, a bold new attraction launching in Spring 2025. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Old Port, this is not just another thrill ride—it’s an experience that redefines adventure. Perched at the Convoyeur Tower, the tallest urban jump in Canada

Interpol notices

Understanding Interpol notices and their impact on legal cases

Interpol is the largest international organization facilitating cooperation among law enforcement agencies in over 190 countries. Its notices serve as tools for tracking suspects, locating missing persons, and pursuing international criminals. However, for ordinary citizens, encountering the Interpol system can be challenging and stressful, especially if the notice comes as a surprise. Such situations often

Mtltimes Subscription

The latest on what’s moving Montreal and the world – delivered straight to your inbox