Students are often tasked with writing assignments, as this is an important skill to develop. Some of the most common assignments are essays and research papers. Suppose you have experience with one and not the other. In that case, you might want to read this article as we explore the basic similarities and differences between an essay and a research paper.
Essay vs. Research Paper: 3 Similarities and Differences
Before we can begin to analyze the similarities and differences between an essay and a research paper, we must define what they mean.
An essay is a short piece of writing that is usually used to test students’ writing skills and an ability to explore certain topics and draw conclusions. It involves writing from a certain view on a topic, so an essay on a particular topic might differ heavily in content depending on the writer.
A research paper is usually longer, and it involves a lot of information gathering, experiments, and deep analysis. While the writer’s talent is important, ultimately, the result of a research paper would be based on the research results and not the writer’s creativity.
Similarities
1. Need for critical thinking
While research papers tend to involve a lot more critical thinking, essays are by no means left out. You need to present your argument straightforwardly, whether writing an essay or a research paper. This requires a bit of critical thinking, as you need to draw links between the arguments and conclusions you mention in your writing.
2. A single theme or topic
Whether you’re writing an essay on medieval tools or a research paper on alternative energy sources, you need to have a specific theme and stick to it. Attempting to cover more than one topic will almost certainly lead to confusion on the reader’s end. However, many students tend to stray from the main topic and have trouble keeping to a single point in their essays. Such students often reach out to GrabMyEssay or another academic writing service to get an essay sample or order a custom research paper. Hired academic help is an excellent option because the essay you receive will be straight to the point.
3. Writing structure is maintained
While an essay and research paper might differ in content, a writing structure remains. This is important to guide readers as they progress. For example, conclusions might be drawn before supporting evidence. A piece of writing without a structure would be poorly graded.
Differences
1. Final length
An essay can vary between 1 and 3 pages with multiple paragraphs. This will depend on the topic you’re writing on, but most importantly, on the teacher’s requirements. On the other hand, research papers take about 15 pages. A research paper must include its information sources, an outcome of conducted experiments, and much more.
2. The time it takes to complete
Depending on the essay topic you’re assigned, you might need to do a bit of Googling before you can write a proper essay. A research paper requires gathering information, too, but generally takes a lot longer to finish. A research paper will require you to conduct studies, experiments, surveys, etc. Analyzing the information you’re getting from these different sources can be challenging. Hence, research papers are much more time-consuming.
3. Level of formality
Essays usually give writers greater freedom when choosing words, grammar, and writing style. An essay typically reflects the author’s viewpoint. A research paper requires the final work to be based on evidence rather than views. Writing is relatively strict.
Grab a Pen and Dig In!
Writing is a skill that can take a while to master. However, enough practice should help you learn fast. Whether you’re writing an essay or a research paper, you need to make sure you understand the requirements of the tasks before writing. This will save you time and help improve the final quality of your writing.
Author’s Bio
Joanne Elliot is a freelance writer and English tutor. She enjoys working with students and professionals on their writing assignments. Joanne understands what it means to be a good writer, so she regularly shares helpful articles on the subject.
