difference between argumentative and analytical research paper

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Analytical vs Argumentative Essay: How Do They Compare?

by  Antony W

May 2, 2023

In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you should know about analytical vs argumentative essay.

While the two require concise writing without skipping the most significant points, they have quite dissimilar fundamentals.

Key Takeaways 

• An argumentative essay presents two sides of an argument and then uses evidence and facts to demonstrate why one side of an issue is stronger, better, or more favorable.
• The analytical essay, on the other hand, is an evaluation of information collected from different sources put together in one document.
• An analytical essay gives a sound explanation and interpretation while an argumentative essay communicates your strong stand on a controversial topic to an audience that may or may not agree with you.

What is Argumentative Writing?

The argumentative writing goes beyond demonstrating your ideas in a manner that support your thesis statement. An author takes one side of an argument and develops it.

By using irrefutable and solid evidence, they attempt to convince the reader that the position they hold on the claim or subject at hand is the correct one.

An important element that must reflect in argumentative writing is the credibility of the sources used. In other words, you can only use reliable scholarly sources as evidence to support your arguments.

What is Analytical Writing?

In analytical writing , an author gathers information from a number of credible and reliable sources and then combines the information to come up with an analysis in the form of an essay.

Instead of taking a side and defending your argument, analytical writing requires you to present both positive and negative viewpoint.

In order to come up with a well-written analytical paper, you need to conduct more research to dig up as much data and information as you possibly can.

Analytical vs Argumentative Essay: Objective

Purpose of an argumentative essay.

The primary objective of an argumentative essay is to demonstrate to your reader that you can take a strong stand on a controversial subject.

When it comes to writing this essay, you should first highlight opposing views and then use strong argument to refute those views.

The secret to writing a thought-provoking argumentative essay is to make sure you choose opposing arguments that are inferior to your own.

Again, your logic has to be as authentic as possible, which means you must never include logical fallacies in the essay.

Purpose of an Analytical Essay

In analytical essay, your objective is to examine a subject for the purpose of accurate explanation and sound interpretation.

You’ll analyze different aspects of literary work, an event in history, or a concept, depending on the subject area, and relate its purpose to a theme or structure.

Literary essays require you to analyze the form and structure of the work, or its content in terms of the characters, plot, or setting.

In analyzing a concept, the analyst needs to evaluate a concept and provide means for defining and understanding the concept and its overall implication.

Analytical vs Argumentative Essay: Writing

Writing an analytical essay.

In analytical writing, you have to use a balanced or neutral approach to present a clear picture of the topic and draw an appropriate conclusion.

To present your ideas clearly , you should divide the analytical essay into four major parts. The assignment should have an introduction, an analysis of the text, a personal response, and a conclusion.

In the introduction of your analytical essay, tell your audience what to expect from your writing.

As with any literary writing, your analytical essay should include a thesis statement or research question , and  make sure you bring out the major theme so that they focus of the essay is very clear to understand.

The analysis part of the essay is more than likely going to be the longest. That means you have sufficient room to analyze an issue and connect it with your argument.

As you analyze the text, make sure you pay close attention to the literary devices that the author uses for communication. 

An in-depth analysis should make it easy for you to draw an objective conclusion on whether make their ideas or goals clear to their intended reader. 

More importantly, rather than just making personal assumption when doing your analysis, you should accompany them with reasonable evidence.

The third step to writing an analytical essay is to write your personal response.

Here is your chance to show that you understand the topic. You should use a critical approach when writing your response. And don’t forget to give reasonable evidence throughout.

Include a strong conclusion for your analytical essay.

The goal here isn’t to introduce an idea or find a quote to conclude the essay .

Instead, you should show a clear relationship between the text or subject that you’ve analyzed and the argument that you have presented.

If you need help to get your analytical essay written, check out our analysis paper writing service and place your order. You get a coupon of up to 15% discount on your first order. Plus, our team will do custom writing, so you don’t have to worry about plagiarism.

Writing an Argumentative Essay 

Unlike an analytical essay, an argumentative essay doesn’t take a balanced approach on a topic.

You take a persuasive approach instead, in which case you have to show that your opinion, claim , theory, or hypothesis is either correct or more truthful than other arguments.

When writing an argumentative assignment, it’s important to make sure your arguments are clear, focused, and concise.

For a chance to stand out and prove that your position on an issue is convincingly more truthful, you should pick a side that you can easily support with strong evidence.

The most important writing rule when it comes to writing your argument is to work with a proper formatting in mind. In other words, you need to structure your arguments properly.

Write an interesting introduction with a thesis statement. Also, you need to get your body paragraphs right, making sure that each covers a single idea.

Ensure there are proper transitions between paragraph, each ending with a closing link and easily taking the reader to the next idea. End the essay with a very strong conclusion.

Do in-depth research before working on your arguments. Even if you already understand your audience and know what can win them over, you need to look into the evidence that you want to present to make sure it’s convincing.

Keep your language formal, easy to read and understand, and add a bit of attention-grabbing clauses or phrases to make the essay easy to read.  

Writing an argumentative essay isn’t as easy. Even if you have an interesting topic to explore, you must invest hundreds of hours in research, evidence extraction, and writing. With the help of our argumentative essay writer , you can spend less time on the task and get high quality paper delivered.

Similarities Between Analytical and Argumentative Essays?

While there are obvious differences in writing analytical and argumentative essay, there is one thing that both essays must reflect.

When working on either paper, your writing should reflect logical thinking, in-depth research, and comprehensive evaluation of the information you include in them.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

Research Paper Writing Guides

Analytical Research Papers

Last updated on: May 13, 2024

Analytical Research Papers: A Detailed Walkthrough

By: Barbara P.

12 min read

Reviewed By:

Published on: May 6, 2024

When exploring complex topics, traditional research methods often fall short, leaving gaps in our understanding.Analytical research papers offer a solution. They dig deeper, using critical thinking to analyze information thoroughly.In this blog, we'll explore analytical research papers, breaking down their purpose, structure, and methods. We’ll also compare argumentative and analytical papers, which are the two major types of research papers. By the end, you'll be equipped to break down complex subjects with confidence.

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What is an Analytical Research Paper? 

An analytical research paper examines a topic or issue in-depth and provides a critical analysis based on evidence and logical reasoning. Unlike descriptive papers, analytical papers look deeper into the subject matter to uncover patterns, relationships, and insights.

Here are some key characteristics of an analytical research paper:

• Critical Analysis: The primary focus is on analyzing and interpreting information rather than just presenting facts or descriptions.
• Thesis Statement: Typically, an analytical research paper begins with a clear thesis statement that presents the main argument or perspective the paper will explore.
• Evidence-Based: Your research paper always needs strong arguments and conclusions are always supported by evidence. They can come from various sources, such as scholarly articles, books, data, statistics, and empirical research.
• Synthesis: In an analytical paper, you integrate multiple sources or perspectives to develop a comprehensive analysis.
• Critical Thinking: Analytical research papers require critical thinking skills to evaluate information, identify assumptions, recognize biases, and draw reasoned conclusions.
• Objective Tone: While the writer may have their own perspective, the tone of the paper should be objective and impartial. This allows us to focus on presenting evidence and analysis rather than personal opinions.
• Engagement with Existing Literature: Analytical research papers often engage with existing scholarly literature on the topic. This is achieved either by building upon previous research or by offering new insights and interpretations.

Analytical Research Papers: Applications Across Fields 

Analytical papers are most commonly used in diverse fields of study, such as:

• Social Sciences: Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Economics, Anthropology.
• Natural Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science.
• Humanities: Literature, History, Philosophy, Cultural Studies.
• Business and Management: Marketing, Finance, Organizational Behavior, Strategic Management.
• Health and Medicine: Public Health, Epidemiology, Healthcare Policy, Medical Research.
• Education: Educational Psychology, Curriculum Studies, Educational Policy Analysis.
• Technology and Engineering: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Data Science.
• Environmental Studies: Climate Science, Environmental Policy, Conservation Biology.
• Law and Legal Studies: Legal Research, Constitutional Law, International Law.
• Interdisciplinary Studies: Gender Studies, Ethnic Studies, Urban Studies, Development Studies.

Methods of Conducting Analytical Research 

Analytical research involves different ways of collecting and studying data to understand and draw conclusions about a topic. The approach for conducting research depends on the nature of your research and the data you have. 

Here are the most common methods: 

Quantitative Analysis: Uses numerical data to find relationships, trends, and patterns through statistical methods like regression analysis, correlation analysis, and hypothesis testing.

Qualitative Analysis: Focuses on understanding meanings, interpretations, and subjective experiences using methods such as thematic analysis, content analysis, and grounded theory.

Mixed Methods Research: Combines both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques in a single study to fully understand the research problem or question.

Experimental Research: Involves changing variables to establish cause-and-effect relationships, typically done in controlled settings to test hypotheses and theories.

Case Study Analysis: Looks deeply into a specific case or situation to understand its underlying dynamics, context, and factors that affect outcomes.

Content Analysis: Systematically examines text, audio, or visual content to identify themes, patterns, and trends, often used in media studies, communication research, and textual analysis.

Observational Research: Systematically observes and records behaviors, events, or phenomena in their natural settings to gain insights into real-life behaviors and contexts.

Secondary Data Analysis: Involves studying data collected by others. It allows revisiting research questions, exploring new hypotheses, or conducting meta-analyses.

Different Parts of an Analytical Research Paper 

An analytical research paper typically consists of several key parts, each serving a specific purpose in presenting and analyzing the topic. 

Here's a breakdown of the main components:

Introduction: The introduction section provides background information on the topic and presents the thesis statement, which outlines the main argument or perspective of the paper.

Literature Review: The literature review summarizes and combines previous research and scholarly articles about the topic. This helps to give context and show understanding of the subject.

Body Paragraphs: This is the main section of the paper where analysis and arguments are presented in detail. Each body paragraph focuses on a specific aspect or subtopic related to the thesis statement.

Analysis and Interpretation: Within the body paragraphs of an analytical research paper, you provide critical analysis and interpretation of the evidence. You examine patterns, relationships, and implications of the data or information that was presented.

Conclusion: This is the final section that summarizes the main findings of the paper. In the research paper conclusion , restate the thesis in light of the evidence presented and highlight the significance of the research.

References or Works Cited: A list of all the sources cited in the paper, following the required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).

The Standard Analytical Research Paper Structure 

When structuring your analytical research paper, you should follow a standard research paper outline, such as:

How to Write an Analytical Research Paper? 

For writing an effective and comprehensive analytical research paper, you should follow the steps mentioned below: 

Step 1. Choose a Relevant Topic 

Pick a research topic that interests you and is suitable for analysis. It could be a book, a historical event, a scientific theory, or any subject you want to analyze deeply.

Step 2. Conduct Research 

Gather information from reliable sources such as books, articles, and reputable websites. Take notes and highlight key points that will help you understand the topic better.

Step 3. Develop a Thesis Statement 

This is the main idea or argument of your paper. It should be a clear statement that you'll analyze and support throughout your paper.

Step 4. Outline Your Paper 

Plan out the structure of your paper. Start with an introduction that introduces your topic and thesis statement, followed by body paragraphs where you analyze different aspects of the topic. End with a conclusion that summarizes your findings.

Step 5. Write Your Paper 

Start writing your paper following the paper outline you created. Each paragraph in the body should focus on a specific point or aspect of your topic. Use evidence from your research to support your analysis.

Step 6. Analyze Your Findings 

Dive deep into your topic and analyze the information you've gathered. Look for patterns, connections, or contradictions that can help you develop a deeper understanding.

Step 7. Stay Organized 

Make sure your paper flows logically from one point to the next. Use transitions between paragraphs to guide the reader through your analysis.

Step 8. Revise and Edit 

Once you've finished writing, go back, revise, and edit your research paper . Check for clarity, coherence, and consistency. Make sure your argument is well-supported and your analysis is thorough.

Analytical Research Paper Format 

When formatting your analytical research paper, you can opt for popular paper formats such as APA, Chicago, and MLA. However, in this blog, we will follow the formatting guidelines of the APA style. 

• Use 1-inch margins on all sides of the document.
• Use a clear and legible font such as Times New Roman or Arial, size 12.
• Double-space the entire paper, including the title page, abstract, main body, and references.
• Indent the first line of each paragraph using the tab key or the paragraph formatting option in your word processor.
• Include a running head at the top of each page, consisting of a shortened version of your title (50 characters or fewer) in all caps, aligned left, and the page number aligned right.

Analytical Research Paper Examples 

Here are some PDF examples for analytical papers you can get inspiration from. 

Analytical Research Paper Sample

Analytical Research Paper Template

APA Analytical Research Paper Example

Analytical Research Paper Thesis Statement Examples

Analytical Research Paper Ideas 

Here are some good topics for an analytical research paper. Having these ideas at your disposal before writing your analytical paper with definitely give you a head start. 

• Analyzing the role of social networks in the spread of misinformation.
• Investigating the effects of mindfulness practices on workplace productivity.
• Examining the psychological impact of long-term space travel on astronauts.
• Analyzing the relationship between urban design and community well-being.
• Exploring the effectiveness of different parenting styles on child development.
• Investigating the impact of cultural stereotypes on academic achievement.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of conservation strategies in preserving biodiversity.
• Examining the influence of music on mood regulation and emotional well-being.
• Investigating the relationship between access to technology and educational outcomes.
• Analyzing the impact of nutrition education programs on dietary habits.
• Exploring the role of empathy in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

Common Analytical Research Paper Types 

Analytical research papers can take various forms depending on the specific focus and methodology used as well. Some common types include:

• Comparative Analysis Papers: These papers compare and contrast different perspectives, theories, methodologies, or approaches to a particular topic or problem.
• Case study analysis papers: These analytical papers examine a specific case or example in order to explore the underlying issues, causes, effects, and potential solutions.
• Policy Analysis Papers: Such papers examine the effectiveness, implications, and potential improvements of existing policies or proposed policy solutions to address societal issues.
• Statistical Analysis Papers: Statistical analysis papers use quantitative data and statistical methods to explore relationships, patterns, trends, and correlations within a dataset or across multiple datasets.
• Literary Analysis Papers: Literary analysis papers critically examine literary works, such as novels, poems, plays, or essays. Such papers uncover themes, symbolism, character development, and other literary elements.
• Critical Analysis Papers: This paper type evaluates and critiques scholarly articles, books, or other academic works. These analytical papers assess the academic works’ arguments, methodologies, evidence, and contributions to the field.
• Theoretical Analysis Papers: These papers examine and evaluate theoretical frameworks, models, or concepts. They assess their applicability, validity, and relevance to understanding real-world phenomena.
• Qualitative Research Papers: Qualitative research papers use qualitative methods, such as interviews, observations, or content analysis. These papers explore subjective experiences, attitudes, behaviors, and social phenomena.
• Mixed-Methods Research Papers: Mixed-methods research papers integrate quantitative and qualitative approaches to understand a research problem or question comprehensively.

Difference Between Argumentative and Analytical Research Papers

Among many research paper types, there are two major categories, argumentative and analytical research papers. Here are the major differences between both research paper types. 

In closing thoughts, 

Analytical research papers are among the most widely used papers in academics. In your educational career, you may come across situations where you’re required to submit analytical research papers. 

Our blog serves as the go-to guide for understanding every aspect of an analytical paper. From the basics, research methods, paper format, and writing steps to examples, we make sure to increase your knowledge of analytical research. But, if you need help with professional writing, we have a solution for that as well!

SharkPapers.com is a trusted platform for research paper writing help . Whether you need guidance with analytical, experimental, survey, or other types of research papers, our seasoned writers can do it all.

Visit our paper writing service online to learn more!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a research paper and an analysis paper.

Research papers gather information from various sources to uncover new insights or theories. They aim to contribute fresh findings to the field.

On the other hand, analysis papers scrutinize existing information or data. Their goal is to interpret the significance or meaning of that information. They provide a deeper understanding of different perspectives without necessarily introducing new findings.

What are the examples of analytical research?

Examples of analytical research include:

• Analyzing the causes and effects of climate change.
• Examining the impact of social media on mental health among teenagers.
• Investigating factors contributing to economic inequality in a specific region.
• Exploring symbolism in a literary work and its significance.
• Studying the effectiveness of different teaching methods in improving student learning outcomes.

Barbara has a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university and extensive experience working in the medical field. With her practical experience conducting research on various health issues, she is skilled in writing innovative papers on healthcare. Her many works have been published in multiple publications.

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Although research paper assignments may vary widely, there are essentially two basic types of research papers. These are argumentative and analytical .

Argumentative

In an argumentative research paper, a student both states the topic they will be exploring and immediately establishes the position they will argue regarding that topic in a thesis statement . This type of paper hopes to persuade its reader to adopt the view presented.

 Example : a paper that argues the merits of early exposure to reading for children would be an argumentative essay.

An analytical research paper states the topic that the writer will be exploring, usually in the form of a question, initially taking a neutral stance. The body of the paper will present multifaceted information and, ultimately, the writer will state their conclusion, based on the information that has unfolded throughout the course of the essay. This type of paper hopes to offer a well-supported critical analysis without necessarily persuading the reader to any particular way of thinking.

Example : a paper that explores the use of metaphor in one of Shakespeare's sonnets would be an example of an analytical essay.

*Please note that this LibGuide will primarily be concerning itself with argumentative or rhetorical research papers.

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The Differences between an Analytical and an Argumentative Paper

When you are considering how to write a research paper, one of the things to ask yourself is what you are trying to achieve with it, which will govern whether you use the analytical or the argumentative style.

The purpose of the analytical approach is to define, explain, and interpret information such as an event, book, poem, play, work of art, or even a person. You will use this approach to answer a particular question objectively. It requires that you approach the subject with no pre-conceived conclusions.

When writing a paper using the argumentative approach, also sometimes known as the persuasive approach, you make a statement proposing only one side of an argument. It is an attempt to convince your reader of the validity of your opinion as opposed to others, through evaluation and persuasion.

The Analytical Paper

If you are taking the analytical approach to write a research paper, you will need to assemble data from reliable sources, which you cite by paraphrasing. You must have a genuine knowledge of the subject if you select the analytical approach as it is meant to make use of your research to provide an objective picture of the data that is available on the subject. This enables you to present a conclusion based on all available information, not just your opinion. Once you have achieved familiarity with the topic, you will be able to restructure and relocate the concepts that underlie the basic topic in your paper. When writing your analytical paper, remember to use the present tense, avoid the first person, as well as the use of contractions.

The Argumentative Paper

When constructing an argumentative paper, you aim to create a thesis that presents your opinion of why the reader should only consider one particular side of an argument. To do this, you must investigate your topic thoroughly and evaluate the evidence you discover in your research to be able to establish a position on the topic. You must then support your position by providing credible and trustworthy sources from previously published materials. In persuading your readers to your point of view, you may need to produce empirical research results by collecting data through interviews, surveys, observations, or experiments.

Your resulting paper will demonstrate your ability to counter any arguments to the contrary to your stated chosen position using reliable data and sound reasoning. Be sure to use good transitional words and phrases when moving between arguments to demonstrate your logical progression of thought.

Tips on Formatting

As mentioned earlier, you will need to cite references to demonstrate a strong analysis or argument for your paper. When you refer to works by other authors, it is essential that you cite them accurately so your reader can validate the references. The citation style will vary based upon the writing format given to you by your professor, whether APA , MLA , or another.

To ensure that you do not lose points for formatting errors, you can use formatting software for accuracy. By using the proper software, you can save time during the editing process, and this will allow you to focus your attention on what matters most, the content.

For more information about APA or MLA formats, contact us today.

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David Plaut is the founder of Reference Point Software (RPS). RPS offers a complete suite of easy-to-use formatting template products featuring MLA and APA style templates, freeing up time to focus on substance while ensuring formatting accuracy. 

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Research: What it is.

A research paper is the culmination and final product of an involved process of research, critical thinking, source evaluation, organization, and composition. It is, perhaps, helpful to think of the research paper as a living thing, which grows and changes as the student explores, interprets, and evaluates sources related to a specific topic. Primary and secondary sources are the heart of a research paper, and provide its nourishment; without the support of and interaction with these sources, the research paper would morph into a different genre of writing (e.g., an encyclopedic article). The research paper serves not only to further the field in which it is written, but also to provide the student with an exceptional opportunity to increase her knowledge in that field. It is also possible to identify a research paper by what it is not.

Research: What it is not.

A research paper is not simply an informed summary of a topic by means of primary and secondary sources. It is neither a book report nor an opinion piece nor an expository essay consisting solely of one's interpretation of a text nor an overview of a particular topic. Instead, it is a genre that requires one to spend time investigating and evaluating sources with the intent to offer interpretations of the texts, and not unconscious regurgitations of those sources. The goal of a research paper is not to inform the reader what others have to say about a topic, but to draw on what others have to say about a topic and engage the sources in order to thoughtfully offer a unique perspective on the issue at hand. This is accomplished through two major types of research papers.

Two major types of research papers.

Argumentative research paper:

The argumentative research paper consists of an introduction in which the writer clearly introduces the topic and informs his audience exactly which stance he intends to take; this stance is often identified as the thesis statement . An important goal of the argumentative research paper is persuasion, which means the topic chosen should be debatable or controversial. For example, it would be difficult for a student to successfully argue in favor of the following stance.

Perhaps 25 years ago this topic would have been debatable; however, today, it is assumed that smoking cigarettes is, indeed, harmful to one's health. A better thesis would be the following.

In this sentence, the writer is not challenging the current accepted stance that both firsthand and secondhand cigarette smoke is dangerous; rather, she is positing that the social acceptance of the latter over the former is indicative of a cultural double-standard of sorts. The student would support this thesis throughout her paper by means of both primary and secondary sources, with the intent to persuade her audience that her particular interpretation of the situation is viable.

Analytical research paper:

The analytical research paper often begins with the student asking a question (a.k.a. a research question) on which he has taken no stance. Such a paper is often an exercise in exploration and evaluation. For example, perhaps one is interested in the Old English poem Beowulf . He has read the poem intently and desires to offer a fresh reading of the poem to the academic community. His question may be as follows.

His research may lead him to the following conclusion.

Though his topic may be debatable and controversial, it is not the student's intent to persuade the audience that his ideas are right while those of others are wrong. Instead, his goal is to offer a critical interpretation of primary and secondary sources throughout the paper--sources that should, ultimately, buttress his particular analysis of the topic. The following is an example of what his thesis statement may look like once he has completed his research.

This statement does not negate the traditional readings of Beowulf ; instead, it offers a fresh and detailed reading of the poem that will be supported by the student's research.

It is typically not until the student has begun the writing process that his thesis statement begins to take solid form. In fact, the thesis statement in an analytical paper is often more fluid than the thesis in an argumentative paper. Such is one of the benefits of approaching the topic without a predetermined stance.

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The four main types of academic writing are descriptive, analytical, persuasive and critical. Each of these types of writing has specific language features and purposes.

In many academic texts you will need to use more than one type. For example, in an empirical thesis:

• you will use critical writing in the literature review to show where there is a gap or opportunity in the existing research
• the methods section will be mostly descriptive to summarise the methods used to collect and analyse information
• the results section will be mostly descriptive and analytical as you report on the data you collected
• the discussion section is more analytical, as you relate your findings back to your research questions, and also persuasive, as you propose your interpretations of the findings.

Descriptive

The simplest type of academic writing is descriptive. Its purpose is to provide facts or information. An example would be a summary of an article or a report of the results of an experiment.

The kinds of instructions for a purely descriptive assignment include: 'identify', 'report', 'record', 'summarise' and 'define'.

It’s rare for a university-level text to be purely descriptive. Most academic writing is also analytical. Analytical writing includes descriptive writing, but also requires you to re-organise the facts and information you describe into categories, groups, parts, types or relationships.

Sometimes, these categories or relationships are already part of the discipline, while in other cases you will create them specifically for your text. If you’re comparing two theories, you might break your comparison into several parts, for example: how each theory deals with social context, how each theory deals with language learning, and how each theory can be used in practice.

The kinds of instructions for an analytical assignment include: 'analyse', 'compare', 'contrast', 'relate', and 'examine'.

To make your writing more analytical:

• spend plenty of time planning. Brainstorm the facts and ideas, and try different ways of grouping them, according to patterns, parts, similarities and differences. You could use colour-coding, flow charts, tree diagrams or tables.
• create a name for the relationships and categories you find. For example, advantages and disadvantages.
• build each section and paragraph around one of the analytical categories.
• make the structure of your paper clear to your reader, by using topic sentences and a clear introduction.

In most academic writing, you are required to go at least one step further than analytical writing, to persuasive writing. Persuasive writing has all the features of analytical writing (that is, information plus re-organising the information), with the addition of your own point of view. Most essays are persuasive, and there is a persuasive element in at least the discussion and conclusion of a research article.

Points of view in academic writing can include an argument, recommendation, interpretation of findings or evaluation of the work of others. In persuasive writing, each claim you make needs to be supported by some evidence, for example a reference to research findings or published sources.

The kinds of instructions for a persuasive assignment include: 'argue', 'evaluate', 'discuss', and 'take a position'.

To help reach your own point of view on the facts or ideas:

• read some other researchers' points of view on the topic. Who do you feel is the most convincing?
• look for patterns in the data or references. Where is the evidence strongest?
• list several different interpretations. What are the real-life implications of each one? Which ones are likely to be most useful or beneficial? Which ones have some problems?
• discuss the facts and ideas with someone else. Do you agree with their point of view?

To develop your argument:

• list the different reasons for your point of view
• think about the different types and sources of evidence which you can use to support your point of view
• consider different ways that your point of view is similar to, and different from, the points of view of other researchers
• look for various ways to break your point of view into parts. For example, cost effectiveness, environmental sustainability, scope of real-world application.

To present your argument, make sure:

• your text develops a coherent argument where all the individual claims work together to support your overall point of view
• your reasoning for each claim is clear to the reader
• your assumptions are valid
• you have evidence for every claim you make
• you use evidence that is convincing and directly relevant.

Critical writing is common for research, postgraduate and advanced undergraduate writing. It has all the features of persuasive writing, with the added feature of at least one other point of view. While persuasive writing requires you to have your own point of view on an issue or topic, critical writing requires you to consider at least two points of view, including your own.

For example, you may explain a researcher's interpretation or argument and then evaluate the merits of the argument, or give your own alternative interpretation.

Examples of critical writing assignments include a critique of a journal article, or a literature review that identifies the strengths and weaknesses of existing research. The kinds of instructions for critical writing include: 'critique', 'debate', 'disagree' and 'evaluate'.

You need to:

• accurately summarise all or part of the work. This could include identifying the main interpretations, assumptions or methodology.
• have an opinion about the work. Appropriate types of opinion could include pointing out some problems with it, proposing an alternative approach that would be better, and/or defending the work against the critiques of others.
• provide evidence for your point of view. Depending on the specific assignment and the discipline, different types of evidence may be appropriate, such as logical reasoning, reference to authoritative sources and/or research data.

Critical writing requires strong writing skills. You need to thoroughly understand the topic and the issues. You need to develop an essay structure and paragraph structure that allows you to analyse different interpretations and develop your own argument, supported by evidence.

This material was developed by the Learning Hub (Academic Language and Learning), which offers workshops, face-to-face consultations and resources to support your learning. Find out more about how they can help you develop your communication, research and study skills .

See our Writing skills handouts .

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Types of research papers

Analytical research paper

Argumentative or persuasive paper, definition paper, compare and contrast paper, cause and effect paper, interpretative paper, experimental research paper, survey research paper, frequently asked questions about the different types of research papers, related articles.

There are multiple different types of research papers. It is important to know which type of research paper is required for your assignment, as each type of research paper requires different preparation. Below is a list of the most common types of research papers.

➡️ Read more:  What is a research paper?

In an analytical research paper you:

• pose a question
• collect relevant data from other researchers
• analyze their different viewpoints

You focus on the findings and conclusions of other researchers and then make a personal conclusion about the topic. It is important to stay neutral and not show your own negative or positive position on the matter.

The argumentative paper presents two sides of a controversial issue in one paper. It is aimed at getting the reader on the side of your point of view.

You should include and cite findings and arguments of different researchers on both sides of the issue, but then favor one side over the other and try to persuade the reader of your side. Your arguments should not be too emotional though, they still need to be supported with logical facts and statistical data.

Tip: Avoid expressing too much emotion in a persuasive paper.

The definition paper solely describes facts or objective arguments without using any personal emotion or opinion of the author. Its only purpose is to provide information. You should include facts from a variety of sources, but leave those facts unanalyzed.

Compare and contrast papers are used to analyze the difference between two:

Make sure to sufficiently describe both sides in the paper, and then move on to comparing and contrasting both thesis and supporting one.

Cause and effect papers are usually the first types of research papers that high school and college students write. They trace probable or expected results from a specific action and answer the main questions "Why?" and "What?", which reflect effects and causes.

In business and education fields, cause and effect papers will help trace a range of results that could arise from a particular action or situation.

An interpretative paper requires you to use knowledge that you have gained from a particular case study, for example a legal situation in law studies. You need to write the paper based on an established theoretical framework and use valid supporting data to back up your statement and conclusion.

This type of research paper basically describes a particular experiment in detail. It is common in fields like:

Experiments are aimed to explain a certain outcome or phenomenon with certain actions. You need to describe your experiment with supporting data and then analyze it sufficiently.

This research paper demands the conduction of a survey that includes asking questions to respondents. The conductor of the survey then collects all the information from the survey and analyzes it to present it in the research paper.

➡️ Ready to start your research paper? Take a look at our guide on how to start a research paper .

In an analytical research paper, you pose a question and then collect relevant data from other researchers to analyze their different viewpoints. You focus on the findings and conclusions of other researchers and then make a personal conclusion about the topic.

The definition paper solely describes facts or objective arguments without using any personal emotion or opinion of the author. Its only purpose is to provide information.

Cause and effect papers are usually the first types of research papers that high school and college students are confronted with. The answer questions like "Why?" and "What?", which reflect effects and causes. In business and education fields, cause and effect papers will help trace a range of results that could arise from a particular action or situation.

This type of research paper describes a particular experiment in detail. It is common in fields like biology, chemistry or physics. Experiments are aimed to explain a certain outcome or phenomenon with certain actions.

Critical Writing 101

Descriptive vs analytical vs critical writing.

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Expert Reviewed By: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | April 2017

Across the thousands of students we work with , descriptive writing (as opposed to critical or analytical writing) is an incredibly pervasive problem . In fact, it’s probably the biggest killer of marks in dissertations, theses and research papers . So, in this post, we’ll explain the difference between descriptive and analytical writing in straightforward terms, along with plenty of practical examples.

Descriptive vs Analytical Writing

Writing critically is one of the most important skills you’ll need to master for your academic journey, but what exactly does this mean?

Well, when it comes to writing, at least for academic purposes, there are two main types – descriptive writing and critical writing. Critical writing is also sometimes referred to as analytical writing, so we’ll use these two terms interchangeably.

To understand what constitutes critical (or analytical) writing, it’s useful to compare it against its opposite, descriptive writing. At the most basic level, descriptive writing merely communicates the “ what ”, “ where ”, “ when ” or “ who ”. In other words, it describes a thing, place, time or person. It doesn’t consider anything beyond that or explore the situation’s impact, importance or meaning. Here’s an example of a descriptive sentence:

  “Yesterday, the president unexpectedly fired the minister of finance.”

As you can see, this sentence just states what happened, when it happened and who was involved. Classic descriptive writing.

Contrasted to this, critical writing takes things a step further and unveils the “ so what? ” – in other words, it explains the impact or consequence of a given situation. Let’s stick with the same event and look at an example of analytical writing:

“The president’s unexpected firing of the well-respected finance minister had an immediate negative impact on investor confidence. This led to a sharp decrease in the value of the local currency, especially against the US dollar. This devaluation means that all dollar-based imports are now expected to rise in cost, thereby raising the cost of living for citizens, and reducing disposable income.”

As you can see in this example, the descriptive version only tells us what happened (the president fired the finance minister), whereas the critical version goes on to discuss some of the impacts of the president’s actions.

Ideally, critical writing should always link back to the broader objectives of the paper or project, explaining what each thing or event means in relation to those objectives. In a dissertation or thesis, this would involve linking the discussion back to the research aims, objectives and research questions – in other words, the golden thread .

Sounds a bit fluffy and conceptual? Let’s look at an example:

If your research aims involved understanding how the local environment impacts demand for specialty imported vegetables, you would need to explain how the devaluation of the local currency means that the imported vegetables would become more expensive relative to locally farmed options. This in turn would likely have a negative impact on sales, as consumers would turn to cheaper local alternatives.

As you can see, critical (or analytical) writing goes beyond just describing (that’s what descriptive writing covers) and instead focuses on the meaning of things, events or situations, especially in relation to the core research aims and questions.

Need a helping hand?

But wait, there’s more.

This “ what vs so what”  distinction is important in understanding the difference between description and analysis, but it is not the only difference – the differences go deeper than this. The table below explains some other key differences between descriptive and analytical writing.

Should I avoid descriptive writing altogether?

Not quite. For the most part, you’ll need some descriptive writing to lay the foundation for the critical, analytical writing. In other words, you’ll usually need to state the “what” before you can discuss the “so what”. Therefore, description is simply unavoidable and in fact quite essential , but you do want to keep it to a minimum and focus your word count on the analytical side of things.

As you write, a good rule of thumb is to identify every what (in other words, every descriptive point you make) and then check whether it is accompanied by a so what (in other words, a critical conclusion regarding its meaning or impact).

Of course, this won’t always be necessary as some conclusions are fairly obvious and go without saying. But, this basic practice should help you minimise description, maximise analysis, and most importantly, earn you marks!

Let’s recap.

So, the key takeaways for this post are as follows:

• Descriptive writing focuses on the what , while critical/analytical writing focuses on the so what .
• Analytical writing should link the discussion back to the research aims, objectives or research questions (the golden thread).
• Some amount of description will always be needed, but aim to minimise description and maximise analysis to earn higher marks.

Psst... there’s more!

This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...

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19 Comments

Thank you so much. This was helpful and a switch from the bad writing habits to the good habits.

Great to hear that, Sarah. Glad you found it useful!

I am currently working on my Masters Thesis and found this extremely informative and helpful. Thank you kindly.

I’m currently a University student and this is so helpful. Thank you.

It really helped me to get the exact meaning of analytical writing. Differences between the two explains it well

Thank you! this was very useful

With much appreciation, I say thank you. Your explanations are down to earth. It has been helpful.

Very helpful towards my theses journey! Many thanks 👍

very helpful

very helpful indeed

Thanks Derek for the useful coaching

Thank you for sharing this. I was stuck on descriptive now I can do my corrections. Thank you.

I was struggling to differentiate between descriptive and analytical writing. I googled and found this as it is so helpful. Thank you for sharing.

I am glad to see this differences of descriptive against analytical writing. This is going to improve my masters dissertation

Thanks in deed. It was helpful

Thank you so much. I’m now better informed

Busy with MBA in South Africa, this is very helpful as most of the writing requires one to expound on the topics. thanks for this, it’s a salvation from watching the blinking cursor for hours while figuring out what to write to hit the 5000 word target 😂

It’s been fantastic and enriching. Thanks a lot, GRAD COACH.

Wonderful explanation of descriptive vs analytic writing with examples. This is going to be greatly helpful for me as I am writing my thesis at the moment. Thank you Grad Coach. I follow your YouTube videos and subscribed and liked every time I watch one.

Very useful piece. thanks

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Essay vs Research Paper: Key Disparities

Table of contents

• 1.1 What Is an Essay?
• 1.2 What Is a Research Paper?
• 2.1 Purpose and Objective
• 2.2 Structure and Organization
• 2.3 Length and Depth
• 2.4 Sources and Evidence
• 2.5 Voice and Style
• 2.6 Audience and Presentation
• 3 Essay vs Research Paper: 10 Points of Difference
• 4 What Is the Difference Between Research Paper and Different Types of Papers
• 5 Let’s Sum Up

Every student needs to write some academic papers for the university. However, even young people with experience can't determine the difference between an essay and a research paper. Although these two areas of academic writing have many similarities, the requirements are still significantly different.

• In this article, you will get a clear definition of an essay and research paper.
• We will outline the key differences between these two types of academic writing.
• You will learn more about the organization, structure, essay and research paper requirements.
• Finally, you will be able to tell the difference between a research paper and an essay.

To get to the heart of the matter of these two academic assignments, we should start by getting an essay vs research paper definition.

Definition and Overview

What is an essay.

An essay is a short piece of work, the purpose of which is to present individual thoughts regarding a chosen topic. Often, essays do not pretend to be scientific but require a defined structure. The basic requirements for an essay suggest writing a five-paragraph piece that contains an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

What makes your essay unique is your creativity and the novelty of your ideas. To easily structure your thoughts and present them clearly to the reader, you should devote time to drafting an essay . Before you start writing your essay, brainstorm the freshest ideas. Thus, even though all your classmates will use the same five-paragraph structure as you, your ideas will impress the teacher. Experiment with meaning, not form.

What Is a Research Paper?

The difference between an essay and a research paper revolves around the academic approaches. Research work is the depth of study of a selected scientific topic, which should bring scientific novelty by drawing conclusions based on existing research and experiments conducted. For students, it’s not enough to state the facts or express their point of view regarding the topic. Your task is to comprehensively study the subject of research, familiarize yourself with existing opinions, and outline the direction of the upcoming study.

Your teacher will expect you to demonstrate analytical skills, the ability to select reliable sources, and a broad theoretical base on your research topic. Research papers require creativity, erudition, and orientation in the topic.

Key Differences Between Essay and Research Paper

The central difference is the goal of these academic assignments. The essay aims to express an individual point of view and find a creative, fresh approach to an existing topic. A good research paper seeks to introduce scientific novelty by examining existing data and conducting new experiments to analyze the information obtained.

Purpose and Objective

The first and main difference between an essay and a research paper is the purpose of writing . An essay as an academic task has the goal of developing students' creative thinking. It also teaches us a structured presentation of thoughts regarding a certain topic. The student is required to have a non-standard approach, fresh thoughts, and reasoned conclusions on the given topic.

The purpose of the research work is to study a scientific topic in detail. This academic assignment is aimed at assessing the student’s analytical abilities and competence to determine cause-and-effect relationships, filter sources, and formulate logical conclusions. Such work requires theoretical knowledge, preliminary study of existing scientific works, and the ability to formulate goals and research methods.

Moreover, a student is supposed to show the capacity to draw comprehensive conclusions based on available data and information obtained during independent research. This task may seem complicated to students, so they opt for resorting to the help of PapersOwl writing service to save time.

Structure and Organization

To start with, the basic structure of any college essay involves a text consisting of five paragraphs, divided into three main factions: introduction, body part, and conclusion. When students lack time to compose a nicely structured academic essay, they can always pay to write a research paper and have their tasks done by a professional. The introduction presents the topic, sets the main direction for further text, and also works as a bait to motivate the reader to study further work. The introduction is followed by three body paragraphs. Each of the three body paragraphs presents a separate idea.

The last paragraph of any essay is a conclusion. In this paragraph, the college or university student must resume the arguments and ideas presented in the text, summarizing them into the main message of the essay. Often, the idea that you present in your conclusions will be most memorable to the reader.

Consequently, let’s overview the structure of a research paper. Compared to the structure of an essay, the organization of a research paper is much more ornate. This type of work requires a title page and abstract that go before the main body of text. On the title page, the student describes his topic of work, as well as gives contact details. An abstract is a short description of the main ideas and research methods of your work. The research work itself consists of an introduction, background, main part, and conclusions. Also, at the very end, they often add acknowledgments and a list of references, which must be formatted following the required international format.

Length and Depth

The length and depth of analysis between these two academic assignments also differ significantly. As for the essay, it is often a short prose piece whose length does not exceed 1000 words. You are faced with the task of fitting a large array of ideas into a small amount of text. The essay format itself rarely requires rigorous and thorough research of the topic, but you should work on creativity and the presence of a message in your essay. Most academic papers fall in the 300 to 600-word range.

On the other hand, a research paper is a scientific project that includes many theoretical aspects that require analysis and clarification. Thus, the volume is significantly bigger. Basic research paper lengths range from 4,000 to 6,000 words. In this case, you will no doubt have to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the selected sources, formulate a research vector, and spend time conducting your experiments, or ask PapersOwl to do a research paper for you . A research paper is a scientific project that includes many theoretical aspects that require analysis and clarification.

Sources and Evidence

The presence of theoretical sources and references is not a mandatory requirement for an essay. You can state your own thoughts on a given topic without resorting to the help of existing sources. Present your ideas on the topic, giving arguments that seem logical to you. If you do decide to base your paper on existing works, you must be sure to indicate where the information was taken from. And yet, the teacher needs to see your own thoughts rather than a dry listing of existing ideas.

Unlike an essay, a quality research paper must include primary and secondary sources, as well as a specific citation format. Surely, you are not the first person to study this scientific topic. In order not to repeat existing thoughts, you need to conduct a search to form a reliable basis for your study. If you skip this step, you risk basing your paper on misleading scientific findings.

Voice and Style

The very specificity of the essay as an academic paper is the subjective presentation of information. A large percentage of your essay should consist of your perspective and vision of the chosen topic. For this reason, essays often use a less formal and more subjective tone. However, you can still use a large amount of colloquial vocabulary, completely disregarding the norms of formal style. Students often have trouble figuring out the right style for their university assignments. In such cases, a reasonable solution is to seek help from a specialist. When you buy custom-written essays from PapersOwl, you’ll always get a perfectly balanced academic paper.

On the other hand, a research paper is a serious scientific work. The student must maintain a formal tone while complying with all structural requirements. Also, in investigative work, there is little room for subjectivity and a personal approach since an objective style is required. At the same time, do not oversaturate your research work with formalism and standard clichés.

Audience and Presentation

The essay format can be used both in the educational process and in an independent literary style. Therefore, the audience for such a written assignment can be wide and varied. When you’re writing an essay, make sure it’s understandable in academia and for a wide audience.

Research work, on the contrary, is aimed at a range of professionals in the chosen field. Written in scientific language, the goal of this work is to attract the attention of scientists and students of certain majors. Your scientific work should be rich in theory and related terms.

Essay vs Research Paper: 10 Points of Difference

As you may have noticed, research papers and essays have many differences, both global and specific. These two types of academic assignments differ in the purpose of writing, have different structures and formats, and are aimed at testing different skills. And yet, every day, students face difficulties in understanding the basic requirements, which leads to incorrect execution of the task. To summarize the main differences, let's look at the table below.

What Is the Difference Between Research Paper and Different Types of Papers

There are many types of papers, each focusing on different topics, serving different purposes, and requiring a specific structure. Those are different types of essays that share a common ground but differ in the way they present information and arguments.

Analytical paper. The purpose of such an essay is an in-depth analysis of the chosen topic, studying different approaches and points of view, and formulating one’s own conclusions based on the information studied and scientific evidence.

Argumentative paper. This type of essay takes as a basis an ambiguous topic; the author must take a certain position and provide a number of arguments.

Informative paper. It has an informative purpose — a presentation of information to the reader, preceded by careful analysis and selection of data.

Persuasive paper . The purpose of this paper is to present convincing arguments, using chosen writing techniques, confirming the author’s position regarding the selected scientific topic.

To get a high grade, you need to understand the requirements of academic requirements. No matter how informatively rich your work is, if it does not meet the requirements, it cannot be highly appreciated. Each type of academic assignment has its own clearly defined, unique format. It’s necessary to know the difference between a research paper vs argumentative essay so as not to get confused while completing a college assignment. So before you start writing an assignment, make sure you understand the type of academic writing required of you.

Let’s Sum Up

Research papers and essays are aimed at testing various skills of the student, following different structures, and having several requirements. An essay is a more creative writing task, which involves showing originality and expressing a personal opinion on a certain topic. At the same time, a research paper is a type of scientific writing that adheres to a strict structure and uses a formal tone. Understanding the main differences will make your writing process easier, saving you time researching the requirements. Remember that knowing the essence of the assignment is a key factor in writing a decent paper.

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