An informal essay is one that is composed for fun. Its objective is to assist you in organizing your ideas on a given issue, reflecting on your readings, and expressing various points of view. It can still be informative and compelling, but you may write it in a less professional tone. An example of an informal essay would be something like "Ten Ways I'm Different From My Friends".
Informal essays are used by students as self-analysis tools or to display their knowledge and understanding of a topic. They are not written to receive high marks from others - rather, they are written because the student wants to understand himself or herself better through self-reflection.
Students use informal essays to work out their opinions on issues that interest them. For example, a student who disagrees with some of his or her friends might write an informal essay explaining why. This helps the student understand his or her own position better and also communicate it to others.
In addition to writing essays for fun, students sometimes write informal essays to improve their writing skills. They might want to practice different elements of style such as vocabulary, grammar, or organization. These essays are not graded, so they are not evaluated based on length, content, or any other factor other than the writer's desire to improve.
Students usually write informal essays in response to questions or prompts.
The casual essay is composed mostly for fun. The writer in a formal essay is a quiet presence behind the words, but the writer in an informal essay speaks directly to the reader in a conversational way. If you're writing casually, try to keep your personality in mind. Be yourself!
In addition, the tone of the essay is important - it can be light and humorous, serious yet entertaining, etc. Avoid getting too personal or emotional - this will make your essay seem more formal than informal. It's best if you can maintain a consistent tone throughout the piece.
Finally, proofread your work carefully before submitting it. A few spelling mistakes or poor grammar may not matter much when writing under 100 words, but they could cause problems when writing a longer paper.
Informal essays are far more personal than argumentative, expository, or other types of formal essays. If the issue is abortion, for example, you are free to voice your own view. You may include some facts, but your main focus will be on how you interpret the issue. Formality in language and style should be avoided when writing an informal essay.
It is perfectly acceptable to write about a personal experience when trying to persuade someone of something. The essay can be as formal or informal as you like. It all depends on how you write it. If you choose words that show that you have done some research on the topic, then your reader will know that you have thought about what you are going to say before starting to write.
In conclusion, yes, you can write an informal essay. All you need to do is write honestly and clearly about what you believe in, and let the form follow later.
What Are the Differences Between Informal and Formal Essays?
Characteristic | Informal essay (sometimes also called personal or familiar essay) | Formal essay |
---|---|---|
Purpose | Entertainment; gentle reflection. | Presentation of facts and ideas with critical evaluation, arguing a point and analyzing in detail. |
It simply refers to the essay's writing style: first-person and without needing to stick to the usual five-paragraph framework. In your casual essay, your writing style should likewise be "informal." That means no formal language, but you should still include many details about yourself and your life.
In general, you should write about 500 words for your casual essay. Of course, this depends on how detailed you want your essay to be. If you have time to write more than one paragraph, then do so. However, even in a single paragraph, you can still give detailed information by using quotes and anecdotes. For example, you could talk about your favorite teacher from school or someone else who has had an impact on your life.
The most important thing is that you write freely and comfortably about yourself and your life. There are no right or wrong topics for your casual essay - just be honest and tell the truth.
How should an informal essay be written?