Ask AI: Differentiate between essay and transactional writing requirements with examples.

Essay Writing: Essay writing is a type of academic writing that encompasses a wide range of subjects. The objective is to present an argument, criticize, interpret, or analyze a particular topic or subject. The essay should be structured and follow a logical and clear order. It includes an introduction that presents the topic and the thesis statement, the body paragraphs each presenting one main idea that supports the thesis statement, and a conclusion that summarizes the main points and restates the thesis in a new way. For example: An essay on "Global Warming: Causes and Countermeasures” where the writer investigates the causes, effects, and possible solutions to this global issue. The writer would first introduce global warming, present arguments regarding its causes, discuss the impacts, and conclude with possible countermeasures. Transactional Writing: Transactional writing is meant to communicate with others and take certain actions or steps. It's often used in letters, speech, reports, proposals, directives, or reviews. The primary objective is to achieve a goal or get a particular response from the reader. Its main attributes involve clear, concise, and informative language, along with a formal tone, and a direct address to the reader. For example: A proposal to a business for a new marketing strategy where the writer explains the problem with the current marketing strategy, presents ideas on how to improve it, and persuades the company to adopt the suggestions. The writer creates a compelling case with supporting data and logical reasoning to convince the reader to take the proposed action. In summary, the fundamental difference between essay and transactional writing lies in their purpose: an essay is designed to present an argument or analyze a subject, while transactional writing is used to perform an action, give a directive, or achieve a particular response.