Analytical vs Descriptive
Analytical and descriptive are two different types of writing styles. They are also methodologies of conducting researches. But in general, these remain writing styles adopted by writers when presenting their essays or reports in higher classes or when writing for a journal. One’s writing style has a lot of impact upon the readers, and the success or the lack of it often depends upon how well the writer has mastered his style of writing. This article attempts to highlight the differences between analytical and descriptive styles of writing.
Descriptive Writing
Descriptive writing is often considered the simplest of academic writing types as it merely intends to enrich readers with facts and information. What, when, where, who are the words that are best answered by this style of writing. The best examples of descriptive writing are the summary of an article or the results of a scientific experiment. Some of the words used by instructors to indicate the fact that it is actually descriptive writing style that they want are summarize, collect, define, list, report, identify, etc.
When describing an individual or a place or a thing, descriptive writing is often chosen by the writer to present the complete feeling to the reader. This requires choosing rich language and heavily loaded words full of metaphors to present before the reader a vivid image as if he was there to witness the scene of writing. Though some pieces are purely descriptive in nature, this style of writing is often a prelude to other styles of writing as an introduction.
Analytical Writing
Evaluation and comparison are the central features of analytical writing and it goes beyond merely describing an event, a person, or a thing. Why, what, and what next are the questions that are best answered with this style of writing. One needs to learn how to present his content in an argumentative manner. This requires knowing how to reason and present evidence to the reader. There are many different ways of presenting an argument, but the matter has to be well structured in a logical manner and shall always lead to a conclusion.
The basic purpose of analytical writing is not to provide information or facts to the reader but to examine the facts and to compare and evaluate them to pass a judgment. Often the cause and effect relations is easily established with the help of analytical writing.
Analytical vs Descriptive
• While the two writing styles namely descriptive and analytical seem to be exclusive and totally different from one another, often the use of both in a single piece becomes necessary.
• What, when, where are questions best answered with descriptive style of writing. On the other hand, why, what, and what next are the questions answered better with analytical style of writing.
• The purpose of descriptive writing is to present facts and information, whereas the purpose of analytical writing is to compare, analyze and evaluate something.
• The language is richer in descriptive writing while the content is more structured and full of logic for a conclusion in analytical writing.