COMPARISON WITH OTHER GENRES

Regarding its extension or theme, the essay may resemble a monograph or scientific article. However, if the latter is considered to be a report of the integrative process of scientific research, meaning that it mentions theories, procedures and sources in a neat and detailed way, we can then start to notice differences between what is a scientific article and a monograph. The scope of scientific research processes reported in these articles, can be investigated, analyzed, contrasted, and approached in depth as an essay.

In theoretical related works carried in the fields of philosophy and philology, essays may lack visible methodological device (such as: formulas, frames or methods) and may be presented in a conventional or established structure as that of natural sciences (with an introduction, problem (question to be answered), results/proof and ending with a discussion). Thus, these aren’t called scientific articles, instead named as “essays”. This is a type of writing that could be called “Humanities” articles.

Another type of writing that is similar to an essay is the newspaper article. L. Ferrero (1979) considers it as one of its variants, yet acknowledging that the topics are often temporary or fleeting. In contemporary newspapers, there is coexistence between inconsequential materials and true essays, that is to say, works that will survive in time due to their message. For instance, the main works by the Costa Rican author Cristián Rodríguez, have been rescued from the newspapers and published in a book (1988). As well, Tribuna Nacional (National Tribune 1993) has gathered 25 years of outstanding essays published on page 15 of La Nación (The Nation newspaper) in Costa Rica.