This article presents some didactic reflections about the writing of essays taking as a base a bibliographic revision and the pedagogical experience from the author teaching these kinds of texts. This proposal post the idea of essay from its purpose and function; in the characteristics or particularities of gender; in the given classification because of the topic and the argumentative intention; in the writing that takes into account not only proper but also fundamental elements at the time to write it down; and its composition that specifies strategies to carry out each moment of the production process. These considerations guide teachers that ask for essays, as well as those that teach essay writing at the university.