Has anybody made a decent systemised account of essays and classification

The essay continually defies strict definition or classification for me. It frustrates me as well. Every submission that has come back with a high grade or praise has been the result of a late-night, stream-of-consciousness exercise. Any attempt of a focused effort or parsimony has only led to further frustration, missing deadlines or failing to submit entirely.

>>9486624
this. when I write late at night the day before the due date I get 90-100%. When I plan ahead and write during daytime, I get 70-80%

>>9486624
>>9486654

Same experience. The harder I try, the worse I do.

You go two ways:
You don't know anything at all
You know everything
and you're back where you started

You know incompletely, and you'll fail.

>>9486654

I've had this too. Very annoying.

>>9486558
>>9486654
>>9486624
You guys need to realize just how little effort is put into marking these things.
They usually just get handed down to a junior lecturing assistant who glances over them and marks whatever he feels like

>>9488460

Be that as it may, are there any noteworthy studies into the nature of essays from writers and philosophers you'd recommend?