An advisory essay is a type of essay that seeks to advise or recommend a course of action to the reader. Advisory essays can be found in a variety of settings, from academic journals to popular magazines. In an academic setting, an advisory essay might take the form of a research paper that seeks to advise the reader on a particular course of action. In a popular magazine, an advisory essay might take the form of an article that offers advice on a particular topic. Whatever the setting, the purpose of an advisory essay is to offer the reader a recommendation based on the writer's expertise.