Essays With Ease

Designed by

Elisa Paramore

Introduction

Although the ability to write is an in-borne gift as far as a having a natural aptitude for words and their management, it is also the result of planning, directed effort and practice. All of which can be taught skills as long as a person is willing to learn the steps and apply them correctly.

Different Types of Essays

There are many different types of essays and each one has its own unique characteristics and ways to best write them. The rest of this workshop will discuss each of the essays and their characteristics.

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Analogies

This is a special type of comparison It is what is also referred to as an extended comparison. It is most widely used to relate two items that on the surface appear to have nothing in common but, do have at least some of the same underlying characteristics.

Analogies are not good when used as arguments because no matter how many similarities may be shared, there are always some differences. Therefore, a writer cannot assume that because two things have some things in common that they are exactly the same.

Take for example the ways that learning to be a good driver is like learning to be a good writer. The only way that these two circumstances are the same is the fact that as people get more practice they become better.

Argumentative Essays Argumentative essays are used to either

explain or defend a personal opinion. Before starting to write this type of essay take

a few moments and ask yourself the following questions:

What have I read recently ,or what can I read quickly & easily, before I write that will help me to support my reason for holding this opinion?

What have I learned about this subject from TV, movies or radio that will help me to support my opinion?

What have I learned from reliable friends, parents, other relatives & teachers that will help me to support my reason for my opinion?

Other considerations for Argumentative Essays

What is my opposition’s reason for believing differently ?

Who is my audience? Which points about my topic best illustrate why

I believe as I do? Use of a pro and con sheet may help to clarify

the points most relevant to your argument. Use the appropriate tense

This type of essay can be done in one of four different ways:

By first presenting your points and then refuting the points of your opposition

By refuting your opposition’s points then presenting your points and their support

By presenting your first point and its support which refutes your opposition’s first point, and continue the same process with your second and third point, etc.

By presenting a point for your belief and then a point that refutes the opposition’s belief.

Keep in mind that it is necessary to select evidence that effectively supports your claim. This evidence may be in the form of personal experiences, experiences or testimony from others, factual information, statistics from reliable sources, charts, graphs or diagrams, or expert testimony

Narratives Narratives are essays that relate one moment in

which a writer reveals an experience he/she has had. They are used to tell a story in such a way so the reader can easily follow the events.

Before writing this type of essay it is best to keep the following suggestions in mind:

What moment in my life best illustrates the point I want to write about? Remember that a moment is limited as much as possible in time. It is best to use the moment in your life that you recall most sharply.

What kinds of details would make this moment come alive? Remember to show the setting in which the moment occurred through such things as color, smell, touch & sound. Describe the people who were there and use important bits of dialogue that occurred while the moment was developing.

Also keep the following things in mind: What is the purpose of the narrative? Be consistent in your viewpoint. Follow a logical time sequence.

Make your characters believable and come alive with as much description as possible

Limit the the scope of the moment as much as possible so that your reader does not get bogged down in a bunch of irrelevant material.

Use dialogue sparingly. Only include the most important dialogue that directly relates to the moment you are describing.

Comparison/Contrast Essays

The comparison/contrast essay discusses the likenesses & differences between 2 or more items

This comparison/contrast can be written in two different ways :

point by point format, or block format

Point By Point

The point by point style is one in which each point that is shared between the items is discussed one after the other in one paragraph and the differences are covered point by point in another paragraph

Example of Point by Point

Paragraph 1: Item A & B both have this kind of climate Item A& B both have this kind of weather Item A & B both have this kind of population Paragraph 2: Item A & B differ in terms of tourist industry Items A & B differ in terms of economic development Items A & B differ in terms of medical care available

Block Format In this format the items are discussed in separate

paragraphs but the same topics must be covered about both so that the paragraphs are balanced and show a direct comparison and contrast between the two items

In this format the items of least importance are mentioned first and the most important items are

mentioned last so that the reader will have a better chance of being able to remember the main points being stressed

Example of Block Format Paragraph 1 Climate, weather, population, tourist

industry, economic development and medical care found in ITEM 1

Paragraph 2 Climate, weather, population, tourist

industry, economic development and medical care found in ITEM 2

Which Format is LEAST Effective

The point by point format of comparison/contrast is least effective because it is not possible to go into as much detail about each point. However, if you decide to follow this type of format anyway, it is necessary to use more lively illustrations and more varied vocabulary to make it as interesting as possible.

Definition Essay The definition essay is one that offers an extended

definition of some word or term that has special meaning to the writer

In this type of essay it is recommended that the writer use the following strategies to help clarify the definition as much as possible: state examples, describe the parts of the object being defined, compare/contrast term to similar terms, explain the operation or process used, give familiar synonyms, define by what the term does not mean, present a history of the term, discuss causes & effects

Descriptive Essays of Places

The descriptive type of essay relies on concrete sensory details

It can be written by using narration, comparison/contrast, supporting instances that discuss one aspect of the place you are describing or by mood sketches which describe the mood that is evoked in the place or physical description

Literary Analysis Essays The literary analysis essay may discuss only one, or

several, of the following items in relation to a story or book:

character analysis overall theme action structure tone language

Character Analysis Essays

This type of essay discusses specific traits of a character’s personality this may be done in several different ways:

Each paragraph discusses a moment in the story that illustrates a specific trait

Discusses important moment(s) in a character’s development

Using specific quotes to illustrate specific trait(s)

Show how a character changes from the beginning of the story to the end of the story

Show how a character responded to a moment of crisis and how a moment in the writer’s life was similar or different

Show how the writer would have responded in a particular instance

Show how the same instance was portrayed differently in the story and the movie version

Illustrative Essays

This type of essay uses several similar examples to examine or explain one main point.

Illustration is done by using sensory details to support the main point as well as using transitions to move smoothly from one example to the next.

Process Analysis Essays This type of essay gives directions or

shows the reader how to do something or to explain how something has been done in the past. Therefore, it is necessary to use the most clear, precise language possible.

This type of essay breaks down the process of how to do something into steps

Keep these things in mind when preparing to write this type of essay:

It is necessary to include all relevant details-first include major steps that need to be followed & all materials needed

Provide any descriptive information that will serve as an attention getter

Use concrete sensory details Steps may be given in chronological order or

by order of importance, depending on process being discussed

When to Use Chronological Order & Order of Importance

If you are describing how to make something, use chronological order because it is important to follow a certain order in completing the steps

If you are describing how to care for something, for instance, caring for puppies, use order of importance

Conclusion I hope that this workshop on essay writing has been

helpful in explaining the characteristics and ways to write different types of essays. Don’t forget to come by Student Support Services to complete an Academic Enrichment Summary so we may

document your participation. If you are viewing this workshop via the internet you may click on the link in the directions box on the Workshop page and print one out or

e-mail it to: rcrews@wallace.edu . Handouts available upon request.

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