TYPES OF ESSAYS
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Writing Arguments
Argumentative writing involves taking a position on a debatable issue. These issues may pertain to public policies or societal concerns, such as:
- Should religious groups be allowed to meet on school property?
- Should restrictions be placed on gun ownership?
On such matters, disagreements are common.
The goal of argumentative writing is to influence readers' perspectives or persuade them to take action they might not otherwise consider. To achieve this, your arguments must be robust enough to withstand opposing viewpoints.
- Understand Your Audience: Tailor your arguments to resonate with your readers' values and beliefs.
- State Your Thesis Clearly: Present your primary argument concisely.
- Example: "Although young male drivers have a higher accident rate, insurance companies should not discriminate against anyone who has been traffic-violation-free for two years."
- Draft a Strong Introduction: Clearly state your stance from the beginning.
- Provide Specific Evidence: Use facts, statistics, examples, anecdotes, and expert opinions to support your claims.
- Avoid Logical Fallacies: Ensure your reasoning is sound and free of common errors (refer to lessons on logic and fallacies).
Writing Definitions
Formal definitions are structured to convey maximum information with minimal words. They typically include:
- The Term: The word or phrase being defined.
- The Class: The category to which the term belongs.
- Distinctive Characteristics: Features that differentiate the term from others in its category.
Example of a Formal Definition:
"Water (term) is a liquid (class) made up of molecules of hydrogen and oxygen in a 2:1 ratio (distinctive characteristics)."
- Avoid vague phrases like "is when" or "is where." Use precise language.
- Do not define a word by repeating it.
- Use simple, familiar terms to explain complex ideas.
- Ensure the category is broad enough to include all members of the term but not so broad as to cause ambiguity.
- Clearly state differentiating characteristics.
The Definition Essay
A definition essay explains the meaning of a term, often exploring its deeper implications. For example, defining "intelligent" might involve not only providing a dictionary meaning but also exploring your personal perspective, experiences, and interpretations.
Example Framework for a Definition Essay:- Define the term (e.g., "microscope").
- Explain its origin (e.g., from Greek words "micros" meaning small, and "scope" meaning watcher).
- Describe its characteristics and uses.
Writing Descriptions
Descriptive writing creates vivid word pictures that appeal to the readers' senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell). This style of writing thrives on specific, colorful details.
"The young woman in the photo resembles me in many ways. Her slightly oval face is framed by softly waving brown hair identical to mine. Her small, straight nose mirrors the one I was born with. Though her lips are closed, a faint smile hints at the wide grin she often shows, complete with down-curving smile lines. But her eyes, large and dark brown like mine, are the most striking feature, highlighted by her thin, pencil-like eyebrows."
- Focus on a Dominant Impression: Decide the overall feeling you want to convey (e.g., peaceful, threatening, lovely).
- Be Objective or Subjective: You can describe based on facts or personal emotions and impressions.
- Involve the Reader: Help them visualize what you're describing with vivid details.
Strategies for Writing Descriptions:
- Use spatial organization to guide readers through a physical space.
- Chronologically describe events or transformations.
- Employ the "then-and-now" approach to show change, decay, or improvement.
- Write about emotions, using sensory details to make the abstract concrete.
Conventions of Descriptive Writing
- Relies heavily on sensory details to create an immersive experience.
- Carefully selected details support the dominant impression.
- Emphasizes action and emotion through vivid verbs, adverbs, and adjectives.
- Conveys attitude through tone and diction when appropriate.
- List all sensory details and build the dominant impression from them.
- Ensure consistency between the details and the central theme or impression.
- Describe objects or scenes as if guiding readers through them visually.
Cause and Effect: Explanation and Application
Cause and effect involves analyzing the relationship between actions or events (causes) and their outcomes (effects). This can include identifying probable or known effects stemming from a particular cause or tracing the reasons behind specific outcomes.
Common Questions in Cause and Effect Analysis:
- "What are the causes of X?"
- "What led to X?"
- "Why did X occur?"
- "Why does X happen?"
- "What would be the effects of X?"
Example:
Question: Define recession and discuss the probable effects a recession would have on today's society.
Answer Structure:
Thesis: A recession, defined as a significant slowdown in economic activity across a nation, can negatively impact society in several ways: it could .......A......., it could .......B......., and it could .......C....... .
The body of the response would then elaborate on each of the three effects—A, B, and C—offering specific details, examples, and reasoning.
Useful Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essays:
- because
- consequently
- therefore
- for this reason
- as a result
These transitions help clarify the logical connections between causes and effects, making the analysis more coherent and persuasive.
Analysis: Definition and Example
Analysis is the process of breaking something into its fundamental components to understand how the parts contribute to the whole.
Example Question:
Discuss the different services a junior college offers a community.
Thesis Statement:
A junior college provides the community with three primary types of educational services: vocational education for young people, continuing education for older adults, and opportunities for personal development for individuals of all ages.
Outline for Supporting Details and Examples:
Vocational Education:
- Prepares young people for specific careers or trades.
- Offers hands-on training and certifications.
- Examples: nursing programs, automotive repair, culinary arts.
Continuing Education:
Serves older adults looking to update skills or change careers
Provides flexible class schedules and online options
Examples: computer literacy, business management, ESL classeS
Personal Development
Encourages lifelong learning for all individuals.
Includes hobbies, arts, fitness, and general interest courses.
Examples: photography, yoga, creative writing workshops.
Useful Transition Words for Analytical Writing:
- first, second, third, etc.
- next
- another
- in addition
- moreover
These transitions ensure the discussion flows logically, guiding the reader through each point with clarity and cohesion.