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Types of Essays
... and why we write them.
Why do we write essays?
Hint: The answer is NOT ‘because sir/miss told me to’
Why do we write essays?
Measurement
Development
Professionalism
Measurement??!!??
Implying that it is to:
Assess your knowledge and understanding?
Grade your achievements?
Judge your writing skills?
Measure you against your peers?
Measurement??!!??
Implying that it is to:
Assess your knowledge and understanding?
Grade your achievements?
Judge your writing skills?
Measure you against your peers?
Of course, but it isn’t the main reason
Development
Far more important is that you are given the opportunity:
to explore what you thinkto improve how you thinkto practice communicating your thoughts
Development
Writing is a tool which can allow us to:
Organise our thoughts clearly
give ourselves room to examine
what we think
why we think it
whether we should continue to think it
Professionalism
Sustained, coherent and complex thinking cannot be done silently.
That is to say, most people cannot sit alone and think CLEARLY about something
COMPLICATED for A LONG PERIOD of time
Professionalism
But, what do you do when there is no-one you can talk to
Professionalism
Planning an essay is like having that conversation with yourself
Writing the essay is sharing those thoughts with other people
Professionalism
Which is important because….
Professionalism
Anybody can make a gut decision
but
only someone who is practiced in communicating and reasoned argument will
be able to justify how the more difficult decision was made
So anyway, …..….what kind of essays are there.
There are generally considered to be three types of essay
Descriptive
Contrast/compare
Argumentative
The descriptive essay
In describe essays, you are merely asked to describe,
something, be it an event, object, graph or table.
Your OPINION is not required unless specifically asked for
1. The descriptive essay
Description of object or place
Describing a sequence of events.
Describing a process
Describing and explaining
Introductionmajor aspects of the subject.
description of aspect A
description of aspect B
etc.
Conclusion
Plan – Object or place
Questions are often introduced by:
•Describe ....•Narrate...•Tell....
Plan – Sequence of Events
Questions are often introduced by:
•Give an account of...,•Trace...,•Examine developments in...
Introduction
First situation
then A happened
then B happened
etc.
Final situation
Conclusion
Plan – A Process
Questions are often introduced by:
•Explain/What is the connection between....•Describe the procedures by which...
Definition of processMain equipment/Main steps
Step Oneleads to
Step Twoleads to
Step Three
ConclusionSummary of process
Plan – Describing and explaining
Questions often introduced by:•Explain the causes/reasons....•Account for....•Analyse the causes....•Comment on (the reasons for)....•Show that....•Show why...•Examine the effect of....•Suggest reasons for....•Why did...?•What are the implications of...?•Discuss the causes of....•Discuss the reasons for....
Plan – Describing and explaining
Introduction to causes of A
Cause 1 + example
Effects 1
Cause 2 with example
Effects 2
etc.
Conclusion
Introduction to causes of A
Causes + examples
Transition
Effects
Conclusion
OR
Compare and contrast essays
Contrast or distinguish between questions usually present you with
two or more terms, instruments, concepts or procedures that are
closely connected, and sometimes confused. The purpose of the essay is
to explain the differences between them.
2. Compare and contrast essays
The contrast essay
The compare essay
The compare and contrast essays
Plan – Contrast
Questions are often introduced by:
•Contrast ....•Distinguish between ...•What is the difference between....•What are the differences between....•How are ... and ... different?
Introduction to differences between A and B
Contrast A & B in terms of first difference
Contrast A & B in terms of second difference
etc
Conclusion
Plan – Compare
Questions are often introduced by:
•Compare ....•What features do ... and ... have in common?•What are the similarities between....•How are ... and ... similar?
Introduction to similarities between A and B
Compare A & Bin terms of first similarity
Compare A & Bin terms of second similarity
etc.
Conclusion
Plan – Compare/Contrast
Questions are often introduced by:
•Compare ....•What features do ... and ... have in common?•What are the similarities between....•How are ... and ... similar?
Argumentative essays
The purpose of an argumentative essay
is to persuade the reader to follow your point of view. You do
this by supporting your point with facts or relevant ideas.
The argument essay
The balanced view
The persuasive essay
The to what extent essay.
The argument essay
The balanced viewIf the essay title begins with something like: Give the arguments for and against.... Assess the importance of.... Examine the arguments for and against.... What are the advantages and disadvantages of...? Evaluate....
Then you will need a BALANCED essay
The argument essay
The balanced viewThat is to say: Present BOTH sides of the argument in an
unbiased fashion State your opinion in the conclusion, based on
the evidence you have provided
The argument essay
Plan –
The
balanced
view
Introduce the argument to the reader.e.g. why it is particularly relevant topic nowadays or refer directly to some comments that have been
voiced on it recently.
Reasons in favour of the argument
Reasons against the argument
After summarising the two sides, state your own opinion,
and explain why you think as you do
The argument essay
The persuasive essayIf the essay title begins with something like: Give your views on.... What do you think about...? Do you agree that...? Consider whether....
Then you will need a PERSUASIVE essay
The argument essay
The persuasive essayIn which you state your opinion immediately try to convince the reader, by reasoned
argument, that you are right
The argument essay
Plan –
The
persuasive
essay
Introduce the topic briefly in general terms,and then state your own opinion.
Explain what you plan to prove in the essay.
Reasons against the argument.Dispose briefly of the main objections to your case.
Reasons for your argumentthe arguments to support your own view,
with evidence and examples.
Conclusion - Do not repeat your opinion again.End your essay with something memorable
e.g. a quotation or a direct question.
The argument essay
The to what extent essayIf the essay title begins with something like: To what extent .... How true .... How far do you agree....
Then you will need a TO WHAT EXTENT essay
The argument essay
The to what extent essay Because the truth is never 100% so, how true is it?
The argument essay
Plan –
The to what
extent essay
Introduction to problem
Aspect 1 - true
Aspect 1 - false
Aspect 2 - true
etc
Conclusiona ‘subtraction’ sum
Which brings us on to
….how to write
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