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