You are on page 1of 38

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 isnt the main reason


Development
Far more important is that you are given the opportunity:

to explore what you think


to improve how you think
to 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


Plan Object or place
Introduction
Questions are major aspects of the subject.

often introduced
by: description of aspect A

Describe ....
Narrate... description of aspect B

Tell....
etc.

Conclusion
Plan Sequence of Events
Introduction
Questions are
often introduced First situation

by:
Give an then A happened

account of..., then B happened


Trace...,
Examine etc.

developments Final situation


in...
Conclusion
Plan A Process
Definition of process
Main equipment/Main steps
Questions are
often introduced Step One
by: leads to

Explain/What
is the Step Two
leads to
connection
between.... Step Three
Describe the
procedures by Conclusion
Summary of process
which...
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 Introduction to causes of A

Effects 1 Causes + examples

Cause 2 with example OR


Transition

Effects 2
Effects

etc.
Conclusion
Conclusion
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
Introduction to differences
Questions are between A and B
often introduced
by: Contrast A & B in terms of first
Contrast .... difference
Distinguish between ...
What is the difference
between.... Contrast A & B in terms of second
What are the difference
differences between....
How are ... and ...
different? etc

Conclusion
Plan Compare
Introduction to similarities between A
Questions are and B
often introduced
by: Compare A & B
Compare .... in terms of first similarity
What features do ...
and ... have in Compare A & B
common? in terms of second similarity
What are the
similarities
etc.
between....
How are ... and ...
similar? 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 view
If 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 view
That 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 Introduce the argument to the reader.
e.g. why it is particularly relevant topic nowadays
or refer directly to some comments that have been
The voiced on it recently.

balanced
Reasons in favour of the argument

view
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 essay
If 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 essay
In which you
state your opinion immediately

try to convince the reader, by reasoned


argument, that you are right
The argument essay
Introduce the topic briefly in general terms,
Plan and then state your own opinion.
Explain what you plan to prove in the essay.
The
Reasons against the argument.
persuasive Dispose briefly of the main objections to your case.

essay Reasons for your argument


the 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 essay
If 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
Introduction to problem
Plan
Aspect 1 - true
The to what

extent essay Aspect 1 - false

Aspect 2 - true

etc

Conclusion
a subtraction sum
Which brings us on to
.how to write

You might also like