Essay Writing

Understanding Writing Styles

an essay is a short piece of writing which is set around a specific topic
or subject. The piece of writing will give information surrounding the
topic but will also display the opinions and thoughts of the author.

Often times, an essay is used in an academic sense by way of

examination in order to determine whether a student has understood
their studies and as a way of testing their knowledge on a specific
subject. An essay is also used in education as a way of encouraging a
student to develop their writing skills.
 Essay Structure

1. The beginning of an English Essay

The beginning of an English essay is the introduction part of the
paragraph. It gives the introduction information of the essay. There is a
topic sentence in the beginning of the paragraph then it is followed by
some supporting sentences and ends with a thesis statement. The thesis
statement is as the source ideas for the body of the paragraph.
Normally, an introduction paragraph has an introduction paragraph,
some supporting paragraphs and one thesis statement.
 Essay Structure

2. The body of an English Essay

The body of an English essay consists at least three paragraphs. All
information or ideas shared in the body of an English essay are to
support the thesis statement. As a good paragraph, every paragraph of
the body has a topic sentence, some supporting sentences and one
concluding sentence. All of the information or facts shared in the
sentences must be connected and support the thesis statement. The
thesis statement arranges the scope and limit to the body paragraph.
 Essay Structure

3. The end of an English Essay

The end of an English essay concludes the whole parts of the
paragraphs. It is summarizing the ideas in each of paragraph. As a
paragraph, it has a topic sentence, some supporting sentences and a
concluding paragraph. Therefore, a concluding paragraph is also said
final paragraph.
 Steps of writing process
1. Discovery/investigation
2. Pre-writing
3. Drafting
4. Revising
5. Editing
6. Formatting
 Discovery/investigation
The first step in writing a successful paper in college requires an active
engagement with your sources. Simply reading a primary source for content is no
longer sufficient. The question should no longer be “What happened?” but rather
“Why did that happen? What does that say about the character(s)/plot?” Make notes
of your thoughts and ideas as you read.

Once the writer has finished an active reading of the primary source, it may
be necessary to obtain secondary sources to back up the thesis. If your research
yields books, remember that it is not necessary to read the entire book. You can
either look for a chapter title that you believe will have information pertinent to your
paper, or look at the index for terms that you will be discussing. Peer-reviewed
journals available online will be your most commonly used secondary resource. Use
the online searches through the Knight-Capron Library, but remember that other
search engines, such as Google Scholar, can yield results.
 Pre-writing
Prewriting is the step in which tools such as free writing, brainstorming,
outlining, or clustering are used. In prewriting, no idea is too off topic or too
strange. It is these sometimes dissociative ideas that can lead you to a paper topic
that you never would have considered. Though the common perception is that
there is nothing that hasn’t been written about before, if you allow yourself to think
outside the box, you can find a way of looking at an old topic through new eyes.

It is also during prewriting that the writer needs to make a decision about
audience. Asking questions like: “Who is going to read my paper?”, “What is the
purpose of this paper?”, and “Why are they going to read my paper?” will help you
set your audience. The simple answer to these questions is “My professor” and
“Because they assigned it.” they are not the true answers. It could be that your
paper needs to be geared towards elementary level students or participants in a
seminar or peers at a conference. The language and tone for either of those
audiences would be very different.
 Drafting
Drafting is the beginning of “writing” your paper. It is important to remember
that in drafting you should already have a thesis idea to guide your writing.
Without a thesis, your writing will be prone to drift, making it harder to frame
after the fact. In drafting, the writer should use materials created in the
prewriting stage and any notes taken in discovery and investigation to frame
and build body paragraphs. Many writers will tackle their body paragraphs first
instead of beginning with an introduction (especially if you are not sure of the
exact direction of your paper). Beginning with body paragraphs will allow you to
work through your ideas without feeling restricted by a specific thesis, but be
prepared to delete paragraphs that don’t fit. Afterwards, create an opening
paragraph (with an appropriate revised thesis) that reflects the body of your
essay.
 Revising
There are two different scopes of revision: global and local. Global revision involves
looking for issues like cohesion and the overall progression of your paper. If your paper has
paragraphs that do not flow into each other, but change topic abruptly only to return to a
previous thought later, your paper has poor cohesion. If your topics change from paragraph
to paragraph, it is necessary to either consider altering the order of your paragraph and/or
revising your writing either by adding to existing paragraphs or creating new ones that
explain your change in topic. A paper that includes smooth transitions is significantly easier
to read and understand. It is preferable to keep all like thoughts together and to arrange
your paragraphs in such a way that your argument builds, rather than laying everything out
with equal weight. Though the blueprint for your paper is in the thesis, your main point, the
end result of your argument should not come early in the paper, but at the end. Allow the
early paragraphs serve as examples and information to build to your conclusions.

Local issues involve looking for clarity in sentences, ensuring coherence with your
ideas. The greatest asset to avoiding and fixing local issues is to use varied sentence
structure and to avoid using the same words repeatedly. Repeating the same sentence
structure can make your paper feel mechanical and make an interesting topic feel boring.
 Editing

The final stage in writing a paper requires a review of what you have
written. In this last read of your paper, you should look for any grammar,
spelling, or punctuation errors that have slipped through the cracks
during the revising stage, or that were introduced in your revisions.
Reading your paper aloud, or asking a friend to read your paper to you is
a good way to catch errors. Often if you read your own paper, especially
out loud, you can catch errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Though this step seems minor within the process of writing, it is an easy
way to prevent the loss of points over simple mistakes.
 Formatting

The formatting required for your paper will change depending on the
field of your topic. Generally, the sciences and business and economics
use APA or CSE formatting.
 Types of writing styles

1. Description / a person, place, object, scene

2. 2. Narration / a story, biography, history, news
3. 3. Exposition / explaining
4. 4. Argumentation / convincing
 1. Description
The main purpose of this type of writing is to describe. It focuses on describing a character, a place,
an event, an object or an action. There is a very slight difference between expository and
descriptive writing styles. The descriptive style is more detailed, personal and subjective.
Highlights
- It uses figures of speech
- The writer makes the readers feel, hear, and visualize the situation the way he wants
- It describes places, people, events, situation, or locations in a highly – detailed manner.

Areas of Usage
1 Poetry
2 Novels
3 Diaries Writing
4 Plays
5 Journals Writing

Description is developed through senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch.

Sample
“A grand exhibition was held in the town. The first impression on entering the ground
was of walking in some fairyland. The vast space was decorated with so many colourful
lights. The stalls, there, were like small shops and they had all the needful items. All
types of amusements could be seen there. The children were enjoying the ride on
merry – go – round, the giant wheel, railway train and other. The excitement and joy
could be seen easily”

NOTE
In the above sample, the writer wants to describe his visit to the exhibition. It is a
descriptive style of writing.
 Description of a person

1. Appearance
2. Character
3. Thoughts
4. Feelings
5. Peculiarities
6. Idiosyncrasies
 Description of a place

1. The place itself.

2. Revealing the character of a person.
3. Creating a feeling or mood.

• Write about the things that make the place different from
another place.
• Decide on the order in which to depict the different details.
 Description of an object
1. Size
2. Shape
3. Colour
4. Texture
5. Smell

• Tell how it is used.

• Tell what part it plays in a person’s life.
• Emphasize its most important characteristic.
 Description of an scene
1. The setting
2. The people
3. The actions

• Create a dominant impression.

• Decide what effect you want to achieve.
 2. Narration/Narrative

• To narrate means to give an account of an event.

• Narrative writing includes stories, biographies, histories, news, and
narrative poems.
• Narration often goes with description.
• Five aspects of narration: purpose, selection details, context,
organization, point of view.
 The main purpose of this type of writing is to tell or narrate a story. The
writer creates different characters and tells you what happens to them. The writer
uses first person narration. Narrative writing is mostly personal, imaginative, and
self-expressing.

Highlights
- The inclusion of dialogues
- Use of metaphor, imaginative language, and figure of speech
- Addition of emotional words
- Have a beginning, intervals, and endings
Areas of Usage
1 Novels
2 Short stories
3 Poetry
4 Fairy Tales
5 Autobiographies
6 Anecdotes
7 Screen scripts
8 Play
9 Legends
10 Songs
Sample
“It was a hot, sunny day. I finally visited Disneyland. It was a dreamland. I always
wanted to visit there. Being there it was like dream come true experience. On
entering, the very first thing that I said, “Oh wow! What a wonderful place!”
People were walking and enjoying their time with all the Disney characters.
Children over there were so happy and excited. I think it is a must visit place for
everyone”

NOTE
Here the writer is sharing his or her personal experience and emotions. It is a
narrative style of writing.
 a. Purpose of narration

• To teach a lesson.
• To illustrate a concept.
• To prove a theory.
• To praise a virtue.
• To condemn a vice.
• Many others.
 b. Selection of details for narration

• There should be enough details.

• Select only relevant details to contribute to the main idea.
• Keep in mind the purpose of narrative.
 c. Context of narration
At the beginning of your narrative make it clear
• When,
• Where, and
• To whom the action happened.
 d. Organization of narration
Events appear in chronological order.
• The beginning gives the setting.
• The middle/the body tells the story itself.
• The end may tell about the significance of the story or things that
happened afterwards.
 e. Point of view in narration
A first-person narrative:
• It is more graphic and lifelike.
• It gives the impression that it is what the writer himself has experienced.
• The scope of narrative may be limited.
• It is difficult to recount events that happened in different
places at the same time.

A third-person narrative:
• It is free from limitation.
• It is more objective.
• It is not easy to put in good order things
that happen to different people in
different places.
 3. Exposition
The main purpose of this type of writing is to explain. In expository writing, the author focus
and emphasis on telling or explaining a given topic or subject. This is the most common types of
writing. There is no place for the writer’s opinion, emotions, biases or points of view. The main
motive of this writing style is to spread information.
Highlights
 It has fact and figures
 Organized in a logical order and in proper sequence
 It explains the subject
Areas of Usage
 Textbooks Writing
 Business writing
 Research Papers
 Encyclopedias
 Technical Writing
 Essays
 Reports
 Recipes Writing
 Scientific Writing
 Sample
“The elephant is the largest and the strongest of all living animals. It has thick
legs, small tail, little eyes, large ears, long white tusk, and a long nose which is
its trunk. Elephants are found in Indian and in Africa. They live in herds in
jungles. The elephant is a very intelligent animal and has great strength.
Elephants can carry heavy loads. They live their lives entirely on leaves of trees,
grass, and roots”

NOTE
The above sample tries to provide information about elephants. This is an
expository style of writing.
1. Exposition means expounding or explaining.
2. It mainly deals with processes and relationships.
3. It explains:
• how something is made
• how it is used
• how it may change.

4. Methods of exposition:
• Illustration
• Process
• classification and division
• comparison and contrast
• cause and effect
• definition.
 1. Clarity in exposition
1. Limit the subject or the scope of discussion.
2. Prepare enough material, details or examples.
3. Present the facts and views in time order or emphatic order.
4. Pay attention to the accuracy and clarity of words and sentences.
5. Make the exposition interesting, moving or entertaining.
 2. Illustration in exposition
1. Illustration is the use of example to exemplify a point.
2. Good examples clarify a writer’s thought by making
• the general specific
• the abstract concrete.
3. The examples may be:
• personal experiences
• second-hand information from reliable sources.
4. Examples should be:
• Specific
• Typical
• Interesting
• relevant.
 3. Comparison and contrast
A comparison explains how things are similar.
A contrast explains how things are different.

Three purposes:
1. To present information
2. To show the superiority
3. To show the similarities and differences
 4. Principles for comparison and contrast
1. Only items of the same general class can be compared/contrasted.
2. An essay usually follows one of these two patterns:
• the subject-by-subject pattern, or
• the point-by-point pattern.
3. The comparison/contrast should be balanced.
4. It should be supported by concrete and relevant facts.
5. It shows similarities and differences in order to make a particular point.
 5. Analogy in exposition
1. The two items are not of the same class.
2. One item is used only to explain the other.
3. The item used to clarify the other must be familiar to the reader.
4. An analogy is used to support a particular point.
5. It provides only a new insight or perspective.
6. It cannot be used to prove anything.
 6. Cause and effect in exposition
A cause-effect essay is a piece of expository writing showing or explaining
the cause and effect of something.
Causal analysis:
• What is the cause of something that has
happened? – Why…?
• What effect will follow if something has
happened? – What if…?
 7. Requirements to cause-effect exposition
1. Do not oversimplify causes.
2. Be aware of making mistakes in logic.
3. Distinguish between direct/indirect and major/minor causes and effects.
4. Do not omit links in a chain of causes and effects.
5. Be objective. Support the analysis with solid, factual evidence.
 8. Division and classification in exposition
Division and classification are two different ways of sorting items out.
Division:
• deals with one item.
• Its purpose is to separate that item into parts.
• stresses the distinction between items.
• deals with the whole.
Classification:
• organizes items which share certain qualities.
• Its purpose is to group these items systematically.
• emphasizes the similarities.
• deals with the parts.
 9. Definition in exposition
Definition is necessary when the writer uses a term that may have various
meanings, especially when it is abstract, ambiguous, or controversial.
Two main types of definition:
1. logical or formal is the dictionary definition which is rigid in form.
2. extended or informal is used with ideals, concepts, or emotions. It is not
rigid in form.
 10. Requirements to a definition essay
1.It discusses abstract terms.
2.It answers the question “What is…?”
3.It does not follow any pattern.
4.It may be either deductive or inductive.
• The deductive essay begins with a definition which followed by other
expository patterns.
• The inductive essay reaches the definition after employing any of other
methods of development.
 4. ARGUMENTATIVE/PERSIASIVE
The main purpose of this type of writing is to convince. It contains the opinions, thoughts, and biases of
the author. The writer uses justifications, arguments, and reasons to make the readers agree to his or her
points.
Highlights
- It asks the readers to do something for the situation
- It has reasons, arguments, and justification

Areas of Usage
1 Speeches
2 Cover Letters
3 Editorial Pieces
4 Letters of Complaints
5 Letter of Recommendation
6 Newspaper Opinion
7 Review
8 Critical Analysis
9 Business Idea
10 Advertisements or Commercials
Sample
1. “Our store has the lowest prices and the best collection of footwear in the
entire town. Visit us today for a great experience”
2. “An LMN mattress is the most comfortable one you will ever sleep on.
Highly recommended by doctors. Give yourself a peaceful sleep today”

NOTE
In the above examples, the writer is trying to convince the reader for the trial
as used in an advertisement. This is the persuasive style of writing.
 4. ARGUMENTATIVE/PERSIASIVE
Argumentation is actually exposition with the additional purpose of convincing
or persuading.
Six basic features:
1. A debatable point
2. Sufficient evidence
3. Sound logic
4. Good organization
5. Good use of description, narration and various methods of exposition
6. An honest and friendly attitude
 1. Not a debatable point in argumentation

1. Mere statements of facts that cannot be debated.

2. Statements of personal preference which do not lead to dispute.
3. Viewpoints that are generally accepted or can be easily verified.
 2. Evidence and logic in argumentation

Evidence in Argumentation:
• common knowledge
• specific examples
• hard evidence
• facts
• statistics
• quotations from authorities

Sound logic in Argumentation:

1. Inductive reasoning
2. Deductive reasoning
 3. Organization and attitude in argumentation

Organization in Argumentation:
• An introduction identifies the issue and explains the importance of a
discussion.
• A body presents the evidence.
• A conclusion reaffirms the proposition.

The evidence is arranged:

• from the least to the most important
• from the most familiar to the least familiar
• from the easiest to accept or comprehend to the most difficult
 Solved Example on Writing Styles

Problem: How can you distinguish between the expository and descriptive
writing styles?
Solution: The main point of distinction between the two is to decide whether
the writing is subjective or objective.
Expository writing is based on facts whereas descriptive writing is more
personalized and tries to hold the interest of the readers.