ESSAY

An essay is a short non-fiction, non-imaginary work about a subject. It

may be classified by tone and style as formal or informal.
It has many purposes depending on what the writer wants to write about
and how he/she wants to affect the readers.

Three Main Parts

Introduction
It is the opening part of the write-up that shows the topic sentence of the
essay or the thesis statement. It prepares the readers on the essay. Therefore,
it should be effective so that the readers are encourage/ motivate to continue
reading.

Effective introduction should

catch the readers attention, which can be done, for example, by using a
direct announcement, a quotation, a question, a definition, an unusual
comparison, or a controversial position/opinion;
Introduce the topic of the essay, (in other words, inform the reader of and
provide a context for the topic being discussed);
Introduce the main idea (otherwise known as the thesis or claim) of the
essay;
Introduce the purpose of the essay (will it inform, argue, persuade, describe,
narrate, classify, etc.?).

Body
An essay includes body paragraphs, which develop the main idea (thesis
or claim) of the essay.

An effective body paragraphs should

Explain, illustrate, discuss, or provide evidence to support the main idea

(thesis or claim) of the essay;
Discuss only one aspect of the main idea (whenever you move on to a new
supporting point, start a new body paragraph);
Work together with the other body paragraphs to support your essays main
idea;
Work together with the other body paragraphs to create a clear, cohesive
paper (clarity and coherence can be achieved through the use of transitions)
 Conclusion

An essay ends with a brief conclusion, which brings the essay to a

logical end. An effective conclusion should:

brief;
predicting an outcome to the main idea
giving an opinion
quotations

Remind readers of the primary focus of the essay, which can be done by
restating the main idea in different words;
Avoid introducing new ideas;
Avoid apologies.

TYPES OF AN ESSAY
FORMAL ESSAY
This is known as impersonal essay. The content is informative and
scientific in nature. The writer uses the aesthetic approach in
language and style.
INFORMAL ESSAY
It is called familiar or personal essay. It expresses personal experiences
or observation on human nature. Its purpose is to entertain rather than to inform.

FORMS OF ESSAY

NARRATIVE ESSAY (Telling a Story)

In a narrative essay, the writer tells a story about a real-life experience.
While telling, a story may sound easy to do, the narrative essay challenges
students to think and write about themselves. When writing a narrative essay,
writers should try to involve the reader by making the story as vivid as possible.
The fact that narrative essays are usually written in the first person helps engage
the reader. I sentences give readers a feeling of being part of the story. A
well-crafted narrative essay will also build towards drawing a conclusion or
making a personal statement.

DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY (Painting a Picture)

A cousin of the narrative essay, a descriptive essay paints a picture with
words. A writer might describe a person, place, object, or even memory of
special significance. However, this type of essay is not description for
descriptions sake. The descriptive essay strives to communicate a deeper
meaning through the description. In a descriptive essay, the writer should show,
not tell, through the use of colorful words and sensory details. The best
descriptive essays appeal to the readers emotions, with a result that is highly
evocative.

EXPOSITORY ESSAY (Just the Facts)

The expository essay is an informative piece of writing that presents a
balanced analysis of a topic. In an expository essay, the writer explains or
defines a topic, using facts, statistics, and examples. Expository writing
encompasses a wide range of essay variations, such as the comparison and
contrast essay, the cause and effect essay, and the how to or process essay.
Because expository essays are based on facts and not personal feelings, writers
dont reveal their emotions or write in the first person.

PERSUASIVE ESSAY (Convince Me)

While like an expository essay in its presentation of facts, the goal of the
persuasive essay is to convince the reader to accept the writers point of view or
recommendation. The writer must build a case using facts and logic, as well as
examples, expert opinion, and sound reasoning. The writer should present all
sides of the argument, but must be able to communicate clearly and without
equivocation why a certain position is correct.

Other Essays
There are many other types of standard essays as well - cause and effect,
definition, example, chronological, process analysis, academic, analytical,
descriptive, process, thematic. Without a doubt, the essay possibilities are
plentiful. No matter which essay method resonates with you, it's important to
remember that all essays are meant to enlighten, entertain, and/or educate the
reader. Thus, we must treat our essay writing as we would for any article or
novel; pay attention to the style, keep the ideas flowing, and eliminate all
extraneous materials.

Elements of an Essay
Audience- It refers to whom the essay is intended for.
Purpose- It refers to the intention or goal in writing the essay.
Subject- It is the topic discussed in the essay.
Point of view- It is how the ideas are told to the reader
 Theme- It refers to the lesson or message of the essay.
Mood- It refers to the feeling which the writer would like the reader to
experience or get from the literary work.
Tone- It is the attitude of the writer towards his/her subject
Style- This is the special way in which the ideas of the essay are developed.