An essay is a written composition that is an organized collection of ideas, analyzing or interpreting some subject. It is usually written from a limited or personal
point of view and is usually only a few paragraphs long.
It isn’t as lengthy as a thesis and isn’t as casual as a short fiction story. Essays can be humorous, serious, sarcastic or academic, but they all follow the same basic structure. There are several kinds of essays. Here are very brief explanations of their structure:
1. An essay that describes explains a particular person, place, or thing. The essay is organized by describing some aspects of the subject.
Example:
Assignment:
Write an essay about Italian cuisine.
Introductory paragraph:
State what specific area of Italian cuisine you are talking about, (Let’s say “Pasta”) and then tell
the reader what the three or four main points are of your essay. I have listed three main points, but you need to write this information in normal writing style, as a part of the introductory paragraph; not in the form of a list.
1) History of pasta (brief)
2) Types of pasta
3) Types of sauces
Now, write one detailed paragraph for each of your three or four points.
Summary or Conclusion:
Write just a few sentences briefly summarizing what you’d written in the
previous three paragraphs.
2.
An essay that defines or classifies explains terms, ideas, or items and elaborates on them, often
with examples. You need to be careful to give an accurate definition of
whatever term or idea you have chosen as the topic.
Example:
Assignment:
Write an essay defining food preservation.
Introductory paragraph:
Define "food preservation", and tell the reader that you are writing about the
following three points:
1) Define canning foods.
2) Define drying foods.
3) Define freezing
foods.
Now, write one paragraph for each of the three or four points, giving
the reader detailed information about each point.
Summary or Conclusion:
Summarize the various ways to preserve foods.
3. An essay that
evaluates
makes judgments about a topic. You develop the criteria,
and evaluate using that criteria. The essay is organized by discussing the
way you made your judgment.
Example:
Assignment:
Write an essay evaluating the need for traffic laws.
Introduction:
State why you think traffic laws are needed.
1) There are more cars on the roads.
2)
Vehicles go faster than they did in the past.
3)
Cities and towns are more heavily populated now.
Now, write one paragraph for each of the
three or four points, giving the reader detailed information about each point.
Summary:
Write a brief conclusion about why you think traffic laws are needed.
4. An essay that
explains
tells your reader how or why something happens or happened. You need to develop
cause and effect to make your points. Organize the essay on these separate
"cause and effect" points.
Example:
Assignment:
Write an essay on why so many Swedish people emigrate.
Introduction:
Tell how many (or what percentage of) Swedish people relocate to other
countries.
Three main points, one for each paragraph:
1) State the first cause and effect (High taxes
mean less discretionary income).
2) State the second cause and effect (Low-paying
jobs make it difficult to meet more than basic needs).
3) State the third cause
and effect (High prices make it hard to save for the future).
Write one paragraph for each of the three or
four points, giving the reader detailed information about each point.
Summary:
Briefly re-state the causes.
5. An essay that compares and contrasts
states the similarities and the differences between two things or ideas. You can write about one of the items and then about the other, or you can compare the two point by point.
Example:
Assignment:
Write an essay comparing the English language to the Portuguese language.
Introduction:
Briefly state the origins of both languages and then state briefly how they differ. (vowels, adjectives, word order—whatever you are going to elaborate on in the body of the essay).
Four main points, one for each paragraph:
1) Compare vowels. How
are they the same? How are they different?
2) Compare consonants.
How are they the same? How are they different?
3) Compare verb tenses.
How are they the same? How are they different?
4) Compare word order.
How is it the same? How is it different?
Write one paragraph for each of the three or
four points, giving the reader detailed information about each point.
Summary:
Summarize what you said BRIEFLY. Remember, a summary is not long.
6. An essay that shows a sequence describes a process or event, in chronological order. You need to describe each step in logical progression.
Example:
Assignment:
Write an essay on how to bake a pie.
Introduction:Define pie and /or types
of pies (meat, fruit, etc.), and write three main points---one for each
paragraph:
1) Explain how to make
the pastry.
2) Explain how to prepare
a filling.
3) Explain how to put
pastry and filling together and finish the dish.
Write
one paragraph for each of the three or four points, giving the reader detailed information about each point.
Summary:
Summarize the basic steps of making a pie.
The steps in constructing an essay are only briefly listed here.
There are tips and tricks and more details on many Internet websites, and also on this website. Believe it or not, essays can be fun to write if you remember the basic guidelines. Since there are so many kinds of essays,
and you can write in almost any style (depending on the reason for the essay), you needn’t be afraid of writing
one.
