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How to Know What Kind of Essay You're Writing 1031 Views


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Description:

You should probably know what kind of essay you're writing before you actually start writing it. Just like you should probably know where you're going before you start driving. But shhh…don't tell Dad.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:00

How to Know What Kind of Essay Youre Writing a la Shmoop.

00:03

Starting a new essay is like building something out of LEGOs.

00:07

You have all your blocks you have a general idea of what youre doing but

00:11

you have no idea how theyre going to fit together unless you know what the

00:15

end product looks like.

00:17

Is it a hovercraft The Batmobile A horse and carriage The last thing you want

00:22

is a horse-drawn hovercraft with Batman at the helm.

00:25

Okay actually that sounds kind of awesome.

00:28

But with essays you need a clear idea of what kind of essay youre going to write.

00:32

Is it Argumentative Analytical Or descriptive If youre being asked to prove a point on

00:37

one side of an issue or the other its argumentative.

00:40

You could be asked to choose between sugar and high fructose corn syrup side with

00:44

the Montagues or the Capulets...

00:46

or debate the use of stem cells for growing human body parts.

00:50

Or if your teacher is really sadistic all three.

00:53

Whatever the question you need to take a stand and stick with it.

00:57

A common method for writing an argumentative essay is the five-paragraph approach.

01:01

The first paragraph includes your thesis.

01:03

Three body paragraphs include your evidence.

01:06

And a conclusion readdresses your thesis.

01:08

If youre asked to analyze or unpack a piece of writing a film or an

01:13

event in history youll write an analytical essay.

01:16

You might be asked to analyze the motivations behind the workers in the Pullman car

01:20

strike analyze the similarities between the real world and the futuristic world depicted in a

01:24

sci-fi film or analyze the theme of poverty in The Grapes of Wrath.

01:28

Or again all three.

01:30

Theres research involved here too.

01:32

You must break the topic down into specific parts and provide evidence.

01:36

Finally if you are describing an event or object in detail youre writing a descriptive essay.

01:41

Youll want to pick something with tons of depth and details.

01:44

You probably dont want to describe a rock.

01:47

You want to focus on details.

01:50

Your reader should see hear smell feel and taste whats going on in your scene.

01:54

The devil is in the details.

01:56

Especially if youre writing a descriptive essay about Dantes Seven Circles of Hell.

02:00

The five-paragraph format works for this too.

02:03

Pick three vivid details put them under your microscope and zoom in.

02:07

Some essays do deviate from the standard five paragraph format.

02:10

A research essay is going to be much more thorough than a simple five paragraphs can contain.

02:15

Its like having a huge Thanksgiving meal you have to undo your belt a couple of notches.

02:19

And a creative essay can take on any format it wants.

02:23

If your words are being creative might as well be creative with the format.

02:27

You wouldnt go to a fashion show in a potato sack and you wouldnt write

02:31

a creative essay in a standard format.

02:34

Take a good long look at your essay and choose the right one for the occasion.

02:38

Argumentative analytical or Descriptive Writing the right essay can be the difference between winning the

02:43

race and failing to get off the starting line. NOTE end of file

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