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Learn about the different types of essays - expository, descriptive, persuasive, and narrative - and how to approach each one. Understand the key words that indicate the type of essay prompt and get tips on planning and structuring your essay. Includes examples and techniques for grabbing the reader's interest and improving your writing.
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Types of Essays Expository Persuasive Descriptive Narrative
What is an expository essay? It … • …Gives facts. • …Explains. • …Gives steps in a process. • …Presents ideas in logical order or correct sequence.
What are the key words that show it is an expository prompt? Most people enjoy some type of music. Think about your favorite type of music and explain why you like that particular type of music. Sometimes even the best drivers can get lost at times. Explain how you would direct a lost man to get back to the interstate highway from your neighborhood. Tell how to make a hamburger. YOU WILL FIND THESE WORDS IN THE PROMPT EXPLAIN or TELL HOW.
What is a descriptive essay? • Sensory images are used to describe what the writer sees, hears, smells, touches, and tastes. • It paints a clear description of people, places, objects, or events.
What are the key words that show it is a descriptive prompt? Describe your bedroom. Imagine telling someone who has never visited you. There are many tourist spots to visit in Birmingham. Describe your favorite place to take visitors. You may want to tell what you will see, hear, smell and how you feel when you are there. Tell us what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel on Christmas morning. YOU MUST DESCRIBEOR TELL WHAT A PERSON CAN SEE, HEAR, SMELL, TASTE OR FEEL.
What is a persuasive essay? • You are asked to prove something. • Give reasons why. • Present arguments against your reasons. Show them to be false. • Take a stand • Ask or call for an action.
What are the key words that show it’s a persuasive prompt? • Persuade a close friend to donate blood as part of a blood drive that your school is sponsoring for the Red Cross. • Some of your kid brothers friends have taken up smoking and want him to start too. Write a convincing letter to your kid brother to not take up this habit. • Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper telling why citizens in Birmingham should support a tax increase benefiting the local public schools. YOU WILL NOTICE THE WORDS PERSUADE, CONVINCE OR TELL WHY SOMEONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING.
Tells a story. • Has chronological order and sequence of events. • Has action. • Has conflicts or problems. • Has dialogue. • Has characters. • Has a definite beginning, middle and end. What is a narrative? A narrative…
What are the key words that show that these are narrative prompts? You and your friend find a big box that is labeled “Do Not Open.” Your friend wants to open the box. Write a story about what happens next. Tell about a time when you made a serious mistake. Two little girls found a wallet on the sidewalk. Tell what happened next. NOTE THE WORDS: WRITE A STORYor TELL ABOUT A TIME, or TELL WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.
Ready to write? First determine what type prompt you have. You should read your prompt at least “three” times. • Expository--explain, tell how • Descriptive--describe • Persuasive---persuade or convince • Narrative-- tell about a time when, tell a story Use your scratch paper to brain storm and then make an outline, or web, for a five paragraph essay.
Think – Brainstorm-PACO • P-What is your purpose? • A- Who is your audience? • C- Content --What are your ideas for details, facts, or reasons? • O- Organization --Think how you want to structure your paper. Jot down these ideas. NOWSTART YOUR OUTLINE, OR WEB!
Summary • Identify your prompt • Plan your work with an outline. • Give your work a title with an action word. • Grab interest in the beginning • Build your paragraph with explanations, examples, & evidence following the topic statement or key statement. • Use strong action words • Use vivid adjectives • Use metaphors • Finished? Reread & reread to improve and clarify.
