Types of essays

1. Types of essays

2. Why do we write essays? • What is the purpose? • To whom are you writing? (Audience) • What is the topic of your essay? (Subject) • Who are you? What is your status as a writer?

3. Expository essays • written to explain something in detail using a logical progression of information (facts) to develop an idea step-by-step • well-organized, provides accurate information, and clearly conveys this information • seek to convince the reader of a point of view about a topic by conveying a thorough knowledge of the subject

4. Persuasive essays • Attempt to convince readers of something • Take a position and argue for or against it by explaining your reasons • Thesis should be debatable

5. Persuasion • When we write to persuade, we have the intention of producing a desired effect, which is change. • In ancient Greece, there were often limitations on the availability of definite proof; therefore, it was necessary to support one’s claims by presenting arguments persuasively. • In order to do this, arguments need to be organized using these types of appeals: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos.

6. Persuasive appeal: ethos • Ethos refers to making an ethicalappeal which is mainly based on how the audience perceives the persona or character of the presenter. • If the audience feels confident that the presenter is knowledgeable, wise, and trustworthy, they are more likely to accept the argument that he or she is making. • Coe argues (based on the writings of Aristotle) that “effective persuasion is honest, truthful, and loving” (382-3). Making an ethical appeal at the beginning of a piece of writing helps establish a rapport with the audience.

7. Persuasive appeal: Pathos • Pathos refers to making a passionate emotionalappeal, which is mainly based on how the presenter makes the audience feel, often eliciting empathy from the audience. • This is often presented toward the end of an argument when the presenter feels that the audience has been convinced and needs to be “moved” to act upon what they now accept or believe to be true.

8. Persuasive appeal: Logos • Logos refers to the use of reasoning and evidence to make a logical appeal. • Logic had a broader definition in Aristotle’s time. It referred to the use of logical language to describe reality. • It is important to realize that if an argument appearsto be structured logically to the audience, even though the evidence may not be true, it still has the potential to persuade.

9. Narrative essays • tell a story that is based on the personal experiences of the writer, which may be a combination of true events and imaginative ideas • written in chronological order, express emotion and use personal experience as well as fiction • must illustrate a point, which is the moral or the lesson learned by the writer.

10. Personal essays • The personal essay is a way to express ideas about autobiographical experiences that a writer has had • The writer is responsible for introducing the subject and theme that he/she is writing about (Hood). • It is an informal essay in which the author expresses thoughts, feelings, and personal opinion but does not have to provide proof (Hood).

11. Literary essays • To be continued

12. Synthesis essays • To be continued

13. Works Cited Coe. Richard M. Process, Form, and Substance: A Rhetoric for Advanced Writers. 2nd ed. New Jersey: Prentice, 1990. Print. Davehood59 [Dave Hood]. “What is a personal essay?” Find Your Creative Muse: Learn How to Write Poetry, Fiction, Personal Essays and More. Dave Hood. davehood59.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/what-is-a-personal-essay/ 29 January 2014.