Unit 5

Writing Practices 1

5.1        Writing Business Letters

Writing letters is an art and a strategy. The latter can be followed by following formal meetings; the former must be nurtured with the care and deepest interest of man. The letters are generally divided into the following four categories: friendly or informal letters, business letters; invitations and responses, as well as the use of functions.

      Knowing What to Say:
Nothing is more harmful to good communication than muddle-headedness resulting in not being able to make one's point. Before writing a letter one should be sure of what one wants to say and accordingly one should be in command of all the necessary facts and information arranged logically and systematically.

      Clarity:
Knowing what one wants to say is not enough unless one says it in as clear a Language as possible. Here comes the importance of the right word and the right expression put in a sentence constructed neatly and with precision. It should, however, be remembered that right words and write expressions become relevant only when they occur in the right place. Thus emotional and even flowery language may be apposite to a personal Letter but it will be completely out of place in a business letter.

      Brevity:
A few generations ago, when man enjoyed unlimited space and time, prolixity in language would not have been unwelcome, at Least in certain kinds of correspondence. In the modern age, however, addition of even one extra word cost time and energy most people will like to avoid. It is all the more the business correspondence. It means that all redundancy, be it a quotation illustration, an elaboration, in short, padding of any kind, must be avoided at all costs.

      Accuracy:
Avoidance of redundant helps achieve accuracy of statement. For much unwanted language in letters is the direct result of inaccurate and inconsistent thoughts and statements. A little care, particularly habitual revision of what one has written, will go a long way towards making writing accurate.

      Courtesy:
As remarked earlier, a letter reveals its writer's personality and character. Since there is always a 'you' in every letter, it is necessary that this 'you' or the addressee be shown all the courtesy and respect that language can express. Even when a complaint is lodged or a statement or application rejected, care should be taken that it is couched in polite and civilized language. It is worth remembering that while courtesy costs nothing, there is hardly anything more abrasive than impolite language.

      Good Looks:
Finally, a letter must be a visual attraction to the reader. It can displease either through wrong spelling and punctuation or bad writing and typing. These are not matters merely of form as even a well-thought out-letter, rich in ideas and having all the qualities of clarity, brevity, accuracy and courtesy may not only fail to make proper impact on the reader, but may even defeat its purpose by causing him unnecessary annoyance.

It is convenient to divide all letters into 10 parts:

• Sender's address
• Date
• Direction (the address of the person(s) to whom you are writing)
• Salutation
• Reference (not always necessary in intimate, personal letters)
• Body
• Subscription
• Signature
• Postscript (to be as a rule avoided, unless absolutely necessary)
• The  envelope.

As these are mostly (except for the body of the letter) matters of form, we will illustrate each one of them. Often there are alternative forms, but you must choose one of them and use it consistently.

• Sender's address:

(a)  Laxmi Niwas,
52 Mall Road,
Civil Lines,
Kanpur 208 016

(b)  D 64 Press Road ,
Nauroji Nagar,
Mysore 570 006

(c)  Department of Linguistics,
University of Delhi ,
Delhi 110 007.

• Date:

(a)  October 25, 1988

(b)  25th October, 1988

• Direction:

(a)  The Personnel Manager,
Life Insurance Corporation of India,
Bhubaneshwar , 751 006.

(b)  Messrs Atma Ram & Sons ,
3B Asaf Ali Roa,
New Delhi 110 001 .

(c)  Professor N. G. Arunachalam ,
Department of Civil Engineering,
University Engineering College ,
Hyderabad 500 007.

(d) Ms. Kavita Swaroop,
4/D Indira Colony,
Jawahar Nagar,
Agra 282 005.

(Messrs is used for an unlimited company or partnership of traders) (The same address is to be repeated on the envelope.)

• Salutation:

(a)  Dear Sir/Madam,

(b)  Sir/Madam, (in strictly formal letters to and from government departments or officials)

(c)  Dear Sirs/Gentlemen, (in the case of unlimited company, firm or partnership of traders or from a clerk to the Board of Directors, when 'Gentlemen' is preferred)

(d) Dear Mr. Swaminathan,

(e)  Dear Swaminathan,

(f)    My dear Swaminathan/My dear Mr. Swaminathan, ('My dear' shows extra intimacy)

(g) My dear Ravi, (very intimate and friendly)

(a)  Reference:( in professional or business letters)

(b) Sale of Old Stock (between salutation and the body of the letter) (usually placed above the direction)   

(c)  Our ref...

(d)  Your ref...

• Body:  (the main part of the Letter, the subject matter of which will differ in each case)
• Subscription:

(a)  Yours faithfully. (most common form in formal, official and business letters)

(b)  Yours truly. (somewhat warmer than the above)

(c)  Yours sincerely, (cordial and friendly)

(d)  Yours affectionately. Very sincerely yours, Yours ever, in very intimate personal letter

Job Application Letter

The application process for internships, internships, and graduate / professional programs usually requires a personal statement or application letter. This type of writing invites writers to present their skills with confidence and accuracy, which can be challenging.

Although the requirements are different in application and application, the purpose of this type of writing is to represent your goals, experiences and qualifications in the best possible light, and to demonstrate your writing ability. Your personal statement or request letter to present to your potential employer or program manager, so it's important that you take enough time to write a piece of creative writing.

• Prepare your materials:
  Before you sit down and write, prepare something to prevent frustration during the writing process itself. Obtain copies of documents such as transcript, resumes and original application form; keeping them in front of you will make your writing career a lot easier. Make a list of important information, with specific names and specific topics for employers and directors, job titles you have worked on, dates for relevant work or volunteer experiences, jobs involved etc. This way, you will be able to look at these materials while writing to include as much detail as possible.

• Write a first draft:
  After you've compiled and reviewed these materials, it's time to start writing. The following is a list of concerns that authors should keep in mind when writing a personal statement / request letter.

Below is an example of a job application letter which can be used as a template for your letters:

Sales and Credit Letters

A sales letter is a type of business letter which is written with the intent of selling a product. Sales letters are an effective way to communicate with clients.

Sales letters are designed in such a way that they immediately grab the attention of the reader. It is like a salesman discussing the purpose but in the form of a letter. A sales letter could be general or particular in nature depending upon the person(s) it is addressed to.

Objectives of Sales Letter

• The main purpose of every sale letter is to convince the reader to purchase a product.
• Introduction and marketing of new products and services.
• To reach potential customers.
• Expansion of the market.

Advantages of Sales Letter

• A sales letter is less expensive.
• Reach a client where a salesman cannot.
• Reach a number of clients all at the same time.
• Ease of understanding and availability of full details.
• More convenient, efficient, and comprehensive.

Elements and Format of Sales Letter

Below is the format of a sales letter

Headline: Here the writer wants to grab the reader’s attention toward the main purpose of the letter.

Introduction: The first paragraph serves the purpose of introduction the product or service to the reader. It provides the reader with the details of the product or service. These details include the cost of the product or service, the quality, the savings and any other information associated with it.

Body: This is the part where the writer needs to build his credibility and convince the reader. Here, the content includes the worth of the product, its similarities and differences from other products, a list of satisfied customers who are already happily using the product, and the terms of contract related to the product etc.

Call to Action: Here the writer tries to incite an appropriate response from the reader. Details such as warranties and discounts are often added in the concluding part of the letter.

Writing Tips for Writing Sales Letter

1. Introduce the ideas in a way that compels the reader to take a positive action.
2. Introduce yourself and the product well.
3. Be clear in what you are offering.
4. Choose your words as per the targeted audience.
5. Always use a headline.
6. Make the first sentence of each paragraph count.
7. Use of font styles, font sizes, bullets, and numbering etc.
8. Strongly describe the credibility of the product using relevant statements and examples.
9. Suitable closing sentences.
10. Correct use of salutation.
11. Proper and complete details of the product and availability.
12. Always ask for the reader's attention, build interest and desire in the reader's mind, and finally incite the call of action.
13. Have a simple and convincing tone.
14. Avoid creating confusion and uncertainty.
15. Avoid being clever and funny.
16. Include your name, signature, and other contact details.
17. Do not use fancy words or slang.
18. Always revise and edit the letter.

Letters of Quotation

A quotation is an offer from the seller to sell products or services at a certain price. A quotation is not a legally binding contract but only an offer. In businesses such offers are often made through letters. These letters are known as quotation letters or voluntary offers.

Quotation letters are written in formal style and follow the same format as other business letters with a change in the main content of the letter.

Format of a quotation letter

Your name, address, city, zip code, phone number and email address should be included in the contact information. Following the contact info is the date. After writing these, you have to write the contact information of the person or organization you are writing to, the salutation, The introduction as to why you are writing the letter, the body comprising of various specifications regarding the products or services along with the price list, a few concluding statements and your signature (handwritten signature if the letter is mailed).

These are the basic steps of writing a business quotation letter. To summarize, a business quotation letter should consist of short and to the point sentence, the focus should always be on the numbers, it should attract the attention of the reader, it should be respectful and should not contain errors.

Sample

Below is a sample letter of quotation which will help you understand the basic template of a quotation letter

Order Letter

An order letter is a type of business letter which is written for the purpose of placing orders for products and services. An order letter is written by the buyer when the seller has provided them with a quote and it is in accordance with their budget.

An order letter is important step towards initiating a business transaction. This letter demonstrates interest in the merchandise and the need to start a business deal. This letter also shows that a customer is satisfied with the details provided in the quote like prices, specifications and other details.

An order letter is also used to specify the timeline around which the ordered products are to be delivered. It also provides other relevant information on quantity, the things ordered, and the mode of payment.

Below is a template of how an order letter should be written. In this template, the buyer is placing an order after receiving a quotation from the seller and agreeing to it.

From,

_____________

_____________

Date (date on which letter is written)

To,

________________

Subject:_________________________________________

Dear _________________,

My name is ____________ and I am writing as ____________ on behalf of ____________. With regard to a request for a quote dated ____________, I wish to order ____________ fabrics that are ____________ in colour and ____________ design. This order is for a client who is preparing for a wedding on   ____________ and I wish to have the order urgently. The reference number of this order is ____________, please include it in all transactions for this order.

The first order will be for ____________ pieces so that we can examine the quality of the fabric and the design before making the second order. The second order will be for ____________ pieces upon approval of the first order. Kindly receive a check of ____________ for the first order. I would appreciate if you sent me a confirmation of receipt through my email ____________.

I hope to receive the shipment by latest ____________ in our office located on this address ____________.

Thank you in advance.

Your Truly,

__________

(__________________)

Claim and Adjustment Letters

Claim Letter

A claim letter is essentially a complaint letter which a buyer writes to a seller to resolve grievances. Claim letters are formal business letters in which an individual or company demands the fulfilment of their claims.

In a claim letter the buyer asks for a refund or replacement for the faulty products or services provided by the seller. The seller then sends an adjustment letter where he tries to find a solution for the buyer’s problem.

Below is a sample claim letter which can be used as a template while writing a claim letter:

Adjustment Letter

An adjustment letter is a response to a buyer’s complaint or claim letter. Th main objective of writing an adjustment letter is to rectify the problem and provide the buyer with an appropriate solution.

Steps on How to Write an Adjustment Letter

1. Write the salutation.

Always address the letter to a particular person. Usually, people that send a complaint letter leave their name and address. Make sure that you spell the name correctly. For example, “Dear Mr. Jones” or “Dear Michael Robertson.”

2. Write the introduction.

Start the first sentence with a positive note. Write that you are pleased to hear from the client or express regret over the troublesome situation, or both. Address the date of the customer’s complaint letter and tell why you are writing. Don’t repeat the content of the complaint in detail.

Try to avoid such words as “complaint” or “claim.” These words may sound accusatory for the client. It will be better to say something like “Your report/message/notice from 2nd November has been received.”

3. Write the main part of the letter.

This section will consist of several parts. First, you need to restate the essence of the problem, so the reader will clearly understand that you have understood their problem well. Then you need to explain why the situation has occurred. Avoid long explanations, and be specific and brief. Clients don’t care about the company’s difficulties and simply want the situation to be fixed.

Second, present the solution to the problem. If the client is right, admit the mistake and provide a compensation or guarantee that the error will be resolved. Provide a list of steps that you are going to take (or have already taken). In some cases, when the claim is unwarranted, the company needs to write a careful and tactful denial to maintain good relations with the customer. Always try to persuade the client that you always have their needs in mind.

4. Write a conclusion.

End the letter with kind words. Thank for the client’s patience and offer further cooperation. Assure the client that such situations are rare and the company will do all possible to prevent this in the future. Express hope that the client will continue to enjoy products or services of the company. Don’t restate the essence of the problem at the end of the letter, as it will leave a feeling of incompleteness rather than your goodwill.

Add a hot-line phone number and website at the end of your letter, so the client can contact your company if needed.

5. Proofread and send the letter.

Make sure that your text is free of mistakes and has a logical structure. When you are pleased with the result, send the letter to the client.

Tips on How to Write an Adjustment Letter

• Don’t forget to fill in the subject field if you are sending an email.
• Write the adjustment letter in the shortest time possible. The company improves its own reputation by responding quickly to all complaints.
• Focus more on the solution rather than on the details of the problem.
• Always write in a positive tone. You need to calm down the customer and cheer them up.
• Focus on the relevant and specific facts rather than emotions.
• Don’t use abusive language or a negative tone. Even if the customer is aggressive or rude, you need to keep a friendly attitude and understanding of the problem.
• Never promise the client to do what is impossible or something that violates the company’s policy.
• Don’t show your surprise about the problem, unless it is a truly unique case for your company.
• Don’t try to make excuses – provide only factual information in the explanation.
• Show that your company takes it seriously.
• If the client experiences a great inconvenience, be generous. For example, you can provide a discount for the next order or a gift if appropriate.
• Remember the classical rule: “The customer is always right.” Even if the customer is wrong, make sure the customer is satisfied with your response.

Official Letters: D.O Letters, Government Letters, Letters to Authorities

The best way to express an opinion or provide important information to others can be through an official letter. This is a professional way to explain yourself while using simple and concise sentences to avoid taking up the reader's time. Official letters follow a specific structure or format that must be maintained throughout the entire document.

What is an official letter?

An official letter is a formal letter written by an individual or a company to another organization to conduct business. They can be used when applying for jobs, issuing a complaint, expressing interest in a job position or thanking someone.

Follow the steps below to learn how to write an official letter.

1. Set up your font and margins

Before writing an official letter, it must be kept in mind that the letter should not only be simple to understand but easy to read as well. Set your margins to be one or one and a half inches per each side of the document, this will help your letter look professional. Using simple fonts like Verdana, Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman with a 12-point size will give your official letter a clean look as well.

2. Create your heading

Once your fonts are set, you can begin addressing your letter. First, write your name in the top left-hand corner of the page. Include your name, address and the current date. You can also include your phone number and email if you are requesting further contact.

While writing the recipient's address information, remember to put it directly beneath yours. Write their name, title of their organization if they are representing one, followed by the address. Review the name and address of your recipient more than once to ensure you've written the correct address and spelled their name right.

3. Write your salutation

You can now professionally greet your reader. A common salutation used in official letters is, "Dear Ms. Or Mr. Last name". If you know both their first name or last name, you can include that in the salutation. For example, you can write, "Dear Alex Smith". If you know their gender, you can write, "Dear Mr. Alex Smith" or "Dear Ms. Alex Smith". If you're unaware of the name of the recipient, you can write, "Dear Sir or Madam".

4. Use your body paragraphs to state your reasons for writing

The body paragraphs are where you can capture your main points and professionally explain your concerns, opinions or other information to your recipient. This is the part where your introduction and the purpose of the letter comes in. You can use verbiage such as, "I am writing to you today because..."

Once you've explained what the recipient will read, you can expand further throughout the next paragraph. Include details that support your first statement. For example, if you were writing a recommendation letter, you could expand on the skills of the person your recommending by saying, "Avery's time-management and organizational skills have improved the efficiency of my business by 12% since the beginning of the quarter."

You can continue giving examples until you believe your point has been clearly understood by the reader. Keep your sentences short, simple and easy for the reader to understand.

5. Add your closing body paragraph and signature

After finishing the body of the letter, the conclusion should be written. This paragraph can be short and will finalize the document by repeating your main point, explaining any possible next steps or thanking the recipient for taking the time to read your letter.

After closing the letter, you can provide your closing signature at the end of the document. Examples of common letter signatures are:

Sincerely

Sincerely yours

With appreciation

Thank you

Regards

Yours truly

Respectfully yours

Carefully select your closing signature as per the requirements and input name at the bottom of the letter.

6. Mention and add your enclosures

Enclosures are additional materials added to your letter to support your document, similar to when you attach a file to an email. If you're attaching a document to complement your letter, you should mention it near the end of your letter. To inform the reader that an additional document is attached, you can include the word "enclosure" at the end of the letter after your name. You can also shorten the word by writing, "encl."

7. Proofread and send your letter

After you've finished writing, you can read through the letter to catch any grammatical or spelling errors. You can also review it to ensure it makes sense and is clear enough for the recipient to understand. Once proofread, you can send the letter to the recipient. Pick a plain white, square or rectangular envelope. Fold the letter properly so it fits in the envelope.

Write your name and address in the top left-hand corner of the envelope followed by the recipient's name and address in the middle. Now your letter is ready to be sent to the recipient.

D.O Letters

Demi Official letter or D.O is a semi-governmental letter which also consists of personal information shared between the sender and the receiver. D.O letters are written when there is a personal as well as an official relationship between the sender and the receiver.  And because of this personal relationship the letter contains personal elements.

This type of letter is quite flexible in writing style and format, there are no strict rules to be followed during the composition of a D.O letter. These letters are generally shared by two persons having the same designation who also have a personal relationship.

The objectives of writing D.O letters are:

1. To acquire information regarding a specific subject
2. To grab the personal attention of an individual while avoiding the often-lengthy official procedure
3. To transmit confidential information.
4. To tend to matters with utmost urgency that require quick resolution

Fundamentals of drafting a D.O letter:

• D.O letters are usually printed or typed semi-official letters containing the personal name, official designation, name and address of the sender.
• Reference number and date are mentioned as in formal letters.
• The salutation is on a personal level and familiar tone, for example, “Dear Mr. Ravi” or “Dear Mrs. Shastri”
• The language used in a D.O letter is mostly informal and the use of official language is as sparse as possible.
• The individual ‘I’ is used instead of the official ‘we’ which is commonly used in official letters.
• The subscription used is “Yours Sincerely” as one would use in an informal letter after which the name of the sender is typed or written in brackets.
• Sometimes in a D.O letter the name and address of the receiver is written on the left-hand corner at the end of the letter along with their official designation.

Below is the template for a D.O letter which can be used as a format for your letters:

Enter Name of Person,

Enter Designation 

Tele. No.: Enter Telephone Number

D.O. No. Enter Demi-Official Number

GOVERNMENT OK INDIA

Department of Enter Name of the Department

(Enter Name of the Vibhag)

Enter Place the Enter Date

Dear Mr/Mrs ………………………

I would like to propose to draw up a model scheme for ………………………….. A copy of the blueprints for the model is enclosed in the envelope.

Please provide me with your comments on the proposal as soon as possible. I would like to add that we intend on circulating the model scheme formally to all departments in due course for their opinions.

With regards.

Yours sincerely

Enter Name of Person signing 

Enter Name of Person,

Enter Designation

Enter Address.

Government Letters

A government letter is any letter written to a government official to achieve a specific objective. For Example, your neighbourhood is backed up every morning with commuters desperately trying to get to work, and you're convinced the solution is a traffic light. Or you're confused by the mud-slinging during the latest campaign, and you want to know just where an official stand before you vote again. Perhaps a recent policy change in leash laws has made it impossible to walk your pet comfortably. Any of these situations is a reason to write to a government official. Whatever the reason may be, a government letter has to be articulate, respectful and formal.

There are many purposes for writing a government letter, below are some of them:

• Support for political candidate
• Request for volunteers
• Offer to volunteer for candidate
• Negative letter about candidate
• Fundraiser for political candidate
• Down to the wire direct mail letter
• Down to the wire ballot initiative letter
• Direct mail letter for candidate
• Announcement of a public appearance by a candidate
• Support for the president
• Request for presidential appearance
• Question about policy issue
• Personal question
• Childs letter to the president
• An idea for president
• Offering assistance to a representative
• Congratulating a representative
• Complimenting a representative
• Complaining to a representative
• Calling a representative on carpet
• Asking a representative to make a speaking appearance
• Asking a question of a representative
• Underpaid taxes
• Request to change audit date
• Late tax payment
• Overpaid taxes
• Filing by phone
• Filing by internet
• Disputing tax bill
• Claiming exemption
• Asking tax questions

Below are some rules to be followed while writing a letter to an official:

Choosing the Right Official

The first rule of writing these types of letters is decide which official to whom you need to direct your letter. Choose someone who has the most direct influence on the topic you're concerned about. Getting the official's name and title correct is very important. Misspelling a name or using the wrong designation -- Mr. Haley instead of Governor Haley, for example -- can detract a great deal from the seriousness of your letter.

Salutation and Introduction

A formal salutation which includes the designation of the official is most appropriate when writing letters to government officials, such as, "Dear Governor Charles" or "Dear Senator Richardson," followed by a colon. Then in the introductory paragraph you should you should introduce yourself and state the purpose of writing the letter and what you hope to achieve from it. Be concise and specific as your letter may be just one in a deluge of others. The better you can sum up who you are and what issue has prompted you to write, the more effective your letter will be.

Explanations and Suggestions

Delve deeper into the issue at hand. Explain how this issue affects you and anyone else in your group, followed by your personal stand on it and the reasons for your position. Letters to officials are typically of two natures: a complaint or an offer of support. If you are writing a complaint letter try to suggest a suitable resolution along with it. If you want to show your support in their decisions you need to show it in your letter. You may also want to volunteer some of your time to helping out if possible.

Conclusion

Summarize your thoughts in the last paragraph of the letter in a few lines. Try to include all the key words that you used in the body of the letter. Like all formal letters written to higher ups in an official body, be sure to include a note of gratitude for the time the reader has taken to read the letter and consider your thoughts. The letter should be ended with a formal closing such as "Your's faithfully" or "Sincerely". If it's a typed letter, leave space between your closing and your typed name so you can add your signature in ink in that space.

Basic Formal Rules

The letter must always start with the date, name and address. Four lines below that, insert the name, title and address of the recipient. Whether you align the addresses on the left or right of the page depends on the visual style of the letter. Drop down one more line to insert the salutation and another line to begin the body of the letter. Always leave a line after the body for your conclusion. Remember to avoid using contractions and spell out both words and avoid informal language and slang.

Letters to Authorities

A letter to authority is fundamentally a letter of persuasion which is written with an intent to persuade or convince an authority figure into doing something or to act on a particular subject. These letters are formal in nature and follow the same format as basic business letters.

Below are some key points to be considered while writing a letter to an authority figure:

• The first most important task is to analyze the situation and decide what type of response does it require from the authority figure.
• The tone must always be polite and elegant. It is essential to remember that you are trying to persuade the authority figure not ordering them to do something. Therefore, being aggressive is not advisable.
• Think of valid, powerful and relevant arguments to include in your letter. They will help you make your case and convince them.
• Always prepare hard facts and evidence to justify your arguments.
• Be sure to include the designation of the authority while writing their salutation in their letter.
• Always state your name and purpose right in the introductory paragraph of the letter.
• Include all your arguments and counter-arguments along with their justification and evidence in the main body of the letter. Underline or embolden keywords and phrases.
• Try to provide an appropriate resolution in the concluding paragraph of the letter. Try to provide suggestions as to what can be done about the situation at hand.
• Always sign of formally with “Yours’s Sincerely” or “Yours’s Faithfully”. Write your name below and include designation if any.

5.2          E-mail Communication

Emails are basically letters sent electronically. They can be long or short, formal or informal. Although for business purposes only formal emails are considered important.

Emails have become a dominant form of communication. Being able to write polished, relevant email is now a critical skill in college and work.

Formal Email:

• Written for a professor, colleague, manager, etc.
• Must always be professional.
• Accurate grammar, punctuation, and spelling necessary

Example:

Dear Professor Johnson,

I was unable to attend class today due to a doctor’s appointment. If you have a moment, can you let me know what I missed and what homework I need to complete on Friday?

Thanks you,

Julia Smith.

Email Format:

• Greetings / Salutation:
  A formal email greeting is similar to a letter greeting. When you write a letter to a stranger, you put the question “Who Can Worry About You”? When applying for a job, you were addressing the person, “Dear Hiring Manager.” If you know the name of the recipient, you put “Mr. Dear Mr.M /. Smith. "For formal greetings, you should not use the recipient's first name or the informal greetings" Hello "or" Hello."

• Physical Categories/ Body Paragraphs:
  It is important to remember that the email needs to be shorter.

   I hope that all goes well for you.

   Thank you for your prompt response.
However, in official emails it is best to understand the point. Depending on the topic, you should have four main roles and each paragraph should have one point. In your last paragraph you should provide a "thank you" or "call to action" depending on the topic of your email.

   Thank you for your help with

   Thank you for your time and look forward to hearing from you.

   Please feel free to call me or email me if you have any questions. If this can be taken care of immediately.

• Closing:
  As a greeting, the closing of the official email can be the same as the closing of the book. However, unlike mourning, there are many ways to close.

   Thank you

   very humble

   Sincerely
It is also helpful to add your post (if any) and a phone number under your name in paragraph 4.

For example:
Yours sincerely,
Julia Smith
President of Student Body
Menlo College
(555) 555-5555

• Tips:

   DO NOT use a contract.
Example: no, no, I'm not, I'm not.

   DO NOT write about all the coins.

   Use structured vocabulary and sentence structure. DO NOT use slang.

Close email at least twice and get a second opinion if possible.
 

5.3        Paragraph Writing and Essay Writing

Paragraph

Structure of a Paragraph

A paragraph is a group of related sentences that support one central idea. Generally, the paragraphs have three parts: the topic sentence, the body sentences, and the conclusion or sentence of the bridge to the next paragraph or paragraph. Paragraphs indicate where the division of a research book begins and ends, and, thus, helps the reader to see the order of the text and to understand its main points.

Business documents - such as letters, emails, reminders and reports - use categories to distinguish different types of information, ideas, and ideas. The sections written in the business format are organized in an orderly, professional and well-organized manner. When writing a business document, we have to look at how the paragraph will appear on the page, the organization of the section and its placement throughout the article. We have to agree on the way our categories are organized. We should use short language and simple style to keep the reader focused on our message.

Structure and Writing Style

Most of the subsections in the book revolve around the formation of three general sections of each section of the research paper, and, by extension, a comprehensive research paper, with an introduction, a body of facts and analysis, and a conclusion. You can see this structure in stages as it relates, describes, compares, compares or analyzes information. Each section of the paragraph plays an important role in conveying the meaning you desire to the reader.

Introduction (The Topic Sentence):

Writers don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. The first sentence or topic sentence of the paragraph will give readers a first impression of the argument, the writing style, and the overall quality of the work. A vague, random presentation, full of errors, a wall, or a developing introduction may create a negative impression. On the other hand, a short, fun, and well-written introduction will start readers not thinking too much about writer's analytical skills, writing, and the paper.

Introduction is an important road map throughout the paper. It conveys a wealth of information to readers. Can let them know what the topic is, why it's important, and how it is planned to continue the discussion. In most academic disciplines, introduction should contain a thesis that will enhance the main argument.

Introduction should also give the reader a sense of the types of information to use to make that argument with the general organization of the paragraphs and pages to follow. After reading introduction, readers should not have any major surprises in store when reading the main body of the paper.

Ideally, introduction will make readers want to read the paper. The introduction should spark the interest of readers, making them want to read the rest of the paper. Opening up with a compelling story, an interesting question, or a clear example can get readers to see why the topic is important and serves as an invitation for them to join you in informative discussions (remember, however, that these strategies will not be appropriate for all papers and advice).

The body: follows the introduction; discusses regulatory logic, uses facts, arguments, analyzes, examples, and other information.

Conclusion: final stage; it summarizes the connection between the information discussed in the body of the paragraph and the governing concept of the paragraph. For longer paragraphs, you may want to include a bridge sentence introducing the next section or section of the paper. In some cases, the sentence of the bridge may be written in the form of a question. However, use this smart device a bit, otherwise, completing most sections with a question to lead to the next level sounds a bit daunting.
 

NOTE: This standard layout does not mean you should not be creative in your writing. Editing when each element fits into a category can make the paper engaging for the reader. However, don't get too creative in trying out the narrative flow of stages. Doing so may jeopardize the central issues of your research and limit the quality of your academic writing.

Topic Sentence

Every paragraph must consist of a topic sentence which identifies the central idea of that paragraph. A topic sentence also expresses the point a writer is trying to make about that subject.

Generally, the topic sentence appears at the beginning of the paragraph as the introductory sentence. It is most often the paragraph’s very first sentence. A paragraph’s topic sentence should be general enough to express the paragraph’s overall subject and specific enough that the reader can understand the paragraph’s main subject and point. A well-organized paragraph will support or develop a single controlling idea within the paragraph, which is expressed in the form of the topic sentence.

There are various important functions served by a topic sentence:

• It substantiates and supports a paragraphs thesis statement
• It directs the order of the sentences and provides unity to the paragraph
• It informs the reader of the subject that is to be discussed in the rest of the paragraph and how the paragraph will discuss it.

The first few sentences generally define the tone, mood, subject matter and perspective of the paragraph. Therefore, it is advisable to put the topic sentence at the very beginning of the paragraph. In some cases, however, its more efficient to input another sentence before the topic sentence—for example, a transitional sentence linking the current paragraph to the previous one, or a sentence providing background information.

Although almost all paragraphs consist of a topic sentence, there are a few situations when a paragraph might not need a topic sentence. For example, a narrative paragraph that describes a series of events might not need a topic sentence, if a paragraph continues developing an idea that was introduced (with a topic sentence) in the previous paragraph, or if all the sentences and details in a paragraph clearly refer or indicate to a main point. The vast majority of your paragraphs, however, must contain a topic sentence.

When choosing a topic sentence, remember these guidelines:

1. The topic sentence should be able to describe the main idea and main theme of the paragraph.
2. To choose an appropriate topic sentence, read the paragraph carefully, collect all the main ideas discussed in it and choose the central idea which relates to all other ideas.
3. The supporting sentences in the paragraph (the sentences other than the topic sentence) must develop and elucidate the topic sentence. To do this, you can read all the supporting details in the paragraph and think about the ideas they discuss.
4. The topic sentence cannot be and must not be too general or too specific. When considering the options, look for a topic sentence that is general enough to show the paragraph’s main idea instead of just one of its details. The answer should be specific enough that the reader understands the main idea of the paragraph.

Construction of a Paragraph

Paragraph content:

Each section has to deal with one main idea. Introduce the main idea to a common statement in the first paragraph of a paragraph. Follow this topic sentence with a few sentences that support the main idea. This may contain informative information or debate to defend your view. Wrap up the paragraph with a summary sentence. If the class is running too long, you risk losing the student's attention. Instead, arrange the long section into two or more sections.

Paragraph Order:

A business document, such as a report or letter, begins with a paragraph that informs the title of the book. This is followed by one or more sections that develop the lesson. The concluding paragraph summarizes the information you provided or asked the student to take some action. For example, a letter outlining the reasons for an ad campaign may begin with an introductory paragraph introducing the campaign, followed by three sections each explaining the unique purpose of the campaign and a concluding paragraph asking the reader to approve the campaign. If the document is long, use headers to separate large sections.

Paragraph Style:

The style of writing a paragraph can be formal or informal depending upon the context in which the paragraph is to be written. For example, while writing a fictional paragraph, an informal style would suffice. Here the tone may be friendly, the text may be personal or impersonal. While writing paragraphs for articles, the reader may be directly addressed. Business texts are written in formal style. Your writing may be read by third parties and kept by the company for many years, so avoid personal comments. Keep your writing up to date using gender-neutral language, as well as grammar and spelling. Keep your sentences short and to the point. Avoid clichés, contraction and slang.

Importance of constructing good paragraphs:

Paragraphs are the building blocks of papers.

Without well-written paragraphs that flow logically from one idea to the next and worthwhile and help support a somewhat problematic inter-search engine, your paper will not be viewed as reliable and, well, you will find the poor distance.

Here are some ideas for solving common problems associated with classification:

1. The paragraph has no controlling idea
Think of each paragraph as having three common layers of text. Virtual content is in the middle. It includes all the evidence you need to make a point. However, this evidence needs to be presented by the subject line in some way or your readers do not know what to do with all the evidence you have provided. Thus, the beginning of a passage defines a controlling view of a category. The last part of the section tells the reader how the section relates to the broader debate and often provides a change in the following concept. Once you understand the use of topic sentences, you can decide that a topic sentence for a particular paragraph should actually not be the first paragraph sentence. This is correct — the topic sentence can go at the beginning, middle, or end of a paragraph; what is important is that it is there to inform readers what is the main idea of ​​the section and how it links back to the broader thesis of your paper.

2. The paragraph has more than one controlling idea
This is the most common reason why a class is too long. If a paragraph is longer than a page, it may contain more than one view. In this case, consider eliminating sentences that fit the second concept, in the sense that they probably do not really inform and help support the central research problem, or split the paragraph into two or more categories, each with one governing idea.
 

3.Transitions are needed within the paragraph
You are probably familiar with the idea that conversions may be required between paragraphs or sections on paper. Sometimes they are useful within the body of one category. Within a clause, modifications are usually single words or short phrases that help to establish the relationship between ideas and build logical development of those ideas in the paragraph. This is especially true within paragraphs that discuss many examples or discuss complex ideas, issues or concepts.

Technique of Paragraph Writing: Unity, Coherence and Emphasis.

Below are the Techniques of writing a good paragraph:

1. Before you begin to figure out what the composition of a particular role is going to be, you have to look at what the most important concept you are trying to convey to your student. This is a "controlling concept," or thesis statement in which you name the remainder of the paragraph. In other words, your paragraphs should remind your reader that there is a general relationship between your control concept and the information at each stage. The research problem serves as the seed from which your paper, and your ideas, will grow. The whole process of stage development is a work-in-progress progression from seed theory to full-scale research where there is a direct, family-friendly relationship on paper between all of your control ideas and the stages they come from.

• Unified - All sentences in one paragraph should be accompanied by a single control point [usually expressed in paragraph heading].

• Obviously related to the research problem — All sentences should refer to the central idea, or thesis, of the paper.

• Coherent - Sentences should be organized correctly and should follow a detailed development plan.

• Well-Developed - All the ideas discussed in the section should be adequately explained and supported by evidence and data that work together to explain the concept that governs the section.

There are many different ways you can organize a category. However, the organization you choose will depend on the regulatory vision of the sector. Methods of classification in academic writing include:

• Narrative: Tell a story. Go in chronological order, from beginning to end.

• Descriptive: Provide specific information about how something looks or feels. Sort by location, chronological, or topic.

• Procedure: Explain step by step how the object works. Maybe you are following in order - first, second, and third.

• Classification: Divide into groups or describe different parts of a topic.

4.     Devote one paragraph to one idea

One paragraph should develop one idea. This will help you see two important issues you will have to correct:

(1) The ideas in the paragraph which do not relate to the main idea – this means their position should be changed; and

(2) you have several sentences with the same main idea – this means you have to remove repetitive content.

5.     Use of Active Voice

It is advisable to change all of the passive sentences into active voice (the exclusions may be the methodology section in scientific papers). Active voice improves clarity of sentences and makes the paper more engaging. Scientists and engineers might use passive voice to avoid the use of personal pronouns. However, all scientific and engineering journals now encourage authors to use I and We. You should also use personal pronouns – they do not make the writing biased; on the contrary, they make authors assume responsibility for their inferences and decisions.

However, students should try avoiding personal pronouns, but this does not mean you should use passive voice. When you look critically at your writing, you will see that in many cases the passive tone is not necessary and you can simply reverse it to active with no loss in meaning.

6.     Use semicolons, colons, dashes and parentheses to effectively combine and separate ideas

Proper use of punctuation will provide more clarity to your ideas and will help you organize them better.

Semicolons can solve the issue of two short sentences following each other. They also help to separate an idea from the previous one while holding some form of connection. For example: “A short sentence may emphasize and make a reader pause; several short sentences in a row break this connection.” Colons help to cut clutter when enumerating. Dashes and parentheses can both be used to put a clause aside and ease reading. However, use them carefully, as dashes emphasize what they separate, while parentheses – deemphasize it (actually, what is found in the parenthesis can be simply skipped by a reader).  

Unity, Coherence and Emphasis

Paragraph Unity means that the sentences in a paragraph should be united as a whole. It means that all the sentence a paragraph should be directly supportive of the topic sentence.

They unity of a paragraph can only be said to be established when all the sentences in that paragraph connect to the main idea. Many times while writing, the topic may be ambiguous, insufficient materials or resources may be available, or the purpose might be indefinite, which can lead to a diversified paragraph lacking unity.

Unity in a paragraph always starts with the topic sentence. Every paragraph must contain one single, controlling idea which must be expressed in its topic sentence, which is usually the first sentence of the paragraph. A paragraph must be then written in such a way that it is unified around this main idea, with the supporting sentences providing detail and discussion. In order to write a good topic sentence, think about your main theme and all the points you want to make in your paragraph. Decide which are the driving points, and then write the main one as your topic sentence.

Paragraph Coherence means that each and every sentence in a paragraph are linked together in a continuous line of thought and are organised in such a way so as to form a unity of idea. The sentences in a paragraph must always connect to each other and should work together as a whole with no gaps in the logical process.

Using transition words is one of the best methods of achieving coherence. These words act as bridges that connect sentences. Transition words that show order (first, second, third); spatial relationships (above, below) or logic (furthermore, in addition, in fact) are very useful for connecting sentences. Also, in writing a paragraph, using only one tense throughout and using only one perspective for descriptions are important ingredients for coherency.

There are some techniques which may be helpful with forming coherence in the paragraph:

• First is to think of a very clear topic sentence, the topic sentence must contain the central idea of the paragraph.
• Second is to use question and answer pattern in writing down the topic sentence. The question and answer pattern may be in the form of problem-solution or in general to particular to general format.
• Third is by positioning the topic sentence in the paragraph. Topic sentence is usually placed as the first sentence of the paragraph or sometimes it might serve as a transitional information before the paragraph. It may also be possible to put the topic sentence in the last sentence of the paragraph if it is not explicitly stated but is being implied.
• Another technique is to structure the paragraph using an ordering pattern such as the question-answer pattern, the problem-solution pattern and the topic-illustration pattern.

The third most important requirement of a well ­constructed paragraph is Emphasis. Emphasis in literal terms means “force” or “stress.” You may have a fairly well structured, coherent and unified paragraph but it might be lacking emphasis which is a common mistake among writers. Emphasis means that the main idea of the paragraph must be stressed in every sentence. A paragraph must not seem like a mass of useless details and unnecessary explanations. By keeping the same subject in every sentence, you can be sure that you are emphasising the main idea, whenever this is possible. In this way you are likely to improve the unity because it will not be so easy to go off the track. You are much less likely to introduce unrelated ideas if you are not changing subjects.

There are some techniques which might be useful in emphasising the paragraphs main idea:

You can establish emphasis by position, by repetition by climactic order.

• In establishing emphasis by position, it should be considered that the most significant ideas should be put in the introduction, in the conclusion, or in both parts within the paragraph. The paragraph should be filled with relevant statements not excluding minor details depending upon the need. Ending the paragraph by a summary of recapitulation is also beneficial.
• In establishing emphasis by repetition, the central idea can be repeated by using different words which will stress its importance. This strategy usually impresses the readers most emphatically with what the writer is trying to explain.
• In establishing emphasis by climactic order, the details in the paragraph must be arranged gradually beginning with the simple or least significant and ending with the most complex or most significant.

Essay Writing

Dimension of Essay Writing

There are many types of essays and papers you can write as a student. The content and length of the essay varies depending on your level, subject of study, and the requirements of a particular course.

However, many subject bodies share the same goal. They aim to convince students of a position or perspective through informed, evidence-based, analytical and interpretive debates.

In addition, every story has an introduction, body and ending that always do the same or few things.

Essay Writing Process:

The essay writing process consists of three stages: preparation, writing and revision. These categories apply to each article or paper. However, the time and energy spent in each category depends on the sort of essay, for instance a private statement, a press release of intent, a high school essay or a grad school essay.

Preparation:

• Understand the assignment
• Understand your audience
• Select a topic
• Do some initial research
• Name the thesis statement
• Create an outline

Writing :

• Write an introduction
• Organize your arguments and give evidence
• Write the conclusion

Review:

• Analyse the organization
• Review the content of each paragraph
• Proofread for language errors
• Check for plagiarism

Introduction of an Essay:
 

The introduction is important to both capture the reader's interest and inform them of what will be found in the story. The introduction usually contains 10-20% of the text. To learn how to write an article introduction, first become familiar with its most important objectives.

• Move your student by chasing curiosity and curiosity:
  The first sentence of the introduction should draw your student's wish. This sentence is sometimes referred to as a hook. It can be a question, quote, a surprising number, or a bold statement that emphasizes the importance of a topic.
  Let's say you write an article about the development of Braille (a literacy program used by the visually impaired). A boat can be something like:
  The introduction of Braille marked the biggest turning point in the history of disability.

• Provide background and context for your topic:
  After you dismiss the student, it is important to provide context that will help your student understand your argument. This may include providing background information, providing an overview of important academic work or arguments on a topic, as well as explaining difficult words. Do not give too many details in the introduction - you can adequately describe the content of your essay.

• Explain the purpose and create a thesis statement:
  Next, you have to explain your basic argument or thesis statement. The thesis statement provides focus and reflects your position on the topic. Usually one or two sentences long. An example of a thesis statement from Braille essay can be seen as follows:
  The idea of ​​orthopaedics was not entirely new; Louis Braille adapted simple ways to create the first system for writing to the blind. But its success depended on the reception of people who had sinned before the social status of blindness was reversed, and the process was shaped by widespread debates about the place of people with disabilities in society.

• Provide a content map:
  Finish the introduction with an overview of your site structure. An overview should give the reader a general idea of ​​what each paragraph of your article is examining.

The Body of the Essay:
 

The theme of your article is when you make arguments that support your thesis statement, provide evidence, and develop your ideas. His main purpose is to present, interpret and analyse the information and sources you have gathered to support your argument.

• Length of body text:
  The length of the body depends on the type of description. On average, the body comprises 60-80% of your material. In a high school essay, this can be just three paragraphs, but with a 6,000-word graduate essay, the body can take 8-10 pages.

• Section layout/Paragraph Structure:
  In order to give your essay a clear structure, it is important to use paragraphs and topics. This makes the content unwanted and easy to digest. Each section should focus on a point of view or a single point of view.
  The purpose of each paragraph is presented using topic sentences. The topic clause creates a transition from the previous paragraph and informs the argument to be made in this paragraph. Change words can be used to create smooth transitions between sentences.
  After the topic sentence, demonstrate evidence by providing the reader with data, examples or quotes. Be sure to interpret and explain the evidence, and show how the paragraph helps improve your overall argument.

• Example Paragraph:
  Although the Braille program was immediately popular with blind students at the Institute in Paris, it did deserve acceptance among sightseers before being adopted throughout France. This support was needed because teachers and visual leaders had great control over the distribution of Braille resources. Most teachers at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth are opposed to learning the Braille program because they find the hard way to learn difficult to read (Bullock & Galst, 2009). This resistance was an indication of a general condition for blind people to adapt to the visual world rather than to improve their tools and methods. Over time, however, with increasing pressure to make the community as involved as possible, teachers began to understand the usefulness of the Braille program (Bullock & Galst, 2009), noting that access to learning could help improve productivity and connect people with vision loss. It took about 30 years, but the French government finally approved the Braille program, and it was implemented nationally (Bullock & Galst, 2009).

Conclusion of an Essay:
 

Conclusion The last paragraph of the article or paper. It takes about 10-20% of your article. Strong conclusion:

• Draws connections between the arguments made in the body of the story.
• State the consequences of your argument.
• Emphasize the importance and importance of a thesis statement of policy, education or the wider world.
• Evaluates key findings and the importance of the topic
  A good conclusion should end with a memorable or impactful sentence that emphasizes the importance of your work and leaves the reader with a strong final impression.

What you should not do is enter the end
 

To make the end of your article as strong as possible, there are a few things you should avoid including. The most common errors are:

Includes new argument or evidence.

Minimize your conflicts (e.g. "This is one way for many").

Concluding phrases such as “Cheating…” or “Conclusion…” are used.

How to write an essay

• The story begins with a hook that catches your reader's interest.
• Introduction provides background and context that help your reader understand the topic.
• The introduction contains a thesis statement that provides focus and reflects your position on the topic.
• Paragraphs and titles are used for story planning.
• Each paragraph deals with a single idea, debate or issue.
• Subject sentences are used to create a smooth transition between paragraphs.
• The conclusion is not only brief, but draws a link between issues.
• The significance of the thesis statement is emphasized in the conclusion.
• Conclusion does not contain new ideas, arguments or evidence.

Types of Essays

Scientific Essay

Before writing your essay, first and foremost, you need to know and understand what an essay on science is. So, what is a scientific essay? A scientific essay is an article whereby you have to analyse a scientific issue or problem and then try to develop a solution on the basis of factual information and perhaps provide some of your opinions from your own perspective on the matter as well. Essays on science can be considered different from other types of essays considering the freedom they allow. In other types of essays, you can express yourself. But, in scientific essays, there is little to no room to do so. Contrariwise, science essays seek out impartial logicality and accurate knowledge. Also, these essays test your judgment skills and analysis.

The process of Writing a scientific essay involves:

Select a topic for your article

Like any other type of essay, you need to have a topic before you start the actual writing process. Your professor or instructor may give you a science essay topic to write about or ask you to come up with yours. When selecting a topic for your paper, ensure that you choose one you can write about. Do not pick a complex topic which can make the writing process boring and infuriating for you. Instead, choose one that you are familiar with. Select a topic you will not struggle gathering information about. Also, you need to have an interest in it. If you are unable to come up with a good topic, trying reading other people’s articles. This will help you develop a topic with ease.

Draft a plan

After selecting a topic, the next step is drafting a plan or an outline. An outline is fundamental in writing a scientific essay as it is the foundation on which your paper is built. Additionally, it acts as a road map for your article. Hence, you need to incorporate all the thoughts and ideas you will include in your essay in the outline. You need to know what you will include in the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. Drafting a plan helps you save a lot of time when writing your paper. Also, it helps you to keep track of the primary objective of your article.

Start writing the article

After drafting a plan, you can begin the writing process. Writing your paper will be smooth and easier as you have an outline which helps simplify the writing process. When writing your article, always begin with a strong and concise introduction. Dictate the direction your paper will take. Provide some background information and state the issue you will discuss as well as the solutions you have come up with. Arrange the body of your article according to the essay structure you will use to guide you. Also, ensure that you use transitory sentences to show the relationship between the paragraphs of your article. Conclude your essay by summarizing all the key points. Also, highlight the practical potential of our findings and their impacts.

Proofread and check for errors in the paper

Before submitting or forwarding your article, it is fundamental that you proofread and correct all the errors that you come across. Delivering a paper that is full of mistakes can affect your overall performance in a negative manner. Thus, it is essential you revise your paper and check for errors. Correct all of them. Ask a friend to proofread your paper. He or she may spot some of the mistakes you did not come across.

In conclusion, writing a scientific essay differs from writing other types of papers. A scientific essay will always be a fact of the matter, to the point essay. However, the format for scientific essays remain similar to the format of any other essay: introduction, body, and conclusion. You need to use your outline to guide you through the writing process. To learn how to write a scientific essay in a successful manner, consider the tips above.

Literary Essay

A literary essay is a type of essay which involves closely studying a text, interpreting its meanings, and exploring why the author made certain choices. It can be applied to novels, short stories, plays, poems, or any other form of literary writing.

A literary analysis essay is not just a summarized version of the plot or a book review. Rather, it is a type of argumentative and analytical essay where you need to analyse various textual elements such as the language, perspective, and structure of the text, and explain how the author uses literary devices to create meaning and convey ideas.

Before beginning a literary analysis essay, it’s essential to carefully read the text and come up with a thesis statement to keep your essay focused. A literary essay follows the same structure as any academic essay:

• An introduction that defines what the rest of the essay is focused on.
• A main body, divided into paragraphs, that builds an argument using evidence from the text.
• A conclusion that clearly states the main point that you have shown with your analysis.

Below are the steps involved in writing a literary essay:

Step 1: Reading the text and identifying literary devices

The first step is to carefully read the text(s) and take initial notes. As you read, pay attention to the things that are most intriguing, surprising, or even confusing in the writing – these are things you can dig into in your analysis.

Your goal in literary analysis is not simply to explain the events described in the text, but to analyse the writing itself and discuss how the text works on a deeper level. Primarily, you’re looking out for literary devices – textual elements that writers use to convey meaning and create effects. If you’re comparing and contrasting multiple texts, you can also look for connections between different texts.

To get started with your analysis, there are several key areas that you can focus on. While analysing each aspect of the text, try to think about how they all relate to each other. You can use highlights or notes to keep track of important passages and quotes.

Language choices

Consider what style of language the author uses. Are the sentences short and simple or more complex and poetic?

What word choices stand out as interesting or unusual? Are words used figuratively to mean something other than their literal definition? Figurative language includes things like metaphor (e.g. “her eyes were oceans”) and simile (e.g. “her eyes were like oceans”).

Also keep an eye out for imagery in the text – recurring images that create a certain atmosphere or symbolize something important. Remember that language is used in literary texts to say more than it means on the surface.

Narrative voice

Ask yourself:

• Who is telling the story?
• How are they telling it?
• Is it a first-person narrator (“I”) who is personally involved in the story, or a third-person narrator who tells us about the characters from a distance?

Consider the narrator’s perspective. Is the narrator omniscient (where they know everything about all the characters and events), or do they only have partial knowledge? Are they an unreliable narrator who we are not supposed to take at face value? Authors often hint that their narrator might be giving us a distorted or dishonest version of events.

The tone of the text is also worth considering. Is the story intended to be comic, tragic, or something else? Are usually serious topics treated as funny, or vice versa? Is the story realistic or fantastical (or somewhere in between)?

Structure

Consider how the text is structured, and how the structure relates to the story being told.

• Novels are often divided into chapters and parts.
• Poems are divided into lines, stanzas, and sometime cantos.
• Plays are divided into scenes and acts.

Think about why the author chose to divide the different parts of the text in the way they did.

There are also less formal structural elements to take into account. Does the story unfold in chronological order, or does it jump back and forth in time? Does it begin in medias res – in the middle of the action? Does the plot advance towards a clearly defined climax?

With poetry, consider how the rhyme and meter shape your understanding of the text and your impression of the tone. Try reading the poem aloud to get a sense of this.

In a play, you might consider how relationships between characters are built up through different scenes, and how the setting relates to the action. Watch out for dramatic irony, where the audience knows some detail that the characters don’t, creating a double meaning in their words, thoughts, or actions.

Step 2: Coming up with a thesis

Your thesis in a literary analysis essay is the point you want to make about the text. It’s the core argument that gives your essay direction and prevents it from just being a collection of random observations about a text.

If you’re given a prompt for your essay, your thesis must answer or relate to the prompt. For example:

Essay question example

Is Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law” a religious parable?

Your thesis statement should be an answer to this question – not a simple yes or no, but a statement of why this is or isn’t the case:

Thesis statement example:

Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law” is not a religious parable, but a story about bureaucratic alienation.

Sometimes you’ll be given freedom to choose your own topic; in this case, you’ll have to come up with an original thesis. Consider what stood out to you in the text; ask yourself questions about the elements that interested you, and consider how you might answer them.

Your thesis should be something arguable – that is, something that you think is true about the text, but which is not a simple matter of fact. It should be complicated enough to be developed through evidence and arguments throughout the course of your essay.

Say you’re analysing the novel Frankenstein. You could start by asking yourself:

• How is the character of Frankenstein portrayed?

Your initial answer might be a surface-level description:

• The character Frankenstein is portrayed negatively in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

However, this statement is too simple to be an interesting thesis. After reading the text and analysing its narrative voice and structure, you can develop the answer into a more nuanced and arguable thesis statement:

Example thesis statement for a literary analysis essay:

Mary Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble – even in his own telling – the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.

Remember that you can revise your thesis statement throughout the writing process, so it doesn’t need to be perfectly formulated at this stage. The aim is to keep you focused as you analyse the text.

Finding textual evidence

To support your thesis statement, your essay has to build an argument consisting of textual evidence which will include specific parts of the text that demonstrate your point. This evidence is quoted and analysed throughout your essay to explain your argument to the reader.

It can be useful to shuffle through the text in search of relevant quotes before starting to write. You might not end up using everything you find, and you may have to return to the text for more evidence as you write, but collecting textual evidence from the beginning will help you to structure your arguments and assess whether they’re convincing.

Step 3: Writing a title and introduction

Two things are required before starting any literary essay: a good title, and an introduction.

The title

The title should consist of clear indications of what the literary analysis will focus on. It usually contains the name of the author and text(s) you’re analysing. Keep it as concise and engaging as possible.

A common approach to the title is to use a relevant quote from the text, followed by a colon and then the rest of your title.

If you struggle to come up with a good title at first, don’t worry – this will be easier once you’ve begun writing the essay and have a better sense of your arguments.

The introduction

The essay introduction provides a quick overview of where your argument is going. It should include your thesis statement and a summary of the essay’s structure.

A typical structure for an introduction is to begin with a general statement about the text and author, using this to lead into your thesis statement. You might refer to a commonly held idea about the text and show how your thesis will contradict it, or zoom in on a particular device you intend to focus on.

Then you can end with a brief indication of what’s coming up in the main body of the essay. This is called signposting. It will be more elaborate in longer essays, but in a short five-paragraph essay structure, it shouldn’t be more than one sentence.

Some students prefer to write the introduction later in the process, and it’s not a bad idea. After all, you’ll have a clearer idea of the overall shape of your arguments once you’ve begun writing them!

If you do write the introduction first, you should still return to it later to make sure it lines up with what you ended up writing, and edit as necessary.

Step 4: Writing the body of the essay

The body of your essay is everything between the introduction and conclusion. It contains your arguments and the textual evidence that supports them.

Paragraph structure

A typical structure for a high school literary analysis essay consists of five paragraphs: the three paragraphs of the body, plus the introduction and conclusion.

Each paragraph in the main body should focus on one topic. In the five-paragraph model, the main argument should be divided into three main areas for analysis, all linked to your thesis. Don’t try to include everything you can think of to say about the text – only analysis that drives your argument.

In longer essays, the same principle applies on a broader scale. For example, you might have two or three sections in your main body, each with multiple paragraphs. Within these sections, you still want to begin new paragraphs at logical moments – a turn in the argument or the introduction of a new idea.

Topic sentences

To keep your points focused, it’s important to use a topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph.

A good topic sentence allows a reader to see at a glance what the paragraph is about. It can introduce a new line of thought and contrast or connect it with the previous paragraph. Transition words like “however” or “moreover” are useful for creating smooth transitions:

…The story’s focus, therefore, is not upon the divine revelation that may be waiting beyond the door, but upon the mundane process of aging undergone by the man as he waits.

Nevertheless, the “radiance” that appears to stream from the door is typically treated as religious symbolism.

This topic sentence signals that the paragraph will address the question of religious symbolism, while the linking word “nevertheless” points out a contrast with the previous paragraph’s conclusion.

Using textual evidence

Always use evidence from the text to back up your key arguments, provide quotations if necessary. This involves introducing quotes from the text and explaining their significance to your point.

It’s important to contextualize quotes and explain why you’re using them; they should be properly introduced and analysed, not treated as self-explanatory:

Blake asks “What dread hand” could have created the tiger, subverting the usual sense of joy in God’s creation and conveying instead a sense of fearful awe.

It isn’t always necessary to use a quote. Quoting is useful when you’re discussing the author’s language, but sometimes you’ll have to refer to plot points or structural elements that can’t be captured in a short quote.

In these cases, it’s more appropriate to paraphrase or summarize parts of the text – that is, to describe the relevant part in your own words:

The initial and final sections of the novel consist of Walton’s letters to his sister, and it is significant that the entirety of Frankenstein’s and the creature’s narratives are ostensibly transcribed by Walton in these letters.

Step 5: Writing a conclusion

The conclusion of your analysis shouldn’t introduce any new quotations or arguments – instead, it’s about wrapping up the essay. Here, you summarize your key points and try to emphasize their significance to the reader.

A good way to approach this is to briefly summarize your key arguments, and then stress the conclusion they’ve led you to, highlighting the new perspective your thesis provides on the text as a whole.

Narrative Essay

The first step in writing an outstanding narrative essay is learning the narrative essay definition. There is no universal definition of narrative essay simply because of how broad and all-encompassing this genre of writing is.

However, when asked to define narrative essay, most academic writers will say that it’s a piece of writing telling a story using a variety of literary device. The narrative essay format is one of the most personal ones in academic writing, but it also requires you to have extensive knowledge of the writing process, not just rely on your own experiences.

Below are the steps involved in writing a narrative essay:

Choosing the Topic:

Now that you know what a narrative essay is, you probably feel ready to move on to the writing process. But before you find out how to write narrative essay, you need to decide what to write about. In other words, you need to pick your narrative essay topic.

Good narrative essay topics always combine proximity to your own interests and the ability to fit into the interests of your audience. Your narrative essay topic should be close to your own experience, but it also needs to be relevant to what your potential audience wants to see.

Because it can be very difficult to cover a broad topic in the limited narrative essay format, the best narrative essay topics are rather narrow. Another sign of a well-chosen narrative essay topic is when you can barely find any relevant information about it on the internet — then your narrative essay is guaranteed to be original and interesting to the public.

Constructing the essay:

Any “How to write a narrative essay step by step” guide will tell you that you need to start your writing process with an outline. The outline of a narrative essay usually follows the standard five-paragraph structure, but the nature of the paragraphs is slightly different from other types of essays.

      Introduction

How can one start a narrative essay that will keep the reader interested until the last word? Think of the introduction to your narrative essay as a setup to a great story. The first sentence of your introduction should be a hook — a particularly interesting anecdote or quote that will set the tone for your story.

The remaining part of the narrative essay introduction should be dedicated to why you believe this story is so significant and what the readers will be able to take from it. Always try to finish the introduction part of the essay with a strong thesis statement that will also serve as the foundation for the rest of the essay.

      Body paragraphs

The three or more body paragraphs are where your main story will take place. In a typical narrative essay outline, the body paragraphs carry most of the significance and should be written particularly carefully if you want your essay to shine.

Each paragraph of the body part of your narrative essay should refer to a separate idea to help readers understand your story better. At the same time, those paragraphs and ideas need to be closely connected to one another and follow a specific order to highlight the logic of the narrative. Most writers prefer the chronological order of events, as it’s easy not to miss anything when you are using this narrative model.

Not every event from your life is filled with interesting and memorable moments, but since you need to make your writing more appealing to the readers, you should definitely include a twist or other unexpected plot device that will spice up your narrative and will be resolved by the end of the essay.

      Conclusion

The conclusion to your narrative essay is not only the final part of your writing, but also the part that will likely stick with the readers for a long time, so make sure every word of it counts. The conclusion should begin by formulating a concise summary of the events included in the essay.

Finish the conclusion by offering one final thought to your readers. Whether it’s your reflection on what the event in question meant for you or your version of how the event could have gone differently, it should be something that readers will think about again and again after reading your paper.

Below are some fundamental rules that must be followed while writing a narrative essay:

1. Use the first-person narrative. Unlike many other types of essays, the format of a narrative essay encourages the use of the “I” pronoun. That way, you will make the story more personal and relatable for your audience.
2. The language of your essay should be more relaxed. It doesn’t need to be too colloquial, but using one or two informal constructions or words that characterize you as a person will help you create a smooth narrative.
3. A narrative essay doesn’t call for citations and references. The narrative is based on your own life and experience, which means there are unlikely any relevant materials to support your writing.
4. Your narrative essay needs to contain just the right number of details. Too little details can hurt the credibility of your essay, and too many details may eventually make your readers feel bored.

Descriptive Essay

Description is a tool that writers use to keep things live for their readers, to make sure their audience is fully immersed in the words on the page. Every time you tell someone a story, or when you tell someone something, you either use the description or you don't know it. The description is basically "I have a blue car" or "That beautiful baby" or "Flowers soften the sun's golden rays and start showing their bright colours". Descriptive words are used to provide more detail and provide more insight. In fact, commentary is a tool that allows many authors (and speakers) to show up instead of just saying, and enabling our readers to interpret our material.

There are two basic types of Objective and Subjective. The meaning of purpose is shown in the first two examples above; Provides a true account of the item. Co-explanation provides a personal examination of the details by selecting specific words and phrases, such as clarifying the colours in the example above. Vibration not only provides information on colours, but also gives the idea or judgment of the value in the description. Many interpretations provide a mixture of both, giving the audience an idea of ​​the emotional state of the subject being described.

Sensory details:

However, every possible explanation uses sensory information as its basis. These are the five senses that attract attention, smell, sound, taste and touch. In fact, different studies prioritize different sensory details and do not require the use of all five senses for all subjects. We all recognize the importance of looking at detail as a tool, but we don't always know how important other details of interest are. However, think about how often you smell something and immediately think of something or someone else. You can smell freshly baked bread and think of your grandmother's kitchen or popcorn and think of theater. Listening to a phrase can make you think of an old friend or acquaintance. You can associate a certain kind of garment with the clothes you had as a child. When you take a bite of pepperoni you are reminded of your youthful parties. Sensory information actually plays a major role in keeping the narrative alive.

Using Concrete description:

Try to use specific, concrete definitions. For example, an author can write a beautiful description of a tree. However, he is very handsome. Instead, the concrete or modifier resistor will be strong and provide maximum impact. The reader needs image details to build up their heads, concepts that don't seem like a good analogue for a real-world analogue.

Here is a description of the tree: "The sun's rays illuminated the leaves around the rain, just as the afternoon sky dropped in the evening." The fine features of the tree are "shown" in concrete details rather than simply being pulled out. This gives the reader the illusion of an immediate experience, as opposed to a variety of dictionaries.

Similes and Metaphors:
One way to add descriptive language is to use similes and metaphors, to create an image in the readers' heads by comparing two objects with each other. Metaphors and metaphors help to make connections between two concepts, concepts, or objects that clarify or give new meaning.

A simile to compare using words like or. Usually two different things are compared. For example, bread was as dry as bone. Matching involves a piece of bread that is thick and white than a solid and white bone. The bones are usually dry, and so is the bread. These same characteristics are what make the metaphor successful.

A metaphor says one thing is something else. It's a comparison, but it does NOT use it as a comparison or to make comparisons. For example, my grandmother is an open book. Comparing this means that my grandmother is full of information she willingly shares with others.

To make an simile or metaphor, point to something like the sun, a tree, or a river, or an idea such as love, peace or wrath. Then think of something else with the same features. Decide whether the words "like" or "as" will help make the connection more understandable. An appropriate metaphor or metaphor will enable the reader to view both objects in a new way.

By adding metaphors and metaphors to the definition sheet, the author can attract readers' thinking and make writing more interesting to read. Icons and metaphors add spice to the descriptions. However, many pieces come in the form of metaphors and metaphors, so try to create comparisons specific to your particular topic.

The Structure of a Descriptive Essay

Descriptive essays often describe a person, place, or thing that uses sensitive information. The structure of the descriptive text is more flexible than other filtering methods. The introduction of a descriptive article should set the tone and point of the essay. The thesis should convey the author's general opinion of the person, place, or thing described in the body paragraphs.

Article organization can better track spatial order, classification of ideas according to physical characteristics or appearance. Depending on the author's description, the movement can move from top to bottom, left to right, near and far, warm, cold, inviting, and so on.

Example, if the theme was the customer's kitchen during the renovation, you could start heading to one side of the room and then slowly to the other side, explaining materials, cabinetry, and so on. Or, you can choose to start with the old kitchen remnants and move on to new installations. Maybe start at the bottom and climb up to the roof.

Writing a Description

In order to write an essay, you need to pick a topic and decide how to make that topic clearly in your audience. If the title of a piece is simply a description of a specific area, you should decide which elements of that area, when outlined in the text, will be most appealing to your audience. The first step in any descriptive writing is to choose a topic and start making a thesis statement. You may choose to specify a specific location.

Thesis

Thesis Text Statement

Although Minnesota may seem attractive and cold to outsiders, the natives of the state find it a great place to live.
We can see from this thesis statement that the author will try to show the features of Minnesota that make it a great place to live. After defining a thesis statement, you should come up with a list of logical words that provide visual information and support the template. You can start by thinking about the five senses. What does your particular place look like, smell, feel, taste and feel? How can you best describe these senses so that the reader can feel how they feel? By organizing elements of descriptive language into easy to manage categories, such as the five senses, you are able to get involved directly in what elements of meaning are most useful.

Presentation Order:

The author in this case may choose to introduce some of Minnesota's best features in terms of seasonal and climate change. Details can be revealed in order, early spring and winter travel, highlighting the features of each season that strongly support the template, that Minnesota is a great place to live.

Before starting the essay, give some thought to your audience. Who will read the essay, and how would you like to impact the readers? Awareness of the audience is important in choosing the level of behaviour you take with your writing. Knowing your audience will also help you distinguish information that should be included in your entire article. Assume that your audience knows very little or nothing about your subject matter, and includes details that may seem obvious to you.

Audience:

Example Audience: In this particular article, the author wants to show an outsider why Minnesota's indigenous people are so happy to live there. The article should help break the barriers of those outside with the cold Minnesota climate and the visible drop. Because this story is designed for those who do not live in Minnesota, and probably never did, it is important to include information on a condition that may be obvious to the native.

With the preparation work complete, now is the time to start writing your essay. Use your thesis statement to start building the first paragraph. The introduction should lay the groundwork for your essay, and the thesis statement should state its purpose.

Introduction:

Example: Many who have not been to the state of Minnesota only hear about its cold weather and disappointing reputation. They are sure to miss the great opportunities Minnesota offers. Each season offers a unique feel familiar to the Minnesot indigenous people and visitors and they love it. Although Minnesota may seem attractive and cold to outsiders, the natives of the state find it a great place to live.

When the introduction is complete, it's time to start building up the body parts of your article. Each body part should have a central theme by itself, and the theme must be expressed in the topic sentence. As a result, each sentence of the paragraph should coincide with and support the topic sentence. Physical categories are where most information should be provided. When writing the first draft of your essay, include as much detail as possible. You can always remove those that do not use the server again when reviewing your draft. In the case of the Minnesota environmental issue, we decided to set up body categories depending on the season, the beginning of spring.

The body:

Example: Spring in Minnesota brings new life to the state after a long winter. The rain cleanses the landscape, leaving its fresh scent for all to enjoy. The flowers brighten up the golden sun's rays and begin to show their vibrant colours. Early birds can be seen and heard throughout the forest and in the fields, recounting their stories in beautiful songs. The pools begin to show their glossy finish as the ice melts slowly under the heat of the season.

Once the body parts are complete, it's time to finish the story and finish. The conclusion should conclude based on what has been posted throughout the body of the story. You need to get back to the idea, but not to the extreme. The conclusion should give the reader a final idea of ​​what it means to tell a story. Remember that nothing new should be presented in the conclusion, and the way it is presented should give the reader a sense of the end.

Conclusion:

Example: The variety of activities and different times available in Minnesota reveals the various advantages of this condition. As one looks at the benefits of each season, it becomes clear why many indigenous Minnesota are satisfied with their homes. Minnesota is a wonderful place to live.

Once the essay is done, it's time to re-read and revise your article (and see review sections of this book). Read your draft first and identify all the descriptive words you used. If possible, go back and add more after what you have already used in the story. If you can, read your friend aloud and tell him which pictures are clearer and which pictures need further improvement. Replace any cloud-based images with additional meaning. Also, check to see if your descriptions use all five senses: sound, smell, texture, sight, and taste. Repeat these steps as many times as you can until you are happy with your product.

Key points:

• Paragraphs should explain something clearly to the reader using strong hearing details.

Sensitivity information attracts five human senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.

• The essay should start with a great idea of ​​a person, place, or thing.

Reflective Essay

What Is a Reflective Essay?

A reflective essay is a type of written assignment where the author analyses the event from the past using a present point of view. The purpose of a reflective essay is to demonstrate the effect of the past event — specifically, what can be learned from the event and how the event helped shape the personality of the individual writing the paper.

Description vs. Reflection

In a way, a descriptive essay is somewhat similar to a reflective essay. Both refer to an event from the writer’s past and both can be equally rewarding for the writer, allowing them to relive the event in their thoughts and possibly even get some closure.

However, there is one key difference between a descriptive essay and a reflective essay is that the purpose of a descriptive essay is to simply describe a past event without providing an in-depth look on the effect of the event on the writer’s personality and present life.

You can use rich language and various literary devices to describe the event, but a descriptive essay barely requires the writer to do any analysis at all. A reflective essay also describes a past event in great detail, but its main purpose is to express the consequences of the event and how they changed the writer’s life and outlook.

What to Focus on When Writing a Reflective Essay?

The subject of a reflective essay can be nearly anything that influenced your life in a major way. The most popular thing to focus on when writing a reflective essay is a past experience — anything that occurred to you some time in the past. It can be a meeting or conversation with someone that left a lasting impression on you.

Structuring a Reflective Essay

Like most other types of written assignments, a reflective essay has a clearly defined structure that you need to follow if you want your essay to have the right impact on your readers. A typical reflective essay will include the following paragraphs.

Introduction

If you are no stranger to writing various essays, you are already familiar with this part. The job of a reflective essay introduction is to prepare the readers for what they are about to learn in your paper.

From your introduction, they should find out why exactly the event in the essay was so impactful for your life and personality. Most importantly, the introduction should be interesting enough to convince the audience to carry on reading.

Body

The body of your reflective essay is both the longest and the most vital part of your paper. In this chapter, you will take your readers on a journey through the events of the past and how they contributed to your personality and life.

There is no strict structure to follow in the body of a reflective essay, but it’s very important to follow a logical flow of the narrative. Most reflective essay authors prefer to adopt the chronological order, which allows you to describe and reflect on the events in a way that will be easily understood by the readers.

The reflection itself

The crucial part of the essay is the part where you reflect on the event in question. Here you will need to list the reasons why the event proved to be so impactful. After each reason, you will expand on it and analyse the effect this particular aspect of the event had on you in general.

This is a reflective essay, which means you can let your thoughts run wild without being conformed to an obligatory way to describe the effects of the event. You can even add a little speculation to make your writing more captivating to the readers.

In the body of your reflective essay paragraph, you need to put a special focus on the lessons you learned from the event. These lessons will not always be pleasant to write about or depict your personality in the best way, but they are necessary for demonstrating your growth.

Returning to the situation

While summarizing the event is not the most important part of a reflective essay, this part of the paper is essential for allowing the readers to understand where you were coming from. Again, you can be as detailed as you want here, but the description of the past events certainly shouldn’t be longer than the reflection part of your essay.

Understanding the context

If the events from your past took place years or even decades ago, or if the context of the events was very unusual and different from the things we experience every day, the readers may have trouble understanding the background of the story.

In this part of the body of your reflective essay, you are to offer an insight into what your life was like at the time and what social, economic, and cultural background may have impacted the way the events unfolded and their effect on your life.

Modifying future outcomes

The events that happened to you and the impact they had on your personal life story cannot be changed. However, you can give way to your imagination and predict the different outcomes for the story that could have taken place in a different reality.

In this part of the essay, you can also reflect on what you could have done differently in the situation you were in. You can also fantasize about the possible outcome of the events had the people in your life acted differently or the context of the story changed.

Conclusion

The important thing about writing a conclusion for your reflective essay is that you don’t need to offer any new information to your readers. Instead, you need to summarize everything that has been said in the prior parts of the paper and finish the essay with one strong statement that can stimulate the readers to do some additional thinking after reading your reflective essay.

Questions to Ask When Writing Your Reflective Essay

Even though you don’t need to include any actual questions in your reflective essay, asking yourself those questions and answering them in your head or in your drafts will help you craft a more concise and convincing story. Here are 10 questions to answer if you want to write a strong reflective essay:

• Why exactly was this event so impactful to me?
• How did I react to the event back when it happened?
• How did my attitude towards the event change with time?
• Is there anything I could have done differently back then?
• Would I like a chance to change anything about the event?
• How did the event impact me in the short and long term?
• Was the event more positive than negative or vice versa?
• What did I learn from the event?
• Can the event and my reflection on it help other people?
• What would I say to the person going through a similar event right now?

Expository Essay

An expository essay is a piece of writing where the author’s job is to introduce the audience to a particular concept.

How are persuasive essays different from expository essays?

The big and key difference between an expository essay and a persuasive essay is that the expository essay does not require the author to address his personal attitude to the subject, whereas writing a persuasive essay means expressing an opinion and attempting to convince the audience that it’s the only possibly correct opinion.

Is an argumentative essay an expository essay?

An argumentative essay requires the author to have a personal opinion about the subject matter and then support it with compelling arguments. The writer of an expository essay does not need to convince the readers of anything — he simply needs to present the facts.

Main Types of Expository Essays

After learning the expository essay definition, it’s easy to think that this written assignment is pretty straightforward and can be mastered very quickly. That is why many students are surprised to learn that there are actually six main types of expository essays that are commonly used in modern schools:

1. Definition essay, where the writer attempts to give a more precise definition to a concept that has been already defined by other scholars;
2. Classification essay, where the writer takes a complete concept and breaks it down into groups and pieces;
3. Problem and solution essay, which requires the writer to define a problem and then offer a solution that has the highest chance of solving the problem;
4. Cause and effect essay, where the writer needs to cover the reasons for the subject in question happening and the possible results of the event;
5. Process essay, also known as the “how-to essay”, where the writer describes the steps in a particular procedure that will lead to the desired result;
6. Comparison and contrast essay, where the writer compares two subjects and defines their differences and similarities.

What is the purpose of an expository essay?

On paper, the assignment of writing an expository essay seems easy, but, as we have already established, there are six types and even more variations of expository essays that you may encounter throughout your academic journey.

The purpose of an expository essay, in general, is to give the readers a detailed introduction of the subject of the paper, but in reality, your job can be different. Always carefully check the writing prompt to see which type of essay you are required to write — only then will you be able to choose the appropriate expository essay format, structure, and content.

Below are the steps involved in writing an expository essay:

Choosing a topic

In some cases, you will be given the topic for your essay by your professor, but students are also often asked to choose their own topic for their essay. If you want the readers to be touched by your writing, it’s important to choose a topic you are personally passionate about.

Ideally, the topic should be also closely connected to the current state of the world and society — those topics always resonate with the public and make your writing even more interesting. Finally, in order to write a convincing essay, you should pick a topic you know well even without outside sources.

Expository essay outline

After seeing some expository essay examples for college or high school, you will be relieved to know that the outline of a typical expository essay is no different from the outline of most other essays you have already written.

Nearly every expository essay outline follows the classic five-paragraph structure, which includes an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The number of body paragraphs can be higher or lower than that, but the order and content of the chapters remain the same.

Introduction

The purpose of the introduction to your expository essay is to unveil the topic of the paper to your audience, explain your reasons for choosing this particular subject, and to introduce the thesis statement. The thesis statement should be brief and strong, as you will refer to it several times throughout the paper.

Body paragraphs

The body paragraphs of your expository essay will further expand the topic with the help of evidence. The evidence can come in different forms, including statistics, quotes, and results of your research. It’s important to remember that each body paragraph should be dedicated to a separate idea, so that the readers don’t have a hard time jumping from one statement to another.

Conclusion

In your conclusion, there is no need to offer any new facts or information to the audience. Instead, you should repeat your thesis statement and offer a brief summary of the body paragraphs to convince the readers that you presented the most complete exploration of the subject.

Expository essay do’s and don’ts

As with most challenges in student life, there is a right and wrong way to write an expository essay. To increase your chances of writing a strong paper, check out some do’s and don’ts of how to write an expository essay:

Do:

• Use the strongest evidence you have available;
• Only use evidence that comes from credible sources;
• Take a critical look at your writing to detect potential counterarguments and your response to them.

Don’t:

• Simply repeat your expository essay introduction in the conclusion;
• Use your own experience as evidence;
• Make your essay wordy simply to meet the word count.

Questions to ask when writing your expository essay

Now that you know how to start an expository essay, it will also be appropriate to learn how to finish it the right way. After you have perfected your final draft, it is time to give your essay the last check by asking the following five questions to yourself:

• Have I chosen a topic that will resonate with the public?
• Have I only used relevant evidence or can some of it be excluded without damaging the integrity of the essay?
• Did I create a logical flow of the narrative or is my essay all over the place?
• Did my evidence come from reliable sources?
• Was I thorough when showing the different aspects of the subject?

Argumentative Essay

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is a type of essay where the writer’s objective is to convince the reader that his opinion is correct by providing compelling arguments backed up by strong evidence.

An argumentative essay follows the same format as other academic essays. However, it is often believed that writing an argumentative essay is as easy as simply voicing your opinion. In reality, even though a personal opinion is an important part of the essay, it’s the arguments and evidence that make the work complete.

What is the primary focus in an Argumentative Essay?

When learning how to write argumentative essay, it’s important to remember that the focus and most vital point of an argumentative essay is the argument itself. The rest of the paper, including the introduction, conclusion, and most of the body paragraphs, are simply there to set the context for the subject of the essay and offer support to the argument.

The argument of the argumentative essay is the backbone of the paper that holds it together. You should first state your main argument right in the introduction of the essay and then refer to it several times in the paper, so make sure to make it clear, concise, and able to resonate with the audience.

Structuring an Argumentative Essay

A good argumentative essay outline should help the readers navigate through your narrative, and also allow you to always stay on point even when your ideas momentarily take you elsewhere.

A typical argumentative essay employs a 5-paragraph structure just like other academic essays and contains an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Below are the steps of writing a good argumentative essay:

Introduction

The introduction to your argumentative essay must be just one paragraph long, but it must also be very clear and concise. The purpose of the argumentative essay introduction is to familiarise the readers with the concept of the subject and your position.

In the first paragraph of your argumentative essay, you will provide a brief background of the problem, how common it is, how old it is, and how well it has been researched. It’s advisable to choose an under-researched argumentative essay topic and tell your readers something new.

The final sentence of your introduction must always contain the thesis statement. This is exactly where your main argument can be found. The thesis should reflect your own perspective towards the main subject of the paper.

Body paragraphs

There are three body paragraphs in a typical argumentative essay, and each of those paragraphs should offer a separate piece of reasons why you believe your argument is the correct one. Be careful not to reiterate the same point in different body paragraphs — that way, you won’t be able to paint a complete picture for your readers.

The topic sentence should be the starting point of each paragraph. This topic sentence should introduce a new evidence in support for your argument. You should then follow the topic sentence with various instances of evidence including but not limited to statistics, research results, examples, studies, and citations.

Offer a counterargument at the end of each body paragraph and explain why you disagree with it using strong evidence supporting your point of view. When it comes to an argumentative essay, it’s always better to cover the subject from every angle.

Conclusion

A conclusion should be a summary of all the ideas previously discussed in the body but it should not introduce any new ideas. Ideally, after finishing the essay, the readers must a sense of closure and at the same time they must feel the urge to explore the topic even further.

You can make your argumentative essay conclusion even more memorable, by including a personal story or make your writing more personal in another way. Readers usually respond well to those anecdotes and are likely to pay more attention to your writing.

Questions to Ask When Finishing Your Argumentative Essay

At the final stage of your writing process, it’s a good idea to give your essay a critical look to see what can be changed and improve about your writing to make it easier to prove your point to the audience. Use the following 5 questions to determine whether you did a good job with your argumentative essay or it still needs some work:

• Are all my arguments and topic sentences clear enough?
• Will it be easy for the readers to follow the logical flow of my writing?
• Is my structure and word choice appropriate?
• Have I provided enough evidence support for my argument?
• How likely are the readers to be convinced in my point of view?

Imaginative Essay

An imaginative essay is an essay which is fictional in nature and is written completely from the author’s imagination. It may involve partial real-life events but the overall outcome is fictional. It tests the creative ability of a writer in formulating new thoughts, ideas and concepts.

An imaginative essay is narrative and descriptive in style and follows the same format as most academic essays including an introduction, the main body and the conclusion.

Below are some points to be kept in mind while writing an imaginative essay:

Choosing the Topic

Choosing an extravagant topic while writing an imaginative essay will help your creative juices flow and you can use this creativity in formulating your essay. It will also give you other advantages such as: first, your imaginative essay will be unique in a sense that there will not be another one to compare it with; and second, readers welcome working on non-standard topics and also non-traditional approaches to various topics.

Let the inspiration strike

A very important part of writing an imaginative essay is inspiration. If you have a topic you should wait for your thoughts to form around that topic. Once you find your inspiration you should start writing. This will only be your first draft. Follow your internal feeling of aesthetics. Analysis and reflection are not proper methods for carrying out the task; you’d rather search for associations provoked by the topic/title. Let’s say, your topic is “A day in the rain without an umbrella.” What is your first association? Would you use the a direct speech formula or just narrate the event in the third person? What situation should be included in your essay? Where does it take place?

A good practice for imaginative thinking is to try to pick up an idea that suits you the most, and then develop it. If you start analysing, then you will probably run out of time.

Originality

Being original while writing an imaginative essay is of the utmost importance. An imaginative essay requires your own perception and your own thoughts on a certain event, therefore using your own words and your own thought process is especially significant. You should keep the balance between realism and fantasy: the most imaginative essay you could write is a surrealistic one, but it will probably confuse the reader.

Avoid the use of indirect speech

Avoid using indirect speech in your imaginative essay. The narrative technique should be employed to describe the various events and relationships between the characters in your essay. This will keep the reader engaged in the essay and would help them relate to the events and characters in the essay.

Suspension of disbelief

An imaginative essay should be descriptive in nature, Meaning, it must allow the reader to live the experience. In other words, it should grind the gears of the readers imagination and if possible transport them to your imagined realm. They should be so involved in the essay that they suspend their disbelief and allow the logic of your imaginative world to penetrate and engulf their minds. This will not only make your essay interesting but also make it more enjoyable.

Use figures of speech

Use metaphors, allegories, similes, and other figures of speech. Avoid being too “simplistic” in the language employed in your imaginative essay. A common flaw in most contemporary young authors is to believe that the style of expression does not have influence on the reader’s mind. On the contrary, the exquisite style always attracts more readers.

Read aloud and revise

Read aloud your imaginative essay to yourself. This will help you realize some incoherence or vagueness in it. Revise your essay two or three times in order to have a better style and grammar. It is not recommended, however, to change the contents of the essay, as the quality and the flow of thought might be affected.