Understanding Essays

Expository texts are non-fiction texts

designed to argue, inform, persuade or
teach.
The writers of these texts seek to SHAPE
meaning and reader understanding.

Essays that contemplate any given

subject.
Within this writing genre texts can be
subdivided into the Descriptive-reflective
and the Abstract.

These essays, as their titles state, require

both description and reflection.
Titles or topics with one word often fall
into this category.
In this style of essay, the topic must be
adequately described in order to draw
conclusions. A description is given and
then your views on the subject follow.

Again, these essays can be based on one-word titles

but they should refer to abstract ideas like truth,
justice or love. These titles are often preceded by
On For example, On Truth. In this case, a
certain amount of description is required but the
description is secondary to the reasoning on the
subject
The key to picking the best-suited writing genre is
interpreting the subject. A subject like walls could
be taken literally (descriptive) or metaphorically
(abstract). It really all depends on where you tend to
go with the paper
Wall as wall (descriptive)
Wall as discrimination (abstract)

Argumentative essays are similar to abstract essays as

they are concerned with ideas, but unlike the
abstract essay, which allows room for interpretation
and free thought, the argumentative essay is on a
particular subject. Reasoning and arranging
arguments in a logical order is key here. General
knowledge is also important as what you know is far
more important than what you can imagine.
Goals: to present an opinion, to persuade, to solve a
problem, to discuss.
It is here that most formal literary essays reside, using
either inductive (general to specific) or deductive
(specific to general) reasoning.

Deductive Reasoning: uses a general principle and

applies it to a specific case
An example is the syllogism formula: a form of
reasoning having two statements (major and minor
premises) and a conclusion that is logically drawn
from them. (If the premises are true, then the
conclusion is true)
Note: the truth of a valid conclusion depends entirely
on the reliability of the premises
Example:

1. Major Premise: A son should avenge his fathers murder.

2. Minor Premise: Hamlets father was murdered.
3. Conclusion: Therefore

More Syllogism (Deduction) Examples:

1. Major Premise: All men are mortal
2. Minor Premise: Socrates is a man
3. Conclusion: Socrates is mortal
1. Major Premise: Progress is good
2. Minor Premise: The automobile represents

progress
3. Conclusion: The automobile is good

Inductive Reasoning: analyzes particular

instances then formulates a general truth
(parts to a whole)
At best, inductive reasoning gives only
probability
Example:

Hamlet tried to avenge his fathers murder.

Laertes tried to avenge his fathers murder.
Fortinbras tried to avenge his fathers

murder.
Therefore

Induction Reasoning Example:

Doctors learned by inductively examining

many patients that the combined evidence

of a fever, sore throat, and a particular kind
of rash probably indicate a case of measles

1. Logic: deductive & inductive

reasoning (see previous slides)
Uses Facts:

Based on research

Number, dates, statistics

Quotes in context
Full quotations

Includes all facts

Be specific/ use details

2. Emotion: emotive language, vivid words,

evocative words and figures of speech
** Propaganda techniques should be
avoided**:

Testimonial
Bandwagon appeal
Plain folks
Name calling

Glittering generalities
Fear tactics

Genre:
What form of writing (i.e. newspaper article, magazine feature article,
biography, autobiography, journal, diary, political or social commentary
etc)

Style:
Includes language elements such as descriptive writing, figurative
language (using figures of speech), word choice (diction), sentence
structure, paragraphing, tone of address etc.

Point of view:
From what point of view is the piece written? Is it first person; third
person; both 1st and third?

Structure:
How is the text constructed? Are there chapters, headings, subheadings? What about page layout - that is where are items placed on
the page and why? Are there graphs, charts, figures, graphics,
drawings, photographs, maps etc?

To shape reader understanding, and

position readers to agree or disagree
with his/her ideas, opinions, views, values,
attitudes etc, writers of expository texts
employ at least some of the following

Selection of detail
Sequencing of events, i.e. order in which
info presented
Structure of information i.e. format and
presentation
Use of persona

Expanding boundaries of factual

reporting ( exaggeration, embellishing,
expanding)
Anecdotes, analogies, allusions,
allegories, metaphors
Appeal (ethos, pathos, logos)
Descriptive language
Figurative language and imagery

Word choice
Colloquialisms
Syllogisms
Connotative /Emotive language
**Tone
**Register

Dialogue
Use of humour, satire
Interpretation of events, facts
opinionative response, versions of reality
Use of facts, data, statistics

Experts or authority figures

Foregrounding; use of repetition and
rephrasing
Rhetorical argument and use of other
rhetorical devices such as questions;
rhetorical questions

Writers of non-fiction texts may include

narrative elements

plot (story) with narrative structure

characterization
point of view
setting
theme
dialogue

First Person
Second Person
Third Person
Simile
Metaphor
Illusion (usually deceptive)
Hyperbole
Irony
Tone
Chronological Order (time)
Logical Order (common sense)
Climatic Order (the organization of
ideas from one extreme to another from least important to most
important, from most destructive to
least destructive, or from least
promising to most promising)