CHAPTER FIVE The essay The essay is a literary composition in prose.

It is said to be the highest form of literary prose which deals on any subject. It involves metal processes such as good imaginative and linguistic ability. It embodies statements of fact as well as revelation on the writers mind. Essays are similar to composition. The dividing line, however, is that whereas a composition treats the facts of an event, an essay expresses the opinion of the writer about the facts contained in the essay. An essay includes comments and criticisms of the writer. To successfully write an essay, the following steps should be taken: Choose a topic Think over the topic Form a point of view Make an outline Arrange your points Do the actual writing

Choosing a topic Care should be taken to choose a topic. The choice of topic you make can determine your success or failure in an examination or assignment. Usually, you will be given a range of topic to choose from. Ensure that you choose a topic: (i) That interests you (ii) In which you have knowledge (iii) In which you have enough points (iv) You are convinced you can tackle THINK OVER THE TOPIC

It is important to determine what type of essay you are asked to write. This will enable you know how to approach it. Remember that there are different types of essays which may require different techniques of writing. Find out exactly what the essay you are about to write requires before you start writing. FORM A POINT OF VIEW The point of view is the angle from which a writer presents his essay. Many candidates may choose a particular topic, but approach it from different angles; therefore no two candidates should write the same essay exactly. MAKE AN OUTLINE The making of a good outline is the beginning of your success in your essay. As you think about the essay, jot down points that you can remember about the topic. Your outline will serve as a framework on which to build up your essay. Arrange your points It may not be all the points at your disposal that may be relevant, so discard the irrelevant ones, and arrange the relevant points in an order of importance before developing them. Make your draft Proceed with your writing. If it is an assignment that you are given, make the first draft that you will improve upon before yo make your submission. However, in an examination situation, you may not have all the materials and time to write and rewrite, so care should be taken to write your essay. Do the actual writing If your essay is an assignment or you have the opportunity to write and rewrite in an examination, make a draft, read and reread your work, to delete all errors.

Proceed, after making all the necessary corrections to make the final writing. In writing a good essay, note the following points. o Use the appropriate registers o Avoid the use of slang or colloquial expressions o Write your essays in an impersonal form. Do not use the first person singular except the topic states it that way. o There should be no numbering of paragraphs or subheadings within the essay. o One sentence paragraph should be avoided. Format of an essay An essay usually has a beginning, a middle, and an end. The introductory aspect of it is the beginning of the essay where the writer states or defines his theme. This aspect of the essay prepares the reader for what is to be contained in the body of the essay. It arouses the interest of the reader and announces the limit of the subject. Although the length of the introductory paragraph may vary according to what the writer is writing, it should not be too long. Depending on the topic the writer is writing, he may start by making a general statement about the topic or go straight into the topic. The middle of the essay constitutes the main body. The body is also known as the development of the essay. Here, the main ideas are expanded and illustrated in sdifferent paragraphs. It is here the writer exhibits his linguistic ability. Note that without a good outline, developing the body may not very successful. The end of the essay is the concluding aspect of the essay. It is referred to as conclusion. The conclusion of an essay performs a dual function. It brings the essay to a close or logical end and also reiterates the theme. It serves as the main point. Types of essays

There are four main types of essay: Narrative, Descriptive, Expository and Argument. We shall treat them one after the other. Narrative Essay This is the narration of a true or imaginary story. It relates an event or series of events logically and sequentially. This is why it is necessary to make an outline as to stick to the viewpoint that has been chosen, and to produce a well-ordered and logical piece. In choosing a topic, consider the time available and the space at your disposal. Narrative Essays are usually written in the past tense; however, the present tense can also be used when a occasion demands. The important point to note is that (whether past or present), the writer should stick to a particular tense. Below is an example of narrative essay. My first day in school It was on the 6th February, 1995. I boarded a bus heading for Bori. It was a long and uneventful journey. The road was narrow with thick bushes on both sides. The pot holes on the road reminded me of little ponds in my grandmothers village, where we use to catch fish. After about 45minutes drive, we saw a signpost- Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori. I thought we had reached the school but we kept on until we got to the park. We all alighted from the bus, and everybody headed towards different directions. I also moved out of the park. At the
front of the park were cyclists. One of them asked me where I was going. In about ten minutes, we were in the school premises. I was blank as to where to go as the whole place looked quiet and uninteresting. I raised my head to think then I saw Bariyira , who happened to be my schoolmate. He was excited when he saw me. He took me round the school and introduced me to so many people.

That day was the mid-week prayer service of the school, so we all went the chapel to pray. I was very happy to be in the midst of a praying people. The distance of the school from Port Harcourt almost discouraged me from accepting to be in the school but I immediately changed my mind because I love to pray. After the prayer, my new friend took me round the school again. *It was after all, a big and interesting school to attend. The Description Essay A descriptive essay presents a vivid pen picture of an object, some pieces of natural scenery, a person or a process. The thing described can be real or imaginary. Nevertheless, such description enables the reader to vitalize the object of description and recognize it when he sees it. There are two types of description; namely, objective description and Impressionistic description. Objective Description: In this form of description, the writer describes the object just as he sees it without attaching any personal feelings. Such description is done objectively and could be used in describing objects, scenes or persons. Impressionistic Description. In this type of description the writer is liberty to express his feelings, opinion and biases. In other words, in addition to describing the thing just as it is, the writer is at liberty to express his personal opinion. Hints For Writing Descriptive Essay: Whatever the object of description is, one could start from a general description to the specific or vice versa. A general description could encompass looking at the concept as a whole before writing specifically on the object or thing of description. In describing a market for instance, the writer may explain what a market is. And the different types of market before bringing in the specific market he wants to describe. He could proceed to tell us the location and size of the market. He could also divide the market into different sections and do his description. In descriptions that have to do with human beings, the

writer may start with the distinctive features of the individual. He could state if the individual is a male or female, height, weight, slim or stocky or the gener5al attitude of the individual. The general attitudes the relationship existing between the writer and the person being described and the mannerism of the person, which could be factual. Below is an example of descriptive essay. A Street Accident: I head the sudden grinding and screeching of brakes. I saw men, women and children running toward the spot from which the sound had come. A large crowd had already gathered there. Indian crowds are noted for forming as suddenly as they melt away. A brand new ambassador car had come to a halt against a tree on the footpath, and its bonnet was slightly damaged. A few feet away on the road, there lay a fruit vendor cursing his fate. His basket had been flung yards away from him. Oranges and mangoes in it scattered all along the road. A few sympathetic individuals were picking them up and putting them back in the basket. Some street Urchins however, helped themselves quietly to as many as they could. The driver of the car was surrounded by people, who were heaping abuses on him for rash and negligent driving. The poor fellow had had turn quiet pale with fear. Some rowdies in the crowd wanted to take the law into their own hands and beat him up. Just then a respectable elderly gentleman intervened. Ha said that he had been an eye witness to the whole incident. The driver had found a child running across the road. He swerved the car to serve the child, and in doing so, knocked down the hawker, who was not seriously hurt. The driver then lost control and the car mounted the pavement and came to a standstill against the tree. It was a miracle that the car had not been completely smashed up. By this time, the fallen hawker was on his feet, more the worst for the fall. He started to run after the Urchins, who were sucking his juicy oranges. The people restrained him from doing so, and asked him to thank providence that he escaped unhurt. He felt thoroughly ashamed of himself.

A policeman arrived on the scene, and the hawker accompanied by the policeman then went to the police station. (Adapted from English Grammar and composition, page 214) Similarity Between Narrative and Descriptive Essay It is pertinent to note that narrative and description of events often go hand in hand. For instance, when a story is being told, there are some elements of description that help the reader visualize the situation and understand it better. Thus, description is indispensable to narrative essays. Expository Essay An expository essay is an essay which explains, instructs and informs. It is a means through which ideas are made lucid through the use of simple, clear and well- chosen words. It is didactic in nature because it leads the reader to acquiring knowledge he did not have. The language of expository essay is usually clear so that comprehension would be essay. The sentences are straightforward. It is neither verbose nor bombastic. Words are carefully chosen to give a clear picture of what the writer is explaining. Such words are few but appropriate. A good expository essay contains examples, illustration, explanation, adequate description and sufficient information. Below is an example of Expository Essay. The role of the Woman in the Home Nature has described the woman as a helpmate, the supporter of the man and a weaker vessel. She plays a major role in the growth and advancement of the home. Indeed, it is the woman who makes the bed that the members of her household lie on. It is also undeniable that the woman manifests the virtues of a nurse, judge, a teacher and a home manager. She occupies a prominent spiritual and physical position in the home. Although, nature has bestowed on her the role of a home manager, it is not her duty to lead, and nobody should make her one. A manager is one who mobilizes available human and materials resources for the effectiveness of an organization in which he belongs. The

responsibility of providing for the home is on the man. When he makes his supplies, the woman ensures that it is prudently used. Where the man is incapacitated financially, the woman bridges the gap because that is what she is there to do. It is indeed the responsibility of the man to lead because the role of leadership is his. He should work hard to take care of his home, while the woman submissively assists. Besides the man, the woman assists every other person around her because she is beclouded with compassion. Her compassionate nature makes her to attend to all aspects of the family life. This includes issues relating to both the nuclear and extended family. It is also true that the woman is the weaker vessel. She accommodates a lot of negatives and positive things. Just as she carries a foetus in her womb and delivers it as a baby at the expiration of nine months, so she is able to incubate different shades of emotion. At the appropriate time, depending on the type of treatment that is meted out to her, she delivers all manner of things. She is indeed weak, but strong; therefore, should be handled with care. Argumentative Essay An argumentative essay is piece of writing in which the writer tries to convince and to persuade the reader to accept his postulation. The writer projects his ideas with good reasons, the basis for his point of view. He tries to appeal to the readers reason rather than the emotion. He presents his point of view as the best possible with the intention of winning the reader to his side. Every argument is made up of two sides; the proposition and opposition. The proposition argues in favour of a given topic. the

A writer may argue from either of the two sides or both. If he is arguing on both sides, in the introductory paragraph, he may take a stand, and then refute the other side in the subsequent paragraph. He may also address either of the sides in a given paragraph and oppose it or

support it as the case may be. He may then conclusively summarize his points. Below is an example of Argumentative Essay. Compulsory Primary Education should be Encouraged in Nigeria. Free and compulsory primary education should be encouraged in Nigeria because primary education is the foundation stone of the other levels of formal education and it is, therefore the spring board to economic and social advancement. No nation can meet the challenges of the modern world of science without formal education. The education of the child begins at the primary school, since most families do not have the opportunity of sending their children to nursery and kindergarten school; therefore, free and compulsory education should be encouraged in Nigeria. Primary school education is quite indispensable in the life of the child. It is in the primary school that the child learns to associate with the members of his peer group, other than those of his immediate home and family environment. He is exposed to learning situation in which the agents of instruction are adults who may not be related to him. It is in this way that the child learns to associate with others and this helps him to develop appropriate adaptive behaviour in later life. The primary school must be seen as an important agent of socialization. Therefore, to deprive a child of the experience of primary education is to make him a social misfit. The primary school provides most Nigerian children with the first formal content with formal education. It is the primary school that the child learns to read and write. He is exposed to various school subjects which help to sharpen his intellect and shape his aptitude. To deny a child the right to primary education is to deny him the right to survival. The constitution of Nigeria provides that every citizen has the right to education. The nation cannot operate an authentic constitution if certain constitutional provisions are recklessly contradicted. Making

primary education optional for Nigerian Children is a reckless contradiction of the constitution which must not be condoned. The child of today is the father of tomorrow. The education of Nigerian children which must begin in the primary school is the countrys only hope for social and economic emancipation. If Nigeria must perform the leadership role which the Africa continent expects from her, certainly, primary education must be made compulsory for all her children. (Adapted from Intensive English Book 2)