TYPES OF PARAGRAPHS

DESCRIPTION
1) STEP BY STEP

ARGUMENTATION
NARRATION 1) TAKE A STAND
WRITING 2) EVIDENCE
1) STORY
3) FACTS
2) TIME 4) ARGUE WHAT IS
ARGUABLE
EXPOSITION
1) EXAMPLES
2) PROCESS
3) DEFINITION
4) CLASSIFICATION
5) CAUSE AND EFFECT
6) COMPARISON
 WRITING – DESCRIPTIVE
/NARRATIVE/ EXPOSITORY /
ARGUMENTATIVE…
THE MEANINGS

1) DESCRIPTIVE

 Science-related essays often require background

description : of a thing, process or state of affairs –
analyzing it into its parts. This can be done
chronologically, serially, hierarchically, etc. It is a test
of your ability to select and synthesise “factual”
information.
 A description is a verbal picture of a person. it is a
word picture. use all five senses to portray a scene
in words. the senses are sight, hearing, taste, smell
and feel.
to write a vivid description be precise on dominant
impression. it is the feature that stands out about
what you are describing.
 2) NARRATIVE
> A narration is writing that tells a story in words.
> It can be a make-believe story (fiction) or something
that actually took place (a personal experience).
> Narration is normally written to entertain, but it may
also function as an information text or a persuasive text.
> The narrative follows a time order, so the sentences
and the paragraphs are best linked by using proper
transitions such as :
1) afterwards 7) not long after that
2) presently 8) since then
3) later 9) soon at last
4) before 10) immediately
5) how 11) after a short time
6) the next day 12) lately
13) suddenly
 3) EXPOSITORY

 “Exposition” is a rather formal term which really

means either “information” or “explanation”, modes of
communication we might use to write a manual, offer
instructions on how things work or where to find
things, or recount what happened during a revolution,
etc.
 There are 4 types of expository essays :
i. Descriptive
ii. Explanatory
iii. Illustrative
iv. Analytical
 4) ARGUMENTATIVE

 Argumentative literally refers to everything that

involves debate and possible disagreement, and to
opinion as opposed to the uncontested facts of
exposition. It means agreeing or disagreeing with a
given proposition, either strongly or tentatively.
 In more general terms it refers to a more
subjective style of writing, where writers engage in
defining their terms or interpreting and evaluating the
views, evidence or data very clearly from their own
perspective or viewpoint.
 ARGUMENTATIVE
ESSAY
The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the
student to investigate a topic, collect, generate, and evaluate
evidence, and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.
 Argumentative essay assignments generally call for extensive
research of literature or previously published material. Argumentative
assignments may also require empirical research where the student
collects data through interviews, surveys, observations, or
experiments.
 THE STRUCTURE OF THE
ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first
paragraph of the essay.
In the first paragraph of an argument essay, students should set the context
by reviewing the topic in a general way. Next the author should explain why
the topic is important (exigence) or why readers should care about the issue.
Lastly, students should present the thesis statement. It is essential that this
thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth
in the assignment. If the student does not master this portion of the essay, it
will be quite difficult to compose an effective or persuasive essay.
Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and

conclusion.

Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay

together. Without logical progression of thought, the reader is

unable to follow the essay’s argument, and the structure will

collapse. Transitions should wrap up the idea from the previous

section and introduce the idea that is to follow in the next section.
Body paragraphs that include evidential support.
Each paragraph should be limited to the discussion of one general
idea. This will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay.
In addition, such conciseness creates an ease of readability for
one’s audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the
body of the essay must have some logical connection to the thesis
statement in the opening paragraph. Some paragraphs will directly
support the thesis statement with evidence collected during
research. It is also important to explain how and why the evidence
supports the thesis (warrant).
However, argumentative essays should also consider and explain

differing points of view regarding the topic. Depending on the length of

the assignment, students should dedicate one or two paragraphs of an

argumentative essay to discussing conflicting opinions on the topic.

Rather than explaining how these differing opinions are wrong outright,

students should note how opinions that do not align with their thesis

might not be well informed or how they might be out of date.

Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal).
The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and
current information to support the thesis statement and consider other
points of view. Some factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence
should support the thesis. However, students must consider multiple points
of view when collecting evidence. As noted in the paragraph above, a
successful and well-rounded argumentative essay will also discuss
opinions not aligning with the thesis. It is unethical to exclude evidence that
may not support the thesis. It is not the student’s job to point out how other
positions are wrong outright, but rather to explain how other positions may
not be well informed or up to date on the topic.
A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but
readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.
It is at this point of the essay that students may begin to struggle.
This is the portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate
impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective
and logical. Do not introduce any new information into the
conclusion; rather, synthesize the information presented in the body
of the essay. Restate why the topic is important, review the main
points, and review your thesis. You may also want to include a short
discussion of more research that should be completed in light of
your work.
 A COMPLETE ARGUMENT
Perhaps it is helpful to think of an essay in terms of a conversation or
debate with a classmate. If I were to discuss the cause of World War II
and its current effect on those who lived through the tumultuous time,
there would be a beginning, middle, and end to the conversation. In fact,
if I were to end the argument in the middle of my second point,
questions would arise concerning the current effects on those who lived
through the conflict. Therefore, the argumentative essay must be
complete, and logically so, leaving no doubt as to its intent or argument.
 NARRATIVE ESSEY

DEFINATION OF NARRATIVE ESSEY

•As a mode of expository writing, the narrative approach, more than any other,
offers writers a chance to think and write about themselves.
• We all have experiences lodged in our memories, which are worthy of sharing
with readers.
•Yet sometimes they are so fused with other memories that a lot of the time
spent in writing narrative is in the prewriting stage.
•When you write a narrative essay, you are telling a story.
• Narrative essays are told from a defined point of view, often the author's, so
there is feeling as well as specific and often sensory details provided to get the
reader involved in the elements and sequence of the story.
• The verbs are vivid and precise. The narrative essay makes a point and that
point is often defined in the opening sentence, but can also be found as the last
sentence in the opening paragraph.
• Since a narrative relies on personal
experiences, it often is in the form of a story.
When the writer uses this technique, he or she
must be sure to include all the conventions of
storytelling: plot, character, setting, climax,
and ending. It is usually filled with details that
are carefully selected to explain, support, or
embellish the story. All of the details relate to
the main point the writer is attempting to
make.
 How to Write a Narrative
Essay
 Writing a Narrative Essay
 There's nothing like reading a great narrative.
Whether in novel or essay form, a narrative piece
of writing transports readers into the time and
space of the world portrayed by the writing.
 There's also nothing like writing a great narrative.
Through reflecting upon an event, and through
recreating the experience for other readers,
writing a narrative essay can enable you to
develop new, subtle, and rewarding perspectives
 Basic qualities of a narrative essay:
 A narrative essay is a piece of writing that
recreates an experience through time.
 A narrative essay can be based on one of your
own experiences, either past or present, or it
can be based on the experiences of someone
else.
 In addition to telling a story, a narrative essay
also communicates a main idea or a lesson
learned.
 First steps for writing a narrative essay:
 Identify the experience that you want to write
about.
 Think about why the experience is significant.
 Spend a good deal of time drafting your
recollections about the details of the
experience.
 Create an outline of the basic parts of your
narrative
 Writing about the experience:
 Using your outline, describe each part of your narrative.
 Rather than telling your readers what happened, use
vivid details and descriptions to actually recreate the
experience for your readers.
 Think like your readers. Try to remember that the
information you present is the only information your
readers have about the experiences.
 Always keep in mind that all of the small and seemingly
unimportant details known to you are not necessarily
known to your readers
 Communicating the significance of the
experience:
 It's often effective to begin your narrative
with a paragraph that introduces the
experience and communicates the
significance. This technique guarantees that
your readers will understand the significance
of the experience as they progess through the
narrative.
• Another effective technique is to begin the
essay by jumping directly into the narrative
and then ending the essay with a paragraph
communicating the significance of the
experience. This approach allows your
readers to develop their own understanding
of the experience through the body of the
essay and then more deeply connect to your
expression of the significance at the end
• You might also consider introducing the
experience in the first paragraph but delaying
your expression of the significance of the
experience until the end of the essay. This
approach heightens your readers' sensitivity
to the significance of the narrative.
 Potential prompts for your narrative essay:
 If you're having trouble choosing an
experience to write about, take a quick glance
through these prompts. They might help you
remember or identify a particularly
interesting or significant experience to focus
on.
 A childhood event. Think of an experience when
you learned something for the first time, or when
you realized how important someone was for you.
 Achieving a goal. Think about a particularly
meaningful achievement in your life. This could be
something as seemingly minor as achieving a
good grade on a difficult assignment, or this could
be something with more long-lasting effects, like
getting the job you desired or getting into the
best school to which you applied.
 A failure. Think about a time when you did
not perform as well as you had wanted.
Focusing on an experience like this can result
in rewarding reflections about the positive
emerging from the negative.
 A good or bad deed. Think about a time
when you did or did not stand up for yourself
or someone else in the face of adversity or
challenge
 A change in your life. Think about a time when
something significant changed in your life. This
could be anything from a move across town to a
major change in a relationship to the birth or
death of a loved one.
 A realization. Think about a time when you
experienced a realization. This could be anything
from understanding a complicated math
equation to gaining a deeper understanding of a
philosophical issue or life situation
How To summarize, the
narrative essay
 is told from a particular point of view
 makes and supports a point
 is filled with precise detail
 uses vivid verbs and modifiers
 uses conflict and sequence as does any story
 may use dialogue
 The purpose of a narrative report is to describe
something. Many students write narrative reports
thinking that these are college essays or papers. While the
information in these reports is basic to other forms of
writing, narrative reports lack the "higher order thinking"
that essays require. Thus narrative reports do not, as a
rule, yield high grades for many college courses. A basic
example of a narrative report is a "book report" that
outlines a book; it includes the characters, their actions,
possibly the plot, and, perhaps, some scenes. That is, it is
a description of "what happens in the book." But this
leaves out an awful lot
 What is left out is what the book or article is about
-- the underlying concepts, assumptions,
arguments, or point of view that the book or
article expresses. A narrative report leaves aside a
discussion that puts the events of the text into the
context of what the text is about. Is the text about
love? Life in the fast lane? Society? Wealth and
power? Poverty? In other words, narrative reports
often overlook the authors purpose or point of
view expressed through the book or article
 Once an incident is chosen, the writer should keep three
principles in mind.
 Remember to involve readers in the story. It is much more
interesting to actually recreate an incident for readers than to
simply tell about it.
 Find a generalization, which the story supports. This is the only
way the writer's personal experience will take on meaning for
readers. This generalization does not have to encompass
humanity as a whole; it can concern the writer, men, women, or
children of various ages and backgrounds.
 Remember that although the main component of a narrative is
the story, details must be carefully selected to support, explain,
and enhance the story.
Conventions of Narrative
Essays
In writing your narrative
essay, keep the following
conventions in mind.
Narratives are generally
written in the first person,
that is, using I. However,
third person (he, she, or
it) can also be used.