Matakuliah
Tahun
Versi
: G1222, Writing IV
: 2006
: v 1.0 rev 1
Module 6
Composing essay
part 1
1
What’s inside
• Applying elements of essay.
• Applying theories of essay.
• Start composing simple essay.
2
In this section you’ll learn
1.
2.
Composing simple narrative essay
Applying the theory into a simple paragraph
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What should I do?
1. Ask yourself what your purpose is for
writing about the subject.
2. Ask yourself how you are going to achieve
this purpose.
3. Start the ideas flowing
Take a rest and let it all percolate.
4. Nutshell your whole idea.
5. Diagram your major points somehow.
6. Write a first draft.
4
5W’s, and How
A. Classical topics (patterns of argument)
1. Definition
- How does the dictionary define ____?
- What do I mean by ____?
2. Comparison/Contrast
- What is ____ similar to? In what ways?
- What is ____ different from? In what
ways?
3. Relationship
- What causes ____?
- What are the effects of ____?
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So What?
4. Testimony
- What have I heard people say about ____?
- What are some facts of statistics about ____?
- Can I quote any proverbs, poems, or sayings
about__?
5. Circumstance
- Is ____ possible or impossible?
- What qualities, conditions, or circumstances
make ____ possible or impossible?
When did ____ happen previously?
- Who can do ____?
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5W’s, How, So What? (cont.)
B. Tagmemics
Contrastive features
- How is ____ different from things similar to it?
- How has ____ been different for me?
Variation
- How much can ____ change and still be itself?
- How is ____ changing?
- How much does ____ change from day to day?
- What are the different varieties of ____?
Distribution
- Where and when does ____ take place?
- What is the larger thing of which ___ is a part?
- What is the function of ____ in this larger thing?
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5W’s, How, So What? (cont.)
C. Cubing (considering a subject from six points of view)
1. *Describe* it (colors, shapes, sizes, etc.)
2. *Compare* it (What is it similar to?)
3. *Associate* it (What does it make you think of?)
4. *Analyze* it (Tell how it's made)
5. *Apply* it (What can you do with it? How can it be used?)
6. *Argue* for or against it
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Thought Starters
Here are twenty questions or "thought starters“
that present ways of observing or thinking about
your topic. Each question generates the type of
essay listed in parentheses after the question.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What does X mean? (Definition)
What are the various features of X? (Description)
What are the component parts of X? (Simple Analysis)
How is X made or done? (Process Analysis)
How should X be made or done? (Directional Analysis)
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Thought Starters (cont.)
6. What is the essential function of X? (Functional
Analysis)
7. What are the causes of X? (Causal Analysis)
8. What are the consequences of X? (Causal Analysis)
9. What are the types of X? (Classification)
10. How is X like or unlike Y? (Comparison)
11. What is the present status of X? (Comparison)
12. What is the significance of X? (Interpretation)
13. What are the facts about X? (Reportage)
14. How did X happen? (Narration)
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Thought Starters (cont.)
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
What kind of person is X? (Characterization /Profile)
What is my personal response to X? (Reflection)
What is my memory of X? (Reminiscence)
What is the value of X? (Evaluation)
What are the essential major points or features of X?
(Summary)
20. What case can be made for or against X? (Persuasion)
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Narrative essay
A narrative essay is simply a personal story, and we all have at least
a few of these to tell. Sometimes plays and movies have a narrator,
a person who stands to the side and tells his or her story. The
narrator describes actions as well as thoughts and feelings. For the
purpose of this lesson, you are the narrator. The story you choose to
write will be your narrative essay. One of mine was published in a
national magazine in 1999. I wrote about my personal experience
with adoption. Many magazines publish personal narratives; readers
are interested in other people's lives and how they handled danger,
conflict, or uncertainty. Take a moment to jot down three of your own
true-life, personal story ideas.
Unlike some other essay forms, the narrative essay is written in the
first person viewpoint. Because this is your story, you can pepper it
with the words "I," "me," "my," and "mine." This is a personal
experience piece. While an opinion essay would also be written in
first person, it would dwell more on thoughts and ideas than on
events. Your narrative essay will be event-driven.
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Narrative essay (cont.)
For example, take this sentence:
"I was never more scared than the day I lost my little sister in
a crowded mall.“
With that opening statement, the reader knows they are about to learn the
details of that day, from the moments leading up to the child's
disappearance, to your terrified scramble to find her, and finally to your
reunion at the security office. You will draw them into the story with your
descriptions of your fears and your attempts to locate your sister.
Your story will be written in the storytelling style complete with setting,
characters, plot, climax, and ending. Let's use the sentence above as an
example. It was laid out like this:
Setting: a crowded Mall in the weekend.
Main Characters: a girl with her sister
Plot: When did she lost her little sister? Will she found her little sister?
Climax: She realized her little sister was lost in the crowd
Ending: she found her little sister in the toy store.
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Narrative essay (cont.)
Now look back at your three narrative ideas. Can they be
outlined in the above form? If so, choose one and list the
setting, characters, plot, climax, and ending. If for any
reason your ideas won't work for your essay. There are
few topics you can choose for Narrative Essay
•
•
•
•
The Biggest Lie I Ever Told and Its Consequences
The Weirdest Thing That Ever Happened to Me (or My Family)
The Best Decision I Ever Made
My Favorite Childhood Memory
Helpful URL: http://www.123helpme.com/search.asp?text=narrative
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Narrative essay (cont.)
Have you outlined your story yet? Let's move on to the next step–
filling in the details. If you follow your outline, you won't get
sidetracked by irrelevant details. You will introduce your characters–
that being yourself and anyone else involved in the event–and the
setting where the event began. Include a statement about the plot in
your first paragraph so that your readers know what to expect. Your
essay will describe the events that led up to the climax or turning
point of your story, and it will end with the final results.
our essay will not include details that don't move your story forward.
For example, in my adoption story I didn't write about other people's
experiences with adoption or the ways adoption law has changed
over the years; those elements would have stalled the story. I could
have added details about my happy childhood in the country or my
friend who admitted to living in a foster home, but those elements
would have detracted from my plot and weakened my story.
Remember to stick to telling one story, and tell it well.
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