Using Anecdotes in Your Essay
First of all, what is an anecdote?
An anecdote is a short and interesting story taken from your experience. Your
anecdote must be believable and relevant to the essay you’re writing.
Why? If an anecdote is a realistic, “true” story, it can be very convincing and
persuasive. A believable, “true” anecdote can also add authority to what you
write about.
Still not convinced about the value of an anecdote?
Then think of it this way: why did most of you “enjoy” Gawande’s style of writing
more than Fish’s? Maybe it’s because we enjoy hearing interesting stories that
we can relate to and learn from. We tend to identify with the characters and
situations in the essay. Using a short anecdote helps to engage, involve and
interest your reader. It will make your essay more intriguing and add a more
appealing personal perspective. A well written and well chosen anecdote is the
best way to involve and persuade your reader.
Ok, so how would you use an anecdote in your essay?
Go back and reread Schulz’s anecdote of the pregnant woman, or Gawande’s
anecdote of the patient with the central line, or even Fish’s anecdote of the
poem. Think about how and why this writer uses an anecdote in his/her essay.
What does it do in the essay? What does it do for the writer? How about the
reader? Is it even needed? What is the point? What would the essay be like
without an anecdote?
Why did the writer use an anecdote?
The answer: Well, for a few reasons….
1. An anecdote helps to persuade. An anecdote helps to show how
important something is, or how important it is to the writer. It can also help
explain how other views are connected or related to the writer’s views.
2. An anecdote helps to inform. When you write your essay, you are not
only trying to persuade your reader, you are also trying to offer an
informed, balanced perspective. Anecdotes can be very useful and help
you to do this. For example, you could relate two short anecdotes, each
of which shows a different aspect of what you are informing your readers
about, i.e., your ideas about wrongness.
3. An anecdote helps to explain, comment, analyze, or review. At
times, writers may use very complex ideas and difficult language. (Did
Stanley Fish just pop into your head?) An anecdote may help to clarify a
point or simplify a claim the writer is making. Some writers may also
include a personal story as a useful analogy. An anecdote will help the
writer exemplify his ideas, claims, and views for his reader.
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Now it’s your turn—for Assignment III, you’ll need to use an anecdote that will
help you exemplify your ideas about wrongness for your reader.
Practice writing an anecdote: Think about your own experience with
wrongness. Can you recall a time when you made a mistake that still sticks
with you today? Try making a list of different mistakes and experiences you’ve
had being wrong. Then choose one and write a short anecdote about that
experience and try to explain and describe what you were doing, who was
with you, and when you realized you were wrong. Then think about the two
models of wrongness (pessimistic and optimistic) and use them to help you
explain your experience.