1. Essay Modes:
Different kinds of essays…
• Narration • Cause & Effect
• Description • Comparison &
• Illustration Contrast
• Process Analysis • Persuasion
• Classification
• Definition

2. The Narrative Essay
• A narrative essay tells
a story…
• It can be either
fictional or real-life.
• The more “real” it is for
you, the better you will
tell it. (Sometimes our
imaginations are more
real to us than our daily
lives.)

3. The Descriptive Essay
• A descriptive essay
paints a picture with
words…
• It appeals to the
senses: sight,
hearing, taste, touch
and smell.
• It can also appeal to
emotions.

4. The Illustration Essay
• In an illustration
essay, you give
examples of your
topic.
• Examples are very
helpful to readers
who may be
unfamiliar with your
subject.

5. The Process Analysis
Essay
• Process Analysis is a
“how to do it” essay.
• You show in words
how to get something
done: what the steps
are from beginning to
end.
• Finally, you tell what
you will have when the
process is finished.

6. The Classification Essay
• A classification essay
breaks down a general
subject into classes
(categories or groups.)
• You can classify either
things or ideas.
• You decide how you
will classify your topic,
but always go from
general to specific.

7. The Definition Essay
• A definition essay
gives the meaning of a
word, term or concept.
• The denotation of a
word is its dictionary
definition.
• The connotation of a
word is its informal or
slang meaning in daily
usage.

8. The Cause & Effect Essay
• A cause & effect
essay tells how
things affect each
other; how they
depend on each
other.
• An effect may have
one cause or several
different clauses.

9. The Comparison-
Contrast Essay
• Comparison tells how
things are alike and
contrast shows how
they are different.
• In this essay, you
normally show either
comparison or
contrast, but you can
tell both if you want.

10. The Persuasive Essay
• In the persuasive
essay, you are
writing to get your
audience to
accept your point
of view and think
like you do.
• This is the primary
essay with which
we will work.