Essay and it's Types :
Outlines
1. Introduction
2. Origin of Essay
3. Definitions of Essay
4. Format / Structure of Essay
5. Types of Essay 1. Argumentative Essay and Narrative Essay
6. Examples of Argumentative and Narrative Essay
1. Introduction
"The essay is the literary form par excellence of the reflective spirit, born in
the Renaissance and perfected by generations of thinkers."
1.2 Origin of Essay
The word essay originates from the French term essai, meaning "attempt"
or "trial." Michel de Montaigne, a French Renaissance writer, first used the
term to describe his writings, which were attempts to explore his thoughts.
Essays became an important literary form for intellectual exploration and
communication, evolving into an essential academic tool for analysis,
argumentation, and personal expression.
2. Definitions of an Essay
2.1 Definition from (OALD):
"A short piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one done by
students as part of their studies or by writers expressing their thoughts and
opinions."
2.2 Definition from Cambridge Dictionary:
"A short piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one written by a
student."
2.3 Definition from Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
"A short piece of writing that tells a person's thoughts or opinions about a
subject."
Structure of Essay Writing :
An essay introduction stimulates the reader's interest and tells what the
essay is about. The last sentence of an introduction is the thesis
statement. Like the topic sentence of a paragraph,a thesis statement
names the specific topic of the essay. The body consists of one or more
paragraphs. Each paragraph develops a subdivision of the topic.The
conclusion,like the concluding sentence in a paragraph, is a summary or
review of the main points discussed in the body. An essay has unity and
coherence, just as a paragraph does. Transition signals link the paragraphs
into a cohesive whole.
1. Introductory Paragraph
The introductory paragraph, or introduction, is the frst paragraph of
an essay. It has two functions:
(1)It Attracts the reader's interest,and
(2) it introduces the topic of the essay.
A funnel introduction has two parts: several general statements and
one thesis statement.The general statements give the reader
background information about the topic of the essay. They should
lead your reader gradually from a very general idea of your topic to a
very specific idea. The first general statement in a funnel introduction
just introduces the topic.The thesis statement is normally the last
sentence in an introductory paragraph. It has three purposes:
1.It states the specific topic of the essay.
2. It may list the subtopics of the main topic.
3. It may also mention the method of organization.
2. Body Paragraphs
The body of an essay is made up of one or more paragraphs. Each
body paragraph has a topic sentence and several supporting
sentences. It may or may not have a concluding sentence. Each body
paragraph supports the thesis statement.
3. The Concluding Paragraph
The concluding paragraph is the last paragraph ofan essay. It has
three purposes:
1.It signals the end of the essay.
2. It reminds the reader of your main points.
3. It Leaves the reader with your final thoughts on the topic.
Types of Essay:
1. Narrative Essay
1.1 Definition
A narrative essay is a type of writing where the author recounts a personal
or fictional story, often reflecting on a meaningful experience or conveying a
lesson. A narrative essay tells a story. It is told from the author's point of
view, and it always has a point or lesson that the reader will take away at
the end of the story.
Parts of a Narrative Essay
Certain elements are essential to a narrative essay. These elements
engage the reader and help the writer tell the story clearly.
● The story is told from a first-person point of view.
● The story includes sensory details.
● The story will have a point, often expressed as a lesson or theme.
● The story is typically told in chronological order.
● Plot elements move the story along.
● The essay is clearly organized to allow the reader to follow the
storyline.
Perspective
Personal essays are told from the author's perspective. This is also known
as first-person point of view. When essays are told from a first-person point
of view, pronouns such as "I" and "my" are in the essay. Because the story
is told from the writer's perspective, it can be slightly persuasive. It is being
told from the writer's perspective, so it will include details and ideas the
author finds important to communicate to the reader. The writer will
communicate the experience or event in a way that helps the reader
understand the writer's perspective.
Storytelling
Narrative essays are usually told in chronological order, which is from
beginning to end; it is important, however, to include more than just the
beginning, middle, and end of the story. The story needs to follow a plot,
which is the sequence of events in a story.
Narrative Essay Examples
Most often, narrative essays tell a story about a personal experience. This
gives writers a variety of topics to choose from when writing a narrative
essay. Some examples include:
Example Narrative Essay
Title: The Day I Found My Courage
Life often tests our limits in unexpected ways. One summer afternoon, I
found myself at the edge of a high diving board, trembling with fear. My
friends below cheered me on, but my heart raced as I looked at the pool far
beneath me.
The journey to that moment wasn’t easy. Growing up, I had always been
afraid of heights. The diving board was my greatest fear. Determined to
overcome it, I decided to take the plunge—literally. Step by step, I climbed
the ladder, each one feeling heavier than the last.
When I finally jumped, the seconds felt like an eternity. The splash of the
water was a moment of liberation. That day taught me a valuable lesson:
courage isn’t the absence of fear but the determination to face it.
---
2. Argumentative Essay
2.1 Definition
An argumentative essay is a type of writing where the author takes a clear
position on a debatable issue, supporting it with evidence and addressing
counter arguments.The argumentative essay , is an essay that relies on
facts and evidence to argue in favor of a certain thesis. Argumentative
essays explore both sides of a certain issue, ultimately trying to prove the
claim made in the thesis.
Argumentative essays are an important form of writing as they allow the
author to advocate in favor of a certain claim, interpretation, or cause.
2.2 Format of Argumentative Essay
These essays typically follow one of two formats: the Toulmin model or the
Rogerian model.
● The Toulmin model is the most common. It begins with an
introduction, follows with a thesis/claim, and gives data and evidence
to support that claim. This style of essay also includes rebuttals of
counterarguments.
● The Rogerian model analyzes two sides of an argument and
reaches a conclusion after weighing the strengths and weaknesses of
each.
2.3 Examples of Argumentative Essay Topics
Should schools adopt a four-day workweek?
Is social media more harmful than beneficial?
Should the death penalty be abolished?
2.4 Example Argumentative Essay
Title: Should Social Media Be Limited for Teenagers?
Social media has become a vital part of teenagers’ lives, but its unchecked
usage raises concerns about mental health, productivity, and privacy.
Limiting social media for teenagers is essential for their overall well-being.
First, studies show a strong correlation between excessive social media
use and mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Platforms create
unrealistic standards of beauty and success, leading to feelings of
inadequacy. Furthermore, teenagers often spend hours scrolling, neglecting
studies and physical activities, which impacts academic performance and
health.
Critics argue that limiting social media infringes on personal freedom.
However, parents and guardians have the responsibility to guide teenagers
toward healthy habits. Setting limits is not about control but about fostering
balance.
In conclusion, while social media has its benefits, excessive use is
detrimental to teenagers. Implementing time restrictions will help them
focus on real-life interactions, studies, and self-improvement.
______________________________________________________
Free writing and it's Steps :
Outlines
1. Origin of of Free Writing
2. Free Writing
3. Steps for Free Writing
4. Tips for Free Writing
5. Example of Free Writing
6. Conclusion
Origin of Free Writing
Freewriting, a writing strategy developed by Peter Elbow in 1973, is similar
to brainstorming but is written in sentence and paragraph form without
stopping.
The concept of free writing has roots in the work of 20th-century writers and
educators like Peter Elbow, who popularized it in his book Writing Without
Teachers (1973).
It is influenced by the principles of stream-of-consciousness writing and
aims to encourage natural creativity without constraints.
Free Writing
Free writing is a popular generative writing exercise that can help writers
discover fresh ideas and ways of thinking.
Free writing is a creative writing exercise where the writer's goal is to keep
writing constantly for a certain amount of time to encourage new thoughts
and ideas. This constant writing can be whatever occurs to you, even if it
seems like nonsense, doesn't have proper grammar or doesn't seem
relevant to your current project or prompt. Free writing is a very flexible
exercise, so you can use a pencil and paper or computer, depending on
what is more comfortable for you. You can also decide whether you'd like to
start from a prompt or write whatever comes to mind.
The practice of writing continuously can encourage brainstorming since it
enables you to record every idea that you think of before editing or
reviewing them. Professionals may use free writing to think of more ideas,
communicate a certain message, begin writing about a challenging topic or
practice before they begin their piece.
Steps for Free Writing:
Here are some flexible steps to try your own free write:
1. Set a time limit
First, decide how long you want to write. You might start with a five or
10-minute free write during a lunch break at work to see if the technique
works for you. If you find it useful, you might try 15 or 20 minute free writes.
Longer free writes from 30 minutes up to an hour or longer may provide
you with a wide range of ideas but can make it difficult to sort through
written material and may deviate further from your original prompt.
2. Decide whether to use a prompt
You may use a writing prompt if you'd like inspiration or you're trying to
focus your free writing on a specific project. A writing prompt is a small
piece of material, anything from a word, question or character to a
photograph or song, that you use as inspiration to begin writing. You can
search for prompts specific to certain genres or ideas online or ask a
coworker or fellow writer for ideas.
If you're working on a specific project, you can take a prompt from related
material. For current projects you're trying to expand, you might use a line
from an earlier section of your draft or find a photo that reminds you of
some part of your project. If you're starting a new project, you might focus
on just one specific word related to your project or a particular part of the
instructions.
3. Prepare your environment and your mindset
Make sure you have writing materials, whether that's a paper and pencil, a
computer or even a cell phone. Try to find a place to write where you can
focus without distractions for whole free write time.
To prepare yourself mentally for the free write, remember that it's a first
draft. The purpose of the free write is to generate material, so let yourself
ignore any rules which might slow you down, like grammar or punctuation
rules. It might help to think of any habits that delay your writing, like revising
as you go along, pausing in your writing to research or thinking about how
others would read your work. Make a decision not to do those things while
you free write.
4. Write
Set a timer for the amount of time you decided on and start writing
immediately. Continue writing without pausing until the time is up. If you
don't have any ideas, keep writing any words or phrases, even nonsense.
You may return to writing thoughts and words, or you may keep writing
aimlessly the first time you try free writing. When the time is up, stop writing
even if you're in the middle of a sentence.
5. Review what you've written
After your time is up, review what you've written. Check for useful ideas,
interesting phrases and sentences, striking images or good arguments you
might be able to reuse. You might underline these usable sections or copy
them into a new document. If you don't see anything you like this time, you
might save the document or put it in a drawer in case you want to reread it
later.
Tips for Free Writing
Here are some tips to keep in mind while trying free writing:
1. Write more quickly than usual.
This can help you avoid mentally editing or rejecting possible ideas
while writing and allow you to record more of your thoughts before
you forget them.
2. Don't aim for quality.
Since this is an exercise, you can write whatever occurs to you
without worrying about its quality, its appeal or how it looks to others.
If you don't like the results, you don't need to keep them, so focus on
writing quickly rather than writing well.
3. Try free writing more than once.
Free writing may feel awkward the first few times, or you may not
write anything you feel like keeping. Trying again at least once may
help you to relax and get more useful results.
4. Remember that the process is more important than results.
Free writing can be useful as an exercise to help you start writing at
the beginning of the day or to help you continue writing after a
challenge or block. You can use free writing even when you don't plan
to keep whatever you write.
5. Try free writing with your team.
If you're brainstorming a new campaign or message, you might
spend five or 10 minutes doing a free write in the same room with
your team and then share your writing to generate unconventional
ideas.
Use free writing for practice. If you'd like to write more regularly, you might
add a short free write time into your routine. This might offer more freedom
than trying to write in a journal or add to a specific project each day.
Example of Free Writing
Prompt: What does freedom mean to you?
"Freedom feels like the first breath of fresh air in the morning, the moment
you realize the day is yours to shape. It’s the ability to choose your path
without fear of judgment or restriction. Sometimes, it’s as simple as walking
barefoot on the grass, feeling connected to the earth. Other times, it’s the
ability to say no, to set boundaries and protect your peace. Freedom is
different for everyone—some see it in big things like democracy or
independence, while others find it in smaller, quieter moments. I wonder,
though, is freedom ever truly complete? Or is it just a state of mind we
chase? Whatever it is, it’s something worth cherishing, even in its simplest
forms."
This free writing example reflects a spontaneous, unedited flow of thoughts,
staying true to the essence of the exercise.
Conclusion:
Free writing is an unstructured and liberating writing technique that allows
thoughts to flow naturally without worrying about grammar, punctuation, or
coherence. It is a powerful tool for unlocking creativity, overcoming writer’s
block, and improving writing fluency. By focusing on the act of writing rather
than the outcome, free writing encourages self-expression, helps generate
ideas, and builds confidence in one’s writing abilities. This technique is not
just a practice for writers but a valuable exercise for anyone looking to
explore their thoughts and develop their creativity.
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Letter to Newspaper Editor :
Outlines
1. Definition of Letter
2. Purpose of Letter
3. Letter to Newspaper Editor
Definitions of a Letter
1. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (OALD):
A letter is "a written, typed, or printed message that is usually sent by mail
to someone."
2. Cambridge Dictionary:
A letter is "a written message from one person to another, usually put in an
envelope and sent by post."
These definitions emphasize that a letter is a formal or informal means of
communication, typically written and delivered physically or digitally.
Purpose of Letter
● to express your concerns while working in a professional setup
● to provide official information across your workspace
● to order goods, to apply for employment, etc.
● to the Editor of a newspaper addressing the problems faced by
various groups of people in different areas, etc.
Letter to Newspaper Editor
Govt College Chowk Faqir Abad
Peshawar , Pakistan
28.12.2024
The Editor,
Dawn Newspaper ,
Islamabad
Subject: Request to Address the Increasing Street Crimes
Dear Sir,
I am writing to express my grave concern about the alarming rise in street
crimes in our city, which has left citizens feeling unsafe and vulnerable in
their daily lives. This issue demands immediate attention and action from
the authorities.
Over the past few months, incidents of mugging, robbery, and other street
crimes have become a regular occurrence. People, especially women and
senior citizens, are hesitant to step out after sunset, fearing for their safety.
The lack of visible police presence in key areas and inadequate street
lighting have further exacerbated the situation.
It is imperative that the government takes swift measures to curb this
growing menace. Increased patrolling by law enforcement, installation of
CCTV cameras in crime-prone areas, and community awareness programs
can significantly deter criminals. Additionally, introducing stricter laws and
ensuring their prompt enforcement will act as a strong deterrent.
I request you to kindly highlight this issue in your esteemed newspaper,
drawing the attention of the concerned authorities and urging them to take
immediate action. Ensuring the safety of citizens is a fundamental
responsibility of any government, and this issue cannot be ignored any
longer.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope your platform can play a
pivotal role in initiating change and restoring a sense of security to our
community.
Yours sincerely,
MUHAMMAD GULZAR
Student of BS ENGLISH
This formal letter follows the standard format and highlights the issue,
proposed solutions, and a polite appeal to the editor.
______________________________________________________
Research Report and its Components
Meaning of Research
Research is a process to discover new knowledge to find answers to a
question. The word research has two parts re (again) and search (find)
which denote that we are taking up an activity to look into an aspect once
again or we want to look for some new information about something.
Research is an activity that leads us to finding new facts, information,
assisting us in verifying the available knowledge and in making us question
things that are difficult to understand as per existing data
Research can be understood in following terms:
● Research is a continuous activity in the majority of disciplines and
professions.
● It is helpful in critical assessment of the way we work, execute
policies, and give instructions in our professions.
● It is systematic observation of processes to find
better ways to do things and to reduce the effort being put in to
achieve an objective and identifying the validity of the targets.
● In fact research is a subconscious activity that we are involved in at
all times whether it is purchase of daily use articles , a car, an
electronic good or planning a holiday.
DEFINITION OF RESEARCH
● Research has been interpreted and defined by various scholars as
per their fields of study and availability of resources at the given time.
You will find out that the basic meaning and the context of these
definitions are same. The difference between these definitions lies
only in the way the author has undertaken research in his discipline.
● According to (Thyer, 2001), "the word research is composed of two
syllables, re and search. re is a prefix meaning again, anew or over
again search is a verb meaning to examine closely and carefully, to
test and try, or to probe. Together they form a noun describing a
careful, systematic, patient study and investigation in some field of
knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or principles."
● As per the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary,the word research is
derived from the Middle French ―recherche‖, which means ―to go
about seeking‖, the term itself being derived from the Old French
term ―recerchier‖ a compound word from ―re-‖ + ―cerchier‖, or
―searcher‖, meaning ̳search‘. The earliest recorded use of the term
was in 1577. Research is a structured enquiry that utilizes acceptable
scientific methodology to solve problems and create new knowledge
that is generally applicable. (Dawson, Catherine)
