Elements Of Essay

University of Puerto Rico
Rio Piedras Campus
College of General Studies
English Department

English 3101 Prepared by Prof. Lydia A. López-Ruiz, 2005
Expanded by Prof. Brenda A. Camara &
Prof. Vanessa Irizarry, 2007
Revised by Prof. Lydia A. López-Ruiz, 2011ELEMENTS OF THE ESSAY

An essay is a prose composition which presents a writer’s perspective on a subject. Most essays attempt to discuss a topic, convince the reader of a thesis, or simply communicate a personal experience or belief. An essay can be fairly brief or quite long. It is a versatile and flexible literary form. Unity and coherence are characteristicsof well-written essays.

The Paragraph
The paragraph is the basic unit of the essay. Most developmental paragraphs have a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence. A topic sentence states or strongly suggests the focus or topic of the paragraph. Every sentence is closely related to the topic sentence, bringing a sense of unity and clarity to the writing. Supportingsentences help develop the topic sentence by presenting evidence in the form of facts and details, examples and illustrations, comparison and contrast, reasons, cause and effect, analysis, analogy, definition and classification. A well-written paragraph flows
smoothly and has coherence. It will have an inner structure (inner logic, natural direction) or pattern of organization that will allow thereader to follow the writer’s ideas with ease. The writer selects the most appropriate method of paragraph development and pattern of organization depending on the purpose of his/her paragraph.

Methods of Paragraph Development
facts and details: The central idea of a paragraph can be supported with
information. A fact is verifiable information. Factual details may be taken from
newspapers,magazines, journals, scientific research, books, or other essays.
Other details may be objective descriptions of people, concepts, objects or
events. They differ from opinions or subjective ideas of the writer.

examples and illustrations: An example is a specific instance of a general
concept or idea. Something mentioned to show what you mean, what something
is like or to prove apoint. An illustration is a lengthy example, an anecdote or
short account of some happening. Paragraphs which use this method of
development usually contain a main idea followed by several examples or
illustrations to back up this idea. In most cases well-chosen examples can prove
a point far better than any other method. Examples and illustrations are also
frequently used with other methodsof development.

comparison and contrast: In this method of development the writer measures
one subject against another subject that is often familiar. The writer states the
main point of the comparison and presents the likenesses (similarities) between
subjects in a clear, organized way. Contrast uses details to measure the
differences between them.

reasons: When using reasons,the writer gives an explanation or justification of
an idea, cause, or motive. The reasons may be supported by details, examples
or some other method of development.

cause and effect: This method of paragraph development establishes a
connection between a result and the events that preceded it. The general
statement may be a cause which can be supported by specific effects orresults,
or the general statement may be an effect which can be supported by specific
causes.

analysis: In this method of development the writer tries to explain something by
breaking a subject into parts and examining them carefully in order to clarify the
whole. A method of writing that explains in a step-by-step way how to do
something or achieve a desired effect is called process...