grade 10 classifying essays

CLASSIFYING ESSAYS

According to:STYLE

SUBJECT MATTER or CONTENTReference: Language in Literature 10 pp. 337 -

339

What is an essay?- A literary work that expresses

ones personal opinion. - The term “essay” comes from the

French word essays which French author Michel de Montaigne used in 1592 as title for his collection of papers commenting on people and affairs.

What is an essay?- As a verb, ‘to essay’ means to try

or to attempt, such as the author attempting to make a point.

Essays are classified into:

- 1. STYLE – the manner by which the essay is written. As a reader, being able to identify the essay style can help you set your expectations and calibrate your way of reading.

Essays are classified into:

- 2. SUBJECT – MATTER – or the content of the essay. Being able to identify the subject matter will help you determine how to approach and make sense of the essay you’re reading.

Classifications accdg. To STYLE

- FORMAL - Used for essays that seek to

inform or convince the reader in a logical or conventional manner

Classifications accdg. To STYLE

- INFORMAL - Used for essays that entertain while

they inform. The informal essay may offer the writer more freedom than formal because it can incorporate the use of anecdotes, jokes and figurative languages to channel the author’s wit and cleverness.

Classifications accdg. To SUBJECT MATTER

- CHARACTER SKETCH- Appearance, character or

personality


- DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY- A word picture of a place, object as

the author sees or imagines it


- PHILOSOPHICAL ESSAY- Also called reflective essay, seeks

truth and knowledge in terms of principles


- EDITORIAL ESSAY- Or simply editorials, discusses the

most important current events found in newspaper and magazines and ends with the writer’s opinion about it


- CRITICAL ESSAY- Review passing judgement on a play,

a movie, a book, a musical composition or a show, a concert perhaps and any other work of art. The aim of the writer is to give a clear idea of the subject, style and value of the work of art and to compare it to others


- SCIENTIFIC ESSAY- Interprets and not just explains

scifacts and is aimed at showing the bearing on philosophy or progress of the scientific point discussed


- SEMI NARRATIVE ESSAY- Usually, narrative in form, this

essay is written for idea, not the story


- BIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY- Analyzes and weighs the

significance and influence of the life of some important person. It is, therefore, not a mere narration of a person’s life

An essay may be considered EFFECTIVE if it does the following:1. It expresses a vital point.2. It widens the reader’s intellectual

range.3. It reveals the interesting

personality of the author.4. Its style is marked by appropriate

beauty, with humor or imagination.

grade 10 classifying essays

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