1. Type of essay:
Narrative | To entertain, illuminate, or tell a story |
Argumentative | To convince the reader of the validity of the thesis |
Persuasive | To persuade the reader to act |
Expository | To explore, explain, classify, or define |
2. Purpose:
- What is the thesis? Explicit or Implicit?
- What is the purpose of the essay? (to entertain, persuade, criticize, provoke, etc.)
Explicit (Stated/Direct) | Implicit (Implied/Indirect) |
-topic and position are stated from the beginning | -thesis is not directly stated but implied through implication or evidence |
3. Style: Is the essay Formal or Familiar?
Formal | Familiar |
-serious treatment of subject -precise and accurate info -instructs and informs in order to convince –no contractions, no slang, no 1st person | -reveals personality of writer -moods =casual, ironic, humorous, satiric -personal and friendly persuasion -to entertain or shed light on a subject |
4. Evidence:
- What types of supporting evidence are used?
(Examples, comparisons, contrasts, statistics, etc.)
5. Mood or Reaction?
- What emotional reaction do you have?
- Do you agree or disagree with the essay?