The Essay - Study Aid printable pdf download

S T U D Y A I D

Los Angeles City College Library

THE ESSAY

What It Is

The essay is a short piece of writing that expresses organized thoughts through direct statements.

Although essays may vary in length, the average student essay is about 500 words long, or about

two pages.

Types of Essays

There are many types of essays such as expository, argumentative and descriptive essays.

However, the simplest way to describe the types is to divide them into two large categories: the

personal essay and the formal essay.

In the personal essay, the writer's feelings are revealed to the reader. In the formal essay, the writer

tries to convince the reader with the use of factual statements organized in a logical manner.

Student essays are usually of the formal type, although an instructor may also ask for a personal

point of view.

Choosing a Subject

If the instructor has not assigned a specific subject and purpose, begin by going to the library and

looking at the library hand-out called, "Suggested Topics for Term Papers, Speeches and Panels."

Or, think about your own interests, or about a subject you would like to know better. Look at

encyclopedias, the Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature and Editorial Research Reports. All

of these works are located in the Reference Center.

Once you have decided upon a general subject, begin to narrow it down so that

it can be adequately discussed in 500 words. Ask yourself questions about the subject so that you

can decide what specific point of view you are going to take. Learning how to limit the general

subject is one of the most important tasks in writing the essay.

Thesis. Topic Sentence or Central Idea

The thesis or topic sentence is the central idea or focus of the essay. It tells the reader what point

you are going to make in the essay about the subject you have chosen for consideration. The thesis

must always be a complete, grammatical sentence which is specific brief and suggestive of the

organization to be followed in the essay.

Example: The unleashed presence of dogs on streets and sidewalks is a danger and nuisance to

pedestrians, automobiles and property owners

The thesis sentence should appear in the beginning or introductory paragraph of the essay. It lets the

reader know what to expect in the rest of the essay.

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C r e a t e d b y B . V a s q u e z . R e v i s e d J a n u a r y 2 0 0 4 b y A . M e z y n s k i

The Essay - Study Aid