Final answer:
Two primary approaches to essay writing are the argumentative approach, focusing on a structured argument with evidence, and the informal approach, allowing for personal expression. Critical reading and clearly stated topic sentences are vital components of both. The approach selected often depends on the essay's purpose and the audience.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are primarily two approaches to the making of essays, each serving different objectives and audiences. An argumentative approach relies on the construction of a reasoned argument to persuade the reader of a particular point of view. In contrast, a freewriting or informal approach allows the writer to express thoughts more spontaneously and colloquially, often useful in creative or reflective writing tasks.
Argumentative Essay
The argumentative essay demands a firm stance on a subject, backed by evidence and reason. For example, consider the topic of the environmental impact of single-use plastics. A strong argumentative essay paragraph might begin as follows:
“The proliferation of single-use plastics has catalyzed an environmental crisis of unprecedented proportions. Marine wildlife suffers considerably from the ingestion and entanglement in these non-biodegradable materials, with documented cases of sea turtles, whales, and seabirds succumbing to the devastating effects. Comprehensive legislation must be enacted to curb this usage, alongside a societal shift towards sustainable alternatives.”
Informal Essay
When seeking a colloquial tone, the essay becomes less about constructing an ironclad argument and more about personal expression or storytelling. Using the same topic as above, an informal paragraph could read:
“It's really sad to see all those pictures of turtles getting choked up by plastic bags, ya know? I think we've all gotta do our part and maybe say no to a straw or bring a tote to the store. It's the little things that could add up and help out our oceans.”
While the literary analysis essay employs a straightforward, argumentative structure, the compare and contrast essay adds complexity by expecting the writer to use identified similarities and differences to support a larger claim about the texts or ideas being compared.
In any essay type, critical reading and clear topic sentences are essential. Writers must balance analysis with summary or description, focusing on elements that add to the understanding of the work being discussed. Depending on the assignment, the presence of personal perspective and bias in the essay varies. Writers should adhere to the technical aspects of writing, including the writing process and adherence to formats like MLA when necessary.