Selecting the Appropriate Topic

Try to select a topic that you are familiar with and have some feelings about. Write about something you know about. Make a brief outline that lists at least three supporting details that will fortify your paper. Make sure to consider the purpose or the specific goal of your essay. There are four basic purposes of an essay, and you must align your thoughts and paper to fit the assignment.

The four basic essays are listed below:

NARRATIVE:

A paper in which you relate a short story by telling a sequence of events. Topics you might discuss in this type of paper: "my most embarrassing experience" or "the best evening of my life."

DESCRIPTIVE:

A paper in which you use details and images to describe an object, a person, or a setting. Topics you might discuss in this type of paper: "my most treasured possession" or "my favorite person."

EXPOSITORY:

A paper in which you explain a process or inform your reader about something. Topics you might discuss in this type of paper: "how a bill becomes a law" or "what effects a study group has on a student's grades."

ARGUMENTATIVE:

A paper in which you attempt to persuade readers to take some action or to convince them to accept your position on a debatable issue. Topics you might discuss in this type of paper: "why teens should not start smoking" or "why gun ownership should be outlawed."

Make sure that you include the appropriate details to fulfill the purpose of your paper.


For more detailed information, see Essays.

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