The
following structures are demonstrated and discussed:
Example
Structure
The Example Structure follows
the rules of a traditional academic essay: begin with a main argument or
thesis statement, follow this with three pieces of evidence that support the
argument, and wrap up by stating what the essay has shown. This is a good
structure to use when making a single, strong point. Its power lies in its
simplicity. Because it allows you to present several points neatly in
support of a single claim, it is especially useful for making a persuasive
argument. This format will be most helpful when writing short essays, but
for longer personal statements, it might appear formulaic and dull. One of
the more creative structures described below might draw attention more
successfully to your writing.
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Compare
and Contrast
For some questions, this
structure is a natural choice, as in the personal growth and development
question, which asks you to compare yourself now to the way you once were.
You can structure a cause-and-effect essay point for point, by comparing one
aspect of the object or situation at a time. Or you can choose to employ the
block method by thoroughly covering all the points of the first object or
situation in the first half of the essay and then comparing it with all the
points of the other in the last half.
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Narrative
or Chronological Structure
If you have decided to focus on
a single event in your life, you will want to use this structure. It can be
filled with action, dialogue, and subtle details. Although, you should not
confuse effective drama with overwrought, Hollywood-style melodrama. The
briefest and simplest of events can take on meaning when told convincingly.
Using a chronological or narrative structure over a long period of time
(anything more than a day or two) can often read like a ship’s log. You
don’t want to sound like you’re rattling off a schedule of events.
Rather, take on the role of storyteller and provide great detail about a
very specific set of events. The sequence of events will help reinforce flow
from one stage of the essay to the next and will make the difficult task of
transitioning between paragraphs very natural. While the narrative is one of
the most effective forms of writing for an essay, it can also be difficult.
Use the following tips as your write your narrative:
- Make the reader
aware of chronology and keep the story generally moving forward.
- Don’t feel
obligated to tell more of the story than you need to convey your
point. Extra details distract from the main drive of the story.
- Try not to use
reflective conclusions or introductions describing what you learned;
start and end with the action and have everything take place within
the context of the story.
- Describe events,
people, and places in very specific, colorful terms.
Narrative can be combined with
other structures for an approach that is less risky but still interesting.
Beginning an essay with a brief story is the most common and effective of
such methods. Another twist on the narrative essay is one that describes a
single place, person, or action in great detail. It appeals to the senses of
the audience without necessarily drawing on the action of a story. There is
no standard structure found in this type of essay -- each is differently
organized -- but all rely on crisp imagery and sensory detail, leaving the
reader with a single, vivid image. Single images are easier to remember than
a list of points, qualities, traits, or qualifications, no matter how
impressive any one or all of them may be. Still, this is a risky approach
and is best employed when you have to provide multiple essays for one school
so that you have a chance to structure your other essays more traditionally.
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Descriptive
Structure
This is similar to the
chronological structure except that instead of walking step by step through
increments of time, it follows step by step through a description of a
place, person, or thing. The first paragraph gives an introduction
describing the general feel of the place, person, or thing. The body
paragraphs offer in-depth descriptions of two or three particular aspects of
the place, person, or thing. In the last paragraph, the writer steps out of
the descriptive mode and offers a brief conclusion of what the place,
person, or thing says about him or her.
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Cause-and-Effect
Structure
Often times you will be asked
for a life-changing experience or about someone or something that has had a
great influence on you. This structure shows that you understand and
appreciate the effect that other entities have had on your development and
maturity. For these essays, you will want to use the body paragraphs to
first describe the influence and then move onto how that has had an effect
on you. You can either divide the essay into a “cause section” and an
“effect section” or you can mesh the two together by taking each small
description one by one and explaining the effect it has had on you. If you
decide to use this structure, be sure that you don't write yourself out of
the equation; make the point that you were the catalyst between the cause
and the effect. That way, you demonstrate that you know how to take action
and create change.
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