The EssayThe Essay

The essay is most often associated with and thought of as The essay is most often associated with and thought of as that mandatory-to-master five-paragraph written that mandatory-to-master five-paragraph written composition that contains an introductory paragraph, three composition that contains an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.

However, the essay is a far more versatile composition. However, the essay is a far more versatile composition. It varies in length – five paragraphs or thirty or more.It varies in length – five paragraphs or thirty or more. It varies in subject matter – personal to impersonal.It varies in subject matter – personal to impersonal. It varies in writing style – academic or scholarly to It varies in writing style – academic or scholarly to

casual.casual.

The EssayThe Essay

Originated in the sixteenth century in the Originated in the sixteenth century in the hands of Michel de Montaigne, who, hands of Michel de Montaigne, who, experimenting with prose forms distinct from experimenting with prose forms distinct from the formal, philosophical or academic the formal, philosophical or academic writing, developed the essay as an informal writing, developed the essay as an informal genre of personal reflection and meditation. genre of personal reflection and meditation. It is derived from the French word It is derived from the French word essaisessais or or attempts, as in trying something out. attempts, as in trying something out.

The Essay cont’dThe Essay cont’d

Montaigne had in mind the personal, Montaigne had in mind the personal, informal essay as compared to the formal informal essay as compared to the formal essay such as: essay such as:

Philosophical and ethical argumentsPhilosophical and ethical arguments Historical and scientific papersHistorical and scientific papers Dissertations Dissertations Critical articlesCritical articles

The Article vs. the EssayThe Article vs. the Essay

Today, the personal essay is representative Today, the personal essay is representative of informal essay, and the article is of informal essay, and the article is representative of the more formal essay.representative of the more formal essay.

The main differences between an article and The main differences between an article and an essay:an essay:– Article: reportage, interviews, feature storiesArticle: reportage, interviews, feature stories– Essay: personal memoir or reflectionEssay: personal memoir or reflection

The Article vs. the Essay cont’dThe Article vs. the Essay cont’d

The subject of articles is specific and current and the The subject of articles is specific and current and the content is largely factual, staying away from the personal content is largely factual, staying away from the personal reflections and thoughts of the writer. reflections and thoughts of the writer.

Many writers of articles seek the “hook” or angle that will Many writers of articles seek the “hook” or angle that will lure the reader in, attracting attention by tying the subject lure the reader in, attracting attention by tying the subject to a current issue, trend, or public concern. to a current issue, trend, or public concern.

The article reader looks for news, advice, or The article reader looks for news, advice, or interviews/profiles of up-to-the-minute personalities and interviews/profiles of up-to-the-minute personalities and public figures. public figures.

Once the article is read, the reader is not likely to re-visit Once the article is read, the reader is not likely to re-visit the article at a later date as one would to a literary work.the article at a later date as one would to a literary work.

The Article vs. the Essay, cont’dThe Article vs. the Essay, cont’d

The subject of essays can be anything since The subject of essays can be anything since current news or timeliness is not as much a current news or timeliness is not as much a concern as is the human or universal in what it is concern as is the human or universal in what it is to be human. to be human.

Essays tend to reflect on abstract ideas such as Essays tend to reflect on abstract ideas such as love, friendship, nature, and other matters of daily love, friendship, nature, and other matters of daily life experiences and emotions. life experiences and emotions.

Contrary to the brisk pace of the article, the essay Contrary to the brisk pace of the article, the essay tends to be reflective and leisurely, meandering tends to be reflective and leisurely, meandering over personal experience and thoughts. over personal experience and thoughts.

The Article vs. the Essay, cont’dThe Article vs. the Essay, cont’d

Sometimes the distinction between the Sometimes the distinction between the essay and the article is not easily made. essay and the article is not easily made. Some personal essays rely upon research Some personal essays rely upon research and reporting, while some articles tap into and reporting, while some articles tap into the personal voice to report an incident or the personal voice to report an incident or issue. issue.

Fact or FictionFact or Fiction

““The wisdom of my lesson is wholly in truth, in The wisdom of my lesson is wholly in truth, in freedom, in reality (Atwan 4)” freedom, in reality (Atwan 4)” Montaigne.Montaigne.

The essay is used to explore and discover the The essay is used to explore and discover the writer and the self: cultural identity and heritage, writer and the self: cultural identity and heritage, personal relationships and familial ties. personal relationships and familial ties.

It is usually a first person account, written in the “I” It is usually a first person account, written in the “I” perspective. perspective.

Does that mean that the essay is always a truthful, Does that mean that the essay is always a truthful, sincere telling of someone’s thoughts and ideas? sincere telling of someone’s thoughts and ideas?

The Craft of the EssayThe Craft of the Essay

To make a point, the essayist must be To make a point, the essayist must be credible, the story believable. However, to credible, the story believable. However, to keep reader interest, the essayist must also keep reader interest, the essayist must also be a crafter of aesthetically pleasing writing be a crafter of aesthetically pleasing writing and narrative or story. Since much in life and narrative or story. Since much in life does not have a neat ending, the essayist does not have a neat ending, the essayist must craft that satisfying or poignant must craft that satisfying or poignant conclusion to his/her writing. conclusion to his/her writing.

Writing as DiscoveryWriting as Discovery

The traditional five paragraph essay--The traditional five paragraph essay--introduction, three body paragraphs that introduction, three body paragraphs that support and elaborate upon a thesis, and support and elaborate upon a thesis, and conclusion—presupposes that writing conclusion—presupposes that writing contains thought, does not produce it.contains thought, does not produce it.

Making a point is the entire aim with this Making a point is the entire aim with this type of essay, not displaying the thought type of essay, not displaying the thought process that comes into play when arriving process that comes into play when arriving at the opinion.at the opinion.

Writing as DiscoveryWriting as Discovery

However, writing is a process of thinking, However, writing is a process of thinking, writing, drafting, revising, and editing that is writing, drafting, revising, and editing that is not only recursive, but productive of more not only recursive, but productive of more thinking and writing. thinking and writing.

Writing begets more writing because Writing begets more writing because thoughts are born as one writes, thoughts thoughts are born as one writes, thoughts never suspected or planned. never suspected or planned.

Sometimes a writer does not know what Sometimes a writer does not know what she will write until she begins writing. she will write until she begins writing.

Writing as DiscoveryWriting as Discovery

It helps to think of the essay in It helps to think of the essay in Montaigne’s terms as an attempt, a Montaigne’s terms as an attempt, a ruminating and turning things over in the ruminating and turning things over in the mind, not a dull trail to making a point that is mind, not a dull trail to making a point that is set out in the beginning. set out in the beginning.

Risking the PersonalRisking the Personal

Since the essay is a personal writing and a Since the essay is a personal writing and a creative endeavor, it often delves into the creative endeavor, it often delves into the territory of the risky and challenging. To territory of the risky and challenging. To reveal and communicate effectively what is reveal and communicate effectively what is personal takes skillful attention to writing personal takes skillful attention to writing style, techniques, and tools—the craft of style, techniques, and tools—the craft of writing.writing.

The Essay TodayThe Essay Today

The contemporary essay has many of the same The contemporary essay has many of the same flourishes and techniques of fiction and poetry—flourishes and techniques of fiction and poetry—storytelling and figurative language--though the storytelling and figurative language--though the form is none of those recognized in either of those form is none of those recognized in either of those categories of writing. categories of writing.

Though historically the essay has been viewed as Though historically the essay has been viewed as a limited vehicle of the memoir or personal a limited vehicle of the memoir or personal reflection and/or account, it is today recognized as reflection and/or account, it is today recognized as an imaginative display of the most varied mixtures an imaginative display of the most varied mixtures of journalism, short story, poetry, non-fiction, of journalism, short story, poetry, non-fiction, polemic, autobiography, literary criticism, and all polemic, autobiography, literary criticism, and all shades and degrees in between.shades and degrees in between.

Essayists on EssaysEssayists on Essays

Take a look at the “Prologue” to Take a look at the “Prologue” to Best Best American Essays American Essays to see what essayists to see what essayists have written about the essayhave written about the essay..