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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for a sample of an Example Essay.
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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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for a sample of a Compare and Contrast Essay.
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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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for samples of Narrative Essays.
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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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here for a sample of a Descriptive Essay.
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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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for a sample of a Cause and Effect Essay.
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Continue to
Sample Outline and Essay
From
ESSAYS THAT WILL GET YOU INTO COLLEGE, by Amy Burnham, Daniel Kaufman, and Chris Dowhan.
Copyright 1998 by Dan Kaufman. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational
Series, Inc.
