Types of Essay and Theme A short lesson to help get the best rough draft for your application essay

There are four types of essay Narrative Descriptive Expository Persuasive

NE – Telling a Story DE – Painting a Picture EX – Just the Facts What are they? NE – Telling a Story DE – Painting a Picture EX – Just the Facts PE – Convince Me

They are both “powered” differently Narrative and Descriptive Essays use “Theme” Expository and Persuasive Essays use a “Thesis”

What is a theme? Theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly.

What is a thesis statement? The thesis statement is the sentence that states the main idea of a writing assignment and helps control the ideas within the paper.

Check what kind of essay you are writing! Evaluate your prompt Determine if it’s Thesis Statement or Theme driven Narrative and Descriptive Essays need imagery and detail. They are fueled by the reader caring and feeling. Expository and Persuasive Essays need facts and research. They are fueled by the reader thinking and analyzing.

Hot Tip: Six Word Memoirs and Theme According to SMITH Magazine, a Six Word Memoir is, “…the story of your life—some part of it or all of it—told in exactly six words.” Theme is a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work Narrative Essays and Descriptive Essays need an idea to power their structure. The 6WM can simplify your life by being this idea and can be used as the hook as well!

Do this for your rough draft (and this weekend’s writing homework…) At the top of your paper write your prompt, word count, and Scholarship/College name. Write whether it is Narrative, Descriptive, Expository, or Persuasive below it. Compose your Rough Draft (2nd Rough Draft if using your PreCRT as reference) Highlight your Thesis Statement in your introduction if your essay is Expository or Persuasive. Write a 6WM to answer your prompt and highlight it BEFORE your rough draft proper.