CAHSEE BOOTCAMP Distinguishing different essay styles ~Ms. Gieser Biographical Narrative Biographical Narrative Expository Essay Expository Essay Response to Literature Response to Literature

What is a Biographical Narrative? Biographical = Containing, consisting of, or relating to the facts or events in a person's life. Biographical = Containing, consisting of, or relating to the facts or events in a person's life. Narrative = story Narrative = story Narrative writing tells a story or an event. Narrative writing tells a story or an event. Biographical Narrative = Story relating key facts or events with a person's life Biographical Narrative = Story relating key facts or events with a person's life

(Biographical Narrative) You are writing about a real person who is important to you. You are writing about a real person who is important to you. You will want the reader to know why this person is important to you and why you feel about this person the way you do. One way to do this is to tell stories or anecdotes about this person You will want the reader to know why this person is important to you and why you feel about this person the way you do. One way to do this is to tell stories or anecdotes about this person

(Biographical Narrative) In your essay, you will want to include something from each item on the following list, which is from the California content standards: In your essay, you will want to include something from each item on the following list, which is from the California content standards: –Explain why this person is important to you and give examples –Be specific. Don’t just say the person is interesting. Let your reader see the person. Show the person doing something interesting. –Include sensory details: sights, sounds, and smells. –Decide how much time to spend on each part of your story so that you are able to include everything you want to say. –Make sure the reader can see this person. What does he/she look like? What does he/she do?

(Biographical Narrative) Planning a Biographical Narrative: make a chart! Planning a Biographical Narrative: make a chart! –List the traits about this person that you admire –Then, make a list of stories (anecdotes or examples) that demonstrate or explain how or why you feel they have that trait –When you are ready to write, you can focus on just one of these, or two, or all three. TraitStory Intelligent Story about when he was in elementary school. Able to read and remember, photo mind, etc. Knowledgeable about everything Loving Would do anything for me and mom Left little notes in crazy places for mom when he went on trips Unable to work when Mom almost died Funny & fun-loving Great story teller Told shaggy dog stories Like to play games (not sports) The ultimate Dodger fan

What is an expository essay? The purpose of the expository essay is to present, completely and fairly, other people’s views or to report about an event or a situation. The purpose of the expository essay is to present, completely and fairly, other people’s views or to report about an event or a situation. Expository writing presents a subject in detail apart from criticism, argument, or development. Expository writing presents a subject in detail apart from criticism, argument, or development. The writer explains a subject by analyzing it. The writer explains a subject by analyzing it. Such writing is designed to convey information or explain what is difficult to understand. Such writing is designed to convey information or explain what is difficult to understand.

(Expository Essay) Such an analysis requires: Reading with understanding the ideas developed in an article by clearly stating another person’s thesis, outlining the facts used by the author to support that thesis, and the “values” underlying the ideas. Reading with understanding the ideas developed in an article by clearly stating another person’s thesis, outlining the facts used by the author to support that thesis, and the “values” underlying the ideas. Clearly and effectively communicating this information to a defined audience. They should never have to guess what you mean; give your readers everything they need to know to follow your reasoning. Clearly and effectively communicating this information to a defined audience. They should never have to guess what you mean; give your readers everything they need to know to follow your reasoning.

(Expository Essay) For an expository essay you should use the classic five-paragraph essay to help you organize and develop your ideas in writing. For an expository essay you should use the classic five-paragraph essay to help you organize and develop your ideas in writing. This approach is also a useful way to write a complete and clear response to the essay question. This approach is also a useful way to write a complete and clear response to the essay question.

(Expository Essay) How to know you are being asked to write an expository essay How to know you are being asked to write an expository essay The directions will include a phrase such as: The directions will include a phrase such as: –Tell what happened when… –Write a report on… –Explain how to… * –Describe how to…for… * * the two most common phrases used

What is a literary essay? (Response to Literature) In the literary essay, you are exploring the meaning and construction of a piece of literature. In the literary essay, you are exploring the meaning and construction of a piece of literature. This task is more complicated than reviewing. This task is more complicated than reviewing. In a review you are discussing the overall effect and validity of written work, while in a literary essay you are paying more attention to specifics. In a review you are discussing the overall effect and validity of written work, while in a literary essay you are paying more attention to specifics.

(Response to Literature) A literary essay focuses on such elements as structure, character, theme, style, tone, and subtext. A literary essay focuses on such elements as structure, character, theme, style, tone, and subtext. You are taking a piece of writing and trying to discover how and why it is put together the way it is. You are taking a piece of writing and trying to discover how and why it is put together the way it is. You must adopt a viewpoint on the work in question and show how the details of the work support your viewpoint. You must adopt a viewpoint on the work in question and show how the details of the work support your viewpoint.

(Response to Literature) A literary essay may be your own interpretation, based only on your reading of the piece, or it may be a mixture of your opinions and references to the criticism of others, much like a research paper. A literary essay may be your own interpretation, based only on your reading of the piece, or it may be a mixture of your opinions and references to the criticism of others, much like a research paper. Again, be wary of plagiarism – it is your job to explain the text, not to just rewrite it. Again, be wary of plagiarism – it is your job to explain the text, not to just rewrite it.

(Response to Literature) The author of the literature already did his job- he had an idea to express and he did so in his writing; you cannot expect his literature to do the work for you…he doesn’t know what you are trying to prove. The author of the literature already did his job- he had an idea to express and he did so in his writing; you cannot expect his literature to do the work for you…he doesn’t know what you are trying to prove. So use his words in quotes as support for your idea and draw the connection for your reader So use his words in quotes as support for your idea and draw the connection for your reader – set up, or introduce the quote, and then follow the quote with an explanation of what it means and why it is important to your idea.

(Response to Literature) Evidence: When you make a point – you must prove it. When you make a point – you must prove it. Just as a lawyer in court must produce evidence to support his case, so you must produce evidence to prove the comments you make about characters, relationships, themes, style, etc. Just as a lawyer in court must produce evidence to support his case, so you must produce evidence to prove the comments you make about characters, relationships, themes, style, etc. When you make a point, refer to the text; When you make a point, refer to the text; –give an example to support what you say  better still, use a quote

(Response to Literature) Selection (of quotes): Avoid the trap of just re-telling the story. Avoid the trap of just re-telling the story. The important thing is to be selective in the way you use the text. The important thing is to be selective in the way you use the text. Only refer to those parts of the book/literature that help you to answer the question. Only refer to those parts of the book/literature that help you to answer the question.