Gage’s Guide to Essay Genres (just about everything you need to know to succeed on a writing test.)

The BIG Picture: ~Critical Points~ »You MUST do a brainstorm activity »You must FINISH your essay »You must budget your time for editing and revision. »NO “I” or “YOU” except in dialogue, or if it is an autobiographical essay.

PERSUASIVE »Purpose: To convince the reader your point of view has merit. »No “emotional” language or p.o.v. »No “right” or “wrong” »MUST be fact based »Choose your position based on what you can argue best.

PERSUASIVE ~Introduction~ »Hook »Background »Thesis »Key Points »Note: This paragraph is quite brief and to the point compared to other genres.

PERSUASIVE ~Body Paragraphs #1, #2, and #3~ »Transition (optional) »Reason (main point) »Example »Fact »Statistics

PERSUASIVE ~Conclusion~ »Transition (optional) »Restate thesis »Summarize key points »Call to action »This conclusion is also shorter, compared to other essay types

RESPONSE TO LITERATURE »Purpose: To show understanding of text material. »Must use quotations from text as fact basis for any statements you make. (Properly formatted, and include page or paragraph location.)

RESPONSE TO LITERATURE ~Introduction~ »Hook »Author, title, type of genre »Summary »Statement/Thesis

RESPONSE TO LITERATURE ~Body paragraphs #1, #2, and #3~ »Trait #1 (#2, #3) »Example »Justification »Quote from text

RESPONSE TO LITERATURE ~Conclusion~ »Restate thesis »Summarize key points »Connection »Theme

SUMMARY »Purpose: To Inform, to demonstrate understanding »To restate (briefly) the information contained in an article

SUMMARY ~Introduction~ »Hook »Author, title »Thesis »DO NOT ADD ANY OF YOUR OWN INFORMATION. »Refer ONLY to the text. (No outside information, corrections, or comments.)

SUMMARY ~Body paragraphs #1, #2, and #3~ »Main Idea #1, #2, #3 »Briefly describe what author says. »No opinions or external information.

SUMMARY ~Conclusion~ »Restate thesis »Generalize main points »Closing »Commentary

NARRATIVE »Purpose: To entertain and inform

NARRATIVE ~Introduction~ »Hook »Characters »Setting »Conflict

NARRATIVE »Body Paragraph #1:Rising action (build suspense or anticipation.) »Body Paragraph #2: Climax (the exciting part.) »Body Paragraph #3: Falling Action

NARRATIVE ~Conclusion~ »Resolution (what happened, or was learned, or changed as a result of the event.) »Commentary (optional.)

IN CONCLUSION: »BRAINSTORM (some prewriting activity, like graphic organizer, word web, or list. »BUDGET YOUR TIME »Be sure to re-read, revise, and edit. »Use a variety of sentence types, lengths, and formats.