1. Prose 1
essays

2. contents
Breakup of the Module: A) Introduction to Essays B) Essays & Essayists:

3. Essays: definition
Essays are brief, non-fiction compositions that describe, clarify, argue, or analyze a subject.

4. Introduction to Essays
Frederick Crews, professor of English at the University of California, Berkeley, defines an essay as "a fairly brief piece of nonfiction that tries to make a point in an interesting way." 

5. Introduction to Essays
An essay is not just a bunch of words, or even a bunch of paragraphs.  An essay all fits together; it all points in one direction.  An essay leads to one conclusion.

6. Introduction to Essays
The Modes of Discourse— Exposition, Description, Narration, Argumentation (EDNA) are also known as types of essays.

7. Expository essays
Expository essays investigate ideas, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner. This can be accomplished through comparison and contrast, definition, example, the analysis of cause and effect, etc.

8. Descriptive essays
Descriptive essays are a genre of essay that describes something—object, person, place, experience, emotion, situation, etc. This genre encourages written accounts of a particular experience and allows for a great deal of artistic freedom (the goal of which is to paint an image that is vivid and moving in the mind of the reader).

9. Narrative essays
Narrative essays tell a story and are often anecdotal, experiential, and personal—allowing the writer to express in a creative and, quite often, moving way.

10. Argumentative essays
Argumentative essays are a genre of writing that requires investigating a topic; collecting, generating, and evaluating evidence; and establishing a position on the topic in a concise manner.

12. Essays & Essayists: Francis Bacon
OF TRUTH
OF MARRIAGE AND SINGLE LIFE
OF STUDIES
OF DISCOURSE
OF FRIENDSHIP
OF SIMULATION AND DISSIMULATION
OF GREAT PLACE

13. The Spectator
Founded on 1 March 1711, and continued until 6 December 1712. The Spectator was a daily publication of which each "paper", or "number", was approximately 2,500 words long, and the original run consisted of 555 numbers, beginning on 1 March 1711.

14. The Spectator
The Spectator was issued daily and achieved great popularity, exercising a great deal of influence over the reading public of the time. Addison as the leading partner contributed 274 essays out a total of 555; Steele wrote 236 for this periodical.

16. Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison – statesman, courtier , essayist, poet and playwright
Excelled in the classics, particularly for his command of Latin verse
Asked to write a poem celebrating the victory of the Duke of Marlborough at Blenheim, over France , in the War of the Spanish Succession.

18. Richard Steele
Richard Steele - met Addison at Charterhouse. Beginning of a lifelong partnership in writing.
Excited at the thought of King William's campaigns against the French.
Left his studies incomplete to join the army.
Commissioned in the army, but left due to lack of money and the connections needed for advancement

19. Richard Steele
Wrote a tract - when he wounded a friend in a duel - that was not received positively in spite of the fact that ten editions of it were published in his lifetime.
Wrote in The Spectator on various issues, in collaboration with Addison

21. Essays & Essayists 2) Charles Lamb Dream-Children: A Revery
POOR RELATIONS
THE PRAISE OF CHIMNEY-SWEEPERS
THAT YOU MUST LOVE ME, AND LOVE MY DOG
POPULAR FALLACIES
THE OLD AND THE NEW SCHOOLMASTER
THE TWO RACES OF MEN
A CHAPTER ON EARS