1.

0 Topic: ESSAY WRITING

2.0 Objective of the lecture: at the end of this lecture, students should be able to write
good essays on a variety of subjects by generating and gathering relevant information
on a given topic.
3.0 Pre- Requisite Knowledge: Students should have gained enough experience in
creativity to write freely on any discourse type using the medium of English language.
4.0 Introduction
This aspect of English language is referred to as continuous writing which is designed to teach
students how to write better. The essay types are narratives, descriptive, argumentative,
explanatories, and expository. It is expected that:

1. Students should have gained enough experience in creativity to write freely on any
discourse type using English.
2. Students should be able to convince the readers of the essays or the examiners that he/she
is equipped with official language to fit into his anticipated role.
3. Students should be able to use English to tackle the common problems of communication
as it relates to human relations and social life.

However, writing is the graphic aspect of communication. As students face the task of writing,
they should realize that they are writing out to communicate some ideas. That is, there would be
readers just as we have listeners. Communicating may serve the purpose of educating, informing,
explaining, correcting, counselling, etc. the communicator must be ready to write as clearly as
possible.

5.0 Body of Lecture

Writing outline

For students to enjoy writing, they should take delight in stating out their goals or objectives.
You do not start writing without a plan. First, you conceive an/some idea(s), which you want
others to share. They will naturally determine your goal or direction.

Three types of outlines are therefore recommended to students;

 i. Outline in form of question: they are conceived ideas of the writer put in form of
questions to be answered as the writing evolves. These questions provoke thoughts or
set the candidate thinking as he settles to combat with the given task. E.g. “write an
argument for or against the motion, “Tertiary Education should be Non-residential”.
You may generate outline;
a. What is tertiary education?
b. What is residential learning?
c. What are the advantages of learning in a system with full internal
accommodation? Etc.
ii. Outline in the form of statement: this is commonly used among students. This has to
do with writing out ones ideas one after the other in form if statements. E.g. write an
argument for or against the motion, “Tertiary Education should be Non-residential”.
Outline;
a. Definition of tertiary education.
b. Meaning of residential learning. Etc.
iii. Outline in the form of filling gaps: this method is used for guided composition in the
elementary and junior secondary schools. It is employed to guide young learners or
writers on how to begin and develop the skills of writing. E.g a topic like ‘My First
Day in Secondary School’.
a. My name is ______
b. The name of my secondary school is ______
c. My first day in secondary school was _______ . etc.

Diction

The second essential quality that we should note is diction. That is, the choice of words. Words
feature regularly in any writing. The test of versatility in students is measured by his/her ability
to manipulate words in their rich forms. He/she should choose right words to express his/her
intensions. He should also express those words in the right tenses and there is also need to
economize words that is, one should avoid unnecessary words, paragraphs, phrases, etc. the way
to do this correctly is by approving short sentences in the place of long one. Economical writing
is both good and efficient. It makes possible information in the clearest language.
Expression

The power of expression is measured by the ability to marshal your ideas properly. Good writers
have found the use of idiomatic expressions useful. You should however, aim at the right idioms
or you do not use them at all. Direct expression can also be used instead of an idiom. Your
readers will understand you better when your language is clear and plain. Your arrangement
must be logical, sequential and vivid. Beautiful ideas being expressed must be well transited.
Conjunctions and adverbials remain valid transitional words and phrases to ink our ideas.

Punctuation

Punctuation marks are symbols of varying degrees and sizes applied to written language for the
purpose of meaningful partitions of structures, holding up the reader to alert him of pause/stops.
Both the writer and reader need the mastery of punctuation. To the former, it will assist him to
bring out clearly his thoughts and ideas in the process of which his/her writing is made effective
while to the latter, punctuated reading piece makes reading interesting and directional.

Features of Essay Writing

Each essay type has distinctive features peculiar to its class. However, there are central, general
features of all continuous writing we should learn so as to keep the writing standard. Such
features include:

i. Title
ii. Introduction
iii. Content (body)
iv. Conclusion
v. Farewell or closing remarks (where applicable)

Classification of Essays

1. NARRATIVES
Narrative is from the word “narrate” which means, “tell”. What do we narrate?
i. Our true personal experiences
ii. The experience of others known to us
iii. Fiction or true to life stories that teach certain lessons.
 Every narration has a focus. The narrator should keep to his focus though he has
avalanche of ideas to share.

General Instructions on Writing Narratives

1. The writer is the master of his narration. He should take advantage of this and write
freely.
2. Since most narrative experiences occurred in the past, the narrator should beware of
his tense form; simple past, past continuous, and past participle or perfect will be used
interchangeably, not necessarily as alternatives to one another but as ideas to be
expressed call for them.
3. Since brevity is the soul of wit, the student should avoid monotony (unnecessary
repetitions), writing without hitting at anything, and spurious, formless and unending
epithets that will destroy rather than make the writing.
4. Short and simple sentences are recommended. Usually, many candidates lose their
trails when complex or compound complex sentences come after the others within
one or two paragraphs.

DESCRIPTIVE ESSAYS

‘Descriptive’ is from the word ‘describe’ meaning to say what somebody or something is like. A
descriptive essay will require a lot of experience about, and a degree of knowledge of, the person
or thing being described on the part of the writer. Sometimes, the character we are describing is
factious, but at other times, the character is real. What is important is that when we are faced
with the task of attempting a descriptive essay, we should relate our fictitious character to a real
personality around us.

General Hints on Descriptive Essays

1. Start with essential information that will identify the character under description e.g. his
name, his status (marriage, profession, etc.)
2. Discuss his complexion, height, appearance and social life. These first two items may be
very brief depending on the kind of question framed on the personality.
 3. Ideally, a personality singled out for description must be outstanding in one way or the
other. Therefore, you should discuss his or her achievements. His contributions to
knowledge, etc.
4. You may need to recommend the character in your conclusion for a higher responsibility
5. If you have to describe a place or thing, your description should also be clear and vivid
enough for accessibility.
6. Check your tenses and report appropriately in the right form- past tense for dead
personalities, present for the living personalities, etc.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

Discussions are common things to people. Argument is a skill that does not require education or
special knowledge. Where you see people gathered in formal settings, they engage in interactive
discussions that may result into arguments. No one person wants to be defeated, each wants to
hold his/her own. Sometimes the arguments are baseless and lacking direction. However,
educationists believe that the natural tendency of man to engage in unsolicited discourse can be
tapped to develop the skills of academic reason and logical argument, hence the place of
argumentative essays in English language.

General Hints on Argumentative Essay

1. Realize that arguments are two-way essays that have to be discussed with the discussants
taking one side of the argument, each person, the side he/she prefers
2. After the initial introduction, the writer should begin by throwing light on the purpose of
the write-up.
3. The writer may now discussed very briefly the two sides, their advantages or benefits.
4. You can now reason out your argument in favor of the side you are proposing.
5. Students who choose argumentative essays should be knowledgeable enough to marshal
their stand and the rebuttal.
EXPLANATORY ESSAY

Explanatory is from the word ‘explain’. There are usually things to explain. We explain
concepts, ideas, motions, beliefs, practice and issues of local, national and international interest.
This is another type of essay that will require very sound background on the part of the
discussants.

Indeed, you cannot explain what you do not know. Thus, it is a type of essay that demands a
great deal of reading. If for example, you want to take up a national issue like the type of
political system that should be adopted in the next Republic, you must have been reading
newspaper to know certain basic things in the Nigerian politics- the type of system we are
operating already, the role of the political parties in the civil rule as it were, the reactions and
opinions of people. The steps taken already to identify both the problems associated with the
present system and the possible alternative to the presidential system we are currently operating.

EXPOSITORY ESSAY

Expose means to uncover or lay something bare, or to discover something in a way that others
know what it is. Expository is derived from the noun ‘expose’. An expository essay is a genre of
writing which tends to explain, illustrate, clarify, or explicate something in a way that it becomes
clear for readers. Therefore, it could be an investigation, evaluation, or even argumentation about
an idea for clarification.

6.0 Conclusion
Writing is the graphic aspect of communication. As students face the task of writing, they
should realize that they are writing out to communicate some ideas. That is, there will be
readers just as we have listeners. Communicating may serve the purpose of educating,
informing, apologizing, etc. Hence, every writer should be clear and simple in writing.
7.0 Suggestion for Further Studies
1. Students are advised to develop their writing skills by putting it into practice.
2. Students should develop interest in reading other write ups so they can become more
knowledgeable and help them in being creative in their writings.
8.0 Assignment and Practice Questions
1. List the different types of Essays.
2. Explain the features of each type of essay.
3. Draw up a good outline on the topic, “The Menace of AIDS among Young People
and How to Combat It”. Your writing must be suitable for publication in a national
newspaper.
4. Write a good Essay on the topic, “The Making of a Leader”.