Monday, October 8, 2007

explanatory and argumentative essays.

The explanatory essay approaches its topic by using a thesis in the first paragraph to inform the reader of the subject they will be reading about. the topic is also given for mainly information and usually doesn't present an argument. Just like the explanatory essay, the argumentative essay also usually starts with a thesis, but its focus is more on supporting one side.
Another way these essays differ is in the source they may come from. newspaper articles would be better used with argumentative essays because newspaper articles often convey opinion or bias, sometimes discreetly and sometimes openly. Editorials are good for for explanatory essays because they often convey unbiased information, along with opinion. but even though a source will usually be better used with one type of essay, it will still most likely contain elements of both explanation and argument.
Explanatory essays define and explain key concepts without taking a position. argumentative essays do take a specific position and are meant to be persuasive. its main purpose is to convey a point of view regarding the topic. but many scholars of writing say that these two types of essays overlap eachother. they say that all writing is essentially persuasive, even if it doesnt enter into a complex argument. an informative piece must also work to persuade the reader that its claims are truthful. and then on the other hand, in order to persuade others of a particular position, we typically must also inform them about it. Writers say the key is to just focus on the primary purpose of the paper.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

It also helps the students develop important academic abilities such as interpreting facts, constructing clear arguments, and locating relevant data. See more argumentative essay writing