Illustration/Example Essay

Everyone has basic beliefs that determine how we act or judge others.  For example, when I'm driving behind someone and they switch lanes or turn without using his or her turn signal, I am annoyed and my belief is reinforced that everyone should use a blinker when turning or changing lanes.  In another instance, I see other drivers acting in ways that I deem discourteous.  After time, I may conclude that drivers in Sheridan are discourteous.  This is a judgment I have formed based on my observations.  If I were to write an essay on this judgment, then I would need to prove my point by showing examples that have brought me to that conclusion.  This would be called an illustration essay, which is a type of reflective essay.  To write a reflective essay, you need to explore your beliefs or biases. This week's discussion allows you to do this by answer the following questions: What beliefs (other than religious) do you have that you formed based on your observations and/or experiences?  Answer this question in the discussion board.  A list of topics is provided for you for this assignment.  In the future, you will be allowed to choose your own topic, but until then, please stick to the provided list.

The purpose of this essay is to share your thinking with others and explain what you believe to be "true." To do this, you need to use examples to prove your points.  Examples need to be very specific (i.e. particular events, places, people, etc.).  Think of it as painting a picture for your reader, and not just telling about your experiences or reasons.  In the professional writing world, we say: "'show'," don't "'tell.'" The essay example provided demonstrates how to do this by using sensory details included. 

Sensory details use all of the senses to describe something (smell and sound in addition to sight).  Think about how dull the essay would be without these sensory details.  Use your own senses in your essay in addition to specific details such as names, places, dates, specific events, etc. to prove your point.

Another way to think of this essay is as an argument essay without research. You are arguing toward a solution to a problem or you are arguing about why you think something is true.

Chapter 18 goes into greater detail about a reflective essay and provides an example. Below is more explanation about organizing body paragraphs for the essay. 

A general outline for the body paragraphs could look like this:

Paragraph Organization

1) Topic Sentence (ts)

     2) Subtopic #1 (ST)

          3) specific example/detail (d)

          4) specific example/detail (d)

     5)  Subtopic #2 (ST)

           6) specific example/detail (d)

          7) specific example/detail (d)

8) Concluding sentence (CS)

*  You may include more subtopics or more specific details.  Use this outline as a guideline, not necessarily as a set form (use the outline form for the precise form).

Filled in, this outline/body paragraph might read:

  Many young people obtain jobs based on personal connections instead of actual work experience. (ts)  Most of the jobs I have held, I have gotten through my acquaintances instead of through my job skills. (ST#1)  For example, I once obtained a job as a billing clerk because a girl I knew casually was leaving the job and recommended me. (d#1) I had no relevant experience to the position, but I was hired anyway. (d#2)  I also held a job as an office clerk at a livestock trading company because the owners were friends of the family (ST#2).  I currently work as a technical writer for a software company (ST#3); I was hired in this job without an interview because my sister is already employed by the company (d#1).  Again, I had no experience in the field, just my sister's recommendation (d#2).  Once I was in these positions, because of my personal connections, I learned the skills needed for the job. (CS)

* You'll notice that this body paragraph follows the general outline closely, but not exactly.  Just be sure that you provide, in each body paragraph, adequate examples and detail to support your topic sentence and thesis statement.  Although this example does include details, such as what jobs he/she held, more details could be included.  Beware, though, that you do not go too far.  The details included need to be relevant to your point.  Don't simply include details for the sake of including details.  For example, going too far here would include explaining his/her sister's educational background or the details about the interview (I was dressed to kill), etc.

WRITING TIP