Personal Essays: Tutorial

Patterns of Essay Organization

All essays include an introduction, body, and conclusion, but a writer can organize the information within an essay in a variety of ways. The method of organization depends on the essay's purpose and content.

The Personal Essay: Conveying Experience

An essay is a prose piece that describes something or discusses a topic. In French, the word essayer means "a small attempt" or "to try." So when you write an essay, you're attempting to express your opinions. In a personal essay, you would address a topic that holds special meaning for you. Writing a personal essay is like telling a story about something that is significant in your life. Annie Dillard says this about a personal essay in "To Fashion a Text": There's nothing you can't do with it. No subject matter is forbidden, no structure is proscribed. You get to make up your own form every time. Personal essays allow writers to reflect on and explore a particular issue. They often sound like an informal conversation that can both entertain and provoke thought. Next, you'll watch a video that will tell you more about relating experiences through personal essays.

Working on Writing

Now you'll write a personal essay. It will include the general structure of an essay, plus some specific traits of a personal essay. Although a personal essay might be less formulaic in structure than other types, it should have an introductory paragraph, several body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.

Spatial:

The essay describes how elements fit together in space. This organizational pattern can help the writer show how physical objects relate to one another. A writer might use this organization for an essay describing an important place.

Chronological:

The essay moves sequentially in time, from the first event to an important moment. It then builds up to the last significant moment and reaches a conclusion.

Compare and contrast:

The similarities and differences of two or more items are presented.

Which of these statements is the correct definition of an anecdote?

a short, funny incident in a person's life

Transitions:

are a useful tool for enhancing the cohesion and clarity of ideas in a given essay structure. Let's take a closer look at transitions.

Chesterton uses allusion:

—an indirect reference to a well-known person, event, or story—to support his claims. In his discussion of the worship of supposedly successful men, Chesterton creates an allusion to King Midas. He points to a misinterpretation of Midas in a book in which the author compares Vanderbilt, a very wealthy man at the time, to King Midas. In fact, the fable about King Midas highlights the king's folly, not his gift of the golden touch. Chesterton reminds readers that Midas's gift was a curse because it prohibited him from eating anything. Being rich in gold but poor in everything else is not success. Chesterton concludes that books about success only teach people to be greedy and snobbish. Having such narrow goals traps people into chasing money and separates them from what is real and good in life.

Why could "The Danger of Lying in Bed" be considered a personal essay?

"The Danger of Lying in Bed" takes a personal experience and connects it to something more general. One issue Twain explores is human gullibility—people's tendency to accept something without looking at its underlying assumptions. He uses the idea of the train travel insurance as the symbol for carrying this thought and analysis. He discusses the obviously silly idea about how lying in bed is more dangerous than traveling as satire to show how people can use statistics to support even the most ridiculous ideas. Ultimately, Twain's satirical essay shows people that they shouldn't accept everything they are told. Twain starts with what may or may not be an actual personal experience of traveling by train and being asked if he wants to purchase traveler's insurance. He uses it to develop a satirically logical conclusion that people are less likely to die while traveling by train than while sleeping at home. He includes actual research and data to support his satirical views. Qualities that indicate this is a personal essay include opening with an anecdote, reflecting on a personal experience, and commenting on an issue—in this case, human gullibility.

Here are some synonyms for the generic words you wrote about in your notebook. Notice how the words beneath the verbs describe the nuances of each synonym.

*walk - move on one's feet *look - sense with one's eyes *throw - move object across space with arms *think - make mental effort *stroll - slow, casula, light *peek - quick, shy, unnoticed *toss - little effort, short distance, lightweight object *ponder - reflect on deeply, calmly *trudge - deliberate, against resistance *glare - long, aggressive judgmental *hurl - aimed at target, in an arc, with force *deliberate - consider many sides *march - brisk, controlled *observe - detached, scientific *launch - send upward from a starting point *reason - use logic

Transitions smooth the shift in ideas in an essay. To practice finding good transitions, choose the best transition words to complete the passage. One of Rosa's faults was that she was extremely disorganized. The clothes that she'd worn to school all week littered the floor and furniture, and her school papers were piled high on her desk. The trash container was overflowing with crumpled papers and food wrappers. Rosa decided it was time to clean up her life so she could increase her productivity. (_______1________)she knew it would be hard work, Rosa figured it couldn't be any harder than having to sift through piles to find one item. She found two empty boxes, a large trash bag, and a pair of gloves in the garage. She used one box for clothes she wanted to donate to charity and the other box for papers she wanted to keep. She put her usable clothes back in the closet and dresser and carefully stacked her books on the bookshelf. After she picked everything up, she vacuumed and dusted her room. It took a few hours of work, but before Rosa knew it, the huge task was finished. (__________2___________), a smile slowly spread across Rosa's face as she stared in amazement at her neat and well-ordered room. Now all she had to do was keep it as neat as possible so she wouldn't have to waste time organizing it again. 1. a. Although b. However c. Subsequently 2. a. Finally b. Consequently c. Nevertheless

1. Although 2. Finally

In "The Danger of Lying in Bed," Twain uses an informal tone to connect with his reader. For instance, note the conversational tone from this excerpt at the end of the essay:

And my advice to all people is, Don't stay at home any more than you can help; but when you have GOT to stay at home a while, buy a package of those insurance tickets and sit up nights. You cannot be too cautious. Note how Twain's tone is reminiscent of giving advice to a friend. Besides connecting with and persuading his reader, his conversational tone complements the satirical and ironic approach of his topic. How might the reader's interpretation be different if Twain had used a formal tone? The specific words selected and emphasized are also significant in an essay. Did you notice how Twain capitalized GOT? Or how he said "sit up nights" instead of "stay awake"? Diction is the specific language selections a writer makes. Such choices are influenced by the audience being addressed and the purpose of the text. Twain's informal diction relates to his satiric tone and purpose.

Reading Selection "The Fallacy of Success" by G. K. Chesterton

British journalist, author, essayist, poet, and social critic Gilbert Keith Chesterton had many talents. He wrote on various topics and in many genres of both fiction and nonfiction. He was a social philosopher who often argued against the materialism of the twentieth century. He was also known for the fictional mystery series featuring the amateur detective Father Brown. Chesterton began his career as a journalist. His wit and humor fill his works on a wide range of topics. For example, in "On Running After One's Hat," he says, "An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." Chesterton often highlighted flaws in the social system, government, and politics in his works. In his essay "The New Name," he says, "Men are ruled, at this minute by the clock, by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern."

Analysis of "The Fallacy of Success"

Chesterton begins "The Fallacy of Success" by making fun of the genre of books that promise to teach success. He says, "But these things are about nothing; they are about what is called Success." His essay goes on to show that success is not definable because it varies by person and circumstances and involves many aspects of life other than wealth. Chesterton questions the idea that everyone can become rich by following a set of steps or that people should equate money with success. Instead, he claims that all types of people should take satisfaction in the forms of success that they do "achieve" simply by being who they are: . . . a millionaire is successful in being a millionaire and a donkey in being a donkey. Any live man has succeeded in living . . . To continue the example, someone working in manual labor should be encouraged to become "a good workman" rather than trying to get ahead through greed.

In most of his works:

Chesterton expresses concern about what he feels is wrong with society. He uses parables and allegories as examples to support his arguments. Sometimes he adopts a preachy tone, but more often than not, he goes for humor. Authors George Bernard Shaw and Hilaire Belloc often debated various topics with him. As you read the essay "The Fallacy of Success," focus on the central idea and Chesterton's reflections. Look at the literary elements he uses to build on the central idea, as well as how he supports his claims.

Note the diction in the following excerpt:

I hunted up statistics, and was amazed to find that after all the glaring newspaper headlines concerning railroad disasters, less than THREE HUNDRED people had really lost their lives by those disasters in the preceding twelve months. The Erie road was set down as the most murderous in the list. It had killed forty-six—or twenty-six, I do not exactly remember which, but I know the number was double that of any other road. Notice how Twain refers to the Erie road as being "murderous" and having "killed" people, when in fact it was railroad accidents, and not the railroad line itself, that led to the deaths. Twain chooses these words to play on the panic he notes in the "glaring" newspaper headlines about railroad accidents. It's also humorous that Twain uses such strong language and then admits to being uncertain of the total number killed, which supports the central idea that people fear rail travel without knowing the true risks involved. Although the personal essay discusses a personal experience, it still contains elements of persuasion. There is an argument at the heart of a personal essay, and the author uses various rhetorical devices to get the reader to support or accept his or her viewpoint.

Analysis: "The Danger of Lying in Bed"

In "The Danger of Lying in Bed," Mark Twain claims that people should buy accident insurance for days when they rest at home. The essay begins with a personal anecdote. Twain recounts a conversation with a man at the train station ticket counter. The man tries to sell him accident insurance. Twain doesn't buy the insurance because, he says, he doesn't need it when he's traveling and would rather have it when sleeping in his bed at home. This anecdote sets Twain up to compare the potential for death on the road versus death at home. Twain's logic seems well formed on the surface. He cites presumably carefully researched statistics that prove more people die in bed than in road or rail accidents. The obvious conclusion is people should be more careful while resting at home than while traveling. For that reason, they should get insurance for days spent at home rather than when traveling. And yet, Twain is clearly not seriously arguing that position.

The introduction should include your thesis statement

In an essay about a life-changing event, focus on the event's impact rather than a detailed description of the event itself. In a personal essay, you might not think of the thesis statement as an argument, but it should summarize the central idea. You might wait to formulate your thesis statement until you have a clear idea of your message, which perspective you will use, what claims you will make, and what evidence you will provide. Or you can write one and change it as you progress with your essay. For example, if you were working on an essay about the effect of social media your life, you might write the following thesis statement: "The development of social networking has changed, but not diminished, how people interact and socialize." Your essay would include claims and evidence to support this thesis.

Personal Essay Structure: Body

Like the introduction and conclusion, the body of an essay consists of paragraphs, but these paragraphs have a slightly different purpose. They build the argument that supports the thesis statement. They provide the support and details that give readers the bulk of your information and analysis of the main idea. Each paragraph should be built around a topic sentence that states the central idea. Details in the sentences following the topic sentence reinforce the claims made in the topic sentence. The final sentence of a paragraph ties together the points discussed in that paragraph. It leads smoothly to the transition of ideas in the next paragraph. When you write the body of the essay, pay special attention to paragraphing and use of transitions. They will gently guide the reader from one layer of your thoughts to another.

Personal Essay Structure: Conclusion

The concluding paragraph should briefly summarize the main points made earlier in the essay. A quick recap of the points discussed in earlier sections helps the reader grasp the main idea. Ask a pertinent question, use a quotation, or ask for some action. However, the concluding paragraph doesn't need to include the thesis statement. One good way to conclude a personal essay is to connect the issues discussed in the essay to a larger context. Other ideas are to leave the readers with a thought-provoking question, a quote, or an evocative image

Cause and effect:

The essay explains a specific cause and describes its effect. The thesis is restated in the concluding paragraph before a conclusion is drawn about the cause and effect.

Personal Essay Structure: Introduction

The goal of the introduction is to present your topic, show the topic's relevance and significance, and draw in the reader. The introduction of a personal essay is a great place to hook the reader with an interesting story. A personal essay's topic is generally an experience, a person, or a phase in your life. Strive to make the essay as engaging as possible. Use descriptive, sensory details and vivid words.

To study an example of an anecdote, reread the beginning of "The Danger of Lying in Bed":

The man in the ticket-office said: "Have an accident insurance ticket, also?" "No," I said, after studying the matter over a little. "No, I believe not; I am going to be traveling by rail all day today. However, tomorrow I don't travel. Give me one for tomorrow." The man looked puzzled. He said: "But it is for accident insurance, and if you are going to travel by rail—" "If I am going to travel by rail I sha'n't need it. Lying at home in bed is the thing I am afraid of." Twain introduces the reader to his topic with this anecdote. Right away, the anecdote makes clear the essay's purpose, central idea, and tone. Authors may also use rhetorical questions, which are questions not meant to be answered, for emphasis. "Is the sky blue?" is a simple example of a rhetorical question used to emphasize the obvious. Rhetorical devices such as irony and anecdote allow the writer to connect with the reader, clarify the essay's purpose, and convey the significance of the topic.

Transitions

Transitions are words or phrases that connect paragraphs and thoughts within paragraphs. They should guide your reader from one thought to another. For example, they may signal that you are continuing your train of thought or that you are changing course. Here are some common transition words and what they signal: -Similarity: indeed, also, likewise -Contrast: however, in spite of, in contrast, still, yet -Time lapse: subsequently, simultaneously, recently, currently, finally -Cause: consequently, so, hence, therefore

So what does the essay really say? And what makes it a personal essay?

Twain doesn't expose any secrets about himself. His apparent opinion about at-home insurance is satirical, not one he's seriously trying to convince readers to agree with. We can't even assume he had the conversation that opens the essay, as we would if this were a memoir. Twain's mock-serious, statistics-backed analysis of dangers reminds us that we shouldn't blindly follow conventional logic. He's provoking readers into questioning something they think is normal, such as buying travel insurance because travel is a high-risk activity. Obviously, in-bed deaths aren't caused by being in bed or at home and insurance doesn't keep you safer, so he intentionally ignores the real reasons that might support buying travel insurance. The essay has a conversational tone. And it's humorous as it pretends to recreate how he came to his "sensible" conclusion. The essay is both thought-provoking and entertaining in a quirky way.

Elements of the Personal Essay

We could define the personal essay as a vehicle to explore a larger idea in a particular experience. Writers of personal essays have three primary tasks—to describe an experience or a topic of significance, to identify and convey a deeper meaning from that topic, and to connect and convince the reader of that topic's importance. Writers use tone, diction, and rhetorical devices to accomplish these goals. Understanding the audience is an important aspect of any writing process and helps shape and refine a text. Tone is intimately connected with audience. It is the writer's voice and how he or she addresses the audience. To persuade the reader that the topic is significant, the writer must first connect with the reader. That's why personal essays often use a conversational tone as they express the writer's beliefs, culture, and position. Let's evaluate the tone in Twain's "The Danger of Lying in Bed."

Nuance

You've looked at the structure of a personal essay, including how to create an introduction, body, and conclusion that maximizes your readers' engagement. You've also practiced creating transitions to make each sentence and paragraph flow nicely into the one that follows it. Another element of reader engagement is your choice of words. To choose the most descriptive and most vivid words, you should be aware of nuance. Nuance is a shade subtler than connotation. We talk about words having a core meaning called denotation. At the level of denotation, for example, the words pout and protest are synonyms. Both mean "to express a dislike for something." But the connotation of the two words is very different. When we say that someone is pouting, we imply that the thing he or she dislikes is not important, or perhaps it is not rational because it is based more on the person's feelings than on the situation itself. We associate pouting with children. If a person protests, however, his or her objection sounds more dignified, something that is more based on principle than a mere feeling. In that sense, we could say that protest has a more positive connotation than pout. But if we think about the nuance of the words' meanings, we can begin to distinguish a whole array of shades of meaning that we convey when we pick one synonym over another.

Chesterton:

includes a humorous and seemingly digressive argument in the essay. He divides one's pursuits in life not just by the kind of work a person engages in but by whether that person chooses to do "very good work" or to cheat. One of his points is that in a typical game, one person wins and the other loses, so any advice about success should help you avoid losing. The books' authors maintain that everyone who follows the books' advice can win, but this idea ignores the fact that everyone can't always win. Someone has to lose or at least succeed less than another. In this argument, cheating is a bit like trying to find a shortcut. Chesterton pretends to suggest that cheating is an obvious alternative to applying oneself. At its core, though, the essay outlines the need for specific instructions about mastering a task, whether it's playing cards or competing in the high jump. And these instructional books would be a sharp contrast to his view on books about success: Yet our modern world is full of books about Success and successful people which literally contain no kind of idea, and scarcely any kind of verbal sense.

Irony

is a common rhetorical device in lighthearted personal essays. Writers can use irony to show a usually serious topic in a fresh, humorous manner. Twain is a master of irony, and "The Danger of Lying in Bed" is full of this rhetorical device. From the beginning, Twain throws the reader an ironic curveball, twisting the reader's view of a topic into a new perspective. "If I am going to travel by rail I sha'n't need it. Lying at home in bed is the thing I am afraid of." The irony here is that home is a place most people associate with safety while travel is considered a more dangerous situation. Twain reverses this belief. Another common rhetorical device is the anecdote, a simple story used to make a particular point and connect with the reader. Because the personal essay explores personal experiences, anecdotes can play an important role in presenting and conveying meaning to the reader.

One way to think about vivid words

is to start with a very generic word, such as eat. Synonyms of this word will create a more vivid, more sense-based image in a reader's mind. What do you see when you think of someone nibbling vs. gobbling food? What about munching? The first two differ by degree of intensity—eating small bits slowly vs. eating large amounts in a hurry. Meanwhile, munching doesn't necessarily indicate intensity but suggests a casual situation. People don't usually munch a formal multi-course meal. More likely, they would munch on a snack. Nor do they munch soup. The word calls attention to the crunching sound that comes from the act of chewing. Most soup doesn't crunch, and people at formal meals tend to hide the sounds they make while eating. Open the Notebook tool () and choose two of these generic verbs. Then write three synonyms for each verb that have the same core meaning but have different connotations. Finally, describe the various shades of meaning that distinguish the synonyms from one another. Pick two of these verbs: walk, look, throw, think.