The different rhetorical modes of paragraphs are determined by the subject matter of the essay. These modes include description, narration, argumentation and exposition. These rhetorical modes may be used in their entirety to develop an essay or as parts of an essay. An expository essay may include narrative and description.
Description relies on spatial relationships. Often, the best spatial description follows the perceptions of a person entering or looking at the space described. Description frequently blends space and time. Order should follow details that are readily apparent first, then proceed to the minute and less apparent details. In other words, look, then look closer.
Narrative, primarily used with fiction, centers around time. Narrative writing requires sufficient details, a clear order to the details, a smooth narrative flow and a consistent viewpoint.
Expository writing, the most common writing form, requires a topical assertion supported by illustrations. You may use an extended illustration or multiple illustrations to support your assertion. In scientific and technical writing, the illustration may be hypothetical.
Comparison is one of the most commonly used forms of writing and especially prevalent in writing essay exams. The purpose of comparison is to better understand your subject by showing how it is like something familiar. The topic sentence states the comparison and the remainder of the sentences unfold the comparison in detail. Contrasts compare similar things to emphasize their differences. Contrast is used to often persuade the reader that one thing is better than another. More information on this topic may be found in the Compare and Contrast section.
Definition is another form of developing a paragraph. There are several ways to approach definition:
The following four steps help reach a thorough definition of the subject:
Definition requires that the writer pay careful attention to avoid problems with logic. Some hints include: