Essay Writing

Topic - 11

ESSAY WRITING

INTRODUCTION

The essay is a long piece of composition on a theme or a subject. It is self-contained that is, it has a beginning, a middle and an end. The beginning usually introduces the subject in general terms. The middle part of the essay develops the theme and presents the writer's thoughts on it. Finally, the essay is brought to a close in a suitable concluding passage. 

Types of Essays

According to various forms and purposes of composition, essays may be classified as under: 

1. Descriptive Essays

The aim of descriptive essay is to provide a vivid picture of a person, location, object, event or debate. It explains the "what, why, how, when, and where” of a topic and enables the reader to imagine the item described. For example, a descriptive essay about a tree would explain what it's made of, why it grows, when it grows, and so on.

2. Narrative Essays

The aim of narrative essay is to describe some event or series of events. The focus of the essay is often to identify more clearly the point of view of the narrator. Narrative essay may deal with historical stories of legends, biographies, an accident or a natural disaster, a journey, a story etc. 

3. Compare and Contrast Essays

The aim of compare and contrast essay is to develop the relationship between two or more things. Generally the goal is to show that superficial differences or similarities are inadequate, and that closer examination reveals their unobvious, yet significant relations or differences. 

4. Persuasive Essays

A persuasive essay tries to persuade the reader to accept an idea or agree with an opinion. The writer's purpose is to convince the reader that his or her point of view is a reasonable one. The persuasive essay should be written in a style that grabs and holds the reader's attention and the writer's opinion should be backed up by strong supportive details.

5. Argumentative Essays

Argumentative essays are most often used to address controversial issues over which there is some evident disagreement. An argument is a position combined with its supporting reasons. Argumentative essay, thus, sets out a main claim and then provides reasons for thinking that the claim is true.

6. Reflective Essay

A reflection is a thought on some subject or an idea arising in the mind. So a reflective essay consists of reflections or thoughts on some topic, which is generally of an abstract nature, for example, habits, virtues (like truthfulness, patriotism) or socio-political and domestic topics. In treating such themes, one should try to reason and support one's statements with facts and arguments. 

7. Evaluation Essay

Evaluation essay describes a thing or event and explains its importance, value, and / or relevance. 

The steps involved in writing a well-developed Essay

✓ Read the question about the essay carefully. 

✓ Do any reading or research necessary as background to the essay.

✓ Brainstorm ideas related to the question.

✓ Order the main points. 

✓ Group the remaining points under the main points to arrive at an outline.

✓ Start the essay with an introduction.

✓ Write the main text / body of the essay.

✓ Write the conclusion of the essay.

✓ Edit the draft.

✓ Write the final copy.

Sample Essays

Sample Essay - 1

MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT

The Indian media and entertainment sector is poised to enter a golden era. The industry is one of the largest markets in the world seeing strong growth. The corporatization of the film industry, a booming television sector, a fast growing radio sector, a growing market for print products, and similar other technological changes are propelling growth. India is ready to embrace and grow along with the changes the industry is undergoing globally.

Cinema

The Indian film industry is among the largest in the world, producing 1041 films annually. Bollywood, the Hindi film industry, commanding a 40 percent share in the Indian film market, is gaining a global audience. Regional films too are making an impact. A number of factors are bringing about the change. For one, new technologies like DVDs and the internet are ensuring that viewer ship is not confined to specific areas. The country has over five million home video and DVD subscribers and current penetration levels are expected to grow 31 percent, according to an analytical report.

A spurt in the number of multiplexes in the country has changed the entire complexion of Indian films, their budgets, the way they are made and the audiences they are made for.

The corporatization of the film industry has also enabled it to discover new revenue streams. Showcasing international films dubbed in local Indian languages has helped the dubbing industry grow at 25-30 per cent over the last five years and international films are now reaching out to wider audiences. This is having a ripple effect, driving growth in film merchandising and music sales. Merchandising for “Spiderman 2” which was dubbed in Hindi collected over US$ 2 million in India in its first week, the highest ever for a Hollywood film!

Animation and Special Effects businesses are also waiting to grow in India. According to the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), the animation industry is growing at 25 per cent and is expected to reach US$ 869 million by 2010, thanks largely to India's creative skills, cost advantage, a growing domestic market and the growing maturity of animation studios. A first indication of times to come is Sony Pictures Image works' US$ 5 million investment in Frame flow India, the Chennai, based animation and special effects company for back office work.

Television

The television industry in India is currently in its prime. It has over 350 channels and is today the third largest television market in the world. It reaches over 119 million television households, which is almost the same size as the entire US market, but covers only about 60 per cent of the total households in the country. Of these, about 50 million receive cable television services. The low penetration promises a huge untapped potential for growth in this industry.

Advertising spending on Indian television has been growing at 21 per cent a year. In fact, television's growth and influence in India is so immense that it actually rivals the country's film industry. But the two segments now work together to reach India's surroundings in niche ways.

Music

The Indian music industry in the past was completely dominated by film music, which was an integral part of Indian films and music rights brought in as much as 15 per cent of a film's earnings. That has changed now, and music videos and non-film albums are driving growth. The music sector is pegged to grow at 4 per cent over the next five years.

India has now emerged as one of the world's largest markets for mobile music. India sells almost as much digital music as it does CDs and cassettes. According to the Cellular Operators' Association of India, the size of the mobile music industry in 2006 was about US$ 170 million by the end of 2007. Growing at a scorching pace of 50 per cent, this segment is expected to exceed the sales of physical music; compact discs and cassettes. India has over 140 million mobile phone consumers and over 6 million new subscriptions are added each month, which means that one in five Indians will own a phone by the end of 2007. Clearly, mobile entertainment promises to be a new avenue for growth.

Radio

Radio is the main source of news and entertainment for most of India, reaching out to 99 per cent of the population. While All India, the public service broadcaster, hogs the top tier in coverage, private FM has become the second tier and recently, the government has opened up the third tier, community radio, thus providing the sector a further impetus to grow.

The sector has been seeing strong growth and 2007 is expected to be the year of the radio. According to industry estimates, India will have 600 stations (250 All India Radio and 350 private) in 100 odd cities this year. 

Government Initiatives

The Union Cabinet has cleared the community radio policy allowing non profit organizations with a three-year track record to set up and run stations.

Marking the first time that the state government enters the entertainment industry, the Kerala Venture Capital Fund has acquired 40 per cent equity in the production house Symphony Entertainment Private Ltd.

The government allows 20 per cent FDI in FM radio and recommended shifting to revenue sharing regime from the current license fee structure.

The government changed its media policy in 2002 and relaxed foreign ownership restrictions in the newspaper category. Today, 26 per cent foreign equity holding in news-related print media is allowed, though editorial management must remain Indian. 

The Road Ahead

The liberalization of the media sector has played a key role in encouraging investments in this sector. Higher investments will open up new opportunities and will propel growth in the sector. Subsequent to the policies being put in place, eighteen media companies will float public issues in 2007. Global Broadcast News (CNN-IBN) and Cinema India have recently gone public. Others in the pipeline are Sony SET, DQ Entertainment, Indian Express Newspapers, Brahma Interactive, Broadcast initiatives, Raj Television Network, SRS Entertainment and 12 others which are awaiting SEBI approval.

Sample Essay - 2

THE RAG PICKERS OF INDIA

The rag pickers of India present a pitiable sight. It is poverty that goads them to resort to rag picking. Day in and day out they may be seen on the roads, the lanes and the by lanes of a city or town looking for cast-off clothes or something else showy or shoddy that will sell. More often than not, it is children who take to rag picking. But some young men and women are also forced to take up this sorry trade to make both ends meet. Why should innocent children who should be at school at this age do this filthy job? It is because their parents are often too poor to support them. So they neglect them and abandon them to face the cruel world on their own.

These people roam about the streets and bazaars picking up from the dustbins any wornout or torn and tattered clothes; and they do not hesitate to search for rags even in evil smelling garbage or sewage or cesspools. They carry bags on their backs and store their finds in them. Very often the individuals divide a city into zones and each zone is allotted to a particular group by mutual consent. The intrusion of one group into another zone is resented and sometimes even results in fights.

Very often young men who take to rag picking are the ones who come from villages to cities in search of jobs and finding none, take to rag picking out of sheer helplessness and desperation.

It is said that God made man in his own image. When we look at the unkempt and disheveled hair, the grimy face, the greasy hands and the dirty clothes of the rag pickers we are compelled to ask ourselves: Are these the images of God? Can a society be right where a part of it is uneducated, incapable of earning a decent living?

Sample Essay - 3

NEWSPAPERS – THEIR GOOD AND EVIL EFFECTS

As the word 'NEWS' stands for North, East, West and South, the newspaper is a swift vehicle for the conveyance of news from all the four directions of the world. It keeps us in touch with the events of the world. 

Good Effects of Newspapers 

a. The Educative Value

The educative value of newspaper is immense. The articles which appear in the pages of newspaper cover all those aspects of life which confront us daily. A newspaper covers almost every sphere of human activity. These articles covering a variety subjects; scientific, educational, cultural, literary, commercial, etc. add to our knowledge and broaden our outlook. It is rightly said that the careful reader of a few good newspapers can learn more in a year than most scholars do in great libraries.

b. Promotes International Understanding

The newspaper perform a noble service of bringing man nearer unto man by carrying the account of objects, individuals and experience of one country to the other, Today, owing to the widespread circulation of newspapers the world looks like a huge universal box in which people of the earth think, feel and live in close affinity. In the words of Lord Oxford, “The pen is mightier than the sword... A journalist can shatter the bonds of narrow-minded nationalism and unite the world into one and the same chain of brotherhood”.

c. Mouthpiece of the People

The newspapers not only publish news but express opinions of the people also. They mould and mend public opinion. Through them the public expresses its ideas and sentiments, grievances and emotions and expect necessary action from those at the helm of things. 

d. An instrument of Democracy

As the basis of democracy is public opinion, all government and political parties try to popularize themselves through the press. They criticize each other and also give their judgements on important matters. And again, newspapers help the common man to form his views about politics, economics and the social aspects of life. 

e. Commercial Significance

Newspapers, as an instrument of publicity and propaganda, have a great commercial significance. They regularly publish reports of international markets in gold, silver, stocks and shares etc. As an advertising agent, the newspapers create a link between demand and supply by bringing together the buyer and seller. The tradesmen, with anything to sell, use the newspapers freely to let the public know what goods they have for selling. The columns like, emp loyment news, matrimonial, situations vacant help masses in that direction. Besides, the propaganda value off newspaper is really great. A popular newspaper can dethrone leaders and change governments overnight.

Bad Effects of Newspapers

Like every other institution, the system of newspaper also has some peculiar evils and shortcomings of its own. Newspapers are practical and short lived. They are read today and thrown tomorrow. Deliberate perversion of facts, prejudice of caste and religion, and malicious propaganda are the other evils that go to defeat the noble aim of newspapers. In our own country, different newspapers are used by different political parties for the purpose of propaganda. Such papers create a spirit of revenge, bitterness and misunderstanding among the people. Sometimes rich people take newspapers in their hands and use them as means to attain personal profit. Often in their bid for cheap popularity, newspaper editors insert in their columns domestic scandals, divorce cases, coloured stories of crimes, social abuses, obscene jokes and pictures, imaginary love affairs and other sensational issues. These things corrupt the young and degrade the moral tone of society. 

Conclusion

In spite of all the havoc that the press has created newspaper is one of the potential factors in the development of human civilization. The newspaper, in modern times, has come to exercise a tremendous influence on the public as well as private life of man. It is a universal teacher, instructor and guide holding up the torch of knowledge in the midst of darkness. It is a trenchement and impartial critic of public administration, of law and justice. As a social reformer the newspaper patiently reforms the abuses of society. It is the epitome of democracy and freedom. As an advocate of universal liberty, equality and fraternity, the newspaper destroys all the barriers which separate man from man and nation from nation. When the newspaper has attained so much power and importance, its responsibilities also increase. Journalists and editors should work with a spirit of intellectual honesty. Regard for truth and service to man should be the guiding principles of their conduct. They should never hesitate in portraying what is true and beneficial for mankind.

Practice Exercises

I. Write an essay of the following topics in not more than 300 words.

1. A fire accident. 

2. A flood situation. 

3. Your favourite shopping complex. 

4. Pleasures of writing. 

5. Your adventure in a new place. 

6. An Indian Marriage. 

7. A natural calamity. 

8. Necessity is the mother of invention.

9. Health and character are the twin essentials sof a man. 

10. Learning is a lifelong process. 

11. Pros and cons of Technology. 

12. Importance of communication skills. 

13. Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power as an alternative source of energy. 

14. Compare log tables with calculators. 

15. Input and output devices of a computer.