CT
College Writing
3
CN
OLe arning Objectives
CO_L
CO_TXAft er reading this chapter,
you should be able to:
CO_NL 1. Recognize the common purposes
and types of college writing.
2. Explain the elements of the
personal college essay, including its
purpose, supporting evidence types,
and sub- jective writing style.
3. Summarize the elements of the
expository essay, including its
pur- pose, style, and objective
nature.
4. Compare the elements of
CO_CRD Blend Images/SuperStock persuasive, argumentative, research,
and combi- nation college essays.
5. Identify the elements of
research writing.
6. Identify the elements of combination
papers.
7. Define the meaning of the writer’s
voice, including the difference
between formal and informal lan-
guage, plagiarism, and self-
revision.
CO_Q
Never give up. And most importantly, be true to yourself. Write from
your heart, in your own voice, and about what you believe in.
CO_Q_Au
—Louise Brown
, Section 3.1 The Purpose and Types of CHAPTE
Different types of writing assignments will have a different purpose,
audience, and focus, and this chapter offers a discussion of the different
types of writing you will likely be asked to do in your college courses. Each
of the main genres of writing this chapter dis- cusses—personal writing,
expository writing, persuasive and argumentative writing, and research
papers—is essential for your college courses, but each also translates
beyond the classroom. The chances are great that you will use elements of
these different types of writing in any profession or in your personal life,
from writing a proposal for a project to emailing a friend. Writing is a direct
expression of thinking and is therefore a powerful tool for helping you
communicate. Fully understanding your writing assignments is the first step
toward writing a strong essay, avoiding common pitfalls, and learning how
to use this powerful tool.
3.1 The Purpose and Types of College Writing
C
ollege writing is generally not meant to commemorate or to
entertain. You may be required in your college courses to write
academic papers for any of these four purposes:
• To tell a story or to share personal opinions or experiences
• To inform, explain, explore, analyze, or interpret ideas
• To convince readers to share your point of view about a
subject or to take some action you recommend
• To acquire knowledge and/or to organize, analyze, and
synthesize information.
Sometimes an assignment will have more than one purpose and require a
paper that com- bines two or more of these purposes, such as sharing
information and persuading the reader.
The Purpose of College Writing
Learning some of the fundamentals of college writing will not simply help
you in this course—it will also help give you the skills you will need to write
in other types of college courses. Most college courses—from English
composition to chemistry—require some writing and the ability to read and
correctly interpret assignments. Even if you do not want a career in a
humanities-related field, improving your writing skills will help you become
a more effective communicator and thinker.
Types of College Writing
Your college papers can be classified into four different types: (1) personal
writing, (2) exposition, (3) persuasion and argument, and (4) research
papers. As we discussed, some of your college assignments will require one
specific type of writing or another, and some may be a combination of two or
more of these four types. An important aspect of devel- oping your college
writing skills is to understand when to use which type of academic writing. If
you clearly understand each of the four types of college writing, you will be
able to “switch gears” when necessary to complete your assignments
correctly. If you
, Section 3.2 Personal CHAPTE
are uncertain about the type of writing an assignment requires, make sure
you ask your instructor or teaching assistant to clarify it for you.
Regardless of which type of paper you are preparing, remember that college
writing tends to use formal language and generally avoids slang, jargon, and
contractions. You must also write your papers in complete sentences;
organize your writing into logical para- graphs; use proper capitalization,
grammar, and punctuation; and use language that is clear and not overly
emotional. We will examine all four types of college writing in detail in later
chapters. However, a brief overview of each type is provided in the following
sec- tions, and the chart in Figure 3.1 summarizes each type of college
writing. You might want to print this chart to keep for reference in your
future college courses.
Figure 3.1: Types of college papers
Combination Papers
Personal Writing
Exposition Persuasion and Argument Research
e: To create a narrative, describe someone or something, or share personal opinions/experiences
Purpose: To inform; explain, explore,
Purpose:
analyze,
to convince
or consider
readers
ideas;
to share
or Purpose:
provide
your explanations
point
to acquire
of view
knowledge
or
orinstructions
to take
and/or
actiontoyou
organize,
recommen
ana
• Tell a story •Compare and contrast • Take a position on an • Select and
•Share a personal • Analyze and issue and defend it research a topic
experience respond to readings • Propose a solution to a • Write a term paper
•Describe a person, •Discuss problems problem • Write an
place, object, or and solutions • Recommend a course of informative
event •Critique an article action report
•Express your personal •Explain a process
beliefs • Evaluate evidence • Test theories
or concept
presented to support a • Provide
•Reflect an state •Explain how a
point of view supporting
your opinion on an mechanism works
issue of reading •Explore causes and effects • Identify errors in logic evidence
•Demonstrate • Write a persuasive report • Stimulate critical thinking
understanding of • Argue a point of view • Generate new questions
concepts
•Summarize readings
•Instruct someone
how to perform a
task
• Answer essay exam
questions
• Analyze issues in a
case study
•Reflect on an issue and
interpret or explain it
3.2 Personal Writing
W
riting assignments that ask you to state your opinion about an issue;
to docu- ment your observations; to relate a subject to your own life;
to share a story; or to provide a description of a person, place,
object, or event call for personal
writing. Personal opinion and narrative essays fall into this category, as do
some reflective papers, which ask students to reflect on a subject’s meaning
to them or to relate it to a personal experience. Personal writing is
subjective, or based on your own observation,
College Writing
3
CN
OLe arning Objectives
CO_L
CO_TXAft er reading this chapter,
you should be able to:
CO_NL 1. Recognize the common purposes
and types of college writing.
2. Explain the elements of the
personal college essay, including its
purpose, supporting evidence types,
and sub- jective writing style.
3. Summarize the elements of the
expository essay, including its
pur- pose, style, and objective
nature.
4. Compare the elements of
CO_CRD Blend Images/SuperStock persuasive, argumentative, research,
and combi- nation college essays.
5. Identify the elements of
research writing.
6. Identify the elements of combination
papers.
7. Define the meaning of the writer’s
voice, including the difference
between formal and informal lan-
guage, plagiarism, and self-
revision.
CO_Q
Never give up. And most importantly, be true to yourself. Write from
your heart, in your own voice, and about what you believe in.
CO_Q_Au
—Louise Brown
, Section 3.1 The Purpose and Types of CHAPTE
Different types of writing assignments will have a different purpose,
audience, and focus, and this chapter offers a discussion of the different
types of writing you will likely be asked to do in your college courses. Each
of the main genres of writing this chapter dis- cusses—personal writing,
expository writing, persuasive and argumentative writing, and research
papers—is essential for your college courses, but each also translates
beyond the classroom. The chances are great that you will use elements of
these different types of writing in any profession or in your personal life,
from writing a proposal for a project to emailing a friend. Writing is a direct
expression of thinking and is therefore a powerful tool for helping you
communicate. Fully understanding your writing assignments is the first step
toward writing a strong essay, avoiding common pitfalls, and learning how
to use this powerful tool.
3.1 The Purpose and Types of College Writing
C
ollege writing is generally not meant to commemorate or to
entertain. You may be required in your college courses to write
academic papers for any of these four purposes:
• To tell a story or to share personal opinions or experiences
• To inform, explain, explore, analyze, or interpret ideas
• To convince readers to share your point of view about a
subject or to take some action you recommend
• To acquire knowledge and/or to organize, analyze, and
synthesize information.
Sometimes an assignment will have more than one purpose and require a
paper that com- bines two or more of these purposes, such as sharing
information and persuading the reader.
The Purpose of College Writing
Learning some of the fundamentals of college writing will not simply help
you in this course—it will also help give you the skills you will need to write
in other types of college courses. Most college courses—from English
composition to chemistry—require some writing and the ability to read and
correctly interpret assignments. Even if you do not want a career in a
humanities-related field, improving your writing skills will help you become
a more effective communicator and thinker.
Types of College Writing
Your college papers can be classified into four different types: (1) personal
writing, (2) exposition, (3) persuasion and argument, and (4) research
papers. As we discussed, some of your college assignments will require one
specific type of writing or another, and some may be a combination of two or
more of these four types. An important aspect of devel- oping your college
writing skills is to understand when to use which type of academic writing. If
you clearly understand each of the four types of college writing, you will be
able to “switch gears” when necessary to complete your assignments
correctly. If you
, Section 3.2 Personal CHAPTE
are uncertain about the type of writing an assignment requires, make sure
you ask your instructor or teaching assistant to clarify it for you.
Regardless of which type of paper you are preparing, remember that college
writing tends to use formal language and generally avoids slang, jargon, and
contractions. You must also write your papers in complete sentences;
organize your writing into logical para- graphs; use proper capitalization,
grammar, and punctuation; and use language that is clear and not overly
emotional. We will examine all four types of college writing in detail in later
chapters. However, a brief overview of each type is provided in the following
sec- tions, and the chart in Figure 3.1 summarizes each type of college
writing. You might want to print this chart to keep for reference in your
future college courses.
Figure 3.1: Types of college papers
Combination Papers
Personal Writing
Exposition Persuasion and Argument Research
e: To create a narrative, describe someone or something, or share personal opinions/experiences
Purpose: To inform; explain, explore,
Purpose:
analyze,
to convince
or consider
readers
ideas;
to share
or Purpose:
provide
your explanations
point
to acquire
of view
knowledge
or
orinstructions
to take
and/or
actiontoyou
organize,
recommen
ana
• Tell a story •Compare and contrast • Take a position on an • Select and
•Share a personal • Analyze and issue and defend it research a topic
experience respond to readings • Propose a solution to a • Write a term paper
•Describe a person, •Discuss problems problem • Write an
place, object, or and solutions • Recommend a course of informative
event •Critique an article action report
•Express your personal •Explain a process
beliefs • Evaluate evidence • Test theories
or concept
presented to support a • Provide
•Reflect an state •Explain how a
point of view supporting
your opinion on an mechanism works
issue of reading •Explore causes and effects • Identify errors in logic evidence
•Demonstrate • Write a persuasive report • Stimulate critical thinking
understanding of • Argue a point of view • Generate new questions
concepts
•Summarize readings
•Instruct someone
how to perform a
task
• Answer essay exam
questions
• Analyze issues in a
case study
•Reflect on an issue and
interpret or explain it
3.2 Personal Writing
W
riting assignments that ask you to state your opinion about an issue;
to docu- ment your observations; to relate a subject to your own life;
to share a story; or to provide a description of a person, place,
object, or event call for personal
writing. Personal opinion and narrative essays fall into this category, as do
some reflective papers, which ask students to reflect on a subject’s meaning
to them or to relate it to a personal experience. Personal writing is
subjective, or based on your own observation,
