Descriptive Essay, the Superior Choice

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Descriptive Essay, the Superior Choice Timothy Durant ENG 121 Aarika Chilson October 25, 2013 Descriptive Essay, the Superior Choice A popular pastime for many people is reading. There are various types of literature that can be consumed by the reader from novels to poetry. Many people enjoy reading essays that are published in monthly magazines and journals. Although there are several types of essays, I will be discussing the narrative essay and the descriptive essay. The specific works I will be reviewing are the essays "Homeless” written by A. Quindelen and “How to Say Nothing in 500 Words or Less” written by P.M. Roberts. Reviewing these essays reveals the similarities and differences between the narrative essay and the descriptive essay, which I believe is the superior style. Before I begin, a brief explanation of each style of writing is in order. The narrative essay tells a story which can be for entertainment, personal in nature, or it can impart a lesson. The story is told by a narrator and can be factual or fiction. The essay has a plot that typically is told chronologically or in spatial order, and there is creative tension which holds the audience’s attention. Descriptive writing is often referred to as painting with words. The descriptive pattern avoids general words in favor of specific terms to vividly portray a person, place, or thing. This style of writing allows the reader to visualize the topic and step into the writer’s experience. Descriptive writing usually does not have a plot and is not confined to any particular sequence of events. Often the elements of both styles of essays are combined in one essay. P.M. Roberts in his narrative, “How to Say Nothing in 500 Words or Less” uses the tale of a procrastinating
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