There are two types of essays, narrative and descriptive with one being more effective than the other. Writing effective and different types of essays has become a critical part of academic success (Feng & Checkett, 2014, p. 152).
Certain essays can call for either descriptive or narrative writing. Narrative writing usually refers to recounting events, focusing more on the events themselves rather than on details, while descriptive writing adds in those details using imagery and invoking one or more of the five senses. Writing a narrative is an impulse to share a story.
Sometimes the aim of the writer is simply to entertain, provide a moment of escape from the everyday hustle or help others in their understanding of something In narrative writing, the writer is perfectly capable of telling you the plot of the story, while in descriptive writing there does not have to be a plot, specific language is the key in order for the story to become very easy for the reader to visualize. A narrative essay tells a story from personal experiences and makes a point and a descriptive essay paints a vivid picture which keeps the reader engaged.
While it may seem convincing, narrative essay communicates only one person’s point of view. Unlike a narrative essay, which reveals meaning through a personal story or experience, the purpose of a descriptive essay is to reveal the meaning of a person, place, event or thing through detailed and sensory observation. The descriptive essay utilizes the power of language and all the human senses to bring a subject to life for the reader. Grabbing the attention of a reader requires the writer to paint a picture in the reader’s mind hence why a descriptive essay is the most effective writing.
The Essay on Frederick Douglass Narrative Story Reader Readers
Frederick Douglass s Narrative In Frederick Douglass s Narrative, Douglas himself narrates the novel using story telling to bring both the reader into the story, and the theme into focus. Through his narration, Douglass also uses narrative strategies like anecdotes, and plot twists. Even with it being a true story, Douglass brings the readers attention to a peak with these techniques making the ...
It gives the reader a broader insight of the story and assists in expanding the reader’s mind. A well written descriptive essay will allow the reader to paint a vivid mental picture. Narrative and descriptive essays have a very common objective, communicating to the reader. While they may seem to be identical, there are several things that differentiate the two styles of essay writing. The biggest difference between the two is that a narrative essay includes action, but the descriptive essay does not.
Narration follows a logical order, typically chronological. The introduction of a narrative usually provides the setting and prepares the reader for the rest of the story. In contrast, description typically contains no time elements, so the writer must organize descriptive essays by some other reasonable means, such as how they physically move around in a space or with a paragraph for each of the senses they use to describe. A narrative essay can be based on a personal experience and is written in first person tense with vivid details.
For instance, in the essay I want a wife by Judy Brady the narrator uses first person tense throughout the essay. “I would like to go back to school so that I can become economically independent, support myself, and, if need be, support those dependent upon me” (Brady 1971).
This is a great example of first person tense, as well as one person’s point of view in a narrative essay. The reader can certainly understand and maybe relate to why the narrator wants a wife. Narrative essay have a propensity to be less effective than descriptive essay.
A narrative essay narrows down every point and tends to make conclusions for the reader. Most readers want to learn from what they read so that they may grow in their academic studies. Descriptive essays have been acknowledged by many educators and students as being the most effective type of essays. An effective writer paints a clear picture for the reader which ensures the reader is captivated by the story (Chesla & Research and Education Association, 2008, p. 165).
The Essay on A Descriptive Narrative of Jonathan Swift
A Descriptive Narrative of Jonathan Swift The greatest satirist of the English history was not merely a prestigious critic whom made people laugh about general trivial topics. Jonathan Swift criticized the human race’s deficiency as a species into shameful awakening. He brought about change to English government and fought for the rights of his countrymen. He was by no means a mono-faceted man. He ...
The most important thing an author must keep in mind is that their job is to show not tell.
The writer must make readers transport themselves into the story using only words. Similar to narrative writing, the introduction in descriptive writing still talks about the background of the story or passage, but instead of also mentioning a theme or insight it focuses on the dominant impression the writer wants the reader to walk away with. As the writer describes, he or she creates a three-dimensional picture so the reader can experience the item, place, person or emotion along with the reading.
In addition, descriptive essays paint a grander picture in the reader’s mind that leaves them yearning for more. In caged bird a poem by Maya Angelou, the writer says “the caged bird sings, with fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune heard on the distant hill, fort the caged bird sings for freedom” (Angelou, 1983).
Caged bird manages to paint the picture of a caged bird in the reader’s mind through descriptive essay. According to educators this is one of the most effective ways of learning.
Narrative and descriptive essays are meant to communicate messages to the reader despite their different approaches. For instance, in I want a wife by Judy Brady the author says, “I want a wife” (Brady, 1971) and this communicates his main message. However, Maya Angelou uses descriptive essay differently by depicting the quest for freedom of slaves through the image of a caged bird. At one point, the author depicts the cry for human freedom when she says, “but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom” (Angelou, 1983).
Narrative essays can evoke certain emotions but do not necessarily paint a picture. The emotions evoked can be that of similarity for the reader as they are statements made by the writer. For example in the story I want a wife, the author says “I need a wife so that she can take care of my children” (Brady, 1971).
The Essay on Makes A Women Character Reader Story
Susan Gla spells "A Jury of Her Peers" is an ethic drama that presents us with a mirror image of a society where men are considered superior to women in all actions. This drama take are reader, not on a murder mystery, but rather a strong human compassion of help for those in need. Author of this drama supports Minnie Fosters act of killing her husband, John Wright as a sign of standing up for ...
This is telling the reader why the writer wants a wife, it is not painting a picture but making a statement that the reader may or may not relate to. Descriptive essay is a major component of academic success.
It communicates a deeper message than that of a narrative essay which allows the reader the ability to become effective in brain storming. In the caged bird, a poem by Maya Angelou, she uses the image of a caged bird to engage the reader in the story. The writer talks about the quest for freedom which was faced by many people yet, there was nothing they could do about it at that moment. In the poem, the writer paints an amazingly vivid picture of all the things a free person enjoys.
The writer says “the free bird thinks of another breeze and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn” (Angelou, 1983).
She is not just making direct statements but allowing the reader to visualize and read deeper into the words on the page. It is evident that an effective essay must exhibit the ability to captivate a reader’s mind and appeal to the reader’s senses: sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. Based on the examples given above, descriptive essay is much more superior that narrative essay.
It transports a reader into the story by painting an extremely vivid picture solely using words. If readers come away from a descriptive essay with the feeling that they have really met a person, gone to a particular place, or held a certain object, the writer has done a great job. Narrative essays tell a story, descriptive essays show a story. Descriptive writing presents the information in a more appealing way to get the reader emotionally invested in the story. Do you want to just read the story or feel as if you have lived the story?
