Structure in Personal Essay Writing

Summary

This lesson covers the importance of structure in personal essays, focusing on both macro and micro elements. It explains various essay structures, including chronological narratives, reflective essays, segmented formats, and more experimental 'hermit crab' essays. The key takeaway is that the structure of an essay reflects the writer's thought process, and experimenting with different formats can help convey complex ideas. The speaker encourages creativity in essay organization while ensuring that readers can follow the narrative clearly, regardless of the structure chosen.

Takeaways

• 😀 Voice and Persona are essential in writing; the tone and who is telling the story matter greatly.
• 😀 Structure in an essay can be analyzed on two levels: macro (overall organization) and micro (language and sentence structure).
• 😀 Macro structure refers to the organization of the essay, like whether it follows a chronological order or is organized by associations.
• 😀 An essay's structure often reflects the writer's thought process and can give insight into their persona and how they process information.
• 😀 There are many ways to structure an essay; no single structure is universally applied. Each writer may experiment with different formats.
• 😀 A narrative with a lift follows a strict chronological order, highlighting events and then reflecting on them, as seen in Claudia Love Meer’s essay.
• 😀 The whir of reflection structure doesn’t follow a strict timeline but is instead organized by ideas, often aiming to reflect on the meaning behind them.
• 😀 A segmented structure uses white space to divide different scenes or subtopics, often allowing the reader to piece together the theme of the essay.
• 😀 The dipping into the well structure follows a main thread but includes reflective moments that may seem disconnected but have hidden connections.
• 😀 Hermit crab essays borrow structure from non-essay formats, like recipe templates or work-cited pages, to present information in a creative way.
• 😀 Experimenting with essay structure can help to break free from traditional formats, making complex topics more digestible and engaging for readers.

Q & A

What are the two types of structure discussed in the script?

The script discusses two types of structure: macro structure, which is the large-scale organization of an essay, and micro structure, which refers to the language and smaller components of the essay.

How does macro structure differ from micro structure in essay writing?

Macro structure refers to the overall organization of an essay on the page, such as paragraph length, white space, and the order of ideas. Micro structure focuses on language and smaller elements like sentence construction and word choice.

What is a narrative with a lift, and how is it structured?

A narrative with a lift is a chronological structure where the essay moves through events step by step (A, B, C). It also includes reflection after each event, helping the writer convey a point or insight through these reflections.

Can you explain the concept of 'whir of reflection' as described in the script?

'Whir of reflection' is a structure where the essay is organized by themes or ideas rather than time. The writer reflects on various moments or ideas, exploring connections between them and their broader meaning rather than following a strict timeline.

What is a segmented essay, and how does white space play a role in it?

A segmented essay is divided into short sections with extra white space between them. This white space visually separates different scenes or themes, allowing the reader to transition between ideas and moments, helping to highlight the essay’s overall theme.

How does the essay 'Deadpool gets cancer right' illustrate the whir of reflection structure?

In the essay 'Deadpool gets cancer right,' the writer does not follow a chronological narrative but instead reflects on scenes from the film Deadpool, drawing connections between the scenes and her personal journey with cancer. The focus is on themes and ideas rather than the sequence of events.

What is a hermit crab essay, and how does it borrow from non-essay forms?

A hermit crab essay uses a non-traditional structure, borrowing forms from other genres or mediums to organize the content. This could include using the structure of a recipe, quiz, or another form to create order and convey meaning, often in experimental ways.

Why are hermit crab essays considered experimental, and can you give an example?

Hermit crab essays are experimental because they adapt and repurpose structures from outside traditional essay writing to convey meaning. For example, Bernard Shaw's essay on his life is structured like a Works Cited page, using bibliographic entries to reflect on the books that shaped his experiences.

What is the significance of using a non-traditional structure, such as a job description, in an essay?

Using a non-traditional structure, like a job description, can help the writer frame a personal or complex story in a unique way that connects with the reader. This approach can make a piece more engaging and help the writer explore difficult or complex topics in a clearer, more accessible format.

What is the key takeaway regarding structure from this lesson on essay writing?

The key takeaway is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to structuring an essay. Writers should be open to experimenting with different structures, ensuring consistency and clarity so the reader can follow the essay's progression, whether through time, theme, or reflection.