Q.6 What are the horizons of essay writing?
Ans. Essays may be classified as narrative essays, descriptive essays, reflective essays, expository essays, argumentative essays and imaginative essays. The classification is useful so long as it is remembered that these classes are not mutually exclusive, and that some essays may partake of the peculiarities of more that one class.
The various horizons of essay writing are described below –
Narrative Essay: -
A narrative essay consists mainly the narration of some event or series of events. I say “mainly” because a narrative essay must not be confused with a short story or bits of history. The narration it relates should be treated as a subject or thought and comment, and so the essay should be more or less reflective. Narrative essays may relate to –
(a) Historical stories or legends.
(b) Biographies.
(c) Incidents.
(d) An accident or natural disaster.
(e) A journey or voyage.
Descriptive Essay: -
A descriptive essay consists of a description of some place or thing; eg.,
(a) Animals, plants, minerals.
(b) Towns, countries, buildings, ek.
(c) Aspects and phenomena of nature.
(d) Manufactured articles.
Reflective Essay: -
A reflection is a thought on some subject – on 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 –
(a) Habits, qualities etc.
(b) Social, political and domestic topics.
(c) Philosophical subjects.
(d) Religious and theological topics.
Expository Essay: -
An expository (or explanatory) essay consists of an exposition or explanation of some subject; eg:
(a) Institutions, industries, occupations.
(b) Scientific topics.
(c) Literary topics.
Argumentative Essay: -
In this kind of essay we not only give information but also present an argument with the PROS (supporting ideas) and CONS (opposing ideas) of an argumentative issue. We should clearly take our stand and write as if we are trying to persuade an apposing audience to adopt new beliefs or behaviour. The primary objective is to persuade people to change beliefs that many of them do not want to change.
Imaginative Essay: -
Essays on subjects such as feelings and experiences of the sailor wrecked on a desert island may be called imaginative essays. For such an essay the writer is called to imagine himself in a position of which he had no actual experience. Such subjects as “if I were a king.” Or “The autobiography of a horse” would call for imaginative essays.
Q.7 Write an essay on “India of My Dreams”. (2008-09, 11 - 12)
Ans. India of My Dreams:-
Other than politics which to me means the medium revealing the intricacies of society, I take a great deal of interest in cosmology where the universe unfold itself in infinite space and time; where galaxies fast recede into the ever-disappearing fontiers of universe away from each other; where stars emerge, glow and explode to death and where quite apparently, motion is the mode of existence of matter.
Motion i.e. change and transformation - always from a lower to a higher order - also, incidentally, forms the mode of desistance of human society. No idea is absolute, no society is perfect. Whenever a society has been conceived as the embodiment of the absolute idea, shock waves emerging from deep within have shaken its very foundations. And then amidst the despair all around new dreams arise. Some dreams never come true as they are wild fantasies of the human mind, the ‘mind - in - itself’. The few which are realized are essentially abstract creations of the human mind, the ‘mind - for - itself’. None the less, dreams, whether wild or pleausible, have remained the source of human endeavour since perhaps the origin of humanity itself.
India of my dreams is essentially an integral India where are Pakistani Muslim won’t have to procure a visa in search of the roots of his evaluation; where, likewise, for an Indian the greatindus valley civilization thus not fall in a foreign country; and where are bangali, hindu refugee will finally shed the bitter memories of Dacca and a Bangladeshi muslim will not be hounded as a foreign national in India.
Q.8 Write an argumentative essay on any topic of your choice. (2008-09)
Ans. Immigrants and Immigration: -
What is an American? An American is someone who loves their country and the people in it, and believes in bettering thier own lives as well as the lives of those around them. Does it really matter that these individuals may be of German or Chinese desent? No, not at all; thier ethnic background has nothing to do with being American. To say that the majority of people in the United States have some sort of tie with an ethnic background from a different country would be a safe assumption. This is what makes our American Culture unique. Immigrants bring to our country strong family structures and strong morals. Foreigners also help our economy prosper (Julian L. Simon). Imigrants are what help make America be America; by being a multicultural society standing united.
In todays American society it is not uncommon for their to be families broken up by divorce or other domestic disturbances. However, immigrants seem to have much more stronger family values. (Rocky Arcadi) For many immigrants, family comes first over everything; for many of them family is all they have. This is especially true of traditional developing societies. Many of these newcomers have strong traditions and beliefs which are strict and are instilled in thier children. By immigrants coming to America with these type of beliefs and strong traditions it sets good examples for our western civilization. By receiving new cultures to our society it is a chance to absorb thier rules and respect they have for one another. This is ideal to help restore our family values.
It has been said that “immigration is a threat to our economy.” This statement is so absurd. Immigration increases purchasing thereby, increases demand for labor. Immigration not only takes jobs, but also creates them. (Wall Street Journal) For instance, A man comes to America from China. This man opens a small Chinese resteraunt. The resteraunt makes outstanding business. Ten years latter this man owns twelve restaurants and employees three hundred Americans. Stories like that happen all the time, which help our economy.
Immigrants are what help America be America. They say that America is just a melting pot. This is what makes our country unique. We have many cultures, many Ideas, and traditions, but all of us have the same dream. That Dream is the American Dream.
The same dream that keeps Americans in America and immigrants to come here. By having a variety of cultures helps people understand and learn from each other. Taking immigration away would hurt this country more than economically, but, socially also.
Immigration, I feel is extremely important. Being an Italian American myself, I understand the importance of immigration. My family have traditions and beliefs they teach me, that I’ll teach my kids some day. I am very proud of background in Italy and America. And no one should be denied the opportunity my parents and I have to be a part of America.
True / Flase
Q.1. PRECIS is the art of condensing one’s own written content. (2010 - 11)
Ans. True
Q.2. In precis writing we have to compress.
Ans. True.
Q.3. An essay is a literary composition of any subject.
Ans. True.