What a Good Essay Is

After going over the two reading about what makes an essay, it mentioned some things I felt like I knew before, but it also mentioned them in a new way that I haven't thought about before. When I was reading the beginning of "Encountering the Essay," I knew where they were coming from when they said that there is not one true definition for an essay. Other works of writing have a set style and format, but essays have that unique quality in that it can be whatever you want it to be.

I have to say, that is kind of what I like about essays. They are what you make them to be. I also liked in "Encountering the Essay" when they go into the history of the essay. In going through the history is gave me more of an understanding of what an essays purpose should be in writing them today, about whatever topic. Essays are like experiments, or trials. They are an author making an attempt to write about whatever they feel is important to them.

That brings me to the second reading, "Essayists on the Essay." They go a little bit into what topics should be written about when writing an essay. I definitely agree that a good place to start is writing about something you know. Writing about a subject matter that at least touches on something you're very passionate about will show through in your writing.

They also talk about the author reader relationship. When an author writes his or her essay, their main goal should be to appeal to the reader, to take them on a journey. I couldn't agree with this concept more. I feel like a big part of the essays are how readers will respond to it. Taking the extra effort to take the readers along with you step by step, for example by using good descriptions, can go a long way.

I think my essay could use a few changes after reflecting on this reading. I really want to try to write good, vivid descriptions in my essay so I can accomplish that goal of trying to get the reader to see what I see. Also making my essay attention grabbing instead of trying to fit it into a certain format is something I could work on. I want to focus more on the flow of the essay instead of trying to fit it in some sort of mold.