Check out this definition of the word “essay” from Miriam-Webster’s website:
Etymology: Middle French essai, ultimately from Late Latin exagium act of weighing
1 : trial, test
2 a : effort, attempt; especially : an initial tentative effort b : the result or product of an attempt
3 a : an analytic or interpretative literary composition usually dealing with its subject from a limited or personal point of view b : something resembling such a composition
The third definition is the one that you probably would have come up with on your own if asked, but I really want you to consider those first two.
What do words like “attempt,” “test,” and “tentative” tell you about what an essay should be? If you know that I know that this is the definition of an essay, does it affect your approach to writing in my class?
What is the point of an essay?
an essay is basiclly an awnser to a question or a promt that u give an answer then support it with evidence
Sure, but you should probably look at the discussion prompt a little more carefully. What, based on the first couple of definitions, is an essay really?
An essay should reflect our effort and determination in achieving the education and knowledge we hope to receive. Therefore an essay expresses how much we desire to learn and accomplish. There is no wrong or right in writting an essay but there is however a measure in how much we are willing to attain. Our performance decides our destination.
An essay is the answer to the prompt, it can also be a test because when it comes to an essay the point is test the prompt and answer it with evidence. When I think of an essay I think about the essays that are given in the AP test because theres a time limit so it is kind of a trial. It is also an effort when you need to brainstorm and use the evidence of the text to come up with a conclusion to support the thesis. One may think that an essay is just a literary composition but it’s both a trial and the use of effort to come out with the conclusion of the thesis or subject of the essay given.
The point of an essay is to answer a question with details. The way i look at the essay being a test doesn’t necessarily mean a grade for class, but instead to test your mind. To make your mind think, and to see what your thoughts would be on a certain subject. Then described with details from a source ,and to illustrate why you believe the things you do.
An essay is a way of expressing yourself. the way you write tells a lot about your self. You dont need to write an essay just for a test or homework assignment, like others have mention. It needs to have well develop thesis sentece and body paragraphs that support it.
The word “test” “tentative” and “attempt” seems like the purpose of an essay is just to jot something down that without thinking it through. If I knew that Mr. Lindsey know that this is the definition of an essay, it will not affect the way I write in his class because I have been taught a certain way to write an essay and not the Miriam-Webster definition style.
To me, the point of an essay is the process of analyzing the way your mind think. An essay is also to express one’s point of view.
The words attempt, test, and tentative describe an essay as a way to express your ideas and feelings about a certain subject, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a perfect composition. It’s an attempt to reveal what you know about that subject/prompt, by using your thoughts/feelings you avoid summerizing.
a essay is based upon what and how you see the prompt.. depending on what it may be.. everyone is goin to have a differnt perspective. to me and essay is gathered words trying sound smart and make it seem if you really understand what the prompt is and attempt to do ur best and try very hard.
A essay is a answer to prompts and questions. a essay should have evidence always and the person writing it should try to attempt the question by following it up with details. essays are seem to be hard test for me.
I believe an essay should should be considered, as it say, a trial to test our knowledge about the subject. So writing an essay should only be used as an attempt to demonstrate how much we know about the subject. So it should be considered as an actual test or quiz for the class. As for the approach to write it, it should be written with careful thinking and precision.
An essay is a test were you attempt to write down your opinion over a certain question. It is also something that should have proof or evidence as in to why you choose that answer.
to me, and essay is a way to express yourself based on the prompt, which there is no right or wrong answer, which i don’t agree with getting graded on it. It is like a test to see if we understand the prompt, which most of the time it is a very simple prompt just except the way fancy words are added which then makes it very complex and frustrating, but again thats only me.
I believe an essay is a test of where one stands in speaking, how good one can answer a question or how well does one explain on what there arguing. Basically how well one understands or knows the subject
An essay is the answer to a question. The relationship between words such like test and essay are very similar. Its basically a test showing your writting and thinking skills put together of course anwering a prompt followed with evidence.
An essay is an answer to a question with evidence and support. It’s to test what we know and how well we know it. You have to explain why the answer is correct and explain it with good evidentiary support. It’s like a math question.
Well an essay is what you write about like: expressing yourself, answering the prompt and using evidence to support the answer, or defining what the prompt means. The essay can be used as a test to determine your knowledge and skills.
i believe an essay is a quick response to a prompt. thoughts are jotted down in a timely manner, which may make ones initial attempt seem like a typical test. yet the purpose of writing an essay would be to express one’s view on a specific topic by coming up with a thesis statement and giving reasonable, profound, and original supportive evidence.
the essay would not only show the writer’s personally, and their background knowledge pertaining to the topic, but also thier comprehension of the actually prompt, and their overall writing skills.
An Essay Is An Answer To A Sertain Prompt Or Question.
In Which The Writer Has To Have Proof To Back Up his/her Opinoin.
It Is Not Just About Writing “Something” Its About Writing Something w/ thought & passion!
Sometimes You Might Want To Prove A Point or Just Simply Inform!
& What ever the idea their is always a story behind it!
Weather political, health, love, war, peace there is always a perpose behind a Text!:)
The definitions don’t really change the way I would approach an essay in your class. The fact that it states an essay is a trial or a test I believe it would be a test to see how well you can interpret a certain subject.
Sincerely,
emma
To me an essay is an answer to a given prompt with proof as to why you believe your answer is correct. It is a test in a way, especially when you have to quickly search through your brain for evidence that makes sense. It’s also a test to yourself, because if you truly believe in what you’re saying,then proving it shouldn’t be that difficult.
I think that the point to an essay is basiclly a written test where you attempt to write about a topic and support it with evidence.
These words does not affect in how I approach the prompt. An essay is an attempt to answer the prompt and test the knowledge that you posses about the topic. It’s an opinion because there is no wrong or right answer. You must have evidence in what you are saying to be a reasonable statement.
I think that those words define an essay as something that tests you in a way to think about what you could possibly write that is also tentative. In an essay you also attempt to write to about a certain prompt or to agree or disagree on certain views and then support whatever you choose with evidence.
an essay is a test for me & an answer me putting my opinion out in paper for anyone to read & for anyone to judge!
An essay is a “attempt” to show how much you know abouta given promt and to give an answer in your own perspective. It may aslo be seen as a “test”, because to answer the prompt you must have some sort of knowledge about whatever the promt may be. An essay should also be a compostion of the inner workings of your imagination and intelligance about a given literary piece of writing.
Essays…… anyway you may think it, essays can be hard, easy, or very complicated! Like stated in the definitions; a test, effort or attempt it’s based on how much you put your mind and thought into it. A point to an Essay is based on your knowledge and effort of research or of an idea, you might have. The creativity and specific details is what makes an essay YOUR essay. To some people when they hear “Essay” they think its going to be about facts and all this boring stuff; USE YOUR CREATIVITY! So when people like me want to do an essay and I have to read an example of an essay, I won’t fall asleep and take a long nap! Well that’s just my opinion a point to a true essay.
To me, an essay can be an answer to a prompt, an opinion, or a proven statement. The narrator has to be able to prove his/her point throughout the composition. Or have back up for their opinion and the reason for it. It all depends on the prompt, and the perspective the narrator has behind it. It does not change my view of an essay, as long as i make my point throughout the essay, or give great details behind my opinion.
The point of an essay, to me, is a test of how well I can answer a prompt or question using my own thoughts and words. Words like “attempt” and “test” that are used to define a essay can be sort of intimidating to whom is “attempting” to write a essay. These words can help push you to fully interpret what the subject of an essay is.
An essay to is the way you express yourself in writing. Putting all your toughts, concerns, and comments on things done in the world. wheter it your just trying to realise your toughts on an issue that is adressing something that is going on in our economy or government. the way lindsey sees it i think is to see what we think of the prompts that he gives us and how we deal will them. to see if we do attempt and give an effort to doing his prompts. for that reason i think we would probably be more modivated to write our prompts rather than blowing them off.
An essay is not just a test or quiz about a certain topic. It is the way of expressing your own thoughts. It is when you are able to let out all your feelings on paper and just express everything as Edgar stated. It is when you are given a prompt and you must answer the prompt with the knowledge you have obtained.
In my opinion what this means by the words ” attempt” is well whenever you are writing an essay well everytime you write you are making the best attempt you can at writing the best effort you can to get the best result. Also to get the closest to answering the prompt. Nobody is perfect. There is not just one way to answer the print. That’s why it’s considered an attempt because everyone is trying to get that perfect score or atleast try.
The first thing that comes to mind when i hear essay is a paper meant to inform then reader about a certain topic, but after seeing the definition my opinion has changed a bit. I now think essays are more of a sample or pre-written form, maybe even rough draft, of what your wriiting about. This being so because nine times out of ten you never write a good essay the first time around, you always have to go back and revise it to make it better.
An Essay Is Something That Can Cause A Nervouse Breakdown To Some Peopl. But To Me Its A Way To Express My Feelings In A Sheet Of paper.
More Like An Answer To A Question In Society That Dosent Always Have One Answer. Its a way to let Someone In your Heart/Head!
Might Sound A litte Cheesy But Hey Thats My Opinion;lol