Organizing Essays by Mode
© 2003, 2007 Bill Stifler
SIRV is an acronym for Significance, Importance, Relevance, or Value
This chart indicates most common characteristics and should not be followed slavishly. Essays often adopt unique perspectives, sometimes blending modes, making it difficult to
clearly identify an essay as a single mode. In general, however, the mode of an essay can be determined by identifying what overarching question the essay seeks to answer.
Mode
Types
Focus
Thesis
(SIRV)
Topic
Sentences
identify
Body Paragraphs
Common
Conclusion
Common
Supporting
Modes
Do not
confuse with
Narrative
n/a
crises leading to
conflict, usually
personal
of conflict
transit ions of
events leading
to crises
narr ate and d escribe crises
(images and tone important)
attempt to
make sense of
conflict
process
example
process
cause/effect
descriptive
Descr iptive
n/a
essential natur e;
main ch aracter istic;
enhanced awar eness;
mood/tone
of dominant
impr ession
details
supporting
dominant
impr ession
show rather than explain
follow time, space, theme, or
logical order
may develop in crementally
restatement
nar rative
example
compar ison
/contrast
nar rative
example
how examples
illustra te the SIRV of
topic
of topic
examples
Qualitative exampl es:
analogy, anecdote, allusion,
hypothetical
Quantitat ive examples:
descriptive, lists
restatement
nar rative
descriptive
compar ison
/contrast
nar rative
descriptive
classi ficati on
/division
Prescr iptive
how to do something
of process
steps
explain steps
restatement
---------------Descri ptive
---------------------------how something is
done/happens
----------------stages
-----------------------------------explain stages
most important
SIRV reason
for knowing
definition
example
cause/effect
compar ison
/contrast
nar rative
descriptive
cause/Effect
n/a
how items should be
grouped
of scheme *
classes * or
groups
----------------of system **
----------------parts/
functions
restatement
most important
group
-----------------restatement
SIRV of whole
process
description
nar rative
definition
example
example
---------------------------how parts contribute to
function of whole
describe cha racterist ics of
groups (classes) * and
representative members
-----------------------------------reveal function of parts within
whole
best value of A, B, C
---------------------------how A reveals B
---------------------------relations of A to B
---------------------------how rel ation s of A to B
reveal issue
of contrast/
compar ison
points of
comp/contrast
develop points of
comparison/contr ast
SIRV of
making the
compar ison
example
argument
each item to
be compared
give parallel exp lanation s of
each item
compared/con trasted
nar rative
descriptive
cause/effect
definition
Example
Process
Classification
*
n/a
----------------Division **
Compari son
/Contrast
Valuation
----------------Interpretati on
----------------Analysis
----------------Synthesis
SIRV of points of
comparison/ contrast to issue
personal SIRV
most SIRV
example
most important
point
--------------process
Mode
Cause/Effect
Types
Valuation
value of consequences;
----------------Interpretati on
---------------------------probabilities and
inferences;
---------------------------major causes/effects;
----------------Analysis
----------------Synthesis
Definition
Focus
formal and
extended
Thesis
(SIRV)
Topic
Sentences
identify
of ultimate
cause
(effects)
causes
effects
sequen ce of
causes/effects
of ultimate
effect
(causes)
---------------------------broader implications to
be drawn of causes/
effects behind event,
occurr ence, action , or
attitude (issue)
of beginning
or ultimate
result
(causalchain)
what something is
of definition
Body Paragraphs
explore causes/effects in
light of th eir value;
---------------------------------explore or infer probable
causes/effects
---------------------------------develop ca uses, effects, or
sequence of cause/effect
----------------------------------
Common
Conclusion
SIRV of
consequences,
speculations,
warn ings, or
context
Common
Supporting
Modes
nar rative
descriptive
process
definition
process
nar rative
nar ration
description
example
comparison/
contrast
descriptive
nar rative
example
Recap major
causes or effects
tie causes/effects, or
sequence of causes/effects
to larger context
of issue
main points
explain nature
of thing
develop points of definition
steps in
exploring
meaning
develop process of arriving
at definition
restatement
most important
quality
All modes
strength of pro
provide evidence to support
used in
position; call to
arguments; to count er
support
support
opposing arguments
------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------qualified ca ll for
analyze
of issue
weigh options and
Rogerian
response; request
strengt hs/weaknesses
recommend strong est
for further study
analyze relative weights
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------plea, often
provide evidence to support
of issue
new cour se of
Persuasive
emotional, for
proposal; provide anecdotal
action/n ew idea
support
or human interest support
for action or view
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------- ------------------summation
evidence; reasons grounds
data, warr ants,
of claim
establish a claim
Toulmin
support/guarantee claim;
backing,
reasons for accepting
rebuttals
grounds; identifying/
responding to objections
* Three elements to a classification essay: set of things being classified; scheme (or principle of selection) for classifying set; classes into which set is divided.
** Three elements to a division essay: system (whole); principle of analysis (how parts function in relation to whole); sub-systems (parts)
Argument
Debate
favor one option in
opposition to others
Do not
confuse
with
of option
arguments/
counterarguments
------------------relative
strength s/
weaknesses
------------------reasons support
proposed view/
course of action
Any