COMPARISON BETWEEN NARRATIVE AND ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS

DEFINITIONS

 The

argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic, collect, generate, and evaluate evidence, and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.

The

narrative essay is a genre of writing in which it is in the form of story with a narrator explaining events taken place.

SIMILARITIES

Require topic sentences.

Narrative Essay Example: At the break of dawn, we headed for the hills to the north of the village.

Argumentative Essay Example: The many road safety campaigns aimed at injecting discipline in road users have met with failure and frustation.

 Both

essays start with an introduction and end with a conclusion. essays have similar sentences (simple, compound, complex sentences).

Both

DIFFERENCES

AIMS OF WRITING

The narrative essay tells a story. It can also be called a "short story." Generally the narrative essay is conversational in style, and tells of a personal experience. It is most commonly written in the first person (uses I). This essay could tell of a single, life-shaping event, or simply a mundane daily experience.
An argumentative essay is one that attempts to persuade the reader to the writer's point of view. The writer can either be serious or funny, but always tries to convince the reader of the validity of his or her opinion. The essay may argue openly, or it may attempt to subtly persuade the reader by using irony or sarcasm.

TYPES OF ELEMENTS

ELEMENTS OF A
NARRATIVE

COMPOSITION

Elements
Orientation

Characteristics
Introduction of: Plot-the story Setting-place and time of the story Characters-the main character(s) Development of the plot Events in sequence leading to a climax Conflict or problem sets in The most exciting part of the story Events of the story where problems are solved Story is brought to a satisfactory conclusion

Rising Action

Climax Falling Action Resolution

NARRATIVE ESSAY (FROM THE TEXT)

Elements Orientation Rising Action Examples Details of the tigers attack Conflict (the recent attack of tiger on a woman) Events take place in the organization of the hunting trip The paw prints of tiger are found and the party of hunting trip encountered the tiger. The tiger is shot by Awang. The hunting party headed back to the village.

Climax

Falling Action Resolution

ELEMENTS OF
ARGUMENTATIVE

COMPOSITION

An Argumentative Essay contains the following: An introduction Support / Body Paragraph A refutation A conclusion

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY (FROM THE TEXT)

Elements Examples

Introduction

Young Malaysian drivers stigmatized as reckless and indisciplined.

Young drivers tend to gravitate towards speeding and racing. Young drivers are not capable of making mature decisions. To discard the negative image about Malaysian drivers as a whole, the legal age for driving should be increased.

Support / Body Paragraph A refutation A conclusion

POINT OF VIEW

 An

narrative essay has no restrictions in considering in what person is should be written. Nevertheless, often it is written from the first person and therefore the I sentences are allowed, but not necessary.

An

argumentative essay is written to express the author's point of view on a particular issue or topic, but there is no use of I sentences.

STYLES OF WRITING

For narrative writing:

Appeal to the 5 senses by using imagery. Choose concrete details so that the reader can picture the events you describe. Use figures of speech (similes, metaphors, analogies) and figurative language. Example: spread like wildfire, nocturnal creatures, Our stomachs growling with hunger..., hair-raising moments, Our walk slowed down to a snails pace...

For argumentative writing:

Taking a firm stance on an issue Example: Young Malaysian drivers stigmatized as reckless and indisciplined. Recent surveys have supported this image. (The statements made show the authors stand about the image of young Malaysian drivers) Establishing facts to support an argument. Example: Statistics show that most road accidents are caused by young drivers who are responsible misdemeanors...

Clarifying relevant values for the audience (perspective) Example: .... such as indiscriminate overtaking, not giving appropriate signals, drink driving, speeding and failure to adhere to the traffic rules. Forming and stating conclusions Example: To discard the negative image about Malaysian drivers as a whole, the legal age for driving should be increased.

SUMMARY

Argumentative Writing Similarities Require topic sentences

Narrative Writing

Both essays start with an introduction and end with a conclusion. Both essays have similar sentences (simple, compound, complex sentences).

Differences

It contains statistics, opinions that are expertly formulated and evidence from credible sources.
An argumentative essay is not arranged in an order.

Appeal to the 5 senses by using imagery.

A narrative essay is arranged in an order (chronological / nonchronological).

Argumentative Writing

Narrative Writing

Differences

Proposes arguments and debate. There is no use the first person I. Does not use the figures of speech.

Only tells a story using sequential events. Use the first person I Use figures of speech (similes, metaphors, analogies)

Argumentative Writing

Narrative Writing

Differences

Does not use dialogue, vivid verbs and modifiers Formal

Use vivid verbs and modifiers. Can formal or nonformal.

THANK YOU