The various effects a writer may wish to have on his or her readers to inform, to persuade, to entertain-- result in different kinds of prose. The most common is prose that informs, which, depending on what it is about, is called exposition, description, or narration.
Exposition explains. How thinks work--an internal combustion engine. Ideas--a theory if economics. Facts of every day life--how many people get divorced. History-why Custer attacked at the Little Big Horn. Controversial issues laden with feelings--abortion, politics, religion. But whatever its subject, exposition reveals what a particular mind thinks or knows or believes. Exposition is constructed logically. It organizes around cause/effect, true/false, less/more, positive/negative, general/particular, assertion/denial. Its movement is signaled by connectives like therefore, however, and so, besides, but, not only, more important, in fact, for example.
Description deals with perceptions--most commonly visual perceptions. Its central problem is to arrange what we see into a significant pattern. Unlike the logic of exposition, the pattern is spatial : above/below, before/after, right/left, and so on.
The subject of narration is a series of related events--a story. Its problem is twofold : to arrange the events in a sequence of time and to reveal their significance.
Persuasion seeks to alter how readers think or believe. It is usually about controversial topics and often appeals to reason in the form of argument, offering evidence or logical proof. Another form of persuasion is satire, which ridicules folly or evil, sometimes subtly, sometimes crudely and coarsely. Finally, persuasion maybe in the form of eloquence, appealing to deals and noble sentiments.
Writing that is primarily entertaining includes fiction, personal essays, sketches. Such prose will receive less attention here. It is certainly important, but it is more remote from everyday needs than exposition or persuasion.
Tips to start the writing
Courageous to start practice, step one is choose topics you might develop into a short essay. Think of topics that deal not so much with things, places, or how-to-do projects as with your opinion and beliefs. Pick subjects that interest you and are within your experience, yet challenging. Be specific : don't simply write "my job" but something like "what I like most (or hate most) about my job.
Selecting one of the topics on your list, compose a paragraph about the readers for whom you might develop it. Consider how you wish to affect those readers, what you want them to understand and feel. Think about their general knowledge, values, attitudes, biases; whether they are your age or older or younger, come from a similar or a different background; and how you would like them to regard you.
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