English 101: Approaches to Paper Organization

The following types of papers are some of the options you have for organizing essays. You might come up with another type of organization that works as well or better. Try to vary your choice of organization throughout the quarter.

Comparison / Contrast

In this type of paper, you are not pointing out similarities or differences between two things, ideas, or works. What you are doing is showing how two things can be similar in some aspects even when they appear to be very different or how two things are different even though they appear to be quite similar.

Example: Two films on the same subject (war, for example) have some obvious differences that any viewer can see, but the underlying message of the films (or essays, or other art works) might be pretty similar and not as obvious. The essay you write can acknowledge the differences and then explore the more subtle similarities before presenting an evaluation of the effectiveness of each film.

Illustration

Illustration involves using an example to make an idea or argument clearer or stronger. The example can be actual or hypothetical. Usually, the idea or argument is presented and then the illustration introduced.

Example: The idea of a "balance of power" can be explained in general or abstract terms, but having a specific scenario like the situation surrounding the beginning of world war one can make the explanation clearer and provide a reference point for the reader. Illustrations can also be hypothetical, situations that you invent for the purpose, or fictional, as in a novel or movie.

Explication

This type is the opposite of illustration in a way. In it, an example is presented as a kind of problem, and then explained by a particular argument or idea.

Example: In Paths of Glory, the generals order the 701^st regiment to attack a location called the Anthill, but they know that their soldiers are not a large enough force to drive the Germans back and capture the target. This situation can be described in detail, complete with lines from the film showing how everyone concerned knows that the battle cannot be won. Then the relevant principle of just war can be introduced to explain why this situation should not be excused in war time or why just war theory doesn't apply. Theoretically, according to the idea behind just war principles, the attack may not be not justified if there is no chance of success.

Classification

A classification paper argues that a particular thing or idea or event or whatever belongs or doesn't belong within a larger category.

Example: In Dr. Strangelove, the US and the Soviet Union are at the brink of nuclear war and destruction, yet there has been no justification given, no wrong has been perpetrated that would need to be avenged--in fact, no disagreement exists between the two countries that might precipitate a war. So can the events in the film be called war at all? A definition of war and just war would be necessary in this paper to create the category that such a conflict would be included in or excluded from. Another possibility is to examine any war and argue, by addressing several principles of just war, whether it fits or doesn't fit the classification of just war.

Exemplification

This type is like the illustration paper, but it is distinct in that it attempts to use a number of examples as opposed to one.

Example: By presenting as many examples as possible and showing how they violate just war principles, you might argue, as some do in the text, that no just war has ever existed. It is essential in such an argument to use strong examples (ones that many people might believe are in fact just wars) so that you do not commit a straw man fallacy.

Causal Analysis

This type of paper looks at the causes of a particular event or situation OR at the effects of a particular event or situation. Sometimes a single cause can have multiple or a long string of effects; likewise, a single event or situation can have multiple causes.

Example: It might be interesting to argue that the creation of just war theory and principles has actually led to more war or to trace how the justification for a particular war (such as the war in Iraq) has been influenced by the idea of just war. Another approach is to look at the factors leading to the development of just war principles or to argue that recent events have caused or should cause a change in just war principles.

Any of these choices can be written in various styles, such as a dialog between historical figures or fictional ones, dramatization or fictionalization (creating a narrative), journalistic style (as though you are reporting), satire, parody, or academic style (the kind of structured argument commonly made in academic essays).