How to Write an Essay on Incidence & Place
- 1). Determine the topic you wish to write about. According to Rebecca McClanahan, "A helpful question to ask while reflecting upon an experience is not only 'Why am I writing this,' but also 'Why am I writing this at this particular time? What is the occasion of the telling? Why now? Why here? What is the point of incidence?'" Figure out what the subject of the essay will be and at what point the story should begin.
- 2). Use a cluster web to brainstorm. Start with a circle in the center that lists the topic. Draw circles connected by lines all around the topic. Fill in these with ideas that are connected to the topic or incident. Look for details that will help explain the important elements of the story.
- 3). Begin with an introduction. Decide the exact point for the beginning of the story looking at your cluster. Describe, vividly, the scene. The readers should feel as though they are there if you are writing effectively. Set the scene, introduce the place, establish the mood or feeling. The idea behind an effective introduction is to draw the reader in immediately. Do not tell the reader what you are going to write about, simply write.
- 4). Continue the story chronologically. Include only necessary details to move the essay forward. Use vivid language, and incorporate a literary device if possible. Develop a metaphor or a simile to help elevate the intensity of the description. Paint a picture through your word choice.
- 5). Capture the importance of the incident or place. Answer for the reader why this event was significant. Was a lesson learned? Did this place have an effect on the course of your life? Why did you really pick this as your topic? Don't leave the reader feeling confused about the subject of the essay. Include these answers as the final paragraph for the essay.
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