GNDU B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce)

Chapter 2: English-I: Reading Essays (Prose for Young Learners)

Summary

This unit builds the skill of reading and understanding prose essays through the prescribed anthology. An essay is a short piece of non-fiction prose in which a writer presents thoughts, arguments or observations on a particular subject. Essays are generally of two broad kinds: expository or informative essays, which explain or inform; and persuasive or argumentative essays, which try to convince the reader of a viewpoint; some are descriptive or narrative in style. A well-structured essay has an introduction that states the subject, a body of paragraphs that develop the ideas with explanation and examples, and a conclusion that sums up the writer's view. To read an essay effectively, students should identify the main idea or thesis, follow how each paragraph supports it, notice the writer's tone (serious, humorous, critical, reflective) and recognise the purpose behind the writing. Comprehension of essays develops vocabulary, the ability to summarise, and critical thinking, since the reader must distinguish facts from opinions and evaluate the argument. To answer questions, students should locate relevant information, paraphrase ideas in their own words, infer the writer's attitude and draw out the central message. These reading skills are closely linked to writing, because understanding how essays are organised helps students structure their own paragraphs and answers clearly, with a topic sentence, supporting details and a concluding idea.

Key terms

Important questions

Practice quiz