The Chronological Essay

Mean & Concept

• The chronological essay is organized by time, or sequence.

• Meaning, if you write a history of bubble gum, for example, you will begin with its invention and go from there, ending in the present moment.

Outline of Chronological Essay

• Introduction:• Body Paragraphs• Conclusion

Introduction

• Provides a mini-version, or overview, of what will be covered in what order

• Establishes the importance of the information• Hint : Q: Why should your readers bother?.

Body Paragraphs

• Provide clear divisions, or steps, in chronology. • They might be divided literally by – time (as in a history, decades or wars, other

events) – or by the order of the thing you're looking at (as in

a line-by-line reading of a short poem).

Conclusion

• Provides a more detailed answer to “Why bother?”

• Shows the reader what he has learned by retracing the chronology of the argument

• Perhaps also by suggesting areas for further research or explication

• You conclusion may be – longer and more complex than in other essay

structures – more than one paragraph.

When to Use Chronological Essay?

• This form fits in best with– papers whose aim is to tell the story or history of

an event– papers whose purpose is to simply list, explain, or

chronicle.– Papers that analyze literary texts such as poems,

plays or books could use this structure, but be careful to avoid simple summarization.