The first essays were written to be read by someone sitting in a big chair in a study or living room, someplace quiet with little distraction where one could read and think slowly. This sort of reading context fits with the original meaning of “essay,” which means “to try”: essays were originally places for writers to try out ideas, to follow out the threads of ideas with patience just to see where the ideas led, and so they were also to be read with a little extra time and patience. Develop a statement of purpose and design plan for a project on a topic of your choosing—and, as part of your purpose, include developing a structure, tone of voice, or visual presentation (or a mix of these three and more) that encourages readers to slow down as they read and to savor your production.
