HOW TO WRITE A PERSUASIVE ESSAY

The broadness of persuasive writing is what makes it extremely valuable to learn. It is taught early on in schools. Students learn how to dissect political speeches, advertisements, and various other media. Most persuasive writing addresses contemporary issues. It challenges writers to take a stance and provide an educated opinion. So what is a persuasive essay?

The persuasive essay definition is an academic piece of writing aimed to persuade the reader to agree with a specific point of view. When writing a persuasive essay, the writer must conduct solid research and analysis to understand their subject to the fullest extent. They must be aware of their own (and the readers’) biases. Upon finishing reading a persuasive essay, the reader must be convinced that there is no other correct point of view.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Correct Format
• Persuasive Essay Topics
• Crafting A Thesis Statement
• Persuasive Essay Outline
• Grading System
• Beneficial Tips
• Examples

Correct Format

In schools and colleges, persuasive writing is taught using the five-paragraph essay structure. You will often be required to format your essay according to one of the common citation styles, such as APA or MLA.

The format of a persuasive essay relies on the way arguments are structured in the outline. For example, a typical body paragraph is the presentation and solidification of one argument. The section opens up with an introductory sentence which leads to the argument. After the argument is presented, the writer uses sources to prove that their argument is valid. Next, the writer transitions into the next argument, and so forth. The ‘outline’ section of this article provides further insight on how to format a persuasive essay.

Persuasive Essay Topics

When thinking of persuasive essay ideas, it is best to choose a topic with many contrasting opinions. Broad issues such as gun control and abortion rights can spawn novel length essays. These best be avoided unless you’re writing a dissertation.

Say you want to argue in favor of space exploration. It perfectly fits the description of a widely explored contemporary subject. Creating a structure where every body paragraph explores a different planet might be a bit too much. Why not narrow it down and argue in favor of building a base on the moon? This way, you can convince the audience of the benefits of creating a moon base, and giving them a small idea of what can be achieved from space exploration on a larger scale.

Hence, you have persuaded your reader on a small topic connected to a much broader one. This will leave them inspired with plenty of thoughts to feast on, allowing them to dive further into the world of space.

Topics For High School

Perhaps the concept of space exploration is long and tedious and makes your stomach turn. Don’t worry – you can come up with plenty simple persuasive essay topics for high school. Perhaps you have already debated on some of these with your friends:

• Should sex ed be taught in public schools?
• Should ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ be banned in school because its language makes some kids uncomfortable?
• Should cellphones be banned in classrooms?
• Should students wear uniforms in school?
• Should students influence the school curriculum?

Topics for College

Persuasive essay topics for college get a bit more complicated. The best essay topics are ones that take into account the events of contemporary life, discussing moral, ethical, technological, and environmental issues. Students have the opportunity to make a serious impact with their writing, fearlessly breathing new life into the old world. For college, it is best to choose controversial persuasive essay topics. They challenge the writer to engage in relevant intellectual issues. Here are some examples:

• Media marketed for teenagers advertise morally and ethically wrong messages.
• Federal courtrooms must have live cameras that televise all trials.
• Beauty contests should not be encouraged.
• With the amounts of information available online, college education should be made significantly cheaper.
• Create a prisoner rehabilitation system using music and art.
• Arguing in favor of Net Neutrality.

Crafting A Thesis Statement

The primary concern when writing a persuasive essay thesis should be the writer’s position on the selected topic. The thesis must be brief and direct, providing a clear idea of the essay’s stance. The writer’s mission is to create a piece that will solidify the thesis, proving it as valid and unchallenged.

Bad Thesis Statements:

• Homeless people are becoming a nuisance in Chicago, and someone should take care of them.
• There are many pros of buying food from local markets.
• Life on Mars is possible if we make it so.

Good Thesis Statements:

• The government of Chicago must take the homeless problem more seriously, providing them access to services such as food donations, public restrooms, and camping facilities.
• Buying food from local markets is hugely beneficial in improving the economy of small towns and villages, and the country as a whole.
• Mars colonization might be the only hope left for humanity, as pollution levels on Earth will soon make the planet uninhabitable.

As you may have noticed, lousy thesis statements offer a generalized and neutral view. Good thesis statements take a stable position in the argument.

Persuasive Essay Outline

After getting well-versed in your topic, it is essential to create an outline. The outline will assist you in organizing your argument. Every body paragraph presents an argument and backs it up with sources. These arguments and references used will all be placed in your outline which you can always refer to when writing your essay. The end of this section contains a persuasive essay outline example to help you get it done.

Introduction

There are plenty of ways how to start a persuasive essay. The introduction of the essay must begin with a hook to grab the audience’s attention. You can start with a humorous statement to break the ice and suggest a less formal writing approach. Alternatively, you may begin with a robust controversial statement. Put the reader straight into the action!

Any opener or headline serves as a tool to paint a broad picture of the work, leading to the main point. The same goes for a persuasive essay introduction. While it seems like a small structural element without any reliable info, the opening is crucial to capturing and maintaining the reader’s interest. It is best to write the introduction in the end. Knowing the content that follows will help you lead into it.

Body Paragraphs

Here’s where the heavy artillery comes into play. The persuasive essay body paragraphs are where the viewpoint is backed by hard facts and evidence. Good persuasive writers know the topic inside out. They can anticipate any opposing views and provide counter-arguments. Here are ways you could support an argument in a persuasive essay body paragraph.

• Use Facts. Factual information will come from reading and observation, as well as personal experience. These facts always have to be backed up by sources to make them credible.
• Quotes. “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” It is highly likely that there have been writers who already tackled your topic. Referring to them, and solidifying your argument with quotes can have a tremendous impact.
• Statistics. Some things just can’t be argued with. Always have statistics from a reliable scientific source to make your argument solid.
• Examples. These can include all of the above. Painting a specific scenario as an example could also work – depending on how it’s written. A good essay writer can persuade on just about any point.
• Concessions. An excellent way to prove your expertise in the field is by accepting part of your opponent’s argument as valid. Creating a concession will put you in a right place from an ethical perspective. It will help you find common ground with your opponent. “True, building a border wall will help keep drugs out of the country. However, people who fully rely on it are missing the point…”

Conclusion

It is precious to know how to end a persuasive essay efficiently. The persuasive essay conclusion does not delve far from the introduction. However, certain elements are exclusive for conclusions. Restating the thesis and summarizing main points is the obvious first thing to do.

To make a conclusion effective, one must write a meaningful personal comment. This could be a call for action to leave the reader with something to ponder about. This can be a prediction based on the information presented in the essay. It could be a quote that you believe perfectly summarizes the piece and its main points. Perhaps you’ve already found the solution to the problem, and you want to use the conclusion to suggest a way to solve it? Whatever the case, your mission here is to get creative and leave an impact.

The final version of your outline should look something like this.

Grading System

There are specific things instructors will look for in your essay. Following this persuasive essay rubric will help you win the praise of your professors.

• Focus: The thesis statement, as with the whole paper, must state a concrete point of view instead of being neutral. Every piece of writing in the paper exists to defend that thesis statement.
• Supporting the thesis: The thesis is well defined through solid arguments and references to credible sources. There is a minimum of 3 supporting points, which are organized in the essay outline.
• Organization: Every transition from one idea to the next is executed smoothly. There are transitional sentences which help the essay flow. Arguments are presented in the most suitable order.
• Conclusion: After reading the essay – the reader must have understood the writer’s point of view. The point of view is unbiased and educated and presented in a way that challenges the writer to take part in the argument.
• Conventions: Punctuation and grammar rules are supported. The essay isn’t hard to read due to a balance between short and long sentences.

Having ticked off these points, you can rest assured you’ve done everything correctly.

Beneficial Tips

With all being said, here are some final tips for writing a persuasive essay.

• Avoid fancy vocabulary: Having some variety when it comes to vocabulary is fine – but don’t expect your grade to go up because of some fancy synonyms. Find your style and write in a way that makes sense.
• Search for different persuasion techniques. There are plenty of them in countless different mediums. Perhaps doing some research on persuasion might help you with your essay.
• Triple check your work! Practice makes perfect, and so does proofreading. Check the essay for readability. Make sure that everything flows in harmony with the thesis. Get a second pair of eyes by giving your essay to a friend for reading!
• Every paragraph is a mini-essay: This is the best out of all the persuasive essay tips you will find. Take the essay outline, compress it, and apply it to every paragraph. This way, every section has an introduction with a hook, a mini-thesis, a sustained argument, and final concluding sentence. The structure is everything!

Persuasive Essay Examples

Check out our persuasive essay examples below. To get a better understanding with writing this type of paper.

Are Women Weaker Than Men Today?
This is an example of a well structured persuasive essay. The author challenges an assumption that women are weaker than men and provides evidence to support his claim.

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150 GOOD PERSUASIVE ESSAY TOPICS ON EVERYTHING

Without having some good persuasive essay topics in your pocket, a student could not write a paper of this type. The goal is to take a position and defend it. This means the topic must be debatable. A student must check whether credible enough, up-to-date, and relevant information is available on the web.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is a Persuasive Essay?
• How to Write a Persuasive Essay?
• How To Write Persuasive Essay Outline
• How to a Persuasive Essay Topic
• Persuasive Essay Topics
• How to Get a Qualified Writing Help

What is a Persuasive Essay?

By definition, a persuasive essay is a style of writing which convinces the reader that your point of view or argument is the best view. This is a typical college or high school assignment to teach students the art of persuasive writing. It is essential to check whether your claim has strong evidence to be believable. A compelling paper can be an argumentative essay depending on the use: whether the prompt advises to pick a position or defend it.

Before we get to the persuasive speech topics, let’s see the secrets of persuasive writing and how to outline your work!

How to Write a Persuasive Essay?

Pick a side. Be confident with the angle chosen and demonstrate it well through the persuasive essay.

• Understand the audience. It is essential to adjust the language used and to see if there is any biased that needs to be addressed.
• Do the research required. The best results will depend on the solid well-researched material from multiple sources including other professionals in the field.
• Offer the evidence based on importance. While compiling the research and your notes try to keep it in order of significance as this will help with writing later.
• Is the thesis well proved? Look at the thesis statement and compare it to your conclusion and see if there any gaps in the persuasive paper.
• Check over the work. It is imperative to double check the paper for errors, wait a couple of days after you finished writing and look through the essay with a fresh mind. It is even a good idea to get a friend or colleague to look through.
• Personal touch. Although strong evidence is vital, do not be afraid to include examples and explanations of points along with references to things that have been experienced first hand.

How to Write a Persuasive Essay Outline?

There are some key features to bear in mind when planning out a persuasive essay outline, and the structure is essential.

Introduction
Try to open with a “hook” and make the audience want to continue reading the work. Include a thesis statement at the end.

Body Paragraphs
The main content of the arguments go here, and it’s important to back up every point with evidence and start a new paragraph with a new argument. Include an opposing view.

Conclusion
In your conclusion, restate the thesis statement and provide a summary of the most important or influential points from the body paragraphs.

How Do You Choose a Persuasive Essay Topic

Most, if not all students are looking forward to writing that essay of their choosing and try to persuade another person their belief or opinion is right. The idea is fabulous, to be given free reigns and charged with not only coming up with the topic but also the content, allowing your imagination and creativity to persuade or influence your reader.

Now you have your chance, but when you sit down to write, you realize your brain seems to have died. Do not despair; we have a tremendous list of topics that you could be creative with.

• Stay calm – the main thing is not to panic or get frustrated.
• Brainstorm – with other students in your college or school. Do not think “will the professor like it?” You should not even be thinking about whether it is politically correct, debate your argument towards a train of thought where your idea is the correct one. After all, you are writing a persuasive essay.
• Research – what is in the news whether national or international, what topics are hot, what is in fashion and always jot these ideas down for later, after all, you do carry a mobile phone around with you, so you have no excuse.
• Be clear – with your idea of a persuasive essay, do not under any circumstance be vague in your topic, if your paper is too broad the details of the argument may get lost in the telling, do not be that student, do not let it happen to you.

Persuasive Essay Topic List for Everybody

Here we have compelled an extensive list of good persuasive essay topics divided into popular categories to help you get started with your paper.

Easy Persuasive Essay Topics

• Should school classes be divided up by gender
• Are french fries healthy enough to be served in the canteen
• Should Breastfeeding be allowed in public spaces
• The legal age for drinking alcohol is 21
• Are exams a fair measure for a students ability
• Are genetically modified foods acceptable
• Should nuclear weapons be abolished
• Is the voting system reliable

Persuasive Speech and Essay Topics for Kids

• Carrying the latest iPhone is ok as it is part of our image or how much money our family earns
• Making friends around the world is good for our future
• Is it right to eat meat
• The government should impose household plastic trash limits
• Why you should never lie
• Should you learn another language
• Being a single child versus having brothers and sisters
• Dogs make better pets than cats.
• What would be the best superpower to have
• We can change the world
• Why should you respect your elders

Sports Persuasive Speech and Essay Topics

• Does participating in sport make you a competitive person
• The importance of Physical education in schools is overrated
• Both girls and boys can play on the same team
• Athletes should never drink alcohol
• Swimming is the healthiest and best sport
• Children should not take part in extreme sports
• Should children take responsibility for themselves in sport
• Women are better at dancing and water sports than men are

Persuasive Essay Topics for Middle School

• The best vacation destinations
• Should there be harsher punishment for bullying
• Is less homework a good idea
• Kids should have more pocket money
• The impact of violent TV shows on the population
• Do violent computer games hurt kids
• The present generation lacks strict rules and regulation due to fear
• Can students be held in detention
• Who should be responsible for students bad grades

Persuasive Essay Topics for High School

• Should students take a gap year after high school?
• Students should be allowed to wear whatever clothes they wish
• Should the voting age be lowered
• Free condoms being available for students
• Couples expecting a baby should receive lessons about parenting
• Should sex education be made more available
• National security is more important than privacy

Persuasive Speech and Essay Topics About Music

• Pirated music is a severe threat to the economy of the country
• Lyrics play a role in how the younger generation thinks
• Music is an underrated treatment for mental illness
• Can some genres of music push children to suicide
• Playing bass guitar is more comfortable than standard electric six string
• Can music be seen as a language
• Music of the 70s have better lyrics than modern songs
• Depressive tracks encourage young adults to commit suicide?

Persuasive Speech and Essay Topics About Animals

• Hunting wild animals is immoral
• Beauty products should not be tested on animals
• People should stop wearing leather and fur
• Why should we protect endangered animals
• Is it ethically ok to breed dogs from different breeds
• Do animals deserve the same rights as humans
• Being a vegetarian does not help the animal world the way we think
• Is it ok to clone an animal

Persuasive Speech and Essay Topics for Elementary Students

• Small monkeys would make good house pets
• Train ticket sellers have the most boring job
• The average school day should be shortened
• Junk food should be banned from school
• The prettiest time of year is fall
• Classrooms should be outside
• We should all grow our vegetables
• Kids should not receive corporal punishment from parents for misbehavior

Persuasive Essay Topics on Education

• Information technology should have a role in everyday life at school
• Do SAT, and ACT scores matter?
• Should school guards be armed to cut down on shootings
• Stay at home education compared to traditional schools
• Do we need to attend public education and should society accept it
• The average school day should be shorter
• Physical education should be a voluntary subject
• Should teachers be paid more to compensate with stress

Science Persuasive Essay Topics

• Marijuana should be used for medical treatment
• Are mobile phones safe
• Information technology should be treated as the most valuable subject
• Humans are the most significant cause of pollution
• Is 5G safe
• Global warming is caused by man
• The use of fossil fuels is killing the planet
• Is renewable energy a reliable fuel for the future
• Should the police be allowed to use DNA profiling in the public database

Funny Persuasive Essay Topics

• Are Blondes less intelligent
• Drinking wine every day is healthy
• Getting free donuts at school motivates studying
• The best comedy show of all times
• Do men gossip more than women
• Pets think their humans are great
• Men say the best chat up lines ever
• Being a pro gamer
• Do you believe in love at first sight

Argumentative Persuasive Essay Topics

• The media should stop marketing to kids
• Ban smoking in all public places
• Constant talk about religious differences evokes aggression around the world
• Has the internet been commercialized
• How fashion has changed a woman’s/man’s body over the last 50 years
• Should we do away with high street banks all together
• Military service should be compulsory
• The gay couple adopting kids

College Persuasive Essay Topics

• Homeless people come before foreign aid
• Social networks are more threatening than people think
• Parents being held responsible for the crimes of their children is a good idea
• Can you trace a person via the internet
• Has feminism changed parenting
• Should supermarkets show where food comes from
• Selling weapons to foreign countries should be stopped
• Was the swinging 60s a significant part of our art history

Persuasive Essay Topics 5th grade

• Early bed is essential for students health
• Taking pets to school can be beneficial
• After school activities should be compulsory
• Is snacking in class acceptable
• The dress code at school is terrible for individualism
• School breaks should be longer
• Being skillful is better than being a hard worker
• Should morning classes start later than they currently do

Controversial Persuasive Essay Topics

• Bailing out financial institutions with taxpayers money should be stopped
• Media advertisements are sending unhealthy signals to young women
• Lesbian couples should not be allowed to have a child
• Medical testing on animals should be illegal
• There should be a border wall with Mexico and Canada
• Sex education should be available in schools
• Every driver over the age of 60 should take their driving test again
• Should political figures star in movies

5 paragraph Persuasive Essay Topics

• Vaccinations should be made compulsory
• Should college education be free to everyone
• What is true friendship
• Is college success the key to a good life
• Every weekend should be a long weekend
• Homework is faster when you play music
• The governments need to invest in more energy resources
• Is fracking harming the world

Environmental Persuasive Essay Topics

• Plastic should be made illegal
• Private cars should be banned from city centers
• When building houses, they should plant new trees
• Cutting down the rainforest should be unlawful
• Fossil fuel companies should pay for nature conservation
• Is enough being done about CO2 emissions
• Chemtrails need to be identified and stopped
• Should a maximum fine be given for littering
• Are humans the cause of climate change
• Should public transport be free to reduce pollution
• Is waste disposal being dealt with properly

Immigration Persuasive Essay Topics

• Can use the Appropriations Bill Strengthen in favor to ‘Remain in Mexico’
• Illegal immigration is strongly connected with acts of war and terrorism
• Should orphaned children automatically get legal status when crossing the border
• Illegal immigration can promote terrorism
• Illegal immigration is higher in wealthier countries
• Immigration improves attitudes towards foreign cultures
• When should an immigrant become a citizen
• The United States should build a border wall with Mexico and Canada

HOW TO WRITE A PROCESS ESSAY: STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

The process essay, also well known as the “how-to” essay is commonly written for people or companies that need tutorials. Whether it’s building a robot or cooking a chocolate cake, process essays use a similar format for any variation. They follow a step-by-step style, with the initial step influencing the second which influences the third, etc. Each step carries its own importance, and a poor explanation of one step can ruin the entire process. It’s important to stay concise as well as efficient. However, before you begin writing your essay, do some small preparations.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Small Stuff
• Sample Topics
• Outline
• Post-Writing Tips
• Examples

Prepare The Small Stuff

• Determine the Audience’s Skill Level. It’s important to center the complexity of the essay based on who the readers will be. For example, if you need to teach a friend or coworker how to do a simple fix or create a certain tool, then it would be intelligent to stick towards more basic terminology. However, if you are writing an essay for your astrophysics professor about the creation of a black hole in our planet, use more sophisticated and informative terminology.
• Make a List of Materials. Obviously, the creation of anything comes with some prerequisites. Whether it’s items or ideas, the importance of having the necessities beforehand and ready to go is substantial. Make sure to place each item in accordance with its importance. The more impactful a part is, the higher up on the list it should be. However, each item should obviously be obtained.
• Write out Each Task. In a step-by-step tutorial, each individual task carries some sort of weight. Since an entire process can not be complete if any step is skipped, it’s crucial to write out every single step. However, don’t go overboard in your explanations. It’s not necessary to bring the tutorial to a microscopic level, but each step should be understandable!

Sample Topics

• The Full-Scale Production of a Movie.
• From fresh and ready to a “burned out” student.
• How things decay (Half-Life concept).
• The development of a bad habit.
• The process of building a business from scratch.

It’s important to note that these essay topics are just some common examples used by several college students for their course papers. Feel free to use anyone you want or think of your own. Just make sure it’s a PROCESS!

Outline

Most essay outlines follow the standard scheme: Intro > Body Paragraphs > Conclusion.

Every process is different: some can take a couple of minutes while others take months or years to complete. The length of the essay is generally based on the difficulty and number of steps it takes. However, the structure doesn’t maneuver.

Introduction

The first thing that you want to do as a writer is to interest the readers about your individual process. For somebody to be keen on approaching your process, they have to express interest in it. Though that generally goes without saying, many writers ignore this fact. Let’s break it down into subsections:

• Give a little bit of historical background. People often want to know the origins of whatever it is that they’re working on. Introducing this part of the process helps to intrigue the reader, as well as give him a sense of purpose for the task.
• Create an approximate timeframe. Unfortunately, your readers don’t have all day to spend on this one event. As well as its purpose, people want to know how long the task will take. This way, they can decide how to break up the work. If it’s a quick fix, then they can knock it out in one session. However, if it’s a large-scale operation, then the readers will obviously have to create their own time schedule.

Body Paragraphs

This is the point in the process essay where you start introducing the step-by-step process you need to take. A lot of the time, it helps to break down each process into subsections. For example, if a step has many moving parts, it would be smart to create its own paragraph just for that step. Remember, it’s important to keep things smooth and efficient. Break down the body paragraphs in unity with the steps. Let’s go into more detail about each step.

• Each step should be carefully explained. Every step will vary in length.** Think about it: every instruction manual has several steps. Some are more difficult to comprehend or perform than others. For this reason, create your steps and explanations accordingly. You should be able to get a sense of their length and difficulty based on the explanation.
• Don’t forget to explain the purpose. People don’t want orders barked at them aimlessly. Besides just accomplishing a task, people want to learn as they perform.
  • Why did they do this?
  • What was the purpose of this method?
  • Why did we do it this way and not this other way?
• To make everything flow smoothly use transitions. Make the steps flow one after another to create a well-structured essay. As you introduce next step, consider using transition words like “next”, “now”, “then”, “so that”, etc.

Showing the readers that they are learning and not just repeating is one of the most effective ways to lock down their attention and keep them coming back!

Conclusion

After going through every step meticulously and explaining the whole process, the essay needs a confident conclusion. This paragraph should be short, sweet, and to the point. It’s main goal is to accomplish 2 tasks:

• Talk about the main result. After the readers have completed the process, they should be left with a final result. It’s important that you explain to the readers what the end result will look like, and what can be done with it.
• Think about it like this. After completing a task, you obviously would like to know its overall purpose. When the reader feels that he accomplished a challenge, learned something from it and has a path to take the result towards, he will be satisfied!
• Restatement as well as Overall Conclusion. To put a pretty tie around the process essay means that you need to neatly wrap things up! Restate some of the highlightable points as well as the key overall purpose. Make sure that the reader feels accomplished after going through your process, and strengthen the necessity of the purpose with a nice concluding sentence!

Post-Writing Tips

• Make sure the work is simple enough to follow. Worst-case-scenario – an author can create is a feeling of absolute confusion in the reader’s mind. To avoid this problem, always remember that your readers can be beginners. Because of that don’t try to impress them with complicated words or sentences, use simple language to provide clear directions on how to do something. Give as much details as possible, but do it plainly.
  “Why is he making me do this?”
  “What was the purpose of this?”
  “I don’t understand this step at all!”
• If the reader is asking himself these questions, then it’s time to do some editing!
• Experiment and try it for yourself, or ask a friend. There’s no better way to experience success then actively attempt through your own instructions. If everything truly makes sense, then you should have no problem solving the task through your own words. Even better, ask a peer to try it through your words to get an outside point of view.

Examples

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HOW TO WRITE A PROBLEM SOLUTION ESSAY

To start thinking about a problem solution essay, go outside and take a look at the world around you.

There are many problems: poverty, pollution, corruption, disease, bad roads, etc.

Some of them can be addressed and solved quickly. Others require critical thinking and significant proposals to business people or your local government.

A problem solution essay is a great mind-opener. After all, most people who go into academia want to help the world. Regardless of whether you’re a doctor or an artist.

In this article we will first give you some topics to think about. Then we will present a step-by-step guide on how to write a problem solution essay effectively.

Make sure to stick around for useful tips near the end of this blog!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Problem Solution Essay Topics
• The Key Components of a Problem Solution Paper
• The Proposal
• The Outline: Block & Chain Structures
• Writing a Problem Solution Essay
• Thesis Statement
• Exploring Solutions to your Problem, Step by Step
• Proofreading and Tips

Problem Solution Essay Topics

The best way to find problem solution essay topics is to look at common issues.

We have created a list of simple topics to get you thinking:

1. Bullying on social media has caused lots of teens to get depressed. How can we address cyberbullying in your school/hometown?
2. What is the best way to drag a friend out of depression?
3. Smoking is highly addictive and extremely hard to quit. How can we address the smoking problem and educate teens that it isn’t cool to smoke?
4. People can often be manipulative and Machiavellian, getting into other peoples’ way. What is the best way to deal with such people?
5. People litter without thinking of environmental consequences. How can we educate these people?
6. Teens often struggle with expressing their feelings. These struggles can flow into adulthood and make people closed and lonely. How can we get teens to open up?
7. Stereotypes and racism are ever present in 2nd and 3rd world countries. How can we educate people about the dangers of racism and stereotypical thought?
8. Lots of teens struggle with internet addiction. How can we teach them to appreciate the real world?
9. Private college is an extremely expensive privilege. How can we lower prices for students who deserve it?
10. Lots of students in college lose themselves to alcohol and drugs. How can we prevent this?
11. Lots of people buy their driver’s license, ending up terrible drivers. How can we fix that?
12. Textbooks are costly for college students. Will digital textbooks fix this issue?
13. How can colleges raise pay for professors without raising the price for students?
14. What is the best way to tackle problematic kids at school?
15. What is the best way to help a creative child explore their potential while doing good at school?

These are just a few problem solution essay topics. There are plenty more problems in the world that you could address.

Think of a topic that motivates you to help.

The Key Components of a Problem Solution Paper

After you’ve chosen your topic, you must do some brainstorming.

A problem solution essay is divided into four main components. You should focus on them while brainstorming. These components are:

Situation: give background to the case in your own words.
Problem: state the problem and why it is essential to address.
Solution: offer your answer to the problem.
Evaluation: evaluate your paper, listing the main ideas and offer a final prediction or call to action.

A problem solution essay can address several problems if they are in the same subject area. These problems can be linked to a bigger picture, inspiring more research from your peers.

The Proposal

Before doing any outline and brainstorming, you must convince yourself that the problem matters.

Creating a proposal will be essential to solidify your understanding of the problem. Here are some general steps to follow when writing a proposal:

• Solidify how much you know. Write down everything you’ve learned about the issue and make sure you know it inside out.
• Prove to yourself that the problem matters. After learning everything there is to it, you should be confident that the problem is real and that you can solve it.
• Determine what needs to be learned. Extra research goes a long way. This can also help you call to action for further study in your conclusion.
• Design a research plan. Will you use the library or go online? Will you go outside and talk to real people who can offer insight based on experience?

The proposal will help you clarify where you currently stand on the problem.

Some useful advice: get early feedback on your proposal! Talk to your teacher, family member or friend. They will tell you if you’re on the right track.

The Outline: Block & Chain Structures

There are two common types of outlines for a problem solution paper. They are slight variations on the classic 5-paragraph essay format.

Use the format which fits your paper best.

Block Structure

One way to do it is by using the block structure. Here you must list the problems first, and then propose the solutions:

• Introduction and background
  • Problem 1
  • Problem 2
• Transition paragraph
  • Solution 1
  • Solution 2
• Evaluation and conclusion

Chain Structure

The second format is the chain structure, where you present a problem followed by a solution. This format works best for quickly written papers, such as exam questions or homework assignments.

• Introduction with background
  • Problem 1 and solution
  • Problem 2 and solution
  • Problem 3 and solution
• Conclusion and evaluation

Writing an outline first will do magic for your writing. Just do some brainstorming, and fit the information into one of these structures.

Now let’s move on to the writing process.

Writing a Problem Solution Essay

The most logical place to start is the problems section. This section should give the reader most of the information they need to understand the problem.

Here are some useful steps to follow:

Students usually pick local problems. This helps establish a better connection with their peers. If your city is dealing with garbage disposal problems, then pretty much everybody can relate to that.

However, other problems such as climate change are more global. It is vital in such cases to give the reader enough background so they could make a better connection with the problem.

As an example: to fully apprehend the genocide of Native American culture in America, one must fully understand the culture of these indigenous people in relation to American history.

Writing a Thesis

A thesis statement is your essay in a nutshell.

Rules say that the thesis must be in the introduction paragraph. It must also give the reader a general outlook of what will be discussed.

Here’s a tip: most students write their thesis last.

Writing the thesis last is a great idea. You will already know the content of your paper and have developed a personal rhetorical style. All you need is to compress all that info into one sentence.

We have an entirely separate blog dedicated to writing an effective thesis statement. Be sure to check it out!

Exploring Solutions to your Problem, Step by Step

You want to gain the trust of your reader.

To do so, you must show that you have studied every aspect of your problem. Look at solutions made by other scholars (if any), and analyze them critically in your essay.

• Has somebody else tackled your problem before?
• What have they missed, that can be included?
• Have they failed or succeeded in solving the problem?
• What was their call to action?

In brief: if other solutions are weak, show how your solution will work.

Now that we’re done with the theory let’s organize your solution in 3 simple steps.

Step 1: Propose a Plan of Action

Proposing a plan of action is like pitching a new business idea to a board of administrators. Expect your audience to be sceptical. To avoid misunderstandings, give them the broadest spectrum in the simplest words.

• Present a step by step process of how your problem can be solved.
• Be aware of potential critiques and address them.
• Make it all seem as simple as possible. Simple solutions can convince and inspire.

Ideas are only ideas without a plan. Explain not what you will do but how you will do it.

Step 2: Support your solution with examples

Back to the business idea: if you were to pitch a new smartphone to rule them all, you want to make the board almost feel like they’re holding it in their hand.

• Examples (especially relatable ones) ease the tension of heavy loads of info. Use many examples in your step-by-step process.
• A picture: if you can’t tell, show. A picture is worth a thousand words.
• Statistics. People tend to believe statistics, especially when they come from a reliable source.
• Descriptive storytelling: mesmerize your audience with a story related to your topic. Jason once calculated how many plastic bottles he throws away in a month. It turns out, he contributed to plastic pollution with an average of 5 plastic bottles a day! From then on, Jason started recycling plastic.

Step 3: Don’t Conclude, Call To Action!

A conclusion is that part of the essay where you give final ideas and wrap the paper up.

It gives the reader a sense of completion, implying that the problem has been solved; the thesis has been proven. However, we don’t want that to happen in a problem solution essay.

If you want the reader to stand up and try to save the world, you must leave the ending open.

Make the conclusion feel like “This is where the paper ends, but your action only begins.”

It’s all about the call to action.

You must encourage your reader to join the fight for the greater good. Using projection is a great technique: it shows your reader how the community will improve if your solution is adopted.

Inspiring one person to quit smoking could have a significant effect on the community. Who knows, maybe they’ll inspire someone else and save their life.

Proofreading and Tips

Your best bet is to leave the paper for a day or two. Come back to it with a fresh mind to properly review it.

• Confirm that it covers all four elements of a problem solution essay.
• Check that the thesis works in line of your arguments.
• Check that the introduction is interesting and hooks your reader.
• Confirm that you’ve fully explored the problem and left nothing out.
• Confirm that you’ve used vivid language in describing the problem.
• Check that the solution you presented is achievable.
• Check if you’ve given the reader all the necessary steps to address the solution.
• Finally, check that the conclusion section is inspiring, uses projection, and has a strong call to action.

In the meanwhile, check for grammar issues and punctuation errors.

There are plenty of online grammar checkers which can help you with that.

• Grammarly helps you find major and minor spelling and punctuation errors in your text.
• Hemingway helps you keep your sentences short and to the point.
• Thesaurus helps you find synonyms for overused words, or it can help you make your language more colourful if you wish so.

Alternatively, give the paper to your peers or family for proofreading. They always have a tendency of spotting stuff you’ve never noticed!

If no one in your class is ready to start solving the problem, maybe you can inspire someone in your community or hometown! You never know.

HOW TO WRITE A REFLECTIVE ESSAY

A reflective essay is a type of writing in which you (the author) interact with an audience and describe some moment or experience from your life. This “experience’ explores personal ideas, feelings, and opinions about the event and how it affected you. This App will share an effective writing guide with you!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is a Reflective Essay?
• Writing An Essay
• Personal Reflective Essay
• MLA & APA Formats
• Outline
• Ideas & Topics
• Writing Process
• Rubric

What is A Reflective Essay?

A reflective essay is the type of academic writing assignment aimed to reveal more details about the author’s identity. Reflective writing allows an author to:

• Analyze and draw conclusions about what they have read, heard, or seen;
• Make connections between the text and themselves, or other texts and the world;
• Think about what they have learned and how they can or will use the newly acquired information;
• Write subjectively (from their point of view); Identify areas for further reading.

The guide below will lead you to the perfect reflective essay.

Writing A Reflective Essay

Reflection essays are usually requested by professors or teachers, as they allow you to share your experience about an article, lesson, or lecture. Reflections are very personal and subjective, but they must maintain a formal tone and should be well organized.

If you are reflecting on a certain text, annotate your initial emotions and thoughts while reading it. If you are writing about yourself or an event in your life, brainstorm by making a chart with three columns: past experiences, description, and reflection. This table should help you brainstorm and structure the introduction and the body of your essay.

Example: You are writing about your experience at an animal shelter.

Personal Reflective Essay

Personal reflective essays are papers that reflect your personality, your experiences, and your influences. Ultimately, they help the reader of your paper get to know you. Unlike other types of essays that you’ve written before, this one does not rely on facts or research.. Instead, they are focused on you. Application essays or cover letters for a job are, in a way, reflective essays too. One thing that separates a good essay from a bad one is organization; thus, start by building an outline.

Format

The format of a reflective essay greatly differs from that of a normal argumentative or research essay. A reflective essay is more of a well-structured story or a diary entry. You will probably be required to arrange your essay using the APA format or the MLA format. The typical reflection essay length will vary between 300 and 700 words

• Ask your instructor about word length to make sure you follow the instructions.

Here, it is important to adhere to the academic style of writing. This essay is about you, therefore you should try to avoid too informal language. If your instructor asks you to format your paper in APA or MLA style, here are a few shorthands:

MLA

• Times New Roman 12 pt font double spaced;
• 1” margins;
• Top right includes last name and page number on every page;
• Titles are centered;
• The header should include your name, your professor’s name, course number, and the date (dd/mm/yy);
• Last page includes a Works Cited.

APA

• Times New Roman 12 pt font double spaced;
• 1” margins;
• Include a page header on the top of every page;
• Insert page number on the right;
• Essay should be divided into four parts: Title Page, Abstract, Main Body, and References.

Outline

To start organizing your reflective essay, take a look at your brainstorming table. The ‘past experience’ and ‘description’ should constitute less than 10% of your essay. Limit listing events and tell events as little as possible. Instead, show the events in your reflection.

Your introduction should consist of:

• The hook: grab the reader’s attention in a short preview of what you’ll be writing about.
• Example: We found Buffy head-to-toe covered in tar, starved and fur in patches, under an abandoned garbage truck.
• The reflective essay thesis statement should include that ‘past experience’ information; a brief statement of what your essay is going to be about.
• Example: That summer’s volunteering experience at the animal shelter inspired me to pursue this type of work in the future.
• The structure of body paragraphs is best discussed in chronological events. Answer the bold questions in the ‘reflection’ section of the table; this should naturally create a linear storyline. No matter what you’re writing your essay about.

The body paragraph outline should look something like this:

• Expectation about the shelter
• First impression
• Expectations: “Thought it was going to be boring and mundane”
• Working experience
• Finding and rescuing Buffy
• Other experiences with rescuing animals
• Discoveries
• Newly found passion and feelings toward the work
• A newly developed mindset about animal treatment

Conclusion

Must wrap your ideas up and demonstrate development. Feelings newly found discoveries, and most importantly, plans for the future are important factors of the conclusion.

Example: Buffy’s case inspired me to pursue a career as a veterinarian, hopefully, one day working in an animal shelter.

Ideas And Topics

The reflective essay is probably the one essay you can’t borrow a topic for, because the essay should be about your own experiences. However, here are some prompts to help you begin:

• An experience you can’t forget.
• Time you overcame a fear.
• The most difficult choice you had to make.
• A time your beliefs were challenged.
• Have you ever discovered something life-changing?
• The happiest moment or the most frightening moment of your life that far.
• What can people do to improve the quality of the world?
• Name a time you felt lost.
• Are you always making the right choice? Can you think of time you made a wrong choice?
• A moment in your life you would like to relive.

You may find it convenient to create a chart or table to keep track of your ideas. Split your chart into 3 parts.

• In the first column, write key experiences or the main points. You can grade them from most to least important.
• In the second column, list your personal response to the points you have stated in the first column.
• In the third column, write how much of your response to share in the essay.

How You Write

Watch what you are writing

A reflective paper is a very personal type of writing because it includes your feelings and opinions about something. Before including something in your paper, ask yourself is this information appropriate to include or not?

• If you feel uncomfortable about something personal, avoid including it in your essay, or write about this issue in more general terms.

Stay Professional

Even though a reflection paper is personal, you should keep your mind organized.

• AVOID SLANG: Use only correct spelling and grammar. Abbreviations like “LOL”, “OMG” or “ROFL” should be avoided in professional custom writing.
• This is your story, so there is no need to drag someone else into your custom essay. Even if this person made the experience you are going to talk about, you must maintain professionalism and describe the actions, not the person. Additionally, you should frame those actions within the context of your writing.

Do Not Be Lazy

Review your paper sentence by sentence to eliminate all mistakes.

• Keep your sentences to the point. Avoid squeezing two thoughts into one sentence.
• Don’t leave sentences unfinished; make sure that all your sentences have a purpose.

Put The Cherry On Top Of Your cake

Use transitional phrases to shift between arguments and introduce specific details. Using transitions will help your paper look professional. Additionally, you can ask our experts to smoothen out your writing.

Essay Rubric

Satisfactory essay:

• The reflection provides the ‘big picture’ of the person’s experiences.
• The student interweaves information regarding specific artifacts and how these artifacts were beneficial. The student’s experience paints details that are unique.
• The reflection shows that the student has learned from their experience. Reflection reveals insight into personal goals
• Demonstrates an ability to reflect on own work and an adequate number of examples are provided.
• Reflection demonstrates personal perspective.
• The essay has no grammatical and spelling errors, is an overall organized paper.

Unsatisfactory essay:

• The reflection provides the pieces of the student’s experience. The essay is not written in a linear manner.
• The students essay consists of generalizations and is not unique or memorable.
• The reflection does not adequately demonstrate that the student has received knowledge from experience. The student does not state personal goals.
• The essay insufficiently reflects on own work.
• Reflection demonstrates universal perspective.
• The essay has many grammatical and spelling errors, the paper is incoherent.

Reflective Essay Example

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HOW TO WRITE A REFLECTION PAPER

Students analyze and reflect on hundreds of academic articles throughout their studies. This makes reflective writing a vital part of every college writing experience.

What is a reflection paper:

Reflection papers are where students share their learning experience regarding class-related material. In other words, you must tell your professor how a particular academic article or experience has helped you understand the subject better.

A good reflection essay shows that the student has fully understood the material – to the extent that they’re willing to offer personal feedback or criticism.

Writing a reflection paper can be easy because they are purely subjective. In the end, it’s your feedback that counts! However, technical and structural aspects will still come into play.

We hope that after reading this guide, you will be able to write a reflection paper with relative ease. Stick around until the end to get some useful writing tips from this APP

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Analyze Your Article
• Reflection Paper Format
• Writing an Outline
  • Introduction
  • Body Paragraphs
  • Conclusion
• Writing Tips
• Free Examples

Analyze Your Article and Write Down Your Thoughts

The first thing to do when working on a reflection essay is to read your article thoroughly and take notes. Whether you are reflecting on an activity, book/newspaper, or academic essay, you want to highlight key ideas and concepts.

After you have finished reading your article, it’s time to brainstorm.

We’ve got a simple brainstorming technique for writing reflection papers! Just answer some of the basic questions below:

• How did the article affect you?
• How does this article catch the reader’s attention (if it does)?
• Has the article changed your mind about something? If so, explain how.
• Has the article left you with any questions?
• Were there any critical issues unaddressed in the article?
• Does the article relate to anything from your past reading experiences?
• Does the article agree with any of your past reading experiences?

Another good way to organize your ideas is to write them down in a 3-column chart or table.

After some simple brainstorming and organizing, you should be able to write a reflection paper quickly!

Reflection Paper Format

Academic essays usually stick to the 5-paragraph format. It is the most accessible and most understandable essay format that helps you hold to the point. It consists of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and the conclusion.

Each body paragraph focuses on one point, or objective, of your reflection paper. If you have more than three points you wish to include, you may rightfully expand your essay beyond the 5-paragraph format.

All of this usually depends on the criteria of your assignment.

College reflection papers are typically around 400 – 800 words. Professors usually don’t go into other formatting details, other than specifying whether your paper must contain MLA style citations.

If you are not familiar with the 5-paragraph essay structure – be sure to check out our guide before writing your reflection paper!

Writing an Outline

Introduction

Your introduction should specify which work you have studied. Make sure that your thesis informs your reader whether or not the article was useful for you in your studies.

• State what you are reflecting upon: a passage, a lecture, an academic article, etc…)
• Briefly summarize the work.
• Write a thesis stating how the article has affected you in one sentence.

One way to start your thesis is to write:

Example: “After reading/experiencing (your chosen topic), I gained the knowledge of…”

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs should describe what you have learned from the article you have read. Each body paragraph must have:

• A topic sentence.
• A reference to the section of the article you’re discussing.
• A concluding statement offering your opinion on the matter.

If you are writing about academic articles, your reflection may include quotes and passages. They give your reader a point of reference to fully understand your feedback.

If you are writing about an activity, a seminar/lesson, or some event:

Compare your experience to previous events you may have attended (which bear relevance to your topic).

Example: “We set up our charity cake fare in the hall. I stole the idea from attending a cake fare of an international school in our neighborhood.”

Describe what you saw, what you heard, and how you felt.

Example: “I saw many people participating in our charity cake fare. The hall was very noisy. I felt amazed by the turnover of our event.”

Conclusion

As with any conclusion, you must summarize what you’ve learned from the article. Tell the reader how your newfound knowledge has affected your understanding of the subject in general.

There are a few good ways to conclude a reflection paper:

• Give a summary: go over each topic sentence of your body paragraphs and tie them all together.
• Restate your thesis to make the paper come full circle.
• Make your opinion clear as day; allow the reader to infer whether this article will be useful for them.

We have a separate blog post dedicated to writing a great conclusion. Be sure to check it out for an in-depth look at how to make a final impression on your reader!

Writing Tips

Writing a reflection paper should be easy by now but hold on! Don’t pick up the pen just yet!

Here are some tips to help you write better, and maintain clarity in your writing.

• Avoid vagueness in your writing; it will look not very academic.
• Remember: You are not writing a full-on essay about your topic. You are writing about how the work you have read has affected you.
• Think about your sentence structure. Avoid writing multiple ideas into one sentence.
• Don’t use modern internet slang words. E.g., “OMG,” “LOL,” “BRB.” Even if they’re in the Oxford dictionary.
• It is perfectly okay to use the word ‘I’ in your reflection. It is one of the few academic papers you can use first person language.
• As you are writing an academic, personal journal, it is always a good idea to think about what information you reveal about yourself.
• Make sure the information about yourself, or an opinion about your chosen topic, is relevant and appropriate for your reflection.
• If you have a personal opinion that opposes your conclusion, do not include it.
• To make any necessary corrections on your reflection, it is always a good idea to proofread it. Proofreading is vital before submitting any assignments to your professor.

Examples

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HOW TO WRITE A SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY

Applying for college takes a lot of effort. Each applicant must go through a long and thorough process that includes completing university and financial aid applications and writing college admission and scholarship essays.

Winning scholarship essays share a certain quality: a distinctive style employed by the author and a unique insight into the author’s past, present, and future. The unique style is key. Demonstrating your passion, personalizing your essay, and making it stand out is what catches the judge’s eye and ultimately defines a winner.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• How To Start
• Re-adapt and Re-use
• Writing Process
• Outline
• Do’s And Dont’s
• How To End
• Proper Format

How To Start

The first step to any writing is to read the prompt. Scholarship essay prompts are very tricky, so you should read and re-read it multiple times to identify key themes.

• To be considered for the Scholarship, you must submit an essay of 400-500 words. Your submission should illustrate your perspective on what makes a successful leader of global business and consider the following questions:
• What makes a good global leader? Explain how you have demonstrated these attributes.
• What are your career aspirations?
• From these words, “leader,” “perspective” and “aspiration” jump out the most. A good rule of thumb is to add the word “unique” and “you” to these words.
• What are your unique aspirations?
• What makes you a unique leader?
• What unique perspective can you bring?

In scholarship essays, you are, in essence, convincing someone to sponsor you and give you money. You need to illustrate why you are worthy of their sponsorship and why you, out of all people, should be the one receiving the money. Let’s get down to business and find out how to write it.

Grab the Attention

You need to remember that you should never undervalue the importance of a strong introduction, especially when it comes to the opening line. Look at these examples and see if you can notice the difference.

• Example 1: Being unique is very important for business.
• Example 2: June 23, 2003, was the day I almost died.

Let’s analyze. Example 1 is imprecise and tedious. However, the second one is intriguing, catchy, and particular.

If you don’t grab the attention of the judges, they will simply mark your essay as “same as all the others” and move on to others.

Make your first sentence thrilling. This will make your essay stand out from the herd of sheep.

Re-adapt and Re-use Your Essay

There is no need to spend hours and hours sweating over writing a different essay for every scholarship competition you enter. From time to time, scholarship essay topics can be alike. So, with a bit of effort and small corrections, one scholarship essay can easily fit the requirements of several other scholarship contests.

Be Unique In Your Writing

For example, if the question is: “ Who in your life has had the biggest impact on you?”. Most of the time people will write about their parents or other relatives.

You should not jump into writing as soon as you read the question. Think about it wisely; maybe someone like Steve Jobs or Nelson Mandela has had the biggest influence on you. Of course, it is not traditional, but at least it’s more engaging.

Write According To The Rules

Do not write over the limit. Your main goal is to give the admission officers what they want because big money is at stake.

Nobody Cares

They are reading thousands and thousands of scholarship essays. They definitely do not have enough time to read about your pet aquarium fish Joey (unless it helps you to show the main point). Make sure that your essay has one clear point and then revolve the rest of writing around it.

Check Your Writing for Errors

Do you think that judges want to read all the scholarship essays they receive? Of course not. They are looking for some reasons to kick some essays out of the big pile. You should not give them a reason to kick yours.

Make An Outline

Usually, your scholarship essay outline will be something like this:

• Introductory Sentence
  • State your full-name
  • State the name of the scholarship you are applying for
• Obstacle
  • What has been a significant challenge in your life?
  • How did you overcome this?
• Educational And Career Goals
• What are your current educational goal(s)?
• Why did you choose this particular college?
• Why did you choose this field of study?
• How will a scholarship help you achieve your educational goal?
• What are your long-term career goal(s)
• What will you do with your degree?
• How will the scholarship help you in achieving your long-term career goal(s)?
• Conclusion
• Briefly interweave your story together
• Restate how the scholarship will help you to attain your goals

The difference between an excellent scholarship essay and a bad one stems from a lack of confidence. Keep in mind that the person reading your essay wants to give out money. Show the reader that you know who you are and that your past and present experiences are valuable and will make a positive impact on the future. Ask yourself if you’re the person you want to be. If the answer is yes, write about who you are today and what brought you here; If the answer is no, write about how you intend to get there.

Why You Deserve It: Topic

“Deserving” something is a broad concept. Most likely, there are going to be people who deserve scholarship money more than you, but if their essay isn’t as good as yours, then they won’t be the winners. The key here is to explain to the reader what makes you different from other applicants in a memorable and articulate way.

Do’s And Dont’s

DO

• DO follow a narrative structure. Tell a personal story of your experiences.
• DO outline your essay beforehand. While outlining, make each part of the thematic keywords its section of the essay.
• DO research where you’re applying and make sure you’re suitable and match the qualifications.
• DO make yourself sound like a success story. Mention problems and weaknesses as stepping stones that made you the person you are today.
• DO use spellcheck and grammar check on your computer but also ask someone to read over your essay and proofread your grammar. Even better if it’s multiple people. Proofread it as many times as you can.
• DO use real-life examples in your essay to back up your argument as to why you would receive the scholarship.
• DO follow the prompt and the instructions exactly how they appear.
• DO be clear and concise. Simple sentences and straightforward ideas are always your friends.
• DO include transitions between paragraphs to keep the writing eloquent.

DON’T

• DON’T use words from a thesaurus that are new to you. There is a high chance you are misusing that word in some way. Implementing perplexing lexicon does not win you plus points.
• DON’T be generic. Personalize your essay as much as you can.
• DON’T open your essay with a quote. This is the most ineffective way to write an essay for a scholarship. Use your words and avoid cliches (like the plague).
• DON’T start your sentences with anything like “In this essay, I will… ”. In fact, don’t do that in any piece of writing. Transitions like “In conclusion,” or “First I’m going to talk about” also have no place in your scholarship essay.
• DON’T restate your resume. Always tell a unique story.
• DON’T say how much you need or want the money. There are always going to be people who need it more than you. Instead prove that you’re the one who deserves it.

How To End

The ending of your scholarship application essay is the most important part of the piece. First and foremost, you need to restate the thematic keywords and summarize your experience into a gist. However, this can’t be it; this is the part of the essay that the reader will remember. There are several ways to conclude your essay in a powerful way.
Here are a few strategies and examples from our experienced essay writer:

• The Cycle: If you introduced a certain idea in the paper introduction, then you can bring the idea back for a satisfying effect. For example, if your essay is about your passion for veterinary services, a cycle essay would go something like this:
  • (Introduction): When I was a little boy, I had a dog called Perry.
  • (Conclusion): If I become a vet, maybe I can save another little boy’s, Perry.
• Not only is this very effective, but it also makes the reader feel like an insider. They are instantly more connected to the essay they are reading.
• The Future Tense: In this type of conclusions, the future tense is the way to go. If your essay is about your past or present experiences, then talking about how those experiences shaped what you will do with your in the future is a good strategy. Here is an example of the last sentence of an essay:
• In the future, I plan to use this valuable knowledge of content marketing in other types of business.
• The Reflection: This third type of conclusion is perfect for demonstrating personal growth and presenting your weaknesses as stepping stones. Here is an example:
• Although working at my experience with archery was shot in the dark, but I persevered and learned countless valuable lessons. Today I am able to shoot with better aim.

Proper Format

Even before starting your essay, make sure you follow a rule of thumb when formatting your essay:

• Double spaced
• 12 point Times New Roman font
• 1” margins (top, bottom, and side)
• Each paragraph should start with an indent
• Insert your last name and page number (for longer essays) on the top left

HOW TO WRITE A SYNTHESIS ESSAY

An excellent synthesis essay usually combines segments of different texts to create a whole new explanation of the information.

With this guide, we will discuss how to write a synthesis essay. And how to approach combinations of ideas that prove a point (AKA a Thesis). Usually, having strong analytical skills helps to revise the text for a better result.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Synthesis Essay Definition
• Writing Process
• Synthesis Essay Topic
• Outline
• Writing Process
• How to Format Synthesis Essay?
• Synthesis Essay Rubric
• Synthesis Essay Example
• How to Get a Qualified Writing Help

What is a Synthesis Essay?

Writing a synthesis essay is just like writing any other form of the thesis. According to the synthesis essay definition, this style of the assignment is a written discussion of ideas. They tend to draw two or more sources from academic papers, fiction sources, speeches, interviews, articles, lectures & observations. To define the synthesis essay easily, one can say that they are made up of both written and verbal sources.

Those who have written research papers have already written a synthesis without realizing. In any form of a thesis, writers are required to create relationships that have been referred between multiple different sources. Which is something none of us are new to.

Two Types of Synthesis

1. Explanatory Synthesis Essay

Is intended to assist readers in getting a better understanding of a topic. Writers are required to make an explanation when they refer to segments from a source. These explanations may be in the form of a description to recreate what is stated in the reference in easy words. That could be anything from an object to a state of affairs. The purpose of this paper is to present facts reasonably, not to argue a point.

1. Argument Synthesis Essay

Is to present your own opinion on what is stated in the sources. With the use of evidence and facts that are relevant to sources, and presented logically. An argumentative essay thesis is usually subject to debate. They create propositions that some people could disagree with. Multiple writers could write using the same source and could oppose each other. They are known as the opposite thesis.

How to Choose Synthesis Essay Topics

A synthesis essay prompt must be negotiable. Depending on your assignment, you may have to choose a primary text. Choose a book that might have opposing viewpoints.

Step 1: Browse through topics and ideas. Read about some of some sources regarding selected topics, in-depth, to see if any of taking your interest.

Step 2: Choose a topic, and then gather relevant and useful sources to include in the synthesis essay.

Step 3: Apply ideas from the sources onto a synthesis essay outline. This should make writing far easier and save you time.

Good topics would be ones that are debatable, for example:

• Daylight savings
• Minimum wage
• Immigration policy
• Global warming
• Gun control

Synthesis Essay Outline

Creating an outline will be useful in maintaining the structure of your paper, and planning your writing. If your essay is split into three parts, break your outline into three chunks. Paste supporting evidence, sub-arguments, and specific points in the appropriate sections. Make sure that every aspect somehow proves the claim in your thesis. Extra information or tangents will only hinder your essay.

However, if information goes against your central claim, then you should acknowledge it as it will make your essay stronger. Make sure you have read all of your sources. When writing about the causes, do not summarize them; synthesis denotes analysis, not plot-summary.

Introduction

A synthesis essay introduction should be a brief description of what the paper will be about. When learning how to write a synthesis essay, you will find that the average paper is made up of 3 points.

• Main point 1
• Main point 2
• Main point 3

Thesis

Synthesis essay writing always includes a thesis. This is a description of the paper, but more in-depth, and backed with evidence, which is usually a quote from a source.

Body

Infer all sources from your previously written synthesis essay outline and explain the relationship between them.

• Main Point 1
  • Evidence (quote from a source)
  • Analysis of Evidence
• Main Point 2
  • Evidence (quote from a source)
  • Analysis of Evidence
• Main Point 3
  • Evidence (quote from a source)
  • Analysis of Evidence

Conclusion

A synthesis essay conclusion should be a summary of the overall paper. With a final sentence to conclude the synthesis essay. In other words, to restate main points and unanswered questions.

When it comes to synthesis paper writing, you will find that a synthesis essay template is made up of the same structure.

Writing Process

A key factor in writing a synthesis essay is an analysis of a given text or a prompt. To successfully analyze it, you must comprehend the text’s purpose, rhetoric, and the argument that the author’s claim, in other words, you are answering the question: “So what?”. Then, you must build your application, and write an essay around that.

1. Avoid tilting the assignment as ‘synthesis essay’ followed or preceded by the relevant title
2. Remember to address your readers appropriately
3. Use precise vocabulary. Don’t be shy to use a dictionary
4. Use a clear sentence structure. Avoid passive voice
5. Proofread and correct errors: spelling, comma errors, shifts, subject-verb agreement, plurals, possessives. Avoid using “you.”
6. Make sure your citations are correct
7. Make use of sentence and paragraph transitions

Writing Techniques

Make use of Summary: One of the simplest methods ways of organization. It allows you to summarize the sources that possess the highest amount of relevance. The issue is that this method doesn’t include independent thought.

Examples: Paraphrasing source material. Write segments of sources in your own words. Quoting the source also goes under this technique. In every case of using examples, make sure to cite the source.

Multiple Reasons: Using multiple reasons, mostly two goals, is known as an extremely effective method.

Strawman: Present one argument against a thesis. Though, show this factor is weak. The advantage of this method is to teach awareness about the other side of the argument. This type of evidence presents an introduction and description. It is followed by the opposing factor and a decisive factor.

Concession: This technique illustrates the opposing viewpoint. It shows the positives being much stronger than the negatives.

Compare and Contrast: Compare and contrast methods allow writers to examine two sources at once. Comparing shows similarities, as contrasting shows the differences. Illustrating an in-depth analysis of the chosen is possible.

How to Format Synthesis Essay?

The synthesis essay format depends on what style is required by your teacher or professor. The most common formats are: MLA, APA, and Chicago style. APA is used by fields of Education, Psychology, and Science. MLA is used for citing Humanities, and Chicago style is used for Business, History, and Fine Arts. Purdue Owl is a format guide that focuses mainly on MLA and APA, and Easybib is a citation multitool for any of your external sources.

MLA Format

Some key points are:

• Times New Roman 12 pt font double spaced
• 1” margins
• Top right includes last name and page number on every page
• Titles are centred
• The header should include your name, your professor’s name, course number and the date (dd/mm/yy)
• The last page includes a Works Cited

APA Format

Some key points are:

• Times New Roman 12 pt font double spaced 1” margins
• Include a page header on the top of every page
• Insert page number on the right
• Synthesis essay structure should be divided into four parts: Title Page, Abstract, Main Body, and References.

Chicago Style

Some key points are:

• Times New Roman 12 pt.
• Use double-spacing amongst the lines of the paper.
• Use one-inch margins.
• Use ½ Inch Idents for Paragraph Beginnings.
• Write with left-justified text that has a rugged edge.
• Use full names of people or organizations.
• The bibliography is to be on a separate page.

Synthesis Essay Rubric

High range essay (8-9 points)

• Effectively develops a position on the assigned topic.
• Demonstrates full understanding of the sources or text.
• Correctly synthesizes sources and strengthens a position. The writer drives the argument, not the sources.
• The writer’s argument is convincing.
• The writer makes no general assertions and cites specific evidence for each point. His/her evidence is developed and answers the “so what?” question.
• The essay is clear, well-organized, and coherent. It is a stand-alone piece rather than an exam response.
• Contains very few grammatical and spelling errors or flaws, if any.

Note: 8-9 essays are an extreme rarity. A strong ‘7’ paper can jump to an 8-9 if the writing style is mature and perceptive.

Middle-Range Essay (5-7)

• Adequately develops a position on the assigned topic.
• Demonstrates sufficient understanding of the ideas developed in sources
• Sufficiently summarizes the sources and assumes some control of the argument. ‘5’ essays are less focused than ‘6’ and ‘7’.
• The writer’s argument is sufficient but less developed.
• Writer successfully synthesizes the sources and cites them.
• Writer answers the “So what?” question but may use generalizations or assertions of universal truth. The writer cites their own experience and specific evidence.
• Essay is clear and well organized. ‘5’ essays less so.
• Contains few minor errors of grammar or syntax.

Note: A ‘7’ is awarded to papers of college-level writing.
A ‘5’ on one of the AP English Language and Composition essays designates a three on the AP exam. It most likely relies on generalizations has limited control of the claim and argument. ‘5’ essays often lose focus and digress.

Low-Range Essays (1-4)

• Inadequately develops a position on the assigned topic.
• The author misunderstands and simplifies the ideas developed in the sources.
• Over-summarizes the sources, lets the sources drive the argument.
• Writer has weak control of organization and syntax. The essay contains numerous grammatical/spelling errors.
• Writer does not cite the sources correctly, skips a citation, or cites fewer than the required minimum of the sources.
• Notes: ‘4’ or ‘3’ essays do assert an argument but do not sufficiently develop it.
• A ‘2’ essay does not develop an argument.
• A 1-2 essay has severe writing errors and do not assert a claim.

Synthesis Essay Example

Have you read the whole article and still struggling? Check out these winning synthesis essay examples – from our professional writers. Feel free to use them as a reference.

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HOW TO WRITE A THEMATIC ESSAY

Every piece of writing ever written has its agenda.

Whether it is to teach a lesson, show the impact of a particular emotion or portray the reaction to some action, a central theme can be developed.

The goal for us as readers is to uncover what the author was trying to say between the lines in their thematic paper. When we do finally discover it, we have accomplished the first step of thematic essay writing! Let’s see in details how to write a thematic essay on our Essay writing guide.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What Is A Thematic Essay?
• Topics
• Outline
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
• Wrap Things Up
• How to Get a Qualified Writing Help

What Is A Thematic Essay?

When looking at the thematic essay definition, it is a piece of writing in which an author develops the central theme in some literature using literary devices like foreshadowing, imagery, personification, etc.

A pro essay writer will uncover the primary subject, elaborate the literary devices employed, and express the overall significance of the theme. The primary challenge comes from the fact that although there are various subjects, finding the most meaningful and impactful one can be challenging.

After all, each person has their varied interpretation, making it hard to agree on a central theme wholesomely. In short, a well written thematic essay comes from a healthy central idea that is conclusively proven via literary devices and logical arguments.

How to Pick a Thematic Topic?

Talking about how to write an excellent thematic essay, the crucial aspect is choosing a theme. Follow the listed hints to pick a thematic topic.

Recall what you were talking about in a class, with your mates or parents. Do some of these conversations recall you some book, novel or another piece of literature?
Write down every idea that comes to your mind. Sometimes most absurd is a first sight is the best way to go.
List your favourite literature pieces. Which one is the most touching for you? What it’s subject? Try to analyse its problematics and make some notes.
Dive into details of literature pieces: make sure you have something to work with. Find clues and examples, write down some key scenes and keywords what answer the essay prompt.

Still, have no idea what to write about? No worries, we have your back.

Thematic Essay Topics

• What is George Orwell trying to show after portraying a “Perfect Utopia” in his book 1984?
• What main idea is George Orwell painting about Communism in the book Animal Farm?
• What is Harper Lee saying about innocence in her novel To Kill A Mockingbird?
• What is John Steinbeck speaking about loneliness and isolation in Of Mice and Men?
• What is F. Scott Fitzgerald saying about the American Dream in The Great Gatsby?

Finding and Exploring The Central Theme

As stated before, uncovering the main subject and central theme respectively is the first significant step in a thematic paper. However, with all the variety flowing around, it may be difficult to decide on the main subject confidently. To make sure you choose the central theme correctly, follow these steps:

• Summarize the Literature: If you take the SparkNotes version of the book, what the main idea is the author trying to purvey? Usually, there will be many hints along the way, so choosing the right direction may not be so challenging.
• Pick the Most Prevalent Subject: One thing to note is the significant difference between a subject and a theme. An issue is the general topic of conversation whether it be love, bravery, deception, etc. An idea is a specific point an author is making about said subject. So, find the talking point that is most commonly being brought up. This will be the focal point of the essay.
• Read Between The Lines: After finding the most suitable subject, decipher what main point the author is trying to make. This will become clearer as you get deeper into the literature since clues and examples will appear frequently. After fully deciphering the central theme, there is one more significant step.
• Overall Significance: What is the overall significance that comes from the author’s point? What can be taken from this and applied to our personal lives? In other words, what is the lesson from all of this? What have we learned?

Thematic Essay Outline

The thematic essay has several key components. First of all, it should be five paragraphs or more, depending on the depth of the theme. Next, it must have a concrete thesis statement, which in other words is the thematic statement that comes from the main subject. The introduction presents the reader with the subject and the thesis statement. The body paragraphs each discuss one literary element or more to defend the validity of the thought, all the while providing many supporting details from the text itself. Lastly, the thematic essay conclusion summarises the main arguments presented and finishes off with a statement of overall significance.

Introduction

Thematic essay introduction presents the main subject of discussion in a captivating way. The first sentence of the intro should be a hook statement that makes some intriguing claim about the topic of debate. If done correctly, this will grab your reader’s attention. Afterwards, provide any necessary background information from the literature that will help the audience understand your claims later on. Lastly, put together a well thought out thesis statement that reflects the central theme of the novel.

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs follow a strict thematic essay format. Since each body paragraph’s purpose is to present a literary device as evidence, the topic sentence should introduce the claim and gateway into the evidence. Every topic sentence must have a literary device, the author’s name and the relationship to the application.

Afterwards, to validate the claim, using examples from the book that strengthen the reasoning of your statement. These can be actions from the plot or quotations that are in parallel with the central theme. It is imperative to explain how the action/quote links back to the thesis statement, as it shows that you can support your logic.

Remember: each claim must use a literary device. It can not just be a random moment or inference. Thematic essays are all about proving thesis statements through the use of critical literary devices.

Conclusion

The thematic essay conclusion has three main objectives to complete before wrapping up the entire essay. It should NEVER present any new information or facts but merely go through the information already given. First of all, restate your thesis statement with the use of a transition such as “In conclusion,” Then, summaries your three central claims and their influence on the thesis statement. To finish off the entire work, present an overall concluding statement with a global analysis of the subject. Leave your reader with a call to action, interesting them to dig deeper into the topic.

Wrap Things Up

Before submitting your thematic essay for a grade, make sure to check off a couple of things to clean up any possible errors.

• Double-check and confirm that the central theme you have decided is the one that the author MOST LIKELY meant to focus on. Unless you can provide a secondary issue and present it strongly enough as a primary, validate the primary subject.
• Go through and proofread your entire essay. Nothing makes reading more irritating than grammatical mistakes, clean that stuff up as much as possible.
• Get a second pair of eyes to read through your essay. It would be helpful to ask a classmate for help, as they most likely had a similar assignment. Another great way to polish things up is to ask one of our essay writers to give you some helpful advice.

Thematic Essay Example

The best way to familiarise yourself with this type of writing is to learn from a thematic essay example.

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