HOW TO WRITE A CRITICAL ESSAY

University instructors require students to write a critical analysis of a research paper, painting, literary piece, etc. Why is critical thinking an important skill? Students in the fields of Science & Arts have to make an expert analysis of previous works because these analyses will prove how well they have mastered a certain profession and use it as a basis to dissect work. What is a critical analysis essay?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Definition
• How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay
• Outline
• Writing an Introduction
• 25 Critical Thinking Essay Topics
• Examples

What is Critical Analysis Essay?

A critical analysis essay is best defined as an academic paper designed to understand a certain written work. What is critical thinking? It is an ability to think rationally and logically about various actions or beliefs. This kind of writing is subjective because a writer has to express personal opinions and share an experience as evaluation. Two major steps you have to make in this kind of essay are Critical Reading & Writing. How to write a critical analysis paper? You should be able to express personal opinions based on experience.
A critical thinking definition is basically the same as a critical essay meaning – it is a part of the process required to carry out an analysis paper. The tips below will help the students to understand the main idea of this type of academic writing with the help of vivid examples and guides.

How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay?

The initial step mentioned earlier in a critical path analysis is thorough reading. To read critically, identify the author’s purpose and analysis. Take note of the passage’s main ideas and the paragraphs supporting the main idea. Consult proper reference materials (both primary like books and secondary like interviews) for things that you do not comprehend. Write a description, outline, and a summary of the work. It’s important to consider the written work’s purpose (whether it is factual and if it is written to entertain). Is it written to express an opinion? Asking these questions will help you write and synthesize and evaluate if the author has achieved the purpose of his or her written work.

Critical Analysis Essay Outline

Most instructors will provide a sample outline to help students write a well-organized critical analysis. These outlines serve as a skeleton of how you want your written work to be structured. Before writing an academic paper, make sure you have an outline which organizes your thoughts into a coherent essay structure. If you are not provided with an outline, you can follow this outline below:

• A hook sentence (optional). This one is to grab your reader’s attention.
• Background Information: This is to make readers have an understanding or an overview of the work you’re going to evaluate. This is to ensure that important details are provided. This is an important part of the critical analysis essay because this will be your basis for evaluation.
• Information about the work:
• Title
• Author
• Publication information
• Statement of topic and purpose
• Thesis statement indicating writer’s main reaction to the work
• Summary: This is another fundamental part of the critical analysis because to create a summary, you have to read critically.
• Interpretation: Writing this part will vary from person to person. This interpretation should be subjective meaning it should be based on writer’s experiences and honest opinions based on the primary sources be it negative or positive. The way you will evaluate in this part of the essay will reflect who you are and your proficiency.
• Discussion of the work’s organization
• Discussion of the work’s style
• Effectiveness
• Discussion of the topic’s treatment
• Discussion of appeal to a particular audience
• Conclusion: After the body of your work, restate the thesis statement to remind the readers about the main point, summarize the arguments (topic sentences of each body paragraph), provide some implementations or forecast for the future, and finish with a hook sentence. It is best to end up with a rhetorical question.

Your project should answer the following questions:

Is there a controversy surrounding either the passage or the subject which it concerns?
What about the subject matter is of current interest?
What is the overall value of the passage and what are the strengths and weaknesses of the assessed piece of literature or another work of art?

Take note of the rubrics or guide questions given to you. These are meant to make sure you will not miss details in your analysis. Support your statements with the text given to you; remember that the purpose of the critical analysis is not merely to inform, but also to evaluate the worth, utility, excellence, distinction, truth, validity, beauty, or goodness of something. Although, you will be expressing your opinions, make sure that you will be fair and well informed. Explore different sides of the analysis yet stand firm on what you believe in. Express your opinions honestly. Your review should provide information, interpretation, and evaluation so that the offered information will help your reader understand the nature of the work under analysis. The interpretation will explain the meaning of the work, therefore requiring your correct understanding of it. The evaluation will discuss your opinions of the work and present valid justification for them.

Critical Analysis Essay Introduction Example

You need more than critical thinking skills alone to come up with the successful paper. It is important to stay creative. The best place in the text to show your creativity is an introduction. Start with a powerful hook sentence to catch an eye of the reader from the initial line:

• A fact
• Statistics
• An allegory
• A literary quote
• A metaphor
• A simile
• A quotation of a famous person
• A joke
• An anecdote
• A rhetorical question

The main idea is to make the readers understand why the research question matters. The goal is to make them WANT to read the full paper. This way, the teachers will be able to assess the work objectively. Here is a critical analysis essay introduction example to give you a hint:

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because the reality is finally better than your dreams.” These words by Dr. Seuss describe this eternal feeling the best. Love is an emotion which all people have a concept of. At the same time, the majority of people may insist they have experienced the feeling of true love despite the accepted definition of this chemical reaction. Does a pure love exist? How can an average citizen of any country identify this contradictory feeling best of all? This paper examines the concept of love based on Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116.”

25 Cool Critical Analysis Essay Topics

Except for the advanced critical thinking skills, one has to possess great research skills to find some interesting topics to evaluate. Decide which topic suits critical thinking process the best. Make sure there are enough sources available in free access to provide evidence for your arguments. Consult the teacher to make sure the idea is relevant. The issue should be trendy and related to the studied subject.
Here are some of the top critical analysis essay topics to consider:

Culture Critical Thinking Topics

1. Drug use in sports
2. The role of college football in student’s academic performance
3. Homelessness among young people in the US
4. Anti-meth campaign and its consequences
5. The difference in communication between males & females

Mass Media Topics

1. Analyzing a film on a comic book
2. Evaluating the best wedding dress TV show
3. Observing the remake of a classic motion picture
4. Examining the influence of the popular TV series on youth
5. Selecting a favorite cooking program

Critical Evaluation Topics on History

1. Secrets of the Ancient Greeks
2. Colonization of the modern US territory
3. Studying the pyramids of Giza
4. Assessment of the Vikings trip to American in IX century
5. The true origins of the Liberty Statue

Culture Critical Thinking Topics in Literature

1. The way irony is used in Mark Twain’s stories
2. The conventions of a specific genre (example: anti-utopia)
3. Studying a setting in “The Lord of the Rings”
4. The mood of Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
5. The use of allegory in Shakespeare’s art

Culture Critical Thinking Topics in Sports

1. Sports as they are shown by mass media
2. Raising and Olympian
3. The effectiveness of betting on sports
4. Video gaming in the XXI century
5. The significance of indoor games for children

Examples

You could go on and search for critical analysis examples if you were not given one in class. These examples should answer some of your questions. Avoid opening statements like “I think…” and “In my opinion…” Your essay should focus on the assessment itself and not on you.

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HOW TO WRITE A DEFINITION ESSAY

When a new word catches your attention, naturally, the first reaction is to look it up in a dictionary. If you are extra curious about it, you may even research the term online to see its origins. After researching the term online, you find a proper definition that seems logical enough. This is the usual process of learning new words!

However, in some cases, a brief description of a term is not enough. Some words have complex and deep meanings and require an in-depth explanation. This is what the definition essay is all about!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is a Definition Essay
• Types of Definitions commonly used in Definition Essay
• Interesting Topics
• Definition Essay Outline
  • Introduction
  • Thesis Statement
  • Body Paragraphs
  • Conclusion
• Post-writing Tip

What is a Definition Essay?

This type of paper involves writing a formal explanation of one specific word. It is important to note the fact that this is an essay, which means you can not pick a simple term that can be described in a few words.

Definition essay is meant to describe a complex term that has significant background and historical origin and be a relatable term.

A word “love” is an excellent example of such term as it is seemingly impossible to explain this concept very briefly. This gives us a room to write an essay about it, which would give it an accurate and UNIVERSAL representation!

Approaching a Definition Essay

So you have found an exciting term with a complex background worth delving in to? Before you decide to make it a subject for your definition essay, consider what you can do with it.

Here are some ways to approach your definition essay:

• Analysis: Break the subject into parts and define each element individually.
• Classification: What classes does the issue belong to?
• Comparison: Unusual things may be determined by showing its likeness to the common or its contrast from it.
• Details: What are the characteristics and other distinguishing features that describe the idea of the paper?
• Negation: Explain what it isn’t to clear the ground for what it is.
• Origins and Causes: What is the origin of the theme? What is the background information? What is the history of the idea?
• Results, Effects, and Uses: Describe the after effect and uses of the subject.

Interesting Defintion Essay Topics to Consider

• What makes someone a Hero
• Compare Love and Hate. Which one is a stronger emotion?
• Analyze the definition of Beauty.
• What is the opposite of Respect? Explain why.
• How did a term Fidelity originate?
• What are the origins of a term Parlay?
• What is the opposite of Happiness and why?
• How to describe Integrity?
• Characterize an Antihero
• What are the defining attributes of Royalty?
• What makes someone a Villain and why?
• What are the origins of the word Zenith?

These are just some common examples of definition essay questions and topicsthat is commonly asked on tests and coursework assignments. The goal here is to pick the best definition essay topic that as a student you feel comfortable explaining and portraying. It is time to become a word artist!

Steps to take Pre-Writing

Before you begin your writing, make sure that the word you chose to write about is worth writing about.

Here are a few tips to consider before choosing your golden term!

• Choosing a Proper Term:
  • It is not productive to try to squeeze out an essay out of a simple word.

The Word Should be Multi-Dimensional:

• Avoid using terms that are universal in every language!

Term Intimacy:

• Choose a word that you know well and be confident in your essay!

Use history background on your definition essay:

• The origin or etymology of a word has some historical reason for being the shape it is.

Definition Essay Outline

Every definition essay should be written in the classic Intro-Body-Conclusion format. According to the definition essay structure the introduction should address the central question within a thesis statement.

Depending on the term, however, the body part of a definition essay outline may vary in length and should include all of the points made by the writer as the conclusion should summarise all of the main ideas and suggest anything that can be done in future.

Introduction

In a definition essay, the introduction has two goals. You must give a “standard”, or the most common definition of the term, and introduce your thesis.

The initial section of the introduction should state the dictionary version. Because the standard definition will slightly vary from the thesis one, which allows for multi-dimensionality!

Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is a part of introduction. For definition essay, the thesis is your version of what the term means. This can be a mix of the standard definition and your personal experiences and explanation style! Keep it short. Do not try to describe too much in this section. This is where you transition to the body of the essay.

Body Paragraphs

Break down the term into its core parts in the body of your essay. Analyze the term from different angles and provide relevant explanation. More than three paragraphs may be necessary depending on the nature of your assignment.

Here is an example of a good body paragraph structure:

• Body Paragraph 1: History and Origin
• Body Paragraph 2: Full dictionary explanation and use.
• Body Paragraph 3: Personal definition created from experience.

Conclusion

Keep the conclusion simple. The main goal here is to summarize the main points of your argument. Rephrase your thesis as well as the main parts of the definition and sum up everything you said in the body of the essay.

The last thing that should be mentioned in your definition paper outline is how this term has impacted you. Usually, before even writing the essay, there is a reason a specific word is picked, and part of the reason has to do with personal experience.

Post-writing Tip

Mention how the definition you were talking about affected you.

If the term you define plays a specific part in your life and experiences, your final concluding comments are a great place to mention the role it plays concisely.

• Thesis. Think about the purpose of the argument to form the thesis. The thesis being the claim of the paper.
• References. Choose the most appropriate references.
• Outline. Develop a Definition Essay Outline
• Proofread. Remember to proofread your finished definition essay to make sure there are no typing errors – that can lower your grade.
• Editing. It’s a good idea to make any necessary changes to the definition essay once proofread.
• Sources. Remember that sources control the essay. Meaning, never choose inappropriate sources, so the audience doesn’t misinterpret the paper.

Definition Essay Examples

Here are some definition essay examples. Pay attention to the structure of these essays. Any of these essays can also be used as a definition essay template if you wish to have the same structure and format for your essay.

1. SUCCESS

Different people have different meanings of the meaning of success. In order to define critically the real meaning of success, maybe the first and most significant recognition, which any person can make, is that there exists no single defined formula, which outlines the way to personal success.

2. WHO IS A HERO

The term hero has been in use in the society for the longest time in history. Most of the fairy tales and other Disney productions revolve around the title as portrayed in the fictional characters. People use the term hero as a compliment in different contexts.

3. BEAUTY DEFINITION

Beauty is a simple word that has several definitions depending on the individual and the subject at hand. It is an abstract word that is mostly used to describe something that brings happiness or pleases an individual.

HOW TO WRITE A DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY

…and so we lit a bonfire, purging the shadow from the forest.

Words can paint an image worth millions. Writers like Stephen King and Charles Dickens have created entire worlds using descriptive writing techniques.

A descriptive essay is your gateway to immersive writing. Whether it’s for brilliant copywriting (For sale: baby shoes, never worn. – Hemingway), or great prose – learning how to write a descriptive essay will catapult you to storytelling heights.

In this article, we examine the descriptive essay and present a step-by-step writing guide. Stick around for helpful writing tips near the end!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Descriptive Essay Definition
• Descriptive Essay Topics & Ideas
• Descriptive Essay Outline
  • Introduction
  • Body Paragraph(s)
  • Conclusion
• Writing and Reviewing Your Descriptive Paper
• Free Descriptive Essay Examples

What is a Descriptive Essay?

The descriptive essay definition explains that this paper is a type of composition which describes an object, a person, a process or an event.

The writer’s goal is to create:

• vivid reading experience;
• to show instead of telling.

Descriptive writing usually appeals to the five senses: taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight. (Ex: Jack’s coffee mug exploded into tiny shards of glass, catching the attention of everyone at the office.)

Always appealing to the senses is key to writing a good descriptive essay.

Here’s a list of what your descriptive essay could be about:

• People
• Places
• Memories
• Experiences
• Objects

When writing the descriptive essay, your goal will be to paint a comprehensive picture for the reader, appealing to the five senses.

Last but not least, your essay should have a purpose. It could be anything from a lesson you learned from experience to a story of how an object impacted your life.

It’s all about making your bright ideas come to life!

Descriptive Essay Topics & Ideas

Finding descriptive essay topics isn’t hard. You can describe pretty much anything, from your favorite car to the weather today.

We’ve gathered some ideas to help you get started. Hopefully, you’ll find good descriptive essay topics which will spark your imagination!

Choosing a person to describe

One idea for a topic is to describe a person. Choose a person who you know well; doing this gives you a lot to write about.

• Family members, friends, teachers, etc.
• A celebrity who exposes most of their private life to the media: The Kardashians, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, etc.
• A famous superhero like Spider-Man. Such fictional figures have undergone many character studies from both academic and non-academic perspectives.

Describing an Object or a Place

You may also describe an object or a place with which you have a significant connection. This could be your high school, a playground, or a toy which used to scare you as a kid. Fictional places also count!

• The city where you grew up
• Buckingham Palace
• A place that gives you the creeps
• Your favorite dream car
• Harry Potter’s wand

Describing an Emotion

Remember the most sincere emotion and turn it into a descriptive essay. You may choose a strong feeling like anger, happiness, loss, desire, or rage. It doesn’t have to be a personal emotion; it could be an observation.

• Brotherly love
• Kid getting frustrated while playing a video game
• Feeling on top of the world

You can write a descriptive essay about anything you can describe according to human senses: touch, sight, taste, smell and hearing!

Creating a Descriptive Essay Outline

When thinking how to write a descriptive essay, remember that a structured paper outline is your golden ticket. Not only does it help you organize thoughts, but it will also help your essays flow better!

A descriptive essay outline is composed of the following: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. It is important to spent enough time considering the victim of description, because all of your illustrations will be based around it.

Introduction

The introduction serves to introduce your subject to the reader and give them enough context to fully understand your essay, but keep it brief and interesting to the reader.

When learning how to write a descriptive essay introduction, remember – the first paragraph of your paper is the part that makes your descriptive essay stand out from the others.

As with any college paper, a descriptive essay introduction must contain the following points:

• Hook Sentence: Although the entire essay should be full of exciting and vivid descriptions, grabbing the reader’s attention from the very beginning is ideal!
• Context / Background Information: Tell the reader what you’re about to describe and explain why it is crucial to you. Give them a brief context for your paper.
• Thesis Statement: The descriptive essay thesis should be a short, but concise summary of the essay. It must include the subject of description, and your purpose for describing it.

For further information on how to write a thesis for a descriptive essay, check out the examples below.

PLACE
If you were writing an essay about Buckingham Palace: “Even though monarchy is long gone, Buckingham Palace serves to remind us of the aesthetic beauty which that era built.”

PERSON
For an essay describing Spider-Man: “The defining characteristics of Spider-Man are his youthfulness, New York City, and the fact that he talks to himself more than Hamlet.”

EMOTION
An essay about a personal experience of fear: “For many reasons, the dark forest is my greatest fear, though not a fear which is necessarily smart to face.”

Body Paragraph(s)

There are usually three body paragraphs in an essay. They cover three different points or arguments.

How many body paragraphs to include in your descriptive essay is entirely up to you. Sometimes it takes a sentence to tell a story while other times it takes books.

How to start a body paragraph for a descriptive essay:

1. Start with a topic sentence: The orange looks familiar; it is around citrus fruit whose color matches its name.
2. Sensory details: When describing the orange, appeal to relatable senses.
3. Include actual details: Always include descriptive information within your body paragraphs.
4. Finish a body paragraph by introducing the next: Transition sentences are essential because they create immersion within your writing. Better than reading a list of facts.

Conclusion

• Reflection is Key: The first thing to do in the end is to reflect on the initial purpose of the essay. Spill the beans on why you decided to write about this subject, and how this subject has affected your life.
• Signify the Importance of the Details: Next, go over some key moments of the essay. Give a summary of what you have covered, and prepare the audience for the clincher statement.
• Clincher Statement: The clincher is the final sentence which reinforces an overall purpose or leaves your audience with an intriguing thought, question or quotation.

You’ve probably spent a lot of time thinking of a hook to pull the audience in! Do NOT allow the essay to escape their thoughts right after they finish reading it.

Here’s an excellent descriptive essay conclusion example for your reference.

According to the descriptive essay format, the conclusion should be a summary of all of the main points in the body text.

It’s a good idea to write a final sentence related to the main point.

Once this is done, the paper is now complete. It is advisable to proofread the descriptive essay to correct any grammatical errors.

Writing and Reviewing Your Descriptive Paper

The secret to writing great papers lies in the final step: reviewing your paper.

After you finish writing, take a break. It’s always best to clear your mind before editing your paper. When you come back to your descriptive essay, here are the questions to ask yourself:

• Have you provided enough context in the introduction?
• Is the paper easy to read?
• Does the thesis correlate with the content of the paper?
• Does the paper feature vivid, descriptive language?
• Will the clincher statement leave a lasting impact?
• Overall, if you were the reader, would this paper make sense to you?
• Are there no problems with grammar and punctuation?

Sometimes web applications like Grammarly or Hemingway app can help you sort your grammar. However, it’s always best to master the rules yourself and become the best writer you could be.

When you’re convinced you to have the final draft, read it out loud or give it to a friend. Sometimes you need some constructive criticism to tie up loose ends in your writing.

Descriptive Essay Good Examples

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This is a commonly assigned and most opted-for form of an essay. Why not have a look at our written descriptive essay examples. In this section, you can find some of the top examples and quotes followed by some critique.

Example # 1

“Last but not least, when it comes to the other archeological element which is the ectofact; representing remains from plants and animals. The archeologists in the course of their excavations will find some animal faeces, indicating that there was the existence of other life besides people (White, 2008). For instance, when the archeologists come across faeces of birds such as Blue Jey or North Cardinal, the inference, in this case, will be that birds were common during the period in subject. Apart from the animal remains, the archeologists will also come across flower seeds such as the pansy seeds. This will indicate that such flowers were common around buildings during the period in subject.“

The writer of this descriptive essay example is explaining that there was a lot of life before humans existed. The world was full of Blue Jey and North Cardinal birds that most probably ate pansy seeds as a stable diet.

Example # 2

“On the other hand, when it comes to features; which are non-portable artifacts as highlighted above, the archeologists in the process of their excavation will come across things like mysterious wooden poles with wires joining them at intervals. The interconnection between the poles by a wire is an indicator that something might have been passing through it. The conclusion arrived at, in such a scenario is that the wooden poles along with the wires were used for communication purposes between people and that the radio waves passed through them. Apart from that, the poles were used to hold electrical power, transferring it from one location or one building to the other. Such an evidence of the poles with the wires will thus indicate that the people of the 21st century had scientific abilities, and that communication was important to them.”

It in this example is it is clear that the writer has put himself/herself in a perspective of someone in the far future. He/she is describing how we were in the 21st century, and how we used the poles as communication portals.

HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY ABOUT YOURSELF

An essay about yourself is an autobiographical piece focused on your (the writer’s) life. This type of writing falls into the nonfiction category. An autobiographical piece often means squeezing your whole life into a few paragraphs. The goal is to explore important moments and experiences from your life. Then you must condense them into a third person narrative. It should not sound boring and selfish. The best option is to focus on a specific accomplishment or experience. Note that most writers choose to write this essay in the third person.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• How To Start
• How To Introduce Yourself
• Writing The Body
• Summing Up
• Common Usage
• Polishing Up

An essay about yourself should answer 6 simple questions:

• Who are you?
• What is your background?
• What are your interests?
• What are your talents?
• What are your achievements?
• What challenges have you faced?

In this article, we will follow some simple steps towards writing an autobiographical essay. At the end, you will have a clear understanding of how to write an essay about yourself. The following steps are:

• Brainstorming On Ideas
• Introducing Yourself
• Writing The Body
• Concluding
• Polishing Up

How To Start An Essay About Yourself

If you’re not sure how to write an essay about yourself – begin by brainstorming. Write down a list of your talents, experiences, and achievements. Next, narrow it down to a more specific theme. Keep in mind that your essay opener must grab the attention of any audience. You can try starting off with an unusual experience or a valuable life lesson. Give your readers a taste of something new, or something to ponder on.

Topic Examples:

• The moment your life changed forever;
• A tough choice you have made;
• A near-death experience;
• The biggest loss you have experienced;
• A thing you want to change about yourself.

It’s also important to avoid sensitive subjects because they can be controversial. These can be:

• Gender
• Religion
• Political situation
• Race and nationality
• Income level

Introduce Yourself

Remember, this is a story of your life, so introducing yourself like: “My name is David,” “When I was born…”, “The best moment of my life was…” is too dull and trivial.

Instead, try a more original approach.

Example: “I was born the day before my grandfather died..” or “The point when my life changed was…”

Craft an introduction to your essay that will catch your reader’s attention. This will motivate them to read the rest of the story.

Writing The Body

In this section, you will talk about your background. Consider your interests, experiences, challenges, and achievements. Do not ramble too much around themes or subjects that you aim to highlight. Rambling can disinterest your reader.

Put everything you want to introduce in proper order before adding new details. Make sure to make smooth transitions from one subject to another. You want your audience to enjoy the reading experience.

Writing an essay about yourself could be a part of your admission process. In this case, it’s crucial to write the best college admission essay describing your goals, motivations, and challenges you’ve overcome.. Include your best qualities, studying attitude, productive hobbies, etc.

Summing Up

After you have done all the previous steps, it’s time to write a conclusion. For example, the main idea of your story was about learning a lesson from a specific situation. In this case, you may want to write about what you learned or how it changed your life. If this step doesn’t work for you, you can try the “so what?” technique. Read your essay one more time and ask yourself “so what?”. In most cases, the answer will come to you.

Common Usage

Several institutions request you to write a third person narrative about yourself. In the academic field, these essays are typical for college admissions. You have to convince admissions that you have been ‘destined’ to become a student in their college. You might also be asking that school for a scholarship.

In that case, your piece must boast your academic prowess. It must convince the college to pay for your education. They may also ask you to write a short essay about yourself for a job interview or a casting. In any of these cases, being able to write about yourself is a strong skill to own.

Polishing Up

There are other factors to consider in bringing your autobiographical essay to perfection. Our academic service has compiled some excellent advice to help you compose a winning piece:

Read your work several times. Proofreading will allow you to spot grammar errors and inappropriate use of language. Then read it once again but this time read it out loud and correct all punctuation and spelling errors.

Run it through an online grammar checking program. Such tools can spot small grammar mistakes that you might have missed. Moreover, it will show you errors in sentence structure if you’ve made any.

Get your family and friends involved. Ask your relatives and friends to read your paper. Use their feedback to make corrections.

Know yourself. Based on your writing, create a list of mistakes that you often make. You can later refer to that list every time you need to proofread your work.

Essay About Yourself Examples

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HOW TO WRITE AN EXPLANATORY ESSAY

History is always written by the victor; however, any topic, event or situation always has multiple viewpoints to it, depending on the angle of approach. It is rather hard to sway some ideology or way of thinking. So the most one can do is present an argument using statistics, logic, and evidence to showcase their idea as valid. This is what explanatory essay writing is all about.

What Is An Explanatory Essay?

An explanatory essay is a type of writing in which the author presents some point of view on a certain topic, event or situation. This view does not necessarily have to be one that the writer agrees with, but it must have some research and logic to make it feasible.

Usually, the author will decide upon a set topic; then they will approach the issue from a specific angle. This angle is typically complicated, giving it room for discussion. At this point, they must present a point of view of their choice that sufficiently explains why a certain outcome was reached.

A mistake that many writers make comes from the belief that they are defending one side of an argument in a debate or criticizing some perspective.
Rather, explanatory essay writing is all about presenting a neutral point of view on the set topic by providing analysis from research and logically created self-theory. The overall goal is to clear up any confusion and present a lucid explanation as to why things happened the way they did. After finishing the essay, the reader should have a clear understanding of your idea, even if they disagree with it.

Explanatory Essay Example Topics

Almost any topic, event or idea can be described through an explanatory essay; here are a couple of good essay topics to get you started:

What were the key causes of the American Civil War?

• From slavery to states rights and the aggravating feeling of power loss, this has been a question yet to be adequately answered.

How does depression affect the development of young children and teenagers?

• Depression affects many people in various ways. From physical changes in diet to mental jumps in the form of mood swings, this topic still has much to uncover.

How has the overall development of technology impacted schools?

• Although technology has significantly simplified lives for the entire world, has it brought with it a sense of laziness and reliance. Can it be considered as an addictive drug?

What positive and negative impacts have come from social media in today’s society?

• Social media has turned everybody into a keyboard warrior nowadays. It does allow people to spread their thoughts and ideas freely, but what about the negative repercussions?

Define love

Your guess is as good as mine. Good luck!

Pre-Writing Steps

Before getting into the writing process of an explanatory essay, one must not forget to do proper research and data collection. Remember, the point of view being presented must be a combination of personal ideas and external information. Only then are one’s thoughts properly validated. So research your topic and find multiple sources that defend your thoughts.

After collecting the required information, the next and most important step is to create a feasible thesis statement. This statement lays down a concise version of your overall point of view about the topic. In other words, you are explaining what you will be showing to your audience. Remember, you are not arguing or criticizing, just merely stating facts.

After both steps have been taken care of, it is time to create an outline for your paper.

Explanatory Essay Outline

The outline of an explanatory essay will vary based on the length of the topic and the information you are trying to present. However, most essays tend to be a page or two in length, so the overall essay will be around five paragraphs long. The introduction will present the subject of discussion to the reader and the thesis statement.
The body paragraphs will then follow, backing up your thesis statement with facts, logic, statistics, etc. Lastly, the conclusion will summarize the main points of your essay and should present an overall concluding statement. Now, let’s break down each section into more detail!

Introduction

The introduction for an essay is made up of three main components and serves as a gateway for the actual content of the essay. First of all, just like with most types of essays, get the reader interested in the topic by presenting a hook statement. This can be an interesting fact, relevant quote, or anything that would captivate the audience’s attention.

Afterward, offer any necessary background information that may not seem like general knowledge. This will help paint a clear picture for the reader to follow. Lastly, add the thesis statement at the end to fixate the focus of your essay. This should eliminate any confusion about what will be discussed in the body.

Body Paragraphs

Most likely, unless the topic is very in-depth, the body should contain three paragraphs, each with their point of approach. However, the general style of each body paragraph is identical. First of all, present a topic sentence that precisely explains what information you will be introducing. At the same time, this sentence should smoothly transition the writing from the previous point to the next.

Afterward, present a position or claim that directly supports the thesis. It’s important to make sure that the connection is evident, so the audience can easily connect the dots. Then, present the evidence found from the research you have done. This will validate your claim and enforce your position. Lastly, present a concluding statement that summarizes the significance of the claim in regards to the thesis statement. Follow this systematic approach three times for each one of your claims to complete your body.

Conclusion

When writing the conclusion, there are three main components that are crucial to properly finishing an explanatory essay. First of all, restate your thesis statement. This will bring the audience’s attention back to the main focal point as well as add strength to your presented point of view.

Next, make sure to summarize your three supporting points presented in the body paragraphs accordingly. It’s essential to restate the significance of each one concisely. This will show you that you have logically and correctly defended your thesis statement, increasing the strength of your overall writing. Last but not least, offer an overall concluding statement. This should explain the value of the specific point of view chosen from a global perspective. Leave your readers with a call to action, instinctively captivating them to study the subject further on. Once you have done that, you are ALMOST finished with your explanatory essay.

Polishing It Up

Before confidently submitting in your final work, make sure to take a couple of proactive steps to tie the knot around your essay.

Check The Clarity

Since the primary goal of an explanatory essay is to elucidate a topic or event, you want to ensure that your writing clearly explains and simplifies the comprehension level for the reader. The last thing you want is for your audience to be confused after reading the essay, questioning the overall point you were trying to make.

Reread and Edit

The worst thing a writer can offer is pesky grammatical and word usage mistakes that kill the eloquence of the text. Reread the essay several times and make sure it runs smoothly like a Sunday morning creek.

Get A Second Pair of Eyes

Just because your writing may make sense to you, does not mean that Bob down the street will understand it. Have friends, acquaintances or teachers read over your essay to give it some final touch-ups and adjustments. This is the cherry that goes on top of the cake!

Example

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HOW TO WRITE AN EXPOSITORY ESSAY

Have you heard of a popular tool in the world of cinema called ‘exposition’? It is a technique that filmmakers often use to fill in the audience on key plot points of the movie. When looking at the expository essay definition, similar rules apply. Our Essay Writing APP is here to reveal the true meaning of this academic paper and write your essays upon your request.

Without further ado, let’s define expository essay and learn how to write a good one.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is an expository essay
• 5 main types of expository writing
• Why do we write expository essays?
• Finding expository essay topics
  • Topics and ideas
• How to write an expository essay
• Expository Essay Outline
  • Intro – ‘Say What You’re Going To Say’
  • Body – ‘Say It’
  • Conclusion – ‘Say What You Said’
• Proofreading Your Work With an Expository Essay Rubric
• Example of an Expository Essay

What Is An Expository Essay?

The term ‘expository’ comes from the word ‘exposition.’ According to the exposition essay definition this is ‘a type of writing meant to explain, inform, or describe.’ An expository essay is a structured academic paper investigating an idea. It consists of looking at evidence, expanding on an idea, and presenting the concept in simple language.

An expository essay is one of those essays that you find at the end of an exam or a semester. Professors love assigning it as it’s a perfect way to test a student’s knowledge. Knowing how to write an expository essay is a valuable skill, and you’ll write lots of them in college. It’s easy, but if you need some essay writing help – you can always rely on our service.

An expository essay usually builds on the simple 5-paragraph-essay structure. An attention-grabbing intro with a thesis, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Body paragraphs must have supporting evidence for every argument. As mentioned before, it is a standard genre used in exams and in-class writing. Students often write such essays fast with little to no preparation.

5 Main Types of Expository Writing

There are 5 main types of expository essays:

• Descriptive Essay: This is an essay in which the writer is asked to describe something. This could be a person, place, experience, situation, etc. Descriptive Essays are unique in the sense that you have a lot of freedom when it comes to the content. You should present something exciting or beautiful, all the while keeping the reader interested.
• Process Essay: The classic “How To” assignment. The purpose of this essay is to teach the reader about learning a process: How to build a car, how to edit a paper or even how to flirt with a girl!
• Comparison Essay: Simple sounding enough, a comparison essay makes you critically analyze any two subjects, finding and explaining their similarities and/or differences.
• Cause and Effect Essay: The “Knee-Jerk” reaction assignment. Cause and effect essays are concerned with why and or how things happen and what happens as a result.
• Problem / Solution Essay: The universal standard prompt assignment. In this situation, we have a problem and are looking for solutions. The essay is broken down into a brief intro to the problem and filled with content about the solutions.

Why Do We Write Expository Essays?

Okay so we’ve learned what they are – let’s figure out why we write them. What is the purpose of an expository essay?

Apart from their lingering presence on every college exam ever, expository essays can serve as an introduction to expository writing. Being one of the four widely used rhetorical modes, expository writing branches out into many disciplines.

• Journalism. Almost every news article fits into the ‘explain, inform, or describe’ definition. News is all about expository writing.
• Business. Press releases, reports, and business letters are all exposition.
• Sientific / Academic Writing. Some embodiments of the exposition essay in academia are: Cause and effect essays, definition and classification essays, compare and contrast essays, scientific journals, and term papers.

Look into an encyclopedia or at the text on the back of a juice bottle. ‘How-To’ manuals are exposition too…

In fact, this entire article is expository writing! Our purpose is to ‘explain, inform or describe’ the concept of an expository essay!

Okay, you probably get it by now. Expository writing is everywhere. Let’s take a look at some popular topics and finally learn how to write an expository essay!

Finding Expository Essay Topics

When looking for expository essay ideas, find something relatable that you could explain. It could be anything from daily rituals, ‘how to play an instrument’ guides, to proposals of colonizing Mars.

Finding good expository essay topics isn’t hard. Usually, the instructor assigns them. If not, prepare to do some brainstorming. Keep your expository essay prompts handy when searching for topics and inspiration.

Topics and Ideas

At this point, you should have a good idea of what you’re looking for. If not, we’ve compiled some good expository essay topics to narrow down your search. Feel free to make them your own!

• Describe the history of your hometown.
• Explain what happens to a criminal caught breaking a specific law.
• What is it like living in poverty?
• What is the primary cause of obesity?
• Explain the importance of the outcomes of the ‘War of the Currents.’
• Explain how wifi works.
• Explain how gravity works.
• Describe the causes of depression in the United States.
• Describe a phobia.
• How do movies get made?
• How do memories work?
• Describe an imaginary smartphone application that could help save the environment.
• Explain why pop culture is so popular.
• Give the reader historical background on a specific profession.
• Trace the history of significant architectural developments up to a certain point.

Remember to pick a topic that sparks your interest. Nobody likes a dull, uninspired essay. Make the piece sound enthusiastic and energetic.

How To Write An Expository Essay

Writing an expository essay shouldn’t be difficult at this point. As with any piece, the first thing to start with is an outline. Organize all your thoughts and information in the correct expository essay format. The format is like the classic 5-paragraph-essay (intro, three body paragraphs, conclusion). The outline is fundamental because you can always refer to it if you get lost in the writing process. Stick to your guns, and you will be fine!

Expository Essay Outline

We have created an outline for a sample topic. Use it as a handy reference point on how to create your outline.

Learn more about how to create an essay outline.

Intro – ‘Say What You’re Going To Say’

When searching for how to start an expository essay, you’ll find that most recommend starting with a hook. The expository essay introduction is just like any essay introduction. Its purpose is to capture the reader’s attention and give them an overview of the topic. In other words – say what you’re going to say. The thesis sentence usually goes at the end of the introduction.

Learn more about how to write an excellent introduction.

Body – ‘Say It’

The body paragraphs are where the writer unloads their information. Explain the topic or concept thoroughly. Make sure to use reliable references to solidify your point. Expository essays are often assigned in-class or on exams. Therefore, professors expect students to write fast and pick references from their head. If it’s a homework assignment, stick to traditional sources and the MLA format.

Study hard for exam questions! Professors will know if you’ve studied the source material or not. Having studied well, you should have no problem picking references. Simply go through the class material you’ve learned.

Conclusion – ‘Say What You Said’

Last but not least, your expository essay conclusion must hit all the main points and wrap everything up. Basically – say what you said. The conclusion is your last chance to make an impact on the reader. Leave them with a good impression of your work, and give them some thoughts to ponder upon.

Now you know the expository essay structure. Learn it, use it, and make it yours.

Proofreading Your Work With an Expository Essay Rubric

Writing an expository essay is only the first step. Then you must proofread it to make sure you’ve nailed every point. Remember that professors deduce points for watery text and lack of transitions between paragraphs.

Proofread your essay carefully to see if you’ve ticked off all the points on this general rubric.

• The Thesis Statement appears near the end of the introduction. It states the topic and the writer’s motives for writing this paper.
• The writer Explains the Evidence clearly, showing how it supports the thesis. Every body paragraph features a topic sentence and evidence to support it.
• All Evidence presented comes from a reliable source. All evidence is relevant to the conversation.
• There are no Grammar, Punctuation or Spelling mistakes that distract the reader from the essay’s content.
• Every part of the paper is appropriately formatted using the MLA Format.

Example of an Expository Essay

We’ve uploaded some expository essay examples to give you a better idea of the end result. Some of our top writers wrote these examples. Feel free to browse through them and get ideas.

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HOW TO WRITE AN EXTENDED ESSAY OF THE TOP QUALITY

An extended essay is a thesis written under the supervision of an advisor. It is a mandatory component of the IB Diploma, and writing it could be challenging.

In this article, we explain the basics of what is an extended essay. We also take a look at the structural elements (outline, format, etc.) and offer some exciting topics and writing tips.

Follow this detailed writing guide compiled by our team of experts to ace your extended essay. Also, stick around until the end for some excellent extended essay examples.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is an Extended Essay?
• Choosing an Extended Essay Topic
• Where to Get Ideas
• Step-by-Step Guide to the Research Process
• How To Write The Research Question
• How Do I Start My Extended Essay
  • Introduction
  • Body Paragraphs
  • Conclusion
• How to Present Your Extended Essay
• Extended Essay Examples

What is an Extended Essay?

An extended essay is a research project which provides students with an opportunity to investigate a specific question in-depth. Writing an extended essay is a part of the International Baccalaureate program (IB).

“What is an extended essay in terms of grading?” This essay (along with the TOK presentation) gives you up to 3 additional points toward your overall Diploma score. You need it to obtain a degree in your target field of study.

The extended essay word count is around 4,000 words. Remember that it’s all about quality rather than quantity!

Choosing an Extended Essay Topic

In most cases, you will not get a specific topic assigned for an extended essay. This paper is more about your interests and ideas.

• Stick to these tips when picking the topic:
• Don’t choose a topic your professor will like. Selecting some topic which may leave an impression is an easy way to guarantee yourself zero motivation.
• Don’t pick an overly complicated topic. For obvious reasons.
• Keep a positive attitude by picking a topic you love. If you enjoy biking or video games – write about that!
• Narrow down the topic. The portrayal of Women in Mass Media (Film, Social
• Networks, TV, News, etc.) is a course for a whole semester. The representation of Women in Video Games is narrow enough for a good topic!

Where to Get Ideas

We have summarised the main points of selecting a topic. But, what about some of the possible sources where you can find ideas?

• Brainstorming. Sit down and write all of your topic ideas on paper. Brainstorming is about feeling free and writing whatever comes to your mind.
• Social media. There’s more than enough content on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter for extended essay ideas.
• The Library. Head to your school library and shop around for interesting books, encyclopedias, categories, etc. It is probably the easiest way of picking a topic.
• Databases. Skim online databases, like ProQuest or Questia to discover the latest trends in research. See what others are writing about. Maybe you could offer a new insight regarding a heavily discussed research subject.

Step-by-Step Guide to the Research Process

Research is an integral part of an extended essay. To speed up the process and maximise its effectiveness, we suggest that you stick to these steps:

• Think about a subject area you are familiar with. It’s often better to pick subjects you’ve previously covered in your IB program.
• Look through the guidelines concerning your selected topics. The grading rubric is what matters the most.
• Conduct preliminary research. Dig deeper into your topic by reviewing relevant materials and highlighting important points.
• Develop an outline. It will be a plan of action which you can always refer to when writing an extended essay.
• Finish your Feasibility Study. A feasibility study checks to see if your ideas are feasible enough to continue pursuing the project.

How To Write The Research Question According to IB Standards

A proper research question is half the battle. Out of the entire prompt offered by the instructor, a student has to highlight the main point and make a research question to answer throughout the paper. Make sure that you have strong evidence to support your answer.

“Your goal is to propose a relevant research question related to the main subject of your writing that will motivate people to study more about it. Specify how the community will benefit from your research.”

Many students ignore the difference between a topic & research question. A topic is something more general.

You cannot come up with the research question unless you decide on the topic to cover. The research question is the heart of your project:

1. It identifies the proposal;
2. Motivates the audience (catches the reader’s eye)
3. And guides your claims and inquiries.

There are several types of questions to choose from. The 1st group is called “convenient.” It’s excellent if you have to state a question on a form; the 2nd group is “fads,” (those could be an extended essay on books such as “The Great Gatsby” or “Lord of the Rings”).

Once you’re ready with the question, back it up with some intellectual debate.

Use the step-by-step instructions below to offer the best research question ever.

1. Analyse the statement of purpose;
2. Observe the collected data, including your notes & reference materials;
3. Decide whether you have enough evidence;
4. Come up with a solid argument.

Suggest the ideas how something has changed to find innovative solutions to the issue that you investigated.

Here is an example of some good research questions and potential topics:

How Do I Start My Extended Essay?

Pick an Advisor that knows a lot about your topic. A biology teacher would not be great for your History EE.

How to Write an Extended Essay Outline?

The best way to start an essay with a free-ended topic is to find an area of interest: what would you like to write about? Follow these steps:

Build an extended essay outline around the research question. The introduction should contain your research query and your main argument, otherwise known as the thesis statement.

The body is easiest to divide into three parts.

The concluding paragraph should restate your main argument, thesis statement, and summarise your findings.

An outline should be the notes of what you plan to state. Do not fiddle with the Roman numerals; keep it clean with bullet points and short sentences.

How to Write an Extended Essay Introduction: Smart Tips

The best way to start an essay with a free-ended topic is to find an area of interest. In other words: what would you like to write about? Follow these steps:

• Brainstorm: Jam-write for 10 minutes straight or make a mind map of what you’re interested in;
• Develop a powerful hook sentence to grab the reader’s attention;
• Provide some background info explaining the research topic;
• Explain the significance of the chosen problem;
• Finish the introduction with a sound thesis statement.

Your extended essay introduction should state your thesis & research question.

“In a perfect EE introduction, the context of the research question is demonstrated. The introduction clearly explains the significance of the topic and why it is worthy of investigation.”

This last sentence is important. Don’t forget to state why your topic is essential to study. It’s a good tip for any essay; if something isn’t important, why would it be worth reading?

Writing Extended Essay Body Paragraphs

Body paragraphs don’t need hooks as much as the introduction does. However, they should still be interesting to keep the reader’s attention on the page. Body paragraphs serve to prove the author’s main argument.

Every body paragraph must include these parts:

1. Summary of the main point into a single line that identifies the idea/subtopic behind the paragraph;
2. Two additional bullet points to expand every paragraph (evidence, data, quote + explanation of how the offered example relates to the conveyed idea);
3. Extra ideas that are directly relevant to the general idea behind it.

Making an Extended Essay Conclusion Impressive!

What should an extended essay conclusion contain? Check whether the conclusion has the following:

• Restated/Rewritten thesis statement
• Summary of the paragraphs (paraphrased topic sentences)
• Implementation of the ideas
• Predictions for the future
• Verdict & a hook (usually, a rhetorical question)

How to Present Your Extended Essay

The structure of your paper is the way you present it. A paper of this type consists of more sections than most of the essays. Here is what you should include:

Title Page
Your title is a clear, concise definition of the paper’s focus; it should not necessarily repeat the topic or research question.

• Enter the full title of your paper roughly 1/3 down of the 1st page and place it in the center. Never italicise, underline, make it bold, or add quotation marks around the essay’s title. The exception is the title that has the name of a book, story, poem, company, music composition, or film.

Example: The Influence of The Beatles on the development of pop rock music in the United Kingdom.

• Enter your name and last name. Make sure it’s triple-space and centered.
• Make it double-spaced, center, and enter the name of your educational institution along with your personal IB Candidate number in the last 3 spaces.
• The last element of the title page is TOTAL WORD COUNT, and it has to be double-spaced, center, typed in capital letters.

Abstract
An extended essay abstract is a summary of the main points. There are three basic elements to include in this part of your project: the research question, the scope of the study, & the conclusions.

• Take the following steps to come up with a good abstract:
• Highlight the sentences in your essay with the issue details;
• Underline the research question/thesis;
• Define keywords or phrases that display the scope & sequence of the study (a list without explaining in details);
• Condense the conclusion into several concise sentences. That would be your abstract.

Acknowledgements
A statement declaring something to be factual/true. In the case of an academic or scientific paper, you should think about the people you would like to thank.

Make a list of those who supported your work or contributed something to your studies. Unlike the bibliography, these people should not necessarily be authors of the sources where you gather information.

Table of Contents
Create a full table of contents for your paper. Just like a table of contents in a book or online article.

Make sure that each basic paragraph has subheadings. List them in the order of their appearance in your table of contents, specifying the pages where each section starts/ends.

Visuals
Those are the necessary visual elements to illustrate & support your writing (graphs, charts images, tables, etc.) You can either insert images found on the web (do not forget to provide proper references in such case) or come up with your own visual elements (e.g., prepare a graph in Excel and add it as an image using the Screen Saver option).

Calculations
If your project requires some numerical data and its interpretation, involve this section. Put down and explain the necessary formulas & equations (the author should interpret them and explain the outcomes of each calculation).

Footnotes & Endnotes
In the case of in-text references, it depends on the format whether to include them or not. In some situations, a writer may decide to add an explanation of something where they don’t want to interfere with the flow of the content.

Footnotes usually serve the purpose of automatic page numbering.

Appendix
It is the list of all visual elements used to support your writing as well as references to these inserted images, tables, graphs, etc. Simply copy-paste the pictures into this page, explaining where each comes from (source URL) and its usefulness.

Citations & References
While you can ignore some of the sections based on the selected writing style (format), each essay should contain in-text citations & references. The purpose is to reflect intellectual honesty in research practices. The usage of in-text quotations also helps to prove the central arguments of the author (serves as supporting evidence).

The basic information about the sources should contain the following:

1. Author’s name and last name
2. Title of work
3. Place of publication
4. Publication date
5. Smaller details available (number, volume, issue, URL, number of pages cited, etc.)

Bibliography
Include a list of references to all sources that contributed to your work. A student should distinguish each author whose work contributed to their paper.

If you have to write an annotated bibliography, add little summaries of the sources that contributed to your study.

Extended Essay Examples

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THE NHS ESSAY: BECOME THE MEMBER OF THIS SOCIETY!

Are you one of the students who has discovered their passion for reading, writing, leadership, and the urge to overcome new challenges? Various organizations are ready to support your enthusiasm. To join them, ambitious students have to submit powerful application papers. The National Honor Society essay is a tool that allows becoming a member of one of the most prestigious organizations in the United States. This guide explains how to write the National Honor Society essays with a couple of examples.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is the National Honor Society Essay?
• What Are the National Honor Society Essay Requirements?
• Steps to Writing the National Honor Society Essay
• How to Start a National Honor Society Essay?
• How to Finish the National Honor Society Essay?
• What Happens Once You Are Accepted?
• The National Honor Society Essay Samples

What is the National Honor Society Essay?

The primary thing to discuss is what makes the National Junior Honor Society (NHS) essay different from other types of academic papers. It has a lot in common with a scholarship & admission essays. The organization itself is a friendly student community that allows excelling in such fields as:

1. Scholarship
2. Social services
3. Volunteering
4. Internship

A student has to show their best side to be accepted to the organization. The NHS has its rules of formatting & structuring papers. To prove you are the right candidate to fit local requirements, you should stress the basic reasons why the NHS and the entire community will benefit from obtaining your services.

An applicant must illustrate personal leadership with some examples. Think about the achievements you wish to accomplish and explain why and how your skills may add up to the field of social services.

What Are the National Junior Honor Society Essay Requirements?

The paper is sometimes called the National Junior Honor Society essay as even the youngest students can join. There are several conditions the applicant should meet:

• Current candidate’s educational institution should have an NJHS chapter;
• The candidate must study in grades 6-9;
• Ninth-grade students should have passed a middle school
• The applicant must possess an accumulated GPA go minimum 85 (it equals to 3.0 on a 4.0 standard GPA scale);
• An applicant should be a good leader and show citizenship and commitment to the particular society;
• A student should take part in various volunteer programs or internships;
• Finally, the interested student should possess high morals and ethics.
  Those are the National Junior Honor Society essay requirements each applicant should correspond to.

How to Write the National Honor Society Essay?

It is time to have a look at how to write a national honor society essay. Use these basic writing tips:

• Conduct in-depth research on a preferable topic even though it should describe the writer’s experience;
• Begin to analyze the selected topic – the thematic should be unique and catchy;
• Brainstorm on the relevant ideas;
• Prepare an outline the way you wish to put down your thoughts;
• Write the paper;
• Proofread & edit the final draft. The NHS is strict with any sorts of mistakes. The smallest errors may result in disqualification!

Once you are ready to start writing, find out how to start the National Honor Society essay. We tried to collect the best tips for you.

How to Start a National Honor Society Essay?

The introduction is the most important part of the National Honor Society scholarship essay as it must encourage the target audience, which predetermines applicant’s further fate, to read the paper. Come up with a relevant and attention-grabbing introduction. The approaches to doing it include:

• Explaining the main reason to join the NHS
• Specifying the things a student knows about the organization proving his or her pure interest
• Highlighting the strengths of the applicant (unique skills, in-depth knowledge of specific topics, other achievements)

Start with one or few engaging hook sentences to make the admission officer want to read the paper

Writing the Body Paragraphs of the NHS Essay

There is nothing special to say about the body paragraphs of this paper. Every paragraph should comprise of the topic sentence and evidence. Unlike in college essays on specific topics, the student should start with the main reason to pick him/her and prove the claim with the evidence collected in different sources or examples from personal experience. Do not include more than 3 body paragraphs in your writing.

NHS Essay Conclusion

A conclusion must be powerful as an introduction. The goal is to help the admission board with making the final decision in favor of your candidacy. The conclusion should effectively meet the goal, which is to prove the specific applicant is eligible to join the NHS community. Sum up the reasons to choose you from the pool of other candidates by mentioning several factors.

• Mention your grade point average
• List personal qualities
• Name professional skills
• Identify the main purpose of your application paper
• Conclude the leadership experience
• Make a summary of these points

Add a hook or call-to-action (CTA) in the end. The CTA should finalize why the organization would benefit from choosing you.

What Happens Once I Am Accepted?

We would like to share more reasons to join the NHS. If the National Honor Society personal essay you submit succeeds, they will invite you to an induction ceremony with other accepted candidates of the local organization’s chapter. Those are public events, so get ready. The organization allows bringing whoever you want with you to support this event: from parents to close friends.
The HNS propose different ideas & sample programs to observe before the ceremony. The event includes several stages.

1. A special entrance by inductees
2. Warm welcome from the adviser, principal, or president
3. National Anthem/Pledge of Allegiance
4. Guest Speaker
5. Review of entrance criteria
6. Honor Society Pledge
7. Final remarks
8. Candle lighting/Symbolic presentation

The National Honor Society Essay Examples

To let you understand the way a successful paper should look, we have prepared a couple of the National Honor Society essay samples. These are the brilliant examples of extracts!

HOW TO WRITE AN INFORMATIVE ESSAY

Whether you are a student in high school or college, there is a 100% chance that you will have to write some informative essay during your educational years. Your teacher may either assign you a topic or allow you to choose one for yourself. Depending on the length and requirements for the paper, your topic options will narrow down. A lot of the times, students will end up receiving a subject that they are utterly clueless about and thus have no starting point to build off. Do not worry: We are here to teach our students everything they need to know about crafting an informative essay!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What Is An Informative Essay
• Informative Essay Topics
• How to Write an Informative Essay
• Informative Essay Outline
  • Introduction
  • Thesis Statement
  • Body Paragraphs
  • Conclusion
• Post-Writing To Do List
• Examples

What Is An Informative Essay?

The informative essay definition is to educate your audience on a particular topic, to ellobrate on a term, or analyze data. Not to be confused with other forms of assignments. They are intended to teach your readers new information. Presenting opinions is not the purpose of this style of assignment. Generally speaking, this type of essay will compare controversial viewpoints about a particular topic.

An example of this would be a paper regarding the amount of pollution produced by humans every year – and its impact on the ice caps.

Bottom line: No matter the field chosen as a topic or the level of knowledge required, an informative essay should present in-depth knowledge and basic facts regarding the chosen topic at hand.

This Type of Essay is similar to an Expository Essay

This essay family contains the:

• Cause-and-Effect Essay
• Process Essay
• Descriptive Essay
• Compare-and-Contrast Essay
• Problem/Solution Essay

Informative Essay Topics

If the topic is not assigned, you will need to choose your informative essay topic. You might probably be stuck in this step if you have a wide range to choose from. Take your time and keep these pieces of advice in mind to select the most appropriate topic.

• Make sure that your topic is not too broad and not too narrow. You need to have enough information about your subject to write about, but not so much to make your essay a novel.
• The topic should be attractive and exciting to your audience. Think ahead about who might be reading your paper. Of course, if it was assigned to your class, the teacher will be your primary audience.
• The best option is to choose the topic that interests you. It will make the writing process much more pleasant and will let you express your enthusiasm fully.

Sometimes, teachers and professors will require presentations or speeches to come along with the written essay. This is why it is smart to pick a topic that is interesting enough to a wide audience (something people can relate to) and can be explained clearly through speech. Here are some examples!

• The origin of language
• The origin of the universe
• How to maximize financial efficiency
• Why do people procrastinate
• What causes addiction
• Evolution of human rights
• Legalization of Marijuana
• Nanotechnology
• Why do we dream?
• How do 3D-glasses work?

How to Write an Informative Essay

Before you sit down in front of your computer screen and start typing away, there are some necessary steps to make and items to prepare beforehand. Having a set plan allows you to organize information effectively, and this greatly speeds up the entire essay writing process.

• Brainstorm Ideas: Before writing an informative essay, choose a topic accordingly. Selecting a field of study, you feel strongly about is a good idea. Regardless of the chosen topic, brainstorming is the way forward for the top result when learning how to start an informative essay successfully. As it will allow you to create a general outline of your informative essay, and help organize your thoughts accordingly.
• Choosing a Topic: After narrowing down your options, it has finally come time to choose the most appropriate topic. Remember, the selected subject at hand should not be TOO BROAD nor TOO NARROW.
• Crank Out Some Informative Research: Gather information and use various sources including primary and secondary ones! Primary sources are physical pieces of evidence relating to the topic at hand. Secondary sources are articles and papers written based on that topic.

Primary sources: If you are talking about the Evolution Of Human Rights, a primary source could be a speech written by Martin Luther King Jr!

Secondary sources: If the topic is about addiction, a secondary source would be Bruce K. Alexander’s Rat Park Study!

• Use a variety of sources, and validate their reliability: Using sites like Wikipedia is generally frowned upon, however checking out the links used at the bottom of every wiki page is an effective way to get sources quickly! Do not only use one type of source (example: Website Articles). Provide different types of sources to make your informative essay well-rounded!

Informative Essay Outline

As a writer, you may be wondering: “If I hire someone to write my essay for me, will they know how to structure my informative essay?” This is an excellent question to ask and an idea to consider if you have decided upon this path. If the writer presents you with something similar to what is shown here, then you are in good hands!

The informative essay outline is written in the standard essay style. Usually speaking, it will consist of:

• An introduction + thesis statement
  It serves to present the main argument in an exciting and interesting manner
• 3 Body Paragraphs
  Body paragraphs will be mainly used to support the thesis created in the intro.
• The Conclusion
  It will wrap up the information and present its significance in the real world!

Introduction

The intro should start with an attention getter that grabs the reader’s attention.

Examples: rhetorical question, joke, anecdote, own story, give the audience compliment, shocking statistics.

Afterward, your informative essay introduction should reveal any background context that will be necessary for the reader to understand while reading through the essay. This is an essential part of your informative essay outline. These sentences should pay the way for an excellent thesis statement.

Thesis Statement

The last sentence of the introduction should be a well-formed and coherent thesis statement. An informative essay thesis statement summarizes the main points to your readers:

• By elaborating the purpose of the paper, without expressing any opinions or views on the subject;
• The argument should be easily readable, precise, and accessible to your audience;
• As well as appealing to make your readers want to learn more about the subject by reading on.

It is always worth referring to informative essay examples to see exactly how a thesis statement for this style of writing should be written.

Body Paragraphs

The purpose of this section in the informative paper outline is to defend the thesis statement, so the content in these paragraphs must be tip-top.

First of all, each body paragraph must start with a topic sentence. Create a smooth transition from your intro by creating a topic sentence that links the thesis to your first main point. (A smooth transition should also be created for the second and third body paragraph!)

With each body paragraph, there must be a target point and a supporting detail. A target point is the part of the thesis that you are aiming to prove. The supporting detail is the outside validation that enriches your statement.

After introducing your topic sentence, it is time to follow the CCE format to craft an essential part of the essay.

First, you need to make a claim. This is your main argument of the body paragraph. Since the quality of the essay is dependent on how well the thesis is defended, make sure that your 3 claims are reliable.

After defining your claim, you must introduce the evidence. This is your physical proof that validates your claim.

Usually, in informative writing, this will be a quote from some document such as journals, articles, bibliographies, etc. Without this, your informative essay will hold no value. It would be the same as accepting opinion as fact.

To conclude the CCE process, the writer must present an explanation of his claim. In other words, they need to display how this claim proves their thesis statement as fact.

This is necessary and should be explained coherently. If eager to gain extra validation points, the writer can go into more depth about how the evidence backs up the claim. However, if this can be inferred without the need of extra information, then that would be ideal.

To conclude a body paragraph, a sentence should be created that gives a general synopsis of the argument presented. The primary purpose of this sentence is to display assertiveness; in other words, display that your opinion is the right one.This gives your entire essay more strength and makes your argument/thesis look sharp!

Conclusion

After portraying your three main arguments, it is time to wrap up your essay by learning how to conclude an informative essay efficiently.

The informative essay conclusion restates the thesis statement and offers final thoughts and insights on the topic. Explain it in different words and provide room for a smooth transition.

This “room” is necessary because you will now need to restate the impact of each one of your arguments briefly. If done correctly, the restatement and then the brief argument relay should mix well with each other!

To effectively finish the essay, one must come up with an overall concluding statement. This statement should serve as an explanation for the significance of your argument. In other words, explain why the informative writing you just crafted has value and where this information can be applied. This gives the work “real-world” value!

Post-Writing To Do List

• Vocabulary: After rereading the draft, make sure that you are satisfied with the language you have used. If the words were not crafty enough or phrases could have been stated more smoothly, then edit accordingly.
• Grammar: Nothing aggravates teachers more than having to pause their reading to fix grammar mistakes. It shows carelessness and a lack of proper editing. Use websites like Grammar Check to make sure that there are no issues with punctuation, spelling, etc.
• Coherency: From a writer’s perspective, this is the most critical textbox to have checked. They are using language that can be easily understood as well as proper transitional skills is an excellent way to keep your paper moving smoothly.
• Peer Editing: Having a second pair of eyes to read through your paper is a surefire way of validating your work. If the essay sounds fluent and makes sense to another brain, then you are increasing the odds of it looking great to the teacher.
• The final touch: As you have edited your final draft, your next step will be transforming it into a full-fledged essay. Give your final draft one more read-through. Read it aloud and fix small mistakes your eye might not catch.

Informative Essay Examples

Now you can find our best informative essay examples by referring to the attachments below.

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150 UNIQUE INFORMATIVE ESSAY TOPICS TO STAND OUT

Have you ever seen an episode of How It’s Made? That’s an informative essay in video format.

Informative writing is a basic communication skill. Students practice it since middle school to clearly explain concepts, ideas, how things work, histories, and more. As you’ll learn from our list of 150 good informative essay topics, this type of essay can be about anything.

Informative essays are academic papers which inform, explain, or teach the reader any information. They could be:

• Research Papers
• Compare and Contrast Essays
• Descriptive Essays
• Expository Essays
• Narrative Essays

In this article, we provide 150 informative essay topics which you may use for reference. Feel free to grab any of these topics for yourself!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Informative Essay Structure
• How To Choose a Topic
• List of The Topics
  • Interesting Informative Essay Topics
  • Topics for College Students
  • Topics on History & Political Science
  • Science & Medicine Informative Ideas
  • Informative Process Analysis Essay Topics
  • Easy Informative Essay Topics

How to Structure Informative Essay: Piece of Advice

Always create an outline first, as it will guide you in your writing. Every essay has an introduction, body, and a conclusion. Your informative essay should be structured in a way that best supports your flow of information.

1. Introduction

When a reader picks up your essay, you have about fifteen seconds to grab their attention and tell them exactly what they’re about to read. A good introduction with a solid hook and thesis will keep the reader engaged throughout your essay.

1. Body

After greeting your reader and inviting them to participate in your informative essay, it’s time to serve them with facts.

There are usually three body paragraphs within an academic essay, each with a single argument or focus. The argument (or focus) is clarified to the reader through a topic sentence, which appears at the start of each paragraph.

Since readers hardly believe in facts without evidence (and rightly so), the essay writer must present trustworthy sources to clarify where they’ve gotten their information.

1. Conclusion

To wrap it all up, we have the essay conclusion. After reading a lengthy informative essay, the reader needs to refresh all the information they’ve just learned. That’s why you’ll find that most conclusions briefly repeat the thesis statement and every topic sentence of the essay.

How to Choose Excellent Informative Essay Topics

Informative essays are mostly how to’s and how it works. Your professor will expect you to delve into the intricacies of your subject; explore it to the fullest. That’s why you should go with a topic you find interesting.

Finding topics might be tough. But thankfully, the internet can present a variety of ideas for inspiration.

Below are a few safe bets of how to choose an informative essay topic without it being boring:

Still out of inspiration to come up with your topic? We’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of informative topics to write about.

Good Informative Essay Topics

The reader always seeks to learn something new from an informative essay. That’s why the “How X Works” formula is a safe bet for good informative essay topics. It’s a simple way to explore a concept in depth.

1. How cars (or to be more modern: electric cars) work
2. How does vinyl work
3. How computers work
4. How democracy works
5. How communism was supposed to work according to Marx
6. How a company like Facebook operates
7. Several ways of how media (videos, photos, memes, songs) go viral
8. How the voting system in America works
9. How caffeine, alcohol, or sugar works on the human body
10. Anything with “How X Works” will be a great informative essay topic!

Interesting Informative Essay Topics

From social problems to innovations – there are many exciting things to discuss in your academic papers. You want to grab the reader and keep them engaged.Here are a few engaging and, informative essay topics:

1. Inform the reader on how war directly affects civilian life
2. Inform on the circumstances which lead to drug & substance abuse among teenagers
3. Explain which significant factors led to the civil rights movement of the 60s
4. Illustrate how internet traffic generates profit for major corporations
5. Explain how meditation works on the human brain
6. Pick a religion. Distinguish its casual followers from extremists
7. Explain why it is crucial to support cultural developments in your hometown
8. Explain to the reader how to use the Bible to interpret classical art
9. The history of tourism
10. The history of cinematography in the US

Informative Essay Topics for Middle School

Middle school is the bridge between elementary & high school. It’s an exciting period of life. Young students should consider covering simple topics in their middle school essays:

1. Proof that grounding kids are wrong
2. How computer-animated characters are made
3. A narrative-informative essay about a lesson learned during summer
4. Pre-psychology. Understanding pet peeves and how they work
5. The impact of celebrities or role models on youth
6. The science behind the ollie: how skateboarding works
7. The history of waking up to school at 7 am
8. How Martin Luther King Jr changed America
9. Why Bob Dylan is the greatest living poet
10. How fashion trends changed in the last few decades

Informative Essay Topics for High School Students

High school is an exciting time full of new experiences and growing up. High schoolers are faced with more pressing issues as they prepare for college life.Here are some informative essay topics for high school students:

1. The false promises of college: how most colleges only care for your money
2. How great leaders are those who challenge the status quo
3. Ways to prevent mass murders in the US schools
4. High school bullying unmasked and how to stop it
5. The history of the school system and a brief glimpse into the future
6. A summary of Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States and why it should be taught in school
7. What makes students outcasts?
8. What makes a political system corrupt?
9. The dangers of Googled advice – how bots write articles with false information
10. How to colonize Mars

Informative Essay Topics for College Students

College may the time of your life. But it doesn’t come without challenges. It’s when coursework gets harder, social life becomes less important, and the library becomes your best friend. Here are some informative essay topics for college:

1. The importance of public speaking 101 explained
2. How pubs and nightclubs target and exploit college students
3. The pros and cons of studying abroad
4. The statistics of whether college education guarantees financial success
5. Social media and the decline of critical thinking
6. How to analyze abstract expressionism art
7. How much does college cost? The cost of college examined
8. The benefits of a Liberal Arts Major
9. Compare and contrast: living on campus and renting a room
10. History of Ivy League colleges

Informative Essay Ideas on Sports & Health

More people support healthy lifestyles with every year. Sports & Health are an ever-expanding category for informative essay ideas:

1. Why the super bowl is such a big event in America
2. Explain why cybersports should also be considered sports
3. Sports betting and how it works. Should it be legal?
4. The history of football
5. Illustrate how running every day improves overall health
6. The experienced referee explained: the unnamed hero of sports
7. How protein shakes and vitamin supplements work
8. A history of doping in sports
9. Explain chess in regards to why it is a sport
10. Explain how the ‘Organic Foods’ trend originated

Informative Paper Topics on History & Political Science

History presents some of the best informative essay topics because it is a very informative subject. Keep in mind that exploring the history and political science can be complicated as there are many sources with different opinions:

1. The causes and effects of Spanish colonization
2. How the scars of World War I led to World War II
3. The impact of racism on the criminal situation in America
4. What are socialism and the centralized system
5. How does the US government function?
6. What is the role of the UK Prime Minister?
7. What are some of the most thinkers in the world of politics?
8. Pick a totalitarian ruler and explore their mentality and how they make their decisions
9. Responsibilities of the Secretary of State in the US
10. The history of women’s rights in Europe

Informative Essay Topic Ideas on Religion

You should be very careful when selecting a religious issue to discuss in your paper as it is a sensitive subject. In your writing, you should show respect for all the world’s religions. Anyway, here are some of the topics that you may enjoy:

1. The Roman Catholic clerical organization: origins & history
2. Jewish Kabbalah and esoteric mystical customs & traditions
3. Crusades in the middle ages and the impact it had on peoples interpretation of religion
4. Fanatic religious movements that are dangerous for humanity
5. The gap between Christianity and Satanism
6. Religion as the most powerful tool to control masses
7. Special clothing to be baptized in: necessary or not?
8. The world’s newest major religion: Agnosticism
9. Earth divinity dogmas and their roots
10. A modern explanation of the 10 Commandments

Informative Paper Topics for Business Classes

Business administration is becoming a more and more demanded degree around the world. It covers management, marketing, economics, and much more. If you need to prepare a project for any of those courses, think about using one of the following ideas:

1. Why Thomas Edison was a successful entrepreneur and not an inventor
2. Starting a career on Wall Street: 70s vs. now
3. Jeff Bezos: how to be a successful company CEO
4. How Henry Ford changed how factories worked
5. The psychology of social media marketing: how targeting works
6. Hotel management: how the world’s best hotels get their clients
7. How to earn money with the help of services like eBay
8. Launching an e-commerce project
9. How the economic crisis unfolded
10. Cybersecurity in modern entertainment corporations: how Disney controls its leaks

Science & Medicine Informative Ideas

Science and healthcare are interrelated fields. Whenever there’s a significant development in one, the other is affected as well. When getting ready for your upcoming science or medicine lesson, consider these possible research questions:

1. Treatment of diseases using nanobots
2. Adverse consequences of plastic surgery
3. Why Vitamin C is so important
4. How improper eyesight can alter the brain
5. How viruses infect humans
6. History of diseases: previously deadly, now common diseases
7. How nanotechnology is evolving in the field of medicine
8. Importance of minerals in the human organism
9. Comparing & contrasting bulimia and anorexia
10. Appropriate morning exercises to stay in a good shape

Environmental Essay Topics

Discussing the environment is always relevant in academic writing. Our apathy towards the situation has led to global warming, forest fires, extinction of species and more. Here is a list of environmental essay ideas:

1. How forest fires start and spread
2. How to prevent soil erosion
3. The impact of poaching on wildlife
4. How a single person can work against global warming
5. How the air can be cleansed from pollution
6. How whales help clean ocean pollution
7. The connection between global warming and natural disasters
8. Various types of tropical birds
9. Australian animals under the threat of extinction
10. If the ice melts: Earth post-global warming predictions

Informative Essay Topics for Communications, Media Studies and Arts

The communications major is broad and includes journalism, music, cinema, and media studies. There are many popular essay titles to choose from:

1. How outcasts become rock stars
2. How Facebook has changed the way we communicate
3. Blade Runner: why this film is remarkable in environmental education
4. The British Invasion: history and impact
5. The origins of hip-hop culture
6. Exploring Neoclassicism cinema in Italy
7. Journalism in the era of fake news
8. How to look at a cubist painting
9. Marshall McLuhan’s relevance in today’s media ecosystem
10. European Union Article 13: The Meme Ban and its impact on the internet explained

Informative Process Analysis Essay Topics

An informative paper on process analysis can be educational and captivating. It’s like a how-to guide on various subjects. Here are some informative process analysis essay topics:

1. How to launch a business campaign on Facebook
2. Cacio Pepe: The most feared pasta of Italian cooks and how to make the perfect one
3. Raising a dog: facts and myths
4. For future detectives: How killers get away with murder
5. How a smartphone works
6. How Bitcoin works
7. The captivating creative writing formulas used in the Harry Potter franchise
8. How Elon Musk’s ‘gigafactories’ are meant to function
9. A brief guide to how corporations sell products
10. How and when to use the Heimlich maneuver

Easy Informative Essay Topics

Sometimes a simple topic is all it takes! These are easy, informative essay topics because there is an endless amount of information available on them online:

1. A guide to proper diets
2. A topic on the gun control debate in the United States
3. A topic on abortion laws in the United States
4. The pros and cons of legalizing Marijuana in a specific state or country
5. Several ways to quit smoking
6. Exploring how teens engage in addictive behavior
7. A history of the counterculture movement of the 1960s
8. A brief look at Native American culture and traditions
9. The pros & cons of remote education
10. What started World War II

Funny Informative Essay Topics

Academic life can be hard. But there’s always room to lighten up the mood with funny essay topics:

1. How to cheat on an exam
2. How to fail a good deal
3. How humans are little different from monkeys
4. Why smoking marijuana can help you study
5. What does a school principal do
6. Funny and ridiculous types of sports in the world
7. The statistically best excuses for missing class
8. How to make a quality meme
9. Why music is a useless subject in school
10. How to make a viral video

We hope that you found this list of informative essay topics useful.