Typically, an essay has five paragraphs: an introduction, a conclusion, and three body paragraphs. However, there is no set rule about the number of paragraphs in an essay.
The number of paragraphs can vary depending on the type and scope of your essay. An expository or argumentative essay may require more body paragraphs to include all the necessary information, whereas a narrative essay may need fewer.
To enhance the coherence and readability of your essay, it’s important to follow certain rules regarding the structure. Take a look:
1. Arrange your information from the most simple to the most complex bits. You can start the body paragraph off with a general statement and then move on to specifics.
2. Provide the necessary background information at the beginning of your essay to give the reader the context behind your thesis statement.
3. Select topic statements that provide value, more information, or evidence for your thesis statement.
There are also various essay structures , such as the compare and contrast structure, chronological structure, problem method solution structure, and signposting structure that you can follow to create an organized and impactful essay.
An impactful, well-structured essay comes down to three important parts: the introduction, body, and conclusion.
1. The introduction sets the stage for your essay and is typically a paragraph long. It should grab the reader’s attention and give them a clear idea of what your essay will be about.
2. The body is where you dive deeper into your topic and present your arguments and evidence. It usually consists of two paragraphs, but this can vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing.
3. The conclusion brings your essay to a close and is typically one paragraph long. It should summarize the main points of the essay and leave the reader with something to think about.
The length of your paragraphs can vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing. So, make sure you take the time to plan out your essay structure so each section flows smoothly into the next.
When it comes to writing an essay, the introduction is a critical component that sets the tone for the entire piece. A well-crafted introduction not only grabs the reader’s attention but also provides them with a clear understanding of what the essay is all about. An essay editor can help you achieve this, but it’s best to know the brief yourself!
Letâs take a look at how to write an attractive and informative introductory paragraph.
1. Construct an attractive hook
To grab the reader’s attention, an opening statement or hook is crucial. This can be achieved by incorporating a surprising statistic, a shocking fact, or an interesting anecdote into the beginning of your piece.
For example, if youâre writing an essay about water conservation you can begin your essay with, âClean drinking water, a fundamental human need, remains out of reach for more than one billion people worldwide. It deprives them of a basic human right and jeopardizes their health and wellbeing.â
2. Provide sufficient context or background information
An effective introduction should begin with a brief description or background of your topic. This will help provide context and set the stage for your discussion.
For example, if you’re writing an essay about climate change, you start by describing the current state of the planet and the impact that human activity is having on it.
3. Construct a well-rounded and comprehensive thesis statement
A good introduction should also include the main message or thesis statement of your essay. This is the central argument that you’ll be making throughout the piece. It should be clear, concise, and ideally placed toward the end of the introduction.
By including these elements in your introduction, you’ll be setting yourself up for success in the rest of your essay.
Letâs take a look at an example.
The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane in 1903 revolutionized the way humans travel and explore the world. Prior to this invention, transportation relied on trains, boats, and cars, which limited the distance and speed of travel. However, the airplane made air travel a reality, allowing people to reach far-off destinations in mere hours. This breakthrough paved the way for modern-day air travel, transforming the world into a smaller, more connected place. In this essay, we will explore the impact of the Wright Brothers’ invention on modern-day travel, including the growth of the aviation industry, increased accessibility of air travel to the general public, and the economic and cultural benefits of air travel.
You can persuade your readers and make your thesis statement compelling by providing evidence, examples, and logical reasoning. To write a fool-proof and authoritative essay, you need to provide multiple well-structured, substantial arguments.
Letâs take a look at how this can be done:
1. Write a topic sentence for each paragraph
The beginning of each of your body paragraphs should contain the main arguments that youâd like to address. They should provide ground for your thesis statement and make it well-rounded. You can arrange these arguments in several formats depending on the type of essay youâre writing.
2. Provide the supporting information
The next point of your body paragraph should provide supporting information to back up your main argument. Depending on the type of essay, you can elaborate on your main argument with the help of relevant statistics, key information, examples, or even personal anecdotes.
3. Analyze the supporting information
After providing relevant details and supporting information, it is important to analyze it and link it back to your main argument.
End one body paragraph with a smooth transition to the next. There are many ways in which this can be done, but the most common way is to give a gist of your main argument along with the supporting information with transitory words such as âhoweverâ âin addition toâ âthereforeâ.
Hereâs an example of a body paragraph.
The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane revolutionized air travel. They achieved the first-ever successful powered flight with the Wright Flyer in 1903, after years of conducting experiments and studying flight principles. Despite their first flight lasting only 12 seconds, it was a significant milestone that paved the way for modern aviation. The Wright Brothers’ success can be attributed to their systematic approach to problem-solving, which included numerous experiments with gliders, the development of a wind tunnel to test their designs, and meticulous analysis and recording of their results. Their dedication and ingenuity forever changed the way we travel, making modern aviation possible.
A powerful concluding statement separates a good essay from a brilliant one. To create a powerful conclusion, you need to start with a strong foundation.
Letâs take a look at how to construct an impactful concluding statement.
1. Restructure your thesis statement
To conclude your essay effectively, don’t just restate your thesis statement. Instead, use what you’ve learned throughout your essay and modify your thesis statement accordingly. This will help you create a conclusion that ties together all of the arguments you’ve presented.
2. Summarize the main points of your essay
The next point of your conclusion consists of a summary of the main arguments of your essay. It is crucial to effectively summarize the gist of your essay into one, well-structured paragraph.
3. Create a lasting impression with your concluding statement
Conclude your essay by including a key takeaway, or a powerful statement that creates a lasting impression on the reader. This can include the broader implications or consequences of your essay topic.
Hereâs an example of a concluding paragraph.
The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane forever changed history by paving the way for modern aviation and countless aerospace advancements. Their persistence, innovation, and dedication to problem-solving led to the first successful powered flight in 1903, sparking a revolution in transportation that transformed the world. Today, air travel remains an integral part of our globalized society, highlighting the undeniable impact of the Wright Brothers’ contribution to human civilization.
Most essays are derived from the combination or variation of these four main types of essays . letâs take a closer look at these types.
1. Narrative essay
A narrative essay is a type of writing that involves telling a story, often based on personal experiences. It is a form of creative nonfiction that allows you to use storytelling techniques to convey a message or a theme.
2. Descriptive essay
A descriptive essay aims to provide an immersive experience for the reader by using sensory descriptors. Unlike a narrative essay, which tells a story, a descriptive essay has a narrower scope and focuses on one particular aspect of a story.
3. Argumentative essays
An argumentative essay is a type of essay that aims to persuade the reader to adopt a particular stance based on factual evidence and is one of the most common forms of college essays.
4. Expository essays
An expository essay is a common format used in school and college exams to assess your understanding of a specific topic. The purpose of an expository essay is to present and explore a topic thoroughly without taking any particular stance or expressing personal opinions.
While this article demonstrates what is an essay and describes its types, you may also have other doubts. As experts who provide essay editing and proofreading services , weâre here to help.
Our team has created a list of resources to clarify any doubts about writing essays. Keep reading to write engaging and well-organized essays!
What is the difference between an argumentative and an expository essay, what is the difference between a narrative and a descriptive essay, what is an essay format, what is the meaning of essay, what is the purpose of writing an essay.
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This guide is for anyone looking to vastly improve their essay writing skills through better knowledge what is meant by good 'essay structure'.
Essay writing is a key component to academic success at every level. It is, essentially, the way in which people within the academic community communicate with each other. Thus, there are fundamental ways in which academics structure their work and formal ways of communicating what they have to say. Writing essays is not simply a hoop for students to jump through. The vast majority of instructors and professors also write essays at a professional level, and they do not ask of their students anything less than the standard that is asked of them.
Where too many students go wrong in writing their essays is in either failing to plan ahead (not giving sufficient, care, thought, or time to the process) or in not understanding the expectations of essay writing. Of these expectations, appropriate and effective essay structure is critical. Students often lose valuable marks by failing to structure their essays clearly and concisely to make the best of their ideas.
So how do you structure academic writing? What is the best essay structure format?
First, consider what an essay is . What is it supposed to do? At its core an essay is simply an argument . Now, by argument we donât mean a slanging match between two angry people. Rather, we are talking about a formal argument. An idea or a claim, which is supported by logic and/or evidence.
Imagine the following scenario: you feel the time has come to approach your boss about getting a raise at work. Imagine yourself walking into your supervisorâs office and requesting that raise. Almost automatically, your mind formulates a rhetorical structure. There are effective and ineffective ways of asking of making such a request. The effective strategy will have a logic and an order. You will firstly claim that you deserve a raise. And you will give evidence to support why you deserve that raise. For example: you are a hard worker, you are never late, you have the admiration and respect of your colleagues, you have been offered another position elsewhere and you want the pay matched. And so on. And you would probably wrap up your discussion with an overview of of why giving you more money is important.
And that is fundamentally an essay. Every good essay has three basic parts: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.
This simple guide will show you how to perfect your essay structure by clearly introducing and concluding your argument, and laying out your paragraphs coherently in between. Your essay writing can be dramatically improved overnight simply by using the correct essay structure, as explained below.
When you are writing an essay , every sentence and every paragraph is important. But there is something extra important about introductions. Just like going out on a date for the first time, you want the introduction to be just right, almost perfect. You want to put your best self forward and create a great first impression.
You should already know this, but most professors and instructors will start grading your work in their head as soon as they begin reading it. They will be sorting your essay, maybe not in terms of a grade, but most definitely in terms of strong/weak, interesting/dull, or effective/ineffective. And most will have some notion of where your essay falls on that scale before they even finish the introduction. It will be the rarest of markers who withholds judgement until the end. The introduction is something you absolutely must start strong.
Always develop an introduction that clearly sets out the aims of what you are about to write and, if applicable, refers to the subject under investigation. State what the essay will try to achieve and briefly mention some of the main points you will consider. The idea is to give the marker an overview of your argument, to show that your thought process is logical and coherent and that you have carefully thought the question through. Donât try to go into any of your key points in depth in your introduction â they will each be covered by a full paragraph later on. If the question is an âeither orâ or a âhow far do you agreeâ question, it is useful to set out both sides of the argument briefly in the introduction in preparation for exploring the two sides later in the essay.
Think of your introduction as a thumbnail picture of the whole essay. Anyone, but especially the marker, should know the essay subject and how you intend to prove or disprove it, just from having read just the introduction.
Take the following example:
You have been given this assignment: The main purpose of Gothic fiction is to break normal moral and social codes. Discuss.
A strong introduction should read something like this:
It is certainly true that many works of Gothic fiction manifest the transgression of normal moral and social codes as their major theme. Their emphasis on female sexuality, their breaking of the boundaries between life and death and their shocking displays of immoral religious characters would all suggest that this is indeed the case. However, it is also important to consider other major aspects of the genre that might be considered equally important in purpose, such as its fascination with the supernatural, its portrayal of artificial humanity and its satirical social attacks. This essay will explore these conflicting purposes with reference to several different Gothic texts to discover what might be best described as the âmainâ purpose of the genre.
Reread that paragraph. Does it tell you what the topic of the essay is? What the point is? What the essay plans to do? Now, without reading think about just the size of that paragraph. If a marker were to see an introduction that were any less than that they would automatically know, without even reading a word, that the topic was not going to be well introduced. That is not to suggest you simply fill up the paragraph, but that a certain amount of information in the introduction is expected.
It is worth pointing out that in a much longer essay an introduction does not need to be limited to a single paragraph. Generally, however, it will be.
The second part of the essay is the body. This is the longest part of the essay. In general, a short essay will have at least three full paragraphs; a long essay considerably more.
Each paragraph is a point that you want to make that relates to the topic. So, going back to the âgive me more moneyâ example from earlier, each reason you have for deserving a raise should be a separate paragraph, and that paragraph is an elaboration on that claim.
Paragraphs, like the essay overall, also have an expected structure. You should start a new paragraph for each major new idea within your essay, to clearly show the examiner the structure of your argument. Each paragraph should begin with a signpost sentence that sets out the main point you are going to explore in that section. It is sometimes helpful to refer back to the title of the essay in the signpost sentence, to remind the examiner of the relevance of your point. Essay writing becomes much easier for you too this way, as you remind yourself exactly what you are focusing on each step of the way.
Here's a signpost sentence example: One important way in which Gothic fiction transgresses normal moral and social codes is in its portrayal of the female heroine.
Further sentences in this paragraph would then go on to expand and back up your point in greater detail and with relevant examples. The paragraph should not contain any sentences that are not directly related to the issue set out in the signpost sentence. So you are writing an essay that clearly separates its ideas into structured sections. Going back to the wage-raise example: in the middle of talking about how punctual you are, would you start talking about how you are a good colleague, then about that client you impressed, and then talk about your punctuality again? Of course not. The same rules apply: each paragraph deals with one idea, one subject.
The last section of your essay is the conclusion. In general, this will also be a single paragraph in shorter essays, but can go on to two or three for slightly longer discussions.
Every well-structured essay ends with a conclusion . Its purpose is to summarise the main points of your argument and, if appropriate, to draw a final decision or judgement about the issues you have been discussing. Sometimes, conclusions attempt to connect the essay to broader issues or areas of further study.
It is important not to introduce any new ideas in the conclusion â it is simply a reminder of what your essay has already covered. It may be useful again to refer back to the title in the conclusion to make it very clear to the examiner that you have thoroughly answered the question at hand. Make sure you remind them of your argument by very concisely touching on each key point.
Here an example of an essay conclusion:
Overall, whilst it is certainly true that the characters, plots and settings of Gothic fiction seem firmly intended to break normal moral and social codes, the great incidence within the genre of the depiction of the supernatural, and in particular its insistent reference to social injustice and hypocrisy might suggest that in fact its main purpose was the criticism and reform of society.
Now you should have a solid grasp of a typical essay structure but might not know how to actually begin structuring your essay. Everyone works differently. Some people have no trouble thinking everything out in their head, or putting together a plan, and starting with the introduction and finishing with the conclusion.
One surefire way to make your life easier is to, in the first instance, write out an essay plan . Jotting down a plan where you create a structure, which details what your essay will cover, will save you time in the long run - so we highly recommend you do this!
When planning your essay structure, we suggest writing from the inside out and doing the body paragraphs first. Since each body paragraph is a main idea, then once you know what your main ideas are, these should come fairly easily. Then the introduction and conclusion after that.
If you're really struggling - or just curious - you can also look into the Essay Writing Service from ourselves here at Oxbridge Essays. We can put together a comprehensive essay plan for you, which maps out your essay and outlines the key points in advance, and in turn makes the writing process much easier.
One final thought to remember: good essays are not written, they are rewritten . Always go over your first draft and look for ways to improve it before handing it in.
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A clear, arguable thesis will tell your readers where you are going to end up, but it can also help you figure out how to get them there. Put your thesis at the top of a blank page and then make a list of the points you will need to make to argue that thesis effectively.
For example, consider this example from the thesis handout : While Sandel argues persuasively that our instinct to âremakeâ(54) ourselves into something ever more perfect is a problem, his belief that we can always draw a line between what is medically necessary and what makes us simply âbetter than wellâ(51) is less convincing.
To argue this thesis, the author needs to do the following:
Once you have broken down your thesis into main claims, you can then think about what sub-claims you will need to make in order to support each of those main claims. That step might look like this:
Each argument you will make in an essay will be different, but this strategy will often be a useful first step in figuring out the path of your argument.
Scientific papers generally include standard subheadings to delineate different sections of the paper, including âintroduction,â âmethods,â and âdiscussion.â Even when you are not required to use subheadings, it can be helpful to put them into an early draft to help you see what youâve written and to begin to think about how your ideas fit together. You can do this by typing subheadings above the sections of your draft.
If youâre having trouble figuring out how your ideas fit together, try beginning with informal subheadings like these:
For longer papers, you may decide to include subheadings to guide your reader through your argument. In those cases, you would need to revise your informal subheadings to be more useful for your readers. For example, if you have initially written in something like âexplain the authorâs main point,â your final subheading might be something like âSandelâs main argumentâ or âSandelâs opposition to genetic enhancement.â In other cases, once you have the key pieces of your argument in place, you will be able to remove the subheadings.
While you may have learned to outline a paper before writing a draft, this step is often difficult because our ideas develop as we write. In some cases, it can be more helpful to write a draft in which you get all of your ideas out and then do a âreverse outlineâ of what youâve already written. This doesnât have to be formal; you can just make a list of the point in each paragraph of your draft and then ask these questions:
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College essays are an entirely new type of writing for high school seniors. For that reason, many students are confused about proper formatting and essay structure. Should you double-space or single-space? Do you need a title? What kind of narrative style is best-suited for your topic?
In this post, weâll be going over proper college essay format, traditional and unconventional essay structures (plus sample essays!), and which structure might work best for you.Â
How you format your essay will depend on whether youâre submitting in a text box, or attaching a document. Weâll go over the different best practices for both, but regardless of how youâre submitting, here are some general formatting tips:
If youâre submitting in a text box:
If youâre attaching a document:
Now that weâve gone over the logistical aspects of your essay, letâs talk about how you should structure your writing. There are three traditional college essay structures. They are:
Letâs go over what each one is exactly, and take a look at some real essays using these structures.
This is where you tell the story one moment at a time, sharing the events as they occur. In the moment narrative is a powerful essay format, as your reader experiences the events, your thoughts, and your emotions with you . This structure is ideal for a specific experience involving extensive internal dialogue, emotions, and reflections.
Hereâs an example:
The morning of the Model United Nation conference, I walked into Committee feeling confident about my research. We were simulating the Nuremberg Trials â a series of post-World War II proceedings for war crimes â and my portfolio was of the Soviet Judge Major General Iona Nikitchenko. Until that day, the infamous Nazi regime had only been a chapter in my history textbook; however, the conferenceâs unveiling of each defendantâs crimes brought those horrors to life. The previous night, I had organized my research, proofread my position paper and gone over Judge Nikitchenkoâs pertinent statements. I aimed to find the perfect balance between his stance and my own.
As I walked into committee anticipating a battle of wits, my director abruptly called out to me. âIâm afraid weâve received a late confirmation from another delegate who will be representing Judge Nikitchenko. You, on the other hand, are now the defense attorney, Otto Stahmer.â Everyone around me buzzed around the room in excitement, coordinating with their allies and developing strategies against their enemies, oblivious to the bomb that had just dropped on me. I felt frozen in my tracks, and it seemed that only rage against the careless delegate who had confirmed her presence so late could pull me out of my trance. After having spent a month painstakingly crafting my verdicts and gathering evidence against the Nazis, I now needed to reverse my stance only three hours before the first session.
Gradually, anger gave way to utter panic. My research was fundamental to my performance, and without it, I knew I could add little to the Trials. But confident in my ability, my director optimistically recommended constructing an impromptu defense. Nervously, I began my research anew. Despite feeling hopeless, as I read through the prosecutionâs arguments, I uncovered substantial loopholes. I noticed a lack of conclusive evidence against the defendants and certain inconsistencies in testimonies. My discovery energized me, inspiring me to revisit the historical overview in my conference âBackground Guideâ and to search the web for other relevant articles. Some Nazi prisoners had been treated as âguiltyâ before their court dates. While I had brushed this information under the carpet while developing my position as a judge, it now became the focus of my defense. I began scratching out a new argument, centered on the premise that the allied countries had violated the fundamental rule that, a defendant was ânot guiltyâ until proven otherwise.
At the end of the three hours, I felt better prepared. The first session began, and with bravado, I raised my placard to speak. Microphone in hand, I turned to face my audience. âGreetings delegates. I, Otto Stahmer would like toâŚâŚ.â I suddenly blanked. Utter dread permeated my body as I tried to recall my thoughts in vain. âDefence Attorney, Stahmer weâll come back to you,â my Committee Director broke the silence as I tottered back to my seat, flushed with embarrassment. Despite my shame, I was undeterred. I needed to vindicate my directorâs faith in me. I pulled out my notes, refocused, and began outlining my arguments in a more clear and direct manner. Thereafter, I spoke articulately, confidently putting forth my points. I was overjoyed when Secretariat members congratulated me on my fine performance.
Going into the conference, I believed that preparation was the key to success. I wouldnât say I disagree with that statement now, but I believe adaptability is equally important. My ability to problem-solve in the face of an unforeseen challenge proved advantageous in the art of diplomacy. Not only did this experience transform me into a confident and eloquent delegate at that conference, but it also helped me become a more flexible and creative thinker in a variety of other capacities. Now that I know I can adapt under pressure, I look forward to engaging in activities that will push me to be even quicker on my feet.
This essay is an excellent example of in-the-moment narration. The student openly shares their internal state with us â we feel their anger and panic upon the reversal of roles. We empathize with their emotions of âutter dreadâ and embarrassment when theyâre unable to speak.Â
For in-the-moment essays, overloading on descriptions is a common mistake students make. This writer provides just the right amount of background and details to help us understand the situation, however, and balances out the actual event with reflection on the significance of this experience.Â
One main area of improvement is that the writer sometimes makes explicit statements that could be better illustrated through their thoughts, actions, and feelings. For instance, they say they âspoke articulatelyâ after recovering from their initial inability to speak, and they also claim that adaptability has helped them in other situations. This is not as engaging as actual examples that convey the same meaning. Still, this essay overall is a strong example of in-the-moment narration, and gives us a relatable look into the writerâs life and personality.
In this essay structure, you share a story that takes place across several different experiences. This narrative style is well-suited for any story arc with multiple parts. If you want to highlight your development over time, you might consider this structure.Â
When I was younger, I was adamant that no two foods on my plate touch. As a result, I often used a second plate to prevent such an atrocity. In many ways, I learned to separate different things this way from my older brothers, Nate and Rob. Growing up, I idolized both of them. Nate was a performer, and I insisted on arriving early to his shows to secure front row seats, refusing to budge during intermission for fear of missing anything. Rob was a three-sport athlete, and I attended his games religiously, waving worn-out foam cougar paws and cheering until my voice was hoarse. My brothers were my role models. However, while each was talented, neither was interested in the otherâs passion. To me, they represented two contrasting ideals of what I could become: artist or athlete. I believed I had to choose.
And for a long time, I chose athlete. I played soccer, basketball, and lacrosse and viewed myself exclusively as an athlete, believing the arts were not for me. I conveniently overlooked that since the age of five, I had been composing stories for my family for Christmas, gifts that were as much for me as them, as I loved writing. So when in tenth grade, I had the option of taking a creative writing class, I was faced with a question: could I be an athlete and a writer? After much debate, I enrolled in the class, feeling both apprehensive and excited. When I arrived on the first day of school, my teacher, Ms. Jenkins, asked us to write down our expectations for the class. After a few minutes, eraser shavings stubbornly sunbathing on my now-smudged paper, I finally wrote, âI do not expect to become a published writer from this class. I just want this to be a place where I can write freely.â
Although the purpose of the class never changed for me, on the third âsubmission day,â â our time to submit writing to upcoming contests and literary magazines â I faced a predicament. For the first two submission days, I had passed the time editing earlier pieces, eventually (pretty quickly) resorting to screen snake when hopelessness made the words look like hieroglyphics. I must not have been as subtle as I thought, as on the third of these days, Ms. Jenkins approached me. After shifting from excuse to excuse as to why I did not submit my writing, I finally recognized the real reason I had withheld my work: I was scared. I did not want to be different, and I did not want to challenge not only othersâ perceptions of me, but also my own. I yielded to Ms. Jenkinâs pleas and sent one of my pieces to an upcoming contest.
By the time the letter came, I had already forgotten about the contest. When the flimsy white envelope arrived in the mail, I was shocked and ecstatic to learn that I had received 2nd place in a nationwide writing competition. The next morning, however, I discovered Ms. Jenkins would make an announcement to the whole school exposing me as a poet. I decided to own this identity and embrace my friendsâ jokes and playful digs, and over time, they have learned to accept and respect this part of me. I have since seen more boys at my school identifying themselves as writers or artists.
I no longer see myself as an athlete and a poet independently, but rather I see these two aspects forming a single inseparable identity â me. Despite their apparent differences, these two disciplines are quite similar, as each requires creativity and devotion. I am still a poet when I am lacing up my cleats for soccer practice and still an athlete when I am building metaphors in the back of my mind â and I have realized ice cream and gummy bears taste pretty good together.
The timeline of this essay spans from the writerâs childhood all the way to sophomore year, but we only see key moments along this journey. First, we get context for why the writer thought he had to choose one identity: his older brothers had very distinct interests. Then, we learn about the studentâs 10th grade creative writing class, writing contest, and results of the contest. Finally, the essay covers the writersâ embarrassment of his identity as a poet, to gradual acceptance and pride in that identity.Â
This essay is a great example of a narrative told over an extended period of time. Itâs highly personal and reflective, as the piece shares the writerâs conflicting feelings, and takes care to get to the root of those feelings. Furthermore, the overarching story is that of a personal transformation and development, so itâs well-suited to this essay structure.
This essay structure allows you to focus on the most important experiences of a single storyline, or it lets you feature multiple (not necessarily related) stories that highlight your personality. Montage is a structure where you piece together separate scenes to form a whole story. This technique is most commonly associated with film. Just envision your favorite movieâit likely is a montage of various scenes that may not even be chronological.Â
Night had robbed the academy of its daytime colors, yet there was comfort in the dim lights that cast shadows of our advances against the bare studio walls. Silhouettes of roundhouse kicks, spin crescent kicks, uppercuts and the occasional butterfly kick danced while we sparred. She approached me, eyes narrowed with the trace of a smirk challenging me. âReady spar!â Her arm began an upward trajectory targeting my shoulder, a common first move. I sidestepped â only to almost collide with another flying fist. Pivoting my right foot, I snapped my left leg, aiming my heel at her midsection. The center judge raised one finger.Â
There was no time to celebrate, not in the traditional sense at least. Master Pollard gave a brief command greeted with a unanimous âYes, sirâ and the thud of 20 hands dropping-down-and-giving-him-30, while the âwinnersâ celebrated their victory with laps as usual.Â
Three years ago, seven-thirty in the evening meant I was a warrior. It meant standing up straighter, pushing a little harder, âYes, sirâ and âYes, maâamâ, celebrating birthdays by breaking boards, never pointing your toes, and familiarity. Three years later, seven-thirty in the morning meant I was nervous.Â
The room is uncomfortably large. The sprung floor soaks up the checkerboard of sunlight piercing through the colonial windows. The mirrored walls further illuminate the studio and I feel the light scrutinizing my sorry attempts at a pas de bourrĂŠe , while capturing the organic fluidity of the dancers around me. â ChassĂŠ en croix, grand battement, pique, pirouette.â I follow the graceful limbs of the woman in front of me, her legs floating ribbons, as she executes what seems to be a perfect ronds de jambes. Each movement remains a negotiation. With admirable patience, Ms. Tan casts me a sympathetic glance.  Â
There is no time to wallow in the misery that is my right foot. Taekwondo calls for dorsiflexion; pointed toes are synonymous with broken toes. My thoughts drag me into a flashback of the usual response to this painful mistake: âYou might as well grab a tutu and head to the ballet studio next door.â Well, here I am Master Pollard, unfortunately still following your orders to never point my toes, but no longer feeling the satisfaction that comes with being a third degree black belt with 5 years of experience quite literally under her belt. Itâs like being a white belt again â just in a leotard and ballet slippers.Â
But the appetite for new beginnings that brought me here doesnât falter. It is only reinforced by the classical rendition of âDancing Queenâ that floods the room and the ghost of familiarity that reassures me that this new beginning does not and will not erase the past. After years spent at the top, itâs hard to start over. But surrendering what you are only leads you to what you may become. In Taekwondo, we started each class reciting the tenets: honor, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, courage, humility, and knowledge, and I have never felt that I embodied those traits more so than when I started ballet.Â
The thing about change is that it eventually stops making things so different. After nine different schools, four different countries, three different continents, fluency in Tamil, Norwegian, and English, there are more blurred lines than there are clear fragments. My life has not been a tactfully executed, gold medal-worthy Taekwondo form with each movement defined, nor has it been a series of frappĂŠs performed by a prima ballerina with each extension identical and precise, but thankfully it has been like the dynamics of a spinning back kick, fluid, and like my chances of landing a pirouette, unpredictable.Â
This essay takes a few different anecdotes and weaves them into a coherent narrative about the writerâs penchant for novel experiences. Weâre plunged into her universe, in the middle of her Taekwondo spar, three years before the present day. She then transitions into a scene in a ballet studio, present day. By switching from past tense to present tense, the writer clearly demarcates this shift in time.Â
The parallel use of the spoken phrase âPointâ in the essay ties these two experiences together. The writer also employs a flashback to Master Pollardâs remark about âgrabbing a tutuâ and her habit of dorsiflexing her toes, which further cements the connection between these anecdotes.Â
While some of the descriptions are a little wordy, the piece is well-executed overall, and is a stellar example of the montage structure. The two anecdotes are seamlessly intertwined, and they both clearly illustrate the studentâs determination, dedication, reflectiveness, and adaptability. The writer also concludes the essay with a larger reflection on her life, many moves, and multiple languages.Â
Unconventional essay structures are any that donât fit into the categories above. These tend to be higher risk, as itâs easier to turn off the admissions officer, but theyâre also higher reward if executed correctly.Â
There are endless possibilities for unconventional structures, but most fall under one of two categories:
Instead of choosing a traditional narrative format, you might take a more creative route to showcase your interests, writing your essay:
You could also play with the actual language and sentence structure of your essay, writing it:
These linguistic techniques are often hybrid, where you write some of the essay with the linguistic variation, then write more of an explanation in English.
Under no circumstances should you feel pressured to use an unconventional structure. Trying to force something unconventional will only hurt your chances. That being said, if a creative structure comes naturally to you, suits your personality, and works with the content of your essay â go for that structure!
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Mastering the art of essay writing – a comprehensive guide.
Essay writing is a fundamental skill that every student needs to master. Whether you’re in high school, college, or beyond, the ability to write a strong, coherent essay is essential for academic success. However, many students find the process of writing an essay daunting and overwhelming.
This comprehensive guide is here to help you navigate the intricate world of essay writing. From understanding the basics of essay structure to mastering the art of crafting a compelling thesis statement, we’ve got you covered. By the end of this guide, you’ll have the tools and knowledge you need to write an outstanding essay that will impress your teachers and classmates alike.
So, grab your pen and paper (or fire up your laptop) and let’s dive into the ultimate guide to writing an essay. Follow our tips and tricks, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a skilled and confident essay writer!
Essay writing is a skill that requires practice, patience, and attention to detail. Whether you’re a student working on an assignment or a professional writing for publication, mastering the art of essay writing can help you communicate your ideas effectively and persuasively.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the key elements of a successful essay, including how to choose a topic, structure your essay, and craft a compelling thesis statement. We’ll also discuss the importance of research, editing, and proofreading, and provide tips for improving your writing style and grammar.
By following the advice in this guide, you can become a more confident and skilled essay writer, capable of producing high-quality, engaging essays that will impress your readers and achieve your goals.
When it comes to writing an essay, understanding the structure is key to producing a cohesive and well-organized piece of writing. An essay typically consists of three main parts: an introduction, the body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Introduction: The introduction is where you introduce your topic and provide some background information. It should also include your thesis statement, which is the main idea or argument that you will be discussing in the essay.
Body paragraphs: The body of the essay is where you present your supporting evidence and arguments. Each paragraph should focus on a separate point and include evidence to back up your claims. Remember to use transition words to link your ideas together cohesively.
Conclusion: The conclusion is where you wrap up your essay by summarizing your main points and restating your thesis. It is also a good place to make any final thoughts or reflections on the topic.
Understanding the structure of an essay will help you write more effectively and communicate your ideas clearly to your readers.
One of the most crucial steps in writing a successful essay is selecting the right topic. The topic you choose will determine the direction and focus of your writing, so it’s important to choose wisely. Here are some tips to help you select the perfect topic for your essay:
Choose a topic that you are passionate about or interested in. Writing about something you enjoy will make the process more enjoyable and your enthusiasm will come through in your writing. | |
Do some preliminary research to see what topics are available and what resources are out there. This will help you narrow down your choices and find a topic that is both interesting and manageable. | |
Think about who will be reading your essay and choose a topic that will resonate with them. Consider their interests, knowledge level, and any biases they may have when selecting a topic. | |
Take some time to brainstorm different topic ideas. Write down all the potential topics that come to mind, and then evaluate each one based on relevance, interest, and feasibility. | |
Try to choose a topic that offers a unique perspective or angle. Avoid overly broad topics that have been extensively covered unless you have a fresh take to offer. |
By following these tips and considering your interests, audience, and research, you can choose a topic that will inspire you to write an engaging and compelling essay.
When writing an essay, conducting thorough research and gathering relevant information is crucial. Here are some tips to help you with your research:
Make sure to use reliable sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites. Avoid using sources that are not credible or biased. | |
As you research, take notes on important information that you can use in your essay. Organize your notes so that you can easily reference them later. | |
Don’t rely solely on one type of source. Utilize a variety of sources to provide a well-rounded perspective on your topic. | |
Before using a source in your essay, make sure to evaluate its credibility and relevance to your topic. Consider the author’s credentials, publication date, and biases. | |
Make sure to keep a record of the sources you use in your research. This will help you properly cite them in your essay and avoid plagiarism. |
When writing an essay, one of the most crucial elements is the thesis statement. This statement serves as the main point of your essay, summarizing the argument or position you will be taking. Crafting a compelling thesis statement is essential for a strong and cohesive essay. Here are some tips to help you create an effective thesis statement:
By following these guidelines, you can craft a compelling thesis statement that sets the tone for your essay and guides your reader through your argument.
Once you have your introduction in place, it’s time to dive into the body of your essay. The body paragraphs are where you will present your main arguments or points to support your thesis statement.
Here are some tips for writing the body of your essay:
Remember to refer back to your thesis statement and make sure that each paragraph contributes to your overall argument. The body of your essay is where you can really showcase your critical thinking and analytical skills, so take the time to craft well-developed and coherent paragraphs.
Editing and proofreading are essential steps in the essay writing process to ensure your work is polished and error-free. Here are some tips to help you perfect your essay:
By following these editing and proofreading tips, you can ensure that your essay is well-crafted, organized, and free of errors, helping you make a strong impression on your readers.
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Discussions about the writing craft.
Not sure if this is the right subreddit to ask in, but i'm looking for some advice in writing high school essays.
What should my structure be? Should I give a brief intro into the context of the essay question before addressing the question itself?
Should I add related material and how much of it? What about quotes and ideas from other authors?
Any advice is appreciated.
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Home > Blog > Best Transition Words for Essays (With Examples)
Most essays require you to discuss more than one idea. However, transitioning into a new idea abruptly can be sudden and jarring for the reader. This is where transition words come in. Even if writing essays isn’t your strong suit , it’s pretty easy to learn how to use transition words and phrases.
So, what are transition words? They are words and phrases that show a link between two elements. They might show that you’re pivoting to a new topic, introducing new evidence, or summing up your points. They can even link paragraphs together with ease and improve your writing flow . Sprinkling these throughout your essay helps the reader understand your argument more clearly.
Essentially, transition words for essays are crucial to improve the flow of your writing. But you still need to know how to wield them effectively if you want top marks.
A transition word signals a change in your writing. You use them as part of transition sentences, which contain either two opposing topics or connect similar ideas.
You don’t need transition words in every sentence. Just re-read our introductionânot every sentence has one. Not even every paragraph has them! But including them throughout your work can really help the reader understand where they’re at in the text.
Consider this example:
The second sentence highlights the connection between these two ideas. The connection could be contrasting ideas, similar ones, or a sequence. As a result, the reader understands a more logical flow within the text. Although the first sentence is still grammatically correct, it’s a little jarring.
And this is a crucial thing to note about transition words. Sometimes, the connection is obvious. Words and phrases like “however” and “for example” appear completely logically in the text. In the same way, sequential transition words like “first”, “next,” “last”, and so on are obvious choices. However, other transition words are less obviousâtheir primary goal is just to improve flow. They keep your writing organized.
Most transition words and phrases appear at the beginning of sentences, paragraphs, or clauses. Although, they can sometimes appear in other places, too.
It’s also worth noting that you need to choose the right transition word. Let’s explore some examples below.
Depending on the essay you’re writing, you might find that it calls for different transition words. Some transition words and phrases introduce new content ideas , while others highlight that two ideas are equally important.
In fact, you might need several of these types in any academic writing you do. Let’s explore eight types of transition words that you might need.
In many essays, you’ll need to weigh up an argument with a counter-argument. There are individual words and phrases that can highlight this contrast, moving from one idea to its opposing one.
Contradiction words include:
You can say something like:
This is great for analytical essays where you’re including a comparison.
Most essays require you to demonstrate your reasoning. As a result, you need to illustrate the evidence you have for a particular point. You might even need more than one point.
There are several transition words for this purpose:
You could say:
Both of these sentences can help you add onto your previous statement, hammering your idea home. Often, you can use these words to show that two ideas are equally important, too. It provides a simple addition, rather than making one seem more important than the other.
In the same way, there are other transition words that you can use specifically for examples. These are great (and easy) ways to introduce your evidence. They include:
Your sentence might look like this:
It’s a good idea to write down a list of these that you can use throughout your essay. That way, you’re not using the same transition words throughout.
Sometimes, a transition word can denote causality between two things. This is like the example we saw before, using “therefore.” These transition words are not always as obvious, but they can vastly improve the flow of your writing.
They include:
If you’re writing a history essay or trying to show a consequence, these transition words are your best friends. Think of these example sentences:
Again, try writing these down to include throughout your essay.
The right transition word can also help you clarify your points or add emphasis. Often, it just takes a single word to change the meaning of your sentence and add some emphasis. For example:
Often, these words and phrases are great for stressing the importance of a point you just made. For instance, you could say:
Be careful how you use these transition words, though. Depending on how convincing your argument is, your reader might draw a different conclusion. So, don’t use words like “undoubtedly” unless you’re really sure!
At the end of your essay, you need to provide a summary of all your points. Launching straight into the conclusion can be sudden, which is why you need a transition word to announce the summary. Try these:
All of these words are great for introducing the final paragraph. They show the reader that you’re about to recap your key points. You’ll often see sentences like this:
Adding these words or phrases is a great way to introduce your final analysis.
Whenever you read a recipe, you’ll find transitions that show time relationships. This is because recipes come in steps, where each point follows immediately after the previous. However, there are also other ways to use these transition words. First, let’s look at some of the options:
Here are two examples of these words in use, one from a step-by-step and another from an essay:
As you can see in the second example, you can use these transitions in analysis, too.
Sequential transition words are very similar to what we discussed previously. In fact, there’s some overlap. However, these words appear in an exact sequence:
And so on. You can use each one to illustrate where you are in a specific process. For example:
Again, you can use these for sequential events like recipes, but also to lead the reader through your argument. Remember, every essay should have a beginning, middle, and end. So, you can use transition words like this to signpost where you are in your argument.
Still struggling with transition words and phrases? There’s a tool for that! Smodin’s AI writer can help you generate content in line with your ideas. It’s an advanced essay writing tool that writes academic papers to a high standard. And it seamlessly integrates transition words! By using a variety of single words and phrases, Smodin creates engaging text with a great flow.
Here’s an example:
And, Smodin’s AI writer meets rigorous academic standards. Compared to other generative AI tools, Smodin is far better for academic work. It has a much more specific database of high-quality academic work, allowing it to write texts of a similar grade.
This ensures that the transition words and phrases used are appropriate for formal writing. The tool understands the nuances of academic language, suggesting transitions that elevate the quality of your essay.
Smodin has several key features that can help you create essays of high standard, such as:
So what are you waiting for? See how Smodin’s AI writer can effortlessly enhance your essays through both structure and flow. With Smodin, you can get higher grades and a better understanding of your work.
Using transition words in essays is crucial for creating a smooth and coherent flow of ideas. These words and phrases are the bridges that guide your readers through your arguments. Without them, it’s harder to understand the connections between different points. So, effective use of transition words not only improves the readability of your essay but also strengthens your overall argument.
Smodinâs AI Writer is an invaluable tool for incorporating transition words seamlessly into your essay. This advanced tool suggests contextually appropriate transitions, ensuring your essay flows logically and meets high academic standards.
Donât let the challenge of finding the right transition words hinder your writing. Explore Smodinâs AI Writer to elevate your essay writing skills and produce top-quality academic papers. Perhaps you’re a student aiming for higher grades or a writer seeking to improve the flow of your work. Smodinâs AI Writer is here to help. Try Smodin today and experience the difference in your writing!
Family Walking on Highway, Five Children (June 1938 ) by Dorothea Lange. Courtesy the Library of Congress
For john rawls, liberalism was more than a political project: it is the best way to fashion a life that is worthy of happiness.
by Alexandre Lefebvre  + BIO
John Rawls, the preeminent political philosopher of the 20th century whose masterpiece, A Theory of Justice (1971), fundamentally reshaped the field, lived a quiet and â I mean this the best way â boring life. After an eventful and sometimes tragic youth (more on this later), he settled into an academic career and worked at Harvard University for nearly 40 years. There, he developed ideas that transformed our thinking about justice, fairness, democracy and liberalism, and also trained generations of students who are now leading members of the profession. He died aged 81 in 2002, the year I began my graduate studies, so I never had the chance to meet him. Yet every single account Iâve heard from his students and colleagues attests to his genuine kindness. Decent is the word that comes up time and again, in the understated sense of unshowy goodness.
Still waters can run deep, however, and from archival research Iâve discovered charming eccentricities. Every year, for instance, his family would put on a Christmas play that worked in his famous concepts as minor characters. My favourite bit of oddness, though, comes from an interview he gave to mark his retirement. In 1991, he sat down with undergraduate students to discuss his life, work, reception and teaching. But in a draft copy of the interview, included in his personal papers at Harvard, he added a weird and wonderful section that does not appear in the published version (and that, it seems, he wrote only for himself). After answering the questions from the students, he noted down a few âQuestions They Didnât Ask Meâ and played the role of interviewer and interviewee. Hereâs the addendum in full:
There were lots of questions they didnât ask me in [ The Harvard Review of Philosophy ( HRP )] interview. Some of those they could have asked Iâll answer here:
HRP (as imagined): You never talk about religion in your classes, although sometimes the discussion borders on it. Why is that? Do you think religion of no importance? Or that it has no role in our life?
JR: On the role of religion, put it this way. Letâs ask the question: Does life need to be redeemed? And if so, why; and what can redeem it? I would say yes: life does need to be redeemed. By life I mean the ordinary round of being born, growing up, falling in love, and marrying and having children; seeing that they grow up, go to school, and have children themselves; of supporting ourselves and carrying on day after day; of growing older and having grandchildren and eventually dying. All that and much else needs to be redeemed.
HRP : Fine, but whatâs this business about being redeemed? It doesnât say anything to me.
JR: Well, what I mean is that what I call the ordinary round of life â growing up, falling in love, having children and the rest â can seem not enough by itself. That ordinary round must be graced by something to be worthwhile. Thatâs what I mean by redeemed. The question is what is needed to redeem it?
This is bizarre for many reasons. I mean, first, who does this? Who goes home after an interview and, just for the fun of it, invents and answers hypothetical questions? But stranger still is the content. Readers of Rawls donât expect him to speak this way. He is, after all, a political philosopher and the main question associated with his work is the following: how is it possible for an institutional order to be just? Yet, what if, when the chips were down at the end of his career, he spoke more directly and plainly, even if only to himself, to state a more fundamental question at the root of his life and thought: how is it possible for a human life â yours, mine, or any â to be worthwhile?
Ordinary life, says Rawls, needs to be redeemed. By what? It depends on what you believe in. A theist will have one response, an atheist or agnostic another. The young Rawls was a believer, and after completing his undergraduate studies had planned to become a minister. But he lost his faith as a soldier in the Second World War. Even so, he never abandoned a conviction that ordinary life needs to be elevated (âredeemedâ or âgracedâ) by something beyond it.
I believe Rawls found that thing in liberalism and the tradition of liberal moral and political thought he devoted his life to. He never stopped trying to work out how a life based on liberal ideals can be not only happy but worthy of happiness. This makes him the perfect guru for our times.
T o see why Rawls fits this role, I need to say something about the peculiar moment we live in. As everyone knows, religion is in decline throughout the Western world. To name only the most populous Anglophone liberal democracies, surveys of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand show that 30, 53, 32, 40 and 49 per cent, respectively, of citizens in these countries claim no religion. People who tick the âno religionâ box on the census are the fastest-growing population of religious affiliation, or in this case, of non-affiliation.
This raises a tricky question. If you, like me, are unchurched and donât draw your values from a religion, then where do you get them from? From what broad tradition do you acquire your sense of what is good, normal and worthwhile in life, and â if I can put it this way â your general vibe too?
When Iâve asked my non-religious friends, colleagues and students this question, theyâre almost always stumped. Their impulse is to say one of three things: âfrom my experienceâ, âfrom friends and familyâ or âfrom human natureâ. But to this I reply, as politely as possible, that those are not suitable answers. Personal experience, friends and family and human nature are situated and formed within wider social, political and cultural contexts. So I ask again: âWhat society-or-civilisation-sized thing can you point to as the source of your values? Iâm talking about the kind of thing that, were you Christian, youâd just say: âAh, the Bible,â or âOh, my Church.âââ
In my book Liberalism as a Way of Life (2024), I argue that the unchurched in the Western world should point to liberalism as the source of who they are through and through. Liberalism â with its core values of personal freedom, fairness, reciprocity, tolerance and irony â is that society-or-civilisation-sized thing that may well underlie who we are, not just in our political opinions but in all walks of life, from the family to the workplace, from friendship to enmity, from humour to outrage, and everything in between.
How can ordinary people in the modern world remain free and generous, despite new temptations not to be?
This argument will not be news for conservative critics who are keenly aware of how hegemonic liberalism has become. Ironically, though, it may surprise liberals themselves, who often fail to recognise how widely and deeply their liberalism runs. Defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a âsocial and political philosophyâ based on âsupport for or advocacy of individual rights, civil liberty, and reform tending towards individual freedom, democracy, or social equalityâ, liberals too quickly adopt this narrow institutionalist definition and assume that liberalism is an exclusively legal and political doctrine. Liberals, in other words, fail to recognise not just what liberalism has become today (a worldview and comprehensive value system) but who they are as well: living and breathing incarnations of it.
The founders of liberalism would have been disappointed in us. A newcomer by the standards of intellectual history, it was created in the 19th century by such greats as Benjamin Constant, Germaine de StaĂŤl, Alexis de Tocqueville, George Eliot and John Stuart Mill. While there are many differences between them, they all conceive of liberalism first and foremost in ethical terms â a âmoral adventureâ, as Adam Gopnik has called it, for living well in the modern world. As Helena Rosenblatt states in her excellent book , The Lost History of Liberalism (2018): âToday we may think that they were naive, deluded, or disingenuous. But to 19th-century liberals, being liberal meant believing in an ethical project.â
What does this mean? Then, as now, the word âliberalâ (with its roots in the Latin liber and liberalis ) combines two meanings: freedom ( liberty ) and generosity ( liberality ). When 19th-century thinkers (and statespersons, journalists, novelists, soldiers and more) claimed this mantle for themselves, they wrestled with a very deep question. How, they asked, can ordinary people in the modern world remain free and generous, despite all kinds of new temptations not to be? Capitalism, for example, entices us with shiny consumerism; democracy can lull us into conformity; and nationalism ensnares us in unearned partiality. These are social and political dangers to be sure. But early liberals also saw them as bedevilments apt to make us mean, restless, unhappy and just generally shitty people. Liberalism was the ethical and political doctrine they created to try to bring these new forces under political and psychological control.
Which raises an important question: what the hell happened to liberalism? If in the 19th century it was an aspirational doctrine for living well, but in the 20th and 21st century it retreated to a much more staid legal and political project, the question is why and when were its ethical guts stripped out?
Historians and philosophers blame different and complementary causes. Rosenblatt points to early 20th-century thinkers who, dissatisfied with New Deal progressivism, invented a retrenched âclassical liberalismâ. In Liberalism Against Itself (2023), Samuel Moyn names the Cold War liberals who repudiated the progressivism and perfectionism of their forebearers. For my part, I focus on a branch of contemporary political philosophy (âpolitical liberalismâ â founded, ironically, by Rawlsâs 1993 work of the same name, after A Theory of Justice ) that eschews questions of the good life to work out a conception of liberalism fit for a pluralist society divided by disagreements between citizens on questions of value and meaning.
Whatever the reason for why liberalismâs ethical side vanished, it is high time to reclaim it. Let me be blunt: liberals are awful at defending themselves. First of all, the global conversation about the current crisis of liberalism tends to fixate on the opponents of liberalism, and how horrible populists, nativists and authoritarians are. Rarely are the strengths and virtues of liberalism talked up. Moreover, when liberalism is defended, the reasons given are almost exclusively legal or political. Politicians and journalists insist on the indispensability of such institutions as division of powers, rule of law and individual rights. Certainly, that kind of defence is crucial. But by claiming that liberalism not only can be, in general, a way of life, but much more pointedly, may already be the basis of your own, I am drawing attention to a whole other set of reasons â call it âspiritualâ or âexistentialâ, no matter how jittery such terms make liberals â for why we should care deeply about the fate of our creed.
T here is no better guide to this endeavour than Rawls. To use an old-fashioned word, he is a superb moralist, gifted at detecting the underlying moral commitments of a liberal democratic society and showing how we, as its members, understand and comport ourselves. It is as if he speaks directly to our conscience to say: âOK, if you see your society and yourself in a liberal kind of way, here is what you can do to live up to it.â Then he adds: âOh, I almost forgot, great joys and benefits come from living this way. Let me show you.â
Weâll get to these joys in a moment. Every guru, however, has an origin story and Rawlsâs is worth telling. A few years before he died, he wrote a short, unpublished autobiography titled âJust Jackâ. âJackâ was what friends and family called him, and âjustâ was a play on the meanings of justice and simply . As I said, in contrast to his tranquil decades as a Harvard professor, his youth was eventful and at times tragic. On two separate occasions as a child, he passed fatal illnesses to his younger brothers (diphtheria to Bobby Rawls in 1928, and then pneumonia to Tommy Rawls in 1929) and developed a stammer from the trauma. In 1944, he served as an infantryman in the Pacific, was nearly killed in battle, and got a Bronze Star for bravery. Yet in telling his life story, Rawls dwells on a minor incident from his early 20s, when he had to go out and get a real job. While an undergraduate at Princeton in 1941, he had wanted to go on a sailing trip with friends and expected his family would pay. To his chagrin, his father had other ideas, telling Jack to work if he wanted a holiday. He did, and the experience was formative:
Jobs were hard to find in those days. The depression was beginning to ease by that time, of course, but the best I could do on short notice was a 12-hour job â 6 am to 6 pm, six days a week â in a doughnut factory somewhere in downtown Baltimore, whose location I have conveniently repressed. I was the helper of an older man named Ernie who operated one of the mixing machines. He had been there for 18 years and had three children to support, and it seemed heâd be there forever, breathing flour dust all his life âŚ
Ernie was decent and considerate, and never spoke harshly to me. He seemed resigned to the fact that he would always have that sort of job. There was no prospect of advance, really, or much hope of anything better for him. As for me, I decided to look elsewhere. There must be jobs easier than this, I thought, and 12 hours a day breathing flour dust was too much âŚ
I came to feel very sorry for Ernie. Often Iâve felt my days at the doughnut factory and Ernieâs decency and stoicism in view of his fate â or so it seemed to me â made a lasting impression. So that was how most people spent their lives, of course not literally, but to all practical purposes: pointless labour for not much pay, and even if well paid it led nowhere. Even business and law struck me as dead ends. While trying not to forget the plight of the Ernies of this world, I had to find my place in life in some other way. Did these things influence me in proposing the difference principle years later? I wouldnât claim so. But how would I know?
Who am I to gainsay Rawls? Still, his thought makes a lot of sense when viewed through the prism of this experience. It might even help us learn how to live liberally in the 21st century.
Fairness is the most important concept of Rawlsâs philosophy. It is, negatively speaking, the precise quality missing when a person like Ernie must toil endlessly at a job that a college student like Jack can quit after six weeks because he finds it difficult and demeaning. And decades later, when it came time to write A Theory of Justice , Rawls crowned it as the defining ideal of liberal democracy. Society , he states, should be conceived of and run as a fair system of cooperation . Or in the words of one contemporary acolyte, Leif Wenar: âOur country is built for everyone.â
H ow Rawls arrives at this notion is significant. Crucially, he doesnât claim it as his own insight. Nor does he derive it from first moral or philosophical principles. He believes instead that citizens of liberal democracies by and large already see and structure their societies as fair systems of cooperation. They have, after all, grown up in countries where all major public institutions profess to advance the freedom, dignity and equal opportunity of all citizens. In Australia, for example, politicians of all stripes insist on the importance of a âfair goâ. Thatâs why the idea of society as a fair system of cooperation is accessible to a wide readership: not merely because Rawlsâs readers âknowâ or âunderstandâ what heâs talking about, but much more powerfully because they already affirm it as expressing something essential about themselves and their society. It is no surprise that some of Rawlsâs best interpreters, such as Samuel Freeman, report that reading him for the first time can elicit strong feelings of dĂŠjĂ vu, a recognition of what we already know.
Rawls isnât oblivious to real-world injustices. He knows that no society lives up to this ideal. Nor does he think that citizens of liberal democracies wear rose-coloured (or, worse, ideologically tinted) glasses. Still, he bases his theory on the assumption that his fellow citizens recognise that the key purpose of their main public institutions is to ensure that society is seen as, and remains, a fair system of cooperation. Virtually everyone can be expected to know, on his account, that the purpose of a legal constitution is to establish equal and reciprocal rights, the job of the police is to protect them, and progressive taxation is meant to ensure a level playing field.
Rawls is enjoying a renaissance in public philosophy, with several authors applying his conception of fairness to different domains. In Free and Equal (2023), Daniel Chandler investigates education, workplace democracy and universal basic income, while in his recent essay for Aeon, Matthew McManus calls for a revival of liberal socialism on Rawlsian principles. And Iâve tried to bring this notion to bear on psychology and culture to help liberals unlock the best part of themselves.
Consider Rawlsâs most famous concept: the original position. Perhaps the most influential thought experiment of contemporary philosophy, it goes like this: imagine you are with a group of people who are tasked to select principles of justice to regulate the fundamental institutions of society. The plot twist, however, is you donât know anything about yourself. You agree to step behind a âveil of ignoranceâ and pretend that you donât know your sex, gender, class, race, religion, able-bodiedness or anything that might distinguish you from others.
There are great spiritual goods â great joys â that come from living up to liberal principles
Which principles would you pick? Itâs a no-brainer for Rawls: those that favour fairness when it comes to basic rights, self-respect, and resources and opportunities. Why? Prudence, in part: the pie should be divided as equally as possible lest it be revealed that youâre in a less-advantaged position. But the moral oomph of the original position is to remind citizens of liberal democracies â particularly those of privilege â that the dumb luck of social position and natural abilities shouldnât bear on issues of justice. A liberal person should leave all that at the door.
This may be fine in theory but letâs make it concrete. Suppose this hypothetical society has only two members. Their names are Ernie and Jack, and theyâve been asked to play the game of the original position.
Ernie goes first and, frankly, heâs got nothing to lose. He can happily pretend not to know who he is because, under fair principles of justice, he stands to gain a much better deal in life. No fuss, no muss for Ernie.
Now itâs Jackâs turn. This involves a different calculation. Why should he â pampered Princeton princeling that he is â ever agree to bracket the positional advantages that have worked out so well for him thus far in life? Disgraced or not, a remark by the comic Louis CK is painfully apt. On whether it is better to be Black or white in the United States, the answer for him is obvious: âIâm not saying that white people are better. Iâm saying that being white is clearly better. Who could even argue? If it was an option, I would re-up every year: âOh yeah, Iâll take white again absolutely, Iâve been enjoying that. Iâm gonna stick with white, thank you.âââ For Jack to suspend knowledge of his advantages â his good looks, impeccable WASP credentials, upper-middle-classness and all the rest â in reflecting on which principles of social cooperation to affirm might seem positively irrational.
So why do it? Whatâs in it for Jack? First, itâs the right thing to do. But second, just as importantly, there are great spiritual goods â great joys â that come from living up to liberal principles.
By engaging in the original position, Jack embraces impartiality and autonomy as core virtues. This means liberating himself from the narrow confines of self-interest and positional bias. In a world rife with inequality and injustice, impartiality allows Jack to see beyond his own perspective, fostering empathy and understanding for others. Autonomy, on the other hand, empowers him to act in accordance with his values, free from external coercion or undue influence.
By embodying impartiality and autonomy, Jack also cultivates resilience in the face of temptation and adversity. In a consumer culture where self-restraint and stalwartness are often tested, adherence to liberal principles instils moral fortitude. And if Jack gets good at navigating such ethical dilemmas, we might even say that he will become graceful. He will fulfil the requirements of justice with pleasure and relative ease.
In short, Jackâs decision â and our decision, which can be made at any time â to embrace the original position is not just a thought experiment but a transformative spiritual practice. And now we return to where we began with Rawls: on redemption. Liberalism, it is true, has no metaphysics to speak of. The soul? The Great Beyond? The purpose of it all? âPfffftt,â goes the liberal. Yet weâve never given up on the core of religion: to seek meaning in life through something beyond us. Our Beyond is found not on another plane of existence but instead in something worldly just beyond our grasp â an ideal of becoming a free and generous person in a fair and just society. Redemption is not found only in a liberal way of life. Heaven forbid. Yet itâs there too, waiting for liberals to answer its call.
Adapted from Liberalism as a Way of Life (2024) by Alexandre Lefebvre, published by Princeton University Press.
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You will likely spend about one-third of your life asleep ; donât you want to make sure your time spent in bed is an oasis-like experience? But then comes the hardest part of figuring out the type of pillowcase you want to invest in. Lots of praise is extended to satin and silk pillowcases .
Although satin and silk pillowcases are commonly marketed as similar products, they are actually quite different. Shop TODAY sought out those differences (and discovered the benefits of each) by speaking with textile experts and hairstylists.
Shop our expert- and editor-approved picks for both satin and silk pillowcases, and read on to determine which is best for your needs.
Whatâs the difference between satin and silk? | Satin pillowcase vs. silk | More satin pillowcases to shop | More silk pillowcases to shop | Which is best for yo u? | How we chose | Meet the experts
Best satin and silk pillowcases.
It's imperative to understand that silk and satin are extremely different things: silk is a fiber, while satin is a weave pattern.
Because satin is a weave pattern, you can have a satin fabric made out of silk fibers. Therefore, a satin pillowcase can (confusingly) also be a silk pillowcase. On the other hand, a satin pillowcase can be weaved with other fabrics, such as polyester, nylon, cotton and more.
Textile expert Karen Leonas says the market advertises silk and satin as very similar because general consumers may not know logistics and details of textiles. However, we're here to explain how you can weigh the benefits of both.
A satin pillowcase has an iconic sleek surface due to its weave structure..
Satin is characterized by long floats in its weave, explains textile expert Kelly Reddy-Best. Long floats occur when the warp (vertical) yarns cross over four or more weft (horizontal) yarns in the weaving process.
The yarn is uninterrupted in longer increments going over four and under one (in comparison to the traditional plain weave of over one, under one). This creates a smooth, lustrous surface.
Satin pillowcases can be weaved with different fibers (such as polyester and, yes , silk) â so you can utilize specific blends to target different hair or skin needs.
For reference, a smooth surface on a pillowcase is important because it can help prevent hair breakage. âWhen weâre doing all that tossing and turning, weâre breaking and sort of splitting hair,â she explains. âWhen youâre sleeping on a satin pillowcase, that's not happening nearly as much.âÂ
Colors : 23 | Sizes : Standard, queen and king | Materials : Polyester
This was my first entrance into the satin pillowcase world to see if I could notice the benefits of a satin weave pattern without investing too much money into a product. Even with this budget-friendly option, I could notice how smooth my pillowcase felt. This pillowcase also secures on your pillow with a zipper, which I enjoyed, as I sometimes seem to shimmy my pillow out of its case.Â
Colors : 29 | Sizes : Standard, queen and king | Materials : Polyester
Looking to decrease hair frizz and maintain style? The Bedsure satin pillowcase serves as an introduction to a protective place to rest your head. Hairstylist Jennifer Korab recommends this option because of its affordable price, soft material and breakage reducing ability.
Associate editor Kamari Stewart also loves this satin pillowcase because she noticed immediate differences in her hair and skin. âI consider myself a 'hard sleeper,' aka I move around a lot throughout the night, so Iâd gotten used to waking up to tangles, frizz and broken hairs left behind," she explains. "That wasnât the case the morning after using these satin pillowcases."
Silk is a fiber sourced from the cocoons that silkworms spin around themselves as they go through metamorphosis. This results in a higher price because the fiber is harder and more labor-intensive to obtain, according to Reddy-Best.
She says silk is breathable, which can help keep hot sleepers cool. Korab also enjoys how silk pillowcases can regulate a sleeperâs temperature.
Silk can even wick away moisture, adds Reddy-Best. â[A silk pillowcase] really regulates body temperature and moves moisture away; it sort of wicks moisture away so that it can keep you dry and cool,â she explains.Â
Colors : 12 | Sizes : Standard, queen and king | Materials : Mulberry silk
Quince asserts this high-quality silk pillowcase reduces the appearance of fine lines, minimizes bed head and protects natural oils . The pillowcase includes a zipper enclosure to keep the case in place and is hypoallergenic.Â
I have been using this pillowcase for a couple of weeks and notice immediate hair changes from my old cotton pillowcase. Every morning when I wake up, my hair is smooth and I never have bedhead. I also tend to be a hot sleeper, and I stay cool with this pillow all night.
Colors : 8 | Sizes : Standard, queen and king | Materials : Charmeuse silk
This silk pillowcase, recommended by Korab, checks all the boxes for a luxury pillowcase because it's made from 100% mulberry silk. This pillowcase also contain grade 6A long silk fibers, and the brand states only 5% of silk in the world meets this standard .
Experts and editors agree: kitsch the satin pillowcase.
Colors : 9 | Sizes : Standard and king | Materials : Not listed
Associate editor Sierra Hoeger recommends this pillowcase from Kitsch and says she'll never go back to sleeping on cotton or fleece again. âEven on nights where I donât wash my hair, Iâll still wake up with smooth, frizz-free hair,â she says.
Hair stylist Tiffanie Richards recommends this pillowcase as well because it is machine-washable, affordable and comes in many different designs.
Colors : 1 | Sizes : Queen | Materials : Polyester
This polyester-based satin pillowcase is a simple and chic way to upgrade your bedding. Not to mention, it's hypoallergenic, moisture-wicking and friction-preventing.
Commerce editor Amanda Fama says she cannot imagine sleeping without a satin pillowcase and particularly recommends this one. "Not only does this one feel cool to touch, but it's also extremely gentle on my curly (and frizzy) hair," she says. "In fact, I usually wake up in the morning with very little frizz and flyaways, which is a nice change!"
A brand we love: brooklinen mulberry silk pillowcase  .
Colors : 7 | Sizes : Standard, queen and king | Material : Mulberry silkÂ
Korab suggests this silk pillowcase as a more mid- to high-end option that is mulberry silk (as so many desire). Additionally, Brooklinen's silk pillowcase has a shiny appearance to elevate your bedrooms appearance, while also supplying a cooling sensation to hot sleepers.
Colors : 5 | Sizes : Standard and king | Material : Mulberry silk
Blissy declares on the brand's website that this silk pillowcase will help you âsleep better, sleep cooler and wake up with clear and beautiful skin.â Since it's also made with hypoallergenic material, this pillowcase will help to reduce allergies and maintain a clean environment that can leave skin glowing while prevent breakouts.Â
Richards recommends this pillowcase because it is made from mulberry silk and is machine-washable.
Colors : 1 | Size : Standard | Materials : Mulberry silk
This silk pillowcase reduces hair breakage, doesn't absorb face or hair products and is gentle on your skin. Without any chemical or unnatural dyes, this cream-colored case is a great choice to add a luxurious mood to your bedding.Â
Reddy-Best recommends this product because of the companyâs commitment to providing high-quality silk and paying respects to the history of the industry. Especially because of how labor-intensive silk is to obtain, The Ethical Silk Company raises attention to ethical tailoring and local artisanship.Â
Colors : 5 | Size : Queen | Materials : Organic silk
Luxury and style collide in this silk pillowcase boasting the highest quality fibers and non-toxic dyes. Fama loves this pillowcase because it is truly luxurious and reduces morning frizz.
"If I fall asleep with curly, dry hair, I usually wake up without any knots or flyaways," she says. "It's super soft and impressive; I look forward to sleeping on it at night."
Again, when it comes to preventing hair breakage, both satin and silk pillowcases are beneficial. However, if you have a specific need you want addressed, here is which pillowcase you should choose:
Textile expert Young says mulberry silk describes silk derived from silkworms who only eat leaves from mulberry trees. Manufacturers label their silk as mulberry silk because the diet supposedly produces a higher quality silk in terms of silk strength and durability.
Momme is a weight measurement for silk fabric and is similar to thread counts. Therefore, if a silk has a higher momme count, then it is heavier and normally more expensive. Young recommends a momme weight of 18 to 22 for silk pillowcases.
Young recommends washing a silk pillowcase on the delicate wash cycle and potentially even line-drying it. Since silk is made up of a protein fiber, she also recommends looking into special detergents because the fiber becomes weak when wet (just like human hair), and you need to make sure to not damage it. Similar to human hair as well, silk is not good with heat, so opt for a cooler setting if you want to use a dryer.
Wash a satin pillowcase in delicate mode and with a light dry mode. If your satin pillowcase is a blend of fibers, Young recommends paying attention to what care needs those other fibers may require.
Reddy-Best suggests always reading the care label of a pillowcase because the Federal Trade Commission only requires companies to disclose fibers that comprise 5% or more of the fiber weight, so some components can be labeled as âother fibers."
Shop TODAY sought the advice of textile experts and hairstylists to learn what the differences between satin and silk pillowcases are, as well as what each pillowcase is best for. After taking their guidance and the recommendations of editors, Shop TODAY curated a list of satin and silk pillowcases to shop.Â
Celia is an editorial intern for Shop TODAY.
What is the structure of an essay.
The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.
The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.
For a stronger conclusion paragraph, avoid including:
Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.
Your essay’s conclusion should contain:
The conclusion may also reflect on the broader implications of your argument, showing how your ideas could applied to other contexts or debates.
The conclusion paragraph of an essay is usually shorter than the introduction . As a rule, it shouldn’t take up more than 10â15% of the text.
An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.
In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.
Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.
The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.
To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.
Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:
The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .
Let’s say you’re writing a five-paragraph  essay about the environmental impacts of dietary choices. Here are three examples of topic sentences you could use for each of the three body paragraphs :
Each of these sentences expresses one main idea â by listing them in order, we can see the overall structure of the essay at a glance. Each paragraph will expand on the topic sentence with relevant detail, evidence, and arguments.
The topic sentence usually comes at the very start of the paragraph .
However, sometimes you might start with a transition sentence to summarize what was discussed in previous paragraphs, followed by the topic sentence that expresses the focus of the current paragraph.
Topic sentences help keep your writing focused and guide the reader through your argument.
In an essay or paper , each paragraph should focus on a single idea. By stating the main idea in the topic sentence, you clarify what the paragraph is about for both yourself and your reader.
A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.
The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:
Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.
The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .
Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :
A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.
An essay isnât just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.
The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.
The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.
Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:
At high school and in composition classes at university, youâll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.
Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word âexplainâ suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word âdescribeâ implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word âassessâ or âargue.â
In rhetorical analysis , a claim is something the author wants the audience to believe. A support is the evidence or appeal they use to convince the reader to believe the claim. A warrant is the (often implicit) assumption that links the support with the claim.
Logos appeals to the audienceâs reason, building up logical arguments . Ethos appeals to the speakerâs status or authority, making the audience more likely to trust them. Pathos appeals to the emotions, trying to make the audience feel angry or sympathetic, for example.
Collectively, these three appeals are sometimes called the rhetorical triangle . They are central to rhetorical analysis , though a piece of rhetoric might not necessarily use all of them.
The term âtextâ in a rhetorical analysis essay refers to whatever object youâre analyzing. Itâs frequently a piece of writing or a speech, but it doesnât have to be. For example, you could also treat an advertisement or political cartoon as a text.
The goal of a rhetorical analysis is to explain the effect a piece of writing or oratory has on its audience, how successful it is, and the devices and appeals it uses to achieve its goals.
Unlike a standard argumentative essay , it’s less about taking a position on the arguments presented, and more about exploring how they are constructed.
You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, itâs okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why youâre doing so.
If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If youâre not sure, ask your supervisor.
When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.
You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay outline before you start writing your essay . Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly.
Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an essay outline is an important part of the writing process . Itâs a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.
Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:
Itâs also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.
Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but itâs important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isnât really any connection between them to justify the comparison.
Youâll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.
Some essay prompts include the keywords âcompareâ and/or âcontrast.â In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.
Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .
The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.
Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.
If youâre not given a specific prompt for your descriptive essay , think about places and objects you know well, that you can think of interesting ways to describe, or that have strong personal significance for you.
The best kind of object for a descriptive essay is one specific enough that you can describe its particular features in detailâdonât choose something too vague or general.
If youâre not given much guidance on what your narrative essay should be about, consider the context and scope of the assignment. What kind of story is relevant, interesting, and possible to tell within the word count?
The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to reflect on a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.
Donât worry too much if your topic seems unoriginal. The point of a narrative essay is how you tell the story and the point you make with it, not the subject of the story itself.
Narrative essays are usually assigned as writing exercises at high school or in university composition classes. They may also form part of a university application.
When you are prompted to tell a story about your own life or experiences, a narrative essay is usually the right response.
The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay youâre asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.
In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like âargue,â âassess,â or âdiscussâ to see if this is the goal.
At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).
Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.
The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .
An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.
An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesnât have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.
An expository essay is a common assignment in high-school and university composition classes. It might be assigned as coursework, in class, or as part of an exam.
Sometimes you might not be told explicitly to write an expository essay. Look out for prompts containing keywords like âexplainâ and âdefine.â An expository essay is usually the right response to these prompts.
An expository essay is a broad form that varies in length according to the scope of the assignment.
Expository essays are often assigned as a writing exercise or as part of an exam, in which case a five-paragraph essay of around 800 words may be appropriate.
Youâll usually be given guidelines regarding length; if youâre not sure, ask.
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Basic essay structure: the 3 main parts of an essay. Almost every single essay that's ever been written follows the same basic structure: Introduction. Body paragraphs. Conclusion. This structure has stood the test of time for one simple reason: It works. It clearly presents the writer's position, supports that position with relevant ...
The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body. This article provides useful templates and tips to help you outline your essay, make decisions about your structure, and ...
What are the 5 parts of an essay? Explore how the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion parts of an essay work together.
The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement, a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas. The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ...
7 steps to writing a good essay. No essay is the same but your approach to writing them can be. As well as some best practice tips, we have gathered our favourite advice from expert essay-writers and compiled the following 7-step guide to writing a good essay every time. đ. #1 Make sure you understand the question. #2 Complete background ...
An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will cover in each paragraph, giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold. You'll sometimes be asked to submit an essay outline as a separate assignment before you ...
At College Essay Guy, we too like good stories well told. The problem is that sometimes students have really good stories ⌠that just aren't well told. They have the seed of an idea and the makings of a great story, but the essay formatting or structure is all over the place. Which can lead a college admissions reader to see you as ...
Step 2: Have a clear structure. Think about this while you're planning: your essay is like an argument or a speech. It needs to have a logical structure, with all your points coming together to answer the question. Start with the basics! It's best to choose a few major points which will become your main paragraphs.
Parts of an essay. An impactful, well-structured essay comes down to three important parts: the introduction, body, and conclusion. 1. The introduction sets the stage for your essay and is typically a paragraph long. It should grab the reader's attention and give them a clear idea of what your essay will be about.
Every good essay has three basic parts: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. This simple guide will show you how to perfect your essay structure by clearly introducing and concluding your argument, and laying out your paragraphs coherently in between. Your essay writing can be dramatically improved overnight simply by using the correct ...
The paragraphs that make up any essay fall into three categories: introduction, body, and conclusion. See details on what should be included in these parts of an academic essay below and/or within our Basic Essay Structure Infographic . Introduction. is the first paragraph of an academic paper.
Strategy #1: Decompose your thesis into paragraphs. A clear, arguable thesis will tell your readers where you are going to end up, but it can also help you figure out how to get them there. Put your thesis at the top of a blank page and then make a list of the points you will need to make to argue that thesis effectively.
There are three traditional college essay structures. They are: In-the-moment narrative. Narrative told over an extended period of time. Series of anecdotes, or montage. Let's go over what each one is exactly, and take a look at some real essays using these structures. 1. In-the-moment narrative.
Understanding the Essay Structure. When it comes to writing an essay, understanding the structure is key to producing a cohesive and well-organized piece of writing. ... It is also a good place to make any final thoughts or reflections on the topic. Understanding the structure of an essay will help you write more effectively and communicate ...
Most essays follow a similar structure, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, as shown in the diagram below. ... The function of a conclusion is to draw together the main ideas discussed in the body of the essay. However, a good conclusion does more than that.
lished within the first few paragraphs of your essay, and it should remain consistent. 12. Style: the choices you make of words and sentence structure. Your style should be exact and clear (should bring out main idea and action of each sentence, not bury it) and plain without being flat (should be graceful and a little interesting, not stuffy).
On average, the body comprises 60-80% of your essay. For a high school essay, this could be just three paragraphs, but for a graduate school essay of 6,000 words, the body could take up 8-10 pages. Paragraph structure. To give your essay a clear structure, it is important to organize it into paragraphs. Each paragraph should be centered ...
4 types of essay structures. Depending on the topic and purpose of your essay, there are several essay structures you can use to present your ideas to your readers, including the following four structures: 1. Compare and contrast structures. For an essay that has two or more primary subjects, consider using the compare and contrast structure.
An essay is a piece of non-fiction writing with a clear structure: an introduction, paragraphs with evidence and a conclusion.Writing an essay is an important skill in English and allows you to ...
Basic structure in highschool should be; Intro: include background information so the reader knows what context your essay is in, topic of discussion, thesis, arguments, possible alternative arguments would be good too because they can strengthen your thesis by showing that other views aren't as strong/factual
There are no set rules for how to structure a college application essay, but you should carefully plan and outline to make sure your essay flows smoothly and logically. Typical structural choices include. a series of vignettes with a common theme. a single story that demonstrates your positive qualities. Although many structures can work, there ...
It's a good idea to write down a list of these that you can use throughout your essay. That way, you're not using the same transition words throughout. Transition Words for Conditions and Cause and Effect. Sometimes, a transition word can denote causality between two things. This is like the example we saw before, using "therefore."
John Rawls, the preeminent political philosopher of the 20th century whose masterpiece, A Theory of Justice (1971), fundamentally reshaped the field, lived a quiet and - I mean this the best way - boring life. After an eventful and sometimes tragic youth (more on this later), he settled into an academic career and worked at Harvard University for nearly 40 years.
Q. How to structure temporal essays of UPSC CSE? Structuring the Essay. To effectively address these themes in an essay, it is crucial to maintain a well-organized structure: 1. Introduction: Begin by introducing the concept of time and its relevance in historical analysis and human experience. Briefly outline the specific theme or topic of the ...
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Table of contents. Step 1: Hook your reader. Step 2: Give background information. Step 3: Present your thesis statement. Step 4: Map your essay's structure. Step 5: Check and revise. More examples of essay introductions. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.
The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement, a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas. The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ...