Present the essay topic in your own words.
writing a professional essay
Practice, write & improve, b2 first (fce) essay: how to write an essay (guide).
It is always an essay written for your teacher, and the start of the question wording is always the same:
In your English class you have been talking about [topic]. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay. Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
We will use the example question below in our writing essay advice:
In your English class, you have been talking about society. Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
University should be free for everyone. Do you agree or disagree?
Write about: 1. Taxes 2. Opportunity 3. …………………… (your own idea)
Before you start writing your essay at B2 First exam you need to ask three questions:
If you look at our example task you will notice that we are going to write about society .
In your English class, you have been talking about society . Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
Knowing this, you can quickly prepare in your head all the words that you associate with this topic or even write them down.
As you can see there are three points included in the task there are two that are already given in our example
Write about: 1. Taxes 2. Opportunity 3. …………………… ( your own idea) <= you have to come up with this one yourself
The first point is taxes , the second is opportunity , and the third one is something you must come up with yourself!
We decided that the third point we would comment on would be economics
In the FCE essay, it’s always your English teacher. It means that you need to write with respect because she is a person with authority, therefore essay has to be written in a formal style.
Formal language is professional and serious rather than relaxed and friendly and is used especially in official situations. It is usually reserved for essays and academic settings, while informal writing is used for more casual settings, like friendly text messages and creative writing.
Below are listed the biggest differences between formal and informal writing styles:
It is advised to avoid contractions (shortened versions of words) in formal language, but they’re acceptable in informal language.
Unfortunately, the team could not replicate the results. (Formal)
Unfortunately, the team couldn’t replicate the results. (Informal)
Formal language is also marked by an absence of colloquial phrases and slang (words or phrases that are common only in everyday speech), but are typically used in informal language.
Everyone was disappointed . (Formal)
Everyone was bummed . (Informal)
Generally, first-person pronouns (like I and we ) are avoided when writing with formal language . However, it’s accepted (and expected) in informal language.
The students were asked to fill out the questionnaire. (Formal) We asked the students to fill out the questionnaire. (Informal)
When using formal language in your B2 writing, it is also recommended to replace phrasal verbs (proper verbs that are followed by one or more prepositions and act as a single verb).
It was something the protestors could endure . (Formal) It was something the protestors could put up with . (Informal)
Formal language tends to use longer, more complex vocabulary. Sometimes it is not recommended to use this type of vocabulary with informal language (depending on what you’re writing) because it can confuse or distract your audience.
They needed assistance while recovering from the outcomes of the hurricane. (Formal) They needed help while recovering from the effects of the hurricane. (Informal)
The purpose of the introduction is simply to tell the reader what the essay is about.
You can start your essay by referring to the question that was asked “ University should be free for everyone. Do you agree or disagree? ” and writing it in your own words . It is also worth mentioning the three points you are going to describe.
Introduction : There are many factors to consider when deciding if the university should be free or not. Among these are taxes, equality of opportunity, and the economy.
You can use phrases such as:
This essay will discuss … This essay will focus on … In order to discuss …, I will analyse …
Main body paragraphs are the most important part of your essay so they should be the longest and one paragraph should comment on one point. See below:
Write about: 1. Taxes – the first paragraph should comment on “ taxes” 2. Opportunity – the second paragraph should comment on “ opportunity “ 3. …………………… (your own idea) – the third paragraph should comment on “economy”
In addition, every paragraph should start with a topic sentence, which is like an introduction to the paragraph and it tells the reader what exactly the paragraph is going to discuss.
Also, a good idea is to include different linking words/expressions to make sure that your ideas are well connected and in a logical order.
A topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph (which is also the most important )
A topic sentence essentially tells readers about the rest of the paragraph . If the topic sentence says “ Cats are very good pets for several reasons” , then every sentence after that needs to describe that subject.
For example:
Cats are very good pets for several reasons . (<=topic sentence / every sentence after it describes that subject =>) They are naturally good caregivers because they take care of their kittens, so they want to take care of their owners as well. Cats are quite clean, and if you train them to use a litter box, they require almost no cleanup in their areas.
These are words and expressions that help the text flow logically . These words act as signposts, helping the reader easily move from one idea to the next and see connections between sentences or paragraphs.
Linking words is especially useful when you want to indicate that you are going to explain something, provide an example use a time sequence, or present a contrasting point of view.
Between paragraphs:
To begin with, I would like to put forward […] The first possible action is, to improve physical education …[…] A second option would be. … competitive attitudes that […]
Within a paragraph:
[…] which activity is better than the others. Another reason for not financing sports […]
You can see a model answer below:
First paragraph comment on “Taxes” Paragraph 1: Firstly , a majority of people believe that a significant part of taxes should go to education. Opponents might say if someone can afford university, then he/she should pay for it. However , people with higher education have better wages and therefore pay higher income tax after graduation .
Second paragraph comment on “Opportunity ” Paragraph 2: Secondly, making university free for all, creates more opportunities for those from low-income backgrounds . Although they may still have difficulty meeting other costs such as accommodation , it makes the playing field more level.
Third paragraph comment on “….…… (your own idea)” : economy Paragraph 3: In addition , having an educated workforce is proven to help the economy grow. Namely , the more highly educated people there are, the higher the standard of living for everyone. Consequently , more people will be able to pay taxes to fund the education of future generations.
– topic sentence
– linking words/expressions
– interesting/topical vocabulary
Remember, you don’t have to tell the truth! The examiners won’t know, so if you don’t have experience or an opinion you can make something up!
The conclusion comes at the end of your essay, it summarizes the main idea of the essay. You need to write a clear, justified conclusion. You can’t just say, ‘I agree’, or ‘I disagree.’ Think of it like this: you need to convince the examiner that your conclusion is correct.
In conclusion, a university should be free for everyone. It makes economic sense and ultimately benefits all members of society.
– linking words/expressions
Make sure your paragraphs are connected to your conclusion!
There are many factors to consider when deciding if the university should be free or not. Among these are taxes, equality of opportunity, and the economy.
Firstly, a majority of people believe that a significant part of taxes should go to education. Opponents might say if someone can afford university, then he/she should pay for it. However, people with higher education have better wages and therefore pay higher income tax after graduation.
Secondly, making university free for all, creates more opportunities for those from low-income backgrounds. Although they may still have difficulty meeting other costs such as accommodation, it makes the playing field more level.
In addition, having an educated workforce is proven to help the economy grow. Namely, the more highly educated people there are, the higher the standard of living for everyone. Consequently, more people will be able to pay taxes to fund the education of future generations.
B2 first (fce) essay: example essays, fce essay sample 1.
In your English class you have been talking about the environment. Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.
Every country in the world has problems with pollution and damage to the environment. Do you think these problems can be solved?
Write about: 1. transport 2. rivers and seas 3. ………………………… (your own idea)
DEVELOPMENT VS ENVIRONMENT
If we surf the web looking for pollution and environmental catastrophes, we will find out that every country in the world suffers them. This is a natural consequence of the struggle between development and environment.
If a country decided to live isolated from the rest of the world, living on what it can naturally grow and produce, it surely wouldn’t be highly polluted. But we all want exotic food and technological items from all over the world, so we have to pay the price.
Investing on electrical transport would benefit the environment a lot. Even more if this electricity came from a natural source of energy like wind, rivers and solar boards. It’s difficult to achieve this because petrol companies will fight against these actions.
We also have to take care of our rivers and seas. We all have heard about factories throwing highly toxic substances to rivers, without minimizing their poisoning effects. A really strict law should be applied to fine these factories and make them change their policy.
But what about ourselves? We also can do a lot! If, when possible, we bought larger packs of food, we would be producing less rubbish. And this is only an example!
In your English class you have been talking about the fashion industry. Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
Some people say the fashion industry has a bad effect on people’s lives. Do you agree?
Write about: 1. whether people’s appearance is important 2. the price of clothes 3. …………………… (your own idea)
The society we live today is characterised by technology in constant development, fast speed processes, information travelling and getting to people at a blink of an eye and a complex web of social networking. In this context, the fashion industry is becoming increasingly important and having a more and more paramount role in our lives.
On one hand, the fashion industry is undeniably a source of profit and income. It hires millions of people all over the world and generates millions of dollars every year. Furthermore, such profitable business is also believed to be able to spread and make known the culture of a people, encouraging and enhancing a better understanding of each other.
Nevertheless, for those who are neither impressed nor motivated by numbers and figures, the fashion industry is seen as one which segregates people, isolating those who not fit their laws and commands. It is stated that people place too much importance on appearance and the material, world, sadly true, and the fashion industry just spurs on such situation. Moreover, not only are the costs of fashion item unrealistically high, it is thought to be a money better spent on more pressing issues, such as poverty and hunger.
I do believe that the fashion industry, as it is today, has a harmful effect, because it values a minority of people in detriment to the majority. However, it has such a wide reach that, it put into a good use, it can save lives.
Fce example topic 1.
Your teacher has asked you to write your response to the following statement taken from a recent newspaper article:
Is it true that we help the environment when we plant a tree?
Write about:
Nowadays children are suffering from obesity, that was once considered to be meant for adults only. What are its causes and what solutions can be offered?
Is it better to be the oldest or the youngest in a family?
B2 first (fce) essay: tips.
How long should a b2 essay be.
You need to answer the question with between 140-190 words.
If an answer is too long, you may get a lower score. If you write 200 words, it’s not a problem. However, if you write 300 words, it’s a problem.
Yes! You must make a plan to organise your essay writing . On the day of the exam, you will be stressed and feel pressure. A plan is your way of organising you text and your thoughts.
Nothing… Well, almost nothing. In the past for every 5 words extra, they took away a point, however, now they do not. It is not good to go over 190 words because of time, but you can. I wouldn´t write more than 200 words because they will probably lower the mark they give you for content. They will determine some of it to be unnecessary.
You MUST use complex language at B2 level . You must use attention-grabbing vocabulary and a variety of grammar structures. The passive voice, relative clauses, modal verbs, conditionals, reported speech and inversions all count as COMPLEX grammar forms and you must use them. Otherwise, you can address academic experts and pay someone to write your paper if you need help to write an essay for you.
Introduction.
The trend nowadays is towards …. Over the past ten years or so the media have frequently carried reports of …. Recent research indicates that …. Hardly a week goes by without another report of ……….. appearing in the media. This raises the issue of whether …… Although most people would generally agree that ………… few would deny that ….
As I see it, It seems to me that ………… I would also say that …. I am convinced that …………… I am inclined to believe that ……………… There is no doubt in my mind that ……………… One of the drawbacks of ……. is ………. However, one of the benefits is that ………… Changing topic As regards the causes for this, ………….. Concerning the causes for this, ……… As for the causes, ………..
One justification is often given for ……….. is that…………….. Advocates/Proponents would claim that ……………… Those who object to …………….. often argue that ………………. Another objection is that …… However, it should not be forgotten that ………….. ……….. are opposed to ……………. on the grounds that …………….. From the point of view of …………….. According to ………………..
One factor which has led to ………… is ………….. One of the factors which has brought this about is ……… The problem often stems from ……………….. The situation has been exacerbated by ……………. ………….. has only made the situation worse. One consequence of ……………. is …………….
As regards the most appropriate response to this situation, one suggestion would be to ……… The first step to be taken would be to …….. To alleviate the situation people should ……….. In addition they ought to …………… To begin to tackle this situation society/individuals/the government need/s to This can only be dealt with if ………… To overcome this problem, ………….. Were the government to ……………, the situation would doubtless improve. Individuals can do a great deal to ………… The burden of responsiblity lies in the hands of …….. It is vitally important that ……… Legislation should be introduced to control …………….. It would be a grave error if we ……………..
All in all it seems to me that ……….. The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that ………………….. All things considered, …………. On balance, I tend to believe that ………… The world would surely be a better place to live in if ………….. If people stopped ….ing, we would have/ we could look forward to a …………… The prospects for the future will be bleak/grim unless ……………….
Essay writing is an essential skill for every student. Whether writing a particular academic essay (such as persuasive, narrative, descriptive, or expository) or a timed exam essay, the key to getting good at writing is to write. Creating opportunities for our students to engage in extended writing activities will go a long way to helping them improve their skills as scribes.
But, putting the hours in alone will not be enough to attain the highest levels in essay writing. Practice must be meaningful. Once students have a broad overview of how to structure the various types of essays, they are ready to narrow in on the minor details that will enable them to fine-tune their work as a lean vehicle of their thoughts and ideas.
In this article, we will drill down to some aspects that will assist students in taking their essay writing skills up a notch. Many ideas and activities can be integrated into broader lesson plans based on essay writing. Often, though, they will work effectively in isolation – just as athletes isolate physical movements to drill that are relevant to their sport. When these movements become second nature, they can be repeated naturally in the context of the game or in our case, the writing of the essay.
The Boys Scouts’ motto is famously ‘Be Prepared’. It’s a solid motto that can be applied to most aspects of life; essay writing is no different. Given the purpose of an essay is generally to present a logical and reasoned argument, investing time in organising arguments, ideas, and structure would seem to be time well spent.
Given that essays can take a wide range of forms and that we all have our own individual approaches to writing, it stands to reason that there will be no single best approach to the planning stage of essay writing. That said, there are several helpful hints and techniques we can share with our students to help them wrestle their ideas into a writable form. Let’s take a look at a few of the best of these:
Whether students are tackling an assignment that you have set for them in class or responding to an essay prompt in an exam situation, they should get into the habit of analyzing the nature of the task. To do this, they should unravel the question’s meaning or prompt. Students can practice this in class by responding to various essay titles, questions, and prompts, thereby gaining valuable experience breaking these down.
Have students work in groups to underline and dissect the keywords and phrases and discuss what exactly is being asked of them in the task. Are they being asked to discuss, describe, persuade, or explain? Understanding the exact nature of the task is crucial before going any further in the planning process, never mind the writing process .
Once students have understood what the essay task asks them, they should consider what they know about the topic and, often, how they feel about it. When teaching essay writing, we so often emphasize that it is about expressing our opinions on things, but for our younger students what they think about something isn’t always obvious, even to themselves.
Brainstorming and mind-mapping what they know about a topic offers them an opportunity to uncover not just what they already know about a topic, but also gives them a chance to reveal to themselves what they think about the topic. This will help guide them in structuring their research and, later, the essay they will write . When writing an essay in an exam context, this may be the only ‘research’ the student can undertake before the writing, so practicing this will be even more important.
The previous step above should reveal to students the general direction their research will take. With the ubiquitousness of the internet, gone are the days of students relying on a single well-thumbed encyclopaedia from the school library as their sole authoritative source in their essay. If anything, the real problem for our students today is narrowing down their sources to a manageable number. Students should use the information from the previous step to help here. At this stage, it is important that they:
● Ensure the research material is directly relevant to the essay task
● Record in detail the sources of the information that they will use in their essay
● Engage with the material personally by asking questions and challenging their own biases
● Identify the key points that will be made in their essay
● Group ideas, counterarguments, and opinions together
● Identify the overarching argument they will make in their own essay.
Once these stages have been completed the student is ready to organise their points into a logical order.
There are a number of ways for students to organize their points in preparation for writing. They can use graphic organizers , post-it notes, or any number of available writing apps. The important thing for them to consider here is that their points should follow a logical progression. This progression of their argument will be expressed in the form of body paragraphs that will inform the structure of their finished essay.
The number of paragraphs contained in an essay will depend on a number of factors such as word limits, time limits, the complexity of the question etc. Regardless of the essay’s length, students should ensure their essay follows the Rule of Three in that every essay they write contains an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Generally speaking, essay paragraphs will focus on one main idea that is usually expressed in a topic sentence that is followed by a series of supporting sentences that bolster that main idea. The first and final sentences are of the most significance here with the first sentence of a paragraph making the point to the reader and the final sentence of the paragraph making the overall relevance to the essay’s argument crystal clear.
Though students will most likely be familiar with the broad generic structure of essays, it is worth investing time to ensure they have a clear conception of how each part of the essay works, that is, of the exact nature of the task it performs. Let’s review:
Introduction: Provides the reader with context for the essay. It states the broad argument that the essay will make and informs the reader of the writer’s general perspective and approach to the question.
Body Paragraphs: These are the ‘meat’ of the essay and lay out the argument stated in the introduction point by point with supporting evidence.
Conclusion: Usually, the conclusion will restate the central argument while summarising the essay’s main supporting reasons before linking everything back to the original question.
● Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea
● Paragraphs should follow a logical sequence; students should group similar ideas together to avoid incoherence
● Paragraphs should be denoted consistently; students should choose either to indent or skip a line
● Transition words and phrases such as alternatively , consequently , in contrast should be used to give flow and provide a bridge between paragraphs.
Students shouldn’t expect their essays to emerge from the writing process perfectly formed. Except in exam situations and the like, thorough editing is an essential aspect in the writing process.
Often, students struggle with this aspect of the process the most. After spending hours of effort on planning, research, and writing the first draft, students can be reluctant to go back over the same terrain they have so recently travelled. It is important at this point to give them some helpful guidelines to help them to know what to look out for. The following tips will provide just such help:
One Piece at a Time: There is a lot to look out for in the editing process and often students overlook aspects as they try to juggle too many balls during the process. One effective strategy to combat this is for students to perform a number of rounds of editing with each focusing on a different aspect. For example, the first round could focus on content, the second round on looking out for word repetition (use a thesaurus to help here), with the third attending to spelling and grammar.
Sum It Up: When reviewing the paragraphs they have written, a good starting point is for students to read each paragraph and attempt to sum up its main point in a single line. If this is not possible, their readers will most likely have difficulty following their train of thought too and the paragraph needs to be overhauled.
Let It Breathe: When possible, encourage students to allow some time for their essay to ‘breathe’ before returning to it for editing purposes. This may require some skilful time management on the part of the student, for example, a student rush-writing the night before the deadline does not lend itself to effective editing. Fresh eyes are one of the sharpest tools in the writer’s toolbox.
Read It Aloud: This time-tested editing method is a great way for students to identify mistakes and typos in their work. We tend to read things more slowly when reading aloud giving us the time to spot errors. Also, when we read silently our minds can often fill in the gaps or gloss over the mistakes that will become apparent when we read out loud.
Phone a Friend: Peer editing is another great way to identify errors that our brains may miss when reading our own work. Encourage students to partner up for a little ‘you scratch my back, I scratch yours’.
Use Tech Tools: We need to ensure our students have the mental tools to edit their own work and for this they will need a good grasp of English grammar and punctuation. However, there are also a wealth of tech tools such as spellcheck and grammar checks that can offer a great once-over option to catch anything students may have missed in earlier editing rounds.
Putting the Jewels on Display: While some struggle to edit, others struggle to let go. There comes a point when it is time for students to release their work to the reader. They must learn to relinquish control after the creation is complete. This will be much easier to achieve if the student feels that they have done everything in their control to ensure their essay is representative of the best of their abilities and if they have followed the advice here, they should be confident they have done so.
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Category: Career Development , General
Essay writing 101 – how to write an a-grade essay.
We take a look at the components that make up all the different types of essay, and go through the tools that you can use to make your essay successful.
Essays are an essential part of education. Whether you’ve been writing them since middle school or you’re gearing up to writing your first essay at university , knowing how to write an essay is an essential skill to have. And it’s not just academic writing – some businesses and companies may require you to write an essay or report.
If you’ve been tasked with writing an essay, and you’re either feeling a bit out of practice, or you’ve never written one before, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ll take you through everything you need to know about writing an essay. You’ll learn how to structure an essay, how to write an essay plan, and, perhaps most importantly, how to conclude an essay.
We’ll also go through the different types of essay that you might have to write and how you should approach them.
Let’s unpick what an essay is, first of all. An essay is a piece of writing where the author proposes an argument, an emotion, or tries to initiate some sort of debate. It’s often used to present the author’s ideas in a non-fictional manner. It can cover basically any topic in the world – from political discourse through to art criticism and everything in between.
Usually, essays are over 500 words minimum, with most of them being around 1,000 to 3,000 words long – though they can end up being a lot longer. The minimum length of the essay is so that the writer has enough time to develop their point and convince the reader of their argument.
Essays are written for various reasons – from helping others understand the subject matter you’re writing about, to clarifying ideas and information. Developing essay ideas is a great way of getting to the root of the importance of the essay.
Writing an essay will also help your general writing skills, helping you express yourself and your ideas. Of course, essays aren’t simply limited to academia either. If you feel passionate about something and want to share your opinions on it or disagree with a popular opinion and want to convince others of your view, then why not write an essay.
You may have to write an essay in the workplace too – known professionally as writing a report . Reports are used to show your progress on a certain project to your superiors and peers, and provide any conclusions you may have come up with.
As with any form of writing, essays come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. Most of the time, you won’t have to worry about what type of essay you need to write, as the assignment will dictate that – for instance, an admissions essay format wouldn’t be the same as a reflective essay. In essence, though, your essay will be either academic, professional, or personal.
While there are thousands of different types of essay out there, we’ll look at some of the more common types of essay that you’ll come across, and that you’re likely to be assigned to complete.
An argumentative essay is one of the most important types of essay that you’ll end up writing in school, and in essence, their purpose is to assert or defend a certain position. You’re not just trying to get your reader to agree with you here – you want to argue against any differing viewpoints or opinions, with plenty of counterarguments.
The name is a dead giveaway about what you’re trying to achieve here. You’ll want to try and persuade or convince the reader of a certain point, making it very similar to argumentative essays. However, the end goal of a persuasive essay is to not only present your case, but to also win over the reader too, and persuade them of your point.
Expository essays are similar to both argumentative and persuasive essays in that they thoroughly explain a certain topic with the aim of expanding the reader’s knowledge and understanding. What makes them different is that you don’t have to express any sort of bias – simply an objectively formed opinion.
If you’re applying to a school or university, they might ask you to write an essay about why you’re interested in becoming a student with them. Academic writing in English is essential here, so you know the correct language to use in your essay. These are different from the others thus far, in that you’re basically trying to convince the reader why you want to study.
This essay involves you taking two things that seem similar and then go on to prove how they are, in fact, different. You may also take two completely unrelated things and demonstrate to the reader how they’re actually very similar. This type of essay is great when you want to devote equal attention to two opposing things.
Similar to an expository essay, an analytical essay basically explains a topic or a subject to the reader in detail. What makes an analytical essay different though, is that you offer up an in-depth analysis of all the merits of the subject matter from an objective standpoint.
Narrative essays require you to tell a story to prove your point, specifically using experiences from your own life to make your argument. These are often anecdotal essays or essays that offer up the life story of you, the author. While they follow some of the rules of fiction, they don’t fall into that category.
While some people might jump right in and start writing, if you’re looking for tips as to how to write a good essay, then you’ll want to follow a process for your writing. It may not align with your usual writing style, but having a process to follow will help you get your ideas from brain to paper and will keep your thoughts and ideas well organised.
Knowing what type of essay you’re going to be writing is the first step – the next is the actual process of writing the essay itself. Let’s take a look at each of the different steps.
This is the first, and arguably most important step in writing your essay. Based on your main essay question , try and generate as many different ideas as you possibly can – or as many as the allocated time might give you. Later on in the process, if you find that some of your ideas don’t align with your essay planning , then you can set them aside.
Once you’ve got some initial ideas down, organise them into a logical progression. This will help create the outline and the structure of your essay. From here you can consider your objective, or what you want to say in the essay. The next phase of creating your essay outline is to collect resources to back up your ideas. Citations and reconnaissance reading are essential here.
When you have these additional points ready to go, and your brainstorming ideas have been backed up with citations, reorganise them again into a logical progression. Make sure that your sources are well organised and you know where everything is. The essay outline is effectively the skeleton of the essay, and you’re now ready to build upon it.
Now it’s time to roll up those sleeves and put pen to paper, as it were. As soon as you start writing, you’ll quickly find it gets easier as you go along. It’s also worth remembering that this will only be your first draft – you’ll be able to make any revisions and alterations later on if you want to.
It’s important to follow a rigid essay structure when writing as well. Like with nearly everything to do with writing, it’s very much a beginning-middle-end structure, but rephrased to an introduction-main body-conclusion structure.
One of the more common essay structures that you could use is the 5-paragraph structure. This requires an introduction, 3 paragraphs of main body writing, and a conclusion. While not necessarily ideal for more complex essays, it’s really well suited to essays that might have a time limit on them.
Let’s go all the things you should include in an essay.
This is where you’ll clearly present the topic you’re going to discuss in the essay, emphasising the prominence of the prompt or subject matter. At the end of a good, well-written introduction, the reader should know exactly what your essay is about.
Keep it short, don’t mince your words, and try not to oversell your topic. Often, it’s good practice to draft the rest of the essay before the introduction, as how you introduce an essay sometimes only becomes apparent once you’ve got some words down already.
Most of your essay will consist of main body copy. This is where you present all the evidence you found in your brainstorming and research, and use it to prove your point and reinforce your standpoint. You’ll want to make sure that you carefully consider your essay outline here, and think about which points will follow on from each other.
Some arguments will lead on from each other logically, but you should always structure your essay so that it’s comprehensible for the reader. Remember, they don’t know the topic you’re writing about as well as you do.
Your conclusion will endeavour to wrap up and summarise all the points you’ve made in the essay in the most digestible method possible. It’s good practice to add in a new perspective in your conclusion as well, which might help the reader to understand what you’ve been discussing, but you don’t want to make any overblown statements at this late stage.
The conclusion is largely just a recap that ties up any loose ends and rounds off the essay in a clear and defined way. It can often be good practice to consider your conclusion before you start to write the essay, as you will usually know how you want to conclude before you kick off. Knowing how to conclude an essay is as important as knowing how to start an essay.
There aren’t many people out there who submit their first draft of an essay, and you’ll find that nearly every writer will put their essay through a whole series of drafts. There aren’t any set rules about how many drafts you should go through, it’s entirely up to you – but obviously, don’t go too overboard with it.
As you go through your first draft with a fine-tooth comb, you’ll likely spot various nuances and subtleties you missed out on the first time around. You can also take some advice on academic writing here, to make sure that the language you used is appropriate.
When you reckon that you’ve taken the essay through all the necessary drafts and you don’t think you can add anything else, it’s time for proofreading. This is the final bit of polish on an essay, where you’ll go through and correct any misspellings, grammatical errors, or any issues with formatting.
You can also get someone else to have a look at the essay for you too. All too often, we end up missing the wood for the trees, and can suffer from tunnel vision, so getting a fresh take from someone else can be a really good way of finding out what you need to change and adjust.
Hopefully, this article will put you in a much better position to tackling an essay. Whether you’re developing a research project , preparing for the IELTS writing test , or writing at university , knowing how to write an essay is a skill that has many uses.
Understanding the type of essay you’re going to write is definitely the first hurdle. From there, keep the essay checklist in mind – brainstorming, research, structure and spelling and grammar. Harnessing these tools will give you all you need to write a good essay.
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How to write an essay! Writing an essay can seem like a mammoth task but it doesn’t have to be difficult. There are certain things that you can do to make the process a lot easier and in this article, we are going to be looking at some of these. We will be giving you some useful tips to make sure that your essay is the best it can possibly be.
Read your essay prompt thoroughly.
It is vitally important that you carefully read through the essay prompt and are sure that you fully understand it. You should look at any keywords within the prompt such as ‘discuss’ or ‘compare.’ These words will give you a more clear idea of what is expected from the essay. You will then want to look at any specifics, for example does the prompt ask you to write about a certain time period, product or person? This will ensure that you are clear on the specifics and will not stray from them.
Once you have fully read and understood what is being asked of you, it is time to select a topic to write on. You do not have to be able to come up with an idea right away, it is important to put some thought into this part.
You might decide to do some brainstorming and map out all the ideas that spring to mind. This should be done in a quiet place where you can focus on your ideas. Make notes of anything that comes to mind to begin with, you can narrow these down later on.
Once you have completed your brainstorming, you can now select a more specific idea which is related to the original essay question. It is important to be original but not to stray away from the main focus of the essay.
If you are struggling with finding the right topic, you might choose to do some research or ask for help.
How to Write an Essay in English (Essay Writing in 9 Simple Steps)
You might think that now you have your essay idea in your mind, that it is time to start writing-but you would be mistaken. Before you can put pen to paper, it is important to plan out your essay and outline what you will write. This will give you a much easier time when it comes to actually writing the essay.
Things you will want to consider when outlining your essay might be as follows:
Once you have done this, you will want to begin conducting any research that is necessary. One of the most crucial points when writing an essay is that any information you include is correct and up to date. For this reason, you should ensure that you perform your research using credible sources.
Learn more with quick tips to write a perfect essay outline .
We mentioned that it is important to plan out the structure of your essay. We are now going to take a look at an example of how your essay might be structured.
Introduction
Body Of The Essay
Learn more with useful transition words in English .
Now that you have outlined the essay and are fully prepared, you are ready to begin writing it. You should start with creating a thesis statement. This is a sentence which details the reason for writing the essay and gives the reader a clear picture as to what it will be about. It is important to include the following points in your thesis statement.
You should include this thesis statement in the beginning paragraph but feel free to refer back to it at various points throughout your work. This will serve as a reminder to the readers but it is important that you do not overdo this.
Once you have detailed your thesis statement, you should write a paragraph to introduce the essay. In order to write an introduction which is going to grab the attention of your readers, you should include something which is particularly interesting such as a shocking statistic or an anecdote. You can get as creative as you wish but it is important to remember that the introduction should stay relevant to the topic of the essay.
Learn more with simple tips to start a great essay .
The body of the essay is used for you to fully discuss the topic as well as your own personal thoughts on the subject by way of arguments and ideas. You can take each of your ideas from your essay outline and write a paragraph on each of these, in an order which flows and allows each idea to link in with the next.
You can include examples to back up your argument but it is important to remember that any research or references should be detailed within the work.
Now that all of your ideas have been detailed, you can begin to write a paragraph to conclude everything you have written. You now have the opportunity to sum up your thoughts and also point towards the thesis statement for a final time, this will serve as a support to your position on the subject.
Just because you have detailed all of your ideas and arguments, it does not mean that your essay is complete. Before you submit your essay, it is very important that you reread it and make any edits with spelling and grammar as well as adding in or taking away any information which you deem necessary.
You might consider reordering your essay so that the most important points are included first and less important ones nearer to the end of the essay.
Once this is done, you should take the time to read through your essay a few more times to make certain that it is as good as it can possibly be, you might notice that each time there are new edits that spring to mind. You could even pass the essay onto a friend or family member who can give an impartial opinion.
Writing an essay is a time consuming task but when you follow these simple tips, it can be much more easy to manage. Planning is one of the most important aspects of writing an essay and it is important to take the time to do this before you begin writing. It is also very important that you spend a good amount of time reading your essay and making any adjustments in order to product the best piece of writing possible.
Writing Guides / How to Write an Informative Essay: Step-by-Step Guide
An informative essay is like giving someone the 411—it’s the information. It’s like what Wikipedia and web cultivators are supposed to do (but often fail at due to some developer bias on the backend).
When you call 411 from your mobile phone, you’re not looking for the operator’s opinion, are you? “Hey, operator, what’s the address for the Korean BBQ place in Toronto?” “Oh, you don’t want that—it’s not very good—I’ll give you some nice sushi restaurants to try instead.” “No, no, I just want the address for Korean BBQ.” “I once had a bad experience with Korean BBQ, so I’d rather not tell you about that. How about I tell you about the new outfit I bought this weekend? Also, in my opinion there are better things to try.” “No, but I just want—”.
Nobody wants to live through that experience. The same goes for writing an informative essay: your professor is not looking for your opinion or some tangential line of thought—just the information relevant to the topic.
Informative essays are meant to educate the reader about something specific by presenting the appropriate facts and giving a detailed explanation. They are often assigned in high schools and colleges because they help students develop research skills and gain experience in presenting information clearly. These are real-world skills you will want to possess.
So how do you write an informative essay? Where do you start? What’s the biggest challenge?
Organization, purpose, and clarity are the big issues to tackle. And that’s where we start.
Organize the material and present it in a way that is readable. The informative essay should have a logical structure. How that logic appears depends upon the purpose. The general purpose is to inform the reader—but you need a plan for how to do this, what specifically you are going to focus on, how far down into the subject you are going to probe, and what you want the reader to be able to walk away with when it’s all said and done.
And it all needs to be written as clearly and coherently as possible. This is not the time for waxing lyrically about seeing through a glass darkly. We want the glass to be perfectly transparent and translucent—like a bottle of Windex was just used on it and the sun is filling it all up.
Informative essays are one of the oldest types of essays in existence because they get to the heart of what writing has always been about: conveying knowledge from one person to another. That’s all this style of writing does. From the ancient poets like Homer to the modern scribes of today, information is the most important resource in the whole wide world. Poets dress it up to make it more palatable and pleasing. Technical writers trim it down to make it precise for step-by-step procedurals. The informative essayist falls somewhere in between the two poles—neither poet nor industrial manual author. He is explaining something—and to start off he needs to be able to tell the reader exactly what he aims to do and how he intends to do it.
In this tutorial, we’re going to go over everything you need to know to write an amazing informative essay. Our comprehensive guide gives an overview of the step-by-step writing process you need to follow as well as a detailed outline structure that will help you organize your thoughts. We follow that up with not one but TWO informative essay examples so that you can walk away with a perfect idea of what your writing can look like.
An informative essay is a form of writing that teaches the reader about a specific subject. Unlike persuasive or argumentative essays, which seek to convince the reader of a particular viewpoint, an informative essay does not focus on convincing anyone of anything. It has no point of view. It is merely interested in the objective, factual information and explaining without personal opinions or persuasive techniques. The goal is to present to the reader unbiased, clear, accurate, and topically relevant information in an organized manner. We just want the reader to know about the subject. We are not trying to convince the reader to hold a particular opinion about it.
The primary purpose of an informative essay is to inform and educate the reader. With this style of writing, students learn to gather information from reliable sources, evaluate the accuracy of that information, and present it logically and coherently. Overall, the purpose is to increase the reader’s knowledge and understanding of a subject without overtly attempting to influence or alter opinions or beliefs. It is telling the information without telling the reader what to think about it. The reader is allowed to make up his own mind based on the information received. The writer so much as says, “Here, take this information. Now, do with it what you will.”
Learn-by-example to improve your academic writing
Informative essays differ significantly from persuasive and argumentative essays in terms of objectivity vs. subjectivity, structure, and tone.
Choosing a topic.
The first step is to pick a topic that you can describe or explain or want to learn more about. Choose a subject that interests you and has sufficient information available. Make sure the topic is neither too broad nor too narrow. A well-defined topic (something like: What started the Cold War and how did it end?) allows for a focused and detailed exploration, and helps your essay to be informative and engaging.
Thorough research is vital to informative essay writing. Sources such as academic journals, books, reputable websites, and expert interviews can all be used to gather information. Along the way, try to verify facts by cross-referencing sources. That’s what research is all about. Be sure to cite all your information to protect yourself from plagiarism, and give a reference list of the sources used at the end of your paper. This shows where you got your information from and gives readers an idea of where they can look if they want to know more about the topic.
A strong thesis statement will guide your informative essay. It should clearly articulate the main point or focus of your essay. To write a thesis statement , first, identify the core message you want to communicate and make sure it is specific. For example, instead of saying, “Climate change affects ecosystems,” specify one ecosystem in particular and focus on that: “Climate change substantially impacts coastal ecosystems by altering habitats, increasing erosion, affecting marine life, and harming the human population as well.” This statement presents a clear, specific focus and lists all the points or sub-topics you will cover in your essay; it’s perfect.
Use a hook to grab the reader’s attention—something interesting, provocative, and relevant. For example, “Did you know that the world’s oceans absorb about 30% of the carbon dioxide produced by human activities?” This factoid helps nab the reader while introducing the topic of the essay.
Next, provide some background information. Context helps bring the reader up to speed quickly and efficiently. A broad overview of the subject, its significance, and why it matters in a few sentences is sufficient.
Conclude the intro with the thesis statement, which should bring the essay into tight focus. For example, “This essay explains the impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems by detailing its effects on habitats, erosion, marine life, and the human population.”
Topic sentence.
Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. For example, “One major impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems is habitat loss.”
After the topic sentence, supporting details should follow. This could include data, examples, statistics, and explanations. For example, you might describe how rising sea levels erode coastal habitats and how that negatively impacts both wildlife and human communities.
Use transitions between paragraphs for a smooth flow of ideas. Phrases like “furthermore,” “in addition,” and “on the other hand” help connect the train of thought. For example, “In addition to habitat loss, climate change also reduces the abundant diversity of marine life, upsetting the balance of the ecosystem.”
The conclusion should begin by restating the thesis but in different words. For example, “In summation, climate change negatively affects coastal ecosystems by altering habitats, accelerating erosion, reducing marine life, and imperiling human life.”
Briefly summarize the main points discussed in the body paragraphs by referencing a few of the more important details—just a few sentences will suffice.
End with a final thought—something to impress upon the reader. This could be a call to action, a thought-provoking question, or a suggestion for further research. For example, “Addressing the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems requires urgent action and collaboration among global communities. What steps can we take to protect these vital environments for future generations?”
Informative essay example 1.
Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Ecosystems
Coastal ecosystems are extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. You might not know it, but these ecosystems include beaches, estuaries, mangroves, and coral reefs, all of which act as habitats for many different species. These ecosystems also support the livelihoods of millions of people all over the world. For these reasons, they are very important to animal and human life and any change that affects them should be understood. This essay, therefore, explains how climate change impacts coastal ecosystems, by altering habitats, increasing erosion, depleting marine life, and disrupting the human population.
One of the most substantial impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems is habitat alteration (Chapman et al., 2020). As the temperature of the planet increases, polar ice caps melt and sea levels rise. The rise in sea level can totally submerge or wipe away coastal habitats such as marshes, mangroves, and beaches. All the species that live there are pushed out. This includes birds, fish, and invertebrates that go to these areas for breeding, feeding, nesting, or seeking shelter. For example, mangrove forests are also nurseries for many marine species. However, as these forests decline, the species that depend on them are put into jeopardy.
Coastal erosion in particular is a major impact of climate change on beaches and barrier reefs (Masselink et al., 2020). Coastal erosion can cause property loss, disrupt local economies that depend on tourism and fishing, and take away natural buffers against storm surges. As more and more natural defenses erode, coastal communities and habitats become more and more vulnerable to flooding and storm damage (Masselink et al., 2020).
In addition to habitat change and coastal erosion, climate change also reduces marine life within coastal ecosystems. Ocean acidification is one harmful outcome of increased carbon dioxide absorption by seawater (Findlay & Turley, 2021). Marine life with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons, such as corals, mollusks, and some plankton species, are all damaged as a result. For example, coral bleaching weakens coral reefs to the point that they can no longer support marine biodiversity. This in turn disrupts the entire marine food web, and everything from tiny plankton to large fish species to the people who rely on their abundance is harmed.
In conclusion, climate change is bad news for coastal ecosystems. Habitat loss due to rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and changes in marine life all represent the danger. Some consideration of what can be done at the human level to address this danger is needed. If we want to preserve the biodiversity of the earth, we need to look at what climate change is doing to our beaches.
Chapman, E. J., Byron, C. J., Lasley-Rasher, R., Lipsky, C., Stevens, J. R., & Peters, R. (2020). Effects of climate change on coastal ecosystem food webs: Implications for aquaculture. Marine Environmental Research , 162 , 105103.
Findlay, H. S., & Turley, C. (2021). Ocean acidification and climate change. In Climate Change (pp. 251-279). Elsevier.
Masselink, G., Russell, P., Rennie, A., Brooks, S., & Spencer, T. (2020). Impacts of climate change on coastal geomorphology and coastal erosion relevant to the coastal and marine environment around the UK. MCCIP Science Review , 2020 , 158-189.
Benefits of a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Diet is where people draw all their energy from—the foods and liquids they consume represent the source of nutrients the body needs to stay resilient. This essay explains the benefits of a healthy diet by describing how a good diet can boost physical health, improve mental health, and prevent illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.
One of the biggest benefits of a healthy diet is the fact that it is good for one’s physical health (Zavitsanou & Drigas, 2021). A balanced diet consists of protein, fruit, veggies, whole grains, and healthy fats. That should give the body all it needs in terms of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. For example, calcium and vitamin D are needed for bone health; iron is needed for oxygen transport in the blood; and nutrient-dense foods help the body to repair tissues and keep energy up. In contrast, a diet loaded up on sugars and consisting of a lot of pre-packaged food can be a total drag on one’s energy and resilience and can open the door to poor physical and mental health. But a healthy diet can help one stay fit and prevent obesity-related health problems (Zayitsanou & Drigas, 2021).
A good diet also affects mental health in a big way. For example, omega-3 fatty acids found in fish support brain health and can reduce feelings of depression. Antioxidants from fruits and vegetables can protect brain cells from oxidative stress associated with cognitive decline. A healthy diet can even improve one’s sleep quality, which is important in terms of reducing one’s mental stress and fatigue.
A healthy diet can even prevent the onset of some diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. A diet high in processed foods and added sugars tends to be most commonly associated with the aforementioned diseases. On the other hand, a diet rich in whole foods, fiber, and healthy fats tends to be associated with the prevention of these diseases. For example, the Mediterranean diet has been linked by researchers to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke (Cai et al., 2024).
Overall, a healthy diet offers numerous benefits that can improve one’s health. It supports physical health by giving the body the nutrients and energy it needs. It helps the mind by helping the body. And it prevents the onset of burdensome diseases. That is why it is helpful for people to have healthy eating habits from an early age.
Cai, Z. L., Wang, L. Y., Zhang, B. Y., & Zhu, A. S. (2024). Mediterranean diet for cardiovascular disease: an evidence mapping study. Public Health Nutrition , 1-22.
Zavitsanou, A., & Drigas, A. (2021). Nutrition in mental and physical health. Technium Soc. Sci. J. , 23 , 67.
Informative essays are great ways to teach people about specific subjects. They need to be well-organized, full of factual and well-sourced information, and clearly written with a logical structure. Writing this type of essay can teach you how to research and present your findings in a coherent manner. Informative essays help refine your writing and communicating skills, which are so much in demand in the real-world.
In this article, we explained the definition and purpose of informative essays. We described their objective nature vs. persuasive and argumentative essays. We discussed their importance in academic settings. We outlined the step-by-step writing process, and we gave a detailed outline structure with examples of informative essays you can use to see how it’s done.
We encourage our readers to use the provided examples and templates to write your own informative essay outline .
For further assistance, try out our other writing tools: Hypothesis Generator , Thesis Statement Generator , and Outline Generator .
Leave a comment below and, if you found this tutorial helpful, share with friends and family!
Writing tools.
Writing, like any other skill, is something you can get better at with time and practice. Learn how.
From sending emails to preparing presentations, writing is often a day-to-day task in many professions spanning diverse industries. Writing skills go beyond grammar and spelling. Accuracy, clarity, persuasiveness, and several other elements play a part in ensuring your writing is conveying the right message.
In this article, we'll explore various aspects of writing skills and offer tips for improving yours.
If you'd like to start enhancing your writing skills now, two popular options on Coursera are University of California Irvine's Academic English: Writing Specialization and University of Michigan's Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization .
Writing is a technical skill that you use to communicate effectively through the written word. Though these may vary depending on what you’re writing, there are several that transcend categories. Writing skills can more specifically include:
Sentence construction
Research and accuracy
Persuasiveness
Each of these components can influence the quality of writing.
Being able to write well is a form of effective communication , which many employers see as a crucial job skill . In fact, strong communication—spanning written, verbal, non-verbal, and visual—is among the nine common employability skills that employers seek in job candidates.
Regardless of your role, with good writing skills, you can clearly transcribe your thoughts into meaningful messages, enabling you to share your ideas, build relationships, and strengthen your professional image.
Learn more: Important Communication Skills and How to Improve Them
Writing, like any other skill, is something we can get better at with time and practice. Here are some strategies for developing your own written communication:
Grammar and spelling form the foundation of good writing. Writing with proper grammar and spelling communicates your professionality and attention to detail to your reader. It also makes your writing easier to understand.
Plus, knowing when and how to use less-common punctuation, like colons, semicolons, and em-dashes, can unlock new ways to structure sentences and elevate your writing.
If you’re looking to strengthen your grammar and spelling, start by consulting a writing manual. The Elements of Style by William Stunk and E.B. White has long been considered a staple for writers. You can find similar resources at your local library, bookstore, or online.
Knowing what a finished piece of writing can look like can guide your own. If you’re trying to write a humorous short story, read humorous short stories. Writing a book review? Find a few and take note of how they’re structured. Pay attention to what makes them good and what you want to emulate (without plagiarizing, of course). If you’re working on a school assignment, you can ask your instructor for examples of successful pieces from past students.
Make reading a part of your everyday life to improve your writing. Try reading the news in the morning or picking up a book before you head to bed. If you haven’t been a big reader in the past, start with topics you’re interested in, or ask friends and family for recommendations. You’ll gradually begin to understand what subjects, genres, and authors you enjoy.
While it’s tempting to submit work as soon as you’re done with it, build in some time to revisit what you’ve written to catch errors big and small. Here are a few proofreading tips to keep in mind:
Set your work aside before you edit. Try to step away from your writing for a day or more so you can come back to it with fresh, more objective eyes. Crunched for time? Even allotting 20 minutes between writing and proofreading can allow you to approach your work with renewed energy.
Start with easy fixes, then progress to bigger changes. Starting with easier changes can get you in the rhythm for proofreading, allow you to read through your work once more, and clear distractions so you can focus on bigger edits. Read through your work to catch misspellings, inconsistencies, and grammar errors. Then address the larger problems with structure or awkward transitions.
If you could say something in fewer words, do so. Being unnecessarily wordy can cloud your message and confuse the reader. Pare down phrases that are redundant, repetitive, or obvious.
Read out loud. Reading out loud can help you find awkward phrases and areas where your writing doesn’t flow well.
Many computer-based tools—like spell check on your word processor, or Grammarly — can help you find and fix simple spelling and grammar errors. These tools are not perfect but can help even the most seasoned of writers avoid mistakes. Take note of any frequently highlighted words or phrases so that you can avoid the same mistakes in the future.
Whether you’re writing emails or essays, asking for feedback is a great way to see how somebody besides yourself will interpret your text. Have an idea of what you’d like your proofreader to focus on—the structure, conclusion, the persuasiveness of an argument, or otherwise.
Approach a trusted friend, family member, coworker, or instructor. If you’re a student, your school might also have a writing resource center you can reach out to.
You might also consider forming a writing group or joining a writing class. Find writing courses online, at your local community college, or at independent writing workshops in your city.
Grammar and spelling keep your writing consistent and legible, but structure ensures the big ideas get across to the reader.
In many cases, forming an outline will help solidify structure. An outline can clarify what you’re hoping to convey in each section, enable you to visualize the flow of your piece, and surface parts that require more research or thought.
Structure might look different depending on what you’re writing. An essay typically has an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. A fiction piece might follow the six-stage plot structure: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, and denouement. Choose what’s best for your purposes.
Like many skills, one of the best ways to improve your writing is to practice. Here are a few ways you can get started:
Start a journal or a blog.
Join a class or writing workshop.
Practice free writing.
Write letters to friends or family.
Put together an opinion piece for your local newspaper or publication you like.
Even if a text is grammatically correct, you may be able to make it more dynamic and interesting with some polish. Here are some common ways you can sharpen your writing:
Choose strong verbs (for example, “sprinted,” “dashed,” or “bolted” instead of “ran”).
Avoid passive voice.
Vary sentence length.
Cut unnecessary words.
Replace cliches with original phrasing.
Your writing skills will shine throughout the job search process , whether or not you intend to show them off. This is because job applications are largely written materials, including your cover letter , resume , and email communications . Use these opportunities to demonstrate your writing skills to prospective employers by submitting clear, accurate, and engaging materials.
Additionally, if you have specialized expertise, such as experience with legal writing, medical writing, technical writing, or scientific writing, you can note that in a resume skills section and further detail that experience within your cover letter or during your interviews .
Whether you’re a scientist or a product manager, journalist or entrepreneur, writing effectively will enable you to communicate your ideas to the world. Through practice, exposure, and familiarizing yourself with basic rules, you’ll be able to use your writing to say exactly what you want to say.
If you’re looking for a structured way to expand your writing skillset, explore writing courses on Coursera —the first week is free.
Give your team access to a catalog of 8,000+ engaging courses and hands-on Guided Projects to help them develop impactful skills. Learn more about Coursera for Business .
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.
Writing an English essay involves critical thinking, a strong argumentative structure, and evidence to support your claims. A well-written essay can engage your readers, persuade them, or even broaden their perspectives on a given topic. However, crafting an effective conclusion can sometimes be the most challenging part of your essay writing journey.
The conclusion serves as the final opportunity to leave a lasting impression on your audience, summarizing your thoughts and demonstrating the importance of your findings. So, without wasting time, let’s delve into the craft of writing a compelling conclusion for an English essay.
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Before start writing your essay , it’s important to understand the purpose of the conclusion. The conclusion of an English essay can serve multiple crucial purposes. It provides closure for the reader, effectively wrapping up your argument. It also emphasizes the significance of your thesis statement, reiterating why your perspective is crucial. A potential conclusion will answer the “so what?” question, helping readers understand the broader implications of your argument or findings.
We can implement various strategies to craft an impactful conclusion in our essay. Each strategy aims to reinforce your argument and leave the reader with a strong impression of your essay’s significance. Let’s point out some engaging strategies to take our essay conclusion to the next level.
While aspiring to write a compelling conclusion, you should be wary of common pitfalls that can weaken your closing arguments.
Improving your conclusion-writing skills involves exercise and reflection. Try to consider revisiting old essays to rewrite their conclusions using the strategies outlined above. Another useful exercise is to analyze the conclusions of essays in your field of interest, identifying effective elements and areas for improvement in your work. This is how you can master writing the conclusion of an English essay.
The conclusion of an English essay is not merely a summary of arguments but a strategic segment that reinforces your thesis, demonstrates the significance of your argument, and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
You can craft a powerful conclusion by effectively restating your thesis in a new light, synthesizing rather than summarizing, addressing broader implications, and, if fitting, ending with a call to action or personal reflection.
Remember to avoid common pitfalls such as introducing new information or undermining your argument. With practice and attention to these strategies, you can enhance the effectiveness of your essay conclusions, making them as compelling and impactful as possible.
Azizul Hakim is the founder & CEO of englishfinders.com . He is a passionate writer, English instructor, and content creator. He has completed his graduation and post-graduation in English language and literature.
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Writing an argumentative essay is a critical skill that students need to master. This type of essay requires you to investigate a topic, collect evidence, and evaluate it to establish a position on the subject. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of how to write an argumentative essay, provide an example of an argumentative essay, and offer tips on choosing and structuring your essay.
An argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the writer to take a stance on a particular issue. This position is then supported by logical reasoning and evidence. Unlike other types of essays, an argumentative essay demands a more detailed and thorough approach to the subject matter.
1. choose a topic.
Choosing a relevant and debatable topic is the first step. Ensure that the topic is specific enough to be thoroughly explored within the scope of your essay but broad enough to find sufficient evidence.
Conduct thorough research to gather information from credible sources. This includes academic journals, books, reputable websites, and expert opinions. Take notes and organise your research to help you build your arguments logically.
Your thesis statement is the backbone of your essay. It should clearly state your position on the topic and provide a roadmap for your arguments.
“The Renaissance had a profound impact on English literature, revolutionising themes, forms, and styles, which continue to influence modern writing.”
An outline helps you organise your thoughts and structure your essay logically. It should include:
Your introduction should grab the reader’s attention and provide context for your argument. Start with a hook, such as a compelling fact or a rhetorical question, followed by background information, and end with your thesis statement.
“The Renaissance, a period of great cultural and intellectual rebirth in Europe, profoundly influenced various fields, including literature. This era marked a significant shift in the themes, forms, and styles of English literature. This essay argues that the Renaissance’s impact on English literature was revolutionary and continues to shape modern writing.”
Each body paragraph should focus on one main point supporting your thesis. Use clear topic sentences, provide evidence, and explain how it supports your argument. Ensure smooth transitions between paragraphs to maintain the flow of your essay.
“One of the most notable impacts of the Renaissance on English literature was the introduction of humanism. Humanist writers such as Thomas More and Christopher Marlowe emphasised the potential of individuals and the importance of personal achievement. This shift from religious to human-centred themes is evident in More’s ‘Utopia’ and Marlowe’s ‘Doctor Faustus,’ which reflect the era’s intellectual curiosity and exploration of human potential.”
Acknowledge and refute counterarguments to show that you have considered multiple viewpoints. This demonstrates critical thinking and strengthens your position.
“Some critics argue that the Renaissance’s influence on English literature was limited to a small elite and did not permeate popular writing. However, the themes and styles introduced during the Renaissance gradually trickled down to broader audiences, influencing later writers such as Shakespeare and Milton, whose works reached and impacted a wider readership.”
Your conclusion should summarise the main points of your essay and restate your thesis in a new light. Highlight the broader implications of your argument and suggest possible solutions or areas for further research.
“In conclusion, the Renaissance brought about a remarkable transformation in English literature, introducing humanist themes, new forms, and innovative styles. These changes not only revolutionised the literary landscape of the time but also laid the foundation for modern literary expression. Understanding this historical context enhances our appreciation of contemporary literature and its roots in Renaissance thought.”
Writing an argumentative essay involves taking a clear stance on a topic, supporting it with evidence, and addressing counterarguments. By following the steps outlined in this guide and using the provided example essay argumentative in nature, you can craft a compelling and well-structured essay.
If you need further assistance with writing your argumentative essay, our team of expert editors is here to help. We offer professional academic editing services tailored to your specific needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your academic journey.
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Every detail you need for the writing part of your ielts general training test, what’s in the ielts general training writing paper.
There are two Writing tasks and BOTH must be completed.
In Task 1, you have to respond to a situation by writing a letter, for example, asking for information or explaining a situation. You need to write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.
In Task 2, you are given a point of view, argument or problem which you need to discuss . You need to write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes.
You must write your answers using full sentences. You must not write your answers as notes or bullet points. You must write your answers on the answer sheet. You are allowed to write notes on the question paper but these will not be seen by the examiner.
Certificated IELTS examiners assess your performance on each Writing task. There are four assessment criteria (things which the examiner thinks about when deciding what score to give you):
Task achievement (in Task 1) and Task response (in Task 2) assess how accurately, appropriately and relevantly your response covers the task requirements, using the minimum of 150 words for Task 1 and 250 words for Task 2.
In Task 1, Task achievement refers to how well your letter achieves its purpose.
In Task 2, Task response includes how well you develop your argument in response to the task, giving evidence and examples which may be from your own experience.
Coherence and cohesion assesses how clear and fluent your writing is, and how you organise ideas and information. It includes giving your ideas in a logical order, and using a range of cohesive devices (for example, linking words, pronouns and conjunctions, etc.) appropriately.
Lexical resource assesses the range of vocabulary you use, and how accurately and appropriately you use it.
Grammatical range and accuracy assesses the range of grammar you use and how accurately and appropriately you use it.
Time allowed : 60 minutes
Number of tasks : 2
Marking : Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
What's involved.
In General Training Writing Task 1, you are given a situation and you need to write a response of at least 150 words in the form of a letter. Depending on the task, the letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style. The question paper tells you what information to include in the form of three bullet points.
You might need to ask for or give information and/or explain a situation. The situations you need to write about are common, everyday situations such as:
The style of writing that you use depends on who you are asked to write to and how well you are supposed to know them. You need to choose a style that is appropriate for your audience and will help you achieve your purpose for writing, e.g. writing to a friend (personal) or writing to a manager (semi-formal or formal).
You should spend no more than 20 minutes on this task. You need to write at least 150 words and will be penalised if your answer is too short. While test takers will not be penalised for writing more than 150 words, you should remember that a longer Task 1 answer may mean that you have less time to spend on Task 2, which contributes twice as much to your Writing band score.
You should remember that you will be penalised if what you write is not related to the topic. You will also be penalised if your answer is not written as a whole piece of connected text (i.e. you must not use notes or bullet points). You will be severely penalised if your writing is plagiarised (i.e. copied from another source).
You do not need to write any addresses at the top of your letter.
You must write your answer on the answer sheet.
This task tests if you are able to write a letter which is well organised and appropriate in its register and style.
Depending on the task type, you will be assessed on your ability to:
A minimum of 150 words.
In General Training Writing Task 2, you need to write a semi-formal/neutral discursive essay of a minimum of 250 words.
The instructions for Task 2 give information about an opinion, argument or problem. The instructions then tell you what you should discuss in your essay.
You will need to write about a topic of general interest, such as:
You should make sure that you write your answer carefully so that you give a complete response that is also relevant. To do this you will need to organise your ideas clearly and make sure you use relevant examples (which can be from your own experience, if relevant) or evidence. For this task, you need to be able to discuss more abstract and complex ideas and use a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
You should spend no more than 40 minutes on this task. You must write at least 250 words and will be penalised if your answer is too short. While you will not be penalised for writing more than 250 words, if you write a very long answer you may not have time for checking and correcting at the end, and some ideas may not be directly relevant to the question. You may also produce handwriting which is unclear.
This task tests if you can write a clear, relevant, well-organised argument, giving evidence or examples to support your ideas, and use language accurately. Depending on the task type, you will be assessed on your ability to:
A minimum of 250 words.
Time allowed: Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet)
Time allowed: 60 minutes (including transfer time)
Time allowed: 11–14 minutes
2024. IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council; IDP IELTS; and Cambridge University Press & Assessment
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Here are some tips to help you select the perfect topic for your essay: 1. Consider Your Interests. 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. 2.
4. Write Clearly and Concisely: Avoid using jargon or complex language in your essay. Write in a clear and concise manner to convey your ideas effectively to the reader. 5. Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your essay, make sure to proofread and edit it carefully.
Come up with a thesis. Create an essay outline. Write the introduction. Write the main body, organized into paragraphs. Write the conclusion. Evaluate the overall organization. Revise the content of each paragraph. Proofread your essay or use a Grammar Checker for language errors. Use a plagiarism checker.
There are three main stages to writing an essay: preparation, writing and revision. In just 4 minutes, this video will walk you through each stage of an acad...
How to Prepare to Write an Essay. Before you start writing your essay, you need to figure out who you're writing for (audience), what you're writing about (topic/theme), and what you're going to say (argument and thesis). ... This step-by-step guide (with pictures!) by an English Ph.D. walks you through writing a conclusion, from brainstorming ...
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 ...
So abide by grammar rules to deliver a well-written and cohesive essay. 7. Write with Clarity. You might be tempted to use complex metaphors and jargons to impress the reader, but the truth is, none of that guarantees "good" writing. One of the most important ingredients of effective writing is clarity.
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.
Here are the eight steps to write an essay: Stage 1: Planning. 1. Pick an appropriate research topic. In certain cases, your teacher or professor may assign you a topic. However, in many cases, students have the freedom to select a topic of their choice.
1. Create a Word Bank. This is an interesting approach to writing your essay. First, choose a topic and write a thesis. A thesis is the main argument of your essay. For instance, if your topic is reading, your thesis might be "Reading makes you smarter.".
1. Set aside time to write. You cannot write a quality essay in 10 minutes. It's best to give yourself ample time to write and revise the essay. Try to factor in some time for breaks between drafts as well. If you're approaching a deadline, however, you may need to make the best use of the time you have. 2.
Planning 1: Address the question. If you are writing for a class assignment or an exam, it is crucial that you address the question given. Adequate planning (five minutes is better than nothing) will keep you on track. Start by breaking the question down into its parts. There will usually be two or three aspects to the question.
Conclusion Paragraph: Restate your thesis statement. Summarize your main points and arguments. Leave the reader with something to think about. Remember, this is just a basic structure you can refer to. As you write your own essay, you may find that your ideas change or that the direction of the essay has shifted.
Step 4: Argue. Step 5: Reference. Step 6: Conclude. Quick Intro. Essay writing in English is very different from other types of written communication, such as composing emails for work or personal letters to friends. The main difference is that you need to demonstrate your ability to think and write critically.
14 basic rules for writing an essay in English. Writing an essay requires the author not only to clearly express thoughts but also to follow certain rules and standards to make the text understandable, persuasive, and logical. Here are 14 main rules for writing essays: Limit the Length: Try to keep within 1-2 pages.
B2 First (FCE) Essay: Tips. Plan your essay before you write. Make sure you know how to comment on all the points that are asked. Invent information if you don't have any ideas. Divide the essay into paragraphs - put one answer in one paragraph. Use advanced vocabulary when you can and formal language.
ESSAY WRITING PARAGRAPH WRITING TIPS. Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea. Paragraphs should follow a logical sequence; students should group similar ideas together to avoid incoherence. Paragraphs should be denoted consistently; students should choose either to indent or skip a line.
Our free online tool helps you to practise your writing and get valuable feedback instantly. Write & Improve is simple to use: just choose a task, write or upload a written response and use the feedback to quickly improve. It shows you how to improve your spelling, grammar and vocabulary. Join over 2 million learners of English who have used ...
An essay is a piece of writing where the author proposes an argument, an emotion, or tries to initiate some sort of debate. It's often used to present the author's ideas in a non-fictional manner. It can cover basically any topic in the world - from political discourse through to art criticism and everything in between.
You should start with creating a thesis statement. This is a sentence which details the reason for writing the essay and gives the reader a clear picture as to what it will be about. It is important to include the following points in your thesis statement. The topic of the essay. Your main argument.
When papers/essays/blog posts are written without a target audience in mind, they tend to ramble, touching on things that may not be entirely relevant for the reader. In order to write effectively, it's imperative that you understand who you're writing for. 4. Try Rapid Outlining. Many people skip writing an outline for their paper.
Argumentative Essay: Uses a balanced tone, combining logical reasoning with evidence. The language is formal but may include strong assertions and rhetoric to support the argument, which nonetheless must be grounded in observable facts and reason. Step-by-Step to Writing an Informative Essay Choosing a Topic
Here are some strategies for developing your own written communication: 1. Review grammar and spelling basics. Grammar and spelling form the foundation of good writing. Writing with proper grammar and spelling communicates your professionality and attention to detail to your reader. It also makes your writing easier to understand.
Try to consider revisiting old essays to rewrite their conclusions using the strategies outlined above. Another useful exercise is to analyze the conclusions of essays in your field of interest, identifying effective elements and areas for improvement in your work. This is how you can master writing the conclusion of an English essay. Final ...
This era marked a significant shift in the themes, forms, and styles of English literature. This essay argues that the Renaissance's impact on English literature was revolutionary and continues to shape modern writing." 6. Develop the Body Paragraphs. Each body paragraph should focus on one main point supporting your thesis.
In General Training Writing Task 2, you need to write a semi-formal/neutral discursive essay of a minimum of 250 words. The instructions for Task 2 give information about an opinion, argument or problem. The instructions then tell you what you should discuss in your essay. You will need to write about a topic of general interest, such as: