How to Write An Essay in English

What is an Essay?

An essay is a short piece of writing on a particular subject, often including the author’s thoughts and arguments in three parts of the essay. An essay consists of three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. For instance, the introduction begins with the topic giving its background information with a thesis statement. When writing an essay, it is essential to form a thesis statement for your topic, because this thesis statement will be the main point and argument of the essay. The body part includes several paragraphs, each sentence describing a different aspect of the topic. Each paragraph should support and develop the thesis statement with evidence, examples, key points, and analysis. Lastly, the conclusion part summarizes its key points, evidence, and thesis statement as well as writing some insights and thoughts about the essay.

Types of Essays

There are different types of essays: each has a unique style, structure, and purpose to be written in an academic way. These are narrative essays, persuasive essays, expository essays, descriptive essays, argumentative essays, compare and contrast essays, analytical essays, cause and effect essays, informative essays, critical essays, rhetorical essays, review essays, simple essays, synthesis essays, research and process essays, etc. Here is a general overview of the most common essay types.

Narrative Essay

Narrative essays are a sort of essay that tells a story and can be based on a fictional or real story. When writing a narrative essay, the important thing is that it has a beginning, middle, and end. It often includes characters, a point of view, vivid descriptions of the narrative, conflict, and dialogue. Narrative essays are used to engage and connect with the readers by conveying essential messages and meanings.

Narrative Essay Example

Here is an example of narrative essay:

Growing Up

“Growing up, I was always a bit of a braver. Whether it was jumping off high diving boards or climbing trees, I loved the thrill of doing something risky. But it wasn’t until I tried bungee jumping for the first time that I truly understood what it meant to live on the edge. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and I had convinced a few friends to join me on a trip to a nearby amusement park. As we walked around, taking in the sights and sounds of the various rides and attractions, I couldn’t help but notice the towering bungee jump platform in the distance. My heart began to race as I imagined what it would be like to soar through the air, suspended only by a thick cord tied to my ankles.
After some coaxing, my friends finally agreed to join me. We made our way over to the bungee jump station, where we were greeted by a friendly attendant who helped us get strapped into our harnesses. As we made our way up the stairs to the top of the platform, I could feel my nerves building with each step. When we finally reached the top, I was shaking with a mixture of fear and excitement. My friends and I took turns stepping up to the edge of the platform, looking out over the park below. As the attendant counted down from three, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. And then I jumped.”This story about a caterpillar journey as the hungry caterpillar transforms into a beautiful butterfly.

Persuasive Essay

Persuasive Essay Example

Here is an example of persuasive essay:

Why People Should Not Watch Too Much Television

“Watching television is an experience shared by most adults and children. It is cheap, appealing, and within the reach of the general public. In this way, TV has become an important mass media around the world. Sadly, this resource isn’t used in a way that people could get the best possible benefits from it. The purpose of this essay is to persuade the reader that people shouldn’t watch too much television because the content of many TV programs is not educational; it makes people waste time that could be used in more beneficial activities; and it negatively affects people’s mental development.

The first reason why people shouldn’t watch too much television is because the content of many TV programs is not educational. Nowadays, we can see movies, series, and shows that present scenes of violence, sex, and drugs. This has established wrong concepts among the audience that influence them into having a negative behavior. Moreover, the impact this tendency has on children is worse because they grow up with the idea of a world where women must be slender and blonde to stand out, where problems can only be solved with money and violence, and where wars are inevitable. The second reason why people shouldn’t watch too much television is because it makes people waste time that could be used in more beneficial activities. The time we spend watching TV could be applied to useful activities like exercise, reading, interacting with friends and family, activities that are crucial for a healthy lifestyle. The third reason why people shouldn’t watch too much television is because it negatively affects people’s mental development. According to several scientific studies, watching TV for prolonged periods of time has a negative effect on the intellectual development of children and leads to deterioration of the mental capacity in older people by causing both attention and memory problems in the long term.

In conclusion, people shouldn’t watch too much television because the content of many TV programs is not educational; it makes people waste time that could be used in more beneficial activities; and it affects people’s mental development. However, this doesn’t mean that we should ban TV, but if we are going to watch it, we should do it with moderation. Television is a resource that we should learn to use through the right selection of programs by taking an active and critical attitude towards it.”

Expository Essay

This type of essay aims to explain or inform the readers about a particular subject. It gives information and a concise explanation of a topic or subject, often written in an objective manner. Here is an example of an expository essay for you.

Expository Essay Example

Here is an example of expository essay:

A Career to Make Life Worth Living

Many teenagers spend a lot of time contemplating what they want to do when they graduate from high school. I am fortunate in that I already know; I decided to become a veterinarian when I was two or three years old. Just like humans, animals need people to treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve, and I want to be one of those people. Because of this, I am doing all I can at Reavis to lay the groundwork for my success in college. Then, once I am in college, I will study and learn about all species of animals. Finally, I will find happiness in my career as a veterinarian because when animals need my assistance, I know that I will be able to help them.

First, as a freshman at Reavis High School, I keep in mind my lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian. I have been taking my education here very seriously, because I know that a person needs to be not only knowledgeable, but also extremely disciplined in order to become a veterinarian. Because of this, I work hard to earn good grades, I take pride in my work, and I have learned to manage my time properly. These skills will be particularly valuable when I enter college.

After leaving Reavis, I must attend college because it is definitely a requirement for becoming a veterinarian. In fact, a bachelor’s degree is necessary in order to even enter a veterinarian program. One must also possess excellent communication, leadership, public speaking, and organizational skills. I have put a lot of thought and consideration into college, and I have decided that I would like to go to the University of Illinois. It is a wonderful school, and they even have a graduate program designed for students who want to become veterinarians.

Once I have completed a veterinarian program, I will be able to pursue my dream career. This career provides numerous benefits, the first of which is salary. The average veterinarian salary is $60,000 a year, a salary that would definitely allow me to live a comfortable life. Secondly, it is a rewarding job. This job would provide me with the satisfaction of knowing that I am helping or saving an animal’s life. Finally, becoming a veterinarian would assure me a lifetime of happiness. I know I would love going to my job every day, because I would be working with what I love most: animals.

In summary, when I graduate from Reavis, I plan to go to college to become a veterinarian. I love animals and I want to do anything that I can to help them. I know I am only a freshman, but I also know that I am growing up quickly. As Ferris Bueller quotes, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!”

Descriptive Essay

This sort of essay aims to focus on creating vivid images by using sensory and imagery details for the readers. For instance, it is to evoke the reader’s senses such as smell, hear, see, taste, and feel by creating an impression in the reader’s mind. Descriptive essays create vivid images through the use of sensory and imaginative language, allowing readers to experience the subject. Here is an example of a descriptive essay for you.

Descriptive Essay Example

Here is an example of descriptive essay:

Frustration at the Airport

I had never been more anxious in my life. I had just spent the last three endless hours trying to get to the airport so that I could travel home. Now, as I watched the bus driver set my luggage on the airport sidewalk, I realized that my frustration had only just begun.

This was my first visit to the international terminal of the airport, and nothing was familiar. I could not make sense of any of the signs. Where was the check-in counter? Where should I take my luggage? I had no idea where the immigration line was. I began to panic. What time was it? Where was my plane? I had to find help because I could not be late!

I tried to ask a passing businessman for help, but my words all came out wrong. He just smiled and walked away. What had happened? I had been in this country for a whole semester, and I could not even remember how to ask for directions. This was awful! Another bus arrived at the terminal, and the passengers came out carrying all sorts of luggage. Here was my chance! I could follow them to the right place, and I would not have to say a word.

I dragged my enormous suitcase behind me and followed the group. We finally reached the elevators. Oh, no! They all fit in it, but there was not enough room for me. I watched in despair as the elevator doors closed. I had no idea what to do next. I got on the elevator when it returned and gazed at all the buttons. Which one could it be? I pressed button 3. The elevator slowly climbed up to the third floor and jerked to a stop. A high, squeaking noise announced the opening of the doors, and I looked around timidly.

Tears formed in my eyes as I saw the deserted lobby and realized that I would miss my plane. Just then an elderly airport employee shuffled around the corner. He saw that I was lost and asked if he could help. He gave me his handkerchief to dry my eyes as I related my predicament. He smiled kindly, and led me down a long hallway. We walked up some stairs, turned a corner, and, at last, there were customs! He led me past all the lines of people and pushed my luggage to the inspection counter.

When I turned to thank him for all his help, he was gone. I will never know that kind man’s name, but I will always remember his unexpected courtesy. He helped me when I needed it the most. I can only hope that one day I will be able to do the same for another traveler who is suffering through a terrible journey.

Argumentative Essay

This kind of essay presents arguments and controversial opinions supporting and refuting it with evidence. It involves in-depth research to persuade the reader to adopt the author’s viewpoint. Here is an example of an argumentative essay for you.

Argumentative Essay Example

Here is an example of argumentative essay:

Paying College Athletes: Fair Compensation or Unnecessary Expense?

College sports have become a multi-billion-dollar industry, with universities and coaches earning millions of dollars in revenue each year. However, the athletes who play on these teams do not receive any direct compensation for their efforts, leading to a debate about whether or not college athletes should be paid. While some argue that athletes receive scholarships and other benefits, others argue that they deserve to be paid for their hard work and dedication.

Firstly, college athletes are essentially full-time employees of their respective universities. They dedicate countless hours each week to practices, games, and travel, all while also managing their academic responsibilities. This workload is equivalent to that of a full-time job, yet they do not receive any direct compensation for their efforts. This is unfair and unjust, as these athletes are providing a valuable service to their universities and should be fairly compensated for their work.

Secondly, college sports generate enormous amounts of revenue for universities and coaches. This revenue comes from ticket sales, merchandise, and sponsorships, among other sources. It is only fair that the athletes who are responsible for generating this revenue receive a share of it. This can be done in the form of a stipend or salary, which would allow them to support themselves and their families while also pursuing their athletic and academic goals.

However, there are some who argue that college athletes already receive compensation in the form of scholarships and other benefits. While it is true that many athletes receive scholarships, these do not cover all of the expenses associated with attending college. In addition, these scholarships can be revoked if the athlete is injured or underperforms, leaving them without any financial support.

In conclusion, college athletes should be paid for their hard work and dedication. They provide a valuable service to their universities and generate enormous amounts of revenue, yet they do not receive any direct compensation for their efforts. By paying college athletes, universities can ensure that they are treating their athletes fairly and providing them with the support they need to succeed both on and off the field.

Compare and Contrast Essay

These essays analyze the similarities and differences between two or more subjects of the topic. Compare and contrast essays should be written to support the similarities and comparisons. These essays should be well-organized and maintain a concise tone for the readers. Here is an example of a compare and contrast essay for you.

Compare and Contrast Essay Example

Here is an example of compare and contrast essay:

Traditional Education vs. Online Learning

Education is a crucial aspect of personal and societal development, and over the years, traditional education and online learning have emerged as two prominent methods of acquiring knowledge. This essay aims to compare and contrast traditional education in brick-and-mortar classrooms with the increasingly prevalent online learning platforms, shedding light on their respective advantages and limitations.

First of all, both traditional education and online learning serve the common purpose of providing education, yet they differ significantly in terms of delivery, accessibility, and overall learning experience. Understanding these differences is essential for individuals and institutions navigating the ever-evolving landscape of education.

Secondly, traditional education is characterized by physical classrooms, face-to-face interaction with teachers, and a structured curriculum, has been the conventional model for centuries. This approach fosters a sense of community, promotes real-time engagement, and allows for immediate clarification of doubts. However, it may lack flexibility and struggle to accommodate diverse learning styles. On the other hand, online learning has gained popularity, especially with the advent of technology. It offers flexibility in terms of time and location, allowing learners to access materials at their own pace. The diverse range of multimedia resources and interactive platforms enhance the learning experience. However, the absence of face-to-face interaction might lead to feelings of isolation, and self-discipline becomes paramount for success. One key advantage of online learning is its global accessibility.

Moreover, learners from different geographical locations can access the same courses and resources, breaking down barriers to education. Traditional education, while rooted in local communities, may face challenges in reaching a broader audience.

Lastly, technology plays a pivotal role in both traditional education and online learning. Traditional education is incorporating digital tools to enhance teaching methods, while online learning relies entirely on technology. The adaptability of educators and learners to technological advancements becomes a critical factor in the success of both models.

In conclusion, traditional education and online learning each have unique strengths and weaknesses. The choice between them depends on individual preferences, learning styles, and specific educational goals. A balanced approach that combines the best aspects of both models could pave the way for a more inclusive and effective education system. As the landscape continues to evolve, understanding and embracing the merits of each system will be crucial for the advancement of education globally.

Informative Essay

Similar to the Expository essay, this type of essay aims to inform the reader about a particular matter. Informative essays can be written to summarize the whole essay by pointing out and giving factual ideas in an objective tone. Here is an example of an informative essay for you.

Informative Essay Example

Here is an example of informative essay:

Diabetes

Modern life provides better living conditions, but also brings no less depressing. Diseases in humans more, there are very dangerous diseases, but medicine is still the solution, one has to mention diabetes. In the past few decades, diabetes is one of the ten major causes of death in most countries around the world. According to the world Diabetes Federation, diabetes(also called diabetes mellitus) has claimed the lives of 4.6 million people each year. Do you want to understand clearly about how to know diabetic symptoms and how to prevent it? There is some useful information for you.

First of all, increased urination at night, hunger, thirst, rapid weight loss, limb inflammation, blurred vision, and fatigue are the first warning signs of the diabetes’s presence. Although diabetes is classified as a dangerous disease, many patients are indifferent to, or even belittle the disease. A testament to this problem: “two thirds of people with diabetes do not know they have diabetes”.

Moreover, Vietnam is not a country with the largest percentage of the world’s diabetes, however diabetes in Vietnam, the world’s fastest growing. This reality shows that diabetic patients in our country tends to younger, usually between the ages of 30-65, especially 9-10 years of age only. Today, with modern medicine, though diabetes is not still completely cured, if patients are detected early and treated properly, which can greatly reduce the unfortunate complications for patients and help them to live with this cruel disease. Therefore, when the body has diabetes symptoms, you should see your doctor and check your blood sugar to be timely support. Secondly, what will we do to prevent the symptoms of diabetes?. Currently, diabetic treatments were only added support for the patient to reduce blood’s sugar, complications and limitations. It can not be cured, so diabetes needs lifelong treatments. Besides using the medication, patients should learn to take the diet, appropriate exercise to reduce the progression of the disease and to prevent complications.

In addition, maintaining stable blood’s sugar helps to prevent the dangerous complications with the use of drugs and diabetic treatments, so the patients should have a scientific lifestyle. Don’t eat lots of foods to increase your blood’s sugar such as rice, oily foods, confectionery. Along with that the patients should provide with the minerals such as iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, the B, A, E vitamins, the antioxidants such as beta-carotene, chlorophyll, phycocyanin, and no fat, sugar, starch foods.

To sum up,diabetes is a serious disease, it is not only destroying the health of patients, but also causing severe damage to the patient’s family, especially when the patient experiences cardiovascular complications, loss of vision leading to blindness, and limb gangrene, coma and so on. To have good health, we should adopt a diet and reasonable exercise.

Essay Structure

Essay structures can be more paragraphs rather than general essay structures because of different essay types. In general, the essay includes well-organized five paragraphs including the introduction part, three body paragraphs, and the conclusion part. According to the general essay structure, the introduction is an essential part of the essay because the introduction part begins by identifying the topic and its thesis statement as well as giving background information about the topic. The topic should be interesting and informative to catch up with the reader’s attention. After the introduction part, the body paragraphs present four or three main supportive ideas pointing to the thesis statement and also explain and analyze its main supportive ideas to convince the reader. Furthermore, within the body paragraphs, the author summarizes these main supporting ideas in a neutral tone. Lastly, the conclusion part includes a brief summary of the essay and also gives some attention to the main supportive ideas by showing the author’s judgments and opinions with the thesis statement about the topic.

Tips to Write Better Essays in English

If you want to improve your essay writing in English, here are some tips to help you write better essays in English. By doing so, you will become aware of common mistakes in writing essays in English.

Before starting to write the essay, carefully identify your key requirements such as the essay type, length, and topic as well as how you should create an outline to organize the structure of your essay. This helps you write properly to indulge your thoughts and creates a logical flow during the writing process.

Additionally, for the introduction, you can write a compelling introduction to catch the reader’s attention by providing background information and presenting a clear thesis statement that points to your main argument.

The first essential matter is that your thesis statement should be concise and certain, indicating a clear summary of your essay’s main argument.

Being careful writing, each paragraph includes a precise topic sentence, supporting sentence, and transition to the next paragraph. This suggestion enables maintaining coherence and flow.

To make your essay more engaging and effective, it’s important to connect your ideas and ensure a smooth flow. One effective way to achieve this is by using transitional words and phrases. By doing so, you can create a logical sequence of ideas and provide a clear understanding of how they are related to each other. This helps to strengthen the coherence and readability of your essay, making it easier for the reader to follow your arguments.

While writing the essay, it’s crucial to maintain clarity and precision. Avoid using overly complex language, long-winded sentences, or paragraphs. Instead, aim for simplicity and clarity to ensure your audience can readily comprehend your arguments.

Before finishing your essay, it’s important to proofread, edit, and check for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Besides, review your essay for clarity, coherence, and consistency.

Properly citing your sources avoids plagiarism. Use a recognized citation style (e.g., APA, MLA), and remember to always give credit to the original authors when using their ideas and references during the writing process.

Another way to improve your essay is to request feedback from your peers and instructors.

Receiving diverse perspectives can help you identify areas that need improvement and refine your essay writing.

Summarize your main points and rephrase the thesis in the conclusion part without introducing new ideas by completing a clear understanding of your argument and topic for the readers.

To advance your writing, you should read a variety of essays, literature, and academic articles. This allows you to be exposed to different writing styles and thoughts that can improve your writing skills for essay writing.

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Write An Essay In English

What is an essay?

An essay is a precise piece of writing that reflects the author’s thoughts and arguments on a particular subject, typically structured into three main parts: introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion.

What is a narrative essay?

A narrative essay starts with a story or narration consisting of beginning, middle and end parts. This essay generally is used for writing story and narrative types. Also it often uses narrative techniques to engage the reader and to be attached to them to the story.

What is the structure of an essay?

In general, an essay is structured with five well-organized paragraphs including the introduction part, three body paragraphs, and the conclusion part.

What is the main point of the essay?

The main point of an essay is expressed through the thesis statement that serves as the central argument you want to convey. This thesis statement should connect with your topic and be supported by key points, references, arguments throughout the essay.

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