Essay Writing Tips and Tricks: How to Improve Your English Essay Skills
Essay English Writing Example
An essay is a piece of writing that revolves around a particular theme and contains the academic opinions of the writer. An essay can perform one or more of the following functions:
essay english writing example
Analyses and critically evaluates a topic
Presents the writer's argument for or against an idea
Describes something
Narrates a story
Persuades the reader
To write a good essay you need an introduction, a body (supporting paragraphs), and a conclusion. In this article, we will walk you through what to include in each part of an academic essay, using paragraphs from our interactive essay example.
How to Write an Essay
The writing process of preparation, writing, and revisions applies to every essay or paper, but the time and effort spent on each stage depends on the type of essay. For example, if you've been assigned a five-paragraph expository essay for a high school class, you'll probably spend the most time on the writing stage; for a college-level argumentative essay, on the other hand, you'll need to spend more time researching your topic and developing an original argument before you start writing.
The writing process consists of three main stages:
Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline.
Writing: Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion.
Revision: Check the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.
How to Write an Introduction
The introduction is the first paragraph of your essay. It should grab the reader's attention and give them an overview of what to expect from the rest of the essay. A good introduction should:
Hook the reader
You can use various strategies to capture the reader's interest, such as a question, a quote, a statistic, or an anecdote. For example:
"Did you know that more than 50% of students in the US have used online essay writing services at least once in their academic career?"
Provide background information
You should give some context and relevant information about the topic of your essay. This helps the reader understand the issue and why it matters. For example:
"Online essay writing services are websites that offer to write, edit, or proofread academic papers for students. They claim to provide high-quality, plagiarism-free, and customized essays for any subject and level. However, they also raise ethical and academic concerns among teachers and students."
Write a thesis statement
The thesis statement is the central point or argument that you want to make in your essay. It should be one sentence that clearly expresses your position or perspective on the topic. A good thesis statement should be specific, debatable, and concise. For example:
"This article will argue that online essay writing services are harmful to students' academic integrity and should be banned by educational institutions."
How to Write a Body Paragraph
The body of your essay is where you develop your argument using evidence and analysis. Each body paragraph should focus on one main idea or point that supports your thesis statement. A good body paragraph should:
Write a topic sentence
The topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph and how it relates to the thesis statement. It should be clear and specific. For example:
"One of the main reasons why online essay writing services are detrimental to students' academic integrity is that they undermine the value of original work."
Provide evidence and analysis
You should support your topic sentence with facts, examples, quotes, or other sources that back up your claim. You should also explain how they support your argument and why they are relevant or credible. For example:
"According to a survey conducted by Turnitin, a plagiarism detection software company, 68% of students who used online essay writing services admitted that they submitted some or all of the purchased papers as their own work. This shows that online essay writing services encourage students to cheat and pass off someone else's work as their own. Moreover, this practice deprives students of the opportunity to learn from their own research and writing process, which is essential for developing critical thinking and writing skills."
Write a concluding sentence
The concluding sentence summarizes the main point of the paragraph and links it to the next one. It should also reinforce the thesis statement and show how the paragraph contributes to the overall argument. For example:
"Therefore, online essay writing services not only violate academic honesty but also hinder students' intellectual growth."
How to Write a Conclusion
The conclusion is the last paragraph of your essay. It should wrap up your argument and leave a lasting impression on the reader. A good conclusion should:
Restate the thesis statement
You should remind the reader of the main argument or point of view of your essay in different words. Don't introduce any new ideas or arguments in the conclusion. For example:
"As we have seen, online essay writing services are harmful to students' academic integrity and should be banned by educational institutions."
Summarize the main points
You should briefly recap the main ideas or arguments of your essay without repeating them word for word. You can use keywords or phrases from your thesis statement to connect your points. For example:
"This article has discussed how online essay writing services undermine the value of original work, encourage cheating behavior, and hinder intellectual development."
Provide a final comment
reinforces the significance or implications of the topic, such as a call to action, a recommendation, a question, or a prediction. For example:
"To prevent students from falling into the trap of online essay writing services, teachers and institutions should educate them about the importance of academic integrity and the consequences of plagiarism. They should also provide more guidance and feedback on essay writing assignments and use effective plagiarism detection tools. By doing so, they can help students develop their own voice and skills as writers."
Essay Examples
To illustrate how different types of essays work, we will look at some examples of essays that cover various topics and purposes. Each example follows the structure and features of its respective type of essay.
Example 1: Narrative Essay
A narrative essay tells a story or describes an experience. It usually uses the first-person point of view and vivid sensory details to engage the reader. A narrative essay should have a clear plot, setting, characters, and theme. For example:
"It was a sunny day in June when I decided to go on a hike with my best friend. We had been planning this trip for weeks, and we were both excited to explore the nature and enjoy the fresh air. We packed our backpacks with water, snacks, sunscreen, and a map, and headed to the nearest trailhead. The trail was easy to follow and offered a stunning view of the valley below. We chatted and laughed as we walked, admiring the wildflowers and birds along the way. After about an hour, we reached a fork in the road. We checked our map and saw that we had two options: we could either continue on the main trail or take a shortcut through a narrow path that led to a waterfall. We decided to take the shortcut, thinking that it would be more fun and scenic."
This paragraph introduces the main characters (the narrator and their best friend), the setting (a sunny day in June on a hiking trail), and the plot (going on a hike and taking a shortcut to a waterfall). It also uses descriptive language to create an image of the scene in the reader's mind.
Example 2: Descriptive Essay
A descriptive essay creates an image or impression of a person, place, object, or emotion. It uses sensory details and figurative language to appeal to the reader's senses. A descriptive essay should have a clear focus and purpose. For example:
"My grandmother's house was always full of warmth and love. It was a small but cozy cottage in the countryside, surrounded by a garden of roses and lavender. The house had a red roof and white walls, with green shutters and a wooden porch. Inside, there were three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. The living room was my favorite place in the house. It had a fireplace that crackled in the winter, a sofa that was soft and comfortable, and a bookshelf that was filled with books of all kinds. My grandmother loved to read and she would often sit on the sofa with me and tell me stories from her books. She had a gentle voice and a kind smile that made me feel safe and happy."
This paragraph describes the narrator's grandmother's house using sensory details (such as colors, sounds, textures) and figurative language (such as similes, metaphors, personification). It also conveys the narrator's feelings and attitude towards their grandmother and her house.
Example 3: Expository Essay
An expository essay explains or informs about a topic. It uses facts, statistics, examples, or other sources to convey information and analysis. An expository essay should have a clear thesis statement and structure. For example:
"Global warming is one of the most urgent environmental issues facing humanity today. Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's surface due to the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) in the atmosphere that trap heat from the sun and prevent it from escaping into space. According to NASA, the global average temperature has risen by about 1.1 degrees Celsius since 1880, and most of this warming has occurred in the past four decades. The main causes of global warming are human activities such as burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), deforestation (cutting down trees), agriculture (raising livestock, using fertilizers), and industrialization (producing goods and services). The effects of global warming are devastating for the planet and its inhabitants. Some of the effects include melting ice caps and glaciers, rising sea levels, extreme weather events (droughts, floods, heat waves, storms), loss of biodiversity (extinction of species, habitat destruction), and spread of diseases (malaria, dengue fever, Lyme disease). To combat global warming, we need to take urgent and collective action to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and adopt more sustainable and renewable sources of energy."
This paragraph explains what global warming is, what causes it, what effects it has, and what solutions are needed. It uses facts and statistics from credible sources (such as NASA) to support its claims. It also has a clear thesis statement that summarizes the main idea of the essay.
Example 4: Argumentative Essay
An argumentative essay persuades or convinces the reader of a position or perspective on a topic. It uses evidence, logic, and counterarguments to support its claim. An argumentative essay should have a clear stance and structure. For example:
"Social media is a beneficial tool for communication, education, and entertainment. Social media refers to websites and applications that allow users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. Some of the most popular social media platforms are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Social media has many advantages for its users. First of all, social media enables people to communicate with their friends, family, and colleagues across the world. It also allows people to meet new people and form communities based on their interests and hobbies. Second, social media enhances learning and education by providing access to a variety of information and resources. It also enables students and teachers to collaborate and exchange feedback online. Third, social media offers entertainment and enjoyment by allowing users to watch videos, listen to music, play games, or follow celebrities. Social media also encourages creativity and self-expression by enabling users to create and share their own content."
This paragraph presents an argument in favor of social media. It states the writer's position (social media is beneficial) and provides three reasons (communication, education, entertainment) to support it. It also uses examples (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok) to illustrate its points.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an essay is a piece of writing that revolves around a particular theme and contains the academic opinions of the writer. An essay can perform one or more of the following functions: analyses and critically evaluates a topic, presents the writer's argument for or against an idea, describes something, narrates a story, or persuades the reader. To write a good essay you need an introduction, a body (supporting paragraphs), and a conclusion. In this article, we have walked you through what to include in each part of an academic essay, using paragraphs from our interactive essay example. We have also provided some examples of essays that cover various topics and purposes.
We hope that this article has helped you understand how to write an effective essay in English. If you need more guidance or feedback on your essay writing assignments, you can always use our online essay writing services. We have a team of professional writers who can help you with any type of essay you need. Whether you need an expository essay, a descriptive essay, a narrative essay, or an argumentative essay, we can provide you with high-quality, plagiarism-free, and customized essays for any subject and level.
FAQs
What is the difference between an expository essay and an argumentative essay?
An expository essay explains or informs about a topic using facts, statistics, examples, or other sources. An argumentative essay persuades or convinces the reader of a position or perspective on a topic using evidence, logic, and counterarguments.
How do I write a good thesis statement?
A good thesis statement should be specific, debatable, and concise. It should clearly express your position or perspective on the topic in one sentence. It should also be placed at the end of your introduction.
How do I write a good topic sentence?
A good topic sentence should introduce the main idea of the paragraph and how it relates to the thesis statement. It should be clear and specific. It should also be placed at the beginning of your paragraph.
How do I write a good hook?
A good hook should capture the reader's attention and make them want to read more. You can use various strategies to hook the reader, such as a question, a quote, a statistic, or an anecdote.
?
A good conclusion should restate the thesis statement, summarize the main points, and provide a final comment. It should wrap up your argument and leave a lasting impression on the reader. It should also not introduce any new ideas or arguments in the conclusion.
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