Writing Essays
Write a more interesting essay. Find tips to help you write sound paragraphs with strong, appealing sentences.
How to Write a Process or "How-To" Essay
How-to essays are like recipes; they provide instruction for carrying out a procedure or task. You can write a how-to essay about any procedure that you find interesting—as long as your topic fits the teacher’s assignment.
How-to essays are like recipes; they provide instruction for carrying out a procedure or task. You can write a how-to essay about any procedure that you find interesting—as long as your topic fits the teacher’s assignment.
Personal Essay Topics
The personal essay will give readers a glimpse into your life experience. There are many reasons you may need to write a personal essay, from a simple class assignment to a college application requirement. You can use this list of personal essay topics for inspiration. Imagine each statement as a writing prompt, and imagine if there was a special moment that the prompt brings to mind.
The personal essay will give readers a glimpse into your life experience. There are many reasons you may need to write a personal essay, from a simple class assignment to a college application requirement. You can use this list of personal essay topics for inspiration. Imagine each statement as a writing prompt, and imagine if there was a special moment that the prompt brings to mind.
How To Essay Topics
It's not so easy to write a how-to essay. The first step is deciding on a topic. Read over this list of how-to essay topics to find inspiration.
It's not so easy to write a how-to essay. The first step is deciding on a topic. Read over this list of how-to essay topics to find inspiration.
Anecdote
An anecdote can be a useful tool to use when writing a speech or a personal essay. Anecdotes are great to use in introductory paragraphs.
An anecdote can be a useful tool to use when writing a speech or a personal essay. Anecdotes are great to use in introductory paragraphs.
Compare and Contrast Essay
Compare and contrast essays may be constructed in one of two ways. You can focus on one topic at a time, describing the pro’s and cons of one topic first and then moving on to the next topic. Before you begin to draft a compare and contrast essay, you should brainstorm to list similarities and differences.
Compare and contrast essays may be constructed in one of two ways. You can focus on one topic at a time, describing the pro’s and cons of one topic first and then moving on to the next topic. Before you begin to draft a compare and contrast essay, you should brainstorm to list similarities and differences.
Venn Diagram
The Venn diagram is a great tool for brainstorming and creating a comparison between two or more objects, events, or people. You can use a Venn diagram to create an outline for a compare and contrast essay.
The Venn diagram is a great tool for brainstorming and creating a comparison between two or more objects, events, or people. You can use a Venn diagram to create an outline for a compare and contrast essay.
Comparing Two Novels
At some point in your literature studies, probably just about the time you get adept at finding the theme of a novel and coming up with a sound analysis of a literary piece, you will be required to compare two novels.
At some point in your literature studies, probably just about the time you get adept at finding the theme of a novel and coming up with a sound analysis of a literary piece, you will be required to compare two novels.
50 Compare and Contrast Topics
When you write a comparison essay, you should go through a number of steps before you jump in to writing the introductory paragraph. You will start with making a list of characteristics that compare and contrast.
When you write a comparison essay, you should go through a number of steps before you jump in to writing the introductory paragraph. You will start with making a list of characteristics that compare and contrast.
Transition Words
Once you have completed a first draft of your paper, you should read over your work and observe how effectively you have made transitions between your paragraphs. If your paper seems a little choppy, you can use one of these 100 (plus) transition words to improve the flow of your work.
Once you have completed a first draft of your paper, you should read over your work and observe how effectively you have made transitions between your paragraphs. If your paper seems a little choppy, you can use one of these 100 (plus) transition words to improve the flow of your work.
Make Your Essay Flow
The first step toward making a great-flowing paper is making sure your paragraphs are put together in a logical order. Many times, the first draft of a report or essay is a little choppy and out of sequence.
The first step toward making a great-flowing paper is making sure your paragraphs are put together in a logical order. Many times, the first draft of a report or essay is a little choppy and out of sequence.
2009 Student Essay Contests
Are you a writer? You may be able to win cash, scholarships, trips, and other awards with your essay-writing abilities. There are many contests out there that address a wide variety of topics. Why not enter a competition today?
Contest rules will vary significantly, and some may contain important information about possible restrictions, so be sure to read all individual rules carefully…
How to Write an Argument Essay
For an argument essay to be effective, it must contain certain elements. For this reason, you'll have to plan ahead a little. Take a few minutes to prepare before you jump into writing an argument essay.
For an argument essay to be effective, it must contain certain elements. For this reason, you'll have to plan ahead a little. Take a few minutes to prepare before you jump into writing an argument essay.
50 Argument Essay Topics
Looking for a topic for an argument essay, debate, or a speech? The best topic is one that you truly care about, and one that you're prepared to research. You'll have to back up your claim (whichever side you choose) with lots of evidence and support.
Looking for a topic for an argument essay, debate, or a speech? The best topic is one that you truly care about, and one that you're prepared to research. You'll have to back up your claim (whichever side you choose) with lots of evidence and support.
What I Did On My Vacation
Are you required to write an essay about your summer vacation or your holiday break? This can be a tough assignment to tackle. Read some tips about writing your vacation essay and find out how to put some spark into your assignment.
Are you required to write an essay about your summer vacation or your holiday break? This can be a tough assignment to tackle. Read some tips about writing your vacation essay and find out how to put some spark into your assignment.
Student Writing Competitions and Contests
Are you a talented writer? You can gain valuable experience and win cash awards and scholarships through writing competitions and contests designed especially for students. The list below includes some of the most notable competitions. Please note: some of the competitions are still wrapping up this current year's proceedings. If you find the deadline for the competition has passed, you can bookm…
Are you a talented writer? You can gain valuable experience and win cash awards and scholarships through writing competitions and contests designed especially for students. The list below includes some of the most notable competitions. Please note: some of the competitions are still wrapping up this current year's proceedings. If you find the deadline for the competition has passed, you can bookm…
Expository Essays
Expository essays are simply essays that explain something with facts, as opposed to opinion. An expository essay should have the same basic structure as any typical essay.
Expository essays are simply essays that explain something with facts, as opposed to opinion. An expository essay should have the same basic structure as any typical essay.
Using Numbers in Writing
For some reason, one of the most difficult grammar topics to commit to memory is the set of rules pertaining to using numerals in writing. Perhaps that is because the rules don't seem to be hard and fast, like some grammar rules. Instead, we often read about "general" rules or "guidelines" for numbers.
For some reason, one of the most difficult grammar topics to commit to memory is the set of rules pertaining to using numerals in writing. Perhaps that is because the rules don't seem to be hard and fast, like some grammar rules. Instead, we often read about "general" rules or "guidelines" for numbers.
How to Write a Five-Paragraph Essay
An essay is a literary composition that expresses a certain idea, claim, or concept and backs it up with supporting statements. It will follow a logical pattern, to include an introductory paragraph (make the claim), a body (support), and a conclusion (summary of statements and support).
An essay is a literary composition that expresses a certain idea, claim, or concept and backs it up with supporting statements. It will follow a logical pattern, to include an introductory paragraph (make the claim), a body (support), and a conclusion (summary of statements and support).
Types of Essays
What type of essay should you write? That can depend on your interests and strengths. Are you persuasive, or are you gifted with great descriptive powers? Find an essay type to fit your own special personality.
What type of essay should you write? That can depend on your interests and strengths. Are you persuasive, or are you gifted with great descriptive powers? Find an essay type to fit your own special personality.
Choosing an Essay Topic
You've just received your essay assignment and you're staring at a blank sheet of paper. Where do you start? Try using the "Most List" method to find a topic you care about.
You've just received your essay assignment and you're staring at a blank sheet of paper. Where do you start? Try using the "Most List" method to find a topic you care about.
Developing Effective Essays
If you have tried out the strategies on this site for developing paragraphs, you are well on your way to creating effective essays as well.
If you have tried out the strategies on this site for developing paragraphs, you are well on your way to creating effective essays as well.
Checklist for Editing Paragraphs and Essays
After revising an essay until we are satisfied with its basic content and structure, we still need to edit our work. This checklist can serve as a guide
After revising an essay until we are satisfied with its basic content and structure, we still need to edit our work. This checklist can serve as a guide
Essay Samplers
Essays samplers organized by author, title, and theme, from Richard Nordquist.
Essays samplers organized by author, title, and theme, from Richard Nordquist.
300 Writing Topics - Prompts and Suggestions for Paragraphs and Essays
Coming up with a good topic can be one of the hardest parts of composing a paragraph or essay. These 300 topic suggestions should make that job a little easier.
Coming up with a good topic can be one of the hardest parts of composing a paragraph or essay. These 300 topic suggestions should make that job a little easier.
CLASSIC ESSAYS
A collection of major essays, letters, fables, and speeches composed over the past four centuries.
A collection of major essays, letters, fables, and speeches composed over the past four centuries.
Grading Your Own Essays
Writing a brief self-evaluation each time you have completed a writing project will make you more aware of your strengths as a writer and help you to see ...
Writing a brief self-evaluation each time you have completed a writing project will make you more aware of your strengths as a writer and help you to see ...