essay writing examples class 11

Essays on Various Topics - List of Essay Writing Ideas

Essay writing is not everyone’s cup of tea. Most students find it difficult to begin writing. Essays can be made easier if students start thinking about the topic either through brainstorming or by putting them down on a sheet of paper. After getting the ideas, they need to know how to organise them to form an essay. For this, they need to practise essays on different topics. Here, we have compiled a list of Essays on various topics.

These are the general essay topics which are most likely to be asked in the exam. Some of these essay topics are also picked from past year papers. Students of Classes 6 to 10 can go through these essays and know the right way of expressing their thoughts to form a perfect essay. Apart from the CBSE , students of ICSE and other state boards can also use these topics to prepare for their English exams.

Essay Topics: List and Writing Ideas

Usually, one essay is asked in the English paper. The essay writing question mainly comes under the writing section and comprises 5 to 10 marks. By having a look at the essays on the below-mentioned topics, students can easily score these marks in the exam.

We will be soon updating more Essays.

Characteristics of a Good Essay

A composition on a particular topic consisting of more than one paragraph is an essay. The characteristics of a good essay are:

1) Unity: The essay should deal with the main subject and all parts of it should be clearly linked with that subject.

2) Coherence: There should be a logical sequence of thought. This requires a logical relationship between ideas, sentences and paragraphs.

3) Relevance: Unimportant information should not be included.

4) Proportion: Give more space to important ideas.

Students can also get the essays for class 2 and class 3 to improve their writing skills.

Types of Essays

Essays are mainly ways of expressing one’s ideas and thoughts. Essays vary in how one narrates a personal experience, describes an issue, or convinces the reader to accept a certain viewpoint. So, essays are mainly classified into four major types, as mentioned below:

1) Narrative Essays: Telling a Story

While writing a narrative essay, students must consider the topic as if telling a story. Through these essays, they can express themselves in a creative way. These essays are usually written in the first person, so as to engage the readers.

2) Descriptive Essays: Painting a Picture with Words

In a descriptive essay, students have to paint a picture with words. They have to describe something. It can be an object, person, place, experience, emotion, situation or anything else. These essays allow students a great deal of artistic freedom.

3) Expository Essays: Presentation of the Facts

An expository essay is an informative piece of writing that presents a balanced analysis of a topic. To write a good expository essay, students need to investigate the topic, evaluate evidence, express the idea, and set forth an argument clearly and concisely. It can be done by comparison and contrast, definition, example, the analysis of cause and effect, etc.

4) Persuasive Essays: Convince Me

A persuasive essay is one in which a writer tries to convince the reader to accept his/her viewpoint. It presents all sides of the argument but clearly communicates the writer’s personal opinion.

CBSE Unseen Passages

Students can increase their scores in the reading section of the English paper by practising the comprehension passages. To help them, below, we have listed the links to unseen passages.

Students must have found these Essay Topics helpful for their studies. For more study material and latest updates on the CBSE / ICSE / State Board / Competitive exams, keep visiting BYJU’S. Also, download the BYJU’S App for interactive study related videos.

Frequently Asked Questions on Essay writing Essay

How should students practise essay writing.

The following points should be remembered while practising essay writing: 1. Constant written practice is required for honing essay writing skills. Writing alone tests the competency of the students to ideate and execute a proper essay within a specified time. 2. In-depth knowledge on various topics is a prerequisite for students preparing to write essays in school exams and competitive examinations. Such knowledge can be acquired by regularly developing a habit of reading extensively — especially newspapers and magazines — and following other news sources on various media available to them. 3. Developing a good vocabulary is another important factor students should focus on. Essay writing demands a more formal and extensive vocabulary as the range of topics asked are so wide-ranging. Every topic will demand familiarity with words and phrases pertaining to it. Use of good idiomatic English rich with apt vocabulary will help students pen memorable essays.

How to write an essay on an unknown or unfamiliar topic?

If an essay topic is unfamiliar then students can try to write in general about topics which are related to the main topic. Reading magazines and books can help in acquisition of knowledge in various subject matters.

How to score high marks in essay writing?

Given below are some of the points to be considered to ensure that students can score high marks in essay writing. 1. Maintain flow of text in essay: Ensure that the essay follows a natural progression from introduction to conclusion. Make sure that each paragraph is thematically or logically connected to successive paragraphs. Only then will the essay be evocative and easy to read and comprehend. 2. Phrase the essay is a relatable way: Keep the target audience in mind while drafting the essay and use images and language that resonate with them. Otherwise it would fail to connect with the reader, even if you have come up with a decent essay. 3. Be creative: Show the audacity to think out of the box and to deviate from traditional ways of writing essays while coming up with ideas to present your viewpoints in the essay. Readers will be immediately drawn to a piece of writing that gives them a fresh perspective, even if you are writing on a very common topic. But too much creativity and idiosyncratic writing will only mar an otherwise well-researched essay. 4. Present the essay in a better manner: Always think of new ways and strategies to present your ideas which you may have drawn from multiple sources. Doing background research is definitely essential. But that does not mean that you have to present the content you found in the same way. A fresh approach can turn a boring essay into a very engaging one. 5. Do not be over confident: Essays usually require students to state personal opinions as well as facts. Be prudent in voicing your opinions as well as in stating facts – make sure you don’t hurt the sentiments of readers when writing on sensitive and controversial topics. Practice diligence, not overconfidence, while writing essays as a best practice.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request OTP on Voice Call

Post My Comment

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

Register with byju's & watch live videos.

• Class 6 Maths
• Class 6 Science
• Class 6 Social Science
• Class 6 English
• Class 7 Maths
• Class 7 Science
• Class 7 Social Science
• Class 7 English
• Class 8 Maths
• Class 8 Science
• Class 8 Social Science
• Class 8 English
• Class 9 Maths
• Class 9 Science
• Class 9 Social Science
• Class 9 English
• Class 10 Maths
• Class 10 Science
• Class 10 Social Science
• Class 10 English
• Class 11 Maths
• Class 11 Computer Science (Python)
• Class 11 English
• Class 12 Maths
• Class 12 English
• Class 12 Economics
• Class 12 Accountancy
• Class 12 Physics
• Class 12 Chemistry
• Class 12 Biology
• Class 12 Computer Science (Python)
• Class 12 Physical Education
• GST and Accounting Course
• Excel Course
• Tally Course
• Finance and CMA Data Course
• Payroll Course

Interesting

• Learn English
• Learn Excel
• Learn Tally
• Learn GST (Goods and Services Tax)
• Learn Accounting and Finance
• GST Tax Invoice Format
• Accounts Tax Practical
• Tally Ledger List
• GSTR 2A - JSON to Excel

Are you in school ? Do you love Teachoo?

We would love to talk to you! Please fill this form so that we can contact you

You are learning...

Writing Class 11

Click on any of the links below to start learning from Teachoo ...

Do you want to improve your English writing skills? 🙋‍♀️

If you are a Class 11 student , you know how important writing is for your English learning. Writing is not only a skill, but also an art, a craft, and a tool. Writing helps you to express your thoughts, ideas, opinions, and emotions in a creative and effective way. 🌟

But writing can be challenging, especially if you don't have the right guidance, resources, and practice. That's why we have created a comprehensive and engaging Class 11 English Writing course for you. 🙌

Our course covers all the topics and skills that you need to ace your Class 11 English Writing exams and beyond. You will learn from the best teachers, who have years of experience and expertise in teaching writing. You will also get access to highquality study materials, such as notes, videos, quizzes, and assignments. 📚

But that's not all. Our course also helps you to develop your creativity, originality, and style as a writer . You will explore various types and formats of writing, such as essays, letters, articles, speeches, reports, etc. You will also learn how to write for different purposes and audiences, such as informative, persuasive, descriptive, narrative, etc. 🖋️

By the end of our course, you will be able to:

• Plan, draft, revise, and edit your writing with ease and confidence
• Write clear, coherent, and compelling texts for various situations and contexts
• Use appropriate vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, and spelling in your writing
• Use different techniques and strategies to make your writing more effective and engaging
• Showcase your personality and voice as a writer
• Have fun and enjoy writing! 😊

So what are you waiting for? Join our Class 11 English Writing course today and start your journey towards becoming a master of writing. 💯

We hope to see you soon in our virtual classroom. Happy learning! 🙏

Advertisements

Note making.

What's in it?

Hi, it looks like you're using AdBlock :(

Please login to view more pages. it's free :), solve all your doubts with teachoo black.

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

• Essay Writing

Introduction

In the simplest terms, an essay is a short piece of writing which is set around a specific topic or subject. The piece of writing will give information surrounding the topic but will also display the opinions and thoughts of the author. Oftentimes, an essay is used in an academic sense by way of examination to determine whether a student has understood their studies and as a way of testing their knowledge on a specific subject. An essay is also used in education as a way of encouraging a student to develop their writing skills.

Moreover; an essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essays, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays. Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and descriptive essays are about exercising creativity and writing in an interesting way. At the university level, argumentative essays are the most common type. 

Types of Essay Writing

When it comes to writing an essay, there is not simply one type, there are, quite a few types of essay, and each of them has its purpose and function which are as follows:

Narrative Essays

A narrative essay details a story, oftentimes from a particular point of view. When writing a narrative essay, you should include a set of characters, a location, a good plot, and a climax to the story. It is vital that when writing this type of essay you use fine details which will allow the reader to feel the emotion and use their senses but also give the story the chance to make a point. 

Descriptive Essay

A descriptive essay will describe something in great detail. The subject can be anything from people and places to objects and events but the main point is to go into depth. You might describe the item’s color, where it came from, what it looks like, smells like, tastes like, or how it feels. It is very important to allow the reader to sense what you are writing about and allow them to feel some sort of emotion whilst reading. That being said, the information should be concise and easy to understand, the use of imagery is widely used in this style of essay. 

Expository Essay

An expository essay is used as a way to look into a problem and therefore compare it and explore it. For the expository essay, there is a little bit of storytelling involved but this type of essay goes beyond that. The main idea is that it should explain an idea giving information and explanation. Your expository essay should be simple and easy to understand as well as give a variety of viewpoints on the subject that is being discussed. Often this type of essay is used as a way to detail a subject which is usually more difficult for people to understand, clearly and concisely.

Argumentative Essay

When writing an argumentative essay, you will be attempting to convince your reader about an opinion or point of view. The idea is to show the reader whether the topic is true or false along with giving your own opinion. You must use facts and data to back up any claims made within the essay. 

Format of Essay Writing

Now there is no rigid format of an essay. It is a creative process so it should not be confined within boundaries. However, there is a basic structure that is generally followed while writing essays.

This is the first paragraph of your essay. This is where the writer introduces his topic for the very first time. You can give a very brief synopsis of your essay in the introductory paragraph. Generally, it is not very long, about 4-6 lines. 

This is the main crux of your essays. The body is the meat of your essay sandwiched between the introduction and the conclusion. So the most vital content of the essay will be here. This need not be confined to one paragraph. It can extend to two or more paragraphs according to the content.

This is the last paragraph of the essay. Sometimes a conclusion will just mirror the introductory paragraph but make sure the words and syntax are different. A conclusion is also a great place, to sum up, a story or an argument. You can round up your essay by providing some morals or wrapping up a story. Make sure you complete your essays with the conclusion, leave no hanging threads.

Writing Tips

Give your essays an interesting and appropriate title. It will help draw the attention of the reader and pique their curiosity

 Keep it between 300-500 words. This is the ideal length, you can take creative license to increase or decrease it

 Keep your language simple and crisp. Unnecessary complicated and difficult words break the flow of the sentence.

 Do not make grammar mistakes, use correct punctuation and spelling five-paragraph. If this is not done it will distract the reader from the content

  Before beginning the essay, organize your thoughts and plot a rough draft. This way you can ensure the story will flow and not be an unorganized mess.

Understand the Topic Thoroughly-Sometimes we jump to a conclusion just by reading the topic once and later we realize that the topic was different than what we wrote about.  Read the topic as many times as it takes for you to align your opinion and understanding about the topic.

Make Pointers-It is a daunting task to write an essay inflow as sometimes we tend to lose our way of explaining and get off-topic, missing important details. Thinking about all points you want to discuss and then writing them down somewhere helps in covering everything you hoped to convey in your essay.

Develop a Plan and Do The Math-Essays have word limits and you have to plan your content in such a way that it is accurate, well-described, and meets the word limit given. Keep a track of your words while writing so that you always have an idea of how much to write more or less. 

Essays are the most important means of learning the structure of writing and presenting them to the reader.

FAQs on Essay Writing

1. Writing an Essay in a format is important?

Yes, it is important because it makes your content more streamlined and understandable by the reader. A set format gives a reader a clear picture of what you are trying to explain. It also organises your own thoughts while composing an essay as we tend to think and write in a haphazard manner. The format gives a structure to the writeup.

2. How does Essay writing improve our English?

Essay writing is a very important part of your English earning curriculum, as you understand how to describe anything in your words or how to put your point of view without losing its meaning

3.  How do you write a good essay?

Start by writing a thorough plan. Ensure your essay has a clear structure and overall argument. Try to back up each point you make with a quotation. Answer the question in your introduction and conclusion but remember to be creative too.

4.  What is the format of writing an essay?

A basic essay consists of three main parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. This basic essay format will help you to write and organize an essay. However, flexibility is important. While keeping this basic essay format in mind, let the topic and specific assignment guide the writing and organization.

5.  How many paragraphs does an essay have?

The basic format for an essay is known as the five paragraph essay – but an essay may have as many paragraphs as needed. A five-paragraph essay contains five paragraphs. However, the essay itself consists of three sections: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Below we'll explore the basics of writing an essay.

6.  Can you use the word you in an essay?

In academic or college writing, most formal essays and research reports use third-person pronouns and do not use “I” or “you.” An essay is the writer's analysis of a topic.  “You” has no place in an essay since the essay is the writer's thoughts and not the reader's thoughts.

7.  What does bridge mean in an essay?

A bridge sentence is a special kind of topic sentence. In addition to signaling what the new paragraph is about, it shows how that follows from what the old paragraph said. The key to constructing good bridges is briefly pointing back to what you just finished saying.

• Sample Paper
• Question Paper
• NCERT Solutions
• NCERT Books
• NCERT Audio Books
• NCERT Exempler
• Model Papers
• Past Year Question Paper
• Writing Skill Format
• RD Sharma Solutions
• HC Verma Solutions
• CG Board Solutions
• UP Board Solutions
• Careers Opportunities
• Courses & Career
• Courses after 12th

Home » 11th Class » NCERT Book Class 11 English Chapter 4 Essay-writing (PDF)

NCERT Book Class 11 English Chapter 4 Essay-writing (PDF)

NCERT Book Class 11 English Chapter 4 Essay-writing is here. You can read and download Class 11 English Chapter 4 PDF from this page of aglasem.com. Essay-writing is one of the many lessons in NCERT Book Class 11 English in the new , updated version of 2023-24 . So if you are in 11th standard , and studying English textbook (named Hornbill ), then you can read Ch 4 here and afterwards use NCERT Solutions to solve questions answers of Essay-writing.

NCERT Book Class 11 English Chapter 4 Essay-writing

The complete Chapter 4 , which is Essay-writing , from NCERT Books for Class 11 English is as follows.

NCERT Book Class 11 English Chapter 4 Essay-writing PDF Download Link – Click Here To Download The Complete Chapter PDF

NCERT Book Class 11 English Full Book PDF Download Link – Click Here To Download The Complete Book PDF

NCERT Book Class 11 English Chapter 4 Essay-writing PDF

The direct link to download class 11 English NCERT Book PDF for chapter 4 Essay-writing is given above. However if you want to read the complete lesson on Essay-writing then that is also possible here at aglasem. So here is the complete class 11 English Ch 4 Essay-writing.

NCERT Book for Class 11 English

Besides the chapter on Essay-writing, you can read or download the NCERT Class 11 English PDF full book from aglasem. Here is the complete book:

• Chapter 1 : The Portrait of a Lady
• Chapter 2 : We’re Not Afraid to Die… if We Can All Be Together
• Chapter 3 : Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues; The Laburnum Top
• Chapter 4 : The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role
• Chapter 5 : The Adventure
• Chapter 6 : Silk Road; Father to Son
• Chapter 1 : The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse
• Chapter 2 : The Address
• Chapter 3 : Mother’s Day
• Chapter 4 : The Ghat of the Only World
• Chapter 5 : Birth
• Chapter 6 : The Tale of Melon City
• Woven Words
• Stories 1 : The Lament
• Stories 2 : A Pair of Mustachios
• Stories 3 : The Rocking-horse Winner
• Stories 4 : The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
• Stories 5 : Pappachi’s Moth
• Stories 6 : The Third and Final Continent
• Stories 7 : Glory at Twilight
• Stories 8 : The Luncheon
• Poetry 1 : The Peacock
• Poetry 2 : Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds
• Poetry 3 : Coming
• Poetry 4 : Telephone Conversation
• Poetry 5 : The World is too Much With Us
• Poetry 6 : Mother Tongue
• Poetry 7 : Hawk Roosting
• Poetry 8 : For Elkana
• Poetry 9 : Refugee Blues
• Poetry 10 : Felling of the Banyan Tree
• Poetry 11 : Ode to a Nightingale
• Poetry 12 : Ajamil and the Tigers
• Essay 1 : My Watch
• Essay 2 : My Three Passions
• Essay 3 : Patterns of Creativity
• Essay 4 : Tribal Verse
• Essay 5 : What is a Good Book?
• Essay 6 : The Story
• Essay 7 : Bridges
• Writing Skills
• Note-making
• Summarising
• Sub-titling
• Essay-writing
• Letter-writing
• Creative Writing
• NCERT Books for Class 11

Similarly all the subject-wise class 11 books at aglasem.com are as follows.

• NCERT Book Class 11 Accountancy
• NCERT Book Class 11 Biology
• NCERT Book Class 11 Business Studies
• NCERT Book Class 11 Chemistry
• NCERT Book Class 11 Economics
• NCERT Book Class 11 English
• NCERT Book Class 11 Geography
• NCERT Book Class 11 Hindi
• NCERT Book Class 11 History
• NCERT Book Class 11 Maths
• NCERT Book Class 11 Physics
• NCERT Book Class 11 Political Science
• NCERT Book Class 11 Psychology
• NCERT Book Class 11 Sociology

All class-wise books of National Council of Educational Research and Training are as follows.

• NCERT Books for Class 1
• NCERT Books for Class 2
• NCERT Books for Class 3
• NCERT Books for Class 4
• NCERT Books for Class 5
• NCERT Books for Class 6
• NCERT Books for Class 7
• NCERT Books for Class 8
• NCERT Books for Class 9
• NCERT Books for Class 10
• NCERT Books for Class 12

Class 11 English Chapter 4 Essay-writing NCERT Textbook – An Overview

The highlights of this Essay-writing chapter PDF are as follows.

If you have any queries on NCERT Book Class 11 English Chapter 4 Essay-writing, then please ask in comments below. And if you found the Class 11 English Chapter 4 Essay-writing PDF helpful, then do share with your friends on telegram, facebook, whatsapp, twitter, and other social media!  :)

To get study material, exam alerts and news, join our Whatsapp Channel .

NCERT Book Class 11 Economics Chapter 1 Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence (PDF)

Ncert book class 11 english chapter 5 birth (pdf), related posts.

Karnataka 1st PUC Mid Term Question Paper 2024

Karnataka 1st puc geography mid term question paper 2024 – download pdf, karnataka 1st puc hindi mid term question paper 2024 – download pdf, karnataka 1st puc history mid term question paper 2024 – download pdf, leave a reply cancel reply, cbse board quick links.

• CBSE Date Sheet
• CBSE Result
• CBSE Syllabus
• CBSE Sample Papers
• CBSE Question Papers
• CBSE Practice Papers

CISCE Board Quick Links

• CISCE Time Table
• CISCE Results
• CISCE Specimen Papers
• CISCE Syllabus
• CISCE Question Papers

Class Wise Study Material

Board exams 2023.

• Solved Sample Papers
• Revision Notes
• State Board

Study Material

• Class Notes
• Courses After Class 12th
• JEE Main 2024
• Fashion & Design
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy

© 2019 aglasem.com

Discover more from AglaSem Schools

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Question and Answer forum for K12 Students

Article Writing Topics for Class 11 CBSE Format, Examples

Articles are written to give information in a wide range of contexts for magazines or newspapers. They are a relatively long and sustained piece of writing. They give information on a variety of themes such as describing an event, person, someone’s life and actions, places, and experiences. They can also be an expression of the writer’s opinions on topics of social interest or arguments for or against a topic and they often offer suggestions.

Basic  English Grammar  rules can be tricky. In this article, we’ll get you started with the basics of sentence structure, punctuation, parts of speech, and more.

We also providing Extra Questions for Class 11 English Chapter wise.

Article Writing Topics for Class 11 CBSE Format, Examples Pdf

(a) Heading should express the main idea in an interesting way. (b) Three or four paragraphs are needed to convey the content in an organised way. (c) Byline, i.e., name of the author (It can appear immediately after the heading.)

Content should be properly structured. The first two/three sentences of the opening paragraph should be introductory in nature. The second paragraph should contain the main discussion. The last paragraph should be in the nature of the conclusion.

Language and style are usually serious but informal. The readers are kept in mind when choosing a serious or humorous style. Try to use good and expressive words.

♦ Article for a School Magazine:

It is usually about school life, student matters. This composition may be about general subjects too.

(a) Heading (b) Three or four paragraphs (c) Name, class, and section of the writer

Content: Organise the article into introduction, main subject, and conclusion as always in an essay like compositions.

Language and style should match the subject. The style may be serious or light or even humorous if the subject permits.

Magazine And Newspaper Articles

Purpose of writing an article To present information on a variety of themes in a long and sustained piece of writing, namely:

• describing an event, person, his/her life and actions
• describing a place
• narrating an event
• expressing views on some issue of social interest
• expressing arguments in favour of or against a stated hypothesis or event.

Types of articles

• magazine – general and school – limited audience
• newspaper – wider audience

What an article should contain:

• Don’t attempt to write about every single piece of information – select relevant information.
• The article must be written in the appropriate format and style.
• Remember to keep within the word limit.

Article Writing Topics Sample Example With Answer for Class 11 CBSE

A recent survey showed that there are still many communities in India which do not welcome the birth of a girl child. Can a country which does not give equal rights to its citizens ever dream of becoming great? Complete the following article by using the hints given. You are Simran/Yusuf, a citizen of Hyderabad.

Answer: (a) faces discrimination from the earliest stages of life, through childhood and into adulthood (b) a preference for sons, early marriage, domestic abuse, sexual exploitation, discrimination, less food, and less access to education (c) but also of the basic right to be born (d) However, these problems are not insurmountable (e) the practice of killing girl child continues (f) but against the social system, traditions, social norms, and values, customs and rituals (g) Constitution confers equal rights on all citizens (h) but to assert themselves and take their due

• a preference for sons, early marriage, domestic abuse, sexual exploitation, discrimination, less food, and less access to education
• but against the social system, traditions, social norms, and values, customs and rituals
• faces discrimination from the earliest stages of life, through childhood and into adulthood
• but to assert themselves and take their due
• the practice of killing girl child continues
• but also of the basic right to be born
• Constitution confers equal rights on all citizens
• However, these problems are not insurmountable

Articles For School Magazine

Article writing topics practice example for class 11 cbse.

1. You have often come across headlines such as:

The growing tendency towards violence among young people is especially a cause for concern. Write an article in about 150 words on “Teen Aggression and the Media”. You are Abhijit/Anita Sarkar.

2. Animals in the wild are caught, tamed, caged, trained, and conditioned to perform in set patterns and ultimately left to die. Sirish/Sumita of the “Environment Club” of Nav Chetna School took down these notes.

As Sirish/Sumita, write an article on “Their Life is not a Circus”.

3. The floods in Chennai not only highlighted the inefficiency and indifference of the local administration but also brought out the indomitable spirit of the common man. It was a grand story of how people came to the rescue of people. Write an article in 150 – 200 words on how common man can realise his own powers and help rebuild a “New and Clean India’ of which we can all be proud. Sign yourself as Victor/Helen.

4. You are Maneka/Manik. You strongly feel that the Indian Government is not taking steps to promote tourism in India which could turn out to be one of the major revenue earning industries. Write an article in 150 – 200 words for a magazine giving your ideas on the steps the Indian Government could take to promote tourism aggressively.

6. Jeena/Jatin came across the following news item:

As Jeena/Jatin, write an article for the local magazine in about 150 words on the hazards of smoking.

7. You are Diwakar/Dina. You have heard your teacher talk to your class about the importance of inculcating the reading habit. You have taken down some notes. With the help of the given information and your own ideas, write an article on the topic: “Books are Our Friends Forever” in 150 words.

• Reading: excellent diversion, pleasant hobby; helps connect with noblest minds of the ages
• Books: shape character; best companions in loneliness

8. You are Manoj/Meena. Write an article in 150 – 200 words on the following: Value education should be made a part of the curriculum in schools. Highlight the steps taken by your school in this direction.

9. You are Dinesh Sinha of 87, Curzon Road, Delhi. You have observed that the subways in Delhi are seldom used by pedestrians. You have decided to write an article for a national magazine, highlighting the dire need of creating awareness about this problem. Based on the points given below, write the article in not more than 150 words.

10. Given below is an advertisement for students aspiring to study in the USA.

Write an article in 150 words on the increasing trend among the working population today to go abroad for higher studies. Sign yourself as Namita/Subodh Pandey. (150 words)

Articles For The Newspaper

11. The clearing of tropical forests across the Earth has been occurring on a large–scale basis for many centuries. This process, known as deforestation, involves the cutting down, burning, and damaging of forests. The loss of tropical rainforest is more profound than merely the destruction of beautiful areas. If the current rate of deforestation continues, the world’s rainforests will vanish within 100 years – causing unknown effects on global climate and eliminating the majority of plant and animal species on the planet. You are Maneka/Manik. You strongly feel that the Indian Government is not taking adequate steps to check deforestation in India. Write an article for a national daily in 150 – 200 words giving your ideas on the steps the Indian government could take to aggressively control deforestation.

12. Kunal/Karishma read the following news in a newspaper. He/she decided to write an article about it for the newspaper. Using ideas from the news clip, together with your ideas, write the article on her behalf in 150 words.

13. At least one – third of India’s billion inhabitants regularly watch Indian soap operas, which have displaced popular cinema as the prime entertainment genre. These popular shows depict the ideal woman only as a long-suffering, exploited person, an epitome of virtue and self – righteousness. The other face of women is that of unalloyed evil. They wreck homes, plot murders without an ounce of guilt, torture sisters – in – law, so the audience is given no choice but to hate them. The viewer is hoodwinked. As a concerned viewer, write an article for a national daily on the portrayal of women in popular TV soap operas.

14. Economists feel that India has only one problem – a burgeoning population. At more than one billion and growing, India will soon outgrow China. Most of the other troubles in our country have emerged mainly because of this problem. Write an article for the newspaper on: “Need for population control.”

15. The following editorial appeared in a national daily:

You are Sucheta/Shikhar Thareja of Class XI of Dehra Public School. Express your views on the topic in an article for a newspaper.

16. The Indian politicians routinely hire ‘muscle power to improve their electoral prospects, and criminals themselves successfully run for public office. Indeed, many observers bemoan the fact that corruption and the background of the candidates have become non – issues to voters. You are Neeta/Nishit Roy. Write an article for The Times of India on the increasing corruption and criminalisation of politics in India.

17. Each day the newspaper carries various advertisements on losing weight in order to become healthy and look good. Various unrecognized health clubs have mushroomed all over the city to cater to this fad. Exorbitant sums are charged with a promise to help weight loss. Write an article for a newspaper expressing your views on the topic. You are Tarini/Tanmay Sharma.

18. Madhuri/Mayank had an argument with her/his friend on the topic of women taking up careers. After hearing the negative views of her/his friend, Madhuri/Mayank decide to write an article on the topic ‘Women and Career’. As Madhuri/Mayank, write the article for The Daily Times.

19. Begging is the outcome of abject poverty and not choice. An Action Aid International study on this issue in India shows that 99 percent of men and 97 percent of women get into begging due to poverty.

Attempts by police officials to drive away from the destitute and impose fines are clearly not a solution as it does not address the overall problem. Beggars must be viewed as full citizens with all the entitlements and rights of a citizen.

Write an article for a national daily expressing your views on anti-begging laws and efforts to check the problem.

Essay Topics – List of 500+ Essay Writing Topics and Ideas

List of 500+ essay writing topics and ideas.

Essay topics in English can be difficult to come up with. While writing essays , many college and high school students face writer’s block and have a hard time to think about topics and ideas for an essay. In this article, we will list out many good essay topics from different categories like argumentative essays, essays on technology, environment essays for students from 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades. Following list of essay topics are for all – from kids to college students. We have the largest collection of essays. An essay is nothing but a piece of content which is written from the perception of writer or author. Essays are similar to a story, pamphlet, thesis, etc. The best thing about Essay is you can use any type of language – formal or informal. It can biography, the autobiography of anyone. Following is a great list of 100 essay topics. We will be adding 400 more soon!

But Before that you may wanna read some awesome Essay Writing Tips here .

Get the Huge list of 100+ Speech Topics here

Argumentative Essay Topics

• Should plastic be banned?
• Pollution due to Urbanization
• Education should be free
• Should Students get limited access to the Internet?
• Selling Tobacco should be banned
• Smoking in public places should be banned
• Facebook should be banned
• Students should not be allowed to play PUBG

Essay Topics on Technology

• Wonder Of Science
• Mobile Phone

Essay Topics on Festivals on Events

• Independence Day (15 August)
• Teachers Day
• Summer Vacation
• Children’s Day
• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
• Janmashtami
• Republic Day

Essay Topics on Education

• Education Essay
• Importance of Education
• Contribution of Technology in Education

Essay Topics on Famous Leaders

• Mahatma Gandhi
• APJ Abdul Kalam
• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Swami Vivekananda
• Mother Teresa
• Rabindranath Tagore
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
• Subhash Chandra Bose
• Abraham Lincoln
• Martin Luther King
• Lal Bahadur Shashtri

Essay Topics on Animals and Birds

• My Favorite Animal

Essays Topics About Yourself

• My Best Friend
• My Favourite Teacher
• My Aim In Life
• My Favourite Game – Badminton
• My Favourite Game – Essay
• My Favourite Book
• My Ambition
• How I Spent My Summer Vacation
• India of My Dreams
• My School Life
• I Love My Family
• My Favourite Subject
• My Favourite Game Badminton
• My Father My Hero
• My School Library
• My Favourite Author
• My plans for summer vacation

Essay Topics Based on Environment and Nature

• Global Warming
• Environment
• Air Pollution
• Environmental Pollution
• Water Pollution
• Rainy Season
• Climate Change
• Importance Of Trees
• Winter Season
• Deforestation
• Natural Disasters
• Save Environment
• Summer Season
• Trees Our Best Friend Essay In English

Essay Topics Based on Proverbs

• Health Is Wealth
• A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
• An Apple a Day Keeps Doctor Away
• Where there is a will, there is way
• Time and Tide wait for none

Toppr provides free study materials like NCERT Solutions for Students, Previous 10 Years of Question Papers, 1000+ hours of video lectures for free. Download Toppr app for Android and iOS or signup for free.

Essay Topics for Students from 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

• Noise Pollution
• Environment Pollution
• Women Empowerment
• Time and Tide Wait for none
• Science and Technology
• Importance of Sports
• Sports and Games
• Time Management
• Cleanliness is next to Godliness
• Cleanliness
• Rome was not Built in a Day
• Unemployment
• Clean India
• Cow Essay In English
• Describe Yourself
• Festivals Of India
• Ganesh Chaturthi
• Healthy Food
• Importance Of Water
• Plastic Pollution
• Value of Time
• Honesty is the Best Policy
• Gandhi Jayanti
• Human Rights
• Knowledge Is Power
• Same Sex Marriage
• Childhood Memories
• Cyber Crime
• Kalpana Chawla
• Punctuality
• Rani Lakshmi Bai
• Spring Season
• Unity In Diversity
• Artificial Intelligence
• Online Shopping
• Indian Culture
• Healthy Lifestyle
• Indian Education System
• Disaster Management
• Environmental Issues
• Freedom Fighters
• Grandparents
• Save Fuel For Better Environment
• Importance Of Newspaper
• Lal Bahadur Shastri
• Raksha Bandhan
• World Environment Day
• Narendra Modi
• What Is Religion
• Charity Begins at Home
• A Journey by Train
• Ideal student
• Save Water Save Earth
• Indian Farmer
• Safety of Women in India
• Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
• Capital Punishment
• College Life
• Natural Resources
• Peer Pressure
• Nature Vs Nurture
• Romeo And Juliet
• Generation Gap
• Makar Sankranti
• Constitution of India
• Girl Education
• Importance of Family
• Importance of Independence Day
• Brain Drain
• A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed
• Action Speaks Louder Than Words
• All That Glitters Is Not Gold
• Bhagat Singh
• Demonetization
• Agriculture
• Importance of Discipline
• Population Explosion
• Poverty in India
• Uses Of Mobile Phones
• Water Scarcity
• Train Journey
• Land Pollution
• Environment Protection
• Indian Army
• Uses of Internet
• All that Glitters is not Gold
• Balanced Diet
• Blood Donation
• Digital India
• Dussehra Essay
• Energy Conservation
• National Integration
• Railway Station
• Sachin Tendulkar
• Health And Hygiene
• Importance Of Forest
• Indira Gandhi
• Laughter Is The Best Medicine
• Career Goals
• Mental Health
• Save Water Save Life
• International Yoga Day
• Winter Vacation
• Soil Pollution
• Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
• Indian Culture And Tradition
• Unity Is Strength
• Unity is Diversity
• Wildlife Conservation
• Cruelty To Animals
• Nelson Mandela
• Of Mice And Men
• Organ Donation
• Life in a Big City
• Democracy in India
• Waste Management
• Biodiversity
• Afforestation
• Female Foeticide
• Harmful Effects Of Junk Food
• Rain Water Harvesting
• Save Electricity
• Social Media
• Social Networking Sites
• Sound Pollution
• Procrastination
• Life in an Indian Village
• Life in Big City
• Population Growth
• World Population Day
• Greenhouse Effect
• Statue of Unity
• Traffic Jam
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
• Importance of Good Manners
• Good Manners
• Cyber Security
• Green Revolution
• Health And Fitness
• Incredible India
• Make In India
• Surgical Strike
• Triple Talaq
• A Good Friend
• Importance of Friends in our Life
• Should Plastic be Banned
• Nationalism
• Traffic Rules
• Effects of Global Warming
• Fundamental Rights
• Solar System
• National Constitution Day
• Good Mother
• Importance of Trees in our Life
• City Life Vs Village Life
• Importance of Communication
• Conservation of Nature
• Man vs. Machine
• Indian Economy
• Mothers Love
• Importance of National Integration
• Black Money
• Greenhouse effect
• Untouchability
• Self Discipline
• Global Terrorism
• Conservation of Biodiversity
• Newspaper and Its Uses
• World Health Day
• Conservation of Natural Resources
• A Picnic with Family
• Indian Heritage
• Status of Women in India
• Child is Father of the Man
• Reading is Good Habit
• Plastic Bag
• Terrorism in India
• Library and Its Uses
• Life on Mars
• Urbanization
• Pollution Due to Diwali
• National Flag of India
• Vocational Education
• Importance of Tree Plantation
• Summer Camp
• Vehicle Pollution
• Women Education in India
• Seasons in India
• Freedom of the Press
• Caste System
• Environment and Human Health
• Mountain Climbing
• Depletion of Natural Resources
• Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
• Health Education
• Effects of Deforestation
• Life after School
• Starvation in India
• Jan Dhan Yojana
• Impact of Privatization
• Election Commission of India
• Election and Democracy
• Prevention of Global Warming
• Impact of Cinema in Life
• Subhas Chandra Bose
• Dowry System
• Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
• Role of Science in Making India
• Impact of Global Warming on Oceans
• Pollution due to Festivals
• Ambedkar Jayanti
• Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
• Family Planning in India
• Democracy vs Dictatorship
• National Festivals of India
• Sri Aurobindo
• Casteism in India
• Organ trafficking
• Consequences of Global Warming
• Role of Human Activities in Global Warming
• Issues and Problems faced by Women in India
• Role of Judiciary in the Country Today
• Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan
• PUBG Mobile Game Addiction
• Role of Youths in Nation Building
• Value of Oxygen and Water in Life/Earth
• Farmer Suicides in India
• Start-up India
• Pollution Due to Firecrackers
• Life of Soldiers
• Child Labour
• Save Girl Child
• Morning Walk
• My School Fete
• Essay on Financial Literacy
• Essay On Sustainable Development
• Essay On Punjab
• Essay On Travel
• My Home Essay
• Child Marriage Essay
• Importance Of English Language Essay
• Essay On Mass Media
• Essay On Horse
• Essay On Police
• Essay On Eid
• Essay On Solar Energy
• Animal Essay
• Essay On Mango
• Gender Discrimination Essay
• Essay On Advertisement
• My First Day At School Essay
• My Neighborhood Essay
• True Friendship Essay
• Work Is Worship Essay
• Essay On Self Confidence
• Essay On Superstition
• Essay On Bangalore
• Sex Vs Gender Essay
• Essay On Social Issues
• Time Is Money Essay
• Essay About Grandmothers
• Essay On Hard Work
• First Day Of School Essay
• Flowers Essay
• My Favorite Food Essay
• Essay on Birds
• Essay on Humanity
• Essay on Sun
• Essay on Kargil War
• Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining Essay
• Francis Bacon Essays
• Importance of Cleanliness Essay
• My Sister Essay
• Self Introduction Essay
• Solar Energy Essay
• Sports Day Essa
• Value Of Education Essay
• Essay On Isro
• Essay On Balance Is Beneficial
• Essay On Reservation In India
• Essay On Water Management
• Essay On Smoking
• Essay On Stress Management
• Essay On William Shakespeare
• Essay on Apple
• Essay On Albert Einstein
• Essay On Feminism
• Essay On Kindness
• Essay On Domestic Violence
• Essay on English as a Global Language
• Essay On Co-Education
• Importance Of Exercise Essay
• Overpopulation Essay
• Smartphone Essay
• Essay on River
• Essay on Cyclone
• Essay On Facebook
• Essay On Science In Everyday Life
• Essay On Women Rights
• Essay On Right To Education
• Essay on Quotes
• Essay On Peace
• Essay On Drawing
• Essay On Bicycle
• Essay On Sexual Harassment
• Essay On Hospital
• Essay On Srinivasa Ramanujan
• Essay On Golden Temple
• Essay On Art
• Essay On Ruskin Bond
• Essay On Moon
• Birthday Essay
• Dont Judge A Book By Its Cover Essay
• Draught Essay
• Gratitude Essay
• Indian Politics Essay
• Who am I Essay
• Essay on Positive Thinking
• Essay on Dance
• Essay on Navratri
• Essay on Onam
• Essay on New Education Policy 2020
• Esasy on Thank you Coronavirus Helpers
• Essay on Coronavirus and Coronavirus Symptoms
• Essay on Baseball
• Essay on coronavirus vaccine
• Fitness beats pandemic essay
• Essay on coronavirus tips
• Essay on coronavirus prevention
• Essay on coronavirus treatment
• Essay on essay on trees
• Essay on television
• Gender inequality essay
• Water conservation essay
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on Types of sports
• Essay on road safety
• Essay on my favourite season
• My pet essay
• Student life essay
• Essay on Railway station
• Essay on earth
• Essay on knowledge is power
• Essay on favourite personality
• Essay on memorable day of my life
• My parents essay
• Our country essay
• Picnic essay
• Travelling essay

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Letter Writing
• It So Happened Summary
• Honey Dew Chapter Summaries
• The Alien Hand
• Malu Bhalu Summary
• Sing a Song of People Summary
• The Little Bully Summary
• Nobody’s Friend Summary
• Class Discussion Summary
• Crying Summary in English

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base

The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples

An academic essay is a focused piece of writing that develops an idea or argument using evidence, analysis, and interpretation.

There are many types of essays you might write as a student. The content and length of an essay depends on your level, subject of study, and course requirements. However, most essays at university level are argumentative — they aim to persuade the reader of a particular position or perspective on a topic.

The essay 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 your essay on the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Essay writing process, preparation for writing an essay, writing the introduction, writing the main body, writing the conclusion, essay checklist, lecture slides, frequently asked questions about writing 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.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Before you start writing, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you’re going to say it. There are a few key steps you can follow to make sure you’re prepared:

• Understand your assignment: What is the goal of this essay? What is the length and deadline of the assignment? Is there anything you need to clarify with your teacher or professor?
• Define a topic: If you’re allowed to choose your own topic , try to pick something that you already know a bit about and that will hold your interest.
• Do your research: Read  primary and secondary sources and take notes to help you work out your position and angle on the topic. You’ll use these as evidence for your points.
• Come up with a thesis:  The thesis is the central point or argument that you want to make. A clear thesis is essential for a focused essay—you should keep referring back to it as you write.
• Create an outline: Map out the rough structure of your essay in an outline . This makes it easier to start writing and keeps you on track as you go.

Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you want to discuss, in what order, and what evidence you’ll use, you’re ready to start writing.

The introduction sets the tone for your essay. It should grab the reader’s interest and inform them of what to expect. The introduction generally comprises 10–20% of the text.

1. Hook your reader

The first sentence of the introduction should pique your reader’s interest and curiosity. This sentence is sometimes called the hook. It might be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or a bold statement emphasizing the relevance of the topic.

Let’s say we’re writing an essay about the development of Braille (the raised-dot reading and writing system used by visually impaired people). Our hook can make a strong statement about the topic:

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

2. Provide background on your topic

Next, it’s important to give context that will help your reader understand your argument. This might involve providing background information, giving an overview of important academic work or debates on the topic, and explaining difficult terms. Don’t provide too much detail in the introduction—you can elaborate in the body of your essay.

3. Present the thesis statement

Next, you should formulate your thesis statement— the central argument you’re going to make. The thesis statement provides focus and signals your position on the topic. It is usually one or two sentences long. The thesis statement for our essay on Braille could look like this:

As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness.

4. Map the structure

In longer essays, you can end the introduction by briefly describing what will be covered in each part of the essay. This guides the reader through your structure and gives a preview of how your argument will develop.

The invention of Braille marked a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by blind and visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

Write your essay introduction

The body of your essay is where you make arguments supporting your thesis, provide evidence, and develop your ideas. Its purpose is to present, interpret, and analyze the information and sources you have gathered to support your argument.

Length of the body text

The length of the body depends on the type of essay. On average, the body comprises 60–80% of your essay. For a high school essay, this could be just three paragraphs, but for a graduate school essay of 6,000 words, the body could take up 8–10 pages.

Paragraph structure

To give your essay a clear structure , it is important to organize it into paragraphs . Each paragraph should be centered around one main point or idea.

That idea is introduced in a  topic sentence . The topic sentence should generally lead on from the previous paragraph and introduce the point to be made in this paragraph. Transition words can be used to create clear connections between sentences.

After the topic sentence, present evidence such as data, examples, or quotes from relevant sources. Be sure to interpret and explain the evidence, and show how it helps develop your overall argument.

Lack of access to reading and writing put blind people at a serious disadvantage in nineteenth-century society. Text was one of the primary methods through which people engaged with culture, communicated with others, and accessed information; without a well-developed reading system that did not rely on sight, blind people were excluded from social participation (Weygand, 2009). While disabled people in general suffered from discrimination, blindness was widely viewed as the worst disability, and it was commonly believed that blind people were incapable of pursuing a profession or improving themselves through culture (Weygand, 2009). This demonstrates the importance of reading and writing to social status at the time: without access to text, it was considered impossible to fully participate in society. Blind people were excluded from the sighted world, but also entirely dependent on sighted people for information and education.

See the full essay example

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

The conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. It should generally take up no more than 10–15% of the text . A strong essay conclusion :

• Returns to your thesis
• Ties together your main points
• Shows why your argument matters

A great conclusion should finish with a memorable or impactful sentence that leaves the reader with a strong final impression.

What not to include in a conclusion

To make your essay’s conclusion as strong as possible, there are a few things you should avoid. The most common mistakes are:

• Including new arguments or evidence
• Undermining your arguments (e.g. “This is just one approach of many”)
• Using concluding phrases like “To sum up…” or “In conclusion…”

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

Write your essay conclusion

Checklist: Essay

My essay follows the requirements of the assignment (topic and length ).

My introduction sparks the reader’s interest and provides any necessary background information on the topic.

My introduction contains a thesis statement that states the focus and position of the essay.

I use paragraphs to structure the essay.

I use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph.

Each paragraph has a single focus and a clear connection to the thesis statement.

I make clear transitions between paragraphs and ideas.

My conclusion doesn’t just repeat my points, but draws connections between arguments.

I don’t introduce new arguments or evidence in the conclusion.

I have given an in-text citation for every quote or piece of information I got from another source.

I have included a reference page at the end of my essay, listing full details of all my sources.

My citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required citation style .

My essay has an interesting and informative title.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (e.g. font, page numbers, line spacing).

Your essay meets all the most important requirements. Our editors can give it a final check to help you submit with confidence.

Open Google Slides Download PowerPoint

An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

Is this article helpful?

Other students also liked.

• How long is an essay? Guidelines for different types of essay
• How to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples
• How to conclude an essay | Interactive example

More interesting articles

• Checklist for academic essays | Is your essay ready to submit?
• Comparing and contrasting in an essay | Tips & examples
• Example of a great essay | Explanations, tips & tricks
• Generate topic ideas for an essay or paper | Tips & techniques
• How to revise an essay in 3 simple steps
• How to structure an essay: Templates and tips
• How to write a descriptive essay | Example & tips
• How to write a literary analysis essay | A step-by-step guide
• How to write a narrative essay | Example & tips
• How to write a rhetorical analysis | Key concepts & examples
• How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples
• How to write an argumentative essay | Examples & tips
• How to write an essay outline | Guidelines & examples
• How to write an expository essay
• How to write the body of an essay | Drafting & redrafting
• Kinds of argumentative academic essays and their purposes
• Organizational tips for academic essays
• The four main types of essay | Quick guide with examples
• Transition sentences | Tips & examples for clear writing

"I thought AI Proofreading was useless but.."

I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes”

11th Grade Essays

• Most Popular
• Most Recent

The complete guide to preparing for the 11 Plus

• What is the Eleven Plus?
• A parent’s guide to coping with the 11 plus
• On the day of the test
• Results Day
• 11 Plus General Tips
• CEM 11 Plus
• Standardised Scores
• Planning an 11+ Campaign
• Preparation in Year 3 & Year 4
• Preparation in Year 5
• Emergency! Preparation for Late Starters
• 11 Plus Practice Materials
• Free 11 Plus Practice Papers
• What’s new in 11 Plus?
• Verbal Reasoning
• Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Mathematics
• Practice Online
• When to Start Tutoring
• Finding a Tutor
• Choosing the Right Type of Tutoring
• Selecting the Right Tutor
• Problems with a Tutor
• Eleven Plus Exams Tuition Centre
• General Points
• Non Qualification
• Oversubscribed School
• Ombudsman and ESFA
• Miscellaneous
• Abbreviations

The lowdown on the requirements of different schools and areas

• Choosing a School
• Admission Policies and Rules
• Glossary of Admission Terms
• Open Day & School Visit Questions
• CAF - The School Application Form
• Equal Preference System
• School League Tables
• Independent Schools
• Partially Selective Schools
• Grammar Schools
• Grammar to Academy Status
• Birmingham & Walsall
• Buckinghamshire
• Hertfordshire
• Lancashire & Cumbria
• Lincolnshire
• Wolverhampton & Wrekin

Everything you need to succeed at the 11 Plus More about our Services

11+ Essay Writing

Independent School Essay Writing  Next Page.

With thanks to various 11+ Forum members, particularly Freya, for their helpful posts on this topic.

Children often feel that the essay element of the 11+ is a monumental task, and parents preparing them for it often feel the same way! We hope that the advice on this page will help your and your child to break the task down into manageable pieces, and also provide you with some useful shortcuts.

On this section you will also find advice on essay writing from an 11+ veteran who took several Independent School exams. The advice given is particularly helpful for longer essays and for more challenging topics and tests.

The essay test may be as little as 20 minutes or as long as 50 minutes, and may be factual or fiction. There is usually a choice of titles, but it is important to check the type of topics that have come up in the tests for each school in the past. There are some examples below of essay titles that have come up in past 11+ tests around the country to get you started.

Examiners in different areas may have different priorities. In some areas they will mainly be interested in the content of the work, rather than demanding good spelling or punctuation. In other areas accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling may be required as well. All examiners will be looking for one key thing: the “beginning, middle and end” that most children find so difficult to achieve in essays.

If your child does not excel at fiction writing and you know for certain that they will have a choice of factual or fiction topics, you could focus on developing their ability to write a persuasive factual essay rather than battling uphill with creative writing.

Learning good planning technique is essential to success in an 11+ essay. The elements that need to be planned are:

• Who are the characters? Can you describe them?
• Where is the story set?
• What is the plot – what will happen in the story?
• How will the story begin?
• What will happen in the middle?
• How will it end?

With very limited time for planning an essay in the 11+ a child must learn to make rough notes on all of these points within a very tight timescale. In some areas the children are given 5 minutes specifically to plan their essay, but in other areas that time is included in the time allotted for the whole task, and speed is critical.

Building up a “bank” of characters and settings that your child can fall back is well worth doing. Typical characters might be: a criminal; an old lady; a spooky person; a scary man, a nice friend, etc. Settings might include: A rocky seashore; a dark wood; an old, empty house, etc.

To develop the “beginning, middle and end” balance, you can work out how much your child is likely to write in the allotted time and then start to rule 3 sections on their page, one short one, a longer one and a third short one. They then have to complete the “beginning” within the space allowed in the first section, fit the middle into the longer section and the ending must take up the whole of the last section

Even after extensive practice a child may still find that they are running out of time. It is well worth preparing some “emergency endings”, and never,  ever  falling back on the stock phrase: “And then I woke up and realised it was all a dream”. It is an ending that makes the hearts of teachers and examiners sink to their boots!

Plenty of adjectives and adverbs will make for interesting writing, and you can help your child to make “stock lists” of appropriate words for different settings. For example, if the story is a “spooky” story, help them to think of dark, scary adjectives and adverbs.

As time goes on it is also worth helping a child come up with “stock phrases” that can fit into almost any essay, such as:

• Linking mood to weather: Tears like the rain/waterfalls; Eyes bruised like dark clouds; Heart beating as raindrops thundered; Eyes twinkling like dew on fresh grass.
• Descriptions of surroundings: Sweet, cloying scent; Patchwork of autumn leaves – vibrant reds, ochres, etc; Shafts of sunshine dappling; Trees whispering to each other; Angry water seething and boiling.
• Descriptions of being frightened: Being chased, hiding and anticipating being found.

Essay Topics

For creative writing, the topics set for 11+ essays tend to have the same common themes, and it is worth having a “stock” story that can be used in each of these settings:

• Being lost, scared or alone
• Doing something exciting or achieving something (’the best day of my life was . . . ’)
• Taking a holiday
• Having an adventure
• Being in a city or in the countryside

These are topics that have come up on past 11+ papers around the country, with a few additional titles contributed by our 11+ Forum members:

• A surprising spy
• Break time at school
• Write a story about a lost key
• Is life too hectic to enjoy fully?
• My favourite memories
• A farewell party
• An attempted robbery
• It was a while before I realised my cat could talk
• Moving Houses
• I don’t know what that noise was …..
• The new pupils
• The Burglary
• My Brilliant Idea
• Visiting Relatives
• The Balloon
• The school rules
• A place that inspires you
• Your favourite day out
• Are Jamie Oliver’s new school dinners a good idea.
• What makes a good friend?
• Describe the scene and the activities at a bus station.
• What are your reactions to discipline? How far is it necessary both at home and at school?
• How does the life of your generation differ from that of your grandparents?
• Discuss the good and bad effects of competition in modern life

• The Importance of Reading
• 11 plus Vocabulary

Related Pages

• Comprehension Exercises
• Essay Writing
• Importance of Reading
• Reading List
• Useful Resources for English
• Free Eleven Plus Papers

11+ Essentials – English Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Book 1 (First Past the Post®)

Knowledge of spelling, punctuation and grammar is at the heart of 11 plus and Common Entrance exams, such as those set by Granada Learning (GL). The questions in this book have been designed to replicate the last three sections of the current GL 11 plus English test.

11+ Essentials – Creative Writing Examples Book 2 (First Past the Post®)

Creative Writing: Examples presents 11+ students with a variety of high-quality, creative writing pieces, written by their peers in preparation for their exam. This book is designed to address the key elements of the 11+ creative writing exam, using real creative pieces as examples.

10 Examples of Debate Writing Class 11 | Sample Questions

by Meenu Saini | Jul 19, 2023 | General | 0 comments

Are you looking for examples of Debate Writing for Class 11 , no worries, you’ve come to the right place! Our post provides 10 Debate Writing samples based on previous years’ question papers . These examples of Debate Writing can help you understand the format, tone, and language used in such writing skills. We offer detailed explanations for each sample and highlight the important features that make it effective. You can use these examples of Debate Writing as a reference to write your own letters or as a guide to improve your writing skills. So, check out our blog post and learn all about the examples of Debate Writing for Class 11!

Here we go….

Debate Writing 10 Examples based on previous years question papers

Q1. “Academic excellence is the only requirement for a successful career.” Write a debate either for or against the motion. (120 – 150 words) (5)

(Source- CBSE Question paper 2017-18, set-1)

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IS THE ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAREER.

FOR THE MOTION:

“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it from you.”

Respected judges and my worthy opponents, I stand before you all to speak in favour of the motion: “Academic excellence is the only requirement for a successful career”.

Right to Education is the fundamental right of every child in the age group of six to fourteen years. The education system in the primary years is designed so as to provide basic knowledge of each subject and help the youth of today to choose their subject of interest for its deeper study that can only be provided effectively through universities. It plays a key role in the development of society and nation. Information cannot be converted into knowledge without education. Education makes us capable of interpreting things, among other things.

It helps in raising future leaders by providing them clear understanding and developing decision making abilities. It makes them resourceful and competent. Excellence in academics prepares children for the competition ahead and teaches them to work hard as well.

Moreover, Excellency will ensure admission to the best universities for higher education that provide exposure and a kick start to their career. To conclude, I would say that one who has it’s academic future choices sorted out, has it’s career planned out.

“The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth.”

AGAINST THE MOTION:

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! My topic for the day is “Academic excellence is the only requirement for a successful career” and I choose to speak against the motion.

“The goal of education is to raise the leaders of tomorrow”. But my question is, How is it that most of the leaders of today happen to be college dropouts? This is because having degrees cannot ensure success. It fails to impart the life skills and polish personality of an individual. They can surely give you an overview of a subject but fail to provide an overview of how the world works. It does not ensure skills and competencies. It tells people what to think instead of how to think and the end results is that, the society now has just robots who have switched their minds off only to believe what is being taught.

One’s attitude towards life is what brings success. Undoubtedly, academic Excellencies can provide you degrees or may even land you at a job, but, your success depends upon how you think, behave, walk, talk and present yourself. It has been rightly said,

“Education produces great employees in the market, not employers”.

Q2. ‘Brain drain is not a bane for a developing country like India.’ Write a debate in 150 – 200 words either for or against the motion. (CBSE)

BRAIN DRAIN IS NOT A BANE FOR A DEVELOPING COUNTRY LIKE INDIA

Respected judges and my worthy opponents, today, I stand before you all to bring into light why Brain drain is not a bane for a developing country like India. Brain drain is a situation in which large numbers of educated and skilled professionals leave their own country to live and work in another country where pay and conditions are better. In a developing country like India, the population is growing at a rate faster than the increase in job opportunities. In such a case, immigration to other countries can be seen to be providing sunshine to dispel the gloom of the unemployed youth. Moreover, income from the emigrated people comes back to the native country as overseas remittances. India is recipient of the highest amount of foreign currency coming in as remittances from NRIs. Reverse brain drain, on the other hand, if given attention, can make it a win-win situation. It is a situation in which such people come back to India after acquiring knowledge, skills and abilities, thus adding value to India. The need of the hour is to encourage reverse brain drain so that India can make use of their tremendous potential, experience and expertise for building a stronger nation. This helps India becoming a developed country very soon and also a global Super Power in the long run.

Respected judges and my worthy opponents, today, I stand before you all to express my views on the topic “Brain drain is not a bane for a developing country like India”. I choose to speak against the motion. Brain drain is referred to a situation in which large numbers of educated and skilled professionals leave their own country to live and work in another country where pay and conditions are better. The majority of migration is from developing to developed countries. This is of growing concern worldwide because of its impact on developing countries. These countries have invested in the education and training of young health professionals. This translates into a loss of considerable resources when these people migrate, with the direct benefit accruing to the recipient states who have not forked out the cost of educating them. It drains a developing country of expertise at a time when it requires it the most. If the number of skilled people leaving is higher than that of people entering (the so-called brain gain), brain drain can become a challenge, especially if it hits the sensitive spots of a nation’s economy in sectors such as science, health care, or technology. It is the need of the hour to be in control of the situation. It can be done by providing better opportunity, security, better standard of living and if need be, tax concessions. It’s time to end brain drain and move to brain gain.

Q3. You are Mukul / Mahima of Alps Public School. Your school has organized a debate on “Social Media and It’s Effects” and you will be participating in your school. Prepare your views against or in favour of the motion. (120 – 150 words) (5)

(Source- CBSE Sample Question Paper 2018-19)

SOCIAL MEDIA AND IT’s EFFECTS

“We are all now connected by the internet, like neurons in a giant brain”

Honourable judges, teachers and my worthy opponents thank you for giving me the opportunity to join this debate on the topic, “Social Media and It’s Effects”. I am Mukul/ Mahima and I would like to speak in favour of the motion.

How many people do not have a smile on their faces on finding an old friend on Facebook? Well, social media has removed all the barriers and boundaries to communication by bringing the globe on a single platform. While business opportunities have widened, marketer’s reach has broadened. It keeps us updated about everything going on in every nook and corner of the world on a real-time basis.

From emergency alerts, announcements and declarations to knowing how our friends are doing has all become so convenient. It provides freedom of speech and thus, enables everyone to speak their mind. Not to forget the incalculable access it provides to the extensive information.

With so much advancement and innovation, it would be an unimaginable world without having social media in it. Someone has rightly put it into words by saying,

“Social media is addictive precisely because it gives us something that the real world lacks: it gives us immediacy, direction and a value as an individual.”

What a world it is, with everyone on their phones, all the time, faking their lives and keeping a count of their likes?

Good Morning, ladies and gentlemen! I am Mukul/ Mahima and my topic for the day is, “Social media and its effects”. I would like to speak against the motion.

It has now become doubtful to trust the saying that goes like “Technology was developed to save time and make our lives easier”, because people have become addicted and unproductive. It takes a lot of effort and discipline to stay away from social media. Results have shown that it has had adverse effects on human minds and their functioning. Outdoor activities among children have also reduced significantly.

No doubt it provides access to useful information, but, it is hard to ignore the quantum of fake news that spreads like wildfire and the extent of impact it has on the society. In fact, fake whatsapp forwards was a clear pattern that was observed behind the recent mob lynchings or rather, “Death by social media”.

It is one of the reasons behind insecurities and depression among teenagers. It is right that technology was introduced to save time, but we forgot to mention, “In the right amount” . So, remember, you leave the present moment every time you check the phone.

Thank you for your cooperation and patient hearing.

Q4. Are celebs responsible for the products they endorse? Taking a cue from the headlines given below and using your own ideas, write a debate for or against the topic. (about 150-200 words)

Amitabh Bachchan steps back from promoting Pepsi after a school girl questions the health impact of the drink. Brief ban on Maggi noodles causes trouble for its celebrity Brand ambassadors. (CBSE Sample Question Paper 2017) Ans.

ARE CELEBS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRODUCTS THEY ENDORSE?

Respected judges and my worthy opponents, today, I stand before you all to accentuate why celebrities are responsible for the products they endorse.

Advertising agencies often pick celebrities because their fan following ensures more eyeballs. The celebrities are the present-day gods. They are adored, venerated, and worshipped by many. Given the fan base and the celebrity power of influence, many questions come up. Are they accountable for what the endorser does? Do they at least have the moral responsibility to understand the product better?

It becomes a misleading advertisement if it is found that the product does not have the attributes that the manufacturer professed. And if the brand ambassador has promoted that product and said specifically that the product has those attributes, they are also certainly liable for action.

The brief ban on Maggi noodles had an implication for its celebrity endorsers. Not so long ago, Amitabh Bachchan stepped back from promoting Pepsi after a school girl questioned the health impact of the drink. Celebrities vouch for the performance of a product; they should first use it before endorsing it.

Public figures have an ethical obligation towards those who follow them and this necessitates a framework that guides them to take responsibility for their public image, which includes the products they endorse. Moving in and out of paid contracts might be a solution for the celebrity endorser but it doesn’t erase the impact of their previously branded image.

Respected judges and my worthy opponents, today, I stand before you all to accentuate why celebs should not be held responsible for the products they endorse.

Advertising agencies often pick celebrities because their fan following ensures more eyeballs. No doubt the advertisement will attract you, but it’s unlikely that you will buy the product unless you have seen it and tested it. Buying financial products and real estate is more nuanced and, hence, advertisements alone shouldn’t be your guiding light. Consumers need to be more discerning in such cases.

Take the case of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He did end his contract with the real estate firm but how would he have known that the company would fail to honour its commitment? If it was so easy to determine the intention of the company then the first to exit the deal would have been the home buyers. Or take the case of celebrity tourism mascots for states. Would you blame a celebrity if the state government ends up doing something ridiculous?

Many celebrities endorse multiple brands and it is not possible for them to use all. Celebs endorse brands for money. Don’t make them responsible for the efficacy of the product. There are government agencies to ensure quality for the products sold in their countries and it is justified to make only those people accountable whose job is to certify products.

Q5. “ONLINE SMART CLASSES ARE THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION STYLE”. Write a debate either for or against the motion. (120 – 150 words). (5)

ONLINE SMART CLASSES ARE THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION STYLE

Honourable judges and worthy listeners,

“If you are so old minded and think that computers will be distracting children from studies, with a sincere sorry for you, let me tell you that the young generation has gone a long way with computers!”

Thus, I am here to talk about the endless possibilities of computer and internet based teaching methods.

When most parents think of learning from computers, socializing websites like facebook appear before their eyes. It is the biggest cyber tragedy. There are definitely a large number of sites beyond just facebook.

Udemy, Coursera, Khan academy, Byju’s teaching app, the list of online teaching platforms is endless and ever growing. There are millions of students and teachers who use these websites and apps for their exam-preparation. They are mostly free and it is what makes one turn away from traditional paper-guides. With a smartphone in every hand, city and village alike, these online libraries are within everyone’s reach.

Google has already replaced the word Guru to become the greatest knowledge-provider.

With seven hundred billion population and six hundred trees, it is the need of the century to go paperless. In this context you can find no better solution than eLearning.

Rather than living the life of a consumer, let’s be contributors. Instead of buying paper books, let’s buy eBooks. Instead of collecting a thousand books in our shelves, let’s convert our phones or computers into virtual libraries and learn.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! My topic for the day is “Online Classes are the Future of Education Style” and I choose to speak against the motion.

Online learning or e-learning refers to learning conducted via electronic media, typically on the Internet. There is no face-to-face interaction between the teacher and the student. It decreases the scope of adjusting and modifying the language or the concept according to various audiences. Moreover, humans are known to be social animals and are thus, more interested in direct tuition than virtual tuition.

There is lack of proper guidance and self-assessment mechanisms. Not only this, it would also reduce employment among teachers.

Since it involves only brain work and not physical work, they tend to get lethargic resulting in altered physiology. Also, it leads to lack of discipline. Attending a school makes one have a time schedule in a day. This helps them learn some good habits like, bathing, breakfast, going to bed at the right time etc. Physical school help children adopt a discipline.

Not to forget the excellent interactions involved in physical learning. People tend to make friends who support them and mentors who guide them. Thus, no matter how fast technological developments are taking place, the traditional way of learning should not be displaced.

Q6. ‘Homes for the aged is a necessity in India ‘. Write a debate in 120- 150 words either for or against the motion. You are Shivam/ Shivani.

(CBSE Sample Question Paper 2018)

HOMES FOR THE AGED IS A NECESSITY IN INDIA

Old age is often referred to as the crown of life, as it is our play’s last act. Honourable judges, teachers and my worthy opponents, I thank you all for providing me the opportunity to highlight the importance of Old Age Homes in India. An old age home is a place, a home for old people who have no one to look after them or those whose children have left them on the streets. The place, of course, is like home where the inmates get all the facilities for a routine living, like food, clothing, medicine and shelter. Old age brings with it physical weakness. In case they are alone at home while you’re away, it would be almost impossible to tackle any medical emergency. These centres will take care of them and cater to all such emergencies Also, burglars usually attempt to break into a house where a lonely aged person lives, murder them without hesitating and loot the house. That’s why it is safer to keep your parents in a senior-care-home when you have to stay away from them for your earning and are unable to keep them there with you. Thus, it is crucial to have Old age homes in the country because old age needs so little but needs that little very much. Nothing is more important than a smile that has struggled through tears and many years.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! My topic for the day is “Home for the aged is a necessity in India” and I choose to speak against the motion.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the whole idea of Old age homes, but just like there are two sides of the same coin, it also has some disadvantages and problems associated to it. Services attract costs. Better the services, higher the costs. Most of the aged population are pensioners or dependent on children which makes it difficult for them to afford good quality care. There is lack of privacy too. The environment is impersonal, which may give rise to feeling of loneliness, which may further lead to depression. They lose the right to decide what to eat and cannot spend time with grandchildren. Also, there have been many incidents of neglect and poor treatment.

They are those people who made us capable and created a world for us. How can we leave them in the cold, that too when they require the warmth of our love the most? Our parents have sacrificed so much for us without asking for anything in return. This makes it our sole responsibility to take care of them when they need it the most, because, in the end, the ultimate luxury is being at home and able to relax with the family.

Q7. You are a student of Class 10, who is currently preparing for the board exams. In the newspaper, you saw an advertisement for a debate competition held by the newspaper on the topic “Should schools conduct Pre Board Exams?”. You wish to present your views on the topic. Write a debate on the given topic in 150-200 words, which is to be submitted to the editor of the local daily. Ans.

Should schools conduct Pre Board Exams?

For the motion: For the students of classes 10 and 12, Board exams are crucial examinations, on which their future depends. In 99 percent of the jobs, they are required to inform the employers how much they scored in 10th and 12th. Therefore, these examinations are important not just for admissions, but to secure lucrative jobs and careers.

Pre Board Examinations, as the name suggests, are held before the Board examinations. These examinations help students prepare for the Boards by asking slightly more tricky questions and having a stricter marking scheme. Due to the importance of these exams and the young, delicate age of the students, students end up having a lot of pressure and expectations on their shoulders. Some students doubt whether they are good enough or not. Some students are not sure of the type of questions that would be asked in the Boards.

Therefore, Pre Board Examinations help in building up the confidence of the students and also makes them aware of how much more hard work they need to put in order to achieve the desired marks in the Board examinations.

Against the motion: Board examinations are crucial exams for the students of classes 10 and 12. The score we get in our Boards secure admission in our dream college, and lucrative jobs or careers. Due to the high importance of these examinations, students end up having a lot of stress on themselves.

Pre Board Examinations, as the name suggests, are held before the Board examinations. These examinations help us prepare for the Boards by asking slightly trickier questions and having a stricter marking scheme. Despite its motive being to prepare the students for the main exam, in many cases, it brings down the self-esteem of students. Students end up doubting and hating themselves, as they believe that if they cannot get appreciable marks in Pre Boards, they cannot get a high score on the main exam. They feel like this is the end of the world, and they would not be able to achieve their dreams. Multiple failures may result in the student giving up on their studies, and sometimes, their life.

Therefore, Pre Board Examinations sometimes put more pressure on the student instead of helping in building up their confidence.

Q8. You are a NEET aspirant. Your institution is organising a debate competition on the topic “Are entrance exams advantageous?”. You wish to present your views on the topic. Write a debate on the given topic in 150-200 words. Ans.

Are entrance exams advantageous?

For the motion: Good morning teachers, judges and my dear friends. In this debate competition, I am going to speak for the motion for the topic “Are entrance exams advantageous?”.

As we all know, after 12th graders complete their Board examinations, students apply for admissions in colleges of their choice. Due to an increase in the student body with many students having excellent percentages in exams, and potential to be great, selecting students had become quite difficult. Also, one cannot determine if a student is good enough for a specific course by just seeing the Boards results. This is how entrance exams came to being.

Therefore, entrance exams help in picking out the students who have the highest potential for the particular course. Since these exams are nationwide, participants can also see where they stand and how much more they need to improve. Therefore, entrance exams also give a reality check. It is true that the entrance exams impose a lot of pressure on young adults. However, the stress and the fear of failing and not achieving their dreams drives them to perform well in the entrance exams.

Against the motion:

Good morning teachers, judges and my dear friends. In this debate competition, I am going to speak against the motion for the topic “Are entrance exams advantageous?”.

As we all know, after 12th graders complete their Board examinations, students apply for admissions in colleges of their choice. Due to an increase in the student body, selecting students has become quite difficult. Also, one cannot determine if a student is good enough for a specific course by just seeing the Boards results. This is how entrance exams came to being.

Therefore, students have to undergo the pressure of not only Pre Board and Board examinations, but also Entrance examinations. Students have to prepare for two very different examinations in a very short time. Students tend to neglect their basic requirements like food, sleep and health. Moreover, in case a student fails in an entrance exam, they feel hopeless as they cannot get admission to any college without clearing their entrance exam. Students may also feel burnt out by giving so many exams.

So, I conclude by saying that although the aim of the entrance exams is justified, it does not take into account the amount of pressure the students will have on them. Hence, entrance exams are disadvantageous.

Q9. Your school is organising a debate event on the topic “Should Video Games be Banned?”. Write a debate on the given topic, presenting your views in 150-200 words. Ans.

Should Video Games be Banned?

For the motion: Good morning respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends. In this debate competition, I am going to speak for the motion for the topic “Should Video Games be Banned?”.

Video games are games which can be played using electronic gadgets like the controllers, laptop, mobile, etc. These were made purely for the purpose of entertainment and recreation. Like movies, shows and books, video games have a wide range of different genres. Similarly, there are some video games which are not suitable for younger audiences. However, due to increasing popularity and attractive graphics, young children become attached to violent games.

This has resulted in children becoming more violent and prone to angry outbursts. These games display blood and murder, things that not only young children, but teens and adults alike should maintain a good distance from. It promotes anti-social and borderline personalities. It also sows the seed of addiction, resulting in people disengaging from the rest of the world, including family and friends.

Therefore, for the proper functioning of the society and to ensure the well-being of our fellow human beings, I would like to conclude by saying that video games should be banned.

Against the motion: Good morning respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends. In this debate competition, I am going to speak against the motion for the topic “Should Video Games be Banned?”.

As we all know and are experiencing, we have a lot of workload on us. As a solution, people came up with books, shows and movies. Similarly, we have one more method of recreation and entertaining purposes – Video games.

Video games show a great story with graphics and animation. It enables a person to interact as a character in the story. It comes in different genres. There are books and movies which are not suitable for young children and teenagers. We can see a similar situation in video games. Such games result in a child developing negative traits. However, this is not seen in all people. No matter if a person is an adult or not, if a person is being influenced by it negatively, then a person is not suitable enough to play a game of that genre.

Therefore, I would like to conclude by saying that video games should not be banned. Parents or guardians need to monitor what their child is playing, like how they monitor what their child is watching.

Q10. You, a student of class 10th, were given 10 days to think over the topic “Beauty Over Brains”, for which the teacher will hold a debate in class. Present your views in 150-200 words. Ans.

Beauty Over Brains

For the motion: Good morning dear teacher and my fellow classmates. Today, I am going to speak for the motion for the topic “Beauty Over Brains”.

There are many good qualities in this world that one can possess, like patience, humility, bravery, kindness etc. Two of these qualities are – Beauty and Intelligence.

Beauty is a quality which enables a person to have an attractive appearance. Intelligence, also commonly known as Brains, is a quality which enables a person to gain more knowledge in a short amount of time and to apply it in a unique and smart way. While both the qualities are important in their own ways, I believe Beauty to be more important than Brains.

Teenagers undergo a lot of physical and hormonal changes, leading to acne, body dysmorphia, obesity or skinny appearance, etc. No matter how intelligent they are, they end up being bullied and teased for their imperfections. An ugly person cannot make any friends. They are so insecure of their appearance that they cannot celebrate their intelligence. Good looks give confidence.

Therefore, I believe that Beauty over Brains is a correct saying.

Against the motion: Good morning dear teacher and my fellow classmates. Today, I am going to speak for the motion against the topic “Beauty Over Brains”.

Beauty is a quality which enables a person to have an attractive appearance. Intelligence, also commonly known as Brains, is a quality which enables a person to gain more knowledge in a short amount of time and to apply it in a unique and smart way. While both the qualities are important in their own ways, I believe Brains to be more important than Beauty.

While Beauty enables a person to be more attractive and self-confident, having no Brains makes them naive and vulnerable. Without Brains, it is practically impossible to live in today’s society. The world can be a cruel and tough place to be in, and Beauty is a quality which does not save us from trouble. When a person has Brains, no matter how beautiful they are, they know the path to success and how they need to interact with others.

Therefore, I would like to conclude by saying that Brains is naturally superior to Beauty in many ways.

Also See : 

• 10 Examples of Letter to the Editor Class 10 and 12
• 10 Examples of Letter to Police Class 10
• 10 Examples of Letter to the Government Class 10
• 10 Examples of Informal Letter Class 10
• 10 Examples of Report Writing Class 12
• 10 Examples of Business Letter
• 10 Examples of Leave Application for Marriage Class 10
• 10 Examples of Story Writing Class 9
• 10 Examples of Speech Writing Class 11
• 10 Examples of Invitation and Reply Writing Class 12
• 10 Examples of Job Application with bio data Class 12
• 10 Examples of Complaint Letter
• 10 Examples of Article Writing Class 12
• 10 Examples of Notice Writing Class 12
• 10 Examples of Message Writing Class 6, 7, 8
• 10 Examples of Maternity Leave Application
• 10 Examples of Analytical Paragraph Class 10
• 10 Examples of Advertisement Writing Class 11
• 10 Examples of Letter to Principal
• 10 Examples of Leave Application Class 10
• 1 0 Examples of Debate Writing Class 11
• 10 Examples of Order Letter Class 10
• 10 Examples of Resignation Letter

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

• Teacher’s Day Wishes in Hindi
• Ganesh Chaturthi Wishes in Hindi
• Janmashtami Messages in Hindi
• Raksha Bandhan Wishes in Hindi
• Birthday Wishes in Hindi
• Anniversary Wishes in Hindi
• Father’s Day Quotes and Messages
• Father’s Day quotes in Hindi
• International Yoga Day Slogans, Quotes and Sayings
• अंतर्राष्ट्रीय योग दिवस Slogans, Quotes and Sayings
• Good Morning Messages in Hindi
• Good Night Messages in Hindi | शुभ रात्रि संदेश
• Wedding Wishes in Hindi

Important Days

• National Space Day Quiz| National Space Day MCQs
• World Soil Day – Date, History, Significance
• International Yoga Day Slogans, Quotes and Sayings by Famous people 2024
• Calendar MCQ Quiz for Various Competitive Exams
• CUET 2024 MCQ Quiz on Important Dates

English Writing Skills

English Grammar Examples

All English Grammar Topics, Exercises, examples, MCQ Tests

Analytical Paragraph Writing | Format, Examples, Samples

Report Writing Format | How to Report Writing Examples, Topics, Samples and Types

Letter to Editor Class 10 to 12, Topics, Sample and Example

Informal Letter Format, Topics, Examples

Article Writing Format, Topics and Examples

Classified advertisement writing examples

Letter to the Principal, Format, Samples

Story Writing , Format, Topics, Examples

Job Application with Biodata, Format, Topics, Examples

Leave Application Format for Office, School and Sample

Leave Application for Marriage, Format, Sample, and Examples

Speech Writing format, examples for Class 11, 12

Invitation writing tips for class 12

Report writing tips for class 12

10 Important Things to DO to score more in Debate writing question

Let us revise Reported Speech in 9 Quick Steps

Job Application Writing Tips for Class 12 English

Tips to ace the question on Analytical Paragraph writing in Class 10

English Grammar

Active and Passive Voice Definition, Rules, Exercise, and Example Sentences

Countable and Uncountable Nouns Meaning, Definition, Difference and Examples

Direct and Indirect Speech, Format, Rules, Exercise, and Examples

Determiners Definition, Types, Exercise and Examples

All About Tenses | Tenses Examples, Types of Tenses in English Grammar

English Vocabulary for Bank PO Exams – Synonyms MCQ Videos

Noun Definition, Types, Exercise with Examples in Hindi and English

What is a Verb? Definition, Types of Verbs, Exercise and Verbs Examples in Hindi and English

What is a Preposition? Definition, Types, Exercise, and Examples in Hindi and English

Subject Verb Agreement Rules and Examples

Modals Definition | Modals Exercise, List of Modals with Examples

Master Tenses in English Grammar – The Easy Way

Choose Your Test

• Search Blogs By Category
• College Admissions
• AP and IB Exams
• GPA and Coursework

177 College Essay Examples for 11 Schools + Expert Analysis

College Admissions , College Essays

The personal statement might just be the hardest part of your college application. Mostly this is because it has the least guidance and is the most open-ended. One way to understand what colleges are looking for when they ask you to write an essay is to check out the essays of students who already got in—college essays that actually worked. After all, they must be among the most successful of this weird literary genre.

In this article, I'll go through general guidelines for what makes great college essays great. I've also compiled an enormous list of 100+ actual sample college essays from 11 different schools. Finally, I'll break down two of these published college essay examples and explain why and how they work. With links to 177 full essays and essay excerpts , this article is a great resource for learning how to craft your own personal college admissions essay!

What Excellent College Essays Have in Common

Even though in many ways these sample college essays are very different from one other, they do share some traits you should try to emulate as you write your own essay.

Visible Signs of Planning

Building out from a narrow, concrete focus. You'll see a similar structure in many of the essays. The author starts with a very detailed story of an event or description of a person or place. After this sense-heavy imagery, the essay expands out to make a broader point about the author, and connects this very memorable experience to the author's present situation, state of mind, newfound understanding, or maturity level.

Knowing how to tell a story. Some of the experiences in these essays are one-of-a-kind. But most deal with the stuff of everyday life. What sets them apart is the way the author approaches the topic: analyzing it for drama and humor, for its moving qualities, for what it says about the author's world, and for how it connects to the author's emotional life.

Stellar Execution

A killer first sentence. You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again: you have to suck the reader in, and the best place to do that is the first sentence. Great first sentences are punchy. They are like cliffhangers, setting up an exciting scene or an unusual situation with an unclear conclusion, in order to make the reader want to know more. Don't take my word for it—check out these 22 first sentences from Stanford applicants and tell me you don't want to read the rest of those essays to find out what happens!

A lively, individual voice. Writing is for readers. In this case, your reader is an admissions officer who has read thousands of essays before yours and will read thousands after. Your goal? Don't bore your reader. Use interesting descriptions, stay away from clichés, include your own offbeat observations—anything that makes this essay sounds like you and not like anyone else.

Technical correctness. No spelling mistakes, no grammar weirdness, no syntax issues, no punctuation snafus—each of these sample college essays has been formatted and proofread perfectly. If this kind of exactness is not your strong suit, you're in luck! All colleges advise applicants to have their essays looked over several times by parents, teachers, mentors, and anyone else who can spot a comma splice. Your essay must be your own work, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting help polishing it.

And if you need more guidance, connect with PrepScholar's expert admissions consultants . These expert writers know exactly what college admissions committees look for in an admissions essay and chan help you craft an essay that boosts your chances of getting into your dream school.

Check out PrepScholar's Essay Editing and Coaching progra m for more details!

Links to Full College Essay Examples

Some colleges publish a selection of their favorite accepted college essays that worked, and I've put together a selection of over 100 of these.

Common App Essay Samples

Please note that some of these college essay examples may be responding to prompts that are no longer in use. The current Common App prompts are as follows:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you? 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of 177 college essay examples responding to current and past Common App essay prompts. 

Connecticut college.

• 12 Common Application essays from the classes of 2022-2025

Hamilton College

• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2026
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2022
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2018
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2012
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2007

Johns Hopkins

These essays are answers to past prompts from either the Common Application or the Coalition Application (which Johns Hopkins used to accept).

• 1 Common Application or Coalition Application essay from the class of 2026
• 6 Common Application or Coalition Application essays from the class of 2025
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2024
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2023
• 7 Common Application of Universal Application essays from the class of 2022
• 5 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2021
• 7 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2020

Essay Examples Published by Other Websites

• 2 Common Application essays ( 1st essay , 2nd essay ) from applicants admitted to Columbia

Other Sample College Essays

Here is a collection of essays that are college-specific.

Babson College

• 4 essays (and 1 video response) on "Why Babson" from the class of 2020

Emory University

• 5 essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) from the class of 2020 along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on why the essays were exceptional
• 5 more recent essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on what made these essays stand out

University of Georgia

• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2019
• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2018
• 10 Harvard essays from 2023
• 10 Harvard essays from 2022
• 10 Harvard essays from 2021
• 10 Harvard essays from 2020
• 10 Harvard essays from 2019
• 10 Harvard essays from 2018
• 6 essays from admitted MIT students

Smith College

• 6 "best gift" essays from the class of 2018

Books of College Essays

If you're looking for even more sample college essays, consider purchasing a college essay book. The best of these include dozens of essays that worked and feedback from real admissions officers.

College Essays That Made a Difference —This detailed guide from Princeton Review includes not only successful essays, but also interviews with admissions officers and full student profiles.

50 Successful Harvard Application Essays by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson—A must for anyone aspiring to Harvard .

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays and 50 Successful Stanford Application Essays by Gen and Kelly Tanabe—For essays from other top schools, check out this venerated series, which is regularly updated with new essays.

Heavenly Essays by Janine W. Robinson—This collection from the popular blogger behind Essay Hell includes a wider range of schools, as well as helpful tips on honing your own essay.

Analyzing Great Common App Essays That Worked

I've picked two essays from the examples collected above to examine in more depth so that you can see exactly what makes a successful college essay work. Full credit for these essays goes to the original authors and the schools that published them.

Example 1: "Breaking Into Cars," by Stephen, Johns Hopkins Class of '19 (Common App Essay, 636 words long)

I had never broken into a car before.

We were in Laredo, having just finished our first day at a Habitat for Humanity work site. The Hotchkiss volunteers had already left, off to enjoy some Texas BBQ, leaving me behind with the college kids to clean up. Not until we were stranded did we realize we were locked out of the van.

Someone picked a coat hanger out of the dumpster, handed it to me, and took a few steps back.

"Can you do that thing with a coat hanger to unlock it?"

"Why me?" I thought.

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame. Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally. My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed. "The water's on fire! Clear a hole!" he shouted, tossing me in the lake without warning. While I'm still unconvinced about that particular lesson's practicality, my Dad's overarching message is unequivocally true: much of life is unexpected, and you have to deal with the twists and turns.

Living in my family, days rarely unfolded as planned. A bit overlooked, a little pushed around, I learned to roll with reality, negotiate a quick deal, and give the improbable a try. I don't sweat the small stuff, and I definitely don't expect perfect fairness. So what if our dining room table only has six chairs for seven people? Someone learns the importance of punctuality every night.

But more than punctuality and a special affinity for musical chairs, my family life has taught me to thrive in situations over which I have no power. Growing up, I never controlled my older siblings, but I learned how to thwart their attempts to control me. I forged alliances, and realigned them as necessary. Sometimes, I was the poor, defenseless little brother; sometimes I was the omniscient elder. Different things to different people, as the situation demanded. I learned to adapt.

Back then, these techniques were merely reactions undertaken to ensure my survival. But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The question caught me off guard, much like the question posed to me in Laredo. Then, I realized I knew the answer. I knew why the coat hanger had been handed to me.

Growing up as the middle child in my family, I was a vital participant in a thing I did not govern, in the company of people I did not choose. It's family. It's society. And often, it's chaos. You participate by letting go of the small stuff, not expecting order and perfection, and facing the unexpected with confidence, optimism, and preparedness. My family experience taught me to face a serendipitous world with confidence.

What Makes This Essay Tick?

It's very helpful to take writing apart in order to see just how it accomplishes its objectives. Stephen's essay is very effective. Let's find out why!

An Opening Line That Draws You In

In just eight words, we get: scene-setting (he is standing next to a car about to break in), the idea of crossing a boundary (he is maybe about to do an illegal thing for the first time), and a cliffhanger (we are thinking: is he going to get caught? Is he headed for a life of crime? Is he about to be scared straight?).

Great, Detailed Opening Story

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame.

It's the details that really make this small experience come alive. Notice how whenever he can, Stephen uses a more specific, descriptive word in place of a more generic one. The volunteers aren't going to get food or dinner; they're going for "Texas BBQ." The coat hanger comes from "a dumpster." Stephen doesn't just move the coat hanger—he "jiggles" it.

Details also help us visualize the emotions of the people in the scene. The person who hands Stephen the coat hanger isn't just uncomfortable or nervous; he "takes a few steps back"—a description of movement that conveys feelings. Finally, the detail of actual speech makes the scene pop. Instead of writing that the other guy asked him to unlock the van, Stephen has the guy actually say his own words in a way that sounds like a teenager talking.

Turning a Specific Incident Into a Deeper Insight

Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

Stephen makes the locked car experience a meaningful illustration of how he has learned to be resourceful and ready for anything, and he also makes this turn from the specific to the broad through an elegant play on the two meanings of the word "click."

Using Concrete Examples When Making Abstract Claims

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally.

"Unpredictability and chaos" are very abstract, not easily visualized concepts. They could also mean any number of things—violence, abandonment, poverty, mental instability. By instantly following up with highly finite and unambiguous illustrations like "family of seven" and "siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing," Stephen grounds the abstraction in something that is easy to picture: a large, noisy family.

Using Small Bits of Humor and Casual Word Choice

My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed.

Obviously, knowing how to clean burning oil is not high on the list of things every 9-year-old needs to know. To emphasize this, Stephen uses sarcasm by bringing up a situation that is clearly over-the-top: "in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed."

The humor also feels relaxed. Part of this is because he introduces it with the colloquial phrase "you know," so it sounds like he is talking to us in person. This approach also diffuses the potential discomfort of the reader with his father's strictness—since he is making jokes about it, clearly he is OK. Notice, though, that this doesn't occur very much in the essay. This helps keep the tone meaningful and serious rather than flippant.

An Ending That Stretches the Insight Into the Future

But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The ending of the essay reveals that Stephen's life has been one long preparation for the future. He has emerged from chaos and his dad's approach to parenting as a person who can thrive in a world that he can't control.

This connection of past experience to current maturity and self-knowledge is a key element in all successful personal essays. Colleges are very much looking for mature, self-aware applicants. These are the qualities of successful college students, who will be able to navigate the independence college classes require and the responsibility and quasi-adulthood of college life.

What Could This Essay Do Even Better?

Even the best essays aren't perfect, and even the world's greatest writers will tell you that writing is never "finished"—just "due." So what would we tweak in this essay if we could?

Replace some of the clichéd language. Stephen uses handy phrases like "twists and turns" and "don't sweat the small stuff" as a kind of shorthand for explaining his relationship to chaos and unpredictability. But using too many of these ready-made expressions runs the risk of clouding out your own voice and replacing it with something expected and boring.

Use another example from recent life. Stephen's first example (breaking into the van in Laredo) is a great illustration of being resourceful in an unexpected situation. But his essay also emphasizes that he "learned to adapt" by being "different things to different people." It would be great to see how this plays out outside his family, either in the situation in Laredo or another context.

Example 2: By Renner Kwittken, Tufts Class of '23 (Common App Essay, 645 words long)

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry's "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go," and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration.

Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear.

I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

In the lab, Dr. Ray encouraged a great amount of autonomy to design and implement my own procedures. I chose to attack a problem that affects the entire field of nanomedicine: nanoparticles consistently fail to translate from animal studies into clinical trials. Jumping off recent literature, I set out to see if a pre-dose of a common chemotherapeutic could enhance nanoparticle delivery in aggressive prostate cancer, creating three novel constructs based on three different linear polymers, each using fluorescent dye (although no gold, sorry goldbug!). Though using radioactive isotopes like Gallium and Yttrium would have been incredible, as a 17-year-old, I unfortunately wasn't allowed in the same room as these radioactive materials (even though I took a Geiger counter to a pair of shoes and found them to be slightly dangerous).

I hadn't expected my hypothesis to work, as the research project would have ideally been led across two full years. Yet while there are still many optimizations and revisions to be done, I was thrilled to find -- with completely new nanoparticles that may one day mean future trials will use particles with the initials "RK-1" -- thatcyclophosphamide did indeed increase nanoparticle delivery to the tumor in a statistically significant way.

A secondary, unexpected research project was living alone in Baltimore, a new city to me, surrounded by people much older than I. Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research. Whether in a presentation or in a casual conversation, making others interested in science is perhaps more exciting to me than the research itself. This solidified a new pursuit to angle my love for writing towards illuminating science in ways people can understand, adding value to a society that can certainly benefit from more scientific literacy.

It seems fitting that my goals are still transforming: in Scarry's book, there is not just one goldbug, there is one on every page. With each new experience, I'm learning that it isn't the goldbug itself, but rather the act of searching for the goldbugs that will encourage, shape, and refine my ever-evolving passions. Regardless of the goldbug I seek -- I know my pickle truck has just begun its journey.

Renner takes a somewhat different approach than Stephen, but their essay is just as detailed and engaging. Let's go through some of the strengths of this essay.

One Clear Governing Metaphor

This essay is ultimately about two things: Renner’s dreams and future career goals, and Renner’s philosophy on goal-setting and achieving one’s dreams.

But instead of listing off all the amazing things they’ve done to pursue their dream of working in nanomedicine, Renner tells a powerful, unique story instead. To set up the narrative, Renner opens the essay by connecting their experiences with goal-setting and dream-chasing all the way back to a memorable childhood experience:

This lighthearted–but relevant!--story about the moment when Renner first developed a passion for a specific career (“finding the goldbug”) provides an anchor point for the rest of the essay. As Renner pivots to describing their current dreams and goals–working in nanomedicine–the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” is reflected in Renner’s experiments, rejections, and new discoveries.

Though Renner tells multiple stories about their quest to “find the goldbug,” or, in other words, pursue their passion, each story is connected by a unifying theme; namely, that as we search and grow over time, our goals will transform…and that’s okay! By the end of the essay, Renner uses the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” to reiterate the relevance of the opening story:

While the earlier parts of the essay convey Renner’s core message by showing, the final, concluding paragraph sums up Renner’s insights by telling. By briefly and clearly stating the relevance of the goldbug metaphor to their own philosophy on goals and dreams, Renner demonstrates their creativity, insight, and eagerness to grow and evolve as the journey continues into college.

An Engaging, Individual Voice

This essay uses many techniques that make Renner sound genuine and make the reader feel like we already know them.

Technique #1: humor. Notice Renner's gentle and relaxed humor that lightly mocks their younger self's grand ambitions (this is different from the more sarcastic kind of humor used by Stephen in the first essay—you could never mistake one writer for the other).

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver.

I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Renner gives a great example of how to use humor to your advantage in college essays. You don’t want to come off as too self-deprecating or sarcastic, but telling a lightheartedly humorous story about your younger self that also showcases how you’ve grown and changed over time can set the right tone for your entire essay.

Technique #2: intentional, eye-catching structure. The second technique is the way Renner uses a unique structure to bolster the tone and themes of their essay . The structure of your essay can have a major impact on how your ideas come across…so it’s important to give it just as much thought as the content of your essay!

For instance, Renner does a great job of using one-line paragraphs to create dramatic emphasis and to make clear transitions from one phase of the story to the next:

Suddenly the destination of my pickle car was clear.

Not only does the one-liner above signal that Renner is moving into a new phase of the narrative (their nanoparticle research experiences), it also tells the reader that this is a big moment in Renner’s story. It’s clear that Renner made a major discovery that changed the course of their goal pursuit and dream-chasing. Through structure, Renner conveys excitement and entices the reader to keep pushing forward to the next part of the story.

Technique #3: playing with syntax. The third technique is to use sentences of varying length, syntax, and structure. Most of the essay's written in standard English and uses grammatically correct sentences. However, at key moments, Renner emphasizes that the reader needs to sit up and pay attention by switching to short, colloquial, differently punctuated, and sometimes fragmented sentences.

Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research.

In the examples above, Renner switches adeptly between long, flowing sentences and quippy, telegraphic ones. At the same time, Renner uses these different sentence lengths intentionally. As they describe their experiences in new places, they use longer sentences to immerse the reader in the sights, smells, and sounds of those experiences. And when it’s time to get a big, key idea across, Renner switches to a short, punchy sentence to stop the reader in their tracks.

The varying syntax and sentence lengths pull the reader into the narrative and set up crucial “aha” moments when it’s most important…which is a surefire way to make any college essay stand out.

Renner's essay is very strong, but there are still a few little things that could be improved.

Connecting the research experiences to the theme of “finding the goldbug.”  The essay begins and ends with Renner’s connection to the idea of “finding the goldbug.” And while this metaphor is deftly tied into the essay’s intro and conclusion, it isn’t entirely clear what Renner’s big findings were during the research experiences that are described in the middle of the essay. It would be great to add a sentence or two stating what Renner’s big takeaways (or “goldbugs”) were from these experiences, which add more cohesion to the essay as a whole.

Give more details about discovering the world of nanomedicine. It makes sense that Renner wants to get into the details of their big research experiences as quickly as possible. After all, these are the details that show Renner’s dedication to nanomedicine! But a smoother transition from the opening pickle car/goldbug story to Renner’s “real goldbug” of nanoparticles would help the reader understand why nanoparticles became Renner’s goldbug. Finding out why Renner is so motivated to study nanomedicine–and perhaps what put them on to this field of study–would help readers fully understand why Renner chose this path in the first place.

4 Essential Tips for Writing Your Own Essay

How can you use this discussion to better your own college essay? Here are some suggestions for ways to use this resource effectively.

#1: Get Help From the Experts

Getting your college applications together takes a lot of work and can be pretty intimidatin g. Essays are even more important than ever now that admissions processes are changing and schools are going test-optional and removing diversity standards thanks to new Supreme Court rulings .  If you want certified expert help that really makes a difference, get started with  PrepScholar’s Essay Editing and Coaching program. Our program can help you put together an incredible essay from idea to completion so that your application stands out from the crowd. We've helped students get into the best colleges in the United States, including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale.  If you're ready to take the next step and boost your odds of getting into your dream school, connect with our experts today .

#2: Read Other Essays to Get Ideas for Your Own

As you go through the essays we've compiled for you above, ask yourself the following questions:

• Can you explain to yourself (or someone else!) why the opening sentence works well?
• Look for the essay's detailed personal anecdote. What senses is the author describing? Can you easily picture the scene in your mind's eye?
• Find the place where this anecdote bridges into a larger insight about the author. How does the essay connect the two? How does the anecdote work as an example of the author's characteristic, trait, or skill?
• Check out the essay's tone. If it's funny, can you find the places where the humor comes from? If it's sad and moving, can you find the imagery and description of feelings that make you moved? If it's serious, can you see how word choice adds to this tone?

Make a note whenever you find an essay or part of an essay that you think was particularly well-written, and think about what you like about it . Is it funny? Does it help you really get to know the writer? Does it show what makes the writer unique? Once you have your list, keep it next to you while writing your essay to remind yourself to try and use those same techniques in your own essay.

#3: Find Your "A-Ha!" Moment

All of these essays rely on connecting with the reader through a heartfelt, highly descriptive scene from the author's life. It can either be very dramatic (did you survive a plane crash?) or it can be completely mundane (did you finally beat your dad at Scrabble?). Either way, it should be personal and revealing about you, your personality, and the way you are now that you are entering the adult world.

Check out essays by authors like John Jeremiah Sullivan , Leslie Jamison , Hanif Abdurraqib , and Esmé Weijun Wang to get more examples of how to craft a compelling personal narrative.

#4: Start Early, Revise Often

Let me level with you: the best writing isn't writing at all. It's rewriting. And in order to have time to rewrite, you have to start way before the application deadline. My advice is to write your first draft at least two months before your applications are due.

Let it sit for a few days untouched. Then come back to it with fresh eyes and think critically about what you've written. What's extra? What's missing? What is in the wrong place? What doesn't make sense? Don't be afraid to take it apart and rearrange sections. Do this several times over, and your essay will be much better for it!

For more editing tips, check out a style guide like Dreyer's English or Eats, Shoots & Leaves .

What's Next?

Still not sure which colleges you want to apply to? Our experts will show you how to make a college list that will help you choose a college that's right for you.

Interested in learning more about college essays? Check out our detailed breakdown of exactly how personal statements work in an application , some suggestions on what to avoid when writing your essay , and our guide to writing about your extracurricular activities .

Working on the rest of your application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying .

The recommendations in this post are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Trending Now

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Get Your Free

Find Your Target SAT Score

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing

How to Improve Your Low SAT Score

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing

Find Your Target ACT Score

Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

Get a 36 on ACT English

Get a 36 on ACT Math

Get a 36 on ACT Reading

Get a 36 on ACT Science

How to Improve Your Low ACT Score

Get a 24 on ACT English

Get a 24 on ACT Math

Get a 24 on ACT Reading

Get a 24 on ACT Science

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Paragraph Writing Class 11 Format, Examples, Topics, Exercises

Introduction.

Writing a paragraph involves presenting a unified idea or topic using a logical structure. Usually, a main sentence, two or three phrases that support it, and a final sentence make up a paragraph. Mastering the art of paragraph writing allows students to convey their thoughts effectively, whether in essays, reports, or creative pieces.

Also Read: Descriptive Paragraph Writing Class 9

Format Of Paragraph Writing Class 11

Topic Sentence The topic sentence sets the tone and provides the main idea of the paragraph. It serves as a guide for the rest of the sentences and ensures coherence. It must be succinct, understandable, and captivating in order to hold the reader’s interest. Supporting Sentences Supporting sentences provide relevant details, examples, evidence, or explanations to support the main idea presented in the topic sentence. These sentences should be logically connected, creating a smooth flow of information for the reader. Concluding Sentence The concluding sentence summarizes the main point of the paragraph, reinforcing the idea presented in the topic sentence. It helps provide closure and transition to the next paragraph if necessary.

Examples Of Paragraph Writing Class 11

Paragraph writing can take various forms depending on the purpose and context. Here are three common types of paragraphs: Descriptive Paragraph A descriptive paragraph aims to vividly portray a person, place, or thing to the reader. It uses sensory details, figurative language, and precise adjectives to create a clear mental image.

For example: The vibrant sunset painted the sky in hues of orange, pink, and gold. The sun descended slowly behind the mountains, casting a warm glow over the tranquil lake. The shimmering reflection of the colorful sky danced upon the water, creating a breathtaking sight.

Narrative Paragraph A narrative essay presents a tale or describes an incident. It engages the reader by providing a sequence of events, character descriptions, dialogue, and sensory details.

For example: As the waves crashed against the shore, Sarah felt a rush of adrenaline. She tightened her grip on the surfboard, ready to conquer the mighty ocean. With each stroke, she paddled further, eyes fixed on the approaching wave. As it lifted her up, she felt an exhilarating sense of freedom, riding the wave like a fearless adventurer.

Persuasive Paragraph A persuasive paragraph aims to convince the reader of a particular viewpoint or opinion. It presents arguments supported by evidence, logic, and emotional appeal.

For example: The implementation of stricter recycling policies is crucial to combat the escalating environmental crisis. By recycling our waste, we can reduce landfill pollution, conserve valuable resources, and contribute to a sustainable future for generations to come. Let’s do something today to change things.

Topics For Paragraph Writing Class 11

When it comes to practicing paragraph writing, students may explore a wide range of topics. Here are a few suggestions to get started:

• The Impact of Social Media on Society
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Learning
• The Environment’s Impacts of Climate Change
• The Importance of Mental Health Awareness
• Cultural Diversity and Its Importance in a Globalised World
• Exploring Career Options in the Digital Age
• The Role of Technology in Education
• The Pros and Cons of Artificial Intelligence
• The Influence of Mass Media on Youth
• Challenges Faced by Today’s Youth

These topics provide ample room for students to express their opinions, conduct research, and develop well-structured paragraphs.

Exercises For Paragraph Writing Class 11

To enhance paragraph writing skills, it is essential to practice regularly. Here are a few exercises that students can undertake:

• Select a topic from the suggestions above and write a descriptive paragraph highlighting its key aspects.
• Write a narrative paragraph recounting a memorable experience or event from your life.
• Choose a controversial issue and write a persuasive paragraph arguing for or against it, providing supporting evidence.
• Pick a current news article and write a paragraph summarizing its main points.
• Write a paragraph analyzing a famous quote or saying, explaining its relevance and providing examples.

Regular practice with diverse exercises will help students refine their paragraph writing abilities and develop a unique writing style.

Conclusion On Paragraph Writing Class 11

Paragraph writing is a fundamental skill that students in Class 11 must develop to become effective communicators. By understanding the format, practicing with various examples and topics, and following essential tips, students can hone their paragraph writing abilities and express their ideas with clarity and coherence.

Don’t miss the opportunity to excel in paragraph writing! Start practicing today and unlock your potential to effectively convey your thoughts through well-crafted paragraphs.