How to Write a Personal Narrative: A Step-by-Step Guide

what are the 5 features of essay writing

“As I sat down to write this article, memories flooded back, each one a brushstroke in the painting of my past…”

That could be the beginning of your personal narrative. Writing it lets you turn your memories and experiences into stories that click with others. This type of writing goes beyond school assignments or essays for college applications; it’s a chance to get really good at sharing your life's events in ways that matter. 

In this article, we're going to explore what personal narratives are all about and guide you through a simple seven-step process to create your own. You’ll learn how to pull out moments that make your story stand out and how to tweak your writing until it’s just right. We’ve got practical examples for you to follow along, making sure you have everything you need to tell your story. 

What is a Personal Narrative?

A personal narrative is a way to tell your own story. It's a style of writing that puts your experiences front and center, inviting readers into your world. Teachers often assign personal narratives to encourage free, expressive writing. 

The personal narrative definition is wider than academic settings, though. . These narratives can also show potential employers who you are beyond your resume. At its core, writing a personal narrative is a form of storytelling, using a first-person perspective to bring real-life tales to life. Whether it's for a grade, a job, or just for fun, it's about getting your story out there.

Your Story, Perfected

Let our experts refine your personal narrative, making sure every detail shines and your story is both clear and impactful.

How to Write a Personal Narrative: Steps

In this section, we'll break down the process into manageable steps, starting with how to zero in on the right topic that speaks about who you are.

Step 1. Choosing a Personal Narrative Topic

The first step in crafting your personal narrative is picking the perfect topic. It should be something meaningful to you, something that has not just happened, but also shaped who you are or has a significant story behind it. Here’s how to frame your personal narrative ideas:

  • Story Arc : Your narrative is like a mini-movie. Start with setting the scene, build up to the main event, and wrap up with a reflection. For example, if you’re writing about your first solo travel experience, begin with your initial feelings, describe the challenges you faced, and end with what you learned about yourself.
  • Thematic Focus : Instead of moving through time, center your narrative around a central theme. Maybe it’s about resilience, and you could link different times you had to be resilient, ending with a major life challenge.
  • A Day to Remember : Sometimes a single day can tell a lot about you. Pick a day that was particularly memorable and unpack it from start to finish. Maybe it was a seemingly ordinary day that brought unexpected lessons or joys.

Step 2. Working on Your Personal Narrative Outline

When putting together your personal narrative, starting with a solid outline can help keep your story on track. Here's how you can lay it all out:

  • Introduction: Kick things off with a hook that grabs attention, like an intriguing question or a vivid snapshot of a key moment. Set the scene and introduce the main theme.
  • Setting and Characters : Give a good sense of where your story is unfolding and who's involved. Paint a clear picture of the backdrop and the key people.
  • Plot Development : Lay out the events in the order they happened, or group them around major themes. Build up to your main event, adding conflicts or challenges as you go.
  • Climax : This is the high point of your story, where everything comes to a head. Make it a moment that has the most impact.
  • Resolution : Wrap up the main storyline, showing how things settled down after the climax.
  • Reflection : Spend some time reflecting on what happened. Share what you learned or how you changed because of the experience.

If you're looking for help crafting your personal narrative, consider checking out some legit essay writing services to get professional guidance.

Step 3. Writing the First Draft of Your Personal Narrative

Now let’s move on to the fun part! Don't worry about getting everything perfect right away — the first draft’s goal is to let your story flow naturally:

  • Start with Your Hook: Revisit the introduction you outlined and flesh it out. Begin with the attention-grabbing sentence that will make readers want to continue.
  • Let the Story Unfold: Follow your outline, but allow yourself some flexibility. As you write, new memories or details may come to mind. Embrace them! Think about what you saw, heard, and felt during these moments. Were you sitting in a sunlit room, listening to the hum of a busy street outside? Maybe you felt the chill of an autumn breeze? 
  • Stay True to Your Voice: This is your story, so let your unique voice shine through. Whether you're humorous, reflective, or serious, maintain a consistent tone that feels authentically you. Keep the tone conversational and straightforward, as if you’re telling this story to a friend. 

Once the first personal narrative draft is done, set it aside for a bit before revisiting it with fresh eyes.

Step 4. Revising Your Personal Narrative

Once the first personal narrative draft is done, set it aside for a bit before revisiting it with fresh eyes:

  • Tighten Up the Story : As you go through your draft, focus on making everything clear and to the point. If you’ve talked about how nervous you were before a big event more than once, try to combine those thoughts into one powerful sentence that really captures how you felt.
  • Keep Your Tone Consistent : Make sure your voice stays the same throughout the story. If you start off with a casual, conversational tone, like saying, “I couldn’t shake the nerves before my big test,” stick with that style instead of suddenly becoming formal later on.
  • Adjust the Pacing : Pay attention to how smoothly your story flows from one part to the next. When you’re describing a key moment, like meeting someone important or going through a major experience, give it the detail and time it deserves. Let those moments develop naturally without rushing.
  • Enhance Your Descriptions : Make your imagery more vivid to help the reader visualize your story. For example, instead of just saying, “The room was noisy,” you could say, “The room buzzed with excited chatter.” These small tweaks can make your story feel more alive and engaging.

Step 5. Adding Personal Touches

As you polish your personal narrative, focus on making it uniquely yours. You can include personal reflections on your experiences. For example, if you’re writing about a challenging project, discuss not just the struggle but how it impacted you personally and professionally.

Besides, add unique details that only you can share. Instead of generic descriptions, use specific anecdotes or sensory details, like how the scent of freshly baked cookies from your grandmother's kitchen made you feel nostalgic.

Last but not least, incorporate dialogues or direct quotes from people involved in your story to add authenticity and depth. For instance, if your mentor gave you advice, include their exact words to capture the moment’s impact. This approach will help you understand how to write a personal narrative that is both engaging and deeply personal.

Not sure where to begin? You can always buy a narrative essay from experts who can help shape your story.

Step 6: Editing for Clarity and Style

When you’re editing your personal narratives, the goal is to make sure everything flows smoothly and makes sense. Here’s how to get it just right:

  • Clarify Your Message: Check for any parts of your story that might be a bit confusing. If you talked about being excited about a project and then suddenly shifted to its challenges, make sure to connect these thoughts clearly. For instance, you might rephrase it as “I was excited about the project, but I soon faced some unexpected challenges, like tight deadlines.”
  • Simplify Complex Sentences: Break down long or complicated sentences. Instead of saying, “My enthusiasm for the project, which was incredibly high despite the difficulties I faced, was the driving force behind my perseverance,” you could simplify it to, “Even though the project was tough, my excitement kept me going.”
  • Smooth Transitions: Check how your paragraphs and sections flow together. If you jump from describing a problem to the solution without a clear link, add a transition. For example, “After struggling with the project’s challenges, I realized that asking my mentor for help was the key to overcoming the obstacles.”

Oh, and read your narrative out loud. This can help you spot any awkward phrases or spots where the story might be a bit choppy. It’s a great way to catch any issues and make those final tweaks to get everything just right.

Personal Narrative Prompts

Here are ten personal narrative prompts to get you thinking about different moments in your life:

Topic Prompt
🏆 Facing Challenges Think about a tough situation you faced and how you got through it. Maybe you conquered a big project or overcame a personal hurdle. Share what happened and what you learned from it.
🌟 A Big Change Write about something that changed your life or perspective. This could be anything from a life-changing trip to a meaningful conversation that made you see things differently.
🎓 School Memories Share a standout moment from your school years that made a big impact on you. It might be a memorable class, a special event, or something else that stuck with you.
🚀 Achieving Goals Talk about a goal you set and achieved. Explain what it was, how you worked towards it, and what reaching this goal meant to you.
🤝 Helping Others Describe a time when you helped someone out. What did you do, and how did it make you feel? It could be anything from assisting a friend to volunteering in your community.
💪 Your Strengths Reflect on a personal strength or skill you're proud of. Share how you discovered it, developed it, and how it's helped you in different areas of your life.
🎉 Fun Times Write about a fun or exciting experience you had. It could be a family celebration, a personal achievement, or just a memorable day that made you smile.
📚 Influential Media Think about a book or movie that had an impact on you. Describe what it was and how it changed the way you think or feel.
✈️ Travel Adventures Share a memorable travel experience. Whether it’s the places you visited or the people you met, talk about how the trip affected you or what you learned from it.
💬 Meaningful Conversations Write about a conversation that really stuck with you. Who were you talking to, what was it about, and how did it make a difference in your life?

Need more tips on how to get started? Check out this guide on how to start a narrative essay to kick off your writing with a strong opening.

Personal Narrative Examples

Here are a few personal narrative beginnings to spark your creativity. These snippets are designed to get you started and inspire your own storytelling.

Wrapping Up

As you finish up your story, think about how those moments shaped who you are today. It's not just about what happened, but how it changed you. When learning how to write a personal narrative, it’s important to focus on the moments that truly matter to you and tell them in your own voice. This way, your narrative can really connect with others. 

Remember, the best stories come straight from the heart, so trust yourself and let your experiences shine through!

If you're working on a personal statement, you might want to explore a personal statement service that can help you create a compelling narrative.

Turn Memories into Masterpieces

Let us transform your experiences into a beautifully crafted narrative that stands out and makes an impact.

How to Start a Personal Narrative?

Can a personal narrative be about anything, what is the format of a personal narrative.

Daniel Parker

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

what are the 5 features of essay writing

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

  • The New York Times. (2020, January 7). Personal Narrative Essay Winners. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/07/learning/personal-narrative-essay-winners.html

Narrative Poem Guide

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Band 5+: The diagram below shows the process of making olive oil. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Image for topic: The diagram below shows the process of making olive oil. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The given picture illustrates how olive oil is processed.

Looking at the diagram,it is readily apparent that the eight-step diagram can be broken down into two main stages,ranging from collecting and treating olives to manufacturing olive oil to the final product,which will be transported to stores.

Initially,standard-quality olives are collected directly from the trees by recking.This stage often require the involvement of farmers.Then,the pre-harvested olives will be stored in a vat to await for the following steps in 2 to 3 days.After that,they will experience a long process by a designated machinery system,starting by washing under cold water to ensure that olives are cleaned and ready to be subjected to the pressure from a hammer into a volume of liquid which will be used to produce oil while the olive stones will be put in a container.

To begin with,hydraulic and filters are utilized to press and filter the pre-treated paste from the olives and then,the finished oil will be poured in a centrifuge,where it is spinned and separated from water before being filled in bottles.

At the end of the process,bottled olive oil will be delivered to stores and ready to be on sale.

Check Your Answer On This Topic?

Generate a band-9 sample answer, overall band score, task response, coherence & cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range & accuracy, answers on the same topic:, the diagram below shows the process of making olive oil. summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant..

The diagram given illustrates how to make olive oil. In general, this flow chart provides an overview of 8 steps, beginning with picking olives from the farmer, and then crushed into the olive paste before being delivered to the store. To begin with, the olives are harvested in the field with the rakes’ a farmer […]

The given diagram illustrates the manufacturing process of olive oil. Overall, there are 8 main steps in the process, starting from ingredient gathering and ending with delivery to the retailers. Firstly, the farmers collect the fresh olives by using rake in the plantation. before congregating the olives in the vat for 2 to 3 days. […]

The provided diagram delineates the sequential process involved in the production of olive oil. This intricate procedure encompasses several stages, commencing with the collection of olives and ultimately culminating in the transportation of the bottled oil to retail locations. Initially, the harvesting of ripe olives is conducted by workers utilizing a rake, ensuring an effective […]

The given diagram illustrates the process showing how olive oil is made. Overall, this process has multiple stages, beginning with collecting the oil and culminating in the transportation of final products to the store. Firstly, ripped olives are harvested by farmers using rake. These fruits will be stored in a vat for 2 to 3 […]

Other Topics:

The diagram below shows one method of manufacturing ceramic pots..

The given process displayed the method of manufacturing ceramic post. It is evident that , the manufacturing ceramic certain many steps. It can seen from process, the primary step is raw materials which engrave by machine .in next step, raw materials transfer in industry by truck . after that , raw materials is crushed and […]

The diagrams below show a structure that is used to generate electricity from wave power.

The diagram above illustrates the process of generating electricity from marine water. Overall, it is evident that the electricity is generated by the tide period of seawater, with a turbine machine. From a broader perspective, the chamber is located adjacent to a cliff or sea wall to accommodate seawater’s waves. Initially, when the wave is […]

The diagram below shows how uranium is used in the production of nuclear power. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The process diagram illustrates the 6-step process of usage of uranium in the nuclear power production. The process is linear, except a stage involving re-usage and re-process of some spent fuel and consists of 6 main stages. The process starts by mining the uranium from the earth, after which the enrichment process takes place, converting […]

The diagram shows the water cycle, which is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Summaries the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where revelant.

The diagram illustrates the process of the water cycle, detailing how water returns to the ocean. Overall, the cycle begins with the evaporation of water from the ocean, leading to condensation and cloud formation, followed by precipitation. Following its infiltration into the ground or flow into lakes, this precipitation may cause saltwater intrusion in coastal […]

The maps below shows university sports courts in 1990 and now. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons whereT

The two maps show the main changes which have taken place in university sports courts between the year 1990 and today. In general, it appears that university courts has become much more modern place for sports, with far more and new facilities. One interesting change is that car and green parks have been demolished in […]

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what are the 5 features of essay writing

Five Things I Learned in the Process of Writing a Book

Embarking on the journey of writing a book can be both exciting and daunting, as emma edwards discovered when authoring her personal finance book "good with money". whether you're looking to write for financial gain or just for the love of it, emma's lessons learned offer practical advice for anyone embarking on the challenging yet rewarding adventure of writing a book..

If you’ve ever considered writing a book, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s estimated that as many as 80% of people say they’d like to write a book one day. I was one of those people, and now, after 18 months of work, I published my first book, Good With Money (crowd cheers!)

Unsurprisingly, book writing isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It was actually a lot of tears and sour Skittles, if I’m honest. But it was one hell of an experience. If you’ve ever thought about putting pen to paper — or perhaps more appropriately, fingers to keys — here are five things I learned along the way that might help you.

1. You need to work with your brain

We all approach work differently — and writing a book will tell you a lot about how your brain works. Some people swear by the rule of writing for one hour every morning or holding themselves accountable to writing every single day for however long they feel able to. I, however, found that I needed at least an hour of procrastination time (read: Staring at the wall, unable to get started) before I had any hope of getting anything done. Needless to say, the hour-a-day rule didn’t work for me. Instead, I found I needed to carve out entire days dedicated to writing so that I had time to get distracted, go for a walk around the block, get in the headspace to write something and step away whenever I got too overwhelmed.

I would set Pomodoro timers for short 25-minute bursts of work, where I’d often smash out over 1,000 words at a time, before spending equally as long doing anything but writing. At first I felt guilty, like I wasn’t working hard enough. I’d get to the end of a writing day and have written 5,000 words, but done so in five intense time blocks of 25-45 minutes each. Letting go of how I thought an author ‘should’ work meant I could focus on just getting the words out, however that looked.

2. You will hate everything you’ve written at multiple points

This was the part I was most unprepared for. I really wanted to fall in love with my book, but for the most part, I hated it. You get to the point where you’re so familiar with what you’ve written, and you’ve gone through so many iterations of the content itself, that you lose all sense of rational thought, and you’ll truly believe that your book is awful. If you’re anything like me, you’ll take that even further and decide that you’re actually terrible at what you do and don’t know anything about your subject matter.

During one particularly emotionally charged writing day, I found myself deep in a Reddit discussion between authors. An author in that thread had said, “The only thing you’ll hate more than the words you’ve still got to write are the words you’ve already written,” and I breathed a huge sigh of relief that I wasn’t alone.

You will hate your book. It’s normal. It comes and goes, but you have to just accept it. I got into a good rhythm eventually. Any time I started to feel that panic coming on, I would shut my laptop, go outside and come back to it in half an hour, and work on a different section when I did so.

3. Choosing a title really, really helps

The real turning point for my book writing journey was when I settled on the title, Good With Money. For a long time I was working with an ‘untitled manuscript’, but it made it really difficult to settle on a direction or weave in thematic links to the overall direction of the book. It also helped me pull myself out of mental spirals by giving me an anchor point to bring everything back to. I think that’s especially important for non-fiction books.

I’d originally planned to just get words out and shape the title later, which probably does work for some people. But if you’re finding yourself going around in circles, spending some time brainstorming titles might really help. It can feel like you’re wasting time, but trust me. It needs to be done at some point.

4. Scaffolding out your structure needs to be a priority

When you’re writing a book, you’re pouring all your knowledge, passion, analogies, frameworks, and stories about your subject matter into one little container — and organizing that can be a bit of a stress sandwich.

You’re taking your reader through a transformation. They’re a different version of themselves after reading your book. And wanting to get that transformation right can make it hard to know when to introduce certain concepts, how to structure the information, and how to introduce and conclude different subsections of the book.

One of the most valuable conversations I had during my book writing experience was with a fellow non-fiction author who had finished her manuscript recently. She said to me, “Emma, just pick a structure and write to it.” And that’s when I realized: My quest for the one perfect structure was keeping me stuck. There’s no one right way to write your book or tell your story, but it serves as a great procrastination activity to keep tweaking your chapter list or scrapping the whole thing and starting a new one.

No structure is worth anything if you never write to it. So if you’re stuck on structure, take the advice I did: Just pick one. I didn’t personally make use of AI tools like ChatGPT during my book writing process, but if I did it again, I might consider trialling different prompts to get thought-starter ideas on structure.

5. Reading other people’s books is a bad idea

Yikes, did I wish someone had told me this. When I was feeling particularly uninspired on how to shape my brain dumped words into a book, I tried reading other non-fiction books in the hope it would help things click. Big mistake.

A published book has gone through multiple rounds of edits, usually with a team of people working on it. Comparing your messy manuscript to a completed and published product is a surefire way to double down on your self-doubt and make the end goal feel even more unreachable.

My advice? Don’t read other non-fiction books while writing yours. I devoured a lot of fiction, though. It helped me switch my brain off and renew my creativity.

Curious as to how this chaotic process turned into a book? Get your copy of Good With Money at all major retailers and many independents across Australia and New Zealand.

Emma Edwards Profile Image

Emma Edwards is a finance copywriter and blogger, on a mission to humanize the financial services industry by creating meaningful content that’s accessible and empowering. You’ll find her penning money tips at her blog, The Broke Generation , sharing financial insights on Instagram , or injecting life into content for her business clients.

Money tips 10 minute read

Written by Emma Edwards August 26, 2024

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Hero Essay: Who Is a Hero and How to Write About Heroes

Hero Essay: Who Is a Hero and How to Write About Heroes

In academic writing, few topics are as inspiring and thought-provoking as the hero essay. A hero essay lets us think about what makes someone a hero and why they matter to us or the world. You might write about someone from history, a person making a difference today, or even a made-up character from a story. Writing an exceptional hero essay takes some thought and planning, but it can be a great way to share your ideas.

What is a Hero Essay?

A hero essay is a piece of writing that looks at what it means to be a hero. It usually focuses on one person who shows heroic qualities. The goal is to explain why this person is a hero by looking at what they've done, what kind of person they are, and how they've helped others.

How to Write a Great Story About Your Hero

To write a really good hero story, you need to plan it out. Here's how you can do it:

  • Pick your hero: Choose someone you really look up to, real or made-up.
  • Do your homework: Learn all you can about your hero's life, what they've done, and what problems they've faced.
  • Find their best qualities: Figure out what makes this person heroic.
  • Make your main point: Clearly say why you think this person is a hero.
  • Plan your essay: Organize your ideas into a beginning, middle, and end.
  • Use clear examples: Show how your hero acted in heroic ways.
  • Think about their effect: Talk about how your hero has helped other people or made the world better.

When you're thinking about how to describe a hero, look at both what they do and who they are inside. What makes them want to help others? How do they inspire people? Asking these questions can help you paint a full picture of your hero.

To organize these complex character traits and their manifestations, consider using Aithor to map out your hero's qualities and their corresponding actions.

How to Make a Good Outline for My Hero Essay

A good outline helps you organize your essay. Here's a way you could set up your hero essay:

  • Start with something interesting to get the reader's attention
  • Give a little background about your hero
  • State your main idea about why they're a hero
  • Describe what makes them heroic and give examples
  • Talk about the big things they've done
  • Discuss the hard things they've faced and how they dealt with them
  • Explain how the hero has made a difference for people or the world
  • Sum up your main points
  • Remind the reader why this person is a hero
  • End with something to make the reader think

You can change this outline to fit your hero's story better if you need to.

Ideas for Writing a Great Paper About Your Hero

Picking the right person and topic for your hero essay can make a big difference. Here are some ideas to consider:

  • Unexpected heroes: Write about someone who isn't what most people think of as a hero but who has made a big difference.
  • Personal heroes: Talk about someone close to you, like a family member or community member, who you think is a hero.
  • Everyday heroes: Focus on people who do small, kind things that add up to big changes.
  • Historical heroes: Look at how someone from history still matters today.
  • Anti-heroes: Write about people who do good things in ways that aren't always simple or easy to understand.

When thinking about how to start a hero story, you might want to begin with an important moment in your hero's life. This can get the reader interested right away.

Tips on How to Write a Hero Story

To push your hero essay from good to great, try these tips:

  • Start strong: Get the reader's attention with a strong first sentence or a short story.
  • Show, don't tell: Use words that help the reader picture what your hero did.
  • Balance praise with reality: Talk about your hero's mistakes too, to make them seem more real.
  • Give clear examples: Use specific stories to show why your hero is heroic.
  • Incorporate dialogue: If you can, include things your hero or others have said.
  • Show how they've changed: Talk about how your hero has grown over time. 
  • Share what we can learn: Discuss what others can learn from your hero.

When pondering how do you spell heroic, remember that it's not just about spelling it right. It's about using words that show why your hero is special. Use words that show you admire them, but don't go overboard.

Aithor can help you choose the right words and spell them correctly so your writing strikes the right balance between eloquence and authenticity.

Hero Essay Examples to Read

Reading other people's hero essays can give you good ideas for your own. Here's a short excerpt of a student's essay about their personal hero:

When I think about heroes, I don't think about people with capes or superpowers. Instead, I think about my mom coming home tired from her night shift at the hospital. She's been a nurse for as long as I can remember, and it's a hard job.

I remember one time when I was about 10 and really sick. Mom had just worked two shifts in a row. She must have been so tired, but she still sat by my bed. She put a cool cloth on my forehead and told me funny stories to help me feel better. When she tucked me in that night, her eyes looked sleepy, but she still smiled. She brushed my hair back and said quietly, "We'll get through this together, sweetie."

That's just how my mom is. She's not perfect - she often burns toast, and sometimes she gets too into her favorite TV shows. But her kindness and hard work are real. She might stay late at work to help a scared patient or volunteer at the animal shelter on her days off. Mom taught me that being a hero isn't about doing big, flashy things. It's about showing up, being kind, and making things better in your own small way. To me, that makes her the biggest hero I know.

Final Words

Writing a hero essay helps you understand what makes someone a hero and gives you the opportunity to discuss people who inspire you. If you choose your subject carefully, plan your essay well, and use clear examples, you can write a story that really means something to people who read it.

Remember, the best hero essays do more than just say nice things about someone. They help us understand what it really means to be heroic. As you start writing, try using writing tools like Aithor to help you organize your ideas and focus on telling your hero's story clearly and powerfully. From outlining to final edits, Aithor's comprehensive features support every stage of writing your perfect hero essay.

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How to build your compare and contrast essay structure and examples.

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Chriss Bates

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

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What Is a Compare and Contrast Essay?

How to write a compare and contrast essay.

what are the 5 features of essay writing

1. Start by Brainstorming the Topic

what are the 5 features of essay writing

2. Craft a Thesis Statement

3. make an outline.

  • Introductory paragraphs
  • Body paragraphs

4. Structure Your Paper

what are the 5 features of essay writing

5. Use Clear Transitions

  • Consistent with, and more
  • On the other hand
  • Rather than, and more

6. Make the Comparisons

7. include the analysis, 8. proofread your essay, what is the structure of a compare and contrast paragraph.

  • For the block method, you give all the information about one part of the essay first and then move towards providing the information about the second part.
  • In a point-by-point structure, you will discuss the main arguments in the form of tips and points.

What Are the Two Main Structures for Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay?

what are the 5 features of essay writing

What Are the Main Features of a Compare Contrast Essay?

  • In such an essay, you focus on the characteristics of the objects being compared.
  • You will have to enlist the defining features of the objects you are comparing.
  • Such essays need the students to organise their ideas per the format specified by their teachers.
  • You will have to use multiple comparisons and phrases of contrast to let the readers know how the two objects are being analysed.

what are the 5 features of essay writing

Good Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

  • Whether the chemical drugs should be used or not?
  • What is the difference between allopathic and homoeopathic medications?
  • Should plastic surgery be done or not?
  • Which ones are better: iOS or Android phones?
  • Should economics be taken as a compulsory subject or not?
  • Is studying at home better than studying in school?
  • What is preferable: late night workout or early morning workout?
  • Provide a comparison of the life in college versus the life in high school.

Compare and Contrast Essay Examples

what are the 5 features of essay writing

Bottom Line

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5 free AI tools for school that students, teachers, and parents can use, too

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This back-to-school season features a new, major player: generative artificial intelligence (gen AI). In the nearly two years since ChatGPT launched, the chatbot has received many transformative updates, and many other gen AI tools for students have appeared on the market. As a result, there is a plethora of tools that students, teachers, and parents can tap into today. 

Also: How to use ChatGPT to analyze PDFs (and more) for free

Many people worry that gen AI can harm education by promoting cheating. However, when used properly, these tools have the potential to help students learn more efficiently. They can also help parents and teachers assist students by creating custom materials and explaining complex topics that would appear in homework, study guides, and more. 

I test AI tools every day, and I wish I'd had these tools when I was in school.  

The key to effectively using AI for schoolwork is identifying the right tools and use cases. Since there are so many tools, I compiled the list below from months of testing to make your life easier. 

ChatGPT is at the top of my list because of its multiple potential use cases that could improve a student's workflow. 

As mentioned above, OpenAI's chatbot, launched in November 2022, unleashed a generative craze because its writing, coding, and reasoning capabilities captured people's attention globally. Since then, it has become even better, undergoing major updates that make it even better suited for student use.  

Also: How to use ChatGPT to write your resume

For example, ChatGPT can  browse the internet and, as a result, has information on all current events and sites. It can do everything that Google can, but instead of having to aimlessly search through the search results for what you're looking for, the technology gives you the answer in an easy-to-understand response with footnotes that you can follow to lead you to the site.

ChatGPT can also now ingest other inputs, including documents and images, which students can use to  summarize documents ,  transcribe handwritten notes , simplify textbook passages, and more. 

Of course, ChatGPT also has the advanced writing, coding, and mathematical abilities that it is known for, making it a great assistant for all subject assignments, including writing and editing essays, solving and explaining math problems, and generating and debugging code. 

Some other ways you can use ChatGPT in your studies are: 

  • Answering questions you have about class or materials
  • Researching for a paper 
  • Working through take-home exams or assignments
  • Explaining complex topics, such as history, current events, politics, and scientific terms, in a more digestible way
  • Writing Excel formulas
  • Making graphs and charts
  • Planning vacation itineraries (we all need a break from school sometimes)

To find the best way to use ChatGPT for your own workflow, I recommend applying it to the use cases discussed above and experimenting with different things. 

2. Quizlet 

I used Quizlet from middle school through college as a study tool to help me remember content for exams. Although the platform has leveraged AI for more than six years to power some of its study features, such as its Learn mode, it recently further implemented AI to improve its offerings, solving every issue I ever had with the platform. 

Quizlet's core feature is its study set, which includes terms and definitions that students can use for different learning exercises and styles, such as flashcards (my personal favorite), matching columns, and more. Building those study sets used to take hours of manual input. Now, AI can do it for you. 

All a teacher or student has to do is input their notes, whether in the form of a PDF, image, or document and then Quizlet will automatically build the study set that they can use to study. 

Also:  How to use ChatGPT to write an essay

Students can also browse the millions of study sets created by other users. As a student, I found that if I searched Quizlet for a study set about any topic or even a specific textbook, someone else had likely made one.

Recently, Quizlet added two features teachers can use to create engaging content for their classrooms: Blast and Categories . Blast is a gamified learning tool that lets students participate in asteroid-blasting sessions, matching terms to definitions from study sets. Categories is a Jeopardy-style game in which the whole class participates in a mock quiz show. 

3. Grammarly 

The free Grammarly extension is so helpful that I even included it in my  AI tools for work round-up  because I still use it every day. The beauty of this tool is that it exemplifies using AI to enhance your work rather than doing it for you. The application runs in the background of your work and catches small mistakes that are easy to miss. 

Also: Grammarly to roll out a new AI content detector tool. Here's how it works

Whether you are writing an essay in Google Docs or email in Gmail, Grammarly will scan your text and detect spelling and grammatical errors. It can also offer edits about the actual syntax of your text, offering suggestions to rephrase, rewrite, be more concise, add details, adjust tone, and more. The results are not only more polished work but also an opportunity to learn from the edits.

4. Duolingo  

Duolingo is a great app for learning a new language. Students can use it to supplement the language courses they are taking in school and build their skills further at home.

The appeal of the Duolingo app is that it gamifies the language-learning experience through bite-sized lessons that feel like individual quests. It also has a streak, leaderboard, league, and point system that motivates learners to want to keep going. 

I quickly became invested in Duolingo, earning a 245-day streak in an attempt to learn a new language.

Also: College students: This new AI tool could make doing the reading easier

Foreign language courses are typically mandatory for students throughout their education, starting at the middle school level and going all the way through to college. 

As if learning a new language isn't already hard, my experiences suggest foreign language courses are not a priority for schools, especially at the younger learning levels, making them under-resourced and sometimes poorly taught. 

Duolingo would be a great way to bridge the understanding gap that is being created in class. Test yourself on your understanding of the language before an exam, or simply supplement your in-class lessons with some out-of-classroom practice. 

5. Socratic

Although younger learners can benefit from AI chatbots , such as ChatGPT, there are concerns about giving them access to the entire Internet. Socratic by Google is a great alternative if you are a parent concerned about these concerns. 

With the Socratic app, students can type in any question about what they are learning in school or upload their worksheets. The app will generate a conversational, human-like response with unique graphics and even related YouTube video links.

The app will not just pump out answers or generate essays. Instead, it will give step-by-step explanations and instructions that students can use to get the answer themselves, functioning as an intelligent learning tool. 

Also:  How Google Socratic can help you with your homework

To give parents peace of mind, Socratic also blocks inappropriate questions from being answered.

The app isn't limited to younger learners, and Google actually refers to it as a "learning app from Google that helps high school and university students." However, due to its functionality, I would say it's better suited for younger learners because of its limits and fun graphics. 

Artificial Intelligence

College students: this new ai tool could make doing the reading easier, how to use chatgpt to analyze pdfs (and more) for free, how i test an ai chatbot's coding ability - and you can, too.

Quetext

The 9 Best AI Detector Tools to Uncover AI Content

  • Posted on August 22, 2024

AI content creation has rapidly transformed academic and professional writing, with tools like ChatGPT by OpenAI making it easier than ever to generate content. However, relying heavily on AI-generated text without proper oversight can jeopardize a student’s academic integrity or a professional’s credibility. 

Misuse of AI writing can lead to serious consequences, including accusations of plagiarism or producing low-quality work that lacks originality. Educators and professionals must be vigilant in using an AI content detector to maintain standards and authenticity.

In this blog, we’ll explore and review the best AI detection tools available to identify AI-writing content:

  • Originality.ai
  • Content at Scale

Are AI Content Detectors Accurate? How They Work

AI content detectors analyze text using advanced algorithms and language models trained on extensive datasets. These detectors, like Quetext, examine the text’s structure, syntax, and patterns to differentiate AI-generated and human-written content. 

The process involves machine learning and classifier techniques that evolve with advancements in AI technology. Detectors can alert to content produced by large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Bard, Claude, and others.

AI detection tools accuracy varies, with rates typically ranging from 70% to 95%. While these tools are powerful, they can sometimes produce false positives or miss undetectable content, especially as generative AI continues to evolve. Many people wonder, how do AI detectors work , and it’s important for educators and writers to understand as they need to avoid plagiarism. 

Leveraging multiple tools helps humanize AI content and ensures the use of AI in writing remains ethical, authentic, and aligned with academic or professional standards. As AI models become more sophisticated, these tools play a vital role in avoiding unconscious plagiarism and maintaining the integrity of content creation.

Common Features of AI Detection Tools

AI detection tools are designed to identify and differentiate between AI-generated content and human-written text. The following are the most common features used by the best AI detectors:

  • Plagiarism Checker: The plagiarism checker feature scans content for any matches with existing sources. It helps detect AI-generated text.
  • Paraphrasing Detection: Identifies subtle rewording or paraphrasing often used to disguise AI-generated content. It ensures originality in content creation.
  • Language Model Identification: Detects specific language models like ChatGPT, GPT-3, or Claude. It helps in pinpointing the source of AI writing.
  • False Positive Reduction: Minimizes false positives by refining detection algorithms, ensuring accurate results without mistakenly flagging human-written content.
  • Chrome Extension Integration: Allows users to access AI detection tools directly from the browser, making it easier to analyze content in real-time.
  • API Access: Enables integration of detection tools with other writing tools or platforms, providing seamless functionality across different applications.
  • Multi-Language Support: Supports multiple languages, ensuring AI content detection is effective across different linguistic contexts, including English.

Each feature contributes to a detection system for anyone concerned about the authenticity and originality of their content.

Top AI Detector Tools

AI detection tools are essential for maintaining content integrity in academic and professional settings. Each tool offers unique features to help users effectively identify and manage AI-generated content. 

Here’s a look at some of the best AI detectors available:

Quetext is a leading AI content detector known for accurately identifying AI-generated content across various platforms. Quetext’s AI content detector is especially valued by educators and professionals who need a reliable tool to ensure content integrity. 

Top Features

Line-by-line analysis, fast results, accurate AI detection, wide language model coverage

Quetext stands out as the best AI detector due to its advanced AI detection tool that provides detailed, line-by-line analysis. It effectively flags content generated by large language models like GPT-3, GPT-4, and ChatGPT. 

Additionally, Quetext’s AI content detector can detect subtle paraphrasing and other sophisticated techniques that might otherwise go unnoticed. Users appreciate its high accuracy and fast results, making it a top choice for those needing thorough content checks. 

One user noted how Quetext provided “peace of mind by ensuring the content was truly original,” underscoring its reliability for academic and professional use. The tool’s robust functionality also includes Chrome extension integration and API access, enhancing its usability for more users across various platforms.

Free to try, with base packages starting at $4.67/month/user.

2. Winston AI

Winston AI is another trusted AI content detection tool recognized for its high accuracy in identifying AI-generated content from models like GPT-4 and ChatGPT. It’s particularly valued in academic and SEO contexts for ensuring content integrity and originality.

Multi-language support, detects paraphrasing, AI prediction map, line-by-line assessment

Winston AI excels as a reliable AI content detector. It offers detailed assessments that help distinguish between machine-generated and human-written text. Its advanced features, which include options for detecting paraphrasing and humanized AI content, make it a strong contender in the AI detection space. 

The tool is designed to identify content generated by various AI models, including GPT-3 and GPT-4. Its accuracy is backed by positive user feedback. 

One user mentioned, “Winston AI’s interface is intuitive, and it’s a critical tool for maintaining content authenticity.” While powerful, it complements rather than surpasses tools like Quetext, particularly in educational and professional environments. Winston AI also integrates well with Chrome extensions and offers an API for more extensive use cases.

A free account is available to try, and base packages start at $18/month/user and $15/month/user annually.

GPTZero is another highly reliable AI content detection tool tailored to accurately detect text generated by AI models like ChatGPT, GPT-4, and Claude. It is widely used by educators and professionals to ensure the authenticity of human-written content in academic and professional environments.

Advanced AI scan, video verification, LMS integration, multilingual detection

GPTZero stands out for its ability to analyze text deeply and detect subtle AI-generated content across different languages. The tool’s advanced scanning capabilities allow users to verify the authenticity of writing through features like video replay, which shows the writing process in real-time. 

Its seamless integration with learning management systems (LMS) such as Google Classroom and Canvas makes it an essential tool in educational settings. 

A user remarked, “GPTZero’s ability to detect AI use, especially in mixed texts, is unmatched, offering educators a dependable solution.” The tool also includes robust plagiarism detection, making it a comprehensive solution for maintaining content integrity.

GPTZero is a valuable asset for anyone looking to ensure the originality of their work. It provides detailed insights into the text’s nature, whether machine-generated or genuinely human-written.

Free to try, with packages starting at $10/month/user.

4. TraceGPT by PlagiarismCheck.org (for ChatGPT)

TraceGPT is an effective AI content detection tool built by PlagiarismCheck.org. It is tailored for identifying AI-generated content from models like ChatGPT. It’s designed to help educators, SEO experts, and recruiters maintain content integrity across various platforms.

AI plagiarism detection, multiple file formats, downloadable reports, confidentiality

TraceGPT has become a popular AI detection tool because it specializes in detecting AI-generated text, making it particularly useful for academic institutions and content-driven industries. 

The tool provides accurate results by analyzing text through advanced algorithms that differentiate between human-written content and machine-generated text. It supports multiple file formats and offers downloadable reports, adding to its practicality. 

A frequent user said, “TraceGPT is a reliable tool that catches even the most subtle AI-generated nuances.” While it offers robust features, it complements other tools rather than competing.

TraceGPT is an ideal choice for those needing a dependable AI detection tool emphasizing privacy and accuracy.

Starting at $2.99/month for 100,000 words and $4.99/month for 200,000 words.

5. Originality.ai

Originality.ai is a comprehensive AI content detection tool for digital marketers, writers, and content creators. It focuses on ensuring the originality of content by accurately detecting AI-generated text across a wide range of AI models, such as ChatGPT and GPT-4.

Paraphrase detection, shareable reports, team management, API access

Originality.ai stands out for its accuracy in detecting AI-generated content, particularly in digital marketing and publishing environments. The tool is equipped to handle various use cases, from detecting light paraphrasing to scanning entire websites for AI-generated text.

 Its robust API and team management features make it ideal for larger organizations managing multiple content creators. A user highlighted that Originality.ai was “remarkably accurate, especially in identifying complex AI-written sections,” making it a dependable tool for maintaining content integrity.

Originality.ai is tailored for professionals who need to ensure that their content is free from machine-generated elements. It offers a reliable solution for both small—and large-scale operations.

Starting at $12.45/month for 2,000 credits, $179/month for enterprise.

6. Turnitin

Turnitin is a trusted name in academic integrity. It is widely recognized for its robust AI content detection tool, which helps educators identify AI-generated content in student submissions. The tool is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing educational systems, providing reliable insights for maintaining academic honesty.

AI paraphrasing detection, LMS integration, detailed reporting, false positives management

Turnitin offers a comprehensive AI detection tool that goes beyond traditional plagiarism checking by identifying AI-generated text and paraphrased content. This tool is particularly beneficial for educators who must maintain the integrity of human-written content in academic settings. 

Turnitin’s AI checker is known for its high accuracy and integration with learning management systems (LMS), making it easy for educators to incorporate into their existing workflows. 

One review states, “Turnitin’s AI detection capabilities are a great addition to their already powerful plagiarism checker.” While it excels in educational environments, it must be noted that it complements rather than replaces other tools for broader AI detection needs.

Turnitin is ideal for educational institutions committed to upholding academic standards. It ensures that submissions are genuinely human-written and free from machine-generated content.

$3 per student per year, no free trial available.

7. Copyleaks

Copyleaks is a powerful AI content detection tool designed to handle text from various AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. It’s particularly popular among educators and businesses for its ability to ensure content authenticity across multiple languages.

Multilingual support, detailed reports, integration options, false positives minimization

Copyleaks excels in detecting AI-generated content and human-written content by leveraging advanced AI technology. It supports over 30 languages, making it versatile for global use. Users appreciate its accuracy and the ability to integrate seamlessly with various platforms, making it ideal for educational and business environments. 

A user reiterated, “Copyleaks is great at flagging AI-generated text, and its multilingual support is a big plus for international teams.” While it’s a strong contender in the AI detection space, it aids other AI detection tools, particularly when managing diverse content needs.

Copyleaks is well-suited for those needing a comprehensive solution that can handle machine-generated content while minimizing false positives and ensuring reliable detection across different languages.

Starting at $9.16/month for 120 pages, with various plans available.

8. Content at Scale

Content at Scale offers a versatile AI content detection tool that accurately identifies AI-generated content from ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and more. It’s tailored for content creators and businesses that need reliable detection and humanization features for their writing tools.

Unlimited scans, undetectable rewrites, plagiarism detection, personalized AI generation

Content at Scale provides an advanced AI detection tool beyond simple detection, offering features like undetectable rewrites and integrated plagiarism checks. This tool mainly benefits businesses and content creators aiming to maintain human-written content authenticity while leveraging AI technology. 

One user noted, “Content at Scale’s AI detector is incredibly effective, especially with its undetectable rewrite feature.” While it excels in providing robust tools for managing machine-generated content, it serves as a complement rather than a replacement for top contenders like Quetext.

Content at Scale is an excellent choice for those seeking a comprehensive solution that detects and humanizes AI-generated text, ensuring content integrity across various platforms.

Starting at $49/month for unlimited scans and AI tools.

Lastly, is Smodin, a versatile AI content detection tool popular among educators, students, and content creators for its ability to distinguish between human-written content and text generated by AI models like GPT-4 and ChatGPT. It’s designed to ensure originality in your work.

High accuracy, multiple file formats, plagiarism checker, easy-to-use interface

Smodin offers free AI-generated content detection that stands out for its high accuracy in identifying AI-generated content. This tool supports multiple file formats, making it accessible to many users. It also integrates well with other writing tools, offering a comprehensive solution for maintaining content integrity. 

A regular user noted, “Smodin is effective in catching even subtle AI-written text, making it a dependable choice for academic purposes.” While it offers robust features, it complements tools like Quetext rather than serving as a standalone solution for broader AI detection needs.

Smodin is an excellent option for those who need a free tool with reliable detection capabilities, particularly in educational and professional settings.

Free to try, with base packages starting at $12/month.

Use Cases for Identifying AI-Generated Content

Identifying AI-generated content is more important than ever as AI writing tools like ChatGPT and GPT-4 become widespread and begin to be used by writing programs. Using the best AI detectors is crucial for maintaining the integrity of your human-written content across various fields, from academia to digital marketing. 

AI detectors are already used in various fields to ensure the integrity of human-written content. In academic writing, detecting AI-generated content is crucial for maintaining educational standards. Educators and students rely on AI detection tools to verify the originality of essays, research papers, and dissertations. 

Using AI-generated text in these critical documents can result in severe consequences, including academic penalties and lasting damage to one’s reputation.

In content creation, businesses and marketers use AI detectors to maintain the authenticity of their work. Authentic content not only resonates better with audiences but also boosts SEO performance. 

While each tool discussed here offers unique strengths, Quetext is a practical choice for those who prioritize accuracy and ease of use. By integrating Quetext and other tools into your content creation process, you can better manage the risks associated with AI-generated text and uphold the highest standards of quality and originality. 

Explore these AI detection tools to find the one that best fits your needs and helps you maintain the highest standards in your work. AI detection is also becoming increasingly important in journalism and publishing, where trust and accuracy are fundamental. 

As language models like ChatGPT and GPT-4 advance, the risk of AI-generated misinformation grows. AI detection tools help prevent this, ensuring published content is reliable and genuinely human-written. Tools like Quetext’s AI content detector are essential for identifying AI-generated text that might undermine a brand’s credibility. 

To safeguard the authenticity of your work, try Quetext’s AI content detector for free today.

Sign Up for Quetext Today!

Click below to find a pricing plan that fits your needs.

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  • Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-warnings-from-democrats-about-project-2025-and-donald-trump

Fact-checking warnings from Democrats about Project 2025 and Donald Trump

This fact check originally appeared on PolitiFact .

Project 2025 has a starring role in this week’s Democratic National Convention.

And it was front and center on Night 1.

WATCH: Hauling large copy of Project 2025, Michigan state Sen. McMorrow speaks at 2024 DNC

“This is Project 2025,” Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, said as she laid a hardbound copy of the 900-page document on the lectern. “Over the next four nights, you are going to hear a lot about what is in this 900-page document. Why? Because this is the Republican blueprint for a second Trump term.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has warned Americans about “Trump’s Project 2025” agenda — even though former President Donald Trump doesn’t claim the conservative presidential transition document.

“Donald Trump wants to take our country backward,” Harris said July 23 in Milwaukee. “He and his extreme Project 2025 agenda will weaken the middle class. Like, we know we got to take this seriously, and can you believe they put that thing in writing?”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, has joined in on the talking point.

“Don’t believe (Trump) when he’s playing dumb about this Project 2025. He knows exactly what it’ll do,” Walz said Aug. 9 in Glendale, Arizona.

Trump’s campaign has worked to build distance from the project, which the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, led with contributions from dozens of conservative groups.

Much of the plan calls for extensive executive-branch overhauls and draws on both long-standing conservative principles, such as tax cuts, and more recent culture war issues. It lays out recommendations for disbanding the Commerce and Education departments, eliminating certain climate protections and consolidating more power to the president.

Project 2025 offers a sweeping vision for a Republican-led executive branch, and some of its policies mirror Trump’s 2024 agenda, But Harris and her presidential campaign have at times gone too far in describing what the project calls for and how closely the plans overlap with Trump’s campaign.

PolitiFact researched Harris’ warnings about how the plan would affect reproductive rights, federal entitlement programs and education, just as we did for President Joe Biden’s Project 2025 rhetoric. Here’s what the project does and doesn’t call for, and how it squares with Trump’s positions.

Are Trump and Project 2025 connected?

To distance himself from Project 2025 amid the Democratic attacks, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he “knows nothing” about it and has “no idea” who is in charge of it. (CNN identified at least 140 former advisers from the Trump administration who have been involved.)

The Heritage Foundation sought contributions from more than 100 conservative organizations for its policy vision for the next Republican presidency, which was published in 2023.

Project 2025 is now winding down some of its policy operations, and director Paul Dans, a former Trump administration official, is stepping down, The Washington Post reported July 30. Trump campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita denounced the document.

WATCH: A look at the Project 2025 plan to reshape government and Trump’s links to its authors

However, Project 2025 contributors include a number of high-ranking officials from Trump’s first administration, including former White House adviser Peter Navarro and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

A recently released recording of Russell Vought, a Project 2025 author and the former director of Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, showed Vought saying Trump’s “very supportive of what we do.” He said Trump was only distancing himself because Democrats were making a bogeyman out of the document.

Project 2025 wouldn’t ban abortion outright, but would curtail access

The Harris campaign shared a graphic on X that claimed “Trump’s Project 2025 plan for workers” would “go after birth control and ban abortion nationwide.”

The plan doesn’t call to ban abortion nationwide, though its recommendations could curtail some contraceptives and limit abortion access.

What’s known about Trump’s abortion agenda neither lines up with Harris’ description nor Project 2025’s wish list.

Project 2025 says the Department of Health and Human Services Department should “return to being known as the Department of Life by explicitly rejecting the notion that abortion is health care.”

It recommends that the Food and Drug Administration reverse its 2000 approval of mifepristone, the first pill taken in a two-drug regimen for a medication abortion. Medication is the most common form of abortion in the U.S. — accounting for around 63 percent in 2023.

If mifepristone were to remain approved, Project 2025 recommends new rules, such as cutting its use from 10 weeks into pregnancy to seven. It would have to be provided to patients in person — part of the group’s efforts to limit access to the drug by mail. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a legal challenge to mifepristone’s FDA approval over procedural grounds.

WATCH: Trump’s plans for health care and reproductive rights if he returns to White House The manual also calls for the Justice Department to enforce the 1873 Comstock Act on mifepristone, which bans the mailing of “obscene” materials. Abortion access supporters fear that a strict interpretation of the law could go further to ban mailing the materials used in procedural abortions, such as surgical instruments and equipment.

The plan proposes withholding federal money from states that don’t report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention how many abortions take place within their borders. The plan also would prohibit abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid funds. It also calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that the training of medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, omits abortion training.

The document says some forms of emergency contraception — particularly Ella, a pill that can be taken within five days of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy — should be excluded from no-cost coverage. The Affordable Care Act requires most private health insurers to cover recommended preventive services, which involves a range of birth control methods, including emergency contraception.

Trump has recently said states should decide abortion regulations and that he wouldn’t block access to contraceptives. Trump said during his June 27 debate with Biden that he wouldn’t ban mifepristone after the Supreme Court “approved” it. But the court rejected the lawsuit based on standing, not the case’s merits. He has not weighed in on the Comstock Act or said whether he supports it being used to block abortion medication, or other kinds of abortions.

Project 2025 doesn’t call for cutting Social Security, but proposes some changes to Medicare

“When you read (Project 2025),” Harris told a crowd July 23 in Wisconsin, “you will see, Donald Trump intends to cut Social Security and Medicare.”

The Project 2025 document does not call for Social Security cuts. None of its 10 references to Social Security addresses plans for cutting the program.

Harris also misleads about Trump’s Social Security views.

In his earlier campaigns and before he was a politician, Trump said about a half-dozen times that he’s open to major overhauls of Social Security, including cuts and privatization. More recently, in a March 2024 CNBC interview, Trump said of entitlement programs such as Social Security, “There’s a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting.” However, he quickly walked that statement back, and his CNBC comment stands at odds with essentially everything else Trump has said during the 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump’s campaign website says that not “a single penny” should be cut from Social Security. We rated Harris’ claim that Trump intends to cut Social Security Mostly False.

Project 2025 does propose changes to Medicare, including making Medicare Advantage, the private insurance offering in Medicare, the “default” enrollment option. Unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans have provider networks and can also require prior authorization, meaning that the plan can approve or deny certain services. Original Medicare plans don’t have prior authorization requirements.

The manual also calls for repealing health policies enacted under Biden, such as the Inflation Reduction Act. The law enabled Medicare to negotiate with drugmakers for the first time in history, and recently resulted in an agreement with drug companies to lower the prices of 10 expensive prescriptions for Medicare enrollees.

Trump, however, has said repeatedly during the 2024 presidential campaign that he will not cut Medicare.

Project 2025 would eliminate the Education Department, which Trump supports

The Harris campaign said Project 2025 would “eliminate the U.S. Department of Education” — and that’s accurate. Project 2025 says federal education policy “should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated.” The plan scales back the federal government’s role in education policy and devolves the functions that remain to other agencies.

Aside from eliminating the department, the project also proposes scrapping the Biden administration’s Title IX revision, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also would let states opt out of federal education programs and calls for passing a federal parents’ bill of rights similar to ones passed in some Republican-led state legislatures.

Republicans, including Trump, have pledged to close the department, which gained its status in 1979 within Democratic President Jimmy Carter’s presidential Cabinet.

In one of his Agenda 47 policy videos, Trump promised to close the department and “to send all education work and needs back to the states.” Eliminating the department would have to go through Congress.

What Project 2025, Trump would do on overtime pay

In the graphic, the Harris campaign says Project 2025 allows “employers to stop paying workers for overtime work.”

The plan doesn’t call for banning overtime wages. It recommends changes to some Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, regulations and to overtime rules. Some changes, if enacted, could result in some people losing overtime protections, experts told us.

The document proposes that the Labor Department maintain an overtime threshold “that does not punish businesses in lower-cost regions (e.g., the southeast United States).” This threshold is the amount of money executive, administrative or professional employees need to make for an employer to exempt them from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

In 2019, the Trump’s administration finalized a rule that expanded overtime pay eligibility to most salaried workers earning less than about $35,568, which it said made about 1.3 million more workers eligible for overtime pay. The Trump-era threshold is high enough to cover most line workers in lower-cost regions, Project 2025 said.

The Biden administration raised that threshold to $43,888 beginning July 1, and that will rise to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025. That would grant overtime eligibility to about 4 million workers, the Labor Department said.

It’s unclear how many workers Project 2025’s proposal to return to the Trump-era overtime threshold in some parts of the country would affect, but experts said some would presumably lose the right to overtime wages.

Other overtime proposals in Project 2025’s plan include allowing some workers to choose to accumulate paid time off instead of overtime pay, or to work more hours in one week and fewer in the next, rather than receive overtime.

Trump’s past with overtime pay is complicated. In 2016, the Obama administration said it would raise the overtime to salaried workers earning less than $47,476 a year, about double the exemption level set in 2004 of $23,660 a year.

But when a judge blocked the Obama rule, the Trump administration didn’t challenge the court ruling. Instead it set its own overtime threshold, which raised the amount, but by less than Obama.

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Get canceled, land an emmy nom.

'Girls5eva' got scrapped by Peacock only to find a new home at Netflix – and some TV Academy love.

By Etan Vlessing

Etan Vlessing

Canada Bureau Chief

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From left: Girls5eva stars Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philipps and Paula Pell.

Meredith Scardino, creator and showrunner of Girls5eva , is no stranger to the Emmy winner’s circle.

She got her start in comedy writing in late night and spent six years writing for The Colbert Report, where she won four Emmy trophies. She also worked as a writer-producer on the Tina Fey and Robert Carlock series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt , which earned 18 Emmy nominations during its four-season run.

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“Of course this has extra meaning, for the blood, sweat and tears that you put into it,” says Scardino.

Sara Bareilles, who stars alongside Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell and Busy Philipps in the series about a ’90s girl group getting a second chance at fame, also scored a nod for best original music and lyrics for the song “The Medium Time” in season three’s “New York” episode.

Here, Scardino and fellow writer Sam Means chat about racking up Emmy nominations for the Fey-produced comedy.

To be recognized by Emmy voters from outside the bubble that is the Girls5eva writers room has to be gratifying.

MEREDITH SCARDINO It really does mean a lot to get a writing nomination. I’m impressed with our peer group. I obviously love our show to death. It’s just nice to be recognized by other people who do the same job. And I would love to see our cast be nominated in actor categories. I think everybody deserves a nomination, but it’s particularly gratifying to see Sara recognized for her song “The Medium Time.” It’s just so beautiful, and I can’t believe I know her.

SAM MEANS It’s wonderful for Sara to be nominated personally for her talent and for that song, but also to recognize the music that’s so much at the core of this show.

You clearly weren’t done with Girls5eva when Peacock canceled it after its second season.

Did your ties to Tina Fey and Robert Carlock give Netflix comfort to take on Girls5eva ?

SCARDINO Actually, Andy Weil, who works at Netflix, was our executive on Kimmy Schmidt. Tracey Pakosta, I had pitched her when she was at NBC, and she loved the show. So they were our favorite fans of Girls5eva from the second it dropped. Because of those great relationships, when it became potentially something that could be re-homed, they were very interested immediately. It happened very quickly.

What has the platform change meant for your audience?

SCARDINO I can say our audience has increased massively. Our actors, people stop them on the street all the time. That was not really happening before, when we were on Peacock — which, by the way, was fantastic to us. I have nothing but positive things to say about Peacock for believing in the show and giving us two amazing seasons. But the Netflix audience is the world.

The success of Girls5eva , the band, is now up to the four formergirl-group characters. Talk about writing for your cast going into the third season.

You received a six-episode order at Netflix, which meant you had to be more succinct in the writers room.

SCARDINO That was a little bit smaller than the first two seasons. So we had to adhere to our season arc just a little bit tighter. But we didn’t feel like we left anything out that we’d been dying to get in. Obviously, we could write 1,000 episodes for these ladies. But I feel like the six was a nice, tight six.

MEANS Meredith’s vision for the show is so clear and the voices of these characters are so clear. It was just a question of staying true to that.

This story first appeared in an August stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe .

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Full Transcript of Kamala Harris’s Democratic Convention Speech

The vice president’s remarks lasted roughly 35 minutes on the final night of the convention in Chicago.

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People watch as Kamala Harris speaks on a large screen above them.

By The New York Times

  • Aug. 23, 2024

This is a transcript of Vice President Kamala Harris’s speech on Thursday night in which she formally accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for the presidency.

OK, let’s get to business. Let’s get to business. All right.

So, let me start by thanking my most incredible husband, Doug. For being an incredible partner to me, an incredible father to Cole and Ella, and happy anniversary, Dougie. I love you so very much.

To our president, Joe Biden. When I think about the path that we have traveled together, Joe, I am filled with gratitude. Your record is extraordinary, as history will show, and your character is inspiring. And Doug and I love you and Jill, and are forever thankful to you both.

And to Coach Tim Walz. You are going to be an incredible vice president. And to the delegates and everyone who has put your faith in our campaign, your support is humbling.

So, America, the path that led me here in recent weeks was, no doubt, unexpected. But I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys. So, my mother, our mother, Shyamala Harris, had one of her own. And I miss her every day, and especially right now. And I know she’s looking down smiling. I know that.

So, my mother was 19 when she crossed the world alone, traveling from India to California with an unshakable dream to be the scientist who would cure breast cancer.

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How to Write an Essay

Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:

Essay Writing Fundamentals

How to prepare to write an essay, how to edit an essay, how to share and publish your essays, how to get essay writing help, how to find essay writing inspiration, resources for teaching essay writing.

Essays, short prose compositions on a particular theme or topic, are the bread and butter of academic life. You write them in class, for homework, and on standardized tests to show what you know. Unlike other kinds of academic writing (like the research paper) and creative writing (like short stories and poems), essays allow you to develop your original thoughts on a prompt or question. Essays come in many varieties: they can be expository (fleshing out an idea or claim), descriptive, (explaining a person, place, or thing), narrative (relating a personal experience), or persuasive (attempting to win over a reader). This guide is a collection of dozens of links about academic essay writing that we have researched, categorized, and annotated in order to help you improve your essay writing. 

Essays are different from other forms of writing; in turn, there are different kinds of essays. This section contains general resources for getting to know the essay and its variants. These resources introduce and define the essay as a genre, and will teach you what to expect from essay-based assessments.

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab

One of the most trusted academic writing sites, Purdue OWL provides a concise introduction to the four most common types of academic essays.

"The Essay: History and Definition" (ThoughtCo)

This snappy article from ThoughtCo talks about the origins of the essay and different kinds of essays you might be asked to write. 

"What Is An Essay?" Video Lecture (Coursera)

The University of California at Irvine's free video lecture, available on Coursera, tells  you everything you need to know about the essay.

Wikipedia Article on the "Essay"

Wikipedia's article on the essay is comprehensive, providing both English-language and global perspectives on the essay form. Learn about the essay's history, forms, and styles.

"Understanding College and Academic Writing" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

This list of common academic writing assignments (including types of essay prompts) will help you know what to expect from essay-based assessments.

Before you start writing your essay, you need to figure out who you're writing for (audience), what you're writing about (topic/theme), and what you're going to say (argument and thesis). This section contains links to handouts, chapters, videos and more to help you prepare to write an essay.

How to Identify Your Audience

"Audience" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This handout provides questions you can ask yourself to determine the audience for an academic writing assignment. It also suggests strategies for fitting your paper to your intended audience.

"Purpose, Audience, Tone, and Content" (Univ. of Minnesota Libraries)

This extensive book chapter from Writing for Success , available online through Minnesota Libraries Publishing, is followed by exercises to try out your new pre-writing skills.

"Determining Audience" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

This guide from a community college's writing center shows you how to know your audience, and how to incorporate that knowledge in your thesis statement.

"Know Your Audience" ( Paper Rater Blog)

This short blog post uses examples to show how implied audiences for essays differ. It reminds you to think of your instructor as an observer, who will know only the information you pass along.

How to Choose a Theme or Topic

"Research Tutorial: Developing Your Topic" (YouTube)

Take a look at this short video tutorial from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to understand the basics of developing a writing topic.

"How to Choose a Paper Topic" (WikiHow)

This simple, step-by-step guide (with pictures!) walks you through choosing a paper topic. It starts with a detailed description of brainstorming and ends with strategies to refine your broad topic.

"How to Read an Assignment: Moving From Assignment to Topic" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Did your teacher give you a prompt or other instructions? This guide helps you understand the relationship between an essay assignment and your essay's topic.

"Guidelines for Choosing a Topic" (CliffsNotes)

This study guide from CliffsNotes both discusses how to choose a topic and makes a useful distinction between "topic" and "thesis."

How to Come Up with an Argument

"Argument" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

Not sure what "argument" means in the context of academic writing? This page from the University of North Carolina is a good place to start.

"The Essay Guide: Finding an Argument" (Study Hub)

This handout explains why it's important to have an argument when beginning your essay, and provides tools to help you choose a viable argument.

"Writing a Thesis and Making an Argument" (University of Iowa)

This page from the University of Iowa's Writing Center contains exercises through which you can develop and refine your argument and thesis statement.

"Developing a Thesis" (Harvard College Writing Center)

This page from Harvard's Writing Center collates some helpful dos and don'ts of argumentative writing, from steps in constructing a thesis to avoiding vague and confrontational thesis statements.

"Suggestions for Developing Argumentative Essays" (Berkeley Student Learning Center)

This page offers concrete suggestions for each stage of the essay writing process, from topic selection to drafting and editing. 

How to Outline your Essay

"Outlines" (Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill via YouTube)

This short video tutorial from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shows how to group your ideas into paragraphs or sections to begin the outlining process.

"Essay Outline" (Univ. of Washington Tacoma)

This two-page handout by a university professor simply defines the parts of an essay and then organizes them into an example outline.

"Types of Outlines and Samples" (Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab)

Purdue OWL gives examples of diverse outline strategies on this page, including the alphanumeric, full sentence, and decimal styles. 

"Outlining" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Once you have an argument, according to this handout, there are only three steps in the outline process: generalizing, ordering, and putting it all together. Then you're ready to write!

"Writing Essays" (Plymouth Univ.)

This packet, part of Plymouth University's Learning Development series, contains descriptions and diagrams relating to the outlining process.

"How to Write A Good Argumentative Essay: Logical Structure" (Criticalthinkingtutorials.com via YouTube)

This longer video tutorial gives an overview of how to structure your essay in order to support your argument or thesis. It is part of a longer course on academic writing hosted on Udemy.

Now that you've chosen and refined your topic and created an outline, use these resources to complete the writing process. Most essays contain introductions (which articulate your thesis statement), body paragraphs, and conclusions. Transitions facilitate the flow from one paragraph to the next so that support for your thesis builds throughout the essay. Sources and citations show where you got the evidence to support your thesis, which ensures that you avoid plagiarism. 

How to Write an Introduction

"Introductions" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page identifies the role of the introduction in any successful paper, suggests strategies for writing introductions, and warns against less effective introductions.

"How to Write A Good Introduction" (Michigan State Writing Center)

Beginning with the most common missteps in writing introductions, this guide condenses the essentials of introduction composition into seven points.

"The Introductory Paragraph" (ThoughtCo)

This blog post from academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming focuses on ways to grab your reader's attention at the beginning of your essay.

"Introductions and Conclusions" (Univ. of Toronto)

This guide from the University of Toronto gives advice that applies to writing both introductions and conclusions, including dos and don'ts.

"How to Write Better Essays: No One Does Introductions Properly" ( The Guardian )

This news article interviews UK professors on student essay writing; they point to introductions as the area that needs the most improvement.

How to Write a Thesis Statement

"Writing an Effective Thesis Statement" (YouTube)

This short, simple video tutorial from a college composition instructor at Tulsa Community College explains what a thesis statement is and what it does. 

"Thesis Statement: Four Steps to a Great Essay" (YouTube)

This fantastic tutorial walks you through drafting a thesis, using an essay prompt on Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter as an example.

"How to Write a Thesis Statement" (WikiHow)

This step-by-step guide (with pictures!) walks you through coming up with, writing, and editing a thesis statement. It invites you think of your statement as a "working thesis" that can change.

"How to Write a Thesis Statement" (Univ. of Indiana Bloomington)

Ask yourself the questions on this page, part of Indiana Bloomington's Writing Tutorial Services, when you're writing and refining your thesis statement.

"Writing Tips: Thesis Statements" (Univ. of Illinois Center for Writing Studies)

This page gives plentiful examples of good to great thesis statements, and offers questions to ask yourself when formulating a thesis statement.

How to Write Body Paragraphs

"Body Paragraph" (Brightstorm)

This module of a free online course introduces you to the components of a body paragraph. These include the topic sentence, information, evidence, and analysis.

"Strong Body Paragraphs" (Washington Univ.)

This handout from Washington's Writing and Research Center offers in-depth descriptions of the parts of a successful body paragraph.

"Guide to Paragraph Structure" (Deakin Univ.)

This handout is notable for color-coding example body paragraphs to help you identify the functions various sentences perform.

"Writing Body Paragraphs" (Univ. of Minnesota Libraries)

The exercises in this section of Writing for Success  will help you practice writing good body paragraphs. It includes guidance on selecting primary support for your thesis.

"The Writing Process—Body Paragraphs" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

The information and exercises on this page will familiarize you with outlining and writing body paragraphs, and includes links to more information on topic sentences and transitions.

"The Five-Paragraph Essay" (ThoughtCo)

This blog post discusses body paragraphs in the context of one of the most common academic essay types in secondary schools.

How to Use Transitions

"Transitions" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill explains what a transition is, and how to know if you need to improve your transitions.

"Using Transitions Effectively" (Washington Univ.)

This handout defines transitions, offers tips for using them, and contains a useful list of common transitional words and phrases grouped by function.

"Transitions" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

This page compares paragraphs without transitions to paragraphs with transitions, and in doing so shows how important these connective words and phrases are.

"Transitions in Academic Essays" (Scribbr)

This page lists four techniques that will help you make sure your reader follows your train of thought, including grouping similar information and using transition words.

"Transitions" (El Paso Community College)

This handout shows example transitions within paragraphs for context, and explains how transitions improve your essay's flow and voice.

"Make Your Paragraphs Flow to Improve Writing" (ThoughtCo)

This blog post, another from academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming, talks about transitions and other strategies to improve your essay's overall flow.

"Transition Words" (smartwords.org)

This handy word bank will help you find transition words when you're feeling stuck. It's grouped by the transition's function, whether that is to show agreement, opposition, condition, or consequence.

How to Write a Conclusion

"Parts of An Essay: Conclusions" (Brightstorm)

This module of a free online course explains how to conclude an academic essay. It suggests thinking about the "3Rs": return to hook, restate your thesis, and relate to the reader.

"Essay Conclusions" (Univ. of Maryland University College)

This overview of the academic essay conclusion contains helpful examples and links to further resources for writing good conclusions.

"How to End An Essay" (WikiHow)

This step-by-step guide (with pictures!) by an English Ph.D. walks you through writing a conclusion, from brainstorming to ending with a flourish.

"Ending the Essay: Conclusions" (Harvard College Writing Center)

This page collates useful strategies for writing an effective conclusion, and reminds you to "close the discussion without closing it off" to further conversation.

How to Include Sources and Citations

"Research and Citation Resources" (Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab)

Purdue OWL streamlines information about the three most common referencing styles (MLA, Chicago, and APA) and provides examples of how to cite different resources in each system.

EasyBib: Free Bibliography Generator

This online tool allows you to input information about your source and automatically generate citations in any style. Be sure to select your resource type before clicking the "cite it" button.

CitationMachine

Like EasyBib, this online tool allows you to input information about your source and automatically generate citations in any style. 

Modern Language Association Handbook (MLA)

Here, you'll find the definitive and up-to-date record of MLA referencing rules. Order through the link above, or check to see if your library has a copy.

Chicago Manual of Style

Here, you'll find the definitive and up-to-date record of Chicago referencing rules. You can take a look at the table of contents, then choose to subscribe or start a free trial.

How to Avoid Plagiarism

"What is Plagiarism?" (plagiarism.org)

This nonprofit website contains numerous resources for identifying and avoiding plagiarism, and reminds you that even common activities like copying images from another website to your own site may constitute plagiarism.

"Plagiarism" (University of Oxford)

This interactive page from the University of Oxford helps you check for plagiarism in your work, making it clear how to avoid citing another person's work without full acknowledgement.

"Avoiding Plagiarism" (MIT Comparative Media Studies)

This quick guide explains what plagiarism is, what its consequences are, and how to avoid it. It starts by defining three words—quotation, paraphrase, and summary—that all constitute citation.

"Harvard Guide to Using Sources" (Harvard Extension School)

This comprehensive website from Harvard brings together articles, videos, and handouts about referencing, citation, and plagiarism. 

Grammarly contains tons of helpful grammar and writing resources, including a free tool to automatically scan your essay to check for close affinities to published work. 

Noplag is another popular online tool that automatically scans your essay to check for signs of plagiarism. Simply copy and paste your essay into the box and click "start checking."

Once you've written your essay, you'll want to edit (improve content), proofread (check for spelling and grammar mistakes), and finalize your work until you're ready to hand it in. This section brings together tips and resources for navigating the editing process. 

"Writing a First Draft" (Academic Help)

This is an introduction to the drafting process from the site Academic Help, with tips for getting your ideas on paper before editing begins.

"Editing and Proofreading" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page provides general strategies for revising your writing. They've intentionally left seven errors in the handout, to give you practice in spotting them.

"How to Proofread Effectively" (ThoughtCo)

This article from ThoughtCo, along with those linked at the bottom, help describe common mistakes to check for when proofreading.

"7 Simple Edits That Make Your Writing 100% More Powerful" (SmartBlogger)

This blog post emphasizes the importance of powerful, concise language, and reminds you that even your personal writing heroes create clunky first drafts.

"Editing Tips for Effective Writing" (Univ. of Pennsylvania)

On this page from Penn's International Relations department, you'll find tips for effective prose, errors to watch out for, and reminders about formatting.

"Editing the Essay" (Harvard College Writing Center)

This article, the first of two parts, gives you applicable strategies for the editing process. It suggests reading your essay aloud, removing any jargon, and being unafraid to remove even "dazzling" sentences that don't belong.

"Guide to Editing and Proofreading" (Oxford Learning Institute)

This handout from Oxford covers the basics of editing and proofreading, and reminds you that neither task should be rushed. 

In addition to plagiarism-checkers, Grammarly has a plug-in for your web browser that checks your writing for common mistakes.

After you've prepared, written, and edited your essay, you might want to share it outside the classroom. This section alerts you to print and web opportunities to share your essays with the wider world, from online writing communities and blogs to published journals geared toward young writers.

Sharing Your Essays Online

Go Teen Writers

Go Teen Writers is an online community for writers aged 13 - 19. It was founded by Stephanie Morrill, an author of contemporary young adult novels. 

Tumblr is a blogging website where you can share your writing and interact with other writers online. It's easy to add photos, links, audio, and video components.

Writersky provides an online platform for publishing and reading other youth writers' work. Its current content is mostly devoted to fiction.

Publishing Your Essays Online

This teen literary journal publishes in print, on the web, and (more frequently), on a blog. It is committed to ensuring that "teens see their authentic experience reflected on its pages."

The Matador Review

This youth writing platform celebrates "alternative," unconventional writing. The link above will take you directly to the site's "submissions" page.

Teen Ink has a website, monthly newsprint magazine, and quarterly poetry magazine promoting the work of young writers.

The largest online reading platform, Wattpad enables you to publish your work and read others' work. Its inline commenting feature allows you to share thoughts as you read along.

Publishing Your Essays in Print

Canvas Teen Literary Journal

This quarterly literary magazine is published for young writers by young writers. They accept many kinds of writing, including essays.

The Claremont Review

This biannual international magazine, first published in 1992, publishes poetry, essays, and short stories from writers aged 13 - 19.

Skipping Stones

This young writers magazine, founded in 1988, celebrates themes relating to ecological and cultural diversity. It publishes poems, photos, articles, and stories.

The Telling Room

This nonprofit writing center based in Maine publishes children's work on their website and in book form. The link above directs you to the site's submissions page.

Essay Contests

Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards

This prestigious international writing contest for students in grades 7 - 12 has been committed to "supporting the future of creativity since 1923."

Society of Professional Journalists High School Essay Contest

An annual essay contest on the theme of journalism and media, the Society of Professional Journalists High School Essay Contest awards scholarships up to $1,000.

National YoungArts Foundation

Here, you'll find information on a government-sponsored writing competition for writers aged 15 - 18. The foundation welcomes submissions of creative nonfiction, novels, scripts, poetry, short story and spoken word.

Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay Contest

With prompts on a different literary work each year, this competition from Signet Classics awards college scholarships up to $1,000.

"The Ultimate Guide to High School Essay Contests" (CollegeVine)

See this handy guide from CollegeVine for a list of more competitions you can enter with your academic essay, from the National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Awards to the National High School Essay Contest by the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Whether you're struggling to write academic essays or you think you're a pro, there are workshops and online tools that can help you become an even better writer. Even the most seasoned writers encounter writer's block, so be proactive and look through our curated list of resources to combat this common frustration.

Online Essay-writing Classes and Workshops

"Getting Started with Essay Writing" (Coursera)

Coursera offers lots of free, high-quality online classes taught by college professors. Here's one example, taught by instructors from the University of California Irvine.

"Writing and English" (Brightstorm)

Brightstorm's free video lectures are easy to navigate by topic. This unit on the parts of an essay features content on the essay hook, thesis, supporting evidence, and more.

"How to Write an Essay" (EdX)

EdX is another open online university course website with several two- to five-week courses on the essay. This one is geared toward English language learners.

Writer's Digest University

This renowned writers' website offers online workshops and interactive tutorials. The courses offered cover everything from how to get started through how to get published.

Writing.com

Signing up for this online writer's community gives you access to helpful resources as well as an international community of writers.

How to Overcome Writer's Block

"Symptoms and Cures for Writer's Block" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue OWL offers a list of signs you might have writer's block, along with ways to overcome it. Consider trying out some "invention strategies" or ways to curb writing anxiety.

"Overcoming Writer's Block: Three Tips" ( The Guardian )

These tips, geared toward academic writing specifically, are practical and effective. The authors advocate setting realistic goals, creating dedicated writing time, and participating in social writing.

"Writing Tips: Strategies for Overcoming Writer's Block" (Univ. of Illinois)

This page from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Center for Writing Studies acquaints you with strategies that do and do not work to overcome writer's block.

"Writer's Block" (Univ. of Toronto)

Ask yourself the questions on this page; if the answer is "yes," try out some of the article's strategies. Each question is accompanied by at least two possible solutions.

If you have essays to write but are short on ideas, this section's links to prompts, example student essays, and celebrated essays by professional writers might help. You'll find writing prompts from a variety of sources, student essays to inspire you, and a number of essay writing collections.

Essay Writing Prompts

"50 Argumentative Essay Topics" (ThoughtCo)

Take a look at this list and the others ThoughtCo has curated for different kinds of essays. As the author notes, "a number of these topics are controversial and that's the point."

"401 Prompts for Argumentative Writing" ( New York Times )

This list (and the linked lists to persuasive and narrative writing prompts), besides being impressive in length, is put together by actual high school English teachers.

"SAT Sample Essay Prompts" (College Board)

If you're a student in the U.S., your classroom essay prompts are likely modeled on the prompts in U.S. college entrance exams. Take a look at these official examples from the SAT.

"Popular College Application Essay Topics" (Princeton Review)

This page from the Princeton Review dissects recent Common Application essay topics and discusses strategies for answering them.

Example Student Essays

"501 Writing Prompts" (DePaul Univ.)

This nearly 200-page packet, compiled by the LearningExpress Skill Builder in Focus Writing Team, is stuffed with writing prompts, example essays, and commentary.

"Topics in English" (Kibin)

Kibin is a for-pay essay help website, but its example essays (organized by topic) are available for free. You'll find essays on everything from  A Christmas Carol  to perseverance.

"Student Writing Models" (Thoughtful Learning)

Thoughtful Learning, a website that offers a variety of teaching materials, provides sample student essays on various topics and organizes them by grade level.

"Five-Paragraph Essay" (ThoughtCo)

In this blog post by a former professor of English and rhetoric, ThoughtCo brings together examples of five-paragraph essays and commentary on the form.

The Best Essay Writing Collections

The Best American Essays of the Century by Joyce Carol Oates (Amazon)

This collection of American essays spanning the twentieth century was compiled by award winning author and Princeton professor Joyce Carol Oates.

The Best American Essays 2017 by Leslie Jamison (Amazon)

Leslie Jamison, the celebrated author of essay collection  The Empathy Exams , collects recent, high-profile essays into a single volume.

The Art of the Personal Essay by Phillip Lopate (Amazon)

Documentary writer Phillip Lopate curates this historical overview of the personal essay's development, from the classical era to the present.

The White Album by Joan Didion (Amazon)

This seminal essay collection was authored by one of the most acclaimed personal essayists of all time, American journalist Joan Didion.

Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace (Amazon)

Read this famous essay collection by David Foster Wallace, who is known for his experimentation with the essay form. He pushed the boundaries of personal essay, reportage, and political polemic.

"50 Successful Harvard Application Essays" (Staff of the The Harvard Crimson )

If you're looking for examples of exceptional college application essays, this volume from Harvard's daily student newspaper is one of the best collections on the market.

Are you an instructor looking for the best resources for teaching essay writing? This section contains resources for developing in-class activities and student homework assignments. You'll find content from both well-known university writing centers and online writing labs.

Essay Writing Classroom Activities for Students

"In-class Writing Exercises" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page lists exercises related to brainstorming, organizing, drafting, and revising. It also contains suggestions for how to implement the suggested exercises.

"Teaching with Writing" (Univ. of Minnesota Center for Writing)

Instructions and encouragement for using "freewriting," one-minute papers, logbooks, and other write-to-learn activities in the classroom can be found here.

"Writing Worksheets" (Berkeley Student Learning Center)

Berkeley offers this bank of writing worksheets to use in class. They are nested under headings for "Prewriting," "Revision," "Research Papers" and more.

"Using Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism" (DePaul University)

Use these activities and worksheets from DePaul's Teaching Commons when instructing students on proper academic citation practices.

Essay Writing Homework Activities for Students

"Grammar and Punctuation Exercises" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

These five interactive online activities allow students to practice editing and proofreading. They'll hone their skills in correcting comma splices and run-ons, identifying fragments, using correct pronoun agreement, and comma usage.

"Student Interactives" (Read Write Think)

Read Write Think hosts interactive tools, games, and videos for developing writing skills. They can practice organizing and summarizing, writing poetry, and developing lines of inquiry and analysis.

This free website offers writing and grammar activities for all grade levels. The lessons are designed to be used both for large classes and smaller groups.

"Writing Activities and Lessons for Every Grade" (Education World)

Education World's page on writing activities and lessons links you to more free, online resources for learning how to "W.R.I.T.E.": write, revise, inform, think, and edit.

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What is an essay?

Aldous Huxley described an essay as “A literary device for saying almost everything about almost anything”.

What is an Essay?

An essay is a piece of writing that revolves around a particular theme and contains the academic opinions of the person writing it.

An essay can perform one or more of the following functions:

  • Analyses and critically evaluates a topic
  • Presents the writer‘s argument for or against an idea
  • Describes something
  • Narrates a story
  • Persuades the reader

What is an essay?

Also, Read 6 Types of Essay

Characteristics of a Good Essay

  • Brevity: Express what you want concisely. Do not beat around the bush.
  • Coherence: Every sentence and paragraph should flow smoothly and logically from the previous one. A clumsily written essay reflects not only the lack of preparation but also the absence of clarity of thought.
  • Unity: The essay should never stray from its main purpose. Different points of view can be introduced, but they should all be used for the same subject.
  • Lucidity: The essay should be easy to read and understand. Using tough words or difficult phrases may impress a few but can confuse many others. Great writers are praised not only for their beautiful ideas but also for the simplicity of their language.

Also, Read Top 10 Essay Examples

The objective of Essay Writing

Essay writing often forms a part of English written exams to test the ability of students to

Daily Test - Attempt Now

  • Think critically: Critical thinking involves understanding the task at hand and evaluating it appropriately.
  • Structure the ideas logically: The essay has to be structured and coherent. The ideas have to neatly flow from one paragraph to the other.
  • Express views eloquently: The student should be fluent in the language he or she is writing in. Ideas when presented shoddily may not make the right impact.

Parts of an Essay

Introduction.

It constitutes the opening paragraph of the essay.

  • It helps the reader get oriented with the topic.
  • It states the purpose of the essay.
  • It captures the interest of the reader.
  • It presents the general idea of the essay.
  • It often ends with the thesis or the main idea of the essay.

Body (Supporting Paragraphs)

They constitute the supporting sentences and ideas.

  • They provide the reader with additional details about the main idea.
  • They support the thesis of the writer.
  • There is no fixed number of supporting paragraphs.
  • Ideally, every supporting paragraph should contain a different idea.

It constitutes the ending paragraph(s) of the essay.

  • It ties up loose ends of the paragraph.
  • It helps in reiterating or highlighting the main idea.
  • It summarises all the arguments.
  • It brings the essay to a logical close.
  • It never ends in detail.

Also, Read Short Essay Examples

Tips for Writing an Essay

Preparation.

  • Read: The more you read, the better you get. Reading essays will give you the inspiration to write. It will fill you with knowledge that you can use to enrich your writing.
  • Write: Practise writing essays. This will give you the necessary confidence that you require during the exams. Writing also sharpens your thought process preparing you to deal with essay questions with much ease.

1. Think about the idea given in the title or the prompt.

  • What type of essay will be appropriate?
  • What could be the main ideas?
  • How to write the introduction, the body and the conclusion?
  • Write all the ideas.

2. Structure your essay.

  • Create an outline of your essay.
  • Do not use more than two sentences for the introduction and conclusion, respectively.
  • Therefore, it is important to plan your essay before instead of writing spontaneously.
  • Arrange the ideas in chronological order if you are attempting a narrative essay.
  • Arrange them in increasing order of importance while attempting a descriptive or expository essay.
  • Remember to conclude the essay.

3. Use a consistent tense form while writing the essay.

4. Express clearly.

5. Be original in your ideas. Don‘t be afraid to think out of the box.

6. Use your own memories or your experiences to add to the essay.

7. Recheck for any grammatical errors after finishing the essay.

Also, Read Summarizing an Essay

Example of Essay

My native place.

My parents hail from a small village in Kerala which is nestled among mountains in a scenic district of the state. Every year, I visit my native place with my family. It is a trip that I look forward to all year. My father books the ticket two months in advance as it is difficult to procure reservations on short notice. Although I have lived in the city all my life, I feel that I never belonged to it. I have always felt at home in the quaint mountain village that is far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life.

It takes us 18 hours by train to reach the railway station that is closest to my village. The journey is usually gruelling in the summers but very pleasant in the winters and in the monsoons. We plan our trip in the summer months since we get a two-month vacation in April. In order to beat the heat, we travel by air-conditioned coaches every year. We board the train at noon and we reach our destination at 6 am the next day.

The morning air is heavy with the scent of flowers and wet foliage. The temple bells start ringing at 6:30 am and the sound of bhajans fills the air. The village is only a 20-minute rickshaw ride away from the station. When we enter my grandmother‘s house, we are welcomed by her diminutive figure holding a lamp.

According to her, it is auspicious to welcome loved ones by lighting the lamp at the altar of God. The moment we set foot into the house, we are filled with a sense of nostalgia and love. After a sumptuous yet simple breakfast, we relax with our family in the courtyard.

The cool mountain air is laden with scents of the rustic countryside. From afar, we hear the sounds of birds. My sister and I make paper boats and run to the little babbling brook that flows southwards. We set the boats on the water and watch them bob up and down. Far away from the world of video games and television, we seek fun in a world of simplicity.

The house itself has a personality. Simple, two-storeyed, made of stone walls and a thatched roof, the house is an old friend who warmly embraces you every time you meet. The rooms are small but well-maintained. On the ground floor is a room that my grandmother uses for storing condiments and grains. It is illuminated with a single light bulb and an old-fashioned lock-and-key style door. In its corner is a small bed.

The calming silence of the room soothes my ears and transports me into a magical place. I feel weightless. The smell of spices envelops me. On many occasions, I have spent hours sprawled on that bed reading a book or listening to music. If I ever have to pick a favourite place, then I have no doubt this would be it.

When twilight descends on the little hamlet, large clusters of stars start appearing in the sky. Such a sight is never seen in the city as the lights obscure the stars that appear in the sky. My grandmother lights the lamp again and we all gather around her to say our evening prayers. After enjoying her simple, rustic yet delicious meal, we retire for the night.

Sometimes when I am upset, I think of my quaint little house in the village, my grandmother‘s warm embrace, and the small room that smells of spices. They immediately help me put my worries away and bring a smile to my face.

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Types of Essays in Academic Writing - Quick Guide (2024)

Sumalatha G

Table of Contents

Essay writing is an integral part of academic progress, playing a crucial role in enhancing critical thinking and communication skills among students.

There are different types of essays in academic writing, each with its unique purpose and requirements. Understanding these different essay types is essential for students to effectively convey their thoughts and ideas while demonstrating comprehension of the subject matter. In this article, let's learn more about the essay types and it's importance in academic writing.

Why is understanding essay types important in academic writing?

Essays serve as a medium for students to express their knowledge and opinions in a structured and coherent manner. They allow students to showcase their understanding of various concepts and ideas while adhering to the rules of academic writing. The different types of essays provide students with opportunities to explore different types of academic essays and develop their analytical and communication skills.

When it comes to academic writing, essay types play a crucial role in shaping the content and style of the writing. Each essay type serves a specific purpose and requires a distinct approach. By understanding the different types of essays, students can effectively convey their thoughts and ideas to their readers.

What are the types of essays in academic writing?

Academic writing encompasses a wide range of essay types, each serving a specific purpose and following distinct guidelines. Here's a brief overview of the major 7 types of essays commonly encountered in academic writing:

Expository Essay:

Expository essays is one of the types of essays aim to provide clear and concise explanations of a topic or concept. They present information objectively, without personal opinions or biases. The focus of expository essay is on organizing and conveying facts, ideas, or processes in a structured manner.

Key Features of expository essay:

  • Informative and objective
  • Presents a balanced and unbiased view
  • Uses clear and concise language
  • Follows a logical structure, often with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion

Expository-Essay-Structure

Source: mtsac.edu

Argumentative Essay:

Argumentative essays is one of the most prominent types of essays which aim to persuade the reader to adopt a particular stance on a debatable issue. They present a well-structured argument backed by evidence and reasoning. The goal of argumentative essay is to convince the reader of the validity of the author's position.

Key Features OF argumentative essay:

  • Presents a clear thesis statement
  • Provides supporting evidence, such as facts, statistics, expert opinions, or examples
  • Uses logical reasoning and counterarguments to address opposing views
  • Maintains an objective and formal tone

Argumentative-Essay-Structure

Source: University of Washington

Narrative essay:

Narrative essays tell a story, recounting events or personal experiences in chronological order. They engage the reader by incorporating vivid descriptions, sensory details, and emotional language.

Key Features of narrative essay:

  • Strong opening hook to capture the reader's attention
  • Follows a clear narrative arc, including rising action, climax, and resolution
  • Conveys emotions and personal reflections

Comparative essay:

Comparative essays analyze similarities and differences between two or more subjects. They highlight common themes, contrasting features, and unique characteristics. The goal of comparative essay is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subjects and their relationships.

Key Features of comparative essay:

  • Clear identification of the subjects and their key attributes
  • Organized comparison, often using a point-by-point or block format
  • Evidence-based analysis of similarities and differences
  • A balanced and objective approach

Cause and effect essay:

Cause-and-effect essays investigate the relationships between events, actions, or phenomena. They explore the reasons behind occurrences and the consequences that follow. The purpose of Cause and effect essay is to understand the underlying mechanisms and implications.

Key Features Cause and effect essay:

  • Clear identification of the cause and effect
  • Logical explanation of the causal relationship
  • Evidence-based support for the proposed connection
  • Consideration of alternative explanations or counterarguments

Problem solution essay:

Problem-solution essays identify a problem or issue and propose potential solutions. They analyze the causes and implications of the problem, evaluate different solutions, and recommend the most effective approach. The goal is to provide a practical and well-reasoned solution.

Key Features problem solution essay:

  • Clear definition of the problem and its scope
  • Analysis of the causes and consequences of the problem
  • Evaluation of different solution options, considering feasibility and effectiveness
  • Recommendation of the most viable solution with supporting arguments

Analytical essay:

Analytical essays break down a complex topic or concept into its constituent parts and examine the relationships between them. They provide a deeper understanding of the subject's structure, nuances, and underlying principles. The purpose is to offer critical insights and interpretations.

Key Features of analytical essay:

  • In-depth examination of a topic or concept
  • Breakdown of the subject into its components or underlying principles
  • Analysis of relationships between different parts or aspects of the subject
  • Identification of patterns, themes, or underlying theories

What are the structures and formats of different types of essays?

While each essay type has its unique structure and requirements, several elements are common across different types of essays.

Common Elements in Essay Structures

Most essays follow a similar structure, beginning with an introduction that provides background information and presents the thesis statement. The body paragraphs contain the main arguments, supported by evidence and examples. The conclusion summarizes the key points and restates the thesis, leaving the reader with a final thought or call to action.

Unique Formatting Requirements for Each Type of Essay

In addition to the common structural elements, each essay type may have specific formatting requirements. These may include the use of headings and subheadings, citation styles, and the inclusion of specific sections such as literature reviews or methodology explanations. It is crucial for students to familiarize themselves with the unique formatting guidelines for each essay type to ensure their work meets the expected standards.

By understanding the various types of essays and their distinct characteristics, students can adapt their essay writing style and approach to effectively communicate their ideas. Developing proficiency in each essay type equips students with valuable skills that extend beyond their academic journey, empowering them to articulate their thoughts clearly and persuasively in various professional and personal backdrops.

Wrapping up

In conclusion, the diverse range of types of essays in academic writing offers students opportunities to develop their critical thinking, persuasive writing, and storytelling abilities. Understanding the purpose and requirements of each essay type allows students to excel in conveying their knowledge and ideas effectively. Each essay type serves as a building block in the development of well-rounded academic writers. So, embrace the diversity of essay types, explore different writing styles, and tailor your approach accordingly to excel in the realm of academic writing.

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    The four main types of writing. In many of the online resources you'll find about the types of essays, you'll find references to the four main types of writing: Persuasive. Descriptive. Narrative. Expository. These aren't four specific types of essays, but four distinct methods of communicating an essay's theme.

  30. How to Write an Essay in 8 Simple Steps (Examples Included)

    Here are the eight steps to write an essay: Stage 1: Planning. 1. Pick an appropriate research topic. In certain cases, your teacher or professor may assign you a topic. However, in many cases, students have the freedom to select a topic of their choice.