Essay writing assignments are the common fare in every student’s academic journey. In addition to evaluating a student’s writing skills, essay writing assignments also help assess their research ability, analytical and persuasive skills in school, preparing them for higher studies.
A school assignment requiring students to write an essay helps them learn to plan and execute their projects. They learn to think critically and express their thoughts and feelings. Improved critical thinking skills enhance their analytical abilities. As you write your essay, you learn to organise your thoughts and express yourself more coherently. Also, you become more proficient with grammar and vocabulary.
What is Essay Writing?
Essays are typically short, personal pieces of writing. They give the writer’s point of view on events, incidents, ideas, concepts, etc. It is different from a report, which is highly objective and impersonal. You can write formal or informal essays, subjective and objective essays, depending on the topic and the narrative style you choose.
Types of Essays
#1. Informative Essay
The purpose of writing this form of essay is fairly straightforward — to share information. Informative essays require proper research and a generous amount of storytelling to describe an idea, concept or any other abstract subject.
#2. Narrative Essay
Usually, this type of essay describes a certain event or experience chronologically. It could be a historical event or an ordinary day or month in someone’s life. Narratives are typically written from a personal perspective, so they are considered personal forms of writing.
#3. Persuasive Essay
Persuasive essays seek to provide the audience with a holistic perspective on a concept, idea or topic – so that they can become convinced of the points raised. This essay type is characterised by strong, persuasive language, instigating thought or action.
#4. Five Paragraph Essay
Essays of this type are the most common. It is the first piece of writing most students learn when they encounter the concept of an essay. The outline structure consists of an opening paragraph, three body paragraphs that expand the thesis, and a final paragraph that sums it up.
#5. Argumentative Essay
These essays are commonly assigned to research on a controversial issue. The writer should identify the significant positions on either side, then substantiate the position they support while putting facts and viewpoints to deny any arguments the opposing side might make.
#6. Compare and Contrast Essay
This essay aims to compare two pieces, such as two poems or books, two ideas or concepts, and to point out the similarities and differences, the pros and cons of each. It is possible to focus on more than two items in this essay. These essays reveal connections that the reader might not have thought of previously.
#7. Definition Essay
This essay aims to define a term or concept as precisely as possible. That seems quite easy, doesn’t it? Well, not really. Choosing the words is the most crucial part of the process. The definition should show different angles and scopes of the particular idea/ concept you’re writing about.
#8. Descriptive Essay
This essay so describes the topic that appeals to all the five senses. Descriptive essays describe a topic comprehensively; for example, describing the ocean to someone who has never seen it or the taste of a delicious meal from another country. Paragraphs for descriptive essays can be organised according to sense, so there is a strong focus on details.
#9. Illustration Essay
This essay aims to help you describe an idea, a situation, or a concept with the help of clear, illustrative examples. Generally, illustrations are dealt with in the body paragraphs. The essay should provide over a dozen examples to back up the ideas presented. Illustrations help authors connect with their audience by breaking down barriers with clear examples.
What is the Format of Essay Writing?
The body of an essay consists of three main parts: introduction, middle, and conclusion. Writing and organising an essay will be easier if you follow this format:
Introduction
By introducing the topic, it guides your reader throughout the paper. You should start with a hook that catches the reader’s attention. Hooks can be quotes, analogies, questions, etc. Having captured the reader’s attention, the introduction should share some information to shed light on the topic. Throughout the introduction, you should outline general ideas for the reader to understand the main claim while simultaneously becoming more specific to support your theme.
Theme Statement
An essay’s theme statement concisely states its main idea, sets limits for the topic, and suggests the essay’s flow. The theme serves as a road map for the whole piece, enabling the reader to see what the writer will say and which major points they plan to use to substantiate their ideas.
Body
In the body of the essay, the points mentioned in the theme sentence are supported with evidence. An explanation of each point is given in a paragraph or two, with supporting details. Depending on the assignment, you can use research and experiences to support the details. Furthermore, the author uses their analysis and discussion of the topic to integrate ideas and draw conclusions that support their viewpoint.
Transitions
Transitions mean the coherent shift from one paragraph to the other. Within the paragraph and between paragraphs, transitional words support the flow of information. There are several ways to make transitions; you can use one or two connecting words (such as “first,” “next,” “in addition,” etc.) or one or two sentences that draw the reader’s attention to the next major point.
Conclusion
The conclusion brings everything mentioned in the essay together. By resolving any issues raised in the essay, it refers back to the theme statement and ends the essay with a final thought and sense of closure. In addition to the argument, it may also address its implications and give the reader something to ponder on later.
What is Essay Writing for Kids?
When kids start their essay writing journey, they don’t need to follow the rules and understand the different types of essays. Writing essays aims to enhance their skills to express thoughts coherently. Starting with just the basics is more than enough.
Here is an easy writing method that your child can follow:
Brainstorm and Research
Write down any ideas your child has, let them brainstorm and search for other books or videos related to the subject. Afterwards, ask them what their strongest thoughts are. This will help them achieve their writing goal.
Outline
Essays need an outline which saves a great deal of time and effort. It is a powerful tool for structuring and organising ideas thoughtfully and sequentially. Choosing quotes or information from sources before writing allows your child to choose the appropriate information.
Here’s how to make a simple outline for essays:
#1. The Introduction
Introduce the topic and leave the reader curious so that they finish reading the whole piece.
#2. Body Paragraphs
There should be at least three paragraphs in the body of the essay. Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence and end with a relevant argument. To support each point, you will need to specify all the supporting evidence, such as statistics, facts, and examples
#3. The Conclusion
As a final step, create a conclusion that corresponds to what the essay’s body describes. It is necessary to end an essay in a manner that maintains the flow. Bring your topic to its logical end and leave the reader with enough food for thought.
Now, your child is ready to write a piece!
Consider this example to get your kid an idea of how they can write.
Point-wise Plan for an Essay On Global Warming
Introduction: Global Warming refers to the rise in average global temperatures measured over a long period on earth.
Body: As carbon dioxide levels rise in the atmosphere, temperatures increase over time. As a result of massive deforestation, global warming has been accelerated. As a byproduct of the carbon dioxide plants uses to prepare their food, they release oxygen. Because plants absorb excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, they can have some impact on reducing the rate of global warming.
Conclusion: Hence, planting more trees can reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and decrease global warming.
Help Your Kid Master Essay Writing with Real School Of Montessori
The ability to write a good essay comes from practice. As a result, a lot of practice at home and the above writing methods can help your child become a better essay writer. Always remain patient with your children and keep tracking their progress.
Check out the Real School Of Montessori if you want to give your kid expert guidance to master essay writing. The Real School Of Montessori trains children to become problem solvers and critical thinkers through customised training programs. Visit the Real School’s Of Montessori website to learn more about its one-to-one mentoring programme and try our masterclasses today.
