Types of Essays:

1. Argumentative Essay
2. Compare and Contrast Essay
3. Cause and Effect Essay
4. Persuasive essay

1. Argumentative Essay

What is an argumentative essay?

The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic; collect,
generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.

Argumentative essay assignments generally call for extensive research of literature or previously
published material. Argumentative assignments may also require empirical research where the student
collects data through interviews, surveys, observations, or experiments. Detailed research allows the
student to learn about the topic and to understand different points of view regarding the topic so that
she/he may choose a position and support it with the evidence collected during research. Regardless of
the amount or type of research involved, argumentative essays must establish a clear thesis and follow
sound reasoning.

The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by the following.

 A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.

In the first paragraph of an argument essay, students should set the context by reviewing the topic in a
general way. Next the author should explain why the topic is important (exigence) or why readers
should care about the issue. Lastly, students should present the thesis statement. It is essential that this
thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth in the assignment. If the
student does not master this portion of the essay, it will be quite difficult to compose an effective or
persuasive essay.

 Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.

Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together. Without logical progression
of thought, the reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse.
Transitions should wrap up the idea from the previous section and introduce the idea that is to follow
in the next section.

 Body paragraphs that include evidential support.

Each paragraph should be limited to the discussion of one general idea. This will allow for clarity and
direction throughout the essay. In addition, such conciseness creates an ease of readability for one’s
audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical
connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph. Some paragraphs will directly support the
thesis statement with evidence collected during research. It is also important to explain how and why
the evidence supports the thesis (warrant).
However, argumentative essays should also consider and explain differing points of view regarding the
topic. Depending on the length of the assignment, students should dedicate one or two paragraphs of
an argumentative essay to discussing conflicting opinions on the topic. Rather than explaining how
these differing opinions are wrong outright, students should note how opinions that do not align with
their thesis might not be well informed or how they might be out of date.

 Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal).

The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and current information to
support the thesis statement and consider other points of view. Some factual, logical, statistical, or
anecdotal evidence should support the thesis. However, students must consider multiple points of view
when collecting evidence. As noted in the paragraph above, a successful and well-rounded
argumentative essay will also discuss opinions not aligning with the thesis. It is unethical to exclude
evidence that may not support the thesis. It is not the student’s job to point out how other positions are
wrong outright, but rather to explain how other positions may not be well informed or up to date on
the topic.

 A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence
provided.

It is at this point of the essay that students may begin to struggle. This is the portion of the essay that
will leave the most immediate impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective
and logical. Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize the
information presented in the body of the essay. Restate why the topic is important, review the main
points, and review your thesis. You may also want to include a short discussion of more research that
should be completed in light of your work.
A complete argument
Perhaps it is helpful to think of an essay in terms of a conversation or debate with a classmate. If I were
to discuss the cause of World War II and its current effect on those who lived through the tumultuous
time, there would be a beginning, middle, and end to the conversation. In fact, if I were to end the
argument in the middle of my second point, questions would arise concerning the current effects on
those who lived through the conflict. Therefore, the argumentative essay must be complete, and
logically so, leaving no doubt as to its intent or argument.
The five-paragraph essay
A common method for writing an argumentative essay is the five-paragraph approach. This is,
however, by no means the only formula for writing such essays. If it sounds straightforward, that is
because it is; in fact, the method consists of (a) an introductory paragraph (b) three evidentiary body
paragraphs that may include discussion of opposing views and (c) a conclusion.
Longer argumentative essays
Complex issues and detailed research call for complex and detailed essays. Argumentative essays
discussing a number of research sources or empirical research will most certainly be longer than five
paragraphs. Authors may have to discuss the context surrounding the topic, sources of information and
their credibility, as well as a number of different opinions on the issue before concluding the essay.
Many of these factors will be determined by the assignment.

What Makes a Successful Argumentative Essay?

Let’s start with definition argumentative essay. It is a specific type of essay that presents clear
arguments about both sides of an issue. You can follow one of the two different approaches: either
present both sides equally balanced or present one side more forcefully than the other. The choice
depends on the writer.

Some people may confuse argumentative and persuasive essays; you should keep in mind that they are
different types of academic papers. In persuasive writings, we use emotions and ethics to persuade
readers to accept our point of view on a certain issue; take an action or avoid doing something that can
be harmful to them, other people or environment, etc. In this way, we can talk even to a little child. In
argumentative writing, we appeal to logic. We try to influence people talking about reasons which
caused certain problems, future positive and negative effects, dangerous and beneficial consequences of
human activity, potential risks. We convince people to make informed decisions. We appeal to their
common sense.

To succeed in completing a convincing piece of writing, you need to investigate a topic using a lot of
credible sources; gather and evaluate evidence (statistics, relevant facts about science, proven
examples); and, finally, establish an informed position on the topic of your studies in a concise manner.
Wondering how you can organize your argument? Let’s discuss the format you should follow to
achieve your goals.

How to Structure an Argumentative Essay

 Typically, any argumentative essay has a linear structure. It means they present one idea at a time in
the order that follows a reader’s logic and makes the most sense to an audience. The structure of any
essay is unique in a way it represents the subject, the focus, and the claims the author makes.

Usually, you should follow this format that includes several parts.

 The introduction that begins with attention grabber, provides background information and introduces
the argumentative essay’s thesis
 The main body, presenting your major arguments
 The counter-argument that disproves previous arguments
 The conclusion that restates the thesis, reminds main points and gives some concluding remarks to
emphasize the significance of the problem

It’s important to provide appropriate evidence for both sides of the issue, argue your own position, and
then present your own conclusion. Why should you address the opposing side’s argument? When
doing this, you will be able to accomplish several important goals:

 show that the opinion you express is unbiased

 prove that you have a well-rounded understanding of the essay’s topic
 improve the level of your reader’s trust in your opinion
 strengthen your own argument

Why You Might Need Expert Help

Writing an argumentative essay is a common assignment for high school and college students who
often find these academic essays too challenging because they require from children and young people
strong analytical and critical thinking skills and the ability to argue on important social and moral
issues of today’s complex world.

That is not an easy task. You need to have your own personal position about current problems and
support your own opinions with facts from real life.

Writing an outline is like developing a plan: the more time you spend on it, the easier it will be to
build the house according to it. By developing an excellent plan, you eliminate numerous risks and
prevent possible errors. So, why not do it? We can think of only two reasons students do not create
outlines before writing the piece itself. First, they might not realize what a treasure it is. They can view
it as a daunting task, one of the many other assignments their teachers assign to them. In this case,
they simply have no idea what they are talking about. The other reasons why they do not write
 outlines before writing the article itself is because they do not know where to start. They understand
all the benefits an outline can bring them. However, they do not know where to start working on it,
what components to include in it, and how detailed this plan should be. In this article, we will prove
that creating an outline is essential and show practical ways to write them in the shortest terms
possible. But first things first: let’s start with a definition.

WHAT IS AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY?

An argumentative essay is one of the many academic essay types. Its main point is in using strong
arguments to prove and support your opinion as well as refute the position of your opponents. While
this might sound quite easy for people good at confrontation, most of us dread the idea of arguing with
someone. That is why if you are not really good at this in real life, learning how to write such essays
can be your lucky ticket: it helps you develop essential skills to sound reasoning as well as find ways to
back up your opinion in the best way possible. As you probably guessed from the title, you have to be
persuasive when composing this piece of writing. Therefore, one has to choose proper words and
phrases. Help the readers see your confidence and believe you. And being persuasive is a way to do it.
Besides, remember that the key to a successful argumentative essay is in finding proper evidence to
support your opinion. That is why get ready to invest time and effort into in-depth research. The more
time you dig through information looking for pieces that fit you the most, the higher your chances are
to impress and convince the target audience. Now that we are on the same page about the definition
and basics of the development of an argumentative essay, let’s learn how to write an argumentative
essay outline.

HOW TO WRITE AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY OUTLINE

The outline for this type of essay usually consists of four main points:

 An introductory paragraph introducing the reader to the problem.

 Main body paragraphs that provide arguments to support your opinion.
 Several sections used to show the weaknesses of the opposing claims.
 A conclusion that summarizes the main points and calls to take measures.

Only four points to remember. We are sure this will make your life easier, won’t it? Just save these
points and read on to see what each one of them should consist of to have the desired impact on the
target audience.

AN INTRODUCTION TO AN OUTLINE FOR AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

This is where readers start their journey with you. From the very first sentence, they get to understand
whether they want to continue reading your piece, or they want to drop the whole idea altogether. To
prevent them from leaving, we recommend you sticking to our plan. Use these three components to
 make your writing interesting and consistent, and see how they can do wonder to the impact of your
piece.

1. Start with a hook. A hook, as you can understand from its title, is a piece of content that aims to grab
the audience’s attention. It should not be long. Just one sentence is enough. However, it has to be
catchy. Scholars state that several things can be used as hooks in your introduction: funny stories,
controversial statements, intriguing questions, or statistical data. You have to begin your essay with
either one of these things.
2. Develop your thoughts. Later, you need to develop your hook. Explain to your audience your choice of
the subject, why it is important, and how you talking about it can make a difference. This part should
not be longer than a couple of sentences.
3. Create a thesis statement. Finally, you have to state a loud and clear thesis statement which you will
support with solid arguments in the text. It should depict your position and explain why you find this
topic essential.

As long as you follow our advice, you will be able to write an excellent introduction. Now, let’s explain
how you can write main body paragraphs.Presenting the argument: Main body paragraphs Bear in
mind several schemes for your main body paragraphs:

1. You can separate paragraphs presenting your arguments supporting the thesis statement and sections
refuting the opponents’ claims. This way you will need to work both ways, backing up your position
with several pieces of evidence and showing the weakness of opponents’ beliefs.
2. Alternatively, you can go from the opposite and use one paragraph to refute one popular claim. Thus,
you can make a clear statement and bring your opponents on the heels in just a few sections.

The choice is all yours. We have no convictions that one way is better than the other. Just opt for what
you are most comfortable with.

A conclusion of an argumentative essay:

The main point of a conclusion is to remind the readers of the reasons why you chose to talk about a
topic in question, restate your arguments that support the position you stick to, and call them to action.
More often than not, readers remember only this part of your essay no matter how much thought and
effort you invested into your piece. So, it is better to make it outstanding and nothing short of perfect
so that the audience agrees with you in the long run. By now you are probably willing to see an
excellent argumentative essay outline template. And as we promised in the beginning, here it is. You
can save it to use when writing an argumentative essay outline the next time.

AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY OUTLINE TEMPLATE

1. Introduction: A hook: Start with a vivid picture, an intriguing question, statistical data, or an anecdote.
Mention your reasons to choose this topic. Why do you believe it is important? Who should care about
 these issues and why? A thesis statement: Develop your previous sentences into a clear thesis statement
explaining the main points of your piece and showing your position on the issue.
2. Main body paragraphs. Argument #1: State the argument. Use quotes to support it. Mention three
different points to support the idea. Summarize the paragraph by restating the argument and its
evidence. Argument #2: State the argument. Use quotes to support it. Mention three different points to
support the idea. Summarize the paragraph by restating the argument and its evidence. Argument #1:
State the argument. Use quotes to support it. Mention three different points to support the idea.
Summarize the paragraph by restating the argument and its evidence.
3. Conclusion: Restate the thesis statement, recount the arguments you used to support your position and
show how you refuted opponents claims. In the end, ask your audience a question or paint a picture of
what could happen if nothing is changed concerning the issue you raised.

Save this template, as it is a perfect cheat sheet you can use every time working on your outline.
However, just knowing the theory is not enough to write an incredible article. So, let’s look at an
argumentative essay outline example that will show us how a student applied this theoretical
knowledge to action and what came out of it.

Argumentative Essay Structure

The structure of your paper's outline is the same as the structure of your entire essay. The difference is
that you include the entire information in the body text while you only name the arguments in your
outline. An English essay outline is worth your time as it figures as your plan during the whole writing
process.

There are four basic sections of any argumentative essay you should follow:

1. Introduction paragraph
2. Body with 2-3 strong arguments
3. Refusing opposing arguments in one paragraph
4. Conclusion

Of course, you must focus on supporting your thesis statement rather than the opponents. The
opposing point of view is included just to show the writer is objective with his judgments, and he
respects all existing arguments.

Outline Section 1: Introduction

Every essay starts with an introduction, and an argumentative essay is not an exception.

1. Hook
 First of all, think about a powerful, eye-catching hook to grab your reader's attention. Sure, it is
important to know who your target audience is first. Different people require different approaches.

Let's look at my own example. I used to write an argumentative essay on why there should be a second
official language in the United States in addition to English. I have chosen Spanish as my point of view.
Based on the primary research, my hook could be,

"As far as most of the immigrants in the United States speak Spanish due to the neighborhood with
Latin America, Spanish should be made the second official language in the United States."

2. Background information

Don't try to write too much in this part. Simply name a topic and give a hint on what you'll be talking
about in your argumentative text. Briefly explain why the topic is important and who cares about it.

An example might be,

"The research shows that immigrants from Latin America feel uncomfortable with studying in English
schools as they require more time to learn this language. Thus, it is important to work on the question
of the second national language."

3. Working on the thesis statement

This part contains the main argument. Don't pose any questions here - just state your main point of
view clearly and without any hesitations.

You may look at the additional information on how to write an eye-catching essay introduction with a
hook.

Outline Section 2: Working on Your Arguments

As you remember, every claim is supported by the corresponding evidence you found during the
research. If you have more information to share, you may include up to five body paragraphs.

1. Claim

It is a statement to support your argumentative essay's thesis. An example of an opening sentence in

body paragraph is:

"Making Spanish the second official language in the IS would positively impact the economic
relationships between Mexico and the United States."
 Without a good evidence, no one is going to believe my words.

2. Evidence is based on credible facts and statistics the writer finds during the research process.

It has nothing to do with your personal knowledge or information based on your experience. Choose
sources carefully. The example is:

"12% increase in trade between the US and Mexico was a notice in 2014 when Arizona's local
government send people who spoke Spanish to take part in the deal."

Also, the reader will think your judgments are subjective until you add an opposing argument.

Outline Section 3: Looking for Opponent's Claims

You need to understand that different people have different points of view regarding the same topic, so
be patient. Check the arguments of the US citizens who do not support the idea of the second national
language. They may be helpful while working on the third section of your argumentative essay.

You may pose a question why they don't like the idea of any other language except for English. Make
it clear that they fear are connected with the unwillingness to study one more language or cooperate
with Mexican population. Remember that your personal ideas should be supported by the facts you
find during your research. For every argument against, you should present enough evidence to prove
you're right.

It all may sound difficult, but please keep in mind you have a right to buy papers online!

Outline Section 4: Conclusion

1. Rewrite thesis statement

While arguing with various opinions, you have lost the focus. Remind the readers of your topic by
restating your thesis. Make it clear why your argument is a winning one. The best way to do so is to
present how the things would turn without your idea being implemented ASAP.

2. Write down about the importance of researched topic again. To make your statement persuasive
enough, use loud arguments like,

"Without meeting the needs of the Latin American population, the local government risks facing
another Col War like it was with USSR."

Quick Tips to Help You Succeed in Writing

 Want to achieve a better result when writing? Follow these simple tips that will make your work
easier.

 Write a strong introductory paragraph and state a clear and concise thesis. Explain why the problem is
important.
 Include logical transitions after each part of your paper to connect the introduction, the body, and the
conclusion. Transitions help your reader focus on the topics. They will ensure your readers will be able
to follow your argument. In this way, you can keep their interest and encourage them to read further.
 Limit each paragraph to discussing one general idea. You must provide details, facts, examples and
explain why your evidence supports the thesis.
 Devote one or two paragraphs of your argumentative paper to the discussion of the conflicting
opinions. It will depend on the length of your essay.
 Provide well-researched and detailed evidence to support your thesis and explain other points of view.
 Write a strong conclusion. Your goal is to leave a deep impression on your public. Make your
conclusion effective and logical and don’t introduce new information that your reader may not know.
Review your main points and the thesis; remind your audience one more time why the issue is
important.
 Think about your essay as a conversation or debate. Imagine you are discussing the issue with a group
of your classmates or a friend and are trying to convince them that your opinion is true.
 Use 5-paragraph approach as a universal method for writing your paper. What about the longer essays
on argumentative topics? If the issue is complex, you will need to write a detailed college essay with a
complex structure and discuss plenty of different research sources you have found online and in the
library. You will certainly need more than 5 paragraphs.
 When you finish your final draft, check it for logic and proofread it to eliminate possible grammar,
punctuation, spelling mistakes, and typos. Read your argumentative essay aloud and ask your friends or
parents to help you. Make sure all your citations are formatted properly.

Argumentative Essay Example 1

As online learning becomes more common and more and more resources are converted to digital form,
some people have suggested that public libraries should be shut down and, in their place, everyone
should be given an iPad with an e-reader subscription.

Proponents of this idea state that it will save local cities and towns money because libraries are
expensive to maintain. They also believe it will encourage more people to read because they won’t
have to travel to a library to get a book; they can simply click on what they want to read and read it
from wherever they are. They could also access more materials because libraries won’t have to buy
physical copies of books; they can simply rent out as many digital copies as they need.
However, it would be a serious mistake to replace libraries with tablets. First, digital books and
resources are associated with less learning and more problems than print resources. A study done on
tablet vs book reading found that people read 20-30% slower on tablets, retain 20% less information,
and understand 10% less of what they read compared to people who read the same information in
print. Additionally, staring too long at a screen has been shown to cause numerous health problems,
including blurred vision, dizziness, dry eyes, headaches, and eye strain, at much higher instances than
reading print does. People who use tablets and mobile devices excessively also have a higher incidence
of more serious health issues such as fibromyalgia, shoulder and back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome,
and muscle strain. I know that whenever I read from my e-reader for too long, my eyes begin to feel
tired and my neck hurts. We should not add to these problems by giving people, especially young
people, more reasons to look at screens.

Second, it is incredibly narrow-minded to assume that the only service libraries offer is book lending.
Libraries have a multitude of benefits, and many are only available if the library has a physical
location. Some of these benefits include acting as a quiet study space, giving people a way to converse
with their neighbors, holding classes on a variety of topics, providing jobs, answering patron questions,
and keeping the community connected. One neighborhood found that, after a local library instituted
community events such as play times for toddlers and parents, job fairs for teenagers, and meeting
spaces for senior citizens, over a third of residents reported feeling more connected to their
community. Similarly, a Pew survey conducted in 2015 found that nearly two-thirds of American
adults feel that closing their local library would have a major impact on their community. People see
libraries as a way to connect with others and get their questions answered, benefits tablets can’t offer
nearly as well or as easily.

While replacing libraries with tablets may seem like a simple solution, it would encourage people to
spend even more time looking at digital screens, despite the myriad issues surrounding them. It would
also end access to many of the benefits of libraries that people have come to rely on. In many areas,
libraries are such an important part of the community network that they could never be replaced by a
simple object.

Argumentative Essay Example 2

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through female
Anopheles mosquitoes. Each year, over half a billion people will become infected with malaria, with
roughly 80% of them living in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly half a million people die of malaria every
year, most of them young children under the age of five. Unlike many other infectious diseases, the
death toll for malaria is rising. While there have been many programs designed to improve access to
malaria treatment, the best way to reduce the impact of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa is to focus on
reducing the number of people who contract the disease in the first place, rather than waiting to treat
the disease after the person is already infected.

There are multiple drugs available to treat malaria, and many of them work well and save lives, but
malaria eradication programs that focus too much on them and not enough on prevention haven’t seen
long-term success in Sub-Saharan Africa. A major program to combat malaria was WHO’s Global
Malaria Eradication Program. Started in 1955, it had a goal of eliminating malaria in Africa within the
next ten years. Based upon previously successful programs in Brazil and the United States, the program
focused mainly on vector control. This included widely distributing chloroquine and spraying large
amounts of DDT. More than one billion dollars was spent trying to abolish malaria. However, the
program suffered from many problems and in 1969, WHO was forced to admit that the program had
not succeeded in eradicating malaria. The number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa who contracted
malaria as well as the number of malaria deaths had actually increased over 10% during the time the
program was active.

One of the major reasons for the failure of the project was that it set uniform strategies and policies. By
failing to consider variations between governments, geography, and infrastructure, the program was
not nearly as successful as it could have been. Sub-Saharan Africa has neither the money nor the
infrastructure to support such an elaborate program, and it couldn’t be run the way it was meant to.
Most African countries don't have the resources to send all their people to doctors and get shots, nor
can they afford to clear wetlands or other malaria prone areas. The continent’s spending per person for
eradicating malaria was just a quarter of what Brazil spent. Sub-Saharan Africa simply can’t rely on a
plan that requires more money, infrastructure, and expertise than they have to spare.

Additionally, the widespread use of chloroquine has created drug resistant parasites which are now
plaguing Sub-Saharan Africa. Because chloroquine was used widely but inconsistently, mosquitoes
developed resistance, and chloroquine is now nearly completely ineffective in Sub-Saharan Africa,
with over 95% of mosquitoes resistant to it. As a result, newer, more expensive drugs need to be used
to prevent and treat malaria, which further drives up the cost of malaria treatment for a region that can
ill afford it.

Instead of developing plans to treat malaria after the infection has incurred, programs should focus on
preventing infection from occurring in the first place. Not only is this plan cheaper and more effective,
reducing the number of people who contract malaria also reduces loss of work/school days which can
further bring down the productivity of the region.

One of the cheapest and most effective ways of preventing malaria is to implement insecticide-treated
bed nets (ITNs). These nets provide a protective barrier around the person or people using them.
While untreated bed nets are still helpful, those treated with insecticides are much more useful
because they stop mosquitoes from biting people through the nets, and they help reduce mosquito
populations in a community, thus helping people who don’t even own bed nets. Bed nets are also very
effective because most mosquito bites occur while the person is sleeping, so bed nets would be able to
drastically reduce the number of transmissions during the night. In fact, transmission of malaria can be
reduced by as much as 90% in areas where the use of ITNs is widespread. Because money is so scarce in
Sub-Saharan Africa, the low cost is a great benefit and a major reason why the program is so successful.
Bed nets cost roughly 2 USD to make, last several years, and can protect two adults. Studies have
shown that, for every 100-1000 more nets are being used, one less child dies of malaria. With an
estimated 300 million people in Africa not being protected by mosquito nets, there’s the potential to
save three million lives by spending just a few dollars per person.

Reducing the number of people who contract malaria would also reduce poverty levels in Africa
significantly, thus improving other aspects of society like education levels and the economy. Vector
control is more effective than treatment strategies because it means fewer people are getting sick.
When fewer people get sick, the working population is stronger as a whole because people are not put
out of work from malaria, nor are they caring for sick relatives. Malaria-afflicted families can typically
only harvest 40% of the crops that healthy families can harvest. Additionally, a family with members
who have malaria spends roughly a quarter of its income treatment, not including the loss of work
they also must deal with due to the illness. It’s estimated that malaria costs Africa 12 billion USD in
lost income every year. A strong working population creates a stronger economy, which Sub-Saharan
Africa is in desperate need of.

Argumentative Essay Example 3

As college sports continue to be hugely popular and the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) brings in large amounts of revenue, people have revived the debate on whether college
athletes should get paid.

There are many ways payments could work. They could be in the form of a free-market approach,
where athletes are able to earn whatever the market is willing to pay them, it could be a set amount of
money per athlete, or student athletes could earn income from endorsements, autographs, and control
of their likeness, similar to the way top Olympians earn money.

Proponents of the idea believe that, because college athletes are the ones who are training,
participating in games, and bringing in audiences, they should receive some sort of compensation for
their work. If there were no college athletes, the NCAA wouldn’t exist, college coaches wouldn’t
receive there (sometimes very high) salaries, and brands like Nike couldn’t profit from college sports.
In fact, the NCAA brings in roughly $1 billion in revenue a year, but college athletes don’t receive any
of that money in the form of a paycheck. Additionally, people who believe college athletes should be
paid state that paying college athletes will actually encourage them to remain in college longer and not
turn pro as quickly, either by giving them a way to begin earning money in college or requiring them
to sign a contract stating they’ll stay at the university for a certain number of years while making an
agreed-upon salary.

Supporters of this idea point to Zion Williamson, the Duke basketball superstar, who, during his
freshman year, sustained a serious knee injury. Many argued that, even if he enjoyed playing for Duke,
it wasn’t worth risking another injury and ending his professional career before it even began for a
program that wasn’t paying him. Williamson seems to have agreed with them and declared his
eligibility for the NCAA draft later that year. If he was being paid, he may have stayed at Duke longer.
In fact, roughly a third of student athletes surveyed stated that receiving a salary while in college
would make them “strongly consider” remaining collegiate athletes longer before turning pro.

Paying athletes could also stop the recruitment scandals that have plagued the NCAA. In 2018, the
NCAA stripped the University of Louisville's men's basketball team of its 2013 national championship
title because it was discovered coaches were using sex workers to entice recruits to join the team.
There have been dozens of other recruitment scandals where college athletes and recruits have been
bribed with anything from having their grades changed, to getting free cars, to being straight out
bribed. By paying college athletes and putting their salaries out in the open, the NCAA could end the
illegal and underhanded ways some schools and coaches try to entice athletes to join.

People who argue against the idea of paying college athletes believe the practice could be disastrous for
college sports. By paying athletes, they argue, they’d turn college sports into a bidding war, where only
the richest schools could afford top athletes, and the majority of schools would be shut out from
developing a talented team (though some argue this already happens because the best players often go
to the most established college sports programs, who typically pay their coaches millions of dollars per
year). It could also ruin the tight camaraderie of many college teams if players become jealous that
certain teammates are making more money than they are.

They also argue that paying college athletes actually means only a small fraction would make
significant money. Out of the 350 Division I athletic departments, fewer than a dozen earn any money.
Nearly all the money the NCAA makes comes from men’s football and basketball, so paying college
athletes would make a small group of men--who likely will be signed to pro teams and begin making
millions immediately out of college--rich at the expense of other players.

Those against paying college athletes also believe that the athletes are receiving enough benefits
already. The top athletes already receive scholarships that are worth tens of thousands per year, they
receive free food/housing/textbooks, have access to top medical care if they are injured, receive top
coaching, get travel perks and free gear, and can use their time in college as a way to capture the
attention of professional recruiters. No other college students receive anywhere near as much from
their schools.
 People on this side also point out that, while the NCAA brings in a massive amount of money each
year, it is still a non-profit organization. How? Because over 95% of those profits are redistributed to its
members’ institutions in the form of scholarships, grants, conferences, support for Division II and
Division III teams, and educational programs. Taking away a significant part of that revenue would
hurt smaller programs that rely on that money to keep running.

While both sides have good points, it’s clear that the negatives of paying college athletes far outweigh
the positives. College athletes spend a significant amount of time and energy playing for their school,
but they are compensated for it by the scholarships and perks they receive. Adding a salary to that
would result in a college athletic system where only a small handful of athletes (those likely to become
millionaires in the professional leagues) are paid by a handful of schools who enter bidding wars to
recruit them, while the majority of student athletics and college athletic programs suffer or even shut
down for lack of money. Continuing to offer the current level of benefits to student athletes makes it
possible for as many people to benefit from and enjoy college sports as possible.

https://blog.prepscholar.com/argumentative-essay-examples

Topics:

1. Why do more and more girls choose technical education and careers in the STEM?
2. Are men as emotional as women?
3. Is it normal to refuse to serve gay couples because of your religious beliefs?
4. How does the beauty industry affect the perception of women's appearance?
5. Should the parenting be more gender neutral?
6. What does it mean to be a real woman in a contemporary society?
7. Is it acceptable for boys to cry?
8. Should women be allowed to serve in the army and take part in military campaigns?
9. How will the #MeToo movement affect the relationship between a man and a woman?
10. Can a woman hold leadership positions?
11. Education should be free for everyone
12. Why are the US citizens rapidly becoming more obese?
13. Internet access must be limited to students
14. Young people must have a right to choose when it comes to military
15. Each student must have a right to pick only those disciplines he is interested in
16. What are the advantages US educational system offers to international students?
17. Which secondary languages are worth studying today?
18. Is education too commercialized nowadays?
19. Do libraries have a chance to survive in the future due to the fast development of digital technologies?
20. Do we need so much advertising around?
21. Can you name any actor who did not deserve his Oscar?
22. Speaking of kids, what books are better for them: paper books or e-books?
23. Does speed reading really make you smarter?
24. Do you know the real reasons why Banksy wants to remain anonymous?
25. What are the reasons for indie music to be so popular among the millennials?
26. Do you know the secret of Taylor Swift's popularity?
27. How did schizophrenia influence Louis Wain pictures?
28. How important is modern art education for developing abilities of children, teenagers, and adults?
29. Is it true that video games with violence make teenagers aggressive?
30. Do children need homework in primary school?
31. Should children be responsible for keeping their rooms clean and tidy?
32. Who should be role models for teenagers?
33. Can children under the age of 12 be allowed to watch horror films?
34. Why do most children and teenagers want to become video bloggers?
35. Should college education be free to all?
36. Should parents monitor activities of their children on social media platforms and limit their use?
37. Should young children be allowed to compete on a variety of TV shows together with adults?
38. Should student athletes get paid by universities?
39. Should parents limit their children’s internet time after they come from school?
40. Do advancements of modern technologies ruin childhood?
41. Should Photoshop be banned in beauty magazines?
42. Can GMO food solve the most urgent problems connected with world hunger?
43. How can marijuana help cancer patients and other people who suffer from constant pain?
44. Should government lower the drinking age?
45. Can unvaccinated children be dangerous to other kids in schools and other public places?
46. Does homeopathy work for treating diseases or preventing them?
47. Should vegetarian parents give their children meat?
48. What are the main advantages and disadvantages of 3d printed organs?
49. Should basic health care be free for all citizens?
50. Can healthy eating habits help us look younger and live longer?
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/
argumentative_essays.html
 2. Compare and Contrast Essay

What Exactly Is a Compare and Contrast Essay?

Simply put, it is an essay evaluating the similarities and differences between two subjects. These
subjects will be in the same category, but different. You might compare and contrast two different
kinds of pets, or two novels from the same historical time period.

Comparison in writing discusses elements that are similar, while contrast in writing discusses elements
that are different. A compare-and-contrast essay, then, analyzes two subjects by comparing them,
contrasting them, or both.

The key to a good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more subjects that connect in a
meaningful way. The purpose of conducting the comparison or contrast is not to state the obvious but
rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities. For example, if you wanted to focus
on contrasting two subjects you would not pick apples and oranges; rather, you might choose to
compare and contrast two types of oranges or two types of apples to highlight subtle differences. For
example, Red Delicious apples are sweet, while Granny Smiths are tart and acidic. Drawing
distinctions between elements in a similar category will increase the audience’s understanding of that
category, which is the purpose of the compare-and-contrast essay.

Similarly, to focus on comparison, choose two subjects that seem at first to be unrelated. For a
comparison essay, you likely would not choose two apples or two oranges because they share so many
of the same properties already. Rather, you might try to compare how apples and oranges are quite
similar. The more divergent the two subjects initially seem, the more interesting a comparison essay
will be.

Compare and contrast is a rhetorical style that discusses the similarities and differences of two or more
things: ideas, concepts, items, places, etc. This rhetorical style is one that you’ll see often as a complete
essay, but you may also use it quite a lot within paragraphs of any kind of essay in which you need to
make some kind of comparison to help illustrate a point.

A compare and contrast essay does two things: It discusses the similarities and differences of at least
two different things. First, you must find a basis of comparison to be sure that the two things have
enough in common. After that, you identify their differences. You may structure the compare and
contrast essay using either the alternating method (stating one aspect of one thing and immediately
discussing the same aspect of the other item and how they are similar or different) or the block method
(discussing all of the aspects of one thing and then discussing all of the aspects of another).
The purpose of a compare and contrast essay is to analyze the differences and/or the similarities of two
distinct subjects. A good compare/contrast essay doesn’t only point out how the subjects are similar or
different (or even both!). It uses those points to make a meaningful argument about the subjects. While
it can be a little intimidating to approach this type of essay at first, with a little work and practice, you
can write a great compare-and-contrast essay!

Techniques

Once you have decided what things to compare, keep the following in mind:

Basis of Comparison

In order for your essay to be a success, you need to have a basis of comparison about the things that
you’re comparing.  Do the things have enough in common for it to make sense to write about them in
a compare and contrast essay? For example, it would make sense to compare in-person and online
courses because the two have enough in common to justify discussing the similarities and differences
of the two types of courses.

Alternating Method

When you use the alternating method, you discuss one aspect of the first item and then immediately
discuss the same aspect of the second item. You may discuss the amount of computer time required for
an in person course and an online course. You may state that while you need to work on the computer
for both courses, you would need to spend twice as much time on the computer for the online course.

Block Method

When you use the block method, you discuss one subject and then discuss the next subject. Usually,
you would write one paragraph discussing the first subject and then write a second paragraph
discussing the second subject and so on. For example, you may decide to discuss the costs associated
with taking an online course. You may emphasize that while a person is getting the same education, he
or she is saving by not having to drive to the college. In the next paragraph, you may discuss the costs
associated with an in person course: gas, parking permits, babysitting, etc.

Combination Method

Finally, when you combine the two, you’re writing a compare and contrast essay that follows the
combination method. You may spend a couple of body paragraphs using the alternating method and
then decide to switch to the block method for a deeper analysis of each of the subjects.
NOTE: When you write a compare and contrast essay, be sure that the two things have enough in
common. Even if you have many differences to analyze, if the topics or items you’re comparing don’t
have much in common, your audience may wonder why you’re writing about the two things. For
example, you would have a difficult time writing an essay comparing and contrasting your favorite
television program with a popular vacation spot in your state.

The Structure of a Compare/Contrast Essay

The compare-and-contrast essay starts with a thesis that clearly states the two subjects that are to be
compared, contrasted, or both and the reason for doing so. The thesis could lean more toward
comparing, contrasting, or both. Remember, the point of comparing and contrasting is to provide
useful knowledge to the reader. Take the following thesis as an example that leans more toward
contrasting:

Thesis Statement: Organic vegetables may cost more than those that are conventionally grown, but
when put to the test, they are definitely worth every extra penny.

Here the thesis sets up the two subjects to be compared and contrasted (organic versus conventional
vegetables), and it makes a claim about the results that might prove useful to the reader.

You may organize compare-and-contrast essays in one of the following two ways:

1. According to the subjects themselves, discussing one then the other

2. According to individual points, discussing each subject in relation to each point

The organizational structure you choose depends on the nature of the topic, your purpose, and your
audience.

Given that compare-and-contrast essays analyze the relationship between two subjects, it is helpful to
have some phrases on hand that will cue the reader to such analysis.

Writing an Compare/Contrast Essay

First choose whether you want to compare seemingly disparate subjects, contrast seemingly similar
subjects, or compare and contrast subjects. Once you have decided on a topic, introduce it with an
engaging opening paragraph. Your thesis should come at the end of the introduction, and it should
establish the subjects you will compare, contrast, or both as well as state what can be learned from
doing so.

The body of the essay can be organized in one of two ways: by subject or by individual points. The
organizing strategy that you choose will depend on, as always, your audience and your purpose. You
may also consider your particular approach to the subjects as well as the nature of the subjects
themselves; some subjects might better lend themselves to one structure or the other. Make sure to use
comparison and contrast phrases to cue the reader to the ways in which you are analyzing the
relationship between the subjects.

After you finish analyzing the subjects, write a conclusion that summarizes the main points of the
essay and reinforces your thesis.

Formulating Your Argument

1.Pick two subjects that can be compared and contrasted. The first step to writing a successful compare
and contrast essay is to pick two subjects that are different enough to be compared. There are several
things to consider when choosing your subjects:[1]

 You could pick two subjects that are in the same “category” but have differences that are
significant in some way. For example, you could choose “homemade pizza vs. frozen grocery
store pizza.”
 You could pick two subjects that don’t appear to have anything in common but that have a
surprising similarity. For example, you could choose to compare bats and whales. (One is tiny
and flies, and the other is huge and swims, but they both use sonar to hunt.)
 You could pick two subjects that might appear to be the same but are actually different. For
example, you could choose "The Hunger Games movie vs. the book."
2. Make sure that your subjects can be discussed in a meaningful way.“Meaningful” comparisons and
contrasts do more than simply point out that “Topic A and Topic B are both similar and different.” A
good compare and contrast essay will help your readers understand why it’s useful or interesting to put
these two subjects together.[2]

 For example, ask yourself: What can we learn by thinking about “The Hunger Games” and
“Battle Royale” together that we would miss out on if we thought about them separately?
 It can be helpful to consider the “So what?” question when deciding whether your subjects have
meaningful comparisons and contrasts to be made. If you say “The Hunger Games and Battle
Royale are both similar and different,” and your friend asked you “So what?” what would your
answer be? In other words, why bother putting these two things together?
3. Brainstorm your topic. You probably won’t be able to jump straight from deciding on your topic to
having a thesis, and that’s okay. Take a little time to brainstorm about how your chosen subjects are
similar and different. This will help you see which points are the major ones you want to focus on, and
can help guide you when you formulate your thesis.

 A “Venn diagram” can often be helpful when brainstorming. This set of overlapping circles can
help you visualize where your subjects are similar and where they differ. In the outer edges of
 the circle, you write what is different; in the overlapping middle area, you write what’s
similar.[3]
 You can also just draw out a list of all of the qualities or characteristics of each subject. Once
you’ve done that, start looking through the list for traits that both subjects share. Major points
of difference are also good to note.
4. Consider your main points. You won’t be able to provide a list of every single way in which your
subjects are similar and/or different in your essay. (And that’s not the goal, anyway.) Instead, choose a
few points that seem to be particularly important.
 For example, if you are comparing and contrasting cats and dogs, you might notice that both are
common household pets, fairly easy to adopt, and don’t usually have many special care needs.
These are points of comparison (ways they are similar).
 You might also note that cats are usually more independent than dogs, that dogs may not
provoke allergies as much as cats do, and that cats don’t get as big as many dogs do. These are
points of contrast (ways they are different).
 These points of contrast can often be good places to start thinking about your thesis, or
argument. Do these differences make one animal a superior type of pet? Or a better pet
choice for a specific living situation (e.g., an apartment, a farm, etc.)?
5. Develop your thesis. There are many directions a compare-and-contrast thesis can take, but it should
always make an argument that explains why it’s useful to put these two subjects together in the first
place. For example:
 Show readers why one subject is more desirable than the other. Example: "Cats are better pets
than dogs because they require less maintenance, are more independent, and are more
adaptable."
 Help readers make a meaningful comparison between two subjects. Example: "New York City
and San Francisco are both great cities for young professionals, but they differ in terms of
their job opportunities, social environment, and living conditions."
 Show readers how two subjects are similar and different. Example: "While both The Catcher in
the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird explore the themes of loss of innocence and the deep
bond between siblings, To Kill a Mockingbird is more concerned with racism while The
Catcher in the Rye focuses on the prejudices of class."
 In middle school and high school, the standard format for essays is often the “5-paragraph
form,” with an introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. If your teacher
recommends this form, go for it. However, you should be aware that especially in college,
teachers and professors tend to want students to break out of this limited mode. Don’t get so
locked into having “three main points” that you forget to fully explore your topic.
 Organizing Your Essay
1. Decide on a structure. There are several ways to organize a compare-and-contrast essay. Which one
you choose depends on what works best for your ideas. Remember, you can change your organization
later if you decide it isn’t working.[4]

 Subject by subject. This organization deals with all of the points about Topic A, then all of the
points of Topic B. For example, you could discuss all your points about frozen pizza (in as
many paragraphs as necessary), then all your points about homemade pizza. The strength of
this form is that you don’t jump back and forth as much between topics, which can help your
essay read more smoothly. It can also be helpful if you are using one subject as a “lens” through
which to examine the other. The major disadvantage is that the comparisons and contrasts
don’t really become evident until much further into the essay, and it can end up reading like a
list of “points” rather than a cohesive essay.[5]
 Point by point. This type of organization switches back and forth between points. For
example, you could first discuss the prices of frozen pizza vs. homemade pizza, then the quality
of ingredients, then the convenience factor. The advantage of this form is that it’s very clear
what you’re comparing and contrasting. The disadvantage is that you do switch back and forth
between topics, so you need to make sure that you use transitions and signposts to lead your
reader through your argument.
 Compare then contrast. This organization presents all the comparisons first, then all the
contrasts. It’s a pretty common way of organizing an essay, and it can be helpful if you really
want to emphasize how your subjects are different. Putting the contrasts last places the
emphasis on them. However, it can be more difficult for your readers to immediately see why
these two subjects are being contrasted if all the similarities are first.[6]
2.

2. Outline your essay. Outlining your essay will help you work out the main organizational structure
and will give you a template to follow as you develop your ideas. No matter how you decided to
organize your essay, you will still need to have the following types of paragraphs:[7]
 Introduction. This paragraph comes first and presents the basic information about the subjects
to be compared and contrasted. It should present your thesis and the direction of your essay
(i.e., what you will discuss and why your readers should care).
 Body Paragraphs. These are the meat of your essay, where you provide the details and evidence
that support your claims. Each different section or body paragraph should tackle a different
division of proof. It should provide and analyze evidence in order to connect those proofs to
 your thesis and support your thesis. Many middle-school and high-school essays may only
require three body paragraphs, but use as many as is necessary to fully convey your argument.
 Acknowledgement of Competitive Arguments/Concession. This paragraph acknowledges that
other counter-arguments exist, but discusses how those arguments are flawed or do not apply.
 Conclusion. This paragraph summarizes the evidence presented. It will restate the thesis, but
usually in a way that offers more information or sophistication than the introduction could.
Remember: your audience now has all the information you gave them about why your
argument is solid. They don’t need you to just reword your original thesis. Take it to the next
level!
3. Outline your body paragraphs based on subject-to-subject comparison. Let's say you're working with
the following statement: "When deciding between whether to go camping in the woods or spend a day
at the beach, one should consider the following points: the weather, the types of activities each
location offers, and the facilities at each location." A subject-by-subject comparison would deal first
with the woods, and then with the beach. This method of organization can be unwieldy, so if you
choose it, be sure not to let your paragraphs become page-long lists of points about each subject. You
can still have a paragraph per point about each subject; you’ll just put all the paragraphs about each
subject together. A subject-to-subject body paragraph outline could look like this:[8]

 Introduction: state your intent to discuss the differences between camping in the woods or on
the beach.
 Body Paragraph 1 (Woods): Climate/Weather
 Body Paragraph 2 (Woods): Types of Activities and Facilities
 Body Paragraph 3 (Beach): Climate/Weather
 Body Paragraph 4 (Beach): Types of Activities and Facilities
 Conclusion

4. Outline your body paragraphs based on point-by-point comparison. This is the more common
method used in the comparison and contrast essay.[9] You can write a paragraph about each
characteristic of both locations, comparing the locations in the same paragraph. For example, in this
case, you could write one paragraph describing the weather in both the woods and the beach, one
paragraph describing the activities in each location, and a third describing the facilities in both. Here's
how the essay could look:[10]

 Introduction
 Body Paragraph 1: Discuss first difference between woods and beaches: climate/weather.
 Woods
  Beach
 Body Paragraph 2: Discuss second difference between woods and beaches: types of activities.
 Woods
 Beach
 Body Paragraph 3: Discuss third difference between woods and beaches: available facilities.
 Woods
 Beach
 Conclusion

5. Outline your body paragraphs based on compare then contrast. This type of organization works best
for when you want to emphasize the contrasts between your subjects. First, you discuss how your
subjects are similar. Then, you end with how they’re different (and, usually, how one is superior).
Here’s how your essay could look with this organization:
 Introduction
 Body Paragraph 1: Similarity between woods and beaches (both are places with a wide variety
of things to do)
 Body Paragraph 2: First difference between woods and beaches (they have different climates)
 Body Paragraph 3: Second difference between woods and beaches (there are more easily
accessible woods than beaches in most parts of the country)
 Body Paragraph 4: Emphasis on the superiority of the woods to the beach
 Conclusion

6. Organize your individual body paragraphs. Once you've chosen an organizational method for your
body paragraphs, you'll need to have an internal organization for the body paragraphs themselves.
Each of your body paragraphs will need to have the three following elements:
 Topic sentence: This sentence introduces the main idea and subject of the paragraph. It can also
provide a transition from the ideas in the previous paragraph.
 Body: These sentences provide concrete evidence that support the topic sentence and main
idea.
 Conclusion: this sentence wraps up the ideas in the paragraph. It may also provide a link to the
next paragraph’s ideas.

Putting It All Together

1. Use your brainstorming ideas to fill in your outline. Once you’ve outlined your essay, it should be
fairly simple to find evidence for your arguments. Look at the lists and diagrams you generated to help
you find the evidence for your comparisons and contrasts.
 If you are having trouble finding evidence to support your argument, go back to your original
texts and try the brainstorming process again. It could be that your argument is evolving past
where it started, which is good! You just need to go back and look for further evidence.

2. Remember to explain the “why.” A common error many writers make is to let the comparisons and
contrasts “speak for themselves,” rather than explaining why it’s helpful or important to put them
together. Don’t just provide a list of “ways Topic A and Topic B are similar and different.” In your body
paragraphs as well as your conclusion, remind your readers of the significance of your evidence and
argument.
 For example, in a body paragraph about the quality of ingredients in frozen vs. homemade
pizza, you could close with an assertion like this: “Because you actively control the quality of
the ingredients in pizza you make at home, it can be healthier for you than frozen pizza. It
can also let you express your imagination. Pineapple and peanut butter pizza? Go for it!
Pickles and parmesan? Do it! Using your own ingredients lets you have fun with your food.”
This type of comment helps your reader understand why the ability to choose your own
ingredients makes homemade pizza better.

3. Come up with a title. “Essay Number One” may say exactly what the paper is, but it’s not going to
win any points for style. A good essay title will preview something about the paper’s argument or
topic. Depending on your audience and the situation, you may make a joke or a pun, ask a question, or
provide a summary of your main point.

4. Take a break. One of the most common mistakes student writers make is to not give themselves
enough time to take a step back from their essays for a day or two. Start early so that you can let your
finished draft sit for a day, or at least a few hours. Then, come back to it with fresh eyes. You’ll find it
easier to see holes in your logic or organizational flaws if you’ve had time to take a break.
 Reading your essay aloud can also help you find problem spots. Often, when you’re writing you
get so used to what you meant to say that you don’t read what you actually said.

5. Review your essay. Look out for any grammatical errors, confusing phrasing, and repetitive ideas.
Look for a balance in your paper: you should provide about the same amount of information about
each topic to avoid bias. Here are some things to consider before you turn in your paper:
  Avoid bias. Don't use overly negative or defamatory language to show why a subject is
unfavorable; use solid evidence to prove your points instead.
 Avoid first-person pronouns unless told otherwise. In some cases, your teacher may encourage
you to use “I” and “you” in your essay. However, if the assignment or your teacher doesn’t
mention it, stick with third-person instead, like “one may see” or “people may enjoy.” This is
common practice for formal academic essays.
 Proofread! Spelling and punctuation errors happen to everyone, but not catching them can
make you seem lazy. Go over your essay carefully, and ask a friend to help if you’re not
confident in your own proofreading skills.

Sample Body Paragraphs

1. Write a body paragraph for a point-by-point compare and contrast essay. Here is a sample paragraph
for a body paragraph that uses point-by-point comparison:
 "When one is deciding whether to go to the beach or the woods, the type of activities that each
location offers are an important point to consider. At the beach, one can enjoy the water by
swimming, surfing, or even building a sandcastle with a moat that will fill with water. When
one is in the woods, one may be able to go fishing or swimming in a nearby lake, or one may
not be near water at all. At the beach, one can keep one's kids entertained by burying them
in sand or kicking around a soccer ball; if one is in the woods, one can entertain one's kids by
showing them different plans or animals. Both the beach and the woods offer a variety of
activities for adults and kids alike."

2. Write a body paragraph for a subject-by-subject compare and contrast essay. Here is a sample
paragraph for a body paragraph that uses subject-by-subject comparison:
 "The beach has a wonderful climate, many activities, and great facilities for any visitor's
everyday use. If a person goes to the beach during the right day or time of year, he or she can
enjoy warm, yet refreshing water, a cool breeze, and a relatively hot climate. At the beach,
one can go swimming, sunbathe, or build sandcastles. There are also great facilities at the
beach, such as a changing room, umbrellas, and conveniently-located restaurants and
changing facilities. The climate, activities, and facilities are important points to consider
when deciding between the beach and the woods."
How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

The traditional essay tips won't work with compare and contrast paper. We have gathered the best
ideas online to share with students. If you write such assignment for the first time in your school or
college life, read information from us.

You need to keep in mind the most common writing mistakes school and college students make to
avoid them.

Start with the type of your compare and contrast essay topic. The topics are divided into 4 different
groups:

 Events (point to the differences and similarities of some historical events or episodes from the
book)
 Situations (choose to compare two different cases or episodes from your life)
 People or fiction characters (choose the story)
 Places (describe different locations)

No matter what comparison and contrast topics you write on, you need to keep to the traditional
structure of the academic paper.

 Intro (background)

Start with a capturing and interesting hook. Outline what your topic is. Point to the main argument of
your topic known as a thesis statement. This sentence or two usually come in the last sentence of your
first paragraph.

 Developing your arguments

You need to research your topic to choose three claims. Include evidence with the supporting points
next to each argument. There should be up to three supporting points in each body paragraphs.

 Refuting opponent's arguments

This time, you need to research the topic to view the facts that contradict your thesis. It is important to
choose at least one example and develop a paragraph with the counter-argument as well. Write down
maximum two opposing views followed by a couple of your refutations.

 Conclusion

Restate your thesis statement and stress why your side is right once again.
You can learn more information on the structure of five-paragraph paper online.

Writing Tips Used by Smart American College Students

Moreover, use such helpful words as "because," "for example," "the writer mentioned...," "according to
the book/movie," "from the given reading, we know that...," "on the following page, I have found..."

Examples:

"Why do you believe Americans will win the next Olympic games?"

"According to the reading I have found in my college library, their team showed better results than
Canadians during the last games."

1. Check possible examples of compare and contrast essays when working in your hook sentence.
It has a great influence on the reader's decision whether to read your text on a specific topic or
not. You may add numbers, figures, facts - whatever to make your reader interested. On the
whole, there are many types of hooks:

 Anecdotes and jokes

 Literary quotes
  Quotes of famous people
 Lines from poetry
 Setting scenes
 Scientific facts
 Questions and rhetorical questions
 Metaphors and similes
 Thesis statements

We think it is better to write a thesis statement in the last sentence of the argumentative essay’s
introduction to conclude.

2. Brainstorm all the time. The best way to decide on two good compare and contrast topics to
analyze is to brainstorm and write down possible versions on a blank paper. Once you choose
the subjects, you have to organize your thoughts. Prepare a table where you will mention both
similarities and differences between the two subjects.
3. Get professional help and examples. Find online educational services which help to choose
some good sources on the given topic. Those can be movies, books, articles, etc. It is the last
pre-writing stage which is known as a literature review. School and college students conduct
in-depth research to enrich their compare and contrast essay drafts with important details. If
you miss any words to finish your essay, a literature review is a brilliant way to reach the
necessary word count.

4. Don't forget about the formatting and in-text citations. Apply direct and indirect quotes to
make your text longer and more persuasive. Citations will serve as the strong evidence to
support your compare and contrast topics.

It was just a short preview of every section of your compare and contrast paper in English. Selecting
the proper topics might take a while if you don't have a list of sample topics in front of you. We are
ready to share the best compare and contrast essay subjects with you right now. You may use any
example as the subject for your comparative essay when the theme is not assigned to you.

Step 1 - Choose Your Subject

Remember that your two subjects must be different, but still in the same ballpark, to create a
meaningful compare-and-contrast essay. For example, if you want to write about two different
historical figures, it makes sense to choose two great artists rather than an artist and a politician.

Examples:

 Modigliani and Picasso

  Vegetarians and meat eaters

 Generation Y and Generation Z

Step 2 - Brainstorm Similarities and Differences

Make two lists: one list of similarities, and another of differences. If you are a visual person, a Venn
diagram can facilitate this process. Simply create two overlapping circles, one for each of the topics
that you are comparing. Traits that differ are noted separately, within those that they share are written
in the overlapping space. This is a helpful visual aid, because it organizes similarities and differences
clearly. All you have to do is glance at your Venn diagram to get a sense of the things that you could
write about. If you prefer to focus on one subject at a time, jot your lists down on a blank sheet of
paper and flip it over to the other side for the other subject. Remember to keep characteristics of the
different subjects somewhat parallel. This will make it easier to structure a good argument.
Step 3 - Hone in on Your Main Argument

A good compare-and-contrast essay goes beyond a simple listing of similarities and differences to make
a meaningful statement about a larger topic. When you look at the lists you’ve made, what strikes you
as significant? What do these similarities and differences say about the topic? That will be your main
argument.

Step 4 - Decide on Your Organizational Structure

There are many possibilities for structuring a compare-and-contrast essay. You could write about one
subject in detail, and then switch to the other.

Let’s say you are comparing and contrasting women and men. You could write two paragraphs about
qualities that are common to women (they tend to be more compassionate, they are good multitaskers)
along with some that they share with men (they are capable of sacrificing self for the good of others.)
Then you would focus on men in the next section. (Men usually have superior physical strength and
technical skills).

You can also go point by point throughout the essay. In this case, your first body paragraph might
state: “While men may not always show compassion for the problems of others, they are usually more
likely to actually do something to fix these problems.” You could also on similarities first, and then
differences. In this case, your first body paragraph(s) might read: “The male and female brain are alike
and both men and women perform better when they feel appreciated and valued.” Choose a structure
that makes sense for your argument.

Step 5 - Write an Outline

Craft an outline that fits the structure you have chosen. Traditionally, an essay consists of an
introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Consider including four body
paragraphs instead to give balance to your two subjects.

Step 6 - Fill in Supporting Evidence

As you begin to write your essay, back up your assertions with evidence from research, reading, or
personal experience. If you are comparing and contrasting cats and dogs, use personal anecdotes about
friends and their pets to bolster your arguments. (“My roommate’s dog always greets him when he
comes home each day, but my cat never does.”) If you are writing about similarities and differences
between the poetry of Shakespeare and Keats, include plenty of quotes from their poems to support
your statements. With any information that you include, be sure to explain why it matters in the
context of your larger argument.

Step 7 - Craft Your Essay with Strong Transitional Words

Transitional words give your essay a nice flow from one statement to the next. When comparing, use
words like “both,” “likewise” and “similarly.” Words such as “nonetheless,” “on the other hand,” and
“whereas” are ideal for forming a contrast.

Step 8 - Proofread and Revise Carefully

Once you have finished, read your essay several times to check spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Make use of spell check and grammar check tools in your word processing program. If possible, get a
friend to cast a fresh pair of eyes on it to find mistakes you might have missed. We often have difficulty
reading our own work objectively and can miss silly mistakes.

Follow these steps, and you will be well on your way to writing a compare-and-contrast essay that
cannot fail to impress your reading audience.

COMPARE/CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE

Comparing and Contrasting London and Washington, DC

Both Washington, DC, and London are capital cities of English-speaking countries, and yet they offer
vastly different experiences to their residents and visitors. Comparing and contrasting the two cities
based on their history, their culture, and their residents show how different and similar the two are.
Both cities are rich in world and national history, though they developed on very different time lines.
London, for example, has a history that dates back over two thousand years. It was part of the Roman
Empire and known by the similar name, Londinium. It was not only one of the northernmost points of
the Roman Empire but also the epicenter of the British Empire where it held significant global
influence from the early sixteenth century on through the early twentieth century. Washington, DC,
on the other hand, has only formally existed since the late eighteenth century. Though Native
Americans inhabited the land several thousand years earlier, and settlers inhabited the land as early as
the sixteenth century, the city did not become the capital of the United States until the 1790s. From
that point onward to today, however, Washington, DC, has increasingly maintained significant global
influence. Even though both cities have different histories, they have both held, and continue to hold,
significant social influence in the economic and cultural global spheres.
Both Washington, DC, and London offer a wide array of museums that harbor many of the world’s
most prized treasures. While Washington, DC, has the National Gallery of Art and several other
Smithsonian galleries, London’s art scene and galleries have a definite edge in this category. From the
Tate Modern to the British National Gallery, London’s art ranks among the world’s best. This
difference and advantage has much to do with London and Britain’s historical depth compared to that
of the United States. London has a much richer past than Washington, DC, and consequently has a lot
more material to pull from when arranging its collections. Both cities have thriving theater districts,
but again, London wins this comparison, too, both in quantity and quality of theater choices. With
regard to other cultural places like restaurants, pubs, and bars, both cities are very comparable. Both
have a wide selection of expensive, elegant restaurants as well as a similar amount of global and
national chains. While London may be better known for its pubs and taste in beer, DC offers a
different bar-going experience. With clubs and pubs that tend to stay open later than their British
counterparts, the DC night life tend to be less reserved overall.
Both cities also share and differ in cultural diversity and cost of living. Both cities share a very
expensive cost of living—both in terms of housing and shopping. A downtown one-bedroom
apartment in DC can easily cost $1,800 per month, and a similar “flat” in London may double that
amount. These high costs create socioeconomic disparity among the residents. Although both cities’
residents are predominantly wealthy, both have a significantly large population of poor and homeless.
Perhaps the most significant difference between the resident demographics is the racial makeup.
Washington, DC, is a “minority majority” city, which means the majority of its citizens are races other
than white. In 2009, according to the US Census, 55 percent of DC residents were classified as “Black
or African American” and 35 percent of its residents were classified as “white.” London, by contrast,
has very few minorities—in 2006, 70 percent of its population was “white,” while only 10 percent was
“black.” The racial demographic differences between the cities is drastic.
Even though Washington, DC, and London are major capital cities of English-speaking countries in the
Western world, they have many differences along with their similarities. They have vastly different
histories, art cultures, and racial demographics, but they remain similar in their cost of living and
socioeconomic disparity.

Differences Between Good and Bad Bosses

Everyone knows how important it is to have favorable conditions at the workplace. Starting from
trivial things such as air conditioners or coolers with fresh water, and ending up with flexible
schedules and good relationships with colleagues—all this, as well as many other factors, impact
employees’ productivity and quality of work. In this regard, one of the most important factors is the
manager, or the boss, who directs the working process. It is not a secret that bosses are often a category
of people difficult to deal with: many of them are unfairly demanding, tyrannic, prone to shifting their
responsibilities to other workers, and so on. At the same time, there are many bosses who not only
manage to maintain their staff’s productivity at high levels, but also treat them nicely, fairly, with
understanding, and are pleasant to work with. Let us try to figure out the differences between good
and bad managers, or bosses.

There are numerous cases when a boss sees his or her staff as personal attendants. The scales of this
attitude can vary: some bosses may from time to time ask an employee to bring them a cup of coffee—
this is tolerable, and in many cases this can be evaluated as a friendly favor a coworker would do for
another coworker without feeling inferior or exploited. However, there are managers whose personal
demands go far beyond friendly requests. Highly qualified workers sometimes have to face humiliating
demands; for example, Jennifer (the name is changed)—a finance executive in a big company—had to
dress up like a Japanese woman, because her boss demanded her to do so. Or, another victim of unfair
chief-subordinate relationships, Marisa, had to stay in the office late after work, because her boss
required her to (attention!) trim his ear hair (Everwise).

A “good” boss would obviously not treat his or her subordinates like this. Respecting their feelings,
dignity, and personal space, such a boss would not demand colleagues to do personal favors, making
use of a higher position in a company’s hierarchy. As it has been mentioned before, asking for a cup of
coffee or some other small favor can be tolerable if it does not harm a worker’s productivity and/or
somehow infringes upon their dignity. Such favors are often made by subordinate employees for each
other, and probably cannot be evaluated as exploitation. Things like those described in the previous
paragraph, however, go far beyond a friendly attitude, and feel more like exploitation.

There are bosses who are typical “emotional vampires.” These people are extremely difficult to work
with, and even though they may possess traits necessary for performing their duties excellently, their
subordinates usually suffer severe stress because of their bosses’ psychological peculiarities. According
to the clinical psychologist Albert Bernstein, vampires fall under four categories: anti-socials, who
pursue excitement in all of its forms; obsessive-compulsives, who meticulously seek for the slightest
flaws in their subordinates’ work and micromanage everything; histrionics, who need other people’s
attention, and narcissists, who believe they are the most spectacular, valuable, and professional
employees in the company (Everwise). Each of these types can be emotionally dangerous for
employees. For example, anti-social bosses may provoke conflicts within the office environment, and
then enjoy the emotional dramas following up; narcissists will criticize everything and everyone, never
satisfied with the work their subordinates do, but never “stooping low enough” to organize it in such a
way that benefits everyone; obsessive-compulsive bosses can drive employees crazy with trying to
handle and regulate every little detail of the working process—implementing rules for ridiculous
things like how sharp should pencils be, or what angle monitors should be. It does not mean that
emotional vampires do it on purpose: rather often, such traits are subconscious behavioral patterns, but
this still does not make employees’ lives easier.

A “good boss,” on the contrary, does not try to regulate everything, or put himself or herself on a
pedestal. Such a person is supportive, knows the weak and the strong professional traits of each of his
or her subordinates, listens to what staff has to say (and not just listens, but cares about implementing
good ideas), encourages personnel, and cares not just about the work done but also about the team in
general and about each of the team’s members. “Bad” bosses may be highly competent in the latest
theories regarding their field of work, but it is the skill to manage personnel, to inspire rather than to
enforce, which makes yet another difference between the good and the bad boss (Developing People).
And even though it is important for a manager to care about the tasks his or her team must accomplish,
a good manager will always consider the capabilities and skills of his or her team, instead of blatantly
demanding results without regarding how people in the team feel.

All this does not mean that a good boss is one who is nice and tender to his or her subordinates, and a
bad boss is one who demands too much, though. In fact, a “good” boss can possess all the traits of a
“bad” one: he or she can criticize, yell, or force people to do a lot of work within a short period of time,
for example. However, it is the sense of limits that makes the difference. Robert Sutton, a professor of
management at Stanford University, says that: “The best bosses have that ability to sort of turn up the
volume, to be pushy, to get in people’s faces when they need it, maybe to give them some negative
feedback, and to back off when it’s the right time to do that as well. We want people leading us who
are confident, who are competent, who act like they’re in charge, who make firm decisions, but we
don’t want to work for arrogant, pigheaded bastards who can’t take input. And so what you end up
with is sort of this challenge—what great bosses do is find a way to walk the line between these two
things” (Business Insider). In other words, many of the “nasty” things “bad” bosses do can be done by
“good” bosses as well, but a “good” boss uses such tactics only when it is necessary and knows when to
stop being pushy—unlike “bad” bosses, who know no other manner of management.

The relationships between bosses and their employees greatly affect the productivity and the quality of
work within any company—this is why it is important that these relationships are, if not friendly, then
at least constructive and respectful. Unfortunately, not all managers know how to treat their personnel
well. There are traits that indicate a bad boss with almost 100% accuracy: such bosses often treat their
subordinates as personal attendants, are demanding, pushy, and offensive for no real reason, or may let
their negative traits of character loose, turning the life of regular employees into psychological hell (as
in the case of emotional vampires). On the contrary, good bosses treat their subordinates with respect,
consider their emotions and professional capabilities, care about teamwork, try to inspire employees
instead of forcing them to do something, and even when they need to be pushy and harsh, such bosses
always know when to stop.

Major Differences in Hospitals Today and 100 Years Ago

Medicine has a history spanning many thousands of years and specialized establishments for treating
the sick have also existed for eons. Despite the fact that function of hospitals have not changed much
during the last century, technological and scientific progress has made possible treatment approaches
that could not have been implemented a hundred years ago and made a large contribution to health
care. The main differences between hospitals today and a century ago are improved surgical
techniques, the safer use of anesthesia, and safer childbirth procedures.
Today, many people take anesthesia for granted and cannot imagine surgery without local or complete
analgesia. Anesthetics are widely-used, and oftentimes, even minor surgery is done with the
mandatory application of these drugs. They have become significantly less dangerous, and the control
over their usage is applied effectively. This can be attributed to the invention of the re-breathing
circuit by Ralph Waters, which facilitated the application of artificial ventilation during surgery
(Stephen 24).

Another significant achievement of modern hospitals is quality supervision over pregnancy. Today, a
woman giving birth can reasonably presume both she and her child will undergo a healthy process
from pregnancy to birth. This has become possible due to the new and progressive ways of monitoring
the status of a mother and her fetus. For instance, most modern hospitals, with the help of electronic
means, can survey a baby’s heartbeats using an internal device positioned directly on the fetus’s head
which measures the electrical current produced by the heart (Stephen 26). The cesarean section rate
today is approximately 30% in the United States and some birth procedures used in the past century
have been revealed as ineffective and have ceased (Berkowitz 210). The adoption of new childbirth
technology not only mitigates any risk that might have led to loss of life or disability a century ago, but
assures an almost perfect outcome.

These positive changes can be attributed to numerous scientific innovations, economic developments,
and better administration policies. Also, decreased levels of illiteracy both of medical staff and patients
should also be considered. Modern hospitals are exceptionally scientific and complex institutions and
have introduced complex diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. Many hospitals have also broadened
their services and have transformed into institutions offering health education, research, training, and
disease surveillance (Haagen 193). Still, this does not mean modern hospitals do not face challenges.
For example, hospitals, especially those in developing countries, continue to be plagued with shortages
of hospital beds and other necessities (Haagen 201).

At the same time, a hundred years ago, health care had faced difficulties caused by the imperfection of
treatment methods and drugs. Thus, using anesthesia during surgery a century ago was linked with
danger, sometimes even greater than the surgical procedure itself. The most popular anesthetics were
chloroform and ether, both administered over the patient’s mouth. This led them to fall into a
condition of deep unconsciousness and many patients lost their lives as a result of overdose (Haagen
193).

Giving birth to a child a hundred years ago was a challenge as difficult as today, but the situation was
even more complicated due to the absence of modern painkillers and technologies. A lot of women
underwent childbirth with trepidation, since they were aware of a mother, or baby, who had died
during this process. Back then, the status of the fetus could be surveyed and monitored only by the
means of a specially designed fetal stethoscope. Thus, it was difficult to predict how the fetus would
develop, as well as prevent possible dangers for mother and child. Lots of women preferred to give
birth at home, or just had no access to hospitals where they could have been taken care of. Although
cesarean sections were used early in the twentieth century, the rate of recurrence was low.

In addition, it is important to remember that a hundred years ago, hospitals were far worse equipped
and the presence of many diseases as well as the reasons that caused them were unknown to science.
Illnesses that are now successfully cured with several injections of an appropriate drug could kill a
person living a hundred years ago. Besides, sanitary conditions in cities and villages sometimes were
awful and the methods of preventing and treating epidemics were less effective than today. On the
other hand, diseases that would be resistant to drugs never, or rarely occurred and various types of
viruses did not mutate at the rates they do today.

It should be emphasized that there has been a radical transformation in the way hospitals operate
today compared to a century ago. Improvements in anesthetics administration has made surgery safer
and new birth techniques employed by hospitals have facilitated a smooth child delivery procedure.
Most of this can be attributed to new scientific innovations. Modern hospitals are not yet in the clear.
They still face challenges, like the emergence of new diseases and a lack of adequate facilities, which
hamper their efforts. When compared to hospitals that existed a hundred years ago though, modern
hospitals have transformed greatly in how they deliver their services.

Topics for Compare and Contrast Essay

1. School vs. College: What's New?
2. Students Who Work and Unemployed Students: Who Takes the Best of This Life?
3. Research Paper and Essay: What Is More Responsible?
4. American English vs. British English: Major Differences
5. What Makes Education and Employment Similar?
6. SAT and TOEFL: Differences and Similarities
7. How Are Master Degree and Ph.D. different?
8. Persuasive and Argumentative Paper: Different or the Same
9. Traditional Education or Remote Learning?

History and Political Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

10. Comparison of Lincoln's and Washington' Ideas

11. Renaissance vs. Baroque Epoch
12. Anthropology vs. Religious Studies
13. American Government vs. Soviet Government
14. US President vs. UK Prime Minister
15. North and South Before the Civil War in the US
16. Henry VIII vs. King Louis XIV
17. Fascism and Nazism: Different or the Same?
18. World War I and World War II: Difference in Events

Compare and Contrast Topics (for Beginners)

19. Compare Apple and Orange

20. Night Time and Day Time: Advantages Each Period Has
21. What Makes People Completely Different from Animals
22. Living in Poverty and Being Rich
23. Coffee and Tea: The Effects of Both
24. Living in Big City or Staying in Village
25. Feeling Sad against Feeling Lonely
26. Differences and Similarities between American and British Traditional Dishes
27. Camping in the Woods or Resting by the Sea?

Opposite Things to Compare and Contrast

28. Females and Males

29. Coke vs. Pepsi
30. Red vs. White
31. Country in War Compared to Country in Peace
32. Driving a Car or Riding a Bus
33. Love and Hatred
34. Bad and Good Aspects of Overwork
35. Moon and Sun
36. Dolls or Soft Toys: What Should Parents Buy to Their Children?

Ideas Teenagers May Use in Their Papers

37. Childhood vs. Adulthood

38. Living at Home or Living on Campus
39. Reading or Watching Screened Versions: What Teens Prefer
40. Working in Office or Being a Freelancer?
41. Academic Writing vs. Scientific Writing
42. TV Shows and Radio Shows: What Is More Trendy?
43. Education or Professional Career: What Is Easier and What Is More Difficult?
44. Greek and Roman Culture: Differences and Similarities
45. Comparing Art and Science Classes

IT & Social Media Compare & Contrast Ideas

46. E-mail or Traditional Mailing: What Will Happen in the Future?

47. Online vs. Traditional Commerce
48. Online Dating vs. Real-Life Relations
49. Computer Games, Video Games, or Smartphone Games
50. Choosing between New York Times and Forbes
51. FaceBook or MySpace: Which Social Network Offers More Opportunities?
52. Searching for Job Online or Traditionally?
53. Using Online Writing Services against Traditional Writing Services
54. Benefits Marketing Specialists Get from Using Online Advertising vs. Traditional One

Movie & Music Compare and Contrast Themes

55. Buffy, the Vampire Slayer or Charmed?

56. Books against Movies: Why Reading Is Preferred
57. Jazz vs. Rock
58. Sam vs. Frodo Baggins (Lord of the Rings)
59. Gandalf vs. Dumbledore
60. American Cinematography vs. Soviet Union Cinematography
61. Thor and Loki: Friends or Enemies According to Movie of 2009?
62. Horror Films and Thrillers: What's in Common?
63. Harry Potter or Draco Malfoy?

Literature Compare & Contrast Ideas

64. Comedy vs. Drama

65. Greek vs. Roman Mythology
66. Beauty and the Beast: Lessons Learned
67. Prose or Lyrics: What People Prefer More and Why?
68. Poetry of XIII Century and Nowadays Lyrics
69. Shakespeare's Othello Compared to Hamlet
70. Fiction or Non-Fiction Literature: When You May Need Different Types?
71. Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter: Which Fantasy Book Is Better?
72. Literature of the Past against Literature of the Future

Scientific Compare & Contrast Ideas

73. Oven vs. Microwave

74. Physics vs. Chemistry
75. Our Galaxy, Milky Way, and Andromeda, the Closest
76. What Makes Earth Different from Mars
77. First Mission to Moon and Second Visit: What Are the Differences and Similarities?
78. Thomas Jefferson or DaVinci: Whose Innovations Matter More?
79. Earthquakes or Tsunami: Which Consequences Are Worse?
80. Limited Control Tools or Software with Fool Access to Navigation
81. Formulas of Two Different Chemical Reactions

Popular Compare & Contrast Ideas

82. Soccer vs. Football

83. Chinese vs. Korean
84. Public Opinion vs. Personal Point of View: Discuss Subjectivity & Objectivity
85. Juice and Water
86. Light Beer vs. Dark Beer: Which One Is More Popular?
87. Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity: What Is More Dangerous?
88. Marriage and Divorce: Two Sides of the Coin
89. Windows or Linux: Paid vs. Free OS
90. Marxism vs. Other Ideas of Capitalism

Philosophy Compare & Contrast Ideas

91. Is Home Really a Better Place Than Miami Beach?

92. Life and Death: Various Philosophical Views
93. Living in Your Dreams or Living in Reality: Pros and Cons
94. Friends and ... Where Is the Edge?
95. Physical & Mental Needs of Human Beings
96. Reality or Fantasy World?
97. Main Philosophical Ideas of Macbeth against the Main Ideas of Hamlet
98. Dogs and Humans: They Are More Similar Than We Think
99. Sources with Free Access and Rights Reserved: Should We Protect Intellectual Property?
100. Greek Philosophers vs. Roman Philosophers
 3. Cause and Effect Essay
The Cause and effect essay is another common essay type, either as an essay type on its
own, or as part of a larger essay which includes one or more paragraphs examining
causes and effects. It is a type of essay that explains why the event or the situation
occurs (causes) and the results of its happening (effects). Writing a cause and effect
essay takes students lots efforts cause the main idea of writing such an essay is to
examine the reasons and the results of the phenomenon. But as for the structure, a cause
and effect essay outline is simple: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
What are cause & effect essays?
A cause and effect essay looks at the reasons (or causes) for something, then discusses
the results (or effects). For this reason, cause and effect essays are sometimes referred to
as reason and result essays. They are one of the most common forms of organisation in
academic writing. Sometimes the whole essay will be cause and effect, though
sometimes this may be only part of the whole essay. It is also possible, especially for
short exam essays, that only the causes or the effects, not both, are discussed. See the
examples below.
 Discuss the causes and effects of global warming ['cause and effect' essay]
 Explain the high death rate in Chernobyl ['causes' only essay]
 Discuss the WTO and its effects on the Chinese economy ['effects' only essay]
Structure
There are two main ways to structure a cause and effect essay. These are similar to the
ways to structure problem-solution essays, namely using a block or a chain structure.
For the block structure, all of the causes are listed first, and all of the effects are listed
afterwards. For the chain structure, each cause is followed immediately by the effect.
Usually that effect will then be the cause of the next effect, which is why this structure
is called 'chain'. Both types of structure have their merits. The former is generally
clearer, especially for shorter essays, while the latter ensures that any effects you
present relate directly to the causes you have given.
The two types of structure, block and chain, are shown in the diagram below.
Block

Introduction
Cause 1
Cause 2
...
Transition sentence/paragraph
Effect 1
Effect 2
...
Conclusion

Chain

Introduction
Cause 1
&
Effect of Cause 1
Cause 2
&
Effect of Cause 2
Cause 3
&
Effect of Cause 3
...
Conclusion
Cause and Effect Structure Words
Cause and effect structure words are transition signals which show the cause
and effect relationships. It is important to be clear which is the cause (or
reason) and which is the effect (or result), and to use the correct transition
word or phrase. Remember that a cause happens first, and the effect
happens later.

Below are some common cause and effect structure words. X is used to
indicate a cause, while Y is used to indicate the effect.

Cause
 The first cause of (Y) is (X)
 The next reason is (X)
 Because of (X), (Y)
 As a result of (X), (Y)
 As a consequence of (X), (Y)
 because/since/as (X)
 to result from (X)
 (X) results in (Y)
 to be the result of (X)
 (Y) is due to (X)
 Owing to (X), (Y)
 (Y) is because of (X)
 (Y) is the effect of (X)
 (Y) is the consequence of (X)

Examples
 Worsening pollution levels in cities are due to the increased use of cars.
 Because of the increased use of cars, pollution levels in cities are worsening.
 As a result of the increased use of cars, pollution levels in cities are worsening.
 The effect of the increased use of cars is a worsening of pollution levels in cities.
Effect
 The first effect of (X) is (Y)
 Another result of (X) is (Y)
  As a result, (Y)
 As a consequence, (Y)
 Consequently (Y)
 Therefore, (Y)
 Thus (Y)
 Hence (Y)
 (X) results in (Y)
 (X) causes (Y)
 (X) has an effect on (Y)
 (X) affects (Y)
 (X) is one of the causes of (Y)
 (X) is the reason for (Y)

Examples
 Cars are used increasingly for urban transport. As a consequence, pollution levels
in cities are worsening.
 Increased use of cars for urban transport adversely affects pollution levels in cities.
 Increased use of cars for urban transport is one of the causes of worsening
pollution levels in cities.

What Is a Cause and Effect Essay?

Cause and effect essays usually center on why things occur (causes) and the outcomes of
the happenings (effects). Cause and effect are termed as the main approach of discussing
and organizing ideas. This essay should be well-defined to enable the readers clearly get
the relationship between the causes and effects being presented. Below is a guide on
how to write a cause and effect essay.

Roles of a Cause and Effect Essay

1) It can examine the ways in which many effects can arise from a particular cause
(“Center on Effects” approach)

Sample: One major reason youths use drugs is due to lack of employment opportunities.
 2) Or it can evaluate the ways in which numerous causes result to a particular effect
(“Emphasize on Causes” approach)

Sample: One of the major effects of deforestation on the ecosystem is global warming.

Format of a Standard Cause and Effect Essay

Introduction

The introductory paragraph should:

 Grab your reader’s attention

 Present the general background information on the topic
 Introduce the thesis statement
 Make use of transitional words and phrases to shift to the body paragraphs

Body

In each paragraph:

 Reflect on a single cause or effect

 State your main point in the first sentence to indicate the cause or effect
 Provide supporting details and facts to back up your idea
 Analyze the process by use of transition words.

Conclusion

A good conclusion should perform the following:

 Summarize the main ideas or arguments

 Reword the thesis statement in different words
 Provide a final statement on the topic

Cause and Effect Essay Outline: Easy Recipe to Make a Masterpiece

 An outline for a cause and effect essay is needed to create a structure for the essay that
will follow. While working on it you need to see the root cause of an event and also
understand its effect.

The purpose of the cause and effect outline is the design of the essay. Designing an essay
makes it easier to read. It will easily guide you from introduction, through to your body
paragraphs and will then reach your conclusion.

It is important to be organized! You don’t want to ramble when you want to write your
cause and effect essay. You want to get the facts down and present an organized and
logical piece of writing.

In order to write a quality cause and effect essay outline you will need to research the
following:

 Why and how some event happened

 What was the effect of that event
You need to use descriptive and factual language to present your cause and effect essay
successfully. You need to deliver clear statements and back them up with facts for
greater credibility.

The marker will reward you if take the time and effort to show important and well
researched facts and your cause and effect essay outline helps you complete it well.

It’s important to show how the events relate to each other. If you write clearly about an
event, like an earthquake there is a lot of material to use to explain how the earthquake
happened. Then you need to show what happened after the earthquake that covers all
the outcomes (in many cases devastating effects on the environment, community,
destruction of commercial and residential properties, home life, relationships etc).

When you write the effect part of your essay the cause and effect essay outline helps
you collect a lot of material that you may not have thought of before. An essay relies on
supportive material so set forth your evidence of research in a clear and concise manner.
Use powerful words that describe the situation in an informative and relevant manner.

Sources of material for your cause and effect essay could be:
 Newspaper articles – newspaper articles are great sources of information. They give a lot
of detail in a single piece of writing.  Use Google alerts to source material from around
the world

You Tube – You Tube not only have entertainment channels but educational channels
that you can tune into.  Watch these videos and take notes along the way

Podcasts – similar to You Tube you can listen to a wide variety of podcasts that are
highly educational from experts around the world.

Your cause and effect essay outline will help the transition of paragraphs and there are
transitional words that work well.  A few examples of transitional words are:

 After a few hours

 Next, etc
 And then
 For instance,
 For example
Use these and other transitional words in your essay so you present all the facts clearly.

In your cause and effect essay outline you are being asked to plan your essay and this
stage will help you with the writing process. Here is what “Write That Essay” by Ian
Hunter says: “One of the big benefits of planning is it should identify the things you
don’t know, as well as what you do. If you are going to answer the question correctly,
this will often require more reading and gathering of content”.  Heed this lesson well!

Write your outline down with an assumption that your marker has no idea about the
topic. You want to ensure that by the time they have finished your powerful essay they
will know exactly what happened and how it happened and then will understand the
impact of this event.
The Logical Organization of a Cause and Effect Essay

Most explanations and discussions include cause-and-effect logic in only several

paragraphs, a sentence, or a phrase within a sentence. Whenever you want to state the
reason as to why something has transpired, you are employing the cause-and-effect
logic.

Make a List

It is always advisable to create a list of all probable effects and the causes linked to your
topic to assist your topic to turn out to be more focused. Confirm the strength of the
relationships in every effect and cause in your worksheet by analyzing them. This can
offer you a better understanding of how the ideas ought to fit together and the topics
that you are most comfortable handling.

Create a Stunning Outline

Firstly, you need to develop an outline for your topic. This will be the starting point of
your essay and the ’cause.’ Provide a detailed background of the ’cause’ to make the basis
of your essay more understandable by your readers. Establish the structure of your essay
from the developed outline.

Brainstorm causes and effects to identify ideal essay topics. It is necessary to generate a
general statement to clarify cause-effect in the discussion. You can derive topic
structures from these points. To advance your outline, verify first point or statement.
Logically list causes, while explaining reasons for the effect to occur. Present detailed
list proving the form points beneath the first point. Sign-off with a sentence that
connects to the next paragraph.

Repeat the structure for the cause and effect. Offer support details list and scribble a
hint into the next paragraph. Insert a conclusion beneath all points so as to tight
paragraphs together. You will have a rich essay outline with an informative description,
three bold statements; Use form points for causes under their statements, then present a
feasible conclusion. You can henceforth write the essay, utilizing your outline as
background.
Make an effective Introduction

A cause-effect essay, typically describes the background of an issue, so as to explain a

cause and why to understand its resultant effect is of great importance. You can,
however, discuss known effects’ root. The true purpose of an ideal introduction is to
diligently unleash the purpose of the essay and further showcase issues at stake. A thesis
statement should feature as your introductory paragraph’s conclusion.

Remember that your conclusion is meant to give a preview of the overall perspective of
the essay. Your essay must abide by its underlying thesis statement. For instance, an
essay on ‘United States Prohibition’ the thesis statement can be outlined as follows:
“Lucrative illegal industry arises from religious groups pressuring the government to
enhance prohibition.”

Put the general statement of your choice in the thesis and identify points that
emphasize to prove your statement. These will serve as your main outline structures.

Come up with Strong Arguments

Both causes and effects demand that you come up with at least three solid arguments.
These will be your essay’s core points. Elaborate effects related to your event,
phenomenon or trend. Be sure to refer regularly to causes so as to make necessary links
and connections to aid your audience understand the cause and effect deeply.

Each argument must have back up of 2-3 descriptive, factual statements emphasizing it.
For instance, supposing your argument reads “Violent crime in prohibition era increase
feuded by bootleggers,” you may need to provide statistical crime support in the
mentioned era.

Too many points will confuse your reader. You, therefore, need to limit your pillar
points to approximately three. There always will exist be multiple causes or effects the
diverse relationships that exist, depending on essay length; strive to ensure that the
statements are limited to three.

A Note about your Content

Depending on points the writer intends to analyze, each essay should employ diverse
body paragraphs. Furthermore, body paragraphs end up similar to some degree.
Paragraphs should be specific to a given argument in the essay; can be a unique cause of
an effect or a unique effect of a cause.

The first sentence of a given paragraph usually combines with the preceding one’s last
sentence, enabling a clear, smooth and frictionless transition. Keep in mind that
transitions always isolate a great essay from good ones. The paragraph’s body content
should hence be made via a descriptive, clean analysis of the relationship therein
between an effect and its cause.

Sum It Up

An essay’s conclusion is one of the main parts and the one that leaves a lasting
impression on your readers; thus, it should be a powerful and appealing conclusion. The
ideas presented in the body paragraphs are summarized, through an analysis of the
chosen topic question. The main essay ideas are summed up in this section, reminding
the reader your topic’s overarching causes and effects.

You can as well include your own insights into the solutions regarding the topic. This
paragraph’s final sentence should restate the thesis statement, backed by the facts in the
body paragraphs. In the conclusion, it is necessary to cover the main idea presented so
that your opinions can be tied together by your readers.

Organize Your Essay

Organize your essay systematically. Include a thesis statement within your outline,
showcasing your trend; beginning an essay with an event or phenomenon is a feasible
model to adhere.
Example essay
Below is a cause and effect essay. This essay uses the block structure. Click on
the different areas (in the shaded boxes to the right) to highlight the different
structural aspects in this essay, i.e. Causes, Effects, and structure words. This
will highlight not simply the paragraphs, but also the thesis
statement and summary, as these repeat the causes and effects contained in
the main body.

Title: More and more women are now going out to work and some women are
now the major salary earner in the family. What are the causes of this, and what
effect is this having on families and society?

In the past, most women stayed at home to take care of domestic chores such as
cooking or cleaning. Women's liberation and feminism have meant that this situation
has been transformed and in contemporary society women are playing an almost equal
role to men in terms of work. This has had significant consequences, both in terms of
the family, for example by improving quality of life and increasing children's sense of
independence, and also for society itself with greater gender equality.

The main reasons behind the increase of women in the workplace are women's
liberation and feminism. The women's liberation movement originated in the 1960s
and was popularised by authors such as Simone de Beauvoir. As a consequence of this,
new legislation emerged, granting women equal rights to men in many fields, in
particular employment. Because of feminist ideas, men have taken up roles which were
previously seen as being for women only, most importantly those related to child
rearing. As a result of this, women have more time to pursue their own careers and
interests.

These have led to some significant effects, both to family life and to society as a whole.

Although the earning capacity of a woman in her lifetime is generally much less than
that of a man, she can nevertheless make a significant contribution to the family
income. The most important consequence of this is an improved quality of life. By
helping to maintain a steady income for the family, the pressure on the husband is
considerably reduced, hence improving both the husband's and the wife's emotional
wellbeing. Additionally, the purchasing power of the family will also be raised.
This means that the family can afford more luxuries such as foreign travel and a family
car.

A further effect on the family is the promotion of independence in the children. Some
might argue that having both parents working might be damaging to the children
because of a lack of parental attention. However, such children have to learn to look
after themselves at an earlier age, and their parents often rely on them to help with the
housework. This therefore teaches them important life skills.

As regards society, the most significant impact of women going to work is greater

gender equality. There are an increasing number of women who are becoming
politicians, lawyers, and even CEOs and company managers. This in turn has led
to greater equality for women in all areas of life, not just employment. For example,
women today have much stronger legal rights to protect themselves against domestic
violence and sexual discrimination in the workplace.

In conclusion, the increasing number of women at work has brought about some

important changes to family life, including improved quality of life and increased
independence for children, as well as affecting society itself. It is clear that the sexes are
still a long way from being equal in all areas of life, however, and perhaps the challenge
for the present century is to ensure that this takes place.

Air Pollution Poignant Matters

Air pollution refers to a chemical, physical or biological alteration to the atmospheric

air. It results whenever harmful gasses, smoke, or dust enters the atmosphere and in
turn, hinders the survival of animals and plants as the air contains toxic substances.

The survival of human beings and animals greatly depend on the combination of gasses
in the atmosphere; slight disruption of this composition can cause devastating effects on
their existence. An imbalance in these atmospheric gasses is known to result in global
warming, a great threat to the contemporary world. We cannot underestimate the
effects air pollution has on the ozone layer which largely contributes to the existence of
organisms on the planet.

Causes of Air Pollution

For the causes of air pollution to be well articulated, it is important to delve into the
types of air pollutants. Air pollutants can be caused by secondary and primary sources. If
a process directly results to pollution, then this forms the primary source. For instance,
factories emit sulfur dioxide which is a primary source of air pollution. Reactions and
interactions between primary sources form the secondary pollutant. For instance, the
intermingling of primary pollutants forms smog which is a secondary pollutant.

Burning of fossil fuels

The main cause of air pollution is burning of coal, gasoline, petroleum, and other fossil
fuels. These fuels are the main cause of acid rain, smog, greenhouse gas emissions, and
presence of heavy metals in the air.

Fossil fuels form an important part of the society; they are used in transportation,
heating, manufacturing, and even in electricity generation. This makes them an
important part of the society making it difficult (but not uncontrollable) to curtail. In
modern society, the use of fossil fuels can be made so that its burning becomes efficient,
but this comes with a monetary cost. It is important to note that unless alternative
cleaner option is found, we will have the future facing the same problems of pollution.

Increased use of motor vehicles, and emission of nitrogen

Vehicles use fuel which sometimes is not completely burnt in the engine; therefore,
they release VOCs (Volatile Organic Chemicals) into the air. VOCs and nitrogen are a
common source of air pollution.
Decomposition of garbage and solid wastes

Disposal sites containing biodegradable substances are known to emit methane gas into
the atmosphere. Methane gas is known to be a harmful gas, it is highly flammable and a
potential disaster to the ozone layer. Garbage and other household products release
VOCs to the air.

Natural causes

Air pollution can come from natural sources such as dust, wildfires, and volcanic
activity. Wildfire is known to emit VOCs and particulates into the atmosphere. Volcanic
eruptions spew sulfur dioxide and volcanic ash into the atmosphere. Volcanic ash is
usually dumped in the upper atmosphere, and as a result, global temperatures are
lowered. However, pollution resulting from natural causes remains in the atmosphere
for a short period and does not result in a permanent change as it might be the case with
human activity-based pollution.

Effects of Air Pollution

1. Respiratory infections

Air pollution is the leading cause of respiratory diseases. Exposure to air pollutants can
cause lung cancer and even asthma. Asthma can lead to death if not well treated, as it
might cause difficulty in breathing. A prolonged exposure of pollutants can cause lung
cancer.

2. Global warming

The rise in sea level, rising temperature in the world, and the melting of ice glaciers are
the evidence for the global warming. Global warming is a direct effect of air pollution in
the world. The only way to curb this increasingly destructive menace is to reduce air
pollution.
3. Depletion of ozone layer

With the greenhouse effect which is the major contributor of the release of
chlorofluorocarbon into the atmosphere has led to the depletion of ozone layer. This
layer is important in shielding the earth from the destructive ultraviolet (UV)
radiations.

4. Formation of acid rain

Emission of harmful gasses such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen into the atmosphere lead
to the formation of acid rain. It is quite common for rain water to have sulfuric acid due
to rampant cases of air pollution in the modern society. Acid rain is a major threat to the
aquatic life as well as human beings.

There are carcinogenic substances in the acid rain, and it has devastating effects to even
metal which can be observed by the extent of corrosion that often results.

5. Eutrophication

Air pollutants such as nitrogen oxide speed up the growth of algae on the water surface.
This growth competes with aquatic life for oxygen, therefore, posing a major threat to
fishing. The only way to reduce the devastating effects of air pollution will be to come
up with effective ways of reducing air pollution.

Earth’s atmosphere has a self-regulating mechanism that ensures sequestration of carbon

among other pollutants. The mechanism works to ensure that the ecosystem is not
affected by the changes occurring in the atmosphere. However, if people continue to
add more pollutants than the earth is able to remove, then the response will be
increased smog, acid rain, global warming and a number of health problems.

If you need any assistance with your essay writing you can contact our friendly support
team and we will gladly help you or you can place on order and our professionals will
write a great paper for you.
 Topics:

Cause and Effect Essay Topics on the Field of Education

 What are the cause and effect of the rise of technology-aided education among high
school students?
 What effect does standardized testing have on high school students’ decision to pursue
tertiary education?
 What are the causes and effects of offering advanced classes to public school students?
 Does using technology in the classroom help student to learn complicated topics better?
 What effect does homeschooling have on raising socially aware children?
 What is the cause and effect of the continuous fall in the number of students who use
in-school libraries?
 Why do some schools produce better A-Level students than others?
 What effect does an effective physical education program have on primary school
students?
 What are the main causes of the most common challenges faced by high school teachers
and educators?
 What is the effect of high parent involvement in school activities?

Cause and Effect Essay Topics on the Medical Field

 What effect does the lack of adequate medical equipment have on the mindset of
practicing doctors and nurses?
 What are the causes and effects of the rise of the country’s overweight and obese adults?
 What are the main causes of the most common tropical diseases in Asia?
 How does a high level of stress affect an individual’s health?
 Does globalization have an effect on the spread of diseases in Africa?
 What effect does the rise of Chinese medicine have on the practice of Western
Medicine?
 Why do some parents fail to get their children vaccinated?
 What effect does the lack of a medical insurance have on an individual’s state of mind?
 What causes cancer?
 Does abortion have an effect on a woman’s reproductive and mental health?
 What are the main causes and effect of the rise of contraceptive use among late teens?
 What are the main causes and effect of chronic allergic reactions?
 Why is there a need for more stringent cancer and HIV research?
 What causes the most common cardiovascular diseases?
 What effect does a misdiagnosis have on an individual’s mindset?
 Why do people ask for a second medical opinion after being diagnosed with a chronic
illness?
 What is the effect of stress on medical workers?
 Why do Asian medical providers choose to migrate and practice in other countries?
 What are the main effects of regular exercise among patients who suffer from arthritis?
 What are the social effects of having braces?

Cause and Effect Essay Topics on Key Social Issues

 Why is a big percentage of the American population living in poverty?

 What are the causes and effects of bankruptcy?
 What effects does growing up in poverty have on adults?
 What are the causes and effects of the rise of international adoption in Western
countries?
 Does growing up with food insecurity have an adverse effect in producing functional
adults?
 What happens to the country when the majority of the baby boomers reach the age for
retirement?
 Why do men still out-earn women despite fairer gender rules in offices and
organizations?
 Why do immigrants have a harder time in securing jobs than natural-born citizens?
 Does the presence of non-profit organizations have any measurable effect on the
country’s social problems?

Cause and Effect Essay Topics on Personal and Social Relationships

 What primary and measurable effects does divorce have on minors?

 What are the main causes of breakups between couples in long distance relationships?
 Does divorce of parents have an effect on the marriage and dating view of their
children?
 What are the causes and effects of men’s commitment phobia?
 Does living together before marriage have an effect on the couple’s married life?
 What effect does the feminist movement have on teenage girl’ss view about dating and
marriage?
 Why do some people have the cycle of getting involved in abusive relationships?
 What effect does being involved in abusive relationships have on the family of the
victim?
 Does a history of abortion have an effect on a woman’s s future relationship and
marriage?
 Why do children in marginal areas rebel from their parents?
 4. Persuasive essay

What is a Persuasive Essay?

A persuasive essay is one in which you use logic and arguments to convince readers of
your point of view. For that, you need to provide solid evidence for arguments, such as
research, stating facts, examples, quotes from experts, and logical reasons.
 

Persuasive essays are also known as argumentative. However, there’s a difference

between these two essay types:

 In argumentative essays, you show both sides of the coin to readers. You describe all
arguments and counterarguments, even if you don’t agree with some of them, and it’s
up to readers to decide which works best.

 In persuasive essays, you choose a side and represent arguments only about this aspect
to convince readers of the truth of your words.

Persuasive Essay Structure

The structure of your persuasive essay is not that difficult to remember and follow.

Given that you need to convince a reader of your arguments, you’ll first need to state a
thesis in your essay introduction, and then write a couple of paragraphs to share the
evidence that support your thesis. Don’t forget to include counterarguments from your
opponents but explain why you disagree with them.

And finally, write a conclusion restating your thesis and providing a reader with food
for thought.
1. Introduction: hook, background, thesis.

2. Body: 1-2 paragraphs, each with an argument and supporting evidence.

3. Body: 1 paragraph, with your opponent’s arguments and your counterarguments on

why you still disagree.

4. Conclusion: sum up your points, restate your thesis, and leave readers with food for
thought.

In the introduction, describe the problem and state the point you’re trying to make.
Also, think of a strong hook for readers to understand why they should care.

In body paragraphs, support your thesis with evidence from credible resources. Leave
one paragraph for counterargument: what your opponents have to say on the issue and
why you still disagree. Use logical arguments and research to convince readers.

In the conclusion, wrap up your persuasive essay by restating your thesis. You may end
it with a question for readers to think about.

How to Use Arguments in Persuasive Essays

First and foremost, you need to understand the basic principles of persuasive writing
and know the five elements of persuasion.

Given that you need to get others to accept your point of view, your arguments in the
essay should be reasonable, verifiable, and credible enough. More than that, you need to
appeal to human logic and emotions. The right combination of emotional and rational
elements is what makes your essay persuasive.

How to reach that?

Remember the basic principles of persuasive writing, described by Aristotle many

moons ago. He called them elements of rhetoric, and they were three:
■ Ethos (appealing to a writer’s character and credibility): use authoritative resources to
prove your arguments.

Ethos: an element that appeals to an author’s credibility. It implies that readers will trust
your opinion because they find you a credible author. If you don’t have your own ethos
yet (meaning you are not a proven expert in a specific field), you can refer to opinions
stated by credible organizations and personas. In this case, their ethos will help your
arguments sound more solid.

Example:
1. “I’m a Doctor of Dental Surgery, and I recommend this toothpaste to keep your teeth
white.”

2. “The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America has conducted a
study which has shown that women are able to survive for longer than men under
extreme conditions such as epidemics, famines, enslavement, etc.”

■ Pathos (appealing to emotions): focus on a reader’s morals, values, and beliefs.

Pathos: an element that appeals to emotions. The trick is to focus on the audience’s
values, morals, and beliefs, and use them to: provoke the needed emotions and promote
an agreement with the idea you have stated.

Example:

1. “You just can’t be cool in high school without a white smile! How to
communicate with peers if you worry about your teeth and freshness? That’s
where a good toothpaste will help.”
2. “This is a man’s world, but where would we all be without a woman? A woman is
a person that gives birth to us, a person who guides each of us through this world,
and a person who inspires and motivates us. How can such a person be called
weak?”
■ Logos (appealing to reason): use logic and evidence to persuade others to agree with
you.

Logos: an element that appeals to reasoning. The last basic principle of persuasive
writing, Logos implies using evidence and logic to assure readers to agree with your
opinion.

Example:

1. “Recent studies conclude that this toothpaste removes 40% more plague and
makes our teeth 20% whiter than all other types of toothpaste.”
2. “Numerous studies have confirmed that women are mentally stronger than men
in numerous domains of cognition.”

Ethos, Pathos and Logos

Unlike logos and pathos, ethos is not about writing itself but your reputation as a writer.
For example, readers of your essay will trust you and agree with you because they know
you as a good student who spends tons of time exploring this topic. Or, millions trust
Kim Kardashian because she’s a world-famous media persona, not a random girl off the
street. Her popularity is her ethos.
In the context of essays, you can reference to credible personas and organizations in
your work. Their ethos is what can help your arguments sound persuasive.

Five Elements of Persuasion in Your Essay

Persuasive essays have no paragraph limits. You can write one body paragraph to
explain your position, and another paragraph – to describe counterarguments of your
opponents and why you disagree. Or, you are welcome to write 2-3-4 paragraphs with
arguments and counterarguments to persuade readers.

But here’s what matters:

For your persuasive essay to sound credible and argumentative, make sure it has the
following five elements inside:

1. Your clear position. Make your thesis narrow in focus. It can be a claim, a fact, a
definition, a solution, or a call of judgment. Feel free to use our thesis statement
generator to introduce the idea of your essay. It should present your position on
the topic.
2. Effective communication. Hook the audience’s attention with some background
information on the topic. You can start with a question, inviting them to keep on
reading to find out your opinion. Use straightforward language, don’t manipulate
with readers’ emotions.

It’s all about pathos: your writing voice and style is more likely to persuade readers than
boring and vague language with tons of grammar mistakes.
 3. Your solid (+ credible) argument. Make it logical, consistent, and fact-based. It
should address the interests of those you want to persuade and be endorsed by
authoritative third parties.

Consider your audience. What do they already know about the topic? What do they
think of it? Do they agree or disagree, and what are the chances to change their
opinion? Are there any sensitive issues about the topic?

Remember the formula: one paragraph = one argument + one reason why you think like
that. And make each reason logically connected to your thesis statement.

What evidence can you use to support arguments?

 proven facts
 statistics
 definitions
 research
 quotes from experts
 examples to illustrate your point of view, including your personal experience
 relevant emotional appeals

4. Clear structure. Organize your persuasive essay so every argument would relate to

the thesis. Start with the weaker argument and build your essay up to the stronger
point for readers to remember the most convincing information. And, pay
attention to transitions and connections between paragraphs to show the
relationships between arguments in the essay and make it easy to follow.
5. Strong conclusion. Restate your thesis in the light of the evidence you’ve provided
in the essay. Make your conclusion logically draw from your arguments.

How to format a persuasive essay:

1. Choose a topic and your position about it.

2. Think of arguments you’ll use to prove your position.
3. Create an outline: write down your thesis, arguments, and evidence.
4. Write an introduction.
5. Craft body paragraphs of your persuasive essay.
 6. Write a conclusion.
7. Proofread and edit: consider word count, font, alignment.

How to Write a Persuasive Essay: Step by Step

The most common questions students ask are how to start a persuasive essay and how to
end a persuasive essay.

But they forget one tiny detail here:

They need to take several steps before the actual essay writing. Here it goes, the process
of persuasive essay writing, step by step:

Step 1 – Choose Your Position

A persuasive essay is called so because the issue you describe there is polemical. It means
you can argue both for and against it. But it’s crucial to decide which side you are going
to support before writing your essay. In other words, you need to know the purpose of
your persuasive essay.

But:

Make sure you can find enough evidence to support it. For a persuasive essay, it should
be based on solid research and credible arguments. Do you have them to back your
cynicism about the climate change problem?

Step 2 – Do Research

To convince readers of your position, you need to know the topic inside out and
understand it from multiple angles. And given that your persuasive essay should provide
convincing evidence for your claims, you’ll have to do research to find them.

It’s not only about your personal experience and knowledge but also academic studies,
historical examples, relevant media news, and expert opinions. To gather them, you
might need to visit libraries or interview opinion leaders. Or, you might want to send
them emails and ask for their expert thoughts to use as references in the essay.

When choosing evidence and resources to cite in your essay, consider the CRAAP test
to evaluate them:

How to Evaluate Sources and Understand if You Can Use Them as References in Essays
The CRAAP method:
Yes, it takes time. So, make sure to save it for research and don’t cut it close the
deadline. Vague assumptions and unverified information won’t work here.
Step 3 – Identify the Strongest Evidence

Once the research is ready, you may have many different aspects to cover the topic. But
you can’t write about all of them. Choose the one with the strongest evidence that will
help to support your position, and concentrate on it for stating the thesis of your
persuasive essay.

Don’t hurry up to choose the most commonly argued aspect. If you’ve gathered enough
evidence for a rarely discussed problem around your topic and essay purpose – focus on
it.

For example, if you claim that people have no impact on global warming and you’ve
found a few latest but not-yet-widely discussed studies on the topic, it might be great
evidence to provide.
 

Step 4 – Write a Persuasive Essay Outline

And now, for the most interesting part:

Outline writing.

Before you sit and start a persuasive essay, write its plan. It’s a kinda map for you to
understand how your essay will look, and it helps you make sure you don’t miss
anything from its structure.

Here is the template for you to use:

Persuasive Essay Outline

I. Introduction

a) Lead/Hook (quote, question, anecdote)

b) Lead/Hook explanation
c) Thesis Statement
II. Body. Paragraph-1

a) Topic Sentence (the first main point in the thesis)

b) Quote (to support the point)
c) Explanation of the quote
d) Explanation of how this quote relates to the thesis

III. Body. Paragraph-2

a) Topic Sentence (the second main point in the thesis)

b) Quote (to support the point)
c) Explanation of the quote
d) Explanation of how this quote relates to the thesis

IV. Body. Paragraph-3

a) Topic Sentence (the third main point in the thesis, or a counterargument to the
thesis)
b) Quote (to support the point)
c) Explanation of the quote
d) Explanation of how this quote relates to the thesis

V. Conclusion

a) Summary of all main points

b) Thesis restatement
c) Call to action or what you want readers to do after reading your essay
The outline allows you to specify all core components of your persuasive essay so you
wouldn’t get lost in the writing process.

Step 5 – Write a Draft of Your Persuasive Essay

Finally!

Once the outline is ready, just sit and write your essay. Don’t concentrate on spelling or
grammar mistakes, and don’t get distracted from the process of writing itself. Just let
your thoughts flow, don’t hurry up to edit.

Step 6 – Proofread and Edit

It’s not about spell check only. When editing a persuasive essay, you need to re-check
arguments once again, make sure your language is appropriate (avoid pompous or jargon
phrases), and the overall essay structure isn’t too complex.

Questions to answer when editing:

Editing Your Essay: Questions to Answer

■ Did I answer the question given in the assignment?

■ Did I structure my essay right?
■ Did I make all paragraphs clear and coherent?
■ Did I use the appropriate language throughout my essay?
■ Did I cite and reference all resources in the right way?
■ Did I exceed the word limit?
■ Did I proofread my essay for spelling and grammar errors?
■ Did I present the assignment well?
Persuasive Essay Outline - A Guide to Ace Your Grade
A persuasive essay is written to convince the reader of the writer’s point of view. The
writer presents relevant and convincing evidence to persuade the reader about the topic
and his stance about it.
You can use emotional sentences to persuade the reader, but it becomes more
convincing when your case is presented with facts and supporting evidence.
For your paper to be logical and organized, you must learn how to write a persuasive
essay outline.

1. Persuasive Essay Outline Template

The outline for a persuasive essay is similar to the typical five-paragraph outline, as
followed by other types of essay. Follow this structure to ensure you craft a good
persuasive paper.

 Introduction
 Body Paragraph 1
 Body Paragraph 2
 Body Paragraph 3
 Conclusion
The number of body paragraphs can vary according to the chosen topic. Before starting
your essay, remember that your goal is to persuade your reader. Make sure that you
have chosen a topic that is broad enough to create an argument.
Do not choose a narrow topic for your essay. You cannot convince anyone unless there
is a valid and detailed argument in your essay.
The prerequisite of drafting the outline is to have an interesting essay topic to write on.
While you can choose any topic for your persuasive essay. It is important that you feel
strongly about it and have a solid opinion related to it. Only then you will be able to
write a convincing essay.

2. How to Write a Persuasive Essay Outline

Writing outline for a persuasive essay can be made easier if you just follow a few easy
steps. Following are the three components you need to discuss in your essay.
2.1 Introduction

The outline of a persuasive essay starts with the introductory paragraph. The purpose of
a persuasive essay introduction is to both engage and educate the reader. The
introduction of your essay should be catchy to grab the attention of readers making
them want to read further.

 Start with a Hook

Start your essay with an interesting hook to grab the reader's attention. You can
also start your essay with an interesting fact related to your topic. Facts always
create interest regarding the topic and they are concrete proof of your viewpoint.
Presenting the facts displays your knowledge and makes your task of persuasion
easy.
Write strong statements and support your case with phrases and words that are
forceful and definite. Sometimes, it is necessary to write strong and direct
statements to convince your readers. Vague statements and ambiguous words will
only confuse your audience; be direct and distinct.
There are different types of hooks ranging from quotes, anecdotes to rhetorical
questions and statistics. It all depends on how you present your case when
focusing on persuasive writing. Learn more about enticing opening lines from our
detailed blog on hook examples .
How to Write a Hook?
The opening lines of an essay is your hook, which acts as an attention grabber.
When writing a hook, remember that it is part of your essay introduction, it isn't
written to replace the introduction itself.
 An introduction consists of a hook followed by a thesis statement. A hook is
written to attract the reader. And the purpose of a thesis statement is to explain
the purpose of the essay and the main ideas discussed in it. To learn more about it,
head on to this detailed article of writing a thesis statement.
In order to write a good hook, you must be aware of the following aspects:

 The nature of the literary work

 Understanding of the audience
 Reason for writing the essay

Remember, that the hook should be related to the main topic or idea of the piece
of writing.

When you write essays, research papers, or other academic papers you can use
different types of hooks relevant to your requirements. Some of the different
attention-grabbing hooks are:

 Question hook,
 Quoting Famous people,
 Statistics,
 Anecdote,
 Personal story or experience.

Hook Sentence Examples

To give you a better understanding of the different types of opening sentences, we will
Question Hook

Starting your essay by asking a thought-provoking question can be a good way to engage
the reader. Ask your reader a question that they can visualize. However, make sure to
keep your questions relevant to the reader's interest. Avoid generalized, and yes or no
questions.
Rhetorical questions make up good hooks.
Example:
“How are successful college students different from unsuccessful college students?”
“What is the purpose of our existence?”
“Have you ever wondered whether Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters would have been
still together if he didn't die of cancer?”
Quotation Hook

A quotation from a famous person is used to open an essay to attract the reader's
attention. However, the quote needs to be relevant to your topic and must come from a
credible source. To remove any confusion that the reader might have it is best to explain
the meaning of the quote later.
Example:
When writing about Education, you can use the quote by Nelson Mandela:
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”
If your topic is related to hard work and making your own destiny, you can start by
quoting Michael Jordan.
“Some people want it to happen; some wish it would happen; others make it happen.”
And further, explain it how he talks about people who dream for a certain thing but
never achieve it because they don’t put in the effort it requires. Simply wishing,
dreaming and praying isn’t enough. It is only those dreamers who take it upon
themselves to work hard to make it as a professional basketball player.
Statistic Hook

Here you use statistical data such as numbers and figures, percentages, etc. to hook the
reader. This is mostly used in informative writing to provide the reader with new and
interesting facts. It is important to mention the source.
Example:
Here is an argumentative essay hook example, if you're writing about gun laws. You can
use the following statistics:
“Reports have shown that almost two-thirds of adults in the United States of America
have lived in a place with at least one gun, at some point of their life.”
Another persuasive essay hook example about people's psychology and lying is
mentioned below:
“It is noted by Allison Komet from the Psychology Today magazine that people lie in
every one out of five conversations that last for at least 10 minutes.”
Anecdotal Hook

An anecdote is a short story relevant to the topic, illustrated to gain the reader's
attention. This story can be derived from a personal experience or your imagination.
Mostly, an anecdote is humorous; it makes the reader laugh and leaves them wanting to
read more.
It is mostly used when writing narrative or descriptive essays.
Example:
If you are a non-English speaker and don't understand it all and call the support
department or the helpline and hear:
“If you want instructions in English, press 1. If you don't understand English, press 2.”
“An elderly person came to buy a TV, asked the shopkeeper if they had colored TVs.
When told that they are available, he asked to purchase a purple one.”
Personal Story

Starting with a personal story is the right way to go when writing personal narrative or
admissions essay for College.
There is no such rule that the story has to be yours. You can share your friends' story or
someone you know of.
Remember that such hooks aren't suitable when writing a more formal or
argumentative piece of writing.
Example:
“My father was in the Navy; I basically grew up on a cruise. As a young boy, I saw
things beyond anyone's imagination. On April 15, 2001…”
In the next section we will be discussing hook examples for essays that you are asked to
write on a regular basis.

 Focus on your Target Audience

Writing according to the target audience matters a lot. Determine your audience
before you start writing. The goal is to persuade the readers; how can you do that
if you are not aware of who will be reading your essay?
Writing for kids and adults is different than writing for elderly people. Similarly,
there are certain groups that will be sensitive to some issues and talking to them
about those may land you in serious trouble. Choose your topic according to the
people you are targeting.
It will help you address your issue in an effective manner. Also, inform the reader
about the topic, present some background information, just enough to build their
interest and not bore them with excess information.

 Write a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is written at the end of the introduction. This statement
summarizes the main idea that you are going to present in your essay and the
purpose of choosing that specific topic.
The thesis statement will form the base of your entire essay, including the points
that will be further discussed in the body paragraphs. Write a strong thesis
statement that conveys the exact idea of your essay.
Here is an example of a good persuasive thesis statement:
“People have become lazier and have stopped thinking for themselves due to
being overly dependent on technology.”
 You can find some more interesting examples and tips on how to write a thesis
statement on this blog. Go check it out!
2.2 Body Paragraphs

Body paragraphs discuss the issue in detail, using facts and supporting evidence. The
number of paragraphs depends on the topic and its scope. Each paragraph should focus
on a single idea and its supporting claims.
The content written in the body paragraphs will prove your stance and decide whether
the readers will support your topic or go against it.
Here is how you can support your arguments in the body paragraphs.

 Provide facts
It is easy to convince someone if you present credible facts related to that specific
issue.

 Statistics
Just like facts, statistics will also be a solid proof to back your argument. Make
sure that you are collecting authentic facts and statistics.

 Use Quotes
Use quotes from credible sources. This will increase the reliability of your writing,
if you have some solid and authentic name mentioned and quoted in your essay, it
will display your level of being informed and learned about the respective topic.

 Examples
Give real-life examples that are relevant to the topic. Real-life examples help
readers relate to the situation and see your perspective in HD, high definition.
Always start your body paragraph with a topic sentence. That topic sentence will
be the summary of the idea presented in that particular paragraph. Every
paragraph should have a different and relevant idea. Do not add multiple ideas in
a single paragraph, it will create confusion and disrupt your essay's structure.
The body outline of a persuasive essay will look something like:
 Paragraph 1
Topic sentence 1 - supporting evidence
Paragraph 2
Topic sentence 2 - supporting evidence
.
.
.
Paragraph n
Topic sentence n - supporting evidence
The number of paragraphs will depend on the requirements specified by your
instructor, or the complexity of your topic.
2.3 Conclusion

By the time you reach the conclusion of your essay, you have already discussed and
explained everything in the body paragraphs. The conclusion is written to give closure
to the argument by reinforcing what is already discussed in the essay.
Start your conclusion by restating your thesis statement, important points and
supporting arguments. Remember to stick to what you have added in the essay and do
not try to be creative by introducing new ideas or evidence, it will backfire. Add what
has been discussed, and proved, in the essay and stick to it. To make your conclusion
more effective, add a personal comment related to the topic and engage readers by
leaving something to ponder on.

3. Persuasive Essay Format

To clarify the outline in a detailed manner, here is a sample persuasive essay format you
can follow for writing your essay.
Font
12 pt. Times New Roman, 16 pt. for title headlines
Spacing
double-spaced page or 1.5
Alignment
Justified
Persuasive Essay Structure

1. Introduction
o Hook Sentence
o Background information
o Thesis statement
2. Body paragraphs
o Argument no. 1 – Supporting evidence
o Argument no. 2 – Supporting evidence
o Argument no.3 – Supporting evidence
3. Conclusion
o Summary of the key points
o Restate thesis statement
o Importance of argument
o Call to action
Word count
Minimum 500, depending on the teacher’s requirements
 Samples:

Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms

School uniforms and why students wear them has been a topic of concern and debate
for as long as these clothes have been around. Though people who argue that wearing
uniforms in educational institutions make people appear all equal, give a sense of
community, and teach discipline, I believe there are more disadvantages to wearing
uniforms than advantages. Namely, demanding students to adorn uniforms takes
away freedom, they are often uncomfortable, they are a waste of money, they
promote conformity over individuality, and children’s self-image is damaged more
when they wear uniforms at school.

Most developed countries, like the United States of America, believe in one’s right to
freedom of expression. Making it mandatory for students to give up their right to
express themselves through clothing is wrong. According to ProCon.org, “The First
Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees that all individuals have the right to
express themselves freely. The US Supreme Court stated in Tinker v. Des Moines
Independent Community School District (7-2, 1969) that “it can hardly be argued
that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech
or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” In the 1970 case Richards v. Thurston (3-0),
which revolved around a boy refusing to have his hair cut shorter, the US First
Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that “compelled conformity to conventional standards
of appearance” does not “seem a justifiable part of the educational process”’ (“School
Uniforms – ProCon.org”). So, not only is the demand to wear uniforms in a sense
unconstitutional, it also goes against rulings by the Supreme Court. In this way, it can
be said that making uniforms in schools mandatory is un-American.

On the side of practicality, uniforms are often seen as less comfortable than normal
clothes. They can be tight and not adjustable to different weather conditions. The
temperatures in winter and summer can be unbearable in a standard school uniform.
Many students have expressed through surveys that they do not feel comfortable in
their uniforms, and they this type of clothing does not adjust well to varying weather
conditions (“Research on School Uniforms – It’s Clear, They Disadvantage Girls”).
Another practical concern is that paying for uniforms wastes the money of parents,
when their children can simply wear the clothes they have. Also, schools could be
selling uniforms for more than necessary. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the
Guardian reports that, “Parents could be spending millions of pounds more than they
need to on school uniforms because of exclusive deals between schools and suppliers,
the government’s competition watchdog has warned. Headteachers and school
governing bodies were told by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on
Thursday that they must let parents “shop around” for affordable uniforms for their
children, using supermarkets if they wish rather than be forced to buy more
expensive items in exclusive arrangements with suppliers” (Smithers, Rebecca). This
means that not only do parents have to spend extra money on an outfit, but also the
uniforms schools are selling are overpriced.

Leaning more into the abstract, uniforms promote conformity instead of

individuality. A sense of individuality is key in democratic societies, and it should be
nurtured when young. According to ProCon.org, “At a time when schools are
encouraging an appreciation of diversity, enforcing standardized dress sends a
contradictory message. In schools where uniforms are specifically gendered (girls
must wear skirts and boys must wear pants), transgendered, gender-fluid, and gender-
nonconforming students can feel ostracized” (“School Uniforms – ProCon.org”). So, in
order for each person to not feel the pressure of societal conformity, it is important
that schools keep a sense of diversity.

Lastly, many students feel they do not look their best in uniforms. This is due to the
fact that uniforms fit the mold of certain body types, and curvier or plus-size
individuals often feel out of place and uncomfortable in uniforms. Wearing uniforms
lends itself to more comparison, and children who do not fit the mold of a “normal”
student in terms of body type are commonly ridiculed by classmates (Flam, Lisa).

Though there are some benefits to wearing uniforms in school, I believe there are
more disadvantages than advantages to using them. This is because they strip away
freedom, they are uncomfortable, it is a waste of money to buy them, they celebrate
conformity over individuality, and the self-image of children is damaged more when
they wear uniforms. Let us keep our schools constitutional by allowing students to
wear what they deem expresses their unique personality, within the limits of
appropriateness.
Is Humanity Alone in the Universe? Unlikely.

The debates about whether sentient life is a unique phenomenon in our universe or
not has lasted decades. From dogmatic beliefs about humanity having been created by
a deity, public opinion has mostly moved to a more flexible, diverse outlook. Since it
became known that there is life out there, experts have mostly debated about the
possibility of an intelligent, self-conscious species existing somewhere in space.

Some believe if alien life does exist, it is necessarily better developed than humanity.
It is supposed to possess a progressive culture, faster-than-light spaceflight secrets,
and advanced technologies and weapons. The thought about humanity being inferior
to alien species provokes fear, which has been manifested in popular culture for the
last hundred years. Others think that even if there is sentient life in space, it does not
necessarily outstrip the human race in terms of development. It is possible that such a
race would be stuck in its own analog of our medieval epoch, with the most advanced
technology in its possession being gunpowder. Or, it could be a race of primitive
hunting animals with bows and spears, living in tribes, and dancing around bonfires.

Anyways, what matters is that talks about the possibility of intelligent extraterrestrial
life moved from “whether” to “how common?” To prove this thesis, let us take a look
at the arguments its proponents come forward with.

According to one recent study, chances that we are not alone in the universe are
significant: approximately one in 10 billion trillion chances. It may look like a
ridiculously small possibility, but let us not forget about the number of stars in one
galaxy that we live in, or about the number of galaxies in our local galaxy cluster, or
about the number of galaxy clusters that exist in the universe. In fact, considering the
enormous scales of the world we live in, 10 billion trillion to one does not look
insignificant anymore. This proportion was derived based on the famous Drake
equation, and implies that advanced extraterrestrial civilizations may not just exist,
but could have developed and disappeared before. This is what Adam Frank, the lead
author of the study, says: “One in 10 billion trillion is incredibly small. To me, this
implies that other intelligent, technology producing species very likely have evolved
before us […] Think of it this way. Before our result, you’d be considered a pessimist
if you imagined the probability of evolving a civilization on a habitable planet were,
say, one in a trillion. But even that guess, one chance in a trillion, implies that what
has happened here on Earth with humanity has in fact happened about 10 billion
other times over cosmic history, owing to the estimated number of stars and planets
in the universe!” (IFL Science).

Indeed, we tend to underestimate such seemingly small probabilities, completely

forgetting about the fact that in the scales of universe, even one out of 10 billion
trillion means an unimaginably huge number of chances. This alone could serve as
valid proof for the claim that humanity is not alone in the universe, but there is more
to it.

Several decades ago, scientists only predicted there could be planets other than Earth
that would have conditions suitable for life on them to emerge. However, not so long
ago it turned out that there are exoplanets that have conditions almost similar to
those that organic life on Earth itself enjoys. In 2014, NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope
detected such a planet in the so-called habitable zone of Kepler. Called Kepler-186f,
this planet is believed to be just one out of many other similar planets scattered across
the galaxy. In fact, some astronomers believe almost every star in the Milky Way has
a planet orbiting around it. Considering the statistics mentioned above, it is possible
that many of these planets are inhabited, and some could be even home to intelligent
alien species. Sara Seager, professor of planetary science and physics at Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, says: “Sometime in the near future, people will be able to
point to a star and say, ‘that star has a planet like Earth’” (Huffpost).

And she is not alone in her claims. Moreover, many scientists are extremely
optimistic about unveiling the truth, claiming that in the next decades, we will know
for sure we are not alone in space. Charles Bolden, a former astronaut and currently
NASA administrator, says: “Do we believe there is life beyond Earth? I would venture
to say that most of my colleagues here today say it is improbable that in the limitless
vastness of the universe we humans stand alone.” Kevin Hand, NASA astronomer
suggesting there already is alien life existing on Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, is
even more specific: “I think in the next 20 years, we will find out we are not alone in
the universe” (CBS Connecticut).

So far, humanity has no empirical evidence of intelligent alien life existing

somewhere in the universe. However, there is strong mathematical proof of such a
probability, and there is the experience and knowledge of NASA astronomers who
 believe life outside Earth exists. Our universe is an incredibly large place. Earth is a
tiny hydrogen molecule in the vast ocean of space–and it would be extremely
arrogant to think that it is the only place where the miracle of life could have
emerged.

What a Lack of Sleep Can Do to Your Body and Mind

All of us have received advice to “take a good rest” at least once in our lives. Probably,
this is also one of the most neglected pieces of advice a person may give to another.
With the ever-increasing pace of life, especially in big cities, sufficient rest–and sleep,
in particular–is gradually becoming more of a luxury than a basic need that should be
addressed and satisfied. Everyone knows how sleep is important: health experts,
psychologists, self-help books, and other authoritative sources keep talking about the
importance of having good sleep–and still exhaustion and fatigue remain one of the
biggest problems in a number of developed countries.

Perhaps, this is just not enough to make people pay attention to the problem.
Supposedly, it would be more convincing to learn about the negative effects of sleep
deprivation, poor quality sleep, or just constantly ignoring one’s need for restoration
and rest. This essay discusses some of the crippling (and sometimes surprising) effects
a simple lack of sleep can do to a person’s mind and body.

First of all, if you ever wondered how someone with schizophrenia or other severe
mental disease feels, a sleepless night could get you closer to this condition. As
researchers from the University of Bonn and King’s College London discovered, upon
missing a night of sleep, a psychologically-healthy person may experience symptoms
typical for some forms of schizophrenia. During the course of the experiment, which
led the scientists to such a conclusion, a group of people was offered to first have a
night of normal sleep, and then to stay awake by conversations, games, and physical
activities. After this, test subjects were to undergo pre-pulse inhibition
measurements. Pre-pulse is a psychological mechanism helping the brain to filter
incoming sensory information: with its help, our minds distinguish between
important and unimportant stimuli coming from the environment. After just one
sleepless night, this function turned out to be inhibited significantly. Test subjects
reported altered bodily sensations, distorted perception, and weird ideas: for instance,
some of them believed they could read thoughts. They also became more sensitive to
light and loud noises (Universitat Bonn). After having a good rest, perception returns
back to normal, but it takes time to return all psychological and physical functions
back to its usual state. In the case of prolonged sleep deprivation, some consequences
may be irreversible.

Do you enjoy feeling depressed? Or do you like mood swings, when periods of
euphoria quickly change to severe blues? If the answer is yes, then sleep deprivation
is for you. Numerous research studies conducted in different sleep laboratories
showed that people who did not have enough sleep, or have been deprived of it for
certain periods of time, tend to be more irritable and less able to control their
negative emotions. They are also more likely to react negatively to something they do
not like, even if the trigger is not significant. This is not to mention the increased
likeliness of developing depression. Besides, the lack of sleep inhibits friendliness and
empathy, and impairs one’s ability to stay in a positive mood (Psychology Today). In
addition, if you have such mental conditions as obsessive-compulsive disorder or
chronic depression, their symptoms may become more acute as well. In any case, to
avoid prolonged periods of negative mood, you might want to sleep well regularly.

As if it was not enough, sleepless nights can affect your body in a negative way as
well. There have been numerous research studies proving that people having
problems with falling or staying asleep also had other health issues as well. In
particular, sleepless nights can lead to increased risks of heart attacks and failures,
strokes, diabetes, and increased blood pressure. Poor sleep can also kill your sex drive,
regardless of your gender. In particular, both men and women who suffer from sleep
deprivation reported lowered interest in sex and decreased libido in general. In
particular, poor sleep caused by the apnea syndrome–a widespread health condition
among men–was also connected to abnormally low levels of testosterone secretion
during nighttime (WebMD).

Among other peculiar and unpleasant consequences of depriving yourself of sleep is

the suppression of your immune system, weight gain, memory issues, and problems
with concentration. This is not to mention the risk of getting into an accident because
of decreased attentiveness and alertness (Healthline).
 Overall, there is a number of good reasons why you would not want to stay up the
next time you feel like working or studying at night. In particular, you may
experience altered perception, distortion of cognitive and memory functions, and the
inability to concentrate and think straight. Also, your mood will be down, and it will
become harder for you to control your negative emotions, such as anger or fear. As if
this was not enough, your body suffers as well. In particular, people who regularly
deprive themselves of sleep, develop higher risks of heart diseases and diabetes, and
report lowered sex drive and libido. So, in general, there is probably nothing that
would compensate you for a night spent without sleep.

Topics:
Persuasive Essay Topics for Beginners

1. Why give money to kids for high grades. 1. Evening schools are best to visit.

2. Students don’t need homework to 2. We shouldn’t investigate black holes.

succeed.
3. People can’t eat animals.
3. Winter is the best time for a family
holiday. 4. Kids shouldn’t spend hours online.

4. We don’t need so many days off. 5. Robots should displace teachers.

5. Children should take part in elections. 6. We shouldn’t travel alone.

6. Cats are better pets than dogs. 7. Adults need to give food to the poor.

7. People aren’t alone in the universe.

8. Village is better than city to visit in

 summer

Persuasive Essay Topics for Intermediates

1. Poetry affects a person’s morals. 1. Everyone is able to change history.

2. We do not need to protect nature from 2. Progress deprives a person of the

climate change. ability to be surprised.

3. People don’t need the truth. 3. Being selfish is good.

4. Classical works are outdated. 4. YouTube will never replace a book.

5. The greatest happiness for man is love. 5. A child does not have to love his
6. Independence today is greatly
exaggerated.
7. We should not devote our lives to love.
8. Higher education is not a guarantee of
success.
9. It is necessary to fight for life.
10.Every American should learn a foreign
language.
11.Art does not calm down but worries
people.
12.There is no equality in friendship.
parents.
6. Parents should not control their
children.
7. Dreams do harm.
8. Goodness does not always have to
overcome evil.
9. Why money is the most important
thing in a person’s life.
10.A person should not forgive every
offender.
11.Students shouldn’t wear uniforms at
school.

13.An active life position determines

 success. 12.Money spoils people.

14.Wealth spoils a person’s morals. 13.We shouldn’t teach music in schools.

15.Defeat is not bad. 14.Nuclear weapons are effective to

prevent foreign attacks.

15.People should read more books.

Persuasive Essay Topics for Advanced

1. Kids under 10 shouldn’t use social media.1. Pupils should be allowed to pray at
school.
2. Teens should become full-aged in 18, not
21. 2. Internet access should be free for
everyone.
3. We should cancel Green Cards in the
USA. 3. Eating meat is bad.

4. Revenge is a way to destroy evil. 4. Life is worse now than it was 100
years ago.
5. It’s time to approve one currency for the
whole world. 5. It is necessary to cancel the mandatory
exams in schools.
6. The power of kindness is in its weakness.
6. All people should become vegetarians.
7. There is no difference between cruelty
and severity. 7. Public safety is more important than a
person’s right to inviolability.
8. It is not easy to be kind.
8. It is necessary to ban animal
9. We need to allow surveillance without a experiments.
warrant.
9. Single-sex schools improve the quality
10.Parents should talk about drugs with kids of education.
at an early age.
10.Feminism is no longer a struggle for
11.Racial insults should be illegal. women’s rights.

12.People who leave their pets should be 11.Tolerance has already begun to
imprisoned. transcend all boundaries.

13.The President must pay attention to 12.We need better sex education in
climate change. schools.

14.Marijuana should be legalized throughout

13.Freedom of religion does not mean
the country. imposing one’s faith on others.

14.Freedom of speech should be

restricted.

Persuasive Essay Topics for High School

1. Is it possible for a person to overcome his fear?

2. Should students evaluate their teachers?
3. Is it ok to give extra incentives to students with good grades?
4. What are the pros and cons of using cell phones for academic purposes?
5. The social value of the death penalty in the United States.
6. School college students should wear uniforms.
7. Who in your opinion influences teenager's behavior the most?
8. Why are teen girls influenced by celebrities?
9. Economics rule human behavior.
10.All the arts have become commoditized.
 11.Young adults should have the choice to decide on their own whether or not they
want to join the army.
12.Facing embarrassing situations in life is necessary to boost people's confidence?
13.Are vampires real?
14.Time travel is possible.
15.Global warming is just a way to scare people.
16.Is it justified for a person to demand divorce from their spouse if they are in a
coma?
17.Having more than four kids is irresponsible.
18.Healthcare systems should be free.
19.Is art a natural talent or takes hard work and practice to learn?
20.Computers don’t make us smarter.

College Persuasive Essay Topics

1. It is important to pay more attention towards local crime and terrorism in United
States rather than international criminal activities.
2. Do you agree that the feminist movement devalued motherhood?
3. Do you think that the older generation can learn things from today's generation?
4. International exchange program experience I agree is important in shaping a
student.
5. Should all college students get a chance to experience fraternity or sorority?
6. Should there be an age limit that teachers can teach?
7. Is taking a gap year from studies a good idea?
8. School students shouldn't get assigned countless academic papers.
9. Reducing paper consumption can benefit the nature largely.
10.Research paper is more effective to learn about the subject than exams.
 11.Choose a life partner who has the same educational level as you.
12.Drinking while driving penalties must be much stricter.
13.College students must consider joining a fraternity or sorority.
14.Standardized tests are increasing for school students.
15.Studying at a public school is better than studying at a private school.
16.Wives shouldn’t make more money than their husbands.
17.Wrestling is a dehumanizing sport.
18.Divorce isn’t always due to absence of love.
19.Pornography should be banned in United States.
20.How important is it for a child to grow up with two parents?

Persuasive Essay Topics on Education

1. Should churches pay property taxes to support schools?

2. Teachers should also have to go through professional tests like students.
3. Social media should be banned in school premises.
4. Is getting a college degree worth its price?
5. How is home education better than studying at a school?
6. It shouldn't be legal for students under 18 to drop out of school.
7. Students with good attendance must be rewarded.
8. Students with good academic results must get the opportunity to go to college free
of cost.
9. Government shouldn't have a say in how students should be taught.
10.Making education sector free can decrease poverty rates. Is that true?
11.All students should be taught computer programming in school.
Persuasive Essay Topics About Animals

1. Do you agree with the statement "Animal testing is a necessary evil?"

2. People shouldn't be allowed to keep exotic animals as pets.
3. Zoos are useful for wildlife conservation.
4. Zoo animals should be harvested for food.
5. Is creating hybrids by breeding stray dogs and cats okay?
6. What is the best way to train a dog: rewards or punishments?
7. Is it beneficial to give cows drugs to increase their milk supply?
8. Using animal skin to make coats and bags is unethical.
9. Reforestation is the only way to save animals from becoming extinct.
10.Conserving endangered species is much more essential than conservation of other
animals.
11.Animal abuse is a result of an uneducated owner.

Funny Persuasive Essay Topics

1. What would happen if unicorns took over the world?

2. The worst movie in the world.
3. The worst social network site.
4. Why does the beach have tanning booths?
5. Good video game skills can land you a job.
6. Why do you enjoy getting spam email more than actual email?
7. Is it true that wearing braces scares off strangers?
8. Playing with Barbie dolls can change your life.
9. How to look busy and do nothing at work.
10.Do you agree with the statement "Boys gossip more than girls do?"
 11.We should blame our horoscope for things that have gone wrong in our lives.
12.To get a perspective on life and what it is about, we should spend time with a kid.

. Sports Persuasive Essay Topics

1. College athletes dedicate a lot of time towards sports and they should be paid.
2. Female students should be encouraged to participate in sports as much as the male
students. How can the school management improve this situation?
3. Cheerleading isn’t an actual form of sports. It is a sexist exploitation; their
costumes and dance are just a form of entertainment.
4. Homophobia still exists in the sports industry. How can we change this, what can
be done to make sports a safer profession for the LGBT community?
5. Gender discrimination is a big issue in sports competitions. For example, male
wrestlers get paid more money than females.
6. It is a misconception that males have more speed and skills than females. Girls can
play and compete at the same level as boys their age.
7. Bodybuilding has severe risks for females.
8. Physically active kids make physically active adults. Parents and teachers should
encourage taking part in sports.
9. According to you who is the best FIFA player? What can other players do to
become like him?
10.Energy drinks such as Red Bull have harmful effects on the human body. Athletes
must stop consuming them.

Persuasive Essay Topics 2020

1. Should the jury system be eradicated?

2. Biological weapons should be banned.
3. The next generations should live on Mars.
 4. Is governmental surveillance a good thing?
5. Children under 18 shouldn't be allowed to buy contraceptives.
6. Teen moms should be made to go to classes that encourage them to get married.
7. Sex education should occur at home.
8. Educating women is a waste of resources.
9. Everyone should have free access to the internet in today's day and age.
10.Theoretical subjects should be decreased and students should study more practical
courses to learn things.
11.Punishment for cutting school should be made much worse.
12.Parents who smoke shouldn't tell their kids about its harmful effects.
13.The major cause of obesity in America is fast food chains.
14.Women perform better than men at managerial posts.
15.In order to improve the quality of education, the number of classes must be
decreased.
16.Should parents buy young kids gadgets for studies and learning purposes.
17.Paparazzi culture should be banned. It puts lives in danger.
18.A gap year after high school should be made compulsory.
19.All classrooms must have no more than 25 students to improve learning in class.
20.Optimism is key for good health.

Easy Persuasive Essay Topics

1. Paparazzi culture must get banned.

2. Kids should be taught about the different religions and then have them choose.
3. Using earphones while driving must ot be allowed.
4. Everyone under the age of 7 should have a 9 pm curfew.
5. Celebrities who break the law should have bigger penalties.
6. Drug dealers selling drugs to kids should face a death penalty.
7. The government should start a three day weekend.
8. Introducing grades for gym class can help fight obesity.
9. The government should keep a better control on the content being shared on the
internet.
10.Kids need a personal space similar to adults.
11.How to control hazing on college campuses.
12.Listening to music on school campuses shouldn’t be allowed.
13.There are drawbacks of studying abroad.
14.The importance of going to the dentist frequently.
15.Stricter punishments should be imposed on downloading music and movies
illegally.