Typically, an essay has five paragraphs: an introduction, a conclusion, and three body paragraphs. However, there is no set rule about the number of paragraphs in an essay.
The number of paragraphs can vary depending on the type and scope of your essay. An expository or argumentative essay may require more body paragraphs to include all the necessary information, whereas a narrative essay may need fewer.
To enhance the coherence and readability of your essay, it’s important to follow certain rules regarding the structure. Take a look:
1. Arrange your information from the most simple to the most complex bits. You can start the body paragraph off with a general statement and then move on to specifics.
2. Provide the necessary background information at the beginning of your essay to give the reader the context behind your thesis statement.
3. Select topic statements that provide value, more information, or evidence for your thesis statement.
There are also various essay structures , such as the compare and contrast structure, chronological structure, problem method solution structure, and signposting structure that you can follow to create an organized and impactful essay.
An impactful, well-structured essay comes down to three important parts: the introduction, body, and conclusion.
1. The introduction sets the stage for your essay and is typically a paragraph long. It should grab the reader’s attention and give them a clear idea of what your essay will be about.
2. The body is where you dive deeper into your topic and present your arguments and evidence. It usually consists of two paragraphs, but this can vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing.
3. The conclusion brings your essay to a close and is typically one paragraph long. It should summarize the main points of the essay and leave the reader with something to think about.
The length of your paragraphs can vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing. So, make sure you take the time to plan out your essay structure so each section flows smoothly into the next.
When it comes to writing an essay, the introduction is a critical component that sets the tone for the entire piece. A well-crafted introduction not only grabs the reader’s attention but also provides them with a clear understanding of what the essay is all about. An essay editor can help you achieve this, but it’s best to know the brief yourself!
Let’s take a look at how to write an attractive and informative introductory paragraph.
1. Construct an attractive hook
To grab the reader’s attention, an opening statement or hook is crucial. This can be achieved by incorporating a surprising statistic, a shocking fact, or an interesting anecdote into the beginning of your piece.
For example, if you’re writing an essay about water conservation you can begin your essay with, “Clean drinking water, a fundamental human need, remains out of reach for more than one billion people worldwide. It deprives them of a basic human right and jeopardizes their health and wellbeing.”
2. Provide sufficient context or background information
An effective introduction should begin with a brief description or background of your topic. This will help provide context and set the stage for your discussion.
For example, if you’re writing an essay about climate change, you start by describing the current state of the planet and the impact that human activity is having on it.
3. Construct a well-rounded and comprehensive thesis statement
A good introduction should also include the main message or thesis statement of your essay. This is the central argument that you’ll be making throughout the piece. It should be clear, concise, and ideally placed toward the end of the introduction.
By including these elements in your introduction, you’ll be setting yourself up for success in the rest of your essay.
Let’s take a look at an example.
The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane in 1903 revolutionized the way humans travel and explore the world. Prior to this invention, transportation relied on trains, boats, and cars, which limited the distance and speed of travel. However, the airplane made air travel a reality, allowing people to reach far-off destinations in mere hours. This breakthrough paved the way for modern-day air travel, transforming the world into a smaller, more connected place. In this essay, we will explore the impact of the Wright Brothers’ invention on modern-day travel, including the growth of the aviation industry, increased accessibility of air travel to the general public, and the economic and cultural benefits of air travel.
You can persuade your readers and make your thesis statement compelling by providing evidence, examples, and logical reasoning. To write a fool-proof and authoritative essay, you need to provide multiple well-structured, substantial arguments.
Let’s take a look at how this can be done:
1. Write a topic sentence for each paragraph
The beginning of each of your body paragraphs should contain the main arguments that you’d like to address. They should provide ground for your thesis statement and make it well-rounded. You can arrange these arguments in several formats depending on the type of essay you’re writing.
2. Provide the supporting information
The next point of your body paragraph should provide supporting information to back up your main argument. Depending on the type of essay, you can elaborate on your main argument with the help of relevant statistics, key information, examples, or even personal anecdotes.
3. Analyze the supporting information
After providing relevant details and supporting information, it is important to analyze it and link it back to your main argument.
End one body paragraph with a smooth transition to the next. There are many ways in which this can be done, but the most common way is to give a gist of your main argument along with the supporting information with transitory words such as “however” “in addition to” “therefore”.
Here’s an example of a body paragraph.
The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane revolutionized air travel. They achieved the first-ever successful powered flight with the Wright Flyer in 1903, after years of conducting experiments and studying flight principles. Despite their first flight lasting only 12 seconds, it was a significant milestone that paved the way for modern aviation. The Wright Brothers’ success can be attributed to their systematic approach to problem-solving, which included numerous experiments with gliders, the development of a wind tunnel to test their designs, and meticulous analysis and recording of their results. Their dedication and ingenuity forever changed the way we travel, making modern aviation possible.
A powerful concluding statement separates a good essay from a brilliant one. To create a powerful conclusion, you need to start with a strong foundation.
Let’s take a look at how to construct an impactful concluding statement.
1. Restructure your thesis statement
To conclude your essay effectively, don’t just restate your thesis statement. Instead, use what you’ve learned throughout your essay and modify your thesis statement accordingly. This will help you create a conclusion that ties together all of the arguments you’ve presented.
2. Summarize the main points of your essay
The next point of your conclusion consists of a summary of the main arguments of your essay. It is crucial to effectively summarize the gist of your essay into one, well-structured paragraph.
3. Create a lasting impression with your concluding statement
Conclude your essay by including a key takeaway, or a powerful statement that creates a lasting impression on the reader. This can include the broader implications or consequences of your essay topic.
Here’s an example of a concluding paragraph.
The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane forever changed history by paving the way for modern aviation and countless aerospace advancements. Their persistence, innovation, and dedication to problem-solving led to the first successful powered flight in 1903, sparking a revolution in transportation that transformed the world. Today, air travel remains an integral part of our globalized society, highlighting the undeniable impact of the Wright Brothers’ contribution to human civilization.
Most essays are derived from the combination or variation of these four main types of essays . let’s take a closer look at these types.
1. Narrative essay
A narrative essay is a type of writing that involves telling a story, often based on personal experiences. It is a form of creative nonfiction that allows you to use storytelling techniques to convey a message or a theme.
2. Descriptive essay
A descriptive essay aims to provide an immersive experience for the reader by using sensory descriptors. Unlike a narrative essay, which tells a story, a descriptive essay has a narrower scope and focuses on one particular aspect of a story.
3. Argumentative essays
An argumentative essay is a type of essay that aims to persuade the reader to adopt a particular stance based on factual evidence and is one of the most common forms of college essays.
4. Expository essays
An expository essay is a common format used in school and college exams to assess your understanding of a specific topic. The purpose of an expository essay is to present and explore a topic thoroughly without taking any particular stance or expressing personal opinions.
While this article demonstrates what is an essay and describes its types, you may also have other doubts. As experts who provide essay editing and proofreading services , we’re here to help.
Our team has created a list of resources to clarify any doubts about writing essays. Keep reading to write engaging and well-organized essays!
What is the difference between an argumentative and an expository essay, what is the difference between a narrative and a descriptive essay, what is an essay format, what is the meaning of essay, what is the purpose of writing an essay.
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Key Takeaways An article is a piece of writing that provides information, analysis, or commentary on a specific topic, intended for publication in newspapers, magazines, or online platforms; an essay is a more formal, structured piece of writing that presents an argument or analysis on a particular subject, for academic or professional purposes. Articles are shorter, more straightforward, and written for a broader audience. At the same time, essays are longer, more in-depth, and targeted toward a specific readership, such as academics or professionals in a given field. Both articles and essays are forms of written communication. Still, articles aim to inform, entertain, or provide commentary, while essays present a well-reasoned argument or analysis on a specific topic.
Similar reads, comparison table.
Parameter of Comparison | Article | Essay |
---|---|---|
Definition | It is a written composition to be published in newspapers, journals, magazines, websites, etc. | It is a literary composition, written in prose, to describe and analyze any subject. |
Point of view | Objective | Subjective |
Readership | Written with a target readership in mind. | They are not written with a specific readership in mind. |
Accompanied by | Statistical data, reports and charts, photographs, etc. | No photographs, charts, reports, etc., are required. |
Format | Subheadings are required. Citations are not necessary. | Subheadings are not used. References and Citations are required. |
Some of the objectives of writing an article are:
Main differences between article and essay.
Last Updated : 20 May, 2024
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Home » Education » Difference Between Article and Essay
Main difference – article vs essay.
Articles and essays are two forms of academic writing. Though there are certain similarities between them, there are also distinct differences between them. These differences are based on the format, purpose and content. Before looking at the difference between article and essay, let us first look at the definitions of these two words. An essay is a piece of writing that describes, analyzes and evaluates a particular topic whereas an article is a piece of writing that is included with others in a newspaper or other publications. The main difference between article and essay is that an article is written to inform the readers about some concept whereas an essay is usually written in response to a question or proposition .
An article is a piece of writing that is included with others in a newspaper, magazine or other publication . It is a written composition that is nonfiction and prose. Articles can be found in magazines, encyclopedias, websites, newspapers or other publications; the content and the structure of an article may depend on the source. For example, an article can be an editorial, review, feature article, scholarly articles, etc.
An essay is a piece of writing that describes, analyzes and evaluates a certain topic or an issue . It is a brief, concise form of writing that contains an introduction, a body that is comprised of few support paragraphs, and a conclusion. An essay may inform the reader, maintain an argument, analyse an issue or elaborate on a concept. An essay is a combination of statistics, facts and writer’s opinions and views.
Article is a piece of writing that is included with others in a newspaper, magazine or other publication.
Essay is a short piece of writing on a particular subject.
Article is written to inform the readers about some concept.
Essay is generally written as a response to a question or proposition.
Articles follow heading and subheadings format.
Essays are not written under headings and subheadings.
Articles do not require citations or references.
Essays require citations and references.
Articles are often accompanied by photographs, charts and graphs.
Essays do not require photographs.
Articles are objective as they merely describe a topic.
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Are an article and an essay the same? Is there something that makes one different from the other? Check out this article to find out.
An article is a report or content published in a newspaper, magazine, journal or website, either in printed or electronic form. When it comes to articles, a sizable readership is considered. It might be supported by studies, research, data, and other necessary elements. Articles may be slightly brief or lengthy, with a maximum count of 1500 words. It educates the readers on various ideas/concepts and is prepared with a clear aim in mind.
Articles, which can be found in newspapers, journals, encyclopaedias, and now, most commonly, online, inform and keep readers informed about many topics.
An essay is a formal, in-depth work of literature that analyses and discusses a specific problem or subject. It refers to a brief piece of content on a specific topic. Students are frequently required to write essays in response to questions or propositions in their academic coursework. It doesn’t target any particular readers.
Through essays, the author or narrator offers unique ideas or opinions on a given subject or question while maintaining an analytical and formal tone.
1. | An article is a bit of writing intended to be shared in a magazine, newspaper, or other type of publication. | An essay is a composition which belongs to a specific issue, or topic. |
2. | Articles tend to be objective. | Essays tend to be subjective. |
3. | The purpose of the article is to tell the readers about some prospects, information and concepts. | The major goal of the essay is to respond to a query. |
4. | In an article, we need charts, photographs, statistical data, etc., to create a masterpiece. | In the essay, we do not need any reports, charts, or photographs. |
5. | When it comes to articles, we have to follow a particular heading and subheading format. | When it comes to essays, there is no need to follow a heading format. |
6. | Articles are always long in nature and they should cover at least 1500 words at least. | Essays are also longer in nature and the word count may reach up to 3000 words. |
7. | In an article, the conclusion part is not mandatory. | In an essay, the conclusion part is mandatory. |
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Table of contents, key differences, comparison chart, compare with definitions, common curiosities, how long is an essay, can an essay be objective, where might i find articles, are articles and essays the same, can an article include personal opinions, are articles always factual, what's a photo essay, what's the primary aim of an essay, can essays have headings, who is the audience for essays, are all articles found in newspapers, can articles be personal, are essays always formal, how are articles structured, is research necessary for essays, share your discovery.
Imagine opening your favorite entertainment magazine or your local newspaper and finding a collection of essays. How long, in that case, would the money you spend on magazines and newspapers be considered part of your entertainment budget?
Articles can be informative and not all of them are entertaining. However, it's more likely to find articles in magazines that offer entertainment for readers than an essay.
The most notable difference between an essay and an article is the tone. Essays traditionally are subjective pieces of formal writing that offers an analysis of a specific topic. In other words, an essay writer studies, researches, and forms a factually-based opinion on the topic in order to inform others about their ideas.
An article is traditionally objective instead of subjective. Writing an article doesn't always require that an opinion to be formed and expressed, and there's no requirement that an analysis be offered about the information being presented.
Scroll through a copy of Cosmopolitan, National Geographic, and today's edition of your local newspaper, and you'll get a sense of how articles can be structured in numerous different ways. Some include headings and subheadings along with accompanying photos to paint a picture for the reader to form their own thoughts and opinions about the subject of an article.
Essays, however, have more strict guidelines on structure depending on which type of essay a writer has chosen. Traditionally, readers will see an introductory paragraph that presents a thesis statement, body paragraphs with topic sentences that relate back to and flesh out the thesis, and a conclusion with the author's take on the information presented.
While narrative essays can tell entertaining stories, it is articles that are most often included in magazines and newspapers to keep their subscribers informed and reading.
It's up to the writer of an article what message they want to convey. Sometimes that message is informative and sometimes it's humorous. For an essay writer, it's all about learning as much as possible about a topic, forming an opinion, and describing how they came to that opinion and why.
You're not likely to find essays in entertainment magazines. A person seeking in-depth information on a subject is going to seek out an essay, while a person looking for an entertaining piece of writing that allows them to draw their own conclusions will be more likely to seek out an article.
Table of Contents
An article is a casual form of writing that is published in a newspaper, website, or magazine. Articles can cover a wide variety of topics, from news and current events to opinion pieces, feature stories, and more. They are written by journalists, writers, or experts in a particular field and are intended to inform, educate, or entertain the reader.
An introduction to the topic and a setting for the remainder of the article are included in an article’s structure. The body of the article contains the main information and argument and is supported by evidence and examples. The conclusion sums up the main points and provides a final perspective on the topic.
Articles can be written in a variety of styles, including news articles, which are straightforward and objective in tone; feature articles, which are more in-depth and may take a more personal or creative approach; and opinion articles, which express the author’s personal views and opinions. Regardless of the style, good articles are well-researched and well-written.
An essay is a formal form of writing that offers a thesis statement and/or point of view on a certain subject. Essays can be written in various formats, such as narrative, descriptive, argumentative, and expository. An essay’s major objective is to deliver facts in a clear and succinct manner or to persuade the reader. The structure of an essay includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
The introduction provides background information on the topic and sets the stage for the main argument or point of view. The body paragraphs provide evidence and examples to support the argument or point of view presented in the introduction. The conclusion summarizes the main points and leaves the reader with something to think about.
Critical thinking, research, and the capacity to arrange and present material in a clear and succinct way are all necessary for writing essays. A compelling thesis statement that is backed up by examples and facts is crucial. proper grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure are essential to a well-written essay. With practice and dedication, anyone can improve their essay writing skills and achieve success in their academic or professional pursuits.
Piece of Writing for Newspapers and Magazines | Written Composition Presenting an Argument or Opinion | |
Shorter/Informative | Lengthy/Analytical | |
Casual | Formal/Academic | |
Inform or Entertain | Persuade or Argue | |
Journalists | Students & Scholars |
Difference Between Article and Essay
Articles and essays are both common forms of written communication that are utilized in a variety of sectors of study and vocations. Their goal, organization, and writing style, however, differ.
Articles are pieces of text that are published in a newspaper, magazine, journal, or website, either in print or electronically. It is intended for a big audience. It is founded on surveys, research, data, and analysis, among other things. Articles can be short or somewhat more than 1500 words. It is written with a certain goal in mind and teaches the readers about an idea.
Articles inform readers and keep them up to date by appearing in newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, and, increasingly, websites. Let us use an example to better understand what an article is. Assume that in a research center, a scientist discovered any new notions and published a brief essay in a popular magazine, so that individuals in the same area found it useful and were also informed about a new thing.
Examples of articles include news articles, feature articles, and opinion pieces.
An essay is a formal and comprehensive piece of literature that describes a particular issue or topic analyzed and discussed. It refers to a short piece of writing on a particular subject. Mainly students in their academics are asked to write essays on some topics as a response to a question or proposition. It does not have a specific readership in mind.
Through essays, the writer or narrator expresses his or her personal views or opinion on a particular topic or a question and it is based on an educational and analytical tone. Let’s take an example and understand what is essay clearly suppose a school student has an exam and in the question paper he has been asked to write something explaining about Floods in India which is an example of an essay.
Examples of essays include academic essays, personal essays, and argumentative essays.
Written on a specific topic. | Expresses the author’s opinion on a particular topic. |
Informative in nature | Persuasive in nature |
Usually published in a magazine, newspaper, or website. | Can be published in various formats, such as a book or academic journal. |
Can be written in a formal or informal style. | Can be written in a formal or informal style. |
Can vary in length from a few hundred to a few thousand words | Can vary in length from a few paragraphs to several pages. |
The article has a target readership. | An essay has no specific readership. |
Articles are slightly long may be up to 1500 words. | Essays may be very long and may contain up to 3000 words. |
Articles follow the heading and subheading format. | Essays may or may not follow the heading and subheading format. |
Citation and Reference are not required. | Citation and Reference are required. |
It is short and a descriptive account of something or some topic. | It is a long account of an event or a concept or a historical happening |
Examples: 5 Tips for Traveling on a Budget, The Benefits of Yoga, The Rise of Veganism | Examples: The Importance of Budget Travel, Why I Became a Vegan, The Importance of Budget Travel |
In summary, articles and essays are two different forms of written communication that serve different purposes. Articles are used to provide information about a particular topic, while essays are used to express personal opinions or persuade the reader to take a certain course of action. Understanding the differences between the two can help you choose the appropriate format for your writing task.
Similar reads.
Articles, essays, research papers, journals, and other types of academic writing exist. Articles and essays are frequently used interchangeably. Both of these forms, however, have important distinctions. Every student, regardless of educational level, produces countless essays during their academic career. Furthermore, as part of their curriculum, several postgraduate degrees require students to submit publications in journals. As a result, it’s useful to understand how articles and essays differ from one another.
To attain academic greatness, it is necessary to comprehend the fundamentals as well as have good writing abilities. As a result, if you need help writing an article , essay, or another academic document, you can always rely on a paper writing service to complete the assignment. Essays and articles are the most typical sorts of academic writings encountered by pupils. They are usually extensive and detailed. The goal of essays and articles is for students to demonstrate their grasp of a subject or to offer readers a thorough overview of the subject matter.
This article will help you grasp the differences between the formats. So, let’s compare and contrast the principles of an essay vs. an article.
An article is a piece of writing that is published in a newspaper, magazine, journal, or website, either printed or electronically. It is intended for a big audience. It is founded on surveys, research, data, and analysis, among other things. Articles might be as short as 500 words or as lengthy as 1500 words. It is written with a certain goal in mind and teaches the readers about an idea.
Articles inform readers about current events and keep them up to date. They may be found in newspapers , magazines, encyclopedias, and, increasingly, on the internet. Let us use an example to better understand what an article is. Assume that at a research center, a scientist discovered any new notions and published a brief essay in a popular magazine, so that individuals in the same area found it useful and were also informed about a new thing.
An essay is a formal and comprehensive piece of writing that describes or examines a certain subject or topic. Explanatory, argumentative, descriptive, or narrative essays are all possible. Students in academics are regularly asked to write essays on a variety of topics in response to a question or proposition. It was not written with a particular audience in mind. Most students don’t know about such things and always make mistakes while writing. sometimes these mistakes force them to look for essay writing services because students waste more time on such mistakes.
Essays often highlight the author’s point of view, expertise, and experiences on the subject. It is concise literary writing that elucidates, argues, and investigates a certain topic. Thus, writing an essay entails expressing the reasons or causes of something, or why something should be done or be the case, to validate a certain point of view, experience, tales, facts, analysis, or interpretation.
Article vs essay: purpose.
Academics and students would commonly come across articles and essays as part of their coursework. Knowing the difference between an essay and an article is essential for improving one’s writing skills. The goal of both styles is to simplify and digest difficult issues, theories, and concepts for the listener. So, while you’re writing an article or an essay, keep the distinctions listed above in mind. These tips will assist you in writing better and more accurate academic material.
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Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.
An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement . The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based case for it.
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When do you write an argumentative essay, approaches to argumentative essays, introducing your argument, the body: developing your argument, concluding your argument, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about argumentative essays.
You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.
The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could make.
At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve making arguments about texts.
In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.
At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate response.
Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis.
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An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.
There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian model.
The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as necessary for the argument:
The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.
Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures. You might:
The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:
This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.
Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:
You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure your arguments.
Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an introduction , a body , and a conclusion .
Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction . The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement , and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.
Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.
The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.
The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true.
In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings.
Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.
This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.
Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.
A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.
An argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the arguments made in the body.
No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.
Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.
The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.
If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!
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An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.
An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.
At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).
Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.
The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .
The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.
In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.
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Violence stalks the president who has rejoiced in violence to others.
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When a madman hammered nearly to death the husband of then–House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Donald Trump jeered and mocked . One of Trump’s sons and other close Trump supporters avidly promoted false claims that Paul Pelosi had somehow brought the onslaught upon himself through a sexual misadventure.
After authorities apprehended a right-wing-extremist plot to abduct Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Trump belittled the threat at a rally. He disparaged Whitmer as a political enemy. His supporters chanted “Lock her up.” Trump laughed and replied , “Lock them all up.”
Fascism feasts on violence. In the years since his own supporters attacked the Capitol to overturn the 2020 election—many of them threatening harm to Speaker Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence—Trump has championed the invaders, would-be kidnappers, and would-be murderers as martyrs and hostages. He has vowed to pardon them if returned to office. His own staffers have testified to the glee with which Trump watched the mayhem on television.
Now the bloodshed that Trump has done so much to incite against others has touched him as well. The attempted murder of Trump—and the killing of a person nearby—is a horror and an outrage. More will be learned about the man who committed this appalling act, and who was killed by the Secret Service. Whatever his mania or motive, the only important thing about him is the law-enforcement mistake that allowed him to bring a deadly weapon so close to a campaign event and gain a sight line of the presidential candidate. His name should otherwise be erased and forgotten.
It is sadly incorrect to say, as so many have, that political violence “has no place” in American society. Assassinations, lynchings, riots, and pogroms have stained every page of American political history. That has remained true to the present day. In 2016 , and even more in 2020, Trump supporters brought weapons to intimidate opponents and vote-counters. Trump and his supporters envision a new place for violence as their defining political message in the 2024 election. Fascist movements are secular religions. Like all religions, they offer martyrs as their proof of truth. The Mussolini movement in Italy built imposing monuments to its fallen comrades. The Trump movement now improves on that: The leader himself will be the martyr in chief, his own blood the basis for his bid for power and vengeance.
Christopher R. Browning: A new kind of fascism
The 2024 election was already shaping up as a symbolic contest between an elderly and weakening liberalism too frail and uncertain to protect itself and an authoritarian, reactionary movement ready to burst every barrier and trash every institution. To date, Trump has led only a minority of U.S. voters, but that minority’s passion and audacity have offset what it lacks in numbers. After the shooting, Trump and his backers hope to use the iconography of a bloody ear and face, raised fist, and call to “Fight!” to summon waverers to their cause of installing Trump as an anti-constitutional ruler, exempted from ordinary law by his allies on the Supreme Court.
Other societies have backslid to authoritarianism because of some extraordinary crisis: economic depression, hyperinflation, military defeat, civil strife. In 2024, U.S. troops are nowhere at war. The American economy is booming, providing spectacular and widely shared prosperity. A brief spasm of mild post-pandemic inflation has been overcome. Indicators of social health have abruptly turned positive since Trump left office after years of deterioration during his term. Crime and fatal drug overdoses are declining in 2024; marriages and births are rising. Even the country’s problems indirectly confirm the country’s success: Migrants are crossing the border in the hundreds of thousands, because they know, even if Americans don’t, that the U.S. job market is among the hottest on Earth.
Yet despite all of this success, Americans are considering a form of self-harm that in other countries has typically followed the darkest national failures: letting the author of a failed coup d’état return to office to try again.
One reason this self-harm is nearing consummation is that American society is poorly prepared to understand and respond to radical challenges, once those challenges gain a certain mass. For nearly a century, “radical” in U.S. politics has usually meant “fringe”: Communists, Ku Kluxers, Black Panthers, Branch Davidians, Islamist jihadists. Radicals could be marginalized by the weight of the great American consensus that stretches from social democrats to business conservatives. Sometimes, a Joe McCarthy or a George Wallace would throw a scare into that mighty consensus, but in the past such challengers rarely formed stable coalitions with accepted stakeholders in society. Never gaining an enduring grip on the institutions of state, they flared up and burned out.
Trump is different. His abuses have been ratified by powerful constituencies. He has conquered and colonized one of the two major parties. He has defeated—or is on the way to defeating—every impeachment and prosecution to hold him to account for his frauds and crimes. He has assembled a mass following that is larger, more permanent, and more national in reach than any previous American demagogue. He has dominated the scene for nine years already, and he and his supporters hope they can use yesterday’s appalling event to extend the Trump era to the end of his life and beyond.
The American political and social system cannot treat such a person as an alien. It inevitably accommodates and naturalizes him. His counselors, even the thugs and felons, join the point-counterpoint dialogue at the summit of the American elite. President Joe Biden nearly wrecked his campaign because he felt obliged to meet Trump in debate. How could Biden have done otherwise? Trump is the three-time nominee of the Republican Party; it’s awkward and strange to treat him as an insurrectionist against the American state—though that’s what Trump was and is.
David Frum: Biden’s heartbreaking press conference
The despicable shooting at Trump, which also caused death and injury to others, now secures his undeserved position as a partner in the protective rituals of the democracy he despises. The appropriate expressions of dismay and condemnation from every prominent voice in American life have the additional effect of habituating Americans to Trump’s legitimacy. In the face of such an outrage, the familiar and proper practice is to stress unity, to proclaim that Americans have more things in common than that divide them. Those soothing words, true in the past, are less true now.
Nobody seems to have language to say: We abhor, reject, repudiate, and punish all political violence, even as we maintain that Trump remains himself a promoter of such violence, a subverter of American institutions, and the very opposite of everything decent and patriotic in American life.
The Republican National Convention, which opens this week, will welcome to its stage apologists for Vladimir Putin’s Russia and its aggression against U.S. allies. Trump’s own infatuation with Russia and other dictatorships has not dimmed even slightly with age or experience. Yet all of these urgent and necessary truths must now be subordinated to the ritual invocation of “thoughts and prayers” for someone who never gave a thought or uttered a prayer for any of the victims of his own many incitements to bloodshed. The president who used his office to champion the rights of dangerous people to own military-type weapons says he was grazed by a bullet from one such assault rifle.
Conventional phrases and polite hypocrisy fill a useful function in social life. We say “Thank you for your service” both to the decorated hero and to the veteran who barely escaped dishonorable discharge. It’s easier than deciphering which was which. We wish “Happy New Year!” even when we dread the months ahead.
Adrienne LaFrance: Thoughts, prayers, and Facebook rants aren’t enough
But conventional phrases don’t go unheard. They carry meanings, meanings no less powerful for being rote and reflexive. In rightly denouncing violence, we are extending an implicit pardon to the most violent person in contemporary U.S. politics. In asserting unity, we are absolving a man who seeks power through the humiliation and subordination of disdained others.
Those conventional phrases are inscribing Trump into a place in American life that he should have forfeited beyond redemption on January 6, 2021. All decent people welcome the sparing of his life. Trump’s reckoning should be with the orderly process of law, not with the bloodshed he rejoiced in when it befell others. He and his allies will exploit a gunman’s vicious criminality as their path to exonerate past crimes and empower new ones. Those who stand against Trump and his allies must find the will and the language to explain why these crimes, past and planned, are all wrong, all intolerable—and how the gunman and Trump, at their opposite ends of a bullet’s trajectory, are nonetheless joined together as common enemies of law and democracy.
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Biden’s Heartbreaking Press Conference
Opinion Guest Essay
Credit... Damon Winter/The New York Times
Supported by
By Bernie Sanders
Mr. Sanders is the senior senator from Vermont.
Update: This guest essay was published before the assassination attempt on former President Trump and has been updated by the author to reflect the shooting.
This weekend, we witnessed a horrifying assassination attempt on the life of former President Trump. There is absolutely no place for political violence in our country, and we must all condemn it at every turn.
In the coming weeks, as the nation recovers from this shocking and tragic event, we must not lose sight of the incredibly high stakes of the November election, and the millions of working Americans whose access to affordable health care, decent wages, and a habitable planet is on the line.
I will do all that I can to see that President Biden is re-elected. Why? Despite my disagreements with him on particular issues, he has been the most effective president in the modern history of our country and is the strongest candidate to defeat Mr. Trump — a demagogue and pathological liar. It’s time to learn a lesson from the progressive and centrist forces in France who, despite profound political differences, came together this week to soundly defeat right-wing extremism.
I strongly disagree with Mr. Biden on the question of U.S. support for Israel’s horrific war against the Palestinian people. The United States should not provide Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing extremist government with another nickel as it continues to create one of the worst humanitarian disasters in modern history.
I strongly disagree with the president’s belief that the Affordable Care Act, as useful as it has been, will ever address America’s health care crisis. Our health care system is broken, dysfunctional and wildly expensive and needs to be replaced with a “ Medicare for all ” single-payer system. Health care is a human right.
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An article is nothing but a piece of writing commonly found in newspapers or websites which contain fact-based information on a specific topic. It is published with the aim of making the reader aware of something and keeping them up to date. An essay is a literary work, which often discusses ideas, experiences and concepts in a clear and coherent way. . It reflects the author's personal view ...
The structure of an "Article" usually adheres to journalistic standards, including headings, subheadings, and possibly bullet points. It's direct and to the point. An "Essay," in contrast, flows more organically, often starting with an introduction, followed by body paragraphs, and concluding with a summary or final thought.
Types of Articles: News Articles: Provide factual information about recent events. Feature Articles: Offer in-depth analysis or narratives on topics of interest. Opinion Articles: Present the author's viewpoints on various issues. How-To Articles: Give step-by-step instructions on performing tasks or activities. Review Articles: Critique books, movies, products, or services.
Whole-Essay Structure IMRAD. While organization varies across and within disciplines, usually based on the genre, publication venue, and other rhetorical considerations of the writing, a great deal of academic writing can be described by the acronym IMRAD (or IMRaD): Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. ...
The basics of essay structure. There are two main things to keep in mind when working on your essay structure: making sure to include the right information in each part, and deciding how you'll organize the information within the body. Parts of an essay. The three parts that make up all essays are described in the table below.
In composition studies, an article is a short work of nonfiction that typically appears in a magazine or newspaper or on a website. Unlike essays, which often highlight the subjective impressions of the author (or narrator), articles are commonly written from an objective point of view.Articles include news items, feature stories, reports, profiles, instructions, product descriptions, and ...
Structure of an essay. To enhance the coherence and readability of your essay, it's important to follow certain rules regarding the structure. Take a look: 1. Arrange your information from the most simple to the most complex bits. You can start the body paragraph off with a general statement and then move on to specifics.
Article vs Essay. An article is a piece of writing that is published in a newspaper, magazine, or website, providing information, analysis, or opinion on a specific topic or issue. ... So, it cannot be restricted within a particular structure. However, following a basic structure to keep the unity and orderly arrangement of a particular line of ...
Main Difference - Article vs Essay. Articles and essays are two forms of academic writing. Though there are certain similarities between them, there are also distinct differences between them. ... newspapers or other publications; the content and the structure of an article may depend on the source. For example, an article can be an editorial ...
Article: Essay: 1. An article is a bit of writing intended to be shared in a magazine, newspaper, or other type of publication. An essay is a composition which belongs to a specific issue, or topic. 2. Articles tend to be objective. Essays tend to be subjective. 3.
Ultimately, while articles and essays overlap in many ways, they differ in purpose, tone, structure, and audience. An article informs using factual and objective information, while an essay offers a more personal, reflective, or argumentative perspective on a topic.
Essays, however, have more strict guidelines on structure depending on which type of essay a writer has chosen. Traditionally, readers will see an introductory paragraph that presents a thesis statement, body paragraphs with topic sentences that relate back to and flesh out the thesis, and a conclusion with the author's take on the information ...
What are the 5 parts of an essay? Explore how the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion parts of an essay work together. Dictionary Thesaurus Sentences ... three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph, and they will always have that structure. With such a stable form, a writer truly only needs to worry about the contents of the ...
ESSAY STRUCTURE. In the framework for the basic essay, each paragraph in the body of the essay is controlled by its own topic statement, which focuses on one aspect of the thesis. In other words, the thesis is the main idea and each topic statement treats one part of the main idea, as diagramed below: THESIS Topics 1,2,3.
The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement, a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas. The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ...
Argumentative essays. An argumentative essay presents an extended, evidence-based argument. It requires a strong thesis statement—a clearly defined stance on your topic. Your aim is to convince the reader of your thesis using evidence (such as quotations) and analysis.. Argumentative essays test your ability to research and present your own position on a topic.
Difference Between Article and Essay. An article is a casual writing that is written for a newspaper, magazine, or online publication, whereas an essay is a written composition that presents an argument or a point of view on a specific topic. Articles are shorter and more informative than essays, whereas essays can be longer and more analytical.
An essay may not necessarily follow a rigid structure like an article. It often allows for more flexibility, enabling the author to explore various aspects of a topic in a flowing narrative. ... How does the audience affect the writing style of an article vs. an essay? An article aims to reach a broad audience, so it's written in a clear ...
The article has a target readership. An essay has no specific readership. Articles are slightly long may be up to 1500 words. Essays may be very long and may contain up to 3000 words. Articles follow the heading and subheading format. Essays may or may not follow the heading and subheading format. Citation and Reference are not required.
Article VS Essay: Structure. Browse through Cosmopolitan, National Geographic, and today's issue of your local newspaper to get a feel of how stories might be arranged in a variety of ways. Some articles feature headers and subheadings, as well as accompanying photographs, to help the reader generate their views and opinions regarding the ...
A version of this article appears in print on , Section A, Page 18 of the New York edition with the headline: Biden Won't Win. Democrats Must Have a Plan. Democrats Must Have a Plan. Here's One. .
An argumentative essay presents a complete argument backed up by evidence and analysis. It is the most common essay type at university. FAQ ... provide background information, present your thesis statement, and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body. Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical ...
Produced by ElevenLabs and News Over Audio (NOA) using AI narration. When a madman hammered nearly to death the husband of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Donald Trump jeered and mocked. One of ...
Mr. Wegman is a member of the editorial board. At the close of one of the most consequential and least constitutional terms in the Supreme Court's history, it's hard to ignore one particularly ...
Mr. Sanders is the senior senator from Vermont. Update: This guest essay was published before the assassination attempt on former President Trump and has been updated by the author to reflect the ...