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7 Essay Types at the O Level

• Posted By Randall Chew

Hello everyone! I’m Mr Ng Guo Liang, an English Language Curriculum Specialist and Teacher at Lil’ but Mighty.

When I was still teaching in a secondary school, I often had to address many questions — from both parents and students alike — about the different composition or essay types being tested in the O Level examinations; chief amongst which were:

– What composition or essay types will appear in the O Level examinations? – What is the difference between a discursive essay and an argumentative essay? – What is the difference between a recount and narrative essay? – What is the difference between a descriptive and reflective essay?

There were (and are) of course, many other questions pertaining to composition writing for the O Level. The ones above however — those concerned with conceptualising the types of compositions — are the ones I have had to address the most. In this blog post therefore, I will list the various types of compositions that could be tested in the O Level English Language Paper 1, and attempt to very briefly describe each of them.

Before I continue, I must make a disclaimer. This post is not meant to be a comprehensive set of notes or guide detailing and explaining each individual essay type, their features, and nuances. I must make it very clear to my readers that what I write and elaborate on in this post should not be taken as the absolute and definitive word on the various essay types; we should note that different teachers, authors, publishers, and reference materials describe, explain, and conceptualise the various essay types differently (and very possibly with different terminology). That being said, the descriptions I’ll make in this post are meant only as a very brief explanation of the various types of essays so that you can better understand what they generally require students to address in the examination.

Should you wish to enquire about and discuss the individual essay types at a more comprehensive and deeper level than that provided in this post, you can do so with your English teacher in school, or contact us and we shall endeavour to address your queries!

In the O Level examination, the following essay types could be tested:

1. Narrative 2. Personal Recount 3. Descriptive 4. Reflective 5. Discursive 6. Argumentative 7. Two-Part Essays

1. Narrative Essays

Narrative essays, as the name suggests, are essays that narrate a story. Most students reading this post should, by the end of primary school, be familiar with narrative essays as this is perhaps the essay type that they see the most in primary school and in creative writing classes. These essays are generally fictional in nature, and adhere to how narrative stories are developed in terms of their plots (beginning —> build up —> climax —> events that lead to a resolution —> a resolution —> and a coda/conclusion). Although these essays are generally fictional, that is not to say that students cannot use their own experiences to address the question. As long as the experience is relevant to the question, and features a rising plot which leads to a resolution, students are free to use their own experiences to inspire the narrative essay.

Sample questions:

– Freedom. – A challenge. – Write a story about kindness. – ‘It was my proudest moment.’ Write a story based on this.

2. Personal Recount Essays

Similar to a narrative essay, a personal recount essay retells a series of events that should be written in a linear and sequential manner. A personal recount essay is not to be confused with a narrative one. Narratives are often fictional in nature, and generally adhere to a rising plot development structure (most often with a climax and resolution). Personal recounts however, are not fictional in nature, and often relate to an event or experience which is meaningful or memorable to you (in other words, you should have personally experienced or witnessed this event or experience taking place.) Depending on the question asked, it can, of course, include a plot structure with elements similar to a narrative. However, unlike narrative essay writing, it does not require students to adhere strictly to a rising plot structure.

Personal recount essays, by nature of the questions given, typically require students to include an element of reflection. This usually focuses on the impact and significance that an event or experience have on them, and their thoughts, feelings, changing beliefs and attitudes as the series of events unfold. Such reflections should be interspersed and woven in and between the paragraphs of the essay. This is different for narratives, where reflections typically appear in the coda.

– Write about an interesting day out with your family. – Write about a mistake you regret making. – Write about how you conquered one of your fears. – Write about a task which turned out to be more difficult than you initially thought. – Write about a time a great act of kindness took place.

3. Descriptive Essays

Descriptive essays contain and emphasise descriptive elements. That is to say, such essays are written to appeal to the five senses, and should create vivid mental images for the reader when it is being read. This genre goes beyond describing physical attributes, but abstract ones as well (e.g. feelings, ideas, or a situation), and often involves reflecting on why something or someone is special or important. Unlike narrative essays, descriptive essays do not require a plot structure or storyline. This essay type most typically require students to write about and describe in detail one of the following topics:

1. An object 2. A person 3. A place 4. An event or incident 5. An experience

– Describe an individual who has had a great influence on you. – Describe a memorable celebration. – Describe your typical day in school. – Describe an object which you hold dear.

4. Reflective Essays

Essays of this genre require the students to reflect on themselves. Despite the reflective element, this is not to be confused with a personal recount. Personal recounts require students to recount and reflect on an event or experience which actually took place. Reflective essays however, are not about an event or experience, but are more about the students themselves.

Reflective essays typically require students to reflect on and make observations about their own personality and character. As such, it is more philosophical and insightful in nature.

Sample Questions:

– What would you consider to be your best and worst qualities? – What is your idea of a perfect day? – What are the type of books you enjoy reading? – Write about some of the things you value most in life.

Expository Essays: Argumentative and Discursive Essays

The next two essay types fall under the category we call ‘expositions’. An expository essay is one that explores and considers in depth the different aspects and perspectives to a particular topic or subject matter. We typically see two types of expository essays appearing in the O Level examination: argumentative and discursive essays.

5. Argumentative Essays

In an argumentative essay, students are typically given an issue, topic, or subject matter on which they are supposed to take a clear stand, and argue for that stand they have taken. This essay type is ‘biased’ in that regard, and the aim of the essay is to persuade the reader, with the strength of their points and arguments, that the stand taken in the essay is the right one.

1. The key features of an effective argumentative essay are: 2. There must be a very clear stand taken on the topic/subject matter given in the question. 3. Points/arguments given are supported by facts, statistics, observations or examples. 4. Points/arguments appeal to logic and emotion. 5. Using a persuasive tone and register. 6. Considering the opposing views and being able to rebut or refute them – this makes an argumentative essay the most persuasive and effective.

–  ‘People can only be happy if they feel they are treated fairly.’ Do you agree (2019 O Level 1) –  Do you agree with the view that students should never engage in part-time work? –  ‘Social media has destroyed communication.’ What is your opinion? –  Who has more problems to deal with — adults or youths?

6. Discursive Essays

Like argumentative essays, a discursive essay focuses on and concerns itself with one particular topic or subject matter. Unlike the argumentative essay however, one is not required to take a stand on the subject matter. Rather than pushing for and validating only one particular perspective, students are required instead to discuss and explore the multiple perspectives regarding the subject matter in an unbiased manner.

What is important to note is that students can state a preference for a particular perspective or viewpoint at the end of the essay, but the tone and register of the essay should not be a persuasive one (i.e. the way the essay is written should not dominantly favour one particular perspective or viewpoint over others). It should be written in a manner which reflects that all the perspectives and viewpoints you discuss in the essay are equally valid (even if you do eventually state a preference for one at the end) — in essence, an effective discursive essay is one that achieves balance .

–  What are the advantages and disadvantages of social media? –  What are the qualities a good leader should have? –  Discuss the implications of making home-based learning a permanent mode of education. –  Discuss your views on discipline.

7. Two-Part Essays

As the name suggests, two-part essays are essays which could comprise features and elements of two different essay types. What you will typically see is a question which explicitly has two distinct and separate parts students would have to address. For instance, the question would not only require students to describe something or someone, but also require them to reflect on that particular thing they are describing in the essay; such that the essay becomes a ‘mixed-genre’ essay.

For two-part essays, students need to ensure that they address both parts of the question, and do not make the common mistake of devoting too much time and too many words to the first half of the question and neglecting the second half of the question.

– Write about a mistake you regret making. What lessons did you learn from it? – Describe an individual who has had a great influence on you. Why is this person so special to you? – Describe an object which you hold dear. Why is this object so important to you? – Write about a time you were misunderstood by others. How did you feel?

This brings us to the end of this blog post. Although there is much more to the respective essay types regarding their features and styles, I hope that I have managed to provide you with brief but lucid explanations that will make it a little easier for you to understand the various essay types that could be tested in the O Level.

Until my next post, and on behalf of the Lil’ but Mighty family, stay happy, stay safe, and stay healthy!

• Fine Out More

Mr Ng firmly believes that there is a strong correlation between effort and eventual success, and that finding success in English is something that is attainable by all of his students regardless of their background and starting point. He has a strong love and passion for the language and hopes to inspire that same passion in his students through his lessons. That being said, he looks forward to bringing out the best in his students and guiding them to fulfil the potential they all have.

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O level english expository essay: mastering the peel format.

by LearningGems.sg | Jul 20, 2023 | 1 comment

1. Introduction | O Level English Expository Essay

A well-structured essay with clear arguments and a logical flow demonstrates proficiency in communication and critical thinking. One effective structure that aids in crafting coherent essays is the PEEL format, a widely recognised format used in essay writing. This format provides students with a systematic framework to organise their ideas and present them coherently.

PEEL stands for Point, Explanation, Evidence and Link.

2. Writing Body Paragraphs using the PEEL format | O Level English Expository Essay

2.1 point: crafting a strong topic sentence.

Within the PEEL format, the Point component holds significant weight as it sets the direction for each paragraph. The Point can also be known as the topic sentence. A strong topic sentence serves as a concise preview of the paragraph’s content, encapsulating the main idea or argument. It should be clear, specific, and should also answer the essay question directly.

A good topic sentence not only captures the essence of the paragraph but also engages the reader from the start. For example, in an essay about the impacts of social media on society, a strong topic sentence could be: “The pervasive influence of social media has transformed communication patterns and reshaped social interactions.” This topic sentence clearly states the focus of the paragraph and presents a compelling point for further discussion.

On the other hand, a weak or vague topic sentence can lead to confusion and a lack of clarity in the paragraph. For instance, a weak topic sentence in the same essay topic could be: “One impact that social media has on society is its impact on humans.” This topic sentence lacks specificity. It is too general and fails to provide a clear direction for the paragraph. It does not offer any indication of the particular aspect of social media being discussed.

By crafting strong topic sentences, students establish a solid foundation for their paragraphs, allowing for targeted and impactful discussions throughout the essay. Effective topic sentences provide a roadmap for the reader, ensuring that the subsequent components of the PEEL format align with the overarching argument and contribute to the overall coherence of the essay.

2.2 Explanation: Providing Context and Analysis

The Explanation component of the PEEL format plays a crucial role in connecting the Point and the Evidence. It serves as a bridge that provides necessary context, analysis, and interpretation to support the main argument. Offering in-depth explanations allows students to showcase their critical thinking skills and demonstrate a deep understanding of the topic.

When crafting explanations, it is important to provide relevant background information and clarify any terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to the reader. This contextual information helps to establish the foundation for the evidence that follows. Additionally, students should delve into the significance and implications of the point being made, providing insightful analysis and interpretation.

For example, if the essay is discussing the impact of climate change on biodiversity, the explanation should go beyond stating the facts. It should explore the interconnectedness between climate change and biodiversity loss, analysing how changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can disrupt ecosystems and lead to the decline of species. By providing such context and analysis, the writer not only educates the reader but also strengthens the overall argument.

Effective explanations should also consider alternative perspectives or counterarguments, demonstrating the writer’s ability to critically evaluate different viewpoints. By addressing potential counterarguments and providing a thoughtful rebuttal, students can strengthen the persuasiveness of their essays and showcase their ability to engage in nuanced discussions.

Incorporating thorough explanations within the PEEL format helps to connect the main point with the supporting evidence, ensuring a coherent and well-developed argument. It demonstrates the writer’s depth of knowledge and analysis while providing the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the topic at hand.

2.3 Evidence: Supporting Your Point

The Evidence component within the PEEL format plays a pivotal role in bolstering the main point and providing credibility to the argument. Well-chosen evidence strengthens the writer’s position and convinces the reader of the validity of their claims.

Effective evidence can take various forms, such as statistical data, expert opinions, direct quotes, or real-life examples. It is essential to select evidence that directly supports the main point and helps to substantiate the argument. For instance, when discussing the benefits of exercise on mental health, citing scientific studies or referencing experts in the field can serve as compelling evidence.

To ensure the effectiveness of the evidence, students should avoid including certain types of evidence such as anecdotal examples. While anecdotal examples and personal experiences can be compelling, they should generally be avoided. The exception is when students are writing a reflective exposition. This is because anecdotal examples are based on personal observations or experiences, rendering them subjective and limited in their applicability to broader contexts. Just because an event occurred to one individual does not imply its occurrence or likelihood for everyone else!

Further, it is worth noting that simply presenting evidence is not sufficient; it is equally important to analyse and explain its significance. Connecting the evidence back to the main point and offering insightful analysis helps to reinforce the argument and allows the reader to see the logical progression of ideas.

2.4 Link: Ensuring Smooth Transitions and Coherence

The Link sentence in the PEEL format connects the paragraph to the overall argument and succinctly summarises what was discussed within the paragraph. It acts as a bridge between the supporting evidence and the main point expressed in the topic sentence, effectively rounding up the argument presented in that paragraph.

It is important to note that link sentences should be concise and purposeful, avoiding unnecessary repetition of information or phrases. Many students have the tendency to just repeat the topic sentence, but doing so does not add any value to the paragraph. In fact, it merely creates redundancy and diminishes the overall impact of the paragraph.

A good link sentence should wrap up the key ideas within the paragraph and connect them to the central argument. Mastering the art of linking within the PEEL format enhances the overall readability and impact of the essay.

3. A Sample Body Paragraph using the PEEL format | O Level English Expository Essay

Let us now look at how we can put all these together and apply it in writing. Can you identify the elements of the PEEL structure in this sample paragraph?

Question: Should Artificial Intelligence (AI) be regulated? Explain your views.

The development and prevalent use of AI poses significant risks to individuals and society. One of the primary risks is the potential for biased algorithms. AI algorithms are only as unbiased as the data sets they are trained on. Therefore, if these data sets contain biased information, the AI will replicate and even amplify those biases. This could result in discriminatory decisions, such as denying someone of an employment opportunity based on their race or gender. For example, in 2018, Amazon scrapped an AI-powered recruiting tool after it was discovered that the system had a bias against women. The system was trained on resumes submitted to Amazon over a ten-year period, which were mostly from male applicants. As a result, the system taught itself that male candidates were preferable, and it downgraded resumes that contained words like “women” and “female”. Without regulation, these risks could lead to significant harm to individuals and our social fabric. Therefore, it is essential to regulate AI to ensure that it is developed and used in a responsible and ethical manner, with appropriate safeguards in place. By mandating transparency, accountability, and fairness in the development and deployment of AI systems, we can mitigate the potential harms associated with this powerful technology.

4. Conclusion | O Level English Expository Essay

In summary, the PEEL format equips students with a structured framework to effectively organise their ideas and present them with clarity and flow. Ultimately, incorporating the PEEL format empowers students to craft well-structured essays that engage readers, showcase their depth of knowledge, and present compelling arguments.

Preparing for the O Level English Exam is never a walk in the park, but you should never navigate the journey alone. Should you require additional support in mastering the PEEL format, our experienced tutors are here to provide personalised guidance and assistance. Together, we can help you refine your writing skills and achieve the success you desire!

Calling all Sec 2 students! Are you ready to elevate your expository essay skills and master the PEEL format? Join our Expository Writing Booster Workshop today!

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10 English Essay Writing Tips for O-Levels Students

Table of Contents

Introduction

Writing essays in English can be challenging, especially for O-Levels students. However, with the right approach and practice, you can develop effective essay writing skills that will not only help you excel in your exams but also enhance your overall communication abilities. This article provides you with ten valuable tips to improve your English essay writing.

Importance of English Essay Writing

Essay writing is an essential skill for O-Levels students as it helps develop critical thinking, logical reasoning, and effective communication. Mastering this skill will not only benefit you academically but also in various professional and personal endeavors.

Understand the Essay Prompt

Before you start writing, thoroughly understand the essay prompt or question. Identify the key requirements, such as the topic, word limit, and any specific instructions. Analyze the prompt to determine what is expected from your essay.

Plan and Organize Your Thoughts

Take some time to brainstorm ideas and create an outline for your essay. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure a logical flow of ideas throughout the essay. Consider using mind maps or bullet points to visually represent your main points and supporting details.

Develop a Strong Thesis Statement

Craft a clear and concise thesis statement that presents your main argument or viewpoint. The thesis statement should provide a roadmap for your essay and guide the reader on what to expect. Make sure it is specific, debatable, and well-supported by your arguments.

Use Clear and Concise Language

When writing your essay, use simple and straightforward language. Avoid using overly complex words or jargon that may confuse the reader. Focus on clarity and precision to effectively convey your ideas.

Structure Your Essay

Divide your essay into paragraphs, each focusing on a specific idea or argument. Start with an engaging introduction that hooks the reader and provides context for your essay. Develop your arguments in the body paragraphs and ensure a smooth transition between each paragraph. Conclude your essay with a concise summary of your main points.

Use Examples and Evidence

Support your arguments with relevant examples, evidence, and quotations. This will make your essay more persuasive and credible. Refer to reputable sources and cite them appropriately to avoid plagiarism.

Proofread and Edit

Always proofread your essay for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Check for sentence structure and ensure proper paragraph formatting. Editing allows you to refine your ideas, improve clarity, and ensure coherence in your writing.

Practice and Seek Feedback

Practice writing essays on various topics to enhance your skills. Ask your teachers, peers, or family members to provide feedback on your essays. Constructive criticism will help you identify areas for improvement and refine your writing style.

Mastering English essay writing is a valuable skill for O-Levels students. By following these ten tips, you can improve your essay writing abilities and achieve better results in your exams. Remember to practice regularly, seek feedback, and continually strive for self-improvement.

FAQ Section

FAQ 1: How can I improve my essay writing skills?

To improve your essay writing skills, practice regularly, read extensively, and seek feedback from teachers or peers. Focus on structure, clarity, and supporting your arguments with evidence.

FAQ 2: Are there any useful online resources for essay writing?

Yes, several online resources can help you enhance your essay writing skills. Websites like Purdue OWL, Khan Academy, and Grammarly offer valuable tips, guides, and exercises.

FAQ 3: Should I use complex vocabulary in my essays?

While it’s important to demonstrate a good command of the English language, avoid using complex vocabulary solely for the sake of it. Prioritize clarity and choose words that effectively convey your ideas.

FAQ 4: How long should my essay be?

The length of your essay depends on the specific requirements. Follow the word limit provided by your teacher or exam guidelines. However, focus on quality rather than quantity.

FAQ 5: Can I use personal experiences in my essays?

Yes, incorporating personal experiences can add depth and authenticity to your essays. However, ensure that they are relevant and support your arguments effectively.

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• English Composition

English Compositions: Best Writing Guide for O-Level

• April 27, 2021
• No Comments

Table of Contents

Writing English Compositions can be a fairly easy task if you remember the Golden Rules. 

You have to know the different types of composition genres and what is required for each one of them. Once you are able to identify with each one, practice every week and the English Composition exams will be an easy hurdle to cross.

Make sure that you find out about these genres and practices early enough so that you can have a good headstart in your practice.

Select Your English Composition Genre

Selecting the correct genre for English Composition is of prime importance.

Whether it is argumentative or descriptive, knowing the difference and choosing one accordingly can make all the difference.

First, identify the genre of the essay question. Is it asking you to choose a side? Or is it simply about recounting something that goes on in your society? The former is argumentative and the latter is reflective.

Looking out for the type of essay you are more suited for will be the first step in writing an essay. English Composition. As soon as you have made a selection, move on to thinking about the content. Actually, content planning is a fairly straightforward task.

The first step is to organise your facts in point form. All you need would be 4 points in writing an expository or reflective essay. You will need 3 pros and 1-2 rebuttals for an argumentative essay. Once you have defined what you want to say in English Composition, the rest is easy.

Unlike a narrative and reflective essay, you will need evidence to back up your points. The more current your evidence, the better it will be for you. You may start with the most important point first and support it with evidence from a media source or observation. The evidence has to be clear, relevant and accurately written. 

For reflective and narrative essays, anecdotal or story form of writing is the norm. Writing clearly is just as important but you will need to think of a strong plot. The plot, which will be explained in the later chapters, has to be watertight. The resolution should offer a way out of the difficulty for the main character or protagonist. There should also be a moral or sense of value being imparted at the end.

The narrative or reflective essay will only help a student to score well in English Composition if both an imaginative plot and value of the lesson learnt is written clearly. If the story is flat and boring, the composition fails to make its mark. So, choosing the correct genre for your English Composition exam is very important.

Every English Composition is accompanied by a guided practice with answers, notes and vocabulary guide. If you follow the steps outlined for every practice, you will be sure to excel in your writing.

Important Tips For Writing Descriptive Essays

1. what is descriptive.

It is the observation of people, places or circumstances and padding it with one’s personalised style of describing it.

2. How do you start writing a descriptive essay?

Examine the keywords and zoom in on the main word or phrase.

3. How to write the Descriptive Introduction?

The Introduction is the most important paragraph as it tells the marker if you have understood the question or not.

Always start by mentioning the location or the time. If not, start with the most personal feeling you have about the subject or happening. 

Elaborate slightly on the effect and a general truth or some words of wisdom regarding it. Keep it brief.

Then lastly, write about how you managed to balance it in your life. This will prepare you to write on the good and bad effects of the object or event you are going to describe.

This also means you will not run out of content in English Composition.

Narrative Writing Techniques

How to write a good story.

Writing a good story entails 3 main features:

• A good protagonist (the main character)
• A protagonist who has a problem which is unusual and intriguing
• A suspenseful climax

Reflective Essay Techniques

These essays reflect a personal experience through which one gains insight and depth in one of the areas in one’s life. One of the most important aspects of a reflective essay is the mature tone and the value it imparts at the end in English Composition. 

A reflective essay is essentially about telling a story which delves deep into the story teller’s experience to provide insight into the values. The extent to which the values are affected and the extent to which the storyteller tells the tale by revealing his deepest psyche is up to him/ her. Every story is told from a different angle and every tale has a truth.

A reflective essay should start by describing the experience and then go on to reflect on the value of the experience.

Value of the experience

English Composition Techniques for Writing Argumentative Essays

An argumentative essay relies on 5 main factors:

• The thesis statement
• The cons (rebuttal)
• The conclusion

You need a good hook to start the essay. The hook should be the first sentence which shows that you have understood the question and it should reflect the way you have interpreted the question. 

A good hook should grab the attention of the reader. For example, if the question is about whether people should eat organic food, a hook could be as follows:

Turn your back to pesticide ridden vegetables and fruits packed with chemical sprays and welcome naturally grown food. 

This is a good hook in English Composition and grabs the reader’s attention straightaway.

The first step is to analyse the question carefully and understand what is required. All argumentative questions ask for a clear stand so you have to decide which side you are on. What is the best way to decide your stand?

It does not really matter whether you believe in the side you are taking though if you do so, it will help.

What really matters is that you decide to write on the side which has more points. This will depend on the current information available in the media, your reading depth and your ability to link it to the question. 

The thesis statement is very important as it tells the examiner what you feel about the essay. It should reflect your stand on the English Composition topic. Do you agree or disagree? You may say that you agree to a large extent. This leaves you with the flexibility to mention the opposite side in your rebuttal.

For example, if your English Composition essay is about why it is beneficial for people to eat organic food, you will need to think of 3 pros to support your argument. 

• The first Pro is the first point in favour of the side you have. So, the argument will begin as, “People will benefit from eating organic food as it is grown without pesticide or chemicals. They will derive the full nutritional benefits of the type of food which is grown. 
• The second Pro will be the next point to support your argument. People who eat organic food have remarked on feeling and looking more healthy. Longer lifespan and better energy levels are a result.
• Organic food is also supposed to help people to resist diseases like cancer. Cancer sufferers have also turned to organic food in an attempt to turn their lives back to a more healthy state.

Cons (Rebuttal)

The next step is to think of the cons or the rebuttal in English Composition. You may need one good rebuttal or two. The rebuttal should be a fresh point which opposes the pros mentioned earlier.                                         

• Organic food tends to be expensive and most people will find it hard to afford it.
• There is no scientific evidence which states that organic food makes a big difference from food which is grown without pesticides. If one washes vegetables carefully, the chemical coating can be removed.

The Rebuttal should be clear and accurate. If there is only one rebuttal, make sure that the evidence is accurate and up to date.

Organic food tends to be expensive and most people will find it hard to afford it. They tend to be priced at nearly ten dollars or more for a small bunch of vegetables. For families who cook a sizable portion on a daily basis, this cannot be an economical choice. Most families will opt for a cheaper option and turn to feed their families. Many people will prefer to buy vegetables and fruits which are grown with pesticides. They may feel that the health risks are minimal. A bag of organic apples costs nearly ten dollars whereas the chemically treated bag of apples may cost only a fraction of it. Cost always plays a large deciding factor for the consumer. 

This rebuttal or con has a point and evidence to support it. The paragraph has many details to highlight the point so another rebuttal may not be necessary. 

Hybrid Essay Writing Techniques

Hybrid essays are a mixture of expository, argumentative and descriptive. It could even be part narrative and part descriptive.

The subject matter could range from an expository topic such as pollution and one could be asked to give one’s opinion based on one’s views of society. So, this will be an expository essay with a descriptive content. Hybrid essays invite one to write with a personal viewpoint so a subjective treatment of a topic which is purely factual is the result.

The Expository and Narrative Hybrid

Eg. Write about your view of how a person should conduct his day to day living if he wanted to save the environment.

This topic invites personal views. So, a narrative version is possible. However, the subject is about saving the environment so there are facts involved.

You will have to write about an average person who should be more conscientious about society by recycling. An average person should not waste food, electricity or water. He should throw his paper and plastic in bins provided for that use. He should think about the future generations. What sort of world will the children of our future inherit? This trend of thought should occupy his mind. 

The Expository part:

Tells the examiner about the factual side of the English Composition essay.

“Saving the environment” means how to contribute to a greener world or efforts to preserve what we have. There are many points which can be raised about recycling, saving energy and using energy saving devices.

The Narrative part:

Tells the examiner the personal side to the English Composition essay. The part about “how a person should conduct his day to day living” can be seen from an anecdotal point of view.

The Argumentative and Descriptive Hybrid

The question is posed with reference to a topic about one’s community for instance.

The hybrid topic does not discuss world topics or factual topics but will ask you to write something rather different.

For instance, you may be asked if there is any value in playing traditional games and how much does it mean to you.

Or, it could be asking you your opinion on the performing arts and why you consider it important for yourself.

Though you may have to defend your view, there is an emphasis on your own story, your own life. You may have to explain your desire for the arts, your need to perform due to your passion. Then there will be a brief anecdote about your stint in the performing arts.

Or you may choose to write about your peers and how they view the performing arts. Why did you decide to learn that skill? If it was playing the cello, why did you choose it? What is the value in it?

How do people see you when you play it? Do they become enriched when they hear you play? Is this the value?

When you answer these questions in English Composition, you will be able to blend both the argumentative and descriptive portions of the essay.

The argumentative part: 

This is where you take a stand. Why is it important? So, you list out the reasons. This may be just for yourself or for your family.

The descriptive part:

This is where you become more introspective. You discuss your own desire for the performing arts. How it resonates within you. Your personal feelings. Does it make you happy? Which part? When you perform or rehearse? Or is it when it is over? 

Reflective or Narrative and Expository

Reflective and Narrative require you to tell a story with your own personal recount. You may write in an anecdotal style about a particular activity and what happened to you. There could be an interesting encounter or something you learnt which is relevant to the English Composition topic.

The expository portion will require you to write in a more objective way. You will need to be more concise and set forth an argument or point of view which examines the question.

Reflective and Argumentative

Reflective: A personal point of view is needed.

Eg. I feel that women should not serve in the national service as it may be too tough for them to handle. There are many of my fellow female students who find it difficult to do the marathon run. We barely manage to make it as we find it painful due to cramps.

Argumentative: Where it involves others.

Eg. Women may be an untapped resource for a country like Singapore where we have limited manpower.

This is the complete writing guide for writing excellent English Compositions for the O-levels. The next step is for you to get started with practising each genre till you reach your goal. 

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Past Years O-Level Essay Questions (English) with Essay Outlines

In this blog post, we have compiled the past years’ O-Level English Essay Questions.  However, looking at these questions is not enough for your child’s revision.  Hence, we have included essay outlines to accompany the essay questions from year 2022 to 2018. 

These essay outlines, (almost 2100 words long), are written by the English curriculum team at Writing Samurai and Grade Solution Learning Centre.  When you download the pdf of these essay outlines, you get to learn how to…

• Breakdown and analyse a question
• Generate main points and examples
• How to formulate counter-arguments
• Come up with ideas for personal recount and reflective essays

Use it as a study resource for your child!

Here’s a video preview of our Past Year’s O-level essay outlines:

So before you go on reading… You might want to download a pdf copy of our Essay Outlines from Year 2018 – 2022! 

Click the blue download button, enter your email, and the pdf file will be delivered to your inbox! (Remember to check spam!) 

• Some people enjoy being in a crowded place, while others prefer somewhere quieter with fewer people. Describe your perfect place when you want to relax.
• “I realised that I was much stronger than I had previously thought.” Write about a time when you felt like this.
• “Young people spend so much time thinking about the future that they forget to enjoy the present.” How far do you agree?
• “People today are far too easily persuaded to spend money on things they don’t need.” Do you agree that advertising has made us wasteful? 
• Describe the sights and sounds of a shopping mall. Remember to describe the people too.
• “I felt I was on top of the world.” Write about a time when you felt like this.
• “Young people are making the world a better place.” What is your opinion.
• “A happy person is a healthy person.” How far do you agree?
• Describe ways to relax after you have been busy. Explain why it is enjoyable for you.
• Write about a time when you did something to impress someone and regretted it.
• Learning how to respond to mistakes is essential for success. What is your opinion?
• “There is no place like home.” Is it true to you?
• Which person has the most positive impact on your life? Describe the individual’s personality and in what ways he or she influenced you. 
• “It was the proudest moment.” Write about a time when you felt like this.
• Most young people today are obsessed with fame and imitating celebrities. What are your views?
• “People can only be happy if they feel they are treated fairly.” Do you agree?
• Describe an event that you looked forward to which turned out to be disappointing. Explain why you were excited about it and why it didn’t live up to your expectations.
• “I had never seen my friend laugh so much!” Write about a time when this happened.
• Some people like to stand out from the crowd; others just want to be part of it. Which do you prefer and why?
• Which modern invention is essential for you and your family and which one could you and your family live without? Explain your views.
• Describe a place that means a great deal to you. Why is it so important?
• Write about a time when you caused great disappointment to a person. What did you do about the situation?
• It is often said that people are too concerned with getting things and spending money. What is your opinion?
• People should always tell the truth.’ Do you think there are any situations in which this might not be the best thing to do? Explain your views.
• Describe a childhood toy, or a game you played, which still means a great deal to you. Why is it so important?
• Do you agree that we can learn from the mistakes of others or do we need to learn from our own experiences?
• What are your ambitions for the future? Explain how you plan to achieve them, including any possible difficulties.
• To what extent do you agree with the idea that some teenagers lead an unhealthy lifestyle? Give reasons for your views.
• Describe the possession that matters most to you and explain why you would never be prepared to part with it.
• The world would be a very dull place without music’ What are your views?
• Shoppers have too much choice, from chocolate bars to jeans’ What, in your opinion, are the advantages and disadvantages of having many things to choose from?
• Do electronic devices, such as tablets or smart phones, help or hinder students in their studies?
• Describe how you celebrated an important family occasion. Why will this event always remain in your memory?
• Which features of Singapore and its citizens make it a major tourist attraction for people from all over the world?
• Which person has the greatest influence on your life at the present time, and why?
• The best things in life are free’ Write about some of the occasions when you have found this to be true.
• Parents often believe that it is better to be safe than sorry. Do you consider young people to be too protected?
• Describe some of your experiences in food courts and hawker centers. How important are these places in your life as a teenager in Singapore?
• The way we dress reveals who we are’ What are your views?
• What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? Why does it mean so much to you?
• Write about an incident you still remember from your early childhood. Why do you think it has remained in your mind so clearly?
• People all over the world are living longer. What are the advantages and disadvantages of their increased life expectancy?
• Describe an annual event which you enjoy and explain why it is so important to you.
• The use of motorcars is the greatest threat to the environment’ Do you agree?
• “It is better never to borrow or lend money” What are your views on this advice?
• Write about an amusing incident on a day out with your family, which still makes you laugh whenever you remember it.
• Should boys and girls be given exactly the same type of education?
• Describe how a religious or national event is celebrated in your country.
• What important lessons in life are learned away from school?
• Write about an occasion when it was necessary to tell the truth whatever the consequences.
• Some people say that the internet does more harm than good. What is your view?
• Describe the location and the main features of your ideal home and explain why you think it would be an ideal place to live.
• In the 21st century, how important is it to be able to read, write and speak English in Singapore?
• I’m bored’ is so often the cry of teenagers today. What could be done about this?
• Write about an occasion when an attempt to help led to unexpected consequences for the helper.
• Write about some of your worries and hopes for the future.
• The delights and frustrations of being a teenager
• Write about an occasion when you just could not stop laughing at an inappropriate moment.
• Television, newspapers and the Internet – which of these do young people prefer as a source of information, and why?
• In your opinion, what kind of voluntary work is worth doing, and why?
• If you were drawing up a set of school rules for a new school, what would they be? Explain which of these you think are the most important
• Nowadays, people live longer than ever before. What problems does this present and how can these problems be dealt with?
• Write about someone who failed to live up to his or her reputation.
• Write about some of the things in your country you value the most and would miss greatly, if you had to live in another country
• Write about a time when your late arrival for a particular meeting or event led to serious trouble.
• What do you think secondary schools can do to ensure the health, well-being and safety of their students?
• Given the limited land available in Singapore, is it wise to set aside some areas as nature reserves?
• Do you feel that you need the long school vacation? How do you occupy your time during the December break, when schools are closed?

See more related articles and information on Writing Samurai:

• How to Write Argumentative Essays For Secondary School
• Top Tips on How to Write Discursive Essays
• Benefits of Secondary English Tuition
• Past O-Level Essays and Questions For Secondary English
• Exam Smart Tips For Language Editing
• Top Exam Tips for Secondary English

Before you leave this page… You might want to download a pdf copy of our Essay Outlines from Year 2018 – 2022! 

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How to Write a College Essay: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

One way to think of your college essay is as the heart of your application—as in, it helps an admissions officer see who you are, what you value, and what you bring to their campus and community.

And before we talk you through how to write your college essay, we want to acknowledge something fairly strange about this process: namely, that this is a kind of writing that you’ve maybe never been asked to do before.

In that sense, college essays are a bizarre bait-and-switch—in high school, you’re taught a few different ways to write (e.g., maybe some historical analysis, or how to analyze literature, or creative writing), and then to apply to college, you’re asked to write something fairly different (or maybe completely different) from any of the things you’ve been asked to write in high school.

So first we’ll talk you through

the purpose of your college essay

and the degree to which it is important in your application (preview: it won’t be as important for some people as for others)

and then we’ll walk you step-by-step through how to write an essay that can help you stand out in the application process.

Let’s dive in.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Brainstorming your college essay topic, how to structure & outline a college essay, the difference between a boring and a stand-out personal statement.

• A quick word on “common” or “cliché” topics
• The “home” essay: a quick college essay case study
• Five (more) ways to find a thematic thread for your personal statement
• Montage essay structure FAQ’s
• Narrative essay structure FAQ’s

How to write a college essay: understanding what it is and how important it can be

What’s the purpose of your college essay (aka the personal statement).

This is your main essay. Your application centerpiece. The part of your application you’re likely to spend the most time on.

Assuming you’re applying via the Common App (here’s our how-to guide for that), the personal statement is likely to be 500-650 words long (so about a page) and many of the colleges you’re applying to will require it. (If you’re applying to the UCs, you’ll need to write some totally different essays .)

What’s a college essay’s purpose?

Jennifer Blask, Executive Director for International Admissions at the University of Rochester, puts it beautifully: “So much of the college application is a recounting of things past—past grades, old classes, activities the student has participated in over several years. The essay is a chance for the student to share who they are now and what they will bring to our campus communities.” 

Basically, college admission officers are looking for three takeaways in your college essay:

Who is this person?

Will this person contribute something of value to our campus?

Can this person write?

If you want to dig deeper into how admissions officers are thinking during the admissions process , or into what colleges look for in students , check out those two guides.

How important is your college essay?

That really depends on a lot of factors, but two of the biggest are the schools you’re applying to, and your academic profile. Here’s one way to think of the importance of essays:

Essays are less important if

You’re applying to “selective” colleges (around a 15-50% acceptance rate) and your academic profile is stronger than other applicants’

You’re applying in-state to large colleges, and/or to less competitive programs (e.g. you live in Sacramento and are applying to UC Riverside as an English major)

Essays are more important if

You’re applying to “highly-selective” aka “highly rejective”) colleges, meaning they have a less than 15% acceptance rate

You’re applying to “selective” colleges (around a 15-50% acceptance rate) but your academic profile isn’t as strong as other applicants’

You’re applying to really competitive programs (for example, engineering and computer science at some schools have way, way more applicants than spots) and/or you’re applying out-of-state to a state school system (e.g. you live in Montana and want to go to school at the University of Washington, and/or you want to study CS at UW).

To illustrate further—CEG’s Tom Campbell, who used to be an Assistant Dean of Admissions at Pomona , puts it this way: around 80% of the applicants to Pomona in a given year when he worked there were academically admissible. Meaning at schools like Pomona (with its 7ish% acceptance rate), grades and test scores don’t really get you in—they just get your foot in the door.

And an important thing to understand on that last note: if you get rejected from the “highly rejective” schools, it will tend to have a lot more to do with things like institutional priorities —some things in this process are out of your control.

Below are the five exercises I have every student complete before I meet with them:

Essence Objects Exercise : 12 min.

Values Exercise : 4 min.

21 Details Exercise : 20 min. 

Everything I Want Colleges to Know About Me Exercise : 20 min.

The Feelings and Needs Exercise : 15-20 min. 

I recommend recording all the content from your exercises in one document to keep things neat. If you’ve been working as you go, you’ve already completed these, so make sure to do this step now. You can use our downloadable Google doc with these exercises if you’d like.

At the start of the essay process, I ask students two questions:

Have you faced significant challenges in your life?

Do you want to write about them? 

Because here’s an important qualifier: 

Even if you’ve faced challenges, you do not have to write about them in your personal statement.  

I mention this now because, in my experience, many students are under the impression that they have to write about challenges—that it’s either expected, or that it’s somehow better to do so.

Neither is true. (And to be sure it’s clear: you do not have to write about trauma in your college essay to stand out .)

I’ve seen many, many incredible essays—ones that got students into every school you’re hoping to get into—that had no central challenge.

If your answer is “Maybe … ?” because you’re not sure what qualifies as a challenge, it’s useful to think of challenges as being on a spectrum.

On the weaker end of the spectrum would be things like getting a bad grade or not making X sports team. On the strong end of the spectrum would be things like escaping war. Being extremely shy but being responsible for translating for your family might be around a 3 or 4 out of 10. (Check this out if you want to read more about college essay topics to maybe avoid .)

It’s possible to use Narrative Structure to write about a challenge anywhere on the spectrum, but it’s much, much harder to write an outstanding essay about a weaker challenge.

Sometimes students pick the hardest challenge they’ve been through and try to make it sound worse than it actually was. Beware of pushing yourself to write about a challenge merely because you think these types of essays are inherently “better.” Focusing myopically on one experience can sideline other brilliant and beautiful elements of your character.

If you’re still uncertain, don’t worry. I’ll help you decide what to focus on. But, for the sake of this blog post, answer those first two questions with a gut-level response.

In the sections that follow, I’ll introduce you to two structures: Narrative Structure, which works well for describing challenges, and Montage Structure, which works well for essays that aren’t about challenges.

Heads-up: Some students who have faced challenges find after reading that they prefer Montage Structure to Narrative Structure. Or vice versa. If you’re uncertain which approach is best for you, I generally recommend experimenting with montage first; you can always go back and play with narrative.

How to write a college essay using montage structure

A montage is, simply put, a series of moments or story events connected by a common thematic thread. 

Well-known examples from movies include “training” montages, like those from Mulan , Rocky , or Footloose , or the “falling in love” montage from most romantic comedies. Or remember the opening to the Pixar movie Up ? In just a few minutes, we learn the entire history of Carl and Ellie’s relationship. One purpose is to communicate a lot of information fast. Another is to allow you to share a lot of different kinds of information, as the example essay below shows. 

Narrative Structure vs. Montage Structure explained in two sentences:

In Narrative Structure, story events connect chronologically.

In Montage Structure, story events connect thematically.

Here’s a metaphor to illustrate a montage approach: 

Imagine that each different part of you is a bead and that a select few will show up in your essay. They’re not the kind of beads you’d find on a store-bought bracelet; they’re more like the hand-painted beads on a bracelet your little brother made for you. 

The theme of your essay is the thread that connects your beads. 

You can find a thread in many, many different ways. One way we’ve seen students find great montage threads is by using the 5 Things Exercise . I’ll get detailed on this a little bit later, but essentially, are there 5 thematically connected things that thread together different experiences/moments/events in your life? For example, are there 5 T-shirts you collected, or 5 homes or identities, or 5 entries in your Happiness Spreadsheet .

And to clarify, your essay may end up using only 4 of the 5 things. Or maybe 8. But 5 is a nice number to aim for initially.

Note the huge range of possible essay threads. To illustrate, here are some different “thread” examples that have worked well:

Sports have had a powerful influence on me, from my understanding of history, to numbers, to my relationships, extracurricular activities, and even my career choice.

I lived with 5 different families as an exchange student, and each one taught me something valuable that I’ll carry with me to college.

Crassulaceae plants, which can reproduce via stem or leaf fragments, are a great analogy for not only how I make art, but how I choose to live each day.

Binary star systems are a metaphor for my relationship with my parents.

I am “trans” in so many ways … let me describe a few.

To understand who I am, you must understand how I cook.

Pranks have shaped my life in a variety of ways.

The number 12 has influenced so much in my life, from my relationship to sports, to how I write, to my self-esteem.

All of these threads stemmed from the brainstorming exercises in this post.

We’ll look at an example essay in a minute, but before we do, a word (well, a bunch of words) on how to build a stronger montage (and the basic concept here also applies to building stronger narratives).

Would you Rather watch instead?

To frame how to think about possible college essay topics ... .

Imagine you’re interviewing for a position as a fashion designer, and your interviewer asks you what qualities make you right for this position. Oh, and heads-up: That imaginary interviewer has already interviewed a hundred people today, so you’d best not roll up with, “because I’ve always loved clothes” or “because fashion helps me express my creativity.” Why shouldn’t you say those things? Because that’s what everyone says.

Many students are the same in their personal statements—they name cliché qualities/skills/values and don’t push their reflections much further.

Why is this a bad idea?

Let me frame it this way:

A boring personal statement chooses a common topic, makes common connections, and uses common language. 

A stand-out personal statement chooses an un common topic, makes un common connections, and uses un common language. 

Boring personal statement: I want to be a doctor (common topic) because I’m empathetic and I love helping people (common connections) and I really want to make the world a better place (common language).

Better personal statement: I want to run a tech-startup (more uncommon topic) because I value humor, “leading from the battlefield,” and stuff that makes me cry (uncommon connections for an essay on this topic), and because my journey to this place took me from being a scrawny 12-year-old kid to a scrawny 12-year-old man (uncommon language).

Important: I’m not saying you should pick a weird topic/thread just so it’ll help you stand out more on your essay. Be honest. But consider this: The more common your topic is ... the more un common your connections need to be if you want to stand out.

What do I mean? 

For example, tons of students write doctor/lawyer/engineer essays; if you want to stand out, you need to say a few things that others don’t tend to say. 

How do you figure out what to say? By making uncommon connections. 

They’re the key to a stand-out essay.

The following two-part exercise will help you do this.

2-minute exercise: Start with the cliché version of your essay.

What would the cliché version of your essay focus on?

If you’re writing a “Why I want to be an engineer” essay, for example, what 3-5 common “engineering” values might other students have mentioned in connection with engineering? Use the Values Exercise for ideas.

Collaboration? Efficiency? Hands-on work? Probably yes to all three.

Once you’ve spent 2 minutes thinking up some common/cliché values, move onto the next step.

8-Minute Exercise: Brainstorm uncommon connections.

For example, if your thread is “food” (which can lead to great essays, but is also a really common topic), push yourself beyond the common value of “health” and strive for unexpected values. How has cooking taught you about “accountability,” for example, or “social change”? Why do this? We’ve already read the essay on how cooking helped the author become more aware of their health. An essay on how cooking allowed the author to become more accountable or socially aware would be less common.

In a minute, we’ll look at the “Laptop Stickers” essay. One thing that author discusses is activism. A typical “activist” essay might discuss public speaking or how the author learned to find their voice. A stand-out essay would go further, demonstrating, say, how a sense of humor supports activism. Perhaps it would describe a childhood community that prioritized culture-creation over culture-consumption, reflecting on how these experiences shaped the author’s political views.

And before you beg me for an “uncommon values” resource, I implore you to use your brilliant brain to dream up these connections. Plus, you aren’t looking for uncommon values in general ; you’re looking for values uncommonly associated with your topic/thread .

Don’t get me wrong ... I’m not saying you shouldn’t list any common values, since some common values may be an important part of your story! In fact, the great essay examples throughout this book sometimes make use of common connections. I’m simply encouraging you to go beyond the obvious.

Also note that a somewhat-common lesson (e.g., “I found my voice”) can still appear in a stand-out essay. But if you choose this path, you’ll likely need to use either an uncommon structure or next-level craft to create a stand-out essay.

Where can you find ideas for uncommon qualities/skills/values?

Here are four places: 

1. The Values Exercise

This is basically a huge list of qualities/skills/values that could serve you in a future career.

2. O*Net Online

Go to www.onetonline.org and use the “occupation quick search” feature to search for your career. Once you do, a huge list will appear containing knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for your career. This is one of my favorite resources for this exercise.

3. School websites

Go to a college's website and click on a major or group of majors that interest you. Sometimes they’ll briefly summarize a major in terms of what skills it’ll impart or what jobs it might lead to. Students are often surprised to discover how broadly major-related skills can apply.

4. Real humans

Ask 3 people in this profession what unexpected qualities, values, or skills prepared them for their careers. Please don’t simply use their answers as your own; allow their replies to inspire your brainstorming process.

Once you’ve got a list of, say, 7-10 qualities, move on to the next step.

A quick word on “common” or “cliché” college essay topics

Common personal statement topics include extracurricular activities (sports or musical instruments), service trips to foreign countries (aka the “mission trip” essay where the author realizes their privilege), sports injuries, family illnesses, deaths, divorce, the “meta” essay (e.g., “As I sit down to write my college essays, I think about...”), or someone who inspired you (common mistake: This usually ends up being more about them than you).

While I won’t say you should never write about these topics, if you do decide to write about one of these topics, the degree of difficulty goes way up. What do I mean? Essentially, you have to be one of the best “soccer” essays or “mission trip” essays among the hundreds the admission officer has likely read (and depending on the school, maybe the hundreds they’ve read this year ). So it makes it much more difficult to stand out.

How do you stand out? A cliché is all in how you tell the story. So, if you do choose a common topic, work to make uncommon connections (i.e., offer unexpected narrative turns or connections to values), provide uncommon insights (i.e., say stuff we don’t expect you to say) or uncommon language (i.e., phrase things in a way we haven’t heard before).

Or explore a different topic. You are infinitely complex and imaginative.

Sample montage structure college essay:

My laptop stickers.

My laptop is like a passport. It is plastered with stickers all over the outside, inside, and bottom. Each sticker is a stamp, representing a place I’ve been, a passion I’ve pursued, or community I’ve belonged to. These stickers make for an untraditional first impression at a meeting or presentation, but it’s one I’m proud of. Let me take you on a quick tour:  “ We <3 Design ,” bottom left corner. Art has been a constant for me for as long as I can remember. Today my primary engagement with art is through design. I’ve spent entire weekends designing websites and social media graphics for my companies. Design means more to me than just branding and marketing; it gives me the opportunity to experiment with texture, perspective, and contrast, helping me refine my professional style.    “ Common Threads ,” bottom right corner. A rectangular black and red sticker displaying the theme of the 2017 TEDxYouth@Austin event. For years I’ve been interested in the street artists and musicians in downtown Austin who are so unapologetically themselves. As a result, I’ve become more open-minded and appreciative of unconventional lifestyles. TED gives me the opportunity to help other youth understand new perspectives, by exposing them to the diversity of Austin where culture is created, not just consumed. Poop emoji , middle right. My 13-year-old brother often sends his messages with the poop emoji ‘echo effect,’ so whenever I open a new message from him, hundreds of poops elegantly cascade across my screen. He brings out my goofy side, but also helps me think rationally when I am overwhelmed. We don’t have the typical “I hate you, don’t talk to me” siblinghood (although occasionally it would be nice to get away from him); we’re each other’s best friends. Or at least he’s mine.  “ Lol ur not Harry Styles ,” upper left corner. Bought in seventh grade and transferred from my old laptop, this sticker is torn but persevering with layers of tape. Despite conveying my fangirl-y infatuation with Harry Styles’ boyband, One Direction, for me Styles embodies an artist-activist who uses his privilege for the betterment of society. As a $42K donor to the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, a hair donor to the Little Princess Trust, and promoter of LGBTQ+ equality, he has motivated me to be a more public activist instead of internalizing my beliefs.   “ Catapult ,” middle right. This is the logo of a startup incubator where I launched my first company, Threading Twine. I learned that business can provide others access to fundamental human needs, such as economic empowerment of minorities and education. In my career, I hope to be a corporate advocate for the empowerment of women, creating large-scale impact and deconstructing institutional boundaries that obstruct women from working in high-level positions. Working as a women’s rights activist will allow me to engage in creating lasting movements for equality, rather than contributing to a cycle that elevates the stances of wealthy individuals.  “ Thank God it’s Monday ,” sneakily nestled in the upper right corner. Although I attempt to love all my stickers equally (haha), this is one of my favorites. I always want my association with work to be positive.  And there are many others, including the horizontal, yellow stripes of the Human Rights Campaign ; “ The Team ,” a sticker from the Model G20 Economics Summit where I collaborated with youth from around the globe; and stickers from “ Kode with Klossy ,” a community of girls working to promote women’s involvement in underrepresented fields.  When my computer dies (hopefully not for another few years), it will be like my passport expiring. It’ll be difficult leaving these moments and memories behind, but I probably won’t want these stickers in my 20s anyways (except Harry Styles, that’s never leaving). My next set of stickers will reveal my next set of aspirations. They hold the key to future paths I will navigate, knowledge I will gain, and connections I will make.

Cool, huh? And see what I mean about how you can write a strong personal statement without focusing on challenges you’ve faced?

Going back to that “thread and beads” metaphor with the “My Laptop Sticker” essay:

The “beads” are the different experiences that link to the values of creativity, open-mindedness, humor, courage, and entrepreneurialism.

The “thread” (i.e., the theme that ties everything together) is her laptop stickers. Each one represents a quality of the author’s personality. Actually, there’s a second thematic thread: Those qualities will also serve her in her women’s rights activism. Bonus!

The outline that got her there

Here’s the outline for the “My Laptop Stickers” essay. Notice how each bullet point discusses a value or values, connected to different experiences via her thread, and sets up the insights she could explore. (Insight, though, is the toughest part of the writing process, and will probably take the most revision, so it’s fine if you don’t have great insights in an outline or first draft. But you’ll want to get to them by your final draft.) 

She found this thread essentially by using The Five Things Exercise in conjunction with the other brainstorming exercises.

Thread = Laptop Stickers

We <3 Design → art, design, experimentation

Details: spent weekend designing websites, graphics for my companies

Possible insight: Developed my own style

Common Threads → authenticity, open-mindedness

Details: Street artists, musicians in Austin

Possible insight: Creating not just consuming culture

Poop emoji → family, goofy side

Details: Brother, interactions, thinking rationally

Possible insight: Connection/vulnerability

Lol ur not Harry Styles → equality, activism, confidence

Details: Various activism as motivation/reminder to act vs just internalize

Possible insight: My growth with acting/speaking up

Catapult → entrepreneurship, social justice, awareness, meaningful work

Details: Threaded Twine, women’s rights, breaking cycles 

Possible insight: Discovered my career

Thank God it's Monday → enjoyable work

Possible insight: Importance of experience/framing

Possible insight: Want work to always be this way

The Team → collaboration

Details: Model G20 Econ Summit, group collaboration

Kode with Klossy → community, social justice

Details: Promoting women in underrepresented fields

Okay, so if you’re on board so far, here’s what you need: 

Some stuff to write about (ideally 4-10 things) that will make up the “beads” of your essay, and

Something to connect all the different “beads” (like a connective theme or thread)

First, let’s talk about ...

How to generate lots of ‘stuff’ to write about (aka the beads for your bracelet)

Complete all the brainstorming exercises. 

Already did that? Great! Move on! 

Didn’t do that? Go back , complete the exercises, and then ...

Case study: How to find a theme for your personal statement (aka the thread that connects the beads of your bracelet)

Let’s look at an example of how I helped one student find her essay thread, then I’ll offer you some exercises to help you find your own.

The “Home” essay: A quick college essay case study

First, take a look at this student’s Essence Objects and 21 Details: 

My Essence Objects

Bojangle’s Tailgate Special/Iced Tea 

Light blue fuzzy blanket

A box containing my baby tooth 

Car keys 

Gold bracelet from my grandfather

Orange, worn Nike Free Run Sneakers

Duke basketball game ticket

Palestine flag rubber wristband/ISEF Lanyard

Friendship bracelet

A pair of headphones

Yin-yang symbol

Worn, green Governor’s School East lanyard

My 21 Details

I’ve been known to have terrible spatial awareness despite being a dancer. Just last week, my shoelace got caught in an escalator and I tripped about 20 people. 

Zumba and kickboxing are my favorite forms of exercise and I’m hopefully going to become certified to teach Zumba soon. 

I have misophonia--sometimes I even have to eat dinner in a different room from my family.

My go-to drinks are Hi-C and Sweet Tea.

I became a pescatarian this year to avoid fried chicken, and I can honestly get a life’s worth of meat out of cod, salmon, tilapia, shrimp, you name it.

I collect funky socks--at this point, I have socks with tacos, snowmen, Santa, and even animals wearing glasses.

I’ve gotten different Myers-Briggs personality types every time I took the test. The most recent ones are ENFJ and ENFP.

I have no immediate relatives in America besides my mom, dad, and sister.

I am a diehard Duke basketball fan, and I can identify all of the Duke basketball fans at my high school on one hand. 

I love discussing psychology, but sometimes I psychoanalyze.       

Singing while driving is honestly one of my favorite pastimes.    

My alarm for school every morning is at 5:42 am. 

I hope to complete a half and full marathon within the next four years, despite not having run a 5k yet. 

I realized the tooth fairy wasn’t real after I lost my second tooth, but I pretended that I still believed in it until I was in 5th grade for the tooth fairy’s “gifts”. 

I could eat fruits for every single meal.                

I don’t do well with confrontation.        

Airports are hands-down my favorite place to be, but I hate airplanes. 

If I’m not busy or working, you can usually find me in my hammock in the backyard. 

I find that I form the deepest connections with people after 12am. 

 Sometimes, I like TV spoilers.

How this author found her thematic thread

When I met with this student for the first time, I began asking questions about her objects and details: “What’s up with the Bojangle’s Iced Tea? What’s meaningful to you about the Governor’s School East lanyard? Tell me about your relationship to dance ...”

We were thread-finding ... searching for an invisible connective [something] that would allow her to talk about different parts of her life.

Heads-up: Some people are really good at this—counselors are often great at this—while some folks have a more difficult time. Good news: When you practice the skill of thread-finding, you can become better at it rather quickly.

You should also know that sometimes it takes minutes to find a thread and sometimes it can take weeks. With this student, it took less than an hour. 

I noticed in our conversation that she kept coming back to things that made her feel comfortable. She also repeated the word “home” several times. When I pointed this out, she asked me, “Do you think I could use ‘home’ as a thread for my essay?” 

“I think you could,” I said. 

Read her essay below, then I’ll share more about how you can find your own thematic thread.

Example essay: HOME

As I enter the double doors, the smell of freshly rolled biscuits hits me almost instantly. I trace the fan blades as they swing above me, emitting a low, repetitive hum resembling a faint melody. After bringing our usual order, the “Tailgate Special,” to the table, my father begins discussing the recent performance of Apple stock with my mother, myself, and my older eleven year old sister. Bojangle’s, a Southern establishment well known for its fried chicken and reliable fast food, is my family’s Friday night restaurant, often accompanied by trips to Eva Perry, the nearby library. With one hand on my breaded chicken and the other on Nancy Drew: Mystery of Crocodile Island, I can barely sit still as the thriller unfolds. They’re imprisoned! Reptiles! Not the enemy’s boat! As I delve into the narrative with a sip of sweet tea, I feel at home. “Five, six, seven, eight!” As I shout the counts, nineteen dancers grab and begin to spin the tassels attached to their swords while walking heel-to-toe to the next formation of the classical Chinese sword dance. A glance at my notebook reveals a collection of worn pages covered with meticulously planned formations, counts, and movements. Through sharing videos of my performances with my relatives or discovering and choreographing the nuances of certain regional dances and their reflection on the region’s distinct culture, I deepen my relationship with my parents, heritage, and community. When I step on stage, the hours I’ve spent choreographing, creating poses, teaching, and polishing are all worthwhile, and the stage becomes my home. Set temperature. Calibrate. Integrate. Analyze. Set temperature. Calibrate. Integrate. Analyze. This pulse mimics the beating of my heart, a subtle rhythm that persists each day I come into the lab. Whether I am working under the fume hood with platinum nanoparticles, manipulating raw integration data, or spraying a thin platinum film over pieces of copper, it is in Lab 304 in Hudson Hall that I first feel the distinct sensation, and I’m home. After spending several weeks attempting to synthesize platinum nanoparticles with a diameter between 10 and 16 nm, I finally achieve nanoparticles with a diameter of 14.6 nm after carefully monitoring the sulfuric acid bath. That unmistakable tingling sensation dances up my arm as I scribble into my notebook: I am overcome with a feeling of unbridled joy.  Styled in a t-shirt, shorts, and a worn, dark green lanyard, I sprint across the quad from the elective ‘Speaking Arabic through the Rassias Method’ to ‘Knitting Nirvana’. This afternoon is just one of many at Governor’s School East, where I have been transformed from a high school student into a philosopher, a thinker, and an avid learner. While I attend GS at Meredith College for Natural Science, the lessons learned and experiences gained extend far beyond physics concepts, serial dilutions, and toxicity. I learn to trust myself to have difficult yet necessary conversations about the political and economic climate. Governor’s School breeds a culture of inclusivity and multidimensionality, and I am transformed from “girl who is hardworking” or “science girl” to someone who indulges in the sciences, debates about psychology and the economy, and loves to swing and salsa dance. As I form a slip knot and cast on, I’m at home. My home is a dynamic and eclectic entity. Although I’ve lived in the same house in Cary, North Carolina for 10 years, I have found and carved homes and communities that are filled with and enriched by tradition, artists, researchers, and intellectuals. While I may not always live within a 5 mile radius of a Bojangle’s or in close proximity to Lab 304, learning to become a more perceptive daughter and sister, to share the beauty of my heritage, and to take risks and redefine scientific and personal expectations will continue to impact my sense of home. 

Rad essay, huh? 

But here’s the question I get most often about this technique: How do I find my thematic thread?

Five (more) ways to find a thematic thread for your college personal statement

1. The “Bead-Making” Exercise (5-8 min.)

In the example above, we started with the beads, and then we searched for a thread. This exercise asks you to start with the thread of something you know well and then create the beads. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: On a blank sheet of paper, make a list of five or six things you know a lot about.

For example, I know a lot about …

Words/language

Productivity

Voices/accents

Self-help books

If you can only think of 3 or 4, that’s okay.

Step 2: Pick one of the things you wrote down, flip your paper over, and write it at the top of your paper, like this:

This is your thread, or a potential thread.

Step 3: Underneath what you wrote down, name 5-6 values you could connect to this. These will serve as the beads of your essay. You can even draw a thread connecting your beads, if you want, like this:

Step 4: For each value, write down a specific example, memory, image, or essence object that connects to that value. Example: 

My thread: Games

My beads: Connection, creativity, fun/laughter, family, competition, knowledge

Here are my examples/memories/images/essence objects:

Connection: One memory I have is playing “I love” in a circle at camp with 20 friends and strangers. I still marvel at how quickly it helped us bond.

Creativity: After I understand how a game works, I like to try to improve it by tweaking the rules. Two examples: 1) I remember when I was young trying to find the right amount of money for the Free Parking space in Monopoly, and 2) recently, I learned the game Guesstimation is so much better if you add wagers. I see my 4-year-old daughter tweaks games too, which drives my wife crazy, as she likes to play by the rules of the game.

Fun/laughter: As I’ve aged, so much of my life has become planned/programmed, but I can still enjoy losing track of time with board games. Two weeks ago, for example, I laughed so hard I cried while playing Drawful with Lisa, Andy, and Sage.

Family: We played games like Charades and Jeopardy when I was young. (My dad was the Game Master who would come up with the categories. As I grew older, I took over the role of Game Master.)

Competition: People don’t know this about me because I seem so chill, but I am incredibly competitive. Things I rarely lose at: ping pong, Tetris, foosball, and corn hole. I’ve gotten much better over the years at hiding my competitive side, but it’s still there.

Knowledge: Can’t really think of much on this one—maybe something related to Jeopardy? 

This is an actual brainstorm I did using this exercise. 

And, as I write these things down, I notice a theme of youth/old age emerging. Games have changed for me as I’ve gotten older. Note that I couldn’t come up with something for the last one, “knowledge,” which is fine. 

The point is this: If you know a thing well, odds are good you’ll be able to make a lot of connections to your values. And if you can find specific examples for each value, that can make for interesting paragraphs in your personal statement. 

If you’re willing to spend a few more minutes, ask “so what?” of each example to see if a specific insight emerges. 

And, in case you want a formula for what I’m describing, here you go:

Once you’ve written down the values and at least one example (e.g., a memory, image, essence object) for each bead, see if you have enough content for an essay. 

Still haven’t found your theme? Here are ...

More ways to find a thematic thread for your personal statement

2. The “Five Things” Exercise 

(Special thanks to my colleague, Dori Middlebrook, for this one.)  

I mentioned this when we first started talking about Montage Structure. Similar to the “bead-making” exercise above, you identify the thread first and then develop the beads.

Step 1: Write down 5 similar things that are meaningful to you in different ways. 

Examples: Five Pairs of Shoes I’ve Worn, Five Houses I’ve Lived In, Five Photographs in My Room, Five Ways Cooking Has Influenced Me, etc. 

Step 2: Begin by simply naming the 5 different items. 

Example: High-top tennis shoes, flip-flops, heels, cleats, bunny slippers

Step 3: Add physical details so we can visualize each one. 

Step 4: Add more details. Maybe tell a story for each. 

Pro tip: Try connecting each of the 5 to a different value.

Step 5: Expand on each description further and start to connect the ideas to develop them into an essay draft. 

3. Thread-finding with a partner

Grab someone who knows you well (e.g., a counselor, friend, family member). Share all your brainstorming content with them and ask them to  mirror back to you what they’re seeing. It can be helpful if they use reflective language and ask lots of questions. An example of a reflective observation is: “I’m hearing that ‘building’ has been pretty important in your life … is that right?” You’re hunting together for a thematic thread—something that might connect different parts of your life and self.

4. Thread-finding with photographs

Pick 10 of your favorite photos or social media posts and write a short paragraph on each one. Why’d you pick these photos? What do they say about you? Then ask yourself, “What are some things these photos have in common?” Bonus points: Can you find one thing that connects all of them?

5. Reading lots of montage example essays that work

You’ll find some here , here , and here . While you may be tempted to steal those thematic threads, don’t. Try finding your own. Have the courage to be original. You can do it.

Montage Essay Structure FAQs

Q: How do I work in extracurricular activities in a tasteful way (so it doesn’t seem like I’m bragging)?

A: Some counselors caution, with good reason, against naming extracurricular activities/experiences in your personal statement. (It can feel redundant with your Activities List.) You actually can mention them , just make sure you do so in context of your essay’s theme. Take another look at the eighth paragraph of the “My Laptop Stickers” essay above, for example:

And there are many [other stickers], including the horizontal, yellow stripes of the Human Rights Campaign; “The Team,” a sticker from the Model G20 Economics Summit where I collaborated with youth from around the globe; and stickers from “Kode with Klossy,” a community of girls working to promote women’s involvement in underrepresented fields. 

A description of these extracurricular activities may have sounded like a laundry list of the author’s accomplishments. But because she’s naming other stickers (which connects them to the essay’s thematic thread), she basically gets to name-drop those activities while showing other parts of her life. Nice.

One more way to emphasize a value is to combine or disguise it with humor. Example: “Nothing teaches patience (and how to tie shoes really fast) like trying to wrangle 30 first-graders by yourself for 10 hours per week,” or “I’ve worked three jobs, but I’ve never had to take more crap from my bosses than I did this past summer while working at my local veterinarian’s office.” 

In each of these examples, the little bit of humor covers the brag. Each is basically pointing out that the author had to work a lot and it wasn’t always fun. No need to push this humor thing, though. Essays don’t need to be funny to be relatable, and if the joke doesn’t come naturally, it might come across as trying too hard. 

Q: How do I transition between examples so my essay “flows” well?

A: The transitions are the toughest part of this essay type. Fine-tuning them will take some time, so be patient. One exercise I love is called Revising Your Essay in 5 Steps , and it basically works like this: 

Highlight the first sentence of each of your paragraphs in bold, then read each one aloud in order. Do they connect, creating a short version of your essay? If not: 

Rewrite the bold sentences so that they do connect (i.e., flow) together. Once you’ve done that …

Rewrite each paragraph so it flows from those bolded sentences. 

Read them aloud again. Wash, rinse, repeat until the ideas flow together.

This is a great way to figure out the “bones” (i.e., structure) of your essay. 

Q: What am I looking for again? 

A: You’re looking for two things: 

Parts of yourself that are essential to who you are (e.g., values or “islands of your personality”), and 

A theme that connects them all. 

Your theme could be something mundane (like your desk) or something everyone can relate to ( like the concept of home ), but make sure that it is elastic (i.e. can connect to many different parts of you) and visual, as storytelling made richer with images.

Each of the values creates an island of your personality and a paragraph for your essay.

Montage step-by-step recap: 

Review your brainstorming exercises and look for threads that connect 4-7 different values through 4-7 different experiences.

Choose an order for your examples. Consider describing one example per paragraph.

Create an outline.

Write a first draft. Once you do ...

Consider using the Revising Your Essay in 5 Steps Exercise to clarify your transitions.

Q: This is hard! I’m not finding it yet and I want to give up. What should I do?

A: Don’t give up! Remember: be patient. This takes time. If you need inspiration, or assurance that you’re on the right track, check out Elizabeth Gilbert’s TED Talk , “Your Elusive Creative Genius.”

All right, moving on.

How to write a college essay using Narrative Structure

If you answered “yes” to both questions at the beginning of this guide, I recommend exploring Narrative Structure. I’ll explain this in more detail below. 

My favorite content-generating exercise for Narrative Structure is the Feelings and Needs Exercise. It takes about 20 minutes (but do feel free to take longer—more time brainstorming and outlining leads to better, faster writing). Here’s how it works:

The Feelings and Needs Exercise

Time : 15-20 minutes

Instructions : You’ll find them here.  

If you haven’t completed the exercise, please do it now. 

(And this is a dramatic pause before I tell you the coolest thing about what you just did.)

You may notice that your completed Feelings and Needs chart maps out a potential structure for your personal statement. If you’re not seeing it, try turning your paper so that the challenges are at the top of your page and the effects are below them. 

Voila. A rough outline for a narrative essay.

To clarify, this isn’t a perfect way to outline an essay. You may not want to spend an entire paragraph describing your feelings, for example, or you may choose to describe your needs in just one sentence. And now that you see how it frames the story, you may want to expand on certain columns. However, the sideways Feelings and Needs chart can help you think about how the chronology of your experiences might translate into a personal statement. 

Here’s an essay that one student wrote after completing this exercise:

Example Narrative Essay: The Birth of Sher Khan The narrow alleys of Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan where I spent the first 7 years of my life were infiltrated with the stench of blood and helplessness. I grew up with Geo news channel, with graphic images of amputated limbs and the lifeless corpses of uncles, neighbors, and friends. I grew up with hurried visits to the bazaar, my grandmother in her veil and five-year-old me, outrunning spontaneous bomb blasts. On the open rooftop of our home, where the hustle and bustle of the city were loudest, I grew up listening to calls to prayer, funeral announcements, gunshots. I grew up in the aftermath of 9/11, confused.  Like the faint scent of mustard oil in my hair, the war followed me to the United States. Here, I was the villain, responsible for causing pain. In the streets, in school, and in Baba’s taxi cab, my family and I were equated with the same Taliban who had pillaged our neighborhood and preyed on our loved ones.  War followed me to freshman year of high school when I wanted more than anything to start new and check off to-dos in my bullet journal. Every time news of a terror attack spread, I could hear the whispers, visualize the stares. Instead of mourning victims of horrible crimes, I felt personally responsible, only capable of focusing on my guilt. The war had manifested itself in my racing thoughts and bitten nails when I decided that I couldn’t, and wouldn’t, let it win.  A mission to uncover parts of me that I’d buried in the war gave birth to a persona: Sher Khan, the tiger king, my radio name. As media head at my high school, I spend most mornings mastering the art of speaking and writing lighthearted puns into serious announcements. Laughter, I’ve learned, is one of the oldest forms of healing, a survival tactic necessary in war, and peace too.  During sophomore year, I found myself in International Human Rights, a summer course at Cornell University that I attended through a local scholarship. I went into class eager to learn about laws that protect freedom and came out knowledgeable about ratified conventions, The International Court of Justice, and the repercussions of the Srebrenica massacre. To apply our newfound insight, three of my classmates and I founded our own organization dedicated to youth activism and spreading awareness about human rights violations: Fight for Human Rights. Today, we have seven state chapters led by students across the U.S and a chapter in Turkey too. Although I take pride in being Editor of the Golden State’s chapter,  I enjoy having written articles about topics that aren’t limited to violations within California. Addressing and acknowledging social issues everywhere is the first step to preventing war. Earlier this year, through KQED, a Bay Area broadcasting network, I was involved in a youth takeover program, and I co-hosted a Friday news segment about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, the travel ban, and the vaping epidemic. Within a few weeks, my panel and interview were accessible worldwide, watched by my peers in school, and family thousands of miles away in Pakistan. Although the idea of being so vulnerable initially made me nervous, I soon realized that this vulnerability was essential to my growth.  I never fully escaped war; it’s evident in the chills that run down my spine whenever an untimely call reaches us from family members in Pakistan and in the funerals still playing on Geo News. But I’m working towards a war-free life, internally and externally, for me and the individuals who can share in my experiences, for my family, and for the forgotten Pashtun tribes from which I hail. For now, I have everything to be grateful for. War has taught me to recognize the power of representation, to find courage in vulnerability, and best of all, to celebrate humor. 

Fun fact: This essay was written by a student in one of my online courses who, as she shared this version with me, called it a “super rough draft.” 

I wish my super rough drafts were this good.

I share this essay with you not only because it’s a super awesome essay that was inspired by the Feelings and Needs Exercise, but also because it offers a beautiful example of what I call the ...

Narrative Structure content sections

You can think of a narrative essay as having three basic sections: Challenges + Effects ; What I Did About It ; What I Learned . Your word count will be pretty evenly split between the three, so for a 650-word personal statement, 200ish each.

To get a little more nuanced, within those three basic sections, a narrative often has a few specific story beats. There are plenty of narratives that employ different elements (for example, collectivist societies often tell stories in which there isn’t one central main character/hero, but it seems hard to write a college personal statement that way, since you’re the focus here). You’ve seen these beats before—most Hollywood films use elements of this structure, for example. 

Status Quo : The starting point of the story. This briefly describes the life or world of the main character (in your essay, that’s you).

The Inciting Incident : The event that disrupts the Status Quo. Often it’s the worst thing that could happen to the main character. It gets us to wonder: Uh-oh … what will they do next? or How will they solve this problem?

Raising the Stakes/Rising Action : Builds suspense. The situation becomes more and more tense, decisions become more important, and our main character has more and more to lose.

Moment of Truth : The climax. Often this is when our main character must make a choice.

New Status Quo : The denouement or falling action. This often tells us why the story matters or what our main character has learned. Think of these insights or lessons as the answer to the big “so what?” question.

For example, take a look at “The Birth of Sher Khan” essay above. 

Notice that roughly the first third focuses on the challenges she faced and the effects of those challenges.

Roughly the next third focuses on actions she took regarding those challenges. (Though she also sprinkles in lessons and insight here.)

The final third contains lessons and insights she learned through those actions, reflecting on how her experiences have shaped her. (Again, with the caveat that What She Did and What She Learned are somewhat interwoven, and yours likely will be as well. But the middle third is more heavily focused on actions, and the final third more heavily focused on insight.)

And within those three sections, notice the beats of her story: Status Quo, The Inciting Incident, Raising the Stakes/Rising Action, Moment of Truth, New Status Quo.

How does the Feelings and Needs Exercise map onto those sections? 

Pretty directly. 

At the risk of stating the blatantly obvious, The Challenges and Effects columns of the Feelings and Needs Exercise … are the Challenges + Effects portion of your essay. Same with What I Did and What I Learned.

The details in your Feelings and Needs columns can be spread throughout the essay. And it’s important to note that it’s useful to discuss some of your feelings and needs directly, but some will be implied. 

For example, here’s the Feelings and Needs Exercise map of the “Sher Khan” essay. And I know I just mentioned this, but I want you to notice something that’s so important, I’m writing it in bold: The author doesn’t explicitly name every single effect, feeling, or need in her essay . Why not? First, she’s working within a 650-word limit. Second, she makes room for her reader’s inferences, which can often make a story more powerful. Take a look:

Challenge 1 : She grows up surrounded by war, which is explicitly stated.

Challenge 2 : She comes to the U.S. to find safety (a need), which is implied, but instead, she is villainized, which is explicitly stated. 

Effects : She is ostracized after arriving in the U.S. “Every time news of a terror attack spread,” she writes, “I could hear the whispers, visualize the stares.” Other effects are implied, and we are left to imagine—and feel for ourselves—the kind of impact this might have had on her, and on us. Vulnerability creates connection.

Feelings : Growing up in the aftermath of 9/11 leaves her feeling confused, and after she is shunned, she describes being unable to mourn the victims of horrible crimes, instead feeling “personally responsible, only capable of focusing on [her] own guilt.” She explicitly names confusion and guilt, but she doesn’t name all the things she felt, of course, as there’s no need. Here, naming 1-2 key emotions helps us understand her inner world. If you choose to do the same in your essay, it’ll help readers understand yours.

Needs : As I read this essay, I can imagine the author needed safety, order, love, respect, reassurance, connection, and many more. But these are implied by the story events and need not be explicitly stated. In fact, spelling these things out might have made the essay sound weird. Imagine if she’d said, “I needed safety and order” at the end of the first paragraph and “I needed respect, reassurance, and connection” at the end of the second paragraph. That might sound awkward or too obvious, right? While identifying your needs is a great tool for understanding your story (and self) on a deeper level, there’s no need to explicitly state them at each juncture.

What She Did About It : The author developed a radio persona called Sher Khan , attended a summer course on human rights, founded an organization dedicated to youth activism, wrote articles on restrictive blasphemy laws and the forced repatriation of refugees, and probably other things that weren’t even mentioned.

What She’s Learned/Gained : She found a sense of purpose and discovered “everything [she has] to be grateful for.” She writes: “War has taught me to never take an education or a story for granted, to find beauty in vulnerability, to remain critical of authority figures, to question what’s socially accepted, and best of all, to celebrate humor.”

Cool. Here’s another narrative example:

narrative essay: What Had to Be Done At six years old, I stood locked away in the restroom. I held tightly to a tube of toothpaste because I’d been sent to brush my teeth to distract me from the commotion. Regardless, I knew what was happening: my dad was being put under arrest for domestic abuse. He’d hurt my mom physically and mentally, and my brother Jose and I had shared the mental strain. It’s what had to be done. Living without a father meant money was tight, mom worked two jobs, and my brother and I took care of each other when she worked. For a brief period of time the quality of our lives slowly started to improve as our soon-to-be step-dad became an integral part of our family. He paid attention to the needs of my mom, my brother, and me. But our prosperity was short-lived as my step dad’s chronic alcoholism became more and more recurrent. When I was eight, my younger brother Fernando’s birth complicated things even further. As my step-dad slipped away, my mom continued working, and Fernando’s care was left to Jose and me. I cooked, Jose cleaned, I dressed Fernando, Jose put him to bed. We did what we had to do. As undocumented immigrants and with little to no family around us, we had to rely on each other. Fearing that any disclosure of our status would risk deportation, we kept to ourselves when dealing with any financial and medical issues. I avoided going on certain school trips, and at times I was discouraged to even meet new people. I felt isolated and at times disillusioned; my grades started to slip. Over time, however, I grew determined to improve the quality of life for my family and myself. Without a father figure to teach me the things a father could, I became my own teacher. I learned how to fix a bike, how to swim, and even how to talk to girls. I became resourceful, fixing shoes with strips of duct tape, and I even found a job to help pay bills. I became as independent as I could to lessen the time and money mom had to spend raising me. I also worked to apply myself constructively in other ways. I worked hard and took my grades from Bs and Cs to consecutive straight A’s. I shattered my school’s 1ooM breaststroke record, and learned how to play the clarinet, saxophone, and the oboe. Plus, I not only became the first student in my school to pass the AP Physics 1 exam, I’m currently pioneering my school’s first AP Physics 2 course ever. These changes inspired me to help others. I became president of the California Scholarship Federation, providing students with information to prepare them for college, while creating opportunities for my peers to play a bigger part in our community. I began tutoring kids, teens, and adults on a variety of subjects ranging from basic English to home improvement and even Calculus. As the captain of the water polo and swim team I’ve led practices crafted to individually push my comrades to their limits, and I’ve counseled friends through circumstances similar to mine. I’ve done tons, and I can finally say I’m proud of that.  But I’m excited to say that there’s so much I have yet to do. I haven’t danced the tango, solved a Rubix Cube, explored how perpetual motion might fuel space exploration, or seen the World Trade Center. And I have yet to see the person that Fernando will become.   I’ll do as much as I can from now on. Not because I have to. Because I choose to. 

There’s so much to love about this essay.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how the author wrote this essay so you can figure out how to write yours:

First, the author brainstormed the content of his essay using the Feelings and Needs Exercise. 

Did you spot the elements of that exercise? If not, here they are: 

Challenges: Domestic abuse, alcoholic step-dad, little brother Fernando’s birth, family’s undocumented status

Effects: Author and his brother shared the mental strain, father was arrested, funds were tight, mom worked two jobs, brothers took care of one another, they kept to themselves when dealing with financial and medical issues, avoided going on certain school trips, at times author was discouraged from meeting new people, grades started to slip

Feelings: Confused yet understanding, anxious, worried, relieved, alone, lost, vulnerable, lonely, disconnected, alone, heartbroken, ashamed, disillusioned

Needs: Order, autonomy, reassurance, growth, safety, understanding, empathy, hope, support, self-acceptance

What He Did About It: Took care of his youngest brother; became his own teacher; learned how to fix a bike, swim, socialize; found a job to help pay bills; improved his grades; broke a school swimming record; learned to play instruments; became the first student in his school to pass the AP Physics 1 exam; took a leadership role in clubs; and tutored and counseled friends and peers

What He Learned: He’s proud of what he’s done, but wants to do more: dance the tango, solve a Rubix Cube, explore perpetual motion, see the World Trade Center, see his little brother grow up … and do you notice the value here? Hunger . That was his number one value, by the way. And he ends by saying he’ll do these things not because he has to, but because he chooses to. This sounds like autonomy . Another one of his top values. 

That’s why I love beginning with this exercise. With just 15-20 minutes of focused work, you can map out your whole story.

Next, the author used Narrative Structure to give shape to his essay.

Did you spot the Narrative Structure elements? If not, here they are: 

Inciting Incident: While the author is brushing his teeth, his father is arrested for domestic abuse.

Status Quo: His father had hurt his mom physically and mentally, and the author and his brother had shared the mental strain. “It’s what had to be done,” he writes.

Raising the Stakes: The entire second and third paragraphs, which describe how living without a father meant money was tight. Things improved for a while after his mother remarried, but his stepdad’s chronic alcoholism (raise the stakes) plus a new little brother (raise the stakes again) made things even tougher. As if that weren’t enough, the author raises the stakes even further by revealing that his family was undocumented at the time. 

Moment of Truth: At his lowest point, he decides to do something about it. “I grew determined to improve the quality of life for my family and myself,” he writes, then goes on to tell us all the amazing things he taught himself, the skills he learned, and interests he pursued. It’s inspiring.

New Status Quo: Remember that the initial Status Quo was the author doing “what had to be done.” Not so, by the end of the essay. In the final lines, he writes, “I’ll do as much as I can from now on. Not because I have to. Because I choose to.”

And again, notice that those fit within the framework of: 

⅓: Challenges he faced and their impacts on him

⅓: What he did to work through them

⅓: What he learned through the process

Narrative essay structure FAQs

Q: Are there any situations where I may not want to write about my life struggles?

A: Yes. Sometimes it can be too difficult to discuss them. Or you may be actively dealing with a challenge. If this is the case, reach out to your counselor, a trusted mentor, or, if possible, a therapist. 

If money is an issue (i.e., you feel you can’t afford a therapist) and you don’t feel comfortable sharing your struggles with your counselor, ask them if they can refer you to a therapist or counselor who works on a sliding scale. Many mental health professionals work with clients at low rates or for free. 

You may also choose to write about the struggles you’ve faced without getting into all the details. Saying, for example, that you experienced verbal abuse from your father, for example, may be enough; you don’t necessarily need to share the specifics.

Q: Should I write about mental health challenges?

A: Mental health can be very difficult to write about for a few reasons: 

If a student is still very much struggling through the challenges they describe, the admission reader may wonder if the student is ready for college.

In some cases, the admission officer may feel that a student is ready for college, but their institution may not be adequately equipped to help them thrive (not all colleges have the same kinds of resources, unfortunately). 

Unfortunately, mental health challenges have become so common these days that many students write personal statements about them, and so it can be difficult to stand out. If you’re feeling compelled to write about a mental health challenge, consider brainstorming some uncommon connections .

Questions to ask yourself if you’re considering writing about mental health challenges: 

Do I have any other topics I could write on? Are there other interesting parts of myself I’d like to share that could reveal important skills, qualities, and values? Or must I write about this? (Beware the trap discussed earlier of feeling like you must write about a challenge to write a great personal statement—it’s not true! The authors of the “ My Laptop Stickers” essay the "Home” essay were students who faced challenges but chose not to write about them.)

Have I truly worked through this? Am I able to devote the middle third of my essay to actions I’ve taken to work through the challenge and the final third to what I’ve learned? (You may not know the answers to these questions until you’ve done some writing. Maybe run your challenge through the Feelings and Needs Exercise to see what surfaces. Even if this doesn’t end up being your personal statement topic, you might learn something important about yourself.)

If I were an admission officer reading this essay, would I feel like this student has their situation handled and they are truly ready for college? (If you’re unsure, it’s a great idea to have 2-3 folks read it who have a good understanding of what colleges are looking for.) 

Could the mental health challenge be a brief explanation in the Additional Info section? To see if this might work for you, see how briefly you can describe your mental health challenge using factual bullet points. Devote one bullet point to the challenge, another bullet point to what you’ve done about it, and a final bullet point describing briefly what you’ve learned.

Important: If you have a counselor, I strongly recommend consulting with them as you decide whether to discuss a mental health challenge in your personal statement. If your counselor is writing a letter on your behalf, some of the information you’d like to share may already be accounted for. Talk to them and find out.

Q: Are there any situations where I may not want to write about my career in my personal statement … even if I know what it is?

A: For sure. Say you’re interested in becoming a doctor, but you’re applying to a medical program with a supplemental prompt asking why you want to become a doctor. If you want to avoid repetition, you might not explicitly mention becoming a doctor at the end of your personal statement (you don’t have to discuss your career at all in a personal statement; many students are unsure.). Instead, you might describe how you’ve developed qualities that will equip you for a career as a doctor (e.g., creativity, for example, or the ability to lead a team). 

Narrative Structure step-by-step recap : 

Complete the brainstorming exercises, as these will help no matter which structure you choose. Take special care to complete the Feelings and Needs Exercise, as it will help you outline your essay. 

Create an outline using the Narrative Structure described above. 

Write a first draft.

Check out my blog for more Narrative Structure examples.

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10 English Essay Writing Tips for O-Levels Students

Essay writing is a crucial skill that all students should learn. Especially in o-levels , when the competition is enormous. Students are under immense pressure to perform better, and sometimes, this stress leads to poor mental health that hinders them from performing better or reaching their true potential.

However, the right approach is to look up ways to improve your essay writing skills instead of getting stressed and undermining yourself. There are numerous essay writing books and online sources that help you in this regard.

If you struggle greatly, consider hiring an English home tutor to work with you closely to hone your writing skills. Another option is to try out online essay writing services such as Essay Writers Online . However, I don’t recommend you to simply ask others to write your essays. Instead, pay close attention to how the essays are written and try to learn and adopt the same writing methods.

1. Time Management:

Time management is an underrated skill.

Let’s say you have an essay exam or a test, and you get three hours for it. You should be able to write your essay within two and half hours and thoroughly recheck your essay in the last thirty minutes.

The grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and sentence structure carry lots of marks that we often overlook. Therefore, allocating enough time to recheck your essay can get you to score much better.

It’s the minute details that carry the most marks, so train yourself to complete your task on time while saving some minutes for the revision if you want to score good grades .

2.Extract the main idea from the statement:

After you have chosen the question, you will attempt to re-read it 4 to 5 times. This will help your mind grasp the keywords which hold the main idea of the question.

This will further help you write the essay using the information revolving around those words. This will also help you save time and avoid brainstorming that causes mental exhaustion .

Staying relaxed and focused is the key to ace your essay exam . Also, analyze the style and directives of the question and how it is phrased.

3. Make a strong introduction:

Always remember that introduction and outlines of your essay play a huge role in obtaining good grades .

Since the introduction is the first thing, the examiner reads it more carefully. If it catches the essence of the question and grasps the key points, there are greater chances of the examiner being impressed and giving you more scores.

So try your best and make a great introduction. You can also use a rough sheet to jot down the relevant information before attempting it on the question paper.

4. Make complete paragraphs:

Make precise paragraphs of each outline so it conveys your point. Elaborate on your key points, and do not miss any critical highlights. If you do not have enough data about a particular topic, wind it up nicely instead of dragging it to save your time and make your essay look to the point.

5. Avoid misquoting statements:

It is better to skip the phrase or a quotation if you do not remember it word by word.

Writing wrong quotations can lead to marks deduction, so it is better to leave them if you are not well revised.

The same is the case with dates and other important events. When in doubt, avoid using numbers and definitive statements.

6. Make a conclusive summary:

End your essay with a summary that sums everything up.

Since you are adhering to the points you have made throughout your essay, in the summary or conclusion, you should use the words ‘Hence,’ ‘Thus,’ and ‘Therefore’ etc., to keep the flow intact.

7. Plan your composition well:

As I mentioned earlier, try to write down the main points that flash in your head when you re-read the question repeatedly.

This helps you compile all the relevant information, and your essay looks more to the point and precise. Vague essays usually give off a wrong impression. Moreover, this trick will help save all the brainstorming as well.

8. Keep your grammar in check:

My first tip was to spare some time to re-read your essay to correct the errors- if there are any.

Try to be careful about the grammar, especially about the tense you are using. Your tense should be the same throughout your essay, or it breaks the sequence and does not look good.

Verb forms, punctuation, and subject-verb agreement should also be checked.

9. Practice makes perfect:

Practice writing essays as much as you can. It helps in increasing your writing speed as well as makes you perfect for the said task.

Try to write an essay once a week and you should attempt it as if it is your test or exam.

Set up the timer and go for your essay. And keep in mind to finish it on time.

10. Never leave your imagination:

I’m aware of how great the essay writing skill is. And you can ace at it quite easily.

Read as much as you can. Read the books, newspapers, journals, magazines, editorials, and whatever helps you gather information. It will also enhance your vocabulary and improve your grammar.

Use lots of descriptive words in your essay and always take benefit of your imagination. It will make your essay unique.

Conclusion:

Essay writing solely relies on your ability to think and create. You are given a statement, and you have to write about it in detail and justify your view.

I am hopeful you will find this article helpful. Thank you for reading.

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O-LEVEL PAST YEARS COMPOSITION QUESTIONS

In our ‘O’ Level English Enrichment Programme, we ensure that our graduating students are ready to ace the English Language examination. It is a race against time to prepare for the ‘O’ Levels, hence our programme focuses on teaching and reinforcing our students’ essay writing skills, comprehension answer precision, summary writing and oral examination techniques. All W@W secondary teachers spare no effort in coaching our students how to tackle popular examination essay topics.

HALL OF FAME

Janice glanced worriedly at her wrist watch. The time was already ten past seven. She had twenty minutes to make it to school on time. The sky was overcast. A slight drizzle rained down like a mist. It started raining cats and dogs as Janice reached the bus stop. She had ignored her mother’s advice to take an umbrella with her. She wondered how she was going to make itto school in the rain.

Jovan Ang, Primary 2

Rulang Primary School

It was an idyllic Saturday morning. Fluffy white clouds hung in the clear cerulean sky. Granny Lucy was tottering to the market. Her heart was filled with light-hearted cheer and her mouth curled into a smile. She was looking forward to preparing a feast for her grandchildren, who were coming for dinner that night.

Kew Ling Wei, Primary 3

Raffles Girls’ Primary School

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Essay and dissertation writing skills

Planning your essay

Writing your introduction

Structuring your essay

• Writing essays in science subjects
• Brief video guides to support essay planning and writing
• Writing extended essays and dissertations
• Planning your dissertation writing time

Structuring your dissertation

• Top tips for writing longer pieces of work

Advice on planning and writing essays and dissertations

University essays differ from school essays in that they are less concerned with what you know and more concerned with how you construct an argument to answer the question. This means that the starting point for writing a strong essay is to first unpick the question and to then use this to plan your essay before you start putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard).

A really good starting point for you are these short, downloadable Tips for Successful Essay Writing and Answering the Question resources. Both resources will help you to plan your essay, as well as giving you guidance on how to distinguish between different sorts of essay questions. 

You may find it helpful to watch this seven-minute video on six tips for essay writing which outlines how to interpret essay questions, as well as giving advice on planning and structuring your writing:

Different disciplines will have different expectations for essay structure and you should always refer to your Faculty or Department student handbook or course Canvas site for more specific guidance.

However, broadly speaking, all essays share the following features:

Essays need an introduction to establish and focus the parameters of the discussion that will follow. You may find it helpful to divide the introduction into areas to demonstrate your breadth and engagement with the essay question. You might define specific terms in the introduction to show your engagement with the essay question; for example, ‘This is a large topic which has been variously discussed by many scientists and commentators. The principal tension is between the views of X and Y who define the main issues as…’ Breadth might be demonstrated by showing the range of viewpoints from which the essay question could be considered; for example, ‘A variety of factors including economic, social and political, influence A and B. This essay will focus on the social and economic aspects, with particular emphasis on…..’

Watch this two-minute video to learn more about how to plan and structure an introduction:

The main body of the essay should elaborate on the issues raised in the introduction and develop an argument(s) that answers the question. It should consist of a number of self-contained paragraphs each of which makes a specific point and provides some form of evidence to support the argument being made. Remember that a clear argument requires that each paragraph explicitly relates back to the essay question or the developing argument.

• Conclusion: An essay should end with a conclusion that reiterates the argument in light of the evidence you have provided; you shouldn’t use the conclusion to introduce new information.
• References: You need to include references to the materials you’ve used to write your essay. These might be in the form of footnotes, in-text citations, or a bibliography at the end. Different systems exist for citing references and different disciplines will use various approaches to citation. Ask your tutor which method(s) you should be using for your essay and also consult your Department or Faculty webpages for specific guidance in your discipline. 

Essay writing in science subjects

If you are writing an essay for a science subject you may need to consider additional areas, such as how to present data or diagrams. This five-minute video gives you some advice on how to approach your reading list, planning which information to include in your answer and how to write for your scientific audience – the video is available here:

A PDF providing further guidance on writing science essays for tutorials is available to download.

Short videos to support your essay writing skills

There are many other resources at Oxford that can help support your essay writing skills and if you are short on time, the Oxford Study Skills Centre has produced a number of short (2-minute) videos covering different aspects of essay writing, including:

• Approaching different types of essay questions  
• Structuring your essay  
• Writing an introduction  
• Making use of evidence in your essay writing  
• Writing your conclusion

Extended essays and dissertations

Longer pieces of writing like extended essays and dissertations may seem like quite a challenge from your regular essay writing. The important point is to start with a plan and to focus on what the question is asking. A PDF providing further guidance on planning Humanities and Social Science dissertations is available to download.

Planning your time effectively

Try not to leave the writing until close to your deadline, instead start as soon as you have some ideas to put down onto paper. Your early drafts may never end up in the final work, but the work of committing your ideas to paper helps to formulate not only your ideas, but the method of structuring your writing to read well and conclude firmly.

Although many students and tutors will say that the introduction is often written last, it is a good idea to begin to think about what will go into it early on. For example, the first draft of your introduction should set out your argument, the information you have, and your methods, and it should give a structure to the chapters and sections you will write. Your introduction will probably change as time goes on but it will stand as a guide to your entire extended essay or dissertation and it will help you to keep focused.

The structure of  extended essays or dissertations will vary depending on the question and discipline, but may include some or all of the following:

• The background information to - and context for - your research. This often takes the form of a literature review.
• Explanation of the focus of your work.
• Explanation of the value of this work to scholarship on the topic.
• List of the aims and objectives of the work and also the issues which will not be covered because they are outside its scope.

The main body of your extended essay or dissertation will probably include your methodology, the results of research, and your argument(s) based on your findings.

The conclusion is to summarise the value your research has added to the topic, and any further lines of research you would undertake given more time or resources. 

Tips on writing longer pieces of work

Approaching each chapter of a dissertation as a shorter essay can make the task of writing a dissertation seem less overwhelming. Each chapter will have an introduction, a main body where the argument is developed and substantiated with evidence, and a conclusion to tie things together. Unlike in a regular essay, chapter conclusions may also introduce the chapter that will follow, indicating how the chapters are connected to one another and how the argument will develop through your dissertation.

For further guidance, watch this two-minute video on writing longer pieces of work . 

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How to Make ChatGPT Write Longer

Are you wondering, “How do I get ChatGPT to write longer?” Well, you’re not the only one.

The chatbot’s word limit is approximately 500 words per answer. Many students use this tool to generate essay samples, and they often need texts that are much longer than the word limit permits.

If you want to know how to overcome this issue, this article is for you. It will examine ways to make ChatGPT come up with longer texts and explain how to utilize AI tools as assistants. Ready? Let’s roll!

Disclaimer: We don’t encourage using ChatGPT to cheat or create academic papers. This article will discuss ethical ways of using AI.

• ✍️ Different Essays Length
• 🤔 How to Make ChatGPT Write Longer

🚀 Other Ways to Expand Your Texts

• 🙅‍♀️ 12 Mistakes to Avoid
• 🎁 Extending Your Essay Without AI

🔗 References

✍️ different essays length (by study level and genre).

The length of an academic paper depends on the topic’s complexity, the essay’s type, and the guidelines given by your instructor. Before you start working on a project, consider these factors to ensure it meets the requirements.

Here’s how an essay’s length differs depending on the academic level:

• Middle school papers are normally simple and short, between 300 to 1000 words long.
• High school-level essays range between 300 and 1000 words.
• Undergraduate program assignments often fall within the range of 1500 to 5000 words.
• Graduate program papers are often specialized and focused on research. Their word count ranges from 3000 to 10,000 words.

If we’re talking about essay genres, this is what you should keep in mind:

As you can see, a lot of essay types require the maximum amount of words ChatGPT can produce, and some of them are even longer than that. If you wish to generate a sample essay for inspiration, you’ll have to use hacks and tricks to make the chatbot write more. We’ll tell you all about them in the following sections.

🤔 How to Actually Make ChatGPT Write Longer

Now, let’s take a look at how to make ChatGPT write longer stories, code, essays, and other forms of content.

Writing a Prompt That Makes ChatGPT Write Longer

ChatGPT’s answers are only as good as your prompts. If you learn how to compose them properly, you will have no problem bypassing the chatbot’s word limit.

Check out the top 11 tried-and-true tips to get longer answers from ChatGPT below:

1. Make Your Prompt Specific and Logical

The scope of the bot’s response depends on how precise your prompt is. Try to use straightforward language and avoid fluff in your requests.

2. Request Examples

Examples add context and clarity to a text. Ask the algorithm to provide them, and it will add real-life instances and details, extending the response.

3. Provide Specific Word Count

One way to get ChatGPT to create more extended essays is to specify a word count. For instance, instead of typing “write an article about France,” you can say “write an 800-word article about the French Revolution.” Additional details will guide the tool and help it produce a longer response.

4. Break Down the Prompt

Another good strategy is to divide your instructions into several parts. This lets the algorithm to take more things into account.

5. Ask Open-Ended Questions

Open-ended questions invite for a deeper discussion. If you use them with ChatGPT, it’ll provide you with a detailed reply instead of a brief answer.

6. Set a Personality

You will get better and more detailed results if you get the chatbot to behave as a particular persona. For instance, if you work on an argumentative essay, you can ask the AI to act as an animal rights activist who argues that animal testing should be banned.

Upgrade Your Prompt with These Tricks

So, you’ve entered a well-written prompt, but you may still need to tweak the response to make it fit your requirements. Here’s what you can do as a follow-up to your query:

7. Regenerate a Response

Sometimes, to get a lengthier answer, all you need to do is click the “regenerate response” button. If the rewritten version still is too short, regenerate it again.

8. Ask to Elaborate

Another option is to throw in follow-up requests like “elaborate more on this.” The chatbot will give you a more precise answer than the previous one.

9. Ask to Explain & Continue

If ChatGPT hits its word limit and leaves the answer incomplete, use “continue” or “go on” in your next request to nudge the algorithm to keep generating.

10. Provide Extra Questions

You can incorporate follow-up questions to maintain engagement and encourage the AI model to expand on the responses.

11. Inquire a Comparison

This is a handy option when working on an analysis. When you ask ChatGPT to compare two things, the output will likely be comprehensive and detailed. Comparisons involve benefits, drawbacks, and other dimensions that will make the response longer and your study more comprehensive.

The following tools will help you improve your analysis even further:

• Rhetorical device finder will locate ethos, pathos, and logos in a piece of text.
• Quote explainer will assist in understanding famous sayings or literary quotations.
• Poem analyzer will be a great helper whenever you need to understand literary devices in poetry.

Now, you might be curious whether there are ways to extend a text without help from ChatGPT. The answer is—there definitely are! More and more tools with great features are being designed to make writing easier. Check out the options below to learn more.

IvyPanda Essay Extender

IvyPanda’s essay extender is specifically designed to help users reach the desired number of words. All you need to do is copy the text into the box, choose the word count you want, and press the “extend” button.

The tool can also be used to generate additional segments for an essay. For instance, if you struggle with the conclusion, the tool can create a sample paragraph based on your prompt.

Is IvyPanda’s extender better than ChatGPT? Well, there are plenty of aspects that make our tool a superior option:

• Unlike the chatbot, our tool generates its answers immediately and never glitches.
• Our generator is easy to apply: there’s no need to write long instructions and explain everything to get relevant responses.

Try it and see the benefits for yourself!

Question Generator from Text

IvyPands’s AI question generator from text is super handy whenever you need to extend your text. This tool creates a list of questions related to the text you paste into it. These questions will help you look at the subject from a different perspective and find new ideas with which to lengthen your essay.

Of course, you can also use ChatGPT for this task. However, the chatbot tends to get too general with the topic and may generate irrelevant questions.

In contrast, our question generator will develop just the right number of questions. You can then feed them into ChatGPT to get sample answers and use them to extend your essay.

Feel free to use other smart tools developed by IvyPanda to add parts to your essay:

• Essay hook generator will help you come up with a catchy opening paragraph.
• Research introduction maker will generate the background of your study.
• Free ChatGPT essay writer will provide you with additional samples.
• Abstract generator is a great tool for creating a summary of a research paper.

ChatGPT Playground

ChatGPT Playground is powered by Open AI API services. It lets users experiment with natural language models, parameters, and more without writing code.

Here are some of the tool’s main features:

• Temperature controls how random the text that ChatGPT generates is. Assigning it a higher value will make a response more creative while lowering it will result in plain answers.
• Top P is another way to control a text’s predictability. It determines how many words can be used to continue the phrase.
• The maximum length parameter specifies the highest number of output tokens (these are units of text generated by AI.)
• Stop sequences allow you to control the length of the content the algorithm generates implicitly.
• The frequency and presence penalty feature lets you control how often specific tokens appear in the text.

ChatGPT Playground is a fantastic solution, but it’s not free. For the first 3 months, users have $18 of free credits to test the tool. Once they run out of credits, they have to purchase a subscription.

AI Services & Plugins

Even though ChatGPT is widely considered the best free generative AI, there are numerous other tools and extensions from which you can benefit. They will assist you when working with the chatbot or help you generate new information for your project.

Some great ChatGPT alternatives are tools like Gemini , Bing , and Perplexity AI . And in case you want to improve your prompts and get more relevant responses, check out services such as AI Prompt Genius , WebChatGPT , Merlin , ChatOnAI , and PromptPerfect .

We will describe some of our favorite solutions below – be sure to check them out!

Gemini is an excellent alternative to ChatGPT if you want to make an essay longer. It has impressive features that simply can’t be overlooked:

• Multiple drafts . It gives more than one response to your input. Use any one you like to lengthen your text.
• Real-time data . It provides you with the latest information and real-time data instantly.
• Text input enriched with images . It can generate visuals and offer detailed descriptions of existing pictures or videos.
• Adjustable responses . It allows you to customize answers by marking them as creative or straightforward based on your preference.
• Advanced language model . Gemini uses LaMDA model, which aims to generate content that sounds very human-like. In contrast, ChatGPT uses GPT models, which focus on supplying information and tend to sound robotic.

Bing search engine has undergone impressive positive changes. Here are the features that make it so attractive:

• Bing Compose . The feature provides ready-made options to help you develop a high-quality prompt.
• Knowledge Cards 2.0 . The cards are displayed on the right side of your search. They provide additional information you can use for an essay, such as a timeline of related events.
• Stories . AI-generated stories combine text, images, video, and audio to deliver information on your search.
• AI-enhanced search . This feature offers additional information, widgets, and tools for every search.
• Cutting-edge chatbot . Bing’s very own chatbot Copilot uses OpenAI’s language model that can easily generate high-quality texts.
• Access to sources . Bing’s biggest advantage is that it provides sources it uses to generate answers. You can double-check them yourself and include them in an essay as references.

Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI is a search engine similar to ChatGPT, but it has some unique features that make all the difference:

• The users can see where the information in the answer came from. It helps to evaluate the accuracy and allows you to quickly locate sources for your paper’s additional parts.
• The tool uses NLP and machine learning algorithms, ensuring relevant results.
• It has a related queries feature similar to Google’s “related searches.” It can help you find fresh ideas to incorporate into your essay and lengthen it.
• By default, Perplexity AI uses the GPT-3 model, but you can access GPT-4 if you upgrade to Pro.
• Unlike ChatGPT, Perplexity has access to the entire internet and can retrieve latest data.

AI Prompt Genius

You can think of AI Prompt Genius as a cheat sheet for prompts to apply when working with AI. Here are its benefits:

• It gathers user-generated requests and sorts them into categories. This way, you can easily browse through topics such as business, academic writing, and others.
• Another great feature is that you can customize and save recently used prompts to reuse them later.
• Being able to access a variety of prompts will definitely improve your writing experience. So, if you need to write papers on a constant basis, this tool is a saver.

WebChatGPT is an extension that allows users to access ChatGPT through web browsers. It’s a convenient option if you want to use the chatbot’s capabilities while surfing the internet.

Check out its other benefits below:

• This tool is compatible with all popular search platforms. If you’re trying to extend an essay, you may find it helpful that the bot answers questions right beside the search results.
• The extension is also user-friendly when it comes to prompt features. You can access a library with one click and manage your own prompts.

ChatOnAI extension integrates ChatGPT right into your browsing window. It displays responses from the algorithm alongside search results. This feature lets you quickly gather ideas for additional content and run them through the chatbot, providing you with more content to extend your essay.

Another aspect that makes the tool super convenient is that it gives users access to top ChatGPT prompts for SEO, art, programming, marketing, and more. Templates at hand can significantly boost productivity and help you improve a paper.

PromptPerfect

PromptPerfect is a must-have tool for students, content creators, AI developers, or engineers.

The primary goal of PromptPerfect is to optimize prompts for language models like LLMs, LMs, and LMOps. Here are its main features and benefits:

• It allows users to automatically enhance prompts for various AI models.
• It supports SOTA AI models and lets users improve prompts for Stable Diffusion, ChatGPT, GPT-3/3.5, GPT-4, DALL-E 2, and MidJourney.
• It lets users customize prompts – for example, to tailor them to yield longer responses.

Whether you’re a student or a writer, this Chrome extension is perfect if you’re looking to extend your generated text. With this tool, you’ll gain access to meticulously crafted prompt templates. You name a domain, and you get to it in just a click.

What makes AIPRM different from other extensions is the big prompt engineering community. This community has curated an extensive collection that covers various topics and is waiting to be explored.

🙅‍♀ How to NOT Get ChatGPT to Write Longer Essays – 12 Common Mistakes

Even though AI is getting smarter and may one day take over the world, it still remains a technology that carries out human requests and instructions. That’s also one of the reasons why it’s essential to create high-quality prompts to get relevant results when working with ChatGPT.

Whenever you work with the chatbot, make sure to avoid these widespread mistakes:

• Requesting factual data from ChatGPT. What to do instead: An AI tool is not an encyclopedia. Use it to brainstorm but rely on traditional research methods to get facts.
• Giving up too soon. What to do instead: If the results are not what you’ve envisioned, try rewording or simplifying your request.
• Giving insufficient context. What to do instead: The more context you can give to the AI, the better.
• Having too many instructions in a single prompt. What to do instead: Instead of putting everything in one request, split it into smaller ones.
• Omitting examples. What to do instead: Add specific references to enhance the accuracy of ChatGPT’s responses.
• Failing to guide the AI in a structured manner. What to do instead: Break down the writing process into stages.
• Mixing different topics or tasks in one chat. What to do instead: Since ChatGPT remembers the context throughout a conversation, it’s best to use different chats for each topic.
• Creating lengthy sessions that lead to irrelevant answers. What to do instead: When you see that a chat is getting too long, create a new one.
• Set for the first output and limit the potential. What to do instead: Generate several responses and select the best one.
• Confusing ChatGPT by being overly polite. What to do instead: ChatGPT is not a person, so use direct and unambiguous language instead of being mannerly.
• Making prompts too broad. What to do instead: Be specific to ensure accurate results.
• Never cleaning up the conversations. What to do instead: Remove old conversations you don’t plan to use and keep those you’ll refer to again.

🎁 How to Make Your Essay Longer Without AI: 7 Bonus Tips

So, we’ve talked about how to get ChatGPT to write more extended essays or use other AI tools to do the task. But what do you do if you need to lengthen a text without having access to any software?

Well, that’s not a problem at all! Check out this list of bonus tips that’ll help you create longer papers on your own:

• Be descriptive. When your essay is short on words, add details and elaborate on the topic.
• Draw a conclusion. Making a final point about your thesis can add several paragraphs to your piece.
• Minimize pronouns. Use specific names whenever possible to extend your paper, but avoid getting wordy.
• Support your ideas. Add relevant quotations, statistics, or real-life examples to lengthen your essay.
• Incorporate a concluding sentence in each paragraph. This will help you structure the paper as well as increase the number of words.
• Add transitional phrases. This will extend the text and make it flow better.
• Provide background information. Giving more details on the subject will help you increase the word count.

Whenever you work on a writing assignment, you can improve the outcome with the help of our study tools:

• Use our free plagiarism checker to ensure your writing is 100% unique.
• Run your text through an essay reader to ensure it has a good flow.
• Check the results with our AI detector for essays for free.

Now, you know all about generating longer texts and extending essays with or without AI. Here’s a quick recap:

• Write specific, detailed instructions.
• Request the algorithm to provide examples.
• Mention the desired word count in your query.
• Formulate the request as an open-ended question.
• Ask the chatbot to act as a specific personality.
• Break down the prompt into several smaller ones.
• Use follow-up requests to elaborate or continue writing.

And once your sample essay is ready, you can edit and improve it. Want to know how? Check out our guide on using ChatGPT to edit essays .

Remember to only use AI as assistance! Artificial intelligence can be a great helper for those who want to improve their work rather than generate entire papers. You can always use bots ethically and without breaking the school’s rules.

If you need help to make your essay reach the required word count, check out IvyPanda essay extender or other tools suggested in this article. Good luck with your future projects!

Recommended for you:

• How to Use ChatGPT for Research & Paper Writing: Prompts & Ideas
• Best AI Tools for Writing & Editing Essays
• How to Make AI-Generated Text Undetectable
• Four Tricks to Get Around ChatGPT’s Character Limit: Lifehacker
• Do ChatGPT Responses Have a Character or Word Limit?: MakeUseOf
• Getting Started with Prompts for Text-Based Generative AI Tools: Harvard University
• Making Your Paper Longer: George Mason University
• The 7 Types of Essays Every Student Needs to Know: Grammarly
• 5 Mistakes I Learned to Avoid When Working with ChatGPT: Entrepreneur
• How to Make ChatGPT Write Longer: Nerds Chalk
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• Knowledge Base
• College essay

How to Write a College Essay | A Complete Guide & Examples

The college essay can make or break your application. It’s your chance to provide personal context, communicate your values and qualities, and set yourself apart from other students.

A standout essay has a few key ingredients:

• A unique, personal topic
• A compelling, well-structured narrative
• A clear, creative writing style
• Evidence of self-reflection and insight

To achieve this, it’s crucial to give yourself enough time for brainstorming, writing, revision, and feedback.

In this comprehensive guide, we walk you through every step in the process of writing a college admissions essay.

Table of contents

Why do you need a standout essay, start organizing early, choose a unique topic, outline your essay, start with a memorable introduction, write like an artist, craft a strong conclusion, revise and receive feedback, frequently asked questions.

While most of your application lists your academic achievements, your college admissions essay is your opportunity to share who you are and why you’d be a good addition to the university.

Your college admissions essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s total weight一and may account for even more with some colleges making the SAT and ACT tests optional. The college admissions essay may be the deciding factor in your application, especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurriculars.

What do colleges look for in an essay?

Admissions officers want to understand your background, personality, and values to get a fuller picture of you beyond your test scores and grades. Here’s what colleges look for in an essay :

• Demonstrated values and qualities
• Vulnerability and authenticity
• Self-reflection and insight
• Creative, clear, and concise writing skills

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

It’s a good idea to start organizing your college application timeline in the summer of your junior year to make your application process easier. This will give you ample time for essay brainstorming, writing, revision, and feedback.

While timelines will vary for each student, aim to spend at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing your first draft and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Remember to leave enough time for breaks in between each writing and editing stage.

Create an essay tracker sheet

If you’re applying to multiple schools, you will have to juggle writing several essays for each one. We recommend using an essay tracker spreadsheet to help you visualize and organize the following:

• Deadlines and number of essays needed
• Prompt overlap, allowing you to write one essay for similar prompts

You can build your own essay tracker using our free Google Sheets template.

College essay tracker template

Ideally, you should start brainstorming college essay topics the summer before your senior year. Keep in mind that it’s easier to write a standout essay with a unique topic.

If you want to write about a common essay topic, such as a sports injury or volunteer work overseas, think carefully about how you can make it unique and personal. You’ll need to demonstrate deep insight and write your story in an original way to differentiate it from similar essays.

What makes a good topic?

• Meaningful and personal to you
• Uncommon or has an unusual angle
• Reveals something different from the rest of your application

Brainstorming questions

You should do a comprehensive brainstorm before choosing your topic. Here are a few questions to get started:

• What are your top five values? What lived experiences demonstrate these values?
• What adjectives would your friends and family use to describe you?
• What challenges or failures have you faced and overcome? What lessons did you learn from them?
• What makes you different from your classmates?
• What are some objects that represent your identity, your community, your relationships, your passions, or your goals?
• Whom do you admire most? Why?
• What three people have significantly impacted your life? How did they influence you?

How to identify your topic

Here are two strategies for identifying a topic that demonstrates your values:

• Start with your qualities : First, identify positive qualities about yourself; then, brainstorm stories that demonstrate these qualities.
• Start with a story : Brainstorm a list of memorable life moments; then, identify a value shown in each story.

After choosing your topic, organize your ideas in an essay outline , which will help keep you focused while writing. Unlike a five-paragraph academic essay, there’s no set structure for a college admissions essay. You can take a more creative approach, using storytelling techniques to shape your essay.

Two common approaches are to structure your essay as a series of vignettes or as a single narrative.

Vignettes structure

The vignette, or montage, structure weaves together several stories united by a common theme. Each story should demonstrate one of your values or qualities and conclude with an insight or future outlook.

This structure gives the admissions officer glimpses into your personality, background, and identity, and shows how your qualities appear in different areas of your life.

Topic: Museum with a “five senses” exhibit of my experiences

• Introduction: Tour guide introduces my museum and my “Making Sense of My Heritage” exhibit
• Story: Racial discrimination with my eyes
• Lesson: Using my writing to document truth
• Story: Broadway musical interests
• Lesson: Finding my voice
• Story: Smells from family dinner table
• Lesson: Appreciating home and family
• Story: Washing dishes
• Lesson: Finding moments of peace in busy schedule
• Story: Biking with Ava
• Lesson: Finding pleasure in job well done
• Conclusion: Tour guide concludes tour, invites guest to come back for “fall College Collection,” featuring my search for identity and learning.

Single story structure

The single story, or narrative, structure uses a chronological narrative to show a student’s character development over time. Some narrative essays detail moments in a relatively brief event, while others narrate a longer journey spanning months or years.

Single story essays are effective if you have overcome a significant challenge or want to demonstrate personal development.

Topic: Sports injury helps me learn to be a better student and person

• Situation: Football injury
• Challenge: Friends distant, teachers don’t know how to help, football is gone for me
• Turning point: Starting to like learning in Ms. Brady’s history class; meeting Christina and her friends
• My reactions: Reading poetry; finding shared interest in poetry with Christina; spending more time studying and with people different from me
• Insight: They taught me compassion and opened my eyes to a different lifestyle; even though I still can’t play football, I’m starting a new game

Brainstorm creative insights or story arcs

Regardless of your essay’s structure, try to craft a surprising story arc or original insights, especially if you’re writing about a common topic.

Never exaggerate or fabricate facts about yourself to seem interesting. However, try finding connections in your life that deviate from cliché storylines and lessons.

Admissions officers read thousands of essays each year, and they typically spend only a few minutes reading each one. To get your message across, your introduction , or hook, needs to grab the reader’s attention and compel them to read more..

Avoid starting your introduction with a famous quote, cliché, or reference to the essay itself (“While I sat down to write this essay…”).

While you can sometimes use dialogue or a meaningful quotation from a close family member or friend, make sure it encapsulates your essay’s overall theme.

Find an original, creative way of starting your essay using the following two methods.

Option 1: Start with an intriguing hook

Begin your essay with an unexpected statement to pique the reader’s curiosity and compel them to carefully read your essay. A mysterious introduction disarms the reader’s expectations and introduces questions that can only be answered by reading more.

Option 2: Start with vivid imagery

Illustrate a clear, detailed image to immediately transport your reader into your memory. You can start in the middle of an important scene or describe an object that conveys your essay’s theme.

A college application essay allows you to be creative in your style and tone. As you draft your essay, try to use interesting language to enliven your story and stand out .

Show, don’t tell

“Tell” in writing means to simply state a fact: “I am a basketball player.” “ Show ” in writing means to use details, examples, and vivid imagery to help the reader easily visualize your memory: “My heart races as I set up to shoot一two seconds, one second一and score a three-pointer!”

First, reflect on every detail of a specific image or scene to recall the most memorable aspects.

• What are the most prominent images?
• Are there any particular sounds, smells, or tastes associated with this memory?
• What emotion or physical feeling did you have at that time?

Be vulnerable to create an emotional response

You don’t have to share a huge secret or traumatic story, but you should dig deep to express your honest feelings, thoughts, and experiences to evoke an emotional response. Showing vulnerability demonstrates humility and maturity. However, don’t exaggerate to gain sympathy.

Use appropriate style and tone

Make sure your essay has the right style and tone by following these guidelines:

• Use a conversational yet respectful tone: less formal than academic writing, but more formal than texting your friends.
• Prioritize using “I” statements to highlight your perspective.
• Write within your vocabulary range to maintain an authentic voice.
• Write concisely, and use the active voice to keep a fast pace.
• Follow grammar rules (unless you have valid stylistic reasons for breaking them).

You should end your college essay with a deep insight or creative ending to leave the reader with a strong final impression. Your college admissions essay should avoid the following:

• Summarizing what you already wrote
• Stating your hope of being accepted to the school
• Mentioning character traits that should have been illustrated in the essay, such as “I’m a hard worker”

Here are two strategies to craft a strong conclusion.

Option 1: Full circle, sandwich structure

The full circle, or sandwich, structure concludes the essay with an image, idea, or story mentioned in the introduction. This strategy gives the reader a strong sense of closure.

In the example below, the essay concludes by returning to the “museum” metaphor that the writer opened with.

Option 2: Revealing your insight

You can use the conclusion to show the insight you gained as a result of the experiences you’ve described. Revealing your main message at the end creates suspense and keeps the takeaway at the forefront of your reader’s mind.

Revise your essay before submitting it to check its content, style, and grammar. Get feedback from no more than two or three people.

It’s normal to go through several rounds of revision, but take breaks between each editing stage.

Also check out our college essay examples to see what does and doesn’t work in an essay and the kinds of changes you can make to improve yours.

Respect the word count

Most schools specify a word count for each essay , and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit.

Remain under the specified word count limit to show you can write concisely and follow directions. However, don’t write too little, which may imply that you are unwilling or unable to write a thoughtful and developed essay.

Check your content, style, and grammar

• First, check big-picture issues of message, flow, and clarity.
• Then, check for style and tone issues.
• Finally, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors.

Get feedback

Get feedback from 2–3 people who know you well, have good writing skills, and are familiar with college essays.

• Teachers and guidance counselors can help you check your content, language, and tone.
• Friends and family can check for authenticity.
• An essay coach or editor has specialized knowledge of college admissions essays and can give objective expert feedback.

The checklist below helps you make sure your essay ticks all the boxes.

College admissions essay checklist

I’ve organized my essay prompts and created an essay writing schedule.

I’ve done a comprehensive brainstorm for essay topics.

I’ve selected a topic that’s meaningful to me and reveals something different from the rest of my application.

I’ve created an outline to guide my structure.

I’ve crafted an introduction containing vivid imagery or an intriguing hook that grabs the reader’s attention.

I’ve written my essay in a way that shows instead of telling.

I’ve shown positive traits and values in my essay.

I’ve demonstrated self-reflection and insight in my essay.

I’ve used appropriate style and tone .

I’ve concluded with an insight or a creative ending.

I’ve revised my essay , checking my overall message, flow, clarity, and grammar.

I’ve respected the word count , remaining within 10% of the upper word limit.

Congratulations!

It looks like your essay ticks all the boxes. A second pair of eyes can help you take it to the next level – Scribbr's essay coaches can help.

Colleges want to be able to differentiate students who seem similar on paper. In the college application essay , they’re looking for a way to understand each applicant’s unique personality and experiences.

Your college essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s weight. It may be the deciding factor in whether you’re accepted, especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurricular track records.

A standout college essay has several key ingredients:

• A unique, personally meaningful topic
• A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intriguing hook
• Specific stories and language that show instead of telling
• Vulnerability that’s authentic but not aimed at soliciting sympathy
• Clear writing in an appropriate style and tone
• A conclusion that offers deep insight or a creative ending

While timelines will differ depending on the student, plan on spending at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing the first draft of your college admissions essay , and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Don’t forget to save enough time for breaks between each writing and editing stage.

You should already begin thinking about your essay the summer before your senior year so that you have plenty of time to try out different topics and get feedback on what works.

Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit to write a developed and thoughtful essay.

You should aim to stay under the specified word count limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, don’t write too little, as it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a detailed and insightful narrative about yourself.

If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.

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