Table of Contents
Last Updated on January 12, 2024 by Team Spinfuel
An essay is undoubtedly one of the most difficult forms of writing. It requires the author to have a good knowledge of the topic he or she is writing about, insight, and a light pen. For all those who have to or want to face this form, in this article we have gathered the most important information about the essay. How to write it? You will find the answer to this question in our guide! (And if you’re still not sure how, there is always the excellent essay writing service to get you out of a bind)
Let’s start perversely with what an essay is not. It is not a scientific dissertation, so the author does not have to exhaust the topic and draw conclusions. It is not a short story, because we will not find a fictional world in it. It is also not a dissertation, which means the author does not have to convince anyone of his or her points.
Who came up with such weirdness? It is assumed that its creators were Francis Bacon and Michel de Montaigne, two philosophers from the 16th century. It is their sketches that are considered the first modern examples of the essay. If you still want to tackle this form of expression, be sure to read the article to the end
What is an Essay? How to Write an Essay?
An essay (or outline) is a reflection in which the author presents his or her subjective thoughts on a given topic. They may concern philosophical, ethical, aesthetic, natural, or literary issues. The writer outlines a topic and then interprets the phenomenon or problem he or she is reflecting on in his or her own way.
What Should an Essay be Like?
- Subjective – you present your own point of view, your thoughts, and your interpretations.
- Associative – you guide the reader with your thoughts, and surprise them with associations, shortcuts, and juxtaposition of concepts based on similarity or contradiction.
- Thought-provoking – your aim is to provoke the reader or encourage them to think about the topic themselves and draw their own conclusions.
- Craftful and thoughtful – you show that you are a master of words, care about style and form of expression, and use a variety of stylistic devices.
- Free composition – unhurried reflections, digressions, and references are supposed to make the reader follow your thoughts. You do not have to stick to the tripartite composition of
introduction – development – conclusion, but can move freely from association to association, from topic to topic.
How to Write an Essay?
You have probably already guessed that it is not at all easy to write an essay. How can you help yourself? Here are some good tips.
- Before you start, write down all the associations that come to mind in relation to the topic you want to address.
- Prepare some quotes or golden thoughts to weave into the text.
- Decide which cultural texts you will refer to in your reflections. You can refer to literature, film, music, or painting. Note: do not summarise literary works or films.
- Context for your reflections can be social phenomena and cultural events. You can use anecdotes, examples from life, or memories. If you have no ideas essay writing service guarantee Bidforwriting can help you to find ideas and make your job much quality and easier.
- Use literary language. An essay is a form of expression in which the author must show off how skillfully he or she operates with words. Here, content and form are equally important.
- Write in the first person singular, i.e. as “I”. Clearly state your position on the subject you are describing.
- Be original – your task is to surprise, amaze and inspire the reader. Use metaphors, comparisons, and rhetorical questions.
- Leave some issues unresolved, leaving the reader with a question.
- Avoid typical dissertation wording such as: in the introduction, I will discuss, then move on to the topic, my next argument is, in conclusion, etc.
- And most importantly: open your mind and let your thoughts flow freely.
Essay – Examples
What else can help you write an essay? You need to check how the masters do it. You can follow good practice in such collections of essays as:
- Living, We Lose Life by Maria Janion,
- Jerzy Stempowski’s Essays,
- Virginia Woolf’s Selected Essays.
And finally, for inspiration, the beginning of the essay Memories of Valois from Zbigniew Herbert’s collection The Barbarian in the Garden:
I don’t know why Poles, a nation that is, after all, a busy one, and already somewhat exaggeratedly encouraged by history to dislocate, fall into a kind of numbing contemplation when they come to Paris. The city is, of course, beautiful, but those who say that the real France is moving more and more outside its gates are probably right.
It is therefore worth making not only the traditional trip to Chartres and Versailles but also wandering around the lesser-known charming towns scattered around the capital within a 100-kilometer radius so that Mr. Hulot’s car can get there in an hour and a half. Key among the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals. Morierwal, St-Loup-de-Naud for those who want to know what Romanesque is without going to Burgundy or Provence. The ruins at Les Andelys. The palaces at Compiegne, Fontainebleau, Rambouillet. And forests, forests, magnificent forests, where the horn of history can still be heard.
North of Paris – Valois – the oldest of France. The hereditary land of the little rabbit of the Franks, Clodwig. Over time, it becomes a most valuable county and duchy. Twice it has been the domain of the royal brothers and twice the princes of the blood of Valois have sat on the throne. A country where, in the poet’s words, the heart of France has beaten for over a thousand years.
And so it is that Master Herbert invites the reader into the world of his reflections. Now it is time for your attempts. Good luck!
