parts or essay

How to Write an Essay

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Essay Writing Fundamentals

How to prepare to write an essay, how to edit an essay, how to share and publish your essays, how to get essay writing help, how to find essay writing inspiration, resources for teaching essay writing.

Essays, short prose compositions on a particular theme or topic, are the bread and butter of academic life. You write them in class, for homework, and on standardized tests to show what you know. Unlike other kinds of academic writing (like the research paper) and creative writing (like short stories and poems), essays allow you to develop your original thoughts on a prompt or question. Essays come in many varieties: they can be expository (fleshing out an idea or claim), descriptive, (explaining a person, place, or thing), narrative (relating a personal experience), or persuasive (attempting to win over a reader). This guide is a collection of dozens of links about academic essay writing that we have researched, categorized, and annotated in order to help you improve your essay writing. 

Essays are different from other forms of writing; in turn, there are different kinds of essays. This section contains general resources for getting to know the essay and its variants. These resources introduce and define the essay as a genre, and will teach you what to expect from essay-based assessments.

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab

One of the most trusted academic writing sites, Purdue OWL provides a concise introduction to the four most common types of academic essays.

"The Essay: History and Definition" (ThoughtCo)

This snappy article from ThoughtCo talks about the origins of the essay and different kinds of essays you might be asked to write. 

"What Is An Essay?" Video Lecture (Coursera)

The University of California at Irvine's free video lecture, available on Coursera, tells  you everything you need to know about the essay.

Wikipedia Article on the "Essay"

Wikipedia's article on the essay is comprehensive, providing both English-language and global perspectives on the essay form. Learn about the essay's history, forms, and styles.

"Understanding College and Academic Writing" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

This list of common academic writing assignments (including types of essay prompts) will help you know what to expect from essay-based assessments.

Before you start writing your essay, you need to figure out who you're writing for (audience), what you're writing about (topic/theme), and what you're going to say (argument and thesis). This section contains links to handouts, chapters, videos and more to help you prepare to write an essay.

How to Identify Your Audience

"Audience" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This handout provides questions you can ask yourself to determine the audience for an academic writing assignment. It also suggests strategies for fitting your paper to your intended audience.

"Purpose, Audience, Tone, and Content" (Univ. of Minnesota Libraries)

This extensive book chapter from Writing for Success , available online through Minnesota Libraries Publishing, is followed by exercises to try out your new pre-writing skills.

"Determining Audience" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

This guide from a community college's writing center shows you how to know your audience, and how to incorporate that knowledge in your thesis statement.

"Know Your Audience" ( Paper Rater Blog)

This short blog post uses examples to show how implied audiences for essays differ. It reminds you to think of your instructor as an observer, who will know only the information you pass along.

How to Choose a Theme or Topic

"Research Tutorial: Developing Your Topic" (YouTube)

Take a look at this short video tutorial from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to understand the basics of developing a writing topic.

"How to Choose a Paper Topic" (WikiHow)

This simple, step-by-step guide (with pictures!) walks you through choosing a paper topic. It starts with a detailed description of brainstorming and ends with strategies to refine your broad topic.

"How to Read an Assignment: Moving From Assignment to Topic" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Did your teacher give you a prompt or other instructions? This guide helps you understand the relationship between an essay assignment and your essay's topic.

"Guidelines for Choosing a Topic" (CliffsNotes)

This study guide from CliffsNotes both discusses how to choose a topic and makes a useful distinction between "topic" and "thesis."

How to Come Up with an Argument

"Argument" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

Not sure what "argument" means in the context of academic writing? This page from the University of North Carolina is a good place to start.

"The Essay Guide: Finding an Argument" (Study Hub)

This handout explains why it's important to have an argument when beginning your essay, and provides tools to help you choose a viable argument.

"Writing a Thesis and Making an Argument" (University of Iowa)

This page from the University of Iowa's Writing Center contains exercises through which you can develop and refine your argument and thesis statement.

"Developing a Thesis" (Harvard College Writing Center)

This page from Harvard's Writing Center collates some helpful dos and don'ts of argumentative writing, from steps in constructing a thesis to avoiding vague and confrontational thesis statements.

"Suggestions for Developing Argumentative Essays" (Berkeley Student Learning Center)

This page offers concrete suggestions for each stage of the essay writing process, from topic selection to drafting and editing. 

How to Outline your Essay

"Outlines" (Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill via YouTube)

This short video tutorial from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shows how to group your ideas into paragraphs or sections to begin the outlining process.

"Essay Outline" (Univ. of Washington Tacoma)

This two-page handout by a university professor simply defines the parts of an essay and then organizes them into an example outline.

"Types of Outlines and Samples" (Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab)

Purdue OWL gives examples of diverse outline strategies on this page, including the alphanumeric, full sentence, and decimal styles. 

"Outlining" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Once you have an argument, according to this handout, there are only three steps in the outline process: generalizing, ordering, and putting it all together. Then you're ready to write!

"Writing Essays" (Plymouth Univ.)

This packet, part of Plymouth University's Learning Development series, contains descriptions and diagrams relating to the outlining process.

"How to Write A Good Argumentative Essay: Logical Structure" (Criticalthinkingtutorials.com via YouTube)

This longer video tutorial gives an overview of how to structure your essay in order to support your argument or thesis. It is part of a longer course on academic writing hosted on Udemy.

Now that you've chosen and refined your topic and created an outline, use these resources to complete the writing process. Most essays contain introductions (which articulate your thesis statement), body paragraphs, and conclusions. Transitions facilitate the flow from one paragraph to the next so that support for your thesis builds throughout the essay. Sources and citations show where you got the evidence to support your thesis, which ensures that you avoid plagiarism. 

How to Write an Introduction

"Introductions" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page identifies the role of the introduction in any successful paper, suggests strategies for writing introductions, and warns against less effective introductions.

"How to Write A Good Introduction" (Michigan State Writing Center)

Beginning with the most common missteps in writing introductions, this guide condenses the essentials of introduction composition into seven points.

"The Introductory Paragraph" (ThoughtCo)

This blog post from academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming focuses on ways to grab your reader's attention at the beginning of your essay.

"Introductions and Conclusions" (Univ. of Toronto)

This guide from the University of Toronto gives advice that applies to writing both introductions and conclusions, including dos and don'ts.

"How to Write Better Essays: No One Does Introductions Properly" ( The Guardian )

This news article interviews UK professors on student essay writing; they point to introductions as the area that needs the most improvement.

How to Write a Thesis Statement

"Writing an Effective Thesis Statement" (YouTube)

This short, simple video tutorial from a college composition instructor at Tulsa Community College explains what a thesis statement is and what it does. 

"Thesis Statement: Four Steps to a Great Essay" (YouTube)

This fantastic tutorial walks you through drafting a thesis, using an essay prompt on Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter as an example.

"How to Write a Thesis Statement" (WikiHow)

This step-by-step guide (with pictures!) walks you through coming up with, writing, and editing a thesis statement. It invites you think of your statement as a "working thesis" that can change.

"How to Write a Thesis Statement" (Univ. of Indiana Bloomington)

Ask yourself the questions on this page, part of Indiana Bloomington's Writing Tutorial Services, when you're writing and refining your thesis statement.

"Writing Tips: Thesis Statements" (Univ. of Illinois Center for Writing Studies)

This page gives plentiful examples of good to great thesis statements, and offers questions to ask yourself when formulating a thesis statement.

How to Write Body Paragraphs

"Body Paragraph" (Brightstorm)

This module of a free online course introduces you to the components of a body paragraph. These include the topic sentence, information, evidence, and analysis.

"Strong Body Paragraphs" (Washington Univ.)

This handout from Washington's Writing and Research Center offers in-depth descriptions of the parts of a successful body paragraph.

"Guide to Paragraph Structure" (Deakin Univ.)

This handout is notable for color-coding example body paragraphs to help you identify the functions various sentences perform.

"Writing Body Paragraphs" (Univ. of Minnesota Libraries)

The exercises in this section of Writing for Success  will help you practice writing good body paragraphs. It includes guidance on selecting primary support for your thesis.

"The Writing Process—Body Paragraphs" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

The information and exercises on this page will familiarize you with outlining and writing body paragraphs, and includes links to more information on topic sentences and transitions.

"The Five-Paragraph Essay" (ThoughtCo)

This blog post discusses body paragraphs in the context of one of the most common academic essay types in secondary schools.

How to Use Transitions

"Transitions" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill explains what a transition is, and how to know if you need to improve your transitions.

"Using Transitions Effectively" (Washington Univ.)

This handout defines transitions, offers tips for using them, and contains a useful list of common transitional words and phrases grouped by function.

"Transitions" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

This page compares paragraphs without transitions to paragraphs with transitions, and in doing so shows how important these connective words and phrases are.

"Transitions in Academic Essays" (Scribbr)

This page lists four techniques that will help you make sure your reader follows your train of thought, including grouping similar information and using transition words.

"Transitions" (El Paso Community College)

This handout shows example transitions within paragraphs for context, and explains how transitions improve your essay's flow and voice.

"Make Your Paragraphs Flow to Improve Writing" (ThoughtCo)

This blog post, another from academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming, talks about transitions and other strategies to improve your essay's overall flow.

"Transition Words" (smartwords.org)

This handy word bank will help you find transition words when you're feeling stuck. It's grouped by the transition's function, whether that is to show agreement, opposition, condition, or consequence.

How to Write a Conclusion

"Parts of An Essay: Conclusions" (Brightstorm)

This module of a free online course explains how to conclude an academic essay. It suggests thinking about the "3Rs": return to hook, restate your thesis, and relate to the reader.

"Essay Conclusions" (Univ. of Maryland University College)

This overview of the academic essay conclusion contains helpful examples and links to further resources for writing good conclusions.

"How to End An Essay" (WikiHow)

This step-by-step guide (with pictures!) by an English Ph.D. walks you through writing a conclusion, from brainstorming to ending with a flourish.

"Ending the Essay: Conclusions" (Harvard College Writing Center)

This page collates useful strategies for writing an effective conclusion, and reminds you to "close the discussion without closing it off" to further conversation.

How to Include Sources and Citations

"Research and Citation Resources" (Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab)

Purdue OWL streamlines information about the three most common referencing styles (MLA, Chicago, and APA) and provides examples of how to cite different resources in each system.

EasyBib: Free Bibliography Generator

This online tool allows you to input information about your source and automatically generate citations in any style. Be sure to select your resource type before clicking the "cite it" button.

CitationMachine

Like EasyBib, this online tool allows you to input information about your source and automatically generate citations in any style. 

Modern Language Association Handbook (MLA)

Here, you'll find the definitive and up-to-date record of MLA referencing rules. Order through the link above, or check to see if your library has a copy.

Chicago Manual of Style

Here, you'll find the definitive and up-to-date record of Chicago referencing rules. You can take a look at the table of contents, then choose to subscribe or start a free trial.

How to Avoid Plagiarism

"What is Plagiarism?" (plagiarism.org)

This nonprofit website contains numerous resources for identifying and avoiding plagiarism, and reminds you that even common activities like copying images from another website to your own site may constitute plagiarism.

"Plagiarism" (University of Oxford)

This interactive page from the University of Oxford helps you check for plagiarism in your work, making it clear how to avoid citing another person's work without full acknowledgement.

"Avoiding Plagiarism" (MIT Comparative Media Studies)

This quick guide explains what plagiarism is, what its consequences are, and how to avoid it. It starts by defining three words—quotation, paraphrase, and summary—that all constitute citation.

"Harvard Guide to Using Sources" (Harvard Extension School)

This comprehensive website from Harvard brings together articles, videos, and handouts about referencing, citation, and plagiarism. 

Grammarly contains tons of helpful grammar and writing resources, including a free tool to automatically scan your essay to check for close affinities to published work. 

Noplag is another popular online tool that automatically scans your essay to check for signs of plagiarism. Simply copy and paste your essay into the box and click "start checking."

Once you've written your essay, you'll want to edit (improve content), proofread (check for spelling and grammar mistakes), and finalize your work until you're ready to hand it in. This section brings together tips and resources for navigating the editing process. 

"Writing a First Draft" (Academic Help)

This is an introduction to the drafting process from the site Academic Help, with tips for getting your ideas on paper before editing begins.

"Editing and Proofreading" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page provides general strategies for revising your writing. They've intentionally left seven errors in the handout, to give you practice in spotting them.

"How to Proofread Effectively" (ThoughtCo)

This article from ThoughtCo, along with those linked at the bottom, help describe common mistakes to check for when proofreading.

"7 Simple Edits That Make Your Writing 100% More Powerful" (SmartBlogger)

This blog post emphasizes the importance of powerful, concise language, and reminds you that even your personal writing heroes create clunky first drafts.

"Editing Tips for Effective Writing" (Univ. of Pennsylvania)

On this page from Penn's International Relations department, you'll find tips for effective prose, errors to watch out for, and reminders about formatting.

"Editing the Essay" (Harvard College Writing Center)

This article, the first of two parts, gives you applicable strategies for the editing process. It suggests reading your essay aloud, removing any jargon, and being unafraid to remove even "dazzling" sentences that don't belong.

"Guide to Editing and Proofreading" (Oxford Learning Institute)

This handout from Oxford covers the basics of editing and proofreading, and reminds you that neither task should be rushed. 

In addition to plagiarism-checkers, Grammarly has a plug-in for your web browser that checks your writing for common mistakes.

After you've prepared, written, and edited your essay, you might want to share it outside the classroom. This section alerts you to print and web opportunities to share your essays with the wider world, from online writing communities and blogs to published journals geared toward young writers.

Sharing Your Essays Online

Go Teen Writers

Go Teen Writers is an online community for writers aged 13 - 19. It was founded by Stephanie Morrill, an author of contemporary young adult novels. 

Tumblr is a blogging website where you can share your writing and interact with other writers online. It's easy to add photos, links, audio, and video components.

Writersky provides an online platform for publishing and reading other youth writers' work. Its current content is mostly devoted to fiction.

Publishing Your Essays Online

This teen literary journal publishes in print, on the web, and (more frequently), on a blog. It is committed to ensuring that "teens see their authentic experience reflected on its pages."

The Matador Review

This youth writing platform celebrates "alternative," unconventional writing. The link above will take you directly to the site's "submissions" page.

Teen Ink has a website, monthly newsprint magazine, and quarterly poetry magazine promoting the work of young writers.

The largest online reading platform, Wattpad enables you to publish your work and read others' work. Its inline commenting feature allows you to share thoughts as you read along.

Publishing Your Essays in Print

Canvas Teen Literary Journal

This quarterly literary magazine is published for young writers by young writers. They accept many kinds of writing, including essays.

The Claremont Review

This biannual international magazine, first published in 1992, publishes poetry, essays, and short stories from writers aged 13 - 19.

Skipping Stones

This young writers magazine, founded in 1988, celebrates themes relating to ecological and cultural diversity. It publishes poems, photos, articles, and stories.

The Telling Room

This nonprofit writing center based in Maine publishes children's work on their website and in book form. The link above directs you to the site's submissions page.

Essay Contests

Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards

This prestigious international writing contest for students in grades 7 - 12 has been committed to "supporting the future of creativity since 1923."

Society of Professional Journalists High School Essay Contest

An annual essay contest on the theme of journalism and media, the Society of Professional Journalists High School Essay Contest awards scholarships up to $1,000.

National YoungArts Foundation

Here, you'll find information on a government-sponsored writing competition for writers aged 15 - 18. The foundation welcomes submissions of creative nonfiction, novels, scripts, poetry, short story and spoken word.

Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay Contest

With prompts on a different literary work each year, this competition from Signet Classics awards college scholarships up to $1,000.

"The Ultimate Guide to High School Essay Contests" (CollegeVine)

See this handy guide from CollegeVine for a list of more competitions you can enter with your academic essay, from the National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Awards to the National High School Essay Contest by the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Whether you're struggling to write academic essays or you think you're a pro, there are workshops and online tools that can help you become an even better writer. Even the most seasoned writers encounter writer's block, so be proactive and look through our curated list of resources to combat this common frustration.

Online Essay-writing Classes and Workshops

"Getting Started with Essay Writing" (Coursera)

Coursera offers lots of free, high-quality online classes taught by college professors. Here's one example, taught by instructors from the University of California Irvine.

"Writing and English" (Brightstorm)

Brightstorm's free video lectures are easy to navigate by topic. This unit on the parts of an essay features content on the essay hook, thesis, supporting evidence, and more.

"How to Write an Essay" (EdX)

EdX is another open online university course website with several two- to five-week courses on the essay. This one is geared toward English language learners.

Writer's Digest University

This renowned writers' website offers online workshops and interactive tutorials. The courses offered cover everything from how to get started through how to get published.

Writing.com

Signing up for this online writer's community gives you access to helpful resources as well as an international community of writers.

How to Overcome Writer's Block

"Symptoms and Cures for Writer's Block" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue OWL offers a list of signs you might have writer's block, along with ways to overcome it. Consider trying out some "invention strategies" or ways to curb writing anxiety.

"Overcoming Writer's Block: Three Tips" ( The Guardian )

These tips, geared toward academic writing specifically, are practical and effective. The authors advocate setting realistic goals, creating dedicated writing time, and participating in social writing.

"Writing Tips: Strategies for Overcoming Writer's Block" (Univ. of Illinois)

This page from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Center for Writing Studies acquaints you with strategies that do and do not work to overcome writer's block.

"Writer's Block" (Univ. of Toronto)

Ask yourself the questions on this page; if the answer is "yes," try out some of the article's strategies. Each question is accompanied by at least two possible solutions.

If you have essays to write but are short on ideas, this section's links to prompts, example student essays, and celebrated essays by professional writers might help. You'll find writing prompts from a variety of sources, student essays to inspire you, and a number of essay writing collections.

Essay Writing Prompts

"50 Argumentative Essay Topics" (ThoughtCo)

Take a look at this list and the others ThoughtCo has curated for different kinds of essays. As the author notes, "a number of these topics are controversial and that's the point."

"401 Prompts for Argumentative Writing" ( New York Times )

This list (and the linked lists to persuasive and narrative writing prompts), besides being impressive in length, is put together by actual high school English teachers.

"SAT Sample Essay Prompts" (College Board)

If you're a student in the U.S., your classroom essay prompts are likely modeled on the prompts in U.S. college entrance exams. Take a look at these official examples from the SAT.

"Popular College Application Essay Topics" (Princeton Review)

This page from the Princeton Review dissects recent Common Application essay topics and discusses strategies for answering them.

Example Student Essays

"501 Writing Prompts" (DePaul Univ.)

This nearly 200-page packet, compiled by the LearningExpress Skill Builder in Focus Writing Team, is stuffed with writing prompts, example essays, and commentary.

"Topics in English" (Kibin)

Kibin is a for-pay essay help website, but its example essays (organized by topic) are available for free. You'll find essays on everything from  A Christmas Carol  to perseverance.

"Student Writing Models" (Thoughtful Learning)

Thoughtful Learning, a website that offers a variety of teaching materials, provides sample student essays on various topics and organizes them by grade level.

"Five-Paragraph Essay" (ThoughtCo)

In this blog post by a former professor of English and rhetoric, ThoughtCo brings together examples of five-paragraph essays and commentary on the form.

The Best Essay Writing Collections

The Best American Essays of the Century by Joyce Carol Oates (Amazon)

This collection of American essays spanning the twentieth century was compiled by award winning author and Princeton professor Joyce Carol Oates.

The Best American Essays 2017 by Leslie Jamison (Amazon)

Leslie Jamison, the celebrated author of essay collection  The Empathy Exams , collects recent, high-profile essays into a single volume.

The Art of the Personal Essay by Phillip Lopate (Amazon)

Documentary writer Phillip Lopate curates this historical overview of the personal essay's development, from the classical era to the present.

The White Album by Joan Didion (Amazon)

This seminal essay collection was authored by one of the most acclaimed personal essayists of all time, American journalist Joan Didion.

Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace (Amazon)

Read this famous essay collection by David Foster Wallace, who is known for his experimentation with the essay form. He pushed the boundaries of personal essay, reportage, and political polemic.

"50 Successful Harvard Application Essays" (Staff of the The Harvard Crimson )

If you're looking for examples of exceptional college application essays, this volume from Harvard's daily student newspaper is one of the best collections on the market.

Are you an instructor looking for the best resources for teaching essay writing? This section contains resources for developing in-class activities and student homework assignments. You'll find content from both well-known university writing centers and online writing labs.

Essay Writing Classroom Activities for Students

"In-class Writing Exercises" (Univ. of North Carolina Writing Center)

This page lists exercises related to brainstorming, organizing, drafting, and revising. It also contains suggestions for how to implement the suggested exercises.

"Teaching with Writing" (Univ. of Minnesota Center for Writing)

Instructions and encouragement for using "freewriting," one-minute papers, logbooks, and other write-to-learn activities in the classroom can be found here.

"Writing Worksheets" (Berkeley Student Learning Center)

Berkeley offers this bank of writing worksheets to use in class. They are nested under headings for "Prewriting," "Revision," "Research Papers" and more.

"Using Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism" (DePaul University)

Use these activities and worksheets from DePaul's Teaching Commons when instructing students on proper academic citation practices.

Essay Writing Homework Activities for Students

"Grammar and Punctuation Exercises" (Aims Online Writing Lab)

These five interactive online activities allow students to practice editing and proofreading. They'll hone their skills in correcting comma splices and run-ons, identifying fragments, using correct pronoun agreement, and comma usage.

"Student Interactives" (Read Write Think)

Read Write Think hosts interactive tools, games, and videos for developing writing skills. They can practice organizing and summarizing, writing poetry, and developing lines of inquiry and analysis.

This free website offers writing and grammar activities for all grade levels. The lessons are designed to be used both for large classes and smaller groups.

"Writing Activities and Lessons for Every Grade" (Education World)

Education World's page on writing activities and lessons links you to more free, online resources for learning how to "W.R.I.T.E.": write, revise, inform, think, and edit.

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How to Write an Essay/Parts

Parts of an Essay — Traditionally, it has been taught that a formal essay consists of three parts: the introductory paragraph or introduction, the body paragraphs, and the concluding paragraph. An essay does not need to be this simple, but it is a good starting point.

Introductory Paragraph [ edit | edit source ]

The introductory paragraph accomplishes three purposes: it captures the reader’s interest, it suggests the importance of the essay’s topic, and it ends with a thesis sentence. Often, the thesis sentence states a claim that consists of two or more related points. For example, a thesis might read:

You are telling the reader what you think are the most important points which need to be addressed in your essay. For this reason, you need to relate the introduction directly to the question or topic. A strong thesis is essential to a good essay, as each paragraph of your essay should be related back to your thesis or else deleted. Thus, the thesis establishes the key foundation for your essay. A strong thesis not only states an idea but also uses solid examples to back it up. A weak thesis might be:

As an alternative, a strong thesis for the same topic would be:

Then, you could separate your body paragraphs into three sections: one explaining the open-source nature of the project, one explaining the variety and depth of information, and a final one using studies to confirm that Wikipedia is indeed as accurate as other encyclopedias.

Tips [ edit | edit source ]

Often, writing an introductory paragraph is the most difficult part of writing an essay. Facing a blank page can be daunting. Here are some suggestions for getting started. First, determine the context in which you want to place your topic. In other words, identify an overarching category in which you would place your topic, and then introduce your topic as a case-in-point.

For example, if you are writing about dogs, you may begin by speaking about friends, dogs being an example of a very good friend. Alternatively, you can begin with a sentence on selective breeding, dogs being an example of extensive selective breeding. You can also begin with a sentence on means of protection, dogs being an example of a good way to stay safe. The context is the starting point for your introductory paragraph. The topic or thesis sentence is the ending point. Once the starting point and ending point are determined, it will be much easier to connect these points with the narrative of the opening paragraph.

A good thesis statement, for example, if you are writing about dogs being very good friends, you could put:

Here, X, Y, and Z would be the topics explained in your body paragraphs. In the format of one such instance, X would be the topic of the second paragraph, Y would be the topic of the third paragraph, and Z would be the topic of the fourth paragraph, followed by a conclusion, in which you would summarize the thesis statement.

Example [ edit | edit source ]

Identifying a context can help shape the topic or thesis. Here, the writer decided to write about dogs. Then, the writer selected friends as the context, dogs being good examples of friends. This shaped the topic and narrowed the focus to dogs as friends . This would make writing the remainder of the essay much easier because it allows the writer to focus on aspects of dogs that make them good friends.

Body Paragraphs [ edit | edit source ]

Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence. If the thesis contains multiple points or assertions, each body paragraph should support or justify them, preferably in the order the assertions originally stated in the thesis. Thus, the topic sentence for the first body paragraph will refer to the first point in the thesis sentence and the topic sentence for the second body paragraph will refer to the second point in the thesis sentence. Generally, if the thesis sentence contains three related points, there should be three body paragraphs, though you should base the number of paragraphs on the number of supporting points needed.

If the core topic of the essay is the format of college essays, the thesis sentence might read:

The topic sentence for the first body paragraph might read:

Sequentially, the topic sentence for the second body paragraph might read:

And the topic sentence for the third body paragraph might read:

Every body paragraph uses specific details, such as anecdotes, comparisons and contrasts, definitions, examples, expert opinions, explanations, facts, and statistics to support and develop the claim that its topic sentence makes.

When writing an essay for a class assignment, make sure to follow your teacher or professor’s suggestions. Most teachers will reward creativity and thoughtful organization over dogmatic adherence to a prescribed structure. Many will not. If you are not sure how your teacher will respond to a specific structure, ask.

Organizing your essay around the thesis sentence should begin with arranging the supporting elements to justify the assertion put forth in the thesis sentence. Not all thesis sentences will, or should, lay out each of the points you will cover in your essay. In the example introductory paragraph on dogs, the thesis sentence reads, “There is no friend truer than a dog.” Here, it is the task of the body paragraphs to justify or prove the truth of this assertion, as the writer did not specify what points they would cover. The writer may next ask what characteristics dogs have that make them true friends. Each characteristic may be the topic of a body paragraph. Loyalty, companionship, protection, and assistance are all terms that the writer could apply to dogs as friends. Note that if the writer puts dogs in a different context, for example, working dogs, the thesis might be different, and they would be focusing on other aspects of dogs.

It is often effective to end a body paragraph with a sentence that rationalizes its presence in the essay. Ending a body paragraph without some sense of closure may cause the thought to sound incomplete.

Each body paragraph is something like a miniature essay in that they each need an introductory sentence that sounds important and interesting, and that they each need a good closing sentence in order to produce a smooth transition between one point and the next. Body paragraphs can be long or short. It depends on the idea you want to develop in your paragraph. Depending on the specific style of the essay, you may be able to use very short paragraphs to signal a change of subject or to explain how the rest of the essay is organized.

Do not spend too long on any one point. Providing extensive background may interest some readers, but others would find it tiresome. Keep in mind that the main importance of an essay is to provide a basic background on a subject and, hopefully, to spark enough interest to induce further reading.

The above example is a bit free-flowing and the writer intended it to be persuasive. The second paragraph combines various attributes of dogs including protection and companionship. Here is when doing a little research can also help. Imagine how much more effective the last statement would be if the writer cited some specific statistics and backed them up with a reliable reference.

Concluding Paragraph [ edit | edit source ]

The concluding paragraph usually restates the thesis and leaves the reader something about the topic to think about. If appropriate, it may also issue a call to act, inviting the reader to take a specific course of action with regard to the points that the essay presented.

Aristotle suggested that speakers and, by extension, writers should tell their audience what they are going to say, say it, and then tell them what they have said. The three-part essay model, consisting of an introductory paragraph, several body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph, follows this strategy.

As with all writing, it is important to know your audience. All writing is persuasive, and if you write with your audience in mind, it will make your argument much more persuasive to that particular audience. When writing for a class assignment, the audience is your teacher. Depending on the assignment, the point of the essay may have nothing to do with the assigned topic. In most class assignments, the purpose is to persuade your teacher that you have a good grasp of grammar and spelling, that you can organize your thoughts in a comprehensive manner, and, perhaps, that you are capable of following instructions and adhering to some dogmatic formula the teacher regards as an essay. It is much easier to persuade your teacher that you have these capabilities if you can make your essay interesting to read at the same time. Place yourself in your teacher’s position and try to imagine reading one formulaic essay after another. If you want yours to stand out, capture your teacher’s attention and make your essay interesting, funny, or compelling.

In the above example, the focus shifted slightly and talked about dogs as members of the family. Many would suggest it departs from the logical organization of the rest of the essay, and some teachers may consider it unrelated and take points away. However, contrary to the common wisdom of “tell them what you are going to say, say it, and then tell them what you have said,” you may find it more interesting and persuasive to shift away from it as the writer did here, and then, in the end, return to the core point of the essay. This gives an additional effect to what an audience would otherwise consider a very boring conclusion.

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• Parts of an Academic Essay
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In a way, these academic essays are like a court trial.  The attorney, whether prosecuting the case or defending it, begins with an opening statement explaining the background and telling the jury what he or she intends to prove (the thesis statement).  Then, the attorney presents witnesses for proof (the body of the paragraphs).  Lastly, the attorney presents the closing argument (concluding paragraph).

The Introduction and Thesis

There are a variety of approaches regarding the content of the introduction paragraph such as a brief outline of the proof, an anecdote, explaining key ideas, and asking a question.  In addition, some textbooks say that an introduction can be more than one paragraph.  The placement of the thesis statement is another variable depending on the instructor and/or text.  The approach used in this lesson is that an introduction paragraph gives background information leading into the thesis which is the main idea of the paper, which is stated at the end.

The background in the introductory paragraph consists of information about the circumstances of the thesis. This background information often starts in the introductory paragraph with a general statement which is then refined to the most specific sentence of the essay, the thesis. Background sentences include information about the topic and the controversy. It is important to note that in this approach, the proof for the thesis is not found in the introduction except, possibly, as part of a thesis statement which includes the key elements of the proof. Proof is presented and expanded on in the body.

Some instructors may prefer other types of content in the introduction in addition to the thesis.  It is best to check with an instructor as to whether he or she has a preference for content. Generally, the thesis must be stated in the introduction.

The thesis is the position statement. It must contain a subject and a verb and express a complete thought. It must also be defensible. This means it should be an arguable point with which people could reasonably disagree. The more focused and narrow the thesis statement, the better a paper will generally be.

If you are given a question in the instructions for your paper, the thesis statement is a one-sentence answer taking a position on the question.

If you are given a topic instead of a question, then in order to create a thesis statement, you must narrow your analysis of the topic to a specific controversial issue about the topic to take a stand. If it is not a research paper, some brainstorming (jotting down what comes to mind on the issue) should help determine a specific question.

If it is a research paper, the process begins with exploratory research which should show the various issues and controversies which should lead to the specific question.  Then, the research becomes focused on the question which in turn should lead to taking a position on the question.

These methods of determining a thesis are still answering a question. It’s just that you pose a question to answer for the thesis.  Here is an example.

Suppose, one of the topics you are given to write about is America’s National Parks. Books have been written about this subject. In fact, books have been written just about a single park. As you are thinking about it, you may realize how there is an issue about balancing between preserving the wilderness and allowing visitors. The question would then be Should visitors to America’s National Parks be regulated in order to preserve the wilderness?

One thesis might be There is no need for regulations for visiting America’s National Parks to preserve the wilderness.

 Another might be There should be reasonable regulations for visiting America’s National Parks in order to preserve the wilderness.

Finally, avoid using expressions that announce, “Now I will prove…” or “This essay is about …” Instead of telling the reader what the paper is about, a good paper simply proves the thesis in the body. Generally, you shouldn’t refer to your paper in your paper.

Here is an example of a good introduction with the thesis in red:

Not too long ago, everyday life was filled with burdensome, time-consuming chores that left little time for much more than completing these tasks.  People generally worked from their homes or within walking distance to their homes and rarely traveled far from them.  People were limited to whatever their physical capacities were.  All this changed dramatically as new technologies developed.  Modern technology has most improved our lives through convenience, efficiency, and accessibility.

Note how the background is general and leads up to the thesis.   No proof is given in the background sentences about how technology has improved lives.

Moreover, notice that the thesis in red is the last sentence of the introduction. It is a defensible statement.

A reasonable person could argue the opposite position:  Although modern technology has provided easier ways of completing some tasks, it has diminished the quality of life since people have to work too many hours to acquire these gadgets, have developed health problems as a result of excess use, and have lost focus on what is really valuable in life.

Quick Tips:

The introduction opens the essay and gives background information about the thesis.

Do not introduce your supporting points  (proof) in the introduction unless they are part of the thesis; save these for the body.

The thesis is placed at the end of the introductory paragraph.

Don’t use expressions like “this paper will be about” or “I intend to show…”

For more information on body paragraphs and supporting evidence, see Proving a Thesis – Evidence and Proving a Thesis – Logic, and Logical Fallacies and Appeals in Related Pages on the right sidebar.

Body paragraphs give proof for the thesis.  They should have one proof point per paragraph expressed in a topic sentence. The topic sentence is usually found at the beginning of each body paragraph and, like a thesis, must be a complete sentence. Each topic sentence must be directly related to and support the argument made by the thesis.

After the topic sentence, the rest of the paragraph should go on to support this one proof with examples and explanation. It is the details that support the topic sentences in the body paragraphs that make the arguments strong.

If the thesis statement stated that technology improved the quality of life, each body paragraph should begin with a reason why it has improved the quality of life.  This reason is called a  topic sentence .  Following are three examples of body paragraphs that provide support for the thesis that modern technology has improved our lives through convenience, efficiency, and accessibility:

     Almost every aspect of our lives has been improved through convenience provided by modern technology.  From the sound of music from an alarm clock in the morning to the end of the day being entertained in the convenience of our living room, our lives are improved.  The automatic coffee maker has the coffee ready at a certain time.  Cars or public transportation bring people to work where computers operate at the push of a button.  At home, there’s the convenience of washing machines and dryers, dishwashers, air conditioners, and power lawn mowers.  Modern technology has made life better with many conveniences.

     Not only has technology improved our lives through convenience, it has improved our lives through efficiency. The time saved by machines doing most of the work leaves more time for people to develop their personal goals or to just relax.  Years ago, when doing laundry could take all day, there wasn’t time left over to read or go to school or even just to take a leisurely walk.  Nowadays, people have more time and energy than ever to simply enjoy their lives and pursue their goals thanks to the efficiency of modern technology.

     Accessibility to a wide range of options has been expanded through modern technology.  Never before could people cross a continent or an ocean in an afternoon.  Travel is not the only way technology has created accessibility.  Software which types from voice commands has made using computers more accessible for school or work.  People with special needs have many new options thanks to modern technology such as special chairs or text readers.  Actually, those people who need hearing aids as a result of normal aging have access to continued communication and enjoyment of entertainment they did not previously have.  There are many ways technology has improved lives through increased accessibility.

Notice how these proof paragraphs stick to one proof point introduced in the topic sentences in red. These three paragraphs, not only support the original thesis, but go on to give details and explanations which explain the proof point in the topic sentence.

Quick Tips on Body Paragraphs

The body of your essay is where you give your main support for the thesis.

Each body paragraph should start with a Topic Sentence that is directly related to and supports the thesis statement.

Each body paragraph should also give details and explanations that further support the poof point for that paragraph.

Don’t use enumeration such as first, second, and third. The reader will know by the topic sentence that it is a new proof point.

See Proving the Thesis in Related Pages on the right sidebar for more information on proof.

The Conclusion

Instructors vary of what they expect in the conclusion; however, there is general agreement that conclusions should not introduce any new proof points, should include a restatement of the thesis, and should not contain any words such as “In conclusion.”

Some instructors want only a summary of the proof and a restatement of the thesis. Some instructors ask for a general prediction or implication of the information presented without a restatement of thesis. Still others may want to include a restatement along with a general prediction or implication of the information presents. Be sure to review assignment instructions or check with instructor.  If your assignment instructions don’t specify, just sum up the proof and restate the thesis.

Example which sums up proof and restates thesis :

Modern technology has created many conveniences in everyday from waking up to music to having coffee ready to getting to work and doing a day’s work.  The efficiency provided by technology gives people more time to enjoy life and pursue personal development, and the accessibility has broadened options for travel, school, and work.  Modern technology has improved our lives through convenience, efficiency, and accessibility.

See how the thesis statement was restated in red. The two major arguments about the possible locations proven to be incorrect were also included to remind the reader of the major proof points made in the paper.

Example which makes a general prediction or implication of the information presented:

Modern technology has created many conveniences in everyday life from waking up to music to having coffee ready to getting to work and doing a day’s work.  The efficiency provided by technology gives people more time to enjoy life and pursue personal development, and the accessibility has broadened options for travel, school, and work.  Without it, everyday life would be filled with burdensome tasks and be limited to our neighborhood and our physical capacity. Here’s an example of a conclusion with a general prediction or implication statement with a restatement of thesis.

Modern technology has created many conveniences in everyday life from waking up to music to having coffee ready to getting to work and doing a day’s work.  The efficiency provided by technology gives people more time to enjoy life and pursue personal development, and the accessibility has broadened options for travel, school, and work.  Without it, everyday life would be filled with burdensome tasks and be limited to our neighborhood and our physical capacity. Modern technology has improved our lives through convenience, efficiency, and accessibility.

Quick Tips for Conclusions

• The conclusion brings the essay to an end and is typically the shortest paragraph.
• It is important to not introduce new ideas or information here.
• Unless otherwise specified in your assignment, just sum up the proof and restate the conclusion.
• Some instructors may want the concluding paragraph to contain a general prediction or observation implied from the information presented.
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What are the parts of an essay, how do i write an introduction, how do i write the body of my essay, how do i write the conclusion, how do i create a reference list, how do i improve my essay.

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• Introduction
• Each is made up of one or several paragraphs.
• The purpose of this section is to introduce the topic and why it matters, identify the specific focus of the paper, and indicate how the paper will be organized.
• To keep from being too broad or vague, try to incorporate a keyword from your title in the first sentence.
• For example, you might tell readers that the issue is part of an important debate or provide a statistic explaining how many people are affected.  
• Defining your terms is particularly important if there are several possible meanings or interpretations of the term.
• Try to frame this as a statement of your focus. This is also known as a purpose statement, thesis argument, or hypothesis.
• The purpose of this section is to provide information and arguments that follow logically from the main point you identified in your introduction. 
• Identify the main ideas that support and develop your paper’s main point.
• For longer essays, you may be required to use subheadings to label your sections.
• Point: Provide a topic sentence that identifies the topic of the paragraph.
• Proof: Give evidence or examples that develop and explain the topic (e.g., these may come from your sources).
• Significance: Conclude the paragraph with sentence that tells the reader how your paragraph supports the main point of your essay.
• The purpose of this section is to summarize the main points of the essay and identify the broader significance of the topic or issue.
• Remind the reader of the main point of your essay (without restating it word-for-word).
• Summarize the key ideas that supported your main point. (Note: No new information or evidence should be introduced in the conclusion.) 
• Suggest next steps, future research, or recommendations.
• Answer the question “Why should readers care?” (implications, significance).
• Find out what style guide you are required to follow (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) and follow the guidelines to create a reference list (may be called a bibliography or works cited).
• Be sure to include citations in the text when you refer to sources within your essay.
• Cite Your Sources - University of Guelph
• Read assignment instructions carefully and refer to them throughout the writing process.
• e.g., describe, evaluate, analyze, explain, argue, trace, outline, synthesize, compare, contrast, critique.
• For longer essays, you may find it helpful to work on a section at a time, approaching each section as a “mini-essay.”
• Make sure every paragraph, example, and sentence directly supports your main point.
• Aim for 5-8 sentences or ¾ page.
• Visit your instructor or TA during office hours to talk about your approach to the assignment.
• Leave yourself time to revise your essay before submitting.
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• Writing Process

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Essay structure, writing a thesis statement, introduction paragraphs, body paragraphs, conclusions.

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• Paraphrase, Summarize, and Synthesize
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Note: This guide was used/adapted with the permission of Baker College. For more information please visit the Baker College Writing Guide . 

Almost every course you will encounter in college will include writing assignments. One of the most common writing assignments is known as an essay. While the content and style of essay projects will vary across the disciplines, there are several key components that all good essays include. This section of the guide walks you through some of the basic components of the essay genre.  Here are some general thoughts before you get started.  

• A good essay is well-organized and structured. Good essays have a clear introduction, thesis, and conclusion. Body paragraphs in the essay connect back to the thesis. 
• Essays should be cohesive and have a good flow. We can create this flow by using transition words and phrases to connect one point to the next. 
• Remember to review the directions before you start. One can produce a wonderfully written essay, but if it does not meet the project's parameters, it will not usually receive a passing grade.
• Tips for Writing Your Thesis Drafting a thesis statement can be intimidating, but there are a variety of resources to help.
• Strong Introduction Paragraphs Review tips on starting your paper strong.
• Creating Body Paragraphs This resource walks you through paragraph creation including how to implement good topic sentences, proper organization, and excellent development.
• Crafting a Strong Conclusion We often focus on creating a strong introduction, but crafting a well-written conclusion is just as important.
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Parts Of Speech

An Easy Guide on Adverbs: Definition, Use, Types & Examples

12 min read

Published on: Jun 3, 2024

Last updated on: Jun 3, 2024

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The standard adverb definition, according to the Dictionary , says: “any member of a class of words that modifies verbs or clauses, and in some languages, as Latin and English, modifies adjectives, other adverbs, or adverbial phrases.”

Adverbs are parts of speech that help us understand and express actions better. Without adverbs, our sentences might not fully explain what's going on. This blog will explore how we use them in sentences and the various types of this part of speech, with examples.

The Role of Adverbs in the English Language

In English, adverbs are used as words that describe how actions happen. They modify or describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. These parts of speech provide answers to questions like "how," "when," "where," "why," or "to what extent" an action occurs. 

Some adverbs are formed by adding "-ly" to an adjective. These typically describe how an action is performed. But, some don’t end with “ly”, such as soon, again, also, just, well, and very.

Let’s take a look at some examples of adverbs in sentences:

• She ran quickly to catch the bus.
• He spoke softly to avoid waking the baby.
• They played happily in the park all afternoon.

Sometimes, adverbs can also be used to modify an entire sentence, such as:

• Unfortunately , the concert was canceled due to bad weather.

How Adverbs are Used in Sentences

As we discussed before, adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, and complete sentences. We’ll explore these modifying properties of this part of speech along with examples. 

Using Adverbs to Modify Verbs

Adverbs modify verbs by providing additional information about how, when, where, why, or to what extent an action is performed. Here are some examples of adverbs modifying verbs in sentences:

• She sings beautifully . 
• He walked slowly . 
• They laughed joyously .
• The dog barks loudly . 
• She speaks softly . 

All adverbs are bolded in the above examples. 

Using Adverbs to Modify Adjectives

Adverbs have the ability to modify adjectives as well. When an adverb modifies an adjective, it typically enhances the intensity or provides additional qualification to the adjective.

• The cake is deliciously moist. 
• He is extremely tall. 
• The weather is quite cold.
• She seems slightly anxious. 
• The concert was exceptionally good. 

Using Adverbs to Modify Other Adverbs

Adverbs can also modify other adverbs, to show how something happens in a sentence. Let's see how you can use adverbs to change the meaning or intensity of other adverbs. 

• She dances remarkably gracefully. 
• "remarkably" emphasizes the exceptional quality of her gracefulness.
• They argued extremely passionately.
• "extremely" intensifies the passion in their argument.
• He plays the piano exceptionally skillfully. 
• "exceptionally" highlights the exceptional level of skill in his piano playing.
• The project was completed surprisingly quickly. 
• "surprisingly" emphasizes the unexpected speed with which the project was completed.
• She solved the puzzle incredibly quickly. 
• “incredibly" intensifies the speed with which she solves the puzzle. 

In the above examples, every modifying adverb has been highlighted in red.

Note : Using adverbs to change other adverbs can make sentences too complex and hard to understand. It's best to use this sparingly to keep your writing clear and easy to follow.

Using Adverbs to Modify Sentences

We can also use adverbs to modify complete sentences. Such adverbs are known as sentence adverbs . Rather than focusing on specific details within, sentence adverbs describe the overall feeling or mood of a sentence.

Some common sentence adverbs are:

• Interestingly
• Regrettably

Let’s see how you can use these adverbs to modify complete sentences.

• After days of hard work and determination, I definitely finished the project, and I couldn't be prouder.
• The adverb definitely emphasizes the completion of the project with certainty.
• Certainly, we'll meet tomorrow at the café near the park, where we always have our weekly catch-up.
• The adverb certainly shows confidence that the meeting will happen as planned.
• Finally, after hours of waiting in the cold and uncertainty, he arrived with a smile on his face, bringing warmth to our weary hearts.
• The adverb finally shows relief or impatience as the awaited event happens. 

The next section of this blog will discuss the different types of adverbs. 

Types of Adverbs

Adverbs can be categorized into several types based on the role they play in a sentence and the kind of information they provide. Here are the types:

Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of time, adverbs of place, adverbs of frequency, adverbs of degree.

We’ll help you understand each adverb type one by one.

Adverbs of manner are words that describe how an action is performed or how something happens. They often provide more information about the verb in a sentence. These adverbs typically answer the question “how?” or “in what way?” 

Examples include adverbs like quickly, slowly, carefully, happily, etc. 

Here are a few examples of adverbs of manner in sentences:

• She sings beautifully.
• He runs quickly.
• They danced gracefully.
• The dog barks loudly.

When a verb acts on a direct object, adverbs that describe how the action is done should go before the verb or at the end of the sentence. They should not be placed between the verb and its object.

Let’s understand this with an example : 

Incorrect: She placed carefully the vase on the table.

Correct: She placed carefully the vase on the table.

In the incorrect example, the adverb carefully is incorrectly placed between the verb placed and its direct object the vase. Whereas in the correct sentence, the adverb carefully comes before the verb placed as per the rule.

To provide information about the location of an action within the sentence, we use an adverb of place. These often answer the question “Where?” and usually occur after the main verb in a sentence. 

Examples include words like here, there, everywhere, nearby, inside, outside, etc., 

Let’s take a glance at some example sentences: 

• She looked everywhere for her lost keys.
• The cat is hiding nearby , waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.
• Please come inside where it's warm.
• The birds flew high above the treetops.

An adverb of frequency is a word that indicates how often an action occurs. It gives information about the frequency or repetition of an action in relation to time. We can categorize adverbs of frequency into two subtypes. Let’s discuss the types along with adverbs of frequency examples. 

• Definite Frequency : These specify how often something happens with clear time references like daily, weekly, or once a week.

For instance: She exercises daily to stay fit.

• Indefinite Frequency : These express how often something happens without specific time references, such as always, often, or sometimes.

For instance: He often takes walks in the park to relax.

These adverbs are used to describe or inform when something happens or is bound to happen. You can place them at the end of the sentence. 

Below are some adverbs of time examples in sentences:

• They went to the beach yesterday.
• They will leave for their vacation tomorrow.
• The flowers bloom annually in spring.

Adverbs of Purpose

Also known as adverbs of reason, these adverbs describe why someone does something or the intention behind an action. They often answer the question "why?" or "for what purpose?". 

Some adverbs of purpose function as conjunctive adverbs, while some can also be used in the form of adverbial phrases. 

Here are some example sentences:

• I woke up early to catch the train.
• She studied hard in order to pass the exam.
• He studied hard; therefore , he passed the exam

Adverbs of degree are words that make adjectives, adverbs, or verbs stronger or weaker. They show how much or how strongly something happens or exists. 

Sure, here are some common adverbs of degree along with example sentences:

• She was very happy to see her friends.
• The weather is extremely hot today.
• It's quite chilly outside, so don't forget your jacket.
• He was rather tired after the long hike.

These are the most common types of adverbs used in the English language. Some other types include:

• Interrogative Adverbs: are used to ask questions about place, time, reason, or manner. Example: Where did you go yesterday?
• Relative Adverbs: introduce relative clauses and describe a place, time, reason, or manner. Example: This is the place where we first met.
• Conjunctive Adverbs : are used to connect clauses or sentences and show the relationship between them. Example: He finished his work; however, he still decided to go out.

Let’s now move on to the next part of the blog, where we will compare adverbs and adjectives. You need to understand the differences between them for better communication. 

Adverbs vs. Adjectives

We already know that adverbs modify verbs, adverbs, and adjectives. On the other hand, adjectives can only modify nouns or pronouns. Let’s compare both parts of speech. 

In the next section, we will look at scenarios where you can or avoid using adverbs in your sentences. 

When Should You Avoid Adverbs?

Although adverbs are one of the most important parts of speech, there are circumstances when you should avoid using them. They are: 

• When writing, avoid using adverbs excessively, especially when they don't add meaning or clarity to your sentence.
• You should avoid adverbs when they weaken the impact of your verb or adjective.
• If you can replace the adverb with a stronger verb or adjective, you should do so to make your writing more direct and engaging.
• When editing your work, pay attention to sentences that rely heavily on adverbs, as they may indicate areas where your writing could be strengthened.
• If you find yourself using adverbs repetitively, try rephrasing your sentences to eliminate unnecessary modifiers and make your writing clear.
• You should be cautious with adverbs, as they can sometimes obscure your intended meaning or make your writing less effective.

In conclusion, this blog has explored the significance of adverbs in writing.  We've discussed different types of adverbs, how they modify words, and when it's best to avoid using them. Understanding these fundamental concepts can help improve your writing skills.

If you ever need some guidance with adverbs, feel free to come back to our guide! 

Looking for the Perfect Grammar Tool?

Having trouble with your writing? MyEssayWriter.ai offers a Grammar Checker that can help! It gives quick feedback on spelling, punctuation, and structure, guiding you to improve your language skills for clearer communication.

You can also get help from our AI essay writer with in-text citations to generate flawless essays according to your personalized requirements with just a few clicks. 

Caleb S. (Mass Literature and Linguistics, Masters)

Caleb S. is an accomplished author with over five years of experience and a Master's degree from Oxford University. He excels in various writing forms, including articles, press releases, blog posts, and whitepapers. As a valued author at MyEssayWriter.ai, Caleb assists students and professionals by providing practical tips on research, citation, sentence structure, and style enhancement.

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Understanding Dante’s Circles of Hell in “The Divine Comedy”

This essay is about Dante Alighieri’s depiction of the nine circles of Hell in “The Divine Comedy.” It describes how each circle represents different sins and their corresponding punishments, illustrating the concept of divine justice. The first circle, Limbo, holds virtuous non-Christians, while subsequent circles progressively punish more severe sins such as lust, gluttony, and heresy. The seventh circle punishes violence, the eighth deals with fraud, and the ninth, Cocytus, is reserved for traitors. Through vivid imagery and symbolic punishments, Dante explores human morality and the consequences of sin, reflecting medieval Christian beliefs and offering timeless insights into the human condition.

How it works

Dante Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy” is a cornerstone of literary history, offering a vivid portrayal of the afterlife through its three parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The most intriguing and widely discussed section is the Inferno, where Dante describes the nine circles of Hell. These circles, each representing different sins and corresponding punishments, form a complex and intricate vision of divine justice. Understanding these circles provides insight not only into medieval Christian theology but also into human nature and morality.

Dante’s Hell is structured as a funnel descending in nine concentric circles, each progressively worse and housing souls guilty of increasingly severe sins. The first circle, Limbo, is for virtuous non-Christians and unbaptized infants. Though they are not tormented by physical suffering, they endure an eternity of longing for divine grace they can never attain. This circle sets the stage for the rest of Hell, emphasizing the importance of faith and divine grace in Dante’s worldview.

The second circle marks the beginning of active punishments. It is reserved for the lustful, who are blown about by a violent storm without rest. This eternal whirlwind symbolizes the power of carnal desires to disrupt lives and relationships. Famous historical lovers like Cleopatra and Helen of Troy reside here, illustrating the universal and timeless nature of such sins. Dante’s use of contrapasso, the concept of sinners suffering in a manner befitting their sins, becomes evident and is a recurring theme throughout the Inferno.

In the third circle, the gluttonous are punished by being forced to lie in a vile slush produced by ceaseless, foul rain. This reflects their overindulgence and lack of self-control in life, now manifesting as an unbearable, degrading condition in death. The fourth circle deals with the avaricious and the prodigal, who push heavy weights in a perpetual struggle, symbolizing their futile and excessive pursuit of wealth.

The fifth circle, the River Styx, is home to the wrathful and the sullen. The wrathful fight each other on the surface, while the sullen lie beneath the water, choking on their own resentment. This vivid imagery captures the destructive nature of anger and sullenness, highlighting how these emotions can consume individuals. Dante’s detailed descriptions of these punishments serve not only as a moral warning but also as a reflection on the human condition.

The sixth circle introduces the heretics, who are entombed in flaming graves. This punishment underscores the gravity of straying from accepted religious doctrines in Dante’s time, emphasizing the perceived dangers of heretical beliefs. As Dante and his guide Virgil progress deeper, they encounter the seventh circle, divided into three rings, where the violent are punished. Those who were violent against others are immersed in a river of boiling blood, while those who committed suicide are transformed into gnarled trees, tormented by harpies. Those violent against God, nature, or art suffer in a desert of flaming sand. Each punishment uniquely fits the crime, reinforcing the principle of divine justice.

The eighth circle, Malebolge, is reserved for fraudsters. It consists of ten bolgias, or ditches, each housing different types of fraudulent souls, from seducers to false prophets. Here, the punishments are particularly varied and severe, reflecting the complex and malicious nature of their sins. For instance, flatterers are steeped in excrement, symbolizing the worthlessness of their deceitful words.

Finally, the ninth circle, Cocytus, is the frozen lake at the center of Hell, reserved for traitors. Here, the punishment is extreme, with the most treacherous sinners encased in ice. Betrayal, considered the worst sin by Dante, earns the harshest punishment. Lucifer himself resides here, eternally chewing on the greatest traitors: Judas Iscariot, Brutus, and Cassius.

Dante’s depiction of the circles of Hell is not just a theological map but a profound exploration of human morality and justice. Each circle serves as a reflection of the sins committed in life, with punishments that are poetic in their appropriateness. This intricate structure highlights the medieval belief in a divinely ordered universe where every action has consequences. It also offers timeless insights into the human psyche, making “The Divine Comedy” a lasting masterpiece in both literary and philosophical realms.

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What Are the Parts of a Shoe?

Buying guide.

From heel to toe, here are all the parts that make your shoes move.

Whether you’re running around the track, pacing yourself through a marathon, doing a high-intensity interval training workout or easing into your favorite sneakers for a walk around the neighborhood , the different types of shoes and their various parts are working in different ways to support you and your feet.

You may not have thought about all the parts of a shoe before, but understanding how they are designed and put together can help you select the right sneaker for your needs, especially if you’re looking for shoes with a particular fit or function, like shoes for wide feet or shoes for trail running .

What Are the Parts of a Shoe Called?

Toward the back of the shoe, you’ll find the:

• Tongue front
• Tongue foam
• Tongue lining
• Collar lining
• Collar foam
• Heel lining
• Heel counter

Within the front half of the shoe, there’s the:

• Eyestay reinforcement
• Quarter overlay
• Tip reinforcement

Along the bottom, there are three different soles — the two outsoles at the toe and heel, and the midsole. These all lay below the strobel.

When specifically looking at a Nike shoe , you can’t forget to mention the most recognizable component either — the Swoosh. It may not have a function when it comes to the fit of your shoe, but it certainly makes a style statement all on its own.

This list may feel long, but the many shoe parts work together to give you the most comfortable, high-performance fit possible for the type of activity you’re doing on your feet.

While all the parts on the top of your shoe serve a particular function, many of them are also about style. Laces , for example, are a necessary component when it comes to fit, but they also contribute to the style of the shoe. Think about the pop of color that neon laces can bring to your look.

Other elements include the eyelets and eyestay , which work together to hold the laces. The eyelets are the hole the laces go through, and the eyestay is the material that holds the eyelets in place.

The top of your shoe is also made up of the quarter , which is the area covering the sides and back of the foot, and the tongue , which plays a very important role. You may sometimes feel like it’s that pesky piece you’ve got to pull up each time you get your shoe on, but it actually protects the top of your foot and prevents the laces from rubbing.

When it comes to the upper part of your shoe, look for sneakers made from soft, breathable materials for added comfort. Exploring shoes made sustainably can give you a comfortable upper, with fabrics made from sustainable materials that have proven their worth when it comes to sneakers. Nike Flyknit , for example, is a lightweight fabric precision-engineered with an average of 60 percent less waste than in traditional footwear upper manufacturing.

And Nike Flyleather , while it looks, feels and smells like natural leather, is made by binding at least 50 percent recycled leather fibers with synthetic fibers using a water-powered process, ultimately creating less waste and a lower impact on climate change compared to full grain leather.

At the Heel

The heel is probably one of the most important parts of the shoe from the perspective of the wearer. Without the right cushioning and comfort, the shoes won’t last. They may rub and cause blisters, making your feet sore instead of supporting them while you’re on the move.

This area of your shoe starts with the collar , which is where you insert your foot. It should have its own padding to keep your foot comfortable from the moment you put your shoes on. There’s also collar foam , which provides cushioning to both your heel and ankle, and the collar lining , which encloses the seams in the back of your shoe while enhancing comfort.

Foxing is the material at the heel. It covers the entire back of the shoe, and is what will start to wear away quickly if your sneakers don’t fit right. Right behind it is the heel counter , the stiffest piece of material in the back of your shoe. It helps maintain the shoe’s shape.

Under the Foot

Also considered on the most important parts of the shoe is the bottom. Having the right materials in place here plays a big role in comfort. Not enough support, or even the wrong shape, can leave foot and leg muscles sore after a workout.

The sole and strobel make up what sits under your foot, with the sole of the shoe composed of three separate parts:

• The strobel is the piece of fabric that lays in the bottom of your shoe directly below your foot.
• The midsole is the foam layer, responsible for cushioning.
• The outsole is the bottom layer, the one that comes into contact with outside surfaces. It’s often rubber, and provides traction. Sometimes it’s broken down into the heel and tip.

The midsole and outsoles sit underneath the strobel, making a neat stack of cushioning that varies in thickness based on what type of shoe you’re wearing. This part of your sneaker will also vary in flexibility to accommodate the type of exercise you’re doing when in them.

Shop Nike Running Shoes

Nike Pegasus 41

Men's road running shoes.

Women's Road Running Shoes

Big Kids' Road Running Shoes

Nike Alphafly 3

Men's road racing shoes.

Women's Road Racing Shoes

Nike Vaporfly 3

Nike Zegama 2

Men's trail running shoes.

Women's Trail Running Shoes

Nike Pegasus Trail 5

Originally published: November 22, 2021

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Can you hear me now? Verizon network outage in Midwest, West is now resolved, company says

Some Verizon customers were experiencing mobile network outages in multiple parts of the country Thursday evening and early Friday morning, but it has since been resolved the company confirmed in a statement.

"Some customers, primarily in Midwestern and Western states, experienced a service interruption for several hours yesterday. Our engineers worked quickly to solve the issue and service was restored by 3 am CT. Any customers still experiencing issues should power cycle their phones." A spokesperson for Verizon said in an email to USA TODAY Friday.

When the issue first happened, the company's support account responded to a complaint on X, formerly Twitter , "We're aware of a nationwide situation affecting multiple states."

Dozens of customers reported cell network outages on social media .

At 6:39 p.m. ET on Thursday May 30, the website Downdetector recorded 12,599 reports of outages, by 9:54 p.m. the number of reported outages fell to 5,831. As of 1 p.m. ET on Friday May 31, Downdetector does not appear to be displaying a network outage.

The company's support account said that outages are generally fixed within 48 hours.

Contributing: Emily DeLetter

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Sri Lanka closes schools as the death toll from floods and mudslides rises to 16

Sri Lanka has closed schools as heavy rain triggered floods and mudslides in many parts of the island nation, leaving at least 16 people dead

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka closed schools on Monday as the death toll due to floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rains in many parts of the island nation, rose to 16 people, officials said.

The education ministry announced that the reopening of schools would depend on how the weather develops.

Heavy downpours have wreaked havoc in many parts of the country since Sunday, flooding homes, fields and roads, and forcing authorities to cut electricity as a precaution.

Twelve people died after being washed away and drowning near the capital, Colombo, and the remote Rathnapura, Matara and Galle districts on Sunday, according to the disaster management center. Three others died when mounds of earth collapsed on their houses, and one person died when a tree fell on him.

Separately, five people were injured when mudslides struck and damaged two houses in Ratnapura, which is about 86 kilometers (53 miles) southeast of Colombo, said the center.

By Monday, over 6,000 people had been moved to evacuation centers and more than 12,000 homes had been damaged, the center said in a statement.

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Navy and army troops have been deployed to rescue victims and provide food and other essentials to those affected.

Sri Lanka has been grappling with severe weather conditions since mid-May caused by heavy monsoon rains. Earlier, strong winds downed trees in many areas, killing nine people.

News | 3.5 earthquake near South Pasadena shakes parts…

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News | 3.5 earthquake near south pasadena shakes parts of southern california.

The quake, at 9:56 a.m., was centered 2.3 miles south southwest of Pasadena, 2.4 miles west southwest of Alhambra, and 3 miles west northwest of Monterey Park, according to the USGS.

It occurred at a depth of nearly seven miles.

The earthquake could be felt in parts of the San Gabriel Valley, downtown Los Angeles and elsewhere.

Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, who was in South Pasadena at the time, posted on X that the quake was “sharp and short.”

She added, “The focal mechanism shows east-west thrust faulting, much like the 1987 Whittier Narrows quake. (Sunday’s) quake is west of that event.”

A thrust fault is a break in the Earth’s crust, with older rocks pushed above younger rocks.

No injuries or damage were immediately reported.

No damage reported in Pasadena from the earthquake but this is a great reminder to stay prepared. Visit https://t.co/XRoro677qd for more information. — City of Pasadena (@PasadenaGov) June 2, 2024

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Crime and Public Safety | Former West Covina planning commissioner admits to distributing and possessing child pornography

Crime and Public Safety | Warmer weather this week brings excessive heat warnings to desert communities

Weather | Tornado watch issued for Hampton Roads, parts…

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Weather | Tornado watch issued for Hampton Roads, parts of North Carolina

The National Weather Service at Wakefield issued a tornado watch Monday afternoon for parts of Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and the District of Columbia until 11 p.m. The tornado watch covers all of Hampton Roads and northeast North Carolina. Other locations impacted in Virginia include Richmond and Fredericksburg.

Hampton Roads and northeast North Carolina are the most likely spots for a tornado, according to a 5:30 p.m. update from NWS.

Additionally, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for parts of Hampton Roads, including Hampton, Newport News, and Poquoson until 6 p.m.

A special weather statement was issued for 50 mile per hour winds for Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth until 6:30 p.m.

NWS advises those under a tornado watch to choose a safe location and prepare to move quickly in case a warning is issued. A tornado watch means weather conditions could lead to the formation of a tornado, whereas a tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or is about to occur.

During a warning, people are advised to seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.

Scattered thunderstorms are also possible this evening.

Allison Mitchell, a meteorologist with NWS, said hail and high winds are also possible threats.

“As far as wind goes, we are looking at potential gusts of up to 70 miles per hour,” she said. “For hail, probably most quarter-inch sized, but there is potential for isolated incidents of ping pong size hail.”

Mitchell said the weather in Hampton Roads is expected to clear up on Tuesday.

Katie King, [email protected]

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Weather | Today’s weather: Mix of cloudy skies with scattered showers and storms

Weather | Today’s weather: Slight possibility of a spotty shower with low humidity

Weather | Today’s weather: Sunny day with highs in the low 80s

Hurricanes | What’s fueling this year’s ‘extremely active’ hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean?

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