Essays and Assignments
Sample essays and guidelines for a wide range of assignments.
Ten Tips for Composing a Successful Essay for the SAT or ACT
Here are ten tips for composing an effective essay under pressure for the SAT or ACT. But be warned: we've saved the most important piece of advice for the very end.
Here are ten tips for composing an effective essay under pressure for the SAT or ACT. But be warned: we've saved the most important piece of advice for the very end.
How to Write a Passing Essay for a Standardized Test
This comic essay has some serious advice to offer about how to compose a passing essay for a standardized test.
This comic essay has some serious advice to offer about how to compose a passing essay for a standardized test.
Compose a Letter of Complaint
Here's a project that will introduce you to brainstorming and give you practice in group writing. You will join with three or four other writers to compose a letter of complaint.
Here's a project that will introduce you to brainstorming and give you practice in group writing. You will join with three or four other writers to compose a letter of complaint.
My Home of Yesteryear: A Descriptive Essay
In this descriptive essay, student Mary White imaginatively recreates her childhood home in the country.
In this descriptive essay, student Mary White imaginatively recreates her childhood home in the country.
Compose a Narrative Essay
This assignment will give you practice in composing a narrative essay based on personal experience.
This assignment will give you practice in composing a narrative essay based on personal experience.
Revision and Editing Checklist for a Narrative Essay
After you have completed one or more drafts of your narrative essay, use the following checklist as a revision and editing guide to prepare the final version of your composition.
After you have completed one or more drafts of your narrative essay, use the following checklist as a revision and editing guide to prepare the final version of your composition.
Essay Assignment: Profile
This assignment will give you practice in composing an informative essay based on interviews with your subject.
This assignment will give you practice in composing an informative essay based on interviews with your subject.
Watching Baseball, Playing Softball: A Comparison and Contrast
This composition combines a narrative frame with a detailed comparison and contrast that relies on two different methods of organization: the block method (subject by subject) and the point-by-point scheme.
This composition combines a narrative frame with a detailed comparison and contrast that relies on two different methods of organization: the block method (subject by subject) and the point-by-point scheme.
How to Catch River Crabs: A Process Analysis Essay
In this short essay, a student explains the process of crabbing--that is, the steps involved in catching river crabs. Read (and enjoy) this student composition, and then respond to the discussion questions at the end.
In this short essay, a student explains the process of crabbing--that is, the steps involved in catching river crabs. Read (and enjoy) this student composition, and then respond to the discussion questions at the end.
A Draft Cause & Effect Essay: Why I Hate Mathematics
Compare this student's draft of a cause & effect essay, "Why I Hate Mathematics," to her revised version, "Learning to Hate Mathematics."
Compare this student's draft of a cause & effect essay, "Why I Hate Mathematics," to her revised version, "Learning to Hate Mathematics."
Learning to Hate Mathematics: A Revised Cause & Effect Essay
In the following composition, a student explores her thesis by tracing a clear pattern of cause and effect.
In the following composition, a student explores her thesis by tracing a clear pattern of cause and effect.
Draft Classification Essay: "Types of Shoppers"
A student composed the following draft in response to this assignment: "Choose a topic that interests you, and develop an essay through strategies of classification or division." After reading the draft, respond to the discussion questions at the end. Then compare "Shoppers" to the student's revised version of the essay, "Shopping at the Pig."
A student composed the following draft in response to this assignment: "Choose a topic that interests you, and develop an essay through strategies of classification or division." After reading the draft, respond to the discussion questions at the end. Then compare "Shoppers" to the student's revised version of the essay, "Shopping at the Pig."
A Classification Essay (Revised)
The following classification essay, "Shopping at the Pig," is a revised version of the draft "Shoppers." See if you can identify the numerous changes that have been in this revision, and consider the extent to which the essay has been improved as a result.
The following classification essay, "Shopping at the Pig," is a revised version of the draft "Shoppers." See if you can identify the numerous changes that have been in this revision, and consider the extent to which the essay has been improved as a result.
Revision and Editing Checklist for a Classification Essay
After you have completed one or more drafts of your classification essay, use the following checklist as a revision and editing guide to prepare the final version of your composition.
After you have completed one or more drafts of your classification essay, use the following checklist as a revision and editing guide to prepare the final version of your composition.
Preparing an Argument
The best way to get ready to explain and defend a position on some issue is to explore a topic thoughtfully, considering both sides of the issue before preparing an essay plan.
The best way to get ready to explain and defend a position on some issue is to explore a topic thoughtfully, considering both sides of the issue before preparing an essay plan.
Draft Argumentative Essay: Time for a New National Anthem
This draft was composed according to the guidelines in "Preparing an Argument." After reading the draft carefully, respond to the discussion questions at the end. Then compare "Time for a New National Anthem" with the revised version of the essay, "Time for an Anthem the Country Can Sing."
This draft was composed according to the guidelines in "Preparing an Argument." After reading the draft carefully, respond to the discussion questions at the end. Then compare "Time for a New National Anthem" with the revised version of the essay, "Time for an Anthem the Country Can Sing."
Time for an Anthem the Country Can Sing (An Argumentative Essay)
This argumentative essay is a revised version of the draft titled "Time for a New National Anthem."
This argumentative essay is a revised version of the draft titled "Time for a New National Anthem."
Miss Brill, by Katherine Mansfield
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, and educated at Queen's College in London, Katherine Mansfield was one of the major short story writers of the early 20th century. In "Miss Brill," first published in 1920, Mansfield recounts the observations of an aging English teacher on a Sunday afternoon in a French vacation town.
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, and educated at Queen's College in London, Katherine Mansfield was one of the major short story writers of the early 20th century. In "Miss Brill," first published in 1920, Mansfield recounts the observations of an aging English teacher on a Sunday afternoon in a French vacation town.
Miss Brill's Fragile Fantasy: A Sample Critical Essay
After you have finished reading "Miss Brill," by Katherine Mansfield, compare your response to the short story with the analysis offered in this sample critical essay.
After you have finished reading "Miss Brill," by Katherine Mansfield, compare your response to the short story with the analysis offered in this sample critical essay.
Writing About Fiction: A Critical Essay on Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises"
In this short critical essay about Ernest Hemingway's novel "The Sun Also Rises," the author demonstrates how minor characters shed light on some of the conflicts experienced by the protagonist, Jake Barnes. The essay is based on a close reading of the novel and does not rely on secondary sources.
In this short critical essay about Ernest Hemingway's novel "The Sun Also Rises," the author demonstrates how minor characters shed light on some of the conflicts experienced by the protagonist, Jake Barnes. The essay is based on a close reading of the novel and does not rely on secondary sources.
Rhetorical Analysis of E. B. White's "The Ring of Time"
One way to develop our own essay-writing skills is to carefully examine how professional writers achieve a range of different effects in their work. Such a study is called a rhetorical analysis. Here you will find a sample rhetorical analysis of E. B. White's essay "The Ring of Time."
One way to develop our own essay-writing skills is to carefully examine how professional writers achieve a range of different effects in their work. Such a study is called a rhetorical analysis. Here you will find a sample rhetorical analysis of E. B. White's essay "The Ring of Time."
Ten Tips on How to Write a Professional Email
Email is the most common form of written communication in the business world--and the most commonly abused. Follow these ten tips to keep your messages clear, concise, professional, and polite.
Email is the most common form of written communication in the business world--and the most commonly abused. Follow these ten tips to keep your messages clear, concise, professional, and polite.
Music Review: "A New Voice Emerges in Paris"
Notice how music journalist Erin O'Keefe has based this review of "Klima" on an interview with the artist as well as on her own thoughtful response to the music.
Notice how music journalist Erin O'Keefe has based this review of "Klima" on an interview with the artist as well as on her own thoughtful response to the music.
Tips for Composing a Family Newsletter
A family newsletter doesn't have to be silly or boring. One that's fairly brief, thoughtfully composed, and marked by a sense of humor can be a charming way of staying in touch with distant friends.
A family newsletter doesn't have to be silly or boring. One that's fairly brief, thoughtfully composed, and marked by a sense of humor can be a charming way of staying in touch with distant friends.