short essay example

30+ Short Essay Examples

Short Essay Examples

Writing essays can be one of the most daunting aspects of applying to college. From the personal statement to the extracurricular list to short answer essay questions, the way you communicate your experiences and personality within your application is crucial. Looking at short essay examples is an excellent way to prepare yourself to write your own. In this guide, we’ll provide several short essay examples to help you get a sense of what schools are looking for. 

We’ll break down the differences between short answer essay examples and long essays, give you some college essay tips, and provide a wide variety of short essay examples. Reading short essay examples for college can help you brainstorm how to structure your essays to best represent your personality. In this guide we’ll look at short essay examples from Columbia, Princeton, and many other schools and colleges. So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by college application essays, then you’re in the right place!

But before getting into our short essay examples, let’s learn more about different types of essays and their requirements.

Essay Types and Requirements

Writing essays is a crucial part of the college admissions process. Therefore, learning about the different types of essays you’ll need to write in your college applications is a good place to start the process. There are three main types of essays you’ll encounter as you apply to college: personal statement, long/medium essays, short answer essay questions. 

Common App essay

The Common App essay , also known as a Personal Statement, is the most well-known college essay you’ll have to write. So, it is not surprising that most colleges require the Common App essay/personal statement as part of their application process. The word limit for the personal statement is 650 words, and is it usually the longest essay requirement. 

Supplemental essays

Supplemental essays vary in length; however, many colleges will have long/medium essay requirements in addition to short answer essay questions. Generally, long/medium essays are between 200-400 words. That being said, you should always review the essay requirements for each college well before the application deadlines as they will vary. 

Short answer essays

A sub-type of the supplemental essay format are short answer essay questions. It can be easy to leave the short answer essays to the last minute. However, since these essays usually have a word limit of 50-150 words, they can actually be the most difficult to write. Therefore, it’s important to dedicate enough time and energy to your short answer essays as they can help your application stand out. 

This guide will focus on short essay examples and college essay tips for short answer essay questions. Short answer essays can be challenging, especially given the small word limit. Indeed, it can be hard to adequately capture your personality and strengths in such a short format. We’ll cover short essay examples later in this guide to help inspire your writing process!

Short Essays vs. Long Essays

Managing all the different types of essays needed for your applications can be difficult. And, while the short essays may feel like they don’t take as much effort, they are just as important as the personal statement or other longer essays. 

In general, you’ll find long essays take longer to plan and edit. However, the benefit of longer essays is that you have more room to explore your ideas. Alternatively, short answer essays require you to be very intentional with every word. Therefore, they may be trickier to brainstorm and to edit down below the word limit.

Reading examples of college essays can give you a sense of how long and short essays differ, and how you should shift your approach for each. In fact, many of the short essay examples we’ve collected highlight just how impactful short answer essays can be at communicating your unique personality and interests. While long essays grant you more space, short answer essays can quickly help you stand out in the admissions process. 

Together, short and long essays help paint a holistic picture of who you are. Additionally, they help indicate if you’d be a good fit for a specific school. Reading through short answer essay examples can give you a feel of the pace and tone schools are looking for in this type of essay. 

Do all college applications require short essays?

No, not all colleges require short essays! While you research short essay examples, it’s good to keep in mind the essay requirements for each of the schools on your college list. 

You may encounter schools with a mix of short essays and long/medium essays, such as the University of Southern California or UT Austin . Some schools will only have long/medium essays in addition to the personal statement, like Vanderbilt and the University of Chicago . On the other hand, there are schools that don’t have any supplemental essay requirements, like Northeastern and Oberlin . As you make your college list, be sure to review the college admissions requirements for each school. 

What colleges require short essays?

Many different colleges require short essays. Later in this guide, we’ll look at short essay examples from Stanford , Princeton , and Columbia . However, many other schools have short essay questions.

Colleges with Short Essays

• Brown University requires four short answer essays, ranging from 3 words to 100 words. 
• California Institute of Technology (CalTech) has three optional short essays with word limits between 50-150 words. Given how competitive Caltech is, researching some short answer essay examples is wise!
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)  requires five short essay responses as part of their application. Responses should be between 100-200 words.
• University of Southern California has different short essay questions depending on your major. Check out the additional application requirements for the specific school you’re applying to. 
• University of Notre Dame has five unique short essay prompts, and students have to pick three of them to complete. Each short essay has a word limit of 50 words. Students must also respond to two other essay prompts, and although not necessarily deemed “short” essays, they have word limits of only 150. 
• Dartmouth College has three separate essay supplements; only one is considered “short” with a word limit of 100 . Reading through college essay ideas can help you brainstorm your best Dartmouth short essay. 
• Tufts University has two supplemental essay requirements, one of which is considered a short essay. For the Tufts short essay, all students must complete a sentence in 100 words or less explaining why they are applying. Take advantage of Tuft’s guide on tackling the short essay questions. 
• University of Pennsylvania has two mandatory short answer essays and one that is major specific. Each has a word limit of 150-200 words. 
• Virginia Tech has four required short essay prompts, each with a 120-word limit. 
• Occidental College has one 20-word response supplemental essay as well as a 150-200 word essay among their essay requirements.

As you can see, short essays are prevalent in many schools’ essay requirements. Therefore, reading short essay examples will help you with your applications. And remember, be sure to check each school’s specific requirements as every school is different! Writing requirements can also change yearly so search the school’s site for the most up-to-date information.

Examples of Short Prompts

In this section, we’ve compiled several short essay examples for you. For these short essay examples, we’ve included several different answers to each prompt. This will help you see the wide variety of ways you can tackle short answer essay questions. For each prompt, we’ll give you some college essay tips, and break down ways you can approach these short essays. 

The following prompts are all variations on personal interest essays. In general, these short answer essay questions help admissions officers understand your unique perspective and how your interests have shaped your understanding of the world. You can use these short essay examples as a jumping off point to shape your own approach to personal interest short essays. 

Let’s check out the first prompt and three short essay examples that answer it. 

When the choice is yours, what do you read, listen to, or watch? (50 word limit)

Response #1.

Read: The New York Times, Vox, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Quora. Favorite authors include Siddhartha Mukherjee, Atul Gawande, Dushka Zapata, and Zora Neale Hurston. 

Listen: This American Life, The Daily, Radiolab, Invisibilia, U.S. and French pop. 

Watch: The Good Place, Brooklyn 99, YouTube science, baking, and fingerstyle guitar videos.

Response #2

Read: an unhealthy number of self-help books, re-reading Just Kids by Patti Smith, every one of Audre Lorde’s books… 

Listen to: Danez Smith’s slam poetry (my personal favorite? Dinosaurs in the Hood), Still Woozy, Invisibilia… 

Watch: all the television I was forbidden from watching when I was twelve, POSE, ContraPoints, YouTubers criticizing ContraPoints… 

Response #3

Read: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, The Wendigo, How To Write an Autobiographical Novel, Night Sky With Exit Wounds, Brainpickings.org weekly newsletter

Listen: Shostakovich, Lauv, Atlas, 20-hour-rain soundtrack on Spotify 

Watch: Avatar, Forrest Gump, Schindler’s List, Hachi (if in the mood to cry), any Marvel movie!

These media focused short answer essay questions are very popular as your answer can say a lot about who you are! However, don’t try to be impressive or list things you haven’t actually read or watched – be honest and let your personality come through. 

Now, let’s look at some more prompts and their short essay examples:

Name your favorite books, authors, films, and/or artists. (50 word limit)

I love literature and art that helps me explore my roots and learn to love myself. These works and authors include:​The Color Purple, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,

​Maya Angelou, Day of Tears, ​Hope for the Flowers, and Langston Hughes.

What newspapers, magazines, and/or websites do you enjoy? (50 word limit)

I enjoy newspapers and magazines that enable me to learn something everyday. I like National Geographic because it lets me learn more about science. Once it even inspired me to do a self directed project on albatrosses. I also enjoy The Economist as it gives me a well rounded view of today’s politics and economics.

What were your favorite events (e.g., performances, exhibits, competitions, conferences, etc.) in recent years? (50 word limit)

“December 24th, 9pm, Eastern Standard time.” Rent began. I was sitting in between my best friends. We were losing circulation in our hands from holding on too tight and washing off our make-up with our tears. I felt an immense sense of harmony with the play and it was fantastic.

These short essay examples show how robust of an answer you can write with 50 words. Furthermore, they’re great examples of how students are able to expand on their personal interests to create a cohesive story with their essays. Indeed, the best college essay ideas will strengthen your personal narrative, even within short responses! These short essay examples show how much you can learn about an applicant in minimal words.

Moving on from those unique prompts, let’s turn to a favorite among schools. You’re likely to see a version of the following prompt for many different colleges. 

Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford. (50 word limit)

I live by my motto: “Dare!” in all instances of Truth or Dare.

Apparently, so do the students who brave Secret Snowflake. It spotlights what I love most, Truth or Dare minus the truth. Will I attempt to break the jalapeno eating record? Hop into The Claw in sub-zero temperatures?

We’ve included this Stanford prompt to highlight the ways in which short essay examples for college can also be used to gauge your knowledge about the school you’re applying to. Many college essay tips are school specific , but it’s important to think broadly when reading examples of college essays.

While some college essay advice may apply more to one school than another, many college essay tips can be used across various schools. This prompt highlights the importance of using research to demonstrate your interest in a school. 

In general, you might notice that many short essay examples have quite unique prompts. The following prompt is creative and fun, allowing students to take their response in any direction they want.  

Imagine you had an extra hour in the day — how would you spend that time? (50 word limit)

I’d split my hour two ways, investing time in my own wellbeing and in others. Half I’d spend baking treats for friends, which would double as a personal gift, since I find baking—like running—relaxing and restorative. The second half I’d spend answering Quora questions—something I’ve been meaning to pay forward.

At eight, I dreamed of becoming a YouTuber, documenting life in rectangular video. Each year, this dream drew further from reach.

With extra time, I’d retrieve what time stole. Creating comedic skits or simply talking about my day, I’d pursue what I value most—making others laugh and capturing beautiful moments.

These short essay examples demonstrate how one thought-provoking question can capture someone’s personality and values. College admissions officers use these questions to see how well a student knows themselves and what their priorities are. When reading examples of college essays, try to imagine how your answer will come across to a stranger. What details do you need to include to make sure your thoughts and ideas come across clearly? 

How to write a short answer essay for college?

After reading a couple of short essay examples, you may feel overwhelmed with how to answer the short answer essay questions. When you’re applying to college the short answer questions may be the last thing on your priority list. However, as our short answer essay examples demonstrate, short essays can help your application stand out. 

When you first approach a short essay prompt, feel free to break it down into even smaller parts. What is the core idea you’re trying to convey? Try to answer the prompt in a single answer, or even word, first. You can then use the remaining word count to explain or justify your answer. The best short essay examples get right to the point and communicate the answer clearly and concisely. 

Once you have a version you’re happy with, get some feedback! While the short answer essay examples we’ve included feel effortless, rest assured that they were edited and workshopped. Remember that the short essay examples paint a picture of the applicant– think about what you’re putting forward, and what assumptions the reader may make.

Planning your short essay responses

Despite the small word count, short essay examples for college require thoughtful planning and careful execution. Try reading the short answer essay examples as a college admissions officer might. What story is being told? Is it being told well? 

Then consider the response in the context of an application. Are you trying to highlight your experiences and how they relate to your major? Is there anything you’re proud of that you want to mention? Looking at the short essay examples holistically can help you see how other students have been able to shape a narrative, and, in turn, can help you map out yours. 

As our examples of college essays highlight, it’s important to be precise with your words – each word should have a role and work towards your overall answer. There’s no room for fluff here! 

Things to avoid in your short essay responses!

All of our short essay examples are well-written. However, it can be helpful to know what to stay away from in your responses.

Firstly, and most importantly, avoid generic answers. Have your answers be true to who you are, and allow them to display your unique personality. The short essay examples included in this article show how crucial personality is in the application process. Good short essay examples tell you something about the author and leave you with a better sense of who they are. 

When brainstorming college essay ideas, don’t try to create totally new interests to appear impressive. It’s hard to fake authenticity. As such, owning your experiences and hobbies will be more impactful than inventing them. The short answer essay questions are a tool to help bolster your application – use them that way!

The last thing to avoid when writing short essays is waiting until the last minute to get started. While it may be tempting to focus on your longer essays, it will be obvious to admissions officers if the short answer essay questions were rushed through. The short answer essay examples included here were not written the day of the application deadline – careful planning and drafting are essential! 

What is the format for a short essay?

The beauty of short essays is that there is no single format you have to follow. As demonstrated with our short essay examples, some answers come in list form and others in short paragraph form. So don’t be afraid to experiment with the format of your answers. But remember, answering the prompt directly and quickly will allow you room to explore your rationale – don’t make the college admissions officer search for your answer! 

Researching examples of college essays that experiment with form can help you think outside the box. There is no one formula for short essay examples, so let yourself be creative. With such a limited word count, you don’t have the space to build up to your answer. The short answer essay examples we’ve included here don’t follow the traditional essay format. Don’t be afraid to break away from traditional essay rules – as long as your essay response answers the prompt, it can take on any form!

As previously mentioned, we’ve got some school-specific essay examples in store for you – starting with examples for the Columbia essay.

Columbia Short Essay Examples

The Columbia essay, like all short essays, is an important part of the overall application. The short essay examples below can help you brainstorm your own responses and serve as a guide as you write your own Columbia essay. 

Let’s jump into our Columbia essay examples. Here are the prompts and the short essay examples: 

Columbia Essay Examples Guidelines

For the list question that follows, there is a 100-word maximum. Please refer to the below guidance when answering this question: 

• Your response should be a list of items separated by commas or semicolons.
• Items do not have to be numbered or in any specific order. 
• It is not necessary to italicize or underline titles of books or other publications.
• No author names, subtitles or explanatory remarks are needed.

List a selection of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy. (100 words or fewer) 

1984, Oedipus Rex, Antigone, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Kite Runner, Number the Stars, Beowulf, Into the Wild, The Crucible, The Art of Strategy, The New York Times, NBC News, NPR, The Associated Press, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, CNalaysis, Elections Daily, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, Split Ticket, FiveThirtyEight, Twitter/X, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, Nature, Animal World, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society, Mathematical Reviews, Timeline – World History Documentaries, History Matters, Mr. Beat, Oversimplified, The Metropolitan Museum of Art 

List a few words or phrases that describe your ideal college community. (150 words or fewer) 

Cultivates conversations that cross all boundaries and borders whether in the dorms of John Jay or at The Forum. 

A community that is collaborative but challenges individuals to be the best versions of themselves. 

Where a homebody can chill with a slice of Koronet pizza or go out for a night on the town. 

A campus spirited with the buzz and excitement of the city yet mellow with the rhythmic clicks and frantic thoughts in the library. 

Full of hands with sore thumbs and paper cuts from flipping through the pages of The Aeneid 

Where an introverted-extrovert can get lost in the crowds of 8 million people or among fellow students on the Van Am Quad. 

Home. 

List the titles of the required readings from courses during the school year or summer that you enjoyed most in the past year. (150 words or fewer) 

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

List the titles of the books you read for pleasure that you enjoyed most in the past year. (150 words or fewer) 

The Girls by Emma Cline, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, How to Be a Bawse by Lilly Singh

List the titles of the print, electronic publications and websites you read regularly. (150 words or fewer) 

Time Magazine, Vox.com (especially the Youtube channel), Vogue, Refinery29.com

List the titles of the films, concerts, shows, exhibits, lectures and other entertainments you enjoyed most in the past year. (150 words or fewer) 

Isolation Tour (Kali Uchis), American Teen Tour (Khalid), Music Midtown (Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Rainbow Kitten Surprise) – Freudian by Daniel Caesar, The New York Times Great Hall exhibit at the Newseum, “Pictures of the Year: 75 Years of the World’s Best Photography” at the Newseum – A Changing America at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, “The Future Is…” podcast summer series, Stuff You Should Know (podcast by HowStuffWorks), The Good Place, Mad Men

You’ll notice that all of the Columbia essay prompts are in list format. Therefore, they don’t leave you much room to explain or elaborate on your answers. The lists you create will speak for themselves. These short essay examples highlight the ways you can still create a strong narrative through the lists you make. 

Next, we’ll turn our attention to some great Princeton essay examples!

Princeton Short Essay Examples

Remember, when researching short essay examples for college, it can be helpful to have college-specific short essay examples. Let these short answer essay examples inspire you as you begin brainstorming your response for your own Princeton essay. 

Here are the Princeton essay examples:

What is a new skill you would like to learn in college? (50 words max) 

I would like to learn the important skill of team collaboration in college. Through research programs and student organizations, I will work within a team and navigate diverse perspectives. This will help prepare me for the collaborative complexities of the real world beyond the campus.

What brings you joy? (50 words max) 

One of my hobbies is building election models that predict the results of the next general election. It brings me great joy when I predict the results with profound accuracy, and even if I get some wrong, it’s all part of the unpredictable process—sometimes even my models need a recount!

What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment? (50 words max) 

“Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield represents the soundtrack of my life right now. Its lyrics mirror my journey of self-discovery and untapped potential. Lines like “Feel the rain on your skin; no one else can feel it for you” inspire me to embrace my responsibilities and savor life’s experiences.

When reading them as a whole, each Princeton essay should work to create a sense of who you are and what you’re interested in. When writing a Princeton essay, it can be tempting to come across a certain way, or try to mimic what you think college admissions officers want. However, it’s important to remain authentic in your essays and own your interests and passions. These short essay examples demonstrate this – the more authentic your answer, the better your essay will be! 

Below, we’ll wrap up our school-specific essay examples with one final school: Stanford.

Stanford Short Essays Examples

For the Stanford short essays, we’ve included more than one example for each prompt. With such a small word count, you’ll have to be super careful with your Stanford short essays. Read through these Stanford short essays to help jumpstart your writing process . 

Here are some short essay examples for the Stanford short essays: 

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (50 word limit)

The deterioration of political and personal empathy. There’s been an aggressive devaluing of inclusive mindsets and common ground rules—the kind of solidarity of purpose necessary to accommodate divergent viewpoints, respect evidence, share burdens, and tackle national/international emergencies like climate change and immigration. We are fumbling—in backwards tribalism—while the world burns.

Where’s Waldo books. 

By searching for Waldo, we subconsciously teach children that certain people aren’t meant to belong–they are meant to be hunted. Our brains may be hardwired to notice people who are different, but we are instructed to treat those people differently. 

Searching for Waldo must be consciously unlearned. 

Ignorance poses a paradoxical issue: we can’t solve a problem that we don’t know exists.

For fifteen years, I heard gentrification and thought humanitarian. The Oxford English Dictionary had even taught me that gentrification means “positive change.” How can such atrocities become noticed when our perceptions are so skewed?

Response #4

Greed. The root of all evil. To make momentous strides towards improving societal conditions, people and corporations must put aside their greed. Unfortunately, greed – the deep, dark desire for power and money – is the dominant force at work in many aspects of society, making it society’s most significant challenge.

These short answer essay examples highlight the different approaches you can take when answering this question. These short essay examples get to the point quickly– each example directly answers the prompt within a single sentence (or word), and then uses the remaining space to justify the answer. 

Now let’s look at the second prompt and short essay examples:

How did you spend your last two summers? (50 word limit)

Learned to drive; internship in Silicon Valley (learned to live alone and cook for myself!); Governor’s Honors Program; AAJA JCamp in Detroit; wrote articles for The Borgen Project; lobbied at the Capitol and met Rep. Lucy McBath; Kenyon Review Young Writers in Ohio; read a whole lot.

My goal: Adventure

2015: Moved from North Carolina to Texas (mission trip to Birmingham, Alabama in between), vacationed in Orlando.

2016: Math program at MIT in Boston, engineering program at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, mission trip to Laredo, Texas, vacation to northern California including the lovely Palo Alto.

These short essay examples highlight the ways in which you can play with form. The first example is in list form, while the second breaks up the answer into an easily digestible format. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your form with the short answer essay questions – they don’t have to follow a traditional format.

Here’s the third prompt:

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 word limit)

Valentina Tereshkova’s 1963 spaceflight. Tereshkova’s skill, grit, and persistence carried her from working in a textile factory, through grueling tests and training, to becoming the first woman to fly solo in space. Her accomplishment remains symbolic of women’s empowerment and the expanded progress that’s possible with equity in STEM opportunities.

In 2001, Egyptian authorities raided a gay nightclub, arresting 55 men. The prosecutors tried them under fujur laws—initially passed by Egyptian nationalists to counter British ‘immorality’ during colonization. 

Watching the prosecution construct homosexuality as un-Egyptian would illustrate the extent anti-Western sentiment drove homophobia and how similar anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric remains today. 

Most definitely Paganini’s legendary one-stringed performance; one-by-one, his violin strings snapped mid-performance until he was left with only the G-string. Being Paganini, he simply continued to play flawlessly all on that single string!

Change does not happen without courage. I wish I could have witnessed the courage it took for the four A&T students sit in at the Woolworth’s counter in my hometown, Greensboro, North Carolina. I want to see the light overcoming darkness that created a change to last forever.

When applying to college, you may encounter prompts like this one, where you’re expected to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of world events. These short answer essay examples demonstrate how you can display your personality and interests in prompts like these.

Let’s look to the fourth prompt:

What five words best describe you? (5 word limit)

Speak up. Take action. Together.

Peter Parker meets Atticus Finch

The light of the world

Short answer essay questions like these can feel the most challenging, but don’t be afraid to get creative. They are meant to help capture the essence of your personality. These short essay examples for college highlight the ways these answers can have such a big impact, in such a small format.

What makes a short essay statement stand out?

When applying to college, there’s a lot of pressure to make your essays stand out. The best short essay examples help communicate the writer’s personality and interests clearly. Developing your personal writing style is key in having your short answer essay examples stand out. Start early and don’t be afraid to get creative!

It’s also important to consider how your essays will work together.Do they tell a cohesive narrative? Do they work to highlight different experiences but help connect your bigger picture message? Reading short essay examples with a focus on cohesion can help you map out your responses. 

The best way to have your short essays stand out is to plan them out carefully, and make sure they are authentic, demonstrating who you are and what you’re interested in. The best short essay examples feel genuine and convey a core aspect of the writer’s personality. Draft and edit your short essays until they feel right to you! 

Additional Short Essay Tips

In addition to outlining short essay examples for college, we’ve compiled some additional tips to help you get started with your college essay ideas:

1. Have a brain dumping session. 

When reading short essay examples for college, it can feel intimidating if you’re unsure of what to write about. Having a brain dumping session can be a great way to inspire the writing process and help you map out what you want to communicate. Don’t worry about structure or formatting; just free-write and let the words flow! 

2. Edit, edit, edit.

It’s likely that your first draft of short essays will go over the word limit, but don’t worry! The short essay examples included here were not first drafts – they were honed and edited down to their current versions. Keep this in mind as you read short essay examples for college, and be sure to plan enough time for the editing process when writing your own essays. 

3. Be truthful.

One thing all of our short answer essay examples have in common is that they are authentic to the writer. The best short essay examples make you feel closer to the writer. They should allow you to understand the writer on a deeper level. It can be tempting to embellish your short answer essay responses to match what you think a school wants to hear, but authenticity is hard to replicate. Therefore, be true to yourself when writing your short essay responses.

Other CollegeAdvisor Essay Resources to Explore

After you’ve explored the short answer essay examples outlined here, be sure to utilize the many other resources CollegeAdvisor has to offer. In addition to guidance on the overall admissions process , CollegeAdvisor has several other resources on writing essays. After reading these short answer essay examples, you can watch our webinars on essays: Writing About Extracurriculars in Your College Essays and Supplemental Essays . 

CollegeAdvisor also has ample resources on specific colleges. You can find additional short essay examples for Columbia , Barnard , and Stanford , as well as tips and tricks from former admissions officers. If you are looking for college admissions resources, CollegeAdvisor has you covered!

Short Essay Examples – Final Takeaways

While the short answer essays may seem like the easiest part of an application, using the limited word count in a smart, thoughtful way is challenging. The short essay examples for college highlight how impactful short essays can be in building out your overall candidate profile. As you start writing your short essay answers, be sure to remain authentic and truthful. And don’t be afraid to get creative! 

College essay writing can be stressful, but don’t let the short answer essay questions intimidate you– and definitely don’t leave them to the last minute! Take your time, plan thoughtfully, and be confident in your answers. The best short essay examples for college bring out your personality – be bold and rest assured that you’re putting your best foot forward. 

This article was written by senior advisor Jess Klein . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Short Essay

Short essay generator.

A short essay is a concise piece of writing, typically between 250 and 500 words, that presents a focused argument or reflection on a specific topic. Unlike longer essay writing , a short essay requires a clear, narrow topic and a precise thesis statement due to its limited length. It includes an introduction, body, and conclusion, aiming to express ideas effectively within a compact structure. Short essays often prioritize clarity, coherence, and brevity, making every sentence impactful. They are commonly used in academic settings, examinations, and other contexts where concise and well-organized responses, like a free essay , are required to convey information or opinions succinctly.

What is a Short Essay?

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Short Essay Format

A well-organized short essay includes three main parts: the introduction, body, and conclusion. Here’s a breakdown of each section:

Introduction

Purpose: The introduction presents the topic and includes a clear thesis statement to outline the essay’s main point. Length: Usually 2-3 sentences. Tips: Start with a hook to grab attention. Provide some background information before stating the thesis.

Purpose: The body elaborates on the thesis, supporting it with evidence , examples, and explanations. Length: Typically 1-3 paragraphs, depending on the essay’s length. Tips: Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea that supports the thesis. Use transitions to maintain a smooth flow between paragraphs.

Purpose: The conclusion summarizes the main points and reinforces the thesis. Length: Usually 2-3 sentences. Tips: Restate the thesis in a fresh way . Provide a final thought or suggest a call to action , if appropriate.

Short Essay Example

The Importance of Daily Exercise Maintaining a daily exercise routine is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Exercise not only improves physical health by reducing the risk of chronic diseases, but it also enhances mental well-being. Regular physical activity, even for just 30 minutes a day, can boost energy levels, improve mood, and increase overall life satisfaction. For instance, studies show that individuals who engage in daily exercise report higher levels of happiness and lower stress. Additionally, daily exercise promotes better sleep and cognitive function. In conclusion, incorporating daily exercise into one’s routine can lead to substantial health benefits, making it a worthwhile investment in personal well-being.

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Essays usually become a channel for a person to express emotions and ideas about something or someone. A writer can be creative in presenting topics that he/she thinks is relevant and from which people can infer important lessons in life. Thus, there are many ways to write an essay .

Some of the few types of essays are informative essay , analysis essay , concept essay , reflective essay , and many more. These are all different in the way that they are written as well as their objective. Each is unique in its own way. An essay could also be written short or long, which of course, depends on the writer.

Short Narrative Essay Example

Short Essay Plan Example

Sample Narrative Essay Example

High School Narrative Essay Example

Biographical Narrative Essay Example

Free Visual Essay Example

Argumentative Essay Writing

Sample Opinion Essay Example

Scholarship Essay Example

Short Expository Example

Short Narrative Essay Example

Short Argumentative Sample Example

Persuasive Short Essay Example

Descriptive Short Essay Example

College Short Essay Example

Critical Essay Example

Importance of Short Essay

A short essay is usually contained in just a page and not lengthy words or explanations in necessary to express the main point of the topic. Short essays are important when one is trying to present an important topic without having to write a lot of words or using multiple pages. You may also like concept essay examples & samples.

It presents just the right amount of data or knowledge necessary to feed a hungry mind. As scientific researches has put it, the mind can retain more data when the details are presented in a brief and concise manner. Some people have short attention span so you need to have the writing skills to make your point with just a few words.

How to write a short essay

Writing a short essay involves focusing on clarity and conciseness. With a limited word count, each sentence must add value and effectively convey your ideas. Follow these steps to craft a compelling short essay:

• Understand the Topic Read the prompt carefully to grasp what is required. Identify the main question or theme you need to address.
• Create a Thesis Statement Develop a clear thesis that states your main point or argument. Keep it concise, as this will guide the focus of your entire essay.
• Outline Your Essay Plan the structure: A short essay usually has an introduction, body, and conclusion. List the main points for each section. This helps maintain a logical flow.
• Write the Introduction Start with a hook to grab attention. This could be a question, fact, or a brief anecdote. Introduce your topic briefly and end with your thesis statement.
• Develop the Body Paragraphs Focus on one main idea per paragraph to ensure clarity. Use evidence or examples to support your points. This can include facts, quotes, or personal experiences. Keep paragraphs concise: Aim for around 3–5 sentences per paragraph.
• Write the Conclusion Summarize your main points briefly. Restate the thesis in a new way to reinforce your argument. End with a closing thought or a call to action, if appropriate.
• Revise and Edit Check for clarity and conciseness: Remove unnecessary words and redundant ideas. Proofread for grammar and spelling errors. Ensure your ideas flow logically, with smooth transitions between sentences and paragraphs.

Tips for writing short essays

Writing a short essay can be challenging due to the limited space available to convey your ideas. Here are some helpful tips to ensure your essay is concise, focused, and impactful:

• Be clear and specific about your main argument or point.
• Make sure your thesis is concise and sets the direction for the entire essay.
• Keep each paragraph dedicated to a single point that supports your thesis.
• Use topic sentences to introduce the paragraph’s main idea.
• Avoid unnecessary words and fluff. Get straight to the point.
• Choose words that convey your meaning accurately and efficiently.
• Even in a short essay, examples can strengthen your argument.
• Select only the most impactful evidence to support your points.
• Plan your word count for each section (introduction, body, and conclusion) to stay within the limit.

How is a Short Essay Structured?

A short essay usually includes an introduction, one or two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each section should be concise, with the introduction presenting the thesis, the body paragraphs supporting it, and the conclusion summarizing the main points.

How Do You Choose a Topic for a Short Essay?

Choose a focused and manageable topic that can be effectively explored within the word limit. The topic should be specific enough to allow for depth without requiring extensive background information.

What is the Purpose of a Short Essay?

The purpose of a short essay is to express a clear and concise argument, analyze a specific topic, or share insights on a subject. It encourages critical thinking and allows for concise communication of ideas.

How Do You Write a Strong Thesis for a Short Essay?

A strong thesis in a short essay should be clear, specific, and directly answer the essay prompt. It should convey the main argument or point of the essay in one or two sentences, setting the tone for the entire piece.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Write a Short Essay on the importance of teamwork.

Create a Short Essay discussing the impact of climate change.

A number of short essay examples that can be used as a reference for your writing!

Short Essay: My School

Short essay: english as a global language, short essay: online education, ap lang rhetorical analysis essay guide, short essay: ganpati festival, short essay: civil war, short essay: cold war, short essay: process of orange juice.

Short Essay: AP Language Synthesis

Short essay: national honor society, short essay: being inspired by america, short essay: about friendship.

Short essay writing is an essential skill that students must learn to succeed in their academic careers. It involves crafting a concise introduction, and conclusion that support the main argument or thesis of the essay. In this essay, we will explore the key components of short essay writing and how to effectively write them.

The first component of effective short essay writing is a concise introduction. The introduction should grab the reader’s attention and provide a clear thesis statement. This statement should be concise and specific, outlining the main argument of the essay. A well-crafted introduction sets the tone for the rest of the essay and helps the reader understand what to expect from the rest of the paper.

The of a short essay should focus on supporting the main argument or thesis. Each paragraph should present a new idea or piece of evidence that supports the thesis statement. The should be clear, organized, and easy to follow. It is important to carefully select evidence that supports the thesis and to present it in a clear and concise manner. This evidence can come from a variety of sources, including books, articles, and personal experiences.

Effective short essay writing requires careful selection of evidence and clear, organized writing. The conclusion of the essay should summarize the main points and provide a final perspective on the topic. It should not introduce any new ideas or evidence but rather provide a final resolution to the argument. A well-crafted conclusion leaves the reader with a sense of closure and a clear understanding of the writer’s perspective.

In conclusion, short essay writing is an essential skill that students must learn to succeed in their academic careers. It involves crafting a concise introduction, , and conclusion that support the main argument or thesis of the essay. Effective short essay writing requires careful selection of evidence and clear, organized writing. By following these guidelines, students can write effective short essays that are clear, concise, and convincing.

About Mr. Greg

Mr. Greg is an English teacher from Edinburgh, Scotland, currently based in Hong Kong. He has over 5 years teaching experience and recently completed his PGCE at the University of Essex Online. In 2013, he graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a BEng(Hons) in Computing, with a focus on social media.

Mr. Greg’s English Cloud was created in 2020 during the pandemic, aiming to provide students and parents with resources to help facilitate their learning at home.

In his spare time, he likes to compete in powerlifitng events and the odd strongman event!

Whatsapp: +85259609792

[email protected]

Sample Short Essays

Please select from the following short essay sets:

Georgetown Short Essay Set | Duke Short Essay Set | Dartmouth Short Essay Set | Harvard Short Essay Set

Note: The following essays were not edited by EssayEdge Editors. They appear as they were initially reviewed by admissions officers.

SAMPLE SHORT ESSAY SET 1

Georgetown, Saudi international relations

For many years, I have been interested in studying international relations. My interest in pursuing this field stems from several factors which have affected me. First, I have been exposed to international affairs throughout my life. With my father and two of my brothers in the Saudi Foreign Service, I have grown up under the shadow of inter-national affairs. Second, I am fascinated by history, economics, and diplomacy. I believe, through the study of international relations, I can effectively satisfy my curiosity in these fields. A third factor which has affected my interest in international relations is patriotism. Through the Foreign Service, I would not only have the opportunity to serve my country, but also have the chance to help bridge gaps between my country and others. Finally, as a Saudi living abroad, I have been bridging cultures throughout my life. This experience has taught me to look for differences to compromise and similarities to synthesize in order to balance different cultures. In short, I believe that my experiences in life, combined with a rigorous academic education, will enable me to pursue a successful career in the Saudi Foreign Service.

Georgetown, Favorite class

At St. Albans, especially in our later years, we are given the freedom to choose from a vast array of classes. Using this freedom, I have selected classes which have personal significance to me, regardless of difficulty or appearance on my transcript. However, from these classes, one holds an extraordinary amount of value to me. This course is A.P. Omnibus History, a combination of American and European history. There are several reasons for my great interest in this class. First, I am fascinated by the cyclical nature of the past. I see these recurring political, economic, and social trends as a means of looking forward into the future, while allowing us to avoid the mistakes of the past. Second, history teaches many lessons about the nature of human behavior, both past and present, providing insight into the actions, desires, and aspirations of those around me. Finally, it lays a solid foundation for several disciplines, including political science, economics, and international relations, three fields of great interest to me.

Georgetown, Visual arts

In the past four years of my life, no activity has affected me more than wrestling. Four years of varsity wrestling and the honor of being a team captain has instilled many qualities in me. First, through years of hard work and continuous dieting, wrestling has given me discipline. This discipline has spread to other parts of my personality, including my moral character, work ethic, and perserverence. Another quality wrestling has given me is leadership. As a team captain, I have learned to lead by example, both on and off the mat. Above all, though, wrestling has given me a love of life. Through this sport, I have experienced pain, sacrifice, adversity, and success. Exposure to these feelings-which are, in my opinion, the essence of being-has allowed me to truly appreciate life. I hope to continue wrestling at Georgetown.

What immediately strikes the reader about this set-before even reading it-is the balance between the essays. Each answer contains only one paragraph, each of approximately equal length. The solid structure of each essay and the focus of each reflects this outward balance. Each one focuses on a completely different area of its writer's life, another striking detail. The first focuses on his career goals, the second on his interest in history, the third on his interest in the visual arts, and the fourth on wrestling. This is a perfect example of the jigsaw puzzle approach. When put together, you have a well-rounded individual with passion, depth, and involvement in many different areas.

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SAMPLE SHORT ESSAY SET 2

Duke, Sports/Debate

Throughout my life, I have tried to be a well-balanced person. Growing up in the South, I had a hard time fighting the stereotypical image of a Chinese person. I was expected to be a math and science genius and nothing more. As it turned out, I defied my detractors by excelling in English and history along with math and science. And over the years, I have continued to maintain my academic standards.

Nevertheless, I have also made sure that I am more than an academic person. I am an active one as well. In middle school, the most popular game during lunch was a basketball game called Salt and Pepper (white vs. black). The first day of school, I stepped onto the basketball courts and was greeted by cries of consternation, "Who is he? Is he salt or pepper?" But after the game, I had made a name for myself. From then onward, I would be known as Spice, and the game we played became Salt, Pepper, and Spice. When I moved to California, things were no different. I continued to play an active part both academically and socially. My involvement with Cross-country, Speech and Debate, Ultimate Frisbee and numerous clubs guaranteed that I would not be only known as an Honors student.

Like myself, Duke is much more than an academic institution; it is a living institution. I feel that I will be given the opportunity to excel both academically and socially. Duke is a university known for its rich history and strong academic program. And, at the same time, it is also known for its innovation and progressiveness. These are qualities which draw me to the college.

In addition, Duke and I have a lot in common. The two most important extracurricular activities I have are a major part of Duke University. Duke's Speech team is known for its strong Extemp squad. I remember the time when my speech coach asked me what schools I was applying to. When I had listed my top five choices, he frowned at me and said, "Out of all those schools, I will only respect you if you either join us at Berkeley or go to Duke and extemp." I hope I will be given the opportunity to contribute my part in the Duke Speech team.

Equally important, the Duke University has a well-known Ultimate Frisbee team. I look forward expectantly to becoming a part of the team. Strange as it seems, Ultimate Frisbee is one of my top criteria for choosing my future college. It delights me that Duke places such great emphasis on the two extracurricular activities that mean most to me.

My first year at Duke should be a great one. Majoring in economics at Duke should allow me to both pursue my major studies and allow me time for personal interests in Chinese and the Humanities. Moreover, in my spare time, I plan to join the Speech team and the Ultimate Frisbee team. Hopefully, with my previous experience, I will have an early start in both Speech and Ultimate. Yet, I will never forget why I'm in college in the first place. As long as I give organic chemistry a wide berth, I should be able to continue my level of academic excellence. Overall, my first year at Duke promises to be exciting, if a bit hectic.

Duke, Books

I find Hermann Hesse's book, Narcissus and Goldmund, intellectually exciting. After reading the book last year, I remember putting it down and sighing contentedly. I had, after a sleepless night, finally finished. What I reveled in was not the fact that I could sleep, but that I had come away with an inexplicable something. It was not an understanding which could be pinpointed and explained. Rather, it was a sense I felt in the depths of my soul. And yet, what delighted me more was that I knew that I had only begun to understand the book; that there remained countless messages which I could only sense but not grasp. Here, finally, I had a book which could be re-read. And every time I finished, I would come away with a new understanding of something I could not put into words.

Unlike the normal academic, I do not want to find the final answer for everything. Throughout my life, I have always felt a sense of loss after succeeding in a long search. For me, it is not the ends I seek, but the means themselves. I am perfectly content to never find the final answer as long as I will always be able to find a better one.

Duke, Chinese culture/Economics

Born in Taiwan, I came to the United States when I was five. Armed with only two words ("hello" and "popcorn"), I braved the uncertainties of a complex, new environment. Twelve years later, my vocabulary is considerably larger and I have adapted well to my surroundings. At the same time, I have neither forgotten my native culture nor its language.

My ties with my native Chinese culture remain as strong as ever. I visit my relatives in Taiwan regularly almost every summer and have traveled throughout China. And to everyone's continuing surprise, I have yet to forget how to speak Mandarin. Nevertheless, twelve years in America has made its impressions upon me as well. I am as "American" as anyone my age. The songs I listen to, the sports I play, and the way I speak are all a reflection of that. In short, I am a combination of both East and West.

Nevertheless, I sometimes wonder whether speaking Chinese at home and visits in the summer are enough to maintain my ties with my native culture. Often, when I see my parents reading old Chinese literature or poetry, I feel that I am only in touch with half of what I am. This sense of loss has led me to seek out my old roots. I turn to the East to rediscover what I have lost.

Yet, I cannot resign myself to merely studying my own culture and language. I want to be able to apply my knowledge as well. To me, pursuing a career in business is a very pragmatic solution to my future welfare. My father is a businessman in Taiwan and I have had numerous opportunities to watch him work. Through him, I have discovered my own interests in the business field. I find the way business operates in the East to be very exciting. At the same time, my father has soothed my sense of morality by showing me that it is possible to be an honest businessman in Asia.

Before I learned about Duke, I had made up my mind to study economics and to ultimately pursue a career in international business. I had come to see this path as the best combination for fulfilling both my aspirations towards knowledge and my pragmatic goals of a future livelihood. China, my planned area of focus, is an expanding market with a dearth of skilled business professionals. But I had misgivings because I wanted a school with a strong focus on the humanities as well.

Thus, I find Duke University exciting and perfect for me. It gives me a strong economics curriculum, but still allows me to pursue my interests in the humanities. With economics at Duke University, I will have access to a wide array of studies both within and beyond my chosen major. I will have an edge in the business world by virtue of Duke

After attending Duke (if I am accepted, of course), I will have a clear path before me. My studies at Duke should virtually guarantee me for any graduate business school. And, after my graduate studies, I will be able to realize my dreams. Perhaps, I will be able to serve as a bridge between East and West.

These three well-written essays create a strong set. The first and the last would have been impressive on their own. Reading them all together magnifies their impact considerably. This student does an especially good job of targeting the school. This student focuses his first essay on his extracurriculars and relates them to why Duke would be perfect for him. He focuses the third on his Chinese background and how it relates to his career goals and academic interests. Then he also relates these interests to why Duke matches him perfectly. His favorite book provided the focus of the second essay. What makes this second essay better than others like it is that the applicant manages to put himself into the question. He does not just talk about the book, he uses it to talk about himself and stress the inquisitive nature of his personality-always a plus.

SAMPLE SHORT ESSAY SET 3

Dartmouth, Debate

Participating in my high school's debate program has been my most meaningful activity these past four years. I have learned how to speak in front of a crowd without becoming nervous, how to think on my feet, and how to argue the merits of any side of an issue. Being on the debate team also allows me to educate myself on current topics of global importance such as the homeless problem, health care, and pollution.Throughout the three years I have dedicated to the activity, (high school) has always maintained a successful squad and I am quite proud to know that I have earned many of the trophies and awards that have helped make the program so successful and (high school) well known on the debate circuit.Because of the activity, I have learned that from education to communication, from argument to enlightenment, debate is necessary for two or more humans to transcend mere exchange of thought and achieve synergy instead. I now view success in debate as far more than a trophy; I now see it as evidence that I can successfully communicate my beliefs to others and have them logically accept them as their own, thus priming me for any future challenges involving human interaction.

Dartmouth, Honors and awards

My most important honors since tenth grade have been winning the Brown University Book Award for my skills in English, being named as a National Merit Semifinalist (Finalist status pending), winning the Journalism Education Association National Write-off Award of Excellence in the Editorial division at a national conference, being selected as a Semifinalist in the NCTE Writing Contest for my work in prose, being named as an Illinois State Scholar for my academic achievement in high school and my high A.C.T. scores, being selected to the Spanish Honor Society for my consistent success with the language in the classroom, being selected as the Student of the Month in the Foreign Language/Social Sciences division two years in a row for my success in those classes, and in a culminating event, being featured in Who's Who Among American High School Students for my overall scholastic success.

Dartmouth, Summer at Dartmouth

Most of my past summer was spent away from home. In that brief month in which I remained in (town name) I worked at (job) in order to earn the money I was going to spend on my trips. My first excursion was to the east coast where I visited several schools and took in the atmosphere of an area to which my midwestern self was somewhat unaccustomed. One school I was considering that I did not visit was Dartmouth. After all, I spent a month there later in the summer. As a participant of the Dartmouth Debate Institute I spent a lot of time in Feldberg, Dana, and Baker libraries; resided in the well-known Choates; attended sessions in Silsby; and dined in the Full-Fare section of Thayer. There was also time for recreational activities such as rope swinging, volleyball, frisbee, sleep (every little bit was cherished), and beautiful hikes up to Dana. I did manage to sit down and work in such a clean, open environment, however. The instructors made sure of that. The four-week institute honed my skills in speaking, researching, structuring arguments, and thinking. As a result, my partner and I were able to break into the elimination rounds at the institute-ending tournament which included the top debaters in the nation. Aside from the debate skills I learned, I found the institute very favorable because of the exchange of ideas taking place between the students and staff. What I learned from those exchanges enlightened me not only as a debater but also as a person.

Although I enjoy all of my subjects, I regard classes I have taken in the social sciences to be the most meaningful. Whereas some classes use formulas to describe natural occurrences, the social sciences show that not everything is explicable in such a clear-cut manner. The social sciences describe people; they describe the people who make up the formulas and how and why that was done. The social sciences also explain the past so as a society, people can avoid past catastrophes and build upon past successes. Not only do they describe how we act as we do, but why we act as we do.

I am not a student who always likes to follow someone else's rules. While most subjects allow for free thought, the social sciences encourage innovative thinking. Those classes expect students to explain why something happened based on certain conditions. I didn't learn that the Iron Curtain was an economic measure in any math class.

As a student my ultimate goal is to understand things. I feel the best way to understand is not by reciting another's thought, but by formulating my own and debating it with people who disagree with me. I believe that exchange of thought is vital in every curriculum, but the social sciences do the most to promote that exchange. I highly doubt that anyone will be debating Einstein's ideas in the near future-and be right.

This essayist dedicates the first essay to his involvement in debating. He manages to communicate quite a lot in a short amount of space (what he has learned, what he has achieved, and what debating means to him) without ever losing his focus. The second essay is an example of an answer to a list question ("List your honors and awards"). The third gets more personal by describing the summer he spent at Dartmouth. The strength of this essay is that he sells himself on his knowledge and familiarity of the school. The weakness of this essay is that he tries to do too much and loses his focus after the second paragraph. The conclusion does not seem to fit with the points he has made in the essay-the last line particularly seems to come from nowhere.

SAMPLE SHORT ESSAY SET 4

Harvard, Favorite books

The novel Black Like Me was the most stimulating book I have recently read. I was taken aback by the cruelty the narrator experienced when he was black compared to the hospitality he found as a white man. Possessing the same occupation, clothing, wealth, speech, and identity did not matter when his skin was another color. Given that this was a non-fictional piece, my reaction was even stronger. The book made me favor equality of opportunity for all in every endeavor so others' opinions of them are based on performance, not preconceptions.

Harvard, Favorite teacher

I selected Mr. (name) because he taught me more than U.S. History; he taught me how to think independently. This wasn't done only to prepare me for the free-response section of the A.P. test, either. I know he did it to make his students responsible citizens and responsible adults. From the outset, he wanted to make sure that we knew how we stood in our political philosophy: strict constructionists or loose constructionists. He wanted to make sure that we didn't gravitate towards empty categories like liberal or conservative, but rather focused on issues separately whenever we needed to take a stand on them. Imagine my surprise when I, the son of two very conservative parents who constantly bombarded me with their rhetoric, discovered that I had strong liberal tendencies on some issues. Aside from political affiliations, Mr. (name) taught us how to make sense out of history by trying to understand the personal motives that went in to any chain of historical occurrences. In his class, I came to the realization that history isn't only a series of names and dates printed in a textbook, but a more complex subject that requires deep thought and analysis for full comprehension. Because of Mr. (name), history is now my favorite subject. He has also been a motivating force outside of the classroom. He always had faith in my ability and constantly encouraged me to do my best. I believe he respected my abilities and wanted to see them developed further. In fact, had it not been for his faith in me, I would have never applied to Harvard, the school I plan to attend in the fall.

Harvard, Unnoticed accomplishment

It's not that I'm a weak guy, just that I had been somewhat self-conscious about my strength early on in my high school career. My gym class didn't help too much, either. Thanks to a demeaning test of strength appropriately dubbed the "Grip Test," once each quarter I was provided the opportunity to squeeze a gadget, get a score, and have my teacher announce it out loud, no matter how high or (as in my case) how low it was. No matter how hard I tried, the cruel and callous scale never registered above 40. Almost every other male in the class could boast of a high-40's or mid-50's score. I hated that test with a passion. Until recently. When this semester rolled around and I had the gripper placed in my palm, I was prepared for the same old same old. I had been improving slightly from quarter to quarter, but nothing impressive ever happened. I drew in a deep breath, squeezed, looked at the scale, and almost fainted. Sixty-six! In a way only a teenager can appreciate, for an accomplishment only a teenager would find meaningful, I thought I was in heaven. My success was even sweeter as I watched jocks pale in comparison when they took the test. Sure, to some people my academic accomplishments seem fairly impressive, and I would agree. Yet the grip test situation was much more personal and represented success in an area I normally don't pay attention to. Plus I learned two things. One: I can pride myself on the smallest triviality. Two: I'm glad we don't measure strength in our gym classes with the bench press.

Harvard, Leadership through dedication

To me, leadership does not necessarily mean accumulating as many titles as possible in school activities; I feel one leads through his dedication, actions, and contributions. I have always tried to lead in almost everything I set out to do. I feel I have been successful at that. Superficially, I have earned such titles as president of the National Honor Society chapter at my school, Editor-in-Chief, columnist, Investigative Editor, and Editorial Editor of the school newspaper, senior varsity leader in debate, and a Class Representative for Student Council. However, those titles don't begin to tell the story of my abilities as a leader. They don't reveal how I volunteered to help out at a handicapped lock-in at an unfamiliar youth center when no one else wanted to, they don't reveal how I always sought to be on time for work and to avoid boondoggling, they don't reveal how I aided younger debaters with their argumentation so they can have the same success I was lucky enough to enjoy, they don't reveal how I became a role model for the JETS squad by studying my material often, eventually becoming the most medaled member on the team, and they don't reveal all the effort I put into learning my lines and acquiring a good stage presence for Images, my first stage production ever, so I wouldn't single-handedly jeopardize the whole show with my lack of experience. All those actions stress the quality I feel is most important in a leader, dedication. With dedication comes hard work and the ability to seek out solutions when problems get in the way, whether they are with a news page layout or in a student's diction. Because of this dedication, taking charge is second nature for me. People are always willing to follow one with a clear sense of direction.

Harvard, Close-knit family

I don't view my important characteristics as different from those my family has imparted on me throughout the years. The pride, care, dedication, effort, and hard-working attitude that I view as critical to any success I may achieve have all descended upon me courtesy of my close-knit, Italian family.

Born the child of two immigrants who came here with nothing, only one possessing a college degree, the importance of a good work ethic was stressed by my parents from day one. Through their actions in their jobs and through the verbal lessons on life I began to get from the moment I could communicate, they set an example for me to follow, one of being proud of what I do, no matter what it was, and above all, to care about everything I do as if everything had a big impact. This meant that everything had to be done right and be done well. Undoubtedly, following their own advice carried my parents from their status as blue-collar immigrants who labored as a factory workers to white-collar citizens, one of whom owns his own business while the other works as a bank officer. Those ascensions from nothing only served as other examples for me to follow, examples that delineated the ability for a person to improve through effort.

Another quotation from my father propelled me from the time I started school to today: "No matter what you do, you have to be the best." This set up the inner drive that motivates all my actions. It was what forced me to try hard in school although I didn't know English well enough to always understand the teacher. It's the reason why I have developed my skills. It accounts for my dedication to all activities, and to the hard work I put into all of them as I strive to lead both in class and out. Essentially, my parentage was the first quality that distinguished me as a leader.

Despite all the talk of being a leader, I have never lost sight of the importance of my family. I know I owe my family everything, and as a result, I'll always be close with it.

Harvard, Fun

I pursue a variety of activities for fun and relaxation. I enjoy reading books and magazines (my tastes range from Time to Gentlemen's Quarterly) on a regular basis, imitating Beavis and Butt-head, and most of all, spending time with my friends. Although I am fan of playing pick-up games of basketball, football, and roller hockey, the phrase "doing nothing with my time" doesn't bother me since I can have a good time just hanging around. I think people, not places, make for a good time.

Harvard, Social concerns

My major social concerns all revolve around the future. In other words, I'm concerned about what prevents people from rising above their disadvantages. Specifically, I am most concerned with the handicapped, education, and crime.

I feel society's response to handicaps is what really hampers the potential of the disabled. It is important for the disabled to get a better sense of worth and to be able to adapt to, and survive in, today's world. Through National Honor Society (NHS), I have done just that. I have helped out at a lock-in that was designed to foster interaction among the children of the organization, as well as at Special Olympics, where the children participate in sports on a competitive basis so their talents and abilities can be recognized. Whenever the disabled can be successful at an activity, the barrier between them and the rest of society is drastically reduced.

Education is key to other problems such as gangs, drugs, and crime because it can prevent and eliminate them. I try to get students in our school to maximize their opportunities by using the educational resources available. By setting up a tutoring program through NHS, I have matched up needy students with other students who can assist them with their problems in classes. More directly, I help students out with English and show them how to use the Writing Center Lab, an indispensable resource for English students at any level. The more educated a person is, I believe, the more able he is to be successful in the future. I have dealt with criminal problems in my school by discussing solutions to gangs and other crime in the Student Advisory Committee. We have drafted several proposals to help reduce those problems in our school.

Educating people about such social concerns is also very crucial because they won't fix what they don't think is broken. That is one objective of our newspaper, in which we have written various editorials and news stories to educate the student body on social topics. Through debate, I myself have become knowledgeable on such topics as the homeless, poverty, health care, and the environment. That way I can practice what I preach.

Harvard is notorious for its long list of essay questions, as you can see from the seven essays this applicant had to write. The first essay is a standard favorite book essay. His second, about his favorite teacher, goes into more depth and reveals more about the candidate, that he enjoys learning, admires independent thought, and plans to study history.

The third essay in this set stands out from the rest. Had the panel who were grading the compositions understood the context of this essay in light of the six others in the set, they probably would have given it more credit. Its strength lies in its funny, lighthearted approach-it shows a completely different aspect of the candidate's personality. Without it, he would have appeared deadpan serious and probably a bit dull. However, showing the wittier side of himself strengthens the set considerably. It is a good example of allowing yourself to take a risk in one essay, as long as more serious approaches in the others balance it.

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Essay Samples

Below you will find a number of Essay samples that our team of academic writers have produced as a free resource for students. The sample essays are written for a variety of different topic areas, from business and HRM, to finance, and more. These resources are completely free, just find the topic that interests you, click to expand it and then follow the ‘click here’ link to view the full paper. On the page for each sample essay, you will also find a full reference list, which can help guide you towards appropriate books or journals to use for your own academic work.

Each of the essay writing samples has been written by one of our current writers – they are specified at the top of the page. This means that if you find a writer who meets your requirements, you can request them when you place an order with us. All of our essay writing examples are completely original and free from plagiarism; however, they must be used appropriately, and if you use any part of the paper you will need to quote and reference correctly.

If you want to see more samples by our writers, we also provide Dissertation samples and Report samples .

Business, Management & Leadership Sample Essays

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) rely on various sources of competitive advantage to support their international expansion (Asmussen and Foss, 2014). Supply chain effectiveness is one of the key prerequisites for the sustainability of global operations, which makes this factor one of the primary sources of competitiveness. Modern multinational companies are becoming highly dependent on the quality of their supply chains management due to the growing globalisation of their operations and the need to succeed in a variety of developing markets with various customer needs and legislative environments (Kiessling et al., 2014). However, the role of this element in MNE operations and achieving a sustainable competitive advantage in foreign markets has not been extensively studied. The aim of this essay is to evaluate how supply chains can serve as a source of competitive advantage for MNEs.

Written by Laura N.

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The modern business environment is characterised by its ever-increasing instability and the necessity to constantly address the challenges posed by different crises (Farnese et al., 2016). Thus, organisational flexibility has to be properly governed in order to effectively and efficiently utilise all available resources and support the suggested change plan. Entrepreneurial leadership can be viewed as one of the ways to achieve positive results since leaders are proficient in recognising and taking advantage of opportunities as well as overcoming challenges and threats (Pisapia and Feit, 2015). The aim of this essay is to explore how entrepreneurial leadership can impact organisational flexibility during crisis periods.

Written by Steve S.

Modern organisations are constantly searching for new methods to improve the performance of their employees in order to achieve better financial results (Saraswat and Arora, 2016). The use of different incentives is one of the ways to increase the commitment of individuals and teams. The contemporary theories such as the Motivation-Hygiene theory by Herzberg suggest that non-monetary reward may be as effective for this purpose as monetary methods (Herzberg, 2017). This is highly relevant for start-ups that are usually limited in terms of available resources and have to reduce their internal spending during the first stages of product development (Burton, 2017). The aim of this essay is to explore how non-monetary reward can influence team performance in start-up projects.

Written by Philip S.

The oil and gas industry has been demonstrating a steady growth trend in the last several decades (OECD, 2017). However, its development is currently hindered by the depletion of existing minefields, environmental concerns and the need to develop unconventional sources of natural deposits. Technological innovation is one of the methods utilised by oil and gas industry organisations to address these problems and maintain a proper balance between profitability and sustainability (Zendehboudi and Bahadori, 2016). Nevertheless, it is not clear if this approach can help these firms achieve positive return-on-investment results. The aim of this essay is to analyse the key financial benefits of technological innovation in the oil and gas industry.

Written by Jess C.

Creativity is one of the primary drivers of innovation in the contemporary business environment that can impact the effectiveness of companies to a substantial degree. This effect is confirmed by the examples of such renowned organisations as Apple, Kodak and Xerox (Puccio et al., 2017). Unfortunately, the role of this practice in the context of smaller companies has received much less attention from the previous researchers in the field (Taylor, 2017). The aim of this essay is to analyse what creativity drivers are utilised by British small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to narrow the existing gap in this dimension between the UK and European Union countries (Goldman Sachs, 2015).

Written by Anna D.

The problem of employee training effectiveness is relevant for all organisations operating in the healthcare industry (Balbale et al., 2015). The educational process in this context is often hindered by such barriers and challenges as poor time availability (Osaro and Chima, 2014) and the limited effectiveness of educational programmes (Maisonneuve et al., 2014). In recent years, the National Health System (NHS) organisation has been frequently criticised in the UK for long wait times, low service quality and insufficient competence of its personnel members (Kaidi and Atun, 2017), which undermines the implementation of the 6Cs concept promoted by the studied organisation (NHS, 2017). The aim of this essay is to review employee training challenges in the NHS.

In the light of the non-stop globalisation process, the issue of cultural diversity has received a close academic attention (Hsiao et al., 2015, p.102). Profit-making organisations, especially those operating on an international scale, have to deal with cultural diversity issues, which can result in communication problems and conflicts in the workplace (Ashikali and Groeneveld, 2015, p.773). This issue is especially relevant to the hospitality industry, which is characterised by a high proportion of expatriate workers, both in the UK and globally (Fe Causin et al., 2011, p.885; Malik et al., 2017, p.323).

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is widely considered an important form of a firm’s self-regulation, which has a significant effect on financial performance and corporate decisions on how much to invest into socially responsible programmes and activities (Lin et al., 2015, p.8292). Nevertheless, there has been a considerable debate among academics about the effect of CSR on companies and their stakeholders (Hur et al., 2014, p.84; Prutina, 2016, p.242; Nalband and Al Kelabi, 2014, p.237). The main purpose of this essay is to identify and critically discuss the impact of CSR on organisational stakeholders in the light of various theories, including the stakeholder theory and shareholder theory. The essay consists of an introduction, a critical review of the CSR concept, the impact of CSR on organisations and their stakeholders and conclusion.

Written by Katy J.

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Among the key studies aimed at organisational culture, Johnson’s Cultural Web theory and the Types of Culture framework are considered vital for interpreting phenomena in the areas of employee behaviour and organisational decision-making (Johnson and Scholes, 1988, p.15; Deal and Kennedy, 1982, p.56). Both models allow academics and practitioners to categorise organisational culture along pre-determined dimensions, which is their main strength (Johnson and Scholes, 1988, p.15; Deal and Kennedy, 1982, p.56). This simplifies typology and subsequent analysis. At the same time, the more recently created models such as the approach outlined by Iljins et al. (2015, p.944) expanded the concept of organisational culture to include new paradigms, namely team orientation. The following essay critically evaluates whether the original ideas of Johnson and Scholes (1988, p.15) and Deal and Kennedy (1982, p.56) are still empirically valid in modern organisational contexts.

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the relationship between leadership style and employees’ motivation and performance (Domingues et al., 2017). The aim of this essay is to identify and evaluate the links between leadership styles and employee outcomes using traditional leadership and motivation frameworks. The leadership models providing the theoretical basis of the discussion are the classical model by Kurt Lewin (Billig, 2015), the Managerial Grid Model by Blake and Mouton (1964), and the transformational leadership model. The confirming and disconfirming empirical evidence for the relationships implied by each model is critically evaluated.

Online services companies are different from other services companies in a lot of ways. Such companies differ in terms of their operations, reporting of their numbers, as well as the cash flow recording methods. Also, since these companies differ in so many ways, it is not a straightforward process for potential investors to calculate the expected returns on their investments. Therefore, it is important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of investment appraisal techniques for online services companies. Some of the techniques used for investment appraisal are: net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), accounting rate of return (ARR), and Payback Period (Hirschey et al., 2002).

Written by Rachel E.

The most popular soft drink chain in the world, Coca Cola, originated in Atlanta, Georgia, in the year 1886. Being a prominent manufacturer, dealer and supplier of non-alcoholic drink concentrates and syrups globally, Coca Cola supplies its beverage concentrates and syrups to distributors, bottling and canning operators and fountain retailers and wholesalers. Apart from bottled and canned soft drinks and concentrates, the company’s beverage products consist of various tea, coffee and sports drinks. Although the company started building its international network in the 1920s, it now operates in nearly 200 countries and produces more than 400 brands.

McDonald's is one of the world's largest chains of fast food restaurants, which is well-known for its hamburgers. It serves nearly 68 million customers each day in 120 countries all over the world. With its headquarters in the United States, McDonald’s began its operations in the year 1940 as a barbecue restaurant, which was operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald. However, in the year 1948 the restaurant reorganised its business as a hamburger stand by incorporating production line principles. Further in 1955, Ray Kroc became a franchise agent in the company. He later purchased the restaurant chain from the McDonald brothers and managed to expand it on an international level.

Contemporary organisations have to be innovative and constantly develop new products to remain competitive in the markets of their presence (Farid et al., 2017). Moreover, new products introduced by companies to their consumers should not only meet the needs and expectations of the target population, but also be affordable and cost-efficient. A number of factors such as resources available to an organisation, skills of the personnel, overall degree of rivalry in the market segment determine the success of newly launched products. In turn, theoretical and empirical literature on new product development (NPD) highlights that complex and intertwined factors predict NPD performance (Wu et al., 2016).

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Modern supply chains allow companies to source the required raw materials and components at the cheapest possible price (MacCarthy et al., 2016). Organisations such as Apple now source raw materials from one country and produce components using them in other parts of the world to make their top of the line products. One of the main reasons why Apple and other multinational corporations have thrived over the past two decades is their highly efficient supply chain that could not be imitated by competitors easily.

In June 2016, the British citizens participated in a referendum with regard to leaving the European Union (EU). The vote proved to be a close call, but eventually, the public decided to leave the EU. This decision has had major political, economic, and financial consequences for the UK. Firstly, the vote was held amidst political turbulence in the country. The results of the vote made the political scene even more complicated. Secondly, businesses in the UK had to brace themselves for economic and financial consequences. Leaving the EU would mean that companies would have to work in an environment of uncertainty and higher risks. It would also mean that businesses would have to comply with new regulations and deal with the issue of market access (Arnorsson and Zoega, 2018). This essay aims to evaluate the economic effect of Brexit on UK businesses.

In the recent decade, many globally recognised corporations including Google, Disney, Facebook, Tesla, and Hulu announced major changes to their corporate and legal structures (Hesmondhalgh, 2018). While the stated reasons for these major transformations were different, they all fall within the same managerial concept called corporate restructuring. This phenomenon has been in existence for many years as many organisations used it to optimise tax burden, reduce overhead, refinance debt obligations or start new spin-off businesses to enter new market segments. However, the growing internationalisation and digitalisation of multinational corporations have made corporate restructuring a semi-obligatory step in the eyes of many practitioners (Birkinbine et al., 2016).

Contemporary organisations have to face the necessity to undergo changes to adapt to the rapidly changing external environment and new market trends (Al-Haddad and Kotnour, 2015). These transformations can sometimes be involuntary and involve extensive internal restructuring and employee layoffs. These activities often create resistance to change from the personnel that substantially decreases the overall change effectiveness and increases associated costs. Microsoft had to start a massive transformational initiative in 2014 caused by the need to address the market demand for cloud technologies, its ‘organisational ageing’ and the loss of its original innovative culture (Bort, 2014a; 2014b). The aim of this essay is to analyse the resistance factors existing within the company and the ways it can mitigate their negative impact.

Evidence-based practice is applied in numerous sciences whereas the use of quantitative methods allows for conducting statistical analysis the result of which can be further replicated and either confirmed or refuted by the scientific community. To generate verifiable knowledge, the same methods of research should be applied.

The sphere of corporate governance lies at the intersection of management and finance since the structure of top executives and characteristics and the balance of power between particular directors affect both managerial and financial issues, and ultimately, all other aspects of the organisational performance. Results received by previous researchers can be applied in practice.  Thus, it is important that these results are objective and unbiased.

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With Apple being one of the most iconic brands in the consumer electronics market, its financial results throughout the COVID-19 period can be seen as controversial (Statista, 2021). On the one hand, its recent sales increase could be seen as a highly positive result after the major decline in global sales throughout 2020. On the other hand, it is not clear whether this single spike in revenues will be sustainable considering the slowdown of many economies including the most critical Chinese market (Canon and Jasper, 2021). The following SWOT analysis explores the current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of Apple.

View the full sample essay: Business Analysis of Apple

Since the completion of the referendum in June 2016, many experts questioned whether the resulting implications in many spheres would outweigh the expected benefits (Bulmer and Quaglia, 2018). With multiple disruptions occurring since that moment including the global COVID-19 pandemic, these original predictions may need to be re-appraised to better understand the current status quo.

View the full sample essay: The Impact of Brexit on the UK-EU Relationships

Cost leadership is one of the four competitive strategies described by Michael Porter (Porter, 1985). It implies the use of economies of scale, advanced technologies, and extensive industry expertise to win over rivals by offering standardised products of superior quality at the lowest price possible. It has been adopted by such market leaders as Tesco in the UK and Walmart in the US for decades with highly positive results.

The emergence of Bitcoin and its underlying blockchain technology has revolutionised the way financial transactions are handled, as well as financial information is stored and distributed in the online environment (Baur and Oll, 2022). Since its inception in 2008, Bitcoin has quickly gained popularity as the most profitable digital currency, forcing many enthusiasts and entrepreneurs to invest in so-called mining farms. However, the process of generating or mining new coins is associated with high levels of energy consumption, making the statement that Bitcoin is a sustainable digital currency questionable (Yeong et al., 2022). This essay explores the extent to which the mining of Bitcoin exacerbates the growth in global energy consumption and electronic waste levels and how this problem could potentially be tackled.

Employment forms one of the main parts of human life (Inayat, 2021). In the rapidly changing modern environment, the workforce market is characterised by increasing flexibility. As the global pandemic has shown the benefits of remote employment to millions of workers, this inevitably increases the growth of the ‘gig economy’. As many competent specialists can easily move between organisations in both offline and online environments, this decreases organisational citizenship behaviours and makes it more difficult to recruit and retain highly skilled specialists. Job satisfaction is one of the elements defining the quality of life within the scope of employment.

The global COVID-19 pandemic is one of the greatest disasters of the previous decades that has disrupted the normal functioning of human societies at many levels, including higher education, business, the public sector (Bozkurt et al., 2022). Thousands of students were forced to adjust to remote learning schemes, which was a major challenge for many of them. Similarly, educational institutions had to rapidly develop these new processes and adapt their programmes to new communication channels. During this painful adjustment, many global corporations offered extensive assistance in the form of product discounts or direct provision of knowledge and support. As noted by such authors as Reiser and Dean (2023), this collaboration may be characterised as for-profit philanthropy. This essay aims to appraise the impact of such initiatives on educational development in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dunkin Donuts is a US global chain selling doughnuts and coffee across 12,000+ locations in 42 countries (DD, 2023a). Its diversified product portfolio also includes a number of healthier options, which makes company offerings suitable for all audiences. As more and more people prefer to have their snacks on the go, the extensive menu of this company allows it to compete with established global brands in its sphere including Starbucks. Despite substantial rivalry in the sphere of fast food restaurants, Dunkin Donuts retains its significance for more than 70 years.

In recent years, human resource (HR) managers had to deal with a large number of challenges ranging from the growing gig economy to COVID-19 forcing the global adoption of remote work practices (Statista, 2023). This rapidly changing environment is also characterised by adverse contextual factors such as declining economies, international conflicts, and other elements increasing the significance of high-quality human resource management (HRM). With that being said, reaching professionalism in any sphere is not possible without clarifying the constituent elements and definitions associated with such advancement.

As noted by such authors as Kuo (2021), company business models and strategies form the core of their commercial success. As many spheres are characterised by severe levels of rivalry between firms, even strong brands need to focus on building sustainable competitive advantage. According to Kuncoro and Suriani (2018), it can be built upon unique resources, strengths, and brand characteristics as well as the targeting and positioning choices ensuring good customer-brand fit.

According to Statista (2023a), the global sportswear market size amounted to 366 billion USD in 2021 and is expected to grow by 25% or more by 2027. While this trend may seem controversial to the decline in physical gym visits, the pandemic period has led to a boost in home training popularity. Additionally, millions of people have gotten used to wearing comfortable apparel items. This raised interest towards the concept of ‘athleisure’ clothes that people can wear both during their training sessions and during their daily routines (Boone et al., 2019). The brands that could capitalise on this trend may experience a major growth in revenues over the next several years. This essay explores the future perspectives of the Gymshark brand and aims to identify the key implications that may determine its capability to use the aforementioned opportunities.

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Marketing Sample Essays

In the last several decades, globally recognised and established brands have been demonstrating growing interest in new global markets including those of developing countries (Riley et al., 2016). While these environments are associated with substantial customer resources, the entry into them is often hindered by various economic, political or cultural barriers. The need to adjust to the particularities of each country of presence often forces global brands to adhere to ‘glocalisation’ strategies that combine the core elements of their international positioning with localised positioning concepts to improve the effectiveness of marketing communication (Parsons and Maclaran, 2017). However, the substantiation of such choices may be complicated and companies’ market entry decisions often have to be studied on a case-by-case basis. The aim of this essay is to explore the key reasons why global brands adopt different positioning strategies in the countries of their presence.

Strategic management allows for identifying the position of companies in their external environment and evaluating their internal resources and capabilities in order to find the optimal methods of ensuring their growth and business success (Omolade and Tony, 2014). At the same time, the quality of strategy development and the outcomes of its implementation directly depend on the skills of the managers acting as decision-makers (Sabourin and Ayande, 2014). Spanish fast fashion companies rely on innovation and intangible resources to achieve global growth (Truett and Truett, 2014). This emphasises the need to select the most effective strategic management approaches to identify potential bottlenecks that decrease the quality of decision-making in these organisations and prevent them from responding to relevant market trends. Hence, the aim of this essay is to explore what strategic management approaches and skills would stimulate the growth of the fast fashion industry in Spain.

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As the Internet sales industry is constantly growing on a global scale, companies are looking for new ways to influence customer behaviours and motivate clients to purchase their products and services in the online environment (Dai et al., 2014). The quality of corporate information resources is one of the critical antecedents of conversion, which emphasises the role of Internet platform elements in the decision-making process. Therefore, website design is highly significant as this dimension is responsible for the convenience, effectiveness and trustworthiness of marketing interaction with prospective customers (Rozekhi et al., 2014). However, its role in the decision-making process is often vaguely defined. The aim of this essay is to explore how website design can influence customers’ intention to shop online.

Written by Josh A.

Marketing communications is an essential part of any marketing strategy with the companies’ competitiveness and financial returns frequently perceived through the content of their messages and the channels of their delivery (Falat and Holubci, 2017, p.148). However, despite the importance of this concept, there still remains substantial ambiguity surrounding its strategic functions and roles for contemporary businesses. For instance, scholars are yet to reach a specific conclusion on how electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) could be successfully integrated into the communications strategies of contemporary organisations (Park et al., 2018, p.304). This essay critically analyses the applications marketing communications with the aim of evaluating their major strengths and weaknesses.

Due to their growing popularity with consumers, social media have become an effective marketing communications channel as well as one-to-one communication means (Keegan and Rowley, 2017). Social media marketing (SMM) is commonly reported to contribute to consumer engagement and create positive perceptions and attitudes towards brands, products, and services (Chen et al., 2016). While SMM influences the way consumers evaluate and perceive goods and services in the online environment, it does not necessarily results in a purchase decision (Barger et al., 2016).

Customer communication is one of the main antecedents of customer satisfaction in the modern environment (Hanninen and Karjaluoto, 2017). Being able to contact a company on a 24/7 basis is frequently recognised as a sign of consumer recognition and support. However, not all organisations can afford recruiting large teams of English-speaking assistants with in-depth product training. Artificial intelligence (AI) solutions and AI-powered chatbots provided an answer to this dilemma and allowed many organisations to implement 24/7 functionality into their marketing communication strategies (Pavliscak, 2018). The list of successful adopters includes such companies as Whole Foods, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, and H&M (Kim, 2018). However, these brands belong to the mass market segment and their consumers may not have the same level of e-services expectations as premium brands clients. This essay closes this gap by exploring the effect of chatbots on the customer satisfaction in luxury e-services.

With Apple using face scans to unlock your iPhone X and Google incorporating FaceNet functionality to sort your Google Photos and tag people in them, it is evident that facial recognition has become a modern-day phenomenon on par with blockchain and artificial intelligence (Gemalto, 2018). While engineers and programmers are looking for new ways to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of this technology, marketers are more concerned with the ways it can be used to improve customer communication and personalisation. On the one hand, being able to identify consumers behind the device and even ‘read’ their emotions may be highly valuable for promoting goods and services that fit their mood and preferences (Yang et al., 2018). On the other hand, this raises multiple ethical challenges within the scope of the recent personal data protection regulations and the rights for privacy. Unfortunately, the field of facial recognition application in marketing is a relatively understudied area of marketing knowledge. This suggested the need to explore the emerging opportunities and challenges in this sphere that can be used by modern marketers.

The marketing of luxuries constitutes a well-developed field of academic study (Yu and Hu, 2020; Liu et al., 2019). One question that has not yet been answered by scholars, however, was whether the traditional definition of luxury could be extended to resource- and labour-intensive industries such as the construction sector (Ko et al., 2019). The majority of academic knowledge on luxury has so far focused on apparel or the provision of luxury services, signifying the existence of a vital research gap (Chandon et al., 2016). The essay addresses this lack of academic knowledge by transferring the extant conceptualisations of luxury into the construction industry. Specifically, the analysis focuses on whether marble could be presented by marketers employed by construction firms as a luxury material. Answering this question could provide both marketing theorists and practitioners with valuable knowledge on developing new marketing strategies in construction and similar industries.

The resent studies demonstrate that the internet has become the first opinion consumers tend to rely on when it comes to making a purchase decision (Apulu and Latham, 2011). Social media platforms, blogs, and websites provide users with easy access to numerous product and service reviews generated by other users. Consumers perceive such information more legit and trustworthy as compared to companies’ statements and marketing messages, which explains the popularity of online information services such as Trip Advisor and Booking.com (Duggan and Lang, 2010).

The analysis focuses on applying the concept of social media authenticity to the case of Adidas. When evaluating social media communications of sportswear companies (including Adidas), authors such as Graves (2021) and Johansson and Hiltula (2021) argued that focusing on inclusion, diversity and similar topics (e.g., gender equality) benefitted the business and market performance of such organisations. Nonetheless, the studies of Graves (2021) and Johansson and Hiltula (2021) failed to analyse whether Adidas has consistently distributed authentic social media messages when discussing the above subject areas. It is unknown whether the social media marketing strategy of Adidas is sufficiently authentic to benefit the firm’s business and market performance.

Recent advances in the information technology (IT) industry have evolved into what is now known as the Internet-of-Things (IoT), an ecosystem in which information is shared and communicated through a network of computers (Rejeb et al., 2020). The distinctive features of the IoT technology have found their application in supply chain operations in many areas and industries, contributing to business entities’ ability to optimise planning, procurement, and sourcing strategies (Witkowski, 2017). This essay critically assesses the role of IoT in supply chain digitisation and performance. Potential barriers and challenges to the digital supply chain are also considered.

Finance and Economics Sample Essays

Security holdings become riskier when stock prices fluctuate. Such fluctuations are commonly regarded as volatility, whereas, minor ones tend to be considered market noise (i.e. the shifting positions of investors on inter-day trading). Thus, as investors move to enhance their positions, a number of variables are taken into account, such as macroeconomic conditions, accounting statements and industry trends. Option valuation also takes these variables into account by using the present value of the stock price as a benchmark on which hedges will be formed. The major variables used to derive an option’s price are current stock price, intrinsic value, time to expiration, and volatility (Bodie et al., 2009). Therefore, options can best be described as ways in which investors can take advantage of superior information to hedge against their current stock positions.

Written by Carl R.

The purpose of this study is to model and forecast the volatility of the FTSE 100 index returns using Generalised Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GARCH) models (Bollerslev, 1986; Bollerslev, 1990; Bollerslev and Engle, 1986; Engle, 1982; Engle, 2001).

Even though there are numerous academic studies on dividend policy, the topic has been one of the most controversial topics in the finance sector. With continuous debates and ongoing research on the effect of dividends on a firm’s characteristics, the dividend picture appears as a puzzle, where the pieces fail to fit together (Black, 1976). With contradictory theories and views emerging to explain the effect of dividend payouts on the company’s value, the academic literature has divided dividend theories into two broad categories, namely: the irrelevance theory and value-relevance theory. While the irrelevance theory suggests there is no relationship between dividends and a company’s value, the value-relevance theory claims that dividend payouts have a significant effect on firm value. The aim of this essay is to discuss both views and determine whether dividends have any influence on the company value.

The capital structure of a company is one of the key decision-making points along with investment decisions and distribution decisions. The capital structure shows how much financial leverage a company has on its books in relation to other capital such as equity. Potential investors look at the capital structure and identify the amount of debt raised by the company and this helps them to assess the risk of financial distress. A high risk of financial distress is associated with bankruptcy. Yet, having too little debt on the books can prevent the company from keeping up with the industry growth rates. Therefore, it is important to understand the key elements of the capital structure and its influence on company value (Chowdhury and Chowdhury, 2010).

Companies have been engaging in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for many decades. In fact, this has been one of the major modes of growth for companies operating in saturated markets. It is a simple way to boost a company’s sales, enter a new market or increase efficiency through synergy. However, M&A are not successful in each and every case. There have been many instances where a merger or an acquisition proved to be a value destructor rather than a value creator. Therefore, it is important to investigate whether M&A activity actually creates value or not (Zollo and Meier, 2008).

Written by Adrian L.

Finance literature has two different views on the dividend policy. One view suggests that dividends are irrelevant for value whereas the other view states that dividends have implications for value. The original theory of irrelevance of dividends for value was empirically tested by DeAngelo and DeAngelo (2006) and the authors rejected the model that was suggested by Miller and Modigliani (1961). The research demonstrated that the payout policy was relevant and investment policy was not the only determinant of firm value. The observations were inherent even to frictionless markets. However, the study paid attention to total payouts rather than cash dividends only. Thereby, no distinction was made between distributing earnings to shareholders in the form of dividends or stock repurchases (Handley, 2008).

The Mean-Variance approach is a common portfolio optimisation method which is based on the assumption that all investors make rational investment decisions if they are given access to complete market information. On the other hand, the Black-Litterman model is a more advanced method of portfolio optimisation. The primary reason for developing this model was that it aimed to overcome fundamental issues such as errors in estimation, portfolios that are too concentrated, and technical issues such as input sensitivity. The two approaches have their own strengths and weaknesses (Idzorek, 2007). This paper aims to discuss these features and make a comparison that can be of value to investors.

Written by Adrian L.

Pakistan is a country in South Asia with a population of 208 million people, which is the fifth largest population in the world (PBS, 2017). Pakistani economy is semi-industrialised with a well-developed agricultural sector and an increasing share of the services sector (Iqbal, 2016). It is one of the fastest growing economies in the world driven by the rapidly growing middle class (Kaplan, 2012; Alam, 2015).

Productivity is one of the key economic indicators related to economic growth. The US economy is larger compared to the UK and has shown better performance over the last decade. This partially can be attributable to the difference in productivity between the countries. This essay compares industrial and commercial productivity between the UK and the US. The paper finds that the US outperforms the UK in terms of productivity. The gap between the countries is caused by the technological development.

The relationship between inflation and economic growth (GDP) remains a controversial topic in modern research. On the one hand, traditional views voiced by such authors as Bernanke et al. (2018) claim that these two factors are negatively correlated with each other. The relationship between gdp and inflation scholarly is seen as a decreasing spending and purchase capacity of customers in the case of high inflation rates. Hence, lower figures for this element allow buyers to spend more and boost economic growth in the form of consumption, net exports, investments, and government expenditures.

Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and Dividend Discount Model (DDM) are among the most commonly used models in valuation. Their key appeal is simplicity, which is achieved by making rather strong assumptions about the market and its participants. Although DDM is rooted in theoretically sound Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) models, its application is mainly limited to firms with large, stable dividends.

Earnings management can be defined as accounting techniques used to present a positive view of a company’s financial statements. These techniques allow companies to attract investors, hide the pain points of the firm, or to indicate financial stability. The use of these techniques has been prevalent for several decades. Although regulators have attempted to develop stricter regulations and accounting laws that could deter companies from practising earnings management, such techniques continue to exist.

Health and Social Care, Nursing and Medicine Sample Essays

There are an estimated 6.5 million adults within the UK alone who are classified as carers (Carers UK, 2015) , with rates expected to rise to 9 million individuals by 2037 (Ibid.). Carers are individuals who take on the day to day support needs of family members who are suffering from chronic physical or mental health problems (Baguley and Sprung, 2017), and are thought to save the  economy around £132 billion every year, equating to an average of £19,336 per year, per carer (Carers UK, 2015). Whereas approximately 3 million carers combine employment with providing care, Care UK (2015) estimate that 20% of carers are forced to abandon work altogether due to the high demands placed on them, both physically and emotionally. The provision of long term caregiving has been linked to increased health problems (Wolff et al., 2016), increased social isolation (Hayes et al., 2015) and decreased quality of life (Jeong et al., 2015).

Written by John C.

Contemporary nursing practice is a diverse and challenging field and nurses are increasingly involved in complex decision-making as their roles expand in the health system (Cherry and Jacob, 2016). Underlying any care decision is the need to identify the source of the problem and then to develop a suitable approach to addressing this problem. To assist in decision-making, it is recommended that nurses adopt frameworks or models of problem-solving and care planning (Johansen and O’Brien, 2016). The assessment, planning, implementing and evaluating approach, also known as APIE (Yura and Walsh, 1967), is a commonly used approach to care planning in nursing practice. This approach encourages a systematic and rigorous approach to patient care, incorporating a holistic perspective of the care process. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the individual components of the APIE and the approach in its entirety with respect to nursing practice.

Written by Raymond H.

The acronym ‘ADPIE’ - which stands for assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation - is used within the field of nursing to help guide the proper process of treatment provision for patients (Bernard, 2018). This process can be used in either physical or mental health settings, and follows the same process regardless of what branch of medicine clinicians are working in (Ibid.). This essay will introduce Jerry, a patient with possible alcohol issues, who is a 68 year old man whose drinking has become concerning to his friends and family, and whose memory has been said to be getting rapidly worse. It is of note here that in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Code (NMC, 2015), ‘Jerry’ is a pseudonym to maintain patient confidentiality, and no other personally identifiable information shall be used in this essay. In order to demonstrate the ADPIE process, each stage shall be outlined below; decisions and actions shall be supported both by clinical guidelines and by peer reviewed evidence was relevant.

The past few decades have seen an increasing public interest in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Despite a generally positive attitude with regards to its use and safety, concerns do remain about the effectiveness of these therapies (Barnes et al ., 2004). Despite the expansion of the scientific knowledge base of Western medicine, the global popularity of CAM therapies has seen a dramatic increase over recent times; a steady increase in the lifetime prevalence of these therapies have also been reported in developed countries (Kessler et al ., 2001). Research groups have suggested several determinants that may determine this increased CAM usage- these include those of geographical, cultural, socio-economic, and physical contexts (Shaikh & Hatcher, 2007). The geographical determinant has, by far, been the most accepted amongst these- several developing countries have been observed to use CAM therapy as basic treatment line (Tan et al ., 2004). However, the prevalence of this does further vary between urban and rural areas within these countries. Nevertheless, even countries with national insurance systems have seen an increase in the public’s use and acceptance of CAM- where these therapies aren’t covered by insurance; thus suggesting that these therapies may have benefits that outweigh their costs (Frass et al ., 2012). Despite these increased usage patterns, the clinical effectiveness of these therapies seem debatable- with CAM professionals themselves leaning towards the requirement of a “more scientific” testing prior to the use of these therapies (Raza et al ., 2018). This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of alternative medicine in the treatment of common illnesses.

Written by Tony F.

Evidence-based practice is a cornerstone of contemporary medical and nursing care (Aveyard & Sharp, 2013) and should be considered the gold standard approach to care. The central tenet of evidence-based practice is that an objective appraisal of published literature can be used to isolate the most effective interventions, which may then be applied in practice, while considering the preferences and considerations of the patient (Hamer & Collinson, 2014). The individual nurse is responsible for ensuring that they adopt an evidence-based approach to care, appraising research relevant to their professional duties and responsibilities (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). As such, critiquing is a key skill that should be developed and practised by all nurses and healthcare professionals alike.

To view the full essay click here.

The Personal, Cultural, and Structural Analysis (PCS) model explains how power relationships are expressed between individuals, groups, and in the wider society. The PCS model also highlights the layered effect of oppression on individuals (Pepper, 2012). The model was initially proposed by Neil Thompson in his book ‘Anti-Discriminatory Practice: Equality, Diversity and Social Justice’. It is said to have three interrelated level such as personal, cultural, and structural (Thompson, 2012).

According to the PCS model, the workings of oppression can be analysed through these levels, which are elucidated in detail below.

Written by Sarah L.

Dementia is a common condition in the population and is associated with a decline in memory and cognitive function, along with challenging behavioural symptoms (Brodaty et al., 2015). The underlying cause of dementia can vary with Alzheimer’s disease the most common form seen in the United Kingdom (UK) (Wu et al., 2016). Regardless of the dementia subtype, decline in function and worsening of symptoms is associated with advancing age and has a significant impact on the wellbeing of the individual and their family members (Wu et al., 2016). As many patients with dementia are elderly, there is an increasing recognition of the need to provide appropriate end-of-life (EoL) to this patient group when dying or approaching death (Halpern, 2015). This report considers the challenges facing patients with dementia with respect to EoL care and the potential strategies that may be used to meet the needs of this service user group.

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The analysed framework consists of two axes describing various approaches to health promotion in terms of its mode and focus (Peate, 2019). Authoritative practitioners may seek to proactively pursue their vision by changing the legislative status quo at the industry or country level or by targeting individuals in their persuasive attempts. This approach can be presently seen in the ‘soda ban’ initiatives promoted by the governments of many western countries (Siegel, 2019). At the individual level, this pressure can be exerted by direct attacks on specific violators such as anti-vaccine conspiracists spreading misinformation or forgers creating fake COVID-19 vaccination certificates. These coercive measures can be highly effective for getting quick short-term results in crisis situations and removing problems ‘at their source’ via prohibiting dangerous practices and trends.

View the full sample essay: An Analysis of Beattie’s Model of Health Promotion

To curb the outburst of COVID-19 cases and prepare for action plans, various countries imposed lockdowns at partial and comprehensive levels. Although the degree of lockdown measures varied from country to country, economic activity across sectors went into an abrupt decline. Countries resorted to different approaches to minimise the impact and deal with the pandemic. However, there were two primary approaches undertaken by governments across the world. The first approach implies strengthening the healthcare sector by pumping funds and enacting policies in building capacities of hospitals and nursing homes. The second approach implies implementing policies and regimes to reduce the probability of public contracting COVID-19 across different areas. These policies include social distancing measures and lockdowns.

View the full sample essay: To what extent was the lockdown policy an effective measure against the spread of the COVID-19?

While it is recognised that innovation leads to financial benefits, technological innovation has also been a key driving force behind modern healthcare for decades providing new types of treatment, personal health monitoring, and telemedicine opportunities. However, such researchers as McKelvey and Saemundsson (2021) suggest that there exists a largely understudied ‘dark side’ of this relationship.

The concept of parenting involves a large number of constituent dimensions dictated by child temperament, the cultural background of the parents, family size and structure, and the types of bonding developing between parents and children (Kaniusonyte and Laursen, 2021). This makes this idea inherently complex, which convinces many people that their challenges in this sphere are unique and their problems cannot be resolved effectively with minimal resource costs. Modern research in this sphere offers multiple solutions and structures including the concept of parenting styles.

Law, History & International Relations Sample Essays

In 1882, Jewish immigration and targeted land purchases in the area later called the State of Palestine marked the beginning of a long-lasting conflict between the Arab countries and Israel. While the existing body of research provides deep insight into the Arab-Israel conflict, there is no agreement on whether Egypt played a key role in it (Aly et al., 2013). One the one hand, Egypt is often considered as one of the most implacable enemies of Israel in its struggle for independence and recognition (Mahler and Mahler, 2010). On the other hand, Egypt has proven itself to be the main advocate of continued peace between Israel and the Arab states (Tessler, 2009). The main purpose of this essay is to critically appraise the role Egypt played in the conflict between the Arabs and Jews by over-viewing its main phases and outcomes for both parties.

Written by Helena K.

The Yugoslav wars of the 1990s attracted much attention and interest of historians not only because of their cruelty and savagery (more than 200,000 people were killed and around 3 million were expelled from their homes) (Dolečki et al., 2018). In addition to the fact that these wars took place in the heart of Europe, they also occurred at the exact moment when the confrontation between the USSR and the US was drawing to its culmination (Klemenčić and Schofield, 2001). In 1991, Croatia, one of the countries that made up the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, declared its independence and sovereignty, which marked the beginning of the Croatian War of Independence (Matkovich, 2017). Only in 1995, after Croatian armed forced assisted the united Bosnian and Croatian side in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the war came to its end (Gagnon, 2013). This essay aims to critically overview the role of Croatia in the fall of Yugoslavia.

Written by Emily S.

Employment law is built around regulating the respective rights of employers and employees within and outside of the workplace environment.[1]  Having an effective system of employment law allows society to ensure that employers retain the flexibility necessary to effectively compete in an ever more globalised world market, whilst balancing this with the need to ensure that workers and employees themselves are valued, protected from exploitation and arbitrary or unfair dismissal, and are properly and lawfully remunerated.[2]

Media and Film Sample Essays

Modern cinematography has heavily relied on the world-building approach since the late 1950s (Taylor, 2017). Early pioneers of the science fiction genre including the 1956 Forbidden Planet and the 1951 The Day the Earth Stood Still depicted alien environments and unbelievable technologies to really cut adrift from the Golden Age of Hollywood movies. At the same time, a change of the background has not changed the narrative and the dramatic structure of the scripts. The protagonist still faced different conflicts with nature, other men or creatures, the society in general, or their own limitations. Most globally recognised films including the original Star Wars trilogy were pursuing the Hero’s journey formula to a certain degree (Sunstein, 2016).

Written by Rowan T.

Language and Linguistics Sample Essays

Investigations into language processesing have previously identified that different aspects of language may be localised to very specific cerebral areas of the brain (Friederici and Singer, 2015).  Specifically, speech production is located in what is known as Broca’s area, which is located in the frontal lobe and has been predominatley associated with speech production for many decades (Tate  et al,  2014).  Comprehension of language however has been directly linked to an area in the superior temporal guyrus (STG) encircling the auditory cortex defined as Wernicke’s area, although as Binder (2017) notes, these distinctions may need revision as there is improvements in understanding of the way language is processed.

Philosophy Sample Essays

Could Disney could be considered a stereotypical capitalist as was originally defined by Karl Marx (Evans, 1975)? The goal of this essay is to review the structure and business operations of Disney from the Marxist point of view.

The concepts of fear and angst are central to the philosophical school of existentialism (Sartre, 2007). According to philosophers such as Sartre (2007) and Kierkegaard (1996), existential angst was a result of a person experiencing their own freedom in comparison to their own expectations. Despite the fact that both fear and angst were vital to existentialism, there existed at least 3 separate definitions of these experiences divided between Sartre (2007), Kierkegaard (1996) and Heidegger (1968).

Perception forms one of the main concepts in modern psychology due to a number of factors (Ionescu et al., 2022). On the one hand, it defines the recognition of any incoming sensory information. Since the earliest times, this process was crucial for our survival. The dominant channels such as audial, visual or kinaesthetic ones largely determine the capability to recognise certain cues in the external environment. On the other hand, our perception also defines the way people respond to these external challenges (Dosher and Lu, 2020).

Biology and Physics Sample Essays

Realistic quantum systems are not isolated from the environment but rather continuously interact with it (Schlosshauer, 2005). Treating this interaction within the traditional framework of quantum mechanics results in the concept of decoherence (Zurek, 2003). Decoherence results in the suppression of interference between the alternative states which has been experimentally observed. Furthermore, it provides insight on why the superposition resulting from measurement appears as a classical mixture (Bassi et al., 2013). Meanwhile, the quantum measurement problem remains a major conceptual question in quantum mechanics as the precise mechanics of the non-deterministic evolution following a measurement is unclear (Schlosshauer, 2005). However, some misconceptions may exist regarding decoherence and whether it fully resolves the measurement problem (Joos and Zeh, 1985; Dieks, 1989; Adler, 2003). The aim of the present paper is to review the concept of quantum decoherence and how it relates to the quantum measurement problem within the context of different interpretations of quantum mechanics.

Written by Richard H.

Light trapping has been used in many applications including photo-electrochemistry, photovoltaics, sensing, and production of solar fuel (Fonash, 2015). The present paper aims to provide an overview of the light-trapping properties of solar cells. Firstly, relevant optical phenomena are considered that may influence the design of solar cells. This includes interference, scattering, reflection, and diffraction. Secondly, major solar cell structure designs are described such as antireflection coating, randomly textured surfaces, and periodic arrays.

Allium Cepa, which is commonly known as onion, is a culinary ingredient that is used in almost all cuisines around the world. It is an essential ingredient in sauces, curries, and other dishes. Allium Cepa is a source of various compounds, many of which are biologically active. These include thiosulfinates, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Allium Cepa can also be used for medical purposes due to its characteristics. These characteristics include being antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer, and containing antioxidant effects (Kuete et al., 2017).

Technology and Computer Science Sample Essays

The global COVID-19 pandemic has stimulated the transformation of many industries (Gifford, 2022). As thousands of workers were unable to reach their offices due to strict lockdowns, their employers had to fully embrace the concept of remote work. It is expected to change the future of employment through further development of the gig economy and various forms of flexible arrangements. Similarly, the inability of patients to reach hospitals has led to the advancement of telemedicine (Kichloo et al., 2020).

While computer science only emerged as a distinct academic discipline in 1950s, the key ideas behind it date back to centuries before the first computer science degree was awarded. What were the key developments in computer science until today, and what trends are shaping up to be the most prominent in the future? This article provides a brief overview of the history of computer science and computer science domains that researchers are likely to focus in the next decade.

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The Complete Guide to Mastering the Art of Writing Short Essays

Mastering the art of short essay examples and writing guidance is a valuable skill for students and professionals alike. Short essays demand conciseness, clarity, and precision, making them a unique form of expression. In this guide, we will explore the key elements of crafting compelling short essays, providing examples and writing guidance. Additionally, we’ll discuss how online assignment helpers can be a valuable resource in honing your short essay writing skills.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Essence of Short Essays:

• Brevity and Focus: Short essays are characterized by their brevity, typically ranging from 300 to 500 words. The limited word count requires writers to focus on a specific topic or argument. Understanding the essence of brevity is crucial, as it challenges writers to convey their ideas succinctly.
• Clear Thesis Statement: A well-crafted short essay begins with a clear and concise thesis statement. This statement encapsulates the main idea or argument that the essay will explore. It serves as a roadmap for both the writer and the reader, ensuring a focused and coherent essay.
• Structure and Organization: Short essays should have a structured format. Begin with an introduction that introduces the thesis, followed by body paragraphs that support the thesis with evidence and examples. Conclude with a brief summary of the key points. This organized structure enhances readability and comprehension.
• Engaging Introduction: The introduction is a crucial component of any essay. In short essays, it should be engaging and capture the reader’s attention immediately. Consider using a thought-provoking question, a relevant quote, or a captivating anecdote to set the tone for the essay.

Short Essay Examples and Writing Guidance:

• Introduction: Share a brief personal experience or challenge faced.
• Thesis: Highlight the lessons learned and personal growth.
• Body: Provide specific examples and evidence.
• Conclusion: Summarize the key takeaways and reflect on the experience.
• Introduction: Introduce the novel and its significance.
• Thesis: Analyze a specific symbol and its thematic relevance.
• Body: Discuss examples from the text.
• Conclusion: Summarize the symbolic importance and its impact on the narrative.
• Introduction: Highlight the importance of renewable energy.
• Thesis: Argue for the adoption of renewable energy sources.
• Body: Provide data and examples supporting the argument.
• Conclusion: Emphasize the positive impact of embracing renewable energy.

Leveraging Online Assignment Helpers:

• Expert Guidance: Online assignment helpers offer expert guidance in crafting short essays. Their experienced writers provide valuable insights into effective writing techniques, ensuring that your essays meet the highest academic standards.
• Customized Support: Assignment help services offer customized support tailored to your specific needs. Whether you need assistance with topic selection, thesis formulation, or refining your writing style, online helpers can provide targeted help.
• Timely Assistance: One of the advantages of online assignment helpers is their ability to provide timely assistance. If you have a tight deadline for your short essay examples and writing guidance , these services can help you meet it without compromising on quality.
• Quality Assurance: Reliable assignment helpers prioritize quality assurance. They ensure that your short essays are well-researched, properly formatted, and free from grammatical errors. This commitment to quality enhances the overall impact of your writing.

Conclusion:

Mastering the art of writing short essays requires a combination of understanding the unique characteristics of short-form writing, studying examples, and seeking guidance from online assignment helpers . By following the provided examples and writing guidance, and utilizing the expertise of online helpers, you can elevate your short essay writing skills and excel in your academic endeavors. The ability to convey complex ideas within a limited word count becomes a valuable asset in academic and professional settings.

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How to write a short essay

Published September 27, 2020. Updated May 17, 2022.

Short Essay Definition

A short essay is an essay that is generally 250–500 words in length. This type of essay is often required for standardized exams, scholarship applications, and personal essays for college admission.

Overview of a Short Essay

Although the word count is low, the stakes are often high, making the writing process a bit stressful for some. There are some useful steps that help craft a strong short essay, such as brainstorming, organizing and creating the first draft, and revising and editing. A strong short essay results in a focused thesis that is supported by a variety of evidence, examples, and commentary from the author. Keeping the ideas condensed, clear, and succinct helps in producing a stellar finished product.

Worried about your writing? Submit your paper for a Chegg Writing essay check , or for an Expert Check proofreading . Both can help you find and fix potential writing issues.

Step 1: Brainstorm

Many writers are tempted to skip this step of the writing process, but it’s extremely beneficial to organize your ideas before writing your first draft. Be sure to take the time to engage in this helpful exercise.

1. If the essay contains a prompt, reread the prompt at least three times

Make sure you understand what is expected of you for this piece of writing.

2. Highlight action words

Action words include words like explain, expound, argue, and other active verbs. Highlighting these words helps you to prepare your thoughts for what action you need to take in this particular essay.

3. Write out at least one potential thesis statement

A thesis statement is the main claim of your piece of writing. This step is crucial; it’s important that you, the writer, know what you’re writing about. The thesis statement will serve as an anchor for your entire paper.

4. Look back at the prompt

Do you need to include examples? How about a personal story? Research and evidence? Jot down some ideas that you can use to support your thesis. If needed, take some time to find relevant research from a variety of sources (online, books, textbooks, your journal, etc.).

5. Review your brainstorm results

Does everything you want to include relate back to your main point? If not, you need to either (a) reword your thesis statement so that it relates to all of your ideas or (b) eliminate the ideas that do not align with your thesis statement.

Step 2: Organize and Create Your First Draft

Now that you have all of your ideas planned out, make sure that your ideas build on each other as you construct your paragraphs. (Short essays are often one to four paragraphs in length.)

1. The first sentence in your short essay should be a hook

Here are some possible ideas for a hook:

• a statistic
• a controversial statement
• an overview of what you’ll discuss
• an anecdote
• an “imagine if” statement

Avoid using dictionary definitions as your hook because these tend to be overdone.

If you feel stuck: It’s often much easier to write the hook after you’ve written the rest of the essay. Oftentimes, writers begin to anchor their essay around their hook rather than the thesis statement, which can cause a lot of frustration.

2. The second sentence should be your thesis statement

In most other essays, this sentence might come later, but in a short essay you need to get to your point quickly.

3. Next, include the components that the prompt asks you to include

Look back at the highlighted action words in the prompt. The most important aspect is to make sure that you use transitions to help your reader see the correlation between your ideas. (Common transitions are words/phrases such as: additionally, conversely, therefore, however, and on the other hand.) Make sure to add your own ideas, commentary, etc.; do not simply add in evidence or examples without providing your thoughts on them.

4. Be sure to cite any sources you use in your paper

Introduce the evidence by mentioning either the person or source where the information came from. Don’t copy and paste URLs into your essay as they make it look messy; however, if you refer to a lot of outside sources, consider adding a works cited or references page.

5. Craft your conclusion sentences

Avoid summarizing what your essay is about. Instead, devise a “mic drop” sentence that challenges your readers. This last sentence could call readers to action, ask them to ponder or reimagine something, push them to see connections between your writing and their own life, etc.

6. If you haven’t yet written your hook, re-read your essay

Then, craft an opening line that introduces all of the components mentioned in your piece.

Step 3: Revise and Edit

It can be difficult for writers to complete this stage. Often, by this point writers find it tedious to read their work yet again. Even more daunting is the thought that they might have to delete or rearrange their ideas; however, it’s important to complete this part of the writing process.

The best way to avoid burnout at this stage is to start writing your essay a few days before the deadline; that way you don’t have to complete the whole writing process in just a few hours.

Revise means to look at your paper holistically (big ideas, organization) whereas edit means to look at each sentence (spelling errors, word choice, punctuation, etc.).

Do this step first; there’s no need to correct each sentence if you’re going to make big changes anyway.

Things to consider during revision:

• Does my hook introduce what will be discussed in my essay?
• Does every example/piece of evidence/explanation support my thesis?
• Is every example/piece of evidence/explanation in the best place?
• Could I rearrange any of the sentences so that my ideas build on each other in a clearer way?
• Does my conclusion sentence relate to my thesis?
• Does my conclusion avoid summarizing what I talked about in my essay?
• Should I keep my essay in one paragraph or should it be split up into a few paragraphs? (This might be introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs or perhaps introduction, first idea, second idea, and conclusion paragraphs.)

Depending on your answers to these questions, you may need to add, delete, or rearrange your ideas to strengthen the final draft of your essay.

After revising your writing, read over each sentence.

Things to consider during editing:

• Is everything spelled correctly?
• Does every sentence end in correct punctuation?
• Are there any run-on sentences? (Look for sentences that could be split into two by inserting a period or separated into parts by a semicolon.)
• Are there any sentence fragments? (Look for sentences that are incomplete.)

A strong short essay results in a focused thesis that is supported by a variety of evidence, examples, and commentary from the author. Keep your ideas condensed, clear, and succinct, and you’ll produce a fantastic finished product.

Before you turn in that paper, don’t forget to cite your sources in APA format , MLA format , or a style of your choice.

Example Short Essay

By Ashley Ingle. Ashley is earning her master’s degree in English and has been a high school English teacher for eight years. In her free time, she enjoys writing, eating French fries, and re-watching episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Common Writing Assignments, Apps & Tests

• Analytical Essay
• AP synthesis Essay
• Argumentative Essay
• Book Report
• Compare and Contrast Essay
• Cause and Effect Essay
• College Admissions Essay
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• Definition Essay
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• Dissertation
• Explanatory Essay
• Expository Essay
• Informative Essay
• Narrative Essay
• Opinion Essay
• Personal Essay
• Persuasive Essay
• Reflective Essay
• Research Paper
• Rhetorical Analysis
• Scholarship Essay
• Short Essay
• Thesis Paper

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How To Write An Essay

Essay Examples

Last updated on: Nov 14, 2024

Boost Your Writing With An Extensive List of Essay Examples

By: Cordon J.

Reviewed By: Melisa C.

Published on: Mar 14, 2023

When it comes to writing essays, one of the most helpful resources students can use is a well-written example. Essay examples serve as a guide and how to structure thoughts, present arguments, and support claims with evidence.

We've put together a collection of essay examples that are useful reads for anyone looking to improve their writing skills. These examples cover various types of essays and provide valuable insights into what makes a great essay.

So, don't waste any more time searching for examples. Explore our essay collection and improve your writing skills today!

On this Page

Short Essay Examples for Students

Short essays are a great way to practice writing skills and communicate ideas clearly. Here are a few examples of short essays on different topics that students might find helpful:

Technology has revolutionized education in recent years and presents both opportunities and challenges for educators and students alike. Take a look at this short expository essay in the same context. 

The debate over gun control in the United States is a deeply polarizing issue, with strong arguments on both sides. Here is a great persuasive essay on gun control in the US.

Personal essays offer an opportunity for introspection and self-expression, allowing individuals to share meaningful experiences that have shaped their lives. Below is a personal essay example about yourself that highlights an individual’s passion for music.

If you want to know how to write an essay, visit our blog on essay writing and get inspired.

Essay Examples for College Students  

When applying to college, writing a strong essay is important. Here are some sample essays in PDF format that can help you understand how to write effective essays for your college applications:

Simple College Essay Examples

These PDFs provide real examples that can inspire and guide you as you write your own college essays. They show you what admissions officers look for and how to stand out in your application.

Examples of Different Parts of Essays

Understanding the different parts of an essay can help you write clearly and effectively. Take a look at the PDF samples below:

Essay Examples With Thesis Statement

Essay Examples Introduction Body And Conclusion

More Examples of Common Essay Types

Essays always come in many different forms, each with its own purpose and structure, and are tailored to effectively convey information, argue a point, or tell a story. Take your time to read the examples of various types of essays listed below: 

Argumentative Essay Examples

Narrative Essay Examples

Persuasive Essay Examples

Expository Essay Examples

Scholarship Essay Examples

Informative Essay Examples

Essay Examples In Literature

Tok Essay Examples

Essay Examples in Different Formats

Different academic disciplines commonly require essays to be written in specific formats that determine how sources are cited and organized. Examples of essays in various formats are provided below:

Essay Examples APA Format

Essay Examples MLA Format

Need some creativity for your next essay idea? Check out our essay topics blog to get inspiration from. 

Common App Essay Prompts

The Common Application prompts encourage students to reflect on various aspects of their lives and experiences. Listed below are some examples of essay prompts along with PDF examples that can help you understand how to approach your own essay:

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
• Discuss something that you love not in spite of but rather due to its quirks or imperfections.
• Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
• Discuss a significant experience, achievement, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

To help you get started on your Common App essay, given below are essay examples that correspond to these essay prompts. 

Common App Essay Examples 

If you need help writing an essay according to instructions, then try out our AI essay writer to get quality essays in no time!

In closing thoughts,

Writing essays can be challenging, but with the right examples, it gets easier. Our collection of essay examples covers many topics and styles, showing you how to write effectively. 

Whether you're writing a college essay, learning about different types of essays, or working on Common App prompts, these examples can inspire and guide you. We hope this resource helps you improve your writing skills.

If you need a professional to help you out, college paper writing service from MyPerfectPaper.net is your best bet. Our professional writers are adept at crafting essays on any topic, type, and format. 

So, whar are you waiting for? Get in touch with our representatives and get professional paper writing service today!

Literature, Marketing

Cordon. is a published author and writing specialist. He has worked in the publishing industry for many years, providing writing services and digital content. His own writing career began with a focus on literature and linguistics, which he continues to pursue. Cordon is an engaging and professional individual, always looking to help others achieve their goals.

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