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Essay writing might appear to be easy and quick at first. Most students think it takes an hour or two at most. Still, there are situations when writing a short essay can be extremely difficult. In particular, when you want to say a lot but are unsure of how to express it concisely. In long essays, we can still express ourselves in a broader form and more openly. But, the short or brief essay deals with writing limited and point-to-point.
You might be facing difficulties in writing a 200-word essay or a 500-word essay, but don’t worry as we are here to help you. This blog of All Assignment Help is your ultimate guide to writing short essays without losing any information. Read the blog till the end and find out everything there is to know about the distinctive features, format, structure, and examples of short essays.
What is a Short Essay?
The definition of a short essay is an academic writing assignment in which students must organize their ideas and viewpoints into a proper structure and no more than 500 words. There are instances when the essay is even shorter—only 200 words are needed. Like other essays, it can be narrative, argumentative, explanatory, descriptive, and so on.
The purpose of such essays is to teach the shortest possible way to express thoughts. Students must continue to be laconic and stay away from repetition. There is no need for slang, cliches, or confusing information in this paper. Besides, it only included a viewpoint supported by facts, compelling reasoning, and figures.
Read Here: Structure and Ways of Writing a Short Essay
How Long Should a Short Essay Be?
Well, this is the most asked question of all. A short essay should be:
- A minimum of half a page & a maximum of 1 page if we work single-spaced.
- It can go up to max 2 pages if we work double-spaced.
- It should consist of a maximum of 400 words.
- You can go up to 500 but, if only it’s the need for the topic.
Also, we have given a basic overview of 3-paragraph and 5-paragraph short essay guidelines below.
The 3 Paragraph Short Essay
- The 3-paragraph brief essay is divided into an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.
- The thesis statement of the essay is stated in the first paragraph, the body of the essay offers evidence for it, and the conclusion restates the main ideas.
- This type of short essay is usually written in response to a question that your professor has provided.
- You can get away with just responding to the question and removing the formalities that normally accompany a well-crafted essay.
So, what distinguishes a brief essay like this from a brief response? Not much. That’s why it’s usually best to stick with the five-paragraph essay format if you have been given a short essay to write. However, writing 3-paragraph is not a cup of tea for many students. Hence, they can get an essay writing service online where they will be assisted by expert essay writers.
The 5 Paragraph Short Essay
- The five-paragraph essay format enables you to follow the requirements of the essay structure, which include an introduction, body, and conclusion.
- You will include a brief section outlining your goal and thesis in your introduction.
- The body is composed of three body paragraphs, each of which has a topic sentence and supports your thesis.
- In the conclusion, you restate your main idea and how the body of the paper supported it.
What’s the optimal word count for this? Let’s say 600, but you can even go as high as 900. In 900 words or three pages, you can write a five-paragraph short essay effectively.
Elements of a Short Essay
Some college students find that writing a short essay is more challenging than writing a long one because they don’t have enough room to fully develop and explain their ideas. Just the details required to support your argument should be included. However, while writing a brief essay, make sure the following fundamental elements are included in your essay:
Introduction
It should be one paragraph and not more. Your introduction should build up the interest of the audience, and it should be clear what is the topic. It should be concise, catchy, and informative. However, the first sentence itself should claim the urgency of the topic which becomes worth reading. End the sentence with a precise statement.
Thesis
It is the final introduction sentence. It needs to be centered on the main problem you are researching and include a claim you intend to support. However, your thesis should be debatable and should inspire those who disagree with you to refute it. Also, you can get thesis help online for assistance in writing a concise thesis for your essay topic.
Topic Sentences
Make your main point clear and concise so that it appears at the start of each paragraph. It should summarize your entire argument. Thus, give a distinct topic sentence for each new point you make. Also, it needs to be presented, backed up and analyzed.
Main Body
3 paragraphs out of 5, should be of the main body. This part contains your main ideas and supporting evidence or facts. Make sure that your evidence contains quotations and cite them according to the requirements of the format. Use linking words and conjunctions to make your text cohesive. It will bring flow to your narration.
Conclusion
This paragraph is for the final results. It should be 1 paragraph long. In this paragraph, you need to show how your ideas from the body support the statement in the first paragraph. It is not a summary. However, this part will close the question raised in the introduction part.
How to Write a Short Essay?
It takes several key points to write a well-written essay in fewer words. Here is how you can write a short essay:
Identify Your Topic Carefully
The first thing before you initiate the writing process is reading. Read your essay prompt carefully. You can underline important information or encircle the main question. You have to make sure what the question wants you to write. Students sometimes in a hurry fail to understand the topic and end up writing on something else.
Narrow Down Your Argument
You have got the task of writing a short essay, right? So, you cannot discuss everything in the essay. You have to cling to one single topic. Therefore, choose one topic and work on it. For instance, in “Tragedy in Shakespeare’s Plays” this topic is too vast. Here you have to research different plays of Shakespeare to bring out the tragic elements. So, your topic should be, “Discuss Hamlet as a tragedy”. Such a topic will help you to write a short essay easily.
Use Reliable Sources for Collecting Information
If your information is from reliable sources, your chances of getting excellence will be high. For example, if you are writing on any journalism topic, then go for BBC or other well-known news websites. Always avoid the least reliable sources, such as blogs or random articles.
Be Careful About the Essay’s Words
Words are the soul of an essay. If your words are not expressive enough, you might fail to get the desired grade. Students, especially those who are from non-English speaking backgrounds need to be careful about words. While writing the essay focus on words, use transition words in your essays. These words act as a bridge between sentences and ideas.
Remove Verbiage from Your Essay
You have a limit on the word count. Therefore, using excessively long speech doesn’t make sense in a short essay. Remove all lengthy verb phrases, adjectives, etc. Keep your sentences short and explain the meaning perfectly.
Try to Be More Active Than Passive
To make your essay succinct. Thus, make your sentences in the active voice. Active voice will convey to the point meaning in a crisp and clear manner. Write sentences that can help in explaining the meaning in a direct way. This will cut short the words from your essay.
Keep the Relevant Arguments Only
A passionate essay writer always wants to add multiple arguments to his/her essay. But in a brief essay, you have to control yourself. Only put useful arguments and weed out irrelevant ones. But, be alert, never remove the most convincing points, or else your essay will lose its purpose.
Following these 7 tips while composing an essay. Also, you may end up with an excellent piece of writing. If still finding issues in writing a short essay, then you can also check out essay examples for different types of essays such as reflective essay examples, analytical essay examples, expository essay examples, and so on for a better overview for writing brief essays.
Also Read: How to Write the Best 1000-Word Essay
Writing a Short Essay: Do’s and Don’ts
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Write a clear and concise essay. | Selecting a challenging topic for which there isn’t enough room for explanation. |
| Only provide details that are essential for readers to understand your main point. | Creating lengthy introductions and conclusions. |
| Respond to your prompt and adhere to its guidelines. | Considering that longer is preferable (meeting word and page requirements) |
| Keep the evidence you provide for your points brief so that you have time for reflection. | Getting attached to your points. |
| Compress and utilize compound sentences or semicolons when needed. | Writing unnecessarily just does not need to be included in the writing. |
Having Trouble Composing a Short Essay?
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FAQ’s
| Question.1. How do you begin an essay? Answer.1. In this order, your essay introduction should include three major points: a. An opening hook to inflame the reader’s interest. b. Background information that the reader should be aware of. c. A thesis statement is a statement that summarises your main point or argument. |
| Question.2. What are the five steps to composing an essay? Answer.2. In 5 Simple Steps, Learn How to Write an Essay 1. Choose a topic. 2. Choose something that interests you if at all possible. 3. Brainstorm. Write down any thoughts you have about what you want to include, including key points, examples, and illustrations. 4. Write something 5. And Revise. |