essay writing about e learning

Essay on E Learning

Students are often asked to write an essay on E Learning in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on E Learning

What is e learning.

E Learning is a way of learning using digital tools. It’s like a classroom, but online. You can use a computer, tablet, or phone to learn. It can be done anytime, anywhere. You don’t have to be in a school building.

Benefits of E Learning

E Learning has many benefits. You can learn at your own pace. You don’t have to rush or wait for others. It’s flexible. You can learn when it suits you. It can also be fun. Many online courses use games and videos to make learning more enjoyable.

Challenges of E Learning

E Learning can also be challenging. Not everyone has a computer or internet. Some people find it hard to stay motivated. It can also be lonely without classmates. But there are ways to overcome these challenges.

The Future of E Learning

E Learning is likely to grow in the future. More schools and universities are offering online courses. More people are learning new skills online. It’s a new way of learning that’s here to stay. It’s changing how we learn and teach.

250 Words Essay on E Learning

E Learning, or electronic learning, is a way of studying using digital resources. It’s like having a classroom on your computer, tablet, or phone! You can learn from anywhere, at any time. It’s a great way to make learning fun and flexible.

E Learning has many benefits. It lets you learn at your own pace, which means you can spend more time on tough topics and breeze through the ones you find easy. It also saves time and money as you don’t need to travel to a school or buy lots of books. Plus, it’s eco-friendly as it reduces the need for paper and other physical resources.

How Does E Learning Work?

E Learning usually involves a mix of videos, readings, quizzes, and interactive activities. You can often talk to your teachers and classmates online, just like you would in a normal school. Some courses even give you a certificate when you finish!

Despite its benefits, E Learning can also be challenging. It requires self-discipline and good time management skills. Sometimes, you might miss the face-to-face interaction you get in a traditional classroom. But with the right mindset and support, these challenges can be overcome.

E Learning is growing fast and is likely to play a big part in the future of education. It can make learning more accessible and personalized. As technology continues to improve, E Learning will only get better!

500 Words Essay on E Learning

E Learning, or electronic learning, is a type of education where students use computers or other electronic devices to learn. This can happen anywhere and at any time, as long as there is an internet connection. It’s like having a classroom in your pocket! E Learning includes online courses, virtual classrooms, and digital resources.

E Learning has many benefits. First, it is flexible. You can learn at your own pace, whenever and wherever you want. This is great for students who have other responsibilities, like sports or part-time jobs.

Third, E Learning can be interactive. Many online courses use videos, quizzes, and games to make learning fun and engaging. This can help students to remember what they have learned.

Despite its benefits, E Learning also has some challenges. For example, not everyone has access to a computer or the internet. This can make E Learning difficult for some students.

Lastly, E Learning can sometimes feel lonely. Without classmates to talk to, some students may miss the social aspect of learning.

Future of E Learning

The future of E Learning looks bright. More and more schools are using technology in the classroom. There are also more online courses available than ever before.

In the future, we might see more use of virtual reality in E Learning. This could make learning even more interactive and fun.

Despite the challenges, E Learning has the potential to make education more accessible and personalized for all students.

In conclusion, E Learning is a flexible and interactive way to learn. It has many benefits, but also some challenges. As technology continues to improve, E Learning is likely to become an even more important part of education in the future.

Remember, the key to successful E Learning is to stay motivated and make the most of the digital tools available. Happy learning!

(Word count: 500)

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your Article Library

Essay on e-learning: meaning, uses and advantages.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

After reading this essay you will learn about E-Learning:- 1. Meaning of  E-Learning 2. Soft Skills and Personality Development through E-Learning 3. Advantages.

• Advantages of E-Learning

Essay # 1. Meaning of  E-Learning:

E-learning refers to all electronic learning through systems that are used as part of the learning system. Let us discuss some examples of e-learning.

Digital Classrooms :

This refers to ‘smart-classrooms’ equipped with several digital learning aids. These aids could include smart-boards, high lumen LED projectors, and interface of educational appliances with physical sensors (to sense physical systems such as motion, pressure, touch, etc.).

Satellite Education :

Here an instructor in one location can impart lessons over an education satellite (such as Edusat) to thousands of students across multiple locations. This can also be done in a bidirectional mode—with students being able to address their questions to the instructor over the satellite system.

Web-based Learning or Internet-based Training (IBT) and Computer-based Training (CBT) :

This is based on course material accessible over the web, or through hundreds of DVDs on a wide variety of subjects. Video conferencing systems, telepresence systems, IP-based video phone: These systems are becoming increasingly popular in the corporate world today.

With full high-definition technology available in advanced telepresence systems (compared to traditional video conferencing systems), one can interact with global experts thousands of miles away with an experience that mimics being co-located.

The latency or time lag in both video and audio is so low, and video/image quality is so superior that one is left to wonder if the person is truly so far across the world! It truly gives the experience of speaking and interacting with a person across the table!

A less-expensive (and naturally less life-like experience) version of such a system can also be achieved through IP-based Video Telephony. While the display here is much smaller than a Telepresence system, it serves the purpose in most companies that require large scale deployment to employees around the world.

Essay # 2. Soft Skills and Personality Development through E-Learning :

Soft skills and personality traits can be enhanced through the language laboratory where one can use self-improvement methods to j observe oneself and improve continuously. E-learning systems can also be used for soft skills and personality j development (in addition to developing one’s hard skills or domain knowledge).

A large number of Internet-/computer-based training material are available today on communication skills, listening skills, body language, job interviews, group discussions, etc.

Essay # 3. Advantages of E-Learning :

E-learning has several benefits as follows:

(i) Flexible, On-Demand Learning:

The biggest advantage of e-learning is access to on-demand courses. Many a time one requires access to certain learning material. E-learning provides an abundance of such material (for enhancing both hard domain skills and soft skills) that can be accessed year-long at any time of the day or night.

There is no rigidity of a fixed curriculum, no need to go through multiple sequences to gain access to the point of need. Programmes can also be paced or paused, based on availability.

(ii) Privacy of Learning :

Some people feel intimidated by presence of peers during the learning process. If they do not understand certain sections of a course, they feel awkward to ask these questions in public. E-learning obviates this issue. Learning is a private experience. A section or an entire course can be repeated as many times as needed. Questions to an ‘instructor’ can be asked one-on-one through an on-line query-response system.

(iii) Increased Access :

E-learning brings the world to one’s finger-tips! It is possible to easily access the best global experts through the electronic medium. Similarly an expert can reach thousands of students over the Internet or over a Satellite system. The learning experience is also of higher quality. It is enhanced through the use of audio, video, and graphics and imaging aids. This multimedia experience greatly augments the quality of learning.

(iv) Lower Cost :

Well-architected e-learning systems typically cost lower than traditional systems, if the right scale is achieved. This is because it leads to savings in terms of travel, time and distribution of content, etc.

Acceptance by Employees for Personal Development :

Acceptance of e-learning systems is typically very high in the corporate world for one’s personal development. This is because it allows one to follow- through on their Individual Development Plans in a focussed manner.

Finally it must be noted that while e-learning systems have many advantages, it has the disadvantage of not having an instructor to personally be present to facilitate the learning. Hence it is not the best medium where queries need to be not just answered, but deliberated at length with multiple opinions and pros and cons needing to be discussed.

Related Articles:

• Experiential Learning: Meaning and Importance
• Learning: Meaning and Nature- Explained !

Comments are closed.

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• School Education /

Essay On Online Education: In 100 Words, 150 Words, and 200 Words

• Updated on  
• Apr 26, 2024

Online education has emerged as a significant transformation in the global education landscape, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic . This essay explores the various facets of online education, from its inception to its advantages and disadvantages and its impact on learners and educators alike. The evolution of online education presents a new horizon for accessible and flexible learning .

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Online Education in 100 words
• 2 Essay on Online Education in 150 words
• 3 Essay on Online Education in 200 words
• 4 Short Essay on Online Education

Also Read: English Essay Topics

Also Read: How to Write an Essay in English

Also Read: Speech on Republic Day for Class 12th

Essay on Online Education in 100 words

Online education is a modern educational paradigm where students access instructional content through the internet. This innovative approach has gained immense popularity, especially after the pandemic, owing to its convenience and adaptability. It has enabled students of all ages to acquire knowledge from the comfort of their homes, transcending geographical barriers. Online education offers a diverse range of courses and resources, fostering continuous learning. However, it also presents challenges, such as dependency on technology and potential disengagement from the physical world.

Also Read: The Beginner’s Guide to Writing an Essay

Essay on Online Education in 150 words

Online education marks a revolutionary shift in how we acquire knowledge. It harnesses the power of the internet to deliver educational content to students, making learning more flexible and accessible. Technology advancements have accelerated the development of online education, enabling educational institutions to provide a wide range of courses and programmes through digital platforms.

One of the primary advantages of online education is its ability to cater to a diverse audience, regardless of geographical location or physical limitations. It eliminates the need for commuting and offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional classroom learning. However, online education also comes with its challenges. It requires self-discipline and motivation as students often learn independently. Additionally, prolonged screen time can have adverse effects on students’ physical and mental well-being, potentially leading to social disconnection.

Essay on Online Education in 200 words

Online education has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years, with the internet serving as the conduit for delivering educational content. This transformation has been accelerated, particularly in response to the global pandemic. Online education transcends the boundaries of traditional learning, offering students the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills from anywhere in the world.

One of the most compelling aspects of online education is its flexibility. Learners can access course materials and engage with instructors at their convenience, breaking free from rigid schedules. Moreover, this mode of education has expanded access to a vast array of courses, allowing individuals to pursue their interests and career goals without geographical constraints.

However, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges associated with online education. It demands a high degree of self-discipline, as students must navigate the coursework independently. Prolonged screen time can have adverse effects on health and may lead to a sense of disconnection from society.

In conclusion, online education represents a significant shift in how we approach learning. It offers unprecedented access and flexibility but also requires learners to adapt to a more self-directed approach to education. Striking a balance between the benefits and challenges of online education is key to harnessing its full potential.

Also Read: Essay on Fire Safety in 200 and 500+ words in English for Students

Short Essay on Online Education

Find a sample essay on online education below:

An organised argument backed up by proof and examples is the key to writing a convincing essay. Create a clear thesis statement at the outset, follow a logical progression of points, and then summarise your main points.

To improve readability, use clear and concise language, break your essay into paragraphs with clear topic sentences, and vary your sentence structure.

If you’re struggling to meet the word count, review your content to see if you can expand on your ideas, provide more examples, or include additional details to support your arguments. Additionally, check for any redundancies or irrelevant information that can be removed.

Related Reads

We hope that this essay on Online Education helps. For more amazing daily reads related to essay writing , stay tuned with Leverage Edu .

Manasvi Kotwal

Manasvi's flair in writing abilities is derived from her past experience of working with bootstrap start-ups, Advertisement and PR agencies as well as freelancing. She's currently working as a Content Marketing Associate at Leverage Edu to be a part of its thriving ecosystem.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Connect With Us

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out

ESSAY SAUCE

FOR STUDENTS : ALL THE INGREDIENTS OF A GOOD ESSAY

Essay: Advantages and disadvantages of e-learning

Essay details and download:.

• Subject area(s): Education essays
• Reading time: 4 minutes
• Price: Free download
• Published: 20 February 2022*
• Last Modified: 27 July 2024
• File format: Text
• Words: 957 (approx)
• Number of pages: 4 (approx)
• Tags: Online learning essays

Text preview of this essay:

This page of the essay has 957 words.

Nowadays, more and more universities use technology as a means to communicate and study efficiently. Many university teachers use technological devices to communicate with their students, give them quizzes, assignments, grade them and so on. With the age of the Corona virus, it has caused schools to be closed all around the world. “Today, with the COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing lockdowns and social distancing, e-learning has become a vital tool to ensure the continuity of learning and education” (Mukherjee, 2020). “Education has changed dramatically, with the distinctive rise of e-learning, whereby teaching is undertaken remotely and on digital platforms” (Li and Farah, 2020). By that it means that with the unmistakable ascent of e-learning, students now have to study online. “Online learning has been shown to increase retention of information, and take less time, meaning the changes coronavirus have caused might be here to stay” (Li and Farah, 2020). With online learning , it is a way faster way to remember information. The purpose of this essay is to determine the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning and how we use technology to heighten learning and enrich the student experience?

“Some studies have suggested a positive impact of these devices on student learning, including increased motivation, collaboration, productivity and engagement, among others” (Carcelén and Montserrat, 2019). By that it means that students can feel more at ease to communicate through their phone rather than having face-to face conversation, and productivity can rise up as many students nowadays prefer to write their notes on their laptops/tablets rather than on a notebook. “Students are able to learn faster online; e-learning requires 40-60% less time to learn than in a traditional classroom setting because students can learn at their own pace, going back and re-reading, skipping, or accelerating through concepts as they choose” (Li and Farah, 2020). With e-learning students can record to watch and listen to lessons as many as they want. With online learning , students can study in their own time. Each student has different pace of learning thus increasing their effectiveness. It can help them emotionally if one student is feeling overwhelmed, to develop their relationship with other classmates/professors, and easy access to information online.

“E-learning is cost effective” (Arkorful and Nelly, 35). The reason is because students do not need to pay for transportation cost. And also, it can compensate for the lack of teachers as it enables more students to take part. “Through discussion boards and chats, you are able to interact with everyone online and also clear your doubts if any” (Clover 2017). If students have any problems in understanding they can easily ask questions through the chats. This is a great advantage for people who are shy to ask questions. Students have the ability to participate in their chosen degree from any place, location which facilitates people who have relocated or people which are abroad (Arkoful and Nelly, 35). During covid-19 many students have returned back to their home country.

Although E-learning has many advantages, it also has its disadvantages. “Some students without reliable internet access and/or technology struggle to participate in digital learning” (Li and Farah, 2020). This means that not everyone has access to the same resources. One of the biggest challenges about e-leaning is about equity between other students. Some students cannot afford to have a laptop/phone to take their notes online and this can discourage them to study. It might increase a further “inequality between the students with access to more advanced tools with faster speeds and the newest applications and those in lesser situations.” (Technical.ly, 2013 ). This means that some students may have lower internet bandwidth or no internet access or even do not have access to technology. “E-learning may also be subject to piracy, plagiarism, cheating, inadequate selection skills, and inappropriate use of copy and paste” (Arkoful and Nelly, 36). Students can easily cheat for their exam as all information is available to them online and there is no way to make sure they are not cheating. Students can easily plagiarize their assignment, homework or essays. Added to it, even accidental plagiarism is a major issue in most countries and these students can easily fail their course.

The success of online learning varies among age groups, research has found out that students are more easily distracted (Li and Lalani, 2020). Not only that students can easily distracted they might be addicted to their phone (Carcelén andd Montserrat, 201). Students are unable to multitask for example interacting with their mobile phones while studying, some studies have proved that it has relationship with this behaviour and poor academic grades (Carcelén and Montserrat, 202). By that it means that by using their phone while studying can lower their overall GPA. Felisoni and Godoi stated that “The user’s belief that he or she can efficiently pay attention to other activities such as absorb content from a lecture, complete homework or study while keeping the cell phone on standby and using it from time to time could be misleading, as students are more often tempted to game, check social medias and connect with colleagues” (187). Procrastination is also an issue here. University students tend to spend more hours on social media sites chatting, watching videos instead of doing their assignments, homework or studying. They usually do their homework on the eve or on the same day that the homework is due and therefore they might ask for a request for extensions and late submissions. This affect negatively their academic performances as their homework are either half-done or they might give a shoddy work. Felisoni and Godoi found in their researches that “Every additional 10 min spent [on average per day] using a cell phone device is related to a reduction in that student’s G-MNPS by 0.63 points” (185).

2020-6-21-1592713284

Discover more:

• Online learning essays

Recommended for you

• Challenges and Solutions for Online Learning During the Pandemic
• Background and related work – Collaborative Learning Environments
• Why effective communication is important in online education

About this essay:

If you use part of this page in your own work, you need to provide a citation, as follows:

Essay Sauce, Advantages and disadvantages of e-learning . Available from:<https://www.essaysauce.com/education-essays/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-e-learning/> [Accessed 27-08-24].

These Education essays have been submitted to us by students in order to help you with your studies.

* This essay may have been previously published on EssaySauce.com and/or Essay.uk.com at an earlier date than indicated.

Essay Categories:

• Accounting essays
• Architecture essays
• Business essays
• Computer science essays
• Criminology essays
• Economics essays
• Education essays
• Engineering essays
• English language essays
• Environmental studies essays
• Essay examples
• Finance essays
• Geography essays
• Health essays
• History essays
• Hospitality and tourism essays
• Human rights essays
• Information technology essays
• International relations
• Leadership essays
• Linguistics essays
• Literature essays
• Management essays
• Marketing essays
• Mathematics essays
• Media essays
• Medicine essays
• Military essays
• Miscellaneous essays
• Music Essays
• Nursing essays
• Philosophy essays
• Photography and arts essays
• Politics essays
• Project management essays
• Psychology essays
• Religious studies and theology essays
• Sample essays
• Science essays
• Social work essays
• Sociology essays
• Sports essays
• Types of essay
• Zoology essays

Online Learning and Classroom Learning Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

The ever changing technological advancement is catching up with all the traditional systems that used to define the parameters with which we conducted our activities. Technology has infiltrated into our education systems, creating an avenue where education is carried out courtesy of technology.

Online learning, also called virtual learning or e-learning has opened up a wide platform and raised the bar in the different educational curricular there are. E-learning can therefore be defined as “a platform through individuals are dynamically linked to a given network or system and are able to swap or exchange information that relates to a given discipline“(Yen, 2005).

Traditionally, the classroom was a composition of a room with a tutor or instructor with students as the participants. This system facilitated face to face communication, enabling the class to hold many interactive forums in the course of their study. Combining the two concepts then, we can define e-learning “as a learning environment that exists solely in the form of digital content that is stored, accessed and exchanged through networked computer and information systems” (Yen, 2005)

The comparisons, therefore among the two platforms vary, but there are similarities to the two also. The difference among the two is basically one, that in an actual classroom, everything that is in that setting is tangible and both the learner and tutor have to physically change locations in order that they attend classes.

A virtual class on the other hand occurs through a purely intangible media that is the internet. The students just get connected to an internet source anywhere around the globe and log onto their respective online portal. That is how my online college experience compares to that of a student attending real classes at Harvard University.

Online learning can in many ways be used as a platform towards the advancement of personal profiles via their programmes. The advantages of online education vary, meaning there are many ways through which it can propel one to the crème of higher education. There are five features to online education, these are; convenience, they enable one to learn at his own pace at a time when a person feels he’s ready to get into the virtual class.

This has helped even the fulltime employees in the different sectors get certified in their various fields of interests. There is control; a student is able to dictate his pace of studying hence he acts as his own manager. This allows the student to determine the most appropriate time for the learning process, and allow for emergencies that may arise in the duration that he is studying for the given paper.

They facilitate connection, in that the interactive forums available on the platforms provide an opportunity for the students from different parts of the world to share the ideas on the topics under study. Cost; they are cheaper compared to the real classroom, and facilitate faster completion of the courses at cheaper rates. These courses nurture a student’s commitment to the given units that one has to cover as only the resilient finish up these courses. Generally, the online courses enhance personal growth and commitment.

E-leaning has many constraints ranging from environmental, cultural to other minor internal and external factors. Environmental factors range from a set of the soft ware’s that make it possible to conduct the study. Appropriate software which provides the best learning environment is therefore required to acquire optimum services (White, 2007). Cultural factors encompass an individual’s personal belief and his perceptions about this mode of study.

White, S. (2007). Critical success factors for e-learning and institutional change: some

organizational perspectives on campus-wide e-learning. British Journal of Educational Technology, 5(38). 12-14.

Yen, M. (2005). E-learning systems and parameters. Journal of academy of Business and Economics , 2 (12). 54-57.

• Instructional Media: Selection and Use
• Learning Outcomes: Measuring and Reporting Students' Achievements
• Students' Attitudes Towards E-Learning
• Teacher Career: E-Learning
• The Hyperwave eLearning Suite
• Theories of teaching and learning
• Evidence Based Instruction and Intervention
• Comparing First and Second Language Acquisition Theories
• Is Class Size Crucial to School Improvement
• Advantages and Disadvantages of E-Learning
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2019, March 7). Online Learning and Classroom Learning. https://ivypanda.com/essays/online-learning-and-classroom-learning/

"Online Learning and Classroom Learning." IvyPanda , 7 Mar. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/online-learning-and-classroom-learning/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'Online Learning and Classroom Learning'. 7 March.

IvyPanda . 2019. "Online Learning and Classroom Learning." March 7, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/online-learning-and-classroom-learning/.

1. IvyPanda . "Online Learning and Classroom Learning." March 7, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/online-learning-and-classroom-learning/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Online Learning and Classroom Learning." March 7, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/online-learning-and-classroom-learning/.

• Entertainment
• Environment
• Information Science and Technology
• Social Issues

Home Essay Samples Education

Essay Samples on E-Learning

Revolutionizing education: benefits and drawbacks of e-learning.

The main and basic idea of education is showing the right ways for a person to be perfect. Education gives the right and better way to make their aims and dreams come true. Hence every person in the world should learn to reach destiny and...

• Online Classes

Why Tablets Should not Replace Textbooks in Schools

In these days, we can easily find many university students buy and use a tablet while they are not carrying textbooks. Tablets are light, convenient and even support a variety of learning software programs such as handwriting note taking apps. Thanks to these benefits, using...

• Online vs. Traditional Classes

The Advantages of eTextbooks over Classic Textbooks

During summer vacation, no one thinks about school or textbooks. Only when the first day of school is about to start, everyone scramble on what they need. The one essential of many things the student needs are textbooks. While both Textbooks and eTextbooks are vastly...

E-Learning: Way To Improve Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students' Education Quality

Introduction Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals have many barriers when it comes to getting an education. It is an environment that they find difficult to be in, from not having the motivation of going to school, being afraid of not being able to understand the material...

• American Education System

Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Classes

According to the Oxford English dictionary, the word “online” is defined as the available on or performed using the Internet or other computer network, whereas the word “studying” means the action in which people dedicate their time and attention in order to gain knowledge of...

• Role of Education

Stressed out with your paper?

Consider using writing assistance:

• 100% unique papers
• 3 hrs deadline option

Comparison of Online Versus On-Ground Education

Institutions of education in the world have been adopting online learning, or a combination with the traditional, on ground education. Therefore, there has been debate among scholars for decades now as to which learning method is the most appropriate. There are those arguing that online...

Different Types of Online Education and Its Combinations

With the popularization of online education, creation of different types of online courses continues (Strothmann, 2015). Online courses do not exist to eliminate personal interaction which is evident in other types of online courses: Face-to-Face and Hybrid Course. Face-to-Face is in traditional environment where students...

Online Learning vs. In-Class Learning

Online education has been developing at a high rate as the years progressed. Numerous individuals state that true learning can't occur on the web and that classroom learning is the primary 'genuine' approach to instruct and gain proficiency with a subject. In any case, there...

Advantages and Challenges of E-Learning

Introduction E-learning or electronic learning is changing the educational scenario rapidly, Learning is a part of life and every day we learn new things. The moment we stop learning, we meet an end. In today’s technological and dynamic environment, we have the latest trends growing...

The Undertones of E-learning: E-learning Strategies and Issues

It would always be the primary way of getting the education and it is always beneficial in numerous ways like physical and mental interaction, asking questions and get on-time responses, etc. But with all these advantages there are some disadvantages for students who are unable...

• Learning Styles

Basic Tasks, Priorities and Challenges of E-Learning

Introduction The objective of selecting this subject is to focus on some of the very important and grass-root level queries pertaining to the latest model of learning - E-learning. We have limited our scope of the study to both the formal and informal educational sectors...

What E-learning Is and Its Role in the Modern Education Process

Firstly, this essay will focus on describing what is meant by e-learning, how this term of e-learning emerges in the new age of advanced technology, and from which stages it goes through. Secondly, the essay will address some major opportunities and challenges which are related...

• Importance of Education

Proposal On Drop Out Prediction

Abstract In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the use of data mining to investigate scientific questions within educational research, an area of inquiry termed educational data mining. Educational Data Mining (also referred to as “EDM”) is defined as the area of scientific...

• Data Mining

Mobile Learning In Education System

In the course of the most recent couple of years there have been a great deal of level headed discussions and contentions that whether we should utilize mobile learning in education system or not. As each coin has two sides, this statement has both positive...

• Digital Era

The Significance Of Education Framework And Late Market Of E-Learning Methodology

Abstract This is the day and period of innovation. This is the period when the world has turned into a littler place and individuals are hoping to make it even littler. Regardless of where you look you can feel the impacts of innovation. This is...

• Technology in Education

The Use Of Innovations During The Learning Process

The way that children learn has continually been advancing since the very beginning. This can happen normally thus from change in culture and practices. For instance, individuals in “the united States don't experience precisely the same as they completed 50 years back.”( Ryan C. Smith,...

Best topics on E-Learning

1. Revolutionizing Education: Benefits and Drawbacks of E-Learning

2. Why Tablets Should not Replace Textbooks in Schools

3. The Advantages of eTextbooks over Classic Textbooks

4. E-Learning: Way To Improve Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students’ Education Quality

5. Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Classes

6. Comparison of Online Versus On-Ground Education

7. Different Types of Online Education and Its Combinations

8. Online Learning vs. In-Class Learning

9. Advantages and Challenges of E-Learning

10. The Undertones of E-learning: E-learning Strategies and Issues

11. Basic Tasks, Priorities and Challenges of E-Learning

12. What E-learning Is and Its Role in the Modern Education Process

13. Proposal On Drop Out Prediction

14. Mobile Learning In Education System

15. The Significance Of Education Framework And Late Market Of E-Learning Methodology

• Academic Performance
• School Uniform
• Exchange Student
• Academic Challenges
• Brigham Young University
• Academic Interests

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

By clicking “Send Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

• Undergraduate
• High School
• Architecture
• American History
• Asian History
• Antique Literature
• American Literature
• Asian Literature
• Classic English Literature
• World Literature
• Creative Writing
• Linguistics
• Criminal Justice
• Legal Issues
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Political Science
• World Affairs
• African-American Studies
• East European Studies
• Latin-American Studies
• Native-American Studies
• West European Studies
• Family and Consumer Science
• Social Issues
• Women and Gender Studies
• Social Work
• Natural Sciences
• Pharmacology
• Earth science
• Agriculture
• Agricultural Studies
• Computer Science
• IT Management
• Mathematics
• Investments
• Engineering and Technology
• Engineering
• Aeronautics
• Medicine and Health
• Alternative Medicine
• Communications and Media
• Advertising
• Communication Strategies
• Public Relations
• Educational Theories
• Teacher's Career
• Chicago/Turabian
• Company Analysis
• Education Theories
• Shakespeare
• Canadian Studies
• Food Safety
• Relation of Global Warming and Extreme Weather Condition
• Movie Review
• Admission Essay
• Annotated Bibliography

Application Essay

• Article Critique
• Article Review
• Article Writing
• Book Review
• Business Plan
• Business Proposal
• Capstone Project
• Cover Letter
• Creative Essay
• Dissertation
• Dissertation - Abstract
• Dissertation - Conclusion
• Dissertation - Discussion
• Dissertation - Hypothesis
• Dissertation - Introduction
• Dissertation - Literature
• Dissertation - Methodology
• Dissertation - Results
• GCSE Coursework
• Grant Proposal
• Marketing Plan
• Multiple Choice Quiz
• Personal Statement
• Power Point Presentation
• Power Point Presentation With Speaker Notes
• Questionnaire

Reaction Paper

• Research Paper
• Research Proposal
• SWOT analysis
• Thesis Paper
• Online Quiz
• Literature Review
• Movie Analysis
• Statistics problem
• Math Problem
• All papers examples
• How It Works
• Money Back Policy
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• We Are Hiring

E-Learning, Essay Example

Pages: 1

Words: 310

Hire a Writer for Custom Essay

Use 10% Off Discount: "custom10" in 1 Click 👇

You are free to use it as an inspiration or a source for your own work.

E-learning refers for the adoption of technology to facilitate students to learn from anywhere at any time. This normally includes the delivery of Just in Time academic knowledge, training and guidance from specified academic experts.  This form and means of imparting knowledge has eliminated the need to have the expensive method of bringing people together in to a physical building where resources necessary to teach them are centralized. It has thus effectively overcome the challenge of time, resources and distance associated with the convectional classroom method. E-learning has also proved to be quite effective and economical to the students as they can pursue education from colleges and universities of their choices at the comfort of the home environment as they have limited budgets and jobs to do instead.

The method is very supportive of the dynamics of education since students do have different learning requirements and needs; learning at different times and different ways. Therefore, institutions of learning are therefore compelled to device suitable delivery methods thus e-learning.

In order for this method to be successful, it is important for proper management systems to be put in place. This will include the management of learners, provision of necessary progress reports and the overall monitoring of the administrative permissions for data accessing.

Basically, communication in e-learning can take one of these two forms: asynchronous which involves the use of blogs and discussion boards and synchronous method which includes activities which when all the participating people join together. This includes virtual meeting and classrooms, and e-conferencing.

As an educator, I find this technological advancement beneficial not only to my career development but also in my dissemination of knowledge to the students. I highly embrace it and yearn to learn more since that is where education sector as a whole is heading to (e-learning consulting, 2009).

e-learning consulting, (2009). What is e-learning? Retrieved 18 December, 2009 from http://www.e-learningconsulting.com/consulting/what/e-learning.html

Stuck with your Essay?

Get in touch with one of our experts for instant help!

Boston University and Brown University, Application Essay Example

Science Assignment, Reaction Paper Example

Time is precious

don’t waste it!

Plagiarism-free guarantee

Privacy guarantee

Secure checkout

Money back guarantee

Related Essay Samples & Examples

Voting as a civic responsibility, essay example.

Words: 287

Utilitarianism and Its Applications, Essay Example

Words: 356

The Age-Related Changes of the Older Person, Essay Example

Pages: 2

Words: 448

The Problems ESOL Teachers Face, Essay Example

Pages: 8

Words: 2293

Should English Be the Primary Language? Essay Example

Pages: 4

Words: 999

The Term “Social Construction of Reality”, Essay Example

Words: 371

Home — Essay Samples — Education — Educational System — E-Learning

Essays on E-learning

E-learning, its effects, advantages, disadvantages and why people use it, pros and cons of online training, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

How Important is Technology in Education? Benefits, Challenges, and Impact on Students

The research areas and benefits of e-learning, the benefits of online training in schooling, online education and its benefits: detailed analysis, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

The Role of Information Technology

10 minute school - one of the largest and best online education platforms, effectiveness of online teaching and online courses, the purpose, history and benefits of online education, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

How Does Online Courses Help in Getting Good Grades?

Online educational courses and their downside, review of the massive open online courses (moocs) and their benefits to educational system, interactive program to prepare for the actual visa interview., human resource management assessment: training and development in a selected company, massive open online courses and their impact on education, a digital revolution in education using tech tools and devices, the use of technology in online courses: interactive and effective, will distance learning ever replace on-campus , implementation of web-based education in china, online learning compared to traditional classroom learning, problems faced in the education sector, teacher-student relationships in online learning environments, the impact of educational technology on teaching and learning , the impact of mobile phone use in educational institutions, significant role of technology in education: e-learning, the evolution of education: embracing online learning for the future, educational technology as a failure to the school systems, e-learning: a game-changer in education, it's not for everyone: pros and cons of distance learning, relevant topics.

• High School
• Middle School
• Extracurricular Activities
• Homeschooling
• Online Vs. Traditional Classes
• Single Sex Schools
• Education System
• Education Inequality

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

We are currently undergoing maintenance on our E-Learning Heroes Community servers.

Please check our status page www.articulatestatus.com for more information and updates.

If you are looking for our Support Team and need assistance with a technical issue, please submit a support case .

• SHIFT Development
• SHIFT Deploy
• SHIFT Reporter
• SHIFT Ecosystem
• Custom eLearning Development
• Enhanced AI Services
• LMS Platforms
• Big Data & Analytics
• Infrastructure
• Pharmaceutical
• Our Customers
• Resource Library

SHIFT's eLearning Blog

Our blog provides the best practices, tips, and inspiration for corporate training, instructional design, eLearning and mLearning.

• Instructional & Graphic Design

The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing for eLearning

• eLearning (270)
• eLearning tips (116)
• corporate training (55)
• SHIFT news (38)
• Instructional & Graphic Design (36)
• eLearning design (34)
• instructional design (24)
• mobile learning (22)

Have you ever read something where it seems like the material was written by someone who simply wanted to show off how smart they are? When this happens, do you find yourself thinking how brilliant the author is? No, it’s far more likely that you get annoyed with the person who wrote the piece and possibly frustrated with yourself. This is NOT the way to write your courses.

As an eLearning designer, there will be times when you know the material far better than the average student, but the last thing you want to do is create a course that goes over students’ heads. You need to strive to be clear without talking down to your audience and engaging without being letting the entertainment value overshadow the information.

Additionally, there are certain things that you need to consider when designing for people who will be viewing your eLearning course on a computer screen or other device. People who are learning online have far more built-in distractions over people reading from a piece of paper, which makes online learners:

• Focus on tasks not an overall experience
• Read up to 25% slowerbecause there are distractions like links to click on
•  Read only about 20% of text on the average page
• Skim information instead of reading every single word

Because of these factors, your eLearning courses must be concise and organized into easily manageable parts. 

When writing for eLearning follow these do’s and don’ts and hopefully you'll obtain a greater impact:

Do: Divide Content into Easily Digestible Pieces

Breaking information up is known as “chunking” and it is best to do this by dividing content into topics to create a sequence that goes from simple to more in-depth concepts. By keeping subjects independent and adding a title to each, you are helping your students find info more quickly, which benefits their tendency to skim a page. 

Numbering your subheadings is also a good idea especially if you have a number in your title, such as ‘9 Ways to Improve Your Writing.’ Numbering is good even if you don’t have a number in the title, though. 

Read More: 4 Tips for Content Chunking in eLearning  

Do: Create Relevant Titles

While fun or clever titles can be eye-catching and memorable, it is even more important that a title provides structure to your course. Once again, because students skim, a title is a good way to help them find the info they need. Titles also help give a good first impression to students about what is coming up. 

Create titles by using “what, why how, or when” because these naturally trigger curiosity and lets them quickly know what will be answered in that section.

It is also a good idea to put relevant words close to the beginning of the title because students will see this first. Non-Example → Decide on Ways to Test for Reading Level Example  →  Reading Level: Deciding on How to Test

Do: Create Compound Titles 

The colon (:) is your best friend when creating titles because it allows you to push the most meaningful words to the left and makes good, descriptive titles possible without making them too wordy. They also draw attention to the second half of the title, which can sometimes get ignored. 

Example  →  Writing Styles: Concise vs. Creative

Don't: Use Filler Words in Titles 

Short words like it, the, a, and, some have their place in our language for sure, but they don’t provide extra information, so they are quickly skimmed over and ignored. This is why you should limit them to your titles and especially should never start a title with one.  Your writing will be far more concise and effective without them.

Quick notes on title writing:

• Headlines should be 4-7 words and summarize the screen.
• Bolding text makes it stand out and easier to find.

Non-example   →  The Colonization of America Example   →  American Colonization

Read more:   7 Techniques for Reducing Wordiness in Your eLearning Courses

Do: Start with an Introduction 

Unlike, for print writing, when you create online content you should put the most important info at the beginning.  Because of this, it is a good idea to create an introduction or overview paragraph at the beginning of each slide or section to help organize all upcoming information. 

Here're some tips: 

• Even if your subject matter is short, you can include a brief overview that highlights the main points in 14-20 words.
• Make the intro boldface or in a larger font size. According to Conversionxl.com when people encounter a story with a boldface introductory paragraph,   95 percent of them  viewed all or part of it.

Do: Use Clear and Concise Wording

Abstract language often refers to vague concepts and uses specialized lingo that takes a considerable time to get to the main point. Concrete langue gets to the point immediately, and this is what you should aim for.

When you do need to use special vocabulary, you should always give a definition the first time it is used. Acronyms and abbreviations should also be explained upon their first use. If you have several words like this that you are using, a glossary can be a good idea for quick reference. While you shouldn’t talk down to your students, you still should avoid overly complicated or long words that will slow down their reading and comprehension.

Don't: Write Long Sentences 

Going along with the concept of using concrete and easy to understand language, is the rule of not making your sentence structure overly complicated either. Long sentences force students to slow down and focus on wording versus learning. In general, any sentence that is over 55 words becomes difficult to follow and understand so aim to have your sentences around 20-30 words. You should still vary your sentences to keep the writing flowing and interesting but if you are in doubt over a sentence, it likely needs to be shortened and/or rewritten.

Further Reason to Keep Sentences Short: A study found that 79% of people reading online will merely scan or skim content looking for particular phrases or words. Only 16% read every word. Big blocks of text simply won’t cut it with these readers so make sure you have skimmable material.

Tips for writing concise sentences:

• Focus on your main idea and make sure it is prominent within a paragraph of 3-5 sentences.
• Break-up long paragraphs and sentences into shorter ones.
• Speak plainly with concrete words.

Don't: Use Compound Sentences 

But I like compound sentences you might be shouting! But you might have to butt out on this one because too many “ands” and “buts” in your sentences means you are likely making your sentences too long and hard to follow.

Whenever possible, write simple sentences that focus on a subject and verb. Compound sentences shouldn’t be taken out completely, but they should be limited to keep your writing flowing easily and make it scannable by online readers.

An abundance of commas and semicolons are also indicators that a sentence is too complicated. If you see this in your writing, consider rewriting to create a few shorter sentences.

Non-example   →  The course goals include identifying risk factors and triggers, which are found in a variety of personality types and subtypes. Example   →  The course goals include identifying risk factors and triggers. These are found in a variety of personality types and subtypes.

Don't: Write Sentences within Sentences

Sometimes we can set off information within a sentence with commas to give us good context, but this often creates a sentence that is far too long and complicated. Readers will often finish the sentence and be more confused by the explanatory text than if it was not there at all. Instead of using comas or parentheses to incorporate this info, consider writing it into a completely new sentence.

Always keep in mind that your course should be more like a conversation, not literature and you should write more as you are speaking. Description, clauses, and other phrases add some context, but they don’t always help get your point across.

Do: Highlight Main Points

When it doubt, bold it! If something like an idea, word or points are important the easiest and the best way to set them apart is to bold them. Only individual words or phrases should be bolded. Bolding entire sentences will defeat your point of trying to bring attention to certain ideas. Anticipatory phrases like “Remember…,” “It should be noted that…” can bring attention to certain concepts as well. Bullet points are also effective for highlighting.

Do: Use Connecting Words

Connecting words allow you to connect the idea from one sentence to another without actually keeping them as one sentence. They can even be used to connect or link paragraphs. 

• Use number/order words like “first,” “furthermore,” and “finally” to present a list or sequence. Just keep in mind that if you use a “first”, you must also tell what comes “Secondly” and “lastly.”
• Casual connectors like "therefore", "since", and “consequently”, are good at the beginning of a sentence or within a sentence.
• Quandary connectors help when you need to tell about a problem or solution to a problem. These include “however,” and “on the contrary.”

Overall, you need to keep it simple. That is probably the best, simplest thing I can advise. You need to be able to edit your work and consider if it is truly understandable to people who aren’t you. Taking a break from your work and then coming back to edit is a good way of getting perspective and tuning your editing eye. Cut what isn’t relevant or as the novelist, Elmore Leonard, said, “Try to leave out the parts that people skip.”

REFERENCES:

Franco, G. (2008). Cómo escribir para la web. Recuperado el 5 de abril del 2015 en: 

Asinsten, J. (s.f.). Producción de contenidos para Educación Virtual. Recuperado el 20 octubre del 2013 en: https://virtualeduca.org/documentos/manual_del_contenidista.pdf

Ghirardini, B. (2014). Metodologías de e-learning (2014). Recuperado el 10 de abril del 2015

Make Your Writing Clearer: 6 Tips for Rewording Sentences

Yael Escamilla

Topics: eLearning , Instructional & Graphic Design

Subscribe and Get The Latest News

Lists by topic.

• Industry Trends (17)
• mLearning (15)
• brain learning (6)
• eLearning Events (5)
• eLearning benefits (5)
• Project Management (4)
• adult learning (4)
• eLearning strategy (4)
• writing for eLearning (4)
• Artificial Intelligence (3)
• brandon hall awards (3)
• color psychology (3)
• creativity (3)
• eLearning infographics (3)
• eLearning trends (3)
• effective eLearning (3)
• online training (3)
• productivity (3)
• workplace learning trends (3)
• bite-sized learning (2)
• eLearning interactivity (2)
• eLearning storyboard (2)
• eLearning tools (2)
• elearning scenarios (2)
• freebies (2)
• infographics (2)
• microlearning (2)
• storytelling (2)
• visual design (2)
• Learning Games (1)
• beneficios eLearning (1)
• brain-based learning (1)
• client relationships (1)
• competency-based learning (1)
• compliance eLearning (1)
• design thinking (1)
• design trends (1)
• e-learning templates (1)
• eLearning 101 (1)
• eLearning ROI (1)
• eLearning articles (1)
• eLearning best practices (1)
• eLearning books (1)
• eLearning budget (1)
• eLearning courses (1)
• eLearning history (1)
• eLearning ideas (1)
• eLearning inspiration (1)
• eLearning marketing tips (1)
• eLearning mistakes (1)
• eLearning statistics (1)
• eLearning stock photos (1)
• eLearning terms (1)
• eLearning video (1)
• elearning challenges (1)
• elearning demo (1)
• elearning implementation (1)
• elearning leaders (1)
• elearning templates (1)
• engaging eLearning (1)
• free images for elearning (1)
• gamification (1)
• how we read online (1)
• interactive elearning (1)
• key success factor for eLearning (1)
• learning analytics (1)
• learning events (1)
• metrics (1)
• millennials (1)
• modern eLearning courses (1)
• motivation (1)
• online courses (1)
• online learning (1)
• procedure training (1)
• rapid prototyping (1)
• responsive elearning (1)
• successful elearning (1)
• training (1)
• usability (1)
• usability elearning (1)
• visual communication (1)
• writing tips (1)

Related Posts

6 creative ways to make your elearning courses more visual.

Are your eLearning courses not hitting the mark, leaving your team disengaged and disconnected? You're not alone in this challenge. Many L&D managers find themselves wrestling with lackluster training outcomes, and often, the missing piece is effective use of visuals. While visuals and graphic design are not a magic cure-all, they are a critical and often underutilized element in the success of training programs. Visual elements do more than just beautify content; they transform the learning experience by enhancing information processing and retention.

• Silvia Rojas
• 19 min read
• Sun, Aug 18, 2024 @ 09:19 AM

Life After the eLearning Course: 5 Things You Should Do After Launching

Launching your eLearning course marks a significant milestone, but it's not the final step in the journey.

• 14 min read
• Sun, Aug 11, 2024 @ 11:00 AM

How to Empower Your Team with AI for eLearning Success

As leaders in corporate learning and development, one of your biggest challenges is getting your team on board with using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in eLearning. It might seem odd—everyone's buzzing about AI, and some might even be experimenting with it quietly. Yet, in the workplace, despite AI’s potential to streamline tasks, many are hesitant to dive in. So, why the resistance? The reasons vary. According to a McKinsey Global Institute study, while 90% of executives see AI’s potential to boost their company’s performance, over 40% haven’t adopted this technology because they’re not sure how to implement it effectively.

• 20 min read
• Mon, Jul 29, 2024 @ 11:44 PM

We combine best-in class technology, strategy and future-proof business solutions to bring your content to life, faster!

Technologies

• Content Development
• Terms & Conditions

© Copyright 2023 Aura Interactiva

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Welcome to the Purdue Online Writing Lab

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The Online Writing Lab (the Purdue OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out-of-class instruction.

The On-Campus and Online versions of Purdue OWL assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue OWL serves the Purdue West Lafayette and Indianapolis campuses and coordinates with local literacy initiatives. The Purdue OWL offers global support through online reference materials and services.

Social Media

Facebook Twitter

• Choose language:
• Partnerships
• Why Easygenerator

Build a unified, collaborative e-learning environment across your global teams.

Streamline content creation for centralized and up-to-date training.

Address diverse learning needs with engaging and interactive e-learning.

Leverage your employees' expertise to swiftly fulfill training needs.

Transform the way you create e-learning courses with the power of AI.

Translate your courses to and from 75 languages in one easy click.

Transform text into high-quality audio for on-the-go learning.

Allow every learner to interact with your content with accessible features.

Invite an unlimited number of co-authors to collaborate with in real time or review your work.

Convert your PowerPoint presentations into interactive e-learning courses easily.

Share knowledge faster with built-in video recording and editing.

Download your courses to other platforms with SCORM 1.2 and 2004 and xAPI.

Discover insights from e-learning experts in our extensive resource library.

Browse our library of free templates to give your project a head start.

Explore EGL from A to Z with the official book, including a key chapter you can download.

Learn how other companies have benefited from Easygenerator.

All the answers to your questions about using Easygenerator.

Tips for writing an e-learning course with high learning impact

Good writing is essential to good learning. When writing for e-learning, it’s all about making sure your learners can spend less time interpreting content and more time retaining knowledge. To set you up for success, we’ve compiled seven tips on how to write for e-learning effectively.

Here are some basic e-learning writing tips you need to know:

Know your audience

Before you can answer the question of how to write an e-learning course, ask yourself who you’re writing for. What is their existing level of knowledge on the subject matter? Answering this question can help you write with a clear goal in mind and avoid irrelevant tangents.

Put key information at the top

No matter how engaging your course is, your reader’s attention will diminish over time. Attention spans online are simply shorter. That’s why it’s important to position the most necessary information at the start of your course. You can mention minor details last.

Create the perfect e-learning course

Our experts put together the ultimate checklist to help you create e-learning courses that are engaging, effective, and impactful.

Write in short simple sentences

Break complex ideas up into short sentences, and use words that almost anyone can understand. This makes it easier for learners to digest new information and keep up with your course. We recommend sticking to short sentences of 20 words maximum. Here’s a cheat sheet with the ideal writing parameters .

Create content that is easy for your target audience to find

Your learners need to be able to find your course in their Learning Management System (LMS). That’s why you should include relevant keywords in your content to make your course more searchable.

Consider what questions your learners likely have about the topic and then frame your content accordingly.

Discover more things about responsive e-learning.

Use the active voice

When writing for e-learning , you should primarily apply an active voice  — not a passive voice. In an active voice, the subject of the sentence performs its verb and not the other way around. This type of writing presents your points clearly and with confidence.

For example, consider the differences between the following sentences:

• Active: The site foreman performs the safety check.
• Passive: The safety check is performed by the site foreman.

The active sentence shines a light on the subject – the foreman – taking action. The passive sentence highlights the action – the safety check. This pushes the subject into the background.

Using an active voice will allow you to write about your subject matter more authoritatively. In return, your confidence will provide your learners with a reliable learning experience.

Use images and video if possible

I mages can illustrate complex ideas in a quick and engaging way. Similarly, videos combine visual and audio elements to deliver a multisensory learning experience. Including a mix of media can help your learner to engage with the e-learning content, but only if it is relevant. This e-book describes how to use video and images effectively.

Learn how to create e-learning courses in 5 simple steps .

Always have your course reviewed before you publish it

Even the best authors who already know how to write an e-learning course benefit from proofreading. We recommend having at least one other person look over your content. While you may have reviewed your material multiple times, it helps to have a fresh set of eyes look at your work objectively. Each reviewer offers a unique perspective to help catch errors you may have missed.

Want more useful tips for e-learning? Check out our blog post on e-learning best practices , and learn how to create the perfect course .

Ready to create your e-learning course?

Related articles

Kasper Spiro is the Co-founder and Chief Learning Strategist of Easygenerator and a recognized thought leader in the world of e-learning. With over 30 years of experience, he is a frequently asked keynote speaker and well-renowned blogger within the e-learning community.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base

The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples

An academic essay is a focused piece of writing that develops an idea or argument using evidence, analysis, and interpretation.

There are many types of essays you might write as a student. The content and length of an essay depends on your level, subject of study, and course requirements. However, most essays at university level are argumentative — they aim to persuade the reader of a particular position or perspective on a topic.

The essay writing process consists of three main stages:

• Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline.
• Writing : Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion.
• Revision:  Check your essay on the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Essay writing process, preparation for writing an essay, writing the introduction, writing the main body, writing the conclusion, essay checklist, lecture slides, frequently asked questions about writing an essay.

The writing process of preparation, writing, and revisions applies to every essay or paper, but the time and effort spent on each stage depends on the type of essay .

For example, if you’ve been assigned a five-paragraph expository essay for a high school class, you’ll probably spend the most time on the writing stage; for a college-level argumentative essay , on the other hand, you’ll need to spend more time researching your topic and developing an original argument before you start writing.

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

Before you start writing, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you’re going to say it. There are a few key steps you can follow to make sure you’re prepared:

• Understand your assignment: What is the goal of this essay? What is the length and deadline of the assignment? Is there anything you need to clarify with your teacher or professor?
• Define a topic: If you’re allowed to choose your own topic , try to pick something that you already know a bit about and that will hold your interest.
• Do your research: Read  primary and secondary sources and take notes to help you work out your position and angle on the topic. You’ll use these as evidence for your points.
• Come up with a thesis:  The thesis is the central point or argument that you want to make. A clear thesis is essential for a focused essay—you should keep referring back to it as you write.
• Create an outline: Map out the rough structure of your essay in an outline . This makes it easier to start writing and keeps you on track as you go.

Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you want to discuss, in what order, and what evidence you’ll use, you’re ready to start writing.

The introduction sets the tone for your essay. It should grab the reader’s interest and inform them of what to expect. The introduction generally comprises 10–20% of the text.

1. Hook your reader

The first sentence of the introduction should pique your reader’s interest and curiosity. This sentence is sometimes called the hook. It might be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or a bold statement emphasizing the relevance of the topic.

Let’s say we’re writing an essay about the development of Braille (the raised-dot reading and writing system used by visually impaired people). Our hook can make a strong statement about the topic:

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

2. Provide background on your topic

Next, it’s important to give context that will help your reader understand your argument. This might involve providing background information, giving an overview of important academic work or debates on the topic, and explaining difficult terms. Don’t provide too much detail in the introduction—you can elaborate in the body of your essay.

3. Present the thesis statement

Next, you should formulate your thesis statement— the central argument you’re going to make. The thesis statement provides focus and signals your position on the topic. It is usually one or two sentences long. The thesis statement for our essay on Braille could look like this:

As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness.

4. Map the structure

In longer essays, you can end the introduction by briefly describing what will be covered in each part of the essay. This guides the reader through your structure and gives a preview of how your argument will develop.

The invention of Braille marked a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by blind and visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

Write your essay introduction

The body of your essay is where you make arguments supporting your thesis, provide evidence, and develop your ideas. Its purpose is to present, interpret, and analyze the information and sources you have gathered to support your argument.

Length of the body text

The length of the body depends on the type of essay. On average, the body comprises 60–80% of your essay. For a high school essay, this could be just three paragraphs, but for a graduate school essay of 6,000 words, the body could take up 8–10 pages.

Paragraph structure

To give your essay a clear structure , it is important to organize it into paragraphs . Each paragraph should be centered around one main point or idea.

That idea is introduced in a  topic sentence . The topic sentence should generally lead on from the previous paragraph and introduce the point to be made in this paragraph. Transition words can be used to create clear connections between sentences.

After the topic sentence, present evidence such as data, examples, or quotes from relevant sources. Be sure to interpret and explain the evidence, and show how it helps develop your overall argument.

Lack of access to reading and writing put blind people at a serious disadvantage in nineteenth-century society. Text was one of the primary methods through which people engaged with culture, communicated with others, and accessed information; without a well-developed reading system that did not rely on sight, blind people were excluded from social participation (Weygand, 2009). While disabled people in general suffered from discrimination, blindness was widely viewed as the worst disability, and it was commonly believed that blind people were incapable of pursuing a profession or improving themselves through culture (Weygand, 2009). This demonstrates the importance of reading and writing to social status at the time: without access to text, it was considered impossible to fully participate in society. Blind people were excluded from the sighted world, but also entirely dependent on sighted people for information and education.

See the full essay example

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

The conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. It should generally take up no more than 10–15% of the text . A strong essay conclusion :

• Returns to your thesis
• Ties together your main points
• Shows why your argument matters

A great conclusion should finish with a memorable or impactful sentence that leaves the reader with a strong final impression.

What not to include in a conclusion

To make your essay’s conclusion as strong as possible, there are a few things you should avoid. The most common mistakes are:

• Including new arguments or evidence
• Undermining your arguments (e.g. “This is just one approach of many”)
• Using concluding phrases like “To sum up…” or “In conclusion…”

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

Write your essay conclusion

Checklist: Essay

My essay follows the requirements of the assignment (topic and length ).

My introduction sparks the reader’s interest and provides any necessary background information on the topic.

My introduction contains a thesis statement that states the focus and position of the essay.

I use paragraphs to structure the essay.

I use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph.

Each paragraph has a single focus and a clear connection to the thesis statement.

I make clear transitions between paragraphs and ideas.

My conclusion doesn’t just repeat my points, but draws connections between arguments.

I don’t introduce new arguments or evidence in the conclusion.

I have given an in-text citation for every quote or piece of information I got from another source.

I have included a reference page at the end of my essay, listing full details of all my sources.

My citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required citation style .

My essay has an interesting and informative title.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (e.g. font, page numbers, line spacing).

Your essay meets all the most important requirements. Our editors can give it a final check to help you submit with confidence.

Open Google Slides Download PowerPoint

An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

Is this article helpful?

Other students also liked.

• How long is an essay? Guidelines for different types of essay
• How to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples
• How to conclude an essay | Interactive example

More interesting articles

• Checklist for academic essays | Is your essay ready to submit?
• Comparing and contrasting in an essay | Tips & examples
• Example of a great essay | Explanations, tips & tricks
• Generate topic ideas for an essay or paper | Tips & techniques
• How to revise an essay in 3 simple steps
• How to structure an essay: Templates and tips
• How to write a descriptive essay | Example & tips
• How to write a literary analysis essay | A step-by-step guide
• How to write a narrative essay | Example & tips
• How to write a rhetorical analysis | Key concepts & examples
• How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples
• How to write an argumentative essay | Examples & tips
• How to write an essay outline | Guidelines & examples
• How to write an expository essay
• How to write the body of an essay | Drafting & redrafting
• Kinds of argumentative academic essays and their purposes
• Organizational tips for academic essays
• The four main types of essay | Quick guide with examples
• Transition sentences | Tips & examples for clear writing

What is your plagiarism score?

• LEARNING SKILLS
• Study Skills

Essay Writing

Search SkillsYouNeed:

Learning Skills:

• A - Z List of Learning Skills
• What is Learning?
• Learning Approaches
• Learning Styles
• 8 Types of Learning Styles
• Understanding Your Preferences to Aid Learning
• Lifelong Learning
• Decisions to Make Before Applying to University
• Top Tips for Surviving Student Life
• Living Online: Education and Learning
• 8 Ways to Embrace Technology-Based Learning Approaches
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Critical Thinking and Fake News
• Understanding and Addressing Conspiracy Theories
• Critical Analysis
• Top Tips for Study
• Staying Motivated When Studying
• Student Budgeting and Economic Skills
• Getting Organised for Study
• Finding Time to Study
• Sources of Information
• Assessing Internet Information
• Using Apps to Support Study
• What is Theory?
• Styles of Writing
• Effective Reading
• Critical Reading
• Note-Taking from Reading
• Note-Taking for Verbal Exchanges
• Planning an Essay
• How to Write an Essay
• The Do’s and Don’ts of Essay Writing
• How to Write a Report
• Academic Referencing
• Assignment Finishing Touches
• Reflecting on Marked Work
• 6 Skills You Learn in School That You Use in Real Life
• Top 10 Tips on How to Study While Working
• Exam Skills

Get the SkillsYouNeed Study Skills eBook

Part of the Skills You Need Guide for Students .

• Writing a Dissertation or Thesis
• Research Methods
• Teaching, Coaching, Mentoring and Counselling
• Employability Skills for Graduates

Subscribe to our FREE newsletter and start improving your life in just 5 minutes a day.

You'll get our 5 free 'One Minute Life Skills' and our weekly newsletter.

We'll never share your email address and you can unsubscribe at any time.

This page continues from our page: Planning an Essay , the essential first step to successful essay writing.

This page assumes that you have already planned your essay, you have taken time to understand the essay question, gathered information that you intend to use, and have produced a skeleton plan of you essay – taking into account your word limit.

This page is concerned with the actual writing of your essay, it provides some guidelines for good practice as well as some common mistakes you'll want to avoid.

Structuring Your Essay

An essay should be written in a flowing manner with each sentence following on logically from the previous one and with appropriate signposts to guide the reader.

An essay usually takes the following structured format:

• The introduction
• The main body: a development of the issues
• A conclusion
• A list of references of the sources of information you have used

The Introduction

The function of the introduction is simply to introduce the subject, to explain how you understand the question, and describe briefly how you intend to deal with it.

You could begin by defining essential terms, providing a brief historical or personal context if appropriate, and/or by explaining why you think the subject is significant or interesting.

Some people are far too ambitious in writing their introductions. Writing a lengthy introduction limits the number of words available for the main body of the assignment.

Keep the introduction short, preferably to one or two paragraphs and keep it, succinct, to the point.

Some students find it best to write a provisional introduction, when starting to write an essay, and then to rewrite this when they have finished the first draft of their essay. To write a provisional introduction, ask yourself what the reader needs to know in order to follow your subsequent discussion.

Other students write the introduction after they have written the main body of the essay – do whatever feels right for you and the piece of work you are writing.

The Main Body: A Development of the Issues

Essays are generally a blend of researched evidence (e.g. from additional reading) and comment.

Some students' essays amount to catalogues of factual material or summaries of other people's thoughts, attitudes, philosophies or viewpoints.

At the opposite extreme, other students express only personal opinions with little or no researched evidence or examples taken from other writers to support their views.  What is needed is a balance.

The balance between other researchers’ and writers’ analysis of the subject and your own comment will vary with the subject and the nature of the question.   Generally, it is important to back up the points you wish to make from your experience with the findings of other published researchers and writers.

You will have likely been given a reading list or some core text books to read. Use these as your research base but try to expand on what is said and read around the subject as fully as you can. Always keep a note of your sources as you go along.

You will be encouraged and expected to cite other authors or to quote or paraphrase from books that you have read. The most important requirement is that the material you cite or use should illustrate, or provide evidence of, the point you are making. How much evidence you use depends on the type of essay you are writing.

If you want a weight of evidence on some factual point, bring in two or three examples but no more.

Quotations should not be used as a substitute for your own words. A quote should always have an explanation in your own words to show its significance to your argument.

When you are citing another author's text you should always indicate exactly where the evidence comes from with a reference, i.e. give the author's name, date of publication and the page number in your work.  A full reference should also be provided in the reference list at the end.

See our page: Academic Referencing for more information.

A Conclusion

At the end of an essay you should include a short conclusion, the purpose of which is to sum up or draw a conclusion from your argument or comparison of viewpoints.

In other words, indicate what has been learned or accomplished. The conclusion is also a good place to mention questions that are left open or further issues which you recognise, but which do not come within the scope of your essay.

Neither the conclusion, nor the introduction, should totally summarise your whole argument: if you try this, you are in danger of writing another assignment that simply repeats the whole case over again.

You must include a reference list or bibliography at the end of your work.

One common downfall is to not reference adequately and be accused of plagiarism. If you have directly quoted any other author's text you should always indicate exactly where the evidence comes from in a reference. If you have read other documents in order to contrast your argument then these should also be referenced.

See our page: Academic Referencing for a more comprehensive look at the importance of referencing and how to reference properly.

Signposting or Guiding your Reader

When writing an essay it is good practice to consider your reader.

To guide the reader through your work you will need to inform them where you are starting from (in the introduction), where you are going (as the essay progresses), and where you have been (in the conclusion).

It is helpful to keep the reader informed as to the development of the argument. You can do this by using simple statements or questions that serve to introduce, summarise or link the different aspects of your subject.

Here are a few examples:

There are two reasons for this:  first,... second,...

Moreover, it should not be forgotten that...

With regard to the question of...

Another important factor to be considered is...

How can these facts be interpreted? The first point...

There are several views on this question. The first is...

Finally, it is important to consider...

Constructing Paragraphs

One important way of guiding the reader through your essay is by using paragraphs.

Paragraphs show when you have come to the end of one main point and the beginning of the next.  A paragraph is a group of sentences related to aspects of the same point.  Within each individual paragraph an idea is introduced and developed through the subsequent sentences within that paragraph.

Everyone finds it easier to read a text that is broken into short paragraphs.

Without paragraphs, and the spaces between them, the page will appear like an indigestible mass of words.

You should construct your essay as a sequence of distinct points set out in a rational order.

Each sentence and paragraph should follow logically from the one before and it is important that you do not force your reader to make the connections. Always make these connections clear signposting where the argument or discussion is going next.

Although the points you are making may seem obvious to you, can they be more clearly and simply stated?

It is also worth bearing in mind that the marker of your work may have a lot of other, similar pieces of work to mark and assess. Try to make yours easy to read and follow – make it stand out, for the right reasons!

Essay Style

There are two general misconceptions about essay style:

• One is that a good essay should be written in a formal, impersonal way with a good scattering of long words and long, complicated sentences.
• The other misconception is to write as we talk. Such a style is fine for personal letters or notes, but not in an essay. You can be personal, but a certain degree of formality and objectivity is expected in an academic essay.

The important requirement of style is clarity and precision of expression.

Where appropriate use simple and logical language and write in full or complete sentences.  You should avoid jargon, especially jargon that is not directly connected to your subject area. You can be personal by offering your own viewpoint on an issue, or by using that view to interpret other authors' work and conclusions.

Drafts and Rewriting

Most essays can be improved by a thorough edit.

You can cross out one word and substitute another, change the shape or emphasis of a sentence, remove inconsistencies of thought or terminology, remove repetitions and ensure there is adequate referencing.

In short, you are your first reader, edit and criticise your own work to make it better. Sometimes it is useful to read your essay out loud.

Another useful exercise is to ask someone else to read the essay through. A person proofreading the essay for the first time will have a different perspective from your own and will therefore be better placed to point out any incoherence, lack of structure, grammatical errors, etc.

Ideally find somebody to proofread who has a good grasp of spelling and grammar and at least a casual interest in your subject area.

One or two edits should be sufficient. It is best not to become involved in an unproductive multiplicity of drafts. The remedy is to analyse the question again and write another, simple, plan based on how to organise the material you are not happy with in the draft of your essay. Rewrite the essay according to that revised plan and resist the tendency to panic in the middle, tear it up and start all over again. It is important to get to the end and then revise again. Otherwise you will have a perfect opening couple of paragraphs and potentially the rest of the essay in disarray.

You will learn and improve much more through criticising and correcting your work than by simply starting again.

Don't Panic!

A few students can get so anxious about an assignment that they find themselves unable to write anything at all.

There are several reasons why this can happen. The primary reason is usually that such students set themselves too high a standard and then panic because they cannot attain it. This may also be due to factors such as the fear of the expectations of others or placing too high an expectation on themselves.

Whatever the reason, if you cannot write an assignment, you have to find a way out of your panic.  If you find yourself in this position, do not allow the situation to drift; try to act swiftly.  Discussing your worries with your tutor and/or peers, or simply writing them down, will help you clarify why you might feel stuck.

Another trick is to dash off what you consider to be a 'bad' essay, hand it in and see what happens, or decide to write the assignment in two hours without notes or references and see how that goes. You can always come back to enter the references later.

Students often say that their hurried and most casual essay got a higher mark than one which they struggled with for weeks; in fact this happened because they got down to essentials and made their points quickly.  The experiment might be worth a try.

If, despite study and good intentions, you cannot seem to get your essay written, or even started, you should let your tutor know as soon as possible.

Your tutor will have encountered such problems many times, and it is part of his/her job to help you sort them out.

Continue to: Assignment Finishing Touches Academic Referencing

See also: The Do’s and Don’ts of Essay Writing Effective Reading Note-Taking for Reading

e learning with e wayne

E wayne ross, university of british columbia, essay writing.

Overview of the Academic Essay Kathy Duffin, for the Writing Center at Harvard University

A clear sense of argument is essential to all forms of academic writing, for writing is thought made visible. Insights and ideas that occur to us when we encounter the raw material of the world—natural phenomena like the behavior of genes, or cultural phenomena, like texts, photographs and artifacts—must be ordered in some way so others can receive them and respond in turn. This give and take is at the heart of the scholarly enterprise, and makes possible that vast conversation known as civilization. Like all human ventures, the conventions of the academic essay are both logical and playful. They may vary in expression from discipline to discipline, but any good essay should show us a mind developing a thesis, supporting that thesis with evidence, deftly anticipating objections or counter-arguments, and maintaining the momentum of discovery.

Motive and Idea An essay has to have a purpose or motive; the mere existence of an assignment or deadline is not sufficient. When you write an essay or research paper, you are never simply transferring information from one place to another, or showing that you have mastered a certain amount of material. That would be incredibly boring—and besides, it would be adding to the glut of pointless utterance. Instead, you should be trying to make the best possible case for an original idea you have arrived at after a period of research. Depending upon the field, your research may involve reading and rereading a text, performing an experiment, or carefully observing an object or behavior.

By immersing yourself in the material, you begin to discover patterns and generate insights, guided by a series of unfolding questions. From a number of possibilities, one idea emerges as the most promising. You try to make sure it is original and of some importance; there is no point arguing for something already known, trivial, or widely accepted.

Thesis and Development The essay’s thesis is the main point you are trying to make, using the best evidence you can marshal. Your thesis will evolve during the course of writing drafts, but everything that happens in your essay is directed toward establishing its validity. A given assignment may not tell you that you need to come up with a thesis and defend it, but these are the unspoken requirements of any scholarly paper.

Deciding upon a thesis can generate considerable anxiety. Students may think, “How can I have a new idea about a subject scholars have spent their whole lives exploring? I just read a few books in the last few days, and now I’m supposed to be an expert?” But you can be original on different scales. We can’t possibly know everything that has been, or is being, thought or written by everyone in the world—even given the vastness and speed of the Internet. What is required is a rigorous, good faith effort to establish originality, given the demands of the assignment and the discipline. It is a good exercise throughout the writing process to stop periodically and reformulate your thesis as succinctly as possible so someone in another field could understand its meaning as well as its importance. A thesis can be relatively complex, but you should be able to distill its essence. This does not mean you have to give the game away right from the start. Guided by a clear understanding of the point you wish to argue, you can spark your reader’s curiosity by first asking questions—the very questions that may have guided you in your research—and carefully building a case for the validity of your idea. Or you can start with a provocative observation, inviting your audience to follow your own path of discovery.

The Tension of Argument Argument implies tension but not combative fireworks. This tension comes from the fundamental asymmetry between the one who wishes to persuade and those who must be persuaded. The common ground they share is reason. Your objective is to make a case so that any reasonable person would be convinced of the reasonableness of your thesis. The first task, even before you start to write, is gathering and ordering evidence, classifying it by kind and strength. You might decide to move from the smallest piece of evidence to the most impressive. Or you might start with the most convincing, then mention other supporting details afterward. You could hold back a surprising piece of evidence until the very end.

In any case, it is important to review evidence that could be used against your idea and generate responses to anticipated objections. This is the crucial concept of counter-argument. If nothing can be said against an idea, it is probably obvious or vacuous. (And if too much can be said against it, it’s time for another thesis.) By not indicating an awareness of possible objections, you might seem to be hiding something, and your argument will be weaker as a consequence. You should also become familiar with the various fallacies that can undermine an argument—the “straw man” fallacy, fallacies of causation and of analogy, etc.—and strive to avoid them.

The Structure of Argument The heart of the academic essay is persuasion, and the structure of your argument plays a vital role in this. To persuade, you must set the stage, provide a context, and decide how to reveal your evidence. Of course, if you are addressing a community of specialists, some aspects of a shared context can be taken for granted. But clarity is always a virtue. The essay’s objective should be described swiftly, by posing a question that will lead to your thesis, or making a thesis statement. There is considerable flexibility about when and where this happens, but within the first page or two, we should know where we are going, even if some welcome suspense is preserved. In the body of the paper, merely listing evidence without any discernible logic of presentation is a common mistake. What might suffice in conversation is too informal for an essay. If the point being made is lost in a welter of specifics, the argument falters.

The most common argumentative structure in English prose is deductive: starting off with a generalization or assertion, and then providing support for it. This pattern can be used to order a paragraph as well as an entire essay. Another possible structure is inductive: facts, instances or observations can be reviewed, and the conclusion to be drawn from them follows. There is no blueprint for a successful essay; the best ones show us a focused mind making sense of some manageable aspect of the world, a mind where insightfulness, reason, and clarity are joined.

Copyright 1998, Kathy Duffin, for the Writing Center at Harvard University Retrieved from: http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/documents/Overvu.html

Spam prevention powered by Akismet