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How To Use “Essayed” In A Sentence: Usage and Examples

Have you ever come across the word “essayed” and wondered how to use it in a sentence? Well, you’re in the right place! In this article, we will explore the proper way to incorporate “essayed” into your writing, providing you with the knowledge and confidence to wield this word effectively. So, let’s dive in and uncover the secrets of using “essayed” in a sentence!

So, what is the proper way to use “essayed” in a sentence? The word “essayed” is the past tense of the verb “essay,” which means to attempt or try. When using “essayed,” it is essential to remember that it conveys the act of making an effort or endeavoring to do something. This word is commonly used to describe the act of writing or composing an essay, but it can also be employed in a broader sense. By using “essayed” in a sentence, you can highlight an individual’s or a group’s attempt to accomplish a particular task or achieve a goal.

Now that we have a basic understanding of how to use “essayed” in a sentence, let’s explore some examples and scenarios where this word can be effectively employed.

Definition Of Essayed

When it comes to the English language, words have the power to shape our thoughts and convey complex ideas. One such word that holds a unique place in the realm of expression is “essayed.” Derived from the Old French word “essayer,” meaning “to try” or “to attempt,” essayed has a multifaceted definition that extends beyond its common usage in academic writing.

Basic Definition Of “Essayed”

At its core, essayed is a verb that signifies the act of making an effort or attempting something. It encapsulates the notion of putting one’s thoughts, ideas, or skills into action, often with the aim of achieving a specific outcome. In essence, to essay is to embark on a deliberate endeavor, whether it be through writing, speaking, or even engaging in a practical task.

Historical Evolution

The origins of the word “essayed” can be traced back to the 14th century in medieval France. It emerged from the Old French verb “essayer,” which meant “to attempt” or “to test.” During this period, the term was primarily associated with the act of trying out or testing something, such as a new recipe or a weapon. Over time, as the English language evolved, essayed took on a broader meaning, encompassing not only physical trials but also intellectual and creative endeavors.

Different Meanings In Different Contexts

While the fundamental definition of essayed remains consistent, its nuances can vary depending on the context in which it is used. Let’s explore a few different scenarios where the word takes on distinct meanings:

• In Academic Writing: In the realm of academia, essayed often refers to the process of crafting a well-structured and thoughtful essay. It involves conducting thorough research, formulating a clear thesis statement, and presenting a cohesive argument supported by evidence and analysis. In this context, essayed embodies the art of presenting ideas in a logical and persuasive manner.
• In Literary Circles: Within the realm of literature, essayed can describe the act of attempting to convey complex emotions, experiences, or ideas through the written word. Writers often essay their thoughts and observations, employing vivid imagery, rhetorical devices, and narrative techniques to captivate readers and provoke intellectual or emotional responses.
• In Everyday Conversations: In everyday conversations, essayed can be used more casually to describe any deliberate effort or attempt, regardless of its formality or complexity. Whether it’s trying out a new recipe, attempting a challenging yoga pose, or even endeavoring to solve a difficult puzzle, essayed encapsulates the spirit of taking action and embracing the possibility of success or failure.

Ultimately, essayed is a versatile word that transcends its historical roots and finds relevance in various aspects of our lives. It reminds us of the power of initiative, the value of expressing our thoughts, and the importance of embracing the journey, be it in academia, literature, or our everyday pursuits.

How To Properly Use Essayed In A Sentence

When it comes to using the word “essayed” in a sentence, it is important to understand the grammatical rules that govern its usage. “Essayed” is the past tense form of the verb “essay,” which means to attempt or try. In its simplest form, “essayed” is used to describe the act of writing or composing an essay.

However, it is worth noting that “essayed” can also be used in other parts of speech, depending on the context in which it is used. Let’s explore some of the different ways “essayed” can be used:

As a verb, “essayed” is most commonly used to describe the act of attempting or trying something. It signifies a deliberate effort to accomplish a task or express an idea. For example:

• She essayed to climb the treacherous mountain peak.
• The author essayed to capture the essence of human emotions in her novel.

In these sentences, “essayed” is used to convey the notion of making an attempt or putting forth an effort.

While less common, “essayed” can also function as a noun. In this case, it refers to a written composition or an attempt at expressing thoughts or ideas in written form. Here are a couple of examples:

• Her latest essayed was praised for its insightful analysis.
• He submitted his essayed to the literary magazine for publication.

In these instances, “essayed” is used to represent a written work or a piece of writing that conveys thoughts or ideas.

It is important to note that the usage of “essayed” as a noun is less common compared to its usage as a verb. However, in certain contexts, it can be a suitable choice to convey the intended meaning.

In conclusion, “essayed” is a versatile word that can be used as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it describes the act of attempting or trying, while as a noun, it refers to a written composition or an attempt at expressing thoughts or ideas in written form. By understanding the grammatical rules surrounding “essayed,” you can effectively incorporate this word into your sentences with confidence.

Examples Of Using Essayed In A Sentence

When it comes to incorporating the word “essayed” into your writing, it’s essential to understand its various contexts and nuances. By using a mix of simple and complex sentences, we can explore the versatility of this word. Here are some examples that demonstrate the different ways “essayed” can be used:

1. In The Context Of Attempting Or Trying:

• She essayed to climb the treacherous mountain, defying all odds.
• The young artist essayed a unique painting technique, pushing the boundaries of traditional art.
• Despite his fear, he essayed a daring escape from the burning building.

2. In The Context Of Writing Or Composing:

• The renowned author essayed a captivating novel that delves into the complexities of human nature.
• She essayed a thought-provoking poem, evoking a range of emotions in her readers.
• The journalist essayed an insightful article, shedding light on the pressing issues of our society.

3. In The Context Of Testing Or Examining:

• The scientist essayed various hypotheses to unravel the mysteries of the universe.
• He essayed a comprehensive study to determine the effects of climate change on marine life.
• The detective essayed different investigative techniques to solve the perplexing crime.

4. In The Context Of Imitating Or Mimicking:

• The talented actor essayed the role of a historical figure with remarkable precision.
• She essayed the famous singer’s vocal style, capturing the essence of her performance.
• The comedian essayed the mannerisms of various celebrities, leaving the audience in stitches.

5. In The Context Of Attempting An Experiment Or Scientific Process:

• The chemist essayed a series of reactions to synthesize a new compound.
• They essayed a groundbreaking medical procedure to treat a rare disease.
• Scientists essayed the exploration of uncharted territories, uncovering new species.

These examples showcase the versatility of the word “essayed” and its ability to adapt to different situations. Whether it’s about attempting, writing, testing, imitating, or experimenting, this word adds depth and sophistication to your sentences.

Edge Cases Or Things To Consider

When it comes to using the word “essayed” in a sentence, there are a few edge cases and considerations worth exploring. Understanding these nuances can help ensure that you use the term accurately and appropriately. Here are some common mistakes people make when using “essayed” and a look at the cultural or regional differences that may affect its usage.

Common Mistakes People Make When Using Essayed

While “essayed” may seem like a straightforward word, there are a few common mistakes that people often make when incorporating it into their sentences. By being aware of these errors, you can avoid them and communicate more effectively.

• Incorrect Verb Form: One common mistake is using the incorrect form of the verb “essay.” It is important to remember that “essayed” is the past tense and past participle form of the verb. Using it in any other form, such as “essaying” or “essays,” would be grammatically incorrect.
• Confusion with “Essay”: Another mistake that people make is confusing “essayed” with the noun “essay.” While both words are derived from the same root, they have distinct meanings. “Essayed” refers to the act of attempting or trying something, while “essay” refers to a piece of writing on a particular subject. It is crucial to use the correct word depending on the intended meaning.
• Improper Context: Using “essayed” in an inappropriate context is another common error. It is essential to ensure that the sentence structure and overall meaning align with the intended use of the word. Using “essayed” when it doesn’t fit the context can confuse readers and undermine the clarity of your writing.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can enhance the precision and effectiveness of your sentences when incorporating the word “essayed.”

Cultural Or Regional Differences

While the English language is widely spoken and understood globally, there are cultural or regional differences that can influence the usage of certain words, including “essayed.” It is important to consider these differences to ensure that your message is clear and well-received across various audiences.

One aspect to consider is the level of familiarity with the term “essayed” in different regions. While it may be commonly used and understood in academic or literary circles, it might be less familiar to individuals in other industries or regions where English may be a second language. In such cases, it may be helpful to provide additional context or choose alternative words to convey your intended meaning.

Furthermore, cultural nuances can also impact the usage of “essayed.” Different cultures may have varying perspectives on the importance of essay writing or the value placed on the act of attempting or trying something. These cultural differences can influence how the word is interpreted and used in different contexts.

As a writer, it is crucial to be mindful of these cultural and regional differences when incorporating “essayed” into your sentences. Adapting your language to suit the target audience can enhance the impact and understanding of your message.

Synonyms Or Alternates To Use

When it comes to expressing the act of essaying in a sentence, there are several synonyms or alternate words that can be employed to convey a similar meaning. Each of these words carries its own nuances, offering writers a variety of options to choose from based on the specific context and desired tone. Let’s explore four such alternatives:

1. Attempted

One synonym for essayed is “attempted.” While both words imply the act of trying or endeavoring, “attempted” often suggests a sense of effort or intention without guaranteeing success. This word is particularly useful when describing a situation where someone made an effort to write an essay but may not have completed it or achieved the desired outcome.

2. Endeavored

Similar to “attempted,” “endeavored” conveys the idea of making a sincere effort. However, this word tends to emphasize a more determined and purposeful approach. It implies a strong commitment to the task at hand and suggests a willingness to overcome challenges. “Endeavored” is a suitable alternative when highlighting the writer’s dedication and perseverance in crafting an essay.

“Assayed” is another synonym that can be used interchangeably with essayed. This word carries a slightly more formal and literary tone, often associated with the act of attempting or trying something, particularly in a scholarly or artistic context. “Assayed” can be an excellent choice when aiming to convey a sense of intellectual exploration or experimental writing.

4. Ventured

Lastly, “ventured” can be used as an alternate word for essayed. This term suggests a bold and daring approach to writing, emphasizing the writer’s willingness to take risks and explore new ideas. “Ventured” conveys a sense of adventure and a departure from the conventional, making it suitable for instances where the essayist seeks to push boundaries or challenge established norms.

Each of these synonyms provides a distinct shade of meaning, allowing writers to convey the act of essaying with subtle variations. The choice among these alternatives depends on the specific context and the writer’s intended emphasis on factors such as effort, determination, formality, or exploration.

Related Phrases Or Idioms

When it comes to incorporating the word “essayed” into phrases or idioms, there are a few interesting options that can add depth and nuance to your language. These expressions not only showcase your command of the English language but also provide a unique way to convey your thoughts and ideas. Let’s explore some of these related phrases and idioms:

1. Leave No Stone Unturned:

This phrase, often used to emphasize thoroughness or determination, can be enhanced by incorporating the word “essayed.” When someone says they will “leave no stone unturned,” they mean they will make every effort to explore all possibilities and exhaust all available options. Here’s an example sentence:

“In his quest for knowledge, the dedicated scholar essayed to leave no stone unturned, meticulously researching every available source.”

2. The Proof Of The Pudding Is In The Eating:

This idiom, dating back to the 14th century, suggests that the true value or quality of something can only be determined by experiencing or testing it firsthand. By adding the word “essayed” to this idiom, you can convey the idea of actively attempting or trying something to truly understand its worth. Consider the following example sentence:

“While the theory seemed promising, it was only when she essayed its application in real-life scenarios that the proof of the pudding became evident.”

3. Put To The Test:

This phrase implies subjecting something to examination or evaluation, often to determine its effectiveness or validity. By incorporating “essayed” into this phrase, you can emphasize the act of actively trying or experimenting with something. Here’s an example sentence:

“The new software was put to the test when the team essayed its implementation across various departments, meticulously assessing its impact on productivity.”

4. Give It A Shot:

This informal expression encourages someone to attempt or try something, often with an element of uncertainty or risk involved. By using “essayed” in conjunction with this phrase, you can highlight the act of making a deliberate effort to achieve a desired outcome. Consider the following example sentence:

“Although he had never played the guitar before, he decided to give it a shot and essayed to learn the instrument, surprising everyone with his natural talent.”

5. Take A Stab At:

This idiomatic expression suggests making an attempt or trying something, especially when faced with a challenging or unfamiliar task. By incorporating “essayed” into this phrase, you can convey the notion of actively engaging in the endeavor. Here’s an example sentence:

“Despite having no prior experience in public speaking, she took a stab at it and essayed to deliver a captivating speech that left the audience in awe.”

These related phrases and idioms provide creative ways to incorporate the word “essayed” into your language, allowing you to express yourself with precision and finesse. By utilizing these expressions, you can add depth and sophistication to your communication while showcasing your mastery of the English language.

In conclusion, mastering the correct usage of the word “essayed” is of utmost importance for individuals looking to enhance their writing skills and expand their vocabulary. By understanding the nuances and appropriate contexts in which to use this word, writers can effectively convey their thoughts and ideas with precision and clarity.

Using “essayed” correctly allows writers to showcase their ability to explore and analyze various topics in a comprehensive manner. It demonstrates their commitment to crafting well-structured and thought-provoking sentences, which ultimately elevates the quality of their writing.

Furthermore, incorporating “essayed” into one’s vocabulary can help writers avoid repetition and monotony in their sentences. It provides them with a versatile tool to express their thoughts and opinions in a more engaging and sophisticated manner.

The Importance Of Practice

While understanding the importance of using “essayed” correctly is essential, it is equally crucial for readers to actively practice incorporating this word into their own sentences. Practice not only reinforces the correct usage but also helps individuals become more comfortable and confident in their writing abilities.

Here are a few suggestions to encourage readers to practice using “essayed” in their own sentences:

• Write daily: Set aside a specific time each day to write. It could be a journal entry, a short story, or even a blog post. By consistently engaging in writing exercises, readers can actively incorporate “essayed” into their sentences and gradually improve their usage.
• Join writing communities: Online writing communities or local writing groups provide a supportive environment for individuals to share their work, receive feedback, and interact with fellow writers. Engaging in discussions and receiving constructive criticism can help readers refine their skills and gain new insights into using “essayed” effectively.
• Read extensively: Reading a wide range of literature exposes readers to different writing styles and techniques. Paying attention to how established authors use “essayed” in their sentences can serve as a valuable learning experience and inspire readers to experiment with this word in their own writing.
• Challenge yourself: Set writing challenges or prompts that specifically require the use of “essayed.” This could be incorporating the word into a dialogue, crafting a descriptive paragraph, or even writing a persuasive essay. By intentionally focusing on using “essayed,” readers can push their boundaries and enhance their mastery of this word.

Remember, practice is key to improving any skill, and using “essayed” correctly is no exception. By actively incorporating this word into their writing, readers can refine their language skills and develop a unique writing style that captivates their audience.

Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.

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What does essayed mean?

Definitions for essayed es·sayed, this dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word essayed ., did you actually mean essayist or estate , chatgpt rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes.

Essayed is the past tense form of the verb "essay," which means to attempt, try, or undertake a task or activity, typically requiring some thought, effort, or skill. It refers to the act of writing or composing an essay, which is a short piece of non-fictional writing that presents a focused argument or analysis on a particular topic.

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How to pronounce essayed.

Alex US English David US English Mark US English Daniel British Libby British Mia British Karen Australian Hayley Australian Natasha Australian Veena Indian Priya Indian Neerja Indian Zira US English Oliver British Wendy British Fred US English Tessa South African

How to say essayed in sign language?

Chaldean Numerology

The numerical value of essayed in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

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The numerical value of essayed in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

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• essayed German
• ensayado Spanish
• megkísérelte Hungarian
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Meaning of essay in English

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• I want to finish off this essay before I go to bed .
• His essay was full of spelling errors .
• Have you given that essay in yet ?
• Have you handed in your history essay yet ?
• I'd like to discuss the first point in your essay.
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• go for it idiom
• go for someone
• shoot for the moon idiom
• shoot the works idiom
• smarten (someone/something) up
• smarten up your act idiom
• square the circle idiom

essay | Intermediate English

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self-starter

a person who is able to work effectively without regularly needing to be told what to do

Fakes and forgeries (Things that are not what they seem to be)

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Essayed Definition

Simple past tense and past participle of essay.

Essayed Sentence Examples

Of those who essayed to cross the waterless Haud more than one lost his life.

Menant have done useful work in distinguishing word-groups, and have essayed partial interpretations.

In 1645 he essayed a reformation of the calendar, but his plan was not adopted.

In a third tragedy, Love's Sacrifice (acted c. 1630; printed in 1633), he again worked on similar materials; but this time he unfortunately essayed to base the interest of his plot upon an unendurably unnatural possibility - doing homage to virtue after a fashion which is in itself an insult.

In the meantime, Sir Redvers Buller, who had been reinforced by Sir Charles Warren and the 5th division, essayed a second attempt to cross the Tugela, by turning the Boer left.

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verb as in try, attempt

Strong matches

Weak matches

• have a crack
• have a shot
• make a run at
• put to the test
• take a stab at
• take a whack at

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Example sentences.

But nothing they essayed could fully drown out the keening of their lust to return to high office.

Lily Pendleton was known to have once essayed an erotic novel, and had read a few chapters to some of her closer friends.

Every time the Confederates essayed to charge they were met with such a storm of shot and shell that they went reeling back.

The bishop emitted lamentable cries and essayed to resist the men who were dragging him into the donjon.

She essayed to sew, and stitched up a seam wrong side out, and ran the point of the needle under her finger nail.

The rock here being of various degrees of density, the waters had essayed a thousand channels.

On this page you'll find 32 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to essayed, such as: assay, undertake, offer, work, labor, and aim.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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How to Write a College Essay Fast | Tips & Examples

Published on November 5, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on December 8, 2023.

Table of contents

Organize: set yourself deadlines with breaks, brainstorm: your values and related stories, outline: choose a montage or narrative essay structure, write: be specific, personal, and unique, revise: content, clarity, and grammar, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Whether you have hours, days, or weeks, set deadlines for yourself with built-in breaks. In general, you should divide your time accordingly:

• 10% brainstorming
• 10% outlining
• 40% writing
• 30% revising
• 10% taking breaks between stages

If you have a few hours …

If you have a few days …

If you have a week …

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To brainstorm your topic fast, start by doing the following exercises.

Choose the stories that have the most compelling value or narrative. Make sure these stories are:

• Meaningful to you
• Specific (not a broad summary of your life)
• Unique to you (another student couldn’t replicate it)

If you have a single story that showcases how you overcame a challenge or chronicles your personal growth over time, you should use a narrative structure . This type of essay tells a story, usually in chronological order. If you have very limited time, this structure is easier.

If there’s a common theme among several of your stories, you could use a montage structure , which strings together several stories (for example, to showcase different aspects of your identity). If you have more than a few hours to work on your essay, you may want to try out this structure.

To make your essay stand out , write your story in a way that no other student can replicate. As you write, keep these tips in mind:

• Zoom in on specific moments rather than summarizing a long period of time.
• Be vulnerable and share your honest feelings and thoughts.
• Use your authentic voice and an appropriate tone .
• Keep the focus on you, not another person.
• Describe sensory details to create vivid scenes.

Make sure to build in enough time to revise your essay . Ideally, you should aim for three rounds of revision to check for content, clarity, and grammar.

If you don’t have time to fix everything, focus on making sure your writing is clear and grammatically correct. You can do this with the help of a grammar checker and paraphrasing tool . If you want to check your entire document at once, you can use an essay checker .

In your first reading, focus on content:

• Does it answer the prompt?
• Does it focus on me, not someone else?
• Does it have a clear and well-structured narrative?
• Do my stories “show, not tell”?

In your second reading, focus on clarity and flow:

• Is my essay easy to read?
• Are my word choice and tone conversational but respectful?
• Do I have a good mixture of complex and simple sentence structures?

In your third reading, focus on grammar and punctuation:

• Is my writing grammatically correct?
• If I bend language rules, is it clear that it’s intentional and not a mistake?

If you have time, get help from an essay coach or editor; they’ll have specialized knowledge of college admissions essays and be able to give objective expert feedback. Scribbr essay editors can help you revise your essay in 12 hours or less.

Meeting the word count

If your college essay goes over the word count limit , cut any sentences with tangents or irrelevant details. Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay. Scribbr’s essay editors can also help reduce your word count by up to 25%.

If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

• Personal pronouns
• Conjunctions

If you’ve got to write your college essay fast , don’t panic. First, set yourself deadlines: you should spend about 10% of your remaining time on brainstorming, 10% on outlining, 40% writing, 30% revising, and 10% taking breaks in between stages.

Second, brainstorm stories and values based on your essay prompt.

Third, outline your essay based on the montage or narrative essay structure .

Fourth, write specific, personal, and unique stories that would be hard for other students to replicate.

Fifth, revise your essay and make sure it’s clearly written.

Last, if possible, get feedback from an essay coach . Scribbr essay editors can help you revise your essay in 12 hours or less.

If your college essay goes over the word count limit , cut any sentences with tangents or irrelevant details. Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay.

When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding your message and content. Then, check for flow, tone, style , and clarity. Finally, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors .

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Courault, K. (2023, December 08). How to Write a College Essay Fast | Tips & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved June 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/college-essay/write-essay-fast/

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How to Start a College Essay to Hook Your Reader

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What is the purpose of the college essay introduction, tips for getting started on your essay, 6 effective techniques for starting your college essay.

• Cliche College Essay Introduction to Avoid

Where to Get Your Essay Edited for Free

Have you sat down to write your essay and just hit a wall of writer’s block? Do you have too many ideas running around your head, or maybe no ideas at all?

Starting a college essay is potentially the hardest part of the application process. Once you start, it’s easy to keep writing, but that initial hurdle is just so difficult to overcome. We’ve put together a list of tips to help you jump that wall and make your essay the best it can be.

The introduction to a college essay should immediately hook the reader. You want to give admissions officers a reason to stay interested in your story and encourage them to continue reading your essay with an open mind. Remember that admissions officers are only able to spend a couple minutes per essay, so if you bore them or turn them off from the start, they may clock out for the rest of the essay.

As a whole, the college essay should aim to portray a part of your personality that hasn’t been covered by your GPA, extracurriculars, and test scores. This makes the introduction a crucial part of the essay. Think of it as the first glimpse, an intriguing lead on, into the read rest of your essay which also showcases your voice and personality. 

Brainstorm Topics

Take the time to sit down and brainstorm some good topic ideas for your essay. You want your topic to be meaningful to you, while also displaying a part of you that isn’t apparent in other aspects of your application. The essay is an opportunity to show admissions officers the “real you.” If you have a topic in mind, do not feel pressured to start with the introduction. Sometimes the best essay openings are developed last, once you fully grasp the flow of your story.

Do a Freewrite

Give yourself permission to write without judgment for an allotted period of time. For each topic you generated in your brainstorm session, do a free-write session. Set a time for one minute and write down whatever comes to mind for that specific topic. This will help get the juices flowing and push you over that initial bit of writer’s block that’s so common when it comes time to write a college essay. Repeat this exercise if you’re feeling stuck at any point during the essay writing process. Freewriting is a great way to warm up your creative writing brain whilst seeing which topics are flowing more naturally onto the page.

Create an Outline

Once you’ve chosen your topic, write an outline for your whole essay. It’s easier to organize all your thoughts, write the body, and then go back to write the introduction. That way, you already know the direction you want your essay to go because you’ve actually written it out, and you can ensure that your introduction leads directly into the rest of the essay. Admissions officers are looking for the quality of your writing alongside the content of your essay. To be prepared for college-level writing, students should understand how to logically structure an essay. By creating an outline, you are setting yourself up to be judged favorably on the quality of your writing skills.

1. The Scriptwriter

“No! Make it stop! Get me out!” My 5-year-old self waved my arms frantically in front of my face in the darkened movie theater.

Starting your essay with dialogue instantly transports the reader into the story, while also introducing your personal voice. In the rest of the essay, the author proposes a class that introduces people to insects as a type of food. Typically, one would begin directly with the course proposal. However, the author’s inclusion of this flashback weaves in a personal narrative, further displaying her true self.

Read the full essay.

2. The Shocker

A chaotic sense of sickness and filth unfolds in an overcrowded border station in McAllen, Texas. Through soundproof windows, migrants motion that they have not showered in weeks, and children wear clothes caked in mucus and tears. The humanitarian crisis at the southern border exists not only in photographs published by mainstream media, but miles from my home in South Texas.

This essay opener is also a good example of “The Vivid Imaginer.” In this case, the detailed imagery only serves to heighten the shock factor. While people may be aware of the “humanitarian crisis at the southern border,” reading about it in such stark terms is bound to capture the reader’s attention. Through this hook, the reader learns a bit about the author’s home life; an aspect of the student that may not be detailed elsewhere in their application. The rest of the essay goes on to talk about the author’s passion for aiding refugees, and this initial paragraph immediately establishes the author’s personal connection to the refugee crisis.

3. The Vivid Imaginer

The air is crisp and cool, nipping at my ears as I walk under a curtain of darkness that drapes over the sky, starless. It is a Friday night in downtown Corpus Christi, a rare moment of peace in my home city filled with the laughter of strangers and colorful lights of street vendors. But I cannot focus. 

Starting off with a bit of well-written imagery transports the reader to wherever you want to take them. By putting them in this context with you, you allow the reader to closely understand your thoughts and emotions in this situation. Additionally, this method showcases the author’s individual way of looking at the world, a personal touch that is the baseline of all college essays.

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4. The Instant Plunger

The flickering LED lights began to form into a face of a man when I focused my eyes. The man spoke of a ruthless serial killer of the decade who had been arrested in 2004, and my parents shivered at his reaccounting of the case. I curiously tuned in, wondering who he was to speak of such crimes with concrete composure and knowledge. Later, he introduced himself as a profiler named Pyo Chang Won, and I watched the rest of the program by myself without realizing that my parents had left the couch.

Plunging readers into the middle of a story (also known as in medias res ) is an effective hook because it captures attention by placing the reader directly into the action. The descriptive imagery in the first sentence also helps to immerse the reader, creating a satisfying hook while also showing (instead of telling) how the author became interested in criminology. With this technique, it is important to “zoom out,” so to speak, in such a way that the essay remains personal to you.

5. The Philosopher 

Saved in the Notes app on my phone are three questions: What can I know? What must I do? What may I hope for? First asked by Immanuel Kant, these questions guide my pursuit of knowledge and organization of critical thought, both skills that are necessary to move our country and society forward in the right direction.

Posing philosophical questions helps present you as someone with deep ideas while also guiding the focus of your essay. In a way, it presents the reader with a roadmap; they know that these questions provide the theme for the rest of the essay. The more controversial the questions, the more gripping a hook you can create. 

Providing an answer to these questions is not necessarily as important as making sure that the discussions they provoke really showcase you and your own values and beliefs.

6. The Storyteller

One Christmas morning, when I was nine, I opened a snap circuit set from my grandmother. Although I had always loved math and science, I didn’t realize my passion for engineering until I spent the rest of winter break creating different circuits to power various lights, alarms, and sensors. Even after I outgrew the toy, I kept the set in my bedroom at home and knew I wanted to study engineering.

Beginning with an anecdote is a strong way to establish a meaningful connection with the content itself. It also shows that the topic you write about has been a part of your life for a significant amount of time, and something that college admissions officers look for in activities is follow-through; they want to make sure that you are truly interested in something. A personal story such as the one above shows off just that.

Cliche College Essay Introductions to Avoid

Ambiguous introduction.

It’s best to avoid introductory sentences that don’t seem to really say anything at all, such as “Science plays a large role in today’s society,” or “X has existed since the beginning of time.” Statements like these, in addition to being extremely common, don’t demonstrate anything about you, the author. Without a personal connection to you right away, it’s easy for the admissions officer to write off the essay before getting past the first sentence.

Quoting Someone Famous

While having a quotation by a famous author, celebrity, or someone else you admire may seem like a good way to allow the reader to get to know you, these kinds of introductions are actually incredibly overused. You also risk making your essay all about the quotation and the famous person who said it; admissions officers want to get to know you, your beliefs, and your values, not someone who isn’t applying to their school. There are some cases where you may actually be asked to write about a quotation, and that’s fine, but you should avoid starting your essay with someone else’s words outside of this case. It is fine, however, to start with dialogue to plunge your readers into a specific moment.

Talking About Writing an Essay

This method is also very commonplace and is thus best avoided. It’s better to show, not tell, and all this method allows you to do is tell the reader how you were feeling at the time of writing the essay. If you do feel compelled to go this way, make sure to include vivid imagery and focus on grounding the essay in the five senses, which can help elevate your introduction and separate it from the many other meta essays.

Childhood Memories

Phrases like “Ever since I was young…” or “I’ve always wanted…” also lend more to telling rather than showing. If you want to talk about your childhood or past feelings in your essay, try using one of the techniques listed earlier (such as the Instant Plunger or the Vivid Imaginer) to elevate your writing.

CollegeVine has a peer essay review page where peers can tell you if your introduction was enough to hook them. Getting feedback from someone who hasn’t read your essay before, and thus doesn’t have any context which may bias them to be more forgiving to your introduction, is helpful because it mimics the same environment in which an admissions officer will be reading your essay. 

Writing a college essay is hard, but with these tips hopefully starting it will be a little easier!

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New York City girl, 13, sexually assaulted at knifepoint during broad daylight in park: police

A man arrived at a New York City public park in broad daylight and "forcibly" raped a 13-year-old girl, police said.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) said that a 13-year-old girl and her friend, a 13-year-old boy, were at Kissena park in Queens, New York on Thursday, June 13 at 3:30 p.m.

Authorities said the young teenagers were approached by a Hispanic male, who showed them a knife and demanded that they follow him into the woods.

MULTIPLE INJURED, INCLUDING CHILD, 8, IN ‘RANDOM’ MICHIGAN SPLASH PAD SHOOTING: SHERIFF'S DEPT.: ‘GUT PUNCH’

In a secluded area of the park, the suspect took the teens' cell phones before tying their wrists together with a shoelace.

Police said that after the children were helplessly tied up, the suspect "forcibly" sexually assaulted the girl.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

After raping the young girl, the suspect disappeared from the park.

The teens were able to get free and run to the school across the street, and then called 911.

MASSACHUSETTS GRAND JURY INDICTS ALLEGED OPERATORS OF HIGH-END BROTHEL NETWORK IN GREATER BOSTON, VIRGINIA

They were taken to a hospital in stable condition.

The NYPD offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information on the rape incident.

The suspect was described as a male Hispanic, around 5’ 5" in his 20s with curly hair, last seen wearing red sneakers and carrying a green backpack.

He appeared to have dental braces on his teeth and had a tattoo of a boar or a bull with red eyes on his chest.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Fox News Digital has reached out to the NYPD for comment.

Original article source: New York City girl, 13, sexually assaulted at knifepoint during broad daylight in park: police

How to Use essay in a Sentence

• The book is a collection of his previously unpublished essays on a variety of topics.
• Your assignment is to write a 500-word essay on one of Shakespeare's sonnets.
• There is no hint as to which of the approaches essayed in this book will prove most useful.

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'essay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Essayed Sentence Examples

Of those who essayed to cross the waterless Haud more than one lost his life.

Menant have done useful work in distinguishing word-groups, and have essayed partial interpretations.

In 1645 he essayed a reformation of the calendar, but his plan was not adopted.

In a third tragedy, Love's Sacrifice (acted c. 1630; printed in 1633), he again worked on similar materials; but this time he unfortunately essayed to base the interest of his plot upon an unendurably unnatural possibility - doing homage to virtue after a fashion which is in itself an insult.

In the meantime, Sir Redvers Buller, who had been reinforced by Sir Charles Warren and the 5th division, essayed a second attempt to cross the Tugela, by turning the Boer left.

On the 3rd of March, after various raids and adventures in company with Smuts and Kemp, De la Rey, the lion of the western Transvaal, essayed an attack upon Lichtenburg, in which he was heavily repulsed.

This has been essayed by Brunnow in his study on the Kharijites (aeiden, 1884), in which the narrative of Mubarrad in the Kamil is compared with the excerpts of Madaini given by Baladhuri and those of Abu Mikhnaf given by Tabari.

It cannot be said, indeed, that his cladon shows the velvety richness of surface and tenderness of color that distinguished the old Kuang-yao and Lungchuan-yao of China, or that he has ever essayed the moss-edged crackle of the beautiful Ko-yao.

This was the long task essayed by Scholasticism; and, though the great Schoolmen of the 13th century refrained from attempting to rationalize such doctrines as the Trinity and the Incarnation, they were far from considering Theory of them as essentially opposed to reason.

He essayed to answer Locke by Kant, and Kant by Reid, Maine de Biran and Schelling.

Baron de Henouville, unsuccessfully attempted "to reduce the base of alum" to a metal, and shortly afterwards various other investigators essayed the problem in vain.

Nowhere is the conservatism of the Egyptians more clearly displayed than in the tenacity with which they clung to the old forms of the theology, such as -we have essayed to describe.

Early in the 2nd century AD., pagan Egyptians, or perhaps foreigners settled in Egypt, essayed , as yet unskilfully, to write the native language in Greek letters.

In 1611 Captain Hippon in the seventh separate voyage essayed a landing at Pulicat, but was driven off by the Dutch, who were already settled there, and sailed farther up the coast to Pettapoli, where he founded the first madras English settlement in the Bay of Bengal, which ments.

Although many amongst the Angles had, following his example, essayed to compose religious poetry, none of them, in Baeda's opinion, had approached the excellence of Cwdmon's songs.

It was apparently intended by the author as an analytical introduction to the constructive exposition of his system, which he presently essayed in the Ethics.

During the age of Anne various Augustan poets in whom the lyrical faculty was slight, from Congreve and Richard Duke down to Ambrose Philips and William Somerville, essayed the epistle with more or less success, and it was employed by Gay for several exercises in his elegant persiflage.

No imaginable strength of any single man would have sufficed to carry out a hundredth part of what Leonardo essayed .

He soon essayed journalism, first spending a year and a half in the service of a publisher of two Boston newspapers, the Manufacturer, an organ of the Clay protectionists, and the Philanthropist, devoted to humane reform.

On the 10th of December Gatacre essayed a night march and attack upon the enemy's position at Stormberg, and, misled by his guides in unknown ground, was himself surprised and forced to return with a loss of 719.

Hirado That, however, is an achievement of no small consequence, especially since it had never previously been essayed outside China.

He had mastered his manner and, as one may say, learned his trade, in the exercise of criticism and the reflective parts of literature, before he surrendered himself to that powerful creative impulse which had long been tempting him, so that when, in mature life, he essayed the portraiture of invented character he came to it unhampered by any imperfection of language.

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The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

Related Articles

Narrative essays narrate, argumentative essays argue, and expository essays … expose? Explain? (It’s a little of both). While these essays may use narrative, argumentative, and expository writing styles to make their points, they’re not the only types of essays to do so. In fact, there are 15 different types of essays — all of which narrate, argue, or explain something to their readers.

You might think of essays as boring assignments for explaining the themes in Huckleberry Finn or breaking down the characters in The Great Gatsby , but the essay is one of the most timeless forms in all of literature. It’s a genre that includes deep readings of texts, personal essays, and journalistic reports. Before you get to any of that, you need to figure out the basic parts of the essay.

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College Admissions , College Essays

Writing your personal statement for your college application is an undeniably overwhelming project. Your essay is your big shot to show colleges who you are—it's totally reasonable to get stressed out. But don't let that stress paralyze you.

This guide will walk you through each step of the essay writing process to help you understand exactly what you need to do to write the best possible personal statement . I'm also going to follow an imaginary student named Eva as she plans and writes her college essay, from her initial organization and brainstorming to her final edits. By the end of this article, you'll have all the tools you need to create a fantastic, effective college essay.

So how do you write a good college essay? The process starts with finding the best possible topic , which means understanding what the prompt is asking for and taking the time to brainstorm a variety of options. Next, you'll determine how to create an interesting essay that shows off your unique perspective and write multiple drafts in order to hone your structure and language. Once your writing is as effective and engaging as possible, you'll do a final sweep to make sure everything is correct .

This guide covers the following steps:

#1: Organizing #2: Brainstorming #3: Picking a topic #4: Making a plan #5: Writing a draft #6: Editing your draft #7: Finalizing your draft #8: Repeating the process

Step 1: Get Organized

The first step in how to write a college essay is figuring out what you actually need to do. Although many schools are now on the Common App, some very popular colleges, including Rutgers and University of California, still have their own applications and writing requirements. Even for Common App schools, you may need to write a supplemental essay or provide short answers to questions.

Before you get started, you should know exactly what essays you need to write. Having this information allows you to plan the best approach to each essay and helps you cut down on work by determining whether you can use an essay for more than one prompt.

Start Early

Writing good college essays involves a lot of work: you need dozens of hours to get just one personal statement properly polished , and that's before you even start to consider any supplemental essays.

In order to make sure you have plenty of time to brainstorm, write, and edit your essay (or essays), I recommend starting at least two months before your first deadline . The last thing you want is to end up with a low-quality essay you aren't proud of because you ran out of time and had to submit something unfinished.

Determine What You Need to Do

As I touched on above, each college has its own essay requirements, so you'll need to go through and determine what exactly you need to submit for each school . This process is simple if you're only using the Common App, since you can easily view the requirements for each school under the "My Colleges" tab. Watch out, though, because some schools have a dedicated "Writing Supplement" section, while others (even those that want a full essay) will put their prompts in the "Questions" section.

It gets trickier if you're applying to any schools that aren't on the Common App. You'll need to look up the essay requirements for each college—what's required should be clear on the application itself, or you can look under the "how to apply" section of the school's website.

Once you've determined the requirements for each school, I recommend making yourself a chart with the school name, word limit, and application deadline on one side and the prompt or prompts you need to respond to on the other . That way you'll be able to see exactly what you need to do and when you need to do it by.

The hardest part about writing your college essays is getting started. 

Decide Where to Start

If you have one essay that's due earlier than the others, start there. Otherwise, start with the essay for your top choice school.

I would also recommend starting with a longer personal statement before moving on to shorter supplementary essays , since the 500-700 word essays tend to take quite a bit longer than 100-250 word short responses. The brainstorming you do for the long essay may help you come up with ideas you like for the shorter ones as well.

Also consider whether some of the prompts are similar enough that you could submit the same essay to multiple schools . Doing so can save you some time and let you focus on a few really great essays rather than a lot of mediocre ones.

However, don't reuse essays for dissimilar or very school-specific prompts, especially "why us" essays . If a college asks you to write about why you're excited to go there, admissions officers want to see evidence that you're genuinely interested. Reusing an essay about another school and swapping out the names is the fastest way to prove you aren't.

Example: Eva's College List

Eva is applying early to Emory University and regular decision to University of Washington, UCLA, and Reed College. Emory, the University of Washington, and Reed both use the Common App, while University of Washington, Emory, and Reed all use the Coalition App.

Even though she's only applying to four schools, Eva has a lot to do: two essays for UW, four for the UCLA application, one for the Common App (or the Coalition App), and two essays for Emory. Many students will have fewer requirements to complete, but those who are applying to very selective schools or a number of schools on different applications will have as many or even more responses to write.

Eva's first deadline is early decision for Emory, she'll start by writing the Common App essay, and then work on the Emory supplements. (For the purposes of this post, we'll focus on the Common App essay.)

Pro tip: If this sounds like a lot of work, that's because it is. Writing essays for your college applications is demanding and takes a lot of time and thought. You don't have to do it alone, though. PrepScholar has helped students like you get into top-tier colleges like Stanford, Yale, Harvard, and Brown. Our essay experts can help you craft amazing essays that boost your chances of getting into your dream school . 

Step 2: Brainstorm

Next up in how to write a college essay: brainstorming essay ideas. There are tons of ways to come up with ideas for your essay topic: I've outlined three below. I recommend trying all of them and compiling a list of possible topics, then narrowing it down to the very best one or, if you're writing multiple essays, the best few.

Keep in mind as you brainstorm that there's no best college essay topic, just the best topic for you . Don't feel obligated to write about something because you think you should—those types of essays tend to be boring and uninspired. Similarly, don't simply write about the first idea that crosses your mind because you don't want to bother trying to think of something more interesting. Take the time to come up with a topic you're really excited about and that you can write about in detail.

Analyze the Prompts

One way to find possible topics is to think deeply about the college's essay prompt. What are they asking you for? Break them down and analyze every angle.

Does the question include more than one part ? Are there multiple tasks you need to complete?

What do you think the admissions officers are hoping to learn about you ?

In cases where you have more than one choice of prompt, does one especially appeal to you ? Why?

Let's dissect one of the University of Washington prompts as an example:

"Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW. "

This question is basically asking how your personal history, such as your childhood, family, groups you identify with etc. helped you become the person you are now. It offers a number of possible angles.

You can talk about the effects of either your family life (like your relationship with your parents or what your household was like growing up) or your cultural history (like your Jewish faith or your Venezuelan heritage). You can also choose between focusing on positive or negative effects of your family or culture. No matter what however, the readers definitely want to hear about your educational goals (i.e. what you hope to get out of college) and how they're related to your personal experience.

As you try to think of answers for a prompt, imagine about what you would say if you were asked the question by a friend or during a get-to-know-you icebreaker. After all, admissions officers are basically just people who you want to get to know you.

The essay questions can make a great jumping off point, but don't feel married to them. Most prompts are general enough that you can come up with an idea and then fit it to the question.

Consider Important Experiences, Events, and Ideas in Your Life

What experience, talent, interest or other quirk do you have that you might want to share with colleges? In other words, what makes you you? Possible topics include hobbies, extracurriculars, intellectual interests, jobs, significant one-time events, pieces of family history, or anything else that has shaped your perspective on life.

Unexpected or slightly unusual topics are often the best : your passionate love of Korean dramas or your yearly family road trip to an important historical site. You want your essay to add something to your application, so if you're an All-American soccer player and want to write about the role soccer has played in your life, you'll have a higher bar to clear.

Of course if you have a more serious part of your personal history—the death of a parent, serious illness, or challenging upbringing—you can write about that. But make sure you feel comfortable sharing details of the experience with the admissions committee and that you can separate yourself from it enough to take constructive criticism on your essay.

Think About How You See Yourself

The last brainstorming method is to consider whether there are particular personality traits you want to highlight . This approach can feel rather silly, but it can also be very effective.

If you were trying to sell yourself to an employer, or maybe even a potential date, how would you do it? Try to think about specific qualities that make you stand out. What are some situations in which you exhibited this trait?

Example: Eva's Ideas

Looking at the Common App prompts, Eva wasn't immediately drawn to any of them, but after a bit of consideration she thought it might be nice to write about her love of literature for the first one, which asks about something "so meaningful your application would be incomplete without it." Alternatively, she liked the specificity of the failure prompt and thought she might write about a bad job interview she had had.

In terms of important events, Eva's parents got divorced when she was three and she's been going back and forth between their houses for as long as she can remember, so that's a big part of her personal story. She's also played piano for all four years of high school, although she's not particularly good.

As for personal traits, Eva is really proud of her curiosity—if she doesn't know something, she immediately looks it up, and often ends up discovering new topics she's interested in. It's a trait that's definitely come in handy as a reporter for her school paper.

Step 3: Narrow Down Your List

Now you have a list of potential topics, but probably no idea where to start. The next step is to go through your ideas and determine which one will make for the strongest essay . You'll then begin thinking about how best to approach it.

What to Look for in a College Essay Topic

There's no single answer to the question of what makes a great college essay topic, but there are some key factors you should keep in mind. The best essays are focused, detailed, revealing and insightful, and finding the right topic is vital to writing a killer essay with all of those qualities.

As you go through your ideas, be discriminating—really think about how each topic could work as an essay. But don't be too hard on yourself ; even if an idea may not work exactly the way you first thought, there may be another way to approach it. Pay attention to what you're really excited about and look for ways to make those ideas work.

Consideration 1: Does It Matter to You?

If you don't care about your topic, it will be hard to convince your readers to care about it either. You can't write a revealing essay about yourself unless you write about a topic that is truly important to you.

But don't confuse important to you with important to the world: a college essay is not a persuasive argument. The point is to give the reader a sense of who you are , not to make a political or intellectual point. The essay needs to be personal.

Similarly, a lot of students feel like they have to write about a major life event or their most impressive achievement. But the purpose of a personal statement isn't to serve as a resume or a brag sheet—there are plenty of other places in the application for you to list that information. Many of the best essays are about something small because your approach to a common experience generally reveals a lot about your perspective on the world.

Mostly, your topic needs to have had a genuine effect on your outlook , whether it taught you something about yourself or significantly shifted your view on something else.

Consideration 2: Does It Tell the Reader Something Different About You?

Your essay should add something to your application that isn't obvious elsewhere. Again, there are sections for all of your extracurriculars and awards; the point of the essay is to reveal something more personal that isn't clear just from numbers and lists.

You also want to make sure that if you're sending more than one essay to a school—like a Common App personal statement and a school-specific supplement—the two essays take on different topics.

Consideration 3: Is It Specific?

Your essay should ultimately have a very narrow focus. 650 words may seem like a lot, but you can fill it up very quickly. This means you either need to have a very specific topic from the beginning or find a specific aspect of a broader topic to focus on.

If you try to take on a very broad topic, you'll end up with a bunch of general statements and boring lists of your accomplishments. Instead, you want to find a short anecdote or single idea to explore in depth .

Consideration 4: Can You Discuss It in Detail?

A vague essay is a boring essay— specific details are what imbue your essay with your personality . For example, if I tell my friend that I had a great dessert yesterday, she probably won't be that interested. But if I explain that I ate an amazing piece of peach raspberry pie with flaky, buttery crust and filling that was both sweet and tart, she will probably demand to know where I obtained it (at least she will if she appreciates the joys of pie). She'll also learn more about me: I love pie and I analyze desserts with great seriousness.

Given the importance of details, writing about something that happened a long time ago or that you don't remember well isn't usually a wise choice . If you can't describe something in depth, it will be challenging to write a compelling essay about it.

You also shouldn't pick a topic you aren't actually comfortable talking about . Some students are excited to write essays about very personal topics, like their mother's bipolar disorder or their family's financial struggles, but others dislike sharing details about these kinds of experiences. If you're a member of the latter group, that's totally okay, just don't write about one of these sensitive topics.

Still, don't worry that every single detail has to be perfectly correct. Definitely don't make anything up, but if you remember a wall as green and it was really blue, your readers won't notice or care.

Consideration 5: Can It Be Related to the Prompt?

As long as you're talking about yourself, there are very few ideas that you can't tie back to one of the Common App or Coalition App prompts. But if you're applying to a school with its own more specific prompt, or working on supplemental essays, making sure to address the question will be a greater concern.

Deciding on a Topic

Once you've gone through the questions above, you should have a good sense of what you want to write about. Hopefully, it's also gotten you started thinking about how you can best approach that topic, but we'll cover how to plan your essay more fully in the next step.

If after going through the narrowing process, you've eliminated all your topics, first look back over them: are you being too hard on yourself? Are there any that you really like, but just aren't totally sure what angle to take on? If so, try looking at the next section and seeing if you can't find a different way to approach it.

If you just don't have an idea you're happy with, that's okay! Give yourself a week to think about it. Sometimes you'll end up having a genius idea in the car on the way to school or while studying for your U.S. history test. Otherwise, try the brainstorming process again when you've had a break.

If, on the other hand, you have more than one idea you really like, consider whether any of them can be used for other essays you need to write.

Example: Picking Eva's Topic

• Love of books
• Failed job interview
• Parents' divorce

Eva immediately rules out writing about playing piano, because it sounds super boring to her, and it's not something she is particularly passionate about. She also decides not to write about splitting time between her parents because she just isn't comfortable sharing her feelings about it with an admissions committee.

She feels more positive about the other three, so she decides to think about them for a couple of days. She ends up ruling out the job interview because she just can't come up with that many details she could include.

She's excited about both of her last two ideas, but sees issues with both of them: the books idea is very broad and the reporting idea doesn't seem to apply to any of the prompts. Then she realizes that she can address the solving a problem prompt by talking about a time she was trying to research a story about the closing of a local movie theater, so she decides to go with that topic.

Step 4: Figure Out Your Approach

You've decided on a topic, but now you need to turn that topic into an essay. To do so, you need to determine what specifically you're focusing on and how you'll structure your essay.

If you're struggling or uncertain, try taking a look at some examples of successful college essays . It can be helpful to dissect how other personal statements are structured to get ideas for your own , but don't fall into the trap of trying to copy someone else's approach. Your essay is your story—never forget that.

Let's go through the key steps that will help you turn a great topic into a great essay.

Choose a Focal Point

As I touched on above, the narrower your focus, the easier it will be to write a unique, engaging personal statement. The simplest way to restrict the scope of your essay is to recount an anecdote , i.e. a short personal story that illustrates your larger point.

For example, say a student was planning to write about her Outward Bound trip in Yosemite. If she tries to tell the entire story of her trip, her essay will either be far too long or very vague. Instead, she decides to focus in on a specific incident that exemplifies what mattered to her about the experience: her failed attempt to climb Half Dome. She described the moment she decided to turn back without reaching the top in detail, while touching on other parts of the climb and trip where appropriate. This approach lets her create a dramatic arc in just 600 words, while fully answering the question posed in the prompt (Common App prompt 2).

Of course, concentrating on an anecdote isn't the only way to narrow your focus. Depending on your topic, it might make more sense to build your essay around an especially meaningful object, relationship, or idea.

Another approach our example student from above could take to the same general topic would be to write about the generosity of fellow hikers (in response to Common App prompt 4). Rather than discussing a single incident, she could tell the story of her trip through times she was supported by other hikers: them giving tips on the trails, sharing snacks, encouraging her when she was tired, etc. A structure like this one can be trickier than the more straightforward anecdote approach , but it can also make for an engaging and different essay.

When deciding what part of your topic to focus on, try to find whatever it is about the topic that is most meaningful and unique to you . Once you've figured that part out, it will guide how you structure the essay.

Decide What You Want to Show About Yourself

Remember that the point of the college essay isn't just to tell a story, it's to show something about yourself. It's vital that you have a specific point you want to make about what kind of person you are , what kind of college student you'd make, or what the experience you're describing taught you.

Since the papers you write for school are mostly analytical, you probably aren't used to writing about your own feelings. As such, it can be easy to neglect the reflection part of the personal statement in favor of just telling a story. Yet explaining what the event or idea you discuss meant to you is the most important essay —knowing how you want to tie your experiences back to your personal growth from the beginning will help you make sure to include it.

Develop a Structure

It's not enough to just know what you want to write about—you also need to have a sense of how you're going to write about it. You could have the most exciting topic of all time, but without a clear structure your essay will end up as incomprehensible gibberish that doesn't tell the reader anything meaningful about your personality.

There are a lot of different possible essay structures, but a simple and effective one is the compressed narrative, which builds on a specific anecdote (like the Half Dome example above):

Start in the middle of the action. Don't spend a lot of time at the beginning of your essay outlining background info—it doesn't tend to draw the reader in and you usually need less of it than you think you do. Instead start right where your story starts to get interesting. (I'll go into how to craft an intriguing opener in more depth below.)

Briefly explain what the situation is. Now that you've got the reader's attention, go back and explain anything they need to know about how you got into this situation. Don't feel compelled to fit everything in—only include the background details that are necessary to either understand what happened or illuminate your feelings about the situation in some way.

Finish the story. Once you've clarified exactly what's going on, explain how you resolved the conflict or concluded the experience.

Explain what you learned. The last step is to tie everything together and bring home the main point of your story: how this experience affected you.

The key to this type of structure is to create narrative tension—you want your reader to be wondering what happens next.

A second approach is the thematic structure, which is based on returning to a key idea or object again and again (like the boots example above):

Establish the focus. If you're going to structure your essay around a single theme or object, you need to begin the essay by introducing that key thing. You can do so with a relevant anecdote or a detailed description.

Touch on 3-5 times the focus was important. The body of your essay will consist of stringing together a few important moments related to the topic. Make sure to use sensory details to bring the reader into those points in time and keep her engaged in the essay. Also remember to elucidate why these moments were important to you.

Revisit the main idea. At the end, you want to tie everything together by revisiting the main idea or object and showing how your relationship to it has shaped or affected you. Ideally, you'll also hint at how this thing will be important to you going forward.

To make this structure work you need a very specific focus. Your love of travel, for example, is much too broad—you would need to hone in on a specific aspect of that interest, like how traveling has taught you to adapt to event the most unusual situations. Whatever you do, don't use this structure to create a glorified resume or brag sheet .

However you structure your essay, you want to make sure that it clearly lays out both the events or ideas you're describing and establishes the stakes (i.e. what it all means for you). Many students become so focused on telling a story or recounting details that they forget to explain what it all meant to them.

Example: Eva's Essay Plan

For her essay, Eva decides to use the compressed narrative structure to tell the story of how she tried and failed to report on the closing of a historic movie theater:

• Open with the part of her story where she finally gave up after calling the theater and city hall a dozen times.
• Explain that although she started researching the story out of journalistic curiosity, it was important to her because she'd grown up going to movies at that theater.
• Recount how defeated she felt when she couldn't get ahold of anyone, and then even more so when she saw a story about the theater's closing in the local paper.
• Describer her decision to write an op-ed instead and interview other students about what the theater meant to them.
• Finish by explaining that although she wasn't able to get the story (or stop the destruction of the theater), she learned that sometimes the emotional angle can be just as interesting as the investigative one.

Step 5: Write a First Draft

The key to writing your first draft is not to worry about whether it's any good—just get something on paper and go from there. You will have to rewrite, so trying to get everything perfect is both frustrating and futile.

Everyone has their own writing process. Maybe you feel more comfortable sitting down and writing the whole draft from beginning to end in one go. Maybe you jump around, writing a little bit here and a little there. It's okay to have sections you know won't work or to skip over things you think you'll need to include later.

Whatever your approach, there are a few tips everyone can benefit from.

Don't Aim for Perfection

I mentioned this idea above, but I can't emphasize it enough: no one writes a perfect first draft . Extensive editing and rewriting is vital to crafting an effective personal statement. Don't get too attached to any part of your draft, because you may need to change anything (or everything) about your essay later .

Also keep in mind that, at this point in the process, the goal is just to get your ideas down. Wonky phrasings and misplaced commas can easily be fixed when you edit, so don't worry about them as you write. Instead, focus on including lots of specific details and emphasizing how your topic has affected you, since these aspects are vital to a compelling essay.

Write an Engaging Introduction

One part of the essay you do want to pay special attention to is the introduction. Your intro is your essay's first impression: you only get one. It's much harder to regain your reader's attention once you've lost it, so you want to draw the reader in with an immediately engaging hook that sets up a compelling story .

There are two possible approaches I would recommend.

The "In Media Res" Opening

You'll probably recognize this term if you studied The Odyssey: it basically means that the story starts in the middle of the action, rather than at the beginning. A good intro of this type makes the reader wonder both how you got to the point you're starting at and where you'll go from there . These openers provide a solid, intriguing beginning for narrative essays (though they can certainly for thematic structures as well).

But how do you craft one? Try to determine the most interesting point in your story and start there. If you're not sure where that is, try writing out the entire story and then crossing out each sentence in order until you get to one that immediately grabs your attention.

Here's an example from a real student's college essay:

"I strode in front of 400 frenzied eighth graders with my arm slung over my Fender Stratocaster guitar—it actually belonged to my mother—and launched into the first few chords of Nirvana's 'Lithium.'"

Anonymous , University of Virginia

This intro throws the reader right into the middle of the action. The author jumps right into the action: the performance. You can imagine how much less exciting it would be if the essay opened with an explanation of what the event was and why the author was performing.

The Specific Generalization

Sounds like an oxymoron, right? This type of intro sets up what the essay is going to talk about in a slightly unexpected way . These are a bit trickier than the "in media res" variety, but they can work really well for the right essay—generally one with a thematic structure.

The key to this type of intro is detail . Contrary to what you may have learned in elementary school, sweeping statements don't make very strong hooks. If you want to start your essay with a more overall description of what you'll be discussing, you still need to make it specific and unique enough to stand out.

Once again, let's look at some examples from real students' essays:

Neha, Johns Hopkins University

Brontë, Johns Hopkins University

Both of these intros set up the general topic of the essay (the first writer's bookshelf and and the second's love of Jane Eyre ) in an intriguing way. The first intro works because it mixes specific descriptions ("pushed against the left wall in my room") with more general commentary ("a curious piece of furniture"). The second draws the reader in by adopting a conversational and irreverent tone with asides like "if you ask me" and "This may or may not be a coincidence."

Don't Worry Too Much About the Length

When you start writing, don't worry about your essay's length. Instead, focus on trying to include all of the details you can think of about your topic , which will make it easier to decide what you really need to include when you edit.

However, if your first draft is more than twice the word limit and you don't have a clear idea of what needs to be cut out, you may need to reconsider your focus—your topic is likely too broad. You may also need to reconsider your topic or approach if you find yourself struggling to fill space, since this usually indicates a topic that lacks a specific focus.

Eva's First Paragraph

I dialed the phone number for the fourth time that week. "Hello? This is Eva Smith, and I'm a reporter with Tiny Town High's newspaper The Falcon. I was hoping to ask you some questions about—" I heard the distinctive click of the person on the other end of the line hanging up, followed by dial tone. I was about ready to give up: I'd been trying to get the skinny on whether the Atlas Theater was actually closing to make way for a big AMC multiplex or if it was just a rumor for weeks, but no one would return my calls.

Step 6: Edit Aggressively

No one writes a perfect first draft. No matter how much you might want to be done after writing a first draft—you must take the time to edit. Thinking critically about your essay and rewriting as needed is a vital part of writing a great college essay.

Before you start editing, put your essay aside for a week or so . It will be easier to approach it objectively if you haven't seen it in a while. Then, take an initial pass to identify any big picture issues with your essay. Once you've fixed those, ask for feedback from other readers—they'll often notice gaps in logic that don't appear to you, because you're automatically filling in your intimate knowledge of the situation. Finally, take another, more detailed look at your essay to fine tune the language.

I've explained each of these steps in more depth below.

First Editing Pass

You should start the editing process by looking for any structural or thematic issues with your essay . If you see sentences that don't make sense or glaring typos of course fix them, but at this point, you're really focused on the major issues since those require the most extensive rewrites. You don't want to get your sentences beautifully structured only to realize you need to remove the entire paragraph.

This phase is really about honing your structure and your voice . As you read through your essay, think about whether it effectively draws the reader along, engages him with specific details, and shows why the topic matters to you. Try asking yourself the following questions:

• Does the intro make you want to read more?
• Is the progression of events and/or ideas clear?
• Does the essay show something specific about you? What is it and can you clearly identify it in the essay?
• Are there places where you could replace vague statements with more specific ones?
• Do you have too many irrelevant or uninteresting details clogging up the narrative?
• Is it too long? What can you cut out or condense without losing any important ideas or details?

Give yourself credit for what you've done well, but don't hesitate to change things that aren't working. It can be tempting to hang on to what you've already written —you took the time and thought to craft it in the first place, so it can be hard to let it go. Taking this approach is doing yourself a disservice, however. No matter how much work you put into a paragraph or much you like a phrase, if they aren't adding to your essay, they need to be cut or altered.

If there's a really big structural problem, or the topic is just not working, you may have to chuck this draft out and start from scratch . Don't panic! I know starting over is frustrating, but it's often the best way to fix major issues.

Consulting Other Readers

Once you've fixed the problems you found on the first pass and have a second (or third) draft you're basically happy with, ask some other people to read it. Check with people whose judgment you trust : parents, teachers, and friends can all be great resources, but how helpful someone will be depends on the individual and how willing you are to take criticism from her.

Also, keep in mind that many people, even teachers, may not be familiar with what colleges look for in an essay. Your mom, for example, may have never written a personal statement, and even if she did, it was most likely decades ago. Give your readers a sense of what you'd like them to read for , or print out the questions I listed above and include them at the end of your essay.

Second Pass

After incorporating any helpful feedback you got from others, you should now have a nearly complete draft with a clear arc.

At this point you want to look for issues with word choice and sentence structure:

• Are there parts that seem stilted or overly formal?
• Do you have any vague or boring descriptors that could be replaced with something more interesting and specific?
• Are there any obvious redundancies or repetitiveness?
• Have you misused any words?
• Are your sentences of varied length and structure?

A good way to check for weirdness in language is to read the essay out loud. If something sounds weird when you say it, it will almost certainly seem off when someone else reads it.

Example: Editing Eva's First Paragraph

In general, Eva feels like her first paragraph isn't as engaging as it could be and doesn't introduce the main point of the essay that well: although it sets up the narrative, it doesn't show off her personality that well. She decides to break it down sentence by sentence:

I dialed the phone number for the fourth time that week.

Problem: For a hook, this sentence is a little too expository. It doesn't add any real excitement or important information (other than that this call isn't the first, which can be incorporate elsewhere.

Solution: Cut this sentence and start with the line of dialogue.

"Hello? This is Eva Smith, and I'm a reporter with Tiny Town High's newspaper The Falcon. I was hoping to ask you some questions about—"

Problem: No major issues with this sentence. It's engaging and sets the scene effectively.

Solution: None needed, but Eva does tweak it slightly to include the fact that this call wasn't her first.

I heard the distinctive click of the person on the other end of the line hanging up, followed by dial tone.

Problem: This is a long-winded way of making a point that's not that important.

Solution: Replace it with a shorter, more evocative description: " Click. Bzzzzzzz. Whoever was on the other end of the line had hung up."

I was about ready to give up: I'd been trying to get the skinny on whether the Atlas Theater was actually closing to make way for a big AMC multiplex or if it was just a rumor for weeks, but no one would return my calls.

Problem: This sentence is kind of long. Some of the phrases ("about ready to give up," "get the skinny") are cliche.

Solution: Eva decides to try to stick more closely to her own perspective: "I'd heard rumors that Atlas Theater was going to be replaced with an AMC multiplex, and I was worried." She also puts a paragraph break before this sentence to emphasize that she's now moving on to the background info rather than describing her call.

Step 7: Double Check Everything

Once you have a final draft, give yourself another week and then go through your essay again. Read it carefully to make sure nothing seems off and there are no obvious typos or errors. Confirm that you are at or under the word limit.

Then, go over the essay again, line by line , checking every word to make sure that it's correct. Double check common errors that spell check may not catch, like mixing up affect and effect or misplacing commas.

Finally, have two other readers check it as well . Oftentimes a fresh set of eyes will catch an issue you've glossed over simply because you've been looking at the essay for so long. Give your readers instructions to only look for typos and errors, since you don't want to be making any major content changes at this point in the process.

This level of thoroughness may seem like overkill, but it's worth taking the time to ensure that you don't have any errors. The last thing you want is for an admissions officer to be put off by a typo or error.

Example: Eva's Final Draft (Paragraphs 1 and 2)

"Hello? This is Eva Smith again. I'm a reporter with Tiny Town High's newspaper The Falcon , and I was hoping to ask you some questions about —" Click. Bzzzzzzz. Whoever was on the other end of the line had hung up.

I'd heard rumors that the historic Atlas Theater was going to be replaced with an AMC multiplex, and I was worried. I'd grown up with the Atlas: my dad taking me to see every Pixar movie on opening night and buying me Red Vines to keep me distracted during the sad parts. Unfortunately my personal history with the place didn't seem to carry much weight with anyone official, and my calls to both the theater and city hall had thus far gone unanswered.

Once you've finished the final check, you're done, and ready to submit! There's one last step, however.

Step 8: Do It All Again

Remember back in step one, when we talked about making a chart to keep track of all the different essays you need to write? Well, now you need to go back to that list and determine which essays you still need to write . Keep in mind your deadlines and don't forget that some schools may require more than one essay or ask for short paragraphs in addition to the main personal statement.

Reusing Essays

In some cases, you may be able to reuse the essay you've already written for other prompts. You can use the same essay for two prompts if:

Both of them are asking the same basic question (e.g. "how do you interact with people who are different from you?" or "what was an important experience and why?"), or

One prompt is relatively specific and the other is very general (e.g. "tell us about how your family shaped your education" and "tell us something about your background"), and

Neither asks about your interest in a specific school or program.

If you choose to reuse an essay you wrote for a different prompt, make sure that it addresses every part of question and that it fits the word limit. If you have to tweak a few things or cut out 50-odd words, it will probably still work. But if the essay would require major changes to fit the criteria, you're probably better off starting from scratch (even if you use the same basic topic).

Crafting Supplemental Essays

The key to keep in mind in when brainstorming for supplemental essays is that you want them to add something new to your application . You shouldn't write about the same topic you used for your personal statement, although it's okay to talk about something similar, as long as you adopt a clearly different angle.

For example, if you're planning to be pre-med in college and your main essay is about how volunteering at the hospital taught you not to judge people on their appearance, you might write your secondary essay on your intellectual interest in biology (which could touch on your volunteering). There's some overlap, but the two topics are clearly distinct.

And now, you're really, truly, finally done. Congrats!

What's Next?

Now that you know how to write a college essay, we have a lot more specific resources for you to excel.

Are you working on the Common App essay ? Read our breakdown of the Common App prompts and our guide to picking the best prompt for you.

Or maybe you're interested in the University of California ? Check out our complete guide to the UC personal statements .

In case you haven't finished the rest of the application process , take a look at our guides to asking for recommendations , writing about extracurriculars , and researching colleges .

Finally, if you're planning to take the SAT or ACT one last time , try out some of our famous test prep guides, like "How to Get a Perfect Score on the SAT" and "15 Key ACT Test Day Tips."

Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT.

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18 Great Video Essays from 2018

As a video essayist naturally I watch a lot of essays and try to keep my pulse on the genre, so here are 18 video essays from this year that I think contain something special, introduced me to a new idea, didn’t get as many views as they deserved, or are just generally worth your time. This isn’t a “best of” list. It isn’t ranked in any particular order. And I made weird arbitrary rules for myself about picking the list (e.g I’ve only included one video per creator).

1. The Perilous Journey of a Truly Beautiful Soul – Hacksaw Ridge

I’m starting with this essay from Tom at Like Stories of Old , because it illustrates something that is very powerful about the medium; an essay can transcend the media it’s discussing. For me Hacksaw Ridge was probably a 6/10 film, but this is easily a 10/10 video essay. Great work Tom!

2. The Color of Pomegranates: A Failed Video Essay

I love this essay from Kyle Kallgren , because it doesn’t just discuss the work, it explores the difficulty of discussing certain films. Perhaps less relevant to people who haven’t tried writing about or making a video about a particularly difficult piece of art to discuss, but it illustrates another great aspect of video essays; an essay can be about much more than the piece of media it focuses on.

3. In Focus: The Broom Is Not What It Seems (Twin Peaks: The Return)

This video essay by The Long Take is the kind you click on with a sort of hesitant curiosity. Is an in-depth analysis of one shot from Twin Peaks: The Return going to: A. be worth my time and B. not tip over itself into ridiculous over-analysis territory. But Rafa actually has something insightful to say here and it expanded both my appreciation for Twin Peaks: The Return, and for the video essay format’s ability to examine even one shot, in a meaningful way.

4. You Are A Strange Loop

The video essay format isn’t just for examining a piece of media. It can also be a fantastic educational tool. This essay from Will Schoder shows how the medium can be harnessed very effectively to illustrate complex ideas in a way that’s easier to get your head around.

5. Why Do Dogs Die In Wes Anderson Movies?

This video from Luis Avezedo for Little White Lies isn’t just a great overview of how dogs are treated in Wes Anderson films, it cleverly structures the narrative voice of the essay as being spoken by the animated dog characters. It’s a great example of how the format can expanded from just the “voiceover with images on top” formula. I might be biased though, I did the voice of one of the dogs. 

6. Annihilation and Decoding Metaphor

When I made my video about Annihilation’s influences. I put an ode to Folding Ideas in the description.

Coincidentally Dan Olson later made a video talking about the exact topic I was sort of poking fun at with my description homage to him. 

Besides that coincidence, the video itself is great, and does a fantastic job of not just breaking down how a lot of people seemed to misunderstand Annihilation, but also some of the issues in general with these “ENDING EXPLAINED” type of videos. I who heartedly agree with Dan in this video.

7. David Lynch - The Treachery of Language

I’ve seen many video essays that cover a theme across director’s entire filmography or several of their works. I’ve made videos like that myself. But Grace from What’s So Great About That takes a bird’s eye view in this video of David Lynch’s use of language in, not just his films, but his writing and painting. It’s a beautiful essay that illuminates Lynch’s work. 

8. Explaining Hollywood's Penguin Obsession

The video essay genre can’t get a little self-serious sometimes. The format lends itself to making compelling arguments so well that it’s easy for some video essays to tip into the realm of the ridiculous. This video from Karsten Runquist isn’t just a fun parody of pompous over-analysis, it’s also actually a fun, genuine look at why the heck there is actually so many penguin movies.

9. How T-Series Conquered Youtube

The topic of this video from Stephen at Coffee Break is now almost common knowledge, but when his video came out it was the first, I and many other people heard about this story. Video essay can be educational, and they can potentially break a massive story, sometimes long before it’s covered by the media.

10. How to Keep Players Engaged (Without Being Evil)

Mark Brown ’s excellent video essays on video game design illustrate something important to me. A well made video essay can be interesting even if you’re not invested in the topic. I’m not a very big gamer. I log 20 hours in Civ every couple years, and play sudoko on my phone, but Mark’s video essays about game design are still completely fascinating and engaging to me.

11. How Diverging Diamonds Keep You From Dying

This video from Austin McConnell illustrates something important. A video essay can be about anything. I’ve driven through these Diverging Diamond interchanges and every time wondered what type of hallucinogen the traffic planners were on when they came up with this. This video cleared up all the questions I had about this crazy design in an efficient and entertaining way and left me convinced that they actually make sense.

12. Why This Is Rembrandt's Masterpiece

Videos about popular media get more clicks, it’s just part of the video essay economy on YouTube. Which is why I admire Nerdwriter ’s insistence on covering topics that fall well outside the range of the usual pop-culture examinations that get him the most views. In particular I love his deeper dives on a single piece. Another earlier video of his about a painting is why I originally subscribed and I’m glad to know that he’s still making these videos even though they don’t get as many views.

13. The Sound of 80s Movies

I love when I click on a video expecting to learn the “why” of something and end up learning the “why” is much deeper, more complex and interesting then I imagined. In this video, Julian at The Discarded Image doesn’t just talk about why 80’s movies sounded that way from a technical perspective, he shows how the sound is inseparable from the ideas and themes that were being explored in that era in both film and music.

Sometimes a video essay teaches you about an interesting topic. They can also teach you why the topic is interesting in the first place.

14. FAKE FRIENDS EPISODE TWO: parasocial hell

If this list was ranked this video would be in the top slot. Shannon’ s video is a full blown documentary length look at parasocial relationship. Not only does she uncover what they are, she lays out examples in a way that lets you immediately see what she’s talking about.

The opening 5 minutes of this video had me hooked and understanding what parasocial relationships are and some of the concerns that might surround them, before she even says anything. Yes it’s the second part of a series, and yes I watched this one first for some reason, but you should watch episodes one and two. This video shows where the lines between video essay and documentary blur.

14. McDonald's: The Mystery of "I'm Lovin It"

In contrast to the long, serious, discussions of important issues that we see in the video above, this mini-doc from Hodges U is a quick, fun, look at something that you didn’t need to know, but that you want to know anyway.

16. would you share a moment of lo fi with me?

MisterAmazing isn’t just talking about music here, he’s explaining the cultural phenomenon that surrounds and produced lofi.

When a trend like videos of anime girls studying to hip-hop playlist emerges, chances are there’s a video essayist there to help you understand what that trend is and where it came from.

17. Why Dave Chappelle Really Left

I think the true power of the video essay lies not in what the essayist expresses in voiceover, but how they can show separate pieces of media together in a way that tells a story that you wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Don’t be fooled, just because you can’t hear the essayist’s voice doesn’t mean their authorial influence isn’t all over the essay.

18. The Black Lotus

I’ve never played Magic: The Gathering in my life. I’m not interested in it, and if you told me at the beginning of 2018 that’s I’d watch a 30 minute video about a single card from the game, I wouldn’t have believed you. And yet here we are. That wraps up 2018. I’m very excited to see what is to come in 2019 and beyond for the medium. There are so many great essays out there, many that I wanted to include in this list that I didn’t have room for, but I wanted to create a more personal list, that probably wouldn’t contain all the videos you’ll see in every other best of list from the year. Hopefully you found something interesting here, and are inspired to explore the world of video essays a little deeper. There’s a lot out there waiting to be discovered.

Here’s the link to a YouTube Playlist that contains all 18 videos , plus a bunch of honorable mentions, and what I think was the best video I made in 2018.

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