example of an illustrative essay

Illustration Essays: Definitions, Templates and Examples

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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I’m a university professor, and in this article, I’m going to show you exactly how to write an illustration essay.

1. What is an Illustration Essay?

An Illustration Essay is an essay designed to describe and explain with examples. You will be required to use examples to reveal details about the subject you are discussing.

In many ways, it is the easiest form of essay because you don’t have to come up with a thesis or argue a point. All you need to do is explain with descriptions and examples (or ‘illustrate’) a subject or phenomenon.

Much like when someone draws a picture to show you what something looks like, an illustrative essay uses words to show what something is.

Related Article: 141+ Illustration Essay Topics

2. Difference between Illustrative and Argumentative Essays

You can see that in many ways, an illustrative essay should be easier than an argumentative essay . You can put all your efforts into your explanations and examples.

Aim to create a coherent picture in the reader’s mind about the topic you’re discussing.

3. Definition of ‘Illustrate’

Here are a few definitions of ‘illustrate’:

• Oxford Dictionary says that to Illustrate is to “Explain or make (something) clear by using examples, charts, pictures, etc.”
• MacMillan Dictionary provides this nice, simple explanation: “to show what something is like.”

Let’s now put the term into a few sentences to help clarify it for you just a little more:

• The newspaper article illustrates how the dinosaurs became extinct.
• The story of Abraham Lincoln provides a clear illustration of his life achievements.
• My father’s explanation of how to change oil in a car illustrated the process sufficiently.

Synonyms for ‘Illustrate’

Illustrate may also be interchangeably used with words like:

• Give Detail

4. How to write an Illustration Essay

Here’s how to write an illustration essay:

2.1 How to write your Introduction

The introduction is much like any other in an essay, and therefore I suggest you use the usual I.N.T.R.O formula .

This formula is a way of writing a 5-sentence introduction that orients the reader to the topic. Here’s how it works. Each of the following points forms one sentence of your introduction:

• Inform: Inform the reader of the topic.
• Notify: Notify the reader of one piece of interesting background information about the topic.
• Translate: Translate or paraphrase the essay question.
• Report: Report on your position or argument (This step can be skipped as you will often not need to make an argument)
• Outline: Outline the essay structure. You can use ‘Firstly, secondly, thirdly’ here.

2.2 An example introduction for an illustration essay

This example is for an illustration essay on the topic: Illustrate the various ways young people use social media in their everyday lives.

“Social media has many impacts on young people. Social media is quite new, with the most famous social media site Facebook only being introduced to the world in 2004. This illustrative essay will explain and provide examples of the many ways young people engage with social media every day. The essay will begin with an explanation of what social media is, followed by several illustrative points with examples to give details about what new media is and how it has changed young people’s lives.”

2.3 How to write an illustration paragraph (body paragraph)

Paragraphs in the body of an illustration essay have two purposes:

• Describe and Define: You need to clearly describe and define your subject to the reader. The reader should be left with the impression that you have a deep knowledge of the topic.
• Explain and Exemplify: You need to provide many examples to illustrate your points.

I recommend that you do this in order. Your first few paragraphs should describe and define the subject. Your following paragraphs should give a lot of quality examples.

2.4 Examples of illustrative paragraphs

I’ll keep using the example topic: Illustrate the various ways young people use social media in their everyday lives.

Example of a Describe and Define Paragraph:

“Social media is a form of media that emerged during the Web 2.0 era of the internet. It is unique because it gives people the ability of people to create personal profiles and communicate back-and-forth with one another. It is generally known to have emerged in the early 2000s with websites like MySpace and Facebook, and has changed recently to be heavily mobile responsive with the emergence of smartphones in the 2010s.”

Example of an Explain and Exemplify Paragraph:

“One unique consequence of social media is that it has meant young people are in constant contact with their friends. Whereas in the past young people would have to hang out in person to be in contact, now they can message each other from their homes. For example, young people get home from school and can log into their web forums like Facebook messenger. From here, they can stay in touch and chat about issues that happened at school. While this may be enjoyable, some people also believe that it means young people can continue to be bullied even from within their own bedrooms.”

2.5 How to write a Conclusion for an Illustration Essay

To conclude your illustrative essay, feel free to use the normal conclusion paragraph style. My preferred template for a conclusion is the 5 Cs Conclusion method .

Here’s a brief summary of the 5 Cs Conclusion method. Like the INTRO method, you can write one sentence per point for a 5 sentence conclusion paragraph:

• Close the loop: Refer to a statement you made in your introduction to tie the beginning and end together.
• Conclude: Show your final conclusion on the issue. As this is an illustrative essay that generally does not require a unique thesis statement, this step can be blended with ‘Clarify’.
• Clarify: Show how you have answered the essay question
• Concern: Show who would be concerned about the issue.
• Consequences: Show what the consequences of the issue are for real life.

Read Also: 39 Better Ways to Write ‘In Conclusion’ in an Essay

2.6 Example Conclusion for an Illustrative Essay

Here’s an example conclusion for an illustrative essay on the topic: Illustrate the various ways young people use social media in their everyday lives.

“The beginning of this essay pointed out that social media is quite a new phenomenon. Nonetheless, it appears to have had a significant impact on young people’s everyday lives. This essay has illustrated this fact with examples including points on how many young people use social media at home every night, how it has impact how bullying occurs, and helped them to stay in touch with friends who live long ways away. Parents and teachers should be concerned with this issue in order to help children know when to switch off social media or use it responsibly. Social media is not going anywhere and will continue to impact the ways young people interact with one another on a daily basis.”

5. A Template Just for You

6. Illustration Essay Topic Ideas

I’ve provided a full list of over 120 illustration essay topics you can choose form on this post here .

For a summary of 5 of my favorites, see below:

• Provide an illustration of the lifestyle of American Pilgrims in the first few years of settlement. You can dig deep in this example by giving explanations of the farming practices, initial struggles faced, and the complex relationships between colonizers and Indigenous peoples.
• Provide an illustration of the factory line production model and how it changed the world. Here, you can dig deep with examples of how the production line model was different to anything that came before it. You can also explain it using an example of a product going through a factory, such as a Model T Ford.
• Provide an illustration of the ways the court system seeks to ensure justice is served. Courts are complex places, so you can dig deep here to explain why we have them and how they help keep all of us safe.
• Provide an illustration of human development from birth to 18 years of age. You can dig deep in your explanation of how children move through stages of development before becoming what we consider to be fully grown adults. I selected this example for the illustration essay above.
• Provide an illustration of how and why the Pyramids were built. An illustration of these remarkable structures can help you delve deep into the ways ancient Egypt operated. Discuss the ways pharaohs saw pyramids as spiritual buildings, how they used slaves to build them, and the remarkable engineering coordination required to build enormous structures back before we had machinery to help out!

7. Illustration Essay Example

Topic: “Provide an illustration of human development from birth to 18 years of age. (1000 words)”

Introduction of the Illustration Essay:

Children are born with complete dependence on their parents for their own survival. Over the next 18 years they go through several stages of biological and cognitive development before reaching full maturation. This illustrative essay explores several key ideas about how humans develop in their first 18 years. There are multiple different understandings of how humans develop, and several of the major ones will be illustrated in this essay. First, the key ideas behind human development are defined and described. Then, several examples of key parts of human development in childhood are presented with a focus on Piaget’s approach to human development.

Body Paragraphs of the Illustration Essay – Definition and Description:

Human development is the process of human growth from birth through to adulthood. It is a process that takes somewhere between 16 and 25 years, although most western societies believe a child has reached adulthood on their 18 th birthday (Charlesworth, 2016). The process behind child development has been defined and described in multiple different ways throughout history. Two of the key theorists who describe child development are Piaget and Freud. Both believe all children develop in clear maturational stages, although their ideas about what happens in each stage differ significantly (Davies, 2010).

Freud believes that all children develop through a series of psychological stages. At each stage of development, children face a challenge which they must overcome or risk experiencing psychological fixations in adulthood. Freud outlined five stages of child development: the oral (0 – 1 years of age), anal (1 – 3 years of age), phallic (3 – 6 years of age), latency (6 – 12 years of age) and genital (12+ years of age). For each stage, there is a challenge (Fleer, 2018; Devine & Munsch, 2018). These are: weaning off the breast (oral), toilet training (anal), identifying gender roles (phallic), social interaction (latency) and development of intimate relationships (genital). If the child successfully navigates each stage, they will become a well developed adult.

By contrast, Piaget was focused less on psychological development and more on cognitive maturation. Piaget also believes that all children develop in roughly equal stages (Devine & Munsch, 2014). Piaget outlined five stages of development: the sensorimotor (0 – 2 years of age), preoperational (2 – 7 years of age), concrete operational (7 – 11 years of age) and formal operational (11+ years). In each stage, the child is capable of certain tasks, and should be encouraged to master those tasks to develop successfully to the next stage. These tasks include: mastery of the sense and motor skills to navigate the world (sensorimotor), capacity to use language and think using symbols (preoperational), ability to use logic and understand time, space and quantities (concrete operational), and ability to use abstract and hypothetical thinking (formal operational) (Charlesworth, 2016).

Body Paragraphs of the Illustration Essay – Explanations and Examples:

For the remainder of this essay, Piaget’s stages will be used to illustrate how children are perceived to develop. Piaget’s stages are still widely acknowledged as useful for teaching and guiding children through cognitive development, and are generally more well received in contemporary society than Freud’s. Their value in education make them an important set of stages to understand for teacher educators. Furthermore, many educational curricula around the world continue to roughly teach in stages commensurate with Piaget’s stages (Kohler, 2014). They are therefore important stages of child development to understand.

The first stage is the sensorimotor stage (0 – 2). Children in the sensorimotor stage need support to develop skills in navigating their immediate environments. At this stage, children are given objects with various textures, shapes and compositions to allow children to touch and learn about their world (Kohler, 2014). Children in this stage also learn to develop the understanding that when things are out of their sight, they still exist! Piaget called this skill ‘object permanence’. For example, the game ‘peek-a-boo’ is often very entertaining to young children because their parents’ faces appear to disappear from the world, then reappear randomly (Isaacs, 2015; Devine & Munsch, 2018).

The next stage is the preoperational stage (2 – 7). In the preoperational stage, children learn to develop more complex communicative capacities. Children develop linguistic capacities and begin to express themselves confidently to their parents and strangers. Children also develop imaginative skills, and you often see children engaging in imaginative play where they dress up and pretend to be princesses, firefighters and heroes in their stories (Isaacs, 2015). At this young age, children are very egotistical and continue to see themselves as the centre of the world. To help children develop through this stage, parents and teachers should encourage creative writing and praise children whenever they may see things from other people’s perspectives (MacBlain, 2018).

The third stage is the concrete operational stage (7 – 11). At this stage, children learn to think logically about things in their everyday environments. They therefore develop more complex capacities to reason and do mathematical tasks. At this stage teachers tend to encourage children to learn to come to conclusions using reason and scientific observations (MacBlain, 2018). At this level many children are able to see things from others’ perspectives, but remain focused on their own lives and things in their immediate environments (Kohler, 2014).

Lastly, from ages 11 and up, children develop into the formal operations stage where they can think abstractly. In this stage, ethical and critical thinking emerges. These young people are now starting to think about issues like social justice and politics (Kohler, 2014). They also develop the capacity to do more complex mathematical tasks in the realm of abstract rather than concrete maths. A real life example may include the capacity to complete algebraic tasks. This is why algebra tends to become a part of mathematics curricula in middle and high school years (Charlesworth, 2016; MacBlain, 2018).

While Piaget’s stages are widely acknowledge to be accurate for ‘normal’ development, there is criticism that these stages do not reflect the development of children across all cultures and abilities. For example, children with autism may develop at faster or slower rates (Isaacs, 2015). Similarly, it appears children in some non-Western cultures develop concrete operations at a much younger age than children in Western societies. Thus, other theorists like Vygotsky have demonstrated that we should not see child development in set rigid stages, but instead think of development as being heavily influenced by social and cultural circumstances in which children develop (MacBlain, 2018).

Conclusion of the Illustrative Essay:

At the beginning of this illustrative essay, it was stated that children use the first 18 years of their life to develop biologically, psychologically and cognitively. Zooming in on cognitive development, this essay has illustrated child development through Piaget’s four stages of cognitive development. Through these stages, it is possible to see how children develop from very dependent and unknowledgeable states to full independence from their parents. Teachers should know about these stages of development to properly understand what level children should be at in their learning and to target lessons appropriately.

References:

Charlesworth, R. (2016). Understanding child development. Los Angeles: Cengage Learning.

Davies, D. (2010).  Child development: A practitioner’s guide . New York: Guilford Press.

Fleer, M. (2018). Child Development in Educational Settings . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Isaacs, N. (2015). A Brief Introduction to Piaget. New York: Agathon Press.

Kohler, R. (2014). Jean Piaget. London: Bloomsbury.

Levine, L. E., & Munsch, J. (2018).  Child Development from Infancy to Adolescence: An Active Learning Approach . London: Sage Publications.

MacBlain, S. (2018).  Learning theories for early years practice . London: SAGE.

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How to Write an Illustration Essay: Quick and Easy Guide

Writing an illustration essay involves more than just adding a few pictures. While it may seem simple, creating an effective illustrative essay requires time and a strong understanding of the topic. By using guides and examples, students can easily master this type of writing. To learn how to craft a standout illustration essay, check out this article for the definition, suggested topics, and step-by-step guidelines.

What is Illustration Essay

An illustration essay is a type of written composition that uses examples to explain a particular concept or idea. These essays often include visuals and other illustrations to help clarify the topic.

Like other essays, an illustration essay begins with a thesis statement that introduces the main theme and provides a preview of what readers can expect. The essay then presents a series of examples to support the thesis. 

The purpose of an illustration essay is to use enough examples to demonstrate a point the writer wants to make. Unlike argumentative essays, it doesn't aim to persuade the audience to adopt a specific viewpoint. Instead, it helps the audience understand the topic through detailed examples. Illustration essays can be used for various purposes, such as describing the benefits of a community garden, explaining the impact of a new technology in education, or illustrating the importance of recycling programs.

Phrases of Illustration

When writing an illustration essay, using specific phrases can help to clearly present your examples and reinforce your points. Here are some useful phrases from our essay writer for illustrating your ideas:

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Illustration Essay Checklist

To write a comprehensive, clear, and well-structured illustration essay, use this checklist to ensure your essay effectively conveys your main idea through relevant and detailed examples.

How to Write an Illustration Essay in 6 Steps

Learning how to write an illustration essay can be straightforward and impactful by following these steps prepared by our essay writing service :

Step 1: Select a Topic  

If you have the freedom to pick your topic, select one that you are genuinely interested in. Your enthusiasm for the subject will come through in your writing, making it more engaging for your readers. Think about subjects that you find intriguing or have a strong opinion about. This passion will help you stay motivated throughout the writing process and make the research feel less like a chore. Additionally, a topic that interests you will likely interest your readers as well, making your essay more impactful.

Step 2: Research  

Before you start writing, gather ample information from reliable sources. Embrace research as your foundation; it's essential for providing accurate and detailed examples in your essay. Use credible platforms such as Oxford Academic and Google Scholar to find scholarly articles, books, and other reputable sources. Take notes and organize your findings to easily reference them when writing your essay. Thorough research ensures that your examples are well-supported and enhances the credibility of your writing. The more comprehensive your research, the stronger your academic essay will be.

Step 3: Write an Outline  

Creating an outline is a crucial step that helps organize your thoughts and structure your essay. Your outline should include an introductory paragraph, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

• Introduction : Start with an introduction that presents your topic, provides necessary background information, and states the significance of the topic. Conclude the introduction with a clear thesis statement that outlines the main idea of your essay.
• Body Paragraphs : Plan each body paragraph to focus on a single example or idea that supports your thesis. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence, followed by detailed examples and explanations. Use transitional phrases to ensure a smooth flow between paragraphs and maintain coherence throughout the essay.
• Conclusion : Conclude your essay by restating the thesis in a new way, summarizing the main points discussed in the body paragraphs, and providing a final thought or statement that wraps up your essay.

Step 4: Write Your Ideas  

With your outline in place, start writing your essay by expanding on each point. Transform your main ideas into full paragraphs, making sure each paragraph clearly presents one example and supports it with detailed evidence. Write in a clear and concise manner, avoiding unnecessary jargon or overly complex sentences. Each paragraph should build on the previous one, creating a cohesive and logically organized essay. Make sure your writing is engaging and that your examples effectively illustrate your points.

Step 5: Review  

After completing your essay, take the time to review and edit it thoroughly. Read through your essay at least twice to catch any grammatical, structural, or contextual errors. Check that your examples are clear and well-supported, and ensure that your essay flows logically from one point to the next. Make sure your writing is free of plagiarism by properly citing all sources. Editing is a crucial step that can greatly improve the clarity and quality of your essay, so don’t rush this process.

Step 6: Enjoy Your Perfect Essay  

By following these steps, you should have a well-organized and effective illustration essay. Take a moment to appreciate your hard work and the finished product. Remember, writing can be a smooth and rewarding process when you approach it methodically and with attention to detail. 

Illustration Essay Outline

Before starting your illustrative essay, it's essential to prepare an outline. A simple way to do this is to write a 5-sentence outline, with each sentence briefly describing the focus of each paragraph. This will help you organize your main ideas and develop them further.

Here are the key parts your illustration essay outline should include:

Illustration Essay Topics

When beginning the writing process, choosing a compelling topic is the first step. Here is a list of illustration essay topics to inspire you. Feel free to select one from the list to craft an engaging and informative illustration essay.

• Illustrate the daily routine of a remote worker and the challenges they face.
• Describe the process of training a service dog and its impact on individuals with disabilities.
• Explain the benefits of mindfulness meditation for reducing stress and improving mental health.
• Detail the steps involved in organizing a successful community clean-up event.
• Illustrate the effects of a balanced diet on overall health and well-being.
• Explain how a public library can serve as a community hub and support lifelong learning.
• Describe the process of starting a small business and the challenges entrepreneurs encounter.
• Illustrate the importance of voting in local elections and how it impacts the community.
• Explain the role of social workers in supporting vulnerable populations and provide examples from real-life scenarios.
• Detail the impact of volunteer work on both the volunteers and the community they serve.

Illustration Essay Example

Looking at our well-written illustration essay example can help you understand this writing style better. Use the clear example below to improve your own writing skills.

We also recommend taking a look at our comprehensive guide on a narrative essay , complete with examples.

Types of Illustrative Example

There are many effective methods to enhance your illustrative writing. Here are some of the best ways to present evidence:

• Drawing from personal experiences
• Referring to historical events or current facts
• Comparing different objects
• Using findings from scientific research
• Including numbers and data

Let's take a closer look at using personal experience as an example. You'll need enough details to fill your body paragraphs with vivid examples from your own experiences. Here are some useful methods to get inspired:

• Personal Observation : Investigate a specific object related to your topic. Describe any event, situation, location, or person you have observed and share your thoughts. When detailing your observational experiences, include sensory expressions to help your audience visualize the situation as if they were witnessing it themselves. For example, describe a quiet morning in a park, noting the soft rustle of leaves, the crisp smell of the morning air, and the sight of early joggers.
• Personal Memories : Draw from your own life to support your main argument. Reflect on meaningful life lessons or recent experiences that are significant to you. Describe these memories vividly, allowing your readers to understand the situation as you perceived it. For instance, recall a challenging project at work, explaining how the pressure, collaboration with colleagues, and eventual success taught you valuable lessons about perseverance and teamwork.
• Interviews : Conduct face-to-face conversations with experts related to your topic. These individuals can share insightful examples that can make your writing stand out. Prepare thoroughly by researching and listing your questions before the interview. For example, if writing about sustainable living, interview an environmental scientist or activist who can provide firsthand accounts of effective sustainability practices and their impact on the community.

Final Words

To conclude, by choosing interesting examples, doing your research, and explaining them clearly, your illustration essay can become a great piece of work. Let your creativity flow, add vivid stories, and take a journey where ideas grow and understanding deepens.

If you find it hard, buy essay from our creative writers. They will bring your essay to life with engaging examples that inspire readers, leaving them interested and wanting more!

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What are Some Good Illustration Essay Topics?

What are the characteristics of an illustrative essay, how do you write an illustration essay.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• Updated existing sections
• Added new topics, example, FAQs
• Added section on types and phrases for illustrative essays
• Illustration Essay. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2024, from https://www.dbu.edu/writing-center/_documents/quick-reference-flyers/specific-assignments/illustration-essay.pdf  
• ‌Publisher, A. removed at request of original. (2015, October 27). 10.2 Illustration. Open.lib.umn.edu; University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing edition, 2015. This edition adapted from a work originally produced in 2010 by a publisher who has requested that it not receive attribution. https://open.lib.umn.edu/writingforsuccess/chapter/10-2-illustration/  

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Illustration Essay

How to Write an Illustration Essay: A Complete Guide for Students

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Good Illustration Essay Topics & Ideas for Your Help

An illustration essay is one of the most interesting essay assignments that you will get in your college and university life. It is a unique style of writing and very different from other types of academic essays. 

A deep understanding of what exactly an illustration essay is and how to write a perfect one is important for success with this kind of work.

If you are new to illustration essays and don’t know how to start, our blog is here to help!

In this blog, you will find out how to write an illustration essay. You will also get a list of illustration essay ideas and samples to help you get started. 

So let’s dive in!

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• 1. Illustration Essay Definition
• 2. How to Write an Illustration Essay?
• 3. Illustration Essay Outline
• 4. Free Illustration Essay Examples
• 5. Illustration Essay Topics 
• 6. Illustration Essay Writing Tips

Illustration Essay Definition

An illustration essay is a type of essay that aims to present a compelling and vivid picture of a particular subject or personal experiences. 

Unlike other essays that may focus solely on presenting arguments or analyzing data. An exemplification/illustration essay employs various examples, anecdotes, or scenarios to provide clarity and support for the chosen topic. 

Purpose of Writing an Illustration Essay 

The goal of an illustration essay is to paint a picture for the reader, helping them understand the subject through real-life instances or relatable situations. 

This type of essay allows the writer to showcase their ability to express ideas in a relatable manner, making it an engaging and informative piece of writing.

In simpler words, think of an illustration essay as a bunch of pictures or examples that come together to create a clear and detailed image of the chosen topic. It's a way of making the subject more alive and easy to understand for the reader.

Check out this video to improve your understanding of illustration essays:

Read on to get a step-by-step guide on how to write one yourself!

How to Write an Illustration Essay?

Here is the step-by-step guide that you can follow for writing a great illustration essay:

1. Choose a Topic 

The first step is to choose an interesting topic for your essay. Make sure the topic you choose has enough material available online.     2. Plan Your Writing 

Once you have decided on the topic, start planning your essay. Find credible sources before starting to write your essay. In this way, you will have plenty of information and examples to include in your essay. 

3. Creating an Outline

Create a rough outline to make the writing easier. Make sections for the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, and write ideas you would add to each section. 

4. Introduction & Thesis Statement

Here’s the answer to “how to start an illustration essay?”

Introduction is the opening paragraph that typically contains 5 to 10 sentences. The number of sentences in the introduction depends on the complexity of the topic. 

The essay introduction should begin with a hook statement followed by some background information. End your introduction with the thesis statement. 

It is important to include a well-written thesis statement at the end of the introductory paragraph. The thesis statement for illustration essay should reflect your point of view. It is basically a one-sentence statement that tells the readers what you will discuss in your essay. 

Here is an illustration essay thesis example:

5. Body Paragraphs

This body section is typically made up of 3 paragraphs, but the number can be increased depending on the topic. In an illustration essay the body paragraphs should begin with a topic sentence followed by some supporting details and an example. 

Make sure to include stronger evidence to support the thesis. The stronger the evidence is, the more seriously the reader will consider your point. Make sure the illustration you provide to support a point must relate to the subject and your audience. 

You can also mention evidence in terms of importance, either from important to least important or from least important to the most important. 

6. Conclusion 

Create a summary of the whole essay in the last paragraph. Then, reiterate the thesis statement and include a finishing statement in the last. 

7. Add References 

An illustration essay may require you to use empirical data and other research material. Don’t forget to state the sources on the final page of the essay. Follow the referencing style specified by your instructor. 

8. Proofread 

Once you have finished the writing process, proofread your essay for any mistakes in grammar or structure. Edit and revise your essay to make sure it is free from any language mistakes. 

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Illustration Essay Outline

Below you can find the most common layout of the illustration essay. 

Below you can find a sample illustration essay outline that you can refer to for a better understanding. 

Illustration Essay Outline Example

Free Illustration Essay Examples

You can look at some professionally written illustration essay examples to better understand the correct writing style and tone for a great essay. 

Here are some illustration essay examples that you can review before beginning the writing process. 

Illustration Essay on Social Media

Example Illustration Essay on Smoking

Illustration Essay Sample

Illustration Essay Examples Pdf

Illustration Essay Examples For College

Illustration Essay Introduction Examples

Transition Words for Illustration Essay 

Transition words and phrases are important to include for a smooth flow of information. However, students sometimes find it difficult to have a smooth transition in this type of essay.  

Using transitions in your essay will make it easy for you to maintain a flow in your writing and for the readers to understand the connection in between. 

Here’s a list of transition words and phrases that will come in handy for writing an illustration essay: 

• For example
• For instance
• To illustrate
• In other words
• As an illustration
• In particular
• The result that
• Consequently
• Accordingly
• For this reason
• As a result

Illustration Essay Topics 

Choosing the right topic is the key point in crafting an outstanding essay. Below you can find some good illustration essay topics for college to choose from. 

• What are the best hobbies that can help you make money? 
• Illustrate how a good education can lead to a successful life
• Explain your views on your favorite social media platform
• What is the most common challenge faced by Students today?
• What are the necessary steps for writing a resume? 
• Rugby and football: Write about the main differences
• Status symbol and Fashion shows: Share your views with examples 
• What are the most effective ways to save money?
• Write about the challenges currently faced by students
• Explain how movies impact our view of life

Looking for more great topics for your illustrative essay? Browse through our list of illustration essay topics !

Illustration Essay Writing Tips

Ready to start writing your illustration essay? Keep these tips in mind to make the process easier.

• Define the Focus of Your Illustration Essay:

Before you start writing your essay, it is important to clearly identify the focus of your illustration essay. This will help to ensure that you are able to effectively illustrate your points in an organized and concise manner.

• Use Illustrative Examples:

Make sure to include examples to support your points in your essay. These can be real-world examples that illustrate a point or hypothetical situations designed to show how certain aspects of the topic work.

• Check for Clarity:

Once you’ve finished writing your essay, read it over and make sure it’s clear and easily understood. If there are any areas of confusion or ambiguity, revise them to ensure the reader understands your point.

• Use Credible Sources:

If you’re going to include any facts or figures in your essay, make sure they are accurate and up-to-date. Before including them, make sure to check their credibility with reliable sources. This will help improve the authority of your essay.

• Proofread Carefully:

Finally, proofread carefully for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other errors. Make sure to edit and proofread your essay before submitting it. This will help to ensure that your essay is as polished and professional as possible.

Following these tips will let you write an excellent illustration essay. So be sure to keep these in mind while writing.

To conclude,

Hopefully, now you understand what an illustration essay is and the necessary steps for writing a perfect one. 

If you are still unsure how to write a good illustration essay, get help from expert essay writers. MyPerfectWords.com is a write my essay service  that can help you with all of your essay writing tasks.

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How To Write an Illustration Essay?

12 May, 2020

8 minutes read

Author:  Tomas White

Not all of us are "right-brained" enough to have a powerful visual imagination. So, when the tutor handles the illustration essay task, hands could get a little shaky. But, no worries! This type of essay is not about artistic visualization nor it requires any kind of drawing experience. It is much more about the "big picture" vision and the ability to formulate examples supporting your claims/arguments. So..

<h2 “alignnone” title=”Illustration Essay Writing Guide”>What is an Illustration Essay?

Illustration essay is here to prove a particular thing exists. This particular essay type relies much more on research than analysis in order to prove a particular point. It contains a great deal of description and provides the reader with vocal examples. The thesis is formulated in the introduction; then it is developed with the help of illustrative examples within the body paragraphs – just to be perpetuated in the conclusion by the end of the essay.

How to write an Illustration Essay?

An illustration essay is also commonly referred to as an Example essay. Of all the different kinds of essays students write, this exists as the most straightforward, easiest essay to write.

While other essays require very specific aspects, such as the Cause and Effect essay , an illustration essay is exactly what it sounds like: an illustration of a particular subject. If you’re wondering if it requires drawing, have no fear! In an illustration essay, the writer illustrates his or her points with clear, authentic examples—not pictures. The body paragraphs should contain research illustrating the thesis, and likely the Works Cited and/or Bibliography pages.

Introduction

This paragraph opens the illustration essay. It typically contains anywhere from 5 to 15 sentences; a number of sentences depend upon the density of the topic being explained in the essay. It should begin with a hook – a sentence to gain and keep the reader’s attention. Hooks may also be referred to as “attention getters”.  Examples of hooks include:

• Interesting facts
• Relevant statistics
• Rhetorical question
• Personal anecdote

Related post: How to write an Essay Introduction

Following the hook should be several background sentences . These sentences provide key information the audience may need to fully understand the concept being illustrated in the essay. Such information could include defining important vocabulary, providing historic or social context, or relevant personal background for individuals discussed in the paper. Information plays a fundamental role when it comes to putting up a piece of content, whether it’s an informative essay or not.

Finally, the last sentence of the introduction paragraph should be the thesis statement . It’s a good idea to craft your thesis statement before you begin any research; a well-written thesis should be able to guide your research and make it more effective. What makes a good thesis? So glad you asked!

A thesis statement should be both clear and argumentative.  For an illustrative essay, a thesis statement should focus on identifying the subject to be illustrated and the way the writer plans to support the illustration.

Body Paragraphs

A body paragraph’s purpose is to support the thesis. Each paragraph should contain a different piece of evidence that proves the writer’s thesis has merit. All body paragraphs follow a universal format involving five basic sentence types:

• Topic Sentence. This sentence identifies the topic of the paragraph and how it relates to the thesis statement.
• Background sentence(s). Depending on the complexity of the subject identified in the topic sentence, the essay writer may need one to three or more background sentences.
• Research sentences. These sentences can be direct quotations or paraphrases of important ideas found during the research process. Any research sentences supporting the topic should be cited according to your teacher’s preference.
• Analysis. Analysis sentences explain how the research sentences are relevant to the topic sentence and thesis sentence. These sentences often use analysis words such as shows, portrays, illustrates, proves, and communicates.
• Conclusion/Transition. This sentence wraps up the paragraph and transitions the reader to the next idea in the following paragraph.

Now, here is where the “illustration” part comes in. You need to support each body paragraph statement with examples, proving or supporting your claim. Two examples covering each statement works the best. There is no need to dive too deep into examples – just lay them out as you outline your body paragraphs.

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Beginning the conclusion paragraph means that you’re almost done! Conclusion paragraphs are typically the shortest paragraphs in an illustration essay. Its purpose is to reiterate the main points within each body paragraph and prove to the reader that the writer proved his or her point within the essay. While these paragraphs are short, they are important; it is the last impression the reader has – so make it a good one!

Conclusion paragraphs should be strongly worded and confident. However, they should not introduce any new information; focus only one what’s already been presented as evidence in the essay.

Tips from our writers – free takeaways!

Transition words.

Transitions  can really help move an argument along in an illustration essay. Transitions are words that act as connectors in a sentence; they connect one idea to another. They can show similarity, contrast, or illustration among other connections. Want your illustration essay to shine? Consider incorporating the following transitions to improve the flow of the essay:

Transitions can link similar ideas in the same body paragraph or link different examples of body paragraphs.

Outline Example

As with all essay writing assignments, it’s important to begin early and stay on-task. Keep to a writing schedule, beginning with an idea outline to organize your thoughts and help guide your research.

Check out this no-frills outline:

Illustration Essay Sample

Be sure to check the sample essay, completed by our writers. Use it as an example to write your own essay. Link:  Illustration Essay on Social Statuses

Drawing the line (figuratively)

Taking the time to outline and narrow your research focus makes finding information much, much easier! But it is not always necessary to verse an outstanding illustrative essay. The best way to prove your point is to show a real-life example.

Nothing really works better than cases and situations taken straight from your life experience (almost like the narrative essay , right?) People with colorful life experience tend to be the best in the illustrative essay “business”.

Remember: you have many resources available to you to help you earn the grade you want. Stick to a good writing schedule and take a rough draft to your professor for constructive criticism. Visit the campus writing center if you have one, or send your essay to our professional editing service. Revisit and revise your draft at least once – perfection is a process!

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Illustration Essay Writing

Last updated on: Jun 9, 2023

Illustration Essay Guide for College Students

By: Cordon J.

Reviewed By: Rylee W.

Published on: Nov 30, 2021

Are you looking to find a way to spice up your illustrations in your essay or want some good ideas? We're here to help!

Some people think that illustration essays are easy because they can draw pictures for their essays. However, there is more to creating an illustrative essay than just drawing a few pretty pictures!

Illustration essays require time and a good understanding of the subject matter to succeed with this type of work.

In a world of infinite possibilities, the most important step in writing is researching thoroughly. In-depth research will help you find relevant information and resources for your academic essay.

Check out this blog to learn how to write an illustration essay that's top-notch from start to finish!

You'll get helpful tips on topic ideas lists as well as see some examples.

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What is an Illustration Essay?

Some people might not know what an illustration essay is. Illustration essay definition states:

“ It's a type of informative writing in which you provide explanations about how the thing works and give examples to show it.”

This type of illustrative writing provides definitions, empirical data with factual evidence, and an example that illustrates the points made so far.

Some people only hear about this type of essay from others, but they are actually very common. An illustrative essay is when someone explains something by using graphs and other illustrations. They also represent it with facts like statistical data or other different types of research . These essays are also supported by accurate evidence that is gathered at the time of the research.

Purpose of Illustration Essay

A good illustration essay is one that clearly shows and supports a point. It should do this with evidence, such as studies and experts. Or it could use more interactive evidence like personal anecdotes or current events.

Ultimately the point is that you want to help your reader "see" what you are trying to say. So, for example, if it's an argument about how people should be better at taking care of the environment, then factual examples might not be as effective as using personal anecdotes. Such anecdotes will make people feel like they understand the importance of caring for the planet better.

To write a successful essay, you need to tell about an idea and how it is. To do this, use facts and details. Also, don’t forget to use different situations and personal experiences to make the issue more realistic.

Illustration Essay Format

There are a few ways to illustrate your point. One way is with an illustration essay!

This type of writing has three parts: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Let’s explore these points in detail:

• Introduction

The introduction is the start of your illustration essay idea. Start by introducing the main topic you will talk about in your essay. The first sentence should be a statement that summarizes what you are going to say and is the core part of the introduction.

It should be catchy, so use an interesting fact, statistics, or anecdote to grab people's attention.

Body paragraphs are about presenting evidence to support your thesis. They start with an introduction that tells people what you're going to talk about. All paragraphs need to have a topic sentence, background sentences, and a conclusion sentence.

ILLUSTRATION ESSAY OUTLINE EXAMPLE

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How to Write an Illustration Essay?

Now you must be wondering how to start an illustration essay? Here you go!

Following are the steps to follow when writing an impeccable illustration essay:

1. Choose your Topic

The first step for an illustration essay is to choose a topic that you are interested in. You should make sure the subject has enough material available online. Narrow your options down before choosing one, so there is more information to work with.

2. Plan your Essay

Planning your essay is essential before you start writing. Make sure to find credible sources so that you have plenty of information and examples for your essay.

3. Draft an Outline

An outline makes things much simpler because all of your ideas are organized. To get started with creating an outline for yourself, start off by listing what points or topics you would like in each section. Then organize them all in a sound structure to form the outline.

4. Writing a Masterpiece

Now is the time to write your essay. Once you have the outline ready, start writing according to the outline and compile your illustration essay. Make sure to add the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph.

Afterward, provide evidence in body paragraphs and illustrate them and then conclude your essay by providing the finishing statement at the end. Don’t forget to use transition words!

5. Add References

Avoid plagiarism by citing your sources. You'll need to provide this information on the last page of your essay, so make sure you don't forget!

List all sources for any borrowed ideas in the bibliography section and cite them according to the style required by your instructor.

6. Edit and Proofread

One of the most important steps in writing an essay is proofreading and editing. Make sure to take your time with this phase to avoid making any mistakes!

Transition Words For Illustration Essay

An illustration essay provides a detailed understanding of the subject matter. It has a lot of examples and supporting details. You should have transitions for each piece of evidence because it can be difficult to have a smooth transition in this type of essay. You can use words and phrases such as "for example" or "in other words".

Let’s have a look at the list of transition words.

Free Illustration Essay Examples

ILLUSTRATION ESSAY ABOUT FAMILY

ILLUSTRATION ESSAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Illustration Essay Topics

Here are some good illustration essay topics:

• Illustrate the importance of exercise for a healthy mind and body.
• How to maintain an equilibrium between study and sports?
• Illustrate rules to play badminton
• How to craft a good resume
• Illustrate features of a good sports team
• Tips to improve mental sickness
• How to create a strong imagination?
• Elaborate on the importance of time
• How to write a compelling narrative essay?
• Illustrate the condition of Delta Covid Variant in August 2021 word wide?

These were some of the trending topics for illustration essays. Now it’s your time to pick one topic and show your creativity. Otherwise, our creative and professional writers are always here to help you.

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Illustration Essay Tips

• Gather Evidence

It is always best to have more than just one illustration for an essay. Having a list of five or ten items will give you something interesting, intriguing, and effective that your audience can focus on while reading the next three paragraphs.

• Keep it Concise

It's not as if you have to worry about how long the essay is. But, if it isn't mentioned, make sure that your paper does not exceed three pages in length, or else it may be graded harshly by the professor.

Don’t try to put everything on one page. Instead, choose what evidence would best illustrate your point of view.

• Use Specific Examples

Your symbolism should be clear and easy to understand, but you can still use personal experiences as examples if they are appropriate.

Hopefully, now you understand what an illustration essay thesis example is and how to write one. If you still need help, then contact 5StarEssays.com the best essay writing service to cater to your ‘ write my essay ’ needs!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you illustrate an essay.

You have to illustrate an essay in the following way:

• When you write an illustration essay, make sure to use evidence to prove your point.
• How much evidence you need depends on how complicated the subject is and what kind of knowledge your audience has about that subject.

How many examples should you use in an illustration essay?

In a shorter essay, you need two to three examples to show how your main idea is true. If the essay is longer than four pages, you will need even more.

What is an illustration paragraph?

An illustrative paragraph is a paragraph that has an example. It can have many examples, but it also has a topic sentence. The transition words, f or instance, and another illustration is , are also used.

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Illustration Essay

Learn How to Craft An Effective Illustration Essay

Published on: Jun 13, 2022

Last updated on: Jul 23, 2024

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Have you ever wanted to bring a topic to life with vivid details and examples? If so, then the illustration essay may be the perfect writing assignment for you! 

This type of essay allows you to paint a picture with words and show your readers exactly what you mean. 

In this blog, we'll explore illustration essays and how they can captivate an audience by using vivid examples and anecdotes. Whether you're a student or a professional, this guide will provide you with practical tips on crafting an engaging and effective illustration essay.

So, get set to amplify your imagination and take your writing game to the next level!

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Illustration Essay Definition

An illustration essay is a piece of writing that uses examples to support a thesis statement or main idea. It is also known as an exemplification essay because it provides specific instances that demonstrate or " exemplify " the writer's point.

Importance of Illustration Essay

An illustration essay is important because it:

• Helps the reader understand abstract or complex concepts by providing concrete examples.
• Makes arguments more convincing by providing evidence to support them.
• Enhances the reader's engagement by using relatable and vivid examples .
• Demonstrates the writer's ability to think critically and organize ideas effectively.
• Develops the writer's research and writing skills by requiring them to find and analyze relevant examples.

Enhance your understanding of illustration essays with this informative video!

How to Write an Illustration Essay?

Writing an illustration essay can be a challenging task, but by following these steps, you can create a well-organized and effective essay.

Step 1: Select a Compelling Topic

• Start an illustration essay by choosing a topic that is interesting, relevant, and has ample examples to support your thesis.
• Ensure the topic aligns with the purpose of illustration - to clarify, explain, or prove a point.

Step 2: Conduct Research and Gather Examples

• Find relevant and credible sources that support your topic. Use a variety of sources, including books, academic journals, and online articles, to gather information.
• Collect a variety of examples that support your thesis. These could be personal experiences, historical events, case studies, or research findings.
• Ensure each example is relevant and directly contributes to the understanding of your main point.

Step 3: Define Your Thesis

• Clearly state the main argument or point you want to illustrate in your essay.
• Your illustration essay thesis statement should provide a roadmap for the reader, indicating the specific aspects you will illustrate.

Here is an illustration essay thesis example: 

Step 4: Create your Illustration Essay Outline

Organize your ideas and examples into an outline that includes an introduction , body paragraphs, and a conclusion. This will help you stay focused and ensure that your essay flows logically.

Here's a basic illustration essay outline template:

Step 5: Write the Introduction

Start your introductory paragraph with a strong thesis statement that clearly states your main argument or point. Use an attention-grabbing hook to engage your reader and provide background information to set the stage for your examples.

Step 6: Develop Body Paragraphs

In each body paragraph, present a specific example that supports your thesis statement. Use transitions to connect your examples and show how they relate to your main argument.

Step 7: Write the Conclusion

Summarize your main points and restate your thesis statement in a new and compelling way. End your conclusion with a memorable final thought that leaves a lasting impression on your reader.

Step 8: Final Review

• Conduct a final review to ensure that your essay effectively communicates your main point through well-supported examples.
• Make any final adjustments to enhance overall coherence and effectiveness.

By following these steps, you can write an effective illustration essay that engages your reader and showcases your point of view.

Types of Illustration Essay 

Each type of illustration essay brings its own strengths and nuances. This allows writers to choose the approach that best suits their topic and the message they want to convey.

Single Example

These essays deeply explore one example to vividly illustrate and substantiate the main point. By focusing on a specific subject matter, they engage the reader in the writing process, ensuring the audience considers the writer's perspective.

Multiple Examples

Utilizing various examples, these essays provide a comprehensive view of the subject matter. By incorporating empirical data, they strengthen the writer's argument, making it more compelling for the reader.

Personal Experience

Relying on personal anecdotes, these essays connect the subject matter to the writer's life. This personal touch in the writing process ensures readers consider the writer's point more deeply.

Historical Illustration Essay

Drawing from historical events, these essays provide context and depth to the subject matter. By linking the past to the present, they engage the audience and the reader will consider your point.

Analyze specific cases or scenarios in detail. Examines real-life situations to illustrate broader trends or patterns.

Process Illustration Essays

Illustrates a step-by-step process to explain a concept or phenomenon. Break down complex procedures into manageable examples for clarity.

Research-Based Illustration Essays

Incorporates findings from academic research as supporting examples. Leverages scholarly studies and data to strengthen the essay's credibility.

Comparative Illustration Essays

Compares and contrasts multiple examples to highlight differences or similarities. Emphasizes the relationship between various instances to support the thesis.

Contemporary Issue

Addresses current events or societal issues through relevant examples. Connects the essay's message to contemporary concerns for relevance.

Analogical Illustration Essays

Uses analogies to illustrate complex ideas or relationships. Draws parallels between familiar situations and the topic to enhance understanding.

Literary Illustration Essays

Utilizes examples from literature, such as novels or poems, to support the argument. Analyzes literary works to illustrate broader themes or concepts.

Visual Illustration Essays

Incorporates visual examples, such as charts, graphs, or images, to enhance understanding. Appeals to visual learners and provides a different dimension to the illustrative process.

Transition Words for Illustration Essay

Transition words or phrases are crucial in an illustration essay as they help to connect ideas, providing a smooth flow of information for the reader. Here are some transition words that can be useful in an illustration essay:

• For example
• For instance
• Specifically
• In particular
• To illustrate
• As an illustration
• In other words
• In this case
• As evidence

These transition words can be used to introduce examples, provide specific details, give evidence, and clarify ideas in an illustration essay. Remember to use them appropriately and effectively to enhance the coherence and clarity of your essay.

Illustration Essay Topics Ideas

Here is a list of illustration essay ideas to get you inspired: 

• Illustrate the Impact of Social Media on Interpersonal Relationships.
• Explore the Benefits of Regular Exercise on Mental Health.
• Illustrate the Role of Technology in Shaping Education Today.
• Illustrate How Cultural Diversity Enriches Workplace Environments.
• Illustrate the Influence of Positive Parental Involvement on Academic Success.
• Explore the Effects of Climate Change on Global Biodiversity.
• Illustrate the Evolution of Online Shopping and Its Impact on Traditional Retail.
• Illustrate How Reading Fiction Enhances Empathy and Emotional Intelligence.
• Illustrate the Importance of Financial Literacy in Personal Finance.
• Examine the Positive Effects of Volunteering on Personal Well-being.

Check our blog on illustration essay topics for college, university, and highschool to get inspired for your next assignment!

Illustration Essay Examples

Looking for free illustration essay examples for college? Check out our selection of well-crafted illustration essays and get insight into this type of writing: 

The History of The Civil Rights Movement

The Impact of Social Media on Society

The Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation

Tips for Writing an Illustration Essay

Here are extra pointers to enhance your illustration essay:

• Clarity in Examples: Choose vivid, diverse examples that directly relate to your thesis for clarity and impact.
• Detailed Explanations: Provide in-depth explanations for each example to establish its relevance and support.
• Varied Examples: Utilize different types of examples (personal, historical, data-driven) to enrich your argument.
• Thesis Clarity: Ensure your thesis is clear and specific, guiding the selection and presentation of your examples.
• Transitions: Use smooth transitions between examples and paragraphs for a cohesive and logical flow.
• Engagement: Connect with the reader by making examples relatable and showing their relevance to real-life situations.
• Revision: Review and revise thoroughly for coherence, relevance, and effective illustration of your main point.

Wrapping Up!

We hope this guide has helped you understand the basics of writing an effective illustration essay. We have covered the purpose, types, and how to write an illustration essay step-by-step. 

By following our guidelines and tips, you can craft a compelling essay that effectively illustrates your point. Remember to choose a relevant topic, use vivid examples, and organize your essay properly. 

Looking for professional assistance with your illustration essay? Contact CollegeEssay.org today! Avail custom essay writing assistance 24/7 with all of your academic needs. 

Contact us now and experience the difference our AI essay writer can make!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should an illustration essay be.

The length can vary, but a typical illustration essay is around 500-800 words, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

How does an illustration essay differ from story writing?

In story writing, the focus is on narrative and plot development, often with characters and a storyline. Illustration essays, on the other hand, emphasize the use of examples to clarify and support a specific point.

Do all body paragraphs need examples in an illustration essay?

Yes, each body paragraph in an illustration essay should present a specific example that supports the thesis, providing detailed explanations and analysis.

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An illustration essay is a type of writing that uses specific examples to illustrate a general idea or an abstract concept. The primary goal of illustration writing is to use proper examples to prove  the main point of the essay.

This article will explain the purpose, importance, and structure of an illustration essay. Want to know how to write it step by step? Hop on and keep reading until you get to the actual guide. Soon you’ll be ready to write this kind of paper, from first sentences until last paragraphs. Let’s dive into it together!

What Is an Illustration Essay: Definition

The illustration essay concept lies in providing an initial introduction into the general research subject. Essentially, this is about proving that a particular object or notion exists, showing how it functions, and explaining why it is important for everyone involved. As an author, make sure you familiarize your readers with key ideas and important context. If necessary, detailed explanations must be provided, together with strong examples or evidence. It is easier to start an entire research project with this writing type. At this stage conducting some detailed research or analyzing numerous academic sources isn't necessary. An illustrative work should provide just an initial impression about future research in this field. It also helps a great deal with planning your further steps of exploring the main topic.

How to Write an Illustration Essay: Step-By-Step

It is important to compose an illustrative essay correctly as it will pave the road towards your main research goals. We’ll provide you with a quick and easy guide about writing a great essay. The key to success is getting a clear understanding of general direction and staying methodical. Make sure to pay close attention to our tips provided below. They will help you with creating a nice composition, thus boosting your research progress.

Step 1. Choose a Topic for Your Illustration Essay

The first step in writing an illustrative essay is finding a good topic. You need to be well aware of what you plan to research in future. Include this information into an illustrative work and show what further steps will be made towards this goal. Pick a specific topic that can help to provide good insights into this general research subject.  Besides, you should find some good materials supporting your work. In case it is too difficult to find them for your topic, consider picking an easier one.

Step 2. Conduct a Research for an Illustration Essay

The next step is to prepare for writing. Illustration text should give its readers proper understanding of the general problem’s context which is why you need to know this context well yourself.  Search for credible sources and evidence that could support all explanations. But it is not necessary to involve too many scholarly sources at this step. Instead, you just need to provide initial clarifications on future research works you will write so several descriptive books or articles would do.

Step 3. Create an Illustration Essay Outline

A great idea is creating an illustration essay outline before starting with actual writing. It might not be strictly necessary, as stated in your assignment. But in any case it would help you a lot in terms of avoiding serious mistakes or finding noticeable gaps in initial text. The idea of outline is to write down all important ideas and descriptions shortly. Instead of writing a full paragraph for a certain idea, give it just 1-2 phrases. Once done, you’ll review it yourself and correct all inconsistencies. Making such corrections is much easier at this step.

Step 4. Create Good Introduction for Illustration Essay

After reviewing and correcting the outline, it is time to proceed with an introduction of illustration essay. Begin with describing the general research subject and stating your main ideas which would be explained in this main body part later. Make sure to consult assignment you’ve received if not sure which ideas should be included. An important part of an introduction is adding a ‘hook’ at the end. This could engage your audience and thus ensure achieving great success after presenting the completed work.

Step 5. Write a Strong Illustration Essay Thesis

Don’t forget to compose your illustration essay thesis at its beginning. An effective thesis clearly identifies your main illustrative topic, making sure all readers understand what’s going on. Besides, it contains at least three crucial arguments that support or deny main ideas.  Other requirements for an illustrative thesis:

• It presents the purpose of your text for its readers.
• It serves as a path to developing explanations in main body paragraphs.
• It formulates a question that is to be answered in concluding part.

Step 6. Create Body for Your Illustration Essay

The central part of the illustrative writing process is to compose paragraphs with actual descriptions, explanations and evidence for each main idea of current text. The body part should support opinions you’ve formulated in your thesis. All key facts should be presented in this part. It is crucial to make all paragraphs logically connected to each other. All necessary information must be included here but don’t make this part too wordy. Certain balance must be achieved between leaving readers informed and also keeping their attention. We recommend using a good body paragraph example while writing.

Step 7. Conclude Your Illustration Essay

Now it’s time for the final part of illustration essay: conclusion paragraph. It must summarize all explanations and effectively answer questions posed at your introduction. A good conclusion essay makes all main ideas clearer while keeping it short and concise. Don’t add any new facts here, just mention ones given in the main part. However, you can talk about next research steps in your conclusion so that audience gets prepared for some upcoming works on this subject.

Step 8. Proofreading Your Illustration Essay

Once you’re done with illustrative writing, it is time for reviewing and editing it. Even skillest writers make mistakes so it is highly likely current composition would have some inconsistencies left at first. You need to give it a second look and proofread it closely, e.g. next day after finishing with writing. Consider asking someone else to read it as well: your peers, friends, or family members. They might find some logical gaps where everything would seem quite clear for you.

Illustration Essay Examples

In case you would need some extra information in addition to our descriptions and explanations above, we’ve added several free illustration essay examples to illustrate it. These are the real world cases of this kind of writing. They include description of main research idea, explanation of its aspects and context, and informative conclusion.

An Illustration Essay: Final Thoughts

This is all about illustration paper writing process that you need to know. If you’ve finished this article, you’ll be better prepared for creation of strong illustrative materials and for conducting good research.

Not sure about your writing skills or struggling with tight deadlines? Feel free to check out our essay service by StudyCrumb ! We are a team of professional writers with vast experience in various academic areas. So just let us know if you need help with any papers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Illustrative Essay

1. how many paragraphs should an illustration essay have.

The number of illustration essay paragraphs is expected to be at least five:

• 1 paragraph for the introduction: its thesis statement and main ideas.
• 3 paragraphs for main body: in most kinds of academic compositions, body paragraphs are where all supporting arguments must be included.
• 1 paragraph for conclusion to summarize all of the above.

You can write more than that but keep in mind that an illustrative text is not expected to be too long.

2. What is an illustrated essay?

An illustration essay or an illustrated essay should provide an initial introduction into your research subject for your audience. It is structured around the goal of using examples to make valid points supporting the main ideas of your essay. Such an essay does not typically involve in-depth research but rather makes a broad examination of a research field and its context.

3. What is the purpose of illustration?

The purpose of illustration essay, also known as an example essay, is to clearly demonstrate and support a point by using evidence. It should help your audience better understand the context of your research subject and prepare them for your further works in that field. In addition to explaining the topic for your readers, such text helps you plan further steps. It serves as a quick and easy start for your research process.

4. Is an illustration a drawing?

By definition, it is a visualization or a depiction made by an artist, such as a drawing, sketch, painting, or photograph. An illustration essay however does not necessarily involve a painting or a photograph, nor does it have to revolve around an art theme. Its name means that it illustrates your chosen topic for your readers using detailed explanations and basic depictions.

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

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Home ➔ How to Write an Essay ➔ Illustration Essay

Illustration Essay Guide

In the expansive landscape of academic writing, illustration essays hold a unique position due to their particular emphasis on vivid examples and illustrations. These essays serve a crucial function: to provide readers with a rich, intricate understanding of a concept or idea, using examples as the primary mode of clarification and explanation.

The power of an illustrative essay lies in its capacity to bring abstract ideas to life, using concrete instances that breathe life into academic or theoretical concepts. Just as an artist uses a palette of colors to create an intricate painting, writers of illustration essays employ a spectrum of examples to elaborate, elucidate, and, indeed, “illustrate” their chosen subject.

The artistry in crafting illustration essays is in selecting and presenting these examples. The challenge lies not just in finding the right examples but in utilizing them to build an engaging, cogent narrative that adds depth and texture to the reader’s comprehension. This delicate dance of narrative construction and example deployment lies at the heart of every successful illustrative essay.

This guide sheds light on the nuances of how to write an illustration essay, offering expert insights into selecting topics, structuring arguments, and choosing the most fitting examples. With careful consideration of these elements, any writer can master the art of the illustrative essay and deliver impactful, persuasive content that is engaging and enlightening.

The Basics of Illustration Essays

Illustration essays are like a puzzle. They take a main idea or statement and then use different pieces – examples – to show a full and clear picture of that idea.

The first thing to understand is what these essays are meant to do. They aim to explain an idea or clarify a point by using examples. These examples are the heart of the essay. They take a reader from a vague understanding of a subject to a clear and detailed view.

An essential part of these essays is the quality of the examples used. They need to be relevant, clear, and precise. They must match the main idea closely and add detail to it. Also, it’s important to explain each example and link it back to the main idea. This will make sure the reader understands why the example is important.

Finally, a good illustration essay doesn’t jump from one idea to another. It’s well-organized, and each paragraph flows smoothly into the next. The essay starts with an introduction that states the main idea. Then, it uses body paragraphs to give examples and explain them. Lastly, it ends with a conclusion that reminds the reader of the main idea and summarizes the points.

This guide will show how to create such an essay, step by step, in an easy-to-follow way.

Choosing a Topic for Your Illustration Essay

Choosing a topic for your essay is like picking a destination for your journey. It will determine your path and the sights you’ll see along the way. But how do you choose a good topic for your illustration essay?

• First, pick something that you’re interested in. Writing is always easier when you’re excited about your subject. If you’re passionate about a topic, you’re more likely to put in the effort to find great examples and write a compelling essay.
• Second, ensure your topic is broad enough to find many examples but not so broad that it’s overwhelming. If your topic is too narrow, you might struggle to find enough examples to fill your essay. On the other hand, if it’s too broad, you might find yourself drowning in too much information.
• Third, consider your audience. Who will be reading your essay? What are they interested in? What kind of examples will they understand and connect with? For example, if you’re writing for a science class, you might choose a topic related to a scientific concept. If you’re writing for a general audience, you might pick a topic related to everyday life or current events.
• Lastly, make sure your topic can be explained clearly through examples. Remember, the goal of an illustration essay is to use examples to make a point or explain an idea. If your topic can’t be illustrated well with examples, it might not be the right choice for this type of essay.

Take your time when choosing your topic. It’s the first step in your essay writing journey, and a well-chosen topic can set you on the path to a great illustration essay.

Here are some examples of illustration essay topic ideas:

• The Influence of Technology on Our Daily Lives: You could illustrate this topic with examples of how different technologies have made life more convenient, changed people’s communication, or created new opportunities for work and education.
• The Impact of Global Warming on Our Planet: This topic could be illustrated with examples of changing weather patterns, rising sea levels, or the effect on wildlife populations.
• The Role of Social Media in Modern Society: Examples could include how social media has changed how we communicate, the influence on politics, or the impact on mental health.
• How Music Affects Mood and Emotion: You could use examples of different genres of music, the physiological effects of music, or personal experiences with music.
• The Benefits of Physical Exercise for Mental Health: Examples might include the science behind exercise and mental health, personal testimonials, or case studies.
• The Importance of Art Education in Schools: This could be illustrated with examples of how art education fosters creativity, enhances academic performance, or contributes to emotional well-being.
• The Effect of Healthy Eating on Personal Well-being: Illustrate this topic with examples of the benefits of a balanced diet, the connection between food and mood, or the impact on physical health.
• The Consequences of Procrastination on Academic Performance: Use examples of how procrastination can lead to stress, lower grades, or missed opportunities.
• The Impact of Volunteering on Community Development: You could illustrate this with examples of successful community projects, personal growth experiences from volunteering, or the social benefits of volunteer work.
• The Influence of Literature on Empathy and Understanding: Examples could include how certain books foster empathy, personal experiences with literature, or studies about the effects of reading on emotional intelligence.

How to Write an Illustration Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now that you’ve chosen your topic, it’s time to start writing your illustration essay. Don’t worry if you’ve never written one before or if you’re feeling a bit unsure. Just follow these steps, and you’ll be well on your way.

• Understand Your Assignment : Before you start writing, make sure you understand your assignment. How long should your essay be? What’s the deadline? Are there any special instructions you need to follow?
• Do Your Research : Next, start researching your topic. Look for clear, specific examples that you can use in your essay. Remember, your examples are the core of your essay, so choose them carefully.
• Brainstorm Ideas and Create a Thesis Statement : Now, start brainstorming. What’s the main point you want to make in your essay? This will be your thesis statement. It should be clear, focused, and supported by your examples.
• Outline Your Essay : Once you have your thesis statement, you can start outlining your essay. An essay typically includes an introduction (with your thesis statement), body paragraphs (each with a different example), and a conclusion.
• Write Your Essay : Now, it’s time to write. Start with a strong introduction to catch your reader’s attention. Then, write your body paragraphs, explaining each example and how it supports your thesis. Finally, summarize your essay with a conclusion reinforcing your main point.
• Review and Edit : Lastly, always review and edit your work. Look for spelling or grammar errors, check that your essay flows well, and ensure you’ve fully supported your thesis with strong, clear examples.

Remember, writing is a process. Don’t rush. Take your time to find great examples, organize your thoughts, and craft your essay. With patience and practice, you can write an excellent illustration essay.

Structuring Your Illustration Essay

The structure of your essay plays a key role in guiding your reader through the argument you’re making. A well-structured essay is easier to understand and more enjoyable to read. Here’s a simple guide on how to structure your illustration essay:

• Introduction : This is where you introduce your topic and present your thesis statement. Start with a hook – a compelling fact, a quote, or a question – to catch your reader’s attention. Then provide some background information about your topic. Finish with your thesis statement, which should clearly state the main idea of your essay.
• Body Paragraphs : Each body paragraph should focus on one example supporting your thesis. Start with a topic sentence that introduces the example you’ll discuss. Then, describe the example in detail and explain how it supports your thesis. Make sure to provide enough detail so your reader can understand the example and see why it’s relevant.
• Conclusion : This is where you wrap up your essay. Restate your thesis statement and summarize the main points you’ve made in your body paragraphs. Don’t introduce any new information here – remind your reader of what you’ve already discussed. Finally, end with a concluding sentence that brings closure to your essay.

Remember, the structure of your essay should help your reader understand your argument. Make sure each part of your essay connects to the next, so your essay flows smoothly from one point to the next. With careful planning and organization, you can create a well-structured illustration essay that effectively communicates your ideas.

Illustration Essay Outline Example

Let’s take “The Impact of Global Warming on Our Planet” as the topic. Here’s an outline for such an illustration essay:

I. Introduction

• Brief explanation of global warming.
• Thesis statement : Global warming significantly impacts our planet, as manifested through changing weather patterns, rising sea levels, and effects on wildlife populations.

II. Changing Weather Patterns

• Explanation of how global warming impacts weather patterns.
• Example 1: Increased frequency and intensity of heat waves.
• Example 2: More frequent and severe hurricanes and storms.
• How these changes impact human societies and natural ecosystems.

III. Rising Sea Levels

• Explanation of how global warming contributes to rising sea levels.
• Example 1: Melting ice caps in the Arctic.
• Example 2: Loss of land in low-lying countries like Maldives and Bangladesh.
• Implications for coastal cities and human displacement.

IV. Effects on Wildlife Populations

• Explanation of how global warming affects wildlife.
• Example 1: The impact on polar bears due to the loss of sea ice habitats.
• Example 2: Coral reef bleaching due to warmer ocean temperatures.
• Discussing the risk of species extinction and loss of biodiversity.

V. Conclusion

• Restatement of the thesis and summary of the main points.
• Discussion of the broader implications of global warming.
• Closing statement on the need for urgent action to mitigate the impacts of global warming.

Developing Strong Illustrative Examples

The strength of your illustration essay lies mainly in the examples you choose. They are the pillars that uphold your argument and provide the detail and depth that make your essay compelling. Here are some tips for developing strong illustrative examples:

• Relevance : Each example you use should be directly relevant to your thesis statement. It should clearly illustrate the point you are trying to make. If an example doesn’t strongly support your argument, it’s probably best to leave it out.
• Detail : An effective example provides sufficient detail. Rather than making broad, generic statements, delve into the specifics. This will provide your reader with a more vivid understanding of your argument.
• Variety : Use a range of different types of examples. These could be personal anecdotes, historical examples, case studies, hypothetical scenarios, or others. Variety not only makes your essay more interesting but also strengthens your argument by demonstrating that your point holds true in different contexts.
• Explanation : After presenting each example, explain how it supports your thesis. Don’t assume that the connection will be obvious to your reader. Be explicit about how each example illustrates your point.
• Balance : While your essay should be rich in examples, avoid overdoing it. Your essay should still have a clear and coherent structure; too many examples can make it feel disjointed or confusing. Aim for a balanced essay that uses examples effectively but maintains a clear and logical flow.

Remember, the examples you choose are the backbone of your illustration essay. You can create a persuasive, compelling essay by selecting relevant, detailed examples and explaining how they support your thesis.

Refining and Polishing Your Illustration Essay

The final stage in writing your illustration essay involves revising and refining your work. This isn’t just about catching typos and fixing grammar mistakes. It’s about improving the overall quality of your essay, making sure your argument is clear, and ensuring your examples are compelling. Here’s how to go about it:

• Proofread : Start by checking for spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. These can distract from your argument and make your essay difficult to read.
• Review your argument : Re-read your essay to make sure your argument is clear and logical. Make sure each paragraph contributes to your thesis and that your examples effectively illustrate your points.
• Check your examples : Look at each of your examples. Are they relevant, detailed, and varied? Do they effectively support your thesis? If not, you might need to find new examples.
• Ensure clarity : Make sure your essay is clear and easy to understand. Avoid jargon or complex language. Remember, the goal is to communicate your ideas as clearly as possible.
• Seek feedback : Ask a friend, family member, or teacher to read your essay. They can provide valuable feedback and may notice things that you’ve overlooked.
• Revise : Use the feedback you receive and your own critical review to revise your essay. This might involve reordering paragraphs, adding or removing information, or rewriting sections of your essay.

Refining and polishing your essay might take time, but it’s an essential step in ensuring your essay is the best it can be. With careful revision, your illustration essay will not only be error-free, but it will also be clear, persuasive, and engaging.

Utilizing Transitions in Your Illustration Essay

Transitions are the glue that holds your essay together, allowing your ideas and examples to flow seamlessly from one to the next. They guide your reader through your argument, making your essay easier to understand and more enjoyable to read. Here’s how to effectively utilize transitions in your illustration essay:

• Between Sections : Use transitions to move smoothly between the introduction, each body paragraph, and the conclusion. Phrases like “to begin with,” “in conclusion,” or “finally” can signal to your reader that you’re moving from one section to another.
• Within Paragraphs : Within each paragraph, transitions can help guide your reader through your argument. Use phrases like “for example,” “in other words,” or “specifically” to introduce your examples, and phrases like “therefore,” “thus,” or “as a result” to show the implications of these examples.
• Between Paragraphs : Transitions between paragraphs can help your essay flow smoothly from one point to the next. Phrases like “in addition,” “on the other hand,” or “similarly” can help create these connections.
• Transitional Sentences : Sometimes, a single word or phrase isn’t enough. In these cases, you can use a transitional sentence to move from one idea to the next. These sentences can summarize the point you’ve just made and hint at the point you’re about to make.

Remember, transitions should guide your reader, not confuse them. Don’t overuse transitions or use them unnecessarily. Be sure that each transition adds clarity and smoothness to your essay. With the right transitions, your illustration essay will flow smoothly from beginning to end, making it easier for your reader to follow your argument and appreciate your ideas.

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Essay Papers Writing Online

Mastering the art of writing an illustrative essay.

Welcome to the ultimate guide that will equip you with the knowledge and skills to craft a compelling illustrative essay. An illustrative essay is a type of writing that aims to provide vivid examples and descriptions to support a specific point or argument. Whether you’re a student looking to improve your writing skills or a writer seeking to captivate your audience, this guide is tailored to enhance your understanding and proficiency in illustrative essay writing.

In this comprehensive guide, we will dive into the essence of an illustrative essay, explore effective strategies for selecting and presenting examples, and analyze real-life samples to grasp the art of crafting a successful illustrative essay. By the end of this guide, you will not only know how to write an illustrative essay but also master the techniques to engage and persuade your readers through the power of illustrative writing.

Understanding the Illustrative Essay Genre

An illustrative essay is a form of writing that aims to illustrate a particular topic or idea with examples, anecdotes, and detailed descriptions. Unlike other types of essays that focus on arguing a point or persuading the reader, the illustrative essay seeks to inform and clarify by providing concrete examples that help the reader understand the topic more clearly.

The key to a successful illustrative essay is choosing the right topic and selecting relevant examples that effectively support and illustrate the main idea. By using vivid descriptions, specific details, and engaging anecdotes, the writer can paint a clear and vivid picture in the reader’s mind, making the topic more relatable and easier to understand.

When writing an illustrative essay, it’s essential to structure your essay in a way that makes the examples and explanations flow logically and cohesively. Start with a strong thesis statement that clearly articulates the main idea or argument of the essay, and then use each paragraph to explore a specific example or aspect of the topic that supports the thesis.

Ultimately, the goal of an illustrative essay is to provide the reader with a deeper understanding of a topic or idea by using concrete examples and illustrations. By mastering the art of selecting and presenting relevant examples effectively, you can craft a compelling and informative essay that engages and enlightens your audience.

Choosing a Captivating Topic

One of the most crucial steps in writing an illustrative essay is selecting a captivating topic. The topic you choose will determine the direction and focus of your essay, so it’s important to choose wisely. Here are some tips to help you choose a topic that will engage your readers:

1. Select a topic that interests you: When you are passionate about a subject, your enthusiasm will shine through in your writing. Choose a topic that you are genuinely curious about or have a personal connection to.

2. Consider your audience: Think about who will be reading your essay and choose a topic that will resonate with them. Consider what will be relevant, relatable, and interesting to your target audience.

3. Find a unique angle: Look for a fresh perspective or a unique angle on a familiar topic. Avoid clichéd or overused ideas and strive to present a fresh take on the subject.

4. Conduct research: Before finalizing your topic, do some preliminary research to ensure there is enough information available to support your essay. Make sure you have access to relevant sources and materials to back up your points.

By following these tips, you can choose a captivating topic that will make your illustrative essay engaging and compelling to your readers.

Crafting a Strong Thesis Statement

Before you start writing your illustrative essay, it’s crucial to develop a strong thesis statement that will guide your writing and shape the content of your essay. A thesis statement is a concise declaration of the main point or argument you will be making in your essay. It should be clear, focused, and specific to ensure that your essay has a clear direction and purpose. Here are some tips for crafting a strong thesis statement:

• Be specific: Your thesis statement should clearly state the main point or argument of your essay. Avoid vague or broad statements that lack precision.
• Be concise: Your thesis statement should be brief and to the point. Avoid lengthy and convoluted sentences that may confuse the reader.
• Be arguable: Your thesis statement should present an argument that can be debated or challenged. Avoid stating facts or opinions that are universally accepted.
• Be relevant: Your thesis statement should be relevant to the topic of your essay and reflect the central idea you want to convey.

By following these guidelines, you can create a strong thesis statement that will help you effectively communicate your main point and engage your readers throughout your illustrative essay.

Gathering Relevant Examples

When writing an illustrative essay, the key to effectively conveying your point is to provide relevant examples that support your main idea. Before you start writing, it’s essential to gather a variety of examples that are clear, vivid, and specific. Here are some tips on how to gather relevant examples for your illustrative essay:

By following these steps, you can gather relevant examples that strengthen your illustrative essay and help you effectively communicate your ideas to your readers.

Structuring Your Essay Effectively

When writing an illustrative essay, it is essential to structure your content effectively to ensure clarity and coherence. Here are some key tips to help you organize your essay:

Introduction:

Start your essay with an engaging introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and provides a brief overview of the topic you will be discussing. Include a thesis statement that clearly states the main point you will be illustrating in your essay.

Body paragraphs:

Organize your body paragraphs logically, moving from one idea to the next in a clear and coherent manner. Each paragraph should focus on a single point or example that supports your thesis statement. Use transitions to connect your ideas and ensure smooth flow between paragraphs.

Illustrative examples:

Support your arguments with relevant and specific examples that illustrate the points you are making. Use vivid descriptions and details to bring your examples to life and help the reader visualize the concepts you are discussing.

Conclusion:

Wrap up your essay with a strong conclusion that restates your thesis statement and summarizes the key points you have made. Leave the reader with a final thought or reflection that ties everything together and reinforces the main idea of your essay.

By following these guidelines and structuring your illustrative essay effectively, you can create a compelling and persuasive piece of writing that engages your audience and effectively illustrates your ideas.

Adding Vivid Descriptions and Details

One of the key elements of writing an illustrative essay is the use of vivid descriptions and details. Adding rich and detailed descriptions can help bring your topic to life and engage your readers. Here are some tips on how to effectively add vivid descriptions and details to your essay:

• Use sensory language: Incorporate descriptive words that appeal to the senses, such as sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. This can help create a more immersive experience for the reader.
• Paint a picture with words: Paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind by using descriptive language that evokes images and emotions. Show, don’t tell.
• Include specific details: Add specific details that enhance the reader’s understanding of your topic. This could include relevant facts, statistics, anecdotes, or examples.
• Create a strong sense of place: Describe the setting in detail to transport your readers to the scene of your essay. Use descriptive language to create a strong sense of place and atmosphere.
• Show unique perspectives: Share unique perspectives and insights to make your essay stand out. Use descriptive language to highlight what makes your topic interesting or noteworthy.

Editing and Polishing Your Essay

Once you have finished writing your illustrative essay, it’s essential to carefully edit and polish it to ensure that it is clear, concise, and engaging. Here are some tips to help you improve your essay:

• Proofread: Carefully read through your essay to catch any spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. It’s helpful to read your essay out loud to identify any awkward phrasing or unclear sentences.
• Check for Consistency: Ensure that your essay maintains a consistent tone, style, and point of view throughout. Make sure your examples support your thesis and are relevant to the topic.
• Clarify and Expand: Review each paragraph to ensure that your ideas are clearly expressed and supported with relevant examples. Add more details or examples where needed to enhance the clarity and depth of your essay.
• Organize Your Ideas: Check the structure of your essay to ensure that your ideas flow logically and smoothly. Consider rearranging paragraphs or sentences to improve the overall coherence of your essay.
• Trim Unnecessary Information: Remove any unnecessary or repetitive information that does not add value to your essay. Keep your writing concise and focused on the main points.
• Solicit Feedback: Consider seeking feedback from peers, instructors, or writing tutors to get constructive criticism on your essay. Use the feedback to make further improvements.

By carefully editing and polishing your illustrative essay, you can enhance its quality and effectiveness, making it more engaging and compelling for your readers.

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Illustration/Example Essay

2.1 purpose & structure of illustration/example, learning objectives.

This section will help you determine the purpose and structure of illustration/ example in writing.

The Purpose of Illustrative Writing

To illustrate means to show or demonstrate something clearly. An effective illustration essay, also known as an example essay, clearly demonstrates and supports a point through the use of evidence.

The controlling idea of an essay is called a  THESIS . A writer can use different types of evidence to support his or her thesis, such as scientific studies, quotes from experts in a particular field, statistics, historical events, current events, analogies, and personal anecdotes. All of these are examples of ways writers can illustrate a thesis. Ultimately, you want the evidence to help the reader “see” your point, as one would see a good illustration in a magazine or on a website. The stronger your evidence is, the more clearly the reader will consider your point.

Using evidence effectively can be challenging, though. The evidence you choose will usually depend on your subject and who your reader is (your AUDIENCE ). When writing an illustration essay, keep in mind the following:

• Use evidence that is appropriate to your topic as well as appropriate for your AUDIENCE .
• Determine how much evidence you need to fully explain your point depending on the complexity of the subject and the knowledge of your AUDIENCE’s likely familiarity regarding that subject.

For example, if you are writing for a university newspaper about a new communication software,  you know that your audience is primarily college students with different backgrounds and different experiences with software. You might choose to use an analogy or a personal story to illustrate how the software works and how college students might incorporate it into their daily lives. You might also choose to add a few more pieces of evidence to make sure the audience understands your point.

If, however, you are writing about the same subject for a journal for information technology (IT) professionals, then you know your audience members are specialists in the field and have a great deal of expertise with communication software. You would choose to use more technical evidence to illustrate your point because the audience is already familiar with the subject.

Always keep your audience in mind as you determine the best types of illustrations to include in your essay.

Know Your Purpose

As with all writing, it’s important to know what your purpose is before you begin. Are you going to use illustration to inform your readers about an important discovery, invention, or product? If so, what is your relationship to the topic? That is, do you work for the company that developed the product and hope to boost sales? Were you on the research team that made the discovery and want to warn readers about it? Or are you a columnist for a consumer report publication trying to inform readers about the pros and cons of certain items?

Whatever situation you are in as the writer, you will make choices about how to address your audience to achieve the effect you want. Your word choice, your level of formality, your tone, even your thesis will all change depending on whom you are writing your illustration for.

In some cases, your instructor will assign a particular audience and purpose for an essay. She or he may assign an opinion piece for a large daily newspaper such as The Baltimore Sun or The Washington Post. In either of these cases, you would be writing for a general audience of adults living in or around the city. Not only will your topic need to be about something timely, but it will need to be relevant to the citizens of the area. Think about it this way: if it’s not relevant or isn’t about a current event, why would they read your opinion about it?

In other cases, your reader will be your instructor and your purpose will be, to be honest, just to get a passing grade. That’s fine, too. You will still make appropriate choices that match your intention.

The Structure of an Illustration Essay

The controlling idea, or thesis , belongs at the beginning of the essay. Evidence is then presented in the essay’s body paragraphs to support the thesis. You can start supporting your main point with your strongest evidence first, or you can start with evidence of lesser importance and have the essay build to increasingly stronger evidence. This type of organization is called “ order of importance .”

Transition words are also helpful in ordering the presentation of evidence. Words like first, second, third, currently, next, and finally all help orient the reader and sequence evidence clearly. Because an illustration essay uses so many examples, it is also helpful to have a list of words and phrases to present each piece of evidence. Certain  transitional words and phrases  aid in keeping the reader oriented in the sequencing of a story. Some of these phrases are listed here:

Phrases of Illustration

Vary the phrases of illustration you use. Do not rely on just one. Variety in choice of words and phrasing is critical when trying to keep readers engaged in your writing and your ideas.

Basic Components of an Illustration Essay

Thesis —your controlling idea or, in other words, your main point.

Examples —whether in the form of statistics, quotes, personal anecdotes, interviews, etc. the examples you include illustrate (show, demonstrate, make visible) your thesis.

Supporting details —these are the specific explanations you use to elaborate on each example. The amount of detail you include depends upon your audience.

Order of Importance —this is the order in which your examples appear.

Transitional phrases— Usually appearing at the beginning of each body paragraph, a transitional phrase indicates the order (“To begin with,” or “In addition,”) or the importance (“Most importantly”).

Writing an Illustration Essay

First, decide on a topic that you feel interested in writing about. Then create an interesting introduction to engage the reader. The main point, or thesis, should be stated at the end of the introduction.

Gather evidence that is appropriate to both your subject and your audience. You can order the evidence in terms of importance, either from least important to most important or from most important to least important. Be sure to fully explain all of your examples using strong, clear supporting details.

Key Takeaways

• An illustration essay clearly explains a main point using evidence.
• When choosing evidence, always gauge whether the evidence is appropriate for the topic as well as the audience.
• Organize the evidence in terms of importance, either from least important to most important or from most important to least important.
• Use time transitions to order evidence.
• Use phrases of illustration to explain examples.
• Provided by : Lumen Learning. Located at : http://lumenlearning.com/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
• Successful Writing. Provided by : Anonymous. Located at : http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/successful-writing/s14-02-illustration.html . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
• Letter to the City. Authored by : Scott McLean. Located at : http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/successful-writing/s19-03-illustration-essay.html . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Illustration Essay

Last updated on: Aug 30, 2024

How to Write an Illustration Essay - Step-by-Step Instructions

By: Dorothy M.

Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.

Published on: Mar 22, 2023

Want to write an illustration essay that really stands out? Whether you're a student tackling an assignment or someone aiming to improve their writing skills, this blog is for you. 

We'll explore what an illustration essay is, why it's important, and give you clear steps, examples, and tips to help you write with clarity and impact. 

Let's dive in and make your writing shine with vivid examples and straightforward explanations!

On this Page

What is an Illustration Essay?

An illustration essay shows an idea or argument with examples. It's like telling a story with clear examples that prove your point. 

For example, if you're writing about "The benefits of reading," you would use specific examples of how reading helps people learn and grow.

The illustration essay's purpose is to support your point with real examples. By using clear examples, you can show why your idea or argument is true. It helps readers understand your point better.

Types of an Illustration Essay 

There are different ways to present examples in an illustration essay:

• Example Illustration Essay: Uses specific examples to explain a broader idea or point.
• Narrative Illustration Essay: Tells a story to illustrate a theme or concept, often using personal experiences.
• Descriptive Illustration Essay: Describes examples in detail to create a clear picture for the reader.
• Exemplification Essay: Provides several examples to support a thesis or main point.
• Comparative Illustration Essay: Compares different examples to show similarities or differences.

Each type aims to use examples effectively to explain and support the main message of the essay.

7 Easy Steps to Write an Illustrative Essay

Here is how to start an illustrative essay with these simple steps:

Step 1: Choose a Topic

Before starting the writing process, pick an illustrative essay topic that interests you and is easy to explain with examples.

• Brainstorm Ideas: Think of different topics you like or care about.
• Know Your Audience: Choose a topic that will interest your readers and resonate with real life.
• Be Specific: Make sure your topic is not too broad.

Step 2: Do Research

You need to gather as much information as possible to support your ideas. Here is what you need to do:

• Find Good Sources: Use books, articles, and reliable websites.
• Take Notes: Write down important points and examples.
• Organize Your Info: Group similar ideas together.

Step 3: Make an Outline

An outline helps you organize your essay when writing an effective illustrative essay. Here is what you should remember:

• Divide into Sections: Break your essay into introduction, body, and conclusion.
• List Main Points: Write down the main points for each section.
• Order Logically: Arrange your points in a logical sequence.

Here is an illustrative essay outline to help you understand better:

Step 4: Write the Introduction

Your introductory paragraph should grab the reader's attention. 

• Start with a Hook: Use an interesting fact, quote, or story.
• Give Background Info: Briefly explain what your essay is about.
• State Your Thesis: The thesis statement for an illustrative essay should clearly say what the main point of your essay is. 

Check out this blog to learn how to write a thesis statement for an illustration essay. 

Step 5: Write Body Paragraphs

In an illustrative essay, the body paragraphs should explain one main point with examples. Here is what you can do to achieve that:

• Follow Your Outline: Stick to the points you planned.
• Use Clear Examples: Give specific examples to support each point.
• Explain Well: Make sure to explain how the examples relate to your main point.

Step 6: Write the Conclusion 

The conclusion should summarize your main points and restate your thesis. This is how you can write an effective conclusion:

• Summarize Key Points: Briefly go over the main points you discussed.
• Restate Your Thesis: Remind the reader of your main idea.
• End with a Thought: Leave the reader with something to think about.

Step 7: Edit and Proofread

Check your essay for mistakes and make it clear.

• Check Clarity: Make sure each sentence and paragraph is easy to understand.
• Look for Mistakes: Fix any grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors.
• Read Aloud: Reading your essay out loud can help you catch mistakes and improve the flow.

Phrases to Use in an Illustrative Essay

Using the right phrases or transition words for an illustrative essay can make your examples clear and convincing:

Good Illustration Essay Topics to Choose From

Here is a list of illustrative essay topic ideas to consider for your essay:

• How technology affects communication in families
• The benefits of learning a second language early in life
• Ways to reduce stress in college students
• The impact of video games on children's development
• How volunteering improves communities
• The importance of time management for successful careers
• Strategies for saving money as a student
• The effects of global warming on wildlife habitats

Pick a topic that interests you and allows you to show clear examples that support your thesis.

Don’t miss out on this blog, if you want additional essay topics to get an idea. 

Free Illustration Essay Examples

Examples are a great way to learn about a specific writing style. You can look at some professionally written illustration essay examples to better understand the correct writing style and tone for your next great story.

For your help, we have also provided you with an interesting example of an illustration essay about family.

Check out these illustrative essay samples:

Illustration Essay Example for College

Illustration Essay on Social Media

Example Illustration Essay on Smoking

Tips for Writing an Illustrative Essay 

Here are some tips for writing an illustrative essay:

• Choose a Clear Topic: Select a topic that you can easily explain with specific examples.
• Use Vivid Examples: Provide clear and specific examples to illustrate each point you make.
• Stay Organized: Create an outline to organize your ideas and examples logically.
• Focus on Details: Describe your examples in enough detail to help readers understand your points.
• Connect Examples to Thesis: Ensure each example directly supports your thesis statement or main argument. This will allow readers to consider your point of view. 
• Use Transitional Words: Use transition words for illustration essay like "for example," "such as," and "to illustrate" to introduce examples smoothly.
• Revise and Edit: Review your essay to clarify any unclear points and correct grammar and punctuation errors.

To sum things, it's not always easy to write an interesting and creative illustration essay. There are a lot of minute details to keep note of. With this blog, we hope that you can write a convincing illustration essay.

However, if you feel stuck on what to write about or how best to organize your thoughts, we can help! 

MyPerfectPaper.net is a professional essay writing service that can help you with any type of writing task. We offer all sorts of writing services, including custom essay writing services , which can handle all types of essays.

So, to relieve the burden of writing, simply reach out and say, “ write my paper online ,” and our skilled team will handle the rest with professionalism and expertise.

For those on the lookout for a quicker solution, we'll solve your worries. Our essay generator is a robust tool trained to generate impactful essays in a short time. Give it a shot today! 

Frequently Asked Questions

What three parts make up an illustration paragraph.

An illustration paragraph is much more than just the title of an article. It's made up of a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and then wrapping it all together with one last concluding line.

What's the difference between illustration and description?

The difference between description and illustration is that a description can be seen as an account or sketch of something in words, while illustrations are more graphic depictions. For example, you might describe the sound "hmm" but use drawings to illustrate it instead.

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Dorothy M. is an experienced freelance writer with over five years of experience in the field. She has a wide client base, and her customers keep returning to her because of her great personalized writing. Dorothy takes care to understand her clients' needs and writes content that engages them and impresses their instructors or readers.

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How To Write An Illustration Essay

Writing an illustration essay requires you to have not only a very specific set of writing skills, but also a deep understanding of what is illustration essay and how to achieve success with this task. The professional writers of our top-rated essay writing service are ready to share how to write an illustration essay with you right now!

What Is an Illustration Essay?

According to the illustration essay definition , this kind of work is an explanation of the subject matter with the use of relevant examples. Before you learn how to create an interesting and engaging piece of work, you should know its specificity and its difference from other written tasks.

An illustration essay, also known as an exemplification paper, needs you to sum up empirical data, make an explanation, and provide supporting evidence. This is why it is often confused with compare and contrast essays and cause and effect essays. Instead of arguing a point, you need to demonstrate your all-around understanding of the topic by using sufficient examples.

Throughout the writing process, you should demonstrate a topic through the prism of associated details. This is how the reader can visualize the described person, situation, process, or event. Without the discussion of examples, an illustration essay won’t be complete.

Why Is an Illustration Essay Important?

Illustration essay writing is crucial for your personal academic development. It creates the necessary basis for dissertation and thesis writing in the future. While writing an illustration essay , you learn how to develop arguments based on thorough research and analysis. By illustrating different points in the academic format, you demonstrate your ability to deal with discussions. The significance of illustrations is determined by their value in an academic essay. Here are three types of illustrations to be used:

• The personal illustration can be taken from your personal background. For example, you can describe the situation that is taken from your personal background. In your essay, you will say how to deal with it.
• The traditional illustration is a generic example that can be addressed by many people on the particular topic. For example, the situation can be discussed as an average thing that might happen to everyone.
• The hypothetical illustration is an invented illustration. For example, you can cover the idea of circumstances under which this kind of situation might occur.

Whatever illustration you are about to use, you need to adjust it to your context. This way, you can provide the reader with the better understanding of the covered topic. Thus, illustrations are to be relevant to both your subject and your audience. You can sort out the evidence in terms of importance by moving from the least valuable to most valuable examples or from the most valuable to least valuable examples.

Illustration Essay Outline

How to write an illustration essay? Proving your point through different examples is not hard. When you choose a correct topic and conduct proper research, you make the content sound trustworthy and reliable. Similar to every academic piece of work, an illustration essay can be written in three stages. Here they are:

Introduction

The introduction paragraph aims to present the topic you are going to cover in an illustration essay. It is crucial to find a thesis that reflects your point of view. You need to point briefly why other people have different opinions from yours. You should be able to defend your thesis better than they can defend theirs.

If you decide to discuss social networks’ impact on your daily communication, you may refer to the personal background and scientific data. Before you integrate certain examples, you can make up some foundations first. Once you are done with it, you can highlight some key points to prove that the membership in the popular social network has really changed the way you communicate with other people. First, you can talk about the value of communication in social networks. Second, you can discuss the opportunity to get closer to your family and friends. Finally, you can explain how social networks help you in your studies or work. You can also take the opposite side by discussing the negative effects of social networks on human life. The final sentence of your introductory paragraph is the thesis statement, where you build up the foundation for your further discussion.

An average introduction involves five sentences. But it can be slightly smaller or bigger, depending on the general size of an illustration essay. While writing an introduction, you should include the following elements:

• Inform : Inform the reader about the selected topic.
• Notify : Notify the reader of background information about the topic.
• Translate : Translate the essay question by saying it in different words.
• Report : Report on your supporting points after you introduce the example.
• Outline : Outline the essay organization by using transition words, such as “firstly, secondly, thirdly.”

Body paragraphs

An average number of body paragraphs is three, although there can be some variations. Depending on how many ideas you want to cover, you can have more than three paragraphs involved. Each body paragraph should highlight a separate idea that addresses your thesis statement. Generally, paragraphs in the body section have two goals:

• Describe and define : You need to introduce your topic in a simple and clear way. The reader should gain the impression that you have a deep knowledge of the topic.
• Explain and exemplify : You need to provide as many examples as possible to address your topic.

Before you start writing the body paragraphs, you should introduce them first. For each paragraph, write down a topic sentence with an argument addressing your thesis. This is where you should mention all the support that includes factual data, examples, and other proofs. After you finish your initial research on the thesis, sort out the examples by priority. It will make your narration more structured. As a result, it won’t be difficult for the reader to understand your points of view.

Every example should be examined and defended in detail. This way, you will convince the audience of your thesis by using factual information and formal language. Some topics need additional investigation and collecting examples, while others will allow you to rely on your own personal experiences.

Throughout the writing process, you should remember who your target reader is. This will allow you to keep your text customized. Depending on the target reader, you will make the right accents, involve the right details, and collect the relevant examples in the text. With this information in mind, you will be able to describe the central points effectively.

Now that you have your topic properly covered in the body section, you need to create a striking conclusion. The last paragraph aims to sum up everything that has been mentioned in the previous parts of the illustration essay.

You may use the 5 C’s method to make your conclusion interesting and memorable for the reader. Ideally, you write one or two sentences per point. But some variations are acceptable.

• Close the loop : You need to connect the first and the last paragraph. This is why you will discuss the thesis statement through the prism of examples highlighted in the body section. This will make your essay look concise and cohesive.
• Conclude : You should make the final word on the issue. In other words, you can rephrase the thesis statement by using different words.
• Clarify : You should answer the essay question by using the examples from the body section.
• Concern : You should mention the party that might take responsibility for the issue.
• Consequences : You should introduce the possible effects of the covered issue.

The conclusion section is usually the shortest one in an illustration essay. It aims to mention the main points from the body paragraphs and prove their relevance to the reader. While this section is short, it is also important. In order to create a high-quality conclusion, think of it as the last impression the reader has! So, this section should be strongly worded.

While a research essay won’t be complete without references, an illustration essay can be used with and without them. If an illustration essay relies on your personal experiences, it won’t need external sources. If it relies on scientific data, the use of sources is inevitable.

Now that your illustration essay is finished, it needs to be edited properly. You should read it once or twice to check it for grammatical, structural, and contextual mistakes. Also, make sure that your essay is devoid of plagiarism. While there are some general rules for an illustration essay outline, your instructor may have some additional instructions for you. Make sure you read your assignment properly not to miss a crucial detail.

An illustration essay should be simple and clear. Otherwise, the reader won’t be able to understand what you are writing about. Complicated topics, massive paragraphs, and overwhelming information can hardly be suitable for an illustration essay.

How to Choose a Topic for an Illustration Essay?

If you struggle to create an excellent illustration essay, you have most likely chosen the wrong topic. It will turn the writing process into torture as you won’t know what to write about and how to write it. When you choose the right subject, you will move in the right direction from the very beginning. So, how can you make the right choice? Here are the instructions to be followed:

• Write about your personal interests. You should choose the topics for an illustration essay that correspond to your personal interests. While writing about something you are actually interested in, you become more enthusiastic about the whole creative process. Before you come up with the idea for writing, you should think of the topics you are passionate about.
• Focus on the topic simplicity. You should make sure that your topic is convenient for you. If you try to impress the instructor by choosing an overly complicated topic, you shouldn’t do this. Instead of demonstrating your writing skills, you will demonstrate your inability to create a worthy piece of content.
• Pay attention to the topic originality . When choosing a topic, you should focus on less common and less generic options. A unique topic has higher chances to catch the reader’s attention and earn you a higher score. Moreover, a unique topic will have more space for discussions, which is always interesting to read.
• Consider information availability on the topic. When writing an illustration essay, you need to dig deep into the examples and descriptions related to the topic. Before starting the actual writing process, you need to collect sufficient information. Therefore, it is much easier to cover the topic that is widely discussed in academic and scientific sources.
• Stick to essay writing guidelines . While choosing a topic, you should never forget about the initial instructions. If your professor asks you to write about a psychological disorder or discuss a philosophical dilemma, you should stick to this detail. Keep the topic manageable without making it too narrow or too wide.

Choosing the right illustration essay topics has always been a serious challenge, even for experienced writers. A successful topic should match the interests of the audience and have certain value in society. Here are some examples you may use:

• How can society support school victims of bullying?
• Customers are never wrong. Discuss this popular statement.
• Discuss the impact of Tick Tock and Instagram on the young generation.
• Describe the best ways to prepare for a college exam.
• Write a complete description of a student’s academic duties.

That being said, the variety of topics to discuss is huge. But instead of rushing with the final decision, you should take some time to check the catalogue of options. This is where you shouldn’t underestimate the value of research. With the adequate information on the subject matter, you won’t struggle to create a decent piece of writing.

Illustration Essay Examples

Taking a look at a professional illustration essay sample will let you understand this form of writing. Although you still need to proceed with your individual research, you won’t have to struggle with the right structure and format. Feel free to use the following examples as a reference when writing your own piece of work.

https://quillbot.com/courses/introduction-to-college-level-academic-writing/chapter/writing-for-success-illustrationexample/

Illustration Essay Writing Tips

Knowing how to put your illustration essay ideas together is important for doing a good job with your illustration essay. With the professional writing tips, you will be able to deliver an excellent result. Feel free to check some of them down there:

• Do some brainstorming . When you choose a topic or collect examples, you may do some brainstorming. The main point is that there are no bad ideas. When you have a particular idea, you should use every piece of mind. By writing down every idea in your head, you will gain a better understanding of what you want to write about. After all, your ideas build up bases for successful writing. So, if you think that you don’t have time for silly games, you are wrong. Instead of being a time-waster, a method of brainstorming turns out to be a time-saver for you.
• Avoid undebatable illustration topics . The importance of the topic choice has been mentioned before. So, you should write about something that is actually suitable for debates. You should be able to find sufficient information on the selected topic.
• Conduct a lot of research . Now that you know the topic of your essay, you should conduct thorough research to collect sufficient information. Even if your topic relies on your personal experiences, you should still analyze your background to extract the relevant examples. In other words, you need to find the authentic points that will support the topic.
• Rely on credible sources . Although most illustration essays are personable, some of them rely on factual information. This is why you should use respectable scientific and academic literature as a credible source of information. With unreliable sources, you increase your chances to lose some valuable points from your grade. The use of editable sources such as Wikipedia is also a bad idea since they can be edited by everyone. So, when you choose information for your illustration essay, you should double check its authenticity in advance.
• Filter out the information. If you spend a lot of time thinking about the topic, you probably have enough to say in your illustration essay. Of course, not all of them can make it into the final draft of your paper because they have a negative impact on the context. By choosing a few strongest examples, you can make your essay more convincing. This way, the final result will be interesting, engaging, and concise.
• Focus on the target audience . While you are writing an essay, you should always put yourself in the reader’s place. What information do you want to see in the essay? Is every example clear to you? Do you understand the descriptions that are in the essay? Answer the questions honestly before, during, and after the writing process.
• Make every example clear. Find examples to enable a better illustration of the selected topic. The stronger your evidence is, the more seriously the reader will consider your point. This is what will make your essay academically correct. By using strong words in your example, you will make each example sound convincing. Reading a paper that contains unclear pieces of information and mismatched conclusions will irritate the reader. The importance and urgency of the work will automatically become distant. Using evidence effectively can be a hard thing to do, though. Try to collect relevant examples to make sure that they are interrelated. Thus, the reader will never question the use or meaning of any illustrations you will include in your essay.
• Edit your paper before submitting it. Before you hand over your illustration essay to the instructor, you should make sure that it is grammatically, structurally, and contextually accurate. For this reason, check your essay more than once to eliminate all the imperfections.

Write My Illustration Essay for Me, Please!

As you can see, writing illustration essays is not such a complicated assignment. However, it may take time to set the balance between its descriptive nature and your personal experience. While you don’t have sufficient skills to perform this kind of work, you may use an illustration essay sample or just order an essay from professional writers. But it still can’t guarantee you an excellent result.

In a situation like this, you can send a “Write my illustration essay for me, please!” request to professional writers. You can find a lot of writing services that know everything about academic writing on the Internet. Regardless of what your academic level is, you will get exceptional and 100% unique content right on time!

Being aware of all the characteristics and peculiarities of illustration essays, our qualified and experienced essay service knows how to take this kind of challenge. For this reason, their professionalism can fulfill the requirements of the most complicated orders. If you are not ready for the illustration kind of work, entrust it to specialists. They will prove their proficiency to you!

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The Ultimate Guide to Writing an Engaging Illustration Essay

Quick Navigation

• 1. Defining Illustration Essay
• 2. Purpose and Importance of an Illustration Essay
• 3. Fundamental Aspects of an Illustration Essay
• 4. Illustration Essay Format
• 5. Illustrative Essay Outline Example
• 6. Examples of Illustrations You Can Provide
• 7. Some Credible Sources for Writing Illustration Essays
• 8. Step-by-Step Guide to Write an Illustration Essay
• 9. Need Expert Consultation?

Have you ever read an essay that left you feeling confused or uninspired? You’re not alone. Many essays rely too heavily on abstract arguments or technical jargon, making them difficult to understand or relate to. That’s where the illustration essay comes in.

An illustration essay is a type of writing that uses real-world examples to explain and clarify complex ideas in a way that is both engaging and accessible. Whether you’re a student looking to ace your next assignment or a writer looking to hone your craft, mastering the art of the illustration essay is essential.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process of creating a successful illustration essay. From understanding the concept and purpose of an illustration essay, the aspects and writing format to creating an engaging essay, along with outline examples and types of illustrations you can provide, we have covered it all to guide you in creating an excellent illustration essay. You may also consider taking help of a paper writing service online if you feel uncertain about your writing skills and lack the confidence to write effectively.

Defining Illustration Essay

An illustration essay is a type of academic writing that uses concrete examples, narratives, and other supporting details to explain, clarify, or prove a point. The goal of an illustration essay is to use real-world examples to demonstrate a concept or idea in a way that is easy for readers to understand and relate to. The use of clear language and descriptive details is essential to help the readers visualize the examples being presented and fully understand the message being conveyed.

Unlike descriptive essays or argumentative essays that rely on vivid imagery descriptions or analytical reasoning respectively, an illustration essay relies on the power of examples to make its point. This approach makes the essay more accessible to a broader audience, as it does not require specialized knowledge or technical jargon.

To create a successful illustration essay, the writer must carefully select relevant and compelling examples that support the main point of the essay. These examples should be presented in a logical and organized manner, with each example building on the previous one to create a clear and cohesive argument.

Purpose and Importance of an Illustration Essay

The purpose of an illustration essay is to provide specific and detailed examples to support a thesis statement or argument. It aims to illustrate or demonstrate a point through the use of examples, anecdotes, facts, figures, statements, and other types of evidence. The ultimate aim of an illustration essay is to help the readers understand a concept or argument clearly by providing concrete and illustrative examples and evidence. The examples used in an illustration essay should be relevant, vivid, and specific, allowing the readers to comprehend and envisage the subject being discussed.

Students are assigned this kind of assignment so that they learn to explain complex and abstract concepts, as well as explore controversial issues.

Here are some common reasons why students may be assigned an illustration essay:

• To develop critical thinking skills: An illustration essay requires students to analyze a topic and support their arguments with evidence. This can help develop critical thinking skills, which are important in many academic and professional settings.
• To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a topic: Illustration essays may be assigned to test a student’s knowledge and understanding of a particular topic. By using specific examples and evidence, students can demonstrate their understanding and expertise on the subject.
• To explore a controversial issue: Illustration essays can be used to explore controversial issues and present different viewpoints on a topic. This can help students develop a better understanding of the issue and the arguments on both sides.
• To prepare for academic writing: Illustration essays are commonly used in academic writing, such as in essays and research papers. Assigning an illustration essay can help students prepare for this type of writing and develop the skills needed to write effective academic papers.

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Fundamental Aspects of An Illustration Essay

There are several fundamental aspects of an illustration essay that are important to keep in mind when writing:

• Clear thesis statement: An illustration essay should have a clear and concise thesis statement that states the main point or argument of the essay. This statement should be included in the introduction and guide the rest of the essay.
• Concrete examples: The body of an illustration essay should provide concrete and specific examples to support the thesis statement. These examples should be relevant, authentic, and meaningful, and clearly illustrate the point being made.
• Logical organization: The essay should be logically organized, with a clear structure that makes sense to the reader. Each paragraph should have a clear topic sentence and support the thesis statement.
• Vivid language: An illustration essay should use vivid language and descriptive details to engage the reader and make the examples come alive. This can help to create a memorable and impactful essay.
• Clear and concise language: While vivid language is important, it’s also important to be clear and concise. Avoid using overly complex language or unnecessary words that could confuse the reader.

Illustration Essay Format

Illustration essays follow the general essay format , with a few key differences. Here is a basic format for an illustration essay:

• Introduction: The introduction should provide background information on the topic and include a strong thesis statement that summarizes the main argument or point of the essay. Integrate an interesting and relevant hook sentence at the beginning that aims to catch readers’ attention and urges them to continue reading your essay further. If you don’t know how to write a hook , check out a few examples online.
• Body paragraphs: The body paragraphs should provide specific and detailed examples to support the thesis statement. Each paragraph should focus on a different example or aspect of the topic and should include evidence or data to support the argument.
• Conclusion: The conclusion should summarize the main points of the essay and restate the thesis statement in a new way. It should also provide a final thought or recommendation related to the topic.

Some additional tips to keep in mind when formatting your illustration essay:

• Use transitional words and phrases to connect ideas and paragraphs.
• Use specific examples and evidence to support your arguments.
• Use credible sources to support your arguments and avoid plagiarism.
• Use proper citation style (such as APA or MLA) when referencing sources.
• Proofread your essay for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

By following this basic format and these tips, you can create a well-structured and effective illustration essay.

Illustrative Essay Outline Example

Here is an example outline for an illustration essay on the topic: “Ideas on how to plan the budget for students living on campus”.

I. Introduction

• Hook: Starting college is an exciting time, but it can also be financially challenging for students living on campus.
• Background information: Discuss the cost of living on campus and the importance of budget planning.
• Thesis statement: Planning a budget is essential for students living on campus, and by following these key ideas, students can create an effective budget that will help them save money and avoid financial stress.

II. Body Paragraphs

A. Create a budget plan

• Explain the importance of creating a budget plan and why it is necessary.
• Discuss different budget planning tools and resources that are available to students.
• Use specific examples to illustrate how budget planning can help students save money.

B. Identify necessary expenses

• Discuss different types of expenses that students will need to consider when planning a budget, such as housing, food, and transportation.
• Give detailed examples of each type of expense, including average costs.
• Explain how students can prioritize their expenses based on their individual needs.

C. Reduce unnecessary expenses

• Discuss different strategies for reducing unnecessary expenses, such as cutting back on dining out or entertainment expenses.
• Provide specific examples of how students can save money on each type of expense.
• Use statistics or data to illustrate the potential savings that can be achieved through these strategies.

D. Monitor and adjust the budget

• Discuss the importance of monitoring and adjusting the budget regularly.
• Offer tips for tracking expenses and staying on top of the budget.
• Use specific examples to illustrate how adjustments can be made based on changing circumstances or unexpected expenses.

III. Conclusion

• Restate the thesis statement and summarize key ideas.
• End with a call to action for students to start budget planning and take control of their finances.
• Final thoughts: Emphasize the importance of budget planning for long-term financial stability and success in college.

Examples of Illustrations You Can Provide

In an illustration essay, you can provide a wide range of illustrations to support your arguments and points. Here are some examples of illustrations you can include:

• Examples: Provide specific examples to support your arguments, such as real-life situations, experiences, or case studies.
• Statistics: Use statistics and data to support your arguments, such as results from surveys, studies, or experiments.
• Quotations: Quotations from experts or credible sources can be used to support your arguments.
• Images: Use images, such as photographs, charts, or diagrams, to help illustrate your points.
• Personal anecdotes: You can also include personal anecdotes or stories to provide a relatable and memorable illustration of your point.
• Historical or cultural references: Historical or cultural references can be referred to for providing context and supporting your arguments.
• Analogies: Use analogies or comparisons to help explain complex or abstract concepts.

By using a variety of illustrations, you can help make your points more compelling and understandable to your readers.

Some Credible Sources for Writing Illustration Essays

When writing an illustration essay, it is important to use credible sources to support your ideas and arguments. Here are some examples of credible sources that you can use:

• Academic journals and publications – These sources provide in-depth research on specific topics and are peer-reviewed to ensure accuracy and validity. Some popular academic journals include JSTOR, ScienceDirect, and Academic Search Premier.
• News outlets – While news outlets may not provide as much in-depth research as academic journals or publications, they can provide current and relevant information on a topic. It is important to choose reputable news sources, such as The New York Times, BBC News, or NPR.
• Government websites – Government websites provide access to reliable data, statistics, and reports on a wide range of topics. Examples include the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Census Bureau, and the National Institutes of Health.
• Scholarly books – Books written by experts in a particular field can provide valuable insights and information to support your arguments. Some popular publishers of scholarly books include Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, and Harvard University Press.
• Expert interviews – Conducting interviews with experts in a particular field can provide unique insights and perspectives that can support your arguments. It is important to ensure that the expert is credible and has a strong reputation in their field.

If you are looking for an interesting theme for your essay such as Apple business strategy , navigate these sources for valuable information. Remember to always evaluate the credibility of your sources and ensure that they are reliable and relevant to your topic. Avoid using sources that are biased or unreliable, such as personal blogs or forums.

Step-by-Step Guide to Write an Illustration Essay

Writing an illustration essay is a process that requires careful planning, research, and organization. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you write an effective illustration essay:

Step 1: Choosing a Topic

The first step in writing an illustration essay is choosing a topic. This is where you’ll brainstorm ideas and select a subject that you’re passionate about. Your topic should be broad enough to allow for multiple examples but narrow enough to avoid overwhelming your readers.

One way to choose a topic is to start with a general idea and then narrow it down to a specific focus. For example, you might start with the idea of “success” and then narrow it down to “the habits of successful people.” Once you’ve narrowed your focus, you can start brainstorming examples that illustrate your point.

Another approach is to choose a topic that you are already familiar with. This could be a personal experience, a career, or a hobby. By choosing a topic that you are knowledgeable about, you will be able to use examples and personal anecdotes that add a personal touch to your essay.

Step 2: Researching Examples

Once you’ve chosen your topic, it’s time to research examples that illustrate your point. This might involve reading articles, books, or other sources that relate to your topic. You can also conduct interviews or surveys to gather real-world examples that support your thesis.

When researching examples, it’s important to choose ones that are relevant and meaningful to your readers. You don’t want to overwhelm them with too much information, so focus on examples that are concise and to the point. You should also try to find examples that are diverse and varied to give your readers a comprehensive understanding of your topic.

Step 3: Outlining Your Essay

With your topic and examples in hand, it’s time to outline your essay. An outline is a roadmap that helps you organize your thoughts and ideas. It also ensures that your essay is well-structured and easy to follow.

Your outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. In the introduction, you’ll introduce your topic and provide background information to set the stage for your essay. The body paragraphs will include your examples and anecdotes, and the conclusion will summarize your main points and restate your thesis.

Step 4: Writing Your Essay

With your outline complete, it’s time to start writing your essay. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Start with a strong hook that grabs your readers’ attention. This could be a surprising fact, a provocative question, or a quote that relates to your topic.
• Use vivid language and descriptive details to paint a picture for your readers. This will help them understand your examples and relate to your message.
• Be concise and to the point. Avoid using repetitive sentences or unnecessary words that detract from your message.
• Use transitions to guide your readers from one example to the next. This will help your essay flow smoothly and make it easier to follow.
• End with a strong conclusion that abridges your main points and reiterates your thesis. This will leave a lasting impression on your readers and leave them with a clear understanding of your message.

Step 5: Editing and Revising Your Essay

Once you’ve completed your first draft, it’s time to edit and revise your essay. This is where you’ll fine-tune your writing and make sure your message is clear and concise. Review the essay for any grammatical or spelling error, ensure the illustrations are relevant and meaningful, make sure you have followed the stipulated format and organized your essay accordingly.

Need Expert Consultation?

Writing an illustration essay can be a challenging task, but by following these tips and guidelines, you can effectively convey your message and support your arguments with credible sources. Remember to choose a relevant and interesting topic, create a strong thesis statement, and provide specific and detailed examples to support your arguments.

Using credible sources and avoiding plagiarism is essential to ensure the accuracy and credibility of your essay. By following these guidelines, you can create a well-structured and compelling illustration essay. In case you are still unable to put your thoughts into words effectively, then you can buy essay online.

• Writing for Success: Illustration/Example

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This section will help you determine the purpose and structure of illustration/ example in writing.

The Purpose of Illustration in Writing

To illustrate means to show or demonstrate something clearly. An effective illustration essay, also known as an example essay, clearly demonstrates and supports a point through the use of evidence.

The controlling idea of an essay is called a thesis. A writer can use different types of evidence to support his or her thesis. Using scientific studies, experts in a particular field, statistics, historical events, current events, analogies, and personal anecdotes are all ways in which a writer can illustrate a thesis. Ultimately, you want the evidence to help the reader “see” your point, as one would see a good illustration in a magazine or on a website. The stronger your evidence is, the more clearly the reader will consider your point.

Using evidence effectively can be challenging, though. The evidence you choose will usually depend on your subject and who your reader is (your audience). When writing an illustration essay, keep in mind the following:

• Use evidence that is appropriate to your topic as well as appropriate for your audience.
• Assess how much evidence you need to adequately explain your point depending on the complexity of the subject and the knowledge of your audience regarding that subject.

For example, if you were writing about a new communication software and your audience was a group of English-major undergrads, you might want to use an analogy or a personal story to illustrate how the software worked. You might also choose to add a few more pieces of evidence to make sure the audience understands your point. However, if you were writing about the same subject and you audience members were information technology (IT) specialists, you would likely use more technical evidence because they would be familiar with the subject.

Keeping in mind your subject in relation to your audience will increase your chances of effectively illustrating your point.

The Structure of an Illustration Essay

The controlling idea, or thesis, belongs at the beginning of the essay. Evidence is then presented in the essay’s body paragraphs to support the thesis. You can start supporting your main point with your strongest evidence first, or you can start with evidence of lesser importance and have the essay build to increasingly stronger evidence. This type of organization is called “order of importance.”

Transition words are also helpful in ordering the presentation of evidence. Words like first, second, third, currently, next, and finally all help orient the reader and sequence evidence clearly. Because an illustration essay uses so many examples, it is also helpful to have a list of words and phrases to present each piece of evidence. Certain  transitional words and phrases  aid in keeping the reader oriented in the sequencing of a story. Some of these phrases are listed here:

Phrases of Illustration

Vary the phrases of illustration you use. Do not rely on just one. Variety in choice of words and phrasing is critical when trying to keep readers engaged in your writing and your ideas.

Writing an Illustration Essay

First, decide on a topic that you feel interested in writing about. Then create an interesting introduction to engage the reader. The main point, or thesis, should be stated at the end of the introduction.

Gather evidence that is appropriate to both your subject and your audience. You can order the evidence in terms of importance, either from least important to most important or from most important to least important. Be sure to fully explain all of your examples using strong, clear supporting details.

Illustration/Example Essay Example

Letter to the City

By Scott McLean in Writing for Success

To: Lakeview Department of Transportation

From: A Concerned Citizen

The intersection of Central Avenue and Lake Street is dangerous and demands immediate consideration for the installation of a controlling mechanism. I have lived in Lakeview my entire life, and during that time I have witnessed too many accidents and close calls at that intersection. I would like the Department of Transportation to answer this question: how many lives have to be lost on the corner of Central Avenue and Lake Street before a street light or stop sign is placed there?

Over the past twenty years, the population of Lakeview has increased dramatically. This population growth has put tremendous pressure on the city’s roadways, especially Central Avenue and its intersecting streets. At the intersection of Central Avenue and Lake Street it is easy to see how serious this problem is. For example, when I try to cross Central Avenue as a pedestrian, I frequently wait over ten minutes for the cars to clear, and even then I must rush to the median. I will then have to continue to wait until I can finally run to the other side of the street. On one hand, even as a physically fit adult, I can run only with significant effort and care. Expecting a senior citizen or a child to cross this street, on the other hand, is extremely dangerous and irresponsible. Does the city have any plans to do anything about this?

Recent data show that the intersection of Central Avenue and Lake Street has been especially dangerous. According to the city’s own statistics, three fatalities occurred at that intersection in the past year alone. Over the past five years, the intersection witnessed fourteen car accidents, five of which were fatal. These numbers officially qualify the intersection as the most fatal and dangerous in the entire state. It should go without saying that fatalities and accidents are not the clearest way of measuring the severity of this situation because for each accident that happens, countless other close calls never contribute to city data. I hope you will agree that these numbers alone are sufficient evidence that the intersection at Central Avenue and Lake Street is hazardous and demands immediate attention.

Nearly all accidents mentioned are caused by vehicles trying to cross Central Avenue while driving on Lake Street. I think the City of Lakeview should consider placing a traffic light there to control the traffic going both ways. While I do not have access to any resources or data that can show precisely how much a traffic light can improve the intersection, I think you will agree that a controlled busy intersection is much safer than an uncontrolled one. Therefore, at a minimum, the city must consider making the intersection a four-way stop.

Each day that goes by without attention to this issue is a lost opportunity to save lives and make the community a safer, more enjoyable place to live. Because the safety of citizens is the priority of every government, I can only expect that the Department of Transportation and the City of Lakeview will act on this matter immediately. For the safety and well-being of Lakeview citizens, please do not let bureaucracy or money impede this urgent project.

A Concerned Citizen

Key Takeaways

• An illustration essay clearly explains a main point using evidence.
• When choosing evidence, always gauge whether the evidence is appropriate for the subject as well as the audience.
• Organize the evidence in terms of importance, either from least important to most important or from most important to least important.
• Use time transitions to order evidence.
• Use phrases of illustration to call out examples.
• Provided by : Lumen Learning. Located at : http://lumenlearning.com/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
• Successful Writing. Provided by : Anonymous. Located at : http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/successful-writing/s14-02-illustration.html . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
• Letter to the City. Authored by : Scott McLean. Located at : http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/successful-writing/s19-03-illustration-essay.html . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
• Table of Contents

Instructor Resources (Access Requires Login)

• Overview of Instructor Resources

An Overview of the Writing Process

• Introduction to the Writing Process
• Introduction to Writing
• Your Role as a Learner
• What is an Essay?
• Reading to Write
• Defining the Writing Process
• Videos: Prewriting Techniques
• Thesis Statements
• Organizing an Essay
• Creating Paragraphs
• Conclusions
• Editing and Proofreading
• Matters of Grammar, Mechanics, and Style
• Peer Review Checklist
• Comparative Chart of Writing Strategies

Using Sources

• Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Avoiding Plagiarism
• Formatting the Works Cited Page (MLA)
• Citing Paraphrases and Summaries (APA)
• APA Citation Style, 6th edition: General Style Guidelines

Definition Essay

• Definitional Argument Essay
• How to Write a Definition Essay
• Critical Thinking
• Video: Thesis Explained
• Effective Thesis Statements
• Student Sample: Definition Essay

Narrative Essay

• Introduction to Narrative Essay
• Student Sample: Narrative Essay
• "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell
• "Sixty-nine Cents" by Gary Shteyngart
• Video: The Danger of a Single Story
• How to Write an Annotation
• How to Write a Summary
• Writing for Success: Narration

Illustration/Example Essay

• Introduction to Illustration/Example Essay
• "She's Your Basic L.O.L. in N.A.D" by Perri Klass
• "April & Paris" by David Sedaris
• Student Sample: Illustration/Example Essay

Compare/Contrast Essay

• Introduction to Compare/Contrast Essay
• "Disability" by Nancy Mairs
• "Friending, Ancient or Otherwise" by Alex Wright
• "A South African Storm" by Allison Howard
• Writing for Success: Compare/Contrast
• Student Sample: Compare/Contrast Essay

Cause-and-Effect Essay

• Introduction to Cause-and-Effect Essay
• "Cultural Baggage" by Barbara Ehrenreich
• "Women in Science" by K.C. Cole
• Writing for Success: Cause and Effect
• Student Sample: Cause-and-Effect Essay

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How to Write an Illustration Essay Easily

We encounter the word "illustrate" quite often in our life - at school, in college, and simply everywhere around us. Originating from the Latin word illustrate ("illuminate," "lit up," or "shed light on"), it means to explain a general statement with one or more specific examples, such as charts, pictures, or other things that can serve as evidence thereof. Pretty easy, ha? But what about the illustration essay? How do we define it?

What is an illustration essay?

Sometimes referred to as the exemplification essay, the illustration essay explains a general principle or idea by using a number of well-chosen examples. The keyword here is "well-chosen examples" because that is precisely what makes a good illustration essay. Illustrative writing is also the basic format for other kinds of papers, such as the cause and effect, classification, and persuasive paper. The critical thing to ensure when writing the illustrative paper is that it doesn't end up sounding like a long and tedious list of examples. You're not writing a report, you're trying to showcase a particular aspect, abstract or otherwise, so you have to ascertain that each example provided is explained in great detail.

What is the purpose of examples in the illustration essay?

Each example you provide should relate to and support the general statement or topic. For instance, if you pick "Trust is the best policy" as your topic, it means that you'll need to prove the veracity of this broad statement by citing relevant examples, facts, stories, and personal experiences.

Illustration Essay Ideas and Useful Tips on Writing

In order to help you understand all the specifics involved in writing the illustration essay, we are going to analyze the above statement a little bit more. According to our topic, we consider trust to be the best policy - but why is that so? Answering this question will help you figure out the purpose of the essay or, speaking metaphorically, indicate the direction in which it will head. Keep in mind that answering this question will also require you to provide as many examples as possible because that is precisely what the illustration essay is all about.

There are some small writing tricks which can make a world of difference when you deal with this kind of essay. Let's check out some of them:

• It's important to link your ideas and examples with the help of transitional words and phrases, such as "for example", "another instance of", "here are a few examples", "in other words", "also", "furthermore", "to illustrate", etc. The more transitional expressions you use, the more sense your paragraphs will make.
• Choose the best examples for your illustration essay. The length of the essay is limited - only two to three pages - so don't try to cram all possible and impossible ideas and examples into it. Your task is to pick only the most important and relevant examples.
• Make your examples specific. Include enough detail in them to make it easier for the reader to see your point. Be specific to prevent your reader from guessing what you mean by this or that statement.
• Use phrases of illustration to provide good examples.
• Practice your illustrative skills. There are plenty of exercises on the Internet which can help you in this task. Acquiring good writing skills requires a lot of hard work, so keep practicing until you become a real expert!

Writing an illustration essay is a challenging and yet fascinating task which requires diligence and a bit of creativity. Don't make your essay boring - use relevant examples and facts to help your readers visualize what you're trying to say.

Illustration Essay Structure and Its Basic Components

The basic structure of the illustration essay is pretty much standard: the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. However, there are some minor differences that you should keep in mind when dealing with this kind of paper: the introduction mentions your thesis, the body paragraphs describe the examples which support it, and the conclusion states your final opinion and confirms that your examples prove the point mentioned in the thesis statement. In this part of our article, we will be focusing on analyzing each of the above components.

Introduciton

Let's begin with the introduction part, and more specifically, with the thesis. The thesis is the idea you are going to support throughout the rest of your essay by providing examples and explanation. It should, therefore, clearly state what idea you support, as well as what message you try to convey to the audience. The thesis should also be argumentative and challenging. To make the introduction interesting or even intriguing, you can use some exciting facts, relevant statistics, quotations, and rhetorical questions.

Body paragraphs

The introduction is followed by the body paragraphs in which you should present all the evidence and examples you've come up with so far. This is the central part of your essay meant to prove, describe, and support your idea or thesis, so make sure to find some good examples and link them using transition words. Whenever you're undecided about which examples to include in your paper, try asking your professor for advice. It's always better to redo something than neglect your professor's opinion and end up getting mediocre grades.

Keep in mind that the more people read the draft copy of your essay, the less chance you have of making some serious mistakes. Set your examples in the right order - support your main point with the strongest evidence and then move on to the evidence of lesser importance. Alternatively, you can follow the opposite order - start with the least important examples and finish the body part with the most crucial ones. This will give make a good impression on the reader because a well-structured essay always makes the audience believe what the author is trying to say.

After the introduction is written and all the examples are provided in the body of the essay, it's time to write the conclusion. The purpose of this part is to reiterate the main thought and ideas from each paragraph in the body part and convince the reader that the author proved the opinion stated in the thesis. Your conclusion shouldn't include any new information - only statements based on the examples you've provided in the previous sections of your essay.

Illustration Essay Outline Is Your Guiding Star!

If you try going online and looking for different services which provide useful tips and writing guidelines, you'll end up having a bunch of them recommending you to compose an outline. "Why is that?" you may ask. The thing is that the outline is one of the most powerful tools in academic writing. Being a kind of a mini-version of the essay, it helps the writer focus on the most important points and organize the ideas, and gives them a clear sense of direction. Having an outline also lets you have a better vision of how your final paper will look like. Another benefit of having an outline is the possibility to review your ideas before writing the actual essay. As soon as you write your illustration essay outline, you can show it to your professor and get their opinion on the relevance of the information you want to include in your essay.

Let's see what a typical outline for the illustration essay may look like:

• Thesis: Trust is the best policy, a manifestation of true love, and the basic principle of all relationships.
• Example 1: It helps people break the ice and is a way of showing their respect for one another.
• Example 2: It makes other people feel confident about your intentions.
• Example 1: True love is built on respect, trust, and readiness to seek a compromise.
• Example 2: Absence of trust between people ruins relationships.
• Example 1: Trust is the cornerstone of all relationships, including love, friendship and even work partnership
• Conclusion: Sum up everything mentioned above in a strong statement which confirms and proves your initial point

Illustration Essay Topics - How Do You Choose One?

Everything you write about in your essay depends on the issue you want to explore, which is why choosing a good topic is the key to a successful essay. Having a relevant, challenging, and interesting topic also ensures that you arouse your readers' interest - and this is your primary goal.

Let's have a look at a list some good illustration essay topics that we've come up with specifically for you:

• Tell why some sports team is underrated.
• Suggest ways of dealing with annoying people in the dormitory.
• Illustrate how a fashion designer creates a clothing line.
• Explain why it is tough to work in fast food restaurants.
• What does it take for a teacher to prepare for classes every day?
• What will you do if your relationships with fellow employees aren't exactly that good?
• Describe the problem of global warming.
• How do you deal with violence on TV? How does it affect children?
• What are the consequences of legalizing drugs?
• Does the minimum drinking age help reduce the number of teenagers who consume alcohol?
• What is the role of the language in the life of a country?
• Describe the consequences of legalizing concealed weapons.
• Why are developed countries experiencing declining birth rates?
• Describe the importance of education for women.
• What are the disadvantages of technological and scientific development?
• Explain why artificial intelligence can be dangerous.
• Does having a lot of money means being happier?
• Describe the influence of the social media.
• Explain the pros and cons of student exchange programs.
• Is the inability of modern kids to study and memorize the major problem of our century?
• Illegal immigrants contribute positively to the wellbeing of the countries they stay in.
• Is there a connection between a decrease in the number of religious people and an increase in the number of divorces?
• A positive attitude prolongs people's lives?
• Can we believe history books which have been rewritten many times?
• The lack of empathy is one of the biggest problems of humanity.
• Routine tasks "kill" people's creativity and their personality.
• Are less technology-addicted children smarter?
• Domestic abuse - the reasons why it is so common nowadays.
• The role of commercials in people's lives. How do they influence us?
• People are becoming more self-centered nowadays.

We hope that our guideline will help you improve your writing skills and serve as a stepping stone toward an illustration essay of your dream! And remember - our writing company is always prepared to handle any task you might want to burden us with!

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Illustration Essay Examples

Table of Contents

What is an illustration essay.

Examples of an illustration essay are usually expressly chosen or written to show people how to write an illustration essay, and what these types of essays normally entail. Because of this, they are normally quite well-written and show the different parts of the essay clearly. An illustration essay is one that depends on examples with which to prove the thesis being made.

To use one particular example, if the thesis statement of your illustrative essay is that the winter months cause most residents to hibernate, then the essay itself must contain several samples of proof of why the residents hibernate in winter. Writers could use facts such as the social events in any towns being poorly attended during this time, or the sheer volume of cars on the road during warmer months versus the colder ones.

Illustrative essay examples do run the risk of seeming like narrative essays because they are known for being less formal and less rigid in structure than other essays. However, the informal nature of the essay means that people who are writing them have much more freedom when it comes to how they present their facts than if they had to write in another essay structure.

Purpose of an Illustrative Essay

Great examples of an illustration essay show one specific characteristic of the illustration essay itself. This special characteristic is providing a number of vivid illustration examples throughout the essay itself. Giving a number of illustrations is actually helping to keep the readers interested and involved. Good illustrative essay samples should show the aspect it is designed to show thoroughly – if it is the thesis statement, then the statement should be paramount to the illustrative essay example; the statement should be readily recognizable in both the introduction and the conclusion, and the sample should make it clear how every example is given relates back to the thesis statement.

Similarly, if the focus of the sample is to show the samples and proof more than anything else, then the focus should be entirely on them – how do they answer the thesis statement? Where did they come from? And so on. This can also lead to a sample paper that shows how the paper is best structured. While it will primarily focus on the proof that a student can gather for their essay, the focus is on showing how these proofs can be arranged in the most logical manner, and how they fit together to create an essay that illustrates things clearly.

Differences between Narrative and Illustrative Essays

If you think about narrative essay type of writing, you will find that writing an illustration essay is a lot like it, yet is should present many instances and visual examples. They are both the same in that they have more informal styles than the other essays which students are normally encouraged and asked to write, and they are both slightly freer about the structure that can be used. However, there are some fundamental differences that need to be discussed.

Narrative essays tell a story, primarily – they are not there to prove or disprove a thesis. As such, they can be told in the past or present tense, and they can involve characters, people who don’t exist, and all manner of things that would not be found in another essay. Illustration essay samples, and by extension illustration essays themselves, have informal language and a more relaxed sentence structure, but they are always concerned with real and concrete ideas, which does limit what the essays themselves can be about. The main difference is that where narrative essays can be completely free in how they are structured, illustrative essays still need to make sense to anybody who is reading them; they need to connect in a way that helps people to understand the central issue, so there does need to be some semblance of structure.

Structure of an Illustrative Essay and Examples to Use

Another important aspect of any illustration essay is providing the most appealing, bright, mostly related to the topic illustration essay examples to win over your audience. Some features which are present in illustration paper examples are:

• Thesis statement – this is the most important part of the essay, as it is what the entire essay revolves around proving. It should appear first in the introduction, and then again in the conclusion, and be referred to at least once in each paragraph.
• Body paragraphs – these are where the meat of the essay comes in. Each paragraph should have one specific proof of why the thesis is true or false and explain it in detail while linking itself to the paragraph that came before, and the one that came after.
• Introduction/conclusion – these function as the opening and closing of the paper. They both sum up what is happening in the essay, and they both have the thesis statement in them. These paragraphs are what brings additional information to the essay, and what brings everything together, so they are important to have in the essays as a whole.

Hypothetical examples illustrate a specific and typical type of examples yet they remain weak in showing a major illustration essay point. Typical examples are able to provide an instance of a common experience that many people had. Another type of instance that is being used is a specific type of example. A specific example of illustration uses a personal experience or other people’s experience that is found to be dominant to present a key illustration essay example.

Example of an Illustration Essay

Illustration essay topic: How Can Students Develop Good Study Habits?

Students need to develop good study habits if they are to reach their full potential in any course or degree. Good study habits are very useful for people in education, and they can be learned with enough repetition. These study habits can be learned through finding out what works for the individual student, getting into a routine, and making sure to change habits if the situation calls for it.

There are a number of different study habits, so it is important for people to figure out which one works for them. While people can have to-do lists, or set deadlines, or use apps that block the time-consuming sites on our computers, it takes time to figure out what works for them individually, and what works for their education. Once people have found out what works best for them, they can practice these things until they become easier.

Getting into a routine can take time, but the time is worth it. Making something into a habit can take some time, and that time can be difficult. It is difficult to take something new and make it into an established part of your day, especially if you need to use the time that was spent on other things to do it. Habits are hard to form, but also hard to break, which can be useful for the future.

Sometimes your needs change, and that can mean that your study habits need to change as well. If your workload increases or you take on extra shifts at work, or you move somewhere further away from your classes, this can mean there is less time to study. If that is the case, you might find that you need to adapt your study habits to fit with the new routine you have. Sometimes our circumstances change, and we need to change with them.

Good study habits are very useful for people in education, and they can be learned with enough repetition. Forming habits, finding what works for you as an individual, and making sure that you are flexible enough to change your circumstances, are all part of what helps us to form good study habits. Ultimately, being flexible enough to find what works under different circumstances is what makes us better at studying, no matter what habits we pick up along the way.

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15.3 Illustration Essay

Learning objective.

• Read an example of the illustration rhetorical mode.

Letter to the City

To: Lakeview Department of Transportation

From: A Concerned Citizen

The intersection of Central Avenue and Lake Street is dangerous and demands immediate consideration for the installation of a controlling mechanism. I have lived in Lakeview my entire life, and during that time I have witnessed too many accidents and close calls at that intersection. I would like the Department of Transportation to answer this question: how many lives have to be lost on the corner of Central Avenue and Lake Street before a street light or stop sign is placed there?

Over the past twenty years, the population of Lakeview has increased dramatically. This population growth has put tremendous pressure on the city’s roadways, especially Central Avenue and its intersecting streets. At the intersection of Central Avenue and Lake Street it is easy to see how serious this problem is. For example, when I try to cross Central Avenue as a pedestrian, I frequently wait over ten minutes for the cars to clear, and even then I must rush to the median. I will then have to continue to wait until I can finally run to the other side of the street. On one hand, even as a physically fit adult, I can run only with significant effort and care. Expecting a senior citizen or a child to cross this street, on the other hand, is extremely dangerous and irresponsible. Does the city have any plans to do anything about this?

Recent data show that the intersection of Central Avenue and Lake Street has been especially dangerous. According to the city’s own statistics, three fatalities occurred at that intersection in the past year alone. Over the past five years, the intersection witnessed fourteen car accidents, five of which were fatal. These numbers officially qualify the intersection as the most fatal and dangerous in the entire state. It should go without saying that fatalities and accidents are not the clearest way of measuring the severity of this situation because for each accident that happens, countless other close calls never contribute to city data. I hope you will agree that these numbers alone are sufficient evidence that the intersection at Central Avenue and Lake Street is hazardous and demands immediate attention.

Nearly all accidents mentioned are caused by vehicles trying to cross Central Avenue while driving on Lake Street. I think the City of Lakeview should consider placing a traffic light there to control the traffic going both ways. While I do not have access to any resources or data that can show precisely how much a traffic light can improve the intersection, I think you will agree that a controlled busy intersection is much safer than an uncontrolled one. Therefore, at a minimum, the city must consider making the intersection a four-way stop.

Each day that goes by without attention to this issue is a lost opportunity to save lives and make the community a safer, more enjoyable place to live. Because the safety of citizens is the priority of every government, I can only expect that the Department of Transportation and the City of Lakeview will act on this matter immediately. For the safety and well-being of Lakeview citizens, please do not let bureaucracy or money impede this urgent project.

A Concerned Citizen

Online Illustration Essay Alternatives

Lewis Thomas provides several illustrative examples in On Natural Death :

• http://thefloatinglibrary.com/2009/03/05/on-natural-death-lewis-thomas

Jessica Bennett, a senior writer for Newsweek , offers an example of an illustration essay when she presents The Flip Side of Internet Fame :

• http://www.newsweek.com/2008/02/21/the-flip-side-of-internet-fame.html

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