how to make 250 words in an essay

Essay Papers Writing Online

Tips for crafting a concise and informative 250-word essay.

Are you overwhelmed by the task of writing a 250-word essay? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this easy guide, we’ll walk you through the process of crafting a concise and impactful essay like a pro.

Whether you’re a student working on an assignment or a professional looking to communicate effectively in a limited word count, mastering the art of writing a 250-word essay can be a valuable skill. With the right approach and some key tips, you can create a compelling and well-crafted piece that gets your point across clearly and concisely.

From planning and outlining to refining your writing, we’ll provide you with the essential steps and strategies to help you tackle this challenge with confidence and produce a stellar 250-word essay.

How to Write a Stellar 250 Word Essay

Writing a stellar 250-word essay requires focus and precision. Follow these steps to craft a well-structured and impactful piece:

• Plan Your Points: Before you start writing, outline the main points you want to cover in your essay. Keep it concise and relevant to the topic.
• Introduction: Begin with a strong opening that grabs the reader’s attention. State your thesis or main idea clearly.
• Main Body: Support your thesis with a few key points. Each point should be clear and concise, using specific examples or evidence.
• Conclusion: Summarize your main points and restate your thesis. End with a strong closing that leaves a lasting impression.

Remember to use clear and simple language, and avoid unnecessary words or information. Proofread your essay carefully to ensure it is error-free and flows smoothly. With these tips, you can create a stellar 250-word essay that showcases your writing skills effectively.

Understanding the Assignment Requirements

Before you start writing your 250-word essay, it is crucial to carefully read and understand the assignment requirements. Make sure you grasp the topic, the purpose of the essay, and any specific instructions provided by your instructor or professor.

Highlight key points such as the essay’s objective, the audience you are writing for, the structure or format required, the style of writing (formal or informal), and any specific guidelines on sources or citations.

• Take note of the word count specified for the essay.
• Clarify any doubts you may have with your instructor to ensure you are on the right track.
• Organize your thoughts and create an outline based on the assignment requirements before you begin writing.

By thoroughly understanding the assignment requirements, you can ensure that your 250-word essay meets the criteria and effectively conveys your message to the intended audience.

Brainstorming and Outlining Your Ideas

Before you start writing your 250-word essay, it’s essential to brainstorm and outline your ideas. This step will help you organize your thoughts and ensure a coherent and well-structured essay.

Start by brainstorming ideas related to the topic of your essay. Jot down any relevant points, examples, or arguments that come to mind. Consider different perspectives and angles that you can explore in your essay.

Once you have a list of ideas, create an outline for your essay. This outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. In the introduction, briefly introduce your topic and provide some background information. The body paragraphs should expand on the ideas you brainstormed and provide supporting evidence. Finally, the conclusion should summarize your main points and restate your thesis.

By brainstorming and outlining your ideas before you start writing, you’ll set yourself up for success and make the writing process much smoother.

Developing Clear and Concise Body Paragraphs

When writing a 250-word essay, it’s essential to develop clear and concise body paragraphs to support your main argument. Each body paragraph should focus on a single main point and provide evidence to support it. Here are some tips to help you develop effective body paragraphs:

1. Topic Sentence:

Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. This sentence should clearly state the point you will be discussing.

2. Supporting Evidence:

Provide specific examples, facts, or quotes to support your main point. Make sure that the evidence is relevant and directly relates to your argument.

3. Analysis:

After presenting your evidence, analyze it to explain how it supports your main argument. Discuss the significance of the evidence and how it strengthens your position.

4. Transition:

Use transitional words and phrases to smoothly move from one paragraph to the next. This helps to maintain the flow of your essay and connect your ideas cohesively.

By following these guidelines, you can develop clear and concise body paragraphs that enhance the overall structure and quality of your 250-word essay.

Related Post

How to master the art of writing expository essays and captivate your audience, convenient and reliable source to purchase college essays online, step-by-step guide to crafting a powerful literary analysis essay, unlock success with a comprehensive business research paper example guide, unlock your writing potential with writers college – transform your passion into profession, “unlocking the secrets of academic success – navigating the world of research papers in college”, master the art of sociological expression – elevate your writing skills in sociology.

How to Write a 250-Word Essay: Length, Outline, & Example

A 250-word essay is a frequent task assigned to high school and college students. It’s a widely used format for scholarship applications and college admissions. However, mastering the art of concise yet impactful writing can challenge many students. If you feel overwhelmed by the task of condensing your ideas into 250 words—don’t worry; we have your back!

In this article, we’ll discuss the essential aspects of structuring and formatting a 250-word essay and provide examples. Prepare to discover the secrets that captivate and leave your readers in awe.

• 📝 250-Word Essay Template
• ✅ 250-Word Essay – Step by Step
• 🌟 Writing Prompts
• 📖 Essay Example
• 🤓 More Essay Topics

🔗 References

📝 what does a 250-word essay look like.

Most of the time, the challenge of beginning a 250-word essay stems from a lack of clarity on its structure and format. In this section, you’ll find outlines for various types of 250-word essays, highlighting their key components. With this valuable roadmap, you’ll be well-equipped to embark on your writing journey.

250 Word Essay Outline

A 250-word essay is a concise piece of writing that captures the essence of a topic within a restricted word count. It usually consists of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each section plays a crucial role in shaping the essay’s overall length, making every word count.

• Introduction (about 50 words or 2-5 sentences). It should introduce the main idea, include a thesis statement, and catch the reader’s attention.
• Body (about 150 words for 2-3 paragraphs). The body should present your main points or arguments and provide evidence or examples.
• Conclusion (about 50 words). This part should summarize the main points discussed in the essay and include a rephrased thesis statement.

Now, let’s look at general outlines for different essay types.

Definition Essay

A definition essay explains the meaning of a specific term or concept. Usually, definition essay topics include questions like “Define X” or “What is an X?”.

Below is a typical outline for a 250-word definition essay.

Analytical Essay

An analytical essay answers questions like “Analyze X” or “What are the components of X?”. You may be required to analyze and interpret a piece of literature, artwork, or any other subject.

Here’s a typical outline for an analytical essay.

Cause & Effect Essay

A cause-and-effect essay explores the relationship between events or phenomena. Usually, it answers the questions like “What are the causes of X?” or “What led to X?”

The outline for a cause-and-effect essay looks as shown below.

Compare & Contrast Essay

A compare and contrast essay investigates the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. It aims to answer questions like “How does X differ from Y?” or “Compare X and Y.”

Check out the possible outline for a compare and contrast essay.

Process Essay

A process essay explains how to do something or how something works. It responds to prompts like “List the steps involved in X” or “Explain what happened in X.”

In a process essay, arranging your discussion in chronological order is a must. Here’s an example of an outline for this paper type.

Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay presents a claim or argument on a controversial topic and supports it with evidence and reasoning. Usually, this kind of paper centers around a question like “A famous person said X. Do you agree or disagree?”

A typical outline for an argumentative essay looks as shown below.

250 Word Essay Format

Even though a 250-word essay is short, you should still format it according to the academic requirements. Here are the main ones:

• Font style. Avoid using fancy fonts, as they may be difficult to read. Instead, opt for standard fonts used in academic writing—Times New Roman or Arial. The default font provided by MS Word, Calibri, is also perfectly acceptable.
• Font size. It should be 11 or 12 points.
• Margins. Set margins to 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.
• Line spacing. As a rule, professors expect papers to be double-spaced.
• Alignment. Your essay should be left-aligned: it looks neater than fully justified.
• Indents. Don’t indent the first line of your paragraphs.
• Reference List: Format the reference list according to your citation style requirements ( MLA , APA , Chicago, or Harvard).

250 Word Essay Length

A 250-word essay is approximately 1 double-spaced or 0.5 single-spaced pages. However, the essay’s length can vary depending on the margins, font size, and spacing. If you’re unsure about your paper’s formatting requirements, it’s better to consult your professor.

✅ How to Write a 250-Word Essay

At first, writing a 250-word essay may seem challenging, but following these steps can help you effectively organize your thoughts and create a concise and compelling paper.

1. Plan the Structure

Read and analyze the essay prompt or question carefully. Identify the central theme or idea you need to address in your essay. Then create an outline —it’s an essential step when writing such a concise paper. Decide on the main points you want to discuss and the order in which you will present them

2. Write the Introduction

Start with a hook that captures readers’ attention and then briefly review the topic and its significance. Introduce the key terms or concepts you will be discussing in your essay. Finally, develop a thesis statement —a sentence that contains the main idea of your writing.

3. Write the Body

Develop your main points in separate paragraphs. It’s best to start each with a topic sentence that expresses the paragraph’s main idea. Use evidence, examples, or research data to support your points. If you refer to any sources in your body paragraphs, remember to cite them properly to avoid plagiarism.

4. Conclude Your Essay

Summarize all the main points and emphasize the importance of your topic. Remind the readers of the thesis statement by paraphrasing it in the concluding paragraph. You can end your essay with a thought-provoking message, a call to action, or a suggestion for further research or exploration.

5. Revise and Proofread

Review your essay for clarity, coherence , and grammar errors. Ensure your ideas are well-organized and your writing is concise and to the point. Check for any repetitive or unnecessary information and remove it. Make sure your essay adheres to the formatting guidelines provided by your teacher.

🌟 250 Word Scholarship Essay: Writing Prompts

A 250-word writing is a standard format for scholarship and college application essays. For your inspiration, we collected some 250-word essay scholarship examples that you can check out below!

📃 250-Word Essay on Why I Deserve a Scholarship

In a 250-word essay on why you deserve a scholarship, you can focus on highlighting your achievements, goals, and aspirations that make you a deserving candidate for financial support. Here are some points you can include in the body paragraph:

• Academic achievements. Discuss your academic performance, including honors, awards, or other achievements.
• Personal accomplishments. Share any personal achievements that demonstrate your character, leadership skills , or commitment to making a positive impact.
• Future impact. Explain how the scholarship will enable you to contribute to society through research, innovation, community service, or other means.

📃 Why This College Essay: 250 Words Examples

In a “Why this college” essay, you explain why you are interested in attending a particular college or university. There are many points you can include in the body of your 250-word essay:

• Academic fit. Discuss how the college’s educational programs, majors, or courses align with your academic interests and goals.
• Campus culture and community. Explain why the college’s campus culture and student organizations resonate with you.
• Personal connection. Recount your own experiences or interactions with the college or its community. It may involve visiting the campus, participating in events, or engaging with current students or alumni.

📃 250 Word Essay on Why I Want to Be a Nurse

In a 250-word essay explaining your career choice, you should be authentic and sincere. Share personal experiences or realizations demonstrating your passion for a particular field. Here are some ideas you can use for a “Why I want to be a nurse” essay:

• Personal experiences. Discuss any personal experiences that have influenced your desire to become a nurse.
• Compassion and empathy. Highlight your natural inclination toward caring for others and your ability to empathize with those in need.
• Interest in healthcare. Share your interest in healthcare and how nursing aligns with your passion for promoting health and well-being.

📃 Life Changing Experience Essay: 250 Words

In a 250-word “life-changing experience” essay, you can focus on describing an event or series of events that impacted your life and changed your perspective, values, or goals. Here are some points you can include:

• Introduction. Introduce the event or experience you will discuss and explain its significance.
• Description. Describe the event or experience, focusing on your emotions and thoughts.
• Lessons learned. Share the lessons or insights you gained from the experience. What did you learn about yourself, others, or the world?

📖 Essay 250 Words: Example

If you’re still wondering how to write a concise but meaningful paper, check out our 250-word social media essay example.

The role of social media in spreading fake news and misinformation has become a significant concern in today’s digital age. With the increasing popularity of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, information can spread rapidly, regardless of its reliability and accuracy. This essay will explore how social media contributes to disseminating fake news and misinformation. One of the primary reasons social media is a breeding ground for fake news is its ability to reach a vast audience within seconds. With minimal entry barriers, social platforms allow anyone to share information, regardless of its truthfulness, making it effortless for individuals with ill intentions to spread falsehoods among unsuspecting users. Additionally, social media algorithms play a significant role in amplifying fake news. It prioritizes content that receives high levels of engagement, such as likes, shares, and comments. As a result, controversial content tends to receive more publicity, even if it lacks credibility. In order to deal with the spread of false news on social media, platforms need to take accountability by enforcing stricter policies, implementing fact-checking measures, and prioritizing the promotion of reliable sources. It’s also essential to equip users with tools to authenticate information before sharing it to prevent the spread of misinformation on social media. Social media undoubtfully plays a significant role in spreading false news and misinformation due to its expansive reach, algorithmic biases, and echo chamber effect. It is crucial for individuals to be critical consumers of information and for social media platforms to take proactive measures to combat this issue.

🤓 250 Words Essay Topics

A 250-word essay can cover various topics, depending on the assignment’s purpose and requirements. Here we’ve gathered some interesting ideas you can use for your paper:

• How does social media influence people’s self-esteem?
• Obesity and its effect on human health.
• Is animal testing ethical?
• Vaccines for kids: pros and cons.
• How does motivation affect people’s life and success?
• The social significance of wearing school uniforms.
• How safe is GMO food?
• The history of hip-hop music.
• The importance of promoting fair labor policies.
• Ways to prevent domestic violence.
• Various forms of dance and their cultural significance.
• The cultural importance of Renaissance art.
• How does the family environment affect students’ academic success?
• Homeschooling: pros and cons.
• How would you define success?
• Best ways to deal with stress.
• Should kindergartens be more literacy-based or play-based?
• How does pop culture affect teenagers?
• How do physical exercises influence mental health?
• The importance of family values.
• The Principles of Inclusive Education.
• Osteoporosis: The Metabolic Bone Disease.
• The E-Commerce Case With Foodmart.
• The Reality in Drug Addiction Research: Ethnography.
• The Aging in Place Model: Role and Importance.
• Visual Learning and Ways to Apply It.
• Water Scarcity Issue and Environment.
• The Use of Data Collection: Personal Experiences.
• Haunted City: Ghosts of Berlin.
• The Importance of Water for the Body.
• Animal Research and Ethical Treatment.
• Medicare and Medicaid Role in Meeting Health Care Needs.
• The Consensus Model and the Advanced Practice Nurse’s Role.
• US Corporate Executive’s Cultural Shock in China.
• Benefits of Genetic Engineering.
• Standard of Care in Healthcare System.
• British Colonization of America.
• Information Assurance and the Role of Time.
• Urological Disorders in the Older Adult.
• The Ethical Side of Drug Patents.
• Non-Governmental Organization Committee on the Status of Women.
• On the Benefits of a Private Social Security System.
• The Work of a Journalist During Investigation.
• Note-Taking Styles of College Students.
• The Sin of Betrayal in Alighieri’s “Divine Comedy.”
• The Concept of the “War on Drugs.”
• Methods for Determining Body Fat.
• Postwar Economic Prosperity of Ordinary Americans.
• Mound Cultures of North America.
• Congestive Heart Failure: Nursing Diagnosis & Care Plan.
• Osteoporosis: Causes and Treatment.
• Research of Medical Professionals’ Cultural Competence.
• Vaccination and Its Economic Implications.
• Behavioral Disturbances in Dementia.
• Human Resource Planning and Return on Investment.
• Philosophical Thought and Its Levels in Nursing.
• Seamless Implementation of Electronic Medical Records.
• Serving Vulnerable Populations: Meals on Wheels.
• Probiotics Use by a Patient on Antibiotics.
• Hawaiian Mythology and Genealogy of Gods.
• From Medical Practice to Daily Life Study.
• Implementation of Evidence into Practice.
• The Issues of the Effectiveness of CPUs.
• Aspects of Capital Budgeting Practice.

❓250 Words Essay: FAQ

How many pages is a 250-word essay.

The number of pages in a 250-word essay can vary depending on the font size, spacing, and formatting. A 250-word paper is approximately one double-spaced page or half a single-spaced page. It’s important to remember that the focus should be on the quality and content of the essay rather than the number of pages.

How Long is a 250-Word Essay?

The number of paragraphs and sentences in a 250-word essay can vary depending on the writer’s style. However, as a general guideline, a 250-word essay will likely consist of 3-4 paragraphs . The introduction and conclusion are usually the same length and comprise 1-2 sentences, while the body paragraphs make up the main content of the essay.

How to Write a 250-Word Essay for a Scholarship?

When writing a 250-word scholarship essay, you should take your time, be authentic, and ensure your paper reflects your true self. Start as soon as possible to have enough time before the application deadline. When brainstorming ideas, review other scholarship essay examples. Don’t hesitate to ask other people for feedback and help with proofreading.

• Definition; Writing for Success | University of Minnesota
• Developing A Thesis | Harvard University
• Compare and Contrast Essays: The Ultimate Guide | Grammarly Blog
• Argumentative Essays | Purdue OWL, Purdue University
• Paragraphs | The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• How Do I Write an Intro, Conclusion, Body Paragraph? | U-M LSA Sweetland Center for Writing
• Writing Concisely | George Mason University
• Make Your Essay Flow Using Transitions | ThoughtCo

How to Write a 200-Word Essay: Length, Prompts, & Example

740 funny research topics — a list of superb writing ideas, 376 ethical topics & questions for research papers, essays, debates, & more, 428 criminology research topics & questions for students, self-discipline for students: tips, & practices, associate degree: is it worth it types, jobs, & tips for students.

• Applying For Scholarships

How to Write a Great 250-Word Essay

David Dec 14, 2017

Get our best scholarship practices, insights & tips delivered to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

In college, there are many instances where you may be required to write a 250-word essay – your application, exam questions, small writing prompts, etc. A 250-word limit may seem like a novel to some, but others find it difficult to get their point across with so few words. In this guide, we will look at a 250-word essay example, along with tips on how to write a great 250-word essay.   Bonus: Need to write a longer essay? See this guide on how to write a 500-word essay

The Basic Format of a 250-Word Essay

All essays consist of the same three parts: an introduction with a thesis, a body paragraph or body paragraphs that support the thesis, and a concluding paragraph that summarizes the overall essay.

In 250 words, you will most likely have 3-4 paragraphs in total, each with 50-100 words. This will allow for 3-5 concise but detailed sentences per paragraph.

A Step-by-Step 250-Word Essay Example

To help visualize this process, let’s go ahead and write a simple 250-word essay.  You’ll see our writing sample in green and our explanation of what we did (and what can be done) with each section in normal text.

The fastest path to earning scholarships

Simplify and focus your application process with the one-stop platform for vetted scholarships.

Without further ado, let’s get started on our essay!

TOPIC:  How has your family upbringing influenced your educational goals?

Step 1 – Write Your Thesis

Your thesis is the first thing you should consider in your essay. Simply put, it’s the main idea of your essay that will control everything else you write. If you could summarize the question in just one sentence, how would you do it?

For our topic   How has your family upbringing influenced your educational goals?  our thesis will be:

My parents saw little value in a formal education. It was their lack of passion that led me to my educational goals.

Step 2 – Write Your Introduction

In the introduction, the first sentence can be a broad or general statement that sets the tone for the piece. It is usually supported by a second sentence that leads into the thesis. The optional third sentence may pose a question that the thesis aims to answer, or it may prompt the reader to think about the topic in a different light. The final sentence of the intro paragraph clearly establishes the thesis.

As a general rule of thumb, the introduction should go from broad to specific, sentence by sentence, gradually leading up to your thesis. Here’s a sample example of an introductory paragraph.

Parents are supposed to push you past your goals, or at least, that’s what I always believed. I was raised in the generation of “you can do anything if you put your mind to it.” My parents did not follow that philosophy, and they saw little value in a formal education. It was their lack of passion that led me to my educational goals.

Word count:  Introductory paragraph, 64 words.

Easy Scholarships

Easy scholarships? Yes, you’ve come to the right place! This mind-blowing guide to easy scholarships will give you info on every kind of easy scholarship including no essay, weird, social media scholarships, scholarship sweepstakes, no GPA & more! Learn how to win these easy scholarships…

READ THE GUIDE

Step 3 – Write The Body Paragraph(s)

Next, we’ll continue with the body paragraph. Remember, body paragraphs should support the thesis and be about 3-5 sentences or 50-100 words long. In a short essay you may opt for only one body paragraph but in a longer one you may need more.

So how should your body paragraphs support your thesis? Think of each body paragraph as an argument that supports it.

Working with our thesis   “My parents never saw the value of formal education and that’s what lead me to my educational goals” , then each paragraph could be about   how not seeing the value of formal education led to the writer pursuing it.

For example, maybe the writer didn’t want to end up in the same work as their parents. Or maybe it was the parents’ lack of belief in the writer that pushed them to pursue a better future.

Let’s have a look at what a body paragraph can look like for our 250 word essay.

From as far back as I can remember, I knew I didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of my parents, at least not when it came to work. My father had worked on the family farm all his life and my mother had been a housewife since graduation. They were both content with the simplicity of their lives and wanted the same for me. I remember my father telling me that college was “expensive and a waste of four years”.  I knew however, that I wanted a career in the city that would be more challenging than simple farm life could provide. The only way to make that possible would be through formal education and a college degree. 

Word count:  Body paragraph 119 words. Total essay is now 181 words.

Step 4 – Summarize with a Conclusion

The final paragraph is the conclusion. You may start this paragraph with “To summarize,” “As evident by X, Y, and Z,”  or a similar statement that highlights the biggest points in your essay. Use the conclusion paragraph to sum up the main point of your essay using different words. The last sentence can be something broad that leaves the reader wondering. Let’s see how we can write a conclusion for our sample essay.

While my parents may not understand the value of formal education, I know it is essential for my future. This has helped me immensely, by making me realize that without strong parental support, I’m the only one who’s responsible for my own goals. In a way this has been the strongest source of motivation. And for that, I am forever grateful.  

Notice how we summarize the main point of the essay in the first sentence. We then connect the first sentence to the a conclusion we arrive at. Finally we end in an optimistic tone by stating how this has been helpful and we are grateful. Unlike the introduction paragraph, which flows from broad sentences to specific, a conclusion generally flows the opposite way, from specific sentences to broader concepts.

Word count: Concluding paragraph 61 words. Total essay is now 242 words. 

Sure, we came up 8 words short. But being that close should not be considered an issue. If for some reason you are required to write 250 words minimum, you can make the essay longer by sprinkling in a few extra words.

The Entire 250-word Essay  Altogether

Parents are supposed to push you past your goals, or at least, that’s what I always believed. I was raised in the generation of “you can do anything if you put your mind to it.” My parents did not follow that philosophy, and they saw little value in a formal education. It was their lack of passion that led me to my educational goals. From as far back as I can remember, I knew I didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of my parents, at least not when it came to work. My father had worked on the family farm all his life and my mother had been a housewife since graduation. They were both content with the simplicity of their lives and wanted the same for me. I remember my father telling me that college was “expensive and a waste of four years”.  I knew however, that I wanted a career in the city that would be more challenging than simple farm life could provide. The only way to make that possible would be through formal education and a college degree.  While my parents may not understand the value of formal education, I know it is essential for my future. This has helped me immensely by making me realize that without strong parental support, I’m the only one who’s responsible for my own goals. In a way this has been the strongest source of motivation. And for that, I am forever grateful.  

Should I Write More Than 250 Words or Less Than 250 Words?

When a professor or college entry application asks for a “250 word essay,” 250 words is generally a rough guide. No one is going to fail you if you go over or under the limit by a few words. We’d say a good gauge is plus or minus 50 words. As a general rule of thumb though, try to stay as close to 250 words as possible without going too far over or under.

Essay Writing Tips

Here are some quick tips for writing a great 250-word essay:

• Write the first draft from start to finish without any pauses. This will make the writing sound fluid, and you can make adjustments after that.
• Avoid over-editing your work. Ideally, you should take a long pause between editing sessions so you can clear your head and come back with a fresh perspective.
• Try not to think about the word count too much. Once you get in the habit of writing four 3-5 sentence paragraphs, you’ll find your words naturally get close to 250.
• Don’t throw fluff sentences in your essay. Professors see right through those. Instead, think of an additional sentence to enhance the support in your body paragraphs.
• If you feel like you have concisely and sufficiently answered the question below the word count, trust your gut. Most instructors will value quality over quantity.

The more 250-word essays you write, the easier they will become. Feel free to practice with free essay prompts online to train your brain to write with this rhythm. You’ll soon be able to whip out 250 words without checking your word count!

YOU SHOULD ALSO READ

How to Write a Great 500 Word Essay

Why I Deserve This Scholarship Essay Examples

Financial Need Scholarship Essay Examples

Scholarship Essay Examples – Career Goals

How to Write a Scholarship Motivation Letter

About Yourself Scholarship Essay Examples

• Scholarship Essay

David Tabachnikov is the CEO of ScholarshipOwl. Formerly at Waze and Google, David is an experienced CTO/R&D manager with over 10 years of experience of leading tech teams. David fervently believes that students should have greater access to education, and is passionate about using technology to help them achieve that goal.

Related Stories View All

Mental Health Scholarships

Complete Guide On How to Answer FAFSA Questions

The Least & Most Popular Majors (Infographic)

Get started with scholarshipowl.

Simplify and focus your application process with the one-stop platform for vetted scholarships

250-Word Essay: Write 4 Paragraphs in 30 Minutes

• Icon Calendar 19 June 2024
• Icon Page 3537 words
• Icon Clock 16 min read

In order to learn how to write a perfect 250-word essay, an academic undertaking requires an author to observe specific standards of academic writing. Basically, these standards include following an introduction-body-conclusion outline and using MLA, APA, Harvard, Chicago/Turabian, or any other format. In this case, students write an introductory paragraph that concludes with a thesis statement, which serves as a central pillar of an entire paper. Moreover, a 250-word essay is different from a one-page paper in many ways, including formatting. While a one-page paper adopts a single-spacing format, a 250-word essay follows a double-spacing approach. Regardless of these differences, both types of compositions must incorporate evidence to establish credibility. The evidence appears in body paragraphs and must align with a Sandwich Rule. In concluding their compositions, writers must restate their thesis sentences and summarize the main themes without introducing new information.

Basic Principles

Writing is an exercise that requires an understanding of some basic academic rules. In particular, these rules apply to any scholarly documents, where authors aim to present credible information on specific topics. Basically, writers should research widely on their topics and incorporate the findings of research studies. In writing a 250-word essay, students should be specific on what they want to communicate if they intend their papers to be scholarly texts. Unlike long compositions that require authors to write an outline for purposes of organizing their thoughts, a 250-word essay is short. It only requires students to focus on the information they want to deliver. Hence, the use of sources in this type of paper is limited, and, if used, they must be relevant to a writer’s point of view.

What Is a 250-Word Essay and Its Purpose

According to its definition, a 250-word essay is a short academic text that provides information on a specific topic, idea, argument, or reflection within a limited word count. The main purpose of writing a 250-word essay is to challenge writers to organize their thoughts clearly and efficiently and present their most essential elements within a certain number of words. For any paper to meet the threshold of a scholarly text, writers must provide a brief thesis statement that captures the author’s central arguments or claims (Hotaling, 2020). Moreover, a typical structure of a 250-word essay entails an introductory paragraph, one or two body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. Unless it is necessary, writers may not provide headings and subheadings in this type of paper. In terms of length, 250 words are approximately one page long if double-spaced or half a page if single-spaced (Greetham, 2023). As a result, a 250-word essay consists of 3 to 4 paragraphs, contains about 8 to 12 sentences, and spans 14 to 18 lines of text with minimal headings and no subheadings. In turn, the length of 200-250 words is considered a short essay, often suitable for brief responses or specific, concise topics.

Prompts for Writing a 250-Word Essay

A 250-word essay layout includes a brief introduction, one or two concise body paragraphs, and a short conclusion. Possible examples of 250-word prompts that students can use for writing their 1-page papers include:

• Describe a significant challenge you faced and how you overcame it.
• Explain the importance of a specific personal value or belief.
• Discuss a moment that profoundly impacted your life.
• Analyze the role of technology in modern education.
• Reflect on a book that changed your perspective on a particular issue.
• Examine the impact of a historical event on contemporary society.
• Write about a time when you demonstrated leadership.
• Analyze an experience that sparked your interest in a particular field of study.
• Cover the significance of a cultural tradition in your life.
• Share how you have contributed to your community.

Note: Body Paragraphs 1 and 2 can be combined into a single paragraph.

Written 250-Word Essay Example

If someone wants to understand what does a 250-word essay look like, check the next example:

Topic: Healthy Lifestyle

Introduction Paragraph Sample

The growing cases of obesity in the United States (US) have become a source of concern to health professionals and the government at all levels. Basically, this context has seen the medical community invest in research, with several studies highlighting the health risks that individuals face when they become obese. In turn, the findings of these studies show that a healthy lifestyle, such as eating healthy food and maintaining physical fitness, is the most effective intervention against becoming obese.

The word count of the introduction paragraph is 79 words .

Body Paragraph Sample : Obese-Related Complications

The US has a high number of fast-food restaurants, which contributes to the rising cases of obesity. Basically, this situation has predisposed a majority of Americans to junk food, especially teenagers and young professionals. For instance, several studies have established that obesity results from unhealthy diets, including fatty and junk food (evidence). In this case, these foods not only predispose individuals to being obese but also at risk of developing health complications. Moreover, the most notable obesity-related complications include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and others. In turn, the lack of physical exercise is also a factor contributing to the current trend of obesity.

The word count of the body paragraph is 106 words .

Conclusion Paragraph Sample

There is no doubt that, in order to reverse the current trend of obesity in the US, Americans must stop eating unhealthy foods and develop a habit of exercising regularly. Without regular physical exercises, the human body stores up fat that ends up blocking blood vessels and other complications. As for the recommendations, Americans must adopt healthy lifestyles to reverse the current trend of obesity.

The word count of the conclusion paragraph is 65 words .

Thus, introduction + body + conclusion parts = 79 + 106 + 65 words or 250-word essay.

Explaining How to Write a 250-Word Essay Example

Paragraph 1: introduction with a thesis statement.

The first paragraph of a sample paper of a 250-word essay titled “Healthy Lifestyle” is an introduction. Basically, any opening section allows readers to know what a paper is all about (Gray, 2018). In turn, this part starts by establishing a context for a composition: the rising cases of obesity in the US and the confirmation by research studies that obesity is a health risk. Then, this paragraph concludes with a thesis statement – maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In principle, a key idea includes eating healthy food and maintaining physical fitness, being the most effective intervention to becoming obese. To make a statement significant, an author bases these ideas on research findings. Moreover, the total word count for an introduction paragraph, without the title, is 79 words. Hence, the length makes an introduction part slightly shorter than a body paragraph, which is acceptable in academic writing. In turn, some examples of sentence starters for beginning a 250-word essay are:

• One of the most significant moments in my life was when I meet … .
• As [famous person] once said, ‘[quote],’ which made me understand … .
• The crucial turning point in my life occurred when I … .
• Have you ever wondered what it takes to truly make a difference?
• When I first experienced the challenge of … .
• According to recent studies, about [percentage] of people believe that … .
• The moment I stepped into the room, I knew that everything was about to change because … .
• Despite the many obstacles in my path, I discovered that … .
• Reflecting on my childhood, I have come to realize that … .
• The challenge I faced taught me the importance of … .

Paragraph 2: Body

The second part of a 250-word essay is a body paragraph that talks about health complications associated with obesity. Just like in an introduction part, an author begins an entire paragraph by establishing a context, which is the proliferation of fast-food restaurants in the US. This context helps students to understand the source of obesity in the country. Moreover, the author makes reference to research studies (evidence) on obesity to establish credibility in a written text. As such, readers can understand that whatever an author talks about in a whole text is not informed by personal opinions but rather by research findings (Shiach, 2011). In academic writing, this aspect makes a text reliable. Hence, one can use it as a reference when writing a paper or contributing to an argument. In summary, a body section, with a word count of 106 words, provides information that strengthens a central thesis statement in an introduction section.

Paragraph 3: Conclusion

The last paragraph in a written essay example is a conclusion, which marks the end of a paper. In academic writing, a conclusion part of a 250-word essay does not provide new information. Instead, it takes the most significant themes in the body of a paper and links them with a central thesis statement (West et al., 2019). In an above example, an author begins by making a firm observation based on the content of the body section, that is to stop obesity, while Americans must start eating healthy foods and exercising regularly. In turn, one can argue that an author intends to establish the urgency of the central message. Hence, a conclusion part with a word count of 65 words provides a final appeal that marks the author’s opinion in the context of all the available knowledge. In an above 250-word composition, a writer’s concluding remark is that Americans must follow clinical recommendations about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Principles of Academic Writing

An above 250-word essay is a scholarly text for several reasons. Firstly, it adopts a standard outline of an academic paper, including an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. For example, to write a 250-word paper outline, writers start with an introduction containing a thesis statement, followed by one or two main points, each supported by evidence, and conclude with a summary of the main ideas (Vitalis, 2016). In lengthy papers, a body section comprises several paragraphs with several headings and subheadings. Secondly, it has a thesis that helps to anchor an author’s central message. Basically, a content of a written body paragraph focuses on proving or strengthening a writer’s thesis. Thirdly, an author incorporates evidence in a paper, which appears in a body part. For instance, evidence helps to establish credibility, making any paper a scholarly text (Hotaling, 2020). In turn, a body paragraph starts with a topic sentence, which determines the direction of an entire section. As per a Sandwich Rule, an author writes evidence to support an opening sentence and then provides a statement that establishes the significance of evidence.

One-Page Paper vs. 250-Word Essay

In academic writing, authors can choose to single-space or double-space their 250-word texts. Basically, a one-page essay follows a single-spaced format, meaning the total word count should be more than 500 words (Greetham, 2023). In this case, students can write different headings and subheadings in their body paragraphs to establish a logical flow to their arguments. For instance, in MLA 9 format (Modern Language Association 9th Edition), authors may not put a title in introductory and concluding parts. However, in APA 7 referencing style (American Psychological Association 7th Edition) format, writers must put a title in these paragraphs. In a one-page paper in whatever format, students must put headings (and subheadings if necessary) to create a logical flow in their texts. In short, the most significant characteristics of a one-page paper that distinguishes it from writing a 250-word college essay are single-spacing, including a word count limit.

Other Features

In a 250-word essay, a notable feature is double-spacing, which ensures a total word count on a page does not go beyond 250 words. Basically, this type of paper’s primary distinguishing feature is that it uses minimal headings (Shiach, 2011). Moreover, to format a 250-word essay, writers use a 12-point readable font like Times New Roman, double spacing, 1-inch margins on all sides, and structure it with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. In turn, sometimes, there are no subheadings in a body section. However, a key basis of writing a short outline is a limited number of words, an aspect that demands writers to avoid unnecessary wording of their texts. Another feature that sets apart a 250-word college essay from a one-page paper is the use of evidence to support an author’s central claim. As indicated, the need to avoid unnecessary wording in a 250-word essay puts a demand for writers to limit the number of sources they incorporate in their texts. In turn, one can argue that this limitation in the number of sources premises the need to satisfy a Sandwich Rule.

Based on these differences, someone may ask, “So what?” The answer to this question requires people to consider expectations before they start writing a 250-word composition. In many instances, people cannot call themselves writers who choose which format to use in writing texts because their instructors make this choice (Greetham, 2023). However, if people have the freedom to choose, the above differences may influence a particualr format they prefer. Basically, students may choose to use an option of writing a one-page paper. Such work adopts a single-spacing format if they want to write their compositions on a single page. When it comes to choosing a specific format to use in writing a 250-word essay, the primary consideration that writers must make is its word count. On the other hand, it would make no sense to write a 250-word essay in a single-space format.

Points to Remember

• An introductory paragraph in a 250-word essay must conclude with a thesis sentence.
• An introductory paragraph must establish the context of an assigned topic.
• One or two body paragraphs must open with a topic sentence.
• Incorporate evidence in all body paragraphs.
• Observe a Sandwich Rule.
• A concluding paragraph must not introduce new information but summarize an entire 250-word essay.
• Restate a thesis sentence in a concluding paragraph and make a final remark.
• A concluding remark should indicate the author’s independent thoughts about what they have written.
• Ensure there are no grammatical errors by reading through a 250-word composition at least twice.

Educational Levels

College or university papers.

In academic writing, a crucial demand placed for writers of texts depends on their level of education. Basically, this aspect means that a university student has a higher threshold than a high schooler in academic writing to meet the criteria of writing a 250-word essay. Moreover, this threshold entails several elements, including language sophistication and level of research, among others. On language sophistication, college students must demonstrate mastery of an English language, particularly regarding their subjects (Vitalis, 2016). In other words, when writing about nursing, university scholars must write nursing terminologies in their texts to establish an in-depth understanding of a subject matter. On the level of research, university students must include evidence in their 250-word writing to build credibility. Hence, the higher the number of sources that writers use, the more their works become an outcome of thorough research.

High School Essays

In contrast, academic writing puts no pressure on high schoolers to use sophisticated language and in-depth research. Basically, the expectation is that writers at this level of education can demonstrate a logical flow of their arguments (Shiach, 2011). In other words, writers at this level of education should not focus on appearing sophisticated but rather conversant with their topics when writing a 250-word essay. As opposed to using in-depth research to anchor their texts, high schoolers should use practical 250-word examples. Here, high school writers use observable phenomena to anchor their arguments. In turn, the reason for expectations for a university student and those of a high schooler are different. It is because the former must demonstrate an in-depth understanding, and the latter must show critical thinking.

What to Know More

The differences between a one-page essay and a 250-word essay have nothing to do with the academic level. For instance, a university student and a high schooler can write their arguments through a one-page paper or a 250-word essay (Shiach, 2011). In this case, the only difference between the texts of these two students would be the sophistication of language and the level of research that they incorporate in their writings. For college students, some elements that would demonstrate a sophisticated language include theories, models, concepts, and principles around the subject matter. In turn, a one-page paper would provide a writer with enough space to explore these elements. Hence, it is impossible to organize many ideas in a 250-word college essay. On the other hand, experienced writers can typically write a 250-word essay in about 15 to 60 minutes, depending on a topic’s complexity and their writing proficiency.

Common Mistakes

• Lack of Focus: Trying to cover too many points or ideas instead of concentrating on a single, clear message.
• Overwriting: Using too many words or overly complex language, which can exceed a 250-word limit and reduce clarity.
• Underwriting: Failing to fully develop ideas, resulting in a vague or unclear piece.
• Weak Introduction: Not providing a strong hook or context for readers, making a 250-word paper less engaging from the start.
• No Clear Thesis: Lacking a specific, concise thesis statement that guides a brief composition.
• Poor Organization: Failing to structure a brief text logically with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
• Repetition: Repeating the same ideas or phrases, which wastes valuable word count.
• Ignoring a Prompt: Not addressing an assigned 250-word prompt directly or thoroughly.
• Lack of Specificity: Using general statements without specific examples or evidence to support points.
• Weak Conclusion: Ending a short composition without a clear summary or takeaway.
• Grammar and Spelling Errors: Neglecting to proofread, which can undermine a composition’s professionalism and clarity.
• Irrelevant Details: Including information that does not directly support a main argument or purpose.
• Inconsistent Tone: Switching between formal and informal language, which can confuse readers.
• Ignoring Feedback: Failing to revise a 250-word paper based on constructive criticism or feedback.

There are no questions that academic writing requires some level of professionalism to make a text credible. As indicated, several elements characterize any composition as a scholarly text, including an outline and evidence supporting an author’s central claim. To anyone interested in writing a 250-word essay, the following tips are essential:

• Pick a topic.
• Develop a central claim (thesis).
• Identify a target audience.
• Identify keywords.
• Choose a format (MLA, APA, Harvard, Chicago/Turabian, or any others).
• Create an outline for a 250-word essay.
• Research an assigned topic to identify credible sources.
• Write a good introductory paragraph and ensure a concluding sentence captures a central thesis.
• Develop 1-2 body paragraphs and incorporate evidence.
• Write a concluding paragraph and make sure not to introduce any new information. Writers should simply restate their thesis sentences, summarize the main themes of their 250-word papers, and make a concluding remark.
• The word count of a written paper must be 250 words.

Gray, J. A. (2018). Introduction sections: Where are we going and why should I care? AME Medical Journal , 3 , 112–112. https://doi.org/10.21037/amj.2018.12.03

Greetham, B. (2023). How to write better essays . Bloomsbury Academic.

Hotaling, S. (2020). Simple rules for concise scientific writing. Limnology and Oceanography Letters , 5 (6), 379–383. https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10165

Shiach, D. (2011). How to write essays: A step-by-step guide for all levels, with sample essays . How To Books.

Vitalis, P. (2016). The 10 step English test essay: How to write a basic essay for an English test . Amazon Digital Services LLC.

West, H., Malcolm, G., Keywood, S., & Hill, J. (2019). Writing a successful essay. Journal of Geography in Higher Education , 43 (4), 609–617. https://doi.org/10.1080/03098265.2019.1655720

To Learn More, Read Relevant Articles

500-Word Essay: Write 5 Paragraphs in 2 Hours

• Icon Calendar 3 June 2020
• Icon Page 4256 words

Abortion Research Paper: A Student's Guide

• Icon Calendar 1 June 2020
• Icon Page 3846 words

10 Ways to Increase Your Essay Word Count (AI Included)

Table of contents

One of the biggest challenges students face is writing long-form essays of 2,000 words or more.

Someone brought this up at a recent webinar I attended, and I couldn't help but think back to my freshman year. Several years ago, I had to write a long essay on an interesting but unfamiliar subject. It took me a lot longer than it should.

After writing hundreds of articles, essays and reports, I've developed my own list of 'smart hacks' to help increase word count on any written piece. 

Let's dive into the word count expansion strategies I use today when I write various texts.

How NOT to increase word count

Adding fluff words.

Adding meaningless words only confuses the core arguments and distracts the evaluator. Whatever merit your actual content may have had will be obscured by a mountain of meaningless words.

The sentence in my essay read,

"Violent acts by adults are often caused by childhood exposure to violence.".  

If I try to forcedly add fluff words to expand the text, my sentence would sound stretched:

“Violent acts are often associated with the fact that adults who commit violent acts - acts that are seen as savage, harsh, rough, physically abusive, or otherwise unacceptable in society - have been exposed to similar harsh or extreme violence during their childhoods or when they were young”.

Voice and tone

Although passive voice makes a sentence longer, I have found that my writing is much sharper when I use active voice. Also, do not confuse the need to use a formal or academic tone with passive voice.

Quoting without context

This one is like digging yourself into a hole. I quoted so many out-of-context references that I found my essay running on all sorts of tangents. After spending hours trying to connect the dots between the tangents, I ended up having to rewrite the entire piece because I was unable to justify the distracting content. 

Mindless paraphrasing

You hear it from your professor, and spew it back at her. Mindlessly repeating content in different sections of an essay - as if your teacher wouldn't notice, won't really help you ace your courses.

Even more mistakes

After asking some of my classmates, I found out that some of them had resorted to even worse hacks that eventually got them in trouble:

• Using filler words - In order to fill more pages, some diverge from the specified format and increase fonts, margins, and spacing. You will lose credibility if you do this, and you will also lose points if you deviate from the writing style specified.
• Plagiarism - Plagiarizing large chunks from others' essays or research papers was not only seen as lazy, but it was a fast way from a not-so-great grade to a failed grade.
• Other sneaky tricks - These included whitening out gibberish text and increasing the size of periods. Teachers have seen it all and know every trick in the book.

The right way to increase word count

Eventually, my word count increased in a way that makes each word actually count (pardon the pun), and it turns out there are some pretty cool tricks to do that.

With the right tools and techniques, you spend less time on the heavy lifting, more time on the actual writing, and at the end of the day, you have a much more comprehensive essay that is a delight to read. =

1. Use an AI writing tool

Skip the manual paraphrasing and use a smart AI writing tool. For example, I added almost 50 words to a 125-word paragraph using Wordtune’s text expand feature .

How to add more sentences to a paragraph

One method to expand your word count is to find short paragraphs and adding more sentences that clarify what they mean. This task used to be pretty frustrating, but with the use of AI it's made simple. Start by going over the essay, and notice if there's a paragraph that stands out in terms of being lean and overly simplified. Paste that paragraph into the Wordtune editor, and click the 'Plus' icon.

You'll be able to expand the article in any number of ways, including adding an explanation, an analogy, a counterargument, or even a simple continuation of your idea. Then, simply scroll through the different suggestions that AI produces, and find the best one.

2. Take advantage of outlines

It may seem counter-intuitive, but completing your outline can help you meet your word count goal.

Say you need to turn a 200-word article into a 1,500-word essay. Make an outline of the article before trying to tackle this seemingly impossible task of writing the whole piece.This will give you a clearer picture of how your entire thesis works and how to logically support it.

As an example, suppose we're writing an essay on why kids shouldn't play phone games.

To begin, you need to summarize your message in a few sentences. For example:

‍ “Kids have susceptible brains, and games can change the whole chemistry of their brains in a bad way, causing them to go off on tantrums and screaming fits. Moreover, these games form addictive habits that will persist when the kids become older. By continuing to play phone games, the kids fail to develop emotionally, and may become unsocial introverted people. Moreover, there are signs that games make kids more violent and emotionally unstable. Since phones are always at reach, kids can continuously play throughout the day, not stopping even when eating lunch or when attending a school class.”

Before expanding it, write an outline to get a sense of its structure and flow. As a result, you can easily determine how much text is needed for each section, which ones require expanded text, and which ones can be kept brief.  This clarity not only helps me reduce anxiety, but also gives me a clear plan of action to finish this essay!

For example, for the paragraph on video games, my outline would look something like this:

Introduction (include statistics and research to argue that video games are harmful for kids) and state the thesis (250 words) Negative effects of video games on children: first build larger categories and then substantiate with smaller points, evidence and data within each point: - Effects on emotional development (200 words) - Effects on physical development (200 words) - Effects on social development (200 words) - Effects on intellectual development (200 words) Give counter-views Cite research that talks about potential positive effects of video games, if used the proper way and under supervision (250 words) Give solutions State why parents find it so hard to keep kids away from video games, especially mobile video games, and offer concrete solutions to set better boundaries with kids for video game usage (250 words) Conclusion Offer a strong conclusion that brings all of the essay together in a summary (250 words)

Note that I’ve planned to write a few hundred more words than the prescribed word limit, so I have scope to edit and tighten later on. 

3. Expand your text with intros and conclusions

I use this method all the time to get unstuck and write longer articles without worrying about word counts.

Let's say you finish expanding your outline, and the article is still short a few hundred words.

Two places you should consider expanding are the introduction and conclusion.

How does this work?

• In the introduction and conclusion, you can add free-flowing stories, ideas and paragraphs, without having to validate each sentence with technical reference, sources and quotes.
• You can use anecdotes, personal experiences, news articles, and research findings to introduce your topic, or to close it.
• You can also go into detail about why you were motivated to explore the topic in more depth and why it has helped you to develop your argument. We wrote about essay hooks in more detail here, so be sure to check it out.
• Remind readers why this entire argument matters at the human level in the conclusion. This is done by repeating the topic, the core of your argument, and why you have justified your thesis. 

Add these elements to your introduction and conclusion, and you will quickly reach your essay quota.

Here's an example from the Wordtune blog of an anecdote placed as part of the intro:

4. Use examples to illustrate your point

It is always helpful to provide examples to illustrate complex academic or technical points. As well as adding color and descriptiveness to your own words, examples help your arguments come to life in a way that academic writing cannot. Having read several essays about the same topic, your evaluator will probably find it enjoyable to read something more creative and genuine. 

Examples also help readers visualize your narrative. The situations can be real or imagined, but they must be authentic, relatable, and most importantly, relevant to your topic. Providing examples from your real-life experience will demonstrate to the teacher that you understand your topic.

I started this article by describing my experience as a freshman. The challenges I faced as a student are similar to those you are currently facing, so sharing my journey will help you learn from my mistakes.

5. Invest in serious research 

Research is the most effective way to increase a paper's word count. 

The more research you conduct, the more ideas, perspectives, and information you have to base your arguments on. 

Research takes time and effort, which you may or may not have. 

Here's where my smart tools come into play.

No matter how long a paper is, Wordtune Read will give you all the key highlights.

The following is a composite screenshot of how Wordtune Read summarized the effects of video games on children from a long and complex article. The key highlights on the right help you distill the core messages of the research in minutes, condensing hours of reading into minutes.

In just a few steps, you can add at least two supporting arguments or stats for each point you have in your outline. And just like that, you have several hundred very relevant words, added almost effortlessly to your essay.

6. Ask 'Why' questions

At this stage, the research has already provided you with some solid perspectives, but there's nothing like adding some original perspectives to the existing body of research. Asking ‘why’ questions is an effective way to do this. In addition to strengthening your arguments, it will also enhance your essay with relevant and original content.

Think back to the example of the negative effects of video games on children. Let's say one of the arguments you have is "phone games cause emotional issues". Use a series of 'why' questions to dig deeper into the text. 

Ask questions like: "why is that true?", "Why is it important?", etc. For each answer, ask another why question and develop some original angles based on the insights that may emerge. 

While it beats manual paraphrasing in terms of speed, I felt it also improved the overall quality of the writing.

7. Address the counter view

It's a foolproof way to score brownie points with tutors and also add some value - and word count - to your essay. 

Counter views or counterpoints are positions diametrically opposed to your own.

I argue, for example, that video games negatively affect children in the essay about video games. There is always some literature available (and there is always some literature available) on the counter-side of why and under what circumstances video games can actually have a positive impact on children. I am able to write a pretty solid section on that topic. 

By balancing the pros and cons of both arguments, I will also be able to bridge the two points of view.

Just like that, you've added about 200 words to your essay!

8. Use quotes and references

While the bibliography section doesn’t usually count towards the overall essay word count, there are some easy tricks you can use to maximize the references. Once you are done with the essay, run through your list of citations and find interesting quotes that you may have missed, which you can now incorporate.

9. Get feedback from a friend

If you're like me, working on the same essay for a long time with complete immersion means you develop blind spots to obvious misses and flaws in your text. This could be especially problematic for non-native English speakers .

Ask a trusted friend or peer to look over your essay again. Share your essay on Gdoc with your friends and find out if they spot something that seems missing, out of place, or that stands out like a sore thumb.

Also, ask them to question your assumptions in the essay - this may give you new angles and perspectives to explore, thus expanding the word count even further.

Your friends will help you find the problematic paragraphs in your writing and make them more concise and effective .

10. Add text while editing

Once you have finished writing your essay, you can use the review stage to edit and add text to your essay.

This is another great opportunity to use your AI writing tool, and get suggestions for ways to make your sentences more fluent . You can also replace superfluous words with stronger vocabulary, and pick alternative ways to word sentences that contain repetitive words.

Try and spot long, convoluted sentences and break them up to smaller sentences.

Keep it long and interesting

Essays that meet the prescribed criteria, including word count, indicate to your teachers that you not only possess subject matter knowledge, but also writing, grammar, logic, research, and communication skills.

You can find interesting angles even in the most mundane sounding topics if you challenge yourself to do the work and not worry too much about the word count. With the 11 smart hacks - including use of the smart writing tools - essay writing and meeting the specified word count becomes much easier! 

Learning how to expand a text in an interesting way - and not just by adding fluff - makes you a better writer regardless of the format - essays, reports, statements of purpose - even books! 

Share This Article:

8 Tips for E-commerce Copywriting Success (with Examples!)

The Brand Strategy Deck You Need to Drive Social Media Results + 5 Examples

Grammarly Alternatives: Which Writing Assistant is the Best Choice for You?

Looking for fresh content, thank you your submission has been received.

Writing Get your essay and assignment written from scratch by PhD expert

Rewriting: Paraphrase or rewrite your friend's essay with similar meaning at reduced cost

Editing: Proofread your work by experts and improve grade at Lowest cost

Enter phone no. to receive critical updates and urgent messages !

Error goes here

Please upload all relevant files for quick & complete assistance.

New User? Start here.

250-Word Essays: Mastering Concise Writing

Table of Contents

Most students consider working on their 250-word essays a nuisance. With such a limited space, many struggle to present their perspectives on the topic coherently and neatly. 

Luckily, MyAssignmentHelp is always available to help such candidates overcome their challenges and compile quality essays for excellent grades. Our experts help students find suitable titles (be it process essay topics or any other). Plus, they even answer questions like ”How many words  to maintain for each essay section?’ or,  ‘How many pages should an essay of 250 words be?’ 

The experts who drafted our essay writing guide are here to teach you how to write a 250 word essay. 

Read on to learn more!

How to Write A 250 Word Essay?

We have compiled a list of must-dos to tick off. Let us check them, shall we?

Write Clearly and Concisely

Use small and familiar words that aren’t too complex. Complex words require clarification, and terminologies need explaining, which is bad for your essay count. 

Only Focus on Key Points

Limit your argumentations by focusing on the key points. Avoid rambling around the theme. For such brief essays, ‘Less is More’! Of course, you still need to make an impact. Hence, write on the main facets and use a clear, relatable example wherever needed. 

Outline the Essay

Segregate the essay into 3 sections (divided into 3-5 paragraphs) such as the Introduction (1 paragraph), the Body (2-3 paragraphs) and the Conclusion (1 paragraph). While writing, maintain count parity.

Edit and Proofread Extensively 

Editing and proofreading are crucial to ensuring your compiled essay is lucid, accurate in information, and smooth to read. Check for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other writing flaws manually and with a grammar checker . Rewrite unintentionally written passive sentences into active voice. Also, focus on the aptness of transition words.

Scan for Plagiarism

After editing and proofreading, scan the work for duplicates using an accurate plagiarism checker . Identify existing plagiarism and freshly paraphrase all copied sections . Once you find no duplicate content traces, download an originality report as proof of the work’s authenticity. 

Get a 2nd Opinion

Last but not least, get feedback on your compiled essay from someone trustworthy in your vicinity. Refer to the suggested improvements and incorporate them wherever applicable.

Check This 250 Words Essay Example

The Basic Format of a 250-Word Essay

Are you struggling to compile a short essay for your college application and scholarship? 

If so, then no surprises. Such academic assignments can be tricky to write on, mainly due to their limited word count. Such an essay has a similar three-part structure (Introduction, body paragraph, and conclusion) as other lengthier essays. You will require around 3-4 paragraphs in total, each comprising 50-100 words. That allows for 3-5 concise yet comprehensive sentences for each paragraph. 

MyAssignmentHelp helps you visualize the process of crafting an effective 250 word essay so that you can start writing it with utmost focus. 

So, without further ado, let’s discuss the basic format for composing a quality 250 word essay from scratch.

The Introduction

The essay introduction must be compiled in 3-4 lines (50-60 words). The first line must be a hook sentence introducing the readers to the main context. Support the starting line with a 2nd sentence that hints at the thesis sentence. The 3rd sentence is the point that the thesis aims to convey. Stick to one point of view in the thesis statement. The final sentence will establish the thesis sentence or the essay. 

The Body Paragraph

Next, you write the body paragraph (the main meat of the essay). It will comprise 2-3 paragraphs, around 130-150 words. Write one paragraph per topic argument to make it well organized. You must also write one relevant example to support the opinion you convey. 

The Conclusion

Finally, you write down the conclusion to restate the thesis sentence. Also, in the concluding 25-30 lines, surmise your presented arguments to reveal to the readers whether or not you stand by the presented thesis sentence. This will leave the target audience conjecturing and seeking more information. 

There you have it—the standard format for a concise essay of 250 words. 

Connect with us today to learn more about other essay formats.

Effective Tips to Write 250 Word Essays

Make sure to follow these tips:

Use Bullet Points to Outline Your Composition

The foremost tip to writing a 250 word essay is to outline the key points of the topic. Use bullet points to achieve clarity in coverage and create a map for your essay. Here’s an example.

Hook statement – (It could be a broad or general statement in the first line of the essay to set the tone for the piece).

• Elaborate on the 1st bullet point.
• Elaborate on the 2nd bullet point
• Elaborate on the 3rd bullet point
• Close the essay with a brief summary and a meaningful concluding remark.

Once you sort out the bullet points, include a topic sentence for each point. Add transitions to maintain proper flow. Since it is an essay of 250 words, limit yourself to 5 bullet points as feasible.

Only Write on The Key Points Sorted

The most important tip when compiling an essay of 250 words is to only write on the key points and nothing else. Since academic writing is a creative process, it can be tempting to wander. Don’t do that. Discipline is key. Only focus on the outlined aspects of the topic. 

Don’t Worry About Count in the First Draft

While it may seem counterintuitive, it is actually better to write down the initial draft first without worrying about the 250-word limit. Once you finish writing, you can cut down on unnecessary fluff while editing and proofreading. 

Proofread and Get a 2nd Opinion

Once you have finished your one-page essay, it’s time to edit and proofread it. Of course, it’s best to take a pause before the editing sessions to clear your head and return with a fresh perspective. Check sentence constructions and logical flow in the write-up. Of course, writers tend to be their worst proofreaders. Hence, it’s better to ask someone you trust to check your writing and recommend improvements. While at it, also check the count when revising and correcting your write-up. Reduce if needed.

The Best 250 Words Essay Topics

MyAssignmentHelp understands that compiling a 250 word essay is no child’s play. Despite the limited word count, it can pose unique challenges in several aspects. The foremost challenge is to pick and develop a suitable topic for the essay. You then must perform extensive research on the topic to dig up more ideas and then compile a quality hook sentence and a compelling thesis statement for the first paragraph. Before getting into the body paragraphs, you must have a captivating beginning to set the tone from the start. It will help you garner the attention of your readers and retain their interest to read the full essay. 

Selecting your 250-word essay topic is very important to creating the desired impact on your readers. Fortunately, we, as your most trustworthy assignment help platform, suggest 20+ topics to ease your endeavors. 

• Recovering from a heart-break
• A brief account of World War II
• The importance of regular physical exercise
• Social media impact on young adults
• Pros and cons of remote work
• Why young people must be financially responsible?
• Health risks related to obesity
• Gender as a Social Structure in the Hospitality Sector
• 5 top Fast Food Restaurants you never get tired of Visiting
• Your suggestions to compile a discussion board post
• The monotony of student life.
• Patent Medicines – The Psychology behind it!
• The fallbacks of narrowmindedness
• The importance of table manners.
• The value of epidemic education
• Your opinion on successful failures.
• The rise of AI – blessing or curse!
• Your most cherished memory of your grandmother.
• A life moment when you felt utter helplessness.
• Nervousness and excitement behind your first college day
• A book that had a profound impact on your life.
• An artwork in your possession that resonates with your character
• Physical fitness – most effective intervention against becoming obese. 
• What is your most memorable memory during your early childhood?

We have a treasure trove of more essay topics . Explore them NOW!

In many instances, students spend too much time choosing a topic. However, using these topic suggestions, you can start the research and writing part without delays. 

How Long is a 250 Word Essay?

During your college tenure, the teacher may require you to compile a short piece with double spacing in the first draft so that it is easier to read and present feedback on the overall logical flow structure of written content. As a concise form of academic paper, such tasks could be anything from your college application essay to concise answer prompts on the central argument, an answer to an exam question, etc. 

That brings us to the question of the hour: “How many pages should a 250 word essay be?”

A standard page, when single-spaced, will comprise 500 words. So, a piece of 250 words will be half a page if single-spaced and one page in length if double-spaced. Moreover, there should be 12-17 sentences, with each sentence comprising 15-20 words (at max). For someone with an average typing speed (about 40 words per minute), it takes about 6.3 minutes to write a piece of 250 words. 

Many Also Ask, “Should I write more than the 250-word count, or should I limit myself to 250 words?”

While this question may sound a tad silly, it is far from it. For starters, you must not write anything less than 250 words, or else you risk potentially losing marks for not meeting the minimum word count. The general rule for compiling a 250-word essay is to either adhere to the presented count or exceed it by not more than 20-30 words. So, while you do have scope to exceed the specified word count, the work should not go beyond 270-275 words. 

At MyAssignmentHelp, we have experienced experts to help you ease your 250 word essay writing hassles and ensure you compose a top-quality one worthy of top scores. Moreover, suppose you need elaborate insights on questions like – how many body paragraphs to include or how to write a thesis statement or the last paragraph for the essay. In that case, our experts will provide you with the necessary clarifications. 

So, quit wasting time searching for 250 word essay tutorials online. Instead, sign up today and get all the help you need for your urgent task.

250 Words Essay Examples

Here’s a 250 words sample essay to understand how many body paragraphs to add!

Topic – How Family Upbringings Influence Your Learning Goals

Introduction – Parents are usually the ones who push their children to achieve their goals. They often motivate their kids to follow their hearts and move forward with an optimistic mindset. (Thesis Sentence) However, my upbringing was within a family that didn’t give much value to formal education. Hence, it was their lack of passion that led me to my learning objectives. 

Body —My memory is a bit fuzzy, but from the time I could differentiate between right and wrong, I made up my mind not to follow in the footsteps of my parents. My parents were farmers and didn’t have the luxury of pursuing meaningful education. It was their upbringing that shaped their mindset. 

However, I wanted to take a different path and achieve something more in life. I vaguely remember my father preaching to me that college was a waste of time and too expensive for him. Despite his words and financial situation, I wanted to study in a college to make a stable life in the city. Hence, in pursuit of my dreams, I took up formal education as my college degree. 

Conclusion –Despite my parents’ opposing views on education, I never looked back and pressed forward to achieve my future goals. I had help along the way who supported me and helped me overcome disappointments. I eventually understood that I was the only one responsible for my success. So, I made it my strongest source of motivation, and now I am grateful I never wavered from my path. 

MyAssignmentHelp comprises a huge repository of pre-crafted assignments and research paper samples on diverse topics. 

Now that you have a basic idea of how to write a 250-word essay, you should be able to produce one yourself. For more examples or answers on ‘how many body paragraphs’ (and other related queries), check out our sample collection or speak to us directly. Our experts are just a dial away!

What Is A 250-Word Essay, And Why Is It Significant?

The piece will be of one page on a focused topic coverage. It comprises 3-5 stanzas (depending on the topic’s main points, which mostly focus on broader concepts). They include – an introduction paragraph, a body paragraph (or paragraphs), and a conclusion paragraph! Choosing the right topic is the foremost step in crafting a 250 word essay.  Of course, at times, you must find an appropriate one yourself. 

Nevertheless, an essay of 250 words is a crucial assignment for college students pursuing their chosen course. It tests a candidate’s in-depth understanding of the topic and ability to formulate thoughts concisely. 

Are There Specific Guidelines for Formatting A 250-word Essay?

Yes, like lengthy essays, a 250 word essay will also come with specific guidelines for users to follow. The essay must be double-spaced, must have an introduction paragraph (of 50-60 words), a body paragraph (or paragraphs) (of about 150 words), and end with concluding remarks (50-60 words). 

Furthermore, a 250 word essay must have one-inch margins, italicized meta titles without underlining, a new paragraph must be indented 0.5 inches, and be in an easy-to-follow font (Arial or Times New Roman in size 12).

To become well-versed in 250-word essay formatting guidelines, connect with our essay helper immediately.

How Can I Choose A Suitable Topic for A 250-word Essay?

Below are some tips for finding a quality topic for your 250 word essay.

• Pick a topic relevant to the study field or pertaining to some current affair from modern times.
• Pick a topic that’s not too elaborate in its coverage and offers sufficient writing materials to meet the word count. 
• Also, consider picking a topic you feel comfortable writing on. 
• Another aspect to consider when picking topics for your 250 word essay is their scope for further research and analysis. Such topics are typically popular among readers.

Connect with our experienced essay specialists to uncover more basic rules about finding appropriate topics for your urgent 250 word essay assignment. 

Can You Share Examples of Well-Crafted 250-word Essays?

Indeed, MyAssignmentHelp has a stacked resource database of various essays, including many 250-word essays on various aspects and subject topics. Moreover, if you want an example of a 250-word personal statement or even a college application of the same word count, we have those in plenty as well. Get started with us today and get access to all samples for your reference purposes..

What Elements Should Be in The Introduction of A 250-Word Essay?

The introduction must be 50-60 words at most for a 250 word essay. Since the word count is limited, you must consider only 1-2 points of view for the thesis statement. 

Focus on the main point and keep some good slants to start the short essay. Provide some background information. Write engaging sentences using relevant words that elaborate on the problems and how you intend to resolve them via the essay. 

If you seek introduction ideas for essays of 250 words, sign up today and get useful tips from our experts. 

How Many Paragraphs Are Typical in A 250-Word Essay, And What Should They Cover?

A 250 word essay will typically comprise 3-5 paragraphs. 

• An introductory paragraph
• Two or three paragraphs in the body.
• A concluding paragraph

The introduction will feature the thesis statement focusing on the central point of discussion.

The main body paragraph will explain the introduced argument on the topic with cited texts, examples, and other substantiating evidence. Finally, the conclusion (or the last paragraph) will comprise the restated thesis, connect the introduction and conclusion, and present all key facets for readers to remember.

How Can I Ensure Clarity and Coherence in A Concise 250-word Format?

A 250 word essay requires you to write concisely while keeping the main idea in focus. Since the word count is limited in such tasks, you must emphasize only the main idea or arguments that best depict the topic. Use supporting evidence to authenticate your ideas. Also, write in an active voice to keep sentences short yet clear to read. Use examples and cite sources from authentic mediums to boost the overall coherency further. 

Sign up today and get detailed insights and helpful tips to craft a quality 250 word essay within tight schedules. We harbor the best experts in the USA.

Is There A Recommended Approach for Writing the Conclusion in A 250-Word Essay?

To compose a conclusion paragraph, follow the tips below.

• Surmise the thesis statement. It will serve as a recap of the topic and the paper’s central aim.
• Reiterate all supporting arguments and perspectives. 
• Draw connections between the introductory paragraph and the concluding paragraph. 
• Share some helpful observations.
• Finally, offer the readers some crucial points to keep in mind. 

Don’t include any new information in the ending paragraph, or else it may confuse readers. If you need more guidance on how to compile a 250 word essay from scratch, sign up with MyAssignmentHelp for tailored assistance.

Hi, my name is Henry Lee. I am 26 and an active tech blogger based in Adelaide. Well, that’s something I do out of passion. To earn a livelihood, I work as a full-time English writing expert at myassignmenthelp.com. I write academic blogs, mainly focused on English and Literature writing. I have 4+ years of experience of guiding students on essays writing on different categories of topics. Apart from this, I love to keep myself updated on the latest happenings in technology. I love new gadgets as much as I love writing. So, when I am not writing, you’ll probably find me indulged in a gaming session or researching about the latest trend in technology. 

Related Post

How to write an essay

• Essay format

Essay structure

• Essay structure guide
• Essay outline
• Essay title
• Essay introduction
• Topic sentence
• Transition sentences
• Essay conclusion
• How to make an essay longer
• Short essay
• 150 words essay
• 200 word essay
• 250 word essay
• How many pages is 1000 words essay
• 1400 word essay
• 2000 word essay
• 5 paragraph essay
• 10 page essay
• 100 page essay

Essay topics

How to revise an essay, essay hooks.

Save time, money and improve grades

• Paper Writing Service
• Essay writing service
• Annotated Bibliography Writers
• Coursework Writing Service
• Dissertation Writing Service
• Order Essay
• Write My Essay for Me
• Grammar Checker
• Citation Generator

How to write a 250-word essay

Write it short, but clear, answer the main question only, create an outline of the essay, spend more time to make corrections.

We rely on cookies to give you the best experience on our website. By browsing the website, you agree to it. Read more.

• Assignment Writing Service
• Homework Service
• Write My Essay
• Report Service
• Personal Statement Service
• Research Paper Service
• Speech Service
• College Essay Writing Service
• Our Writers
• Testimonials
• Manage your orders
• Place your order instantly

Sample 250-Word Essay to Write Your Own Perfectly + 5 Instructions to Do It

The range of academic assignments varies from qualitative and quantitative essays to analytical research papers, from movie and literature reviews to scientific dissertations. Apart from the differences concerning the focus of writing, academic papers have a different word count. The common approach to the minimal length of any academic writing involves a one-page work which includes about 250 words. As for the structure, a 250-word essay consists of an introduction with a thesis statement, two-paragraph body beginning with a topic sentence, and ends with a conclusion.

Sounds simple? Don’t rush to say, “Pffft! I manage to write essays with a word count more than 250 words.” But what about wide-ranging topics? Such broad issues are presented in this guide – “Mass Media and Technology”. Let’s find out what can help you write a 250-word essay. Follow our 5 instructions to do it successfully.

5 Instructions to Start Writing 250-word Essays Perfectly

• Set the aim. Primarily, the main aim you should achieve in your essay is to come into a clear focus on the topic with a few reasons backed up by reliable supporting details. However, there are other additional purposes of essay writing – to explain, describe, compare, persuade, and so on. What is yours? Look at your assignment and point out the keywords. After that, it will be easier to set the aims and objectives of your writing and stick to them during the writing process. Remember, you have only 250 words to meet the main purpose of the essay.
• Brainstorm some original ideas. Today, interesting essay ideas are found actually anywhere – in news, newspapers or magazines, on TV or the Internet. Check out the headlines currently appearing in your news feed. Starting out from this point, you have more chances to find the less-investigated aspects of the topic as you know what is being explored and what isn’t. Keep your pen or phone within the reach (the latter is always at hand, right?). Sometimes, interesting ideas are coming accidentally – in a bus or in a class. Write down all of them to return every time you are assigned to an essay.

• Deal with the parts of an essay – an introduction, body, and conclusion. Each part plays a specific role for your reader. In the introduction, he/she wants to know what an essay is about. In the body, they expect to see all the details that are included in a well-structured manner. What does “well-structured” mean? Your essay has the logical flow of thoughts connected with the help of some transitional words and phrases . At the close, your readers need to know why they read your essay. Sum up all the ideas with a logical conclusion to the essay question.
• Stick to the basic essay writing format. What does it involve? A basic essay format includes a structure (that is introduced to you previously) and an academic style . All that helps to achieve unity and coherence of the text and enhance the reader’s understanding. Besides, you may need to follow the APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago format guidelines when using in-text citations and working on a ‘Works Cited’, ‘References’ or ‘Bibliography’ page. It allows you to give credit to your essay. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Sample 250-Word Essay: “Mass Media and Technology”

It is impossible to imagine the modern world without mass media and technology as they have become the essential parts of the every-day life of many people. Consequently, there are positive and negative sides of media and technology, which have to be discussed throughout the 250-word essay example.

Among the main positive effects of mass media is the ability to obtain and share knowledge, develop skills, discover other cultures, and learn some information on how to interact with other people. Indeed, not only entertainment programs take place on the Internet and TV. Different news, culinary, healthy lifestyle, sport, and narrowly-specialized programs can be watched on TV as well as the huge number of information on the diversity of topics can be found on the Internet. However, drawbacks of media outweigh its benefits. The most serious problem of media abuse is the addiction which leads to problems with communication and analytical thinking. Moreover, the idea of privacy is lost in the light of social networks as people may use private information against one another in order to threaten or blackmail colleagues. What is more, social media is full of unnecessary information which lumbers the brain.

To sum up, one has to state that mass media and developing technologies have both, benefits and drawbacks, which influence human lives in many ways. In the case of social media abuse, the disadvantages overwhelm the advantages because the list of positive effects is limited to the idea that social media is a source of information on any needed topic. References:

• Rebecca N. H. de Leeuw, R. & Buijzen, M. (2016). Introducing positive media psychology to the field of children, adolescents, and media . Journal Of Children And Media, 10(1), 39-46.
• Healey, J. (2011). Social impacts of digital media. Thirroul, N.S.W.: Spinney Press.
• How to Deal With Negative Media Attention. (2015). Nonprofit Communications Report,13(3), 6-6.
• Noor Al-Deen, H. S., & Hendricks, J. A. (2012). Social Media: Usage and Impact. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
• Rim, H. & Song, D. (2016). “How Negative Becomes Less Negative”: Understanding the Effects of Comment Valence and Response Sidedness in Social Media. J Commun.

We can be calm when all the essential information on how to write a 250-word essay is given to you. Moreover, you’re equipped with a good example of a 250-word essay to follow it and write your own masterpiece. Take into consideration all the 5 references on the topic if needed. Remember that any good essay writing does not happen by accident. Practice! Practice! And follow our guide!

• Book Review
• College Life Struggle
• Eminent Literature Personalities
• Essay Samples
• Historic Personalities
• Interesting Research Papers
• Interesting Stories
• Research Paper Examples
• Useful Tips
• Writing Tips

Our Unique Features

• 100% Moneyback Guarantee
• Plagiarism Free Guarantee
• Free revisions according to our Revision Policy
• Free title page
• Free bibliography & reference
• Free formatting (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard and others)
• 24/7 Customer Support

Spend Less Time on Research!

Puzzling Over Your Essay? Leave It to professionals!

Choose Your Test

• Search Blogs By Category
• College Admissions
• AP and IB Exams
• GPA and Coursework

The Best College Essay Length: How Long Should It Be?

College Essays

Figuring out your college essay can be one of the most difficult parts of applying to college. Even once you've read the prompt and picked a topic, you might wonder: if you write too much or too little, will you blow your chance of admission? How long should a college essay be?

Whether you're a terse writer or a loquacious one, we can advise you on college essay length. In this guide, we'll cover what the standard college essay length is, how much word limits matter, and what to do if you aren't sure how long a specific essay should be.

How Long Is a College Essay? First, Check the Word Limit

You might be used to turning in your writing assignments on a page-limit basis (for example, a 10-page paper). While some colleges provide page limits for their college essays, most use a word limit instead. This makes sure there's a standard length for all the essays that a college receives, regardless of formatting or font.

In the simplest terms, your college essay should be pretty close to, but not exceeding, the word limit in length. Think within 50 words as the lower bound, with the word limit as the upper bound. So for a 500-word limit essay, try to get somewhere between 450-500 words. If they give you a range, stay within that range.

College essay prompts usually provide the word limit right in the prompt or in the instructions.

For example, the University of Illinois says :

"You'll answer two to three prompts as part of your application. The questions you'll answer will depend on whether you're applying to a major or to our undeclared program , and if you've selected a second choice . Each response should be approximately 150 words."

As exemplified by the University of Illinois, the shortest word limits for college essays are usually around 150 words (less than half a single-spaced page). Rarely will you see a word limit higher than around 650 words (over one single-spaced page). College essays are usually pretty short: between 150 and 650 words. Admissions officers have to read a lot of them, after all!

Weigh your words carefully, because they are limited!

How Flexible Is the Word Limit?

But how flexible is the word limit? What if your poignant anecdote is just 10 words too long—or 100 too short?

Can I Go Over the Word Limit?

If you are attaching a document and you need one or two extra words, you can probably get away with exceeding the word limit by such a small amount. Some colleges will actually tell you that exceeding the word limit by 1-2 words is fine. However, I advise against exceeding the word limit unless it's explicitly allowed for a few reasons:

First, you might not be able to. If you have to copy-paste it into a text box, your essay might get cut off and you'll have to trim it down anyway.

If you exceed the word limit in a noticeable way, the admissions counselor may just stop reading your essay past that point. This is not good for you.

Following directions is actually a very important part of the college application process. You need to follow directions to get your letters of recommendation, upload your essays, send supplemental materials, get your test scores sent, and so on and so forth. So it's just a good general rule to follow whatever instructions you've been given by the institution. Better safe than sorry!

Can I Go Under the Word Limit?

If you can truly get your point across well beneath the word limit, it's probably fine. Brevity is not necessarily a bad thing in writing just so long as you are clear, cogent, and communicate what you want to.

However, most college essays have pretty tight word limits anyways. So if you're writing 300 words for an essay with a 500-word limit, ask yourself: is there anything more you could say to elaborate on or support your points? Consult with a parent, friend, or teacher on where you could elaborate with more detail or expand your points.

Also, if the college gives you a word range, you absolutely need to at least hit the bottom end of the range. So if you get a range from the institution, like 400-500 words, you need to write at least 400 words. If you write less, it will come across like you have nothing to say, which is not an impression you want to give.

What If There Is No Word Limit?

Some colleges don't give you a word limit for one or more of your essay prompts. This can be a little stressful, but the prompts generally fall into a few categories:

Writing Sample

Some colleges don't provide a hard-and-fast word limit because they want a writing sample from one of your classes. In this case, a word limit would be very limiting to you in terms of which assignments you could select from.

For an example of this kind of prompt, check out essay Option B at Amherst :

"Submit a graded paper from your junior or senior year that best represents your writing skills and analytical abilities. We are particularly interested in your ability to construct a tightly reasoned, persuasive argument that calls upon literary, sociological or historical evidence. You should NOT submit a laboratory report, journal entry, creative writing sample or in-class essay."

While there is usually no word limit per se, colleges sometimes provide a general page guideline for writing samples. In the FAQ for Option B , Amherst clarifies, "There is no hard-and-fast rule for official page limit. Typically, we anticipate a paper of 4-5 pages will provide adequate length to demonstrate your analytical abilities. Somewhat longer papers can also be submitted, but in most cases should not exceed 8-10 pages."

So even though there's no word limit, they'd like somewhere in the 4-10 pages range. High school students are not usually writing papers that are longer than 10 pages anyways, so that isn't very limiting.

Implicit Length Guideline

Sometimes, while there's no word (or even page) limit, there's still an implicit length guideline. What do I mean by this?

See, for example, this Western Washington University prompt :

“Describe one or more activities you have been involved in that have been particularly meaningful. What does your involvement say about the communities, identities or causes that are important to you?”

While there’s no page or word limit listed here, further down on page the ‘essay tips’ section explains that “ most essay responses are about 500 words, ” though “this is only a recommendation, not a firm limit.” This gives you an idea of what’s reasonable. A little longer or shorter than 500 words would be appropriate here. That’s what I mean by an “implicit” word limit—there is a reasonable length you could go to within the boundaries of the prompt.

But what's the proper coffee-to-paragraph ratio?

Treasure Hunt

There is also the classic "treasure hunt" prompt. No, it's not a prompt about a treasure hunt. It's a prompt where there are no length guidelines given, but if you hunt around on the rest of the website you can find length guidelines.

For example, the University of Chicago provides seven "Extended Essay" prompts . You must write an essay in response to one prompt of your choosing, but nowhere on the page is there any guidance about word count or page limit.

However, many colleges provide additional details about their expectations for application materials, including essays, on FAQ pages, which is true of the University of Chicago. On the school’s admissions Frequently Asked Questions page , they provide the following length guidelines for the supplemental essays: 

“We suggest that you note any word limits for Coalition or Common Application essays; however, there are no strict word limits on the UChicago Supplement essays. For the extended essay (where you choose one of several prompts), we suggest that you aim for around 650 words. While we won't, as a rule, stop reading after 650 words, we're only human and cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention indefinitely. For the “Why UChicago?” essay, we suggest about 250-500 words. The ideas in your writing matter more than the exact number of words you use!”

So there you go! You want to be (loosely) in the realm of 650 for the extended essay, and 250-500 words for the “Why UChicago?” essay.

Help! There Really Is No Guidance on Length

If you really can't find any length guidelines anywhere on the admissions website and you're at a loss, I advise calling the admissions office. They may not be able to give you an exact number (in fact, they probably won't), but they will probably at least be able to tell you how long most of the essays they see are. (And keep you from writing a panicked, 20-page dissertation about your relationship with your dog).

In general, 500 words or so is pretty safe for a college essay. It's a fairly standard word limit length, in fact. (And if you're wondering, that's about a page and a half double-spaced.) 500 words is long enough to develop a basic idea while still getting a point across quickly—important when admissions counselors have thousands of essays to read!

"See? It says 500 words right there in tiny font!"

The Final Word: How Long Should a College Essay Be?

The best college essay length is usually pretty straightforward: you want to be right under or at the provided word limit. If you go substantially past the word limit, you risk having your essay cut off by an online application form or having the admissions officer just not finish it. And if you're too far under the word limit, you may not be elaborating enough.

What if there is no word limit? Then how long should a college essay be? In general, around 500 words is a pretty safe approximate word amount for a college essay—it's one of the most common word limits, after all!

Here's guidance for special cases and hunting down word limits:

If it's a writing sample of your graded academic work, the length either doesn't matter or there should be some loose page guidelines.

There also may be implicit length guidelines. For example, if a prompt says to write three paragraphs, you'll know that writing six sentences is definitely too short, and two single-spaced pages is definitely too long.

You might not be able to find length guidelines in the prompt, but you could still hunt them up elsewhere on the website. Try checking FAQs or googling your chosen school name with "admissions essay word limit."

If there really is no word limit, you can call the school to try to get some guidance.

With this advice, you can be sure you've got the right college essay length on lockdown!

Hey, writing about yourself can even be fun!

What's Next?

Need to ask a teacher or friend for help with your essay? See our do's and dont's to getting college essay advice .

If you're lacking in essay inspiration, see our guide to brainstorming college essay ideas . And here's our guide to starting out your essay perfectly!

Looking for college essay examples? See 11 places to find college essay examples and 145 essay examples with analysis !

Trending Now

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Get Your Free

Find Your Target SAT Score

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing

How to Improve Your Low SAT Score

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing

Find Your Target ACT Score

Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

Get a 36 on ACT English

Get a 36 on ACT Math

Get a 36 on ACT Reading

Get a 36 on ACT Science

How to Improve Your Low ACT Score

Get a 24 on ACT English

Get a 24 on ACT Math

Get a 24 on ACT Reading

Get a 24 on ACT Science

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

250 Words Essay Examples + Topics & Prompts

Kiera brinkley: a person who has influenced my life in positive way.

• Subjects: Language Use Linguistics

Analysis of the article “Emergency Response Framework for Aviation XML Services on MANET”

• Subjects: Aviation Tech & Engineering

Enterprise Rent a Car

• Subjects: Business Company Information

Causes and Treatment of Depressive Disorder

• Subjects: Child Psychology Psychology

The Magic of the Family Meal

• Subjects: Sociology Violence

Causes and Effects of Studying In Australia

• Subjects: Education Education Abroad

Snowstorm Causes Accidents In North Dakota

• Subjects: Social Movements Sociology

The Phantom Menace of Sleep-Deprived Doctors

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Healthcare Financing

Validity and Reliability Issues Surrounding the Use of Psychological Testing

• Subjects: Psychological Issues Psychology

Corporate Finance and Investment Appraisal Methods

• Subjects: Economics Finance

MTV Filming Style: Precious

• Subjects: Art Film Studies

How to get audience attention

• Subjects: Communications Sociology

Management of E-Waste

• Subjects: Environment Recycling

Judge and Bono on Relationships of Core Self-Evaluation Traits to Job Satisfaction and Performance

• Subjects: Business Impact of Business Issues

‘What Went Wrong? An Initial Inquiry into the Causes of the 2008 Financial Crisis’

• Subjects: Economic Systems & Principles Economics

Reluctant Information Sharers

• Subjects: Business Organizational Planning

Columbia Industries, Inc. by John Zerio

The impact of media on children.

• Subjects: Sociological Issues Sociology

Elements and Characteristics of a Clinical Micro System

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Health IT

International Container Terminal

• Subjects: Business Logistics

How Child Care Centers Are Working in Saudi Arabia

• Subjects: Education Pedagogy

Importance of Communication

• Subjects: Business Management

El Nino-Southern Oscillation Effects

• Subjects: Environment Environmental Studies

An analysis on How Human Behaviour is shaped by Life Philosophies and Well Being

• Subjects: Life Philosophy Philosophy

Grammatical Paradox in English Language

• Subjects: Languages Linguistics

The Role of the Deep Financial Centres in Economy

• Subjects: Economics Regulation of Finance

Corporate Social Responsibility Programs Role in Business

• Subjects: Business Business Ethics

Coercion, Capital, and European States: Ad 990-1992 by Charles Tilly

• Subjects: History Western Europe

Social Help of the Street Children

Personal jurisdiction of a court.

• Subjects: Law Law Practice Management

Eyes on the Prize

• Subjects: Racism Sociology

Mercantilist and the Physiocratic Systems

• Subjects: Economics Trade

Del Monte Fresh Juice Marketing

• Subjects: Business Case Study

Asian Studies: The Era of the Tang Dynasty Reign

• Subjects: Asia History

Media Role in Patriarchy

• Subjects: Gender Studies Sociology

Waves of Immigration to the United States

• Subjects: History United States

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company Information

“recitatif” by toni morrison literature analysis.

• Subjects: American Literature Literature

“In Defence of Globalisation” by Jhagdish Bhagwhati

• Subjects: Economics Globalization

The Novel “Passing” by Nella Larsen Literature Analysis

Philosophy critical issues in today’s society.

• Subjects: Philosophical Concept Philosophy

Interpersonal Interventions in Organizational Development

• Subjects: Business Employee Relationships

Approaches to Training and Development

“the guide: a biologist in gorongosa”.

• Subjects: Documentaries Entertainment & Media

“Let Teenagers Try Adulthood” by Leon Botstein – Youth Issues

• Subjects: Education Education Issues

Products Offered by Shops

• Subjects: Business Marketing

Comparison: Death of a Salesman and A Streetcar Named Desire

• Subjects: Comparative Literature Literature

Music Video “Mockingbird” by Eminem

• Subjects: Art Musical Compositions

Children’s Adoption: Definition and Effects

Toleration in t. nagel’s “equality and partiality”.

• Subjects: Politics & Government Social & Political Theory

Eucalyptus Decline in Australia: Causes and Trends

• Subjects: Ecology Environment

Giving Birth to New Users by Trevor Pinch

“where are the missing masses” by bruno latour.

• Subjects: Sociological Theories Sociology

The Tempest and Wonder by Anthony Esolen Literature Analysis

• Subjects: British Literature Literature

Dealing with a Repeat Child Sex Molester

• Subjects: Criminology Law

Management Theories and Their Permanence

• Subjects: Sciences Scientific Method

Employee Influence on Organisational Performance

• Subjects: Business Employees Management

The American Home Mortgage Investment Corporation

• Subjects: Business Company Analysis

The Public School Industry

• Subjects: Education Education System

The History of Childhood in a Global Context

Online technologies and marketing in education.

• Subjects: Aspects of Education Education

“What Theory Is Not, Theorizing Is” by Karl Weick

Alterations in oxygen transport.

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Pulmonology

Gestalt Psychological Theory

• Subjects: Psychological Principles Psychology

Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Healthcare Research

Return on Investment vs. Value on Investment

• Subjects: Economics Investment

Military Career: Human Resource Certification

• Subjects: Military Politics & Government

Mental Health Strategies at the Workplace

Tweeter-drama: social media as a theatre platform.

• Subjects: Literature Plays

Technology Product Lifecycle Stages and Examples

• Subjects: Project Management Tech & Engineering

“The Spain Among Us” by Henry Wiencek

Noam chomsky’s contribution to cognitive psychology.

• Subjects: Cognition and Perception Psychology

“The Parting of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere” by Cameron

• Subjects: Art Photography

Alexander Pope and Aubrey Beardsley’s Collaboration

• Subjects: Art Artists

Data Reliability in Financial and Managerial Accounting

• Subjects: Accounting Business

Mutually Beneficial Cooperation in Business

• Subjects: Business Corporate Governance

Art Criticism and Its Basic Stages

• Subjects: Art Visual Arts

The Cultural-Individual Dialectic and Social Nature of Intercultural Relationships

• Subjects: Linguistics Spoken Language

Heinrich’s Domino Safety Theory

• Subjects: Accidents & Protection Tech & Engineering

Blue Apron Company: Struggling for Investors

Effective negotiating style for women.

• Subjects: Business Managerial Negotiation

Nonprofit Organizations and Hospital Financing

“forrest gump” (1994): screenplay structure, korean nationalism: yi hangno and ch’oe ikhyŏn.

• Subjects: Philosophy Political Philosophies

“National Geographic: Creatures of Light” Documentary

Mental status exam in clinical practice.

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Psychiatry

Financial Statement Analysis for Business Entities

Bonds, their types and ratings, the documentary “how hackers changed the world”, descriptive and inferential statistical tests.

• Subjects: Sciences Statistics

Medication Efficacy and Pharmaceutical Statistics

Passive solar heating systems and their benefits.

• Subjects: Engineering Tech & Engineering

Herbert A. Simon’s Organizational Design Problem

• Subjects: Business Management Theories

Otitis: Difficulties and Types

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Other Medical Specialties

“Gee” Song by Girls’ Generation

Paramount health and beauty company’s new product.

• Subjects: Business Product Marketing

“Return of the River” by John Gussman and Jessica Plumb

Importance of communication in business.

• Subjects: Business Business Communication

Human Safety and All-Round Personal Protection

• Subjects: International Relations Politics & Government

The Wider Corporate Social Responsibility Agenda

Unprofessional behavior and patient safety.

• Subjects: Administration and Regulation Health & Medicine

Hybrid Distribution Strategy for Competitive Edge

• Subjects: Business Strategic Marketing

Innovative Recycling Competition: Educating the Public

Radiography stereotypes and emotional intelligence.

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Nursing

Inquiry Training Model and Its Benefits

• Subjects: Education Pedagogical Approaches

Theater’s AdWords Campaign and Its Results

• Subjects: Advertising Entertainment & Media

Non-Profit Dog Organization’s Mission Statement

• Subjects: Business Company Missions

Declaration of Independence – Reason and Significance

White-collar crime theories and their development.

• Subjects: Crime Theories Law

“Islam Through Western Eyes” Video by Lyons

• Subjects: Religion Religion, Culture & Society

Barefoot Jogging: “Born to Run Barefoot?” by Chang

• Subjects: Athletes Sports

Incentive Conflicts Caused by Communication Disruption

Anomie and strain crime theories, pre-discharge medication counseling implementation, healthcare collaboration preventing medication errors, social disorganization theory in criminology, the treasury team and investment decisions, spitchcock in middleton’s “a trick to catch the old one”, bipolar disorder treatment features, orientation course for first-year students.

• Subjects: Education Educational Stages

Have you ever heard the saying, “Less is more”? Nowhere is this truer than in the realm of writing. So, mastering the skill of writing a 250-word essay can set you apart in any academic or professional endeavor. A 250-word essay takes only 1 double-spaced page or 0.5 single-spaced pages. So, it requires you to write as clearly and concisely as possible.

This word count is typical for abstracts, annotated bibliography entries, discussion board posts, position papers, and book reports. For an essay of this length, it is crucial to choose the right topic: it should be narrow enough to be easily covered in 250 words.

Do you want to learn how to write such an essay? Read on to find the writing guide below and discover the most exciting topics and samples for your inspiration! And if you need more ideas for your papers, you can always check out our free essay examples .

• 🔝 Best Essay Topics
• 📝 Personal Statement Examples
• 📕 Narrative Essay Prompts
• 🤰 Teenage Pregnancy Topics
• ✍️ How to Write a 250-word Essay
• 🤑 Essay on Corruption Examples
• 🖊️ Sample Essay Prompts
• 📰 Media in Society Examples
• 📱 Impact of Technology Topics
• 🏢 Gender Inequality Samples
• ✡️ Judaism Essay Topics

🔝 Best 250 Words Essay Topics

• Vaping should be banned in the US.
• The impact of fast-food restaurants on human health.
• The differences between monarchy and democracy.
• Who is the funniest person you know?
• The use of renewable energy and its environmental benefits.
• The impact of social media on people’s self-esteem.
• Describe a healthy diet for a teenager.
• Paper books or e-books: which is better?
• The best vacation I have ever taken.
• Physical education should be a part of the high school curriculum.
• My favorite family tradition.
• What were the key causes of World War II?
• The efficiency of music in reducing stress.
• The qualities a good leader should have.
• What is your favorite holiday?
• The advantages and disadvantages of remote work.
• The effects of social media on young adults.
• Why is it crucial to be financially responsible?
• Everyone should be vegetarian or vegan.
• Dogs vs. cats as pets.

📝 College Personal Statement Examples: 250 Words

Looking for a personal statement for a scholarship sample (250 words)? Check out the 250-word personal statement examples below:

• Personal Leadership Philosophy in Nursing My ultimate goal as a nursing leader is to improve the quality of care and the lives of those I lead.
• Statement of Qualification: Wells Fargo Personal Banker In general, duties require me to use a computer throughout the day and have good knowledge of various software needed to input and process information.
• Personal Views on Nanoengineering Nanoengineering is considered to be the practical application of nanoscience and involves the application of its theoretical principles to develop structures and materials that are small, powerful, and efficient.

📕 Prompts for a Narrative Essay 250 Words

Check out five narrative prompts you can use for your 200-250-word essay:

• Life-changing experience essay 250 words. You can write about an event, a book, or a film that has changed your worldview. Describe your experience and the lessons you have learned from it.
• Why I am learning English: essay 250 words. Provide the main reasons why you are motivated to learn English. Examples include career opportunities , communication with foreign people, access to English-language tutorials and courses, etc.
• My dream house essay: 250 words. You can describe the interior and exterior of your dream house, its location, and the design of each room. In addition, you can explain why it is so important to you to have your own home.
• Essay on an embarrassing situation I faced in 250 words. Share a story about a funny or awkward situation you faced and how you handled it. Explain how that incident has affected your self-esteem.
• My lucky color essay: 250 words. Write a text (250 words) about your happy color and what associations and memories it evokes. Add a real-life story when this color has helped you to win the lottery or pass an important exam.

🤰 Essay about Teenage Pregnancy 250 Words: Topics & Examples

• Teen Pregnancy Due to the Impact of Entertainment Media It can be concluded that entertainment does have a strong impact on teenagers, as their cognitive development is still in progress, and they are easily susceptible to the information they receive from the media.
• Adolescent Pregnancy and School Dropout After COVID-19 in Kenya The article of Zulaika presents the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on adolescent pregnancy and school dropout among secondary school girls in Kenya.
• The National Campaign End Teenage Pregnancy in Ohio The dream of most parents is to ensure their children lead to a successful future which may be affected by the occurrence of unplanned teenage birth.
• Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Education The focus will be on Hispanics as they are the most vulnerable to the problem of teen pregnancy according to the available statistics.
• Rate of Pregnancy Among Youths in Australia In most cases, the high rate of teenage pregnancy is a result of poor parenting and lack of sex education in the country.
• The impact of teenage pregnancy on educational attainment.
• Factors contributing to rising teen pregnancy rates.
• Addressing stigma surrounding teenage pregnancy.
• The influence of pop culture on adolescent pregnancy rates.
• The link between teen pregnancy and substance abuse.
• The unique needs of pregnant teens in foster care.

✍️ How to Write a 250 Word Essay

Writing 250 words is a task you can handle in an hour or even less. The difficulty is that this word count may end before you fully cover the topic. Therefore, it is essential to carefully choose the information you want to present in your essay and structure your writing appropriately. In the following paragraph, we will talk about it in more detail.

What Does a 250 Word Essay Look Like?

For some 250-word texts (for example, a discussion board post), an introduction and a conclusion are unnecessary — you can immediately go to the point. But for an essay, the structure is standard:

• Introduction (1 paragraph)
• Main body (1-2 paragraphs)
• Conclusion (1 paragraph)

We recommend you try our outline generator to create a 250-words essay example structure.

250-Word Essay Introduction

In a 250-word essay, the introduction should be about 50 words or a maximum of 3 sentences. It must indicate the paper’s topic and present a strong thesis statement. Also, it would be a good idea to start your introductory paragraph with an engaging hook to pique readers’ attention.

Try our hook generator , thesis generator , and research introduction maker to write a compelling introduction for your essay!

250-Word Essay Conclusion

In an essay of 250 words, the conclusion, like the introduction, should take about 50 words or 2-3 sentences. To finish your paper on a high note, paraphrase the thesis statement and add some sense of closure with the help of a closing sentence.

Our closing sentence generator is already waiting for you to assist with your last paragraph!

How Many Citations Should I Use in a 250 Word Passage?

In general, you should use 8-12 citations for 1000 words. According to this rule, a 250-word essay should include 2-3 references. However, it’s better to check your professors’ instructions to know for sure how many sources you should cite.

We recommend you try our citation generator to create a list of references quickly and correctly.

🤑 Essay on Corruption 250 Words: Examples

• Determinants of Corruption in Nigeria Therefore, in this research, I am planning to focus on the empirical part of the topic and attempt to make a positive change in society.
• Corruption in Education: Opposition and Refutation Therefore, corruption in the educational sector is not the absolute cause of poor education and increased social problems in the DRC.
• Noble-Cause Corruption Prevention In conclusion, it is difficult to restrict noble-cause corruption, and the only way to affect its outcomes is to promote the right values among police officers.
• Elite Squad 1&2: The Theme of Corruption The media sugarcoats the drug lords and extorts their reporting of the events in the Rio’s crime and corruption as seen in the film “Elite Squad 2” instead of exposing the truth.

🖊️ Sample 250-Word Essay Prompts

Here are some excellent prompts that can come in handy while writing a 250-word essay:

• Essay on electrical safety in 250 words. In your 250-word essay example, focus on the importance of observing safety measures when working with electricity. List the main rules and explain how they can prevent accidents.
• Intellectual property rights essay 250 words. Discuss what intellectual property means and what it includes, for instance, copyrights, patents, and trademarks. Then, analyze the value of its protection.
• Write an essay of 250 words on communication and personality. Write an essay (250-300 words) examining how personal traits can impact the quality of communication with your friends and family. Include some valuable tips on how to improve your communication behavior.
• Natural disasters essay 250 words. Describe the most devastating natural disasters and their consequences for people and the environment. You can also describe measures people can take to protect themselves against floods, hurricanes, and other catastrophes.
• Discuss Mead’s theory of the development of self in 250 words. Explain Mead’s framework and say whether you agree with it or not. Discuss the efficiency of personality development through interaction with other people.

📰 Role of Media in Society Essay 250 Words: Examples

• The Impact of Social Media on the Rise in Crime For example, Jones cites revenge porn, or the practice of publishing a partner’s intimate contact on social media, as one of the results of social media use.
• Social Media and Its Effects on Adolescents Orben, Tomova, and Blakemore have found that social deprivation might cause severe psychological complications to adolescents, particularly in the period of the pandemic.
• Is It Effective to Censor Parts of the Media? However, censoring parts of the media is not an effective way to ensure the accuracy of the information available and the protection of people from misinformation.
• Social Media Damages Teenagers’ Mental Health Thus, the selected social group that could help improve teenagers’ mental health is sports coaches and organizers of sports activities in schools.
• Traditional vs. Social Media Celebrity Endorsements In traditional media, there is a fine print or disclaimer that makes it clear to the viewers that the celebrity was paid for the advertisement.
• Media Role in Black Music The black civil and political rights phase of the struggle came in the difficult postwar period, making it impossible for most citizens to find a way to assert their freedoms. It reflects the social unrest […]
• The Negative Effects of Screen Media on Young Children It is imperative for parents to moderate their children’s screen media type and time. Screen media in the classroom provide exposure to children and supplement their academic mastery.
• How Does the Media Affect Politics? The framers of the Constitution did not believe that citizens would take an active part in the political life of the country.
• 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine in Global Media Coverage Gunshots and artillery fires have been raining down on residential areas in Ukraine, with several media houses and newspapers reporting the events and sharing the news with the rest of the world. The two newspapers […]
• Multimedia and Sports Journalism The amount and variety of multimedia tools that sports journalists can benefit from has increased significantly compared to several decades ago and is continuing to rise.
• Social Media in a Crisis The main advantage social media provides is that the affected people and victims can use it to make providing support and understanding the details of a situation easier.

📱 Prompts for 250 Words Paragraph on the Impact of Technology

Writing a 250-word essay on the impact of technology? Here are some prompts to guide your work:

• Life without social media: essay 250 words. Analyze the benefits of disconnecting from social media for a couple of weeks. Share your experience living without social networks and how it affected you.
• Advancement of technology: essay 250 words. You can discuss crucial events in the development of technologies and their impact on our lives. Try to include both the advantages and disadvantages of modern technology.
• Life without mobile phones: essay 250 words. Describe how you would spend a day without a mobile phone and what challenges you would face. Provide the benefits you will receive from such an experience.
• Are we too dependent on computers: essay 250 words. Analyze how addicted we are to computers in our daily lives and the potential problems this can cause. Also, you can propose some solutions to address the issue.
• Impact of social media on youth: essay 250 words. You can focus on the effects of social media on young people. For example, explain how social networks influence teens’ mental health and self-esteem. Explain why limiting social media time is crucial.

🏢 Gender Inequality at Workplace Essay 250 Words: Samples

• Gender Inequality in the Field of Working Wright and Yaeger state that it is the deep intersection of the life and work fields in the current working paradigm that creates daily and long-term problems, limits the available time for male and female […]
• Gender Inequality: The Role of Media The media plays a major role in gender socialization because of the ways it chooses to portray women. Shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and Snow White are famous because they usher children […]
• Gender and Sexuality in Community Youth Work The primary duty of a youth worker enshrines competently rendering services to the public regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation.
• The Issue of Gender Inequality After Covid-19 To date, the role of women in society has increased many times over, both in the economic, social, and political spheres of public life.
• Incorporating a Gender Approach in the Hospitality Industry There is a significant lack of women in top management positions and on boards of directors in the hospitality industry. The conceptual framework of this research is “Gender as a Social Structure in the Hospitality […]
• Gender Inequalities in the Healthcare Sector Inequalities in various aspects of social and economic life, and the question of overcoming them, are increasingly the subject of political decisions and the subject of academic research and papers.
• Gender in Peace Corps Volunteers’ Work People from the local culture can be a valuable source of knowledge about gender norms and traditions that affect their society.

✡️ Topics for an Essay about Judaism 250 Words

• Judaism as one of the world’s oldest religions.
• The central Judaism beliefs and their value.
• What are the Jewish holy books?
• The impact of Jewish migration and diaspora.
• Jewish contributions to modern science.
• The fundamental teachings of Jewish ethics and morality.
• The key symbols in Judaism.
• Jewish views on alcohol and drug addiction.
• How does the Jewish calendar differ from the Gregorian calendar?
• Jewish religious philosophy.
• How do Jews observe the Sabbath (Shabbat)?
• Jewish historical events and conflicts.
• What is the significance of the Star of David in Judaism?
• The differences between Christianity and Judaism.
• How did the Holocaust influence the modern Jewish identity?
• The role of the synagogue in Jewish worship.
• Who are the major figures in Jewish history and religion?
• Jewish holidays and their significance.
• How have Jewish traditions and customs evolved over time?
• The origins of the Jewish faith.

📌 250 Word Essay: Answers to the Most Pressing Questions

📌 how many pages is 250 words essay.

How long is a 250-word essay? It will typically be one page double-spaced or half a page single-spaced. The exact number of pages a 250 words essay takes will depend on the citation style you use, the number of your footnotes (if you have any), and the length of your bibliography section.

📌 How Many Paragraphs Are in a 250 Word Essay?

How many paragraphs is a 250-word essay? Since a typical paragraph in academic writing contains 50-100 words, an essay of 250 words will consist of 3 to 5 paragraphs.

📌 250 Words Is How Many Sentences?

How many sentences is a 250-word essay? A typical sentence in academic writing consists of 15-20 words. So, 250 words are not less than 13-16 sentences.

📌 How to Write a 250-Word Paper Outline?

A 250-word essay outline usually follows a standard five-paragraph structure. Start your paper with a short introduction that includes an attention-grabber, some background information, and a thesis. Then add three body paragraphs that focus on your arguments. Finish your 250-word paper with a conclusion that contains a restated thesis and a summary of your ideas.

📌 How Fast Can You Write a 250 Word Essay?

How long does it take to write a 250-word essay? It will take you 5-10 minutes to type 250 words on your keyboard (the total time will depend on your typing speed). Writing an academic paper will take more time because you’ll have to research, make an outline, write, format, and edit your text. It would be best if you planned to spend not less than 50 minutes for a 250-word paper.

📌 How Many Body Paragraphs Are in a 250 Word Essay?

A typical 250 words essay consists of 2 to 4 paragraphs. Each of the paragraphs should contain 75-150 words.

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

• Basic site functions
• Ensuring secure, safe transactions
• Secure account login
• Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
• Remembering privacy and security settings
• Analyzing site traffic and usage
• Personalized search, content, and recommendations
• Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

• Remembering general and regional preferences
• Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy .

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy .

Project Types We Cover

• Admissions Essay
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Research Paper
• Book Reviews
• Personal Statement
• Ph.D Dissertation
• Proofreading

Academic Fields & Subjects

• Programming
• Computer Science
• Other projects we help with
• Our Experts
• Plagiarism Checker
• Writing Tips

All About Writing a 250-Word Essay That Rocks

By: Max Malak

There is a huge variety of academic assignments. For example, you could be asked to write:

Page-length Of a 250-Word Essay?

Should i write more or less than 250-words, most frequent 250-word essay topics:, write an introduction, body paragraph, what to include, what to avoid, formatting the essay, proofread the essay, bonus tips for essay writing, sample essay, checklist: how to write an essay.

• a quantitative or analytical research paper;
• an entertainment review;
• a full-blown scientific dissertation;
• Or any other types of essays depending on your field of specialization.

The list is endless! More often than not, you may have to restrict your essay between 200 and 300 words. Let's walk through this step-by-step guide to become familiar with how an ideal 250-word essay should look like.

If you were wondering how a 250-word essay looks like and how many pages 250-words takes up, then the answer is 'approximately half a page when single-spaced', or one page of double spaced text. This is one of the most frequently searched queries among writers. Of course, each of the following has an impact on the space that your essay may occupy:

• The font size;
• Page margins;
• Spaces between paragraphs (before/after).

As a rule of thumb, stick to as follows:

• Font: Times New Roman or Arial;
• Font Size: 12;
• Double-spaced;
• No spacing before or after paragraphs;
• Each paragraph indented.

Try not to fall below or exceed the 250-word limit by a considerable margin (a slight deviation is fine!). Don't forget that this is where going the extra mile, may push your grades back. Save your energy for lengthier essays that you may stumble across in the future.

The objectives and requirements for short 250-word essays differ from longer ones. As you plan, stick to the relatively simpler topics. Complex topics require longer pieces of writing to be handled effectively. Examples of popular topics for these kinds of essays include:

Formulating The Thesis Statement

Your essay's entirety will link back to the thesis statement, which is a general statement about what you are going to prove or the point around which your discussion revolves.

• Containing fillers;
• Confused with the purpose statement;
• Having no connection with the argument.
• Placed at the end of the introductory paragraph;
• Arising out of the main argument;
• Setting tone for the rest of the essay;
• Encompassing all components of your main argument.

An introduction should ideally include:

• A hook: grabbing the readers' attention;
• Background: setting the context;
• Thesis claim: the point that you are going to make.

Body paragraphs should be knit together in a logical flow. Make sure each paragraph contains:

• An introductory statement;
• Evidence or explanation of your argument;
• Concluding remark that links back to your thesis statement;
• Transitions to avoid confusion.

Write A Conclusion

The concluding paragraph gives an overview of any ideas which have been expressed during the essay. Your conclusion must re-echo the thesis statement besides summarizing the key findings. Let's round up the best practices for writing a convincing conclusion:

• Summary of the main points of your report;
• Synopsis of key findings;
• Synthesis with a thesis statement;
• Conclusive remarks or verdict;
• Future directions of research (if any).
• Setting forth a new idea;
• Lack of link with text in the body;
• Details (as you have already achieved the same in the body).

Most of the college essays follow a standard style or pattern termed as writing style. Four widely-prevalent writing styles include:

Besides these conventions, you should have an eye for specific instructions, such as:

• Tolerance-level (the degree to which you may exceed or fall below 250 words - typically set at 10%);
• Writing processes.

Simply writing the essay should not be the end of your process, as you must proofread it once you have finished composing. It would help if you directed your attention to the essay's structure, how easy it is to understand, the order of the ideas, and whether this is logical and, of course, grammar, spelling, and format. It is not very likely that the exact word count will be reached, and it is OK to stray from this slightly. It would help if you aimed to go no more than 5 to 10 words above or below the desired 250.

We are now going to look at some useful tips that will help you write an excellent 250-word essay.

When writing the first draft, do so in one go and do not take any breaks. This is because the more fluid language will be achieved, and any edits can be made later.

It is important not to edit too much and take a break between editing sessions so that the essay can be viewed with a fresh pair of eyes each time. Don't focus too much on the word count. If you train yourself to write paragraphs containing 3 to 5 sentences, the end word count will become more obtainable naturally.

Avoid adding filler words or phrases. A professional viewing your work will easily pick up on this. Rather than doing this, try to form an extra sentence that contributes and supports the rest of the paragraph.

There may be times where no more information is needed, but the word count has not been reached. If this is the case and you are confident that the work is sufficient, you may be OK to hand the work in with the lower word count. Professors would rather a shorter quality piece than a longer one that did not answer the question.

Practice makes perfect, and the more you write a 250-word essay, the more easily you will be able to do so. An excellent way to practice is to use one of the many free essay prompts that can be found on the internet, which will condition your brain into this type of writing. It won't take long before you can throw out a 250-word essay without even thinking about how many words you have written.

If you think writing an essay is not your cup of tea, you may consult a writing service as your ultimate rescuer.

Now let's take a look at a 250-word essay example:

"Fortunate was I to have born with a silver spoon in mouth. I always ridiculed the arguments tending to attach greater weight to moral values than to wealth. I went on dismissing all this stuff as 'platitudinous fare, never looking at any moral story as a wake-up call. It all changed with a sudden shock when my dearest friend got into an accident and succumbed to his injuries.

To me, life was very simple. I remember when I was at odds with spirituality, describing it as a "self-created mirage." To me, everything that we can buy was "something," and everything else is just "nothing" (self-contradictory, as it may sound). Often with my father, I used to argue that money was at the heart of how much we can get out of our life. He always disproved my idea, saying, "There are things money cannot buy!" Without bothering to ask him to show examples, I would just shy away wincing and ridiculing. It continued like this until the day when I lost my friend in an accident. He took his last breath in the most expensive hospital in the city, showing me the peak of man's helplessness in the face of reality.

It served as an eye-opener though I wish it had been something less-painful (that I don't think might have done any damage to my adamancy). Standing beside my friend's grave, I trampled my myopia and headed to the church with my eyes drenched in tears to seek God's pardon. Money (eh)!"

When writing a short essay with 250-words, being concise and to the point is what matters. There does not need to be a whole host of additional information. Also, make sure that you adopt the best practices to steer clear of plagiarism.

• The beginning part of the essay should contain a hook that instantly gets the reader's attention and makes them want to read on.
• Include your thesis statement within the introduction and ensure that it clearly shows a focus, as well as clarifies your position.
• Use headings to structure the essay and paragraphs to maintain the flow.
• Make sure that within a paragraph, you only discuss one point or idea.
• You can use a topic sentence to ensure that the transition between each paragraph is smooth.
• In conclusion, a connection between the included arguments should be shown besides summing up the entire piece.
• The conclusion should refer back to and be in line with the thesis statement.
• Do not incorporate any new ideas in conclusion.

User ratings:

User ratings is 4.5 stars.

4.5 /5 ( 9 Votes)

Product Manager

Here at Studybay, I work as a Head of Affiliates in the marketing department. I studied Liberal Arts and took related classes at Tokyo Sophia University. I believe that challenges are what make my job fun and exciting. That's why I like completing complex, complicated, and even weird tasks and then sharing my experience with colleagues.

Add Your Comment

We are very interested to know your opinion

Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for providing these details.

Getting the main idea is the hardest part of writing, after that an introduction paragraph is no big deal✌️

Rhose Ortiga

Upgrade your writing skills!

Try our AI essay writer from Studybay today!

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, how to write an impactful 250-word scholarship essay.

Hey everyone, I need to write a 250-word essay on why I deserve a scholarship. I'm struggling to fit everything in so few words and make a compelling argument. Any tips or examples on how to write an effective scholarship essay within the word limit would be greatly appreciated!

Hey there! Writing a 250-word scholarship essay can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can create a strong impact. Here are some tips to help you craft a powerful essay within the limit:

1. Focus on a single point or story: Choose a specific personal experience or accomplishment that demonstrates why you deserve the scholarship. This will help you avoid trying to squeeze in too many details. For example, focus on a specific club meeting where you demonstrated leadership rather than trying to describe your leadership over the course of a year.

2. Be concise and clear: Use simple language and phrases to express your point. Avoid jargon and unnecessary words to stay within the limit without sacrificing clarity. Some students overuse a thesaurus to sound more 'professional', but it's far better to speak in your usual tone.

3. Use a strong opening: Start with a sentence that grabs the reader's attention. A thought-provoking question or a surprising fact can work well in this context. It should be short and sweet to create anticipation without taking up too much space.

4. Show, don't tell: Instead of just stating your achievements, use examples and anecdotes to illustrate your point. This will make your essay more vivid and engaging.

5. End with a call to action or a powerful closing thought: Leave the reader with a memorable impression by either stating your future goals or reiterating the reason you deserve the scholarship.

For example, if you're writing about your volunteer work, focus on a particular project or situation where your efforts made a difference. Describe the challenges you faced and end by connecting your experience to the scholarship's purpose.

Best of luck with your essay!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

• Search All Scholarships
• Exclusive Scholarships
• Easy Scholarships to Apply For
• No Essay Scholarships
• Scholarships for HS Juniors
• Scholarships for HS Seniors
• Scholarships for College Students
• Scholarships for Grad Students
• Scholarships for Women
• Scholarships for Black Students
• Scholarships
• Student Loans
• College Admissions
• Financial Aid
• Scholarship Winners
• Scholarship Providers

Student-centric advice and objective recommendations

Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert. This ensures that all of our content is up-to-date, useful, accurate, and thorough.

Our reviews and recommendations are based on extensive research, testing, and feedback. We may receive commission from links on our website, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can find a complete list of our partners here .

How to Start a Scholarship Essay (With Examples)

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Learn about our editorial policies

Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

As an admissions officer, I reviewed thousands of essays for students seeking admission and scholarships. The essay is one of the most important parts of the scholarship application process–a strong essay can go a long way. However, with so much competition, it is important for your scholarship essay to stand out. That’s why it’s important for you to start a scholarship essay off right!

There are some very simple things that you can do to ensure that your essay is engaging from the very first sentence. In fact, beginning your essay with an exciting opening is one of the most important things you can do, because it will immediately distinguish your essay from the others. 

Keep on reading to learn more about how you can nail the very first sentence and start your essay off right!

Engage the reader with the first sentence

No matter what type of essay you are writing, you will want to ensure that the very first line grabs the attention of the reader. One of the biggest mistakes that students make when starting their essay is simply restating the prompt. This is bland and boring. 

Now, you might be wondering, “how do I engage the reader with the very first line of my essay?”. The good news is that there are several ways that you can do this that are very simple to do. 

Related:  How to answer scholarship essay questions about your career goals

Begin with dialogue

First, you could begin your essay with conversation. This can be an interesting and unexpected way to start your scholarship essay. Maybe someone asked you an unexpected question? Perhaps you were having an interesting conversation with a friend or family member? Either way, dialogue can be a powerful tool to start your essay.

Apply to these scholarships due soon

“Gutsy Graduate Student” Essay Scholarship

“College Here I Come” Essay Scholarship for High School Seniors

“Scholar Dollars” Essay Scholarship for Black Students

“Making Waves” Scholarship for Women

“Tuition Solution” Scholarship for STEM Students

“A Helping Hand” Scholarship

“Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship

“Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship

“Outstanding Undergraduate” Essay Scholarship

“Broad Horizons” Scholarship for High School Juniors

Put the reader in your shoes.

Alternatively, you can choose to start your essay by placing the reader right in your shoes and show them something from your life. Appeal to the senses and show the reader what you see, hear, smell, or taste. These specific details will help your essay come to life and make it even more memorable. 

Also recommended: What’s the best scholarship essay format?

Scholarship essay introduction example

Next,  we’ll look at a specific example of how you can open up your essay. Let’s say you are applying for the Questbridge scholarship program . One of the essays that you will be asked is:

We are interested in learning more about you and the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations, and accomplished your academic successes. Please describe the factors and challenges that have most influenced you. How are they shaping your future aspirations?

You might be tempted to rephrase the question and start your essay with something like:

“I have grown up in a rural context and this has formed my aspirations and allowed me to accomplish academic success…”

This is generic and will not engage your reader at all. 

Instead, what if you started off your essay with something like this:

“I look outside my bedroom window and see Henry, my favorite chicken, pecking at something in the dirt.” 

Makes a big difference, right? As a reader, you are probably wondering: why does this person have chickens outside their bedroom window? Why did they name this particular chicken Henry?

See also: Here are our top writing & essay scholarships for students!

Keep the ending of your essay in mind as you write the opening

While crafting your opening, be open to ideas about how to close your essay. There is no need to stress about the ending now, but being mindful of effective ways to end an essay is always a good idea. Say you are opening your scholarship essay with Henry the chicken. Is there a way for Henry to make an impactful appearance at the end of the essay to close things out in a way that perfectly wraps everything up? The key is for the essay ending to be meaningful and memorable for the reader. 

Don’t miss: Our free scholarship search tool

If you can’t think of a “wow” scholarship essay beginning, keep writing!

Sometimes, we know what we want to say, point by point, but we are not ready to be creative when it comes to opening an essay. In that case, keep writing! There is always the option of going back and crafting an engaging opening after your essay is written. Simply write your main idea where the first paragraph would be to guide you as you write. After, go back when your creative juices are flowing, and craft the amazing opening (and closing) that your scholarship essay deserves!

Final thoughts

As shown, there are many questions that we as readers will have after reading an engaging essay opening such as the one just shared; We want to learn more about the student who is writing this essay. After all, as a writer trying to stand out in a pile of essays, that is our main goal. 

We hope that you have a better understanding of how to start a scholarship essay so you can maximize your chances of winning scholarships!

Additional resources

Scholarships360 is the go-to for all things college admissions and scholarships! Wondering how to write a 250 word essay and how to write a 500 word essay ? Curious how to write an essay about yourself ? Wow, do we have the resources to help! Additionally, check out our free scholarship search tool to help you finance your college education. Best of luck to you and your future endeavors! 

Key Takeaways

• The first sentence of the essay is what makes the reader want to continue reading 
• Engage the reader by appealing to the senses
• Create a sense of wonder in your essay, making the reader want to learn more about you
• Keep the ending of the essay in mind as you craft the beginning

Frequently asked questions about how to start a scholarship essay

What is an essay hook, how long should my scholarship essay be, scholarships360 recommended.

Top 70 No Essay Scholarships in September 2024

Top 290 Scholarships for High School Juniors in September 2024

$20k+ in Exclusive Scholarships from Scholarships360

Trending now.

Top 53 Easy Scholarships✅ to Apply For in September 2024

Top 3,016 Scholarships for High School Seniors in September 2024

Top Scholarships for Current College Students in September 2024

3 reasons to join scholarships360.

• Automatic entry to our $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship
• Personalized matching to thousands of vetted scholarships
• Quick apply for scholarships exclusive to our platform

By the way...Scholarships360 is 100% free!

Home — Free Essays — 250 Words — 250

250-Word Essay Examples

250-word essay topics are short essays that require students to express their thoughts and ideas concisely within a limited word count. These essays often focus on a specific topic or prompt and require students to provide a clear and coherent argument or analysis within the given constraints.

Brief Description of 800-Word Essay Topics

800-word essay topics are longer essays that allow students to delve deeper into a particular subject or issue. These essays require students to provide a more detailed analysis or argument, supported by evidence and examples, within a larger word count.

Some common 800-word essay topics include exploring a complex social or political issue, analyzing a historical event or period, evaluating a scientific theory or concept, or examining a work of literature in depth. These essays often require students to conduct research, gather evidence, and present a well-structured argument that showcases their critical thinking skills and ability to synthesize information.

Writing an 800-word essay allows students to explore a topic more thoroughly and develop a more nuanced understanding of the subject matter. It also challenges students to organize their thoughts cohesively, present their ideas logically, and support their arguments effectively.

Overall, 800-word essay topics provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their research, analytical, and writing skills in a more comprehensive and detailed manner. These essays can help students develop their ability to engage with complex ideas, articulate their thoughts clearly, and communicate their arguments persuasively.

In conclusion, 800-word essay topics offer students a platform to showcase their intellectual capabilities, critical thinking skills, and writing proficiency. By tackling longer essays, students can deepen their understanding of a topic, hone their research and analytical skills, and refine their ability to communicate complex ideas effectively.

Popular Essay Topics

• The Effects of Globalization on Culture
• Government Surveillance and Privacy Rights
• The Impact of Social Media on Society
• Climate Change and its Effects on the Environment
• The Importance of Education in Today's Society
• Racial Discrimination and Inequality in America
• The Wonder of Science Essay in English
• Mental Health Awareness and Stigma
• The Benefits and Drawbacks of Online Learning
• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Job Market
• The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
• The Rise of Fake News and its Influence on Society
• The Opioid Crisis in America
• The Role of Women in Leadership Positions
• The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health
• The Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Foods
• The Future of Renewable Energy Sources
• The Impact of Immigration on Society
• The Ethics of Animal Testing
• The Effects of Climate Change on Global Health

250-Word on Respect

Respect is not only a moral virtue but also a fundamental human right, as it provides individuals with the autonomy and agency to be treated with dignity and fairness. Respect is demonstrated through our actions, words, and attitudes towards others. It involves treating others with…

250-Word about Your Life Experience

My life experience has been a journey marked by both triumphs and challenges. Growing up in a modest household in a small town, I learned the value of hard work and perseverance from an early age. As the eldest child in my family, I felt…

250-Word about Life Experience

Life experience is the accumulation of knowledge, skills, and values that one gains through living and interacting with the world around them. It is a complex and multifaceted concept that encompasses a wide range of experiences, both positive and negative, that shape an individual’s understanding…

250-Word Extracurricular Example

Extracurricular activities play a crucial role in the overall development of a student. They offer an opportunity to explore interests, develop new skills, and build meaningful connections with peers. I have actively participated in various extracurricular activities throughout my academic journey, and these experiences have…

Get professional help in 5 minutes

Crime Scene Report Examples

Example of a Crime Scene Report Case Number: 21-12345 Date of Incident: March 15, 2021 Time of Incident: Approximately 10:30 PM Location of Incident: 1234 Main Street, Anytown, USA Type of Incident: Burglary Reporting Officer: Detective John Smith Description of the Scene: Upon arrival at…

Benefits of Running

Sports are an essential part of many people’s lives, providing not only physical exercise but also valuable life lessons in discipline and resilience. Among the various sports available, running stands out as a particularly accessible and beneficial activity for individuals looking to improve their health…

Advantages of Being an Introvert

Being a college student in today’s society, the pressure to be outgoing and extroverted is ever-present. Social events, educational settings, and work environments all seem to favor those who are communicative and open. However, as I have come to realize, being an introvert in a…

Conflict Theory in Sociology

The Conflict Theory offers a crucial perspective for analyzing social dynamics. Karl Marx, a prominent sociologist, emphasized the role of conflict and class struggle in shaping societies. He advocated for revolutions as a means for the working class to assert their power and secure a…

The Ethical and Health Implications of Social Media

sheds light on the detrimental impact of social media on society, revealing how developers and owners exploit users through data mining and surveillance technologies (Orlowski, 2020). The addictive nature of social media platforms and their negative effects on the mental health of young individuals are…

The Importance of Punctuality

Punctuality is a quality that holds significant weight in various aspects of life, especially in the professional realm. While opinions may differ on the importance of timeliness, being punctual is generally viewed as a positive attribute that reflects well on an individual. Showing up on…

Colonialism: Unpacking a Complex Historical Phenomenon

Colonialism is a multifaceted historical phenomenon that has left an enduring impact on the world. At its core, colonialism refers to the practice of powerful nations extending their control over other regions, often overseas, for various reasons, including economic gain, political influence, and territorial expansion….

The Rise of an Androgynous Society

Introduction The story of Aldrine, in his mid-30s, unfolds against the backdrop of societal and familial pressures to conform to traditional marital expectations. Aldrine, however, is determined not to marry an incompatible partner, despite increasing threats of ostracization. Aldrine’s Dilemma and Decision Aldrine’s object of…

Low Temperature Decreases Bone Mass in Mice: Implications

Abstract: The study aims to investigate the impact of low temperatures on bone density and structure, particularly focusing on cortical and trabecular bone acquisition. It explores the role of the sympathetic nervous system and UCP1, a marker of non-shivering thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue, in…

Science Practical Report Stomach Acid

Research question What will happen to a cantaloupe (rock melon) in different chemicals of different Ph’s and leave over a time period of 5 days and then letting them dry for 5 days to see the final mass to see the difference from the beginning…

What You Know About Toast Overlay Vulnerability

Another security investigate shows that any unpatched cell phone running on Android working framework more seasoned than Oreo, could be defenseless against a malware. Like any malware, this one too is hazardous, as it traps clients into counterfeit discoursed so they “affirm” their own particular…

The Artistic Choice and Prowess in the Constriction of Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army Picture, is one of the most artistic pictures that exists in art galleries. My choice for this picture derives essence from the fact that, the picture arouses many connotations that could paint a detailed description of the past. For instance, the contrast…

Pros and Cons of Eliminating Pollutants in the Environment

Pollution Control: Costs and Benefits The root words for ecology and economy share the same meaning, they both mean “home regulation”. Critics have said that the economy will grow much faster without concerns of polluting the environment. When people began to preserve and clean the…

Understanding the History of the Vietnamese Lifestyle

I come from Vietnamese culture which has a history of four thousand years. All six forces mentioned in the chapter have significant effect on our culture but I believe the two strongest ones are History and Ecology. Vietnam has a long history of war. For…

Analyzing McCarthyism as depicted in the political cartoon

This political cartoon shows the Committee on Un-American Activities driving recklessly through the streets, obviously not bothering to care that they were running over people. Chaos is evident, the face with all papers flying all over, parking meters falling over, and general looks of terror…

The political cartoon: How the author uses visual rhetoric’s to portray discrimination of native Americans

Liberty Bell Cafe This political cartoon represents the discrimination that Native Americans underwent during this time period through the uses of visual rhetorics. As tension is made apparent on the faces of both men in this picture. In this political cartoon the white man was…

What Is a 250-Word Essay?

A 250-word essay is a concise piece of writing that consists of approximately 250 words. It requires the writer to express their ideas or convey information within a limited word count.

How Many Paragraphs Should a 250-Word Essay Have?

In a 250-word essay, you can typically expect to have around 2-3 paragraphs. Each paragraph should focus on a specific point or aspect of the topic, ensuring that the content is clear, coherent, and well-developed.

What Does a 250-Word Essay Look Like in Structure?

A typical structure for a 250-word essay includes an introduction, body paragraphs (usually 1-2 paragraphs), and a conclusion. The introduction should provide background information and present a clear thesis statement. The body paragraphs should present supporting evidence or arguments, and the conclusion should summarize the main points and provide a closing thought.

How Long is 250-Word Essay?

A 250-word essay consists of approximately 250 words. In terms of length, it is considered a relatively short essay. The number of paragraphs in a 250-word essay can vary depending on the content and structure, but typically it may consist of around 1-3 paragraphs. Each paragraph should focus on a specific idea, argument, or aspect of the topic, providing sufficient explanation and supporting evidence within the limited word count. It's important to remember that while the word count gives a general indication of the length, the quality and depth of the content are equally important in conveying your message effectively.

Can You Include Examples or Evidence in a 250-Word Essay?

Yes, you can include examples or evidence in a 250-word essay to support your arguments or provide clarification. However, be mindful of the limited word count and focus on selecting the most relevant and impactful examples that contribute to the overall effectiveness of your essay.

Another Word Count

Popular topics.

• A Class Divided
• Madam Cj Walker
• Comparative Analysis
• Middle School
• Media Analysis
• Time Management
• Stem Education
• Climate Change
• Studying Abroad
• Drug Addiction
• Academic Interests
• Importance of Education
• Advertisement
• Winter Break
• Childhood Memories
• Art History
• Career Goals
• Movie Review
• Film Analysis

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

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

Have a language expert improve your writing

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

• Knowledge Base
• How to write an argumentative essay | Examples & tips

How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement . The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based case for it.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

When do you write an argumentative essay, approaches to argumentative essays, introducing your argument, the body: developing your argument, concluding your argument, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about argumentative essays.

You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.

The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could make.

Argumentative writing at college level

At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve making arguments about texts.

In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.

Examples of argumentative essay prompts

At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate response.

Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis.

• Don’t just list all the effects you can think of.
• Do develop a focused argument about the overall effect and why it matters, backed up by evidence from sources.
• Don’t just provide a selection of data on the measures’ effectiveness.
• Do build up your own argument about which kinds of measures have been most or least effective, and why.
• Don’t just analyze a random selection of doppelgänger characters.
• Do form an argument about specific texts, comparing and contrasting how they express their thematic concerns through doppelgänger characters.

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.

There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian model.

Toulmin arguments

The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as necessary for the argument:

• Make a claim
• Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim
• Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim)
• Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives

The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.

Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures. You might:

• Claim that unconscious bias training does not have the desired results, and resources would be better spent on other approaches
• Cite data to support your claim
• Explain how the data indicates that the method is ineffective
• Anticipate objections to your claim based on other data, indicating whether these objections are valid, and if not, why not.

Rogerian arguments

The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:

• Discuss what the opposing position gets right and why people might hold this position
• Highlight the problems with this position
• Present your own position , showing how it addresses these problems
• Suggest a possible compromise —what elements of your position would proponents of the opposing position benefit from adopting?

This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.

Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:

• Acknowledge that students rely too much on websites like Wikipedia
• Argue that teachers view Wikipedia as more unreliable than it really is
• Suggest that Wikipedia’s system of citations can actually teach students about referencing
• Suggest critical engagement with Wikipedia as a possible assignment for teachers who are skeptical of its usefulness.

You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure your arguments.

Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an introduction , a body , and a conclusion .

Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction . The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement , and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true.

In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings.

Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.

This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.

Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

An argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the arguments made in the body.

No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.

Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

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

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

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

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

Cite this Scribbr article

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

Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips. Scribbr. Retrieved September 9, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/argumentative-essay/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, how to write a thesis statement | 4 steps & examples, how to write topic sentences | 4 steps, examples & purpose, how to write an expository essay, "i thought ai proofreading was useless but..".

I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes”

Writing an Abstract for Your Research Paper

Definition and Purpose of Abstracts

An abstract is a short summary of your (published or unpublished) research paper, usually about a paragraph (c. 6-7 sentences, 150-250 words) long. A well-written abstract serves multiple purposes:

• an abstract lets readers get the gist or essence of your paper or article quickly, in order to decide whether to read the full paper;
• an abstract prepares readers to follow the detailed information, analyses, and arguments in your full paper;
• and, later, an abstract helps readers remember key points from your paper.

It’s also worth remembering that search engines and bibliographic databases use abstracts, as well as the title, to identify key terms for indexing your published paper. So what you include in your abstract and in your title are crucial for helping other researchers find your paper or article.

If you are writing an abstract for a course paper, your professor may give you specific guidelines for what to include and how to organize your abstract. Similarly, academic journals often have specific requirements for abstracts. So in addition to following the advice on this page, you should be sure to look for and follow any guidelines from the course or journal you’re writing for.

The Contents of an Abstract

Abstracts contain most of the following kinds of information in brief form. The body of your paper will, of course, develop and explain these ideas much more fully. As you will see in the samples below, the proportion of your abstract that you devote to each kind of information—and the sequence of that information—will vary, depending on the nature and genre of the paper that you are summarizing in your abstract. And in some cases, some of this information is implied, rather than stated explicitly. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , which is widely used in the social sciences, gives specific guidelines for what to include in the abstract for different kinds of papers—for empirical studies, literature reviews or meta-analyses, theoretical papers, methodological papers, and case studies.

Here are the typical kinds of information found in most abstracts:

• the context or background information for your research; the general topic under study; the specific topic of your research
• the central questions or statement of the problem your research addresses
• what’s already known about this question, what previous research has done or shown
• the main reason(s) , the exigency, the rationale , the goals for your research—Why is it important to address these questions? Are you, for example, examining a new topic? Why is that topic worth examining? Are you filling a gap in previous research? Applying new methods to take a fresh look at existing ideas or data? Resolving a dispute within the literature in your field? . . .
• your research and/or analytical methods
• your main findings , results , or arguments
• the significance or implications of your findings or arguments.

Your abstract should be intelligible on its own, without a reader’s having to read your entire paper. And in an abstract, you usually do not cite references—most of your abstract will describe what you have studied in your research and what you have found and what you argue in your paper. In the body of your paper, you will cite the specific literature that informs your research.

When to Write Your Abstract

Although you might be tempted to write your abstract first because it will appear as the very first part of your paper, it’s a good idea to wait to write your abstract until after you’ve drafted your full paper, so that you know what you’re summarizing.

What follows are some sample abstracts in published papers or articles, all written by faculty at UW-Madison who come from a variety of disciplines. We have annotated these samples to help you see the work that these authors are doing within their abstracts.

Choosing Verb Tenses within Your Abstract

The social science sample (Sample 1) below uses the present tense to describe general facts and interpretations that have been and are currently true, including the prevailing explanation for the social phenomenon under study. That abstract also uses the present tense to describe the methods, the findings, the arguments, and the implications of the findings from their new research study. The authors use the past tense to describe previous research.

The humanities sample (Sample 2) below uses the past tense to describe completed events in the past (the texts created in the pulp fiction industry in the 1970s and 80s) and uses the present tense to describe what is happening in those texts, to explain the significance or meaning of those texts, and to describe the arguments presented in the article.

The science samples (Samples 3 and 4) below use the past tense to describe what previous research studies have done and the research the authors have conducted, the methods they have followed, and what they have found. In their rationale or justification for their research (what remains to be done), they use the present tense. They also use the present tense to introduce their study (in Sample 3, “Here we report . . .”) and to explain the significance of their study (In Sample 3, This reprogramming . . . “provides a scalable cell source for. . .”).

Sample Abstract 1

From the social sciences.

Reporting new findings about the reasons for increasing economic homogamy among spouses

Gonalons-Pons, Pilar, and Christine R. Schwartz. “Trends in Economic Homogamy: Changes in Assortative Mating or the Division of Labor in Marriage?” Demography , vol. 54, no. 3, 2017, pp. 985-1005.

Sample Abstract 2

From the humanities.

Analyzing underground pulp fiction publications in Tanzania, this article makes an argument about the cultural significance of those publications

Emily Callaci. “Street Textuality: Socialism, Masculinity, and Urban Belonging in Tanzania’s Pulp Fiction Publishing Industry, 1975-1985.” Comparative Studies in Society and History , vol. 59, no. 1, 2017, pp. 183-210.

Sample Abstract/Summary 3

From the sciences.

Reporting a new method for reprogramming adult mouse fibroblasts into induced cardiac progenitor cells

Lalit, Pratik A., Max R. Salick, Daryl O. Nelson, Jayne M. Squirrell, Christina M. Shafer, Neel G. Patel, Imaan Saeed, Eric G. Schmuck, Yogananda S. Markandeya, Rachel Wong, Martin R. Lea, Kevin W. Eliceiri, Timothy A. Hacker, Wendy C. Crone, Michael Kyba, Daniel J. Garry, Ron Stewart, James A. Thomson, Karen M. Downs, Gary E. Lyons, and Timothy J. Kamp. “Lineage Reprogramming of Fibroblasts into Proliferative Induced Cardiac Progenitor Cells by Defined Factors.” Cell Stem Cell , vol. 18, 2016, pp. 354-367.

Sample Abstract 4, a Structured Abstract

Reporting results about the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy in managing acute bacterial sinusitis, from a rigorously controlled study

Note: This journal requires authors to organize their abstract into four specific sections, with strict word limits. Because the headings for this structured abstract are self-explanatory, we have chosen not to add annotations to this sample abstract.

Wald, Ellen R., David Nash, and Jens Eickhoff. “Effectiveness of Amoxicillin/Clavulanate Potassium in the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Sinusitis in Children.” Pediatrics , vol. 124, no. 1, 2009, pp. 9-15.

“OBJECTIVE: The role of antibiotic therapy in managing acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS) in children is controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of high-dose amoxicillin/potassium clavulanate in the treatment of children diagnosed with ABS.

METHODS : This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Children 1 to 10 years of age with a clinical presentation compatible with ABS were eligible for participation. Patients were stratified according to age (<6 or ≥6 years) and clinical severity and randomly assigned to receive either amoxicillin (90 mg/kg) with potassium clavulanate (6.4 mg/kg) or placebo. A symptom survey was performed on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 20, and 30. Patients were examined on day 14. Children’s conditions were rated as cured, improved, or failed according to scoring rules.

RESULTS: Two thousand one hundred thirty-five children with respiratory complaints were screened for enrollment; 139 (6.5%) had ABS. Fifty-eight patients were enrolled, and 56 were randomly assigned. The mean age was 6630 months. Fifty (89%) patients presented with persistent symptoms, and 6 (11%) presented with nonpersistent symptoms. In 24 (43%) children, the illness was classified as mild, whereas in the remaining 32 (57%) children it was severe. Of the 28 children who received the antibiotic, 14 (50%) were cured, 4 (14%) were improved, 4(14%) experienced treatment failure, and 6 (21%) withdrew. Of the 28children who received placebo, 4 (14%) were cured, 5 (18%) improved, and 19 (68%) experienced treatment failure. Children receiving the antibiotic were more likely to be cured (50% vs 14%) and less likely to have treatment failure (14% vs 68%) than children receiving the placebo.

CONCLUSIONS : ABS is a common complication of viral upper respiratory infections. Amoxicillin/potassium clavulanate results in significantly more cures and fewer failures than placebo, according to parental report of time to resolution.” (9)

Some Excellent Advice about Writing Abstracts for Basic Science Research Papers, by Professor Adriano Aguzzi from the Institute of Neuropathology at the University of Zurich:

Academic and Professional Writing

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Analysis Papers

Reading Poetry

A Short Guide to Close Reading for Literary Analysis

Using Literary Quotations

Play Reviews

Writing a Rhetorical Précis to Analyze Nonfiction Texts

Incorporating Interview Data

Grant Proposals

Planning and Writing a Grant Proposal: The Basics

Additional Resources for Grants and Proposal Writing

Job Materials and Application Essays

Writing Personal Statements for Ph.D. Programs

• Before you begin: useful tips for writing your essay
• Guided brainstorming exercises
• Get more help with your essay
• Frequently Asked Questions

Resume Writing Tips

CV Writing Tips

Cover Letters

Business Letters

Proposals and Dissertations

Resources for Proposal Writers

Resources for Dissertators

Research Papers

Planning and Writing Research Papers

Quoting and Paraphrasing

Writing Annotated Bibliographies

Creating Poster Presentations

Thank-You Notes

Advice for Students Writing Thank-You Notes to Donors

Reading for a Review

Critical Reviews

Writing a Review of Literature

Scientific Reports

Scientific Report Format

Sample Lab Assignment

Writing for the Web

Writing an Effective Blog Post

Writing for Social Media: A Guide for Academics

• High School Study Abroad Programs
• High School Summer Abroad
• High School Summer Abroad Blog

How to Write About Your High School Study Abroad Experience on College Applications

September 12, 2024

Authored By:

High school study abroad is a truly transformative experience. Students return home with broadened world perspectives, demonstratable language progress, and, often, new or reinvigorated passions for their future academic or career path.  

As a high school summer abroad alumni, your study abroad experience offers unique content for your college application that can set you apart from other applicants. Here are some tips to enhance your college admissions essay and land your application in the "acceptance" pile! 

What Do Colleges Look for? 

First, let's talk about what college admissions officers look for when diving into stacks of applications. While the process isn't totally transparent and can differ from university to university, here are the general qualities of a good candidate: 

• Academic excellence 
• Personal growth 
• Unique experiences 

Maturity 

Adaptability .

• Cultural awareness 
• Defined goals 

Add to that one singular question of significant importance— What makes you a particularly good fit for their specific university?  

When crafting your college admissions essay, these are the points you want to hit. Think about it differently than a question/answer format; rather, weave these qualities into an exciting and personal narrative. That doesn't sound easy, but rest assured that your study abroad experience will likely encompass all these points and will surely be interesting.  

That's what makes it the perfect college admissions essay topic! 

Does Study Abroad Look Good in College Applications? 

Absolutely! Let's take another look at the points above and how the program outcomes of a study abroad experience meets them. 

Academic Excellence 

CIEE high school summer abroad has its own competitive admissions process that includes personal essays, teacher recommendations, and accepts only students in good academic standing. Each cohort comprises top-performing high schoolers from around the country. 

Personal Growth 

It is rare that a person will live abroad in their lifetime, and even rarer to have done it as a teenager! Living in another country leads to tremendous personal growth that can be defined in measurable results such as language learning and "soft" skills like independence, confidence, cultural awareness, or a global perspective. Living abroad is also associated with a clearer sense of self , which has all kinds of benefits, including career success and enhanced ability to deal with stress. 

Unique Experiences 

Again, the simple fact that you lived in another country is a unique experience. So is being proficient in a second language, having a host family abroad, going to classes in another country, volunteering and serving a foreign population, making friends with people from a totally different culture, navigating culture shock, and all the other amazing things you accomplished while studying abroad. 

Even though you might not think of yourself as a child, you lived abroad on your own while under 18! That requires a tremendous level of maturity. Tie that fact to the challenges you navigated, and you will demonstrate your maturity quickly. 

Living abroad requires navigating new environments, overcoming language barriers, and adjusting to different cultural norms. These experiences enhance your flexibility, problem-solving skills, and ability to thrive in diverse situations. 

Cultural Awareness 

Colleges love diversity; it makes for a rich campus life, promotes inclusive thinking, prepares students for a globalized world, and reflects our diverse American population. Diversity is connected directly to cultural awareness. When you studied abroad in high school, you built cultural awareness by immersing yourself in new cultural practices, perspectives, and social norms, helping you to become more empathetic, open-minded, and globally conscious. 

Defined Goals 

High school study abroad exposes students to new fields of interest, global issues, and potential career paths they may not have considered. This experience also enhances critical thinking and self-awareness, which allows you to better understand your passions and strengths. 

11 Questions to Ask Yourself to Find Your Unique Story 

Now it's time to get the creative juices flowing. A helpful writing tip is to brainstorm on some reflective questions.  

To craft a compelling essay about your study abroad experience, start with these: 

• What motivated you to study abroad during high school? 
• How did your experience abroad change your perspective on the world and your role in it? 
• What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them? 
• How did the experience impact your academic interests and career goals? 
• What cultural differences did you encounter, and how did you adapt? 
• What stories do you tell over and over when people ask you about your time abroad? 
• What was the peak moment of your experience? 
• What was the most challenging moment? 
• Who did you meet that made the most significant impact? 
• What connections do you maintain? 
• How does your high school study abroad story connect to this particular university? 

By answering these questions, you can identify the unique aspects of your experience that will make your essay engaging and memorable. 

To help you get more ideas about how to write about your experience, tune in to our Out of Your Comfort Zone podcast and hear from other CIEE high school study abroad alumni! 

Connect Your Study Abroad Story to Your University 

To make your essay even more impactful, tie your study abroad experience to the specific university you are applying to. Research the university's programs, values, and opportunities, and explain how your experience aligns with them: 

• Does the university have an outstanding language program?  
• Do they have a partner university in the country where you studied abroad?  
• Do they have a research lab in the field you want to focus on due to passions you discovered or strengthened during your study abroad?  
• Do they have faculty or a large student population from the country where you studied abroad? 

Some Final College Application Essay Tips

Be Authentic

Write honestly about your experiences and emotions. Authenticity resonates more with admissions officers than a polished but impersonal essay. 

Show, Don't Tell

Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points rather than making general statements. 

Seek Feedback

Have teachers, mentors, or friends review your essay to provide constructive feedback. Have a friend from your high school study abroad experience read your story too! 

Stay Within the Word Limit

Adhere to the essay length requirements set by the college to demonstrate your ability to follow instructions. 

Studying abroad in high school demonstrates to colleges that you are proactive, open-minded, and capable of thriving in diverse environments. This experience will be the key to enhancing your college application and shaping your future in profound ways. 

Good luck! 

Thinking about studying abroad again after your senior year? Check out our study abroad options for high school graduates .

© 2024 CIEE. All Rights Reserved.

• Privacy Notice
• Terms & Conditions

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

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

Verification Code

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

Thanks for your comment !

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

• School Education /

Short and Long Essay on Hindi Diwas

• Updated on  
• Sep 12, 2024

Have you ever heard of the Hindi Diwas? This day holds significance in the Indian calendar. Hindi is one of the most commonly spoken languages in India. This language is honoured with an annual celebration known as ‘Hindi Diwas’ or ‘Hindi Day’ on September 14th in India. On the global platform, World Hindi Day is celebrated on 10 January every year. In this blog, we will look at some sample essays on Hindi Diwas, as well as a few facts about it. Continue reading this blog to learn more.

Table of Contents

• 1 Long Essay on Hindi Diwas (500 words)
• 2 Short Essay on Hindi Diwas (250 words)
• 3 Facts About Hindi Diwas

Long Essay on Hindi Diwas (500 words)

Hindi Diwas is celebrated every year on September 14th. On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi in the Devnagari script as the official language of independent India. The decision to make Hindi the official language of India originated from an aim to create a language that could be used as a medium of communication across multiple regions. Hindi’s historical roots are in Sanskrit, making it important to the majority of the Indian population.

However, this decision also faced severe opposition Several southern states have expressed concern about Hindi dominance, believing that it will marginalise their native languages. As a result, English was chosen as an associate official language, alongside Hindi. Hindi Diwas serves a various purpose, such as honouring the richness of the Hindi language, as one of the most spoken languages in the world. More than 40% of India’s population speaks Hindi, making it an important tool for communication. Celebrating Hindi Diwas honours the language’s cultural and historical significance, reminding people of its role in Indian identity and legacy.

Hindi Diwas also promotes the use of Hindi in everyday activities while focusing on the need to preserve and promote national heritage. Several government departments, educational institutions and cultural organisations organise events to promote the use of Hindi in writing, speaking and administration. Hindi Diwas is an effort to inspire the new generation to respect this language. In an era dominated by global languages like English, it is important to seek pride in our country’s language. Hindi Diwas motivates and promotes people to reconnect with their linguistic heritage. On this day, several schools and universities organise essay writing competitions and cultural programs in Hindi to encourage the use of the language.

Hindi is a widely spoken language, but its future in a globalised world offers both challenges and opportunities. Globalisation has resulted in a greater use of English, while Hindi continues to flourish in literature, cinema, television and digital media. In recent years, several initiatives have been made to promote Hindi on a global level. Many countries currently teach Hindi as a subject in their educational institutions, showing an effort to keep the language alive.

Hindi Diwas is a day dedicated to celebrating the rich cultural legacy of the Hindi language. In a multilingual country like India, Hindi continues to link millions and maintain a feeling of national identity.

Also Read: Essay on Indian Independence Day in English

Short Essay on Hindi Diwas (250 words)

Hindi Diwas is celebrated on September 14th to remember the day it was adopted as India’s official language. Hindi which is written in the Devanagari script, was recognised as the official language of India in 1949 due to its widespread use all over India. The decision to declare Hindi as the official language was made in order to promote unity and national identity.

Hindi Diwas is an important event in the calendar of India since it promotes the use and preservation of the Hindi language. More than 40% of India’s population speaks Hindi, highlighting the language’s cultural richness. Hindi is a Sanskrit-based language written in the Devanagari script. This day celebrates the richness of Hindi across schools, colleges and government institutions. Various schools and colleges organise essay competitions, debates and cultural performances in Hindi to encourage future generations to respect the language. 

However, Hindi has faced challenges when achieving the status of official language, especially in non-Hindi-speaking states. People were concerned that Hindi would dominate their native language, which sparked opposition. As a result, English was also designated as an associate official language, along with Hindi. It established a balance between regional and national languages. Hindi Diwas is a celebration of India’s linguistic diversity as well as a reminder of the language’s cultural and historical importance.

Also Read: Essay on Women’s Day in 200 and 500 words

Facts About Hindi Diwas

Here we have given some interesting facts about the Hindi Diwas which will enhance your understanding more on this topic.

• Hindi Diwas is celebrated annually on September 14th to honour the contributions of Beohar Rajendra Simha, a Hindi scholar whose birthday falls on this day. He played an important role in making Hindi the official language of India.
• On Hindi Diwas, the President of India gives Rajbhasha Awards to ministries for their outstanding efforts to promote Hindi.
• Hindi is spoken in various countries around the world, including Nepal, Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
• Hindi is the world’s third most spoken language, following English and Mandarin.
• The first World Hindi Conference was held on January 10, 1975, in Nagpur, India.
• Hindi has a major influence on the Bollywood legacy.
• Hindi is the official language of 12 Indian states and union territories.
• Hindi has various dialects in different parts of India. Some of these dialects include Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Braj, Haryanvi and Khari Boli.
• The first Hindi newspaper, Udant Martand (The Rising Sun), was published on May 30, 1826, in Calcutta.
• Several foreign universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and Tokyo University, offer Hindi language courses.

World Hindi Day is celebrated on 10th January every year. It promotes and recognizes the Hindi language on a global level.

The first Hindi newspaper was Udant Martand (The Rising Sun), which was published on May 30, 1826.

Beohar Rajendra Simha was a Hindi scholar who played a key role in recognizing Hindi as the official language. To honour him, we celebrate Hindi DIwas on his birthday on 14th September.

Popular Essay Topics

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu.  

Bhumika Sharma

A writer with a fresh perspective on thoughts, I have an year of experience in writing the blogs on various topics. Here, you will find my blogs for the students and education purpose.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Contact no. *

Connect With Us

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

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out

• क्वेश्चन पेपर
• सामान्य ज्ञान
• यूपीएससी नोट्स

• Click on the Menu icon of the browser, it opens up a list of options.
• Click on the “Options ”, it opens up the settings page,
• Here click on the “Privacy & Security” options listed on the left hand side of the page.
• Scroll down the page to the “Permission” section .
• Here click on the “Settings” tab of the Notification option.
• A pop up will open with all listed sites, select the option “ALLOW“, for the respective site under the status head to allow the notification.
• Once the changes is done, click on the “Save Changes” option to save the changes.

Hindi Diwas Essay: हिंदी दिवस पर निबंध कैसे लिखें? 100, 250, 500 शब्दों में निबंध प्रारूप

Hindi Diwas 2024 Essay in Hindi: इस बात में कोई दो राय नहीं है कि हिंदी भाषा भारतीयों की पहचान का हिस्सा है। भारत में यूं तो कई भाषाएं और बोलियां बोली जाती है लेकिन जो दर्जा हिंदी को मिला है वो अहम है। भाषाई विविधता के जश्न के रूप में प्रति वर्ष हिंदी दिवस 14 सितंबर को मनाया जाता है। यह दिन हमारे देश की मातृभाषा हिंदी के महत्व को समझाने और उसे सम्मानित करने के लिए मनाया जाता है।

हिंदी हमारी पहचान है और करोड़ों भारतीयों को इस पर गर्व है। हिंदी को भारत की राजभाषा का दर्जा 14 सितंबर 1949 को मिला था। इसलिए इस दिन को हिंदी दिवस के रूप में मनाया जाता है। हिंदी न केवल भारत में बल्कि दुनिया के कई अन्य देशों में भी बोली जाती है। हमारे विद्यालयों में भी हिंदी दिवस के अवसर पर कई कार्यक्रम आयोजित होते हैं, जैसे निबंध लेखन, कविता पाठ, भाषण और अन्य प्रतियोगिताओं का विशेष रूप में आयोजन किया जाता है।

बच्चों को हिंदी भाषा के महत्व और उसकी सुंदरता को समझाने के लिए यह दिन विशेष होता है। इस अवसर पर स्कूलों में विभिन्न प्रतियोगिताएं, सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रम, निबंध लेखन और भाषण प्रतियोगिताएं आयोजित की जाती हैं। यदि आप भी स्कूल में हिंदी दिवस पर निबंध लेखन प्रतियोगिता में हिस्सा ले रहे हैं तो इस लेख से संदर्भ ले सकते हैं।

इस लेख में स्कूली बच्चों की सहायता के लिए 100, 250 और 500 शब्दों में हिंदी दिवस पर निबंध लेखन के कुछ प्रारूप प्रस्तुत किए हैं। इस लेख में तीन अलग-अलग हिंदी दिवस निबंध प्रारूप प्रस्तुत किए जा रहे हैं जो स्कूली छात्रों को हिंदी दिवस के महत्व को समझाने में मदद करेंगे। स्कूली छात्रों के लिए हिंदी दिवस पर निबंध (Hindi Diwas Essay) नीचे दिये गये हैं। ये निबंध हिंदी दिवस के महत्व को सरल और स्पष्ट तरीके से समझाने में मदद करते हैं।

हिंदी दिवस 2024 पर 100, 250, 500 शब्दों में आसान निबंध प्रारूप नीचे दिये गये हैं-

निबंध 1 (100 शब्दों में ): हिंदी दिवस कब मनाया जाता है और क्यों?

हिंदी दिवस हर साल 14 सितंबर को मनाया जाता है। यह दिन हिंदी भाषा के महत्व के प्रचार एवं प्रसार के लिए मनाया जाता है। हिंदी हमारी मातृभाषा है और इसे हमें सम्मान देना चाहिये। भारत के करोड़ों लोग अपनी बोल चाल की भाषा में हिंदी भाषा का उपयोग करते हैं। भारत में कई भाषाएं बोली जाती हैं, लेकिन हिंदी को राजभाषा का दर्जा मिला हुआ है। इसका अर्थ है कि भारत सरकार ने कामकाज की भाषा के रूप में हिंदी को विशेष स्थान दिया है। हमें गर्व होना चाहिये कि हमारी एक समृद्ध और प्राचीन भाषा है, जिसे हम हिंदी कहते हैं। यह हमारे देश की पहचान है।

निबंध 2 (250 शब्दों में): हिंदी भाषा भारत की सांस्कृतिक धरोहर का अभिन्न अंग

प्रति वर्ष 14 सितंबर को हम हिंदी दिवस मनाते हैं। हिंदी दिवस, हिंदी के महत्व को समझाने और उसे प्रचारित करने के लिए समर्पित है। हिंदी को 14 सितंबर 1949 को भारत की राजभाषा का दर्जा मिला। हिंदी देश की सबसे अधिक बोली जाने वाली भाषाओं में से एक है और यह हमारी सांस्कृतिक धरोहर का एक अभिन्न अंग है। हिंदी न केवल भारत में बल्कि नेपाल, मॉरीशस, फिजी और अन्य देशों में भी बोली जाती है।

हिंदी दिवस पर स्कूलों और कॉलेजों में विशेष कार्यक्रमों का आयोजन होता है। स्कूलों, कॉलेजों एवं अन्य शिक्षण संस्थानों द्वारा छात्र-छात्राओं में हिंदी भाषा के प्रति जागरूकता को बढ़ाने के लिए हिंदी दिवस मनाया जाता है। हिंदी न केवल एक भाषा है, बल्कि यह हमारे देश की एकता और अखंडता का प्रतीक है। हमें हिंदी भाषा को गर्व से बोलना चाहिये और इसे और अधिक लोकप्रिय बनाने के लिए बढ़ावा देना चाहिये। हिंदी के प्रचार-प्रसार के लिए हमें सभी क्षेत्रों में इसे अपनाना चाहिये और इसके महत्व को समझना चाहिये।

निबंध 3 (500 शब्दों में): हिंदी दिवस और हिंदी भाषा का महत्व

हिंदी दिवस भारत में हर साल 14 सितंबर को मनाया जाता है। यह दिन भारत की राजभाषा हिंदी के सम्मान और उसके महत्व को दर्शाने के लिए मनाया जाता है। हिंदी भाषा का इतिहास बहुत पुराना है और इसका भारतीय संस्कृति में एक महत्वपूर्ण स्थान है। हिंदी एकमात्र ऐसी भाषा है जो देश के अधिकांश हिस्सों में बोली और समझी जाती है।

हिंदी को 14 सितंबर 1949 को भारत की राजभाषा का दर्जा दिया गया था। इसलिए इस दिन को हिंदी दिवस के रूप में मनाया जाता है। इसका उद्देश्य हिंदी को न केवल सरकारी कार्यों में बल्कि आम जीवन में भी अधिक से अधिक प्रयोग में लाना है। हिंदी दिवस पर कई सरकारी और गैर-सरकारी संस्थान विभिन्न प्रकार के कार्यक्रमों का आयोजन करते हैं। इस दिन का मुख्य उद्देश्य लोगों को हिंदी भाषा के प्रति जागरूक करना और उसकी उपयोगिता को बढ़ावा देना है।

आज के समय में अंग्रेजी भाषा का बढ़ता हुआ प्रभाव देखा जा सकता है, लेकिन हमें यह नहीं भूलना चाहिये कि हिंदी हमारी पहचान है। हमें गर्व होना चाहिये कि हम एक ऐसी समृद्ध भाषा बोलते हैं, जो हमारे देश की सांस्कृतिक विविधता को प्रदर्शित करती है। हिंदी दिवस के उत्सव से हम यह समझने में सहायता मिलती है कि भाषा केवल संवाद का साधन नहीं, बल्कि यह हमारी संस्कृति, परंपरा और पहचान का प्रतीक है।

इसलिए, हमें हिंदी भाषा के महत्व को समझना चाहिये और इसे गर्व से बोलना चाहिये। हिंदी को बढ़ावा देने के लिए हम अपने स्तर पर भी प्रयास कर सकते हैं। हम इसे अपने दैनिक जीवन में अधिक से अधिक उपयोग कर सकते हैं। हिंदी दिवस हमें यह प्रण लेना चाहिये कि हम अपनी हिंदी भाषा का सम्मान करेंगे और इसे आगे बढ़ाने में अपना भरपूर योगदान देंगे।

More HINDI DIWAS News  

SSC CHSL टियर 1 रिजल्ट 2024 हुए जारी, ssc.gov.in से डाउनलोड करें मेरिट लिस्ट PDF

Paris Paralympics 2024: कौन है प्रवीण कुमार ऊंची कुद के एथलीट, जिन्होंने जीता भारत के लिए छठा गोल्ड मेडल

Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: क्या गणेश चतुर्थी पर सरकारी छुट्टी होती है? यहां देखें राज्यानुसार अवकाश की सूची

• Don't Block
• Block for 8 hours
• Block for 12 hours
• Block for 24 hours
• Dont send alerts during 1 am 2 am 3 am 4 am 5 am 6 am 7 am 8 am 9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am to 1 am 2 am 3 am 4 am 5 am 6 am 7 am 8 am 9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am

Johannesburg’s underbelly is explored in Niq Mhlongo’s fresh new novel about a messy  break-up

Research Associate, University of Johannesburg

Disclosure statement

Olivier Moreillon does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of Johannesburg provides support as an endorsing partner of The Conversation AFRICA.

View all partners

Niq Mhlongo was born in Soweto , Johannesburg in 1973 and grew up under apartheid , South Africa’s institutionalised racial segregation under white minority rule. He graduated in political studies and African literature in 1996 and then studied law, but dropped out in his final year to become a writer instead.

Mhlongo entered the South African literary scene with his novel Dog Eat Dog (2004). He’s since published three more novels and three short story collections, and has edited three volumes of writing. Critics have called him “one of the most high-spirited and irreverent new voices of South Africa’s post-apartheid literary scene”.

Mhlongo’s new novel, The City Is Mine , tells the story of Mangi, who seems to live a happy life with his fiancée, Aza, in Linden, a comfortable Johannesburg suburb. One day he discovers that Aza owns the house he’s been financing for eight years, a fact she has conveniently hidden from him. What follows is a messy break-up, made worse by Mangi losing his job. Thrown out of their home, he finds himself roaming Johannesburg’s streets, living from hand to mouth. That’s when he is forced to reinvent himself.

I’ve conducted interviews with Mhlongo over the years that have informed my research on contemporary South African fiction. I spoke with him about his new book.

Olivier Moreillon: What were some sources of inspiration for This City is Mine?

Niq Mhlongo: I’m fascinated by cities. I’m also a travel writer and have written essays and journalistic pieces about Johannesburg. I wanted to do it in the form of a novel. I now live in Berlin. To look at and write about my home city from afar, to pay homage to it, was sort of a healing thing for me. It has brought us back together. In This City Is Mine, I look at Johannesburg’s underbelly and some of the changes it has undergone.

My early work and this new novel juxtapose Johannesburg in two different times. This allowed me to reflect on the city. Dog Eat Dog was set in 1994. The city was still looked after. Now it’s all falling to pieces. It is sad to see public inner-city spaces such as the Johannesburg Art Gallery or the Johannesburg Public Library close and be taken over by homeless people, drug pushers and street hustlers.

Johannesburg is the city of gold, both literally and metaphorically. There are illegal gold miners, for example, but also people who are simply seeking a better life. But Johannesburg has always been “the city of broken dreams”. Most end up disappointed. But now I think there’s also a deliberate neglect of the city.

Olivier Moreillon: The novel reminded me of your fellow writers and compatriots Mongane Wally Serote ’s and Lesego Rampolokeng ’s famous poems – published in 1972 and 1990 respectively – that explore Johannesburg’s complex and troublesome past as a magnet for labourers seeking work on gold mines. Were these texts formative?

Niq Mhlongo: Not directly, but writers like them have doubtlessly had a huge influence on my writing. I remember in 1990, we used to listen to Rampolokeng’s poetry on a cassette. Writers like Mbulelo Mzamane , mama Miriam Tlali and Sandile Memela have written about Johannesburg. My reference is not deliberate, but their work has found its way into my writing in some way.

I also rely a lot on physical research. I always walk the areas I write about, those areas that people think are not walkable. My walks and mental notes are also influenced by my readings.

Read more: The real Johannesburg: 6 powerful photos from a gritty new book on the city

Olivier Moreillon: One major theme of your new novel is love. To what extent is it a love letter to Johannesburg, a city known for its crime?

Niq Mhlongo: That’s a nice way of putting it. Yes, it is a love letter. Johannesburg is not a one-sided city, and that’s the main thing I love about it. It’s continuously changing. While some parts of the inner-city may be decaying, there are other places that are very much up-and-coming, new cultural hubs, student hubs…

Having lived in Johannesburg, I find it easier to negotiate other spaces. Living in a dangerous city gives you that courage of being elsewhere, and with that comes a level of maturity. If you don’t develop eyes in the back of your head, you won’t survive in Joburg. It’s a university without a professor.

Olivier Moreillon: Aza is Mangi’s fiancée. He leaves their home and later grows attached to a sex worker called Boni. What were you hoping to achieve with two such opposite characters?

Niq Mhlongo: If we look at sex workers, we’re talking about people who have always been stigmatised, and instead of being seen, they are often minimised and even dehumanised. People don’t care what their names are. People don’t care about anything they do.

Meanwhile, there is this idea of home being linked to love, but there are homes that are terrible, and then one has to find solace, sometimes in the most unexpected places. Love doesn’t always come from the people that you think love you. Linden is supposed to be home for Mangi. It’s beautiful, but there’s no love.

And home is often forced on people. For a long time, apartheid and its legislation demarcated where a person’s home is. Linden becomes a home that is forced on Mangi because of his relationship with Aza, only to find out that she has been lying. Later on, he lives inside his car, which becomes his new home. Then he lives under a bridge. It becomes a home, too. So, home becomes a state of mind, really.

Read more: Johannesburg in a time of darkness: Ivan Vladislavić's new memoir reminds us of the city's fragility

Olivier Moreillon: Even though the novel broaches many serious issues, it is also full of humorous moments. What part did humour play?

Niq Mhlongo: It’s not something that I do deliberately, but I’ve learned that it’s important to include lighter elements when you write about difficult topics. If there was no humour in me writing about Mangi living under the bridge, reading that story would not be easy to stomach and it might have become less accessible.

Olivier Moreillon: What’s next from Niq Mhlongo?

Niq Mhlongo: You know me, there’s always more than one story bustling around my head. My next book is called Doppelgänger, which I’ve been putting on hold for a long time. The book is set in present-day South Africa and its story unravels backwards towards the apartheid past.

• African literature
• Johannesburg
• African writers
• South African books
• South African literature
• South African novel
• African novel
• South African writers
• African books

University Relations Manager

2024 Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellowships

Head of Research Computing & Data Solutions

Community member RANZCO Education Committee (Volunteer)

Director of STEM