Writing essays can be challenging, especially when you’re faced with confusing essay prompts or terms.
Often, essay instructions use specific terms that indicate the approach you should take in your writing.
Misinterpreting these terms can lead to an essay that doesn’t meet the assignment’s requirements.
This guide will help you understand and effectively respond to common essay terms, making your writing clearer and more focused.
We’ll cover the most frequently used essay terms, breaking down their meanings and offering tips on how to address them in your writing.
1) Analyze
What it means: When asked to analyze, you’re expected to break down the topic into its component parts to understand its structure and underlying elements. It involves exploring how these parts interact and their significance.
How to approach it: Start by identifying the key components of the topic. Examine each part in detail, discussing how they contribute to the overall concept. Use evidence and examples to support your analysis, and ensure that your discussion leads to a deeper understanding of the topic as a whole.
2) Compare
What it means: To compare means to identify similarities between two or more subjects. The goal is to highlight the aspects where they are alike.
How to approach it: Focus on the characteristics that the subjects share. Organize your essay by points of similarity, ensuring that you balance the discussion evenly between the subjects. Avoid merely listing similarities—explain their significance.
3) Contrast
What it means: In contrast, you’re asked to highlight the differences between subjects. This term is often paired with compare, requiring you to examine both similarities and differences.
How to approach it: First, identify the key differences between the subjects. Structure your essay by discussing these differences in separate sections or by contrasting them directly. Like with comparing, make sure to explain why these differences matter.
4) Criticize
What it means: Criticizing involves evaluating the merits and faults of a subject, often requiring you to take a position or form a judgment.
How to approach it: Present both the strengths and weaknesses of the subject. Use evidence to support your critiques, and aim to provide a balanced analysis. Your critique should not just focus on the negative; acknowledge the positive aspects as well.
5) Define
What it means: To define is to provide the meaning of a term or concept. This often involves explaining how it is used in a specific context.
How to approach it: Begin with a clear, concise definition. Follow up by elaborating on the term’s implications, its origin, and how it applies within the context of your essay. Examples can help clarify your definition further.
6) Describe
What it means: Describing requires you to give a detailed account of a subject, focusing on its characteristics and features.
How to approach it: Pay attention to the specific details of the subject. Organize your description logically, starting with the most significant features. Use sensory details where appropriate to make your description vivid.
7) Discuss
What it means: When asked to discuss, you’re expected to explore a topic from multiple angles, presenting a well-rounded examination.
How to approach it: Cover different perspectives on the topic. Present arguments, evidence, and examples that support each viewpoint. Your discussion should be balanced, weighing the pros and cons or various sides of the issue.
8) Evaluate
What it means: To evaluate means to assess the value or significance of a subject, considering both strengths and weaknesses.
How to approach it: Weigh the evidence for and against the subject. Use criteria to judge its effectiveness, importance, or relevance. Your evaluation should conclude with a reasoned judgment based on the evidence presented.
9) Explain
What it means: Explaining requires you to clarify a concept, process, or idea, making it understandable to the reader.
How to approach it: Break the concept down into simple terms. Use examples and analogies to make your explanation more relatable. Ensure that by the end of your explanation, the reader fully understands the topic.
10) Illustrate
What it means: To illustrate means to clarify a point by providing examples or evidence.
How to approach it: Choose relevant examples that directly support your point. Use these examples to reinforce your argument, making your point clearer and more persuasive.
11) Interpret
What it means: Interpreting involves explaining the meaning of something, often in the context of analysis or criticism.
How to approach it: Provide your understanding of the subject, explaining how you arrived at that interpretation. Support your interpretation with evidence and consider alternative interpretations to show depth.
12) Justify
What it means: To justify is to show that a statement or argument is reasonable or necessary.
How to approach it: Provide reasons and evidence to support your argument or stance. Make sure that your justification is logical and based on facts, examples, or relevant theory. You should also address potential counterarguments, explaining why your justification still holds in light of them.
13) Summarize
What it means: Summarizing requires you to give a brief account of the main points.
How to approach it: Identify the key points or arguments in the text or topic. Present them concisely without going into too much detail. Ensure your summary captures the essence of the content while leaving out unnecessary specifics, providing a clear and concise overview.
Final thoughts
Understanding these essay terms is crucial for writing successful essays.
By grasping the intent behind each term, you can tailor your approach, making your writing more effective and aligned with the assignment’s requirements.
Keep this guide handy as a reference while you work on your essays to ensure that you’re on the right track.