Writing an illustration essay is easier than you think. The main idea behind a good illustration essay is to prove your thesis with the help of various examples. Sometimes an illustration essay is also referred to as explaining or expository essay.
In fact, every type of essay needs good proving points and examples, so most probably you have already written an illustration essay without even realizing it. Proving your point through various examples is not difficult if you have chosen your thesis correctly and made proper research to find the right points and examples to make it sound trustworthy and reliable. There are of course some useful tips on how to write an illustration essay which we are going to examine in details below.
The introduction of an illustration essay is the first or the so-called introductory paragraph. The purpose of the introduction is to present to the audience the subject you are going to illustrate. It is useful to give a general overview of your thesis and also point briefly why other people have different opinion from yours. But be careful when doing that because you have to be sure you can defend your thesis better than they can defend theirs.
For example, you have decided to write an illustration essay on cell phones and how they affect our daily life. First, you have to decide whether you are going to defend the thesis about how useful really are the cell phones or how cell phones have altered our communication in general, or any other variation of the topic which you find interesting and believe you can illustrate.
It is important to find a thesis which reflects your point of view and you can adapt. So let’s say you have decided to write on how mobile phones have altered our way of daily communication. You have to find some key points to prove that the usage of cell phones has really changed the way we communicate. First, you may say that texting has replaced the traditional phone call; second, it allows to be closer to a larger number of friends and acquaintances than before; and third, that cell phones help you in your studies or business since you can check not only your email account all the time, but you can also observe your business or studies from distance. You can also state that some people claim that we spend too much time on our phones neglecting our real lives as a negative effect.
Before starting to write the main body of your illustration essay, it will be good if you outline it first. After you have finished your initial research on the thesis, systematize by priority the examples you have found that illustrate your thesis in the best possible way. Afterwards, you proceed with writing a paragraph for each of the examples you have picked which illustrates your thesis. Every example has to be examined and defended in details. The purpose of the main body of an essay is to convince the audience of your thesis so here you have to use precise information and convincing language. Sometimes in an illustrative essay you can tell a personal story and use it as an example to prove your thesis. For instance, you can say that your cell phone and its calendar saved you from forgetting a deadline for an important paper or helped you prepare for an exam. The personal story of course has to be trustworthy and something the audience can relate to. You must have at least three examples to illustrate your thesis or at least three paragraphs in the main body of your illustration essay.
The purpose of the conclusion is to restate your thesis for one last time. You can also highlight the examples that illustrate your thesis in the best possible way. Make the audience lean to your thesis for one final time in the conclusion of the essay. Always proofread your essay and make sure it’s free from grammar and punctuation mistakes.
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