That’s okay. I can’t blame you—writing an expository essay can be frustrating. It doesn’t have to be that difficult, though. All you need is a gentle push in the right direction. That’s what I’m here for.

In this post, I’ll show you how to write an expository essay outline. I’ve even included a downloadable outline template you can use to create your own outline.

But Wait … What’s an Expository Essay?

That’s a great question. Sadly, the answer is probably a bit more vague than you want it to be. An expository essay is a catch-all category that describes any essay where you thoroughly expose the inner workings of a topic and teach the reader something new.

In fact, this blog post could be considered an informal expository essay.

Usually, your teacher will ask you to write an expository essay to prove that you have done your research on a subject. Your goal is to effectively explain what a reader needs to know about the topic and answer relevant and interesting questions.

For the purpose of this blog post, let’s say we’re writing an expository essay on the effects of social media on daily life. (I grabbed this idea straight from Crystal’s blog post about expository writing—if you haven’t read it yet, you should hop over there now. I’ll wait).

My goal in this expository essay is to expose interesting information about the topic through the revelation of factual evidence.

To avoid the daunting stare of the blank page and to ensure your information is organized, always start with an outline.

Expository Essay Outline Structure

There is more than one way to pattern an expository essay, including sequential, cause and effect, compare and contrast, spatial, topical, and many other patterns.

Since we’re writing about the effects of social media, we’ll use a cause and effect pattern for this example. (Remember, just because you’re using a cause and effect pattern, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll need to focus on both causes and effects. Check your assignment guidelines to see what your teacher requires.)

Here’s how the general structure will look for this sample outline:

1. INTRODUCTION

A. Hook
B. Background
C. Thesis

2. FIRST BODY PARAGRAPH

A. Main idea 1
B. Evidence to support main idea 1
C. Evidence to support main idea 1
D. Analysis

3. BODY PARAGRAPH 2

A. Main idea 2
B. Evidence to support main idea 2
C. Evidence to support main idea 2
D. Analysis

4. BODY PARAGRAPH 3

A. Main idea 3
B. Evidence to support main idea 3
C. Evidence to support main idea 3
D. Analysis

5. CONCLUSION

A. Restate or summarize your thesis or focus
B. Discuss the larger significance/implications of topic or reveal unanswered questions

Here’s a graphic in case you’d like a visual reminder to follow along with:

Now, keep reading to see what a sample outline might look like with the details filled in.

Expository Essay Outline: Introductory Paragraph

Hook

Start with a hook sentence to get your readers’ attention. Remember, your hook should be both interesting and directly related to your topic.

My hook might look something like this:

Is social media ruining people’s lives?

By posing such a salient question right off the bat, I’m encouraging readers to continue reading.

(What if it is ruining lives?!)

Background

Provide background and context for the topic. Don’t assume your readers know anything about social media or its effects (as one of my English professors once taught me, to assume makes an ass out of u and me).

For example, I might include the following as background:

Social media allows people to connect online, keep in touch with family and friends, market themselves, or connect with customers. With the abundance of social media platforms—such as Twitter, SnapChat, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook (to name a few)—people can spend countless hours in virtual connectivity.

Thesis statement

Write a clear, focused thesis statement. The thesis statement is like a roadmap to your paper. It’s where you get to the point of your essay.

My thesis statement might be something like this:

Even though social media can be a great tool to connect with others, most people don’t realize how much social media interferes with their daily lives.

(If your expository essay takes an argumentative stance, you might want to check out these examples of argumentative thesis statements with a more serious tone.)

What exactly your thesis statement might look like depends a lot on what your prof requires, obviously. But it also depends on the exact type of expository essay you’re writing and the scope of your topic. Make sure you get the structure right by considering any thesis statement myths it might be okay to ignore for your specific essay.

Expository Essay Outline: Body Paragraphs

Now that you’ve caught your readers’ attention, brought them up to speed on the basics, and laid out your thesis statement, your body paragraphs are set up to offer a deeper investigation into the topic of your essay.

The exact number of body paragraphs you incorporate will depend entirely on the parameters of your assignment and/or topic. My example includes three body paragraphs.

Each body paragraph should include the following elements:

• A topic sentence that gives the main idea of your paragraph.

• Factual evidence that answers your question or supports your thesis. In my example, I’ve incorporated two pieces of factual evidence for each topic, but your essay may use more or fewer.

• Your analysis of said evidence. This is where you dig in with your commentary on the importance of the evidence. (Remember to check with your teacher about point of view. Even though this is your analysis, you will likely need to write in third person point of view.)

• A good transition sentence to weave your essay together and seamlessly connect ideas. (Without the use of transitions, your essay can seem choppy and like a random set of vaguely related points.)

Because this example will include the effects of social media on daily life, each paragraph will focus on one key effect. (Remember, separate your main ideas into individual paragraphs. Don’t try to cram everything into one ginormous paragraph.)

Body paragraph 1

Main idea 1: Because it’s so accessible and distracting, social media is an easy way to procrastinate, which causes people to miss deadlines and fail to meet other obligations.

• Evidence: Students who don’t feel like writing an essay can easily spend hours on social media in order to avoid working on their papers. Because students wasted time, they don’t have enough time to work on their papers and end up with a lousy grade (or worse yet, failing the course).

• Evidence: People who aren’t engaged at their jobs could use every free moment to check social media to procrastinate and avoid their real work, such as someone who should be clearing tables. Procrastinating too much means that too many tables in the restaurant are dirty, customers don’t have any place to sit, and the person is soon fired for spending too much time on Twitter—#Unemployed.

Analysis: Some people who use social media as a way to procrastinate (or avoid other tasks completely) may experience minimal consequences, but extreme procrastination due to excessive time on social media can lead to life-changing negative effects.

Body paragraph 2

Main idea 2: Too much time on social media can make someone anti-social.

• Evidence: Before social media, a self-proclaimed cat lady who preferred to spend time with her cats would still need to hang out with people once in awhile to maintain social connections. After spending more and more time on social media, she withdraws from the real world and spends all her time with her cats and online with people who adore their cats as much as she does.

• Evidence: Before social media, college students might go to the movies with friends or to someone’s house to binge-watch their favorite zombie series. With heavy use of social media, those same college students might become more and more like zombies themselves, staring at the TV and chatting only with online friends through seven seasons of Zombie Apocalypse.

Analysis: Moderate use of social media can be an awesome way to connect with friends. Too much time spent on social media, however, makes it easy for people to become isolated, living only in the virtual world.

Body paragraph 3

Main idea 3: Social media can make people feel inadequate or that they’re living a boring life.

• Evidence: After a perfectly normal day of going to the grocery store, doing laundry, and catching up on homework, a woman checks Instagram, and she sees her best friend at the Super Bowl. Doing laundry hardly compares to attending the game, so she feels like her life isn’t as good as her friend’s.

• Evidence: A person scrolls through Pinterest and sees a friend’s version of the newest trending craft: an amazing bottle cap wall art masterpiece worthy of a spot in MoMA. When she compares her own attempt to her friend’s, she feels that her creation is only worthy of the garbage can.

Analysis: Even though people may be talented and lead perfectly normal lives, comparing their lives to their friends’ on social media can lead people to feel that they can’t compete and simply aren’t as good as others.

Expository Essay Outline: Concluding Paragraph

Finally, it’s time to write your concluding paragraph. In this paragraph, you can do any of the following:

Summarize your question or thesis

To focus on something that summarizes my thesis, I might write the following:

Though social media is an excellent tool to connect people, it’s important to use it wisely as it can do more harm than good.

Discuss the larger significance of the topic

A conclusion focused on the larger significance of my topic might include a statement like this:

Social media is a powerful tool that can end up creating an isolated society full of procrastinating, distracted people with feelings of inadequacy.

Reveal unanswered questions

A conclusion focused on unanswered questions about my topic might include this statement:

Even though social media can be used to connect people, wouldn’t it just be better to speak with people in person?

If you find you need more help with outlining and shaping the concluding paragraph, read these posts:

• 20 Essay Conclusion Examples to Help You Finish Strong
• Loose Ends: How to End an Essay With Authority
• Wrap It Up: 15 (Better) Concluding Transitions

Expository Essay Outline Download

If you’re in the position where you need to write an expository essay but aren’t sure where to begin, feel free to get started with this expository essay outline template (Word .doc download).

Check out these example expository essays if you need writing inspiration to get started.

If you have a draft and are looking for even more help with the finishing touches of your paper, you might find these posts helpful:

• How to Title an Essay When You’re Absolutely Stumped
• 33 Commonly Misused Words (and How to Get Them Right)
• 5 Punctuation Rules You Need to Know
• Why Eliminating Wordiness Is So Important for Your Essay

Once you’ve shaped your outline into a completed essay, get a Kibin editor to review your paper before you turn it in. We’ve edited tens of thousands of papers, and we can help you with yours too.

Good luck!

Editor’s note: This post was originally published on August 11, 2014, but has been updated for freshness and relevance.

Stuck on Your Expository Essay?

Check out these example expository essays.

Yes! Show Me Examples.

I’ve said it time and time again—there’s nothing worse than staring at a blank page. Putting together an argumentative essay outline is the perfect way to turn your blank document into a ready-to-use template. All you have to do is fill in the blanks.

In this blog post, I’m going to share with you how to create an argumentative essay outline. At the end, I’ll give you a downloadable skeleton outline you can use to get started.

Argumentative Essay Outline Structure

If you distill your argumentative essay outline down to its basics, you’ll find that it’s made of four main sections:

1. Introduction
2. Key arguments
3. Counterargument and rebuttal
4. Conclusion

That’s not so bad, is it? There’s really nothing to be afraid of.

Here’s how your argumentative essay outline would look if you turned it into a pretty picture:

Let’s break down the four elements and take a look at what needs to be incorporated into each.

Argumentative Essay Outline Section 1: Introduction

The introduction is where you lay the foundation for your impenetrable argument. It’s made up of a hook, background information, and a thesis statement.

Hook sentence

Your first sentence is comprised of a hook that grabs readers’ attention just like a good Jackie Chan movie grabs the attention of a martial arts fan. It’s a sentence that will intrigue your readers and make them want to learn more.

For instance, let’s say you’re writing an argumentative essay about why Americans should start eating insects.

The hook could be something like this:

For those interested in improving their diets and the environment, say goodbye to eating chicken, fish, and beef and hello to eating silkworms, crickets, and caterpillars.

This hook sentence grabs the attention of the audience. It also makes them want to learn more about how eating insects can improve not only their health but also the environment.

If you’re having trouble coming up with a good hook, I recommend reading these posts:

• How to Write Good Hook Sentences
• What Is a Hook Sentence? (Infographic)
• How to Write Attention Grabbers that Work

Background information

The next part of your intro is dedicated to offering some detailed background information on the topic. This will help readers understand the topic and set the stage for the focus of your paper.

Not sure what to include as background information?

Try answering the following questions:

• What is the issue at hand?
• Who cares?
• Where is this issue prevalent?
• Why is it important?
• Who does it affect?
• How long has the issue been a concern?

You might write something like this as your background information if you’re trying to convince readers that they should eat insects:

Insects are abundant, nutritious, and environmentally sustainable. Currently, people in the United States shun the idea of eating insects as part of their diets, favoring instead less nutritious and environmentally destructive food options, such as beef and pork. The UN has even issued a statement calling for more world citizens to embrace the many benefits of eating insects.

In just a few sentences, you’ve given readers a better understanding of your topic. You’ve explained that most people shun insects in favor of more traditional American meats, such as beef and pork (even though consuming these meats causes more harm to the environment).

You’ve also started to establish yourself as an authoritative and credible writer by referencing the UN, an organization that also supports the idea of including insects in a healthy diet.

Thesis statement

A thesis statement typically makes up the last sentence of your introduction paragraph and provides a roadmap to your paper. In an argumentative essay, the thesis statement should clearly state your position on the topic and give a reason for your stance.

In our essay about eating insects, the thesis statement might look like this:

A diet of insects can help fix problems related to starvation, obesity, and climate change; therefore, US citizens should learn to rely on a variety of insects over chicken, beef, and fish as their main source of protein and nutrition.

Notice the word “should” in the thesis statement? Using this word makes it clear you’re taking a stance on the argument.

You’ll also notice that this thesis statement sets up three claims to expand on later: a diet of insects can help fix problems related to starvation, obesity, and climate change.

Looking for additional help crafting the perfect thesis statement for your essay? Read these posts:

• How to Write a Thesis Statement in 5 Simple Steps
• How to Turn a Good Thesis Statement Into a Great One

If you need a few examples before you start writing your own thesis, take a look at these example argumentative thesis statements.

Once your introduction is in place, you can move on to the next section and develop the key arguments that will support your thesis statement.

Argumentative Essay Outline Section 2: Key Arguments

In the sample outline above, there are three claims, each backed by three points of evidence. Offering three claims is just a suggestion. You may find that you have more claims to make.

(Keep in mind that your assignment may already dictate how many claims are required for your specific paper, so make sure to read the assignment guidelines again carefully before starting.)

Developing a claim

A claim is a statement you make to support your argument. It’s generally one of the key arguments of your paper and often the topic sentence of a paragraph. (If you write a three-part thesis statement, it’s also usually one of the three points listed.)

So if you want to make a claim about eating insects, you might write something like this:

Bugs are highly nutritious, and eating them can fix the problem of hunger and malnutrition in the United States.

This claim suggests that, because bugs are nutritious, eating them can help solve hunger problems. This is a great claim, but who’s going to believe it? This is where evidence comes into play.

Supporting a claim with evidence

An argumentative essay is generally research-based, so you’ll need to include factual information from reliable sources to support your claim. The evidence you include should not be based only on personal knowledge or your own opinion.

Here’s an example you might use to support your paper about eating insects:

Research has found that “edible insects are found in a wide variety of species and are an important food item, which has a high nutritive value suitable for human nutrition. Insects are a suitable alternative food source, which can aid in the management of nutrient deficiency and overall food security if used on a wide scale” (Kinyuru et al. 18).

IMPORTANT REMINDER: If you’re using any type of evidence from sources to support claims, you must cite any information you’ve gathered from sources in an appropriate style, such as APA or MLA. (Without appropriate citation, your paper is plagiarized.)

Once you have gathered your evidence to support your claims, it’s time to add the next important elements of your argumentative essay outline: counterarguments and rebuttal.

Argumentative Essay Outline Section 3: Counterarguments and Rebuttal

When writing an argument essay, you’re writing in support of one side of an argument. This, of course, means there’s another side, and readers might disagree with your point of view.

In order to strengthen your own argument and demonstrate that you’ve looked at all aspects of the topic, you need to address the opposing view. To do so, you need to include counterarguments and the rebuttal.

Counterarguments

In this final section of the body of your essay, you’ll first acknowledge the opposing viewpoint.

When arguing that more people in the US should start eating insects, you might address the opposing view (or counterargument) by writing something like this:

Opponents of insect eating say that, even though insects have some nutritional value, they simply don’t taste good and therefore should not be considered a food source.

This statement addresses the opposing view by acknowledging that some people don’t want to eat bugs for the simple fact that they don’t taste good. But hold up—it’s not enough to simply acknowledge the opposing view.

Rebuttal

The next step is to include the rebuttal. This is where you’ll essentially explain to your audience why your argument is valid. (You’re basically continuing to argue why you’re right.)

If you want to offer a rebuttal to the counterargument that no one wants to eat bugs because they taste awful, you might write something like this:

Even though some may cringe at the thought of eating what they feel might be disgusting bugs, insects are eaten in many parts of the world and prized for their varied tastes. Put simply, insects are “lighter than meat and heavier than seafood, [and] they’re delicious. Each one of these plant-loving insects absorbs the taste of your chosen seasoning and adds a satisfyingly crunchy texture” (Payne).

Including evidence from a credible source helps prove the opposing view is not as strong as your own argument.

Once you have refuted your opponents’ viewpoints, it’s time to sail to the finish line with your conclusion.

Argumentative Essay Outline Section 4: Conclusion

Your conclusion will accomplish two important tasks:

1. It restates the importance of your issue.
2. It paints a picture of the world if your argument is (or is not) implemented.

Restate the importance of your issue

Similar to what you did in your introduction, you want to state why this topic is critical. You can do this by restating some of the key ideas presented in your paper or by restating the ideas presented in your thesis. (Don’t use the same wording in your conclusion as you did in your introduction. Restate the ideas, not the same words.)

In the insect example, you might write something like this:

Simply by incorporating insects into their diets, US citizens can improve the sustainability and nutrition of the American diet.

Paint a picture of the world if your argument is (or is not) implemented

In the final part of the conclusion, make your audience think about the ramifications of your argument. Leave them with a powerful statement to get them thinking about your ideas.

In this example, you might want them to think about what would happen if people started eating insects as a staple of their diets. So you might write something like:

The world would be a better place if more people ate insects as a part of their diets. Fewer people would go hungry, more people would get the vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients they need to live healthy lifestyles, and the planet would be relieved of the burden of an unsustainable food system.

Closing with a clear picture of the world as you would like it to be can leave your reader convinced that your argument is valid.

Download the Argumentative Essay Outline Template

Once you break it down, writing an argumentative essay outline isn’t that daunting.

Download this skeleton outline for an argumentative essay to get started.

Before you go off into the sunset and use this outline template, make sure that you’re following the guidelines specific to your course. If you don’t have to submit a formal outline for your class or if outlines aren’t your thing, you might also try using a graphic organizer to get your ideas on paper.

If you’re interested in learning more about argumentative essays, take a look at these posts:

• The Secrets of a Strong Argumentative Essay
• Writing an Argumentative Essay Made Easy (Infographic)
• 2 Argumentative Essay Examples With a Fighting Chance

If you’re not quite ready to write an outline and are still looking for the perfect topic for your paper, check out 70 Argumentative Essay Topics That Will Put Up a Good Fight and 30 Argumentative Essay Ideas That Will Pick a Good Fight.

Need a little more inspiration and want to see what a completed argumentative essay looks like? Check out these argumentative essay examples.

When you have your argumentative essay and outline ready to go, you can always have one of our awesome editors give it a second look.

By the way, if all this talk of eating insects has made you hungry, here are 20 bug recipes you might want to try.

Good luck with your essay, and happy dining!

Editor’s note: This post was originally published on July 7, 2014, but has been updated with fresh information and advice.

Stuck on Your Argumentative Essay?

Check Out These Example Arguments

Yes! Show Me Examples.

A good thesis statement will accomplish the same thing. It gives readers an idea of the most important points of an essay, shows the highlights, and makes them want to read more.

It will also help keep you, the writer, from getting lost in a convoluted and directionless argument.

Most importantly, a good thesis statement makes a statement. After all, it’s called a thesis statement for a reason!

“This is an interesting statement!” you want your reader to think. “Let’s see if this author can convince me.”

This blog post will dissect the components of a good thesis statement and give you 15 thesis statement examples that you can use to inspire your next argumentative essay.

The Thesis Statement Dissected

Before I give you a blanket list of thesis statement examples, let’s run through what makes for a good thesis statement. I’ve distilled it down to four main components.

1. A good argumentative thesis is focused and not too broad.

It’s important to stay focused! Don’t try to argue an overly broad topic in your essay, or you’re going to feel confused and unsure about your direction and purpose.

Don’t write:

“Eating fast food is bad and should be avoided.”

This statement is too general and would be nearly impossible for you to defend. It leaves a lot of big questions to answer. Is all fast food bad? Why is it bad? Who should avoid it? Why should anyone care?

Do write:

“Americans should eliminate the regular consumption of fast food because a fast food diet leads to preventable and expensive health issues, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.”

In this example, I’ve narrowed my argument to the health consequences related to a diet of fast food. I’ve also chosen to focus on Americans rather than everyone in the universe.

2. A good argumentative thesis is centered on a debatable topic.

Back in the ‘80s, teens loved to say “that’s debatable” about claims they didn’t agree with (such as “you should clean your room” and “you shouldn’t go to that movie”).

This age-old, neon-colored, bangle-wearing, peg-legged wisdom holds true today—in your thesis statement.

Don’t write:

“There are high numbers of homeless people living in Berkeley, California.”

No one can argue for or against this statement. It’s not debatable. It’s just a fact.

An argument over this non-debatable statement would go something like this:

“There are lots of homeless people in Berkeley.”

“Yes, there sure are a bunch of them out there.”

“Yup.”

As you can see, that’s not much of an argument.

Do write:

“Homeless people in Berkeley should be given access to services—such as regular food donations, public restrooms, and camping facilities—because it would improve life for all inhabitants of the city.”

Now that’s debatable.

Opponents could also easily argue that homeless people in Berkeley already receive adequate services (“just look at all those luxurious sidewalks!”) or perhaps that they shouldn’t be entitled to services at all (“get a job, ya lazy loafers!”).

Interested in picking up a few more tips about debating issues and perfecting the art of persuasion? Read How to Write a Persuasive Essay That’s Convincing.

3. A good argumentative thesis picks a side.

Picking a side is pretty much the whole entire point of an argumentative essay.
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Picking a side is pretty much the whole entire point of an argumentative essay. Just as you can’t root for both the Yankees and the Mets, you can’t argue both sides of a topic in your thesis statement.

Learn more about the importance of picking sides by reading the post The Secrets of a Strong Argumentative Essay.

Don’t write:

“Secondhand smoke is bad and can cause heart disease and cancer; therefore, smoking should be outlawed in public places, but outlawing smoking is unfair to smokers so maybe non-smokers can just hold their breath or wear masks around smokers instead.”

A wishy-washy statement like this will make your reader scratch his head in puzzlement. Are you for smoking laws or against them? Yankees or Mets? Mets or Yankees?

Pick a side, and stick with it!

Then stick up for it.

Do write:

“Secondhand smoke is just as harmful as smoking and leads to a higher prevalence of cancer and heart disease; therefore, smoking in any public place should be banned.”

Pick a side, and stick with it! Then stick up for it.
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4. A good thesis makes claims that will be supported later in the paper.

As I explained in the post How to Create a Powerful Argumentative Essay Outline, your claims make up a critical part of building the roadmap to your argument.

It’s important to first include a summary of your claims in your thesis statement. During the course of your essay, you will back each of your claims with well-researched evidence.

Don’t write:

“Humans should relocate to Mars.”

This statement doesn’t include any supporting claims. Why should humans move to Mars? What are the benefits of moving to a planet without oxygen or trees?

Do write:

“It is too late to save earth; therefore, humans should immediately set a date for their relocation to Mars, where they can, with proper planning, avoid issues of famine, war, and global warming.”

This statement includes some thought-provoking claims. The reader will wonder how the author plans to defend them. (“Famine, war, and global warming can be easily avoided on Mars? Go on…”)

Looking for even more help understanding the key components of a strong thesis statement? Check out these posts:

• How to Write a Thesis Statement in 5 Simple Steps
• How to Turn a Good Thesis Statement Into a Great One
• How to Make a Thesis Statement the Easy Way (Infographic)
• How to Write a Compare and Contrast Thesis Statement

Now that you have a better understanding of the all things thesis statement, here are 15 more thesis statement examples to inspire your next argumentative essay.

15 Thesis Statement Examples

Below are 15 debatable, supportable, and focused thesis statements for you to learn from. Feel free to customize them for use in your own argumentative essay.

As you read the following examples, be careful not to use these thesis statements word-for-word. I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble if your teacher did a copy/find Google maneuver on you!

#1. Vaccinations should be mandatory

Inspired by this sample essay on vaccinations.

Vaccinations against diseases such as polio, rubella, and mumps should be mandatory for all U.S. children who wish to attend school as these vaccinations are critical to the control and eradication of deadly infectious diseases.

#2. Government surveillance is harmful

Inspired by this sample essay on government surveillance.

Government surveillance programs, such as PRISM, should be banned because they invade civil liberties, lead innocent people to suffer unfair punishments, and ultimately fail to protect the citizens that they are designed to safeguard.

#3. Organ donors should be financially compensated

Inspired by this sample essay on organ donation.

Organ donors should be financially compensated to increase the supply of available organs and, at the same time, to decrease profitable, illegal organ-harvesting activities in the black market.

#4. Schools are too dependent on technology

Inspired by this sample essay on technology dependence.

Schools’ dependence on technology has caused students to lose the ability to think independently, leading to a greater prevalence of mood disorders, memory loss, and loneliness.

#5. School officials should fight cyberbullying

Inspired by this sample essay on cyberbullying.

In order to improve the online behavior of students and decrease cyberbullying-related suicide attempts, school officials should have the authority to discipline students who engage in cyberbullying.

#6. The U.S. media should update the depiction of traditional families

Inspired by this sample essay on families.

The U.S. media depicts the traditional family as comprising a mother, father, and children; however, this notion of the traditional family is outdated and can be harmful to children who look to this as the gold standard.

#7. Student loans should be forgiven

Inspired by this sample essay on student loans.

Crippling student debt is stifling the growth of the U.S. economy because it inhibits graduates from being able to spend money on consumer goods and home purchases.

#8. Marijuana should be legalized

Inspired by this sample essay on legalizing marijuana.

Marijuana has numerous medical applications, such as treating symptoms of epilepsy, cancer, and glaucoma. Legalizing the use of marijuana in the United States will greatly benefit the medical sector by giving physicians the ability to prescribe this life-saving drug.

#9. Foreign aid to Africa does not work

Inspired by this sample essay on foreign aid to Africa.

Sending foreign aid to African countries is doing more harm than good because the practice has caused African countries to become vulnerable to inflation, currency fluctuations, corruption, and civil unrest.

#10. China’s one-child policy led to unintended and negative consequences

Inspired by this

Inspired by this sample essay on advertising to children.

Though some argue that advertising to children is harmful, it is actually a positive marketing technique that spurs economic growth.

#12. Most teen celebrities should not be role models for children

Inspired by this sample essay on teen celebrities as role models.

Teen celebrities often engage in inappropriate and sometimes illegal activities and thus should not be considered role models for children.

#13. The current welfare system promotes dependency

Inspired by this sample essay about the abuse of welfare.

The welfare system was designed to assist those in need; however, the current system does more harm than good by promoting government dependency.

#14. Schools should start at a later time of day

Inspired by this sample essay about school start times.

Beginning the school day at a later time would stabilize students’ sleep patterns, improve students’ moods, and increase students’ academic success.

#15. Schools should distribute birth control to teens

Inspired by this sample essay about birth control distribution in schools.

Though some argue that distributing condoms to teens means that schools are encouraging sexual behavior, schools should distribute birth control to reduce teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

Now…Turn Your Thesis Statement Into an Essay

Any one of these thesis statement examples will get you started on the road to writing an awesome argumentative essay, but if none of these thesis statements or topics are working for you, try one of these:

• 70 Argumentative Essay Topics That Will Put Up a Good Fight
• 30 Argumentative Essay Ideas That Will Pick a Good Fight

Have a topic and thesis but need to put all of your ideas into essay format? Try prewriting, outlining, or using a graphic organizer to help organize information.

Once your essay is finished, feel free to send it to a Kibin editor, who can check for grammar errors, sentence structure issues, and of course, the strength of your thesis.

Good luck with your essay!

Stuck On Your Essay?

Try the Thesis Statement Builder

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In this blog post, I’ll give you 70 compare and contrast essay topics. I’ve also included links to sample essays for even more inspiration.

With many of these topics, I’ll also give you some basic compare and contrast points to get your ideas going. Note that my points are pretty general.

When you write your compare and contrast essay, you’ll want to dig deep, do your research, and find the most interesting facts.

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Compare and Contrast Essay Topics: Influential People

People are the definition of unique—no two are exactly alike. The challenge is to find the similarities between two individuals, even when they seem to have nothing in common.

Comparing two people from a similar background is pretty easy. But surprising comparisons—such as those between fictional characters and real-life people or between people from different epochs—can lead to the most interesting essays.

When you successfully make those unlikely connections, readers will be awestruck by your sheer brilliance.

1. Mahatma Gandhi vs. Osama Bin Laden

Mahatma Gandhi and Osama Bin Laden were both extremely influential figures who successfully motivated thousands of people to act on behalf of their visions. Both leaders were killed by their opposition.

Gandhi was a pacifist and a bastion of peace and compassion. He fought for freedom and civil rights. Bin Laden was an extreme militant and a bastion of war and intolerance. He fought for the implementation of extreme religious propaganda.

2. Edward Snowden vs. Julius Caesar

Both Edward Snowden and Julius Caesar played an instrumental role in the inevitable demise of the powerful institutions in which they functioned—Snowden the 21st century United States of America and Caesar the Roman Republic.

Snowden fights for the rights of the people, while Caesar fought against the people in his quest for ultimate power.

Speaking of Romans: The Roman and Han empires make for an interesting comparison. Even though the two nations were separated by time and geography, they experienced striking similarities in technological, political, and economic advances.

3. OJ Simpson vs. Tom Robinson

OJ Simpson and Tom Robinson were both black men who stood accused of violence against white women. Both men were convicted for these crimes. Their convictions left behind a debate as to whether the men were actually brought to justice or rather were victims of racial injustice.

Tom Robinson is a fictional character from the book To Kill a Mockingbird. OJ Simpson is a real-life former NFL player. Tom Robinson was sentenced to death, while OJ Simpson received a prison sentence.

4. Harriet Jacobs vs. Frederick Douglass

Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass were former slaves who became abolitionists. Both Jacobs and Douglass wrote profound autobiographical accounts of their lives as slaves that helped form the argument against slavery.

Harriet Jacobs wrote about the struggles and hardships unique to women in slavery, such as sexual abuse. Frederick Douglass wrote about the struggles and hardships specific to men in slavery, such as emasculation. Douglass went on to become a well-known orator and ran for vice president on the Equal Party Ticket. Jacobs remained an important but relatively unrecognized figure in the abolitionist movement.

 5. Adolf Hitler vs. Joseph Stalin

Both Hitler and Stalin were dictators who achieved a high level of power during WWI and WWII. Both men were behind innumerable human atrocities that killed millions of innocent people.

Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Party in Germany. Stalin was the leader of the Communist Party in the Soviet Union. Nazism, by definition, is opposed to communism.

6. Maya Angelou vs. Alice Walker

Maya Angelou and Alice Walker are both well-known African American authors. They are credited with contributing important fictional and non-fictional texts on the issues surrounding what it means to be black in the United States. They are both inspirational political and civil rights activists. They are both recipients of the Pulitzer Prize.

In addition to writing, Angelou is also known for her work as an actress and film and television producer. Even though they addressed similar topics in their writings, the two authors wrote in very different styles—each with her own unique voice.

7. Hobbes vs. Locke

Hobbes and Locke were both 17^th century English philosophers. They were both interested in exploring political philosophy. Both men, for instance, talked about a state of nature—the idea of man existing without government—and the dangers of such a state (though that’s where their similarities largely ended on the topic).

Hobbes and Locke disagreed on a number of issues. For example, Hobbes believed that man is by nature a social animal, while Locke believed the opposite. Hobbes believed that man has an intrinsic understanding of the difference between right and wrong. Locke believed that man only understands the difference between right and wrong when an authority, such as the law or God, enforces it.

8. Ellen DeGeneres vs. Oprah Winfrey

Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey are both American television personalities who have hosted their own daytime talk shows. Both women have been extremely successful in their careers.

As a comedienne, DeGeneres relies on witty humor and sarcastic criticism to convey her messaging, while the more serious Winfrey relies on inspiration, insights, and aha moments.

“My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where the hell she is.” – Ellen DeGeneres

 9. Booker T. Washington vs. W.E.B. DuBois

Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois were both early 20^th century civil rights activists. They were both great leaders of the black community. Both men were also accomplished scholars.

Washington and DuBois disagreed on how to go about achieving racial equality. Washington believed that African Americans should earn equality through self-help and hard work. DuBois, conversely, believed that African Americans needed to become better educated and more politically active.

10. Plato vs. Socrates

Plato and Socrates were both ancient Greek philosophers. They are considered to be the founders of Western philosophy. Both men also founded a school.

Socrates was Plato’s teacher and mentor. Socrates expounded on the wisdom of “I know that I know nothing.” Plato philosophized that the world of ideas was the only constant and that the world of senses is changeable.

11. Adolf Hitler vs. Regina George

Adolf Hitler and Regina George both can be considered dictators in their own right. Both Hitler and George believed that people with blonde hair, blue eyes, and other Aryan features were somehow better than other people.

Adolf Hitler was a real person, dictator, and founder of Nazism in Germany. He was responsible for countless human atrocities, including the murder of over 6 million Jews. Regina George is a fictional character from the 2004 movie Mean Girls. George’s biggest human atrocity is the creation of the Burn Book, a book that libels the other students in school.

 12. Pope Francis vs. Macklemore

Both Pope Francis and Macklemore believe in love, equality, and showing compassion to others. Both are cultural icons. Both men have the ability to reach out to and speak to the masses.

Pope Francis is the leader of the Catholic Church. Macklemore is an American entertainer and hip-hop rapper. Macklemore “wears your grandad’s clothes,” while Pope Francis is old enough to be your grandad.

What do Pope Francis and Macklemore have in common? Maybe more than you think!
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13. Both playwrights have changed the face of theater forever. Both playwrights have been criticized for creating historically inaccurate works. Both writers make political and social commentary in their plays.

Shakespeare’s plays were not musicals (though they often contained musical components). Miranda’s most famous play, Hamilton, is a wildly successful musical. Shakespeare lived and wrote in the 16th century, while Miranda is a contemporary playwright.

14. Ronald Reagan vs. Donald Trump

Reagan and Trump were both television and media stars before becoming president. When they were first elected, many people feared that neither one of these men would be strong or effective leaders.

When Reagan took office, interest rates and inflation were high. Trump, on the other hand, entered office with historically low inflation and interest rates. Many people believed Reagan understood the problems with government and believed he was willing to work with citizens to help solve problems. Trump has claimed that he alone will be able to solve problems.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics: History

15. 19th century living vs. modern living

16. The Roman vs. Han empires

17. Medicine in Ancient Greece vs. medicine in Ancient China

18. Media coverage of past wars vs. media coverage of current wars

19. Russian propaganda during the Cold War vs. Russian propaganda today

20. The Great Depression vs. the Great Recession

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics: Religion

When you set out to compare and contrast world religions, you may feel like you have fallen down a rabbit hole. A student I know once wrote an essay comparing Jesus Christ and Snow White—talk about falling down a rabbit hole!

What’s more, the crossovers between two opposing religions can be surprising.

21. Protestantism vs. Catholicism

Protestants were originally a part of the Catholic Church. So they still believe that Jesus is the savior and that he was crucified and rose from the dead to save humanity.

Among their many differences, Catholics believe in Holy Water, purgatory, and that those wafers you eat at mass are actually, literally the body of Christ. Protestants don’t believe in any of that. (While protestants do take communion, they don’t think the wafers are really a piece of flesh.) Catholics have nuns, priests, and a pope. Protestants don’t.

 22. Theravada vs. Mahayana Buddhism

Both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism follow Dharma, the teachings of Buddha. Both reject the notion of a god or gods (they are nontheistic). Both believe theistic religions are misguided.

Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism have some basic philosophical differences. For example, Theravada Buddhists believe that Buddha died, leaving his teachings behind. Mahayana Buddhists believe that Buddha lives on in various incarnations.

 23. Judaism vs. Christianity

Judaism and Christianity are both monotheistic religions that teach about one almighty God. Both are Abrahamic religions. Both religions teach the Old Testament. Both believe in angels, demons, and spirits as spiritual beings.

Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ was the messiah and that he will return to Earth one day. Christians believe that Jesus died for the sins of humankind. Judaism teaches that Jesus was a teacher and a prophet of God, but not God himself. Judaism also rejects the notion of Jesus’s sacrifice.

24. Religious mindset vs. cult following

Both organized religions and cults seek spiritual enlightenment and follow the teachings of a leader. Both have members with varying levels of practice and extremism.

Cults are more likely to attempt to extort money from their followers. Cults are also more likely than religions to use mind-control to force members into following the teachings of the cult.

25. Jesus Christ vs. Buddha

Jesus Christ and Buddha were both spiritual leaders. Both were teachers and tutors during their time on Earth. Both were miraculously conceived, performed miracles, and were tempted but overcame the devil.

Though Jesus performed several notable miracles, Buddha did not. Buddha believed that he lived his life in search of the truth, while Jesus believed he was the truth.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics: Countries and Politics

26. Salem Witch Trials vs. McCarthyism

27. Welfare programs in the US vs. welfare programs in Canada

28. Malaysian government vs. Singapore government

29. The Democratic vs. Republican parties in the US

30. Classical liberalism vs. modern liberalism

31. Today’s Democratic liberals vs. today’s Republican conservatives

32. Past presidential elections vs. the most recent presidential election

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics: Education

You can compare and contrast different facets of education until you are as blue as a Smurf. To succeed, you’re better served by pitting two very specific elements of education against each other.

The trick is to narrow your angle down to a tight focus while leaving room to write enough compelling points to describe the differences and similarities.

33. Private vs. public universities

Both private and public universities offer a range of academic courses and opportunities. Both allow students to earn a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree.

Private universities are typically more expensive. The College Board reports that for the 2013-2014 school year, private universities cost over $30,000 for one year of tuition, while public universities cost just over $8,000 for in-state and $22,000 for out-of-state tuition. However, private institutions are known to offer better financial aid options.

 34. Small vs. large universities

Both small and large universities can provide students with the opportunities to achieve educational goals. Both offer bachelor’s degrees. (We’re not comparing the size of their parties here…but you could!)

Small universities offer individualized majors, smaller class sizes, and hands-on learning opportunities. Large universities offer state-of-the art research facilities, a wider range of academic programs, and more student clubs and events.

 35. High school vs. college

High school is a stepping stone to attending college. Students need to successfully complete the curriculum of both educational institutions in order to advance in many careers. Both institutions employ instructors to teach coursework. Both require students to refer to textbooks. Both require substantial homework.

High school allows for fewer academic choices. Students are typically limited to a state-designed curriculum that does not take into account a student’s particular strengths and interests. College is a time for students to focus on courses that are specific to their career goals.

Need a compare/contrast essay topic? Try high school vs. college or online vs. traditional classes.
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36. Online vs. traditional classes

Both online and traditional classes offer education toward a degree program. Students have access to instructors in both class formats. Both involve some form of discussion among classmates. Both often have group projects.

Online classes allow for more flexibility than traditional classes. Students can take an online course at any time from the comfort of their homes. Traditional classes require students to attend class at a specific time and location. The access to instructors is virtual in online classes and in-person in traditional classes. Online classes often have discussion board posts that replace live classroom discussions.

37. Homeschooling vs. public education

Homeschooling and public education provide specific guidelines and learning outcomes for students. Both provide a way for children to experience and learn about the world around them.

Public education provides more opportunities for socialization than homeschooling. Homeschooling can be more demanding on parents as they must be both full-time parent and full-time teacher.

38. Advanced placement (AP) classes vs. honors classes

Both types of classes provide more rigor than traditional high school classes and are geared toward higher achieving students. Both types of classes can strengthen students’ college applications.

Honors courses are essentially high school courses that cover subject matter in greater depth. AP courses are designed to mirror college-level courses. High school honors courses do not allow students to earn college credit. Some high school AP courses allow students to earn college credit.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics: Film and Literature

Chances are, if you’ve been in English class for any length of time, you’ve been asked to compare and contrast two bodies of literature or other fictional work.

This is your chance to surprise the heck out of your professor (and get a good grade) by making unexpected comparisons.

Following are some topic examples.

39. Twilight  vs. Dracula

Both pieces of literature investigate vampire lore. Both use foreshadowing as a literary device to move the story forward. Both also share three themes: attraction, addiction, and repulsion.

Twilight’s 21^st century vampires are sexy and sparkly. Edward Cullen of Twilight is charming and irresistibly dangerous. On the other hand, Dracula is a 19^th century blood-thirsty beast that anyone would resist. Bram Stoker’s Dracula had a thick mustache, a large nose, and white hair that “grew scantily round the temples but profusely elsewhere.” (Bella, eat your heart out.) Also, there are no werewolves in Dracula.

40. Breaking Bad  vs. Lost

Both Breaking Bad and Lost were hit TV series of the early 21st century. Both shows have won a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy. Both have a character named Walt. Both use flashforward scenes to move the narrative forward.

Breaking Bad investigates the concept of the anti-hero in the character Walter White, who is easy to hate but hard not to cheer on as he descends into a life of crime. Lost investigates the virtues of a classic hero in the likeable character of Jack Shephard.

41. A Rose for Emily vs. The Yellow Wallpaper

Both stories depict women being forced into isolation as a result of “lunacy.” Both stories explore the definition of femininity and the repression of women. Both stories explore dysfunctional relationships between women and men.

“The Yellow Wallpaper” tells the story of a woman’s experience of being shut into a bedroom for a summer. “A Rose for Emily” explores a woman’s experience of shutting herself into a house for 40 years. Both stories investigate these themes in very different ways.

 42. Fahrenheit 451  vs. Red Scarf Girl

Both stories uncover themes of cultural repression. Both stories revolve around the human experience of defying unjust government regulations. Censorship and loss of individual rights are themes in both books.

Fahrenheit 451 is a science fiction novel about how the character Montag defies authority and begins to read the books that he had been ordered to burn. Red Scarf Girl is a true story about a young girl, Ji-li, and her experience of defiance and resistance during China’s cultural revolution.

 43. The Day After Tomorrow  vs. I am Legend

Both movies address the theme of the apocalypse and post-apocalyptic struggles for survival. Both movies touch on deeply rooted fears of humanity and our intrinsic understanding that the human race must eventually meet its end. Both showcase a lone scientific hero who tries to save humanity.

In I Am Legend, the harbinger of the apocalypse is a plague that turns people into killer monsters. In the Day After Tomorrow, an out-of-control storm ushers in an apocalyptic ice age.

44. The Hunger Games  vs. Divergent

Both novels create a dystopian vision of life in the future where society has been divided into factions. Both novels are coming-of-age love stories. Both stories require the female protagonists to partake in violent rituals.

The Hunger Games explores themes of violence and corruption, and the defiance of unjust authority. Divergent explores themes of following your heart despite the odds.

45. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde  vs. The Picture of Dorian Gray

Both of these stories feature a protagonist with a dark side that they try to hide from the world. Through such a lens, both stories share the theme of duality.

While Dr. Jekyll swings from being good and bad, Dorian Gray slowly transforms from good to bad as the story progresses. Dr. Jekyll outwardly manifests his dark side as Mr. Hyde, but Dorian keeps his darkness hidden, only acting on his impulses in secret. Dorian’s portrait is the only outward clue of his wrongdoing—the picture reveals his true nature with every wicked act.

 46. 1984  vs. The Hunger Games

Both novels tell the story of a dystopian future where society is oppressed by an all-knowing and watchful authority. Both novels also have segments of the population in extreme poverty.

1984 is commentary on the dangers of a totalitarian state, and it’s set in Europe. The protagonist is an adult man. The Hunger Games is a coming-of-age story with a US-inspired setting. The protagonist is a young woman.

47. Julius Caesar  vs. Macbeth

These two Shakespearean plays have a lot of common. They both revolve around regicide (the murder of a king). Both involve power plays, scandals, and manipulation (but don’t all Shakespeare tragedies?).

Macbeth relies on prophecies and the fulfillment of prophecies as one of its main literary hooks—it’s a story filled with magic and witches. Julius Caesar is realism-based, focusing on the plausible dramas and tragedies of the Roman Empire.

Bonus read: Don’t Make These 6 Tragic Mistakes in Your Macbeth Essay

48. Beowulf vs. Wolverine

Both have cool, wolfish names. Both are heroes who undertake epic adventures to fight evil. Both experience serious transitions during their journeys.

Beowulf was created in the ancient stew of medieval literature. Wolverine was created in 1974. Beowulf revels in glories, while Wolverine’s good deeds go without reward.

49. Beowulf vs. Odysseus

Beowulf and Odysseus both must battle monsters on their epic journeys. Both heroes share many of the same traits: courage, intelligence, and strength. Both men use all three traits to win their respective battles.

Odysseus makes it safely home and dies in his old age. Beowulf dies after slaying a dragon. Odysseus uses deception while battling enemies, while Beowulf doesn’t play games to gain an advantage against his enemies.

50. 12 Angry Men stage play vs. a film adaptation of 12 Angry Men

Both the play and the movie follow the same basic plot, with jurors attempting to determine the guilt of the accused. In both, the jurors are nameless, known only by their juror numbers.

The scenes are more detailed in the movie compared to the descriptions in the play. The producers took some liberties with adding and/or altering dialogue from the original screenplay.

Bonus info:12 Angry Men was made into a movie in 1957 and in 1997. You might also write a compare and contrast essay about the two film adaptations.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics: Art

51. Olympia vs. Grande Odalisque

52. Pablo Picasso vs. Salvador Dali

53. King Arthur vs. Zeus

54. Realism vs. Modernism

55. Michelangelo’s Davis vs. Bernini’s David

56. Impressionism vs. post-impressionism

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics: Culture and Society

There are infinite possibilities when it comes to choosing from compare and contrast essay topics about culture and society. The trick here is to pick a topic that is very specific and interesting.

Here are some ideas.

57. Korean concept of beauty vs. American concept of beauty

Both Americans and Koreans value thinness as an ideal beauty standard. Both cultures hold ideals of beauty that are impossible for most people to achieve.

Americans focus on beauty standards, such as blonde hair, blue eyes, big breasts (on women), round butts, and tans. Korean beauty focuses on ideal face and eye shapes and pale skin.

 58. Cohabitation vs. marriage

Cohabitation and marriage both involve two people living together and sharing resources. Both also usually mean two people are in a serious relationship.

Marriage involves a legal and binding contract between two people that includes healthcare benefits and tax benefits. Cohabitation does not require a legal contract and does not include such benefits.

 59. Teenagers vs. toddlers

Both teenagers and toddlers are moody, willful, and needy. Both teens and toddlers are usually exploring newly found independence. Both often require supervision in many areas.

Teenagers are more mobile than toddlers and can be far more destructive in their actions. Toddlers are a thousand times more adorable than teenagers. Teenagers have the ability to reason, unlike toddlers, but rarely take advantage of this ability.

60. Traditional Chinese parenting vs. Western parenting

Both Chinese and Western parents want the best for their children. Both educate and discipline their children in ways they feel will best prepare their children for the future.

Compared to Western parents, Chinese parents (particularly “Tiger Moms”) are very strict. They do not allow their children much free time and stress discipline and rigid schedules.

61. Authoritative parenting vs. permissive parenting

In both parenting styles, parents attempt to communicate with their children. In both styles, parents are also likely to encourage creativity and expression in their children.

Authoritative parents are assertive and in control while not being extremely demanding. Permissive parents are more lenient and likely to avoid conflict with their children.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics: Technology

62. Apple vs. Google smartphones

63. Apple vs. Microsoft

64. Honda vs. Ford

65. Gasoline vs. ethanol vs. biodiesel

66. Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4

67. Tablets vs. textbooks

68. Solar energy vs. wind energy

69. Safety of cars with seat belts only vs. safety of cars with seat belts and airbags

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you’ve found a topic that will make writing your essay fun and easy. If you need even more ideas, here is a web app that helps you compare just about anything. And here’s a cool website with compare and contrast topics galore.

Once you’ve settled on a topic, I recommend reading these posts to get started with your essay:

• Compare and Contrast Essay Tips from a Kibin Editor
• This Compare and Contrast Essay Outline Will Help You Beat Writer’s Block
• 2 Compare and Contrast Essay Examples Worth Emulating (with annotations)

Once your own compare and contrast essay is drafted, send it to one of our awesome essay editors for review.

Good luck!

Stuck On Your Essay?

Check Out These Example Compare and Contrast Essays

Yes! Show me examples.

The core, or the “guts,” of your essay should come from your own thoughts and views on the issue. To really make an impact, though, you should support your arguments with citations from credible outside sources.

What Makes a Source Credible?

Good question. Credibility (aka “believability”) can come from one of several factors:

• The source is a person or organization that is an authority on the issue. For our purposes, this could be school administrators, educators, psychologists, and so forth.

• The source is an established commentator. This could be a well-known opinion columnist, for example, or a newspaper byline. Such sources don’t have to be experts in a related field so much as having established authority and objectivity in the past.

• The source is someone with direct experience with the issue. This could easily be, for example, someone who has experienced cyber bullying first hand. (Check with your prof on this one, though. He might not accept an interview with your roommate as a credible research source. Your prof is more likely to prefer you summarize someone’s experiences as printed in an already published source.)

• The source is a person or organization that will be directly involved in this issue, now or in the future—for example, law enforcement or legislators.

Still not sure what I mean?  Let me give you some examples of what is not a credible source:

• Random Internet bloggers.
• People with obvious political biases or agendas (even if they’re major media figures).
• People with ulterior motives (thus lacking objectivity).
• Anyone who does not have a demonstrated authority to make credible statements.

Note: It’s acceptable to use non-authoritative sources that are highly persuasive, but it’s sort of like starting a campfire with gasoline. It might work, but it might blow up in your face.

Want a little more help determining whether sources are credible? Read How to Apply the CRAAP Test to Essay Sources.

If you have a pretty good sense of what makes a source credible but aren’t sure where to find credible outside sources, I’ve done a little bit of research for you. Here are 12 cyber bullying articles that you can use in your persuasive essay.

Check out these 12 cyber bullying articles that you can use in your persuasive essay.
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I’ve also included MLA 8 citations and APA citations for your convenience. (If you’re citing in APA format, remember to change the current date of access to the date you accessed the source, if relevant.)

3 Cyber Bullying Articles on the Definition of Cyber Bullying

So what the heck is cyber bullying? Is it being mean to computers? The following sources are important for establishing your definition of this phenomenon.

Cyber bullying article #1: Cyberbullying

This article not only contains a definition of cyber bullying, but also includes a discussion of its effects, signs of cyber bullying, and tips for parents to help their children who may be suffering from cyber bullying. Additionally, the article links to additional resources for parents, children, and teens.

The information in this article is published by The Nemours Center for Children’s Health Media. It’s part of The Nemours Foundation, “a nonprofit organization created by philanthropist Alfred I. duPont in 1936 and devoted to improving the health of children.”

MLA 8 Citation

“Cyberbullying.” KidsHealth. The Nemours Foundation, 2014, kidshealth.org/en/parents/cyberbullying.html.

APA Citation

Cyberbullying. (2014). Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/en/parents /cyberbullying.html

Stuck On Your Essay?

Check Out These Example Cyber Bullying Essays

Yes! Show Me Examples.

Cyber bullying article #2: What Is Cyberbullying?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides a concise definition of the term: “Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology.”

It goes on to explain exactly what is meant by “electronic technology,” as well as gives a very good overview of the issue, including ideas for action. Much of the government’s concern is that bullying, in general, often involves illegal or criminal behavior. So definitions of such behavior are very important.

MLA 8 Citation

“What Is Cyberbullying.” StopBullying.gov. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it/.

APA Citation

What is cyberbullying. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.stopbullying.gov /cyberbullying/what-is-it/

Cyber bullying article #3: What Is Cyberbullying?

This article, published by the National Crime Prevention Council, defines cyber bullying, discusses the effects of cyber bullying, and offers resources for parents and teens.

MLA 8 Citation

“What Is Cyberbullying?” National Crime Prevention Council, www.ncpc.org/topics/cyberbullying/what-is-cyberbullying.

APA Citation

What is cyberbullying? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ncpc.org/topics /cyberbullying/what-is-cyberbullying

3 Cyber Bullying Articles on Why People Cyber Bully

The reason it’s so important to understand the causes of cyber bullying in writing your persuasive essay is that you will need to decide whether to recommend treating its causes or its effects.

For instance, do you recommend counseling for potential bullies or for their eventual victims? Do you recommend social sanctions or punishment? The following articles will help you answer these questions.

Cyber bullying article #4: 8 Reasons Why Kids Cyberbully Others

The author, Sherri Gordon, gives a succinct list of reasons that cyber bullying takes place. Most noticeable is that the person who bullies others is trying to fit in.

Ever since our caveman days, bullying has reinforced one’s sense of “belonging” by ganging up on “outsiders.” And “belonging” is something that teenagers, in particular, desperately want.

Gordon also mentions a lack of empathy on the part of many cyber bullies. Empathy is something that, in general, develops relatively late in adolescents.

MLA 8 Citation

Gordon, Sherri. “8 Factors That Motivate Cyberbullies to Lash Out at Others.” Verywell, 30 Dec. 2016, www.verywell.com/reasons-why-kids-cyberbully-others-460553.

APA Citation

Gordon, S. (2016). 8 factors that motivate cyberbullies to lash out at others. Retrieved from https://www.verywell.com/reasons-why-kids-cyberbully-others-460553

Cyber bullying article #5: Why Do People Cyberbully?

DeleteCyberbullying.org is a website that describes itself as “A Stop Online Harassment Project.” It’s devoted to finding both the origins of and the cure for cyber bullying.

In addition to mentioning some of the same causes of the problem as Gordon, above, the website mentions the anonymity of the Internet as a causal factor. Tied in with anonymity is the lack of any threat of retaliation, which encourages many cyber bullies—underlining the fact that bullying is a cowardly act.

MLA 8 Citation

“Why Do People Cyberbully?” DeleteCyberbullying.org, www.deletecyberbullying.org/why-do-people-cyberbully/.

APA Citation

Why do people cyberbully? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.deletecyberbullying.org/why-do-people-cyberbully/

Cyber bullying article #6: Why Do Kids Cyberbully Each Other?

This brief article examines the reasons kids cyber bully, such as anger, revenge, boredom, or frustration.

The STOP Cyberbullying website also links to a variety of additional articles that provide advice for dealing with bullies and advice on how to take a stand against cyber bullying.

MLA 8 Citation

“STOP Cyberbullying: Why Do Kids Cyberbully Each Other?” StopCyberbulling.org, WiredSafety.org, www.stopcyberbullying.org /why_do_kids_cyberbully_each_other.html.

APA Citation

STOP cyberbullying: Why do kids cyberbully each other? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/why_do_kids_cyberbully_each_other.html

3 Cyber Bullying Articles on Treatments for Cyber Bullying

All of the following articles point out that, when recommending treatment for cyber bullying, it’s once again a matter of definition: what kind of treatment, and for whom?

Should the treatment focus on prevention or on dealing with the damage? In your persuasive essay, you’ll need to decide on your stance on these issues.

Cyber bullying article #7: Cyberbullying “Causes Suicidal Thoughts in Kids More Than Traditional Bullying”

David McNamee, a frequent contributor to Medical News Today, calls attention to one frightening aspect of cyber bullying: its victims are highly prone to having suicidal thoughts.

He quotes a study done in the Netherlands. The authors of the study speculated that the increased power of cyber bullying to make its victims suicidal was due to the widespread nature of the Internet.

Unlike traditional face-to-face bullying, cyber bullying material can be stored on a variety of online media, causing the victim to relive the experience again and again. This suggests that any treatment of cyber bullying should include monitoring the significant risk it creates of suicidal thoughts and actions in victims.

MLA 8 Citation

McNamee, Dave. “Cyberbullying ‘Causes Suicidal Thoughts in Kids More than Traditional Bullying.’” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 11 Mar. 2014, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/273788.php.

APA Citation

McNamee, D. (2014, March 11). Cyberbullying “causes suicidal thoughts in kids more than traditional bullying.” Medical News Today. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/273788.php

Cyber bullying article #8: Bullying and Cyberbullying: History, Statistics, Law, Prevention and Analysis

Bullying has been in existence for many years, and this journal article examines the history of the problem and how bullying expanded to include cyber bullying as technologies changed. It also includes suggestions for preventing cyber bullying.

MLA 8 Citation

Donegan, Richard. “Bullying and Cyberbullying: History, Statistics, Law, Prevention and Analysis.” The Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 33–42. www.elon.edu/docs/e-web/academics/communications/research/vol3no1/ 04doneganejspring12.pdf.

APA Citation

Donegan, R. (2012). Bullying and cyberbullying: History, statistics, law, prevention and analysis. The Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, 3(1), 33-42. Retrieved from https://www.elon.edu/docs/ e-web/academics/communications/research/vol3no1/ 04doneganejspring12.pdf

Stuck On Your Essay?

Check Out These Example Cyber Bullying Essays

Yes! Show Me Examples.

Cyber bullying article #9: Social Media Cyber Bullying Linked to Teen Depression

This article is published by Scientific American, “the longest continuously published magazine in the U.S.” It highlights the fact that both those who cyberbully and those who are cyberbullied often experience higher rates of depression.

The article reviews several studies and stresses that these studies alone cannot prove that cyber bullying causes depression. It does, however, suggest that teens who suffer from depression are more likely to become victims of bullying than those who are not depressed.

MLA 8 Citation

Pappas, Stephanie. “Social Media Cyber Bullying Linked to Teen Depression.” Scientific American, 23 June 2015, www.scientificamerican.com/article /social-media-cyber-bullying-linked-to-teen-depression/.

APA Citation

Pappas, S. (2015, June 23). Social media cyber bullying linked to teen depression. Scientific American. Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/social-media-cyber-bullying-linked-to-teen-depression/

3 Cyber Bullying Articles on the Prevention of Cyber Bullying

Can we stop cyber bullying from happening in the first place? The following articles are helpful for defining a call to action. What should readers do about cyber bullying? How can they prevent it from happening?

Cyber bullying article #10: Cyberbullying: Intervention and Prevention Strategies

The authors of this article, Ted Feinberg and Nicole Robey, recommend a number of strategies to reduce the incidence and, particularly, the recurrence of cyber bullying.

For victims and parents of victims, the authors recommend recording the offending material, enlisting the help of authorities, contacting the attacker directly, and importantly, having an open environment in the home regarding computer and Internet use.

For educators, the authors recommend that a threat assessment be done and that anti-cyber bullying education be made a regular part of the curriculum.

MLA Citation

Feinberg, Ted, and Nicole Robey. “Cyberbullying: Intervention and Prevention Strategies” (Handout no. S4H15-1). Helping Children at Home and School III – Handouts for Families and Educators, edited by Andrea Canter et al., National Association of School Psychologists. Semantic Scholar, Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, pdfs.semanticscholar.org/d27d /47c9add136150ec0f96edcf08ade223e3d2b.pdf.

APA Citation

Feinbert, T., & Robey, N. (n.d.). Cyberbullying: Intervention and prevention strategies (Handout no. S4H15-1). In A. Canter, L. Paige, & S. Shaw, Helping Children at Home and School III – Handouts for Families and Educators. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org /d27d/47c9add136150ec0f96edcf08ade223e3d2b.pdf

Cyber bullying article #11: Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention Strategies and Resources

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is a famous and long-established organization that originally combated anti-Semitism. It has since expanded its reach to include opposing all forms of discrimination and defamation.

This website presents a collection of useful articles, many of which focus on preventative actions, such as Bullying Prevention and Intervention Tips for Schools and What Can be Done About Name-Calling and Bullying.

While many of these resources are aimed at preventing “traditional” bullying, the advice can be applied to cyber bullying as well. Below are citations for both the list of sources on the URL as a whole and an example with one of the articles available there.

MLA Citation (URL with list of resources)

“Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention Strategies and Resources.” Anti-Defamation League, www.adl.org/education-outreach/bullying-cyberbullying/c/strategies-and-resources.html.

APA Citation (URL with list of resources)

Bullying and cyberbullying prevention strategies and resources. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.adl.org/education-outreach/bullying-cyberbullying/c/strategies-and-resources.html

MLA Citation (example PDF resource)

“Bullying Prevention and Intervention Tips for Schools.” Anti-Defamation League, www.adl.org/sites/default/files/documents/assets/pdf/education-outreach/Bullying-Prevention-and-Intervention-Tips-for-Schools-Institutions.pdf.

APA Citation (example PDF resource)

Bullying prevention and intervention tips for schools. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.adl.org/sites/default/files/documents/assets/pdf/education-outreach/Bullying-Prevention-and-Intervention-Tips-for-Schools-Institutions.pdf

Cyber bullying article #12: Cyberbullying: Resources for Intervention and Prevention

Published in the Universal Journal of Education Research, this article discusses cyber bullying and ways to combat it. It also includes an overview of prevention and intervention programs and the role schools play in preventing cyber bullying.

MLA Citation

Notar, Charles E., et al. “Cyberbullying: Resources for Intervention and Prevention.” Universal Journal of Educational Research, vol. 1, no. 3, 2013, pp. 133–45. ERIC Institute of Education Sciences, doi:10.13189/ujer.2013.010301.

APA Citation

Notar, C. E., Padgett, S., & Roden, J. (2013). Cyberbullying: Resources for intervention and prevention. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 1(3), 133-145. doi:10.13189/ujer.2013.010301

Putting It All Together

I’ve barely scratched the surface here. My goal was to give you a starting point for your own research. There are about 43 gazillion articles and websites out there on this topic. So I strongly suggest you make your search terms as specific as possible.

Once you dive in, remember that persuasive essays recommend action(s), and that to do so, you need to take into account, as well as point out, three things:

1. What is the cost—in terms of money, effort, and time?
2. Is it worth the effort? Will it solve or at least mitigate the problem, to an extent that justifies those costs?
3. What about opportunity cost—the fact that, whatever we do, we could have been doing something else potentially useful instead (should resources spent combating cyber bullying be used elsewhere)?

If you need more help getting your arms around writing your persuasive essay, I recommend reading How to Create a Persuasive Essay Outline and checking out Persuasive Essay Writing Made Simple (Infographic).

If you need a little more help with finding resources, check out 5 Best Resources to Help with Writing a Research Paper.

Looking at these cyber bullying articles but need to write something other than a persuasive essay? Here are a few examples of other types of papers about the topic:

• Cause and effect essay: The Social Problem and Consequences of Cyberbullying
• Personal experience essay: Cyberbullying and My Experience with Bullying
• Problem/solution essay: A Study on Cyberbullying: The Role of Social Media Sites, Effects, Solutions, and Treatments

Looking for even more help? Why not send your paper to a Kibin editor for a little revision expertise?

Good luck!

Stuck On Your Essay?

Check Out These Example Cyber Bullying Essays

Yes! Show Me Examples.

When you’re writing an argumentative essay, it generally doesn’t matter what side of an issue you take. What matters is that you take a side and support whichever position you choose.

In the case of the gun control issue, you could plausibly—and defensibly—take either side: strict regulation up to and including an outright ban on firearms or complete legalization of individual gun ownership.

Either way, you’re going to need strong evidence.

On the gun control issue, you could take either side, but either way, you’ll need strong evidence.
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With this in mind, I’ve sourced 12 gun control articles from online publications that illustrate both sides of the debate, plus two articles that can help you understand the background of the issue.

For each article, I’ve included the author’s basic point and why the article is a worthwhile resource, as well as citations for APA and MLA 7th and MLA 8th editions.

No matter what side you argue, this post will point you to some credible sources for your argumentative gun control essay.

6 Supporting Gun Control Articles

Pro-gun control article #1: Gun Control and the Constitution: Should We Amend the Second Amendment?

This article discusses what is perhaps the greatest source of contention in the entire debate: the Second Amendment’s wording.

The author quotes former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who advocates changing the Second Amendment’s confusing language to clarify that it only applies to those serving in a militia.

Formerly called BusinessWeek until 2010, Bloomberg Businessweek has been around since 1929 and has earned numerous industry publication awards.

APA Citation

Barrett, P. M. (2014, February 10). Gun control and the Constitution: Should we amend the Second Amendment? Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-02-20/gun-control-and-the-constitution-should-we-amend-the-second-amendment

7th Edition MLA Citation

Barrett, Paul M. “Gun Control and the Constitution: Should We Amend the Second Amendment?” Bloomberg Businessweek. Bloomberg, 20 Feb. 2014. Web. 10 July 2016.

8th Edition MLA Citation

Barrett, Paul M. “Gun Control and the Constitution: Should We Amend the Second Amendment?” Bloomberg Businessweek, 20 Feb. 2014, www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-02-20/gun-control-and-the-constitution-should-we-amend-the-second-amendment. Accessed 10 July 2016.

A quick note about citations. I’ve included both MLA 7th edition and MLA 8th edition, as well as APA, citations for each article that you can use if you decide to reference the source in your gun control essay.

Because the MLA 8th edition went into effect in early 2016, not all professors/schools will require the use of the new format. Check with your professor to see which edition he or she prefers.

The 8th edition of MLA also suggests that you include the URL in each entry. Including the date you accessed an online source is now optional. I’ve included both pieces of information in my examples.

(Again, check with your professor to see what he or she prefers.)

Pro-gun control article #2: It’s Time to Ban Guns. Yes, All of Them.

Bovy tackles the gun issue by arguing that the debate should not be about closing loopholes in gun control. She doesn’t argue that specific types of guns should be banned, but argues that all guns should be banned.

This article is published by New Republic, which “…was founded in 1914 as a journal of opinion which seeks to meet the challenge of a new time” (NewRepublic.com). “Today, the New Republic is the voice of creative thinkers, united by a collective desire to challenge the status quo” (NewRepublic.com).

APA Citation

Bovey, P. M. (2015, December 10). It’s time to ban guns. Yes, all of them. New Republic. Retrieved from http://www.newrepublic.com/article/125498/its-time-ban-guns-yes-them

7th Edition MLA Citation

Bovey, Phoebe, M. “It’s Time to Ban Guns. Yes, All of Them.” New Republic. New Republic, 10 Dec. 2015. Web. 10 July 2016.

8th Edition MLA Citation

Bovey, Phoebe, M. “It’s Time to Ban Guns. Yes, All of Them.” New Republic, 10 Dec. 2015, newrepublic.com/article/125498/its-time-ban-guns-yes-them. Accessed 10 July 2016.

Pro-gun control article #3: Battleground America

This well-researched article was written in the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin shooting. It covers three main areas:

• An in-depth discussion of the meaning of existing gun laws and the Second Amendment.
• The difference between now and the time in which the Amendment was drafted.
• How the drastically increased killing power of modern firearms makes any reference to the laws crafted two centuries ago obsolete.

LePore is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker, as well as many other national news magazines.

APA Citation

LePore, J. (2012, April 23). Battleground America. The New Yorker. Retrieved from http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/04/23/battleground-america

7th Edition MLA Citation 

LePore, Jill. “Battleground America.” The New Yorker. The New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2012. Web. 10 July 2016.

8th Edition MLA Citation

LePore, Jill. “Battleground America.” The New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2012, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/04/23/battleground-america. Accessed 10 July 2016.

Pro-gun control article #4: Why We Can’t Talk About Gun Control

Hamblin discusses one of the most problematic aspects of the gun control debate: the fact that it is so politicized.

Here, the author explains his opinion by framing it in his own experiences. He states that he lost his job when he published a column arguing that it’s possible to regulate guns without infringing on individuals’ rights.

Hamblin is a frequent contributor and senior editor at The Atlantic.

APA Citation

Hamblin, J. (2014, June 29). Why we can’t talk about gun control. The Atlantic. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive /2014/06/how-to-interpret-the-second-amendment/373664

7th Edition MLA Citation 

Hamblin, James. “Why We Can’t Talk About Gun Control.” The Atlantic. The Atlantic Monthly Group, 29 June 2014. Web. 10 July 2016.

8th Edition MLA Citation

Hamblin, James. “Why We Can’t Talk About Gun Control.” The Atlantic, The Atlantic Monthly Group, 29 June 2014, www.theatlantic.com/politics /archive/2014/06/how-to-interpret-the-second-amendment/373664. Accessed 10 July 2016.

Pro-gun control article #5: California’s proposed gun laws won’t change our culture of violence, but they will make us safer

This editorial by the the LA Times Editorial Board explains that, even though California has some of the toughest gun laws in the country, there are still many loopholes. The editorial board argues that stricter regulations for purchasing guns and ammunition need to be in place to stop gun violence.

The Los Angeles Times is a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper that has been in publication for more than 134 years.

APA Citation

Times Editorial Board. (2016, April 22). California’s proposed gun laws won’t change our culture of violence, but they will make us safer. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-adv-california-guns-20160422-story

7th Edition MLA Citation

Times Editorial Board. “California’s Proposed Gun Laws Won’t Change Our Culture of Violence, but They Will Make Us Safer.” LATimes.com. Los Angeles Times Media Group, 22 Apr. 2016. Web. 10 July 2016.

8th Edition MLA Citation 

Times Editorial Board. “California’s Proposed Gun Laws Won’t Change Our Culture of Violence, but They Will Make Us Safer.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times Media Group, 22 Apr. 2016, www.latimes.com/opinion/ editorials/la-ed-adv-california-guns-20160422-story. Accessed 10 July 2016.

Pro-gun control article #6: 4 Pro-Gun Arguments We’re Sick of Hearing

Though you might not automatically think hard-hitting news when you think of Rolling Stone magazine, the author of this brief article succinctly sums up four common pro-gun arguments and explains why she doesn’t feel they’re effective.

Rolling Stone covers a variety of cultural, music, social, and political news and is a well-established magazine.

APA Citation

Marcotte, A. (2015, October 1). 4 pro-gun arguments we’re sick of hearing. Rolling Stone. Retrieved from http://www.rollingstone.com/ politics/news/4-pro-gun-arguments-were-sick-of-hearing-20151001

7th Edition MLA Citation

Marcotte, Amanda. “4 Pro-Gun Arguments We’re Sick of Hearing.” Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2015. Web. 10 July 2016.

8th Edition MLA Citation

Marcotte, Amanda. “4 Pro-Gun Arguments We’re Sick of Hearing.” Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2015, www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/4-pro-gun-arguments-were-sick-of-hearing-20151001. Accessed 10 July 2016.

Now that we’ve examined articles in favor of gun control, let’s take a look at a few articles that are against gun control.

6 Opposing Gun Control Articles

Anti-gun control article #1: 5 arguments against gun control — and why they are all wrong

Published in the LA Times, this op-ed piece is written by Evan DeFilippis and Devin Hughes, who are the founders of the gun violence prevention site Armed With Reason.

The authors argue that gun control laws don’t deter criminals and cannot prevent mass shootings.

APA Citation

DeFillipis, E., & Hughes, D. (2016). 5 arguments against gun control—and why they are all wrong. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/ opinion/op-ed/la-oe-defilippis-hughes-gun-myths-debunked-20160708-snap-story

7th Edition MLA Citation

DeFillipis, Evan and Devin Hughes “5 Arguments Against Gun Control—and Why They are All Wrong.” LATimes.com. Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2016. Web. 10 July 2016.

8th Edition MLA Citation

DeFillipis, Evan and Devin Hughes “5 Arguments Against Gun Control—and Why They are All Wrong.” Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2016, www.latimes.com/ opinion/op-ed/la-oe-defilippis-hughes-gun-myths-debunked-20160708-snap-story. Accessed 10 July 2016.

Anti-gun control article #2: Gun control isn’t the answer

Wilson, an author of several books about crime and a teaching fellow at Pepperdine University, asks an interesting question: how could or would we ever get rid of the hundreds of millions of guns that already exist in the United States?

He takes the stance that banning firearms is pointless, that “the genie is out of the bottle.” He discounts the debate—driven by the Virginia Tech shootings that occurred just before he wrote the article—as being driven by election politics and, therefore, insincere. Though this source is a bit older, it still raises a valid question.

APA Citation

Wilson, J. Q. (2007, April 20). Gun control isn’t the answer. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/la-oe-wilson20apr20-story.html

7th Edition MLA Citation

Wilson, James Q. “Gun Control Isn’t the Answer.” LATimes.com. Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2007. Web. 10 July 2016.

8th Edition MLA Citation

Wilson, James Q. “Gun Control Isn’t the Answer.” Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2007, www.latimes.com/la-oe-wilson20apr20-story.html. Accessed 10 July 2016.

Anti-gun control article #3: Why Gun Owners are Right to Fight Against Gun Control

Hardy argues that sweeping gun control legislation proposed by the anti-gun lobby leaves no room for compromise. He then does a U-turn and complains about the slippery-slope nature of bans on one kind of weapon, such as assault weapons or sniper rifles, leading slowly but surely to total prohibition.

Hardy fears that the gun control lobby is on a crusade to wipe out individual gun ownership altogether.

Hardy is an Arizona attorney and a Second Amendment scholar and writer.

APA Citation

Hardy, D. T. (2013, July 18). Why gun owners are right to fight against gun control. Reason.com. Retrieved from http://www.reason.com/archives/ 2013/07/18/why-second-amendment-supporters-are-righ

7th Edition MLA Citation

Hardy, David T. “Why Gun Owners are Right to Fight Against Gun Control.” Reason.com. Reason Foundation, 18 July 2013. Web. 10 July 2016.

8th Edition MLA Citation

Hardy, David T. “Why Gun Owners are Right to Fight Against Gun Control.” Reason.com, Reason Foundation, 18 July 2013, reason.com/ archives/2013/07/18/why-second-amendment-supporters-are-righ. Accessed 10 July 2016.

Anti-gun control article #4: ‘American Sniper’ widow: Gun control won’t protect us

This opinion piece discusses one woman’s experience with gun violence and why she believes gun control is not the answer.

Taya Kyle, the writer of this article, is also the author of American Wife: A Memoir of Love, War, Faith, and Renewal. The movie American Sniper was based on her late husband, Chris Kyle.

APA Citation

Kyle, T. (2013, July 18). ‘American Sniper’ widow: Gun control won’t protect us. CNN. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/07/opinions/taya-kyle-gun-control

7th Edition MLA Citation

Kyle, Taya. “‘American Sniper’ Widow: Gun Control Won’t Protect Us.” CNN.com. Cable News Network, 18 July 2013. Web. 10 July 2016.

8th Edition MLA Citation 

Kyle, Taya. “‘American Sniper’ Widow: Gun Control Won’t Protect Us.” CNN, 18 July 2013, www.cnn.com/2016/01/07/opinions/taya-kyle-gun-control. Accessed 10 July 2016.

Anti-gun control article #5: A Criminologist’s Case Against Gun Control

This article includes an interview with James Jacobs, director of the Center for Research in Crime and Justice at New York University School of Law. He is also a professor of constitutional law and the author of Can Gun Control Work?

In this article, Jacobs examines misunderstandings about gun control and examines the effectiveness of various gun control strategies.

APA Citation

Davidson, J. (2015, December 1). A criminologist’s case against gun control. Time. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/4100408/a-criminologists-case-against-gun-control

7th Edition MLA Citation

Davidson, Jacob. “‘A Criminologist’s Case Against Gun Control.” Time.com. Time Inc., 1 Dec. 2015. Web. 10 July 2016.

8th Edition MLA Citation

Davidson, Jacob. “‘A Criminologist’s Case Against Gun Control.” Time, 1 Dec. 2015, time.com/4100408/a-criminologists-case-against-gun-control. Accessed 10 July 2016.

Anti-gun control article #6: How Gun Control Kills

The author gives examples of incidents of gun violence that were stopped by people carrying guns, arguing that had such people not been on the scene, the results would have been worse.

Hunter is an aide to conservative senator Rand Paul.

APA Citation

Hunter, J. (2012, December 27). How gun control kills. The American Conservative. Retrieved from http://www.theamericanconservative.com/ articles/how-gun-control-kills

7th Edition MLA Citation

Hunter, Jack. “How Gun Control Kills.” The American Conservative. Burr Media Group, 27 Dec. 2012. Web. 10 July 2016.

8th Edition MLA Citation

Hunter, Jack. “How Gun Control Kills.” The American Conservative, Burr Media Group, 27 Dec. 2012, www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/how-gun-control-kills. Accessed 10 July 2016.

2 Resources About the Gun Control Debate

If you’re looking for articles with more background on the subject, check out these two resources that provide an overview of gun control and a variety of discussions about the topic.

Resource #1: Guns in America

In 2015–2016, the well-respected news source CNN aired a series of programming titled Guns in America. This resource contains both articles and videos about a wide array of gun-related topics, including town-hall meetings, an interview with President Obama, gun violence statistics, interviews with the NRA, a discussion of the gun industry, and segments about guns and police.

The articles and videos are too numerous to cite in this post, but I’ve included one sample to help illustrate how you might cite these resources.

APA Citation

Simon, M., & Sanchez, R. (2015, December 4). U.S. gun violence: The story in charts and graphs. CNN. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/ 04/us/gun-violence-graphics/index.html

7th Edition MLA Citation

Simon, Mallory and Ray Sanchez. “U.S. Gun Violence: The Story in Charts and Graphs.” CNN.com. Cable News Network, 4 Dec. 2015. Web. 10 July 2016.

8th Edition MLA Citation

Simon, Mallory and Ray Sanchez. “U.S. Gun Violence: The Story in Charts and Graphs.” CNN, 4 Dec. 2015, cnn.com/2015/12/04/us/gun-violence-graphics/index.html. Accessed 10 July 2016.

Resource #2: Gun Control Explained

This article, published by the The New York Times, provides broad definitions of gun control, includes arguments both for and against gun control, and even speculates as to why it’s so difficult to solve the debate.

APA Citation

Perez-Pena, R. (2015, October 7). Gun control explained. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/ 07/us/gun-control-explained.html?_r=0

7th Edition MLA Citation

Perez-Pena, Richard. “Gun Control Explained.” NYTimes.com. The New York Times Company, 7 Oct. 2015. Web. 10 July 2016.

8th Edition MLA Citation

Perez-Pena, Richard. “Gun Control Explained.” The New York Times, 7 Oct. 2015, nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/07/us/gun-control-explained.html?_r=0. Accessed 10 July 2016.

Putting it All Together

You can cite these or any of thousands of other gun control articles to buttress your argument. (Read 5 Best Resources to Help With Writing a Research Paper if you need assistance researching more scholarly sources.)

Whichever side of the issue you take, make sure to mention the source, cite it properly (in-text and in your Works Cited or References list), and format direct quotations, summaries, and paraphrases per MLA 7th edition, MLA 8th edition, or APA guidelines.

If you copy the APA or MLA citations I created above, be sure to update the accessed date (10 July 2016) to the date that you accessed the article.

Keep in mind that there will be very, very few sources (including the ones I used above) that are totally objective. Most writers—and most websites—will be catering to an audience. For a fuller list of issues on both sides of the debate, check out these Top Pro & Con Arguments on gun control.

Your job is to filter out the bias and see what value a given person’s argument really has. Some of the most rabid commentators on both sides of the issue actually make good points—you just have to get past all the screaming.

Once you’re ready to start writing, check out these sample essays on gun control for some ideas on how to put your paper together.

If you need help with writing your essay, read How to Write a Research Paper: a Step-by-Step Guide. Need help with overall formatting according to the style guide you’re using? Give these resources a try:

• APA: The Stress-Free Guide to APA Essay Format
• MLA (both editions): Formatting a Research Paper (from The MLA Style Center)

When you’re finished drafting your argument, don’t forget to have an editor proofread your essay for you.

Good luck!

Stuck on Your Gun Control Essay?

Check Out These Example Gun Control Essays

Yes! Show Me Examples.

Contrary to popular opinion, APA does NOT stand for A Pain in the A**. Though it may seem so.

Rather, APA stands for American Psychological Association. This group represents the largest professional organization of psychologists in North America with 137,000 members (or so says Wikipedia).

As a publisher of a multitude of scientific journals, the APA has developed a style guide that is used by researchers, academics, students, and publishers in the social sciences.

Since you’re reading this blog post, someone probably told you to use APA citation in your work too.

At first, APA rules can seem cumbersome and confusing. However, learning how to use APA citation isn’t so bad once you get used to the basics.

This handy APA Citation Made Simple infographic can help you make sense of it all. The graphic covers the basic elements of writing APA in-text citations and corresponding reference list entries. We’ll cover the following information:

• Identify the source type. Is your source a book? a web page? a journal? a magazine? or something else entirely? You have to know this before you cite!
• Plug in your information. It’s important to know exactly what elements to include in your reference list, which words should be capitalized and italicized, and where to put your punctuation.
• Add to your reference list. Remember to build your references as you write, and always list them alphabetically by the first word in the entry.
• Create the in-text citation. It sounds more complicated than it is! Follow these simple steps to give credit where credit is due (no matter how many authors you have in your source!)
• Additional resources. There are several apps that help you build your reference list and generate citations. I give you the low-down.

For a more detailed explanation of this graphic, I recommend reading How to Write APA Citations in 4 Easy Steps.

And now, without further ado…

APA Citation Made Simple (Infographic)

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Naomi

By the way, if you’re looking for more easy-to-enter scholarships, you might want to check out this post I wrote about other no essay scholarship opportunities.

What is a literary analysis essay?

Well, simply put, a literary analysis essay is an essay that analyzes a short story, article, or some aspect of a novel. Exactly what, though, does this entail? What does it mean to analyze a piece of writing?

When we analyze something, whether it is someone’s actions or a piece of writing, we are trying to determine meaning.

Why does my mother-in-law always bring us half-eaten cartons of ice cream, for example? She could be generous. She could be looking for an excuse to visit. She might have the world’s worst track record for choosing ice cream flavors.

Rather than simply read, remember, and state her actions, however, I am going to assign them a meaning. I am then going to support my interpretation with my own opinions, specific examples of her actions, and perhaps quotes from my mother-in-law and a reliable source like a psychologist who has heard hundreds of mother-in-law stories.

Writing a literary analysis is a lot like this.  You must read, understand, engage with, and interpret the text, and then share those interpretations with your reader.

What makes for a particularly good literary analysis essay?

When writing a literary analysis essay, there are two key elements. First, you must have a strong thesis statement. Second, you must thoroughly support that thesis statement.

What makes for a strong thesis statement? A thesis statement must be specific, clearly stated, and easily supported.

For example, “Flannery O’Connor wrote a lot about pride” is not a specific thesis statement. Flannery O’Connor wrote dozens of stories about any number of proud characters.

This statement is too general.

Ask more pointed questions to help you develop more specific statements. For example, what role did pride have in the development of a certain character or the outcome of a specific O’Connor short story (or two)?

A better thesis statement might be “In ‘Good Country People’ and ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find,’ pride in the main characters leads to loss of dignity and, in some cases, the loss of human life.”

Now that you have a strong thesis statement, you must support your argument.

In a literary analysis essay, you should certainly use your own original thoughts and interpretations of the text. When doing this, cite examples from the text itself.

For example, you might mention how, in “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” the grandmother’s pride and need to control others literally led the family into the hands of a sociopath named “The Misfit.”  You might include an excerpt from the text where the grandmother blurts out his identity. Referring to the text and specific examples will make your argument clearer and stronger.

Don’t be afraid to also use secondary sources! These are sources that provide additional literary criticism and commentary on the stories that you are analyzing.

You can use the opinions of experts to back up your own. After all, if renowned literary scholar Harold Bloom agrees with your interpretation of the significance of pride in the short stories of Flannery O’Connor, you must be a genius.

What makes for a particularly bad literary analysis essay?

This sounds obvious, but I have read far too many literary analysis essays in which the writer failed to correctly recall any number of details within the story. Even the slightest error in your recall of facts, such as the exact title of the story or which character provided a quote, will reduce your credibility.

Know your story or novel inside and out.

Relating back to the previous question, always support your point in a balanced manner. An ineffective analysis essay will rely solely on one form of support. You should never rely only on your own thoughts (no matter how clever) or those of an outside source (not even Harold Bloom) to make your argument.

Like walking on a tightrope, balance is the key to an effective essay (or a really nasty mess).
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What are three simple steps that a writer can take to write a better literary analysis essay?

1) Read your selected texts with a pencil in hand.

Keep a pad of paper handy. Take notes on any symbols, actions, or quotes that strike you while you are reading. Note page numbers.

This information will be useful when you actually go to write the argument itself. It is much easier to scan your notes than it would be to scan the entire novel Moby Dick, for example, when you are looking for quotes and examples to support your argument.

2) Think long and hard about your thesis statement.

Be sure that you can adequately support your argument. Can you think of at least three support points for your thesis statement? If you can, then you probably have a strong working thesis statement.

3) Research other sources.  

Borrowing this list from Purdue OWL, here are some possible venues for finding other sources to support your argument:

• MLA International Bibliography
• Dictionary of Literary Biography
• Discipline-specific sources
• Search engines
• Your instructor or librarian.

What is your biggest writing pet peeve?

I have to admit that mechanical errors are what keep me awake at night.  The two that bother me the most are comma splices and incorrect spellings.

The latter bother me because they can so often be caught with a simple spellcheck and quick proofreading.  Comma splices just torture the perfectionist in me.  I love commas in their proper place, but when people use them like sprinkles, it gives me pause (pun intended).

I think of punctuation and grammar as the frosting on the cake that is your argument.

After spending so much time reading those O’Connor stories, taking notes, developing a thesis statement, and organizing your argument, you would have a really impressive essay (or, in this analogy, a delectable dessert that would make the Cake Boss envious).  Why would you not take the same care with your punctuation (or frosting)?

The cake will be judged on its taste as well as its appearance; similarly, your essay with be judged on both its content and its mechanics. Take equal care with both.

About Natalie H.

When Natalie H. isn’t homeschooling, cooking, or doing mountains of laundry for her family of 11 (including seven kids ranging from age 7 to 21, her husband, herself, a beta fish named Naruto, and a cat named Little Murray Sparklese), she’s busy making better writers out of Kibin users.

Favorite books: East of Eden, To Kill a Mockingbird, Catch 22, and all of the Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes stories

Favorite TV shows: Elementary, True Blood, and The Walking Dead

Favorite Band: The Avett Brothers

Favorite Desserts: Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven and Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked frozen yogurt

Problem solved.

I got a chance to sit down with Kibin editor Buz H. to get his best advice for tackling the problem-solution essay.

Take it away, Buz.

So, What Is a Problem-Solution Essay?

A problem-solution essay is just like it sounds–an essay that presents a problem and then poses a solution to that problem. This type of writing is more common than you might think, appearing in various places such as political opinion pieces, parenting journals, business meetings, and even in school assignments!

I can still remember my first problem-solution essay, which I presented to my parents in verbal form. I used my considerable six-year-old vocabulary to grip their emotions with my most pressing need–my lack of Legos.

Then, I presented various solutions to that problem, most of which simply consisted of my parents buying me Lego sets at some point in the near future. I must have been on to something, since soon I was the proud owner not only of a pirate ship but also a castle!

Ever since then, convincing people that problems exist and that solutions need to be implemented has been an important part of my life. While I’ve moved on to more pressing issues than that of toy accumulation, the process I learned in my youth remains.

Let’s look, then, at some things that make a problem-solution essay most effective.

Problem-Solution Essay Tips: What Makes a Good Problem-Solution Essay?

In this case, starting at the beginning means that we start with the problem part of our problem-solution essay. A clear definition of the issue and precise communication about what factors are contributing to its persistence is foundational to a good essay.

Nobody can be motivated to solve a problem that they aren’t convinced needs fixing. If an author is trying to pass what is merely a pet peeve or a personal annoyance off as a problem, the readership will not be motivated to accept the solution as presented.

Therefore, a full, in-depth exploration of the situation is critical to the success of the essay.

As an example, let’s take something that students everywhere can agree on: the food served in the cafeteria.

If my essay presents only that the food in the cafeteria tastes bad, or that students are unhappy with it, or, in short, whines with an entitled attitude, my readers will not see that there really is a problem with the food. The underlying issue will be clouded by my own personal annoyances.

What my essay needs to show is why the food in the cafeteria is a problem outside of simple personal preferences. Perhaps the nutritional value is too low, or perhaps the value received in exchange for the money spent is inadequate. Whatever the particulars of the case may be, moving from personal annoyance to facts about your problem is fundamental to a persuasive essay.

Once the problem has been laid out, the solution is ripe for the picking. If you have managed to convince your readers to share your outlook on the situation, finding a solution is actually the easier part.

Since you’ve been careful to be specific and factual in your first portion, you have laid a clear path forward for actionable steps.

Good solutions will be achievable, meaning that there actually is a way to implement them within your current context.

Using the cafeteria example above, perhaps you’d like to propose that your school re-brand its cafeteria as the Iron Chef Kitchen Stadium and have culinary superstars like Bobby Flay come in each day and compete against each other to prepare a school lunch.

While that would of course be amazing, it’s simply not realistic. In proposing such a pie-in-the-sky solution, you remove not only your solution from the realm of reality but also paint your problem in such a way that it can’t actually be solved.

The last thing you want to do is to demotivate your readership in that way–present a solution that is possible.

Maybe your school can’t get Bobby Flay, but maybe they can get a nutrition professor from the local community college to help evaluate the menu. When solutions are close to home and specific, your readers are more likely to want to help pitch in to make them a reality.

Problem-Solution Essay Tips: What Makes for a Bad Problem-Solution Essay

There are a few pitfalls to avoid when constructing your own problem-solution essay. The most common is to focus only on either the problem or the solution to the exclusion of the other half of the equation.

If you focus only on explaining the problem and never get to a solution, your essay will be like a Transformer who never finds the AllSpark–just a dead bunch of metal that somebody, somewhere should dispose of.

Your essay should look to imbue a new sense of life to your readership in the form of a set of actions or ideas that they can rally around. If you exclude a solution, you choke that life out at the roots. All you have done in that case is depress them with a list of life’s problems.

They already have ninety-nine problems; they don’t need your one more!

By the same token, an essay that is all solution and no problem is like a soccer team who has no idea where the goal is. A soccer team should work together to get the ball where it needs to be–the goal! If there were no goal, there would be no sense of cohesion or purpose to a team’s movements, and soccer would basically be a giant game of keep-away.

In the same way, if your solution doesn’t move people towards a common purpose, then your readers will have nothing to rally around. A clear presentation of the problem is integral to rousing your readers to action.

It may seem backwards, but the better job you’ve done at outlining the problem as a situation which deeply needs solving, the more likely you will be to be effective at getting people on board with your solution. Good problem-solution essays need a compelling problem half and an intriguing solution half to succeed. 

Problem-Solution Essay Tips: What Are Three Steps to Writing a Better Problem-Solution Essay? 

Step One: Do your research!

I’ve already advocated for a deep, precise definition of the problem and clearly delineated steps forward as a solution. To do that process well, you’ll need data, statistics, and other research.

You shouldn’t expect your readers to take your opinions at face value–don’t make them take that leap of faith! After all, if you can’t prove that there’s a problem, perhaps there’s not one there in the first place? 

There are a lot of ways to research well, and the methods often depend on your topic. One method that I’ve had some success with is to contact an expert in the field and ask them for some resources.

While you might think that a prominent figure wouldn’t want to help someone such as you, I’ve found that people who are passionate about ideas and causes are more than happy to help others become more informed about those issues.

Venues such as Twitter reduce the barriers between those luminaries and you, so take advantage of them! You might be surprised to find how many authors have a personal website or a contact email address readily available in their book. They didn’t go to the trouble of setting that up if they hope nobody actually contacts them! Be bold, reach out! 

Step Two: Reduce your mistakes!

Rightly or wrongly, how an idea is presented and packaged makes a difference in how well it is received.

In the realm of written communication, that packaging includes such things as spelling, grammar, and formatting. While most people aren’t passionate about those particulars while writing, you had better believe that a misspelled word will stick out like a sore thumb to your readers.

Such mistakes reduce your credibility and should be avoided at all costs. 

The good news is that Kibin is here to help. Our experienced editing team can help polish those mistakes and provide some subtle changes that will help your finished product shine just a bit more.

You can think of your editor like sandpaper, filing away any blemishes at a surface level and allowing the true beauty of the wood to stand out even more. Your idea is worth communicating, and that means it’s worth communicating well. We’re here to help you do that!

Step Three: Embrace complexity

If you’ve really chosen a true problem to present in your essay, that means it comes with some challenges.

If the solution really were simple, it likely would have been solved already!

Don’t be afraid to take ownership of the fact that there are multiple facets of the problem and that those who take an opposing view have some merit to their ideas, just like you do.

You can think of arguments like this as a fight: your opponent is big, strong, and trained, just like you are. The discipline of judo seeks to turn their opponent’s strength and momentum against them in the heat of battle, and well-written communication can do the same.

If you can identify your opponent’s strengths, you can defuse them by showing how their proposed solution isn’t as strong or as practical as yours. If you avoid their side completely, you open yourself up to an easy rebuttal. Remember, when you’re doing the writing, you’re in control. That means you control both sides of the argument, so use it to your advantage!

Pet Peeve to Avoid

If there’s one thing I just can’t stand, it’s bananas. I hate those things. They taste terrible, are incredibly squishy, and manage to find their way into every smoothie ever just to taunt me with the element of surprise.

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The “bananas” of problem-solution essays are writers who choose their topics without passion.
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I mean, if you can’t even find a problem to care about, why should I start caring about it? Should I care simply because you have an essay about it?

Spoiler alert–no!

Facts and figures are needed components, sure, but the passion with which you communicate is what will really win your audience over. The more you care about something, the likelier I am to share it with you. Don’t make the mistake of just going through the motions; find something you care about!

If you don’t have that area of passion readily available, why not get out and try some new things? Why not try working as a volunteer in a learning center? Alternatively, you might become informed about your community by attending city meetings. You could give some time in a free medical clinic. You might be surprised how much those new experiences affect your level of passion.

The more informed and passionate you are, the better able you are to share your solutions with the world. That’s what good writing aims to do–change hearts and minds to culminate in actions that make our world a better place.

Writing shouldn’t be just about putting words on a paper. Don’t sell yourself short; what you have to say matters. Make us believe it with you!

Armed with these tips, you’re ready to make your mark in the problem solving world! Don’t forget to check out our other Kibin writing resources or enlist one of our trusty editors to give you an assist. Until next time, keep on writing!

About Buz H.

Buz H. is a Kibin editor, a PhD candidate in ancient literature (2015), and a father of three with a fourth on the way. He lives in Tulsa, OK.

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