how to change topic in a essay

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How to Introduce New Topics and Transition Effectively in Essays

Last Updated: March 19, 2024 Fact Checked

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This article was co-authored by Jake Adams . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 86,950 times.

Most essays have multiple topics, and switching between them can get tricky. Without strong transitions and introductions to new points, your writing could seem choppy or unfocused. Luckily, making good topic introductions is easy! It just takes some planning, practice, and patience. Once you know the formula, you’ll be introducing new topics like a pro.

Effective Ways to Introduce New Essay Topics

• Introduce the topic with a transition word, like “Similarly” or “Likewise.”
• Use a contrasting transition word for clashing topics, like “However” or “Yet.”
• Give an overview of the topic you’re discussing after the introductory sentence.

• A strong outline includes your overall topic idea, planned thesis statement, essay structure, and the topics and themes you'll be covering in each section.
• Note on your outline when you're going to be introducing new topics. This helps you plan ahead and anticipate where you'll need transitions.

• If you've already started your paper, it never hurts to go back and write an outline anyway. This way, you can keep all your thoughts organized and give your essay more direction.

• For example, you may be writing a large paper about the Civil War, and the current section is about arguments over slavery. You can have one part on Southern arguments defending slavery, then transition to Northern arguments against slavery, since both topics are in the same section.
• Usually for a shorter paper, up to about 5-7 pages, you won’t need individual section headings. It’s fine to just transition from paragraph to paragraph in these cases.

• For example, if your paper is about the Civil War and you’re transitioning from arguments over slavery to the outbreak of the war, then it’s worthwhile to make a whole new section. These topics are related, but distinct and important enough to get their own sections.
• In another example, you might be writing a compare and contrast essay. It’s helpful to start a new section labeled “Differences” when you move from comparing to contrasting.
• Individual section headings are common in longer papers, around 15-20 pages or more. For long papers like this, it helps your reader stay focused.

• Similarly, in the same way, likewise, also, as well, and so too.
• For example, start a paragraph about slavery and the Civil War with, “In the same way that northern abolitionists were singularly focused on eliminating slavery, the Republican Party was concerned with stopping it from spreading into America's territories.”

• In contrast, however, nevertheless, yet, and still.
• For the Civil War example, arguments defending and criticizing slavery are completely different. To reflect that, you’d use a transition indicating disagreement. You could say “In sharp contrast to southern slave owners, northern abolitionists argued that enslaving a human being was evil in all circumstances.”

• If you’re showing contrast, you could say, “Yet King Arthur was destined to fail in his quest to find the Holy Grail.” This shows that the previous topic may have been about Arthur starting his quest, but now you’ll explain how he failed to accomplish it.
• You could also show similarity by saying “Similarly, Abraham Lincoln agreed that slavery was a moral evil.” This indicates that the new topic you’re introducing is related to and supports the previous one.

• You could also follow up on the King Arthur example with “In Arthurian stories, Arthur made numerous journeys to find the Grail, but never actually succeeded.” This tells the reader that the rest of the paragraph will include information on these failures.
• Using the Abraham Lincoln example, you could follow up your topic sentence with “Throughout his entire life, Lincoln saw the evils of slavery and spoke about stopping the practice.” This indicates that the paragraph will elaborate on this point and provide more details.

• For the King Arthur example, you can spend 2-4 sentences explaining Arthur's unsuccessful quests for the Grail. This supports your transition statement saying that Arthur failed to find the Grail.
• Make sure the details you fill in line up with your topic sentence. If your topic sentence said that Abraham Lincoln was anti-slavery, it wouldn’t be consistent to introduce examples of him supporting or praising slavery.

• A conclusion for your King Arthur paragraph could be “Hard as Arthur tried, he never found the Holy Grail.”
• Don’t introduce any new topics in the conclusion sentence. Save that for the topic sentence of the next paragraph if you want to add another topic.
• If you have a similar paragraph after this one, you can link them by giving a hint of where it's going. For example, you could conclude by saying "Abraham Lincoln's lifelong opposition to slavery naturally set him up for a career fighting the institution." Then make the next paragraph about Lincoln's political career. [12] X Research source

• You can use transitional language without a ton of detail. For example, “While Odysseus was glad to be home, there was trouble brewing in his kingdom.” This provides a strong transition, hints at the next topic, and gets the reader interested in continuing.

• For the Odysseus example, your previous section may have been about the events of The Odyssey . You could sum up the previous topic by saying “He had spent 20 years away from home—10 fighting the Trojan War and 10 on his journey back to Ithaca—and conquered every challenge that came his way.”
• Don’t spend too much time on this summary. Wrap it up within 2 sentences at most.

• You could give a quick introduction of how the suitors in the Odyssey had moved in to Odysseus’ home and would attack him when he arrived. This sets up the challenge and tension for this new topic, and sets the theme for this section of your essay.

• For the Odysseus example, a strong conclusion would be “Perhaps this was to be Odysseus’ greatest challenge yet.”
• In a more research-based paper, you can be less literary. For example, “In the end, the Constitutional Convention was a success, but only after the Framers overcame numerous challenges in the process.”

• It’s easier to plan your transitions if you outline your essay first. This way, you’ll know where you need to introduce new topics. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If your professor or teacher mentions that your writing seems choppy, then you probably need to work on introducing new topics a bit more smoothly. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you still have trouble making strong transitions, take advantage of your school’s writing center if you have one. The tutors there can be a huge help. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/transitions/
• ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 24 July 2020.
• ↑ https://www.strose.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Transition-Sentences-Handout-2012B.pdf
• ↑ https://monroecollege.libguides.com/c.php?g=589208&p=4072926
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/mechanics/transitions_and_transitional_devices/index.html
• ↑ https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/301/study-skills/writing/academic-writing/paragraph-flow-connectivity
• ↑ https://www.delmar.edu/offices/swc/_resources/Composition/topic-sentence-transition-formula.pdf
• ↑ https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/ending-essay-conclusions

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Transitional Words and Phrases

One of your primary goals as a writer is to present ideas in a clear and understandable way. To help readers move through your complex ideas, you want to be intentional about how you structure your paper as a whole as well as how you form the individual paragraphs that comprise it. In order to think through the challenges of presenting your ideas articulately, logically, and in ways that seem natural to your readers, check out some of these resources: Developing a Thesis Statement , Paragraphing , and Developing Strategic Transitions: Writing that Establishes Relationships and Connections Between Ideas.

While clear writing is mostly achieved through the deliberate sequencing of your ideas across your entire paper, you can guide readers through the connections you’re making by using transitional words in individual sentences. Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between your ideas and can help your reader understand your paper’s logic.

In what follows, we’ve included a list of frequently used transitional words and phrases that can help you establish how your various ideas relate to each other. We’ve divided these words and phrases into categories based on the common kinds of relationships writers establish between ideas.

Two recommendations: Use these transitions strategically by making sure that the word or phrase you’re choosing matches the logic of the relationship you’re emphasizing or the connection you’re making. All of these words and phrases have different meanings, nuances, and connotations, so before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely, and be sure that it’s the right match for your paper’s logic. Use these transitional words and phrases sparingly because if you use too many of them, your readers might feel like you are overexplaining connections that are already clear.

Categories of Transition Words and Phrases

Causation Chronology Combinations Contrast Example

Importance Location Similarity Clarification Concession

Conclusion Intensification Purpose Summary

Transitions to help establish some of the most common kinds of relationships

Causation– Connecting instigator(s) to consequence(s).

accordingly as a result and so because

consequently for that reason hence on account of

since therefore thus

Chronology– Connecting what issues in regard to when they occur.

after afterwards always at length during earlier following immediately in the meantime

later never next now once simultaneously so far sometimes

soon subsequently then this time until now when whenever while

Combinations Lists– Connecting numerous events. Part/Whole– Connecting numerous elements that make up something bigger.

additionally again also and, or, not as a result besides even more

finally first, firstly further furthermore in addition in the first place in the second place

last, lastly moreover next second, secondly, etc. too

Contrast– Connecting two things by focusing on their differences.

after all although and yet at the same time but

despite however in contrast nevertheless nonetheless notwithstanding

on the contrary on the other hand otherwise though yet

Example– Connecting a general idea to a particular instance of this idea.

as an illustration e.g., (from a Latin abbreviation for “for example”)

for example for instance specifically that is

to demonstrate to illustrate

Importance– Connecting what is critical to what is more inconsequential.

chiefly critically

foundationally most importantly

of less importance primarily

Location– Connecting elements according to where they are placed in relationship to each other.

above adjacent to below beyond

centrally here nearby neighboring on

opposite to peripherally there wherever

Similarity– Connecting to things by suggesting that they are in some way alike.

by the same token in like manner

in similar fashion here in the same way

likewise wherever

Other kinds of transitional words and phrases Clarification

i.e., (from a Latin abbreviation for “that is”) in other words

that is that is to say to clarify to explain

to put it another way to rephrase it

granted it is true

naturally of course

finally lastly

in conclusion in the end

to conclude

Intensification

in fact indeed no

of course surely to repeat

undoubtedly without doubt yes

for this purpose in order that

so that to that end

to this end

in brief in sum

in summary in short

to sum up to summarize

Improving Your Writing Style

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

Clear, Concise Sentences

Use the active voice

Put the action in the verb

Tidy up wordy phrases

Reduce wordy verbs

Reduce prepositional phrases

Reduce expletive constructions

Avoid using vague nouns

Avoid unneccessarily inflated words

Avoid noun strings

Connecting Ideas Through Transitions

Using Transitional Words and Phrases

Topic sentences and signposts make an essay's claims clear to a reader. Good essays contain both.  Topic sentences   reveal the main point of a paragraph. They show the relationship of each paragraph to the essay's thesis, telegraph the point of a paragraph, and tell your reader what to expect in the paragraph that follows. Topic sentences also establish their relevance right away, making clear why the points they're making are important to the essay's main ideas. They argue rather than report.  Signposts , as their name suggests, prepare the reader for a change in the argument's direction. They show how far the essay's argument has progressed vis-ˆ-vis the claims of the thesis. 

Topic sentences and signposts occupy a middle ground in the writing process. They are neither the first thing a writer needs to address (thesis and the broad strokes of an essay's structure are); nor are they the last (that's when you attend to sentence-level editing and polishing). Topic sentences and signposts deliver an essay's structure and meaning to a reader, so they are useful diagnostic tools to the writer—they let you know if your thesis is arguable—and essential guides to the reader

Forms of Topic Sentences

 Sometimes topic sentences are actually two or even three sentences long. If the first makes a claim, the second might reflect on that claim, explaining it further. Think of these sentences as asking and answering two critical questions: How does the phenomenon you're discussing operate? Why does it operate as it does?

There's no set formula for writing a topic sentence. Rather, you should work to vary the form your topic sentences take. Repeated too often, any method grows wearisome. Here are a few approaches.

Complex sentences.   Topic sentences at the beginning of a paragraph frequently combine with a transition from the previous paragraph. This might be done by writing a sentence that contains both subordinate and independent clauses, as in the example below.

 Although  Young Woman with a Water Pitcher  depicts an unknown, middle-class woman at an ordinary task, the image is more than "realistic"; the painter [Vermeer] has imposed his own order upon it to strengthen it. 

This sentence employs a useful principle of transitions: always move from old to new information.  The subordinate clause (from "although" to "task") recaps information from previous paragraphs; the independent clauses (starting with "the image" and "the painter") introduce the new information—a claim about how the image works ("more than Ôrealistic'") and why it works as it does (Vermeer "strengthens" the image by "imposing order"). 

Questions.   Questions, sometimes in pairs, also make good topic sentences (and signposts).  Consider the following: "Does the promise of stability justify this unchanging hierarchy?" We may fairly assume that the paragraph or section that follows will answer the question. Questions are by definition a form of inquiry, and thus demand an answer. Good essays strive for this forward momentum.

Bridge sentences.   Like questions, "bridge sentences" (the term is John Trimble's) make an excellent substitute for more formal topic sentences. Bridge sentences indicate both what came before and what comes next (they "bridge" paragraphs) without the formal trappings of multiple clauses: "But there is a clue to this puzzle." 

Pivots.   Topic sentences don't always appear at the beginning of a paragraph. When they come in the middle, they indicate that the paragraph will change direction, or "pivot." This strategy is particularly useful for dealing with counter-evidence: a paragraph starts out conceding a point or stating a fact ("Psychologist Sharon Hymer uses the term Ônarcissistic friendship' to describe the early stage of a friendship like the one between Celie and Shug"); after following up on this initial statement with evidence, it then reverses direction and establishes a claim ("Yet ... this narcissistic stage of Celie and Shug's relationship is merely a transitory one. Hymer herself concedes . . . "). The pivot always needs a signal, a word like "but," "yet," or "however," or a longer phrase or sentence that indicates an about-face. It often needs more than one sentence to make its point.

Signposts operate as topic sentences for whole sections in an essay. (In longer essays, sections often contain more than a single paragraph.) They inform a reader that the essay is taking a turn in its argument: delving into a related topic such as a counter-argument, stepping up its claims with a complication, or pausing to give essential historical or scholarly background. Because they reveal the architecture of the essay itself, signposts remind readers of what the essay's stakes are: what it's about, and why it's being written. 

Signposting can be accomplished in a sentence or two at the beginning of a paragraph or in whole paragraphs that serve as transitions between one part of the argument and the next. The following example comes from an essay examining how a painting by Monet,  The Gare Saint-Lazare: Arrival of a Train,  challenges Zola's declarations about Impressionist art. The student writer wonders whether Monet's Impressionism is really as devoted to avoiding "ideas" in favor of direct sense impressions as Zola's claims would seem to suggest. This is the start of the essay's third section:

It is evident in this painting that Monet found his Gare Saint-Lazare motif fascinating at the most fundamental level of the play of light as well as the loftiest level of social relevance.  Arrival of a Train  explores both extremes of expression. At the fundamental extreme, Monet satisfies the Impressionist objective of capturing the full-spectrum effects of light on a scene.

 The writer signposts this section in the first sentence, reminding readers of the stakes of the essay itself with the simultaneous references to sense impression ("play of light") and intellectual content ("social relevance"). The second sentence follows up on this idea, while the third serves as a topic sentence for the paragraph. The paragraph after that starts off with a topic sentence about the "cultural message" of the painting, something that the signposting sentence predicts by not only reminding readers of the essay's stakes but also, and quite clearly, indicating what the section itself will contain. 

Copyright 2000, Elizabeth Abrams, for the Writing Center at Harvard University

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How to Write an Essay Introduction (with Examples)   

The introduction of an essay plays a critical role in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. It sets the stage for the rest of the essay, establishes the tone and style, and motivates the reader to continue reading. 

Table of Contents

What is an essay introduction , what to include in an essay introduction, how to create an essay structure , step-by-step process for writing an essay introduction , how to write an introduction paragraph , how to write a hook for your essay , how to include background information , how to write a thesis statement .

• Argumentative Essay Introduction Example: 
• Expository Essay Introduction Example 

Literary Analysis Essay Introduction Example

Check and revise – checklist for essay introduction , key takeaways , frequently asked questions .

An introduction is the opening section of an essay, paper, or other written work. It introduces the topic and provides background information, context, and an overview of what the reader can expect from the rest of the work. 1 The key is to be concise and to the point, providing enough information to engage the reader without delving into excessive detail. 

The essay introduction is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire piece and provides the reader with a roadmap of what to expect. Here are key elements to include in your essay introduction: 

• Hook : Start with an attention-grabbing statement or question to engage the reader. This could be a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or a compelling anecdote. 
• Background information : Provide context and background information to help the reader understand the topic. This can include historical information, definitions of key terms, or an overview of the current state of affairs related to your topic. 
• Thesis statement : Clearly state your main argument or position on the topic. Your thesis should be concise and specific, providing a clear direction for your essay. 

Before we get into how to write an essay introduction, we need to know how it is structured. The structure of an essay is crucial for organizing your thoughts and presenting them clearly and logically. It is divided as follows: 2  

• Introduction:  The introduction should grab the reader’s attention with a hook, provide context, and include a thesis statement that presents the main argument or purpose of the essay.  
• Body:  The body should consist of focused paragraphs that support your thesis statement using evidence and analysis. Each paragraph should concentrate on a single central idea or argument and provide evidence, examples, or analysis to back it up.  
• Conclusion:  The conclusion should summarize the main points and restate the thesis differently. End with a final statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Avoid new information or arguments. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write an essay introduction: 

• Start with a Hook : Begin your introduction paragraph with an attention-grabbing statement, question, quote, or anecdote related to your topic. The hook should pique the reader’s interest and encourage them to continue reading. 
• Provide Background Information : This helps the reader understand the relevance and importance of the topic. 
• State Your Thesis Statement : The last sentence is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be clear, concise, and directly address the topic of your essay. 
• Preview the Main Points : This gives the reader an idea of what to expect and how you will support your thesis. 
• Keep it Concise and Clear : Avoid going into too much detail or including information not directly relevant to your topic. 
• Revise : Revise your introduction after you’ve written the rest of your essay to ensure it aligns with your final argument. 

Here’s an example of an essay introduction paragraph about the importance of education: 

Education is often viewed as a fundamental human right and a key social and economic development driver. As Nelson Mandela once famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” It is the key to unlocking a wide range of opportunities and benefits for individuals, societies, and nations. In today’s constantly evolving world, education has become even more critical. It has expanded beyond traditional classroom learning to include digital and remote learning, making education more accessible and convenient. This essay will delve into the importance of education in empowering individuals to achieve their dreams, improving societies by promoting social justice and equality, and driving economic growth by developing a skilled workforce and promoting innovation. 

This introduction paragraph example includes a hook (the quote by Nelson Mandela), provides some background information on education, and states the thesis statement (the importance of education). 

This is one of the key steps in how to write an essay introduction. Crafting a compelling hook is vital because it sets the tone for your entire essay and determines whether your readers will stay interested. A good hook draws the reader in and sets the stage for the rest of your essay.  

• Avoid Dry Fact : Instead of simply stating a bland fact, try to make it engaging and relevant to your topic. For example, if you’re writing about the benefits of exercise, you could start with a startling statistic like, “Did you know that regular exercise can increase your lifespan by up to seven years?” 
• Avoid Using a Dictionary Definition : While definitions can be informative, they’re not always the most captivating way to start an essay. Instead, try to use a quote, anecdote, or provocative question to pique the reader’s interest. For instance, if you’re writing about freedom, you could begin with a quote from a famous freedom fighter or philosopher. 
• Do Not Just State a Fact That the Reader Already Knows : This ties back to the first point—your hook should surprise or intrigue the reader. For Here’s an introduction paragraph example, if you’re writing about climate change, you could start with a thought-provoking statement like, “Despite overwhelming evidence, many people still refuse to believe in the reality of climate change.” 

Including background information in the introduction section of your essay is important to provide context and establish the relevance of your topic. When writing the background information, you can follow these steps: 

• Start with a General Statement:  Begin with a general statement about the topic and gradually narrow it down to your specific focus. For example, when discussing the impact of social media, you can begin by making a broad statement about social media and its widespread use in today’s society, as follows: “Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with billions of users worldwide.” 
• Define Key Terms : Define any key terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to your readers but are essential for understanding your argument. 
• Provide Relevant Statistics:  Use statistics or facts to highlight the significance of the issue you’re discussing. For instance, “According to a report by Statista, the number of social media users is expected to reach 4.41 billion by 2025.” 
• Discuss the Evolution:  Mention previous research or studies that have been conducted on the topic, especially those that are relevant to your argument. Mention key milestones or developments that have shaped its current impact. You can also outline some of the major effects of social media. For example, you can briefly describe how social media has evolved, including positives such as increased connectivity and issues like cyberbullying and privacy concerns. 
• Transition to Your Thesis:  Use the background information to lead into your thesis statement, which should clearly state the main argument or purpose of your essay. For example, “Given its pervasive influence, it is crucial to examine the impact of social media on mental health.” 

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, or other type of academic writing. It appears near the end of the introduction. Here’s how to write a thesis statement: 

• Identify the topic:  Start by identifying the topic of your essay. For example, if your essay is about the importance of exercise for overall health, your topic is “exercise.” 
• State your position:  Next, state your position or claim about the topic. This is the main argument or point you want to make. For example, if you believe that regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good health, your position could be: “Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health.” 
• Support your position:  Provide a brief overview of the reasons or evidence that support your position. These will be the main points of your essay. For example, if you’re writing an essay about the importance of exercise, you could mention the physical health benefits, mental health benefits, and the role of exercise in disease prevention. 
• Make it specific:  Ensure your thesis statement clearly states what you will discuss in your essay. For example, instead of saying, “Exercise is good for you,” you could say, “Regular exercise, including cardiovascular and strength training, can improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.” 

Examples of essay introduction 

Here are examples of essay introductions for different types of essays: 

Argumentative Essay Introduction Example:  

Topic: Should the voting age be lowered to 16? 

“The question of whether the voting age should be lowered to 16 has sparked nationwide debate. While some argue that 16-year-olds lack the requisite maturity and knowledge to make informed decisions, others argue that doing so would imbue young people with agency and give them a voice in shaping their future.” 

Expository Essay Introduction Example  

Topic: The benefits of regular exercise 

“In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of regular exercise cannot be overstated. From improving physical health to boosting mental well-being, the benefits of exercise are numerous and far-reaching. This essay will examine the various advantages of regular exercise and provide tips on incorporating it into your daily routine.” 

Text: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee 

“Harper Lee’s novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ is a timeless classic that explores themes of racism, injustice, and morality in the American South. Through the eyes of young Scout Finch, the reader is taken on a journey that challenges societal norms and forces characters to confront their prejudices. This essay will analyze the novel’s use of symbolism, character development, and narrative structure to uncover its deeper meaning and relevance to contemporary society.” 

• Engaging and Relevant First Sentence : The opening sentence captures the reader’s attention and relates directly to the topic. 
• Background Information : Enough background information is introduced to provide context for the thesis statement. 
• Definition of Important Terms : Key terms or concepts that might be unfamiliar to the audience or are central to the argument are defined. 
• Clear Thesis Statement : The thesis statement presents the main point or argument of the essay. 
• Relevance to Main Body : Everything in the introduction directly relates to and sets up the discussion in the main body of the essay. 

Writing a strong introduction is crucial for setting the tone and context of your essay. Here are the key takeaways for how to write essay introduction: 3  

• Hook the Reader : Start with an engaging hook to grab the reader’s attention. This could be a compelling question, a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or an anecdote. 
• Provide Background : Give a brief overview of the topic, setting the context and stage for the discussion. 
• Thesis Statement : State your thesis, which is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be concise, clear, and specific. 
• Preview the Structure : Outline the main points or arguments to help the reader understand the organization of your essay. 
• Keep it Concise : Avoid including unnecessary details or information not directly related to your thesis. 
• Revise and Edit : Revise your introduction to ensure clarity, coherence, and relevance. Check for grammar and spelling errors. 
• Seek Feedback : Get feedback from peers or instructors to improve your introduction further. 

The purpose of an essay introduction is to give an overview of the topic, context, and main ideas of the essay. It is meant to engage the reader, establish the tone for the rest of the essay, and introduce the thesis statement or central argument.  

An essay introduction typically ranges from 5-10% of the total word count. For example, in a 1,000-word essay, the introduction would be roughly 50-100 words. However, the length can vary depending on the complexity of the topic and the overall length of the essay.

An essay introduction is critical in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. To ensure its effectiveness, consider incorporating these key elements: a compelling hook, background information, a clear thesis statement, an outline of the essay’s scope, a smooth transition to the body, and optional signposting sentences.  

The process of writing an essay introduction is not necessarily straightforward, but there are several strategies that can be employed to achieve this end. When experiencing difficulty initiating the process, consider the following techniques: begin with an anecdote, a quotation, an image, a question, or a startling fact to pique the reader’s interest. It may also be helpful to consider the five W’s of journalism: who, what, when, where, why, and how.   For instance, an anecdotal opening could be structured as follows: “As I ascended the stage, momentarily blinded by the intense lights, I could sense the weight of a hundred eyes upon me, anticipating my next move. The topic of discussion was climate change, a subject I was passionate about, and it was my first public speaking event. Little did I know , that pivotal moment would not only alter my perspective but also chart my life’s course.” 

Crafting a compelling thesis statement for your introduction paragraph is crucial to grab your reader’s attention. To achieve this, avoid using overused phrases such as “In this paper, I will write about” or “I will focus on” as they lack originality. Instead, strive to engage your reader by substantiating your stance or proposition with a “so what” clause. While writing your thesis statement, aim to be precise, succinct, and clear in conveying your main argument.  

To create an effective essay introduction, ensure it is clear, engaging, relevant, and contains a concise thesis statement. It should transition smoothly into the essay and be long enough to cover necessary points but not become overwhelming. Seek feedback from peers or instructors to assess its effectiveness. 

References  

• Cui, L. (2022). Unit 6 Essay Introduction.  Building Academic Writing Skills . 
• West, H., Malcolm, G., Keywood, S., & Hill, J. (2019). Writing a successful essay.  Journal of Geography in Higher Education ,  43 (4), 609-617. 
• Beavers, M. E., Thoune, D. L., & McBeth, M. (2023). Bibliographic Essay: Reading, Researching, Teaching, and Writing with Hooks: A Queer Literacy Sponsorship. College English, 85(3), 230-242. 

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Tips for Transitions: How to Move From One Topic to the Next

You don’t want to lose your audience. But every time you move from one topic to the next, you notice participants’ attention begins to wander: they start checking their email, glancing at the clock, or putting their microphones on mute.

That’s why strong transitions are essential. Moving from one topic to the next without missing a beat is a skill even seasoned professionals often envy. But with the following tips in hand, you’ll be better able to transition from one topic to the next—and bring your participants with you.

How to Move From One Topic to the Next

Transitions are a way of keeping your participants tuned in to your training goals, reassuring learners that this new topic is just as valuable and relevant as the last.

1. Use Verbal Transition Phrases When You’re Switching Topics

It may seem a little rote or cliche, but using transition phrases can help you signal to learners that you’re moving on to a new and substantially related topic. These phrases provide valuable thematic and contextual connective tissue, so learners are less tempted to check email or glance at the clock.

Consider phrases such as:

• “Now that we’ve found a solution for ______, we can apply that to the following situations.”
• “So, we’ve identified the problems that drive _____. But what can we find out about solutions?”
• “We’ve identified the first aspect of _____. Let’s turn now to the second, _______.”
• “What can I clarify?” (Wait at least 12 seconds before using this one.)

These are, of course, broad examples. But they can give you the basic framework for your own unique verbal transition phrases.

2. Introduce New Topics During Breakout Sessions

Transitions may work better when they’re learner-led and participant-focused. That’s why many trainers will use breakout sessions to introduce new topics. Small groups of learners can discuss what’s been learned or talk about their expectations regarding a newly introduced topic.

Depending on the group and the topic, you may want to provide groups with guided discussion questions. When the small groups come back, they’ll be ready to smoothly transition to the new material.

3. Engage the Senses with Fun Visual Transitions or Musical Cues

When participants are engaged , their attention won’t wander; visual and musical cues are an incredibly effective way to generate that engagement. From Powerpoint transitions to Spotify playlists, modern technology makes it easier than ever to orchestrate a sensory transition experience. Consider:

• Using a mysterious image that starts conversation or gets participants asking questions. Build a sense of curiosity!
• A musical cue that’s thematically relevant to the next topic.
• Playing a short video that sums up one topic or starts broaching the next.

4. Take Advantage of the Break

Managing transitions isn’t always about moving seamlessly from one topic into another without pausing for a breath. Sometimes the best way to manage a transition is to take advantage of the break. Here are a few ideas:

• Schedule breaks: Every training session needs regular breaks. Consider scheduling yours around those moments when you’re going to switch topics.
• Play some games! Asking trivia questions or organizing virtual whiteboard competitions can help participants bond, regroup, and refocus.
• Review information: A break can provide a perfect moment to pause and review everything your training session has covered. You can use this moment to ask questions and summarize important concepts.

A Natural Transition

Planning transitions that feel natural takes a fair amount of thought and planning—you may even want to write your transitions down! You can later evaluate which transitions worked and which ones you might want to revise.

When you take a participant-centered approach to planning for those participants, you can create strong opportunities to improve your training—and your outcomes.

You can learn more about creating transitions and improving your training craft in our Presentation Skills workshop or Virtual Presentation Skills Crash Course .

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70 “How To” Essay Topics

Referred to by names such as process essay or process analysis essay, the How-To essay details the steps to complete an assigned task in the most efficient way possible.

What Are the Key Steps to Writing a “How To” Essay?

How-to essays are pretty straightforward in their writing process, but there are a few key things to remember to ensure that the reader understands the steps involved.

The most important part of writing a How-To essay is ensuring that every necessary step is included in the writing – especially in the order they must be carried out.

This means that the writer shouldn’t avoid any steps, skip around, or leave out key details.

Secondly, it is essential to be concise when writing a How-To essay. Avoid detailing unnecessary steps or processes not related to the essay’s main topic.

Finally, must use sequential phrasing to denote the order of the steps. Phrases such as “first,” “second,” and “third” are helpful when writing a How-To essay.

By following these key steps, the writer can ensure that their How-To essay is clear, concise, and easy to follow!

Steps for Writing a “How To” Essay

When it comes to writing a How-To essay, the following formatting structure will ensure that the essay is easy to follow for the reader.

Introductory Paragraph

The introductory paragraph should briefly introduce the topic of the essay and provide a general overview of the steps involved. It should also introduce the main point of each individual step.

To engage the reader better, be sure to open with an attractive hook statement that will capture the reader’s attention. For example, if you are writing a How-To essay about cooking pasta, you might open with the line “Nothing beats a hot plate of mac and cheese” to grab the reader’s attention.

The introduction paragraph should also end with a thesis statement that details the essay’s main point. For example, in the case of the pasta cooking example, the thesis statement would be, “This essay will outline the steps necessary to cook a perfect plate of pasta from start to finish.”

Pro tip: Your thesis statement shouldn’t simply detail the benefits of following the steps in the essay. For example, the pasta cooking thesis statement could be rewritten as “This essay will outline the steps necessary to cook a perfect plate of pasta, which will not only save you time and money but will also taste better than if you had ordered it from a restaurant.”

Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph should detail one step in the overall process. The individual steps should be written sequentially, not skipping any steps and providing all necessary details.

The body paragraphs should each follow the same structure:

• 1st Sentence: A topic sentence that briefly discusses the step in the process.
• 2nd Sentence: A transitional sentence that details when this step should be completed in relation to the other steps in the process
• 3rd Sentence: A detailed explanation of how to complete this step, based on a combination of research and common sense.
• 4th Sentence: A concluding sentence that briefly restates the step.

This formula should be repeated for each and every step in the process being detailed. This may only require a few paragraphs for how-to essays describing simple processes. However, for more complicated topics, this may require many sections to ensure that every step has been covered and every necessary detail included.

Concluding Paragraph

The concluding paragraph should summarize the steps outlined in the essay and restate any key points. It can also include a brief discussion of why following these steps is beneficial or potential pitfalls when skipping certain steps.

In order to avoid any confusion, the concluding paragraph should also summarize the thesis statement for the essay. For the pasta cooking example, this would be “In conclusion, this essay has outlined the steps necessary to cook a perfect plate of pasta from start to finish. By following these steps, you will ensure that your pasta is cooked perfectly every time.”

Pro tip: If you’re feeling stuck, try outlining the steps for your essay on a piece of paper. This will help you see the process as a whole and better understand where each step should fit in.

How-To essays can be a great way to teach or inform the reader about a specific topic. By following the key steps detailed above, you can ensure that your How-To essay is written with maximum clarity and follows the proper format.

70 “How To” Essay Topics

When writing a How-To essay, the biggest challenge can be choosing a topic. Essay topics too broad or general can be too difficult to cover in a single essay. On the other hand, essay topics that are too specific can be too difficult for the writer, who might accidentally leave out critical steps or details.

In order to make it easier for you to choose a topic, we have compiled a list of 70 How-To Essay topics that can be broken down into a variety of categories. While this list is by no means exhaustive, it should give you a good starting point for your essay.

How-To Essay Topics About Life Skills

• How to make a bed properly
• How to pack for a trip
• How to study for a test
• How to write a resume
• How to network
• How to interview for a job
• How to give a presentation
• How to deal with stress
• How to make a budget
• How to save money
• How to cook a basic meal
• How to do laundry
• How to change a tire
• How to use public transportation
• How to ask for a raise
• How to deal with difficult people
• How to deal with passive-aggressive behavior
• How to make a good impression
• How to write a thank you letter
• How to speak in public
• How to make friends as an adult
• How to ace a job interview
• How to manage your time
• How to be an effective leader

How-To Essay Topics About Technology

• How to set up a wireless network at home
• How to download music legally online
• How to reset your browser’s homepage
• How to navigate social media sites like Facebook and Twitter
• How to use your phone’s camera
• How to set up a Bluetooth device
• How to use Zoom effectively
• How to use a VPN
• How to set up an email account
• How to use Siri on your iPhone

How-To Essay Topics About Fitness and Health

• How to get rid of belly fat
• How to lose weight fast
• How to do crunches properly
• How to do squats
• How to run faster
• How to jump higher
• How to stretch
• How to prevent sports injuries
• How to deal with pain
• How to improve your diet
• How to get in shape for summer
• How to lower blood pressure

How-To Essay Topics About Home Improvement

• How to paint a room
• How to hang curtains
• How to unclog a drain
• How to patch a hole in the wall
• How to fix a broken doorknob
• How to install crown molding
• How to install laminate flooring
• How to clean hardwood floors properly
• How to have an eco-friendly home
• How to decorate your home on a budget
• How to choose paint colors for your home
• How to make your home more energy-efficient

How To Essay Topics About Science

• How to make a volcano
• How to make a model of the solar system
• How to grow crystals
• How to make a simple electrical circuit
• How to make slime
• How to extract DNA from a strawberry
• How to make a terrarium
• How to make a potato battery
• How to measure pH level
• How to write a lab report
• How to identify different species of flora & fauna

Using these how-to writing prompts, students can have a great start to writing their own How-To essays. Remember to keep each step of the process for a smooth transition from one to another.

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Essays About Change: Top 5 Examples and 10 Prompts

If you are writing essays about change, see below our best essay examples and writing prompts to help expand your horizon on this topic.

The only thing constant is change. It could be good or bad. It could be short-term or have a lasting impact. The best we can do is to ride on this inevitable and never-ending cycle of change and try coming out of it still standing, thriving, and smiling. This ability to cope with change is called resilience. 

However, some changes – such as the loss of a loved one or a livelihood — are too overwhelming to deal with that some fall into trauma and depression, in which case psychological support is highly encouraged. Read on to see our round-up of rich, well-written essays about change, and a list of helpful prompts follows to help you start your essay. 

1. “The Psychology Of Dealing With Change: How To Become Resilient” by Kathleen Smith

2. how prison changes people by christian jarrett, 3. six ways the workplace will change in the next 10 years by jordan turner, 4. “social movements for good: what they are and how to lead them” by derrick feldman, 5. “the right way to make a big career transition” by utkarsh amitabh, 1. changing your lifestyle for the better, 2. be the change the world needs, 3. adapting to life-changing events, 4. addressing climate change, 5. how did technology change our daily lives, 6. people who changed the world, 7. if you could change the world, 8. dealing with resistance to change, 9. coming-of-age novels, 10. changing your eating habits.

“If you can learn to cope with change, you’ll lower your risk for anxiety and depression. Your relationships will flourish, and your body will feel healthier. But if you can’t cope with change, only a minor amount of stress can make you feel overwhelmed by life. You might also struggle to set and meet the goals you have for yourself.”

Instead of fixating on events and people over which we do not have the power to control, we should focus on ourselves and how we can embrace change without fear. Some tips in this essay include practicing self-care, being in the present, and focusing on your priorities, such as health and well-being. 

Check out these essays about being grateful and essays about heroes .

“Ultimately, society may be confronted with a choice. We can punish offenders more severely and risk changing them for the worse, or we can design sentencing rules and prisons in a way that helps offenders rehabilitate and change for the better.”

In an environment where you are forced to follow the rules to the letter and worry about your safety and privacy daily, prisoners could develop a kind of “perpetual paranoia” or “emotional numbing” and deteriorate cognitive abilities. The essay suggests a rethink in how we deal with law-breakers to encourage reform rather than punish and risk repeat offenses.

Check out these essays about police brutality and essays about assessment .

“As technology closes the divide between geographically separate people, it introduces cracks in relationships and cultures. The remote distribution of work means that many employees will not build the same social relationships in the workplace, leading to issues of disengagement and loneliness.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has already disrupted our way of work in our new normal, but more changes are yet to unfold. This essay looks into the future of work where responsibilities and demands will see a sea change; machines will be co-workers; and the best employee is defined by digital skills, not years of experience.

You might also like these essays about cinema and essays about jealousy .

“Social movements for good establish a mass platform of action for a population, which helps inform and cultivate the awareness necessary to help prevent an issue from affecting more people. True social movements for good have the power to generate awareness that produces tangible results, helping the general population live longer, more productive, happier lives.”

A social movement for good aims to bring social justice to an aggrieved community by calling for tangible support and resources. To accelerate a movement’s momentum, an effective leader must possess certain qualities in this essay.

“There were so many questions running through my head during this time. Why should I quit to make this my full-time job? Is this what I really want? When should I quit? Poet Mary Oliver’s words kept ringing in my head: ‘What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?’”

Deciding on a career change is more complex than deciding whether you want to do something different. A career shift entails lifestyle, mindset, and motivation changes, each of which has to be carefully reassessed and prepared for. This essay guides you in deciding when or why it is right to leave your job.

10 Interesting Writing Prompts on Essays About Change

Below are thought-stimulating prompts to help with your essay: 

Committing to regular exercise or getting to bed earlier may be easier said than done. Moreover, the determination that was burning at the start of your lifestyle change journey may wane in the latter part when things get tough. So, for your essay, provide practical tips from wellness experts and your own experience on how to sustain a routine toward a better lifestyle. You can split your essay into sections for each health and wellness tip you recommend.

This is the gist of the famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi: “be the change you wish to see in the world.” Unfortunately, many of us get frustrated over people refusing to change but fail to see how this change should start with our perception and action. In this essay, write about what an individual can do to focus more on self-improvement and development. 

Have you ever faced a situation where you had to adapt to a drastic change? It could be moving to a different city or school or dealing with losing a loved one. Share your experience and list the traits and practices that helped you through this challenging phase. You may also research what psychologists recommend people to do to keep from falling into depression or developing anxiety. 

To offer a unique highlight in your essay, tackle what your school or community is doing to fight global warming. Interview city councilors and mayors and learn about ongoing initiatives to keep the city clean and green. So this essay could help entice others in your community to work together and volunteer in initiatives to slow climate change.

List down the advantages and disadvantages technology has presented in your life. For example, seeking clarification from teachers about an assignment has been made easier with the many communication channels available. However, technology has also enabled a work-at-home or distance learning arrangement that is causing burnout in many households. 

Feature a person who has revolutionized the world. It could be a scientist, artist, activist, writer, economist, athlete, etc. Preferably, it is someone you idolize, so you do not have to start from scratch in your research. So first, provide a short profile of this person to show his life and career background. Then, write about their ultimate contribution to society and how this continues to benefit or inspire many. 

If there’s one thing you could change in this world, what would it be? This sounds like a question you’d hear in pageants, but it could be a creative way to lay down your life advocacy. So, explain why this is where you want to see change and how this change can improve others’ lives.

Resistance to change is most common when companies modernize, and the dinosaurs in the office refuse to learn new digital platforms or systems. Write about what you think leaders and human resource units should do to help employees cope with changes in the new normal.

A coming-of-age novel tells stories of protagonists who grow up and undergo character transformation. From being eaten up by their fears, the main heroes become braver and better at confronting a world that once intimidated them. For this prompt, share your favorite coming-of-age novel and narrate the changes in the hero’s qualities and beliefs. 

Delivering fast food has become so easy that, for many, it has become a way of life, making it an enormous challenge to replace this practice with healthy eating habits. So, research and write about nutritionists’ tips on creating a lifestyle and environment conducive to healthy eating habits.

If you’re still stuck picking an essay topic, check out our guide on how to write essays about depression . For more ideas, you can check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

Yna Lim is a communications specialist currently focused on policy advocacy. In her eight years of writing, she has been exposed to a variety of topics, including cryptocurrency, web hosting, agriculture, marketing, intellectual property, data privacy and international trade. A former journalist in one of the top business papers in the Philippines, Yna is currently pursuing her master's degree in economics and business.

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List of Topics for How-to Essays

Choosing the Right Topic Is Critical to Success

Blend Images / Getty Images

• Writing Essays
• Writing Research Papers
• English Grammar
• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

Your first challenge in writing a how-to essay is deciding on a topic. If you're like many students, you might feel as though you don't know anything well enough to teach others. But that's not true. All people have something that they can do so well that they don't even think about how to do it anymore—they just do it.

Choosing the Right Topic

When you read over the list below you will realize that you do know many things in depth, some well enough to teach. Typically, your inspiration will be based on lateral thinking. For example, from the list below, you may decide to write an essay on how to cook a Scottish egg after you see "Crack an egg" in the list. Or you may decide to write about how to make an Excel spreadsheet with all of your homework listed, after seeing "Organize your homework" on the list. 

Narrow your choices to a few topics , and then brainstorm for a few minutes about each topic. Determine which one has the most potential — one that can be divided into five to 10 clear paragraphs that you can explain well.

Writing Tips

Some topics are easier than others to explain. Straightforward processes versus ones with lots of contingencies will be much less complicated to write out, for instance. If you find that you've chosen a topic that's just too broad, pick one portion of it to explain. Remember, you want your reader to be able to follow your instructions to successfully complete the process.

In your drafting, err on the side of too much detail and description rather than too little. (It's easier to cut material that you don't need than to add in it later.) If you're not allowed to use images with your instructions, choosing a topic that is aided by visuals makes writing the instructional process much more challenging, so take your assignment parameters into consideration as you choose what to write about.

If you know your topic so well that it comes naturally to you, it may be tough to write instructions for a beginner who has no knowledge of the topic, because you forget how much you didn't know when you first started. Have a partner try out your instructions during the drafting or revision phase (or both) to see what you've left out or what isn't explained clearly enough.

How-to Topics for a Process Essay 

• Raccoon-proof your campsite
• Make an obstacle course for squirrels
• Set a table
• Make a pet costume
• Start a band
• Make a piñata
• Make an omelet
• Start beekeeping
• Make a quilt
• Decorate a bedroom
• Create a podcast
• Start a recycling program
• Collect stamps
• Clean a bedroom
• Make a pizza
• Make a volcano
• Organize your homework
• Play the guitar
• Make a sock puppet
• Make a doll dress
• Write a letter to the editor
• Write a complaint
• Plan a party
• Plant a tree
• Create a cartoon character
• Improve your spelling
• Bake a layer cake
• Change a tire
• Drive a stick shift
• Make a Christmas stocking
• Learn to dance
• Do a magic trick
• Go bird watching
• Make a music video
• Make a candle
• Paint a picture
• Create art with crayons
• Create a web page
• Stay safe on the Internet
• Write a song
• Write a poem
• Make a handbag
• Tie a scarf
• Mow the lawn
• Make a hamburger
• Make pancakes
• Make a pillow
• Play football
• Make a sculpture
• Make a lamp
• Make shadow puppets
• Care for pets
• Build a tree house
• Play hide and seek
• Paint fingernails
• Make homemade slippers
• Tie macramé knots
• Make a sandwich
• Make chocolate milk
• Make hot chocolate
• Climb a tree
• Make a milkshake
• Sell old toys
• Ride a skateboard
• Eat crab legs
• Become a vegetarian
• Make a salad
• Design a jack-o-lantern
• Ride a horse
• Race turtles
• Catch lightning bugs
• Make a wildflower bouquet
• Cut paper dolls
• Eat an ice cream cone
• Change a diaper
• Make fruit punch
• Make a campaign poster
• Make a fake tattoo
• Interview a celebrity
• Catch a fish
• Make a snowman
• Make an igloo
• Make a paper fan
• Write a newsletter
• Crack an egg
• Make a necklace
• Tie a necktie
• Ride the subway
• Walk like a model
• Ride a motorcycle
• Pitch a tent
• Find something you've lost
• Curl your hair
• Saddle a horse
• Make a sandcastle
• Bob for apples
• Apply for a job
• Draw stick figures
• Open a bank account
• Learn a new language
• Ask for a later curfew
• Behave at a fancy dinner
• Ask somebody out
• Pose for a picture
• Wake up in a good mood
• Send Morse code messages
• Make a kite
• Hem your jeans
• Pitch a fastball
• Be a ghost hunter
• Make string art
• Mop a floor
• Peel an apple
• String popcorn
• Remix a song
• Walk a tightrope
• Stand on your head
• Find the Big Dipper
• Wrap a gift
• Roast a marshmallow
• Clean a window
• Make a campfire
• Have a yard sale
• Create a carnival in your yard
• Make balloon animals
• Plan a surprise party
• Wear eye makeup
• Invent a secret code
• Recognize animal tracks
• Train a dog to shake hands
• Make a paper airplane
• Pull a tooth
• Create playlists
• Play rock, paper, scissors
• Floss your teeth
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How to Improve Your Essay Writing Skills in 10 Simple Steps

• Smodin Editorial Team
• May 5, 2024

What makes an A essay different from a B essay? What makes one essay stand out among countless submissions while others barely make the grade?

The answer lies in both the content and the execution of your writing. Strong content that is poorly executed can lead to disappointing results, just as weak content cannot be saved by writing style alone.

A strong essay needs to be balanced. The writing should be informative and exciting but also fun to read. At the same time, your grammar, syntax, and punctuation should be on point.

If you’re struggling to make the grade and are unsure what you’re doing wrong, this article will cover ten basic strategies for improving your writing skills.

With a bit of understanding and a steady commitment to improving your craft, you should see a noticeable increase in your essay grades.

These strategies will help refine your writing style and structure while enhancing your analytical thinking and argumentative skills. We’ll also discuss some AI tools you can use starting today to make the essay writing process more fun and manageable.

1. Read a Lot

To truly master the art of writing, you must read as much as you can. To the best of your ability, immerse yourself in various texts and read across different genres and disciplines.

One of the best things you can do in essay writing is study published essays and periodicals to better understand how accomplished writers develop their arguments and maintain flow.

Of course, reading is a time-consuming activity. If you want to expand your knowledge without spending hours at a time in the library, consider using Smodin AI to help.

Smodin’s AI Summarizer can help you take long pieces of text and create an extractive or abstractive summary. This way, you can read a portion of the text and use AI to grasp the main points and key arguments without dedicating too much time to each piece.

Using this approach, you can cover a broader range of materials in a shorter time, particularly useful if you’re juggling multiple assignments or subjects during midterms or finals week.

2. Understand the Topic

A solid understanding of your essay topic is crucial to producing an engaging and insightful piece of writing. One of the worst things you can do as a student is to submit a paper without thoroughly researching and understanding the topic.

In other words, read the instructions before writing a single word. Invest however much time you need in researching and gathering relevant information.

Don’t rush the process, and take the time to build a strong foundation for your arguments. Study the counterarguments and ensure that your thesis is factually accurate and thoroughly thought-out.

That said, if you’re sitting at your desk, struggling to figure out where to start, or need help comprehending the topic, Smodin’s AI Chat can help you gather your thoughts.

The chat can help you understand complex topics using real-time Google Insights and provide instant access to a wealth of information with a single click.

3. Outline Your Essay

Even the best writers outline their writing before they begin. Creating an outline is crucial to organizing your thoughts and structuring your essay so it flows logically and cohesively.

When writing an essay, your topic will often take on new dimensions as you delve deeper into your research. Sometimes, your essay ends far off course and entirely different from what you envisioned.

An evolving outline can help you manage these ideas and ensure they are woven into your essay in a way that is meaningful and makes sense.

Any piece of writing needs a roadmap, whether it’s essays, articles, short stories, novels, or nonfiction books. Your ideas need to progress logically from one point to another so that they are persuasive and easy for your reader to follow.

Remember, effective time management is one of the secrets to writing an effective essay. That’s why it’s essential to use AI tools like Smodin to optimize your outlining process.

4. Master the Basics

A strong command of grammar, syntax, and punctuation is fundamental to writing an A-level essay. While most teachers and professors will not deduct points for an occasional misspelling or comma splice, too many mistakes will leave a negative impression on your reader.

The good news is that mastering the basics of writing has never been easier, thanks to the rise of AI. Do your best to practice the basics of good writing using ordinary resources like grammar guides and books, then use AI to enhance your knowledge.

In this area, Smodin has several tools that can help. The AI Rewriter can help you rewrite or completely recreate a piece of text to optimize the content so it is polished and easy to read.

You can also use the AI Chat feature to ask any question you like about grammar rules or stylistic choices, ensuring that you understand the fundamental principles of good writing.

5. Nail the Intro

The introduction of your essay sets the tone and hooks the reader. It also helps you make a strong impression and stand out among your peers.

A compelling intro should start with a strong first sentence that piques curiosity and leads the reader to the second sentence. That second sentence should lead the reader directly to the third, and so on.

Always do your best to think of a solid opening statement or pose a thought-provoking question. Remember, your essay is just one of many essays the teacher or professor must read, so you must do everything possible to stand out.

You want a clear and concise thesis that sets up the arguments you will develop throughout the body of your essay. Smodin’s AI Essay Writer can help you craft essays with compelling titles and opening paragraphs.

If you want to go the extra mile, consider trying the “Supercharge” option to tap into the power of a much more advanced and sophisticated AI model to take your writing to the next level.

6. Use the Active Voice

Generally, the active voice is more engaging and easy to read than the passive voice. Active voice constructions are more direct and energetic. They keep the reader engaged and make statements that are easier to visualize.

For example, compare the active sentence “The scientist conducted the experiment” with the passive “The experiment was conducted by the researcher.”

The active voice allows you to clearly identify who is taking action. This helps make your writing more assertive and easy to understand.

However, there are situations where the passive voice is appropriate or even necessary. For instance, if the person taking action is unknown, irrelevant, or obvious from the context, the passive voice might be the better choice.

For example, in scientific or formal reports, the passive voice is often used to create an impersonal tone and to emphasize the action rather than the person.

In most cases, you should use the active voice to make your arguments more engaging and your prose easier to follow.

7. Avoid Repetition

If you’ve ever tried to “word stuff” an essay to get to a specific word count, you know how easy it can be to repeat yourself accidentally. To keep your essay engaging, always do your best to avoid unnecessary repetition of words or ideas.

Never use the same word too often, especially in the same paragraph. Varying your language and sentence structure can help keep the reader engaged and create a pleasant cadence for your essay.

Always avoid rehashing the same ideas twice unless necessary to your thesis or argument. When in doubt, use Smodin’s Essay Writer to help structure your essays with a clear flow and easy-to-understand introductions and conclusions.

8. Get Feedback

Receiving feedback is one of the most effective ways to improve your writing. Of course, your teacher’s or professor’s feedback matters the most, but what if you want feedback before the final submission?

Seek constructive criticism from peers or tutors who can look at your writing and give you feedback to help you improve your writing. Being able to seek out and incorporate feedback is one of the most vital skills a student can have.

Also, consider using an AI tool like Smodin that can draw upon hundreds of thousands of published and peer-reviewed academic articles as a basis of comparison. By tapping into the unlimited power of AI, you can easily create essays that match college-level writing standards.

9. Organize Your References

Managing and organizing references can become overwhelming during the research phase of writing an essay.

It’s crucial to keep track of all the sources you consult to maintain academic integrity and avoid plagiarism. This is where tools like Smodin’s Research Paper Generator come into play.

Smodin’s Automatic References tool utilizes AI-powered algorithms to generate accurate citations. It pulls information from reliable databases like Google and Google Scholar, ensuring each reference is precise and meets academic standards.

This feature is a time-saver and a crucial component for any student who wants to ensure their work is appropriately credited and free of plagiarism concerns.

This tool streamlines the process of citation creation. The Automatic References feature formats each reference correctly according to your chosen style guide, whether it’s APA, MLA, Chicago, or another academic citation format.

This allows you to focus more on the content of your essay rather than the tedious task of manual citation. It’s like having a personal assistant at the click of a button.

10. Revise, Revise, Revise

The single best thing you can do to improve your writing is to get into a habit of constant revision. Try to write your essay as far in advance so that you can let it sit for a while and revisit it with fresh eyes.

You may be surprised how many areas of improvement become apparent after taking a short break. Allowing your writing to breathe after the initial draft can dramatically enhance its quality.

The three main things you want to look for are ways to improve clarity, strengthen your argument, and refine your language.

Of course, Smodin’s Rewriter Tool can help you do just that. Using this tool, you can easily see and improve sections that need rephrasing. Use this technology alongside your own manual refinements to create a tone and style that aligns with your voice and creates a unique style.

Then, once you’re 99% done and happy with your essay, run it through the Plagiarism and AI Content Detector to ensure its complete academic integrity.

Ultimately, your ability to improve your essay writing skills will depend on your level of dedication. Spend as much time as you can mastering the above techniques and consistently practice.

Remember, AI tools like Smodin have made essay writing more accessible than ever before. If you need help with essays and consistently bring home B, C, or even D-level papers, Smodin’s array of AI tools is what you need to take your writing to the next level-

• AI tutoring for students
• AI content detection
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• Essay, research paper, and article writing features
• Text summarizer
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When you sign up for Smodin, all this and more comes standard. If you’re ready to get started, click here to try it!

110 Social Change Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best social change topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on social change, ⭐ simple & easy social change essay titles, ❓ questions about social change.

• Kentucky Fried Chicken and Social Change Impact Although the company has outlets in many parts of the world, this paper focuses on America as a key market to analyze the company’s adaptation strategies in the face of changing customer tastes and preferences.
• Social Change With Technology: Ogburn’s Model Thirdly, the invention of the steam engine improved transport and communication while the invention of the computer has led to the massive change in all societies. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
• Social Changes in Human Relationships and Interactions To achieve this goal, the paper will include the following sections: population social change, how the change is taking place, the engines driving the change, data demonstrating that this change is taking place and will […]
• Social Change and the Role of Environmental Factors Social change refers to the alteration or change in the social order of a given society or group of people especially with regard to nature, relationships, behavioral patterns in the society and the social institutions […]
• Families, Gender Relations and Social Change in Brazil The first theory applicable to the problem of domestic violence in Brazil as per the article is feminism, and its importance is defined by the controversy regarding the evolving roles of men and women.
• History of Pop Music in the World: Cultural and Social Changes Later, following the evolvement of industries and development of urban centers, also the lifestyle of poor people improved considerably and this lead to the improvement of music among the poor and the rich.
• The Position of Women in Society and Social Change 5Jean Elshtain in her works ‘Women and War’, alleges that the role of women in society should be comprehended in relation to the actuality that war is presently institutionalized in the international system.
• Nursing Education and Social Changes Evidence-based nursing is deeply rooted in the development of life-long learners, which is also one of the pillars of contemporary nursing education.
• Social Exchange and Expectancy Theory Effects in Human Resource Development The reality is that the more the employees are sure of getting out of their relationship with organization the more their productivity and the more the effort they put into their work.
• Social Change and Servant Leadership Models They should also focus on the values of their groups. According to the model, groups should embrace the best societal values to achieve their goals.
• Pinel and Brace as Social Workers and Change Agents The nature of the targeted challenge is what informs an agent of change to come up with the most desirable initiatives.
• How Sociologists Understood Social and Cultural Change The approach involved the comparison of the various components of a society to appendages of an organism. The fundamental characteristic of the organizations in the society is the scheme of principles required for the pursuit […]
• Critical Review: The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Social Change In Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist, social change comes through the terrorist acts of anarchic organizations, which cause a change in personal worldviews, self-understanding, and personal experiences, leading to a shift in power and the […]
• Social Entrepreneurship and Social Change The positive externality theory assumes that the allocation of social entrepreneurship is largely for the benefit of the society and not targeted towards the profit analysis.
• Exploring Social Change in Song “Crazy World” The song is about social change since it describes situations where people are confronted with the reality that has been built by enabler’s egos and the need to dominate. Lucky Dube has used the song […]
• Communication Strategies for Social Change All these strategies were aimed at trying to solve the tensions between the criminal gangs in Los Angeles [LA] and the police division in endeavour to put down the levels of violence, the conflict in […]
• Education, Knowledge, and Social Change Scholars in the field of sociology and education have argued that the practice by most parents to get the best for their children is egocentric and antisocial.
• Social Change, Leadership, and Advocacy Comparison Social changes can be compared to advocacy considering that some changes in the society are political, socially, or economically motivated. Social change, leadership, and advocacy all play a role in the implementation of changes in […]
• Social Change in the Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution was also characterized by the movement of people from rural to urban areas in search of a better life.
• Adult Education for Social Change: The Role of a Grassroots Organization in Canada The ‘SUCCESS’ education programs and services addressed the needs of the adult immigrant community, and as such, facilitated social change. In Vancouver, prior to the inception of the SUCCESS program, the lack educational programs and […]
• Social Concepts and Climate Change All these are illustrations that climate change is real and skeptics of the process have no sound grounds to support their argument.
• Designing Social Change During the 1990s-2000 Design ideologies have in the past listening carefully to the foundation of the technical and methodical rules of the delivery process.
• A Healthcare Proposal for a Social Change Moreover, a healthy diet is critical for the overall health of a community and its population and thus will have to be included in the proposal.
• Promoting Social Change in Healthcare through Student-University Alignment Therefore, it is very important for student goals and university mission to match. Otherwise, some of the effort is wasted, and has to be made up for.
• Power and Social Change in the Election System The United States’ election system is more complicated than most countries worldwide because it is a two-party system, and the voters do not directly participate in the governmental decision.
• The Results of the Global Economic and Social Change In world systems, the global economy is a system comprising the association between periphery, semi-periphery, and core countries. Core countries create economic conditions for the development of peripheral and semi-peripheral nations.
• Theories of Social Change: The Role of Technology Civilizations’ rise and fall are the subjects of cyclical theories of social change, which aim to identify and explain the patterns of growth and disintegration.
• Exploring Social Change in America and the World Economic and social distress were the leading causes of the revolution, as well as unemployment and political factors. The valued ideologies of the times of the French Revolution were mainly liberty and equality.
• Social Changes and the Development of Family, Education, and Religion The main changes in the place of religion and churches in communities happened due to the availability of information to the masses. The videos reinforced my beliefs in marriage as a social partnership and the […]
• The Process of Social Change and Resistance Moreover, the black riders were required to pay a fare at the front of the bus and then go to the back of it where the area for people with the “untouchable” status was1.
• Review of “Making Social Change: Engaging a Desire for Social Change” Chapter 9 One should note that Chapter 9 explains some concepts and ideas about the future and progress of society and the state as a whole.
• Analysis of Social Change Ways Fourth, huge companies control the physical environment with their images, goods and services, and the sensitivities that push people to engage to the fullest of their capability in the realm of product consumption and beyond.
• Social Movements and Meaningful Social Change The Black Lives Matter movement is not about individual flaws but the perceived general injustice of the American system, capitalism, and white people’s supremacy.
• Social Entrepreneurship Causing Change in Society Therefore, considering the stages of the social problem, it is argued that the appearance of social entrepreneurship belongs to the alternative stage when people attempt to bring change outside of the system.
• Social Media and Change of Society Members of the first group used various social media over 2 hours a day on average. Participants of the second group used social media quite rarely.
• Social Change Project: Religious Discrimination in the Workplace With the growing number of migrants coming to the United States and ethnic diversity becoming such a pressing issue, religious freedom is an area of advocacy, which is only going to grow in scope and […]
• Community Psychologists as Agents of a Social Change Having concluded my research, I will be able to employ its results for creating a strategy to enhance people’s quality of life and eliminate any discomfort they feel in the community.
• Social Change: Modern, and Postmodern Societies Additionally, the change in consumption patterns and lifestyles has increased the prevalence of cancer and other chronic diseases, prompting intensive scientific research and sophistication in medical technologies.
• Agents of Social Changes: Girls Not Brides Organization In addition, the instrument and consequence of this change is the improvement of the education of girls and women and their rights, which often limit countries with a tradition of child marriage.
• Conflict and Social Change The primary differences of views between Weber, Durkheim, and Marx are based on the sources and approaches regarding social change and conflict.
• Popular Culture and Social Change Across Cultures Popular culture surrounds us everywhere: in our computers and phones, in our homes and outside. It has several functions and a vast potential to unite and divide people.
• Immigration: Political Impacts and Social Changes Particularly, the author posits that the increase in the amount of labor force that immigration entails leads to the improved performance of local companies, hence the rise in GDP rates and the overall increase in […]
• Communication Final Project: Youth Activism, Social Media, and Political Change Through Children’s Books Picture the Dream was an unconventional exhibition of children’s picture books related to the topic of the Civil Rights Movement and was held in the High Museum of Art.
• Global Health Cooperation: A Plan for Social Change The analysis and comparison of the US ACA and the UK Act proves the incorporation of a global perspective into any local practice.
• Beatrice Potter Webb’s Suggestions for Social Change The ideas of social and class equality, the cooperation of people for the common good, the equal distribution of material wealth among all the members of society inspired many intellectuals of that time.
• Role of Social Change in Personal Development 4% of the population and the married constituting 1. 4% of the population and the married constituting 1.
• Globalization Phenomenon: Development and Social Change The success of the project was to be facilitated through abandonment and dismantling of a development project in favor of a more globalized socio-economic order.
• Gender Diversity in the Workplace and Social Changes This is a research paper, seeking to understand and discuss the benefits of gender diversity at the workplace and how far the firefighting industry has come in appreciating the trend.
• How Communication for Social Change Can Be Used or Not Used The paper discusses the topic of communication for social change using the article written by Lynn Mizner.
• Designing Social Change During 1970-1979 The period of the 1970s was associated in the United States with substantial social and political reform, in particular with the introduction of truly equal rights and improvement of minorities’ image in the social consciousness […]
• Modernity Theory and Social Change Modernity, science and technology tries to educate the society in letting go of cultural as well as traditional values and embrace modern technology which enhances the progress of a society.
• Thinking About Social Change in America by Putnam The private and public aspects of social capital are also mentioned with the author explaining that the benefits of social capital are varied and can come in different forms for instance there are certain external […]
• Economic Theory: Creating Positive Social Change The theory suggests that the level of employment is determined by the aggregate demand or how much money is spent and not by the cost of labor. Fiscal policy is the use of government expenditure […]
• Fashion as a Mirror for Social Change The restrictive clothing of the previous years, counting up to the ‘Flapper’ era, had been a mark of the suppression of women and was shrouded in societal myth and sexual restraint but became a lesser […]
• Finding Common Ground Through Social Change The issue of race discrimination is familiar to many non-white Americans even though the authorities of the country emphasize the equality of the population.
• Type 2 Diabetes in Bronx Project for Social Change The present paper will discuss the contribution of the project to social justice and social change, as well as the health scholar-practitioners’ role in promoting positive change in healthcare.
• Social Work Profession-Related Change on the State Level It happens due to the combination of such factors as the increased demand for services provided by these specialists and the general improvement of the quality of life of people in the majority of states.
• Communities and Social Change Almost every country in the world has contributed to the invention of new technologies and ideas that put them on the same level as the rest of the world.
• Spirituality, Adult Education & Social Change Indeed, many adult educators have found that teaching adult learners for social change is increasingly difficult as it requires a willingness to deal with conflict, opposition, and strong emotions as the adult populations engage in […]
• British Industrial Revolution and Social Changes In this paper, a variety of aspects and contributing factors of the evolution will be discussed including putting-out system, the three unique sets of Britain’s advantages that stimulated the process of industrialization, the support of […]
• Biological, Social and Behavioral Changes in Children The proponents of this theory argue that as the hardware of the children matures, they understand how to perform complex tasks with more speed and accuracy.
• Social Structural Changes: Living Standards The beliefs and ideas about moral and social constructs were the prototype of the ancient Australian society, and were stipulated in the decorum of the unwritten laws of the day, analysed and inferred upon the […]
• Business & Nonprofit Organisations’ Social Change At the same time, for-profit firms focus on gaining profit as well as try to assess needs of communities and address them.
• Social Change Application to Ex-Felon Disenfranchisement From the recommendations given in the literature, it is possible to see that social advocacy can be used to deal with the problem of ex-felons disenfranchisement.
• Sociological Perspective: Social Change and Environment The validity of the provided definition can be well illustrated, in regards to the fact that, unlike what it used to be the case with them, even as recently as a hundred years ago, today’s […]
• Welfare Reform – Social Welfare Change Although the social welfare reform discussed above was a watershed in the social wellbeing of poor Americans, other alternatives were equally introduced in order to boost the viability of the on-going initiatives.
• Media for Social Change The responsibility to transform the society socially therefore lies on the producers and the users of these shows and not the owners or the investors of these media avenues.
• How Will Social Media Change the Future of International Politics? Besides this, social media has also contributed greatly to the development of international politics by increasing the knowledge of politics in different parts of the world and encouraging more young people to participate in politics.
• Empowering and Assessing Social Change of Local Communities Through Participatory Action Research The intention of the research is to facilitate the participation of the local community in identifying the problem and seeking a lasting solution to it.
• Popular Music: Meaningful Contributions to Social and Political Change Music has different classifications depending on various factors including the period in which the music was developed, the type of instruments that the musicians use, the cultural identity of the society that subscribes to the […]
• Personal and Social Changes The paper will focus on personal and social changes in the lives of two characters, Hem and Haw, and how the changes that take place depend on morality and ethics.
• Media Change Triggering Social and Cultural Change – Foundations, Thinkers, Ideas A change in media, which practically means establishing a new and more progressive way of delivering certain information from one member of the society to another one, triggers a social change.
• Social Pressure and Change The external pressure facing XYZ might make the company to embrace change because the firm has to adhere to societal expectations in regard to environmental responsibility and general community involvement.
• The Industrial Revolution and Beyond: Culture, Work, and Social Change The Industrial Revolution is the era of massive enormous technological advancements and social changes, which affected people to the extent which is often contrasted to the change from hunter and gathering to agriculture.
• Social and Political Changes The thing is that the Bible was read and understood only by people that knew the Latin language whereas the interpretation of it was in accordance with the principles, goals, and intentions of the church […]
• Gendered Globalization and Social Change This is because the trees that attracted and trapped the moist clouds are no longer existent, thus the farmers have to manually water their crops.
• Effects of the Social, Economic and Technological Change on Marriage In the past decades, the marriage institution has transformed due to the social, economic and technological changes that have resulted to major changes; in population of the married people and their ages, the number of […]
• Social Changes and Civil Rights A nonviolence boycott of this injustice led to changing of the infamous rules, and black people were able to integrate with the rest of the people in social places.
• Social Media and Socio-Political Change Social media and politics Social media has had a lot of impacts on the political happenings that have been witnessed in recent months.
• Social, Economic and Political Conditions of a Slovak Immigrant Group Change from the 1880’s to the 1930’s It was not until the 1930’s and the third generation of Dobrejcaks, that they acquired enough grit and determination to fight for justice, and their civil rights.
• How Do Social Changes Predict Personal Quality of Life?
• Is There a Relationship Between Social Location and the Power to Effect Social Change?
• What Are Social Change Strategies and Their Outcomes?
• How Are Truth, Love, and Social Change Reflected in Literature and the Media?
• Can Religion Encourage Rather Than Inhibit Social Change?
• Why Was the Women’s Rights Movement an Extraordinary Social Change During the 18th and 19th Centuries?
• How Do Organizations and Communities Effect Social Change?
• What Attributes and Practices of Alumni Associations Contribute to Social Change?
• Are Media Technologies Causes or Effects of Social Change?
• How Have Social Movements Affected the Power of Social Change?
• What Are the Various Factors Influencing Social Change in Indian Cultures?
• Does a Psychologist Influence Social Change in Prison and Beyond?
• How Did Slavery and the Power of Rhetoric Effect Social Change?
• Are Paid Work, Women’s Empowerment, and Gender Justice Critical Pathways for Social Change?
• What Are the Negative Side Effects of Education and Its Impact on Social Change?
• How Do the Five Basic Components of Human Societies Affect Social Change?
• Is There a Connection Between Religion and Social Change?
• What Protest Music Is Associated with a Movement for Social Change?
• How Are Social Changes and Changes in Knowledge Related?
• What Is the Relationship Between the Environment and Society, and How Has the Environment Caused Social Change?
• Should There Be a Social Change Concerning Water Use?
• How Do Poverty and Education Affect Social Change?
• Which Women Authors Are Working for Social Change?
• Is Religion a Force for Social Change?
• How Can Organizations and Communities Effect Social Change and Influence People’s Behavior?
• What Was the Role of Women in Uprisings for Social Change?
• How Do Social Changes Affect People and Society?
• Are Social Change and the Overthrow of Patriarchy Connected?
• What Is Person-Oriented Social Change?
• How Did Industrialization Lead to Social Change in the 19th Century?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, November 9). 110 Social Change Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/social-change-essay-topics/

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IvyPanda . (2023) '110 Social Change Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 9 November.

IvyPanda . 2023. "110 Social Change Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." November 9, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/social-change-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "110 Social Change Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." November 9, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/social-change-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "110 Social Change Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." November 9, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/social-change-essay-topics/.

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Campus - 03.05.2024 - 13:07 

Funke Aderonmu from the USA wins the Global Essay Competition 2024

On May 2nd, 2024, three young leaders were honored during a grand ceremony at the Global Essay Competition held during the 53rd St. Gallen Symposium. The three students were awarded a prize for their outstanding ideas and proposed solutions on the topic of "Confronting Scarcity" which they discussed in their essays. Open to students globally, the essay competition brings young leaders to St.Gallen to exchange ideas and engage in dialogue with 200 dedicated "Leaders of Tomorrow" from over 60 countries alongside 600 established "Leaders of Today".

What challenges do young generations encounter, and in what realms do they face scarcities?

This year, the St. Gallen Symposium received more than 750 essay submissions from ambitious talents all around the world. To spread the word about the competition, a team member from the organizing committee travels the world to speak to university students about the Symposium’s mission of fostering intergenerational dialogue. The authors of the best 100 essays are invited to St.Gallen as "Leaders of Tomorrow" to discuss their ideas with the "Leaders of Today". Following the conference theme, "Confronting Scarcity", this year's essay question was: "Striving for more or thriving with less – What pressing scarcity do you see, and how do you suggest to tackle it?" An award jury consisting of leading executives, journalists, and professors from all around the world and an academic jury headed by HSG Professor Heike Bruch and composed of young top academics from the University of St. Gallen and the ETH Zurich selected the winning ideas. One noticeable trend in this year’s top essays was the exploration of confronting scarcities with AI. However, the top essays reflected a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and solving a broad variety of scarcities ranging from resource, healthcare, information, social and knowledge, or technological scarcity.

Repurposing agricultural subsidies to conquer food scarcity

Oluwafunmike "Funke" Aderonmu, who is currently pursuing a master in public affairs at Princeton University, won this year’s competition with her essay "Cultivating Resilience: A Paradigm Shift in U.S. Agricultural Subsidies for a Food Secure Future ". Aderonmu discusses that climate change severely affects agricultural production endangering the global food supply. In return, agriculture is also a key driver of climate change. To tackle this mutual reinforcement, Aderonmu proposes three reforms for the U.S. agricultural subsidies: Investing in agricultural research and development, increasing conservation funding as a larger share of subsidies, and supporting sustainable, climate-smart agriculture. In addition, Aderonmu also advocates for broader agricultural subsidy reforms across the world. Aderonmu first became exposed to issues of food insecurity and hunger in the U.S. through an internship where she worked on a project with a local food bank in California. Aderonmu learned that “even though there is enough food produced to feed everyone in the U.S., people still face insecurity with regards to food because of how the food system is designed in ways that reflect a lot of economic inequalities, particularly people with low incomes often lack affordable food options”. Her internship also sparked her interest in the role of policies in shaping food security, leading her to complete a yearlong fellowship working on hunger issues in the U.S. after her undergraduate studies and work for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). After completing her master’s degree, Aderonmu hopes to work at the intersection of inclusive economic development and advancing food security. With her prize money, Aderonmu wants to support organizations that provide immediate food security relief in addition to supporting more of the global advocacy and long-term policy changes. Fitting to the essay competition, Aderonmu encourages young people to look for opportunities to write and ensure that their ideas are spread, stating that "no opportunity is too small, whether it's at your local school newspaper or writing a blog".

Boosting climate change-exposed health systems with AI

Chan Wei Jun Sean is a master’s student in public health at the National University of Singapore. In his second-ranked essay "Mapping the Future of Global Health: Leveraging GeoAI to Optimise Resources in Climate -Resilient Healthcare Systems" he writes about using advancements in AI to effectively address health vulnerabilities stemming from climate variability and change. Coming from a background in policy analysis and global health, Chan set his mind to tackling the problem that inaction on climate change weakens the global health resilience to infectious illnesses, heat-related injuries, malnutrition, and mental health issues. He previously worked on a research project on using observational spatiotemporal analysis of routinely collected malaria surveillance data to evaluate elimination objectives in Bhutan, sparking the idea for his essay. GeoAI uses artificial intelligence and geospatial data to optimize healthcare resource allocation. It combines various data sources such as satellite imagery, electronic health data, and social media content to develop innovative public health strategies. It aids in predicting disease transmission, optimizing resource allocation and access to healthcare in vulnerable areas, and informing policy decisions. "I wanted to test my idea on a global scale", Chan reflects on his motivation to apply, "I wanted to see whether there is an audience that would relate to healthcare scarcity resulting from worsening climate calamity, and if GeoAI would be an interesting tool to help governments and NGOs better manage such scarcity efficiently". Chan advises young people to look for good mentors, participate in community initiatives, and be open, empathetic, yet respectful. He specifically values intergenerational dialogue as “one can see optimism and hope in the eyes of leaders of today towards the future generation, and that’s where young people are motivated to strive to do the best in their field".

Tackling misinformation overlead

Third-placed St.Gallen native and PhD student at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore Andreas Kuster explores the challenges posed by the digital age's information overload, particularly regarding the verification of content flooding the internet. Titled "Beyond the Noise: Innovating Information Verification in the Digital Age", the essay argues for a multifaceted approach to combat misinformation. In a society where the rapid dissemination of news through social media platforms often prioritizes engagement over truth and where fake news websites and manipulated media content mislead audiences, Andreas sheds light on the critical scarcity of effective mechanisms for information verification. To solve this, Kuster proposes three solutions. First, Kuster advocates for leveraging the latest advancements in AI and machine learning to detect and flag misinformation. This includes the development of automated fact-checking tools and bots to verify information in real time. Second, Kuster suggests integrating digital and media literacy in educational curricula. Students should be empowered to assess the credibility of sources, understand the mechanisms behind the spread of misinformation, and evaluate the bias and intent behind content. Third, robust policy interventions can help bolster information verification. For example, policy interventions could promote transparency in digital advertising, hold digital platforms responsible for content they propagate, and mandate the adoption of verification technologies by these platforms. Kuster concludes by urging for a cultural shift towards more mindful information consumption and he envisions a more informed and resilient society capable of discerning truth from falsehood in the digital age. “Ensuring accurate information is one of the core pillars of research and essential to uphold the integrity of my work”, Kuster explains his connection to the essay topic. As next steps, Kuster shares that “at an individual level, reverting to a more deliberate approach to consuming and digesting information can be applied immediately, meaning shifting from short-attention-span videos and condensed information feeds to engaging with articles, books, or in-depth documentaries, allowing time to think critically about what you see, hear and read”. You can view and read the full winning essays and the top 25 entries here

Victoria Lorenzen studies Banking and Finance and International Management at the University of St.Gallen.

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