best present essay

Follow us Questions Describe the best present/gift you have received.

1) in china, when will people send the present.

Oh, attend the party, such as Wedding Party, Birthday Party. During Spring Festival, people give presents to each other, including clothes, books , flowers, and foods.

2) Compare the gift people received 10 years ago to the present that people now are receiving; what’s the difference between them? ( try to compare the gift you received in your teenage with the gift children received now )

Oh, I think the gift was monotonic before. For example, I often received a notebook as a gift. But now, there are various gifts to choose from. Such as flowers, wine, food, clothes etc.

3) imagine the gift in the future children will receive.

In the future, I think more and more children will receive intellectual gifts, such as the electronic dictionary, notebook computer and so on.

4) imagine the gift in the future people will receive.

In the future, oh, in most case, people will give flowers to each other. I think flowers will be the most popular present.

• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)

Pages Content

About The Author

IELTS FEVER

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Essay on My Best Gift

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Best Gift in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Best Gift

Introduction.

The joy of receiving gifts is immeasurable. Among all the gifts I have received, one stands out as the best.

The Best Gift

My best gift was a book, gifted by my grandmother on my 10th birthday. It wasn’t just any book, but a collection of inspiring stories.

Why It’s Special

This book is special because it ignited my love for reading. Each story taught me valuable lessons about life.

The best gifts aren’t always the most expensive ones. They are those that leave a lasting impact on our lives, just like my book.

250 Words Essay on My Best Gift

Gifts hold a unique place in our lives, often serving as markers of significant moments or relationships. The best gifts are not necessarily the most expensive, but those that carry profound emotional value. For me, the best gift I’ve ever received is a small, worn-out notebook from my grandmother, a gift that has shaped my life in unimaginable ways.

The Gift’s Significance

The notebook, filled with my grandmother’s handwritten recipes, is more than just a collection of dishes. It is a testament to her love for cooking and a symbol of her desire to pass on the family’s culinary heritage. She had spent years perfecting those recipes, and her gift was a way of entrusting me with a piece of our family’s history.

Impact of the Gift

The notebook has significantly influenced my life. It sparked a passion for cooking that I was previously unaware of. I found joy in replicating the recipes, each dish bringing me closer to my roots and instilling a sense of connection to my family. The notebook also taught me the value of preserving traditions and the importance of sharing them with future generations.

In conclusion, the best gift I’ve ever received is not valuable in monetary terms, but it is priceless in its emotional significance. It represents a tangible link to my family’s past and a guide for preserving our traditions. It is a gift that has shaped my interests, values, and identity. The notebook from my grandmother is not just a collection of recipes; it is a cherished keepsake, a source of inspiration, and undoubtedly, my best gift.

500 Words Essay on My Best Gift

Gifts are a universal way to express emotions such as love, appreciation, and gratitude. Throughout our lives, we receive various gifts, but some hold a special place in our hearts. The best gift I ever received was not wrapped in shiny paper or tied with a colorful ribbon, but was a profound life experience that forever changed my perspective.

The Unexpected Gift

The best gift I ever received was a two-week trip to a remote village in Africa, a gift from my parents on my eighteenth birthday. Initially, I was perplexed, even disappointed. I had expected a car, a gadget, or a lavish party, but instead, I was given an experience that seemed unexciting. Little did I know, this trip would be the most valuable gift I’d ever receive.

Experiencing a Different World

In the remote village, I was exposed to a world far removed from the comforts of my urban life. The villagers lived in humble huts, tilled their fields manually, fetched water from wells, and cooked on open fires. There were no shopping malls, no internet, and no fast food. Initially, it was a culture shock. But as the days passed, I began to understand the essence of their lifestyle.

Lessons from Simplicity

The villagers taught me the beauty of simplicity. They found joy in the simplest things – a good harvest, a community gathering, a starlit sky. They were content with what they had, and they shared generously. Their sense of community was profound; they worked together, celebrated together, and supported each other in times of need. The happiness and contentment they derived from their simple lives were eye-opening.

Valuing What Matters

This experience taught me to value relationships and experiences over material possessions. I realized that the relentless pursuit of material wealth often leads to stress and discontentment. On the other hand, the villagers, with their simple lives and strong community bonds, seemed happier and more content. This realization was a paradigm shift for me, making me reconsider what I truly valued in life.

In retrospect, the trip to the African village was the best gift I ever received. It was not a material possession that would lose its value over time, but an experience that enriched my life and broadened my perspective. It taught me the importance of simplicity, contentment, and community – lessons that continue to shape my life. This gift from my parents was indeed a profound life experience, a gift that keeps on giving.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Gift
• Essay on Geography
• Essay on Today’s Generation

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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

IELTS Cue Card

A website dedicated to IELTS Cue Card Samples, Speaking Samples, and Speaking Preparation Guideline...

Search This Blog

Describe a gift you have received that was important to you, describe a gift you have received that was important to you..

• who gave it to you and on what occasion
• what it looked like and how you used it
• when you received it

Idea Generation for this Cue Card / Candidate Task Card Topic:

• A birthday gift you got from one of your family members. 
• A computer/ laptop/ mobile phone that you got as a gift from your parents.
• A gift that a teacher gave to you. 
• A gift you received on your graduation day. 
• Any electronic device that you got as a gift. 
• Any toy you were given in your childhood. 
• A book, notebook, or pen that you were given by a friend. 
• A household appliance that you were given and you used. 
• A gift you received from a cousin. 
• A present that you could not purchase but was given by someone. 
• A bat, ball, gloves or costume that you received from someone you care about. 
• A piece of furniture or an ornament. 
• A car, house, prize bond etc.  

Useful Vocabulary for describing this Cue Card: 

• Gift Synonyms: Present, offering, bequest, endowment, reward, tip. 
• Important Synonyms: Significant, essential, prime, key, vital, crucial, paramount meaningful, considerable. 
• Occasion Synonyms: Event, celebration, party, moment, time, instance, affair, function,
• Looks like Synonyms: Appearance, resembles. 
• Describe something you own which is important to you.
• Describe a present or gift you bought for someone.
• Describe an important possession you have.
• Describe an occasion when you received a gift.
• Describe a gift or present you received when you were a child.
• Describe something you want to buy.

Popular posts from this blog

Important skill you learned when you were a child, describe a time when you were very busy, describe your favourite movie/film, describe your family.

Welcome Guest!

• IELTS Listening
• IELTS Reading
• IELTS Writing
• IELTS Writing Task 1
• IELTS Writing Task 2
• IELTS Speaking
• IELTS Speaking Part 1
• IELTS Speaking Part 2
• IELTS Speaking Part 3
• IELTS Practice Tests
• IELTS Listening Practice Tests
• IELTS Reading Practice Tests
• IELTS Writing Practice Tests
• IELTS Speaking Practice Tests
• All Courses
• IELTS Online Classes
• OET Online Classes
• PTE Online Classes
• CELPIP Online Classes
• Free Live Classes
• Australia PR
• Germany Job Seeker Visa
• Austria Job Seeker Visa
• Sweden Job Seeker Visa
• Study Abroad
• Student Testimonials
• Our Trainers
• IELTS Webinar
• Immigration Webinar

Describe the best gift you have ever received – IELTS Cue Card

Updated On Dec 27, 2023

Share on Whatsapp

Share on Email

Share on Linkedin

Predicted 50 + IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topics 2024

In the IELTS Speaking section, one of the most common question types is the Cue Card Speaking prompt. The IELTS Cue Card topics will prompt you to formulate a response and speak on the given topic. To attempt this question, you must narrow down the essential questions on the given topic to answer within the given time. Consider the sample Cue Card below. Study the types of questions that have been formulated based on the cue card and how to go about with your response:

Describe the best gift you have ever received

You should say:

• What was the gift?
• Who gave it to you?
• When did you receive it?
• And explain why it is the best gift you have ever received

Sample Answer 1

Gifts, are always prized by everyone who receives them. Many people would argue that gifts, are an essential part of almost every special occasion. Gifts are a symbol of gratitude and never fail to uplift a person. One gift that always comes to my mind when I think of gifts is the birthday present I received for my 13th birthday. I had my heart set on a particular bicycle, and I received it for my 13th birthday.

This gift was given to me by my father. I had asked him for a bicycle to ride in the evenings around the neighbourhood for a long time, and he finally agreed to give me one for my 13th birthday. When he asked me what kind of bicycle I would like, I told him I would love a cycle with multiple gears. Although an expensive gift, my father bought it for me.

I received this gift on May 26 2013, and it was a Friday. I distinctly remember that day when my father agreed to take me to the bicycle showroom. I accompanied him on his bike, and we went to a specific bicycle shop on the other side of the city since bicycles with multiple gears were rare.

After we reached the shop and my father had a talk with the store manager, he asked me to pick a colour from the available options. I was elated, and my cheeks blushed with joy as I started to judge which bicycle colour was the best looking. I finally settled on the colour black, and my father made the purchase. After the bicycle arrived at our residence, I wasted no time before I started riding it around our house. That bicycle made my 13th birthday truly memorable and is one of the most cherished gifts I have ever received.

Sample Answer 2

Here is the sample for “Describe the best gift you have ever received” topic:

Gifts speak volumes about the love and care somebody has for you. Although, since childhood, I’ve received plenty of gifts from my relatives and family, one of them that I can never forget was a huge, orange-coloured doll and a battery-operated doll that was sitting on a cake and playing the piano. Just with the click of a button, the cake began revolving, and the doll sang a happy birthday song.

These gifts were given to me by my elder sister on my 12th birthday.

To begin with, it was the first-ever time when my sister had planned a surprise birthday party for me. She had decorated the room, placed these beside a huge cake, and had invited all of my friends – without my knowledge. Although she was merely two years older than me, I still hadn’t expected anything from her because she never used to express her emotions. However, that day, with such a grand gesture, she said a lot of things without expressing herself verbally. Another reason why all of these gifts and the party were special to me was that I didn’t know it was going to be my last birthday with her. She passed away after a few months because of a brain haemorrhage. So, the gifts remained memorable to me.

Sample Answer 3

Gifts are the most endearing thing one can receive. They are a proclamation of love, and they symbolize a feeling shared by the giver. As human beings, we have two ways of expression – Words and Action. When words aren’t enough to describe your emotions, they turn to action. Through gifting, a human being tries to express what words cannot encapsulate. 

The best gift I have received is my pup, Bruno. He is a German Shepherd and the cutest furball I have ever seen. Dogs are simply the most loyal companions one could ask for. They don’t love you for any worldly possessions of yours, they don’t love you for your wealth, they love you for you, and that is a beautiful thing. Dogs don’t care if you’re rich or poor, they just want to be happy, and they want to see you happy. Dogs are simply phenomenal. 

I received Bruno as a gift around 11 months ago. It was a surprise and the minute I saw his ecstatic little face, I knew we had an instant bond. Bruno is the kindest and pleasant dog I have ever met. He loves to take walks and play fetch. The minute he hears someone opening a snack, his ears perk up, and he comes running to get a piece too! He loves sweets and will definitely bring you a ball if he sees you upset. He’s the best gift I’ve ever received because he makes me happier than I thought I could be. He’s my best friend.

Here are the vocabularies for “Describe the best gift you have ever received” with examples:

• Endearing : inspiring affection. Ex : Amanda was endearing to nearly everyone she met because of her kind heart.  
• Proclamation : a clear declaration of something. Ex : The authorities issued a proclamation forbidding public meetings
• Encapsulate : express the essential features of (something) succinctly. Ex : It was very difficult to encapsulate the story of the revolution in a single one-hour documentary.
• Phenomenal : remarkable or exceptional, especially exceptionally good. Ex : California had experienced a phenomenal growth in population.
• Ecstatic : feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement. Ex : Sally was ecstatic about her new job.

Explore More Gift Cue cards >>

Related Cue Cards

• A Gift You Gave That Took A Long Time To Choose
• Describe an occasion when you received good service from a company
• Describe a Change that will Improve your Local Area
• Film/Movie that you Watched and did not Enjoy

30 + Difficult IELTS Cue Card Topics with Answer pdf

Janice Thompson

Soon after graduating with a Master’s in Literature from Southern Arkansas University, she joined an institute as an English language trainer. She has had innumerous student interactions and has produced a couple of research papers on English language teaching. She soon found that non-native speakers struggled to meet the English language requirements set by foreign universities. It was when she decided to jump ship into IELTS training. From then on, she has been mentoring IELTS aspirants. She joined IELTSMaterial about a year ago, and her contributions have been exceptional. Her essay ideas and vocabulary have taken many students to a band 9.

Post your Comments

Geethanikulathunga5gmailcom

Posted on Nov 26, 2023

IELTS Expert

Hello To find more insights on Latest Pattern of IELTS, Avail a FREE IELTS DEMO with our Band 9 Expert Trainer and Get Access to our 7-Latest IELTS E-Books.

Recent Articles

Raajdeep Saha

Kasturika Samanta

Our Offices

Gurgaon city scape, gurgaon bptp.

Step 1 of 3

Great going .

Get a free session from trainer

Have you taken test before?

Please select any option

Get free eBook to excel in test

Please enter Email ID

Get support from an Band 9 trainer

Please enter phone number

Already Registered?

Select a date

Please select a date

Select a time (IST Time Zone)

Please select a time

Mark Your Calendar: Free Session with Expert on

Which exam are you preparing?

Great Going!

• Free Essays
• Citation Generator

The Best Gift I Have Ever Received

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

Scarr's heredity-environment interactions.

I think that there are a lot of things that my parents did for me because who I am. My parents got me involved in church, playing baseball, and cub scouts, they took us on camping trips, and also on trips to see things like museums,interesting things in nature and also historical places. We got to do a lot of fun things too, like going to play arcade games Kiddie Mia’s, going to parades Crew of highland Mardi Gra parade, we also did a lot of things that helped us to be together as a family, like doing stuff as a family. My parents also tried to get me to get good grades at school, and another big thing that I think really helped me out as a person was that they showed me a good work ethic and got me ready for life. My parents always worked really hard to give me a good life and they also worked really hard to show me right from wrong. There were a lot of things that my parents did for me that contributed to my environmental experiences. The one thing that my parents gave me that contributed the most in my life was all of the love that they gave throughout the years and they still give me till this day.…

Lifespan Development

During my pre adolescent years, as best as I can recall, my mother was the driving influence behind my development. She is a good person and a mother with an iron will and a strict way, and I believe that she was one of my first role models. My father played a part in my development also. He instilled in me the morals and values that I have today and I thank him for that. Unfortunately my father passed away thirteen years ago before I had a chance to tell him that.…

Odysseus Research Paper

Iv'e always have the support of my parents and family members. Anytime I need something I know I can count on my parents. To overcome a lot of things in your life you need the support of your parents. It's very important in life to have the support of your parents. Never look back , always move forward.…

College Admissions Essay: Heritage And Personal Identity

Today, I am grateful to my parents for placing the spirit of enthusiasm, loyalty and love for my background and people. They presented a charitable goodness that shines through into my actions. The only form of inheritance they can give me is one that forms the basis of who I am as an individual, and one that defines my dedication to strengthening the society that I live in and loving all kinds of groups within my society as well.…

The Simplest gifts are the best ones

Yet my best gift & most treasured possession by far was a handmade, created from scratch card made by my friend for the Eid celebration. The card itself was made of green paper & had the words Eid Mubarak fashioned from multi colored letters. Inside the card was a picture from the holy mosque in Makkah & few short sentences aimed at wishing me a happy Eid.…

People Learn From A Variety Of Sources

Our parents have raised us, so we have been with them for majority of our lives. They helped to develop our basic knowledge like, your religion, manners, background and basic school learning. Some parents keep helping their child throughout his or her education in every way they can. Parents also share their life experiences and want you to learn from their depressing times so you don’t go through them in your life either. They help their child in any subject he is struggling or wants to learn more about such as, math. While others choose to let them be and make their own choices, but still our parents are people who will support us through our life no matter what happens. Our parents are one of the best sources for learning.…

Single Parents V. Duel Parents

Responsibility, most parents don’t realize how much they take for granted by giving their children some responsibilities. I agree that children need to have a few responsibilities, but some receive far too many. Children who are being raised by two parents may only receive a few responsibilities that they are required to do each day after school, but nothing compared to the children that are being raised in a single parent household. These children may have to either get supper started or make their own because the parent may have to work late. Plus, if there are younger siblings involved, naturally the oldest child would be responsible for looking after them. Now, what if…

A Self-Analysis as a Leader

I was fortunate to have been raised by two loving parents who are still married after…

i believe my family

My parents are loving kind of person. They take good care of my grandparents. They often help my grandparents to do chores and make them comfortable. On weekends, they usually keep a good company with my grandparents, so that they never feel lonely. Besides, they also care so much about me. Whatever hobbies and interests I have, they are always on my side, so I have my free living style.…

Agents of Socialization

Most of all, my parents have been the biggest impact on my life. My parents have always been there for me and have been open to give me any…

What makes me, me ?

My parents have had a big affect on my life. Although my parents separated at an early age, my father was always in the picture and we have faced many obstacles as a family. I know that if I am ever in trouble I can always go to them and can trust them with anything. My parents have had a major affect on my life. They have brought me up to be a confident, honest, independent person and I believe that what they have taught me and what we have been through has shaped me into what I have become today.…

Why College Is Important To Me

Their parents were there for them, did everything they needed. I am grateful for the fact that I did not have parents to hold my hands every step of the way, I realized how much simpler my life is now. My parents have raised an independent woman who is capable of taking care of her financials. Stable emotionally and able to pay for college without having to take any student loan. I would not have learned how to tell the difference between wants and needs if I had parents that were there to do everything for me instead of giving me tough love. You learn to value things more when you pay for yourself rather than parents. School teaches you the knowledge that will last you a lifetime. However, no one teaches you how to live life. My parents knew to make it in the world you have to know how to provide for yourself and be independent. Their aspiration in life is to see me succeed by teaching me the skills I would have never learned if they had held my hand. Life doesn't get easier; you were just stronger. I can now say I'm happy my parents made me learn responsibility at such a young…

Sociological Imagination

In comparison to a more traditional two-parent family, I feel as if having only one parent to rely on created a stronger bond between my mother and I that may not have been as strong had I been raised by both my mother and father. Having this type of relationship with her developed my sense of self worth and confidence, taught me how to be independent, provided me with an overall example of who I wanted to be when I got older, and countless other valuable life skills. In addition, having her play such a strong role in my life now affects my relationship with my own daughters, who I share a very similar bond with.…

Want and Development Essay Conner

My Mom is a big part of my life not only for her great cooking but also the time that she will take to help me with homework when I need it. My dad on the other hand, has always been the greatest. My dad always loved being in the outdoors with me and my brother since we were very little. He still enjoys throwing us pitches in the batting cage just for fun or before our baseball games. He also taught me how to hunt which is now one of my favorite activities to do. My Dad has taught me to work hard at everything I do either playing ball or by doing a job for someone. I am very grateful to him that he raised me that way.…

The Best Gift I Ever Received

Every year, I always receive a lot of gifts from my parents and friends on my birthday. But last year, I received a special gift from my best friend.…

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Organizing Your Argument

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

This page summarizes three historical methods for argumentation, providing structural templates for each.

How can I effectively present my argument?

In order for your argument to be persuasive, it must use an organizational structure that the audience perceives as both logical and easy to parse. Three argumentative methods —the  Toulmin Method , Classical Method , and Rogerian Method — give guidance for how to organize the points in an argument.

Note that these are only three of the most popular models for organizing an argument. Alternatives exist. Be sure to consult your instructor and/or defer to your assignment’s directions if you’re unsure which to use (if any).

Toulmin Method

The  Toulmin Method  is a formula that allows writers to build a sturdy logical foundation for their arguments. First proposed by author Stephen Toulmin in  The Uses of Argument (1958), the Toulmin Method emphasizes building a thorough support structure for each of an argument's key claims.

The basic format for the Toulmin Method  is as follows:

Claim:  In this section, you explain your overall thesis on the subject. In other words, you make your main argument.

Data (Grounds):  You should use evidence to support the claim. In other words, provide the reader with facts that prove your argument is strong.

Warrant (Bridge):  In this section, you explain why or how your data supports the claim. As a result, the underlying assumption that you build your argument on is grounded in reason.

Backing (Foundation):  Here, you provide any additional logic or reasoning that may be necessary to support the warrant.

Counterclaim:  You should anticipate a counterclaim that negates the main points in your argument. Don't avoid arguments that oppose your own. Instead, become familiar with the opposing perspective.   If you respond to counterclaims, you appear unbiased (and, therefore, you earn the respect of your readers). You may even want to include several counterclaims to show that you have thoroughly researched the topic.

Rebuttal:  In this section, you incorporate your own evidence that disagrees with the counterclaim. It is essential to include a thorough warrant or bridge to strengthen your essay’s argument. If you present data to your audience without explaining how it supports your thesis, your readers may not make a connection between the two, or they may draw different conclusions.

Example of the Toulmin Method:

Claim:  Hybrid cars are an effective strategy to fight pollution.

Data1:  Driving a private car is a typical citizen's most air-polluting activity.

Warrant 1:  Due to the fact that cars are the largest source of private (as opposed to industrial) air pollution, switching to hybrid cars should have an impact on fighting pollution.

Data 2:  Each vehicle produced is going to stay on the road for roughly 12 to 15 years.

Warrant 2:  Cars generally have a long lifespan, meaning that the decision to switch to a hybrid car will make a long-term impact on pollution levels.

Data 3:  Hybrid cars combine a gasoline engine with a battery-powered electric motor.

Warrant 3:  The combination of these technologies produces less pollution.

Counterclaim:  Instead of focusing on cars, which still encourages an inefficient culture of driving even as it cuts down on pollution, the nation should focus on building and encouraging the use of mass transit systems.

Rebuttal:  While mass transit is an idea that should be encouraged, it is not feasible in many rural and suburban areas, or for people who must commute to work. Thus, hybrid cars are a better solution for much of the nation's population.

Rogerian Method

The Rogerian Method  (named for, but not developed by, influential American psychotherapist Carl R. Rogers) is a popular method for controversial issues. This strategy seeks to find a common ground between parties by making the audience understand perspectives that stretch beyond (or even run counter to) the writer’s position. Moreso than other methods, it places an emphasis on reiterating an opponent's argument to his or her satisfaction. The persuasive power of the Rogerian Method lies in its ability to define the terms of the argument in such a way that:

• your position seems like a reasonable compromise.
• you seem compassionate and empathetic.

The basic format of the Rogerian Method  is as follows:

Introduction:  Introduce the issue to the audience, striving to remain as objective as possible.

Opposing View : Explain the other side’s position in an unbiased way. When you discuss the counterargument without judgement, the opposing side can see how you do not directly dismiss perspectives which conflict with your stance.

Statement of Validity (Understanding):  This section discusses how you acknowledge how the other side’s points can be valid under certain circumstances. You identify how and why their perspective makes sense in a specific context, but still present your own argument.

Statement of Your Position:  By this point, you have demonstrated that you understand the other side’s viewpoint. In this section, you explain your own stance.

Statement of Contexts : Explore scenarios in which your position has merit. When you explain how your argument is most appropriate for certain contexts, the reader can recognize that you acknowledge the multiple ways to view the complex issue.

Statement of Benefits:  You should conclude by explaining to the opposing side why they would benefit from accepting your position. By explaining the advantages of your argument, you close on a positive note without completely dismissing the other side’s perspective.

Example of the Rogerian Method:

Introduction:  The issue of whether children should wear school uniforms is subject to some debate.

Opposing View:  Some parents think that requiring children to wear uniforms is best.

Statement of Validity (Understanding):  Those parents who support uniforms argue that, when all students wear the same uniform, the students can develop a unified sense of school pride and inclusiveness.

Statement of Your Position : Students should not be required to wear school uniforms. Mandatory uniforms would forbid choices that allow students to be creative and express themselves through clothing.

Statement of Contexts:  However, even if uniforms might hypothetically promote inclusivity, in most real-life contexts, administrators can use uniform policies to enforce conformity. Students should have the option to explore their identity through clothing without the fear of being ostracized.

Statement of Benefits:  Though both sides seek to promote students' best interests, students should not be required to wear school uniforms. By giving students freedom over their choice, students can explore their self-identity by choosing how to present themselves to their peers.

Classical Method

The Classical Method of structuring an argument is another common way to organize your points. Originally devised by the Greek philosopher Aristotle (and then later developed by Roman thinkers like Cicero and Quintilian), classical arguments tend to focus on issues of definition and the careful application of evidence. Thus, the underlying assumption of classical argumentation is that, when all parties understand the issue perfectly, the correct course of action will be clear.

The basic format of the Classical Method  is as follows:

Introduction (Exordium): Introduce the issue and explain its significance. You should also establish your credibility and the topic’s legitimacy.

Statement of Background (Narratio): Present vital contextual or historical information to the audience to further their understanding of the issue. By doing so, you provide the reader with a working knowledge about the topic independent of your own stance.

Proposition (Propositio): After you provide the reader with contextual knowledge, you are ready to state your claims which relate to the information you have provided previously. This section outlines your major points for the reader.

Proof (Confirmatio): You should explain your reasons and evidence to the reader. Be sure to thoroughly justify your reasons. In this section, if necessary, you can provide supplementary evidence and subpoints.

Refutation (Refuatio): In this section, you address anticipated counterarguments that disagree with your thesis. Though you acknowledge the other side’s perspective, it is important to prove why your stance is more logical.  

Conclusion (Peroratio): You should summarize your main points. The conclusion also caters to the reader’s emotions and values. The use of pathos here makes the reader more inclined to consider your argument.  

Example of the Classical Method:  

Introduction (Exordium): Millions of workers are paid a set hourly wage nationwide. The federal minimum wage is standardized to protect workers from being paid too little. Research points to many viewpoints on how much to pay these workers. Some families cannot afford to support their households on the current wages provided for performing a minimum wage job .

Statement of Background (Narratio): Currently, millions of American workers struggle to make ends meet on a minimum wage. This puts a strain on workers’ personal and professional lives. Some work multiple jobs to provide for their families.

Proposition (Propositio): The current federal minimum wage should be increased to better accommodate millions of overworked Americans. By raising the minimum wage, workers can spend more time cultivating their livelihoods.

Proof (Confirmatio): According to the United States Department of Labor, 80.4 million Americans work for an hourly wage, but nearly 1.3 million receive wages less than the federal minimum. The pay raise will alleviate the stress of these workers. Their lives would benefit from this raise because it affects multiple areas of their lives.

Refutation (Refuatio): There is some evidence that raising the federal wage might increase the cost of living. However, other evidence contradicts this or suggests that the increase would not be great. Additionally,   worries about a cost of living increase must be balanced with the benefits of providing necessary funds to millions of hardworking Americans.

Conclusion (Peroratio): If the federal minimum wage was raised, many workers could alleviate some of their financial burdens. As a result, their emotional wellbeing would improve overall. Though some argue that the cost of living could increase, the benefits outweigh the potential drawbacks.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to write an a+ argumentative essay.

Miscellaneous

You'll no doubt have to write a number of argumentative essays in both high school and college, but what, exactly, is an argumentative essay and how do you write the best one possible? Let's take a look.

A great argumentative essay always combines the same basic elements: approaching an argument from a rational perspective, researching sources, supporting your claims using facts rather than opinion, and articulating your reasoning into the most cogent and reasoned points. Argumentative essays are great building blocks for all sorts of research and rhetoric, so your teachers will expect you to master the technique before long.

But if this sounds daunting, never fear! We'll show how an argumentative essay differs from other kinds of papers, how to research and write them, how to pick an argumentative essay topic, and where to find example essays. So let's get started.

What Is an Argumentative Essay? How Is it Different from Other Kinds of Essays?

There are two basic requirements for any and all essays: to state a claim (a thesis statement) and to support that claim with evidence.

Though every essay is founded on these two ideas, there are several different types of essays, differentiated by the style of the writing, how the writer presents the thesis, and the types of evidence used to support the thesis statement.

Essays can be roughly divided into four different types:

#1: Argumentative #2: Persuasive #3: Expository #4: Analytical

So let's look at each type and what the differences are between them before we focus the rest of our time to argumentative essays.

Argumentative Essay

Argumentative essays are what this article is all about, so let's talk about them first.

An argumentative essay attempts to convince a reader to agree with a particular argument (the writer's thesis statement). The writer takes a firm stand one way or another on a topic and then uses hard evidence to support that stance.

An argumentative essay seeks to prove to the reader that one argument —the writer's argument— is the factually and logically correct one. This means that an argumentative essay must use only evidence-based support to back up a claim , rather than emotional or philosophical reasoning (which is often allowed in other types of essays). Thus, an argumentative essay has a burden of substantiated proof and sources , whereas some other types of essays (namely persuasive essays) do not.

You can write an argumentative essay on any topic, so long as there's room for argument. Generally, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one, so long as you support the argumentative essay with hard evidence.

Example topics of an argumentative essay:

• "Should farmers be allowed to shoot wolves if those wolves injure or kill farm animals?"
• "Should the drinking age be lowered in the United States?"
• "Are alternatives to democracy effective and/or feasible to implement?"

The next three types of essays are not argumentative essays, but you may have written them in school. We're going to cover them so you know what not to do for your argumentative essay.

Persuasive Essay

Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative essays, so it can be easy to get them confused. But knowing what makes an argumentative essay different than a persuasive essay can often mean the difference between an excellent grade and an average one.

Persuasive essays seek to persuade a reader to agree with the point of view of the writer, whether that point of view is based on factual evidence or not. The writer has much more flexibility in the evidence they can use, with the ability to use moral, cultural, or opinion-based reasoning as well as factual reasoning to persuade the reader to agree the writer's side of a given issue.

Instead of being forced to use "pure" reason as one would in an argumentative essay, the writer of a persuasive essay can manipulate or appeal to the reader's emotions. So long as the writer attempts to steer the readers into agreeing with the thesis statement, the writer doesn't necessarily need hard evidence in favor of the argument.

Often, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one—the difference is all in the approach and the evidence you present.

Example topics of a persuasive essay:

• "Should children be responsible for their parents' debts?"
• "Should cheating on a test be automatic grounds for expulsion?"
• "How much should sports leagues be held accountable for player injuries and the long-term consequences of those injuries?"

Expository Essay

An expository essay is typically a short essay in which the writer explains an idea, issue, or theme , or discusses the history of a person, place, or idea.

This is typically a fact-forward essay with little argument or opinion one way or the other.

Example topics of an expository essay:

• "The History of the Philadelphia Liberty Bell"
• "The Reasons I Always Wanted to be a Doctor"
• "The Meaning Behind the Colloquialism ‘People in Glass Houses Shouldn't Throw Stones'"

Analytical Essay

An analytical essay seeks to delve into the deeper meaning of a text or work of art, or unpack a complicated idea . These kinds of essays closely interpret a source and look into its meaning by analyzing it at both a macro and micro level.

This type of analysis can be augmented by historical context or other expert or widely-regarded opinions on the subject, but is mainly supported directly through the original source (the piece or art or text being analyzed) .

Example topics of an analytical essay:

• "Victory Gin in Place of Water: The Symbolism Behind Gin as the Only Potable Substance in George Orwell's 1984"
• "Amarna Period Art: The Meaning Behind the Shift from Rigid to Fluid Poses"
• "Adultery During WWII, as Told Through a Series of Letters to and from Soldiers"

There are many different types of essay and, over time, you'll be able to master them all.

A Typical Argumentative Essay Assignment

The average argumentative essay is between three to five pages, and will require at least three or four separate sources with which to back your claims . As for the essay topic , you'll most often be asked to write an argumentative essay in an English class on a "general" topic of your choice, ranging the gamut from science, to history, to literature.

But while the topics of an argumentative essay can span several different fields, the structure of an argumentative essay is always the same: you must support a claim—a claim that can reasonably have multiple sides—using multiple sources and using a standard essay format (which we'll talk about later on).

This is why many argumentative essay topics begin with the word "should," as in:

• "Should all students be required to learn chemistry in high school?"
• "Should children be required to learn a second language?"
• "Should schools or governments be allowed to ban books?"

These topics all have at least two sides of the argument: Yes or no. And you must support the side you choose with evidence as to why your side is the correct one.

But there are also plenty of other ways to frame an argumentative essay as well:

• "Does using social media do more to benefit or harm people?"
• "Does the legal status of artwork or its creators—graffiti and vandalism, pirated media, a creator who's in jail—have an impact on the art itself?"
• "Is or should anyone ever be ‘above the law?'"

Though these are worded differently than the first three, you're still essentially forced to pick between two sides of an issue: yes or no, for or against, benefit or detriment. Though your argument might not fall entirely into one side of the divide or another—for instance, you could claim that social media has positively impacted some aspects of modern life while being a detriment to others—your essay should still support one side of the argument above all. Your final stance would be that overall , social media is beneficial or overall , social media is harmful.

If your argument is one that is mostly text-based or backed by a single source (e.g., "How does Salinger show that Holden Caulfield is an unreliable narrator?" or "Does Gatsby personify the American Dream?"), then it's an analytical essay, rather than an argumentative essay. An argumentative essay will always be focused on more general topics so that you can use multiple sources to back up your claims.

Good Argumentative Essay Topics

So you know the basic idea behind an argumentative essay, but what topic should you write about?

Again, almost always, you'll be asked to write an argumentative essay on a free topic of your choice, or you'll be asked to select between a few given topics . If you're given complete free reign of topics, then it'll be up to you to find an essay topic that no only appeals to you, but that you can turn into an A+ argumentative essay.

What makes a "good" argumentative essay topic depends on both the subject matter and your personal interest —it can be hard to give your best effort on something that bores you to tears! But it can also be near impossible to write an argumentative essay on a topic that has no room for debate.

As we said earlier, a good argumentative essay topic will be one that has the potential to reasonably go in at least two directions—for or against, yes or no, and why . For example, it's pretty hard to write an argumentative essay on whether or not people should be allowed to murder one another—not a whole lot of debate there for most people!—but writing an essay for or against the death penalty has a lot more wiggle room for evidence and argument.

A good topic is also one that can be substantiated through hard evidence and relevant sources . So be sure to pick a topic that other people have studied (or at least studied elements of) so that you can use their data in your argument. For example, if you're arguing that it should be mandatory for all middle school children to play a sport, you might have to apply smaller scientific data points to the larger picture you're trying to justify. There are probably several studies you could cite on the benefits of physical activity and the positive effect structure and teamwork has on young minds, but there's probably no study you could use where a group of scientists put all middle-schoolers in one jurisdiction into a mandatory sports program (since that's probably never happened). So long as your evidence is relevant to your point and you can extrapolate from it to form a larger whole, you can use it as a part of your resource material.

And if you need ideas on where to get started, or just want to see sample argumentative essay topics, then check out these links for hundreds of potential argumentative essay topics.

101 Persuasive (or Argumentative) Essay and Speech Topics

301 Prompts for Argumentative Writing

Top 50 Ideas for Argumentative/Persuasive Essay Writing

[Note: some of these say "persuasive essay topics," but just remember that the same topic can often be used for both a persuasive essay and an argumentative essay; the difference is in your writing style and the evidence you use to support your claims.]

KO! Find that one argumentative essay topic you can absolutely conquer.

Argumentative Essay Format

Argumentative Essays are composed of four main elements:

• A position (your argument)
• Your reasons
• Supporting evidence for those reasons (from reliable sources)
• Counterargument(s) (possible opposing arguments and reasons why those arguments are incorrect)

If you're familiar with essay writing in general, then you're also probably familiar with the five paragraph essay structure . This structure is a simple tool to show how one outlines an essay and breaks it down into its component parts, although it can be expanded into as many paragraphs as you want beyond the core five.

The standard argumentative essay is often 3-5 pages, which will usually mean a lot more than five paragraphs, but your overall structure will look the same as a much shorter essay.

An argumentative essay at its simplest structure will look like:

Paragraph 1: Intro

• Set up the story/problem/issue
• Thesis/claim

Paragraph 2: Support

• Reason #1 claim is correct
• Supporting evidence with sources

Paragraph 3: Support

• Reason #2 claim is correct

Paragraph 4: Counterargument

• Explanation of argument for the other side
• Refutation of opposing argument with supporting evidence

Paragraph 5: Conclusion

• Re-state claim
• Sum up reasons and support of claim from the essay to prove claim is correct

Now let's unpack each of these paragraph types to see how they work (with examples!), what goes into them, and why.

Paragraph 1—Set Up and Claim

Your first task is to introduce the reader to the topic at hand so they'll be prepared for your claim. Give a little background information, set the scene, and give the reader some stakes so that they care about the issue you're going to discuss.

Next, you absolutely must have a position on an argument and make that position clear to the readers. It's not an argumentative essay unless you're arguing for a specific claim, and this claim will be your thesis statement.

Your thesis CANNOT be a mere statement of fact (e.g., "Washington DC is the capital of the United States"). Your thesis must instead be an opinion which can be backed up with evidence and has the potential to be argued against (e.g., "New York should be the capital of the United States").

Paragraphs 2 and 3—Your Evidence

These are your body paragraphs in which you give the reasons why your argument is the best one and back up this reasoning with concrete evidence .

The argument supporting the thesis of an argumentative essay should be one that can be supported by facts and evidence, rather than personal opinion or cultural or religious mores.

For example, if you're arguing that New York should be the new capital of the US, you would have to back up that fact by discussing the factual contrasts between New York and DC in terms of location, population, revenue, and laws. You would then have to talk about the precedents for what makes for a good capital city and why New York fits the bill more than DC does.

Your argument can't simply be that a lot of people think New York is the best city ever and that you agree.

In addition to using concrete evidence, you always want to keep the tone of your essay passionate, but impersonal . Even though you're writing your argument from a single opinion, don't use first person language—"I think," "I feel," "I believe,"—to present your claims. Doing so is repetitive, since by writing the essay you're already telling the audience what you feel, and using first person language weakens your writing voice.

For example,

"I think that Washington DC is no longer suited to be the capital city of the United States."

"Washington DC is no longer suited to be the capital city of the United States."

The second statement sounds far stronger and more analytical.

Paragraph 4—Argument for the Other Side and Refutation

Even without a counter argument, you can make a pretty persuasive claim, but a counterargument will round out your essay into one that is much more persuasive and substantial.

By anticipating an argument against your claim and taking the initiative to counter it, you're allowing yourself to get ahead of the game. This way, you show that you've given great thought to all sides of the issue before choosing your position, and you demonstrate in multiple ways how yours is the more reasoned and supported side.

Paragraph 5—Conclusion

This paragraph is where you re-state your argument and summarize why it's the best claim.

Briefly touch on your supporting evidence and voila! A finished argumentative essay.

Your essay should have just as awesome a skeleton as this plesiosaur does. (In other words: a ridiculously awesome skeleton)

Argumentative Essay Example: 5-Paragraph Style

It always helps to have an example to learn from. I've written a full 5-paragraph argumentative essay here. Look at how I state my thesis in paragraph 1, give supporting evidence in paragraphs 2 and 3, address a counterargument in paragraph 4, and conclude in paragraph 5.

Topic: Is it possible to maintain conflicting loyalties?

Paragraph 1

It is almost impossible to go through life without encountering a situation where your loyalties to different people or causes come into conflict with each other. Maybe you have a loving relationship with your sister, but she disagrees with your decision to join the army, or you find yourself torn between your cultural beliefs and your scientific ones. These conflicting loyalties can often be maintained for a time, but as examples from both history and psychological theory illustrate, sooner or later, people have to make a choice between competing loyalties, as no one can maintain a conflicting loyalty or belief system forever.

The first two sentences set the scene and give some hypothetical examples and stakes for the reader to care about.

The third sentence finishes off the intro with the thesis statement, making very clear how the author stands on the issue ("people have to make a choice between competing loyalties, as no one can maintain a conflicting loyalty or belief system forever." )

Paragraphs 2 and 3

Psychological theory states that human beings are not equipped to maintain conflicting loyalties indefinitely and that attempting to do so leads to a state called "cognitive dissonance." Cognitive dissonance theory is the psychological idea that people undergo tremendous mental stress or anxiety when holding contradictory beliefs, values, or loyalties (Festinger, 1957). Even if human beings initially hold a conflicting loyalty, they will do their best to find a mental equilibrium by making a choice between those loyalties—stay stalwart to a belief system or change their beliefs. One of the earliest formal examples of cognitive dissonance theory comes from Leon Festinger's When Prophesy Fails . Members of an apocalyptic cult are told that the end of the world will occur on a specific date and that they alone will be spared the Earth's destruction. When that day comes and goes with no apocalypse, the cult members face a cognitive dissonance between what they see and what they've been led to believe (Festinger, 1956). Some choose to believe that the cult's beliefs are still correct, but that the Earth was simply spared from destruction by mercy, while others choose to believe that they were lied to and that the cult was fraudulent all along. Both beliefs cannot be correct at the same time, and so the cult members are forced to make their choice.

But even when conflicting loyalties can lead to potentially physical, rather than just mental, consequences, people will always make a choice to fall on one side or other of a dividing line. Take, for instance, Nicolaus Copernicus, a man born and raised in Catholic Poland (and educated in Catholic Italy). Though the Catholic church dictated specific scientific teachings, Copernicus' loyalty to his own observations and scientific evidence won out over his loyalty to his country's government and belief system. When he published his heliocentric model of the solar system--in opposition to the geocentric model that had been widely accepted for hundreds of years (Hannam, 2011)-- Copernicus was making a choice between his loyalties. In an attempt t o maintain his fealty both to the established system and to what he believed, h e sat on his findings for a number of years (Fantoli, 1994). But, ultimately, Copernicus made the choice to side with his beliefs and observations above all and published his work for the world to see (even though, in doing so, he risked both his reputation and personal freedoms).

These two paragraphs provide the reasons why the author supports the main argument and uses substantiated sources to back those reasons.

The paragraph on cognitive dissonance theory gives both broad supporting evidence and more narrow, detailed supporting evidence to show why the thesis statement is correct not just anecdotally but also scientifically and psychologically. First, we see why people in general have a difficult time accepting conflicting loyalties and desires and then how this applies to individuals through the example of the cult members from the Dr. Festinger's research.

The next paragraph continues to use more detailed examples from history to provide further evidence of why the thesis that people cannot indefinitely maintain conflicting loyalties is true.

Paragraph 4

Some will claim that it is possible to maintain conflicting beliefs or loyalties permanently, but this is often more a matter of people deluding themselves and still making a choice for one side or the other, rather than truly maintaining loyalty to both sides equally. For example, Lancelot du Lac typifies a person who claims to maintain a balanced loyalty between to two parties, but his attempt to do so fails (as all attempts to permanently maintain conflicting loyalties must). Lancelot tells himself and others that he is equally devoted to both King Arthur and his court and to being Queen Guinevere's knight (Malory, 2008). But he can neither be in two places at once to protect both the king and queen, nor can he help but let his romantic feelings for the queen to interfere with his duties to the king and the kingdom. Ultimately, he and Queen Guinevere give into their feelings for one another and Lancelot—though he denies it—chooses his loyalty to her over his loyalty to Arthur. This decision plunges the kingdom into a civil war, ages Lancelot prematurely, and ultimately leads to Camelot's ruin (Raabe, 1987). Though Lancelot claimed to have been loyal to both the king and the queen, this loyalty was ultimately in conflict, and he could not maintain it.

Here we have the acknowledgement of a potential counter-argument and the evidence as to why it isn't true.

The argument is that some people (or literary characters) have asserted that they give equal weight to their conflicting loyalties. The refutation is that, though some may claim to be able to maintain conflicting loyalties, they're either lying to others or deceiving themselves. The paragraph shows why this is true by providing an example of this in action.

Paragraph 5

Whether it be through literature or history, time and time again, people demonstrate the challenges of trying to manage conflicting loyalties and the inevitable consequences of doing so. Though belief systems are malleable and will often change over time, it is not possible to maintain two mutually exclusive loyalties or beliefs at once. In the end, people always make a choice, and loyalty for one party or one side of an issue will always trump loyalty to the other.

The concluding paragraph summarizes the essay, touches on the evidence presented, and re-states the thesis statement.

How to Write an Argumentative Essay: 8 Steps

Writing the best argumentative essay is all about the preparation, so let's talk steps:

#1: Preliminary Research

If you have the option to pick your own argumentative essay topic (which you most likely will), then choose one or two topics you find the most intriguing or that you have a vested interest in and do some preliminary research on both sides of the debate.

Do an open internet search just to see what the general chatter is on the topic and what the research trends are.

Did your preliminary reading influence you to pick a side or change your side? Without diving into all the scholarly articles at length, do you believe there's enough evidence to support your claim? Have there been scientific studies? Experiments? Does a noted scholar in the field agree with you? If not, you may need to pick another topic or side of the argument to support.

#2: Pick Your Side and Form Your Thesis

Now's the time to pick the side of the argument you feel you can support the best and summarize your main point into your thesis statement.

Your thesis will be the basis of your entire essay, so make sure you know which side you're on, that you've stated it clearly, and that you stick by your argument throughout the entire essay .

#3: Heavy-Duty Research Time

You've taken a gander at what the internet at large has to say on your argument, but now's the time to actually read those sources and take notes.

Check scholarly journals online at Google Scholar , the Directory of Open Access Journals , or JStor . You can also search individual university or school libraries and websites to see what kinds of academic articles you can access for free. Keep track of your important quotes and page numbers and put them somewhere that's easy to find later.

And don't forget to check your school or local libraries as well!

#4: Outline

Follow the five-paragraph outline structure from the previous section.

Fill in your topic, your reasons, and your supporting evidence into each of the categories.

Before you begin to flesh out the essay, take a look at what you've got. Is your thesis statement in the first paragraph? Is it clear? Is your argument logical? Does your supporting evidence support your reasoning?

By outlining your essay, you streamline your process and take care of any logic gaps before you dive headfirst into the writing. This will save you a lot of grief later on if you need to change your sources or your structure, so don't get too trigger-happy and skip this step.

Now that you've laid out exactly what you'll need for your essay and where, it's time to fill in all the gaps by writing it out.

Take it one step at a time and expand your ideas into complete sentences and substantiated claims. It may feel daunting to turn an outline into a complete draft, but just remember that you've already laid out all the groundwork; now you're just filling in the gaps.

If you have the time before deadline, give yourself a day or two (or even just an hour!) away from your essay . Looking it over with fresh eyes will allow you to see errors, both minor and major, that you likely would have missed had you tried to edit when it was still raw.

Take a first pass over the entire essay and try your best to ignore any minor spelling or grammar mistakes—you're just looking at the big picture right now. Does it make sense as a whole? Did the essay succeed in making an argument and backing that argument up logically? (Do you feel persuaded?)

If not, go back and make notes so that you can fix it for your final draft.

Once you've made your revisions to the overall structure, mark all your small errors and grammar problems so you can fix them in the next draft.

#7: Final Draft

Use the notes you made on the rough draft and go in and hack and smooth away until you're satisfied with the final result.

A checklist for your final draft:

• Formatting is correct according to your teacher's standards
• No errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Essay is the right length and size for the assignment
• The argument is present, consistent, and concise
• Each reason is supported by relevant evidence
• The essay makes sense overall

#8: Celebrate!

Once you've brought that final draft to a perfect polish and turned in your assignment, you're done! Go you!

Be prepared and ♪ you'll never go hungry again ♪, *cough*, or struggle with your argumentative essay-writing again. (Walt Disney Studios)

Good Examples of Argumentative Essays Online

Theory is all well and good, but examples are key. Just to get you started on what a fully-fleshed out argumentative essay looks like, let's see some examples in action.

Check out these two argumentative essay examples on the use of landmines and freons (and note the excellent use of concrete sources to back up their arguments!).

The Use of Landmines

A Shattered Sky

The Take-Aways: Keys to Writing an Argumentative Essay

At first, writing an argumentative essay may seem like a monstrous hurdle to overcome, but with the proper preparation and understanding, you'll be able to knock yours out of the park.

Remember the differences between a persuasive essay and an argumentative one, make sure your thesis is clear, and double-check that your supporting evidence is both relevant to your point and well-sourced . Pick your topic, do your research, make your outline, and fill in the gaps. Before you know it, you'll have yourself an A+ argumentative essay there, my friend.

What's Next?

Now you know the ins and outs of an argumentative essay, but how comfortable are you writing in other styles? Learn more about the four writing styles and when it makes sense to use each .

Understand how to make an argument, but still having trouble organizing your thoughts? Check out our guide to three popular essay formats and choose which one is right for you.

Ready to make your case, but not sure what to write about? We've created a list of 50 potential argumentative essay topics to spark your imagination.

Need more help with this topic? Check out Tutorbase!

Our vetted tutor database includes a range of experienced educators who can help you polish an essay for English or explain how derivatives work for Calculus. You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs.

Courtney scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT in high school and went on to graduate from Stanford University with a degree in Cultural and Social Anthropology. She is passionate about bringing education and the tools to succeed to students from all backgrounds and walks of life, as she believes open education is one of the great societal equalizers. She has years of tutoring experience and writes creative works in her free time.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below

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

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

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

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

The Best Gift You Ever Received Essay Example

• Pages: 2 (296 words)
• Published: February 4, 2017
• Type: Essay

What is the best groomsmen gift you ever received?

Every year, I always receive a lot of gifts from my parents and friends on my birthday. But last year, I received a special gift from my best friend. It was my birthday. I was presented many colourful and expensive gifts. But my best friend did not give me a gift like that. She gave me a small blue box and said that: “This is my special gift for you. I hope you will like it. ” I was very curious about what was in the box. I opened it.

A special gift I received

It was a scarf! But it was not colourful, it was blue and white which were my favourite colours. It was not a normal scarf which was

bought from the shop but it was made by my friend. She bought many balls of wool and learned how to knit. She tried her best to make a special gift for me. I knew that she had had much ado and time to finish kniting the scarf . Although it was not beautiful, I was happy and promise her treasure it.

However, it was also the last gift from my best friend. Two months later, she had to move to another country with her family. I was very upset when I knew that. When it is cold, this scarf is very useful for me. It is warmer than other scarfs because it is warm not only by keeping my normothermia but also by our friendship. On my next birthdays, I know that I will receive many beautiful gifts but I alway

believe that this scarf is the best gift I ever received.

• Holiday Essay Example
• The Gift Of The Magi Argumentative Essay Example
• Unravel the underlying principles in moka-exchange Essay Example
• The Simplest gifts are the best ones Essay Example
• Noel Gifts International Limited Balance Sheet Report Essay Example
• Thanks For Nothing Analysis Essay Example
• Moto Coming to America Essay Example
• "The 'F Word'," by Firoozeh Dumas & "The Gift of Language”, by Lan Cao Essay Example
• Intuition as depicted in the book The Gift of Fear Essay Example
• Simple Gift Essay Example
• Simple Gift Speech Essay Example
• Guanxi in Jeopardy Essay Example
• Exit Through the Gift Shop Essay Example
• The Gift of Gab Summary Essay Example
• My Best Gift Essay Example
• Accident essays
• Awareness essays
• Benefits of Volunteering essays
• Challenges essays
• Childhood Memories essays
• Decision essays
• Driving essays
• Event essays
• Excellence essays
• Expectations essays
• Failure essays
• Farewell essays
• Flight essays
• Gift essays
• Growing Up essays
• Ignorance essays
• Improve essays
• Incident essays
• Knowledge essays
• Luck essays
• Memories essays
• Mistake essays
• Obstacles essays
• Overcoming Challenges essays
• Party essays
• Peace Corps essays
• Personal Experience essays
• Problems essays
• Sacrifices essays
• Struggle essays
• Success essays
• Trust essays
• Vacation essays
• Visit essays
• Volunteering essays

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards.

• Enter your topic/question
• Receive an explanation
• Ask one question at a time
• Enter a specific assignment topic
• Aim at least 500 characters
• a topic sentence that states the main or controlling idea
• supporting sentences to explain and develop the point you’re making
• evidence from your reading or an example from the subject area that supports your point
• analysis of the implication/significance/impact of the evidence finished off with a critical conclusion you have drawn from the evidence.

Unfortunately copying the content is not possible

Tell us your email address and we’ll send this sample there..

By continuing, you agree to our Terms and Conditions .

Use These Sentence Starter Tips to Strengthen Your Writing

In general, a sentence starter is a quick word or phrase at the beginning of a sentence to help the reader transition, such as the phrase “in general.” Without them, writing can be disorganized, disconnected, and therefore hard to read. But knowing which ones to add—and when —is not always obvious. 

In this article, we discuss sentence starters quite similar to “in this article.” We explain a bit about when and how to use them, and then give specific examples of sentence starters you can use in your writing, divided into categories for quick reference like “topic sentence starters for essays” or “good sentence starters for emphasis.” 

Here’s a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines? Grammarly can check your spelling and save you from grammar and punctuation mistakes. It even proofreads your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write.

Your writing, at its best Grammarly helps strengthen your academic writing Write with Grammarly

What is a sentence starter?

Sentence starters are the words or phrases that introduce the rest of the sentence, typically set apart by commas. The words that start a sentence are some of the most important in writing: They introduce what the sentence is about so the reader knows what to expect. 

In longer academic writing texts, sentence starters are essential for unifying the entire work. Because each sentence essentially has its own individual topic, these writings frequently jump from point to point, sometimes abruptly. Sentence starters help ease the process for the reader by smoothing over jarring transitions and preparing the reader for the next topic. 

That principle also applies to paragraphs , which jump from topic to topic. Paragraph starters fulfill that same role, typically providing an organizational signpost via introduction sentence starters to bridge the gap between the previous and current topics. 

Although they’re common in fiction, sentence starters are most useful for nonfiction, in particular essay writing . While fiction unifies the writing through the narrative, nonfiction often incorporates a variety of facts, which sentence starters coalesce for the reader. In other words, if you think nonfiction is dry, imagine if it were merely a list of facts! 

When to use sentence starters

Sentence starters are not necessary for every sentence. In fact, using them too much can distract your reader. Here are some situations where a sentence starter works best: 

• It’s unclear how one sentence is connected to others.
• You’re introducing a new idea, such as at the beginning of an essay or of a paragraph
• You’re presenting a conclusion or summary, for instance at the end of an essay.
• You want to add emphasis to a particular sentence or point.
• You want to write a hook to captivate readers.
• The sentence requires certain context, such as background information.

There’s no hard rule for when to use sentence starters and when to avoid them. If you’re having trouble deciding, try rereading your last few lines and see how they sound. If your sentences flow together nicely, you don’t need sentence starters. If something seems off, jarring, or missing, try adding one to see if it helps. 

Below you’ll find examples of sentence starters relevant to specific contexts.

Topic sentence starters for essays

Topic sentences are like the sentence starters of an entire essay—they introduce what the paragraph or entire text is about so the readers know what to expect. 

• This paper discusses . . .
• In this paper . . .
• Here, we discuss . . .
• Below, you will find . . .

Conclusion sentence starters for essays

Conclusions and summaries always act a little differently than other sentences and paragraphs because they don’t present new information. When you’re writing a conclusion , remember that sentence starters can cue the reader that you’re about to “wrap things up” so they don’t expect any new points or evidence. 

• In summary . . .
• To summarize . . . 
• Putting it all together . . .
• In conclusion . . .
• To wrap things up . . .
• To review . . .
• In short . . . 
• All in all . . .
• All things considered . . .
• By and large . . .
• Overall . . .
• On the whole . . .

Good sentence starters for sequences or lists

Sentence starters are quite useful for lists of instructions or explaining a series of events. These items aren’t always related in obvious ways, but sentence starters link them together, and in the right order, so that your reader can organize them properly in their head. 

• First . . ., Second . . ., Third . . ., etc. 
• Subsequently . . .
• After that . . .
• Afterwards . . .
• Eventually . . . 
• Later . . .
• Moving on . . .

Good sentence starters for comparisons

Use sentence starters to show that two things are related or alike. Although the topics may be similar to yours, your reader may not yet understand the connection. 

• Similarly . . .
• In the same way . . .
• Along those lines . . .
• Likewise . . .
• Again . . .

Good sentence starters for elaboration or adding new points

For times when one sentence isn’t enough to fully explain your point, adding sentence starters to the subsequent sentences can tie them all together. 

• Additionally . . .
• Moreover . . .
• Furthermore . . .
• Even more important . . .
• Just as important . . .

Good sentence starters for introducing examples

Especially for essays, you want to use evidence to support your claims. Sentence starters ease the transition from explaining the big picture to showing those same ideas at work in the real world. 

• For example . . .
• For instance . . .
• To illustrate . . .
• Specifically . . .
• We can see this in . . .
• This is evidenced by . . .
• Consider the [case/example] of . . .

Good sentence starters for contrasts and abrupt transitions

Sentence starters work best at times when you must change topics abruptly. Without them, the text becomes jarring and scattered, so use them to keep your reader on the right path, especially when contrasting topics. 

• However . . .
• Although . . .
• Otherwise . . .
• On the other hand . . .
• On the contrary . . .
• Nevertheless . . .
• Then again . . .
• Conversely . . .
• Notwithstanding . . .
• In contrast . . .
• Despite that . . .
• Rather . . .
• Still . . .
• Instead . . .

Good sentence starters to establish cause and effect

It’s common to use two different sentences to discuss a cause-and-effect relationship, as in something making something else happen. Sentence starters can make this relationship clear and show which sentence is the cause and which is the effect. 

• As a result . . .
• Accordingly . . .
• Consequently . . .
• Due to . . .
• For this reason . . .
• Hence . . .
• Therefore . . .
• This means that . . .
• That is why . . .

Good sentence starters for emphasis

In some situations, sentence starters aren’t necessary, but they help make a point stand out. Save these for the sentences you really want your readers to remember above all else. 

• Above all . . .
• As usual . . .
• Certainly . . .
• Indeed . . .
• Undoubtedly . . .
• Of course . . .
• Obviously . . .
• Namely . . .
• Generally speaking . . .

Good sentence starters for references

If you’re citing an idea other than your own, like in research papers, it saves space to put the attribution in the words to start a sentence. Use these sentence starters before a quote or concept from another work. 

• According to . . .
• Based on the findings of . . .
• As seen by . . .
• As explained by . . .
• With regards to . . .

Good sentence starters for historical or generally accepted concepts

Some sentences don’t make sense without context. This could be a popular, mainstream idea that the reader is unaware of, or some historical background that is not common knowledge. In these instances, sentence starters can provide that context without becoming a tangent. 

• Traditionally . . .
• Historically . . .
• Customarily . . .
• In the past . . .
• Conventionally . . .
• Initially . . .
• Recently . . .
• Until now . . .

Good sentence starters to show uncertainty or doubt

If you’re writing about facts, your reader will assume everything you write is a fact. In situations where something is unproven or uncertain, it helps to mention that there’s room for doubt so as not to misinform the reader. 

• Perhaps . . .
• Although not proven . . .
• It’s possible that . . .
• It may be that . . .
• Arguably . . .
• While debatable . . .

Ensure your sentences flow

In addition to using strong sentence starters, you want your entire essay to read smoothly and coherently. Grammarly can help. Our writing suggestions flag confusing sentences and provide feedback on how to make your writing clearer, helping you put your best ideas forward.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

My Children Helped Me Remember How to Fly

The best present I have ever received is that my grown children still want to play with me.

By Deb Amlen

“Want us to teach you how to fly?”

It sounds like a ridiculous question, but my children were serious. I taught them many things when they were little, and the students, now young adults, have become the teachers. I am grateful: Without their help, I have trouble getting my Pokémon off the ground.

We sat down for my flying lesson and I realized how lucky I am. In a world where families are fractured for all kinds of reasons, my children still want to play with me.

In their spare time, Carly and Devin have been laser-focused on the two versions of the newest Pokémon game, Scarlet and Violet, since both came out in 2022. Sometimes the kids allowed me to watch the action over their shoulders. The technological advances of the visuals and gameplay were overwhelming to me at first, given that the last time I caught a Pikachu — about 20 years ago — the Pokémon mascot was two-dimensional and pixelated.

Back then, my kids considered me to be an expert. I had developed a habit of playing their Game Boy games before they did, in part to help them when they were too little to figure out how to beat the big bosses. But the games also delighted me with their silliness and the spirit of adventure they encouraged. I did not grow up with video games, hand-held or otherwise, and I discovered that playing them made me happy. They also allowed me to spend time with my children in a stress-free environment.

But I kept that to myself, because the parents on the school playground, scrolling on their phones, gave me side eye, asking, “Why are you wasting your time with that?” I got used to smiling and putting the game away, but the voice in my head said: “Because it’s fun. And because when I meet my kids where they are, my life is so much more colorful.”

As they grew, my children became better at vanquishing the villains and didn’t need my help. I was busy, trying to juggle work, family and rare moments of self-care. There was no time for video games, and the spirit of play was replaced by a focus on accomplishment, which transformed me from a human being into a “human doing.” I wasn’t even aware that it was happening.

“You would really enjoy Pokémon Violet,” Carly said to me late last year, while deftly catching a Suicune . “Video games have progressed a lot since the last time you played, and this one is so much fun.”

My job as a crossword columnist for The New York Times is to help people find the playfulness in puzzles. Recently, though, when it comes to having fun with video games, I find myself making excuses that sound like an anthem for the serious-responsibilities crowd:

I can’t really spend money on a Switch for myself right now; we’re on a budget. I don’t have the time to get wrapped up in a long game. Don’t you understand how much work I have to do?

As the words left my mouth, I felt the chains of adulthood tightening around me.

There are, at a minimum, three qualities that I love and admire about my children. Carly and Devin are compassionate to the nth degree, and they happen to be experts at finding loopholes. They also don’t give up on anything or anyone easily.

The two of them nodded at me sympathetically, and I believed that the matter was over. Score one for adulthood.

“You know, if you buy a Nintendo Switch and Pokémon Scarlet or Violet, you could play with us inside our games,” Devin said a few days later, in my kids’ familiar “We’re not done with you yet” tone of voice.

“Wait, you can actually play with other players inside the consoles?” I asked. This was a new concept to me.

“Yup,” Devin said. “I’ll show you.” He and Carly muttered some technical incantations to each other and there they were on each other’s Switches: Their avatars waved at each other and showed off their Pokémon. I felt like a cave dweller seeing fire for the first time.

When Hanukkah rolled around at the end of 2023, I was prepared with gifts for my kids. In our household, parents give presents to the children, while children — even adult ones — are not required to give to the parents. My kids largely ignore that rule. Somehow, I wound up giving birth to two people who love to give gifts.

The first night, Carly and Devin approached me with a gift bag. Both of them were grinning.

“We have been waiting to give this to you for months ,” Carly said. “Open it.”

I thanked them, smiling, and then gasped. They pooled their money to buy me a refurbished Switch and the Pokémon Violet game.

“This stuff is so expensive,” I said, meekly. “You shouldn’t spend your money on me.” I meant what I said, but the lure of the game wass so strong that even I can tell that my tone was not convincing.

I started to play after dinner and was astounded by the beauty of this new Pokémon world. The artwork is stunning, and, even though the game glitched once in a while, the makers have clearly put a lot of work into it.

“How do you like it so far?” Carly asked, looking over my shoulder.

All is can say in response was: “Wow. Just — wow.”

“Would you like to play together?”

Just the question made me smile. When the kids were young, there were times when the unrelenting demand “Play with me, Mommy!” was exhausting, but now the invitation warmed my heart.

And that’s when it hit me: The gift sn’t the game. The real present is that as my children soar into their own independent lives, they still want me to fly along with them.

Deb Amlen is a games columnist for The Times. She helps readers learn to solve the Times Crossword, and writes about games, puzzles and language. More about Deb Amlen

It’s Game Time!

Take your puzzling skills in new directions..

WordleBot , our daily Wordle companion that tells you how skillful or lucky you are, is getting an upgrade. Here’s what to know .

The editor of Connections , our new game about finding common threads between words, talks about how she makes this daily puzzle feel fun .

We asked some of the best Sudoku  solvers in the world for their tips and tricks. Try them to  tackle even the most challenging puzzles.

Read today’s Wordle Review , and get insights on the game from our columnists.

We asked Times readers how they play Spelling Bee. The hive mind weighed in with their favorite tips and tricks .

Ready to play? Try Wordle , Spelling Bee  or The Crossword .

• Mattress Toppers
• Sheets & Bedding
• Sleep Products
• Cleaning & Laundry
• Heating & Cooling
• Home Office
• Kitchen & Dining
• Storage & Organization
• Wine & Bar
• Accessories
• Handbags & Purses
• Lingerie & Sleepwear
• Outdoor & Fitness Apparel
• Kids Clothes & Accessories
• Pregnancy & Postpartum
• Toys & Books
• Apparel & Accessories
• Camping & Hiking
• Fishing & Hunting
• Tennis & Racket Sports
• Tools & Tech
• Training & Recovery
• Water Sports
• Winter Sports
• Personal Products
• Wellness & Self Care
• Computers, Tablets & Accessories
• Online Tools
• Smart Home Devices
• Smartphones, Smartwatches & Accessories
• Hotels & Lodging
• Travel Products
• Father's Day
• Mother's Day
• Valentine's Day
• Amazon Prime Day
• Beauty & Grooming
• Tech & Electronics
• Travel Deals
• Mattress & Sleep

The Best Gifts For Expecting Moms To Support And Celebrate Them

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

If there’s anyone who deserves a gift “just because,” it’s an expecting mom. Growing a human is physically hard, and then throw in the mental load of preparing for a new baby’s arrival, and you’ve got a recipe for a stressed out, overtired, utterly exhausted mama. The best gifts for expecting moms are heartfelt, practical or simply pamper her with the self-care items she needs right now.

The best gifts for expecting moms are practical and cater to her needs and wants, not just the ... [+] baby's.

When shopping for the best gifts for pregnant women, Katie Billingsley, a certified breastfeeding and lactation specialist, says to consider the individual for whom you are buying. “Is she someone who prioritizes sustainability above all or a celebrity-obsessed social media scroller who wants the latest A-list items? A great gift is personalized, shows you put in some thought and, ideally, is something she will get great, long-term use from.” When in doubt, go ahead and ask mom directly what she wants, or peruse our list for inspiration.

From prenatal skincare and meal delivery gift cards to a personalized video book and the softest pajamas ever , we’ve rounded up the best gifts for expecting moms, according to real moms and pregnancy pros, you can buy now.

Andis ReVite Clipper Review: A Professional-Caliber Tool For Easy Buzz Cuts

The 10 best recliners to help you kick back and relax, best gifts for expecting moms at a glance.

• Best Gifts Under $50: Little Words Project Bracelet , Kate McLeod Lotion Bar , Heirloom Video Book , Comrad Cozygrip Socks , Boppy Pillow , Bedside Caddy , Caden Lane Robe , Loop Engage Earplugs , Sacral Garden Ma Balance & Harmony Padsicle , Thena Sitz Bath Soak , Luma & Leaf Body Butter
• Best Gifts Under $100: Bodily Care for Pregnancy Set , Hatch Gift Card , Babyquip Gift Card , Kzik Sneaker , Doordash Gift Card , Hitch Bottle & Cup Kit , Natalist TLC Trio
• Best Gifts Under $250: Cozy Earth Pajama Set , Hatch Sunrise Alarm Clock , De'Longhi Nespresso Machine , Jenni Kayne Sweatpant , Ingrid + Isabel Jacket , The Getaway Bag By No Reception Club , Barefoot Dreams Throw , Paume New Parent Bundle

Best Gifts For Expecting Moms Under $50

A friendship bracelet for your favorite cool mom.

Little Words Project

Little Words Project Cool Mom Bracelet

She’s not a regular mom, she’s a cool mom. With beaded friendship bracelets all the rage right now, she’ll love this little token of your appreciation, which will serve as a daily reminder of your bond and the bond she’ll build with her new tiny BFF.

An All-Purpose Bar To Nourish Her Body & Baby

Kate McLeod

Kate McLeod Mama Stone Lotion Bar

This super nourishing, plant-based body stone is the gift that keeps on giving from the pregnancy period through postpartum and beyond. It’s made from 100% natural ingredients, helping boost radiance, increase firmness, heal inflammation and reduce the appearance of stretch marks. It also doubles as a nipple cream, supports perineal massage and is safe to use on sensitive newborn skin.

A Video Book To Document Her Pregnancy Journey

Heirloom personalized video book.

Capture all those precious pregnancy moments, baby shower and gender reveals with this customizable video-playing book from Heirloom. You simply upload your videos and they do the rest, creating a keepsake memory book that plays your videos when you open the cover, which can also be personalized. Books start at $49 for 10 minutes of video and go up to $89 for an hour.

Cozy Compression Socks To Ease Discomfort

Comrad cozygrip compression slipper socks.

Billingsley loves these ultra-plush and stretchy compression socks to alleviate pregnancy discomfort. “Everyone swells during the third trimester and after delivery,” she says. “A great, under-the-radar gift that mom can use indefinitely are compression socks, like my favorites from Comrad, made with no-slip silicone grips.”

A Pregnancy And Breastfeeding Pillow All In One

Boppy cuddle pillow with organic cotton cover.

A supportive pregnancy pillow is a must-have for any expecting mom. Kelly Brusch, the founder of Doulas of North County , likes this Boppy one for it’s space-saving design and full body support where pregnant moms need it most. It comes with a 100% organic cotton removable cover, and the contoured design makes it versatile enough for sleeping or sitting. Once baby arrives, it doubles as the perfect breastfeeding pillow too.

A Bedside Caddy Care Package

Canopy bedside caddy.

For pregnant women delivering at a hospital, SoCal mom Julia recommends a bedside caddy “care package” stocked with all the essentials to make her stay more comfortable. “Types of items to include are chapstick, a travel pack of facial wipes, travel pack of tissues, a pen, small hand sanitizer, a mini brush and hair ties. All the small things you want easily in reach when you can’t get out of bed and don’t have anyone immediately available to find and hand them to you,” she says. “It also gives you a place to put your phone, hospital meal menus and the bed control remote.”

A Buttery-Soft Bamboo Robe For Before, During And After Delivery

Caden lane bamboo knit maternity robe.

This buttery-soft and breathable bamboo maternity robe has over 3,000 rave reviews and an almost-perfect 4.9 average star rating. She can wear it at home while pregnant, in the hospital and for all those long cluster feeds once baby arrives. It features adjustable ties so it always fits and a crossover design for easy nursing access. Many moms also note how cooling it is on the skin. Pair it with the matching baby knot gown and hat set for the cute hospital pictures.

Noise-Reducing Earplugs For Highly Sensitive Moms

Loop engage earplugs.

Parent coach Tiffany Spadola , M.S., loves these Loop Earplugs for any neurodivergent mom or mom-to-be who is noise sensitive. “They reduce the background sound, such as during bath time, but you can still hear your child talking,” she says. “They can help expecting moms to be better prepared for the overstimulation that often accompanies being a new mom and also if their baby cries a lot.” 

A Soothing Pre-Made Padsicle To Aid In Recovery

Sacral garden ma balance & harmony padsicle.

Katie McGinley, a certified doula and founder of Post Pamper Postpartum Retreat, loves this hydrating and balancing padsicle mask, because she says it’s way easier for moms to use than making her own padsicle during the postpartum period. It’s designed to calm, cool and soothe down there. “They’re easy to use and 100% plant based with an Ayurvedic formula,” she says. Gift them to any mom-to-be for her hospital bag or to pop in the fridge at home to help with recovery.

An Organic Self-Care Sitz Bath Soak

Thena organic sitz bath soak.

While not sexy, a sitz bath is a self-care essential to help mom heal after birth. This highly-rated and recommended organic soak is made with nutrient rich plant-based oils to hydrate, moisturize and provide soothing relief. It’s excellent for postpartum recovery, hemorrhoids, tears and fissures—and it smells great too. So many moms swear by it, noting how quickly it worked to relieve pain and speed up healing.

Luma & Leaf

Luma & Leaf Unconditional Care Body Butter

This rich moisturizer from the skincare brand Luma & Leaf is perfect for soothing sensitive skin as expecting moms experience all kinds of changes, from bump and back to feet and hands. The pregnancy-safe ingredients includes shea butter and grapeseed oil, and the blend is designed to support areas of weakened skin (although it’s not recommended for use on your face). Vegan and made in the USA, it’s free from any added fragrance, although the natural ingredients do give this lotion a very faint scent that’s light and fresh.

Best Gifts For Expecting Moms Under $100

A curated pregnancy and labor care kit, bodily care for pregnancy: 3rd trimester & labor.

This curated kit chock full of supplies to help her to thrive and survive in the third trimester and through labor is one of the best gifts for pregnant women. It includes research-backed and doula-recommended products, from an organic oil-based balm to soothe a growing belly and sore nipples to a luxe eye mask and roller ball massager that just might help her relax during contractions.

Elevated Maternity Wear She'll Live In

Hatch e-gift card.

For your fashionable friend, treat her to a gift card from high-end maternity brand Hatch, so she can splurge on something chic to feel a little more like herself. From special-occasion dresses to everyday tees, leggings and trendy denim, there’s something for everyone at Hatch. The best part is that everything is designed to fit and flatter postpartum too—one reason this brand tops our list of the best places to shop for maternity clothes . Gift cards start at $50.

A Baby Gear Gift Card For The Well-Traveled Mom

Babyquip gift card.

Take a load off the mom who loves to travel with a Babyquip gift card. She can rent all the toys and baby gear she needs, from cribs and carriers to strollers, wagons and baby baths, to make her first trip post-baby a little lighter and a whole lot less stressful. It’s also an excellent way to see if her baby likes a particular bouncer or swing at home before investing in it herself.

The Mother Of All Pregnancy Shoes

Kizik madrid eco knit.

Bending over to tie your shoes is a Herculean task the bigger your bump grows. Gift your bestie a pair of hands-free Kiziks she can slip right on and go. They’re comfortable and supportive enough for all-day wear and in a trendy design she’ll love sporting with her favorite maternity leggings or jeans. The Madrid is stretchy, breathable (no more sweaty feet) and features a sustainable knit upper made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Plus, there’s lot of fun and fashionable colors to choose from.

A Meal Delivery Gift Card To Feed Her

Doordash meal delivery gift card.

Almost every mom we spoke with recommended a meal delivery gift card to satisfy those pregnancy cravings or to feed the whole family in those early postpartum days when cooking is impossible. “It’s easy to send, and I’ve never heard of any mom turning down a free meal,” says McGinley. She can use at her favorite restaurant now or later. While gift cards start at $25, we recommend a minimum of $75 to account for all the fees and so she can really treat herself and her fam too.

A Water Bottle And To-Go Coffee Cup In One

Hitch bottle & cup kit.

Hydration is key for pregnant moms, and when the little one on the way she may want multiple coffee refills to get her through the day. This reusable full-size water bottle comes with a removable coffee cup and lid hidden inside, so she can carry her baby and beverages all at the same time. It’s leakproof, fits in most cupholders and is BPA-free so she can sip safely. It’s also just gorgeous.

A Self-Care Gift Set She'll Seriously Appreciate

Natalist pregnancy tlc trio.

According to reviewers, this TLC Trio is one of the best gifts for expecting moms, no matter what trimester she’s in. It includes a Nausea Relief Tea to help relieve morning sickness, a moisturizing and non-greasy belly oil and a cooling cream to soothe swollen feet and ankles. Everything is pregnancy safe and formulated with clean ingredients she can feel good putting in and on her body. “This really gave me a boost during an otherwise terrible pregnancy,” writes one mom. Another calls the tea a “lifesaver.”

Best Gifts For Expecting Moms Under $250

The softest temperature-regulating pajamas, cozy earth rib knit classic short sleeve & pant pajama set.

Whether she’s on bed rest or just wants to get cozy, a buttery soft set of bamboo rib knit pajamas is the dream. This popular set from Cozy Earth is temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking to get her through the night comfortably. As a warm sleeper myself, I’m obsessed. The button-up style makes breastfeeding a breeze once the baby is born.

Hatch Restore 2 Sunrise Alarm Clock

She might already has a Hatch on the registry for her little one, but the Restore 2 is a game changer for mamas. This sunrise alarm clock and soothing sound machine all in one makes waking up and falling asleep easier. It features everything from bedtime stories and evening meditation to calming nature sounds and brown noise to help her relax and drift off.

A Smart Coffee Maker To Fuel Her Day

De'longhi nespresso vertuoplus coffee and espresso machine.

Fill mom’s cup with a brand new automatic coffee and espresso maker so she can brew barista-worthy drinks at home without having to think. “The Nespresso comes in handy during the mornings when I wake up before any coffee shop would even be open,” says new mom Allie. “I make my coffee at home and can choose different flavors and sip on it while feeding.”

Luxe Sweatpants To Leave The Hospital In

Jenni Kayne

Jenni Kayne Saturday Sweatpant

“These Jenni Kayne sweatpants were the perfect going-home outfit when it was time to leave the hospital,” says mom Nicole, who received a pair as a gift from a friend. “Very comfy but chic and elevated.” They come in a variety of colors and are frequently restocked so you can snag a pair in her size. Made of the softest French terry fabric, they feature an elastic waistband to accommodate her changing body.

A Bump-Friendly Denim Jacket To Celebrate Her New Role

Ingrid+Isabel

Ingrid + Isabel Mama Denim Jacket

Announce her new mom status in style with this trendy denim jacket she can rock during her pregnancy and beyond. It’s soft, stretchy and the perfect layering piece to pair with everything from loungewear to jeans and dresses. Buy the matching babe jacket for her mini to complete the look or to curate the cutest pregnancy announcement.

A Sleek Diaper Bag She Can Take Anywhere

No Reception Club

The Getaway Bag By No Reception Club

Going anywhere with a new baby is hard, but No Reception Club’s hyper-organized diaper bag makes it fuss-free. It not only looks good, but the side access allows her to quickly grab what she needs all while holding a baby in the other hand. There’s a soiled-items compartment, insulated lunch bag, luggage pass through, laptop pocket and two adjustable shelves to keep toys, diapers, wipes, snacks and more organized, plus extra pockets for everything else. It’s the only bag I’ll use now as a mom of three who’s over digging through a regular backpack.

The Coziest Throw Blanket For Couch Cuddles

Barefoot Dreams

Barefoot Dreams Cozychic Throw

This throw blanket is super soft and fluffy says Vetted commerce editor Margaret Badore. It’s sure to elevate her Netflix and chill nights whether she’s newly pregnant or about to pop, and keep her and baby snug as a bug when it’s time for skin-to-skin time with the newborn. It comes in tons of beautiful neutral colors, so it looks equally at home among grownup décor as it does in the nursery.

A Stylish Hand Sanitizing Kit She'll Love Using

Paume new parent bundle.

This beautiful bundle from Paume comes with all the powerful plant-based skincare essentials to keep germs at bay during pregnancy and postpartum. It includes an antibacterial hand gel that smells amazing and actually moisturizes skin, as opposed to drying it out. There’s a refillable pump she can keep in the nursery to quickly cleanse hands after diaper changes, as well as a portable travel bottle to throw in the diaper bag for gentle but effective sanitizing on the go. A luxe Probiotic Hand Balm and Exfoliating Hand Cleanser are included to hydrate and clean hands too.

How We Chose The Best Gifts For New Moms

As a mom myself, I know which items and gifts were the most useful and treasured while I was expecting. To find out what other moms love too, I did extensive research and reporting.

I interviewed experts like Katie Billingsley, a certified breastfeeding and lactation specialist at Fourth Trimester Postnatal Retreat , and parent coach Tiffany Spadola . I also spoke with two pregnancy and postpartum professionals from Post Pamper Retreat : founder and certified doula Katie McGinley and care team lead Kelly Brusch, who is also the founder of Doulas Of North County . I also surveyed many new moms about the best gifts the received while pregnant.

The Container Store

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

The Best Anti-Aging Serums, According to Dermatologists

In this article

• Best overall
• Best for sensitive skin
• Best for oily skin
• Best for dry skin
• Best for textured skin
• Best for mature skin
• Best while pregnant

Investing in a high-quality anti-aging serum is a good idea no matter your skin type. It can help with a number of skin concerns, from fighting wrinkles and fine lines to boosting collagen and smoothing out overall texture. Picking one can be tricky, though, since the market’s so saturated with products claiming to do all of that and more. Powerhouse ingredients to look out for include retinol or bakuchiol, antioxidants like vitamin C , peptides, and hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. But it’s important not to overload your skin since doing so could cause more harm than good. That’s why Dr. Heidi Prather of Westlake Dermatology in Austin recommends picking an efficient multitasker rather than layering on multiple anti-aging serums. And, as with any other powerful ingredients, it’s recommended to start at a low percentage and work your way up.

To find some of the very best anti-aging serums out there, I spoke to Dr. Prather and three other dermatologists and scoured our archive of beauty content . One last important note: Every dermatologist I spoke to emphasized the importance of SPF . It’s the first and most important step in anti-aging, and if you’re skipping this, any of the products below won’t be nearly as effective.

Best anti-aging serum overall

Medik8’s Crystal Retinal Serum’s hero ingredient is retinaldehyde, which fights wrinkles and fine lines quicker than other commonly used retinols , according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick . Even though it’s fast-acting and potent, the serum doesn’t cause irritation or redness , side effects usually associated with retinoids. That’s thanks to its double-encapsulation system and the fact that it incorporates hydrating glycerin and hyaluronic acid. Since it’s both gentle enough for all skin types and highly effective, this anti-aging serum takes the cake.

Best less expensive anti-aging serum overall

It really shouldn’t come as a surprise that CeraVe’s retinol serum would top our list as an excellent affordable option. It’s been recommended by dermatologists before and was brought up again when I spoke to Dr. Garshick. The formula includes an encapsulated retinol that is released into the skin over time, meaning all the benefits (reducing the appearance of fine lines and dullness) without any irritation. Plus, the added niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides strengthen the skin barrier .

Best anti-aging serum for sensitive skin

If you have sensitive skin and are wary of retinoids, there is an alternative. Bakuchiol, touted as “nature’s retinol,” increases cell turnover and reduces fine lines and wrinkles without negative side effects. Dr. Brendan Camp of MDCS Dermatology says his go-to is Herbivore Botanicals’s Moon Fruit serum. Packed with peptides and glycerin , the formula also firms and strengthens skin elasticity.

Best less expensive anti-aging serum for sensitive skin

Dr. Garshick also sang praises for bakuchiol, but called out this TruSkin serum at half the cost of the serum made by Herbivore Botanicals. The same anti-aging benefits from bakuchiol apply here, but this serum doesn’t contain peptides and glycerin. Instead, it’s formulated with lingonberry stem cells, which protect the skin from oxidative stress and blue light (known to worsen hyperpigmentation).

Best anti-aging serum for oily and acne-prone skin

If you have oily skin or are acne prone , Dr. Garshick recommends SkinCeuticals’s Blemish and Age Defense Serum. The cocktail of 2 percent dioic acid, salicylic acid, and alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic and citric acids) work hard to reduce excess sebum, unclog pores, and even out skin tone while also improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Best less expensive anti-aging serum for oily and acne-prone skin

La Roche Posay’s Effaclar Adapalene Gel is about a third of the price of the above and also works well with acne-prone skin. The main ingredient here is adapalene, which is a retinoid used for clearing and preventing acne, blackheads , and whiteheads. Dr. Camp says it doubles as an anti-aging product and is especially effective for oily skin.

Best anti-aging serum for dry skin

On the other side of the spectrum is dry skin, and Dr. Taylor Worden, celebrity aesthetician and founder of Taylor Worden Skin , recommends SkinMedica’s TNS Advanced+ Serum. Made with the brand’s TNS-MR ingredient, it fights fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin while supporting collagen and encouraging cell renewal. It’s also been recommended to us as an go-to anti-aging serum for your 40s by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman, founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama.

Best less expensive anti-aging serum for dry skin

If you don’t want to shell out nearly $300 on a serum, there’s a much more affordable alternative. Vichy’s Mineral 89 serum is just $40 with lots of skin-plumping benefits. Formulated with hyaluronic acid and minerals from Vichy volcanic water, it hydrates the skin while also strengthening and repairing the skin barrier . And though it’s highly moisturizing, it won’t cause any additional oil buildup.

Best anti-aging serum for textured skin

Sunday Riley’s Good Genes counts our readers , dermatologists , and even Redditors among its devoted fans for brightening and exfoliating skin . Dr. Camp recommends it as an effective anti-aging serum for anyone concerned with texture issues. Thanks to its star ingredient, lactic acid, it reduces the look of lines, wrinkles, and dark spots through gentle exfoliation.

Best anti-aging serum for mature skin

Dr. Prather calls out Alastin C Radical because it’s formulated with a vitamin C that contains sodium ascorbate, which is shown to promote and restore elastin in aging and compromised skin. Prather explains that elastin (which keeps skin stretchy and elastic) repair is especially important because we have a limited supply of it and it degrades with age.

Best less expensive anti-aging serum for mature skin

Dr. Garshick likes Vichy’s Neovadiol Meno 5 Serum, which is more than $150 less than the above, because it’s formulated specifically for pre- and post-menopause. Made with a blend of proxylane, cassia extract, vitamins b3-C-E, omega fatty acids, and Vichy volcanic water, it helps to improve the appearance of dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles while also firming, brightening, and hydrating the skin.

Best anti-aging serum to use while pregnant

There are a bevy of skin-care ingredients that have anti-aging benefits but aren’t pregnancy safe. Luckily, my colleagues Rachael Griffiths and Tembe Denton-Hurst rounded up the best products to use while pregnant and nursing , according to dermatologists. This Sonage Retinol Crème is packed with bakuchiol instead of retinol but still increases cell turnover and helps with collagen production. It’s also formulated with noncomedogenic skin-barrier-protecting ceramides, so it will hydrate your skin without clogging your pores.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments , rolling luggage , pillows for side sleepers , natural anxiety remedies , and bath towels . We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

• the strategist
• skincare treatments
• recommended by experts

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

Deal of the Day

Micro sales, greatest hits, most viewed stories.

• I Stopped Strangers on the Subway to Find a Perfect Tote
• The 12 Very Best Couches
• The 14 Very Best Protein Powders
• 15 Things on Sale You’ll Actually Want to Buy: From J.Crew to Great Jones
• All the Best Walking Shoes We’ve Ever Written About
• The Very Best Face Moisturizers

Popular Products From Athleta

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Entertainment

Wicked Costars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Present Together at Oscars 2024

Grande and Erivo play Galinda and Elphaba in the movie musical, out Nov. 27

Brendan Le is an Editorial Intern at PEOPLE with three years of experience working as an editor and writer.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are “Popular” presenters at the Oscars 2024!

The Wicked costars made an appearance at the Academy Awards together on Sunday to present the statuettes for Best Original Song and Best Original Score.

Dressed in her character Elphaba's signature green, Erivo, 37, began, "A great movie song can set the mood, reveal something about a character and help us tell a story."

"And a great film score can leave a handprint on our hearts forever," said Grande, 30, complementing her costar in Galinda-appropriate pink. "It can ignite wonder and astonishment, make us feel sadness and longing, and can even transport us to new worlds."

"Or somewhere over the rainbow, where the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true," added Erivo, quoting the lyrics of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz , made famous by original Dorothy Gale actress Judy Garland .

Never miss a story — sign up for  PEOPLE's free daily newsletter  to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Kevin Winter/Getty

Directed by Jon M. Chu , the latest adaptation of Wicked will see Grande as Galinda/Glinda the Good Witch and Erivo as Elphaba/the Wicked Witch of the West.

The actresses were tapped to play the iconic iterations of their Wizard of Oz characters back in November 2021, and the first part of two films is set for release Nov. 27, 2024. The second act will come the following year, on Nov. 26, 2025.

Universal Pictures/Youtube

The Eternal Sunshine singer has expressed her passion for the project, saying on the Zach Sang Show that she had “never wanted something as badly.”  

“Since I was 20, I was like, ‘Hey, I don't know when this is happening, but when it's happening, may I please at least just audition?’ " she said.

Grande added, "That's all I wanted, was an audition. I've never wanted anything more."

A glimpse into the newest interpretation of Oz premiered during the 2024 Super Bowl last month, giving viewers a look at the first footage of Grande and Erivo as Galinda and Elphaba.

Starring alongside them are Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar and Ethan Slater as Boq.

Meanwhile, other presenters at the 2024 Oscars include Brendan Fraser , Jamie Lee Curtis , Michelle Yeoh , Zendaya , Lupita Nyong’o , Jennifer Lawrence , Anya Taylor-Joy and Charlize Theron . 

The 96th Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel , are currently airing live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Have a language expert improve your writing

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

• Knowledge Base
• Generate topic ideas for an essay or paper | Tips & techniques

Generate Topic Ideas For an Essay or Paper | Tips & Techniques

Published on November 17, 2014 by Shane Bryson . Revised on July 23, 2023 by Shona McCombes.

If you haven’t been given a specific topic for your essay or paper , the first step is coming up with ideas and deciding what you want to write about. Generating ideas is the least methodical and most creative step in academic writing .

There are infinite ways to generate ideas, but no sure-fire way to come up with a good one. This article outlines some tips and techniques for choosing a topic – use the ones that work best for you.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Understanding the assignment, techniques for generating topic ideas, tips for finding a good idea, other interesting articles.

First, you need to determine the scope of what you can write about. Make sure you understand the assignment you’ve been given, and make sure you know the answers to these questions:

• What is the required length of the paper (in words or pages)?
• What is the deadline?
• Should the paper relate to what you’ve studied in class?
• Do you have to do your own research and use sources that haven’t been taught in class?
• Are there any constraints on the subject matter or approach?

The length and deadline of the assignment determine how complex your topic can be. The prompt might tell you write a certain type of essay, or it might give you a broad subject area and hint at the kind of approach you should take.

This prompt gives us a very general subject. It doesn’t ask for a specific type of essay, but the word explain suggests that an expository essay is the most appropriate response.

This prompt takes a different approach to the same subject. It asks a question that requires you to take a strong position. This is an argumentative essay that requires you to use evidence from sources to support your argument.

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

Getting started is often the hardest part. Try these 3 simple strategies to help get your mind moving.

Talk it out

Discussing ideas with a teacher, friend or fellow student often helps you find new avenues to approach the ideas you have and helps you uncover ideas you might not have considered.

Write down as many ideas as you can and make point form notes on them as you go. When you feel you’ve written down the obvious things that relate to an idea, move on to a new one, or explore a related idea in more depth.

You can also cluster related ideas together and draw connections between them on the page.

This strategy is similar to brainstorming, but it is faster and less reflective. Give yourself a broad topic to write about. Then, on a pad of paper or a word processor, write continuously for two or three minutes. Don’t stop, not even for a moment.

Write down anything that comes to mind, no matter how nonsensical it seems, as long as it somehow relates to the topic you began with. If you need to, time yourself to make sure you write for a few minutes straight.

When you’ve finished, read through what you’ve written and identify any useful ideas that have come out of the exercise.

Whichever strategy you use, you’ll probably come up with lots of ideas, but follow these tips to help you choose the best one.

Don’t feel you need to work logically

Good ideas often have strange origins. An apple fell on Isaac Newton’s head, and this gave us the idea of gravity. Mary Shelley had a dream, and this gave us her famous literary classic, Frankenstein .

It does not matter how you get your idea; what matters is that you find a good one.

Work from general to specific

Your first good idea won’t take the form of a fully-formed thesis statement . Find a topic before you find an argument.

You’ll need to think about your topic in broad, general terms before you can narrow it down and make it more precise.

Maintain momentum

Don’t be critical of your ideas at this stage – it can hinder your creativity. If you think too much about the flaws in your ideas, you will lose momentum.

Creative momentum is important: the first ten in a string of related ideas might be garbage, but the eleventh could be pure gold. You’ll never reach the eleventh if you shut down your thought process at the second.

Let ideas go

Don’t get too attached to the first appealing topic you think of. It might be a great idea, but it also might turn out to be a dud once you start researching and give it some critical thought .

Thinking about a new topic doesn’t mean abandoning an old one – you can easily come back to your original ideas later and decide which ones work best.

Choose a topic that interests you

A bored writer makes for boring writing. Try to find an idea that you’ll enjoy writing about, or a way to integrate your interests with your topic.

In the worst case scenario, pick the least boring topic of all of the boring topics you’re faced with.

Keep a notepad close

Good ideas will cross your mind when you least expect it. When they do, make sure that you can hold onto them.

Many people come up with their best ideas just before falling asleep; you might find it useful to keep a notepad by your bed.

Once you’ve settled on an idea, you’ll need to start working on your thesis statement and planning your paper’s structure.

If you find yourself struggling to come up with a good thesis on your topic, it might not be the right choice – you can always change your mind and go back to previous ideas.

Write a thesis statement Make an essay outline

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

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

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

College essays

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

 (AI) Tools

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

Cite this Scribbr article

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

Bryson, S. (2023, July 23). Generate Topic Ideas For an Essay or Paper | Tips & Techniques. Scribbr. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/generating-topic-ideas/

Is this article helpful?

Shane Bryson

Shane finished his master's degree in English literature in 2013 and has been working as a writing tutor and editor since 2009. He began proofreading and editing essays with Scribbr in early summer, 2014.

Other students also liked

A step-by-step guide to the writing process, how to write an essay outline | guidelines & examples, how to write an argumentative essay | examples & tips, what is your plagiarism score.

The Best Amazon Easter Gifts for Everyone: Shop Easter Bunny-Approved Presents for Adults and Kids

From traditional baskets and unexpected seasonal selections, we've rounded up the best Easter presents on Amazon.

Easter Sunday, March 31, will be here before we know it.  With just a month to go, it's never too early to get a hop on your Easter gift shopping and we've found some eggs-cellent ideas—all of which are available at Amazon.

Shop Amazon Easter Gifts

If you're looking for additions to the kids'  Easter baskets  or prefer stellar stand-alone ideas, Amazon has you covered. From holiday-themed bath bombs to pastel coffee mugs with painted bunnies and festive LEGO kits to gardening sets for spring, there's something for everyone this Easter. Our curated Easter gift list will put a smile on the faces of your little ones, as well as the older friends and family you celebrate with. 

Whether you're searching for a simple Easter activity to keep kids busy or a gourmet Easter gift basket for the whole family to snack on, there are tons of options to shop at Amazon. Keep scrolling to find a little something for every family member's Easter basket below. 

Caramella Bubble Bunny Slippers

Offered in six colors, you'll want to slip your toes into these bunny slippers long after Easter.

LEGO Creator 3-in-1 White Rabbit Animal Toy Building Set

Keep the kiddos busy with this LEGO set that can build three different animals, including a festive bunny.

M&M'S Pre-Designed Unicorn Printed Milk Chocolate Candy

Fill your Easter eggs with these pastel M&Ms featuring unicorns and stars.

Bico Vintage Floral Bunny Ceramic Mugs

These adorable mugs will dazzle in a basket or paired with sweet treats and a bag of tea, plus you can keep one for yourself.

Amazon Gift Card in an Easter Egg Reveal

Can't decide on what you want to get for the remaining Easter basket stuffer? This Easter-egg-themed Amazon gift card will do the trick.

Personalized Planet Easter Egg Basket with Handle and Custom Name

Fill this adorable custom Easter basket with candy-filled Easter eggs and other small gifts. 

Dan&Darci Paint & Plant Stoneware Flower Gardening Kit

If you know a kid, teenager or even an adult who loves gardening, this gardening kit is the perfect way to start their spring flower bed this Easter. The kit includes everything they need to decorate the flower pots, as well as marigold, cosmos and zinnia flower seeds.

With coupon

Color & Frame Easter Coloring Book

This Easter coloring book with 31 themed images offers the perfect activity to keep kids and teens busy. 

Jumbo Dino Egg Dig Kit

The Jumbo Dino Egg Dig Kit is the perfect alternative to chalk eggs and slime-filled Easter eggs for any kid who's obsessed with dinosaurs.

Lovepop Boppy and the Great Easter Egg Hunt Adventure Box

This pseudo-Easter advent calendar is an engaging gift to add to your kid's Easter basket. As they open up each compartment, they unlock new pieces to the story and characters.

Joyin Basket With Original Style Easter Basket Stuffers

This plush Easter basket comes stuffed with cuddly Easter bunnies, a springtime frog, a chick and more. It's the perfect gift for your toddler or baby.

Nice Dream Bunny Night Light

Your kids will enjoy this bunny night light well beyond Easter. It has eight different colors to choose from and a remote control.

Easter Sidewalk Chalk Eggs 18-Pack

Chalk eggs are great Easter basket stuffers. Add them to all your nieces' and nephews' baskets and watch them create some fun sidewalk art after Easter brunch.

Easter Basket for Kids and Adults

Wish your partner or kids a very happy Easter with this gift basket. It includes 45 different treats and snacks.

Hatchimals CollEGGtibles Family Spring Toy Basket

This toy set by Hatchimals is an Easter basket and basket stuffers in one product. The spring basket includes six different eggs filled with surprise characters.

Easter Bunny Cotton Candy

Add a sweet treat to any Easter basket this year with this adorably funny bag of yum.

Stephen Joseph Bead Boutique Bunny

Create beautiful Easter bracelets with the whole family using this charming bead kit.

Hunting for more Easter goodies? Check out our  2024 Easter Shopping Guide  for Easter basket stuffers, gift ideas for kids, spring dresses, Easter decor and more.

Sign up to get the scoop on the best deals!

RELATED CONTENT:

Sales & Deals

The Best Amazon Deals on Easter Toys for an Epic Easter Egg Hunt

The Best Easter Gift Ideas for Teens, According to TikTok

Save 20% on This LEGO Bunny Set That Makes the Perfect Easter Gift

13 Easter Basket Ideas Everyone Will Love: Pre-Made, Gift Boxes & More

The 16 Best Easter Pajamas for the Whole Family: The Best Matching Sets and Adorable Styles

14 Easter Basket Ideas Everyone Will Love: Pre-Made, Gift Boxes & More

Easter Squishmallows Are Here — Shop the Cutest Stuffed Animals to Add to Your Easter Baskets

The Cutest Jellycats on Amazon to Gift This Easter: Shop Cuddly Bunnies, Flower Plushies and More

16 Easter Gift Ideas for Babies' Baskets: Toys, Apparel and More

14 Fun Easter Basket Stuffers for Kids That Aren't Candy

The 20 Best Easter Decorations Under $35 You Can Find on Amazon

The Sweetest Easter Dresses to Shop Now

The Ultimate Easter Shopping Guide for 2024

• Easter Gifts
• Gift Guides

Latest News

Updates on celebrity news, tv, fashion and more.

Best Way Of Present Essay

Show More Best way of present “A picture can explain more than a thousand words” What is this quote mean? Some people believe picture can describe the real meaning better than speak it is true? The answer is true because picture is one of the best choice that attractive people and help people to understand. Picture in these meaning are including photo, graph, and number. No one’s in the world like to see the information that is hard to understand and complicated. Many companies around the world have to face this problem and finding the solution. Nowadays, the solution of this problem is combine the speech and picture together use to explain significant information such as news, data and statistic because everyone can imagine and comprehend. For instance, …show more content… Chart and graph is the best way to reduce the time to present, how people can present abundant information that the company or reporter want to present and exhaustive data in a limits time? Sometime the reporter does not have enough time to indicate their all information. How do they represent all of business reporting 50 page by an hour? Graph can help you to do it. If you just have only word sentence in your presentation, it will not be interesting and be come to boring report. By using the charts and graphs will support you to display information and much easier to understand and interpret the data. The reporter can offer their information by analyzing the numbers and preparing a presentation using a charts and graphs just only one page that make the presentation process much easier, meaningful and save times. For example, some of employee using a pie graph to display a budget that had been spent on different items in a year to report to their …show more content… They have a lot of benefit to attractive people. The reporters can make their presentation more effective by using charts and graph. The character or style of the charts and graph is imperative that they determine what they would like to present, also the color for the charts should be different each data and easy to understand. If charts and graphs are fascinating everyone will interest and play attention to the information or statistics. Charts and graphs also communicate your idea to the audience direct to the point by illustration of purposes. The reporter can present a comparison, show a relationship, or highlight, and set of the data. In addition, not just only the company uses the charts and graphs to present the information, but everyone can use the charts and graphs in their life too. For example, student will use the charts and graphs to show more information in their homework such as math, statistic, and social sciences classes. Some people use graphs and charts to get information about their life such as house expense, work-out, and financial

Related Documents

Change history with just one strike nike visual analysis.

The Details to Life Photos contain a variety of details which create breathtaking images. From the vivid colors, visual metaphors, to the arrangement of the picture, details create images and bring them to life. This makes it easier to pull details from the image and allows the audience to visualize and find emotion from a simple picture. When using these elements, it is possible to set the tone and meaning behind the picture. Companies take advantage of this opportunity to catch their audiences’ eye and accomplish their goal.…

Personal Reflective Essay: The Writing Process

The writing process is different for everyone. Some people may skip a few steps and others may throw in some extra. I personally believe that my process is most effective for me and my style of writing. My general process is to understand the prompt, know the audience, research, outline, write a rough draft, edit, and write a final draft.…

The Ordinary Devoted Mother Analysis

Alison Bechdel’s “The Ordinary Devoted Mother” illustrates the hardships that Bechdel faces in both writing the memoir and her everyday life revolving around writing. As we see her writing this memoir, we also see the things that impact her such as her interest in psychoanalysis and dreams. As Bechdel puts it, “You can’t live and write at the same time” (79). This quote is very important as the reader follows along Bechdel’s story and see’s the hardships she faces when writing. The beginning of the work gives the reader some outline to Bechdel’s life.…

Process Essay: The Five Steps Of The Writing Process

Every individual has his or her own writing process. But, certainly writing is an art and the five-step process of writing which seems to be linear starting from prewriting to publishing is cyclical and recursive. Keeping a track of this process a writer can carve out a way to a good piece of writing on any topic. The writing process has five steps, which are prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and publishing. These steps are written like a recipe, the sequence is really essential.…

Reflective Essay: My Writing Process

For some of us writing might not be as easy as for others. To me writing could be a long process of different stages that might get difficult with time. My writing process is very complicated and confusing but it could be improved by rereading and revising my drafts. I’ve never being a writing person, meaning writing process can get really difficult for me and it even deals with a lot of thinking. I like to think of my writing process as a test because I like to do better every time and just like a test I like to take my time.…

Transitioning To College Essay

With the high demand for students to obtain a college degree, the majority of society assumes high school seniors should make college the next step in their lives. However, going to college and actually completing the journey is much easier said than done. Many factors such as the price of tuition, the increased competition for scholarships and admission, and the level of support and encouragement one has affect those "college times" in a person 's life. An aspect of this journey that really stands out to me is the use of programs that aid first-generation college students. From the financial aid to the programs ' mentoring benefits, these programs can make a huge difference in the lives of so many people hoping to obtain the education they…

NHS Constitution: Principles And Values

These are important because it makes it legible to staff, patients and the public what can be expected from…

Snipery Slope Analysis

Human beings are by nature, more visual learners than anything else. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and that’s true. Visuals are seen everywhere in the media and on the internet to grab the audience’s attention and to draw emotion needed in order to be effective. Effective visuals must contain the right combination of argument, purpose, and tone. A powerful and effective visual is the one that grabs at the audiences heart strings or emotion and makes them sympathetic to the argument.…

End-Of-Chapter Quiz

Excel Chapter 10: End-of-Chapter Quiz 1) Match each term with the correct definition (15 points) A group of commands that enable you to bring data from an Access database, from the web, from a text file, or from an XML file into Excel without repeatedly copying the data. Correct answer Get External Data Link to external data that automatically updates an Excel workbook from the original data whenever the original data source gets new information.…

Essay: The Writing Process

How does one write? How does one write a whole essay, or a book, or anything, for that matter? There is a type of process to write anything. What is this process? What are the steps to help you get through this process?…

What´s Rhetoric Analysis?

Thesis: Situational reporting and communications require refined, unbiased, objective reporting for decision makers. Senior leadership utilizes situation reports to analyze actionable information for making decisions. Organizations all depend on the up to date reporting when managing an incident or situation. The importance of the rhetorical situation.…

Rhetorical Analysis: Paper Charts Vs Electronic Medical Records

I will analysis if doctors should use paper charts or electronic charting based on a visual chart.…

Rhetorical Essay On Social Work

A social worker, or case worker, is someone who has a sort of passion or drive for helping people. Not just anyone can take on this career, the job demands a special type of person with certain qualities fit for situations that will be thrown at hand. Social workers work with a broad spectrum of individuals, whether it’s the elderly, children, the homeless, drug/alcohol abusers, or people with learning and physical disabilities. Case workers aid and support them through difficult times and ensure that these vulnerable people are safeguarded from harm. Social workers are an essential part of our society, they have a wide range of skills to implement a variety of social issues.…

463 Reproduction

Michele Green #3 Manuscript Questions 463 Reproduction 4/28/17 Efficacy of embryo transfer in lactating dairy cows during summer using fresh or vitrified embryos produced in vitro with sex-sorted semen 1) What is the question the authors are trying to answer? - The authors are trying to determine the difference of transferring fresh embryos or vitrified embryos that were made by in vitro with semen that was sorted compared to artificial insemination to see which one improves calving rates as well as pregnancy in lactating dairy cows during the summer. 2) What is the hypothesis of the study? - The hypothesis of this study is that in lactating dairy cows, their fertility increases during the warm summer months or in other words, they have heat stress, when using the embryo transfer method. 3) Provide a brief description of the study design.…

My Relationship With Writing Essay

I have always considered my relationship with writing to be very insignificant. Although I enjoy spending time verbally expressing my thoughts and feelings to others, it becomes difficult when these thoughts and feelings are expressed through writing. Throughout my adolescent years, I would often receive feedback for my writing given by the teacher in the form of a grade. Being unable to effectively organize my thoughts and ideas into words and sentences, I would feel reluctant to continue writing confidently whenever I received an undesirable grade.…

Related Topics

• Statistical charts and diagrams

Ready To Get Started?

• Create Flashcards
• Mobile apps
•   Facebook
•   Twitter
• Cookie Settings