Throughout our education, we were assigned to write about topics we disagreed with or invoked strong emotions or thoughts through an argumentative paper or a personal narrative. The easiest route would be to avoid bringing up the subject but writing about sensitive or difficult themes is essential for our learning. It helps us grow as people and strengthens our ability to handle tough situations within and outside the educational setting. These are a few tips to ease the writing process.

Argumentative Essays

            Before writing, understand the purpose of an argumentative essay is to convince readers to think a certain way about a topic using facts and logical reasoning. It is closely related to persuasive essays, but the only characteristic that differentiates the two is that one is open to opposing views of the argument and the other tries to sway readers to favor a single perspective and completely cancel out any other counterargument.

1.    Identify your Position

The more confident you are in your stance on the subject, the less difficult it’ll be when you write about it. There’s nothing wrong with maintaining neutrality, but most instructors expect you to choose your position on the topic. If you still feel unsure, try leaning to where you feel most comfortable defending your statement.

*Note: You don’t have to actually agree or disagree with the given topic if it’s just for an assignment. Most of the time, it’s only for a grade, and only your instructor will read it.*

2.    Support Your Statement Through Facts

            Certain topics are required to be backed up with evidence and empirical research. Some instructors could suggest giving your opinion, but they still need to know why you agree or disagree. Stronger arguments and opinions come from reliable sources. For example, a student may write on the topic of abortion and whether they support or are against it. Science-based evidence could provide a stronger backup for your stance than solely basing it on your personal views such as religion or political affiliation. For this, try sticking with peer-reviewed journal articles and literature reviews from scholarly sources. You can also use websites from government agencies and organizations if needed. YouTube videos and in-person interviews are allowed, but be sure they’re factual and credible.

*Note: Writing about touchy subjects like the example above may summon controversy, so find and cite reliable sources to be prepared to defend your statement professionally.*

3.    Have an Open Mind

            The key to successfully discussing these topics is being open-minded. Although some views may contradict our morals or beliefs, we must consider different perspectives to better the subject. We do not have to agree with everything, but we must respect other people’s beliefs even if they don’t align with ours. The best thing to do is to put our emotions on hold and insert ourselves into “other people’s shoes”.

Personal Narratives

            Unlike argumentative and informative essays, personal narratives are all about you. Hence the word “personal” describes an intimate piece of writing that allows us to connect with others through human-like experiences and emotions.

1.    Take the Time to Recall Your Experiences and Be as Detailed as You Can

            Depending on the prompt, brainstorm a list of all related experiences and focus on one you can easily connect with. Find photos, items, or other memories you’ve saved and get inspired. The more details you can recall, the easier writing your narrative will be.

2.    Begin with a Rough Draft and Write Your Story from Beginning To End

As you may have learned in your previous English or writing and composition classes, it’s better to start with a rough draft and not worry about it making sense or sounding perfect on the first try. Remember how your day or significant moment began and ended, anyone who reads your paper will follow through if the narrative is written chronologically.

3.     Eliminate Any Extra Details

            After you’ve completed your rough draft, re-read everything you have written and leave out any extra details or information that might not align with your story. Although it is great to give your readers detailed imagery of what you’re writing about, doing so may take up a lot of your time if you have a deadline and may lose your readers, so be straight to the point.

4.    Finish the Final Draft

Once you have completed revising your draft, re-read it one more time and ask yourself these questions?

• Did you answer the prompt?
• Did it invoke a certain emotion?
• Were you able to make a connection with your personal experience?
• What lesson did you learn or what did you gain from experiencing this?
• How can you connect with others by telling your story?

Final Thoughts

            Understandably, writing isn’t everyone’s favorite subject and it does not always come easy, especially when it’s about controversial issues or memories we do not like to bring up because we fear being vulnerable. It’s hard to find the right words to put on paper and share with others, but people do not realize how much of an impact their writing can have on someone. Sharing our thoughts, opinions, and experiences is vital to connecting with others, and having these discussions helps us acknowledge what goes on in the world. Writing is more than an academic subject, it’s an essential form of communication and a tool for self-expression.