short essay meaning

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Your Guide Towards Writing An Outstanding Short Essay!

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Essay writing might appear to be easy and quick at first. Most students think it takes an hour or two at most. Still, there are situations when writing a short essay can be extremely difficult. In particular, when you want to say a lot but are unsure of how to express it concisely. In long essays, we can still express ourselves in a broader form and more openly. But, the short or brief essay deals with writing limited and point-to-point.

You might be facing difficulties in writing a 200-word essay or a 500-word essay, but don’t worry as we are here to help you. This blog of All Assignment Help is your ultimate guide to writing short essays without losing any information. Read the blog till the end and find out everything there is to know about the distinctive features, format, structure, and examples of short essays.

What is a Short Essay?

The definition of a short essay is an academic writing assignment in which students must organize their ideas and viewpoints into a proper structure and no more than 500 words. There are instances when the essay is even shorter—only 200 words are needed. Like other essays, it can be narrative, argumentative , explanatory, descriptive, and so on.

The purpose of such essays is to teach the shortest possible way to express thoughts. Students must continue to be laconic and stay away from repetition. There is no need for slang, cliches, or confusing information in this paper. Besides, it only included a viewpoint supported by facts, compelling reasoning, and figures.

Read Here: Structure and Ways of Writing a Short Essay

How Long Should a Short Essay Be?

Well, this is the most asked question of all. A short essay should be:

• A minimum of half a page & a maximum of 1 page if we work single-spaced.
• It can go up to max 2 pages if we work double-spaced.
• It should consist of a maximum of 400 words.
• You can go up to 500 but, if only it’s the need for the topic.

Also, we have given a basic overview of 3-paragraph and 5-paragraph short essay guidelines below.

The 3 Paragraph Short Essay

• The 3-paragraph brief essay is divided into an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.
• The thesis statement of the essay is stated in the first paragraph, the body of the essay offers evidence for it, and the conclusion restates the main ideas.
• This type of short essay is usually written in response to a question that your professor has provided.
• You can get away with just responding to the question and removing the formalities that normally accompany a well-crafted essay.

So, what distinguishes a brief essay like this from a brief response? Not much. That’s why it’s usually best to stick with the five-paragraph essay format if you have been given a short essay to write. However, writing 3-paragraph is not a cup of tea for many students. Hence, they can get an essay writing service online where they will be assisted by expert essay writers.

The 5 Paragraph Short Essay

• The five-paragraph essay format enables you to follow the requirements of the essay structure, which include an introduction, body, and conclusion.
• You will include a brief section outlining your goal and thesis in your introduction.
• The body is composed of three body paragraphs, each of which has a topic sentence and supports your thesis.
• In the conclusion, you restate your main idea and how the body of the paper supported it.

What’s the optimal word count for this? Let’s say 600, but you can even go as high as 900. In 900 words or three pages, you can write a five-paragraph short essay effectively.

Elements of a Short Essay

Some college students find that writing a short essay is more challenging than writing a long one because they don’t have enough room to fully develop and explain their ideas. Just the details required to support your argument should be included. However, while writing a brief essay, make sure the following fundamental elements are included in your essay:

Introduction

It should be one paragraph and not more. Your introduction should build up the interest of the audience, and it should be clear what is the topic. It should be concise, catchy, and informative. However, the first sentence itself should claim the urgency of the topic which becomes worth reading. End the sentence with a precise statement.

It is the final introduction sentence. It needs to be centered on the main problem you are researching and include a claim you intend to support. However, your thesis should be debatable and should inspire those who disagree with you to refute it. Also, you can get thesis help online for assistance in writing a concise thesis for your essay topic.

Topic Sentences

Make your main point clear and concise so that it appears at the start of each paragraph. It should summarize your entire argument. Thus, give a distinct topic sentence for each new point you make. Also, it needs to be presented, backed up and analyzed.

3 paragraphs out of 5, should be of the main body. This part contains your main ideas and supporting evidence or facts. Make sure that your evidence contains quotations and cite them according to the requirements of the format. Use linking words and conjunctions to make your text cohesive. It will bring flow to your narration.

This paragraph is for the final results. It should be 1 paragraph long. In this paragraph, you need to show how your ideas from the body support the statement in the first paragraph. It is not a summary. However, this part will close the question raised in the introduction part.

How to Write a Short Essay?

It takes several key points to write a well-written essay in fewer words. Here is how you can write a short essay:

Identify Your Topic Carefully

The first thing before you initiate the writing process is reading. Read your essay prompt carefully. You can underline important information or encircle the main question. You have to make sure what the question wants you to write. Students sometimes in a hurry fail to understand the topic and end up writing on something else.

Narrow Down Your Argument

You have got the task of writing a short essay, right? So, you cannot discuss everything in the essay. You have to cling to one single topic. Therefore, choose one topic and work on it. For instance, in “Tragedy in Shakespeare’s Plays” this topic is too vast. Here you have to research different plays of Shakespeare to bring out the tragic elements. So, your topic should be, “Discuss Hamlet as a tragedy”. Such a topic will help you to write a short essay easily.

Use Reliable Sources for Collecting Information

If your information is from reliable sources, your chances of getting excellence will be high. For example, if you are writing on any journalism topic, then go for BBC or other well-known news websites. Always avoid the least reliable sources, such as blogs or random articles.

Be Careful About the Essay’s Words

Words are the soul of an essay. If your words are not expressive enough, you might fail to get the desired grade. Students, especially those who are from non-English speaking backgrounds need to be careful about words. While writing the essay focus on words, use transition words in your essays. These words act as a bridge between sentences and ideas.

Remove Verbiage from Your Essay

You have a limit on the word count. Therefore, using excessively long speech doesn’t make sense in a short essay. Remove all lengthy verb phrases, adjectives, etc. Keep your sentences short and explain the meaning perfectly.

Try to Be More Active Than Passive

To make your essay succinct. Thus, make your sentences in the active voice. Active voice will convey to the point meaning in a crisp and clear manner. Write sentences that can help in explaining the meaning in a direct way. This will cut short the words from your essay.

Keep the Relevant Arguments Only

A passionate essay writer always wants to add multiple arguments to his/her essay. But in a brief essay, you have to control yourself. Only put useful arguments and weed out irrelevant ones. But, be alert, never remove the most convincing points, or else your essay will lose its purpose.

Following these 7 tips while composing an essay. Also, you may end up with an excellent piece of writing. If still finding issues in writing a short essay, then you can also check out essay examples for different types of essays such as reflective essay examples, analytical essay examples , expository essay examples, and so on for a better overview for writing brief essays.

Also Read: How to Write the Best 1000-Word Essay

Writing a Short Essay: Do’s and Don’ts

Having trouble composing a short essay.

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FAQ’s

How to Write a Short Essay: Format & Examples

Short essays answer a specific question on the subject. They usually are anywhere between 250 words and 750 words long. A paper with less than 250 words isn’t considered a finished text, so it doesn’t fall under the category of a short essay. Essays of such format are required for personal statements where you need to write about yourself. It might seem easy, but it’s not half.

Expressing and elaborating your idea within the given word limit is the most challenging part of the task. In this article, we’ll explain how to write a great short essay. If you’re working on one of your assignments and need help, keep reading to learn more!

• 💡 What You Need to Know
• 📚 Essay Format
• 📝 Essay Template
• ✨ Guide & Useful Tips
• ✅ Essay Topics

🔗 References

💡 short essay: what you need to know, what is a short essay.

A short essay is an academic paper typically ranging between 200 and 750 words, providing a focused topic exploration. This type of essay follows a standard structure: intro-main body-conclusion, usually presented in a five-paragraph format.

How Long Is a Short Essay?

A short essay typically ranges from 200 to 750 words which can be covered in three to five paragraphs. This concise format translates to less than one page of typed content. However, it’s important to note that specific requirements may vary depending on the college, with some specifying a minimum of 150 words and a maximum of 650 words. Be sure to review the task instructions to ensure you meet the guidelines.

How Many Sentences Is a Short Essay?

In a short essay, the number of words is more important than the number of sentences. It means you can use any number of sentences as long as you stay within the required word limit. However, most of the time, a short essay consists of around 20 to 25 sentences.

📚 Short Essay Format

A short essay follows a standard essay structure : intro – main body – conclusion. You can be creative with the contents of your paper; however, it’s best to stick to the hamburger essay format when it comes to structure.

These are the benefits of having a standard essay structure:

• You always have a template that can help you organize your thoughts.
• You can estimate how many words each paragraph should include, making the writing process faster and easier.
• You can get a high grade by simply following the instructions.

Below you’ll find more detailed information on how to organize each short essay section.

How to Start a Short Essay 

An introduction needs to grab readers’ attention and provide some background information . It’s best to start your essay with a hook. However, be careful and add only the necessary information since your word count is limited.

Here are a couple of tips on how to make your introduction work:

Body Paragraphs

In the body paragraphs, you present and develop the essay’s main points. Each section focuses on a specific idea related to the topic, providing evidence, examples, and analysis to support the overall thesis statement. Here’s the structure of a paragraph:

A summary aims to condense the key ideas and arguments presented in an essay, allowing readers to quickly grasp the essence of the paper without reading the entire content. A good summary should:

📝 Short Essay Template

Use this easy template to quickly structure any short narrative, argumentative, or informative essay.

Introduction

• Hook: an intriguing fact, question, or statistic to grab your readers’ attention.
• Background info: something that provides context.
• Thesis statement: the purpose or central argument of your essay presented in one sentence.
• Topic sentence: a paragraph’s opening sentence that expresses its main idea.
• Supporting sentences: evidence, facts, and examples supporting the topic sentence.
• Transition: phrases or sentences that ensure coherence and cohesion in the essay, allowing for a clear and logical progression of information.
• Summary: a brief recap and conclusion to an essay.
• Restated thesis: a restatement of the main ideas and arguments.

✨ How to Write a Short Essay: Useful Tips

Each essay format has different requirements. Below are some tips to help you ensure you’re on the right track with the short essay format.

1. Follow the Short Essay Format

Mastering the format requirements is crucial, especially when writing a concise argumentative essay. While the five-paragraph structure may not be commonly found in literature, it holds great significance in academic writing for several reasons:

• Adhering to this standardized template makes the writing process more manageable.
• The clear guidelines facilitate reading, checking, and evaluation.
• This format accommodates various essay types, allowing students to excel in most academic texts .

Each paragraph in the short essay format plays a distinct role, making it essential to include all components for a cohesive and impactful essay.

2. Make Your Introduction Meaningful

Here’s how you can make your introduction work:

• When writing the opening paragraph of your essay, be very specific about your topic. It will help you sharpen your argument and clarify your intentions.
• To avoid a generic introduction, consider providing an example of the evidence you will use to support your point.
• Lastly, make sure to place your thesis statement as the concluding sentence of the paragraph, signaling to your readers where they can find the main point of your essay.

3. Write a Strong Thesis

Much has been said about the importance of a thesis statement, but crafting a persuasive one can be challenging. In a short essay, a strong thesis statement plays a crucial role. It summarizes the argument you intend to defend in your paper, setting the stage for your essay. Your thesis statement should be specific, intellectually rewarding by presenting new information, and decisive in expressing your opinion . Let’s take a closer look at some examples to illustrate these principles:

• Bad example: There is a vast diversity of opinions regarding abortions.
• Good example: Every woman must have the right to control her pregnancy which means the right to control her own body, health, and life.
• Bad example: Prisons can harm a convict’s further career.
• Good example: Imprisonment deteriorates a convict’s self-confidence and motivation, lowering their chances for new employment.
• Bad example: Orphans become the beloved children in some families, while in others, they never become natives.
• Good example: This essay aims to confirm that the reasons why adopting families don’t accept children lie within the families’ unreadiness for change.

4. Keep Your Introduction & Conclusion Concise

In the realm of short essay writing, brevity is the key. While it may be tempting to use abstract statements as hooks or delve into distant considerations in the conclusion part, keep an eye on the word count. With a maximum of 75 words each, the introduction elucidates the topic and conveys its significance, while the conclusion reiterates the main claim and reinforces the supporting evidence .

5. Make Topic Sentences from Your Thesis

When it comes to short essays, brevity extends to the main body as well. Typically comprising only 3 to 4 paragraphs, each of them focuses on a distinct aspect of the overall argument. To ensure clarity, we suggest splitting the thesis into multiple parts and transforming them into topic sentences for each paragraph. This structured approach will help you avoid confusion and make the paper more digestible for your readers. Additionally, this method simplifies crafting a well-rounded conclusion.

6. Refer to Reliable Sources

When tackling a short essay, it’s crucial to avoid baseless claims and instead focus on substantiating your arguments. Pay special attention to the sources you cite, as even the slightest inconsistency can catch the reader’s eye.

Enhance your essay’s credibility by incorporating several quotations or research-based facts, demonstrating your awareness of the topic. Even in the case of an in-class essay where extensive research may not be feasible, include relevant information or paraphrase passages you have previously encountered. Use indirect quotations if you can’t remember the exact wording.

7. Revise Your Short Essay

With a 500-word count, every word counts! Here are a few tips you may find helpful:

• Take a moment to assess the length of your essay and eliminate any unnecessary words to ensure a faster and more polished result. Consider using our convenient summarizer to streamline your writing further.
• Sometimes it’s hard to spot your own mistakes while proofreading the essay. Our essay-to-speech tool feature can help you identify weak points by reading your paper out loud. This auditory perspective can help you quickly identify and rectify any areas that require improvement.

✅ Short Essay Topics

Selecting an engaging and captivating topic is vital if you want to showcase your writing skills in a single short essay. Below are some examples to inspire your creativity. They’ll help you brainstorm and find the perfect topic that aligns with your interests and allows you to demonstrate your writing skills .

Short Narrative Essay Topics

• How I see a day in my adult life .
• Personal Experience in the Covert Conflict.
• A loss that will never be replenished.
• The Author’s Personal Experience.
• Describe how you would change the school program.
• Higher Education: Personality and Academic Success.
• What is the critical element of success?
• Photography: Hobby of Millions Unique for Everyone.
• My first love and lessons learned from it.
• Mindfulness Practicing: Personal Experience.
• The longest day of my life.
• Writing: Personal Hobby Analysis.
• A place to find peace in the hurricane of events.
• The Sports Coaching Guidelines and Routines.
• An eye-opening situation that changed the way I treat others.
• Innovation in Operation Management – Personal Experience.
• The worst trait of my character.
• Chapter 8 of “Criminology Today” by F. Schmalleger.
• How I met my best friend.
• Importance of Friendships.

Short Argumentative Essay Topics

• Social media can kill a relationship.
• Smoking in Public Places: Should It Be Banned?
• Animals should live in their natural habitats .
• Should People Be Ashamed of Poverty?
• Mandatory Overtime for Nurses Should Be Eliminated.
• The third wave of feminism is about to end with a half-victory.
• The Importance of Variability in the Food Industry.
• Gender Stereotypes: Should Real Men Wear Pink?
• Pharmacies: A big lie that costs a fortune.
• Police Standards Should Be Modified.
• Genetic cloning is immoral.
• Should Smoking Be Illegal?
• College Athletes Should Not Be Paid.
• We will never be equal because we are all different.
• Mandatory Job Drug Test Should Be Allowed.
• The best economic system has not been developed yet.
• Why Marriage Should Be Based on Love and Not Arranged?
• Reasons Why Kids Should Not Play Tackle Football.
• Owning a gun means you can be killed by chance.
• Should Social Media Be Banned?
• The non-family-friendly TV screen.
• Why Immigrants Should Receive Social Services?
• There’s a lot more sport about video games than we think.
• Should Children Be Taught Sex Education in School?

Short Informative Essay Topics

• How have video games affected modern technologies ?
• Infidelity and Societal Impact on Family Values.
• Meaning of Life in “Half a Day” by Naguib Mahfouz.
• Sociological Research Evaluation: Effects of Parental Imprisonment on Children’s Social and Moral Aspects.
• Climate Change Impacts.
• Explain the importance of the Olympic Games for building intercultural links.
• The Importance of Strategic Management and Planning.
• The Network Strategy of USA Today.
• A prominent artist and their masterpiece.
• Organizational Vision and Its Importance for the Staff.
• How to develop reading habits that last.
• The Impact of Electronic Medical Records.
• New and Old Media: Form, Impact, and Accessibility.
• Declaration of Independence and Cultural Issues Today.
• How does alcohol impact the way we behave?
• The Importance of Diet Monitoring.
• Personal Philosophy of Nursing Care.
• Why do teachers need a study plan?
• The Introduction of a Four-Day Work Week.
• Journalist Profession, Its Pros and Cons.
• The role of capitalism in shaping our idea of democracy.
• Teju Cole Personality’s in Modern American Society.
• The Importance of Medical Ethics.
• Tell a story of a famous and successful startup.
• Power of Advertising: Good and Bad Balance’ Importance.
• Personal and Political Pacifism.
• The cultural importance of divination.
• Important Factors in Personal Investment.
• My way of organizing my daily schedule and staying productive .
• The Impact of “The Marrow of Tradition” on Future American Literature.
• Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”: Themes and Importance of the Book.
• Writing short essays – Concordia University
• Thesis Statements; The Writing Center – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• What Is an Essay Structure? (With 4 Types and Tips) | Indeed.com
• How to Write a Thesis Statement: Writing Guides: Writing Tutorial Services: Indiana University Bloomington
• Topic Sentences and Signposting | Harvard College Writing Center
• Using Topic Sentences | Writing Advice
• Beginning Proofreading – Purdue OWL® – Purdue University
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