Getting ready to start your college essay? Your essay is very important to your application — especially if you’re applying to selective colleges.
Become a stronger writer by reviewing your peers’ essays and get your essay reviewed as well for free.
We have regular livestreams during which we walk you through how to write your college essay and review essays live.
Just getting started on college essays? This section will guide you through how you should think about your college essays before you start.
How a college essay fits into your application
What a strong essay does for your chances
How to create an application theme
Next, let’s make sure you understand the different types of college essays. You’ll most likely be writing a Common App or Coalition App essay, and you can also be asked to write supplemental essays for each school. Each essay has a prompt asking a specific question. Each of these prompts falls into one of a few different types. Understanding the types will help you better answer the prompt and structure your essay.
Identify how each prompt fits into an essay type
What each type of essay is really asking of you
How to write each essay effectively
Almost every student will write a Common App essay, which is why it’s important you get this right.
How to choose which Common App prompts to answer
How to write a successful Common App essay
What to avoid to stand out to admissions officers
Many schools, especially competitive ones, will ask you to write one or more supplemental essays. This allows a school to learn more about you and how you might fit into their culture.
These essays are extremely important in standing out. We’ve written guides for all the top schools. Follow the link below to find your school and read last year’s essay guides to give you a sense of the essay prompts. We’ll update these in August when schools release their prompts.
See last year’s supplemental essay guides to get a sense of the prompts for your schools.
Now that you’re starting to write your essay, let’s dive into the writing process. Below you’ll find our top articles on the craft of writing an amazing college essay.
Understand how to write a great hook for your essay
Complete the first drafts of your essay
Have a first draft ready? See our top editing tips below. Also, you may want to submit your essay to our free Essay Peer Review to get quick feedback and join a community of other students working on their essays.
Proofread and edited your essay.
Had someone else look through your essay — we recommend submitting it for a peer review.
Make sure your essay meets all requirements — consider signing up for a free account to view our per-prompt checklists to help you understand when you’re really ready to submit.
Let’s take it one step further and see how we can make your college essay really stand out! We recommend reading through these posts when you have a draft to work with.
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"The moments that change us, the ghosts that follow us, the memories that slow us down or keep us afloat - Jill Talbot has found the language for all of that. Talbot, a longtime single mother, hopes she was enough as she prepares to launch her daughter into the world. Anyone who has ever loved a child will recognize themselves in her mirror. I didn't want this book to end." - Connie Schultz, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Daughters of Erietown
"In The Last Year, Jill Talbot turns the small things sacred, distilling the quiet moments between a mother and daughter into something veering toward revelation. Each page reminds us that the greatest dramas of our lives often go unnoticed-unless we do the noticing. Part epiphany, part elegy, all love. This book is a small mercy. Its gift is grace."
- B.J. Hollars, author of Go West, Young Man: A Father and Son Rediscover America on the Oregon Trail
"In The Last Year, Jill Talbot achieves that rare magic that can exist in the finest examples of the essay form: she captures the ecstatic, mysterious fullness of life in each moment. These missives are about so many things - parenthood, grief, fear, pain, joy, art. Every sentence carries the weight of the past, the breathless potential of the future. Every detail is loaded with honesty, introspection, and, above all else, care. To read it, to bear witness to this mother/daughter relationship as Talbot stands on the precipice of enormous change, is a gift."
- Lucas Mann, author of Captive Audience: On Love and Reality TV
"Jill Talbot's The Last Year is an evocative and heart wrenching portrait of her final days living with her daughter, Indie, who's about to leave home for university - just as the world begins to shut down in the face of the Covid19 pandemic. Across a series of deftly crafted essays Talbot's prose draws lasting images of a precarious life of her and her daughter on the road as they relocate from one short term academic posting to another. Talbot proves to be a great American chronicler, like the passing moments of life caught by the Leica of beat photographer Robert Frank in The Americans, The Last Year elevates fleeting and ephemeral moments, a favourite booth in a bar, a view from a front doorstep, an empty flat left behind, to a profound view of what makes us who we are."
- Felicity Jones, Actress and Producer
Jill talbot.
Jill Talbot's is the author of The Last Year: Essays, The Way We Weren't: A Memoir, and Loaded: Women and Addiction. Her essays may be found online in journals such as AGNI, Brevity, Colorado Review, DIAGRAM, The Normal School, The Paris Review Daily, and more.
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Published on September 4, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.
An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays.
Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and descriptive essays are about exercising creativity and writing in an interesting way. At university level, argumentative essays are the most common type.
Essay type | Skills tested | Example prompt |
---|---|---|
Has the rise of the internet had a positive or negative impact on education? | ||
Explain how the invention of the printing press changed European society in the 15th century. | ||
Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself. | ||
Describe an object that has sentimental value for you. |
In high school and college, you will also often have to write textual analysis essays, which test your skills in close reading and interpretation.
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Argumentative essays, expository essays, narrative essays, descriptive essays, textual analysis essays, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about types of essays.
An argumentative essay presents an extended, evidence-based argument. It requires a strong thesis statement —a clearly defined stance on your topic. Your aim is to convince the reader of your thesis using evidence (such as quotations ) and analysis.
Argumentative essays test your ability to research and present your own position on a topic. This is the most common type of essay at college level—most papers you write will involve some kind of argumentation.
The essay is divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion:
The example below is a paragraph from the body of an argumentative essay about the effects of the internet on education. Mouse over it to learn more.
A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.
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An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a topic. It doesn’t require an original argument, just a balanced and well-organized view of the topic.
Expository essays test your familiarity with a topic and your ability to organize and convey information. They are commonly assigned at high school or in exam questions at college level.
The introduction of an expository essay states your topic and provides some general background, the body presents the details, and the conclusion summarizes the information presented.
A typical body paragraph from an expository essay about the invention of the printing press is shown below. Mouse over it to learn more.
The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.
A narrative essay is one that tells a story. This is usually a story about a personal experience you had, but it may also be an imaginative exploration of something you have not experienced.
Narrative essays test your ability to build up a narrative in an engaging, well-structured way. They are much more personal and creative than other kinds of academic writing . Writing a personal statement for an application requires the same skills as a narrative essay.
A narrative essay isn’t strictly divided into introduction, body, and conclusion, but it should still begin by setting up the narrative and finish by expressing the point of the story—what you learned from your experience, or why it made an impression on you.
Mouse over the example below, a short narrative essay responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” to explore its structure.
Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.
Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.
A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.
The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.
A descriptive essay provides a detailed sensory description of something. Like narrative essays, they allow you to be more creative than most academic writing, but they are more tightly focused than narrative essays. You might describe a specific place or object, rather than telling a whole story.
Descriptive essays test your ability to use language creatively, making striking word choices to convey a memorable picture of what you’re describing.
A descriptive essay can be quite loosely structured, though it should usually begin by introducing the object of your description and end by drawing an overall picture of it. The important thing is to use careful word choices and figurative language to create an original description of your object.
Mouse over the example below, a response to the prompt “Describe a place you love to spend time in,” to learn more about descriptive essays.
On Sunday afternoons I like to spend my time in the garden behind my house. The garden is narrow but long, a corridor of green extending from the back of the house, and I sit on a lawn chair at the far end to read and relax. I am in my small peaceful paradise: the shade of the tree, the feel of the grass on my feet, the gentle activity of the fish in the pond beside me.
My cat crosses the garden nimbly and leaps onto the fence to survey it from above. From his perch he can watch over his little kingdom and keep an eye on the neighbours. He does this until the barking of next door’s dog scares him from his post and he bolts for the cat flap to govern from the safety of the kitchen.
With that, I am left alone with the fish, whose whole world is the pond by my feet. The fish explore the pond every day as if for the first time, prodding and inspecting every stone. I sometimes feel the same about sitting here in the garden; I know the place better than anyone, but whenever I return I still feel compelled to pay attention to all its details and novelties—a new bird perched in the tree, the growth of the grass, and the movement of the insects it shelters…
Sitting out in the garden, I feel serene. I feel at home. And yet I always feel there is more to discover. The bounds of my garden may be small, but there is a whole world contained within it, and it is one I will never get tired of inhabiting.
Though every essay type tests your writing skills, some essays also test your ability to read carefully and critically. In a textual analysis essay, you don’t just present information on a topic, but closely analyze a text to explain how it achieves certain effects.
A rhetorical analysis looks at a persuasive text (e.g. a speech, an essay, a political cartoon) in terms of the rhetorical devices it uses, and evaluates their effectiveness.
The goal is not to state whether you agree with the author’s argument but to look at how they have constructed it.
The introduction of a rhetorical analysis presents the text, some background information, and your thesis statement; the body comprises the analysis itself; and the conclusion wraps up your analysis of the text, emphasizing its relevance to broader concerns.
The example below is from a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech . Mouse over it to learn more.
King’s speech is infused with prophetic language throughout. Even before the famous “dream” part of the speech, King’s language consistently strikes a prophetic tone. He refers to the Lincoln Memorial as a “hallowed spot” and speaks of rising “from the dark and desolate valley of segregation” to “make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” The assumption of this prophetic voice constitutes the text’s strongest ethical appeal; after linking himself with political figures like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, King’s ethos adopts a distinctly religious tone, recalling Biblical prophets and preachers of change from across history. This adds significant force to his words; standing before an audience of hundreds of thousands, he states not just what the future should be, but what it will be: “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This warning is almost apocalyptic in tone, though it concludes with the positive image of the “bright day of justice.” The power of King’s rhetoric thus stems not only from the pathos of his vision of a brighter future, but from the ethos of the prophetic voice he adopts in expressing this vision.
A literary analysis essay presents a close reading of a work of literature—e.g. a poem or novel—to explore the choices made by the author and how they help to convey the text’s theme. It is not simply a book report or a review, but an in-depth interpretation of the text.
Literary analysis looks at things like setting, characters, themes, and figurative language. The goal is to closely analyze what the author conveys and how.
The introduction of a literary analysis essay presents the text and background, and provides your thesis statement; the body consists of close readings of the text with quotations and analysis in support of your argument; and the conclusion emphasizes what your approach tells us about the text.
Mouse over the example below, the introduction to a literary analysis essay on Frankenstein , to learn more.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.
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!
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At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.
Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”
The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.
Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:
An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.
An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.
The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.
Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.
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.
Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved July 31, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/essay-types/
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Teaching with Jennifer Findley
Upper Elementary Teaching Blog
By the time the end of the school year arrives, I am digging down deep in my bag of tricks and searching my resources for new ideas to engage my students. Often, we have used our best activities and resources well before the final month of school. This post will give you some fresh end of year writing prompts just for that final month of school (with ideas on how to make them more engaging for students who have checked out).
These end of the year writing prompts can be used for:
Want to add in some instant engagement if your students are reluctant writers? Try these tips:
Here are the writing prompts…free downloadable versions available at the end of this post.
These free end of year writing prompts are now available in digital format with Google Slides. When you download the PDF (from the next section), you will find the links to access the digital end of year writing prompts on the first page.
Here are some ideas for using these free digital end of year writing prompts:
Need help assigning Google Slides through Google Classroom? Click here!
Interested in more end of the year activities for literacy? Click here or on the image below to see my End of the Year Literacy Activities for 4th and 5th grade.
The resource contains over 20 no-/low-prep activities for reading and writing, with TWELVE of those in digital format!
Reader interactions.
April 27, 2020 at 1:37 pm
Jennifer, I am retiring at the end of this school year. I have taught for 32 years and I’m 66 years old–but a very young 66. I couldn’t have made it without your amazing contribution to education. The past two years I have stepped back into a 5th grade classroom, after four years as a district instructional coach. It was a huge change for me. I have used your products enough that I consider you a good friend. So, when I google something, and you pop up first, I totally say, “Hey, I know her. Her stuff is the best!!” I have also appreciated your distance learning ideas and activities, both free and paid. They have saved me the last six weeks or so. Thank you so much and good luck with your business.
May 7, 2020 at 12:30 am
Thank you so much. These look amazing.
June 3, 2020 at 4:49 pm
Thank you very much. These are very helpful. You are totally right, it has been a strange end to the 2019-20 school year.
July 19, 2020 at 1:05 pm
Do you employ the use of daily prompts to kickstart your journal writing?
https://dailyjournal.club/journal-prompts-2-step-process-for-success/
May 18, 2021 at 2:47 pm
Thank you so much for the EOY writing prompts–they are fantastic!! I focus on writing all year long, and toward the end of May, I always feel like I’m out of ideas!! Your prompts are engaging and fresh. Thank you so much for sharing freely!!
May 24, 2022 at 3:05 pm
Jennifer, Thank you so much for sharing these awesome end of the year writing ideas! It is greatly appreciated! Diana
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I’m Jennifer Findley: a teacher, mother, and avid reader. I believe that with the right resources, mindset, and strategies, all students can achieve at high levels and learn to love learning. My goal is to provide resources and strategies to inspire you and help make this belief a reality for your students.
Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Digital Communication — How Communication Has Changed in the Last 20 Years
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Students are often asked to write an essay on My Last Birthday Celebration 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…
Introduction.
My last birthday was a special day. I woke up to the sound of my family singing ‘Happy Birthday’.
I entered the living room and was surprised to see it decorated with balloons and streamers. A large chocolate cake was waiting for me.
I received wonderful gifts from everyone. We played many fun games, which made the day even more exciting.
This birthday was memorable because of the love and joy shared. I eagerly await my next birthday to create more such memories.
The day began with a surprise orchestrated by my closest friends. They had organized a virtual gathering due to the pandemic, bringing together people from different phases of my life. The surprise lay not just in the event, but in the realization of how technology could bridge the physical distances and foster a sense of togetherness.
The gifts I received were not just materialistic but also emotional. The most memorable one was a video montage of my friends and family sharing their heartfelt messages. It was a gift that reflected the bonds I have nurtured over the years.
This birthday was not merely a celebration but also a day of introspection. I found myself reflecting on my past and contemplating my future. It was a reminder of my accomplishments, failures, and the lessons learned. It made me realize the transient nature of life and the importance of cherishing every moment.
My last birthday celebration was a unique blend of joy, surprise, and introspection. It was not just a day of receiving gifts, but a day of acknowledging the journey I have embarked on. It was a celebration of life, love, and the person I am becoming. In essence, it was a day that made me value the beauty of relationships and the importance of self-reflection.
Birthdays are personal milestones that mark another year of growth, experiences, and achievements. My last birthday celebration was a remarkable event that left an indelible impression on my mind. This was not only because of the jubilant atmosphere but also the deeper realization of the significance of life and relationships.
The celebration.
The day of the celebration arrived, brimming with joy and excitement. As the clock struck midnight, my family gathered around to surprise me with a beautiful cake. The warmth of their love and affection was palpable. The day continued with a series of surprises, including thoughtful gifts and heartwarming wishes from my loved ones.
In the evening, the guests started to arrive. The house buzzed with laughter, conversations, and the clinking of glasses. The air was filled with the aroma of delectable food, adding to the overall merriment. The highlight of the evening was the cake-cutting ceremony, followed by a toast to life, love, and happiness.
Lessons learned.
The birthday celebration taught me a valuable lesson about the essence of life. It made me understand that life is not just about the number of years we live, but about the experiences we gather and the relationships we nurture. It emphasized the importance of celebrating not just our existence, but also our journey and the people who make it worthwhile.
My last birthday celebration was more than just a party; it was a celebration of life, relationships, and personal growth. It was a day filled with joy, love, and introspection. As I look forward to the coming years, I carry with me the lessons learned and the memories made, ready to embrace whatever life has in store. As another year unfolds, I am reminded to cherish every moment, appreciate the people in my life, and celebrate the journey that is life.
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In the UPSC mains examination, essay paper is worth 250 marks and three hours. Here is the topic wise questions from the earlier years for the benefit of civil service IAS IPS aspirants.
1.2 federalism, decentralization, 1.3 administration, 1.4 judiciary, 1.5 poverty, social justice, 1.6 indian society, culture and values, 1.7 media, tv & cinema, literature, 2.1 growth vs development, 2.2 environment vs development, 2.4 sectors of economy, 3.1 values in education, 3.2 scheme implementation, 3.3 higher education, 4.1 character, honesty, ethics, 4.2 knowledge, 4.3 compassion, 4.4 truth and reality, 4.5 youth, discipline, 4.6 towards excellence, 5.1 @national politics, 5.2 @world / quote type, 5.3 empowerment overall, 5.4 compared to men, 6.1 globalization, 6.2 international org./ bilateral, 6.3 security, 6.4 history, 7.1 science and religion, 7.2 science and education, 7.3 computer and internet, 7.4 sci-tech: others, appendix: linear paper of upsc essay 2023, appendix: linear paper of upsc essay 2022, appendix: model answer pe free lecture & powerpoint, appendix: syllabus of essay paper in upsc, 1 india: democracy, administration, society, culture.
Answer one-one essay from each section in 1000-1200 words
Year | Lectures | Powerpoint |
---|---|---|
2023 | Free Lecture: | Free Powerpoint: |
2022 | Free Lecture: | Free Powerpoint: |
Essay: Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.
Now the Republicans are the ones saddled with a candidate who can’t make a clear argument or finish a sentence.
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Four days after the end of the Republican National Convention, it suddenly looks like a very different event. I watched it intermittently, on television, along with perhaps 25 million other Americans (a relatively small number, though enough to matter). I focused on the highlights, like most viewers did. I read the analysis and thought I understood what had happened. But in the light of President Joe Biden’s brave and unprecedented decision to drop out of the race, my memory of what Donald Trump and his party were doing and saying has permanently shifted. I suspect this will be true for at least some of the other 25 million of us too.
Whatever happens next, the frame has altered. Now it is the Republicans who are saddled with the elderly candidate, the one who can’t make a clear argument or finish a sentence without veering off into anecdote. Now the Democrats are instead proposing something new. Now it is the many pundits who were already bored by the race and ready to wrap it up who look foolish.
Remember, if you still can: The Republican convention was a carefully curated, meticulously planned presentation. As my colleague Tim Alberta has said, the theme was “strength.” Strength was expressed by exaggerated, absurd, comic-book figures: Hulk Hogan, Kid Rock. The latter chanted “Fight, fight!” and “Trump, Trump!” while pumping his fist. Then he sang “American Bad Ass,” an unlistenable work of profound dissonance. Trump himself walked into the convention hall to the strains of James Brown’s famously misogynistic anthem “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”
Read: This is exactly what the Trump team feared
Strength was implied by the equally choreographed demonstrations of debasement. Nikki Haley, who had repeatedly questioned whether Trump is “mentally fit” to be president—and had declared that “the first party to retire its 80-year-old candidate” will win the election—offered her “strong endorsement.” The vice-presidential nominee, J. D. Vance, who had previously compared Trump to Hitler and described him as “ cultural heroin ,” performed a kind of kowtow, appearing at the convention in the form of supplicant, acolyte, prodigal son. Like so many other Republicans, he bowed to the power of Trump, to the vulgarity of Hulk Hogan, to a whole host of things he used to say he didn’t like, and maybe still doesn’t like. He even made a peculiar, strained attempt to link his children and his wife, the daughter of South Asian immigrants, to a cemetery in East Kentucky where he said they will be buried, as if none of this will make sense until all of us are dead.
But then Trump himself appeared, and it was as if the emperor with no clothes had taken the stage. There was nothing strong about an overweight, heavily made up yet nevertheless shiny-faced elderly man who rambled and babbled for an hour and a half, completely undermining the slick image created in the previous four days. He began by sticking to his script, solemnly referencing the failed assassination attempt against him days before. But even when telling that story, he could not master the appropriate tone and almost immediately changed the subject. “And there’s an interesting statistic,” he said: “The ears are the bloodiest part. If something happens with the ears, they bleed more than any other part of the body. For whatever reason, the doctors told me that.”
Eventually, instead of sounding like an “American Bad Ass,” he digressed into pure gibberish . One example:
They’re coming from prisons. They’re coming from jails. They’re coming from mental institutions and insane asylums. I—you know the press is always on because I say this. Has anyone seen The Silence of the Lambs ? The late, great Hannibal Lecter. He’d love to have you for dinner. That’s insane asylums. They’re emptying out their insane asylums. And terrorists at numbers that we’ve never seen before. Bad things are going to happen.
In Venezuela, Caracas, high crime, high crime. Caracas, Venezuela, really a dangerous place. But not anymore, because in Venezuela, crime is down 72 percent. In fact, if they would ever in this election, I hate to even say that, we will have our next Republican convention in Venezuela because it will be safe. Our cities, our cities will be so unsafe, we won’t be able—we will not be able to have it there.
On Thursday evening, this performance seemed deranged, sinister, and frightening. Now, following Biden’s decision to halt his own campaign, it just looks deranged. On the one hand, we have a sitting president who understood his limitations and, in an act of patriotism, selflessness, and party unity, decided to step away from power. On the other hand, we have a former president clinging to power, holding on desperately to the myth of a lost election, evoking the same predictable descriptions of carnage and disaster he served up eight years ago. Today, he is still attacking Biden, who is no longer his opponent.
Read: A searing reminder that Trump is unwell
In retrospect, the Republican Party’s convention looks not just staged but also hollow and false. By contrast, the Democratic Party’s convention will be substantive and maybe even spontaneous. In the hours that have passed since Biden’s announcement, a million different Kamala Harris memes, music mixes, and clips have appeared online, not orchestrated by her campaign or by any campaign, just put together by random people, some of whom like her and some of whom do not. One mash-up of her wackier speeches, her laugh, and a Charli XCX soundtrack had 3.4 million views by this morning. We don’t know yet whether Harris will be the candidate or, if she is, whether she will be a good one, but the energy has already shifted from the men trying to impose their image of their party on the country to online Gen Zers who can flip the script any way they want.
I don’t know what will happen next, and that’s the point. The heavy sense of inevitability that surrounded the RNC has lifted. The cadres of people organized by the Heritage Foundation and a dozen offshoots, all quietly preparing to dismantle the rights of American women, to replace civil servants with loyalists, to take apart pollution controls, and to transfer more money into the hands of Trump-friendly billionaires—they are no longer marching inexorably toward the halls of power. The people who spent a week trying to bend reality to fit their flawed, vengeful candidate became too confident too soon.
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Some church leaders and politicians have condemned the performance from the opening ceremony for mocking Christianity. Art historians are divided.
By Yan Zhuang
A performance during the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on Friday has drawn criticism from church leaders and conservative politicians for a perceived likeness to Leonardo da Vinci’s depiction of a biblical scene in “The Last Supper,” with some calling it a “mockery” of Christianity.
The event’s planners and organizers have denied that the sequence was inspired by “The Last Supper,” or that it intended to mock or offend.
In the performance broadcast during the ceremony, a woman wearing a silver, halo-like headdress stood at the center of a long table, with drag queens posing on either side of her. Later, at the same table, a giant cloche lifted, revealing a man, nearly naked and painted blue, on a dinner plate surrounded by fruit. He broke into a song as, behind him, the drag queens danced.
The tableaux drew condemnation among people who saw the images as a parody of “The Last Supper,” the New Testament scene depicted in da Vinci’s painting by the same name. The French Bishops’ Conference, which represents the country’s Catholic bishops, said in a statement that the opening ceremony included “scenes of mockery and derision of Christianity,” and an influential American Catholic, Bishop Robert Barron of Minnesota, called it a “gross mockery.”
The performance at the opening ceremony, which took place on and along the Seine on Friday, also prompted a Mississippi-based telecommunications provider, C Spire, to announce that it would pull its advertisements from Olympics broadcasts. Speaker Mike Johnson described the scene as “shocking and insulting to Christian people.”
The opening ceremony’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly, said at the Games’ daily news conference on Saturday that the event was not meant to “be subversive, or shock people, or mock people.” On Sunday, Anne Descamps, the Paris 2024 spokeswoman, said at the daily news conference, “If people have taken any offense, we are, of course, really, really sorry.”
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News | Update: Oriel’s Liam Corrigan wins gold in rowing at Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Three Oriel athletes are medal contenders at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Update: Thursday 1 August, 11.32am. Edited: Thursday 1 August, 13.24pm.
Congratulations to Oriel’s Financial Economics alumnus Liam Corrigan (2021), who has just won gold for the USA in the men’s coxless four final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Update: Thursday 1 August, 8.26am .
Three athletes from Oriel College are currently competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
They are alumnus Liam Corrigan, current student Charlie Elwes and incoming graduate Tom Mackintosh.
Corrigan, rowing for the USA’s men’s coxless four, will compete in the final on Thursday, 1 August, at 11:10 BST.
Mackintosh will participate in the men’s single sculls final on Saturday, 3 August, at 9:30 BST. Previously, he won gold as part of New Zealand’s men’s eight in Tokyo.
Elwes, aiming for his second Olympic medal, will row in Team GB’s men’s eight final on Saturday, 3 August, at 10:10 BST.
Stay tuned for further updates.
British composer elected visiting fellow in music at oriel college, oriel fellows’ spin-out oxford semantic technologies acquired by samsung electronics.
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This college essay tip is by Abigail McFee, Admissions Counselor for Tufts University and Tufts '17 graduate. 2. Write like a journalist. "Don't bury the lede!" The first few sentences must capture the reader's attention, provide a gist of the story, and give a sense of where the essay is heading.
Step 1: Return to your thesis. To begin your conclusion, signal that the essay is coming to an end by returning to your overall argument. Don't just repeat your thesis statement —instead, try to rephrase your argument in a way that shows how it has been developed since the introduction. Example: Returning to the thesis.
Good Essays. 1367 Words. 6 Pages. Open Document. This year, is my last year of highschool. For a very long time I have dreamed of being a senior and finally graduating from high school. I remember when I was a child, I wanted nothing more than to be a big, scary Senior. Now that I am this Senior and the end of the line has come, I am not sure ...
End your essay with a call to action, warning, or image to make your argument meaningful. Keep your conclusion concise and to the point, so you don't lose a reader's attention. Do your best to avoid adding new information to your conclusion and only emphasize points you've already made in your essay. Method 1.
Option 4: End on an action. Ending on an action can be a strong way to wrap up your essay. That might mean including a literal action, dialogue, or continuation of the story. These endings leave the reader wanting more rather than wishing the essay had ended sooner. They're interesting and can help you avoid boring your reader.
Our list of notable personal essays published this year, including reads on friendship, loss, war, endings, and metaphors. by Longreads December 8, 2022. Graphic by Cheri Lucas Rowlands. Background image by lechatnoir/Getty Images. Today's list compiles our editors' picks for personal essays. While our team is small, we have a wide range of ...
In The Last Year, Jill Talbot achieves that rare magic that can exist in the finest examples of the essay form: she captures the ecstatic, mysterious fullness of life in each moment.These missives are about so many things — parenthood, grief, fear, pain, joy, art. Every sentence carries the weight of the past, the breathless potential of the future.
Essay Examples. New York University is a selective university in the heart of NYC. Its top academic programs and location make it a highly-desirable college, and only a select few of over 85,000 applicants were accepted last year. It's clear that writing a strong essay is vital to standing out and demonstrating your interest in NYU.
See last year's supplemental essay guides to get a sense of the prompts for your schools. Unit 5 Essay brainstorming and composition. Now that you're starting to write your essay, let's dive into the writing process. Below you'll find our top articles on the craft of writing an amazing college essay.
Jill Talbot's is the author of The Last Year: Essays, The Way We Weren't: A Memoir, and Loaded: Women and Addiction. Her essays may be found online in journals such as AGNI, Brevity, Colorado Review, DIAGRAM, The Normal School, The Paris Review Daily, and more. Customer reviews. 5 out of 5 stars. 5 out of 5. 3 global ratings ...
An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays. Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and ...
Allow the students to choose the prompts they want to write about. Make these a whole group (and silly) writing activity by choosing one prompt for all of the students to write. Give the students 3-5 minutes to start writing the essay/story. Then have them leave their papers on their desks and rotate to another desk.
The end of the school year is more than just a transition; it's an opportunity to look back on achievements, setbacks, and the valuable lessons learned along the way. In this essay, we delve into the importance of reflecting on the end of the school year, considering personal development, academic achievements, and the anticipation of new ...
An essay on how communication has changed in the last 20 years must also acknowledge the cultural and generational shifts that have accompanied these changes. Younger generations, often referred to as digital natives, have grown up in a world where digital communication is the norm. This has influenced their communication preferences, language ...
Sample essay about "Your Last Holiday". Look at this essay and check how the information in organised in paragraphs: Last summer I went on holiday to New York with my girlfriend. We travelled by plane, and the journey was very tiring. We were really excited about visiting The Big Apple for the first time, so 14 hours seemed a long time.
Essay Previous Year Papers. This just in: UPSC CSE Notification 2024 Mains Marathon 2024 UPSC IFoS Prelims Result 2024 UPSC CSE Prelims Result 2024 UPSC Prelims 2024 CSAT (Answer Key) Revised Answer Key UPSC Prelims 2024 GS 1 UPSC Prelims 2024 CSAT UPSC Prelims 2024 GS 1 Mains Test Series scheduled to begin from 9th June, 2024 has been ...
500 Words Essay on My Last Birthday Celebration Introduction. Birthdays are personal milestones that mark another year of growth, experiences, and achievements. My last birthday celebration was a remarkable event that left an indelible impression on my mind.
Personal Narrative Essay: The Last Year Of High School. The next morning was of my official and final year of high school that I was about to begin. While I was getting ready to leave my parents were both off that day, and they wanted to drive me to school. As we were driving through our neighborhood; looking outside of the car window.
In the UPSC mains examination, essay paper is worth 250 marks and three hours. Here is the topic wise questions from the earlier years for the benefit of civil service IAS IPS aspirants. 1 India: Democracy, administration, Society, culture. 1.1 India Since Independence. 1.2 Federalism, Decentralization.
The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is the world's oldest international schools' writing contest, established by the Society in 1883. With thousands of young people taking part each year, it is an important way to recognise achievement, elevate youth voices and develop key skills through creative writing.
Last Year Essay. Decent Essays. 1077 Words. 5 Pages. Open Document. They don't announce last place at WGI World Championships. My friends and I checked the website while sitting on our hotel room bed. We saw our name at the bottom of the list. "Well, that sucks," I said in a dull tone.
Nikki Haley, who had repeatedly questioned whether Trump is "mentally fit" to be president—and had declared that "the first party to retire its 80-year-old candidate" will win the ...
Persuasive Essay On Homelessness; Persuasive Essay On Homelessness. 1344 Words 6 Pages. Los Angeles County's homeless population has soared 23% over last year despite increasing success in placing people in housing, according to the latest annual count released Wednesday. The sharp rise, to nearly 58,000, suggested that the pathway into ...
Some have also compared the scene to a painting of the gods of Olympus called "The Feast of the Gods."Painted by the Dutch artist Jan van Bijlert in the 17th century, it shows gods crowded ...
Update: Thursday 1 August, 11.32am. Edited: Thursday 1 August, 13.24pm. Gold! Congratulations to Oriel's Financial Economics alumnus Liam Corrigan (2021), who has just won gold for the USA in the men's coxless four final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Policy Papers in full text 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1996 All. Search Publications ... It addresses the lessons learned over the last 10 years, including from the pandemic and the March 2023 banking turmoil; key findings from assessments ...