essay building

How to Construct an Essay

Although writing an essay is daunting for many people, it can be pretty straight-forward. This page is a general recipe for constructing an essay, not just in philosophy, but in most other humanities disciplines (such as English, History, Religious Studies, etc.) and perhaps the social sciences. It should be an appropriate guide for writing at the middle school, high school, and lower college levels. The typical assignment I have in mind will be an argumentative essay, in which you argue for something, even if just an interpretation of someone an author’s work.

Note that what I provide here are only general guidelines . Be sure to check whether your instructor has different ones. If your instructor has not given clear guidelines, then these should suffice, since they are pretty standard.

Note: If you need help figuring out how to write an essay in philosophy specifically and at the college level, see my “ Writing in Philosophy .” If you want to know how I evaluate students on a paper assignment, see my “ Grading Rubric for Paper Assignments .”

Table of Contents:

• Essay Structure
• General Writing Tips
• Style & Punctuation
• Grammatical Errors
• Humorous Writing Guidelines
• Citations & References
• Relevant Links
• Typed – use a word processor (such as Microsoft Word) on a computer.
• Spacing  – the space between lines on the page is typically double-space. However, it may be changing. (I now prefer single-spaced myself.)
• Font size – standard size of the text is usually 12-point.
• Font style  – standard font, such as Times New Roman.

2. Essay Structure

The first thing to notice is that the basic form of an essay is quite logical. Let’s look at the standard structure of an essay starting with the most general. You can divide your paper into three main sections:

1. Introduction

For the introduction section , you will need to do two things: introduce your topic and provide a thesis statement. Typically, these two tasks should be accomplished using only one paragraph for a short paper, but can be longer for longer papers.

First, introduce your topic. The introductory paragraph(s) should briefly orient the reader to the topic and provide a conceptual map of the rest of the paper.

Second, provide a thesis statement.

Your thesis statement is the main point of your paper and should address the paper topic assigned by your instructor.

Make sure your thesis statement is clear, specific, declarative, and on-topic. You should be able to provide the thesis statement in one or two sentences (most instructors prefer one, concise sentence) for a fairly short paper (about 1-8 pages). It is usually best stated at the end of your introduction section (the end of the first paragraph if your introduction section is only a single paragraph in length).

The body section should consist of at least several paragraphs where you will provide support for your thesis statement in the form of reasons, evidence, arguments, justification, and so on. That is, you have something you want to communicate or argue for (your thesis) and here is your chance to explain it in detail, support it, and defend it.

Each paragraph in the body section should have a topic sentence and, perhaps, a transition sentence. The topic sentence is the particular point you are trying to make in the paragraph. It’s sort of like a mini-thesis statement. It should usually be the first sentence of the paragraph, though in some cases it is appropriate to be the second sentence. A transition sentence is a sentence that helps link the points of each paragraph together by making a smooth transition from the previous paragraph. It can be done in the first sentence of the new paragraph or the last sentence of the previous one. A good way to tie all the points together throughout the body section is to have them all clearly state how they support the thesis statement. That way it is obvious that all of your paragraphs tie together. Note that the first sentence of the paragraph may satisfy both goals. That is, you may have a topic sentence that also serves to transition well. Another option is to have a transition sentence first and then a separate topic sentence following it.

The summary section (often misleadingly called a “conclusion”) is a short recap of what you have said in the essay. You might want to provide a slightly different version of your thesis statement as the first sentence of this paragraph and then provide a few sentences that sum up what the body section said in support of the thesis statement. The summary section should be only one paragraph long for a short paper, but can be longer for longer papers. (Some instructors, like me, even think that summary sections are unnecessary for short papers.)

Note:   It’s a good idea to put these sections titles in as headings in your paper to organize and break things up for yourself and your reader. If your instructor doesn’t want headings in your paper, just take them out before you print it to turn it in. It is also helpful for long papers to put in additional headings, perhaps even sub-headings, to break up the body section (such as “First Argument,” “Second Argument,” and so on).

3. General Writing Tips

1. think & discuss.

Familiarize yourself with the material before you begin writing. You won’t be able to write much if you don’t have anything to put on the page. Think about your paper topic as soon as you get the paper assignment prompt from your instructor. This can be facilitated in a number of ways. A great way is to discuss the issue with your instructor or teaching assistant. You can even try talking about it to a friend or family member.

2. Rough Drafts & Editing

Write rough drafts ahead of time. For most people, writing their rough ideas down as rough drafts helps them see their ideas more clearly than even thinking about them. Then take a break from the essay (this usually requires at least a half, if not full, day). After the lengthy break (for example, the next day), go back and edit more. Repeat this process as necessary until finished. (This is why it is important to start working on your essay far in advance!)

Also, don’t be afraid to just type without thinking too much about whether it’s any good. You can always go back and edit it. Many people find it best to just sit down and write a lot without much reflection. Just make sure you have enough time to go back and edit.

3. Comments/Review

Once you have a final draft ready, have someone read it to look for errors and provide feedback. Many instructors encourage students to turn in early drafts to them for comments. Just be sure to check and see if your instructor allows you to do so.

4. Style & Punctuation

Overall, the paper should demonstrate a command of the writing process and the author’s care in crafting it. Avoid errors of spelling, punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, verb tense, and vocabulary, such as the following:

• Put punctuation inside quotations (for American writing). If you put something in quotations that is immediately followed by punctuation (such as commas or colons), then put the punctuation mark inside the last quotation mark. Correct: John Doe claims that, “Britney Spears is a tool.” Incorrect: John Doe claims that, “Britney Spears is a tool”. Another example: “I’m in love with Space Ghost,” Bjork proclaimed. (Note: I know this rule doesn’t seem right. The British style of writing has the punctuation outside the quotation marks, which makes more sense. However, the American style requires that you write it the other way.)
• Put parenthetical citations outside of quotations. Correct: “Blah, blah, blah, this is a quote” (Author 32). Incorrect: “Blah, blah, blah, this is a quote (Author 32).”
• Introduce quotes. Introduce quotes, preferably by acknowledging who is saying it. Example: In the article “War Without End,” John Doe says, “…blah, blah, and blah” (36). Notice the three dots in the quote (…), which is called an elipses. You’re supposed to put those in when you are not quoting the whole sentence. It denotes that something came before (or after) the part of the sentence you are quoting.
• Generally, spell out numbers. For example, write ‘three,’ not ‘3.’ Exceptions can be made for larger numbers, like 1089, especially when you are simply making reference to a numeral.
• Avoid informal abbreviations and notations.  For example, don’t write ‘&’ for ‘and’ or ‘b/c’ for ‘because.’ However, there are notations and abbreviations that are conventions in professional writing; for example: ‘e.g.’ is often used for ‘for example’ and ‘etc.’ for ‘et cetera’ and ‘p.’ for ‘page.’ However, for this last one, note that it is only used in citing sources or references, not in other sentences. So, for example, don’t write “The p. had many words of wisdom written on it.”
• Use versus mention. In general, when you mention  (or talk about) rather than use a word you should put quotes (single or double) around the word. This is not necessary when you use a word. Incorrect: John contains the letter h. Correct: ‘John’ contains the letter ‘h.’ (Note: Some people simply italicize the word to indicate mention. I follow this convention here sometimes so that it is easier to read. However, it can get confused with emphasis, which is what italics are more commonly used for. Also, the standard for use-mention indication is not exactly clear. Most people use quotes and use single quotes for British style and double quotes for American style. I tend to use single quotes just to distinguish them from quoting what someone has said.)
• Write well and consider your reader!  Good writing keeps the reader’s perspective in mind. It takes work to read someone’s ideas. You owe it to your readers to explain your ideas clearly and ideally in a pleasing manner. To become a better writer in terms of style, read widely and find good writers to emulate (some excellent non-fiction writers that come to mind: Paul Bloom ,  Rebecca Goldstein , and  Steven Pinker ).
• Recognize the Flexibility of Writing Rules. You’ll notice that skilled writers don’t always follow all the “rules” for writing. They know that the rules are somewhat flexible and can even be explicitly broken for good effect at times. You might be able to get away with the same, but it’s good to practice working well within them for graded papers!

5. Common Grammatical Errors to Avoid

• Misusing i.e. and e.g. Do not confuse these two. They do not mean the same thing! i.e. = that is e.g. = for example (Many people think that ‘i.e’ stands for ‘in example.’ That is false. Both are abbreviations for two different latin phrases.)
• Using ‘if’ when you should use ‘whether’. Incorrect: I do not know if this is true. Correct: I do not know whether this is true. Correct: If this is true, then you are wrong.
• Confusing ‘there’ with ‘their.’ ‘Their’ indicates possession, ‘there’ does not. Incorrect: There problem was a lack of courage. Correct: Their problem was a lack of courage. Incorrect: Their are a lot of problems here. Correct: There are a lot of problems here.
• Misconnecting verbs. Incorrect: We should try and change the law. Correct: We should try to change the law.
• Letting your accent get in the way of things. Incorrect: Mind and brain are one in the same thing. Correct: Mind and brain are one and the same thing. Incorrect: Socrates should of fought. Correct: Socrates should have fought.
• Improper form of the plural possessive of names. Incorrect: Descarte’s problem was …. Incorrect: Descartes problem was…. Correct: Descartes’ problem was…. Correct: Descartes’s problem was…. (Note: Either of the last two is acceptable only for names ending in ‘s’ like ‘Descartes’ or ‘Jesus.’ Otherwise, always go with the last example–i.e., add an apostrophe and an ‘s.’ The convention is usaully to not add an extra ‘s’ for old names, such as ‘Descartes’ and ‘Jesus.’ So, to say that this is the book that Rawls owns, people often write: “This is Rawls’s book.”)
• Improper use of semi-colons. Incorrect: The following will be on the test; Locke, Hume, Parfit. Incorrect: Although there is no right answer; there are many wrong answers. Correct: There is no right answer; there are many wrong answers. (The Rule: Use a semi-colon only where you could use a period instead. In other words, a semi-colon must join two clauses that could stand by themselves as complete sentences. The semi-colin is just used to indicate that the two sentences are connected or intimately related.)
• Confusing ‘then’ and ‘than’. Incorrect: If this is true, than I’m a fool. Incorrect: I am more of a fool then you are. Correct: If this is true, then I’m a fool. Correct: I am more of a fool than you are.
• Its versus it’s . Incorrect: Its easy to make this mistake. Incorrect: It’s pages are crumbling. Correct: It’s easy to make this mistake. Correct: Its pages are crumbling.

(Note: partly adapted from Pasnau’s Top 10 Writing Errors )

6. Humorous Writing Guidelines

• Be more or less specific.
• Use not bad grammars.
• Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
• Don’t use no double negatives.
• Avoid tumbling off the cliff of triteness into the dark abyss of overused metaphors.
• Take care that your verb and your subject is in agreement.
• No sentence fragments.
• Placing a comma between subject and predicate, is not correct.
• Who needs rhetorical questions?
• Use the apostrophe in it’s proper place.
• Avoid colloquial stuff, like totally.
• Avoid those run-on sentences you know the ones they stop and then start again they should be separated with semicolons.
• The passive voice should be used infrequently.
• And avoid starting sentences with a conjunction.
• Excessive use of exclamation points can be disastrous!!!!
• Exaggeration is a million times worse than understatement.
• Stamp out and eliminate redundancy because, if you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing, so reread your work and improve it by editing out the repetition you noticed during the rereading.
• It’s incumbent on one to employ the vernacular and eschew archaisms.
• It’s not O.K. to use ampersands & informal abbreviations.
• Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are usually (but not always) an obstacle for readers (and make it harder on readers even if you’re being careful).

(author unkown)

7. Citations & References

If you are doing an essay that involves researching or you quote anyone in your essay, then you need to cite your sources. There are many different formalized styles for citing sources. For example: MLA (Modern Language Association), Chicago (Turabian), APA (American Psychological Association), and more. The most standard for English papers is MLA. You can buy the official books on how to properly cite sources according to certain styles, but you can also find a lot of that information on the Internet.

8. Relevant Links

• The Source of Bad Writing – short essay by Steven Pinker, one of the best academic writers around (see also his book )
• Video on the Sense of Style – a video on writing in the 21st century by Steven Pinker.
• The Elements of Style – a popular, albeit increasingly dated, excellent and widely used English style guide by Strunk and White.
• Heumer’s Guide to Writing – geared toward philosophical writing, but good for essays in general.
• Top 10 Grammatical Errors – by Robert Pasnau at Boulder.
• Research & Documentation – citation, research, and referencing info by Diana Hacker.
• Writing in Philosophy – my guide to writing in the particular discipline of philosophy.

Expository Essay: 3 Building Blocks to Propose an Idea and Defend It

by Dixie-Ann Belle | 0 comments

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If you saw the words “expository essay” on a writing assignment, would your mind draw a blank? Would you immediately feel as if you had stumbled into unexplored territory?

Well there's good news.

This post is written by guest writer Dixie-Ann Belle. You can learn more about Dixie-Anne at the end of this article. Welcome Dixie-Ann! 

You might not realize it, but chances are this is not your first encounter with this type of essay. Once you have been writing essays in academic environments, you have probably already worked on expository writing.

In this article, I hope to help you recognize this essay type and understand the expository essay outline. Comprehending the building blocks is instrumental in knowing how to construct an exceptional expository essay.

Lay a Strong Foundation

Over the years, I have taught and tutored college students one on one as they write academic essays, in face to face classrooms and online, and I have noticed a pattern. They often approach essays in one of two ways.

Some consider them with apprehension and are fearful of making mistakes. Others feel confident that they have written many essays before and think they have already mastered expository writing.

Interestingly, it's the latter who often end up the most shaken when they realize that they are not as familiar as they think with this type of writing.

What I hope to instill in my students is that they should not feel intimidated whatever their situation or essay assignment.

I encourage them to make sure they understand the foundations of the expository essay structure. I try to get them to grasp the basic blocks that need to be there, and once they do, they have a good chance of crafting a substantial piece of writing.

What is an Expository Essay?

Students are typically assigned one of at least four types of essays: the persuasive/argumentative essay, the descriptive essay, the technical essay, or the expository essay.

Writing an expository essay is one of the most important and valuable skills for you to master.

According to the Purdue Online Writing Lab:

The expository essay is a genre of essay that requires the student to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner.

Keep in mind that your expository writing centers on giving your reader information about a given topic or process. Your goal is to inform, describe, or define the subject for your readers.

As you work to achieve this, your essay writing must be formal, objective, and concise. No matter what your discipline, it's almost guaranteed that you will be required to write this common type essay one day.

Some expository essay examples could include:

• Define the term ‘democracy'
• Compare and contrast the benefits of cable television vs streaming
• Outline the process that generates an earthquake
• Classify the different types of tourism
• Outline the aspects of a good fitness program

The possibilities are endless with expository writing, and it can cover a wide variety of topics and specialties.

3 Building Blocks of a Great Expository Essay

To make sure you're on the right track with this type of paper, it helps to understand the three building blocks of the expository essay format and how to apply them to the final expository essay structure .

1. Write an introduction

Most students know that an introductory paragraph should grab the interest of the reader. However, they might not realize that it should also provide context for the essay topic.

Ask yourself : What are you talking about in this essay? Why is this topic important? Some background details could help to establish the subject for your reader.

For example:

If you were writing an essay on the impact smartphones have on society, you might want to start with some information on the evolution of smartphones, the number of smartphones in society, the way people use the phones and more.

The introduction should start off with general information.

You then work your way down to the more specific and principal part of your introduction and the crown of your whole essay, the thesis statement.

What is the thesis statement?

Your thesis statement states in concise language what this essay is going to be about. It is one clear sentence which expresses the subject and the focus of this piece of writing. If there is a prompt, the thesis statement should directly answer that prompt.

Our smart phones topic might create a thesis statement like:  Smart phones have many positive impacts for adults in the business world.

Right away the reader has some idea of what's ahead.

2. Write your body paragraphs

With your thesis statement clear in your mind and your introduction setting the scene, it is time to write your body paragraphs.

Each body paragraph contains supporting information including factual evidence for your essay topic. Each paragraph should each focus on one idea.

Depending on your word count and the teacher requirements, you can write any number of body paragraphs, but there are usually at least three for a basic five paragraph essay.

Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence. A topic sentence is one single statement that explains the point of the paragraph. It directly refers to your thesis statement and tells you what the body paragraph is going to be about.

Remember our smart phone thesis statement? You need something that will relate to that thesis sentence and will alert the reader to what is to come.

Here's one possibility: 

Smart phones can help increase productivity  for professional adults.

This topic sentence not only reminds us that you are talking about positive impacts for adults with smart phones, it now shows us what the following paragraph will cover.

The best body paragraphs will go on to include different types of details, all of which would support your topic sentence. A good abbreviation to encapsulate the different details is spelt TEEES.

The TEEES Body Paragraph Structure

Let's break down this abbreviation and explore the types of details you'll need in your body paragraphs

T: Topic sentence

You'll begin with your topic sentence establishing the purpose of this paragraph. We'll use our example from above:

Smartphones can help increase productivity for professional adults.

E: Explanation

This is where you expand on your topic and include additional supportive information.

If you were talking about smartphones and productivity, maybe you could mention what elements of the smartphone make it optimal for productivity.

E: Evidence

This is the information from reputable sources you researched for your topic. Here's where you can talk about all the information you have discovered from experts who have carefully studied this subject.

For our smartphone essay, perhaps you could mention a quote from a technology reporter who has been following the rise of smartphones for years.

E: Examples

This would be concrete subject matter to support your point.

Maybe here you can list some of the smartphone apps which have proven to increase productivity in the workplace.

S: Significant/Summarizing sentence

This is the last sentence in the body paragraph which summarizes your point and ends this part of your essay. There should be no doubt in the reader's mind that you have finished talking about your topic, and you are moving on to another in the next paragraph. Here's how we could conclude this paragraph on smartphones and productivity:

Smartphones have transformed the productivity of the modern workforce.

3. Write the conclusion

Once you have written your body paragraphs, you're in the home stretch. You have presented all of your points and supported them with the appropriate subject matter. Now you need to conclude.

A lot of students are confused by conclusions. Many of them have heard different rules about what is supposed to be included.

One of the main requirements to keep in mind when ending an expository essay is that you do not add new information.

This is not the time to throw in something you forgot in a previous body paragraph. Your conclusion is supposed to give a succinct recap of the points that came before.

Sometimes college students are instructed to re-state the thesis, and this puzzles them. It doesn't mean re-writing the thesis statement word for word. You should express your thesis statement in a new way.

For example, here's how you could approach the conclusion for our smartphone essay.

You've come up with three points to support your thesis statement, and you've explored these three points in your body paragraphs. After brainstorming, you might decide the benefits of smartphones in the workplace are improved productivity, better communication, and increased mobility.

Your conclusion is the time to remind your reader of these points with concise language. Your reader should be able to read the conclusion alone and still come away with the basic ideas of your essay.

Plan Your Essay Based on an Expository Essay Outline

While writing fiction, it is sometimes okay to “pants” it and just leap into writing your story.

When writing essays in academia, this is rarely a good idea. Planning your essay helps organize your ideas, helps you refine many of your points early on and saves time in the long run.

There are lots of great brainstorming techniques you can use to get your ideas together, but after that, it's time to create a topic to sentence outline.

There are three steps to creating your topic to sentence essay outline.

• Develop a powerful thesis statement. Remember, this is the overarching idea of your entire essay, so you have completed a significant step once you have one done.
• Come up with the ideas you would like to support your thesis statement.
• Based on your points, craft your topic sentences.

Here is an example of a topic to sentence outline:

Having these important foundation details completed is a great way to develop your essay as you build on each part. It is also an effective method to make sure you are on the right track.

Depending on your instructor (or tutor, if you have one), you can show your outline to them to get feedback before you launch into your entire essay.

Even if you don't have anyone to provide a critique, the outline can make it easier to revise how you will approach the rest of your paragraph essay.

You now have some firm foundations to help you as you construct your expository essay.

How do you organize an expository essay?  Let us know in the comments .

Take fifteen minutes to practice writing your own expository essay.

First, choose an expository writing assignment topic. If you can't think of one, use one of the expository essay examples below .  

• What are the nutritional elements of a healthy breakfast?
• What are some of the most influential types of music?
• Compare and contrast the benefits of electric and gas cars. 
• What are the major steps to planning a stress-free vacation?
• How do smartphones affect mental health?
• Define true love.

Craft a thesis statement about your topic. Then, write three topic sentences for your body paragraphs.

With the time you have left, start writing your essay. You might be surprised how much you can write in fifteen minutes when you have a clear outline for your essay!

When your time is up, share your outline and your essay in the Pro Practice Workshop here . After you post, please be sure to give feedback to your fellow writers.

Happy writing!

Dixie-Ann Belle

Since she started scribbling stories in her notebooks as a child, Dixie-Ann Belle has been indulging her love of well crafted content. Whether she is working as a writing teacher and tutor or as a freelance writer, editor and proofreader, she enjoys helping aspiring writers develop their work and access their creativity.

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Essay Writing

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.

The Modes of Discourse—Exposition, Description, Narration, Argumentation (EDNA)—are common paper assignments you may encounter in your writing classes. Although these genres have been criticized by some composition scholars, the Purdue OWL recognizes the wide spread use of these approaches and students’ need to understand and produce them.

This resource begins with a general description of essay writing and moves to a discussion of common essay genres students may encounter across the curriculum. The four genres of essays (description, narration, exposition, and argumentation) are common paper assignments you may encounter in your writing classes. Although these genres, also known as the modes of discourse, have been criticized by some composition scholars, the Purdue OWL recognizes the wide spread use of these genres and students’ need to understand and produce these types of essays. We hope these resources will help.

The essay is a commonly assigned form of writing that every student will encounter while in academia. Therefore, it is wise for the student to become capable and comfortable with this type of writing early on in her training.

Essays can be a rewarding and challenging type of writing and are often assigned either to be done in class, which requires previous planning and practice (and a bit of creativity) on the part of the student, or as homework, which likewise demands a certain amount of preparation. Many poorly crafted essays have been produced on account of a lack of preparation and confidence. However, students can avoid the discomfort often associated with essay writing by understanding some common genres.

Before delving into its various genres, let’s begin with a basic definition of the essay.

What is an essay?

Though the word essay has come to be understood as a type of writing in Modern English, its origins provide us with some useful insights. The word comes into the English language through the French influence on Middle English; tracing it back further, we find that the French form of the word comes from the Latin verb exigere , which means "to examine, test, or (literally) to drive out." Through the excavation of this ancient word, we are able to unearth the essence of the academic essay: to encourage students to test or examine their ideas concerning a particular topic.

Essays are shorter pieces of writing that often require the student to hone a number of skills such as close reading, analysis, comparison and contrast, persuasion, conciseness, clarity, and exposition. As is evidenced by this list of attributes, there is much to be gained by the student who strives to succeed at essay writing.

The purpose of an essay is to encourage students to develop ideas and concepts in their writing with the direction of little more than their own thoughts (it may be helpful to view the essay as the converse of a research paper). Therefore, essays are (by nature) concise and require clarity in purpose and direction. This means that there is no room for the student’s thoughts to wander or stray from his or her purpose; the writing must be deliberate and interesting.

This handout should help students become familiar and comfortable with the process of essay composition through the introduction of some common essay genres.

This handout includes a brief introduction to the following genres of essay writing:

• Expository essays
• Descriptive essays
• Narrative essays
• Argumentative (Persuasive) essays

Building the Essay

An essay is a piece of writing that consists of several parts or paragraphs. The length of an essay will often depend on the nature of the assignment or your instructor's specifications. The parts of an essay correspond to the parts of the paragraph: the essay has a thesis statement and the paragraph has a topic sentence, and an essay has support paragraphs like a paragraph has support sentences.

Understanding The Writing Process For Essays

There is a basic process that one must follow in order to write an acceptable essay. This process consists of four stages:

1.)  1. Prewriting

1. prewriting, explore and narrow your topic.

The first thing that you must do in the prewriting stage of the writing process is explore your topic. Without prewriting, the writer has difficulty generating initial ideas for the draft. To generate these ideas, you may use any one of the many prewriting strategies to help you generate ideas about your topic. Listing, freewriting, and clustering are just a few writing strategies. Using these strategies will give you a real sense of what you do know about a topic.

Many novice writers are not familiar with these strategies or just assume that they are not important. To save time, the writer will often "cut to the chase," thus overlooking this crucial step in writing and begin drafting the first part of the essay or the introduction. This is a big mistake! By skipping this step, the writer is often left with a lack of direction. Prewriting allows the writer to see "the big picture," or at least the major components of the essay before the draft is even complete. As you prewrite, you want to narrow your topic and focus your ideas on the essay assignment. Before starting work on your draft, you must have a clear understanding of the purpose of the assignment. Consider the following modes.

Narration tells a story or reflects on a personal experience. The ideas in a narration should be organized in chronological order.

Description stimulates the reader's imagination and makes a place or event "come alive." the essay should be written with a fixed point of view. in other words, describe something as if you were stationary, from top to bottom, left to right, near to far, etc., exemplification supports points with examples. examples may be the most single convincing aspect of any paper., classification places various topics, events, or things into a single class. it places parts into a whole. the parts should be presented as equal, so no particular order is essential., comparison/contrast.

shows how two subjects are similar or different. You should find at least three bases of comparison or contrast. Also, use transitions that accurately signal the similarities or differences.

Cause/Effect

addresses what makes an event happen and/or what happens as a result of the event. Use transitions that show the important relationship of the ideas.

utilizes logic and reason to show that one idea is more correct and legitimate than another. Support all of your arguments with concrete evidence -- statistics, direct quotations of experts, facts, etc.

Process gives a step-by-step explanation of a procedure. It may be a concrete process or an abstract process.

explains the meaning of a term. You can define by structure, function, or analysis for this essay.

Find a Main Point and Write Your Thesis Statement

After considering your purpose for writing, you should develop a tentative thesis statement. Keep in mind that at this early stage in the writing process, your thesis is tentative, which means it's not "carved in stone" and will probably have to be revised to reflect the refined ideas in your later drafts. The thesis statement is the most important statement of the essay. It tells the reader what the entire paper is about. A strong thesis statement should express an assertion or main point that can be explained or proven, it should prepare the reader for the rest of the essay, and it should be specific.

Topic + Assertion = Thesis Statement Our cafeteria's problems include poorly cooked meals, a bad floor plan, and an unhelpful staff.

General --I saw an interesting movie.

Specific --the movie dead man walking forces viewers to confront the death penalty., weak --in this essay, i will show the importance of body language., forceful --body language reveals much about a person., find and select support details.

One of your primary goals in developing an essay is supporting your thesis statement. Look at the ideas you generated during your prewriting to find the major points to support your thesis statement. Jot down three or four possible major support points, and then move any additional supporting ideas and details under them. Each major point is presented in a paragraph with its own topic sentence, and the ideas and details under them will support the topic sentences. Like the thesis statement tells the reader what the entire essay is about, the topic sentence tells the reader what the entire paragraph is about. The topic sentence, as an extension of the thesis statement, must be focused and specific.

Arrange Your Ideas in an Outline

Before you start on the actual draft, you might consider producing an informal outline of the essay, pulling your ideas from your prewriting. This outline should help you organize your ideas before you begin working on the draft. The outline will be your map or blueprint as you write. Your outline should include your tentative thesis statement, major points, and rough supporting details. If you discover that generating an outline is more work for you, then forge ahead to the first draft. Again, the purpose of the informal outline is to give you a clear idea of how the essay will be organized and developed.

Write a Draft Using Complete Sentences and Paragraphs

The body paragraphs are the bulk and “meat” of the essay. They must be organized, developed, unified, and coherent.

Organization in Paragraphs

An effective essay has a recognizable shape – an arrangement of parts that guides the reader, helping him to see how ideas and details relate to each other and contribute to the whole. The following pattern reflects the appropriate organization for an argumentative essay on the issue of taxing tobacco products to alleviate nationwide health care cost burdens.

Introduction

--General information about the subject --Clear idea of what the essay will cover --Arouses reader’s interest

Thesis Statement:

I believe that taxes should be raised on tobacco products to pay for health care in the United States because (1) individuals purchasing this product are those requiring health care for tobacco-related diseases and (2) the added tax may discourage young people from becoming smokers who would undoubtedly require health care due to tobacco addiction.

Paragraph #1

Topic Sentence: Because a large number of individuals requiring health care are those people using tobacco products, it would make sense that they should be responsible for paying a large portion of the nation's health care expenses.

Paragraph #2

Topic Sentence: In addition, increasing the tax on tobacco products may reduce the number of smokers, which, in turn, may reduce the amount of health care required by individuals, and lower the overall cost of health care in the future.

--Provide closure for the entire essay --Stress the importance of the central idea of the thesis

Development in Paragraphs

An effective essay uses plenty of specific information; particularly examples that are appropriately arranged to support the main idea. The following is an adequately developed paragraph for this argumentative essay.

Because a large number of individuals requiring health care are those people using tobacco products , it would make sense that they should be responsible for paying a large portion of the nation's health care expenses. At the same time , these victims are aware of the effects of cigarette smoking; the Surgeon General reminds them of the hazardous effects on every single pack of cigarettes they purchase. Furthermore , it as been statistically proven for years that excessive tobacco use ultimately contributes to health problems such as emphysema, lung cancer, and throat cancer. Obviously, victims of these diseases require health care. Special equipment, medication, and various types of medical treatment are necessary for recuperation and recovery from these diseases, and all of this medical attention adds up to astronomical medical expenses. On the other hand , individuals who choose not to purchase or smoke tobacco products are also aware of the health hazards of cigarette smoking ; consequently, they make a conscious decision not to smoke. These people are taking precautionary measures to avoid the inevitable medical attention necessary to treat smoking-related illnesses. Ironically , these health-conscious individuals are having to share the burden of higher health care costs with those smokers who are largely responsible for these costs when, in fact , the financial responsibility should lie solely on the culprits--those who purchase and smoke cigarettes.

Unity in a Paragraph

A unified paragraph in an essay is one that includes sentences that relate to the single topic in the paragraph and relate directly to the main idea in the essay. Notice the underlined words and phrases in the preceding paragraph. The writer remains on task and maintains unity in her paragraph by using similar phrases and reminding the reader of her purpose in the paragraph. All of the sentences in the paragraph, in fact, reflect a unifying thread to the topic sentence.

Coherence in a Paragraph

A coherent paragraph consists of ideas that are arranged in a clear, logical order and appropriate transitions. Notice the words and phrases that appear in bold in the above paragraph. They allow the writer to connect ideas logically rather than express ideas in short or choppy disconnected ideas that have no relationship to each other. Transitions provide "flow" from one sentence to the next.

A Note about Introductions and Conclusions  

Although the real substance of an essay lies in the body paragraphs, the introduction and conclusion are nonetheless important. Realize, however, that there is not one right way to produce an introduction or a conclusion. Be aware of the basic function of these paragraphs and generate ideas accordingly.

An introduction should do the following:

(1.) Establish the main idea or topic of the essay (2.) Present the thesis statement of you essay in a way appropriate to reflect the purpose of the essay (3.) Interest the reader in your essay.

Here are some strategies for introductory paragraphs:

-State the subject -Use a quotation -Relate an incident -Create an image -Make a historical comparison or contrast -Describe a problem or dilemma -Ask a question

A conclusion should do the following:

(1.) Reemphasize the thesis statement (2.) Provide closure for your essay

Here are some strategies for conclusions:

-Create an image -Strike a note of hope or despair -Use a quotation -Give a symbolic fact or other detail -Recommend a course of action -Summarize the essay -Reiterate the ideas expressed into the intro -Restate the thesis statement using different word

3. REVISING THE ESSAY

Many writers believe that the writing process is complete when the last sentence in the last rough draft is complete. However, the writer must revise his essay to improve the unity, support, and coherence of his essay. Consider the following questions in the revision process.

1.) Does the body of the essay carry out the purpose and central idea expressed in the thesis statement? 2.) Are there adequate details, examples, or reasons to support each of the ideas? 3.) Is the essay unified? i.e. Does each paragraph and sentence relate clearly to the thesis statement? 4.) Is the essay coherent? i.e. Is the sequence of ideas clear? Are the relationships within and among parts apparent? 5.) Does the introduction engage and focus the reader's attention? 6.) Does the conclusion provide a sense of completion?

4. EDITING THE ESSAY

Before producing the final draft of the essay, the writer must also edit the last rough draft. This crucial step in the writing process reminds the writer about possible errors made at the sentence level. As you edit, consider the following questions.

1.) Are the sentences grammatical? i.e. Are the verb forms correct, and do the subjects agree with the verbs? 2.) Are there any errors such as fragments, comma-splices, run-ons, errors in pronoun shift or reference, or misplaced and/or dangling modifiers? 3.) Are commas, semicolons, and other punctuation used appropriately? 4.) Are capitals, hyphens, and abbreviations used appropriately? 5.) Is the writing concise? 6.) Are the words spelled correctly?

Page last updated June 26, 2023.

Best Architecture Essay Examples & Topics

Architecture essays can be challenging, especially if you are still a student and in the process of acquiring information. First of all, you are to choose the right topic – half of your success depends on it. Pick something that interests and excites you if possible. Second of all, structure your paper correctly. Start with an intro, develop a thesis, and outline your body paragraphs and conclusion. Write down all your ideas and thoughts in a logical order, excluding the least convincing ones.

In this article, we’ve combined some tips on how to deliver an excellent paper on the subject. Our team has compiled a list of topics and architecture essay examples you can use for inspiration or practice.

If you’re looking for architecture essay examples for college or university, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ve collected best architecture essay topics and paper samples together with writing tips. Below you’ll find sample essays on modern architecture, landscape design, and architect’s profession. Go on reading to learn how to write an architecture essay.

Architecture Essay Types

Throughout your academic life, you will encounter the essay types listed below.

Argumentative Architecture Essay

This type uses arguments and facts to support a claim or answer a question. Its purpose is to lay out the information in front of the reader that supports the author’s position. It does not rely on the personal experiences of the writer. For instance, in an argumentative essay about architecture, students can talk about the positive aspects of green construction. You can try to demonstrate with facts and statistics why this type of building is the ultimate future.

Opinion Architecture Essay

This essay requires an opinion or two on the topic. It may try to demonstrate two opposing views, presenting a list of arguments that support them. Remember that the examples that you use have to be relevant. It should be clear which opinion you support. Such an essay for the architecture topic can be a critique of architectural work.

Expository Architecture Essay

This writing shares ideas and opinions as well as provides evidence. The skill that is tested in this essay is the expertise and knowledge of the subject. When you write an expository essay, your main goal is to deliver information. It would be best if you did not assume that your audience knows much about the subject matter. An expository essay about architecture can be dedicated to the importance of sustainable architecture.

Informative Architecture Essay

Such essays do not provide any personal opinions about the topic. It aims to provide as much data as possible and educate the audience about the subject. An excellent example of an informative essay can be a “how-to essay.” For instance, in architecture, you can try to explain how something functions or works.

Descriptive Architecture Essay

It’s an essay that aims to create a particular sentiment in the reader. You want to describe an object, idea, or event so that the reader gets a clear picture. There are several good ways to achieve it: using creative language, including major and minor details, etc. A descriptive essay about architecture can be focused on a building or part of a city. For instance, talk about a casino in Las Vegas.

Narrative Architecture Essay

Here, your goal is to write a story. This paper is about an experience described in a personal and creative way. Each narrative essay should have at least five elements: plot, character, setting, theme, and conflict. When it comes to the structure, it is similar to other essays. A narrative paper about architecture can talk about the day you have visited a monument or other site.

Architecture Essay Topics for 2022

• The most amazing architecture in the world and the most influential architects of the 21st century.
• Some pros and cons of vertical housing: vertical landscape in the history of architecture.
• A peculiar style of modern architecture in China.
• The style of Frank Lloyd Wright and architecture in his life.
• New tendencies in rural housing and architecture.
• Ancient Roman architecture reimagined.
• The role of architecture in pressing environmental problems in modern cities.
• Islamic architecture: peculiar features of the style.
• Earthquake-resistant infrastructure in building houses.
• How precise is virtual planning?
• Houses in rural areas and the cities. How similar are they?
• A theory of deconstruction in postmodern architecture.
• The influence of Greek architecture on modern architecture.
• Aspects to consider when building houses for visually impaired people.
• Disaster-free buildings: challenges and opportunities.
• European architectural influence on the Islamic world.
• The architecture of old Russian cities.

In the above section, we’ve given some ideas to help you write an interesting essay about architecture. You can use these topics for your assignment or as inspiration.

Thank you for reading the article. We’ve included a list of architecture essay examples further down. We also hope you found it helpful and valuable. Do not hesitate to share our article with your friends and peers.

410 Best Architecture Essay Examples

Mathematics in ancient greek architecture, the eiffel tower as a form of art.

• Words: 1361

Islamic Architecture: Al-Masjid Al-Haram, Ka’aba, Makka

• Words: 1190

An Architectural Guide to the Cube Houses

• Words: 3584

Filippo Brunelleschi and Religious Architecture

• Words: 2121

Context and Building in Architecture

• Words: 3367

Stonehenge and Its Significance

Traditional roman vs. chinese courtyard house.

• Words: 4070

Futuristic Architecture: An Overview

• Words: 1740

Comparison of Traditional and Non-Traditional Mosques

• Words: 1611

Calligraphy Inscription in Islamic Architecture and Art

• Words: 3269

Islamic Architectural Design

• Words: 1407

S. R. Crown Hall: The Masterpiece of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

• Words: 2216

The Architecture of Ancient Greece Found in Los Angeles

• Words: 1763

Skyscrapers in Dubai: Buildings and Materials

• Words: 2468

The Dome of the Rock vs. the Umayyad Mosque of Damascus

• Words: 1506

The Death of Modern Architecture

• Words: 2149

Gothic Revivalism in the Architecture of Augustus Pugin

• Words: 1704

Architecture in Colonialism and Imperialism

• Words: 2408

Harvard Graduate Center Building and Its Structure

Paper church designed by shigeru ban.

• Words: 1665

Symbolism and Superstition in Architecture and Design

• Words: 2252

Saint Peter’s Basilica

• Words: 1932

Empire State Building Structural Analysis With Comparisons

The history of architecture and it changes.

• Words: 3330

Architecture: Kansai International Airport

• Words: 3829

Charles Jencks: Language of Post Modern Architecture

• Words: 2204

Architecture of the Gherkin Building

Professional and ethical obligation of architecture.

• Words: 2794

Risks in Construction Projects: Empire State Building

• Words: 2856

Translation From Drawing to Building

• Words: 2289

The Great Mosque of Djenne Summary

Kidosaki house by tadao ando.

• Words: 1064

The St. Louis Gateway Arch

• Words: 1630

The First Chicago School of Architecture

Architecture as an academic discipline.

• Words: 1375

Architectural Regionalism Definition

• Words: 3352

Monumentalism in Architecture

• Words: 2840

The Parthenon and the Pantheon in Their Cultural Context

• Words: 1416

Form and Function in Architecture

• Words: 3377

Louis Sullivan: Form Follows Function

• Words: 1099

Greco-Roman Influence on Architecture

Trinity church: an influential architectural design.

• Words: 1374

Perspective Drawing Used by Renaissance Architects

• Words: 2012

The Question of Ornament in Architectural Design

• Words: 1971

Greek Revival Influenced American Architecture

• Words: 3104

Columns and Walls of Mies Van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion

• Words: 1518

The Evolution of the Greek Temple

• Words: 1934

Urbanism in Architecture: Definition and Evolution

Ancient chinese architecture.

• Words: 1097

The Water Cube Project and Design-Build Approaches

Islamic gardens: taj mahal and alhambra, influential architecture: summer place in china.

• Words: 1491

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Approach to Sustainability

Design theory in “ornament and crime” essay by loos.

• Words: 1752

Islamic Architecture: Environment and Climate

• Words: 1436

Alhambra Palace – History and Physical Description

• Words: 1214

The Architectural Design of Colosseum

• Words: 2161

The Guggenheim Museum by Frank Lloyd Wright

• Words: 3374

Frank Lloyd Wright and his Contribution to Architecture

• Words: 3401

Centre Georges Pompidou’s Design Analysis

The bmw central building: location and structure.

• Words: 2671

Modern Patio House Architecture

The getty center in los angeles.

• Words: 1314

Architecture History. Banham’s “Theory and Design in the First Machine Age”

• Words: 1254

Personal Opinion on the Colosseum as an Artwork

The architecture of the medieval era: key characteristics, the garden by the bay architectural design, fashion and architecture: relationship.

• Words: 5634

History of Architecture: Italian Mannerist and Baroque Architects

• Words: 3001

Ronchamp Chapel From Le Corbusier

• Words: 3434

Connections of Steel Frame Buildings in 19th Century

• Words: 2681

“Architecture: The Story of Practice” by Cuff

Contemporary issues in the field of architecture that affect working, japanese shrines architecture uniqueness.

• Words: 2280

Tadao Ando and the Modern Way of Living

• Words: 2170

Pyramids of Giza and Their Construction Mystery

Modern architecture: frank lloyd wright and le corbusier.

• Words: 3291

Postmodern Architecture vs. International Modernism

• Words: 1655

“4” Wonders of the World

Use of mathematics in architecture, expressionism in architecture: the late 19th and the early 20th century.

• Words: 1927

Adolf Loos’s Architecture in Modernist Theory

• Words: 1970

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple and Taj Mahal: Style and Meaning

• Words: 1371

The Church and Reliquary of Sainte-Foy: Contextual Analysis

The pantheon of rome and the parthenon of athens, arc de triomphe. history. construction.

• Words: 2326

Critical Evaluation of the Landscape Architecture

• Words: 2865

Background of the Formalism in the 20th Century

• Words: 3542

The Vebjorn Sand da Vinci Project

• Words: 3579

Modern Architecture: Mary Gates Hall

Homa capital columns’ at ancient persian persepolis city, the portunus temple: a creation of the ancient times.

• Words: 1156

American Banks’ Architecture and History: The Atmosphere of the Times They Were Built

Roman architecture and engineering, psychological consideration in proposed architectural plan, aspects of organic architectural philosophy, maya lin’s vietnam veterans memorial, modern architecture: style of architecture, the yangzhou qingpu slender west lake cultural hotel, how did adolf loos achieve sustainability, the lovell beach house by rudolph schindler, the st. denis basilica virtual tour, architecture of moscow vs. sankt petersburg, the east san josé carnegie branch library’s architecture, analysis of byzantine architecture, cultural impact on muslim architecture.

• Words: 1152

Egyptian & Greek Art & Architecture

The angkor vat temple, cambodia, the gothic style in architecture and art, how architectural styles reflect people’s beliefs.

• Words: 1720

Renaissance and Executive Order Draft: Summary

The building of the georgia state capitol and the sidney lanier bridge.

• Words: 1222

Five Points for an Architecture of Other Bodies

Vietnam veterans memorial by maya ying lin, beijing daxing international airport.

• Words: 3588

European Influence on the Architecture of the Americas

Architecture as facility management principle, architeture and function in buddhism, christianity, and islamic religion.

• Words: 1904

Why Neo-Gothic Architecture Became Popular in the 19th Century

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Architecture Essays 101: How to be an effective writer

• Updated: October 25, 2023

The world of architecture stands at a fascinating crossroads of creativity and academia. As architects cultivate ideas to shape the physical world around us, we are also tasked with articulating these concepts through words.

Architecture essays, thus, serves as a bridge between the visual and the textual, allowing for a comprehensive exploration of architectural ideas and their implications.

The ability to articulate thoughts, analyses, and observations on design and theory is as crucial as creating the designs themselves. An architectural essay is not just about presenting information but about conveying an understanding of spaces, structures, and the stories they tell.

Whether you’re delving into the nuances of a specific architectural movement , analyzing the design of a historic monument, or predicting the future of sustainable design, the written word becomes a powerful tool to express intricate ideas.

This guide provides a comprehensive roadmap for crafting insightful architectural essays, ensuring that your perspectives on this multifaceted discipline are communicated effectively and engagingly.

Understanding the Unique Nature of Architecture Essay s

Architecture sits on a unique line between the aesthetic and the analytical, where designs are appreciated not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their functionality and historical relevance.

An architecture essay isn’t just a manifestation of this intricate blend; it’s a testament to it. Aspiring architects or students of architecture must grasp the singular characteristics of this type of essay to truly succeed.

Embracing Creativity

When one imagines essays, the mind typically conjures up dense blocks of text. However, an architecture essay allows, and even demands, a flair of creativity.

Visual representations, be it in the form of diagrams , sketches , or photographs , aren’t just supplementary; they can form the core of your argument.

For instance, if you’re discussing the evolution of skyscraper designs , a chronological array of sketches can provide an insightful, immediate overview that words might struggle to convey.

Recognizing and capitalizing on this visual component can elevate the impact of your essay.

Theoretical Foundations

Yet, relying solely on creative illustrations won’t suffice. The foundation of every solid architecture essay is a strong understanding of architectural theories, principles , and historical contexts. Whether you’re analyzing the gothic cathedrals of Europe or the minimalist homes of Japan, delving deep into the why and how of their designs is crucial.

How did the social, economic, and technological conditions of the time influence these structures?

…How do they compare with contemporary designs?

Theoretical exploration provides depth to your essay, grounding your observations and opinions in recognized knowledge and pre-existing debates.

Furthermore, case studies play an essential role in these essays.

Instead of making sweeping statements, anchor your points in specific examples. Discussing the sustainability features of a particular building or the ergonomic design of another offers tangible evidence to support your arguments.

Blending the Two

The magic of an architecture essay lies in seamlessly weaving the creative with the theoretical.

While you showcase a building’s design through visuals, delve into its history, purpose, and societal implications with your words. This blend not only offers a holistic understanding of architectural marvels but also caters to a broad audience, ensuring your essay is both engaging and enlightening.

In conclusion, understanding the unique blend of design elements and theoretical discussion in an architecture essay sets the foundation for an impactful piece.

It’s about striking a balance between showing and telling, between the artist’s sketches and the academic’s observations. With this understanding, you’re better equipped to venture into the exciting world of architectural essay writing.

Choosing the Right Topic

Architectural essays stand apart in their blend of technical knowledge, aesthetic sense, and historical context. The topic you choose not only sets the tone for your essay but can also significantly affect the enthusiasm and rigor with which you approach the writing.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to selecting the right topic for your architecture essay:

Find your Golden Nugget:

• Personal Resonance: Your topic should excite you. Think about the architectural designs, movements, or theories that have made an impact on you. Perhaps it’s a specific building you’ve always admired or an architectural trend you’ve noticed emerging in your city.
• Uncharted Territory: Exploring less-known or under-discussed areas can give you a unique perspective and make your essay stand out. Instead of writing another essay on Roman architecture, consider focusing on the influence of Roman architecture on contemporary design or even on a specific region.

Researching Broadly:

• Diversify Your Sources: From books and academic journals to documentaries and interviews, use varied materials to spark ideas. Often, an unrelated article can lead to a unique essay topic.
• Current Trends and Issues: Look at contemporary architecture magazines , websites , and blogs to gauge what’s relevant and debated in today’s architectural world. It might inspire you to contribute to the discussion or even challenge some prevailing ideas.

Connecting with Design Projects:

• Personal Projects: If you’ve been involved in a design project, whether at school or professionally, consider exploring themes or challenges you encountered. This adds personal anecdotes and insights which enrich the essay.
• Case Studies: Instead of going broad, consider going deep. Dive into a single building or architect’s work. Analyzing one subject in-depth can offer nuanced perspectives and help demonstrate your analytical skills.

Feasibility of Research:

• Availability of Resources: While choosing an obscure topic can make your essay unique, ensure you have enough resources or primary research opportunities to support your arguments.
• Scope: The topic should be neither too broad nor too narrow. It should allow for in-depth exploration within the word limit of the essay. For instance, “Modern Architecture” is too broad, but “The Influence of Bauhaus on Modern Apartment Design in Berlin between 1950-1970” is more focused.

Finding the right topic is a journey, and sometimes it requires a few wrong turns before you hit the right path. Stay curious, be patient, and remember that the best topics are those that marry your personal passion with academic rigor. Your enthusiasm will shine through in your writing, making the essay engaging and impactful.

Organizational Tools and Systems for an Effective Architecture Essay

Writing an essay on architecture is a blend of creative expression and meticulous research. As you delve deep into topics, theories, and case studies, it becomes imperative to keep your resources organized and accessible.

This section introduces you to a set of tools and systems tailored for architectural essay writing.

Using Digital Aids

• Notion: This versatile tool provides a workspace that integrates note-taking, database creation, and task management. For an architecture essay, you can create separate pages for your outline, research, and drafts. The use of templates can streamline the writing process and help in maintaining a structured approach.
• MyBib: Citing resources is a crucial part of essay writing. MyBib acts as a lifesaver by generating citations in various styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) and organizing them for easy access. Make sure to cross-check and ensure accuracy.
• Evernote: This tool allows you to clip web pages, articles, or images that inspire or contribute to your essay. You can annotate, highlight, and categorize your findings in different notebooks.

Systematic Research

• Organizing Findings: Develop a system where each finding, whether it’s a quote, image, or data point, has its source attached. Use color-coding or tags to denote different topics or relevance levels.
• Note Galleries: Convert your key points into visual cards. This technique can be especially helpful in architectural essays, where visual concepts may be central to your argument.
• Sorting by Source Type: Separate your research into categories like academic journals, books, articles, and interviews. This will make it easier when referencing or looking for a particular kind of information.

Strategies for Effective Literature Review

• Skimming vs. In-depth Reading: Not every source needs a detailed read. Learn to differentiate between foundational texts that require in-depth understanding and those where skimming for key ideas is sufficient.
• Note-making Techniques: Adopt methods like the Cornell Note-taking System, mind mapping, or bullet journaling, depending on what suits your thought process best. These methods help in breaking down complex ideas into manageable chunks.
• Staying Updated: The world of architecture is evolving. Ensure you’re not missing any recent papers, articles, or developments related to your topic. Setting up Google Scholar alerts or RSS feeds can be beneficial.

Organizing your research and using tools efficiently will not only streamline your writing process but will also enhance the quality of your essay. As you progress, you’ll discover what techniques and tools work best for you.

The key is to maintain consistency and always be open to trying out new methods to improve your workflow and efficiency.

Writing Techniques and Tips for an Architecture Essay

An architecture essay, while deeply rooted in academic rigor, is also a canvas for innovative ideas, design critiques, and a reflection of the architectural zeitgeist. Here’s a deep dive into techniques and tips that can elevate your essay from merely informative to truly compelling.

Learning from Others

• Read Before You Write: Before diving into your own writing, spend some time exploring essays written by others. Understand the flow, the structure, the narrative techniques, and how they tie their thoughts cohesively.
• Inspirational Sources: Journals, academic papers, architecture magazines, and opinion pieces offer a wealth of writing styles. Notice how varied perspectives bring life to similar topics.

Using Jargon Judiciously

• Maintain Clarity: While it’s tempting to use specialized terminology extensively, remember your essay should be accessible to a broader audience. Use technical terms when necessary, but ensure they’re explained or inferred.
• Balancing Act: Maintain a balance between academic writing and creative expression. Let the jargon complement your narrative rather than overshadowing your message.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

• Plagiarism – The Silent Offender: Always give credit where credit is due. Even if you feel you’ve paraphrased sufficiently, ensure your sources are adequately referenced. Utilize plagiarism check tools to ensure originality.
• Stay Focused: It’s easy to get lost in the vast world of architecture. Ensure your writing stays on topic, refraining from veering too far from your central theme.
• Conciseness: While detailed elaboration can be insightful, verbosity can drown your main points. Be succinct where necessary.

Craft a Compelling Introduction and Conclusion

• First Impressions: Your introduction should provide context, state the purpose of your essay, and capture the reader’s interest. Think of it as the blueprint of a building – it should give an idea of what to expect.
• Tying it All Together: Your conclusion should summarize your main points, reflect on the implications of your findings, and perhaps even propose further areas of study or exploration.

Use Active Voice

• Direct and Dynamic: Active voice makes your writing sound more direct and lively. Instead of writing, “The design was critiqued by several architects,” try “Several architects critiqued the design.”

Personalize your Narrative

• Your Unique Voice: Architecture, at its core, is about human experiences and spaces. Infuse your writing with personal observations, experiences, or reflections where relevant. This personal touch can make your essay stand out.

Revise, Revise, Revise

• The First Draft is Rarely the Final: Writing is a process. Once you’ve penned down your initial thoughts, revisit them. Refine the flow, enhance clarity, and ensure your argument is both cogent and captivating.

Remember, an architecture essay is both a testament to your academic understanding and a reflection of your perspective on architectural phenomena. Treat it as a synthesis of research, observation, creativity, and structured argumentation, and you’ll craft an essay that resonates.

Incorporating Sources Seamlessly

In architectural essays, as with most academic endeavors, sources form the backbone of your assertions and claims. They lend credibility to your arguments and showcase your understanding of the topic at hand. But it’s not just about listing references.

It’s about weaving them into your essay so seamlessly that your reader not only comprehends your point but also recognizes the strong foundation on which your arguments stand. Here’s how you can incorporate sources effectively:

Effective Quotation:

• Blend with the Narrative: Direct quotations should feel like a natural extension of your writing. For instance, instead of abruptly inserting a quote, use lead-ins like, “As architect Jane Smith argues, ‘…'”
• Use Sparingly: While direct quotes can validate a point, over-relying on them can overshadow your voice. Use them to emphasize pivotal points and always ensure you contextualize their significance.
• Adapting Quotes: Occasionally, for the sake of flow, you might need to change a word or phrase in a quote. If you do, denote changes with square brackets, e.g., “[The building] stands as a testament to modern design.”

Referencing Techniques:

• Parenthetical Citations: Most academic essays utilize parenthetical (or in-text) citations, where a brief reference (usually the author’s surname and the publication year) is provided within the text itself.
• Footnotes and Endnotes: Some referencing styles prefer notes, which can provide additional context or information without interrupting the flow of the essay.
• Consistency is Key: Stick to one referencing style throughout your essay, whether it’s APA, MLA, Chicago, or any other format.

Using Notes Effectively:

• Annotate as You Go: When reading, jot down insights or connections you make in the margins or in your note-taking app. This will help you incorporate sources in a way that feels relevant and organic.
• Maintain a Bibliography: Keeping a running list of all the sources you encounter will make the final citation process smoother. With tools like Zotero or MyBib, you can auto-generate and manage bibliographies with ease.
• Critical Analysis over Summary: While it’s vital to understand and convey the main points of a source, it’s equally crucial to critique, interpret, or discuss its relevance in the context of your essay.

Remember, the objective of referencing isn’t just to show that you’ve done the reading or to avoid accusations of plagiarism. It’s about building on the work of others to create your unique narrative and perspective.

Always strive for a balance, where your voice remains at the forefront, but is consistently and credibly supported by your sources.

Designing Your Essay

Architecture is an intricate tapestry of creativity, precision, and innovation. Just as a building’s design can make or break its appeal, the visual presentation of your essay plays a pivotal role in how it’s received.

Below are steps and strategies to ensure your architecture essay isn’t just a treatise of words but also a feast for the eyes.

Visual Aesthetics: More Than Just Words

• Whitespace and Balance: Much like in architecture, the empty spaces in your essay—the margins, line spacing, and breaks between paragraphs—matter. Whitespace can make your essay appear more organized and readable.
• Fonts and Typography: Choose a font that is both legible and evocative of your essay’s tone. A serif font like Times New Roman may offer a traditional, academic feel, while sans-serif fonts like Arial or Calibri lend a modern touch. However, always adhere to submission guidelines if provided.
• Use of Imagery: If allowed, incorporating relevant images, charts, or diagrams can enhance understanding and add a visual flair to your essay. Make sure to caption them properly and ensure they’re of high resolution.

Relevance to Topic: Visuals That Complement Content

• Thematic Design: Ensure any design elements—be they color schemes, borders, or footers—tie back to your essay’s topic or the architectural theme you’re discussing.
• Visual Examples: If you’re discussing a specific architectural movement or an iconic building, consider incorporating relevant images, sketches, or blueprints to give readers a visual point of reference.

Examples of Unique Design Ideas

• Sidebars and Callouts: Much like how modern buildings might feature a unique design element that stands out, sidebars or callouts can be used to highlight crucial points, quotes, or tangential information.
• Integrated Infographics: For essays discussing data, trends, or historical timelines, infographics can be an innovative way to present information. They synthesize complex data into digestible visual formats.
• Annotations: If you’re critiquing or discussing a specific image, annotations can be helpful. They allow you to pinpoint and elaborate on specific elements within the image directly.

Consistency is Key

• Maintain a Theme: Just as in architectural design, maintaining a consistent visual theme throughout your essay creates harmony and cohesion. This could be in the form of consistent font usage, header designs, or color schemes.
• Captions and References: Any visual aid, be it a photograph, illustration, or chart, should be captioned consistently and sourced correctly to avoid plagiarism.

In the realm of architectural essays, the saying “ form follows function ” is equally valid. Your design choices should not just be aesthetic adornments but should serve to enhance understanding, readability, and engagement.

By taking the time to thoughtfully design your essay, you are not only showcasing your architectural insights but also your keen eye for design, thereby leaving a lasting impression on your readers.

Finalizing Your Essay

Finalizing an architecture essay is a task that demands a meticulous approach. The difference between an average essay and an outstanding one often lies in the refinement process. Here, we explore the steps to ensure that your essay is in its best possible form before submission.

Proofreading:

• Grammar and Syntax Checks: Always use tools like Grammarly or Microsoft Word’s spellchecker, but remember, they aren’t infallible. After an initial electronic check, read the essay aloud. This can help in catching awkward phrasing and any overlooked errors.
• Consistency in Language and Style: Ensure that you maintain a uniform style and tone throughout. If you begin with UK English, for instance, stick with it till the end.
• Flow and Coherence: The essay should have a logical progression. Each paragraph should lead seamlessly into the next, with clear transitions.

Feedback Loop:

• Peer Reviews: Having classmates or colleagues read your essay can provide fresh perspectives. They might catch unclear sections or points of potential expansion that you might have missed.
• Expert Feedback: If possible, seek feedback from instructors or professionals in the field. Their insights can greatly enhance the quality of your content.
• Acting on Feedback: Merely receiving feedback isn’t enough. Be prepared to make revisions, even if it means letting go of sections you’re fond of, for the overall improvement of the essay.

Aligning with University Requirements:

• Formatting: Adhere strictly to the specified format. Whether it’s APA, Chicago, or MLA, make sure your citations, font, spacing, and margins are in line with the guidelines.
• Word Count: Most institutions will have a stipulated word count. Ensure you’re within the limit. If you’re over, refine your content; if you’re under, see if there are essential points you might have missed.
• Supplementary Materials: For architecture essays, you might need to attach diagrams, sketches, or photographs. Ensure these are clear, relevant, and properly labeled.
• Referencing: Properly cite all your sources. Any claim or statement that isn’t common knowledge needs to be attributed to its source. Also, ensure that your bibliography or reference list is comprehensive and formatted correctly.

Final Read-through:

• After making all the changes, set your essay aside for a day or two, if time permits. Come back with fresh eyes and do one last read-through. This distance can often help you catch any remaining issues.

Finalizing your architecture essay is as vital as the initial stages of research and drafting. The care you take in refining and polishing your work reflects your commitment to excellence. When you’ve gone through these finalization steps, you can submit your essay confidently, knowing you’ve given it your best shot.

To Sum Up…

Writing an architecture essay is a unique challenge that requires a balance of creativity, critical thinking, and academic rigor. The process demands not just a deep understanding of architectural theories and case studies but also an ability to express these complex ideas clearly and compellingly.

Throughout this article, we have explored various facets of crafting an excellent architecture essay, from choosing a resonant topic and conducting thorough research to employing effective writing techniques and incorporating sources seamlessly.

The visual aspect of an architecture essay cannot be overlooked. As architects blend functionality with aesthetics in their designs, so too must students intertwine informative content with visual appeal in their essays. This is an opportunity to showcase not only your understanding of the subject matter but also your creativity and attention to detail.

Remember, a well-designed essay speaks volumes about your passion for architecture and your dedication to the discipline.

As we wrap up this guide, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of meticulous proofreading and seeking feedback. These final steps are vital in ensuring that your essay is free from errors and that your arguments are coherent and compelling.

Engaging in a feedback loop with peers, mentors, or advisors can provide valuable insights and help to refine your work further.

Additionally, always ensure that your essay aligns with the specific requirements set forth by your university or institution. Pay attention to details like font styles, referencing methods, and formatting guidelines.

These elements, while seemingly minor, play a significant role in creating a polished and professional final product.

Keep practicing, keep learning, and remember that each essay is a stepping stone toward mastering the art of architectural writing.

FAQs about Architecture Essays

Do architecture students have to write essays.

Yes, architecture students often have to write essays as part of their academic curriculum. While architecture is a field that heavily involves visual and practical skills, essays and written assignments play a crucial role in helping students develop their critical thinking, research, and analytical skills.

While hands-on design work and practical projects are integral parts of an architectural education, essays play a crucial role in developing the theoretical, analytical, and communication skills necessary for success in the field.

By writing essays, architecture students learn to think critically, research effectively, and communicate their ideas clearly, laying a strong foundation for their future careers.

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Essay on Character Building

Students are often asked to write an essay on Character Building 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 Character Building

Introduction.

Character building is the process of developing moral and ethical strengths. It’s about shaping ourselves into responsible individuals.

Character building is vital for personal growth. It helps us make wise decisions, respect others, and lead a morally upright life.

Role of Education

Education plays a significant role in character building. It teaches us values like honesty, integrity, and compassion.

Family Influence

Our family’s influence is also crucial. They instill good habits and values in us from a young age.

In conclusion, character building is a lifelong process that shapes us into better individuals.

250 Words Essay on Character Building

Character building is an integral part of personal development and growth. It involves fostering virtues and ethical principles that guide our actions and decisions.

Significance of Character Building

The essence of character building lies in its ability to shape an individual’s personality and behavior. It is a lifelong process that starts from early childhood and continues throughout our lives. Character building aids in developing emotional intelligence, empathy, and resilience, which are critical for facing challenges in life.

Role of Education in Character Building

Education plays a pivotal role in character building. It provides an ideal platform to inculcate values such as honesty, integrity, respect, and responsibility. Educational institutions should not only focus on academic excellence but also on nurturing these moral values to produce well-rounded individuals.

Role of Family and Society

Family and society also have a crucial role in character building. The family is the first school where a child learns basic values and ethics. Society further shapes these values through cultural norms and expectations.

In conclusion, character building is a fundamental aspect of personal growth. It is a collective responsibility of the individual, family, educational institutions, and society to foster a character built on strong moral and ethical foundations. This process, in turn, contributes to the development of a responsible and compassionate society.

500 Words Essay on Character Building

Character building is an indispensable part of personal development and growth. It signifies the process of cultivating core ethical values that guide our actions and behavior. The importance of character building is often underestimated, yet it plays a crucial role in shaping an individual’s personality, relationships, and overall life experiences.

The Concept of Character Building

Character building involves the nurturing of virtues such as honesty, integrity, resilience, empathy, and responsibility. These virtues are the building blocks of a robust moral framework that influences our decision-making process. Character is not an inherent quality; rather, it is developed and refined over time through experiences, interactions, and introspection.

The Role of Education in Character Building

Education plays a pivotal role in character building. It is not limited to the acquisition of knowledge but extends to the development of moral values and ethical standards. Educational institutions serve as fertile grounds for character building, where students learn to interact, cooperate, and negotiate. They are exposed to diverse viewpoints, which helps them develop empathy and respect for others’ perspectives.

Family and Society as Pillars of Character Building

The family is the first institution where the process of character building begins. Parents and siblings act as role models, and their actions significantly influence a child’s character development. Society, too, plays a vital role. It provides a broader framework in which individuals learn to adapt, conform, or challenge existing norms and values.

Character Building and Personal Development

Character building is closely linked with personal development. It encourages self-awareness, introspection, and emotional intelligence. Individuals with a strong character are more likely to have a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. They are resilient, adaptable, and capable of handling adversities with grace.

In conclusion, character building is a lifelong process that shapes an individual’s personality and influences their interactions with the world. It is an integral part of education and is deeply influenced by family and societal interactions. Character building leads to personal growth, enabling individuals to lead fulfilling lives anchored in ethical values and principles.

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

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

• Essay on A Historical Building
• Essay on Visit to a Hill Station Shimla
• Essay on A Visit to a Hill Station

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

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• How to write an argumentative essay | Examples & tips

How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement . The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based case for it.

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Table of contents

When do you write an argumentative essay, approaches to argumentative essays, introducing your argument, the body: developing your argument, concluding your argument, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about argumentative essays.

You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.

The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could make.

Argumentative writing at college level

At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve making arguments about texts.

In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.

Examples of argumentative essay prompts

At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate response.

Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis.

• Don’t just list all the effects you can think of.
• Do develop a focused argument about the overall effect and why it matters, backed up by evidence from sources.
• Don’t just provide a selection of data on the measures’ effectiveness.
• Do build up your own argument about which kinds of measures have been most or least effective, and why.
• Don’t just analyze a random selection of doppelgänger characters.
• Do form an argument about specific texts, comparing and contrasting how they express their thematic concerns through doppelgänger characters.

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An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.

There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian model.

Toulmin arguments

The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as necessary for the argument:

• Make a claim
• Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim
• Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim)
• Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives

The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.

Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures. You might:

• Claim that unconscious bias training does not have the desired results, and resources would be better spent on other approaches
• Cite data to support your claim
• Explain how the data indicates that the method is ineffective
• Anticipate objections to your claim based on other data, indicating whether these objections are valid, and if not, why not.

Rogerian arguments

The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:

• Discuss what the opposing position gets right and why people might hold this position
• Highlight the problems with this position
• Present your own position , showing how it addresses these problems
• Suggest a possible compromise —what elements of your position would proponents of the opposing position benefit from adopting?

This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.

Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:

• Acknowledge that students rely too much on websites like Wikipedia
• Argue that teachers view Wikipedia as more unreliable than it really is
• Suggest that Wikipedia’s system of citations can actually teach students about referencing
• Suggest critical engagement with Wikipedia as a possible assignment for teachers who are skeptical of its usefulness.

You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure your arguments.

Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an introduction , a body , and a conclusion .

Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction . The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement , and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true.

In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings.

Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.

This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.

Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

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 argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the arguments made in the body.

No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.

Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

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
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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.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

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AI Prompt Engineering Isn’t the Future

• Oguz A. Acar

Asking the perfect question is less important than really understanding the problem you’re trying to solve.

Despite the buzz surrounding it, the prominence of prompt engineering may be fleeting. A more enduring and adaptable skill will keep enabling us to harness the potential of generative AI? It is called problem formulation — the ability to identify, analyze, and delineate problems.

Prompt engineering has taken the generative AI world by storm. The job, which entails optimizing textual input to effectively communicate with large language models, has been hailed by World Economic Forum as the number one “job of the future” while Open AI CEO Sam Altman characterized it as an “amazingly high-leveraged skill.” Social media brims with a new wave of influencers showcasing “magic prompts” and pledging amazing outcomes.

• Oguz A. Acar is a Chair in Marketing at King’s Business School, King’s College London.

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Squatters at Gordon Ramsay’s Pub Have 'Left the Building' After Turning It Into an Art Café

PEOPLE confirmed on April 15 that Gordon Ramsay's London pub had been taken over by squatters

Jonathan Wong/South China Morning Post via Getty

Squatters occupying one of Gordon Ramsay ’s London pubs have vacated the property, one week after police were made aware of their activity.

The Camden Art Cafe , an “autonomous cafe” who had identified themselves as the occupants of the celebrity chef’s York & Albany pub , shared the news in an Instagram post .

“We are sad to announce Camden art collective have left the building after being served papers yesterday,” the post read. “We wish those left in the building the best of luck in their endeavours. We hope to be a part of the community again soon, watch this space!!”

The account did not specify who is left in the building, and London's Metropolitan Police could not immediately be reached by PEOPLE for comment.

On April 13, BBC reported that the Central London pub had been occupied by at least six people, who allegedly boarded the windows. PEOPLE confirmed on April 15 that Ramsay’s pub had been occupied by squatters. 

Ray Tang/Shutterstock

The building where York & Albany was located and rented by Ramsay was listed on the market for £13 million, or about $16 million U.S. dollars, in December.

The Camden Art Cafe spoke about the price when they shared an official statement on April 15 about occupying the building.

“We aim to open our doors regularly to anyone and everyone, particularly the people of Camden who have been victims of gentrification and parasitic projects like HS2,” the statement said, adding that they will provide free food and “space to display their art without the ridiculous red-tape that galleries require people to jump over.”

The post continued, talking about how the wealth disparities in Camden made it “fitting that £13 million properties that most locals would never be able to afford to visit should be opened up to all.” 

On April 15, the Metropolitan Police told PEOPLE that they were made aware of the squatters at a “disused property” near London's Regent’s Park on April 10.

“This is a civil matter and so police did not attend as an emergency call out,” the statement continued. 

In the statement, the police said they would get involved if necessary: “We [are] in the process of identifying if any subsequent offences [sic] have occurred, and will take action where appropriate.”

Ramsay’s team declined to comment on the situation since it is being handled legally.

According to the U.K.’s official squatter rules on the government website , “Simply being on another person’s non-residential property without their permission is not usually a crime.”

But the website lists vandalization, not leaving when ordered by the court and using utilities as crimes that would permit police involvement.

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