essay writing resources

Essay Writing: A complete guide for students and teachers

P LANNING, PARAGRAPHING AND POLISHING: FINE-TUNING THE PERFECT ESSAY

Essay writing is an essential skill for every student. Whether writing a particular academic essay (such as persuasive, narrative, descriptive, or expository) or a timed exam essay, the key to getting good at writing is to write. Creating opportunities for our students to engage in extended writing activities will go a long way to helping them improve their skills as scribes.

But, putting the hours in alone will not be enough to attain the highest levels in essay writing. Practice must be meaningful. Once students have a broad overview of how to structure the various types of essays, they are ready to narrow in on the minor details that will enable them to fine-tune their work as a lean vehicle of their thoughts and ideas.

In this article, we will drill down to some aspects that will assist students in taking their essay writing skills up a notch. Many ideas and activities can be integrated into broader lesson plans based on essay writing. Often, though, they will work effectively in isolation – just as athletes isolate physical movements to drill that are relevant to their sport. When these movements become second nature, they can be repeated naturally in the context of the game or in our case, the writing of the essay.

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Planning an essay

The Boys Scouts’ motto is famously ‘Be Prepared’. It’s a solid motto that can be applied to most aspects of life; essay writing is no different. Given the purpose of an essay is generally to present a logical and reasoned argument, investing time in organising arguments, ideas, and structure would seem to be time well spent.

Given that essays can take a wide range of forms and that we all have our own individual approaches to writing, it stands to reason that there will be no single best approach to the planning stage of essay writing. That said, there are several helpful hints and techniques we can share with our students to help them wrestle their ideas into a writable form. Let’s take a look at a few of the best of these:

BREAK THE QUESTION DOWN: UNDERSTAND YOUR ESSAY TOPIC.

Whether students are tackling an assignment that you have set for them in class or responding to an essay prompt in an exam situation, they should get into the habit of analyzing the nature of the task. To do this, they should unravel the question’s meaning or prompt. Students can practice this in class by responding to various essay titles, questions, and prompts, thereby gaining valuable experience breaking these down.

Have students work in groups to underline and dissect the keywords and phrases and discuss what exactly is being asked of them in the task. Are they being asked to discuss, describe, persuade, or explain? Understanding the exact nature of the task is crucial before going any further in the planning process, never mind the writing process .

BRAINSTORM AND MIND MAP WHAT YOU KNOW:

Once students have understood what the essay task asks them, they should consider what they know about the topic and, often, how they feel about it. When teaching essay writing, we so often emphasize that it is about expressing our opinions on things, but for our younger students what they think about something isn’t always obvious, even to themselves.

Brainstorming and mind-mapping what they know about a topic offers them an opportunity to uncover not just what they already know about a topic, but also gives them a chance to reveal to themselves what they think about the topic. This will help guide them in structuring their research and, later, the essay they will write . When writing an essay in an exam context, this may be the only ‘research’ the student can undertake before the writing, so practicing this will be even more important.

RESEARCH YOUR ESSAY

The previous step above should reveal to students the general direction their research will take. With the ubiquitousness of the internet, gone are the days of students relying on a single well-thumbed encyclopaedia from the school library as their sole authoritative source in their essay. If anything, the real problem for our students today is narrowing down their sources to a manageable number. Students should use the information from the previous step to help here. At this stage, it is important that they:

●      Ensure the research material is directly relevant to the essay task

●      Record in detail the sources of the information that they will use in their essay

●      Engage with the material personally by asking questions and challenging their own biases

●      Identify the key points that will be made in their essay

●      Group ideas, counterarguments, and opinions together

●      Identify the overarching argument they will make in their own essay.

Once these stages have been completed the student is ready to organise their points into a logical order.

WRITING YOUR ESSAY

There are a number of ways for students to organize their points in preparation for writing. They can use graphic organizers , post-it notes, or any number of available writing apps. The important thing for them to consider here is that their points should follow a logical progression. This progression of their argument will be expressed in the form of body paragraphs that will inform the structure of their finished essay.

The number of paragraphs contained in an essay will depend on a number of factors such as word limits, time limits, the complexity of the question etc. Regardless of the essay’s length, students should ensure their essay follows the Rule of Three in that every essay they write contains an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Generally speaking, essay paragraphs will focus on one main idea that is usually expressed in a topic sentence that is followed by a series of supporting sentences that bolster that main idea. The first and final sentences are of the most significance here with the first sentence of a paragraph making the point to the reader and the final sentence of the paragraph making the overall relevance to the essay’s argument crystal clear. 

Though students will most likely be familiar with the broad generic structure of essays, it is worth investing time to ensure they have a clear conception of how each part of the essay works, that is, of the exact nature of the task it performs. Let’s review:

Common Essay Structure

Introduction: Provides the reader with context for the essay. It states the broad argument that the essay will make and informs the reader of the writer’s general perspective and approach to the question.

Body Paragraphs: These are the ‘meat’ of the essay and lay out the argument stated in the introduction point by point with supporting evidence.

Conclusion: Usually, the conclusion will restate the central argument while summarising the essay’s main supporting reasons before linking everything back to the original question.

ESSAY WRITING PARAGRAPH WRITING TIPS

●      Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea

●      Paragraphs should follow a logical sequence; students should group similar ideas together to avoid incoherence

●      Paragraphs should be denoted consistently; students should choose either to indent or skip a line

●      Transition words and phrases such as alternatively , consequently , in contrast should be used to give flow and provide a bridge between paragraphs.

HOW TO EDIT AN ESSAY

Students shouldn’t expect their essays to emerge from the writing process perfectly formed. Except in exam situations and the like, thorough editing is an essential aspect in the writing process. 

Often, students struggle with this aspect of the process the most. After spending hours of effort on planning, research, and writing the first draft, students can be reluctant to go back over the same terrain they have so recently travelled. It is important at this point to give them some helpful guidelines to help them to know what to look out for. The following tips will provide just such help: 

One Piece at a Time: There is a lot to look out for in the editing process and often students overlook aspects as they try to juggle too many balls during the process. One effective strategy to combat this is for students to perform a number of rounds of editing with each focusing on a different aspect. For example, the first round could focus on content, the second round on looking out for word repetition (use a thesaurus to help here), with the third attending to spelling and grammar.

Sum It Up: When reviewing the paragraphs they have written, a good starting point is for students to read each paragraph and attempt to sum up its main point in a single line. If this is not possible, their readers will most likely have difficulty following their train of thought too and the paragraph needs to be overhauled.

Let It Breathe: When possible, encourage students to allow some time for their essay to ‘breathe’ before returning to it for editing purposes. This may require some skilful time management on the part of the student, for example, a student rush-writing the night before the deadline does not lend itself to effective editing. Fresh eyes are one of the sharpest tools in the writer’s toolbox.

Read It Aloud: This time-tested editing method is a great way for students to identify mistakes and typos in their work. We tend to read things more slowly when reading aloud giving us the time to spot errors. Also, when we read silently our minds can often fill in the gaps or gloss over the mistakes that will become apparent when we read out loud.

Phone a Friend: Peer editing is another great way to identify errors that our brains may miss when reading our own work. Encourage students to partner up for a little ‘you scratch my back, I scratch yours’.

Use Tech Tools: We need to ensure our students have the mental tools to edit their own work and for this they will need a good grasp of English grammar and punctuation. However, there are also a wealth of tech tools such as spellcheck and grammar checks that can offer a great once-over option to catch anything students may have missed in earlier editing rounds.

Putting the Jewels on Display: While some struggle to edit, others struggle to let go. There comes a point when it is time for students to release their work to the reader. They must learn to relinquish control after the creation is complete. This will be much easier to achieve if the student feels that they have done everything in their control to ensure their essay is representative of the best of their abilities and if they have followed the advice here, they should be confident they have done so.

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Brief Guides to Writing in the Disciplines

Writing advice: the barker underground blog, harvard guide to using sources, advice from the harvard writing center tutors, anthro writes: a guide to writing in anthropology, harvard writes: harvard faculty explain academic writing, science writes: a harvard toolkit for writing in the sciences, harvard library guide to citation management software, chicago manual of style harvard access, apa reference examples.

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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.

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

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15 Online Resources That Help Improve Essay-Writing Skills

• By Julie Petersen

Throughout the journey from kindergarten to 12th grade, students are supposed to gain appropriate vocabulary and grammar skills that need to be successfully implemented into essay writing. Here are some effective online tools that can help you make the art of essay writing more attractive for your students.

1.  ReadWriteThink – Student Interactives

This page is a great source of interactive tools that help students accomplish various goals, from organizing their thoughts to learning about different aspects of the English language. Some of the most popular tools for grades K-12 include Story Map, Persuasion Map, Word Family Sort, Acrostic Poems, Trading Card Generator and Comic Creator. You can choose different tools based on the grade level, capabilities, student interactive type, theme, and learning objective. 

2.  Interactive Sites for Education

This website serves as a resourceful guide to English language arts topics. You can find educational, interactive games and simulations for grades K-5 in the categories of grammar, compound words, capitalization, phonemes and words, punctuation, poetry, reading and sight words, parts of speech, writing and rhyming. These activities work well with an interactive whiteboard. However, you can also recommend them for individual learning at home. 

3.  Graphic Organizers

Young students can hardly manage all the ideas they get if you leave them in front of a piece of paper and saying they should write an essay right away. The process requires pre-writing stages, where these graphic organizers will be of great help. Your students can use them as a way of putting their ideas and notes in order. Then, the actual writing stage will be much more focused. 

4.  Teach the Children Well – Language Arts

This website may not be that appealing in terms of design, but it’s a great base of resources that will help you become a better teacher. This is actually a collection of awesome articles related to writing. Every educator should spend time examining these resources as they progress through different teaching methods.

5.  Free Writing Resources

Time4Writing.com is mostly known for the eight-week online writing courses it offers. However, the website is also a great source of free resources in seven categories: teaching writing, writing skills, writing sentences, writing paragraphs, writing mechanics, writing essays and standardized-test writing.

6.  Guide to Grammar and Writing

This website offers comprehensive lessons on all aspects of English grammar and writing. You will easily locate all materials you need in the Index, which includes links to all resources of the Guide to Grammar and Writing, as well as Principles of Composition. This online source is like the grammar textbook you always wished to have. Now you can use it to make the lectures more accessible for your students.

7.  [Resource Removed by Editor]

This was a writing resource but has since morphed into an essay purchasing service, which THE Journal does not support or advocate.

8.  Essay Punch

Essay Punch is an interactive, online, essay-writing tutorial that takes students through all stages of the academic writing process. The guidance it offers is based on pre-set writing prompts and interactive exercises for the pre-writing, organizing, writing, editing and publishing stages.

9.  Teen Ink

This well-established magazine publishes high-quality essays and other written forms created by students. The categories at the website include nonfiction, poetry and fiction. There is no need to subscribe to the monthly print magazine; all you need to do is recommend the website as a source of inspiration. You can select some of the featured essays and read them in class in order to show great samples of academic content.

Your students will love this tool! Since they are always struggling to come up with a believable thesis statement, you can recommend the Thesis Builder, an automatic engine that launches a statement based upon the topic, opinions and supporting arguments the users provide in the form. Once they get the thesis, your students can proceed with the creation of an outline without looking for another online tool.

12.  Hemingway Editor

There is a rule about long, complex sentences: You can only use them if you know how. K-12 students rarely manage to handle complex sentence structure, but they still want to impress you with big words and endless arguments. When you want to emphasize the importance of clarity, use Hemingway as an example. This tool will highlight the common errors and long sentences that need corrections.

This tool tests the readability of a piece of writing according to a set of commonly used indicators. You can recommend it to your students as an editing aid that will help them improve the readability of their work before they submit it to you.

When you assign a specific word count for a piece of writing, you want your students to respect it. This tool will help them achieve that goal. It will not only provide them with a correct number of words in their essays, but will also enable them to locate repetitive words and phrases.

Referencing is certainly not the most exciting part of any writing assignment. Nevertheless, you cannot simply neglect all those details and citation rules. This tool provides instant citations in Chicago, Turabian, APA and MLA styles. Upon entering the appropriate parameters, the students get a properly formatted reference without any fuss.

About the Author

Julie Petersen is a tutor and a blogger who features the latest career and educational trends in her articles. She is working on her first e-book dedicated to online learning.

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Essay Papers Writing Online

A comprehensive guide to essay writing.

Essay writing is a crucial skill that students need to master in order to succeed academically. Whether you’re a high school student working on a history paper or a college student tackling a critical analysis essay, having a solid understanding of the essay writing process is essential.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the essential tips and tricks that will help you improve your essay writing skills. From generating ideas and organizing your thoughts to crafting a strong thesis statement and polishing your final draft, we’ve got you covered.

Not only that, but we’ll also provide you with useful templates that you can use as a framework for your essays. These templates will help you structure your writing, stay focused on your main argument, and ensure that your essay flows smoothly from one point to the next.

The Ultimate Essay Writing Guides

Essay writing can be a challenging task for many students, but with the right guidance and tips, you can improve your writing skills and produce high-quality essays. In this ultimate guide, we will provide you with valuable advice, tricks, and templates to help you excel in your essay writing endeavors.

1. Understand the Prompt: Before you start writing your essay, make sure you fully understand the prompt or question. Analyze the requirements and key points that need to be addressed in your essay.

2. Create an Outline: Organize your ideas and thoughts by creating a detailed outline for your essay. This will help you structure your arguments and ensure a logical flow of information.

3. Research Thoroughly: Conduct extensive research on your topic to gather relevant information and evidence to support your arguments. Use credible sources and cite them properly in your essay.

4. Write Clearly and Concisely: Avoid using jargon or complex language in your essay. Write in a clear and concise manner to convey your ideas effectively to the reader.

5. Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your essay, make sure to proofread and edit it carefully. Check for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and ensure that your essay flows cohesively.

By following these ultimate essay writing guides, you can enhance your writing skills and produce outstanding essays that will impress your instructors and peers. Practice regularly and seek feedback to continuously improve your writing abilities.

Tips for Crafting an A+ Essay

1. Understand the Assignment: Before you start writing, make sure you fully understand the assignment guidelines and requirements. If you have any doubts, clarify them with your instructor.

2. Conduct Thorough Research: Gather relevant sources and information to support your arguments. Make sure to cite your sources properly and use credible sources.

3. Create a Strong Thesis Statement: Your thesis statement should clearly outline the main point of your essay and guide your readers on what to expect.

4. Organize Your Ideas: Create an outline to organize your thoughts and ensure a logical flow of ideas in your essay.

5. Write Clearly and Concisely: Use clear, concise language and avoid unnecessary jargon or complex sentences. Be direct and to the point.

6. Revise and Edit: Always proofread your essay for grammar and spelling errors. Revise your work to ensure coherence and clarity.

7. Seek Feedback: Ask a peer or instructor to review your essay and provide constructive feedback for improvement.

8. Use Proper Formatting: Follow the formatting guidelines provided by your instructor, such as font size, margins, and citation style.

9. Stay Focused: Keep your essay focused on the main topic and avoid going off on tangents. Stick to your thesis statement.

10. Practice, Practice, Practice: The more you practice writing essays, the better you will get at it. Keep practicing and refining your writing skills.

Tricks to Improve Your Writing Skills

Improving your writing skills can be a challenging but rewarding process. Here are some tricks to help you become a better writer:

1. Read widely: Reading a variety of genres and styles can help you develop your own voice and writing style.

2. Practice regularly: The more you write, the better you will become. Set aside time each day to practice writing.

3. Get feedback: Share your writing with others and ask for constructive criticism. Feedback can help you identify areas for improvement.

4. Study grammar and punctuation: Good writing requires a solid understanding of grammar and punctuation rules. Take the time to study and practice these essential skills.

5. Edit and revise: Writing is a process, and editing is an important part of that process. Take the time to edit and revise your work to improve clarity and coherence.

6. Experiment with different writing techniques: Try experimenting with different writing techniques, such as using metaphors, similes, or descriptive language, to enhance your writing.

7. Stay inspired: Find inspiration in the world around you. Whether it’s nature, art, or literature, draw inspiration from your surroundings to fuel your writing.

By following these tricks and practicing regularly, you can improve your writing skills and become a more confident and effective writer.

Step-by-Step Essay Writing Templates

When it comes to writing an essay, having a clear and structured template can be incredibly helpful. Here are some step-by-step essay writing templates that you can use to guide you through the process:

• Introduction: Start your essay with a hook to grab the reader’s attention. Provide some background information on the topic and end with a thesis statement that outlines the main argument of your essay.
• Body Paragraphs: Each body paragraph should focus on a single point that supports your thesis. Start with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph, provide evidence to support your point, and then analyze the evidence to show how it relates back to your thesis.
• Conclusion: Summarize the main points of your essay and restate your thesis in a new way. Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion and instead focus on tying together all the points you have made throughout the essay.

Expert Advice for Writing Top-Notch Essays

When it comes to writing a top-notch essay, it’s essential to follow expert advice to ensure your work stands out. Here are some key tips to help you elevate your writing:

1. Start with a strong thesis statement that clearly outlines your main argument.

2. Conduct thorough research to support your points with credible sources.

3. Organize your thoughts logically and ensure your essay flows smoothly from one point to the next.

4. Use a variety of sentence structures and vocabulary to keep your writing engaging.

5. Proofread and edit your essay carefully to eliminate errors and refine your arguments.

By following these expert tips, you can take your essay writing skills to the next level and produce work that is both informative and compelling.

Resources to Enhance Your Essay Writing Process

When it comes to improving your essay writing skills, there are a variety of resources available to help you enhance your process. Here are some valuable resources that can aid you in becoming a more effective and efficient writer:

• Writing Guides: There are countless writing guides and books that offer tips, tricks, and strategies for improving your writing skills. Whether you’re looking to enhance your grammar, structure, or argumentation, these guides can provide valuable insights.
• Online Writing Communities: Joining online writing communities can be a great way to connect with other writers, receive feedback on your work, and engage in writing challenges and prompts. Websites like Writing.com and Wattpad are popular platforms for writers to share their work and receive critiques.
• Writing Workshops and Courses: Participating in writing workshops and courses can help you hone your craft and develop your writing skills. Whether you prefer in-person workshops or online courses, there are many options available to suit your needs and schedule.
• Writing Apps and Tools: Utilizing writing apps and tools can streamline your writing process and help you stay organized. Tools like Grammarly can assist with grammar and spelling checks, while apps like Scrivener can help you organize your research and ideas.
• Libraries and Writing Centers: Visiting your local library or university writing center can provide access to valuable resources, such as writing guides, research materials, and writing tutors who can offer personalized feedback and support.

By taking advantage of these resources, you can enhance your essay writing process and become a more skilled and confident writer.

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Tiny Memoir Contest for Students: Write a 100-Word Personal Narrative

We invite teenagers to tell a true story about a meaningful life experience in just 100 words. Contest dates: Nov. 6 to Dec. 4, 2024.

By The Learning Network

Illustrations from Modern Love’s Tiny Love Stories , the inspiration for this contest.

Can you tell a meaningful and interesting true story from your life in just 100 words? That’s the challenge we pose to teenagers with our 100-Word Personal Narrative Contest, a storytelling form popularized by Modern Love’s Tiny Love Stories series .

After running this contest for two years, receiving a total of more than 25,000 entries, and honoring dozens of excellent miniature teen-written memoirs, we have discovered the answer is a resounding yes .

So, we challenge you to try it yourself.

We’re not asking you to write to a particular theme or to use a specific structure or style, but we are looking for short, powerful stories about a particular moment or event in your life. We want to hear your story, told in your unique voice, and we hope you’ll experiment with style and form to tell a tale that matters to you, in a way you enjoy telling it.

And, yes, it’s possible to do all that in only 100 words. For proof, just look at last year’s 15 winning entries . We also have a step-by-step guide full of advice that is grounded in 25 excellent 100-word mentor texts, as well as a rehearsal space , published for our first year’s contest, that has over 1,000 student-written mini memoirs. Because that space was so successful, we’re keeping it open for this year’s contest. We hope students will use it to get inspiration, experiment and encourage each other.

Take a look at the full guidelines and related resources below. Please post any questions you have in the comments and we’ll answer you there, or write to us at [email protected]. And, consider hanging this PDF one-page announcement on your class bulletin board.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Resources for Teachers and Students
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Submission Form

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Writing a Personal Statement

Preparing to Write

Brainstorming, don't forget, sample prompts.

A personal statement is a narrative essay that connects your background, experiences, and goals to the mission, requirements, and desired outcomes of the specific opportunity you are seeking. It is a critical component in the selection process, whether the essay is for a competitive internship, a graduate fellowship, or admittance to a graduate school program. It gives the selection committee the best opportunity to get to know you, how you think and make decisions, ways in which past experiences have been significant or formative, and how you envision your future. Personal statements can be varied in form; some are given a specific prompt, while others are less structured. However, in general a personal statement should answer the following questions:

• Who are you?
• What are your goals?
• How does this specific program/opportunity help you achieve your goals?
• What is in the future?

A personal statement is not:

• A variation of your college admissions essay
• An academic/research paper
• A narrative version of your resume
• A creative writing piece (it can be creative, though)
• An essay about somebody else

Keep in mind that your statement is only a portion of the application and should be written with this in mind. Your entire application package will include some, possibly all, of the materials listed below. You will want to consider what these pieces of the application communicate about you. Your personal statement should aim to tie everything together and fill in or address any gaps. There will likely be some overlap but be sure not to be too repetitive.

• Personal Statement(s)
• Transcripts
• Letters of recommendations
• Sample of written work
• Research proposal

For a quick overview of personal statements, you might begin by watching this "5 Minute Fellowships" video!

If you are writing your first personal statement or working to improve upon an existing personal statement, the video below is a helpful, in-depth resource.

A large portion of your work towards completing a personal statement begins well before your first draft or even an outline. It is incredibly important to be sure you understand all of the rules and regulations around the statement. Things to consider before you begin writing:

• How many prompts? And what are they? It is important to know the basics so you can get your ideas in order. Some programs will require a general statement of interest and a focused supplementary or secondary statement closely aligned with the institution's goals.
• Are there formatting guidelines? Single or double spaced, margins, fonts, text sizes, etc. Our general guideline is to keep it simple.
• How do I submit my statement(s)? If uploading a document we highly suggest using a PDF as it will minimize the chances of accidental changes to formatting. Some programs may event ask you to copy and paste into a text box.
• When do I have to submit my statement(s)? Most are due at the time of application but some programs, especially medical schools, will ask for secondary statements a few months after you apply. In these instances be sure to complete them within two weeks, any longer is an indication that you aren't that interested in the institution.

Below is a second 5 Minute Fellowships video that can help you get started!

Before you start writing, take some time to reflect on your experiences and motivations as they relate to the programs to which you are applying. This will offer you a chance to organize your thoughts which will make the writing process much easier. Below are a list of questions to help you get started:

• What individuals, experiences or events have shaped your interest in this particular field?
• What has influenced your decision to apply to graduate school?
• How does this field align with your interests, strengths, and values?
• What distinguishes you from other applicants?
• What would you bring to this program/profession?
• What has prepared you for graduate study in this field? Consider your classes at Wellesley, research and work experience, including internships, summer jobs and volunteer work.
• Why are you interested in this particular institution or degree program?
• How is this program distinct from others?
• What do you hope to gain?
• What is motivating you to seek an advanced degree now?
• Where do you see yourself headed and how will this degree program help you get there?

For those applying to Medical School, if you need a committee letter for your application and are using the Medical Professions Advisory Committee you have already done a lot of heavy lifting through the 2017-2018 Applicant Information Form . Even if you aren't using MPAC the applicant information form is a great place to start.

Another great place to start is through talking out your ideas. You have a number of options both on and off campus, such as: Career Education advisors and mentors ( you can set up an appointment here ), major advisor, family, friends. If you are applying to a graduate program it is especially important to talk with a faculty member in the field. Remember to take good notes so you can refer to them later.

When you begin writing keep in mind that your essay is one of many in the application pool. This is not to say you should exaggerate your experiences to “stand out” but that you should focus on clear, concise writing. Also keep in mind that the readers are considering you not just as a potential student but a future colleague. Be sure to show them examples and experiences which demonstrate you are ready to begin their program.

It is important to remember that your personal statement will take time and energy to complete, so plan accordingly. Every application and statement should be seen as different from one another, even if they are all the same type of program. Each institution may teach you the same material but their delivery or focus will be slightly different.

In addition, remember:

• Be yourself: You aren’t good at being someone else
• Tragedy is not a requirement, reflection and depth are
• Research the institution or organization
• Proofread, proofread, proofread
• How to have your personal statement reviewed

The prompts below are from actual applications to a several types of programs. As you will notice many of them are VERY general in nature. This is why it is so important to do your research and reflect on your motivations. Although the prompts are similar in nature the resulting statements would be very different depending on the discipline and type of program, as well as your particular background and reasons for wanting to pursue this graduate degree.

• This statement should illustrate your academic background and experiences and explain why you would excel in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (UMass Amherst - M.S. in Civil Engineering).
• Describe your academic and career objectives and how the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies can help you achieve them. Include other considerations that explain why you seek admissions to the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and your interests in the environmental field (Yale - Master of Environmental Management).  
• Please discuss your academic interests and goals. Include your current professional and research interests, as well as your long-range professional objectives. Please be as specific as possible about how your objectives can be met at Clark and do not exceed 800 words (Clark University - M.A. in International Development and Social Change).
• Write a 500- to 700-word statement that describes your work or research. Discuss how you came to focus on the medium, body of work, or academic area you wish to pursue at the graduate level. Also discuss future directions or goals for your work, and describe how the Master of Fine Arts in Studio (Printmedia) is particularly suited to your professional goals (School of the Art Institute of Chicago - MFA in Studio, Printmaking).
• Your statement should explain why you want to study economics at the graduate level. The statement is particularly important if there is something unusual about your background and preparation that you would like us to know about you (University of Texas at Austin - Ph.D in Economics).
• Your personal goal statement is an important part of the review process for our faculty members as they consider your application. They want to know about your background, work experience, plans for graduate study and professional career, qualifications that make you a strong candidate for the program, and any other relevant information (Indiana University Bloomington - M.S.Ed. in Secondary Education).
• Your autobiographical essay/personal statement is a narrative that outlines significant experiences in your life, including childhood experiences, study and work, your strengths and aspirations in the field of architecture, and why you want to come to the University of Oregon (University of Oregon - Master of Architecture).
• Personal history and diversity statement, in which you describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. You may refer to any educational, familial, cultural, economic or social experiences, challenges, community service, outreach activities, residency and citizenship, first-generation college status, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; or how you might serve educationally underrepresented and underserved segments of society with your graduate education (U.C. Davis - M.A. in Linguistics).
• A Personal Statement specifying your past experiences, reasons for applying, and your areas of interest. It should explain your intellectual and personal goals, why you are interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary degree rather than a more traditional disciplinary one, and how this degree fits into your intellectual and personal future (Rutgers University - Ph.D in Women’s and Gender Studies).
• Your application requires a written statement to uploaded into your application and is a critical component of your application for admission. This is your opportunity to tell us what excites you about the field of library and information science, and what problems you want to help solve in this field. Please also tell us how your prior experiences have prepared you for this next step toward your career goals and how this program will help you achieve them (University of North Carolina Chapel Hill - Master of Science in Library Science).
• After watching the video, please describe what strengths and preferences as a learner you have that will facilitate your success in this innovative curriculum. What challenges in our curriculum do you anticipate and what strategies might you use to address these challenges? (MGH Institute of Health Professions PT - They recently redesigned their curriculum)
• Your personal goal statement should briefly describe how you view the future of the field, what your goals are to be part of that future, and what brought you to pursue an advanced education degree in your chosen field. You may include any other information that you feel might be useful. (Northeastern PT)
• Personal Statement: In 500 words or less, describe a meaningful educational experience that affected your professional goals and growth and explain how it impacted you. The educational experience does not need to be related to this degree. Focus on the educational experience and not why you think you would be a good professional in this field. (Simmons PT)
• Personal Statement (500 word minimum): State your reasons for seeking admission to this program at this institution. Include your professional goals, why you want to pursue a career in this field and how admission to this program will assist you in accomplishing those goals. (Regis College Nursing)
• “Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to this type of program.” (AMCAS)
• Address the following three questions(Though there is no set limit, most statements are 1–2 pages, single-spaced.): What are your reasons for pursuing this degree? Why do you wish to pursue your degree at this institution? How do you intend to leverage your degree in a career of this field? (Boston University MPH)
• Please submit a personal statement/statement of purpose of no more than 500 words for the department/degree of choice. Professional degree essays require a clear understanding of the _______ field and how you hope to work within the field. Be sure to proofread your personal statement carefully for spelling and grammar. In your statement, be sure to address the following: what interests you in the field of _____ what interests you in a specific degree program and department at this institution and what interests you in a particular certificate (if applicable). Please also describe how you hope to use your ________ training to help you achieve your career goals. (Columbia PhD in Public Health - Epidemiology)
• Because each Home Program requires significant original research activities in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree, we are interested in obtaining as much information as possible about your previous research experiences. Those who already have such experience are in a better position to know whether they are truly interested in performing ______ research as part of a graduate program. Please include specific information about your research experience in your Statement of Purpose. You may also use the Statement to amplify your comments about your choice of Home Program(s), and how your past experiences and current interests are related to your choice. Personal Statements should not exceed two pages in length (single spaced). Make sure to set your computer to Western European or other English-language setting. We cannot guarantee the ability to access your statement if it is submitted in other fonts. (Stanford Biosciences PhD)
• Your statement of purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the Department of ____ at ___ University. It would be helpful to include what you have done to prepare for this degree program. Please describe your research interests, past research experience, future career plans and other details of your background and interests that will allow us to evaluate your ability to thrive in our program. If you have interests that align with a specific faculty member, you may state this in your application. Your statement of purpose should not exceed two pages in length (single spaced). (Stanford Bioengineering PhD)
• Statement of purpose (Up to one page or 1,000 words): Rather than a research proposal, you should provide a statement of purpose. Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at this institution and your relevant experience and education. Please provide an indication of the area of your proposed research and supervisor(s) in your statement. This will be assessed for the coherence of the statement; evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study; the ability to present a reasoned case in English; and commitment to the subject. (Oxford Inorganic Chemistry - DPhil)

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The best ai essay writing tools for students in 2024.

In academia, essay writing often feels like an impossible challenge for students grappling with organizing and articulating their thoughts effectively. Fortunately, the best AI essay writing tools can significantly ease this process. These innovative tools assist in brainstorming ideas and crafting detailed outlines, making the task more manageable.

Selecting the right tool is crucial, as each student has distinct needs. The best AI essay writing options for students provide tailored solutions to address various challenges. Finding a tool that aligns with your style and requirements can transform your writing experience and achieve greater success.

1. Grammarly

Grammarly is a popular tool among students seeking to improve their writing skills. The platform offers several features that enhance the writing process.

Grammar and punctuation error detection

Grammarly provides real-time grammar and punctuation checks. The tool highlights mistakes and suggests corrections. This feature helps you catch errors that might slip through manual proofreading.

Style and tone suggestions

Grammarly also analyzes your writing style and tone. The tool offers suggestions to make your writing more engaging and appropriate for your audience. You can adjust your tone to suit academic or casual settings.

Enhances writing accuracy

Grammarly improves writing accuracy by identifying errors and offering corrections. You gain confidence in your writing when you know your work is error-free. The tool helps you produce polished essays.

Improves readability

Grammarly’s suggestions help you create clear and concise sentences. Improved readability makes your essays more enjoyable to read. Your ideas become easier for others to understand.

Limited free version

The free version of Grammarly offers basic features. Advanced features require a subscription. Some students might find the cost prohibitive.

Grammarly remains a valuable resource for students. The tool ranks among the best AI essay writing options available. You can enhance your writing with Grammarly’s features while examining its limitations.

2. EssayGenius

EssayGenius offers a unique approach to essay writing . This tool helps students tackle the challenge of generating ideas and organizing thoughts.

Autonomous topic research

EssayGenius performs autonomous topic research. You enter a topic, and EssayGenius provides relevant information. This feature saves time and effort in the research phase.

Detailed outline generation

EssayGenius generates detailed outlines. The tool structures your essay with subheadings and key points. This feature helps you maintain focus and coherence in your writing.

Helps in idea generation

EssayGenius assists in idea generation. The tool suggests topics and angles you might not consider. This feature sparks creativity and broadens your perspective.

Organizes thoughts effectively

EssayGenius organizes your thoughts effectively. The tool creates a logical flow for your essay. This feature ensures clarity and enhances the overall quality of your work.

It may require manual adjustments.

EssayGenius may require manual adjustments. The tool provides a framework, but you refine it. Personal input ensures the essay reflects your voice and style.

Limited to certain topics

EssayGenius has limitations on certain topics. The tool excels in popular subjects but struggles with niche areas. You might need additional resources for specialized topics.

EssayGenius is one of the best AI essay-writing tools for students. The features and benefits make it a valuable asset. Consider using EssayGenius to enhance your writing process.

JotBot offers a unique approach to essay writing . This tool helps you maintain your writing style while enhancing content quality.

Personalized content generation

JotBot generates content that matches your writing style. You provide sample writings, and JotBot analyzes them. The tool then creates content that feels like your own work. This feature ensures your essays retain a personal touch.

Style analysis based on previous writing

JotBot examines your past writing to understand your style. The tool identifies patterns and preferences in your work. This analysis allows JotBot to produce content that aligns with your voice. You get assistance without losing your unique style.

Maintains unique writing voice

JotBot helps you keep your distinct writing voice. The tool’s personalized content generation supports your style. You can confidently submit essays that reflect your individuality.

Seamless integration of generated content

JotBot makes it easy to integrate generated content into your essays. The tool’s output blends smoothly with your existing work. You save time and effort when incorporating new ideas.

Requires sample writings for analysis

JotBot needs sample writings to analyze your style. You must provide enough material for accurate results. This requirement may pose a challenge if you lack previous work.

It may not suit all writing styles.

JotBot may not fit every writing style. The tool excels with certain patterns but struggles with others. It would be best if you evaluated whether JotBot complements your approach.

JotBot is one of the best AI essay-writing tools for students. The tool’s ability to preserve your voice makes it a valuable asset. Consider JotBot to enhance your writing while staying true to yourself.

4. Hemingway Editor

Hemingway Editor helps you create clear and concise writing. The tool focuses on readability and sentence structure. You can improve your essays with its suggestions.

Readability analysis

Hemingway Editor analyzes your text for readability. The tool highlights complex sentences and difficult words. You can see which parts need simplification. This feature helps you make your writing more accessible.

Sentence structure suggestions

Hemingway Editor offers suggestions for sentence structure. The tool identifies passive voice and long sentences. You can use these insights to improve clarity. Your writing becomes more direct and engaging.

Simplifies complex sentences

The tool simplifies complex sentences. You can break down long sentences into shorter ones. This process makes your writing easier to understand. Readers will appreciate the clarity.

Enhances clarity

Hemingway Editor enhances clarity in your essays. The tool’s suggestions help you remove unnecessary words. You can focus on delivering your message effectively. Clear writing improves communication .

Limited to style suggestions

Hemingway Editor provides style suggestions only. The tool does not check grammar or punctuation. It would be best if you had another tool for those aspects. Consider using it alongside other resources.

No grammar check

The tool lacks a grammar check feature. You must review your work for grammatical errors. Relying solely on Hemingway Editor may leave mistakes unnoticed. A comprehensive approach ensures accuracy.

Hemingway Editor ranks among the best AI essay-writing tools for students. The tool’s focus on readability and clarity makes it valuable. You can enhance your writing by incorporating its features.

5. Writesonic

Writesonic offers a dynamic approach to essay writing. You can explore its features to enhance your writing process.

AI-generated content

Writesonic uses AI to generate content quickly. You input a topic, and Writesonic produces relevant text. This feature helps you overcome writer’s block by providing a starting point.

Multiple writing templates

Writesonic provides various writing templates. You choose a template that fits your essay type. These templates guide your structure and style, making the writing process smoother.

Versatile content creation

Writesonic supports versatile content creation. You can write essays, reports, or creative pieces. This flexibility makes Writesonic one of the best AI essay-writing tools for students.

Time-saving

Writesonic saves time by generating content swiftly. You spend less time brainstorming and more time refining. This efficiency allows you to meet deadlines with ease.

Requires editing for accuracy

Writesonic-generated content may need editing for accuracy. You review and refine the text to ensure precision. This step ensures your work meets academic standards.

It may not suit the academic tone.

Writesonic might not always match an academic tone. You adjust the language to fit formal requirements. This adjustment ensures your essay maintains a scholarly voice.

Writesonic stands out as a valuable tool in the realm of best AI essay writing for students. Its features can streamline your writing process and achieve better results.

6. AI Writer

AI Writer is a powerful tool for students who want to improve their essay writing skills. It provides features that can transform their writing process.

High-output content generation

AI Writer excels in generating large volumes of content quickly. You input a topic, and the tool produces comprehensive text. This feature helps you tackle lengthy essays without feeling overwhelmed.

SEO optimization

AI Writer includes built-in SEO optimization. The tool ensures your content ranks well on search engines. This feature enhances the visibility of your essays if you publish them online.

Efficient content production

AI Writer streamlines content production. You spend less time writing and more time refining ideas. This efficiency allows you to focus on quality over quantity.

Enhances online visibility

AI Writer boosts your work’s online presence. The tool’s SEO features attract more readers to your essays. Increased visibility can lead to greater recognition and opportunities.

May require fact-checking

AI Writer-generated content might need fact-checking. You verify the information to ensure accuracy. This step is crucial for maintaining credibility in your essays.

Limited to online content

AI Writer focuses on online content. The tool may not suit offline assignments or printed essays. Consider whether your needs align with this limitation.

AI Writer is one of the best AI essay-writing tools for students. The tool’s features cater to those seeking efficient and visible content creation. Explore what AI Writer offers to enhance your writing experience.

Cramly is a fantastic tool for students who need help with essay writing. Its features make the writing process smoother and more enjoyable.

Essay structuring

Cramly helps you structure essays effectively. The tool organizes your ideas into a clear format. This feature ensures your essay flows logically from start to finish.

Topic brainstorming

Cramly assists with brainstorming topics. The tool suggests various angles for your essay, allowing you to explore new ideas and expand your perspective.

Streamlines writing process

Cramly streamlines the writing process. The tool reduces the time spent on planning, so you can focus more on writing and less on organizing.

Encourages creativity

Cramly encourages creativity in your writing. The tool inspires you to think outside the box. You can develop unique ideas and express them confidently.

Limited to essay writing

Cramly focuses on essay writing only. The tool may not support other writing tasks. Consider whether your needs align with this limitation.

It may require additional research.

Cramly might require additional research. The tool provides a framework, but you gather more information. This step ensures your essay is well-informed and accurate.

Cramly stands out as one of the best AI essay-writing tools for students. The features and benefits make it a valuable resource. You can enhance your writing experience by exploring what Cramly offers.

8. MyEssayWriter.ai

MyEssayWriter.ai is a handy tool for students to enhance their essay-writing skills. Explore its features to see how they fit your needs.

Comprehensive AI tools

MyEssayWriter.ai offers a suite of comprehensive AI tools. These tools help you with various aspects of essay writing. You can generate ideas, structure essays, and refine content with ease.

Free trial available

MyEssayWriter.ai offers a free trial that allows you to test the features without cost and explore the tool’s capabilities before committing to a subscription.

Cost-effective

MyEssayWriter.ai is cost-effective. The tool offers valuable features at an affordable price, allowing you to enhance your writing without breaking the bank.

Wide range of tools

MyEssayWriter.ai includes a wide range of tools that cover different writing needs. You can find solutions for brainstorming, editing, and formatting.

Limited trial period

The free trial period for MyEssayWriter.ai is limited. You need to decide quickly if the tool meets your needs, and this limitation might not give you enough time to explore all its features.

May require subscription

MyEssayWriter.ai may require a subscription for full access. Consider whether the cost fits your budget. A subscription ensures you get the most out of the tool.

MyEssayWriter.ai is one of the best AI essay-writing tools for students. The features and benefits make it a valuable resource. You can improve your writing experience by giving MyEssayWriter.ai a try.

Yomu AI offers students a fantastic tool to enhance their essay-writing skills. The tool provides features that make the writing process more efficient and enjoyable.

Writing suggestions

Yomu AI delivers helpful writing suggestions. The tool analyzes your text and offers improvements. These suggestions help you refine your ideas and structure. You can create essays that flow smoothly and engage readers.

Content generation

Yomu AI excels in content generation. The tool generates relevant content based on your input. This feature helps you overcome writer’s block by providing a starting point. You can expand on these ideas to develop comprehensive essays.

Improves essay quality

Yomu AI significantly improves essay quality. The tool’s suggestions enhance clarity and coherence. You can produce polished essays that impress your audience. Improved quality leads to better grades and academic success.

User-friendly interface

Yomu AI boasts a user-friendly interface. The tool is easy to navigate, making it accessible to all users. You can focus on writing without struggling with complex software. A simple interface streamlines the writing process.

Yomu AI may not fit every writing style. The tool excels with certain patterns but struggles with others. It would be best if you evaluated whether Yomu AI complements your approach. Consider testing the tool to see if it aligns with your needs.

Requires internet connection

Yomu AI requires an internet connection. The tool operates online, so connectivity is essential. A stable internet connection is best for accessing its features. This requirement may limit usage in areas with poor connectivity.

Yomu AI stands out as one of the best AI essay-writing tools for students. The features and benefits make it a valuable resource. You can enhance your writing experience by exploring what Yomu AI offers.

10. Jasper AI

Jasper AI offers a powerful tool for students looking to enhance their essay-writing skills. The tool provides features that make the writing process more efficient and enjoyable.

High-quality content generation

Jasper AI excels in generating high-quality content. You input a topic, and Jasper AI produces comprehensive text. This feature helps you tackle essays with ease. The generated content maintains a professional tone suitable for academic work.

Versatile writing formats

Jasper AI supports various writing formats. You choose a format that fits your essay type. These formats guide your structure and style, making the writing process smoother. The versatility makes Jasper AI one of the best AI essay-writing tools for students.

Produces diverse content

Jasper AI produces diverse content. You can write essays, reports, or creative pieces. This flexibility allows you to explore different writing styles. The tool adapts to your needs, enhancing your writing experience.

User-friendly

Jasper AI boasts a user-friendly interface. The tool is easy to navigate, making it accessible to all users. You can focus on writing without struggling with complex software. A simple interface streamlines the writing process.

Requires subscription

Jasper AI requires a subscription for full access. Consider whether the cost fits your budget. A subscription ensures you get the most out of the tool, but some students might find the cost prohibitive.

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Virtual Gilman Writing Workshop - Getting Started on the Three Essays!

Wednesday, September 11, 2024 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Online Faculty, Staff, Students

Gilman Program Application Is Now Open ! 

NOW is the time to start on your essays by opening an application account in the IIE Gilman portal.  You will want to work closely with Katie Jones, the Graduate Assistant in the Fellowships Office and Dr. Brenda Tooley, who leads the GVSU Fellowship Office. In this Virtual Workshop, we will go over the three required essays, talking about the prompts for each. 

You’ll want to copy us on your google doc drafts of your essays – just use my gmail address, [email protected] (we work just like the Writing Center). Definitely DO NOT WAIT until the last minute to begin working on your essays! 

What is the IIE Gilman International Scholarship? It is a US State Department fellowship for US students who are Pell recipients to help defray the cost of undergraduate study abroad. Here is the Gilman blurb:

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables students of limited financial means (Pell recipients) to study or intern abroad, providing awards of up to $5,000 for study-abroad programs. The program aims to encourage students to study and intern in a diverse array of countries or areas and world regions. The program also encourages students to study languages, especially critical need languages (those deemed important to national security by adding a supplement of up to $3,000 for intensive language study of designated critical need languages). Are you planning to study abroad? Are you eligible for the IIE Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship? Join us to learn more about the application process!

AM I ELIGIBLE?

-  I am a U.S. citizen.

-  I am a GVSU undergraduate  in good standing  (not on probation; with no conduct violations).  Spring/Summer Applicants can walk at April graduation but their degree cannot be conferred until after they complete their study abroad program.

-  I am eligible for the  Pell Grant .    Not sure?  Ask  GVSU Financial Aid Office .

OR  —  dependent child of an active-duty military member(s) during the time of application . Parent/guardian must serve in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, or Coast Guard. Applicant must currently receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid. Study abroad program must meet all other Gilman eligibility. The  Gilman-McCain Scholarship uses the same application as the Gilman Scholarship .

Thinking about study abroad? Receive up to $5,000 to go abroad as a college student if you’re a U.S. citizen and Federal Pell Grant recipient! If you’re studying a critical need language in a country in which the language is predominantly spoken, you can apply for the supplemental Critical Need Language Award of up to $3,000. If you’re interested in conducting STEM-related research while studying or interning abroad, you could receive an additional $1,000 by applying for the STEM Supplemental Award.

The application closes October 10! Learn more at Gilman Scholarship Program - Study Abroad with a Gilman Scholarship . And see Application Overview - Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship (gilmanscholarship.org) for an overview of the application process!

And this is ONLY ONE of MANY fellowship opportunities that help with the costs of study abroad - others include IIE Freeman-Asia, Phi Kappa Phi, Bridging (for study in Japan), Watanabe (for year-long study in Japan), Boren (for intensive language study of a critical need language) and more.

Click here for additional information

RSVP for this event

Location Information

The information session will take place via Zoom. Once registered you will receive a link to the session. 

Contact Information

For information about this and other fellowships, email [email protected] .

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This event was added to the calendar by Brenda Tooley ( tooleyb@gvsu.edu ) on Thursday, August 22, 2024 and was last updated on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at 8:26 a.m.

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Romeo and Juliet- detailed PowerPoints with full script (everything you need!)

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Resources included (8)

Romeo and Juliet Lesson 8 Act 5

Romeo and Juliet Lesson 7 Act 4

Romeo and Juliet Lesson 6 Act 3

Romeo and Juliet Lesson 5 Act 2

Romeo and Juliet Lesson 4 The Balcony Scene

Romeo and Juliet Lesson 3 Act 1, Scene 5 Romeo meets Juliet

Romeo and Juliet Lesson 2 Act 1

Romeo and Juliet Lesson 1 context and introduction lesson

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National library of Republic of Tatarstan

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Tatarstan: Semiautonomous and Thriving

28 July 2011

A map showing Kazan’s strategic position on a particularly well-watered portion of the Volga river. The Volga has long been an important trade route for Moscow – and a potential invasion route from the South.

Tatarstan is a semiautonomous republic within Russia, located about 500 miles east of Moscow. Roughly the size of West Virginia, but with nearly twice the population, Tatarstan has one of the strongest, fastest growing, and diverse regional economies in Russia. The Tatar people, for whom the republic is named, are of Turkic decent and are predominantly Muslim.

The republic is often referred to as a model of an effective multiethnic state, with Muslims and Christians living side-by-side in peace. It is also often regarded as a model for effective economic development and anticorruption measures. The republic, however, also faces several problems in managing its diverse population and bringing environmental concerns under control.

Tatarstan at a Glance

Kazan, the republic’s capital, is centered on a sustainable, defensible point along a valuable trade route and has been of strategic importance for hundreds of years. It is settled on a bowl-shaped hill overlooking a narrowing of the Volga River, about thirty miles upstream, closer to Moscow, from the point where that river joins the Kama River. The surrounding countryside is mostly steppe and forest, well-watered by several rivers, and thus is conducive to agriculture, hunting, forestry, and supporting significant populations and militaries.

Today, Kazan holds about a quarter of the republic’s population. Other significant cities include Naberezhnye Chelny and Nizhnekamsk, with about a half million and a quarter million residents, respectively, settled along the Kama River. Almetyevsk is a city of roughly 160,000 people in the republic’s southeast, where much of its oil deposits lie. All of Tatarstan’s cities are well-connected to one another by a highly developed transport network comprised of highways, railway lines, and four navigable rivers. Tatarstan is also well connected to the rest of Russia by rail. Its emphasis on developing transportation has helped its economy to flourish.

Tatarstan’s economy is also diverse: its main sources of revenue come from manufacturing and oil production. Tatarstan produces 32 million tons of crude oil annually and has 1 billion tons of oil reserves. While these are less than 1% of Russia’s totals, they are significant to the small republic. Tatarstan is also known for its oil refineries and petrochemical and machine-building plants. The latter industry is devoted mostly to trucks and aviation and the Kazan Helicopter Plant is one of the largest helicopter manufacturers in the world. Engineering, textiles, clothing, agriculture and food processing, services, and tourism are all major driving forces in Tatarstan’s economy as well.

Tatarstan also hosts several major oil pipelines. The world’s longest oil pipeline, called the “Druzhba” or “Friendship” pipeline, begins in Tatarstan, in the town of Almetyevsk, and delivers oil throughout Russia and Europe. Two other transcontinental gas pipelines run through northwestern Tatarstan as well.

Part of Tatarstan’s economic success has been attributed to its current governance, which consistently ranks as one of Russia’s least corrupt and most business-friendly. The republic’s government has pushed to create tax incentives for investment as well as special economic zones to develop modern technology and manufacturing parks.

Tatarstan has had significant movements calling for independence. As one of Russia’s 21 semiautonomous republics, Tatarstan already has the right, unlike other constituent components of Russia, to name official languages in addition to Russian, and have its own constitution to better guarantee certain ethnic, religious, or linguistic rights. All republics in Russia are dominated by concentrations of Russia’s ethnic minorities and most of these have, at one time at least, pushed for independence or expansion of rights.

These movements in modern Tatarstan have been relatively peaceful, and for two major reasons. First, its population has long been largely politically and religiously moderate. The second reason is the fact that, even if Tatarstan were to become independent, all of its enterprising businesses would still be dependent upon Russian-controlled transport networks to reach markets outside of Tatarstan.

For Russia’s part, with Tatarstan representing a significant transport hub, a rapidly developing model economy, and holding some of Russia’s valuable oil and gas export infrastructure (hydrocarbon export tariffs make up approximately 75 – 80% of Russia’s federal budget revenue) – it is not difficult to understand Russia’s interest in retaining the Republic of Tatarstan as a federal subject. Thus, relative moderation and mutual interests have worked together to allow Tatarstan to effectively negotiate for more independence, but also ensure that it has peacefully remained a part of The Russian Federation.

Origins and Pre-Soviet History

The “Tatar” name applies to diverse populations of Turkic peoples spread throughout Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The original Tatars likely originated in the Gobi Desert, but heavily intermixed and fought with the Mongols as the Mongol empire rapidly expanded in the 13th century, reaching the Volga area in the 1230s. “Tatar” later became the official identifier used by 18th- and 19th-century Russian ethnographers to refer to all Turkic groups living on Russian-controlled territory. Tatars, because of their association with the Mongol Horde, were, for centuries, negatively stereotyped by Russians as untrustworthy and/or cruel.

The Tatars are a diverse ethnic group living in mostly small pockets in Eastern Europe and Siberia. The above map shows the major divisions and their approximate geographic locations. There are also Tatar communities in China, Japan, the US, and elsewhere

Prior to the Mongol invasion, the Volga Bulgars had inhabited the territory of what is known today as Tatarstan and had used their geographic position to build an advanced mercantile state. In 922, Sunni Islam was introduced to the Volga Bulgars by Muslim missionaries from Baghdad and was adopted as the official religion.

The Mongol/Tatar invasion devastated the Volga area, killing, by most estimates, the majority of the population and assimilating or driving out much of rest. In 1430, the Tatars established Kazan as the capital of the Mongol “Khanate of Kazan,” although the city’s location had likely been inhabited by the Bulgars as early as the 11th century. Kazan became known as a center of commerce, for craftsmanship (particularly of furniture and gold), and culture (particularly for the opulence of its mosques).

In 1552, Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible conquered the territory, murdered much of the Tatar population, and “Russified” the remaining population, which included forced conversions to Christianity. During this period, many Tatars who sought to preserve their adherence to Islam emigrated east, to the Urals or further into Siberia. By 1593 all mosques in the area were destroyed and a ban on their construction prevailed until the 18th century under Catherine the Great as she revised many of the empire’s ethnicity policies.

In the 19th century, Tatarstan was heavily developed under Russian Tsar Alexander I, who invested in the region by establishing a university, a printing press, and public transportation in Kazan. The Russian Revolution of 1905, while unsuccessful at toppling the monarchy, did result in significant liberalization of the regime for a time. During this liberalization, the Tatars were allowed to revive Kazan as a center of Tatar culture, rebuilding mosques and founding Tatar-language theaters and newspapers. Also around this time, Tatarstan became famous for its tolerant and friendly relations with other religions as Jadidism, a scholarly and moderate form of Islam, gained influence.

Tatarstan in the Soviet Union

Though Tatar nationalists attempted to establish an independent Tatar state during the Russian civil war, they were put down by the Bolsheviks, who established the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (an “ASSR”) in 1920. Under the USSR, most of the mosques and churches in Kazan were destroyed yet again. Until the time of Soviet collapse, Islam was largely repressed in the Tatar Republic, as were all religions throughout the Soviet Union. The Tatar language also declined under the Soviet Union, as schools and government came to emphasize Russian language in schools and official business at the expense of other languages.

During World War II, the soviets built factories and industrial plants in Tatarstan, making it one of the Soviet Union’s core military industrial centers. Tatarstan remained east of the Nazi advance and never saw fighting during WWII.

After the war, Tatarstan thrived economically due to its new industrial infrastructure. In the 1960s and 70s, a movement started by Tatar academics petitioned the Soviet Union to upgrade the Tatar ASSR to a union republic, on par with others such as Kazakhstan and Estonia. The request was not granted, but the ASSR did begin to enjoy more control over its own affairs and more influence over its internal policy making. At this time, the Tatar language was revived as well with the creation of a well-endowed Institute of Tatar Language and Literature.

When the Soviet Union fell, Tatarstan’s aspirations for independence were revived. In 1990, as other republics within the USSR began declaring themselves independent, Tatarstan declared itself “sovereign.” In 1992, the Tatar government held a referendum on a proposed constitution that would declare Tatarstan a “sovereign” state. It was passed by popular referendum by 62% of the population. However, Tatarstan was never actually independent and remained part of The Russian Federation under much the same arrangement as they had remained part of the USSR. In 1994, a treaty was signed between Moscow and Kazan formalizing the delegation of authority. Interestingly, however, it was not until 2002 that amendments to the Tatar constitution were passed, which clarified Tatarstan’s status as a constituent part of The Russian Federation.

Tatarstan Today

Today, Tatarstan is experiencing a cultural, religious, and economic revival. It is not, however, without its challenges and problems.

Shortly after the fall the USSR, a campaign to fully restore Tatar culture and language was launched. Tatar and Russian were both declared official languages of Tatarstan and Tatar-language schools were opened.

A map of Tatarstan showing its wide rivers and some of its major cities.

Approximately 55% of Tatarstan’s population is Muslim and about 40% is Orthodox Christian. Judaism, Buddhism, and Krishnaism are also represented. Many mosques and churches have been built or rebuilt since the collapse of the Soviet Union; however, some have argued that they have been rebuilt disproportionately. At present, Tatarstan has around 700 functioning mosques and only 200 Orthodox churches. As a result, there is one mosque for every 1340 Muslims, while there is one Orthodox Church for every 10,000 ethnic Russians. Many, however, point to the fact that while most Russians self-identify as Orthodox, most rarely attend church services; most of Tatarstan’s Muslims, however, actively attend mosques.

Over the last two decades, Tatarstan has experienced a demographic shift in favor of ethnic Tatars. Before the fall of the Soviet Union, ethnic Tatar and Russian portions of the population were about equal. However, it has become increasingly more common in Russia for titular ethnic groups to gain the majority within their eponymous republics. For example, in Chechnya the ethnic Chechens already comprise 93% of the population. In Tatarstan, between 2002 and 2010, the number of ethnic Russians declined by over 70,000 while the number of Tatars rose by over 200,000.

Some worry that the Tatar government has encouraged policies that led to this decline in the ethnic Russian population. For example, in today’s Tatarstan, all students – including ethnic Russians – are required to master the Tatar language while mastery of the Russian language is not required. Thus, schools in Tatarstan spend less time learning Russian than any other republic in the Federation (most spend 1200 hours in the first ten years of school, while Tatarstan only spends 700). Furthermore, a 2003 study found that 80% of Tatarstan’s political elite consisted of ethnic Tatars, which is a proportion vastly greater than their share of the republic’s population. When asked why so few ethnic Russians could be found in the top jobs in Tatarstan’s workforce, the chairman of the republic’s State Council, Farid Mukhametshin, only said “we need professionals. Among ethnic Russians, they are lacking.” Some complain that there is also discrimination against ethnic Russians for employment as well.

Tatarstan’s reputation as a model of peaceful Islam and religious tolerance has also been tarnished of late by increased protests by radical Muslims. Terrorist attacks occurred in 2012: a car bombing of a popular Mufti (Muslim leader) and the assassination of a moderate cleric. In 2013, Russia’s FSB announced that they had found and dismantled a terror cell in Kazan that was planning attacks “in crowded areas.” Both Tatar and Russian governments have vowed to continue to fight against radicalization and, to date, incidents have been rare and isolated.

There have also been political conflicts between Tatarstan and The Russian Federation concerning elections. According to a 2005 Russian Federal Law, all regional heads are to be nominated by the Russian President and confirmed by the regional legislatures. However, the Tatar constitution states that the Republic’s president is to be popularly elected. Because Russian federal law takes precedence in Russia’s federal structure, Tatarstan’s constitutional court ruled that the federal law could be followed without contradicting the republic’s constitution. Thus, popular elections were suspended in in Tatarstan until 2012 when the federal law was repealed. Popular elections will now return to Tatarstan in 2016.

The current president of Tatarstan is Rustam Minnikhanov, who has now served four terms, bridging both Tartarstan’s era of popular elections and appointed governors.  A former engineer, he also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Tatneft, the company that controls most of the region’s oil production. The republic’s legislative body is similar to that of other republics: Tatarstan has a Unicameral State Council made up of 100 seats with 50 comprised of party representatives and 50 from the republic’s different districts.

One additional challenge the republic faces is environmental. While Kazan’s petrochemical industry has been important in Kazan’s economy, it is reliant on the local heavy oil. Heavy oil is thicker than light oil due to increased concentrations of impurities, making it more difficult, more expensive, and more environmentally damaging to process. This has contributed to Tatarstan’s major cities ranking as some of the most polluted in Russia.

These challenges have not greatly harmed the republic’s reputation or economic performance, however. During her visit to Kazan and upon seeing, within the Kremlin, an Orthodox cathedral built next to a mosque, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remarked that the republic served “as a model for tolerance and coexistence between Muslims and Christians.” This sentiment is also rendered in the work of a local artist, Idar Khanov, who has created “The Temple of all Religions,” the design of which was inspired by the architecture of different world religions.

More infrastructural impartments are being planned with most receiving federal investment. In 2013 Kazan hosted the Summer Universiade and in 2018, it will host the FIFA World Cup. Specifically for this, new stadiums and hotels are being built and Kazan’s single-line metro, originally built in 2005, already has planned expansions. Further, Russia’s first true high-speed railroad will connect Moscow to Kazan, reducing the current 12-hour journey between the two capitals to just four. The rail line is currently in the planning stage.

The Republic of Tatarstan has an exciting future, thanks in part to its ability to successfully win investment in its structural, economic, and cultural development from both private investors and the federal government. For decades, Tatars have demonstrated a stubborn desire to govern themselves and preserve their cultural and religious heritage, while diplomatically securing political support from Russia’s federal government. If the republic can mitigate religious extremism, retain their historic reputation for religious tolerance, and also maintain policies that recognize and support not only the unique majority culture, but also the republic’s substantial minorities, Tatarstan will likely continue to be a region in Russia lauded for providing a high standard of living and an example of effective governance within Russia.

About the Author

Josh Wilson

Josh has been with SRAS since 2003. He holds an M.A. in Theatre and a B.A. in History from Idaho State University, where his masters thesis was written on the political economy of Soviet-era censorship organs affecting the stage. He lived in Moscow from 2003-2022, where he ran Moscow operations for SRAS. At SRAS, Josh still assists in program development and leads our internship programs . He is also the editor-in-chief for the SRAS newsletter , the SRAS Family of Sites , and Vestnik . He has previously served as Communications Director to Bellerage Alinga and has served as a consultant or translator to several businesses and organizations with interests in Russia.

Program attended: All Programs

View all posts by: Josh Wilson

Christine Jacobson

Christine Jacobson is a senior in political science and Russian studies at Stetson University. She is looking to pursue an MA in Russian-Eurasian studies as well as a career in global development. She studied international relations with SRAS in St. Petersburg and has served a political internship in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

View all posts by: Christine Jacobson

Pyramid of Kazan