how many words should an essay be in 9th grade

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Length of essays - 9th grade?

By regentrude , September 10, 2010 in High School and Self-Education Board

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Hmm.I don't think I would concentrate so much on word count as content.Things I would focus on

Having a strong thesis statement

Having examples (at least two) from the book.

Structure of essay- each paragraph states a point that supports my thesis and all sentences apply to that point (probably require 2-4 paragraphs) And an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph

Pam L in Mid Tenn

I'm not into word count but quality count. :)

That said, I expect my high schoolers to write 2 to 3 pages for most writting assignments. (single spaced.... although my dd18's college papers are to be double spaced).

I go easy on the first paper. In fact, most "first" assignments this year will not be graded. I will use them to demonstrate expectations for the remaining papers.

From Ms. Bauer's writing overview pdf file she suggests 2 one-page pursuasive papers per week in history, lit, or science. and two 4 -8 page research papers for a 9th grader.

Things I would focus on Having a strong thesis statement Having examples (at least two) from the book. Structure of essay- each paragraph states a point that supports my thesis and all sentences apply to that point (probably require 2-4 paragraphs) And an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph

Thanks- I know about the basic structure of the persuasive essay, but I am wondering whether there really is only one kind, since most writing instruction I have seen focuses on this sort.

Right now DD is working on an essay about the use of epithets in Homer's Iliad. However, it is not intended to be a persuasive essay: she does not argue a thesis that can be right or wrong. She examines the recurrence of epithets, their function, where certain characteristics of persons come from, how it can be used to fix the meter - but it is more explanatory about a specific stylistic tool.

These may be dumb questions; however, in my home country the writing education was not as formulaic as in the US. I have never in my life written a 5 paragraph essay (I did not know such a thing existed until I started homeschooling) - even though I'm not an uneducated person. We certainly wrote theses essays, but we also wrote a lot of other stuff and the rules were never this rigid. - Just so you can understand why I am asking this stuff.

Thanks for all the help.

My dd just finished her first 5-paragraph essay for this year (9th). We started out "easy" (I'm NOT a good writer, so, sad to say, her writing experience hasn't been very strong), with a 350 word essay. From here on out they'll get longer/more in depth. The quality goes without saying. It's definitely required! But, for her, the length of what she had to write was important to know, so that's what we did. I know it's not long, but it was a great learning experience for her, so we're happy with it! :D

Thanks- I know about the basic structure of the persuasive essay, but I am wondering whether there really is only one kind, since most writing instruction I have seen focuses on this sort. Right now DD is working on an essay about the use of epithets in Homer's Iliad. However, it is not intended to be a persuasive essay: she does not argue a thesis that can be right or wrong. She examines the recurrence of epithets, their function, where certain characteristics of persons come from, how it can be used to fix the meter - but it is more explanatory about a specific stylistic tool. These may be dumb questions; however, in my home country the writing education was not as formulaic as in the US. I have never in my life written a 5 paragraph essay (I did not know such a thing existed until I started homeschooling) - even though I'm not an uneducated person. We certainly wrote theses essays, but we also wrote a lot of other stuff and the rules were never this rigid. - Just so you can understand why I am asking this stuff. Thanks for all the help.

Oh, I hope I didn't say something that made you think it was a dumb question. It was a very good question. If you wanted to say a specific amount I would say the essay you described would take 2 pages. But I would also focus on making sure she answered the questions completely.

I posted this almost a year ago. Perhaps some of it will help. Btw- Dd is now in her last year of undergrad school. She graduates in May as a Poli-Sci major. Her plan is to begin grad school next year and then do her PhD. She wants to teach college students.

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=139634

Thanks- I know about the basic structure of the persuasive essay, but I am wondering whether there really is only one kind, since most writing instruction I have seen focuses on this sort. I have never in my life written a 5 paragraph essay (I did not know such a thing existed until I started homeschooling) - even though I'm not an uneducated person. We certainly wrote theses essays, but we also wrote a lot of other stuff and the rules were never this rigid. - Just so you can understand why I am asking this stuff.

The five paragraph essay evolved as a pedagogical tool for teachers who had not had instruction on how to teach writing, and were not confident writers themselves. It also evolved hand in hand with the essay components of the SAT and similar tests. The nearly exclusive emphasis on this format in US schools is unfortunate, because it has shifted from being one tool, one approach, to being just about the only way many kids are taught -- not only to write, but to think about writing. And that is very limiting.

You might look at some college composition textbooks to get an idea of how other forms of essay writing are taught at the freshman level. Then you can play with these and adjust them for your daughter's age and schedule constraints.

Other things I've found useful include the freshman writing page on the University of Chicago's website, and the New York Times's educational section, which includes a number of examples of different kinds of essays that have appeared in the paper and lesson plans to go along with them.

I'll try to find and post these sites again, but I tend to lose my own post while searching -- so I'll do this first and then do the sites separately.

Another wonderful resource is the series put out each year: Best Essays of 2009 (or whatever year it happens to be). I also have Best Non-Fiction Writing of _____. Both have many very different examples of structure, form, style, etc.

A long time ago it seems to me I came across a lovely article called something like Reclaiming the Exploratory Essay... I'll have a look for that one, too. I kept it for years and loved it, but have no clue where it is now.

http://writing.program.uchicago.edu/resources/collegewriting

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/08

If this link doesn't work (I just can't figure out the Times links), you can google the title: "Ten Ways to Develop Expository Writing Skills with the New York Times"

These two resources are wonderful.

And this may, or may not, be the article I remember:

Thomas Newkirk, Critical Thinking and Writing: Reclaiming the Essay

Eric ED 309457

Thank you so much for the help.

If anybody else is interested in the link: the address of the U Chicago writing program has changed a bit:

http://writing-program.uchicago.edu/resources/collegewriting/index.htm

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How to write a perfect essay

Need to write an essay? Does the assignment feel as big as climbing Mount Everest? Fear not. You’re up to the challenge! The following step-by step tips from the Nat Geo Kids Almanac will help you with this monumental task.

Sometimes the subject matter of your essay is assigned to you, sometimes it’s not. Either way, you have to decide what you want to say. Start by brainstorming some ideas, writing down any thoughts you have about the subject. Then read over everything you’ve come up with and consider which idea you think is the strongest. Ask yourself what you want to write about the most. Keep in mind the goal of your essay. Can you achieve the goal of the assignment with this topic? If so, you’re good to go.

WRITE A TOPIC SENTENCE

This is the main idea of your essay, a statement of your thoughts on the subject. Again, consider the goal of your essay. Think of the topic sentence as an introduction that tells your reader what the rest of your essay will be about.

OUTLINE YOUR IDEAS

Once you have a good topic sentence, you then need to support that main idea with more detailed information, facts, thoughts, and examples. These supporting points answer one question about your topic sentence—“Why?” This is where research and perhaps more brainstorming come in. Then organize these points in the way you think makes the most sense, probably in order of importance. Now you have an outline for your essay.

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, WRITE!

Follow your outline, using each of your supporting points as the topic sentence of its own paragraph. Use descriptive words to get your ideas across to the reader. Go into detail, using specific information to tell your story or make your point. Stay on track, making sure that everything you include is somehow related to the main idea of your essay. Use transitions to make your writing flow.

Finish your essay with a conclusion that summarizes your entire essay and 5 restates your main idea.

PROOFREAD AND REVISE

Check for errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar. Look for ways to make your writing clear, understandable, and interesting. Use descriptive verbs, adjectives, or adverbs when possible. It also helps to have someone else read your work to point out things you might have missed. Then make the necessary corrections and changes in a second draft. Repeat this revision process once more to make your final draft as good as you can.

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Common Core 9th Grade Writing Standards for English

LiteracyTA provides writing skills that Common Core educators use to teach Common Core 9th Grade Writing Standards for English.

The Common Core literacy standards are the what. The skills below and the related eCoach discussions are the how. In the table below, you will find next to each Common Core writing standard practical skills, classroom resources, rich conversations and teaching ideas that move all students toward achieving Common Core standards!

Common Core Literacy Standards

Text types and purposes.

Analyzing Research Prompts

Analyzing Text-Dependent Prompts

Argument Writing Plan

Building a Reading and Writing Plan

Debate a Side

Integrating Sources

One Minute Speech

Problem and Solution Organizer

Taking Research Notes

Timed Writing Process

A Writing Process for All

Understanding Argument Writing Standards

Engage in Structured Debates

5 Steps to Teaching Argumentative Writing

6 Steps for Teaching Types of Writing

Cause and Effect Organizer

Compare and Contrast Organizer

Expanding Summary

Informative Essay Writing Plan

Online Portfolio

Rhetorical Precis

Source Summary

Synthesizing Claims

Writing Abstracts

Summary: The Pathway to College Success

8 Research Lessons for African-American History Month

Understanding the Writing Standards: A Narrative (or is it Informative?)

3 Ways to Prepare Students for the New State Tests

Narrative Essay Writing Plan

Narrative Story Writing Plan

Let's Start Collaborating: Short Writing Tasks

CCR-Aligned Reading and Writing Processes

Production and Distribution of Writing

Email etiquette.

Peer Review Groups

Three Step Writing Process

Getting Started with Pair Peer Review

Editing Marks

New and Exciting Writing Resources on TA

Supporting Your Tech Initiatives: Technology in Your Standards

Bringing the Socrative Seminar to the 21st Century

Digitally Mark Texts and Take Notes Using Mobile Devices, Laptops, and PCs

Add LiteracyTA to Your Mobile Device

Facilitating On-line Collaboration and Argument Analysis with Google+ Hangout

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Evaluating sources.

Six Organizers at a Glance

Synthesizing Sources

Examining Common Core Anchor Standard W7

Team Teaching with Your Librarian

Four Square Organizer

Introducing Sources

Finally, A Way to Understand Text Complexity

Argument Poster

Fictional Character Web

Socratic Seminar

Story Summary Poster

Three Group Socratic Seminar

Writing about Rhetorical Devices

Fun and Free Reading Program

Range of Writing

Skill Library
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Prompt Builder
Literacy Standards
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The EL Teacher's Guidebook
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Free Reading Program
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How Long Should Your College Essay Be? What Is the Ideal Length?

What’s covered: , personal statement length vs. supplemental essay length, are college essay word limits hard, what if a college essay word count isn’t given, what if you need to submit a graded paper, where to get your essays edited.

Students often spend hours agonizing over the best topics for their college essays. While it’s natural to wonder whether your personal statement is original or compelling enough, there’s one aspect of the process that shouldn’t cause you undue stress—how many words should a college essay be? Fortunately, with a little research, you can uncover the ideal college essay length for all your applications.

Unlike high school assignments, which typically have a strict page requirement, most colleges provide a word limit or word range for their application essays. This practice helps ensure that essays are the same length regardless of font or formatting. A good guideline is that students should strive to get as close as possible to the upper limit of the word range without exceeding it. Keep reading to learn more about best practices for college essay length.

How many words should a college essay be? Personal statements are generally 500-650 words. For example, the Common Application , which can be used to apply to more than 800 colleges, requires an essay ranging from 250-650 words . Similarly, the Coalition Application , which has 150 member schools, features an essay with a recommended length of 500-650 words.

650 words is the most common limit for your personal statement, but some schools may ask students to write more or less. For example, ApplyTexas , a platform used to apply to Texas public universities and other select colleges, requests essays with requirements that vary by school. For example, students applying to UT Austin will need to submit an essay of 500-700 words, along with three short-answer questions of 250-300 words each.

On the other hand, the University of California (UC) application includes a Personal Insight section with eight prompts . Students are asked to respond to any four of these prompts, with each response topping out at 350 words.

Additionally, some schools request a few supplemental essays, which are typically shorter than a personal statement. These questions are designed to gain more information about a student’s interests and abilities, and may include topics like your reasons for wanting to attend their school, your desired major, or your favorite activity.

Most schools require 1-3 supplemental essays, though some may require more or none at all (see our list of top colleges without supplemental essays ). These essays tend to be around 250 words, but some may be just as long as your main essay. For example, Cornell requires applicants to write a second supplemental essay (of 650 words max) that is specific to the program they’re applying to. The exception to this is the Cornell College of Engineering, for which applicants are required to compose two supplemental essays of 250 words max each.

For best results, keep your essays within the word range provided. While you don’t have to hit the count exactly, you should aim to stay within a 10% difference of the upper limit—without including fluff or filler. For example, if the school requests 500 words, try to ensure that your essay is between 450 and 500 words.

For the Common App, try to stay within 550-650 words, even though the given range is 250-650. Any submission shorter than 500 words will make it look as though you simply didn’t care enough to give your best effort. An essay shorter than 500 words won’t be long enough to truly share who you are and what matters to you.

Exceeding the word count isn’t an option—the application portal cuts off anything over the maximum number of allowed words. This is something you want to be particularly careful of if you’re drafting your essay in a Word or Google document and pasting it into the application.

Although most schools provide applicants with a specific word count, some offer more general guidelines. For example, a college may ask for a particular number of pages or paragraphs.

If you aren’t given a word count, try to adhere to the best practices and conventions of writing. Avoid writing especially short or overly long paragraphs—250 words per paragraph is generally a safe upper limit. If you’re asked to write a certain number of pages, single- or double-spaced, stick to a standard font and font size (like 12-point Times New Roman).

In the event that the college doesn’t offer any guidelines at all, aim for an essay length of around 500 words.

While essays are the most commonly requested writing sample, some colleges ask for additional pieces of content. For example, Princeton University requires students to submit a previously graded paper for evaluation .

Princeton offers guidelines that cover length, but if another school requests an old paper and doesn’t offer length requirements, a paper ranging from 3-5 pages should yield the best results. The goal is to select a paper long enough to showcase your writing skills and unique voice, but short enough that the admissions officer doesn’t get bored reading it.

Is your essay effective while staying within the required word count? It’s hard to evaluate your own writing, especially after rereading it numerous times. CollegeVine’s free Peer Essay Review provides an opportunity to have your essay reviewed by a fellow student, for free. Similarly, you can help other students by reviewing their essays—this is a great way to refine your own writing skills.

Expert advice is also available. CollegeVine’s advisors are prepared to help you perfect your personal statement and submit a successful application to your top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Informative Writing

Description.

In this unit, students are introduced to the skills, practices, and routines of informative writing by working collaboratively with their peers to examine informative writing models, plan for their writing, and gather evidence. Students independently practice writing and revising and also engage in peer review to revise their work. Throughout the unit, the class will construct an Informative Writing Checklist, which students will use to guide their drafting, review, and finalization. By the end of the unit, students will have produced fully developed informative papers.

There may be cases when our downloadable resources contain hyperlinks to other websites. These hyperlinks lead to websites published or operated by third parties. UnboundEd and EngageNY are not responsible for the content, availability, or privacy policies of these websites.

Grades 9-10 Writing Module, Unit 2
Writing Module Unit 2 Overview
Cave Painting
Photography
Text Firing, Not Hiring
The New Deal

In This Unit

lesson 1: Introduction to Informative Writing
lesson 2: Effective Informative Writing: Purpose and Audience
lesson 3: Informative Writing: Analyzing the Prompt
lesson 4: Informative Writing: Charting Topics, Subtopics, Claims, and Evidence
lesson 5: Informative Writing: More Subtopics and Evidence
lesson 6: Informative Writing: Processing the Information
lesson 7: Informative Writing: Drafting an Outline
lesson 8: Informative Writing: Drafting Body Paragraphs
lesson 9: Informative Writing: Drafting an Introduction
lesson 10: Informative Writing: Drafting a Conclusion
lesson 11: Informative Writing: Getting Feedback
lesson 12: Finalizing Informative Papers
lesson 13: Informative Writing: Reflecting on the Writing Process

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Our professional learning resources include teaching guides, videos, and podcasts that build educators' knowledge of content related to the standards and their application in the classroom.

how many words should an essay be in 9th grade

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How Long Is an Essay? The Ultimate Essay Length Guide

It’s safe to say that most students struggle with the word limit within an essay. Sometimes, it’s hard to find ideas for a text and meet the word requirement for every part of the paper. With so many factors influencing essay length, it’s easy to get confused.

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The picture enumerates the factors influencing essay length.

Luckily, our custom-writing team has your back. In this article, our custom-writing experts will answer all your questions regarding essay length. We will also help you write papers with an ideal number of words!

📜 Is Essay Length Important?

📏 essay parts: recommended length.

🤔 How to Make Essays Shorter or Longer
📑 Essay Length & Formatting
❓ Different Academic Levels FAQ
📚 Essay Length: Different Types
⭐ Other Aspects
📝 Essay Examples

🔍 References

Often, the phrase “word limit” causes panic among students. After all, if an essay is too long or too short, your grade will be lowered. However, in reality, there’s nothing to worry about. When it comes to words, limitations are beneficial for both the students and the professors.

Let’s see what exactly it means.

Many people believe that the longer an essay is, the better. However, according to Frontiers, research shows that it’s a bias that couldn’t be further from the truth. A perfect-length paper is one that allows students to express their ideas and showcase their knowledge fully while keeping it clean and simple.

What Influences Essay Length

Various factors determine the length of an essay. Here are the most important ones:

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Let’s start with the essentials. Usually, assignment length is given as a number of words rather than pages. Unless your supervisor or instructor mentions any specific limitations, it’s acceptable to be 10% below or above the word limit.

It’s also worth knowing the 80/20 rule . According to it, the body should constitute 80% of the text, while the intro and the conclusion take up the remaining 20%.

Keep reading to learn more about the recommended length of each essay part. The main numbers are shown in the table below:

How Long Should an Introduction Be?

An introduction is the first section and the face of your essay. For that reason, it needs to be compelling and well-thought-out. Usually, it consists of 3 to 5 sentences or 50 to 80 words .

An introduction must have a hook, some background information, and a thesis statement. While the attention grabber and the thesis are usually brief, you may need 2 to 3 sentences for the background. To avoid going overboard, try to stay on topic and don’t add any filler.

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How Long Is a Body Paragraph in an Essay?

The length of a body paragraph may vary. Sometimes, it can be limited to a single sentence. In other cases, it may take up a whole page. Usually, it’s recommended to have between 80 and 200 words (5-8 sentences) per body paragraph.

Since the paper’s body contains the most information, it’s necessary to explain and support your ideas properly. That’s why it’s no big deal if your body paragraphs go slightly over the word limit.

How Many Body Paragraphs Should Be in an Essay?

Like the word count, the number of paragraphs is determined by the type of paper and its topic. The minimum is 1. Generally, however, the body consists of 3-5 paragraphs , 1 for each argument.

To improve your paper’s structure, ensure that there are as many paragraphs as there are points in your thesis statement. Each one should have a purpose and support your arguments. If there’s any fluff, it’s better to get rid of it.

How Long Should a Conclusion Be?

Like the introduction, the conclusion consists of 50-80 words . It’s essential to keep it simple and only mention the central ideas. A weak concluding sentence may affect the reader’s understanding of the topic and spoil the overall impression of your paper.

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🤔 How to Make Essays Shorter or Longer: Best Tips

Undoubtedly the essay’s content is more important than the number of words you use. But there are times when students go more than 10-15% below or over the limit. Is there a solution to this problem?

Yes, there is! In this section, we will share the most useful tips to help you stay on point with your paper’s word count.

How to Make Essays Longer

Since having enough words is essential for a good grade, we’ve collected the best tips that can help you lengthen your essay without teachers noticing:

Use relevant quotations.  You don’t need to litter your essay with citations, but using them whenever appropriate is a great idea. For instance, if you’re working on a book analysis, referencing a couple of direct quotes from the source text will make your essay more credible and increase the word count.
Give examples.  Go through the claims in your paper and provide additional evidence where possible. It will make your essay longer and more informative.
Use transitional expressions.  Adding transition words and phrases is a natural way of increasing the number of words. It will also improve your essay’s readability. 
Add more references.  Providing references is always a good idea when writing a formal essay. That way, you will increase the number of words and make your paper more credible.
Work on your descriptions.  If you struggle to develop new ideas, go over what you’ve already written and consider adding some descriptive words. It’s a great idea for creative essays to include more imagery.

How to Shorten an Essay

Another struggle of academic writing is cutting down the number of words in your essay to meet a set limit. We are here to tell you that it’s not that hard. Writing straightforwardly and keeping your sentences short is a key to concise content. Here are several strategies you may use to tighten a lengthy essay:

Choose the active voice.  It takes up less space than passive voice. Using it also makes your writing more professional and compelling.
Remove needless transitions.  Transitions can indeed maintain the flow of the paper. But some transitional phrases can be easily removed.
Get rid of unnecessary adverbs and adjectives.  Some students tend to overuse adjectives and adverbs. It adds wordiness to their writing.
Avoid running starts.  Some students like to start their sentences with long phrases like: “there are,” “it is believed,” or “the fact that.” Getting rid of them makes texts much more concise.
Delete “that.”  In most cases, the word “that” can often be easily removed from texts.

Another cool trick is to use our summarizing tool as essay shortener. Try it out!

📑 How Long Is an Essay Depending on Formatting?

As we mentioned earlier, the essay’s length is usually limited by the number of words. But sometimes, a teacher may ask you to write a specific number of pages. This is trickier because the amount of text you can place on the page depends on the formatting. By using the font size and spacing properly, it’s possible to make the paper visually longer or shorter. Let’s discuss it in more detail.

The picture describes how formatting affects essay length.

Essay Spacing: How Does It Affect the Length?

Adjusting the spacing between lines.  Try to make the changes as slight as possible. For instance, if you were asked to double-space the paper, use 2.1 or 2.2 spacing instead. Another option is to slightly extend spaces between paragraphs.
Extending the margin size.  You can increase the right and bottom margins by a quarter to make very subtle changes in length. For example, if the margins are 1 inch , you can set them at 1.25 inches instead. 
Increasing the spacing between characters.  It is less noticeable than the line spacing. Still, try not to overdo it and keep the numbers between 1.2 and 1.5 . 
Adjusting the footer.  Add a footer with page numbers to stretch the bottom margin even further.
Lengthening the header.  You can extend your header by adding your name, e-mail address, or other relevant information. Another option is double-spacing it.

Length of an Essay: Font and Size

Using the right type of font.  If your instructor didn’t specify which font you should use, go for the bigger ones. We suggest Arial, Bangla Sangam MN, Cambria, or Quicksand. They will make your text look longer without being too on the nose.  
Using a bigger font size.  This is another technique that can come in handy. However, be careful and don’t increase your font by more than 0.1-0.5 pt.  
Increasing the size of periods and commas.   This is one of the less noticeable tricks you can use. For instance, if your paper’s font is 12 pt. , increase it to 14 pt. only for punctuation marks. Italicizing periods and commas will also add several lines of length to your essay.

What to Do if There Are No Length Guidelines

Sometimes a teacher sets no word limit for a written work. What to do in that case? Well, first, you can ask your professor to confirm if they have simply forgotten to mention it. But if that’s not the case, here are a couple of helpful solutions:

Think of the paragraph number.  Sometimes, you may be given the number of paragraphs instead of words. In that case, you can decide on the number of words depending on how many paragraphs you have. 
Think about the topic’s complexity.  The length of your paper is also directly dependent on the theme. If the topic is simple, 4-5 paragraphs will be enough. A more complex issue may require an in-depth explanation, so your essay can be 6-8 paragraphs long.

❓ Essay Length for Different Academic Levels FAQ

The length of the elementary school essay is usually short. Usually, a paper needs to have around 3-5 paragraphs, with 4-5 sentences per paragraph. Primary school essays can be 1-2 paragraphs long.

The word limit for a middle school essay is usually between 300 to 1000 words. The most common essay length is 500 words, which is about 5 paragraphs. However, it may differ from school to school.

The length of the high school essay may differ depending on the school and the complexity of the task itself. Usually, however, a paper can be between 300 to 1000 words long.

The length of the undergraduate college essay often falls within the range of 1500 to 2100 words. It translates into roughly 5-7 pages. 5 pages is the most common essay length at this level.

When it comes to the graduate school admission essay, the word limit is usually between 500 and 1000 words. It’s possible to go slightly over or below the set limit; however, it’s best to stick to the requirements as close as possible.

📚 How Long Should an Essay Be: Different Types

Now, let’s talk about different types of essays. How long should they be? Keep reading to learn about the length of college essays, short and extended ones, scholarship essays, and research papers.

How Long Is a College Essay?

When it comes to a college essay, it’s more important to stick to the word limit than with any other paper. Some teachers may refuse to read it unless it meets all the requirements.

The shortest limit for a college essay is about 250 words which is the shortest length of a Common App personal statement. It’s also rare to see a good college essay with over 650 words . So, an average piece usually has between 150 and 650 words ; you can go over or below the limit by 50.

How Long Is a Paragraph in College Essays?

A college essay usually consists of 4-5 paragraphs . One paragraph takes about 1/3 of the page, which is roughly 5 sentences . Each sentence corresponds with one of the following components:

Topic sentence.
Explanation.
Transitions.

College Essay Length Requirements: Top 5 Schools

To understand the requirements for a college application essay even better, take a look at the table below. It showcases the top 5 schools and their length criteria for personal statements. Keep it in mind when writing your college essay:

How Long Is a Short Essay?

A short essay is usually 500 words long. Using 12pt Times New Roman font with standard margins and double spacing should result in about 2 pages of text.

Extended Essay Length

An extended essay is different from a short or a standard one. It requires extensive research and thorough explanation. That’s why the upper limit for this kind of essay is 4000 words . In this case, a typical essay length is 3500 words or 18 paragraphs .

Scholarship Essay Length

Generally, scholarship papers have a limit of 500 words , which is 1 page in length. Most scholarship programs provide additional requirements that indicate the minimum number of words or pages. If there are no set limitations, you can stick to the limit.

How Long Is a Research Paper?

Typically, a research paper is between 4000 and 6000 words long. Sometimes, there are shorter papers, which have around 2000 words, or in-depth ones with over 10000 words.

⭐ Other Aspects of Essay Length

When it comes to essay length, many different aspects come into play. Here, we’ve gathered all the essential information regarding an essay’s number of pages, paragraphs, words, and references.

How Many Paragraphs Are in an Essay?

Sometimes, it is more convenient to count paragraphs rather than words. Let’s now figure out how many paragraphs are in essays of different lengths. You may also check out the examples to see what such an essay looks like:

How to Count Paragraphs in an Essay Based on Word Count

You can also count the number of body paragraphs for your essay using the formula below:

Number of body paragraphs (average) = (TWC – TWC*0.16)/100

TWC – total word count
0.16 – an average percentage of total word count for introduction and conclusion
100 – an average number of words per paragraph

How Many Pages Are in an Essay?

The number of pages in your essay may vary from subject to subject. But it’s still possible to determine the number of pages based on word count. Check out the numbers below to see the conversions with bonus examples:

You can also use a specialized calculator such as Word Counter to determine a number of pages in your essay.

What Does an Essay Look Like when Typed?

You might be wondering: what do essays of different lengths look like when typed? Well, here’s the table where you can find out the metrics for single- and double-spaced papers.

How Many Pages Are in a Handwritten Essay?

In case you need to turn in a handwritten paper, you should check out the table below.

Counting Words in a Handwritten Essay

If you don’t have enough time to count the words in your handwritten essay one by one, here’s what you can do:

Count how many words there are in one line. Take the first and last lines and a line in the middle of a page. Let’s say there are 15, 14, and 15 words in them. Then, the average number of words per line is 15.
Next, count how many lines there are on one page. Let’s say there are 17 lines on a page.
Take the number of words per line and multiply it by the number of lines per page. In our case, we multiply 15 by 17. So, there are 255 words per page on average.
Finally, multiply the number of words per page by the number of pages. If your essay has 3 pages, it is approximately 765 words long.

How Long Does it Take to Write an Essay?

It is crucial to know how long writing will take you, especially if you are working on an exam essay or just short on time. Note that you need to consider the time for typing and researching necessary to complete a piece. Research time may vary. Usually, it’s 1-2 hours for 200-250 words .

The picture shows the fact about the average speed of writing.

Below, we’ve gathered the average writing time for average and slower writing speed:

And here are the results in pages:

How Many References Does an Essay Need?

Another essential part of any composition is the reference list. Different academic levels require different references. You’ll find out how many of them should be in your paper in the table below!

📝 Essay Examples: Different Length

Finally, we’ve gathered some excellent sample essays of different lengths. Make sure to check them out!

We also recommend you check out our free essay samples sorted by pages:

1-Page Essay Examples
2-Page Essay Examples
3-Page Essay Examples
4-Page Essay Examples
5-Page Essay Examples
10-Page Essay Examples
20-Page Essay Examples
30-Page Essay Examples
40-Page Essay Examples
50-Page Essay Examples

Now you know all about essay length, word limits, and ways to lengthen or shorten your text. If you know other interesting tricks, make sure to share them in a comment! Good luck with your writing assignments!

Argumentative Essay Unit Breakdown

Argumentative essays are an integral part of the 9th grade curriculum. It can be difficult teaching the structure of the essay and its necessary components. So, we start with the basics.

1) We get familiar with the vocabulary. The vocabulary is on a separate page below. Most of the definitions come from the Springboard curriculum. We go over all of the definitions together, and the students can practice their familiarity with the definitions using Springboard online and the Zinc Reading Lab.

2) We practice identifying the vocabulary using assorted sample argumentative essays. The good thing about this part of the process is that you can find or create essays that best fit the needs of your students. I like to create essays that are relevant to topics that they are interested in. We go through each essay, identifying the hook, claim, concessions, refutations, evidence/support, and the conclusion/call to action. We also identify any ethos, logos, or pathos appeals that we find in the articles, as well as identifying the types of evidence. Some of my essays are shared below. This process helps them to see how to structure their counterclaims, refutations, and the body of their essay.

3) We then typically begin to read essays on a given subject. Due to the large amount of material in the Springboard curriculum on the value of a college education, we generally use this topic. I try to find more articles that shed light on the negative sides of college, because the Springboard articles focus more on the positive aspects of college. I want them to have an equal representation of both sides to maintain integrity, and so they will have enough information and evidence, no matter what side they choose.

4) After all of our research, I ask them to formulate a thesis on the subject. I give them a graphic organizer to help them keep track of their evidence and sources.

5) We go over the rubric and what each category of Exemplary, Proficient, and Emerging look like. We then look at an exemplary exemplar essay.

5) We go over a breakdown of the actual essay, in outline format. The first time we do this, it is extremely structured. You can create your own outline and the aspects of the essay you want included. Each time we write an essay, the outline is less structured, as I begin to wean them away from the outline.

6) They start their first drafts of the essay. They edit and revise. They start their final drafts of the essay, making sure they have used the correct format, and that they have documented all of their sources correctly.

7) They submit their essays. I grade the essays. We have a writing conference discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the essay.

Attachments

Argumentative essay vocabulary, argument article, argument article pg 1, argument article pg 2, elements of argument id sheet, support and evidence organizer, concessions and refutations organizer, essay outline, springboard updated essay rubric.

Leslie Perry-Hanley

Third Grade OST Writing Scoring Camp

Animal adaptations, escape rooms in cs classrooms, responding to intervention.

Common Core State Standards Initiative

English Language Arts Standards » Writing » Grade 9-10 » 9

Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Key Design Consideration
Students Who are College and Career Ready in Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, & Language
How to Read the Standards
College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading
College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Writing
College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Speaking and Listening
College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Language
Introduction for K-5
Kindergarten
Introduction for 6-12
Grade 11-12
Introduction
Language Progressive Skills
Measuring Text Complexity: Three Factors
Range of Text Types for K-5
Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Range of Student Reading K-5
Staying on Topic Within a Grade & Across Grades
Range of Text Types for 6-12
Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Range of Student Reading 6-12
English Language Arts Appendix A
English Language Arts Appendix B
English Language Arts Appendix C

How To Improve Writing In Ninth Grade

Written by Dan

Last updated January 31, 2024

Improving writing in ninth grade can be a daunting task for many students. It requires skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication.

Whether it’s for a class assignment or personal interest, writing is a crucial skill that can benefit students in all areas of their lives. In this article, we will explore various strategies and techniques that can help ninth-graders improve their writing skills.

Related : For more, check out our article on How To Make Writing Fun here.

Understanding the basics of writing is the first step towards becoming a better writer. This includes understanding the different types of writing, such as narrative, persuasive, and expository.

Additionally, it’s essential to have a good grasp of grammar, punctuation, and spelling. In this article, we will cover the fundamentals of writing and provide tips on improving these basic skills.

From there, we will explore more advanced strategies to take your writing to the next level.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Understanding the fundamentals of writing is crucial for improvement.
Incorporating reading into writing can enhance skills.
Using technology and resources can be beneficial for writing enhancement.

Related : For more, check out our article on How To Improve Writing In Sixth Grade here.

Understanding the Basics of Writing

Writing is an essential skill that every student should master. However, many ninth-graders struggle with writing, which can negatively affect their academic performance.

To improve writing in ninth grade, students need to understand the basics of writing, including language, grammar, composition, vocabulary, and phrases.

Language is the foundation of writing. Students must have a good grasp of English to write effectively. This includes understanding sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling.

Students should also be familiar with different types of sentences, such as declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory, and know when to use them.

Grammar is the set of rules that govern the structure of a language. Students need to have a good understanding of grammar to write well.

This includes knowing the parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, and conjunctions. Students should also be familiar with verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and sentence fragments and run-ons.

Related : For more, check out our article on How To Teach Children To Use Emotive Language here.

Composition

Composition is the art of arranging words and sentences to create a coherent piece of writing. Students need to know how to organize their ideas and thoughts logically and coherently.

This includes understanding the different types of paragraphs, such as introduction, body, and conclusion, and knowing how to connect ideas with transition words and phrases.

Vocabulary is the set of words that a person knows and uses. Students need to have an excellent vocabulary to write effectively.

This includes knowing the meaning of words and how to use them correctly in context. Students should also be familiar with synonyms, antonyms, and homophones.

Phrases are groups of words that work together to convey a specific meaning. Students need to know how to use phrases effectively in their writing.

This includes understanding the different types of phrases, such as prepositional, participial, and infinitive, and knowing how to use them to add detail and variety to their writing.

Understanding the basics of writing is essential for improving ninth-grade writing skills. Students can write effectively and confidently by mastering language, grammar, composition, vocabulary, and phrases.

Related : For more, check out our article on How To Teach Alliteration here.

Strategies to Improve Writing Skills

Improving writing skills is a gradual process that requires consistent practice and dedication. The following strategies can help ninth-grade students to enhance their writing skills:

1. Read and Analyze Different Types of Writing

Reading and analyzing different types of writing can help students to understand different writing styles and techniques. This can help them to develop their writing skills. Students can read different genres of literature and analyze the writing style, tone, and structure of the text.

2. Practice Writing Daily

Writing daily can help ninth-grade students to improve their writing skills. They can start by writing short paragraphs or essays on different topics. This can help them to develop their writing skills and build confidence in their writing abilities.

3. Use Writing Prompts

Writing prompts can help students to develop their creative writing skills. Students can use prompts to write short stories, poems, or essays. This can help them to develop their imagination and creativity.

4. Keep a Journal

Keeping a journal can help students to improve their writing skills. Students can write about their daily experiences, thoughts, and feelings. This can help them to develop their writing skills and express themselves in writing.

5. Work on Writing Projects

Working on writing projects can help students to improve their writing skills. Students can work on projects such as research papers, book reports, or creative writing assignments.

This can help them to develop their writing skills and learn how to write for different purposes.

In conclusion, improving writing skills requires consistent practice and dedication. By using these strategies, ninth-grade students can enhance their writing skills and become confident writers.

Related : For more, check out our article on How To Improve Writing In Fifth Grade here.

Incorporating Reading into Writing Improvement

Reading and writing are interconnected skills, and improving one can positively impact the other. By incorporating reading into writing improvement, ninth-grade students can enhance their writing skills and develop a deeper understanding of literature.

One effective way to incorporate reading into writing improvement is by analyzing the main idea and supporting details of a text. By identifying the main idea, students can better understand the author’s purpose and message.

This can help them develop their own ideas and arguments when writing. Additionally, analyzing supporting details can help students understand how the author supports their main idea and can inspire incorporating supporting details into their own writing.

Another way to incorporate reading into writing improvement is by improving reading comprehension. By practising reading comprehension skills, such as identifying the author’s tone and purpose, students can develop a deeper understanding of the text.

This can help them write more effectively by allowing them to better understand the context and message of what they are writing about.

Topic sentences are also an important aspect of writing, and reading can help students develop this skill. By analyzing how authors introduce and develop their topics, students can learn how to write effective topic sentences that clearly convey the purpose of their writing.

In conclusion, incorporating reading into writing improvement can significantly impact ninth-grade students’ writing skills.

Students can enhance their writing skills and gain a deeper understanding of literature by analyzing main ideas and supporting details, improving reading comprehension, and developing topic sentences.

Related : For more, check out our article on How To Teach Children To Add Suspense To Their Writing here.

Practical Applications of Writing in School

Writing is an essential skill that is used in various fields, including academics. Students must write different types of papers in school, including research papers, essays, and reports.

Writing assignments help ninth-graders develop their writing skills necessary for their future academic and professional endeavors.

In English language arts classes, ninth-graders learn how to write different types of essays, including narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive. They also learn how to analyze literature and write literary analysis papers. These skills are essential for success in high school and beyond.

Ninth-graders learn about history, government, and culture in social studies classes. Writing assignments in social studies classes help students develop their research skills and learn how to write historical and cultural analysis papers. These skills are essential for success in college and in professional careers.

In science classes, ninth-graders learn about different scientific concepts and theories. Writing assignments in science classes help students develop their research skills and learn how to write scientific reports and research papers. These skills are essential for success in college and in professional careers.

In language arts classes, ninth-graders learn about grammar, vocabulary, and writing mechanics.

Writing assignments in language arts classes help students develop their writing skills and learn how to write clear and concise sentences and paragraphs. These skills are essential for success in high school and beyond.

In conclusion, writing is an essential skill that is used in various fields, including academics. Writing assignments in school help ninth-graders develop their writing skills necessary for their future academic and professional endeavors.

Using Technology and Resources for Writing Enhancement

Technology and resources can greatly aid in improving writing skills for ninth-grade students. Various tools and platforms can help students enhance their writing skills, such as online writing tools, writing software, and educational websites.

One of the most significant advantages of technology is the availability of online writing tools. These tools can help students improve their writing skills by providing grammar and spelling checks, thesaurus, and other writing-related features.

For instance, Grammarly is a popular online writing tool that can help students improve their writing skills by providing real-time grammar and spelling checks, suggestions for better word choices, and sentence structure.

Another way to enhance writing skills is using software like Microsoft Word. This software provides various writing tools, including templates, formatting options, and spell checks.

Additionally, students can use various educational websites such as Khan Academy, Coursera, and EdX to improve their writing skills. These websites offer free and paid courses on writing, creative writing, and other related topics.

Videos and games can also be an effective way to enhance writing skills. Various educational videos on YouTube and other platforms can help students improve their writing skills. Additionally, writing games can be an engaging way to improve writing skills.

Games such as Scrabble, Boggle, and Bananagrams can help students improve their vocabulary, spelling, and word formation skills.

Lastly, the school library is an excellent resource for improving students’ writing skills. The library provides access to various books, magazines, and other reading materials to help students improve their writing skills. Students can read books on grammar, punctuation, and writing styles to enhance their writing skills.

Overall, utilizing technology and resources can significantly aid in improving ninth-grade students’ writing skills. Students can enhance their writing skills and become better writers by using online writing tools, writing software, educational websites, videos, games, and the school library.

Writing Activities and Exercises

Ninth-grade students can improve their writing skills through various writing activities and exercises. These activities help students practice their writing skills and develop their creativity. Here are some writing activities and exercises that can help ninth-graders improve their writing:

Writing Worksheets

Writing worksheets are an excellent way to practice writing skills. Ninth-graders can benefit from worksheets focusing on grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. These worksheets can help students identify common mistakes and improve their writing skills.

Literacy Activities

Participating in literacy activities can help ninth-graders improve their writing skills. These activities can include reading, writing, and discussing literature. By engaging in these activities, students can develop their critical thinking and analytical skills.

Family Traditions

Writing about family traditions is an excellent way for ninth-graders to practice their writing skills. Students can write about their family’s traditions and why they are important. This exercise can help students develop their descriptive writing skills and learn more about their family history.

Biographies

Writing biographies can help ninth-graders improve their writing skills. Students can research and write about famous scientists, inventors, and other historical figures. Students can develop their research skills by writing biographies and learning more about history.

Writing poetry can help ninth-graders improve their writing skills and develop their creativity. Students can experiment with different forms of poetry, such as haikus and sonnets. This exercise can help students develop their descriptive writing skills and learn how to convey emotions through words.

Writing about space is an excellent way for ninth-graders to practice their writing skills. Students can write about space exploration, the solar system, and other topics. This exercise can help students develop their research skills and learn more about science.

Writing about Easter is an excellent way for ninth-graders to practice their writing skills. Students can write about the history of Easter, Easter traditions, and other Easter-related topics. This exercise can help students develop their descriptive writing skills and learn more about Easter.

In conclusion, ninth-graders can improve their writing skills by engaging in various writing activities and exercises. These activities can help students develop their creativity, research skills, and descriptive writing skills.

About The Author

I'm Dan Higgins, one of the faces behind The Teaching Couple. With 15 years in the education sector and a decade as a teacher, I've witnessed the highs and lows of school life. Over the years, my passion for supporting fellow teachers and making school more bearable has grown. The Teaching Couple is my platform to share strategies, tips, and insights from my journey. Together, we can shape a better school experience for all.

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how does sat essay length affect your score.

SAT Writing

True or False : Since essay length is not mentioned in the SAT essay grading rubric , it doesn’t matter how much you write in your essay.

Answer : True...but also false. Read on for an explanation of why and how the length of your SAT essay can affect your score.

feature image credit: How long by Martin Abegglen , used under CC BY-SA 2.0 /Cropped & modified from original.

UPDATE: SAT Essay No Longer Offered

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In January 2021, the College Board announced that after June 2021, it would no longer offer the Essay portion of the SAT (except at schools who opt in during School Day Testing). It is now no longer possible to take the SAT Essay, unless your school is one of the small number who choose to offer it during SAT School Day Testing.

While most colleges had already made SAT Essay scores optional, this move by the College Board means no colleges now require the SAT Essay. It will also likely lead to additional college application changes such not looking at essay scores at all for the SAT or ACT, as well as potentially requiring additional writing samples for placement.

What does the end of the SAT Essay mean for your college applications? Check out our article on the College Board's SAT Essay decision for everything you need to know.

Why Does Essay Length Matter?

Why would you think that essay length even matters in the first place? As I said in the introduction, it's not as if the SAT essay rubric mentions essay length at all.

Well, there's at least one good reason to think this: essay length is positively correlated with essay score .

Ever since the essay was added to the SAT, current MIT research affiliate (and former director of the MIT undergraduate writing program) Les Perelman has been vocal about how the longer an essay is, the more likely it is to get a higher score. According to this 2005 New York Times article by Michael Winerip, Perelman analyzed the lengths and scores of 54 SAT-approved sample essays and found a nearly 90% correlation. The shortest essays (around 100 words) received the lowest possible score, 1 (or a combined score of 2 out of 12), while the longest essays (around 400 words), received the highest score, a 6 (or a combined score of 12 out of 12) . Based on these findings, representatives of the CollegeBoard stated that they would be releasing shorter examples of higher-scoring essays.

This controversy first erupted in early 2005, right after the new SAT essay was introduced. To see if there had been any changes since then, I did my own analysis of the essays in the CollegeBoard's essay scoring guide that were all written in response to the sample prompt. Take a look at what I found:

Bonus graph reading practice for you in this, an article on essays. You're welcome.

As you can see, as essay length (measured by word count in the graph above) increases, the score also increases .

Just because longer essays tend to score better, however, doesn’t mean that you should just write the word “ideology” over and over again to fill up the page. The reason longer essays tend to score better is that students who write longer essays provide more support for their theses.

If this is the essay prompt:

"Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority,"

and all you write is the following:

"It's important to question authority because sometimes authority stops you from doing things you want. Like getting a pony. I want a pony. I want a pony. I want a pony. I want a pony."

for two pages, you'll still get a 0. Maybe a 1, if the grader is feeling generous and thinks that you made some attempt to write about the issue discussed in a prompt. For more on the thought process of essay grading, read our article about insights from real SAT essay graders .

Similarly, if you try to drag out one example by writing larger than usual and restating the same facts and information over and over again, it won't automatically get you a higher score. In fact, you may lose points if either of your essay's graders think that your repeating of information leads to lack of coherence in your writing.

In any case, unless you have extremely small handwriting, it’s very difficult to write an essay that presents a thesis and supports it with at least two specific examples in less than one page.

So How Long Should Your Essay Be?

Many factors go into determining essay length, which makes it difficult to give a blanket length recommendation. Here are the most important factors when it comes to length of your SAT essay:

Vocabulary. Often, the more advanced vocab you use, the fewer words you’ll need to get the job done, which might result in a shorter essay.
Handwriting size. Students with larger handwriting will naturally take up more space on the page than students with smaller handwriting. This doesn't necessarily mean students with larger handwriting have an advantage, however; in fact, students with larger handwriting tend to run into the issue of having filled two pages and not finished saying everything they needed or wanted to say.
How fast you can write and think. If you need to take longer to plan out your essay, you might end up writing a shorter essay, simply because you don't have as much time to write. That doesn't necessarily mean that you'll do worse on the essay - since an organized essay with strong specific examples will score better than a disorganized one without specific examples - but it does mean that you might end up with less time to write out your ideas.
How much time you leave yourself to write (vs. how much time you take to plan). This is something you need to figure out for yourself through practice and observation. Over the years, I've realized that I can write fairly quickly, which means that it's okay if I take a little more time to plan out my essay - I'll still be able to fill up those two pages. On the other hand, if you find that you're a slow writer, you might not be able to write enough unless you get very fast at planning your essay.

In general, assuming about 150 words per handwritten page, you need to write at least a page and a half (1.5 pages) to get a 3 or above on your essay (or a combined score of 6 or above). You'll need at least that much space to say what you need to say and support it clearly with concrete examples.

What’s Next?

Want to find out more about how to write a good SAT essay? Watch us write a top-scoring essay step-by-step , then check out our tips on how to write a long SAT essay as well as our more general SAT essay tips .

Discover the secrets to getting a perfect 12 on your SAT essay here .

What if you're planning on taking the new SAT? Read our breakdown of the new SAT essay here .

Want to get serious about improving your SAT score? We have the leading online SAT prep program that will raise your score by 160+ points, guaranteed .

Exclusive to our program, we have an expert SAT instructor grade each of your SAT essays and give you customized feedback on how to improve your score.

Check out our 5-day free trial and sign up for free:

Improve Your SAT Score by 160+ Points, Guaranteed

Laura graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Music and Psychology, and earned a Master's degree in Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and GRE and loves advising students on how to excel in high school.

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February 2, 2016 CG Writing Lessons 9-12 , CG Writing Lessons CCSS 9-12 , ELA Focus - Writing , ELA 9-12 , ELA PD - Grammar Writing , ELA Resources - Charts/Posters , Core Grammar

Teaching argumentative writing in the classroom, grades 9–12, by: tiffany rehbein.

Teaching both tenth and twelfth grade presents its rewards and challenges. It is rewarding because I get to see so much growth and maturity in twelfth graders. It can be challenging when I just finish grading 50 tenth-grade argumentative essays at the end of the first semester only to turn around and grade 50 more twelfth-grade argumentative essays at the beginning of second semester.

The Purpose of Argumentative Writing

While the challenge is in the time it takes to grade the essays, the excitement is within teaching argumentative writing. The purpose of argumentative writing is to defend a position on a particular subject with the goal of persuading readers to accept or at least consider the argument.

Elements of Argumentative Writing

There are four big ideas to remember when teaching argumentative writing: claim, reasons, evidence, and counterclaim.

Claim – This is the main argument of the essay. It might also be called a thesis or thesis statement.

Reasons – These are the ideas that support the claim. In a traditional essay, there are at least three but this varies based upon grade level and complexity of the argument writing.

Evidence – These are the specific details in the argument writing. If students are conducting research, this is where the expert opinions would be included. If students are referencing data, it would be written here. If students are including examples, it would be included here. Any appeals a student used would be evident here.

Counterclaim – This is the other side of the issue. Addressing a counterclaim makes the student’s argument writing stronger.

Addressing Counterclaims

Students can address counterclaims a number of ways in argument writing. Here are some common approaches:

While it may be true that ____________; nevertheless, it turns out that ____________.

A common argument against this is ________, but _____________.

Skeptics may think that ____________, but ___________.

Focus Topics & Transitions in Argumentative Writing

Last November, I had the great pleasure of presenting at the National Council of Teacher’s of English Annual Convention with author, educator, and our special guest Core Grammar blogger, Dr. Beverly Ann Chin. In her presentation, Dr. Chin included the following questions to focus topics in persuasive writing:

Is the scope of my persuasive topic appropriate and manageable?

What is my thesis statement or claim?

What facts, examples, or details contribute to—or detract from—my persuasive topic?

How do my topic sentences and transitional devices help the audience see the unity and coherence in my persuasive writing?

Do the main ideas and supporting ideas address my audience’s questions about the persuasive topic?

The questions Dr. Chin shared during her presentation should also be asked when writing argumentative essays. Keeping in mind topic sentences and transitions, here are some key words that can help support students as they begin to write argumentatively.

To connect the first paragraph to the second paragraph, use phrases such as To begin with , In the first place , or The first reason .

To connect the second paragraph to the third paragraph, use phrases such as Additionally , Another reason why , or Next .

To connect the third paragraph to the fourth paragraph, use phrases such as Lastly , Yet another reason why , or Also

The conclusion also needs a transition, so remind students to use phrases such as In conclusion , To sum it up , or In the final analysis .

Graphic Organizer for Argumentative Essays

Argumentative writing is powerful and important. I've created two worksheets for download that can assist students in their argumentative writing.

teaching-argumentative-writing-graphic-organizer-elements-750px

The first is a graphic organizer to capture students’ thinking about a claim, reasons, and evidence. The second is a poster/tip sheet to remind students about the elements of argumentative writing. Download them now!

To read more about writing and revision, download Dr. Chin’s Teaching Meaningful Revision: Developing and Deepening Students’ Writing eBook!

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How to Write an Essay Introduction (with Examples)  

The introduction of an essay plays a critical role in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. It sets the stage for the rest of the essay, establishes the tone and style, and motivates the reader to continue reading.

What is an essay introduction , what to include in an essay introduction, how to create an essay structure , step-by-step process for writing an essay introduction , how to write an introduction paragraph , how to write a hook for your essay , how to include background information , how to write a thesis statement .

Argumentative Essay Introduction Example:
Expository Essay Introduction Example

Literary Analysis Essay Introduction Example

Check and revise – checklist for essay introduction , key takeaways , frequently asked questions .

An introduction is the opening section of an essay, paper, or other written work. It introduces the topic and provides background information, context, and an overview of what the reader can expect from the rest of the work. 1 The key is to be concise and to the point, providing enough information to engage the reader without delving into excessive detail.

The essay introduction is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire piece and provides the reader with a roadmap of what to expect. Here are key elements to include in your essay introduction:

Hook : Start with an attention-grabbing statement or question to engage the reader. This could be a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or a compelling anecdote.
Background information : Provide context and background information to help the reader understand the topic. This can include historical information, definitions of key terms, or an overview of the current state of affairs related to your topic.
Thesis statement : Clearly state your main argument or position on the topic. Your thesis should be concise and specific, providing a clear direction for your essay.

Before we get into how to write an essay introduction, we need to know how it is structured. The structure of an essay is crucial for organizing your thoughts and presenting them clearly and logically. It is divided as follows: 2

Introduction:  The introduction should grab the reader’s attention with a hook, provide context, and include a thesis statement that presents the main argument or purpose of the essay.
Body:  The body should consist of focused paragraphs that support your thesis statement using evidence and analysis. Each paragraph should concentrate on a single central idea or argument and provide evidence, examples, or analysis to back it up.
Conclusion:  The conclusion should summarize the main points and restate the thesis differently. End with a final statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Avoid new information or arguments.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write an essay introduction:

Start with a Hook : Begin your introduction paragraph with an attention-grabbing statement, question, quote, or anecdote related to your topic. The hook should pique the reader’s interest and encourage them to continue reading.
Provide Background Information : This helps the reader understand the relevance and importance of the topic.
State Your Thesis Statement : The last sentence is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be clear, concise, and directly address the topic of your essay.
Preview the Main Points : This gives the reader an idea of what to expect and how you will support your thesis.
Keep it Concise and Clear : Avoid going into too much detail or including information not directly relevant to your topic.
Revise : Revise your introduction after you’ve written the rest of your essay to ensure it aligns with your final argument.

Here’s an example of an essay introduction paragraph about the importance of education:

Education is often viewed as a fundamental human right and a key social and economic development driver. As Nelson Mandela once famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” It is the key to unlocking a wide range of opportunities and benefits for individuals, societies, and nations. In today’s constantly evolving world, education has become even more critical. It has expanded beyond traditional classroom learning to include digital and remote learning, making education more accessible and convenient. This essay will delve into the importance of education in empowering individuals to achieve their dreams, improving societies by promoting social justice and equality, and driving economic growth by developing a skilled workforce and promoting innovation.

This introduction paragraph example includes a hook (the quote by Nelson Mandela), provides some background information on education, and states the thesis statement (the importance of education).

This is one of the key steps in how to write an essay introduction. Crafting a compelling hook is vital because it sets the tone for your entire essay and determines whether your readers will stay interested. A good hook draws the reader in and sets the stage for the rest of your essay.

Avoid Dry Fact : Instead of simply stating a bland fact, try to make it engaging and relevant to your topic. For example, if you’re writing about the benefits of exercise, you could start with a startling statistic like, “Did you know that regular exercise can increase your lifespan by up to seven years?”
Avoid Using a Dictionary Definition : While definitions can be informative, they’re not always the most captivating way to start an essay. Instead, try to use a quote, anecdote, or provocative question to pique the reader’s interest. For instance, if you’re writing about freedom, you could begin with a quote from a famous freedom fighter or philosopher.
Do Not Just State a Fact That the Reader Already Knows : This ties back to the first point—your hook should surprise or intrigue the reader. For Here’s an introduction paragraph example, if you’re writing about climate change, you could start with a thought-provoking statement like, “Despite overwhelming evidence, many people still refuse to believe in the reality of climate change.”

Including background information in the introduction section of your essay is important to provide context and establish the relevance of your topic. When writing the background information, you can follow these steps:

Start with a General Statement:  Begin with a general statement about the topic and gradually narrow it down to your specific focus. For example, when discussing the impact of social media, you can begin by making a broad statement about social media and its widespread use in today’s society, as follows: “Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with billions of users worldwide.”
Define Key Terms : Define any key terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to your readers but are essential for understanding your argument.
Provide Relevant Statistics:  Use statistics or facts to highlight the significance of the issue you’re discussing. For instance, “According to a report by Statista, the number of social media users is expected to reach 4.41 billion by 2025.”
Discuss the Evolution:  Mention previous research or studies that have been conducted on the topic, especially those that are relevant to your argument. Mention key milestones or developments that have shaped its current impact. You can also outline some of the major effects of social media. For example, you can briefly describe how social media has evolved, including positives such as increased connectivity and issues like cyberbullying and privacy concerns.
Transition to Your Thesis:  Use the background information to lead into your thesis statement, which should clearly state the main argument or purpose of your essay. For example, “Given its pervasive influence, it is crucial to examine the impact of social media on mental health.”

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, or other type of academic writing. It appears near the end of the introduction. Here’s how to write a thesis statement:

Identify the topic:  Start by identifying the topic of your essay. For example, if your essay is about the importance of exercise for overall health, your topic is “exercise.”
State your position:  Next, state your position or claim about the topic. This is the main argument or point you want to make. For example, if you believe that regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good health, your position could be: “Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health.”
Support your position:  Provide a brief overview of the reasons or evidence that support your position. These will be the main points of your essay. For example, if you’re writing an essay about the importance of exercise, you could mention the physical health benefits, mental health benefits, and the role of exercise in disease prevention.
Make it specific:  Ensure your thesis statement clearly states what you will discuss in your essay. For example, instead of saying, “Exercise is good for you,” you could say, “Regular exercise, including cardiovascular and strength training, can improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.”

Examples of essay introduction

Here are examples of essay introductions for different types of essays:

Argumentative Essay Introduction Example:

Topic: Should the voting age be lowered to 16?

“The question of whether the voting age should be lowered to 16 has sparked nationwide debate. While some argue that 16-year-olds lack the requisite maturity and knowledge to make informed decisions, others argue that doing so would imbue young people with agency and give them a voice in shaping their future.”

Expository Essay Introduction Example

Topic: The benefits of regular exercise

“In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of regular exercise cannot be overstated. From improving physical health to boosting mental well-being, the benefits of exercise are numerous and far-reaching. This essay will examine the various advantages of regular exercise and provide tips on incorporating it into your daily routine.”

Text: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee

“Harper Lee’s novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ is a timeless classic that explores themes of racism, injustice, and morality in the American South. Through the eyes of young Scout Finch, the reader is taken on a journey that challenges societal norms and forces characters to confront their prejudices. This essay will analyze the novel’s use of symbolism, character development, and narrative structure to uncover its deeper meaning and relevance to contemporary society.”

Engaging and Relevant First Sentence : The opening sentence captures the reader’s attention and relates directly to the topic.
Background Information : Enough background information is introduced to provide context for the thesis statement.
Definition of Important Terms : Key terms or concepts that might be unfamiliar to the audience or are central to the argument are defined.
Clear Thesis Statement : The thesis statement presents the main point or argument of the essay.
Relevance to Main Body : Everything in the introduction directly relates to and sets up the discussion in the main body of the essay.

Writing a strong introduction is crucial for setting the tone and context of your essay. Here are the key takeaways for how to write essay introduction: 3

Hook the Reader : Start with an engaging hook to grab the reader’s attention. This could be a compelling question, a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or an anecdote.
Provide Background : Give a brief overview of the topic, setting the context and stage for the discussion.
Thesis Statement : State your thesis, which is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be concise, clear, and specific.
Preview the Structure : Outline the main points or arguments to help the reader understand the organization of your essay.
Keep it Concise : Avoid including unnecessary details or information not directly related to your thesis.
Revise and Edit : Revise your introduction to ensure clarity, coherence, and relevance. Check for grammar and spelling errors.
Seek Feedback : Get feedback from peers or instructors to improve your introduction further.

The purpose of an essay introduction is to give an overview of the topic, context, and main ideas of the essay. It is meant to engage the reader, establish the tone for the rest of the essay, and introduce the thesis statement or central argument.

An essay introduction typically ranges from 5-10% of the total word count. For example, in a 1,000-word essay, the introduction would be roughly 50-100 words. However, the length can vary depending on the complexity of the topic and the overall length of the essay.

An essay introduction is critical in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. To ensure its effectiveness, consider incorporating these key elements: a compelling hook, background information, a clear thesis statement, an outline of the essay’s scope, a smooth transition to the body, and optional signposting sentences.

The process of writing an essay introduction is not necessarily straightforward, but there are several strategies that can be employed to achieve this end. When experiencing difficulty initiating the process, consider the following techniques: begin with an anecdote, a quotation, an image, a question, or a startling fact to pique the reader’s interest. It may also be helpful to consider the five W’s of journalism: who, what, when, where, why, and how. For instance, an anecdotal opening could be structured as follows: “As I ascended the stage, momentarily blinded by the intense lights, I could sense the weight of a hundred eyes upon me, anticipating my next move. The topic of discussion was climate change, a subject I was passionate about, and it was my first public speaking event. Little did I know , that pivotal moment would not only alter my perspective but also chart my life’s course.”

Crafting a compelling thesis statement for your introduction paragraph is crucial to grab your reader’s attention. To achieve this, avoid using overused phrases such as “In this paper, I will write about” or “I will focus on” as they lack originality. Instead, strive to engage your reader by substantiating your stance or proposition with a “so what” clause. While writing your thesis statement, aim to be precise, succinct, and clear in conveying your main argument.

To create an effective essay introduction, ensure it is clear, engaging, relevant, and contains a concise thesis statement. It should transition smoothly into the essay and be long enough to cover necessary points but not become overwhelming. Seek feedback from peers or instructors to assess its effectiveness.

References

Cui, L. (2022). Unit 6 Essay Introduction.  Building Academic Writing Skills .
West, H., Malcolm, G., Keywood, S., & Hill, J. (2019). Writing a successful essay.  Journal of Geography in Higher Education ,  43 (4), 609-617.
Beavers, M. E., Thoune, D. L., & McBeth, M. (2023). Bibliographic Essay: Reading, Researching, Teaching, and Writing with Hooks: A Queer Literacy Sponsorship. College English, 85(3), 230-242.

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Academic vocabulary words for 9th graders

by: Jessica Kelmon | Updated: February 6, 2024

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Academic vocabulary words for 9th graders

Your teen will encounter these ninth grade vocabulary words across subjects — from history and English to physics and math — which is why they’re called academic vocabulary words. It’s increasingly important for your child to know these words to better understand what they read and hear in class. When your ninth grader knows these words well enough to use them in writing and presentations, it will add precision, nuance, and eloquence to your teen’s work.

Share this list, courtesy of Hyde Park Central School District , with your teen. Challenge yourself and your teen to use these words in everyday conversation. Not only will knowing these words help your child excel now, they’re words that will pop up on the SAT and ACT , too, if your child decides to take one of these tests .

9th grade vocabulary words

absolve alleviate alternative ambivalent analyze animosity approximate arbitrary attribute beneficial comprehensive connotation contrast credible cursory cynic dearth deficient demonstrate depict derive detract devastate digress

dilemma diligent dissent distort diversion elation elicit elude escalate evaluate exacerbate excerpt exemplify explicit exposition falter feasible feign fluctuate formulate generate gist hypothetical impartial

implausible implication imply incentive incoherent indolent infamous infuriate innovation intercede interpret intimidate isolate jeopardize lucrative mandatory mediate mortify niche obscure obsolete pacify perception perspective

pertinent ponder prevalent proponent punitive rapport rationale reconcile redundant respective retaliate sabotage scrutiny simulate squander succumb tangible technique traumatic turmoil valid verify viable vulnerable

See the academic vocabulary lists for 8th grade and 10th grade , too.

Learn more about how to help your 9th grader with reading skills:

• Read: Getting ready for high school reading • Read: Making high school reading more inclusive • Watch: Is your teen learning the research skills needed for college? • Do: Give intellectual graffiti a try • Check out: 9th grade college prep timeline

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How to Write an Essay Introduction (with Examples)
2. How long should an essay introduction be? An essay introduction typically ranges from 5-10% of the total word count. For example, in a 1,000-word essay, the introduction would be roughly 50-100 words. However, the length can vary depending on the complexity of the topic and the overall length of the essay.
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