How to Write an Illustration Essay: Examples and Useful Tips

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How to Write an Illustration Essay: Examples and Useful Tips
Table of Contents
  1. How to Write an Illustration Essay: Examples and Useful Tips
  2. Illustration Essay Definition
  3. The Purpose of Illustration Essays
  4. Essay Topics
  5. How to write an illustration essay
  6. Types of Illustrative Examples
  7. Illustration Essay Outline
  8. Paragraph Structure
  9. Essay examples
  10. Conclusion
  11. Frequently Asked Questions
  12. 1. What are some good sources for illustration essay?
  13. 2. What are some examples of an illustration essay?

Learning how to write an illustration essay is crucial for academic success. There is a number of writing styles that require the skillful use of illustrations. In fact, it is a properly chosen illustrative evidence that helps a writer communicate their main idea.

For that reason, students should be able to demonstrate their vision through meaningful examples. In this article, we will discuss what illustrative essay is, give inspiring topic ideas and explain each step of the writing process. On top of that, you will find a professionally-written example of the paper to see what can make your writing brilliant. Whether you need a guide on completing any assignment or extra help, remember that you can always count on Write My Essay 4 Me.

Illustration Essay Definition 

An illustration essay, or otherwise called an example essay, is an informative essay writing genre that clarifies a specific situation or object through demonstrative evidence. This type of paper provides specific details that prove a thesis statement or a key point in the form of exemplification.

The skillful use of demonstrative examples allows a writer to present the main idea in an expository manner so the reader can understand the broader context of the selected topic.

Knowing how to write an illustration essay is critical in an academic environment since many other essay types also require the use of demonstrative examples. Whether you are assigned to create a separate illustrative paragraph or develop an entire example paper, the ability to illustrate a point of view substantially improves text comprehension.

Furthermore, the proper use of evidence helps the target audience imagine things and, as a result, grasp the message. 

The Purpose of Illustration Essays

The main objective of an illustration essay is to provide expository examples that prove a thesis statement. In case you still have questions on how to write a thesis statement open and read one more blog in our library. Illustrative writing requires being imaginative and attentive to specific details. Generally, the writer's primary task is to find supporting textual material that may exemplify the main idea. 

Illustrative writing may benefit both a writer and readers. On the one hand, this type of assignment can improve student's creativity and comprehensive skills. On the other hand, illustrative writing boosts the reader's imagination since they will need to create a visual picture in their mind.

Essay Topics

When it comes to the writing process, the first thing to consider is to decide on a topic. Here is the list of illustrative paper examples to give you an idea of what topics you may choose from. Feel free to select the one given below to write a brilliant illustration paper.

  1. Discuss why a sports team of your preference (basketball, football) is underrated; why the soccer team you dislike is overrated.
  2. Illustrate the stages a college applicant should take in writing a winning college entrance text to join the target educational institution.
  3. Explain what an HR manager does; write down several examples from your personal interaction with the representatives of this profession.
  4. Write about the city, which used to survive some natural disaster (an earthquake, tsunami, tornado, hurricane, etc).
  5. The topic on how society can support children who became the victims of school bullying/hate crimes/home violence.

Browse our compare and contrast essay ideas, they will inspire you to some interesting ideas.

How to write an illustration essay

Once you've got a compelling topic to develop, it's time to move on to the writing process. Creating an outstanding illustration essay involves 5 simple steps specified below. Use the following guide prepared by our experienced writers for reference.

  1. Build a powerful thesis statement. This step involves identifying the object of writing (a.k.a. the main illustrative topic). Figure out the main points that need to be proved in the illustration paper. Pick a minimum of three crucial things and explain whether you support or deny the idea. Not only will a carefully written thesis help present a specific idea in the introduction, but it also will serve as the path for developing thoughts in the body paragraphs. Consider the following example: "Gender stereotypes exist in the professional world. Many business companies prefer having men as their CEOs."
  2. Collect evidence. The next step after writing a thesis statement requires gathering expository material. Do in-depth research of the chosen topic to determine the finest examples for your illustration essay. To find related evidence, refer to a literary work, historical events, scientific findings, or use your own experience as the main source of demonstrative facts. Select as many examples as possible, then pick the best options to illustrate.
  3. Outline a paper. Your writing should be concise and organized. However, setting thoughts in the right direction might be somewhat struggling. That's where a well-prepared essay outline comes in handy. Write down all key points and ideas to structure all descriptions so that the composition is easy to follow. We have a whole blog that will help you find out how to write an outline for an essay.
  4. Populate a paper with examples. Depending on the size of an essay, list separate points in each body paragraph. Explain why you have chosen a specific illustrativeexample at the beginning of each sentence, and then support it with the meaningful evidence retrieved from the prior research.
  5. Proofread your essay. Double-check the entire text for grammar and stylistic mistakes. Do not hesitate to use any online proofreading service for that purpose. Even if you know how to write an illustration essay well, do not ignore this stage. After all, you want to submit an error-free essay that satisfies all academic requirements.

Types of Illustrative Examples 

There is a wide range of unique methods that can take your illustrative writing to a whole new level. Some of the most effective ways of evidence presentation are listed as follows: 

  • using personal experience; 
  • referring to historical facts or current events;
  • comparing the objects; 
  • including the results of scientific research in a related niche; 
  • giving statistical information. 

Now let's have a closer look at the examples taken from personal experience. You will need to find enough details to populate the body paragraphs with the vivid examples from your personal experience. Below are several useful methods to get inspired: 

  1. Personal observation has to do a lot with investigating a specific object related to your chosen topic. Describing any event, situation, location, or a person you have observed and sharing your thoughts on the matter can make for a good illustration essay example. When describing your observational experiences, be sure to include sensory expressions. Remember your audience has to observe the situation themselves as if they were witnessing it. 
  2. Personal memories are a good source of fresh ideas that you can share with the readers to support the main argument. After all, you are the one who can interpret the meaning of your experiences in your essay. Think about meaningful life lessons from your personal experience. It makes sense to describe the most recent memories since they are the most significant. In particular, such impressions should seem reasonable to you at the moment of writing so that you can present a situation in the same way as you used to perceive it back then. 
  3. An interview means having a face-to-face conversation with the experts in the fields related to your topic. These people can share exciting examples that potentially can make your writing stand out from the rest of the papers. Make sure to conduct thorough research and prepare a list of all concerns and questions before contacting a professional in the domain of your choice. 

No matter what method you choose to clarify your point, make sure that the reader can get the picture. In a nutshell, examples serve as a solid foundation of an illustrative essay, so the more powerful exemplification is, the better a textual interpretation will be. One of our blogs on how to write a personal essay may come in handy.

Illustration Essay Outline

Before starting your illustrative essay, make sure to prepare an outline. It is recommended to create a 5-sentences outline where each sentence briefly describes the main focus of each paragraph. Outline the main ideas of your essay, and then all you need to do is develop your thoughts further.

Below you can find essential parts your illustration essay outline should include:

1. Introduction
 
  • 1-2 sentences that introduce the topic and provide background information
  • 1-2 sentences explaining the relevance and value of the topic
  • A strong thesis statement giving a brief overview of the illustrative essay
  • 1 transitional sentence 
2. Body paragraphs (typically 3)
 
  • An argument that sets one idea per body paragraph
  • Demonstrative example  
  • 1 linking sentence 
3. Conclusion
 
  • 1 sentence restating a thesis statement
  • A brief summary of main ideas
  • 1-2 concluding sentences

Paragraph Structure

When writing an illustration essay, make sure that the paragraphs are balanced. This way your paper will look coherent and consistent. It means they should include enough information to cover all the necessary components. Follow the tips below to structure your writing properly:

  • Start each paragraph with the topic sentence that represents the main idea of each section
  • Discuss only one idea per paragraph
  • Each paragraph should resonate with the thesis statement
  • The paragraph should end with a concluding sentence that briefly summarizes it.

Essay examples 

Now that you have gained a deep understanding on how to create an illustration essay, take a look at the paper sample attached below. Use the following illustrative essay example shared by professional writers to practice your writing skills. 

illustration_essay_sample illustration_essay_sample
 

Conclusion 

Writing an illustrative essay should no longer be challenging. Follow the guidelines specified in the article to practice how to write an illustration essay with ease. Make sure to apply the tips and provide meaningful demonstrative examples to prove your point. And remember to refer to the sample to see how a perfect paper should look like. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are some good sources for illustration essay? 

Media is one of the most useful sources of ideas and examples for illustration essay. You may want to use social networks (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram) and other services as the main source for your illustrations. Talk to different people who can share their unique experience in their meaningful posts or videos. You can use examples from social media to prove any point you make in your body paragraphs. Pick the best essay topics examples for your illustration paper from the following sources:

  • Books
  • Videos
  • Articles
  • Feedbacks
  • Images. 

2. What are some examples of an illustration essay? 

An illustration essay provides your vision on a specific topic and explains why you support a certain idea. For example, if you are assigned to write an illustrative paper on a literary work, your professor most likely wants you to share your thoughts on any character from a book. At this point, you need to create a strong thesis statement about the character and then demonstrate examples that prove your argument.