how to write perspective essay

How to Write a Perspective Essay?

Understanding the Importance of Perspective Essays

A perspective essay is a powerful tool that allows individuals to express their thoughts and opinions on a particular topic from their unique standpoint. Unlike other types of essays, a perspective essay requires a deep understanding of the subject matter and the ability to convey personal experiences, observations, and beliefs effectively. By sharing different perspectives, individuals contribute to a diverse and inclusive society where ideas are valued and respected.

Choosing a Compelling Topic

When selecting a topic for your perspective essay, it's important to choose something that you are passionate about and have a strong opinion on. Whether it's a social issue, political ideology, or personal experience, your topic should resonate with your audience and make them eager to read your insights. Research the chosen topic thoroughly to ensure you have a solid foundation of knowledge to build upon.

Gathering Evidence and Conducting Research

Before diving into writing your perspective essay, it's crucial to gather relevant evidence to support your claims and arguments. Conduct thorough research using credible sources such as books, scholarly articles, and reputable websites. Take notes, highlight important information, and carefully analyze different viewpoints to strengthen your own perspective.

Structuring Your Perspective Essay

The structure of a perspective essay is similar to other types of essays. It consists of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction should grab the reader's attention and provide a brief overview of the topic and your stance. The body paragraphs, which are the core of your essay, should present your arguments, supporting evidence, and counterarguments. Finally, the conclusion should summarize your main points and leave the reader with a thought-provoking closing statement.

Writing with Clarity and Coherence

When writing your perspective essay, aim for clarity and coherence. Use clear, concise, and precise language to articulate your ideas. Structure your paragraphs logically, ensuring a smooth flow of thoughts. Support your arguments with relevant examples, anecdotes, or statistics to engage your audience and strengthen your position. Remember to acknowledge and address opposing viewpoints respectfully, demonstrating open-mindedness and critical thinking.

Formatting and Stylistic Considerations

While the content of your perspective essay is crucial, don't overlook the importance of formatting and style. Use appropriate heading tags, such as H2 or H3, for each section and subsection to improve readability and assist search engines in understanding the structure of your content. Enhance the visual appeal of your essay by using bullet points or numbered lists to break down complex information into digestible chunks. Incorporate relevant keywords naturally throughout the text to optimize your chances of ranking higher in search engine results.

Editing and Proofreading

Once you've completed your perspective essay, take the time to review, edit, and proofread it carefully. Pay attention to grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. Ensure your ideas flow smoothly and coherently. Remove any unnecessary repetition or tangential information. Consider seeking feedback from peers, teachers, or online communities to gain valuable insights and improve the overall quality of your essay.

Example Perspective Essay: The Power of Empathy

The following is an example of a perspective essay on the power of empathy:

Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, is a remarkable human trait that holds immense power. In a world filled with turmoil and division, empathy acts as a bridge, fostering understanding, compassion, and connection. It enables us to step into someone else's shoes, see the world through their eyes, and recognize their struggles and challenges.

When we embrace empathy, we break down barriers and cultivate a sense of unity. It allows us to transcend our personal biases and preconceptions, opening our minds to a multitude of perspectives. Empathy promotes inclusivity and acceptance, nurturing a society where diversity is celebrated and everyone feels valued.

One powerful aspect of empathy is its ability to spark positive change. By understanding the experiences of others, we become motivated to take action and address social injustices. Through empathy, we recognize the need for equality, justice, and human rights. It fuels our determination to create a better world for ourselves and future generations.

In conclusion, writing a perspective essay is an opportunity to express your thoughts, opinions, and experiences in a unique and compelling way. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can confidently tackle the task of writing a perspective essay. Remember to choose a captivating topic, conduct thorough research, structure your essay effectively, and write with clarity and coherence. By sharing your perspectives, you contribute to the rich tapestry of ideas that shape our society.

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How to Write Brown’s Perspective Essay

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Shane Niesen and Vinay Bhaskara i n a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

Why this prompt is important, avoiding admission officers’ biases, why someone else should read your essay.

The second Brown University supplemental essay asks students to respond to the following prompt:

Brown’s culture fosters a community in which students challenge the ideas of others and have their ideas challenged in return, promoting a deeper and clearer understanding of the complex issues confronting society. This active engagement in dialogue is as present outside the classroom as it is in academic spaces. Tell us about a time you were challenged by a perspective that differed from your own. How did you respond? (200-250 words) 

In this article, we discuss why this prompt is so important, how to be aware of a reader’s bias, and why having someone else proofread your essay is essential. 

Brown’s second essay is all about being challenged by a perspective different from your own. One of the trickiest parts about this essay is to avoid focusing on presenting the two perspectives and the battle between them. This is not the point of the prompt. Brown admissions officers want to read about your perspective and your thought process when challenged. 

The goal of this prompt is to demonstrate how you think about the world, address challenges, and approach conflict. There is no avoiding conflict in life—over the past few years, for example, our society has experienced a great deal of friction due to opposing perspectives—so do your best to share your thought process around conflict. Dive into how you approach being confronted with differing opinions. 

There are a few questions that you can home in on for this prompt. You can write about your perspective, who challenged you, how it felt being challenged, and if that changed your perspective. This doesn’t mean you have to write about the exact time and place when your mind changed—maybe you felt even stronger about your beliefs after being challenged. The point is that you want to demonstrate that this confrontation had some sort of impact on you. 

Don’t be afraid to step away from the broader issues in our society or politics. Try to focus on a personal situation for this prompt. This will not only make you stand out from the crowd, but it will also help you avoid the biases of the admissions officers. Of course, admissions officers are aware that they will read the essays of students who share different perspectives than their own, but by writing about a personal conflict or issue, you’re more likely to avoid this issue entirely. 

Appealing to the admissions officers is a crucial part of your essay. You want the reader to like you or at least empathize with your perspective. This is why you should check yourself and your opinions while writing. You can do this by sharing your essay with someone else and asking for feedback. If that person tells you that they didn’t like how you talked about your opinion, that’s a sign that the admission officers won’t like it either. 

Ask your reader for feedback on the structure and content of your essay. A big mistake that students make is spending too much time narrating the problem rather than reflecting on the story. Your essay will ideally contain deeply personal topics, so most of it should focus on your emotions and headspace.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Biogeography.News

How to write a (great) Perspective article

Like many journals, Journal of Biogeography ( JBI ) provides a specific forum for researchers to put forward new ideas (or dismantle old ones). In JBI , this article type is the Perspective . Our Author Guidelines state that Perspective papers “should be stimulating and reflective essays providing personal perspectives on key research fields and issues within biogeography”.

Across the senior editorial board, we’re always a little surprised that we don’t get more Perspective submissions since most of the biogeographers we know are brimming with personal perspectives, many of which immediately spill out over a coffee, beer or zoom call. Of course, going from a good idea to a finished article is rarely straightforward and writing your first Perspective article can be a daunting prospect – even more so if English is not your native language.

The good news is that writing a Perspective can be exceedingly enjoyable and a refreshing change from the limitations of a standard research article. Moreover, it is not a ‘black box’; there are several general principles that can help you to craft ‘stimulating and reflective essays’. Like research articles, the best Perspectives have a clear U-shaped narrative (Figure 1) that start with a clear justification of why a research area/topic needs re-evaluating and finishing with the potential implications of your new perspective for the development of the field.

One of the best things about Perspective articles is you have enormous flexibility in how you write them. Nevertheless, when planning the article, we find it useful to divide the article into several basic components:

• The Introduction This ought to include an engaging explanation of the problem/challenge you are addressing (this can be conceptual, practical, methodological… anything really!). Generally speaking, the more important/fundamental the problem, the harder it is to convince the referees that your new perspective is valid! But the potential rewards are also greater, so give your best idea a go! Almost by default, you need to contrast your new perspective with the standard or alternative solution/model/explanation, i.e. the “text-book explanation” that most scientists would agree with. This standard explanation needs to be carefully layed-out without creating a ‘straw man’ (e.g. misrepresenting the alternative argument to make your argument look better)! Finally, introduce your new perspective and give a convincing explanation of why you think it is needed.
• Substantiating your new perspective It’s not enough to simply state your new perspective. You also need to provide convincing evidence in favour of, or at the very least consistent with, your argument, citing examples and demonstrating ways in which your new perspective can be applied. This does not need to be an exhaustive synthesis of relevant studies, but it should be sufficient to support your argument and to, at a minimum, demonstrate that existing approaches to the problem are insufficient.  Be careful to not cherry pick the literature such that you selectively ignore evidence contrary to your view. Instead, embrace challenging data, and use them to explore limitations and possibilities.
• Conclusions After discussing the evidence it is important to outline the relative strengths of your new perspective as compared to the standard/alternative perspective and to discuss the potential implications of your approach for future developments in the field.

And don’t forget your figures! It’s a decent estimate that a picture is worth a thousand words. A sweet graphic demonstrating the differences between the conventional and your new improved approach will also be worth a whole pile of citations. So, having made a compelling intellectual argument in the text, don’t sell your idea short visually. Design an eye-catching intuitive graphic that’ll get included in social media, in other people’s talks, as well as future papers and text-books. (Advice on preparing figures can be found at https://journalofbiogeographynews.org/2020/07/15/figures-the-art-of-science/ .)  

How to get started : When planning a Perspective paper (for any journal), consider starting with a simple plan, e.g. a bullet-pointed outline, that includes: (i) the problem; (ii) the standard approach; (iii) the new perspective; (iv) the key evidence, and; (v) the main conclusion. Of course, there are many other ways to structure an argument and experienced writers will often create a compelling narrative that doesn’t fit into a standard structure. The point is, a strong structure can be a huge help if you are unsure how to start, or to help organize your thoughts.  Another tip is, if you’re unsure about the merits of an idea, write to the editorial board.  Contact an associate editor in a closely allied field and write to the Reviews Editor, Richard Ladle, and/or the editor-in-chief Michael Dawson < contacts >.  We’ll be happy to give you preliminary feedback and guidance.

We hope the short explanation above has shown you that writing a Perspective article is not fiendishly difficult or the preserve of well-seasoned biogeographers with long academic records. A new Perspective is as much about novelty and disruption as it is about experience. Here at Journal of Biogeography we believe that debate and discussion, diverse viewpoints and challenges to orthodoxy are essential if the discipline of biogeography is going to maintain its vibrancy and societal relevance. In this respect we encourage submissions from all biogeographers, but especially early stage researchers and those working in regions of the world historically under-represented in biogeography.

Written by: Richard Ladle Research Highlights Editor

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7 thoughts on “ How to write a (great) Perspective article ”

Can I get to see a sample of perspective type news article, it will be a great help.

Thanks Pragya

Great Post!!! your article is very helpful for me . your ideas of worth are very useful and helpful for me.all the information for worth is very valid. Great post I must admit, keep sharing more…

Thank you for the writing tips.

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Thanks for your guidance of perspective. — from a fresh neuroscientist

Very Helpful for Newbie here! Thank you! Godspeed!

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Your Complete Guide To Writing Perspective: Who, When, How

• by Robert Wood
• December 21, 2016
• 11 Comments

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Who is telling this story? It’s a strange question, and one that’s based on feigned ignorance, but if you give it a chance, it could do great things for how you consider perspective in your writing.

That’s because by reconsidering a basic assumption, you’ll become aware of multiple decisions you already made. Maybe that just means you’ll see how right you were and get a confidence boost, or maybe it’ll show you a way in which you could improve your book.

Reconsidering perspective

It’s always satisfying when someone passes on a great piece of writing advice. If it’s true enough, you don’t feel like you’re being taught something, but that someone has perfectly phrased something you already knew. One that springs to mind for me is a writing teacher slamming his hands repeatedly onto a table while shouting, “No-one! Cares! About! The &$@!ing! Weather!”

Like a lot of good writing advice, it’s not completely true , but it directs an author’s attention to an area of concern. Yes, you can communicate the weather, but for God’s sake, don’t linger over it for an entire paragraph. Another piece of advice from the same professor was phrased in the form of a question, asked quite sincerely to a young author who had just presented a story told in the omniscient, third-person voice:

Who is telling this story?

The student was dumbfounded, having chosen the third person without really thinking about what it meant for their piece. They’d gone for the default, not even asking if it was the right choice.

Even if you already know the answer, it’s a question that’s worth considering, especially because it asks ten more. Is anyone telling the story? If not, is that okay? If so, where and when are they, and how much do they know? Should their voice be captured in the writing style, and what does that mean for how to communicate the personalities of other characters? Wait a minute, who are they telling it to ?

The questions above are a good way to investigate whether you’re writing the best form of your story, but they also offer avenues to take a good tale and make it great. Not sure where to start? Well, let’s go with tense.

Tense is about when your story is happening in relation to its telling. Did it happen a while ago, is it happening now, or will it occur in the future? Does it span multiple categories, with the story overtaking the teller, or dabble in a few, with some future-tense visions or past-tense memories assailing a present-tense character?

The past tense tends to be the default choice, but is it really the best choice for your story? Present tense offers immediacy, while the future tense is a trippy choice for adventurous authors.

If you’re choosing the past because the other options don’t appeal, remember that this is still a choice. How long ago, exactly, did these events occur? Consider these iconic words from the Star Wars   movies:

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

This is one of the oddest lines in pop culture – a specific reminder that the space battles and sentient robots you’re about to see are positioned firmly in the past. Moreover, no-one even asked – the reader would have assume the events were set in the future. And yet those words don’t just work; they’ve achieved incredible fame. Clearly, they struck a chord.

Why? Well, there’s a lot to it, but part of the Star Wars franchise’s success (and a key component in many of its failures), is that at its best, its universe feels lived in. There’s rust, dirt and damage – the original movies are set long after a vital struggle has been lost, the heroes of which are all but forgotten.

It’s not that Star Wars ’ sense of time is something special, but that the films have such an appreciation of their own tense. They’re set in, and largely about , the past, their plots caught up in looking back. It’s no coincidence that the poorly received prequels lack this element.

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale has a particularly effective grasp of its own tense – the story is told through a diary, and an epilogue re-characterizes the story as a historical document by revealing a society far in the future of the fictional world. Here, Atwood creates distance – the protagonist was always in peril, struggling on her own, and by focusing on how far in the past these events actually were, she’s finally distanced from even the reader.

So the question becomes: When is your reader being told this story in relation to the events in question?

Your answer might be that they’re not – the story is happening elsewhere, in a timeframe that doesn’t involve them. Rest assured that that’s a valid answer, but allow yourself a few minutes of doubt. Isn’t there a way to bring your reader in? Would present tense remove the barrier between them and the story? Could they be overhearing someone else being told the story?

There’s rich ground here, especially when combined with…

Point of view and audience

When considering point of view, there are three options:

• First person  (I),
• Second person  (you),
• Third person  (he/she/it).

I’ve written before on each type of point of view (the articles are linked above), but they’re not the absolute choices many authors think. In fact, third-person narration is the baseline for each – you can only tell the difference once the narrator gets involved in the story. Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions plays on this when the narrator ‘arrives’ near the end of the story, introducing a previously absent ‘I’.

Beyond the usual style decisions around point of view, it’s worth considering more aspects of this choice. First, and returning to the original question: Who is telling this story? Maybe no-one, but really think about your answer, not least because it asks two more questions. Why are they telling it, and who are they telling it to?

Books like Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leave s have done a lot with this concept, constructing layered stories where the characters are telling parts of the story to each other, or even as consciously commercial works. William Goldman’s The Princess Bride adds a whole framing narrative to the story, creating an editor who is presenting the story to his son.

This doesn’t have to be explicit – H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds and The Island of Doctor Moreau are both told by narrators who have survived an amazing experience and are giving their account to interested parties. It’s a low-key effect, but simply by assuming the presence of an in-world audience, Wells taps into a seam of realism that makes the stories particularly unnerving. They feel like real accounts; far more creepy thanks to a choice that many readers will barely notice.

If you have any kind of narrator, really think about why they’re telling their story, and who they’re telling it to. If not, take some time to ponder how bizarre it is to have an omniscient narrator (a potentially Godlike figure) telling a story to someone outside the world in which it happens.

Dig deep enough and this is really about why you’re writing a story. It’s entirely possible that going down this particular rabbit hole will freak you out. After all, it doesn’t just ask your story to justify its existence, but for the very idea of a story to account for itself. That turmoil may settle down with you deciding that the story is simply something that happened, and this is where it’s recorded, or you may reconsider whether or not your narrator or supposed reader has a stake in events.

Either way, this extra consideration will shine through in your writing. You’d be surprised how much more engagingly you can write just from accepting that your story is being told simply because it happened. There’s a quiet assurance there that encourages the reader to invest.

Character perspective

Are you sure your protagonist is the best person to tell your story, or to act as the focus for your narrator? This is an idea to which many authors pay lip service, but most would sooner abandon a project than truly consider rewriting from another character’s perspective. This is a mistake, as following a different character is often the final piece of the puzzle.

Returning to the original Star Wars trilogy, consider the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO. At least to begin with, they’re actually the focus of the story, with the viewer following them from one scene to the next. This is a longstanding artistic tradition – introducing some roving strangers in order to provide a useful perspective. They can be new to the situation, whether that be the world, the situation, or the relationships in front of them.

Many authors employ a similar device, transforming their protagonists into reader cyphers who are often less definite characters than their friends and enemies. Characters like Harry Potter and Luke Skywalker enter the world fresh, more or less knowing as little as the reader in order to give them a way into the story.

In The Quadrant Method Is The Key To Amazing Storytelling , I suggested two versions of the same story, in which a wife discovers she has been hypnotized by her husband and turns the tables. Told from the wife’s perspective, it was a serviceable story, but it really came to life when considered from the husband’s point of view. Sometimes, it’s worth reconsidering your character perspective not to make things easier, but to offer a new structure to your story.

Richard Stark’s Parker novels tend to be from the protagonist’s point of view for the first two quarters, before spending the third quarter cycling between different characters. This is often the point at which a heist has gone wrong, and the resultant chaos is represented in the reader’s experience.

Not only is this exciting, but it allows Stark to hide what his protagonist is up to. Even straightforward actions can be made exhilarating when they’re hidden. The best of Stark’s stories even include some overlap, with a new perspective shedding fresh light on an event that’s already happened. There’s something really special about watching the hero prepare to ambush a gangster and then switching to that gangster’s perspective as they fall into the trap.

Emily Brontë uses multiple narrators to similar effect in Wuthering Heights . Here, the character Lockwood attempts to piece together a reliable account of events. He’s beset on all sides by unreliable narrators – people who only saw part of the story, or were only concerned with their role in it. In fact, Lockwood himself is less than likable, and by switching characters, Brontë manages to leave him behind, divorcing the story from any single narrator and making the reader feel as if they have a special insight that no character has managed to achieve.

Changing your perspective

The aspects of perspective that I’ve described can be used in various configurations, even within a story. You can switch tense, perspective, and even point of view, but remember to do so with finesse.

Tense is the one that causes the biggest problems. Remember that tense isn’t just about when a story took place, but when a story took place in relation to when it’s being told. Slipping into past tense for a flashback makes sense, but slipping into present tense for an action scene or vision is more problematic.

Of course, it can work, but treating tense as fluid unmoors it from any sense of the reader’s timeframe. If your character suddenly darts into the present, that underlines the fact that there was never really a ‘past’ in the first place. It might be worth the risk, but it definitely deserves careful consideration.

Changes in point of view are more common, with many third-person authors throwing in the odd first-person thought to give the reader some brief insight into a character’s inner workings, e.g. ‘ I don’t like this, thought Dougal’. This is a terrible habit for any number of reasons (see How To Express Your Characters’ Thoughts – With Exercises ), but mainly because it once again undermines the internal consistency and logic of your choices.

The reader needs to believe that you chose the point of view of your story for a good reason. If they can see into a character’s mind once, why can’t they do it elsewhere? There’s no good answer that doesn’t rip them out of the story, so it’s better not to raise the question.

Shifting character perspective within a story offers similar pitfalls. There needs to be a good reason for the perspective to shift, it needs to feel ‘right’, or the reader will start thinking about why it really happened. Brontë uses a central narrator to have the reader accept different viewpoints – there are a lot of them, but they all come through Lockwood. Stark, on the other hand, uses the structure of the novel to make shifting characters feel natural. Portions of the book are blocked off, presented as separate areas and making it more understandable that one might behave differently from the others.

If you shift perspective frequently, you’ll need less explanation, as the reader will accept this is simply how the story works (though it might make sense to do this early, so they catch on as soon as possible).

Again, though, getting your reader to accept this kind of decision will come naturally from thinking about it yourself. Throw a different character in on a whim (or because the story demands it), and it’ll feel unnatural. Think about it beforehand, and know why you’re doing it, and you’ll make a series of subtle choices that prep the reader.

Stark, for instance, frequently includes events that can only be explained from another character’s perspective. When this eventually occurs, it closes a circuit the reader barely realized they’d begun and feels natural.

Deciding on perspective

There are no objectively right or wrong choices when discussing perspective, but whatever you do, it should be a choice. Confront yourself with an imaginary professor and ask yourself some of these odd questions. Can you give your answers with confidence? Great, then carry on. Do they unearth a little unease, or reveal that you’ve chosen something just because it was the default option? Explore your options to be sure you’ve chosen the right one.

Have you made any odd perspective choices in your writing, or are you thinking of another author who has? Let me know in the comments. Or, if you’d rather read more about how to decide on and write perspective, check out How To Stop Your Opinion Taking Center-stage In Your Writing and How To Express Your Characters’ Thoughts – With Exercises . Or, for a reason to reconsider perspective decisions, try How And Why You Need To Recycle Writing Ideas .

• Case study , Point of view , Protagonist , World building

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Robert Wood

11 thoughts on “your complete guide to writing perspective: who, when, how”.

Now I understand the Quadrant Method. I like it. Thanks.

As for tenses, one day the past, present, and future got together: it was tense.

Haha, thanks for the comment and the joke.

Great article that was definitely food for thought. I had one counterexample to your article that immediately came to mind for me – F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night. I’d love to hear your views on how Fitzgerald succeeded or failed with this novel by going against the grain, or maybe with the grain if you disagree with me on that point.

Thanks very much. I’m afraid I’m only passingly familiar with Tender is the Night – I remember reading the first few pages a long time ago, finding a sentence I thought was absolutely fantastic, and then for some reason not continuing. It’s on my pile to revisit, but that pile is one of many.

So many great books succeed by going against the grain, or being the exception to otherwise good advice. The problem is that, when they do, many writers take that as a prompt to ignore the rules. Of course the truth is that you have to know the rules better than anyone else to subvert them in such amazing fashion.

I’m not able to print articles without a rather messy looking draft. I’ve followed all protocols eg clear browser etc etc regularly. I used to be able to print after a few changes had been made. Now, there is no printer icon choice here and that seems to be an issue perhaps? Thx for your feedback.

Thanks for letting us know about this. We’re currently looking into the issue, and should have more information shortly.

Thanks, Rob! I never had a problem until this website was updated, that is, there used to be various options appearing as a left sidebar. One included printing. When those options were removed, I can’t save as a PDF or print as clear copies. I’ve communicated with Alex, who has replied on a few occasions with the same response: that their docs appear fine, suggesting I try another computer. I’m not quite certain why a 2016 iMac wouldn’t be sufficient to at least save an article as a PDF? Seems to be a lot of trouble from my POV. Maybe that’s just me. I’ve contacted Apple Support and there isn’t anything from the software end that would cause problems ie mac OS Sierra. Thx. Paula

Well, I can give you an answer with confidence, but it’ll be confusing.

My MC is in first person, telling a story in third person, so she’s literally telling the story, and she’s an omnipotent storyteller,

Thanks for sharing, Isabelle – complex, perhaps, but it certainly seems like you’ve zeroed in on what works for your story.

I changed a storys point of view three times, it was the last one that really clicked, third person deep pov, go figure! Luckly at the time it only had tweny chapters (on an online writing site so about 10 if it was printed out)

It hurt to change it wrapping around a new pov style is so hard when using a different one. Ugg. But it was worth it, most of the cridics (other writers) and regular readers liked it. Once I got into it I loved it, it can be worth changing the pov style as breathes new life into everything.

Definitely a gruelling process, but I think your example proves that hard work and informed experimentation produce the best form of a piece.

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3a. Synthesizing Multiple Perspectives

Synthesis: putting together different perspectives.

Image: Different perspectives; rawpixel, CC0

In college writing and in any situation where you have to sift through a lot of information, you will need to critically evaluate what is useful and relevant to you, as well as separate what is true from what is not true. When you have done extensive reading or research on a topic, you’ll need to present your research clearly and concisely to your readers so that they understand all sides or aspects of an issue. Synthesizing your sources into your writing allows you to:

• demonstrate your knowledge of a topic or issue;
• make sense of different perspectives and claims on a topic or issue;
• present the most important claims or points from your sources;
• put your sources into conversation with one another to give context for your point of view and come to new insights and questions;
• and support your claim fully.

“The scholar of the first age received into him the world around; brooded thereon; gave it the new arrangement of his own mind, and uttered it again. It came into him life; it went out from him truth. It came to him short-lived actions; it went out from him immortal thoughts. It came to him business; it went from him poetry.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson, The American Scholar

What is synthesis?

When you synthesize in your writing, you are building a relationship between different ideas or sources. Synthesis means that you:

• bring together lots of information in a meaningful way
• show connections between different things
• come to new insights
• draw intriguing conclusions
• take in the world around you, and give back truth

You synthesize multiple perspectives (including your own) in an essay, and you often synthesize two or more perspectives in a paragraph. Thus, synthesis is a creative and interpretive act. How you put together different perspectives and sources will not be the same as how another writer puts them together.

“Make it work!”

Any Project Runway fans? The show has an “unconventional challenge” segment, where the designers put together a dress from different and unusual sets of materials. For example, for one challenge, they had to put together a dress with materials from a hardware store and a flower shop. In the example below, the designers use different candies to create a dress:

Synthesis in writing is like winning the unconventional challenge, and your essay is the beautifully finished piece you create by synthesizing various sources to support your overall goal. When facing any writing challenge in college, you can use the skills of critical inquiry and synthesis to meet any deadline and remember Tim Gunn’s motto – “Make it work!”

How do I synthesize?

Synthesizing sources into your writing is a juggling act. First, you want to figure out what your paragraph is doing: Is it providing information to the reader about a topic? Is it developing support and evidence for a particular claim you are making? Is it presenting a counterargument? Is it helping you to respond to a counterargument?

• If you are providing information to your reader, then multiple sources will help you to present a complete picture of the topic/issue to your reader by offering different perspectives on this topic/issue or by offering several expert sources that support a single perspective.
• If you are developing support and evidence for a particular claim or point you are making, then your sources should build upon each other. Each one should further the point of the one previously made.
• If you are using multiple sources to develop a counterargument, you can pit your sources against each other. Use one to help acknowledge an opposing viewpoint and use another to help develop your response to that viewpoint.

It is important when you are writing several different voices into a single paragraph that your voice does not get lost in the mix. Remember, an essay is about presenting and supporting your claims and ideas. Each paragraph should always make clear where you fit into the conversation.

See the next two pages for examples of synthesis paragraphs and a synthesis table.

Synthesis: Example Paragraphs

From: “what we talk about when we talk about obesity” by catherine womack for  the conversation.

Does reframing the debate help fight obesity? Yes – in fact it’s necessary, says series lead author Christina Roberto in “Patchy progress on obesity prevention: emerging examples, entrenched barriers, and new thinking.” They suggest a variety of new or retooled strategies ranging from educating health care providers about the dangers of weight stigmatization to mobilizing citizens to demand policy changes to address obesity. Their key insights are locating problems of obesity in the interactions between individuals and their environments, and breaking the vicious cycle of unhealthy food environments that reinforce preferences for those foods. But reframing is just the first step in the process of reversing the trend of obesity. Researchers also have to ask the questions that health policy makers want to hear and act on, says food and health policy expert Kelly Brownell in a commentary, co-authored with Roberto. Historian of science Naomi Oreskes says that scientists tend to follow a supply-side model of information, assuming their results will somehow naturally reach those who need it.  Brownell and Roberto underscore this error , and strongly advise obesity researchers to frame questions and convey results in ways that understandable and relevant to policy makers’ and the public. Otherwise their work will remain unheard and unused.

From: “The Persistent Myth of the Narcissistic Millennial” by Brooke Lea Foster for  The Atlantic

             Whether it’s  Time ’s 2013 cover story “The Me, Me, Me Generation” or Jeffrey Kluger’s book  The Narcissist Next Door: Understanding the Monster in Your Family, in Your Office, in Your Bed—in Your World , the same statistics are cited as proof of Millennial narcissism. In a 2008 study published in the  Journal of Personality,  San Diego State University psychology professor Jean Twenge found that narcissistic behaviors among college students studied over a 27-year period had increased significantly from the 1970s. A second study published in 2008 by the National Institutes of Health showed that 9.4 percent of 20- to 29-year-olds exhibit extreme narcissism, compared with 3.2 percent of those older than 65. But there’s a problem with all of this evidence: The data is unreliable. “It’s incredibly unfair to call Millennials narcissistic, or to say they’re more so than previous generations,” says Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, a professor of psychology at Clark University and author of  Getting to 30: A Parent’s Guide to the Twentysomething Years .  Arnett has devoted a significant amount of time and research to disproving the statistics that San Diego State’s Twenge has built a career on . He says that her assertion that narcissistic behaviors among young people have risen 30 percent is flimsy, since she’s basing it around data collected from the 40-question Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), the results of which leave quite a bit up for interpretation. For example, does agreement with statements like “I am assertive” or “I wish I were more assertive” measure narcissism, self-esteem, or leadership?

From: “Working Out the Meaning of ‘Meaningful’ Work” by Katherine Moos for  Vitae

Adam Smith believed that work forces the worker to sacrifice “his tranquility, his freedom, and his happiness.”  Karl Marx criticized Smith’s view  and believed that labor in the form of creative problem solving could indeed provide “self-realization.” (To Marx, the problem lay not in labor itself, but in the system of wage labor that exploited workers and alienated them from the creation of the final product.) A history of economic thought shows us that the progressive scorn nowadays of the do-what-you-love motto, is actually switching sides on a very old debate. Arguing that work is inherently unpleasant reinforces one of the more insidious assumptions in mainstream economics and one of the more cynical claims in our culture: that people are merely consumers trying to maximize their pleasure and minimize their pain. That sort of thinking leads managers to assume that workers are bound to shirk responsibility whenever possible, and are only motivated by money. It breeds extremely dysfunctional work environments with high surveillance and competition among co-workers. The polymath Herbert Simon has written about how workers’ sense of  identification  with the mission of an organization explains why employees actually perform the duties necessary to promote the institution’s goals, and not just pursue their self-interest as economic theory would expect.

Worksheet – Synthesis Table

Worksheet – Synthesis Table (download here)

SYNTHESIS: PUTTING DIFFERENT VOICES AND VIEWPOINTS IN CONVERSATION

Writing as Inquiry Copyright © 2021 by Kara Clevinger and Stephen Rust is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How To Write a Critical Perspective Essay

When you are faced with an essay title that incorporates the phrase “deliver a critical perspective on…”, the temptation can be to think that this means finds fault with a concept. However, in academic terms, taking a critical perspective means being able to demonstrate knowledge of different attitudes, interpretations, and viewpoints on the subject, and from this, being able to deliver a considered and informed opinion. In effect, a critical perspective essay requires to you to be able to show that there may be multiple ways to approach the main subject under discussion, but also to pick out, through analysis, which is the most viable perspective.

Sounds easy enough doesn’t it? If you follow our guide to producing the perfect critical perspective essay than yet it really is easy. An easy way to understand critical examination and thus arrive at a critical perspective is to remember that critical examination or evaluation picks out what is relevant or noteworthy to ensure understanding of how a thing (framework, hypothesis, phenomenon) works.

The aim of a persuasive essay is to convince your reader that your opinions and perspectives are correct. This can be done with a combination of emotive language and hard evidence to back up your viewpoint. You have to make the reader believe in the value of your opinion or standpoint, and sometimes to make the reader act. Fortunately, there are a number of techniques and approaches that can be used to ensure your persuasive essay presents a coherent, logical argument that cannot be denied by the reader.

In terms of structure, persuasive essays are relatively simple. Your arguments or opinions need to be clearly stated, reinforced, and backed with facts and evidence. Your summation, or conclusion should ensure that the reader is very clear about where you stand on the issue, so you need to be consistent throughout.

Planning your critical perspective essay

Stage one is identifying what it is you are being asked to critically evaluate and then take a perspective on. Typical essay titles include, “Discuss critical perspectives on the role censorship in modern music”, “Critically evaluate the main perspectives on the impact of social media on body image and state your own views on the subject”. In both cases, you are being asked to look at both sides of the argument and identify your own views.

Stage two requires identifying the key sources that will form the framework and rationale for your perspective. Whilst a critical perspective essay is essentially your own viewpoint, it is important to demonstrate how you have arrived at that view, based on research, evaluation of the evidence and an objective assessment of the facts.

Stage three draws up an outline of the arguments /points you wish to make in your essay and put them in a logical order. Chronologically works well but so does giving greater importance to key themes and then moving into sub-themes.

Writing your Critical Perspective Essay

Introduction.

Your introduction should be clear and unambiguous in stating the topic under question. Frequently a good essay will use either a clear statement (declarative) or a question which reflects the essay title. This tells the reader what you are discussing. The second part of the introduction should draw in your reader and motivate them to read more, as well as a clear statement of your own perspectives and how you intend to prove that they are correct (a thesis statement). Your introduction should conclude with a brief background to the topic and current views in the area. What this achieves is placing your work and perspective into a clear context for your reader.

The body text of your essay should have a focus of one paragraph per point / argument or topic so that the flow of information and argument is consistent. This is where an effective plan can help you clearly structure your essay. For each paragraph, you should introduce the main point/theme you are discussing before moving on to an explanation of your perspectives and why they are accurate in terms of the context of the work.

The explanation should then be followed by presentation of evidence that backs up your point of view. Here you can use quotes, statistics and other illustrative evidence but always ensure that your sources are credible and from trustworthy sources, as well as being correctly cited in the text and listed at the end of the work. An important element of every paragraph, and one most frequently missed by students is the linking of paragraphs, both to the opening statement and to the next point. Without linking the paragraphs an essay lacks cohesion and logical flow.

There are some key tips for critical perspective essay writing that help to reinforce the view you are trying to put across. These include repetition, which means making similar points in a range of ways, with different evidence. Repetition of points is not appropriate, but re-stating or reaffirming a perspective is crucial to ensuring that the reader comes to the same opinion as you.

A further valid approach is to indicate understanding of opposing perspectives. These should be stated, again with appropriate evidence from reliable sources. However, you should also add in reasons, backed by evidence as to why these perspectives are incorrect, which again reaffirms your own critical perspective.

The conclusion of your critical perspective essay should deliver a summation of all the points, bringing them together and reaffirming your original statement of opinion. A strong conclusion can ensure that your readers will be swayed by your arguments and thus take the same perspective on the issue that you have evidenced as being accurate.

Some Key phrases for a critical perspective essay

To ensure your essay is clearly persuasive, include some of the following words and phrases:

• I am certain that…
• It clearly follows that…
• Regardless…
• Although it may seem…
• Considering…. this clearly indicates that …….
• I believe that…
• By the same token…
• Furthermore…

You may also like

• What Is a Perspective Essay?

KRISTINA BARROSO

25 jun 2018.

Unless you happen to love writing, and it comes naturally to you, you probably aren’t a big fan of writing essays. If you're like most people, though, you likely do enjoy telling others what you think. Even if you don’t like to write, a perspective essay can be fun because you get to express yourself in ways that most other types of essays don’t allow. Whether you are completing an English class assignment, preparing for the essay component of a standardized test like the ACT or submitting a piece for possible publication in a media outlet, knowing how to write a quality perspective essay is a useful addition to your repertoire of skills.

Explore this article

• How to Choose a Topic for a Perspective Essay
• Perspective Essay Format

1 What Is a Perspective Essay?

A perspective essay is an opportunity to voice your thoughts and opinions on a given topic. The primary purpose of a perspective essay is to express your views and then provide adequate support for those views using concrete examples. Support and analysis of your opinions is what sets a perspective essay apart from randomly spouting your thoughts on things without bothering to back them up.

2 How to Choose a Topic for a Perspective Essay

If you have many strong opinions, it may be difficult to decide what you want to write about. The best rule of thumb when it comes to choosing a topic for a perspective essay is to select one that you genuinely care about. Something you are passionate about will be far easier to write and will likely lead to a better piece than a topic you aren’t all that interested in. Consider writing about current events that intrigue you or a controversial issue that you have strong feelings about. No matter what topic you ultimately choose, be sure to take a clear position on it. A perspective essay is not the place to be neutral. Pick a side and support it with a healthy mixture of opinion and facts.

3 Perspective Essay Format

Perspective essays typically adhere to the standard format of an introductory paragraph followed by multiple body paragraphs and a conclusion. The introduction should start out with a hook that draws in the reader and a thesis statement that outlines the most important points that the essay will focus on. Each paragraph in the body of the essay should elaborate on, and provide evidence for, each of the points mentioned in the introduction. The conclusion should summarize the essay and restate your thesis in a new way. Since a perspective essay includes your personal experiences, it should be written in the first-person point of view.

• 1 California State University at Northridge; Basics, Format, Tips
• 2 Reference: How to Write a Perspective Essay?
• 3 Study Hub: The Essay Guide: Adopting a Critical Perspective
• 4 Rutgers: Perspectives Application Essay Guidelines

About the Author

Kristina Barroso earned a B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University and works full-time as a classroom teacher in a public school. She teaches middle school English to a wide range of students from struggling readers to advanced and gifted populations. In her spare time, she loves writing articles about education for TheClassroom.com, WorkingMother and other education sites.

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How to Write a Perspective Essay?

Writing a perspective essay begins with choosing a topic, determining the thesis statement for the essay, choosing a specific point of view and backing up the essay with concrete examples, illustrations and questions. An excellent perspective essay must have a clear introduction, body and conclusion. It is advisable for the writer to edit the essay and delete any superfluous or unnecessary information.

The first step is choosing a specific topic for the essay. When defining the topic of the perspective essay, an author must dwell on a particular topic assigned. The writer can also focus on something he feels strong about or a topic he has given thought to recently. The second step is determining the thesis point of the essay. The whole description must base on the thesis statement. Additionally, a clear point of view must be used, based on the topic and narration. Perspective essays must be in first-person point of view because they concern personal experiences. The last step involves the use of examples, anecdotes or research to enable the readers to feel what the author experienced. They should communicate the writer’s perspective on the chosen topic.

The author must remember to organize the essay into a clear introduction, body and conclusion. The conclusion must rhyme with the introduction of the essay. It is imperative to edit the essay for coherence and other grammatical issues. Excellent essays must be free from unnecessary information.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, tips on writing a perspective essay.

So I have this assignment where I have to write a perspective essay on a controversial issue. Any suggestions to make it more engaging and convincing? It would be great if you guys could share your experiences too!

Writing a perspective essay on a controversial issue can be very interesting and thought-provoking. Here are some tips to make your essay engaging and convincing:

1. Pick a topic that genuinely interests you: Choose a subject that you are passionate about and have a strong opinion on. This will make it easier for you to write and will come across as more authentic to the reader.

2. Do thorough research: Understand both sides of the controversial issue and gather evidence to support your perspective. This will help you have a more informed, well-rounded opinion and will allow you to address counter-arguments effectively.

3. Write a strong thesis statement: Clearly state your perspective in the form of a thesis statement at the beginning of your essay. Ensure it is concise and specific, which will help the reader understand your position.

4. Use a mix of evidence types: Utilize a variety of evidence types - statistics, personal anecdotes, and expert opinions - to strengthen your argument. This will make your essay more engaging and persuasive.

5. Address counter-arguments: Acknowledge the opposing viewpoint and explain why your perspective is more valid or accurate. Be respectful and avoid falling into ad hominem attacks. This approach will make your essay more balanced and credible.

6. Organize your thoughts: Use clear and logical organization in your essay. Divide your essay into an introduction, body paragraphs with well-structured arguments, and a conclusion that wraps up your points and restates your thesis.

7. Be concise and clear: Use short sentences, precise language, and avoid jargon. Clarity in your writing will make it easier for readers to understand and follow your argument.

8. Revise and edit your essay: Revisit your essay multiple times to ensure it is polished, well-written, and free of errors. Be open to feedback from others. Peer reviews and teacher feedback can be invaluable in improving your essay.

As for personal experiences, I once wrote a perspective essay on the merits and drawbacks of standardized testing in education. I chose this topic because I felt passionate about it and had firsthand experience with its impact. By incorporating personal anecdotes, researching extensively, and addressing counter-arguments, I was able to construct a compelling essay that successfully conveyed my viewpoint.

Best of luck with your perspective essay! Remember to stay true to your beliefs while also acknowledging and addressing counter-arguments. This will not only make your essay engaging, but also more persuasive.

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How to Write in the Second Person Point of View: Definition & Examples

by Alex Cabal

Learning how to write in the second-person point of view offers a powerful and unique way of connecting with your readers. By breaking down the fourth wall and addressing the reader directly, you make the reader feel like they’re living in the world of your story.

We’ll illuminate the nuances of second person by defining this elusive narrative choice, exploring how it compares to other viewpoints in fiction writing, and looking at examples of stories and books that have used second-person point of view successfully.

Here’s a quick example of second-person point of view to get started:

Your eyes drink in the page as you read an article to learn how to write in the second-person point of view. Maybe you’re wondering, are you strong enough to master this wild card of the writing craft? Is second person the best way for you to tell your story? You feel the tension in your shoulders ease. Finally, you begin to believe there is hope for your fiction writing. You decide to read the full article in order to learn how to master this interesting choice of perspective.

What is the second-person point of view?

Second-person point of view (or PoV) is a literary technique in which the author creates a sense of intimacy by directly addressing the reader or audience as “you.” It’s an uncommon perspective that treats the protagonist as if they’re in the real world. Second-person PoV stories allow the reader to immerse and live fully in the world of your story.

By writing in the second-person narrative voice and speaking directly to the reader, you immerse them in the plot as if they’re experiencing it for real.

So you, as the writer, must craft a narrative where the reader feels as if they’re telling their own tale. It’s a very intimate and close approach to writing a story, and when done well, can be a unique, nontraditional, and immersive experience.

Because there’s no distinction between the reader and the character, this perspective can be difficult to master and calls for a lot of trust from your audience. They want to know that even if you take them deep into danger and darkness, you’ll bring them back out safely by the end.

First, second, third, and fourth-person point of view

You have four narrative choices when selecting which point of view to use for your story. Each of these uses different word choices within the text to position the reader’s perspective.

First person PoV: “ I rode the bicycle.”

Second person PoV: “ You rode the bicycle.”

Third person PoV: “ He rode the bicycle.”

Fourth person PoV: “ We rode the bicycles.”

The point of view can change the tone of an entire piece. The most common points of view in literature are third and first, or the habitual “He, she, they” and “I.” But every once in a while we’re tempted to reach for second person, or “You,” to address readers. Consider the following examples:

First person vs. second person:

First-person point of view: “Walking down the path, I come to a fork. No signs are telling me where to go, so I decide to take the path to the beach.”

Second-person point of view: “You walk down the path and come to a fork. There are no signs to tell you where to go, so you decide to take the path to the beach.”

Second person vs. third person:

Second person: “You asked him whether he really meant it when he told you he thought your sister resembled a vulgar manatee.”

Third person: “Jen asked Adam if he really meant it when he said that he thought her sister resembled a vulgar manatee.”

Second-person point of view is a powerful perspective with the ability to influence your reader in ways that first and third person can’t. As you can see in the previous examples, second person puts the reader directly into the action— you chose the path to the beach; you asked him the question.

Is the second-person point of view an omniscient point of view?

In general, the second-person view in a fictional story is omniscient.

With “you” as the authoritative voice of the story, the reader is seeing and understanding everything directly from the main character’s perspective. But the reader isn’t the narrator—they’re the protagonist. The narrator is someone who can see and hear everything the main character is thinking.

However, this doesn’t mean you can’t surprise your reader! The narrator knows everything about this world—but they may hold some information back until the very end.

Why choose second-person point of view?

Using a second person voice within a story narrows the gap between the narrative and the reader. When done successfully the reader feels as if they’re fully present within the story, and are experiencing it first-hand.

Reasons for choosing the second-person perspective include:

Immersion : In a second-person narrative, the reader becomes the heart of the story. Rather than having a world and its events described to them, the reader gets to actually live it.

Interaction : This is generally done with “choose your own adventure” novels, where the writer constructs a second-person narration that allows the reader to make choices for how the story will unfold.

Instruction : Other forms of second-person point of view may include directions for how to do something, such as a tutorial that walks the reader through a series of steps.

Advantages of second-person point of view

A few advantages of second-person writing include:

The intimacy of the second-person narrative voice can encourage a reader to deeply empathize with the story, and maybe even offer them an experience from a new perspective they may not have encountered otherwise.

A second-person perspective can create a highly immersive, sensory experience for the reader, as they see themselves directly experiencing the story the writer has created.

Because stories are not often told in second-person point of view, this perspective can be a unique and engaging experience for your readers. It can distinguish your story from the work of other writers and make the act of reading it incredibly powerful and memorable.

Second-person point of view provides writers the opportunity to try on and explore a new perspective and style of writing. Writing from a perspective that you’re not familiar with can be a great way to enhance your writing skills and force you to stretch outside your creative comfort zone.

Disadvantages of second-person point of view

A few disadvantages of second-person writing include:

Some readers may be uncomfortable with second-person point of view. It can require a level of empathy and imagination that not all readers are willing to invest in—some readers want to be told a story rather than experience one.

If your reader dislikes your narrator or the voice of either the protagonist or the narrator, they’ll immediately disengage with the story. There is less room for nuance than there is with third or even first-person characters. If the reader dislikes the choices the character makes, they may struggle to empathize with or invest in the story at all. In this instance, third-person point of view may be a better choice.

Reaching publication for a second-person work can be challenging. Professional editors and publishers may be wary of any book told from this perspective, as it is an uncommon narrative choice that readers may not be familiar with or prepared to commit to.

Tips for writing in second-person point of view

Consider the following tips when writing a second person narrative:

Avoid repetitive language and overusing the second-person pronoun “you.” It may help to break up some of the text with the imperative form—that is, instructing the reader to take the next step in the story. For example:

Explicit example: “You look out the window at the snow-covered mountains.”

Implied example: “Look out the window at the snow-covered mountains.”

Consider using present tense in your writing. Present tense makes the story feel more immediate and engaging, rather than reflective.

Make sure to adhere to the old adage “ show and not tell ” to develop a highly rich sensory experience for the reader that they can see, feel, and imagine themselves in.

A second-person perspective may be best suited to short stories, rather than long-form work. Try getting comfortable in this type of writing in a smaller space before attempting it in a larger one.

Play with using different points of view in different chapters and with different characters to create a highly dynamic and complex story. For example, in a crime or thriller novel, you may use the second-person PoV to describe the actions and thoughts of the person who committed the murder, and third-person PoV for the detective who is solving the mystery.

Ensure that the narrator is a full-fledged character with a rich and detailed identity. If your second-person narrator is doing things and making choices, your reader, as that character, will want to empathize and better understand the motivations, preferences, goals, and driving forces for those choices and actions.

Stream of consciousness writing—or an inner monologue that tells a story—can be an effective technique when crafting a second-person narrative. This is used to explore the inner workings of a character’s mind and describe actions as they unfold.

Should you write your story in second person?

Second-person narration is an unusual and rewarding tool in fiction writing, but it may not be the right choice for every story. Here are a few things to consider when searching for the perfect narrative voice.

The length and scope of your story

Are you writing a short story, poem, novella, novel, or book series? How much time, space, and characterization will this plot encompass? Second-person language is effective for drawing a reader into your writing, but it can be demanding and draining on them as well.

Readers naturally think in first-person pronouns—“I’m exhausted”—or third-person pronouns—“He’s exhausting.” The pronoun “you” can feel jarring or alienating, which is why it should be used with care.

This is why the trick of interspersing second-person point of view with third- or first-person narration can be an effective way to engage this narrative voice. It breaks up the unusual PoV choice in a compelling and manageable way.

If you’re writing an entire novel that remains focused on just one character all the way through to the end, a first-person perspective or a third-person limited point of view might be a stronger choice.

Your story’s effect on the reader’s emotions

What are you trying to achieve by using this narrative point of view? A fiction writer can use both first and second person to have a conversation with the reader, while third person keeps the reader at a distance.

The second-person narrative voice takes the intimacy of first-person narrative even further—in this narrative point of view, there is no distance between the reader and the story. Your reader isn’t just watching the plot happen—they’re living it. This can take them to some uncomfortable places as the narrator describes their own actions back to them, but it can also offer a sharp and visceral reading experience.

Your story’s message and underlying theme

Using second person can be a great way to encourage the reader to examine their own preconceptions and biases. The reader starts to ask themselves, “Would I really make this choice?” “What would I do if this happened to me?”

By bringing them so directly into the piece, you engage them on a conscious level with the material. This is especially useful for things like political or social commentary.

At its foundational level, second-person PoV serves as an invitation for the reader to come fully into a piece with all of their baggage, all of their expectations, and, for a moment, to become fully immersed as a character in the work.

Examples of second-person point of view in novels

For a deeper look at using second-person PoV in writing, let’s look at a couple famous examples of books that have effectively used this technique.

The Dark by John McGahern

John McGahern’s short novel is a depressing portrait of a young boy growing up in Ireland. Half of the chapters are written in second person while the rest are split between third and first, with a smattering of chapters where the voice is so passive it doesn’t even seem to have a perspective. And the chapters aren’t chosen at random, either; each change in PoV serves a purpose.

The first-person chapters, which account for only three out of the thirty chapters, are all ones where Mahoney, the young protagonist, is enjoying himself.

The third-person chapters are all instances of brutal humiliation, failure and abuse.

The second-person chapters are all instances where Mahoney is trying to amp himself up or change his life.

McGahern juggles these viewpoints to alternately distance his protagonist and the reader from the horrors of the book, then invite the reader into Mahoney’s head to witness his pleasures and growth.

This is a perfect example of using contrasting points of view to enhance a novel. It’s an effective tool and really works to highlight the emotional turmoil of Mahoney’s life by inviting the reader to experience the protagonist’s struggle to defend himself, and his eventual triumph. At the same time, the third-person chapters serve to show Mahoney’s trauma while not overwhelming the reader with it.

Redshirts by John Scalzi

A more consistent use of second person is in the “codas” of John Scalzi’s Redshirts .

After the novel’s plot finishes, the reader is presented with a series of short stories—codas—following one of the minor characters through the aftermath of the novel, and each in a different point of view. One of these follows a young man who was in a coma for the entirety of the novel, and is just now coming awake to realize that things don’t exactly add up.

Having constructed the piece in second person, Scalzi invites the reader into the novel to directly experience the rude awakening of this supporting player. And it works as a fun device to more fully integrate the audience into the reading experience and vividly reflect his confusion and curiosity.

A few more books that use the second-person PoV include:

The Malady of Death , by Marguerite Duras

Bright Lights, Big City , by Jay McInerney

Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas , by Tom Robbins

Stolen , by Lucy Christopher

How to Become a Writer , by Lorrie Moore

Examples of second-person point of view in short stories

Short stories are a faster read, allowing you to gain an insight into how different authors approach the second-person point of view. Consider the following short stories as a starting point for more context, and for understanding how you can incorporate the second person PoV into your own story or novel.

“A Cure for Ghosts,” by Eden Royce

“All the Colors You Thought Were Kings,” by Arkady Martine

“Black Box,” by Jennifer Egan

“Conversation of Shadows,” by Yoon Ha Lee

“Little Man,” by Michael Cunningham

“Chimeras,” by Jae Steinbacher

“On the Day You Spend Forever With Your Dog,” By Adam R. Shannon

“The Sorcerer’s Unattainable Gardens,” by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor

And just for fun, here is a list of second-person point of view children’s books:

Princess Island , by Shannon Gilligan

Song of the Old City , by Anna Pellicioli

It’s Up to You, Abe Lincoln: How I Made the Biggest Decisions of My Life , by Tom and Leila Hirshfeld

The Cave of Time , by Edward Packard

Space and Beyond , by R. A. Montgomery

Use second person to push the limits of your writing

Whether you’re approaching a short story, novella, novel, exploring poetry or song lyrics, or just looking elevate your business writing, second-person perspective can be an exciting and genre-bending narrative technique. You can smash through walls between you and the reader in ways that are out of reach with other points of view.

In your next writing session, try stretching your creative muscles with second-person PoV.

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How to Write an Expository Essay | Structure, Tips & Examples

Published on July 14, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

“Expository” means “intended to explain or describe something.” An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a particular topic, process, or set of ideas. It doesn’t set out to prove a point, just to give a balanced view of its subject matter.

Expository essays are usually short assignments intended to test your composition skills or your understanding of a subject. They tend to involve less research and original arguments than argumentative essays .

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Table of contents

When should you write an expository essay, how to approach an expository essay, introducing your essay, writing the body paragraphs, concluding your essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about expository essays.

In school and university, you might have to write expository essays as in-class exercises, exam questions, or coursework assignments.

Sometimes it won’t be directly stated that the assignment is an expository essay, but there are certain keywords that imply expository writing is required. Consider the prompts below.

The word “explain” here is the clue: An essay responding to this prompt should provide an explanation of this historical process—not necessarily an original argument about it.

Sometimes you’ll be asked to define a particular term or concept. This means more than just copying down the dictionary definition; you’ll be expected to explore different ideas surrounding the term, as this prompt emphasizes.

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An expository essay should take an objective approach: It isn’t about your personal opinions or experiences. Instead, your goal is to provide an informative and balanced explanation of your topic. Avoid using the first or second person (“I” or “you”).

The structure of your expository essay will vary according to the scope of your assignment and the demands of your topic. It’s worthwhile to plan out your structure before you start, using an essay outline .

A common structure for a short expository essay consists of five paragraphs: An introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Like all essays, an expository essay begins with an introduction . This serves to hook the reader’s interest, briefly introduce your topic, and provide a thesis statement summarizing what you’re going to say about it.

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

In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.

The body of your essay is where you cover your topic in depth. It often consists of three paragraphs, but may be more for a longer essay. This is where you present the details of the process, idea or topic you’re explaining.

It’s important to make sure each paragraph covers its own clearly defined topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Different topics (all related to the overall subject matter of the essay) should be presented in a logical order, with clear transitions between paragraphs.

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

The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

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The conclusion of an expository essay serves to summarize the topic under discussion. It should not present any new information or evidence, but should instead focus on reinforcing the points made so far. Essentially, your conclusion is there to round off the essay in an engaging way.

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

The invention of the printing press was important not only in terms of its immediate cultural and economic effects, but also in terms of its major impact on politics and religion across Europe. In the century following the invention of the printing press, the relatively stationary intellectual atmosphere of the Middle Ages gave way to the social upheavals of the Reformation and the Renaissance. A single technological innovation had contributed to the total reshaping of the continent.

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An expository essay is a broad form that varies in length according to the scope of the assignment.

Expository essays are often assigned as a writing exercise or as part of an exam, in which case a five-paragraph essay of around 800 words may be appropriate.

You’ll usually be given guidelines regarding length; if you’re not sure, ask.

An expository essay is a common assignment in high-school and university composition classes. It might be assigned as coursework, in class, or as part of an exam.

Sometimes you might not be told explicitly to write an expository essay. Look out for prompts containing keywords like “explain” and “define.” An expository essay is usually the right response to these prompts.

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

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More From Forbes

Beyond the obvious: how perspective taking and strategic coaching questions can ignite creative breakthroughs.

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Founder of Brainsparker App & Academy , experts in coaching managers and team leaders to create, innovate, and lead the next frontier.

Technology, culture and business are evolving at a breakneck pace, bringing a barrage of unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Organizations need to be just as dynamic to disrupt the obvious and address these new problems head-on with breakthrough ideas.

Fortunately, leaders have a powerful tool at their fingertips to quickly ignite radical thinking in their teams: perspective taking.

What Is Perspective Taking?

The APA Dictionary of Psychology defines perspective taking as “looking at a situation from a viewpoint that is different from one’s usual viewpoint.”

When you view a problem or challenge, your unique perspective is shaped by your experiences, emotions, beliefs and existing knowledge. Perspective taking involves accepting that you’re seeing something through that very specific lens, and then forcing yourself to consciously look at it through a different lens.

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This can range from reframing a problem in a novel way that shortcircuits your traditional ways of thinking to making an educated guess about how someone else might see the same situation.

Extensive research by a team of academics at the University of Pennsylvania has uncovered strong links between perspective and creative thinking. Their results showed that taking an alternative perspective activates your “mentalizing network,” the parts of your brain related to understanding others. In addition, your “default mode network” is activated, triggering your imagination and uncovering options you wouldn’t usually think about.

Why Perspective Taking Matters For Leaders

As neuroscience suggests, perspective taking can be a key driver of creativity at work and a valuable leadership skill for challenging and motivating your team to adopt more radical thinking.

For example, being able to step into the shoes of your customer can reveal invaluable insights about their pain points and opportunities to add value. In this case, if you relied on your perspective alone, you might unintentionally deprioritize aspects that are important for your customers because they aren’t ones you’re personally drawn to.

Challenging your own, and your team’s, perspective helps dispel assumptions about the problem you’re trying to solve and what your solution should look like. When you step back from the emotions and receive wisdom that might be obstructing radical thinking, your creative brain has more freedom to explore and uncover new possibilities.

Mastering The Three Skills Of Perspective Taking

Stepping outside the comfort of your own perspective takes discipline and practice. These three skills will set you up for success.

1. Self-Awareness

You need to constantly remind yourself that your perspective is inherently biased. Due to a concept called naive realism , you’ll tend to believe that you perceive the world as it truly is, meaning any contrary perspectives and opinions feel objectively “wrong.”

2. Active Listening

Perspective taking isn’t mind reading—you need information and data about someone else’s perspective to help expand your imagination. Being engaged and empathetic while they’re talking will encourage them to share what they’re truly thinking.

3. Asking Questions

Getting into the habit of asking strategic questions that start with “what” and “how” will encourage you to probe beyond your current perspective. As Hal Gregersen put it for Harvard Business Review : “Fresh questions often beget novel—even transformative—insights.”

Putting Perspective Taking Into Practice

Here are some of my favorite exercises and coaching questions to experiment with, either by yourself or with your team.

Traveling The Timeline

Your current perspective usually has a lot to do with where you are in the present moment, so experimenting with timelines is a great place to start.

What happens if you ...

• Rewind: How would your past self have viewed this situation? Alternatively, can you trace the root of the problem to what started it?

• Zoom Out: Right now you’re in the midst of the situation, completely focused on finding your way around obstacles and trying to reach the next milestone. Try taking a bird’s-eye view of the present instead.

• Fast-Forward: Picture the future. What does an ideal outcome look like? What are your hopes for the project once it’s out in the world?

Empathizing To Understand

Ask yourself how other people might view the problem you’re grappling with, and then try looking through their eyes.

• How would your customer see it?

• How would your key stakeholders see it?

• How would your competitors see it?

Posing As Personas

Perspective taking can be playful, and adopting a ready-made persona from history or fiction is an easy way to tap into that lighter mood. Think about how someone else would approach your current problem and why.

• What would a historical figure like Mother Teresa have to say about this situation?

• Alternatively, get fictional. How would a hero like Superman go about saving the day here? How would an alien from Mars respond?

Getting Metaphorical

I’ve found that metaphors can be a very useful tool for making intangible concepts more concrete and relatable especially in groups.

Think about ...

• If your problem was a football game, what would the captain’s strategy be?

• If your current situation were a movie, what would the title be, and how would the storyline play out?

Perspective taking is a powerful approach to fuel innovation and breakthrough ideas by forcing you to look at problems through fresh eyes. It will encourage you and your team to adopt an exploratory and agile mindset that will quickly push past the obvious and reveal the radical.

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Journalist Asaf Elia-Shalev To Offer a New Perspective on History

Media Contacts: Kaley Block, [email protected] , or Carmen Ramos Chandler, [email protected] , (818) 677-2130

Israeli-American journalist Asaf Elia-Shalev will discuss his most recent publication, “Israel’s Black Panthers: The Radicals who Punctured a Nation’s Founding Myth” on Tuesday, April 9, at California State University, Northridge.

The event will take place from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the University Library ’s Jack & Florence Ferman Presentation Room. Light refreshments will be provided.

Elia-Shalev works for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, a non-profit newsroom that has covered issues of Jewish concern around the world for more than a hundred years. Elia-Shalev’s reporting focuses on matters of importance related to the Jewish community worldwide. His interest in the Israeli Black Panthers began as a college student exploring his Mizrahi Jewish roots and learning about the legacy of the original Black Panther Party from Oakland, Calif.

His book tells the story of Moroccan Israeli Jews who challenged their country’s political status quo and rebelled against the ethnic hierarchy of Israeli life in the 1970s. Inspired by the American group of the same name, the Black Panthers mounted protests and a yearslong political campaign for the rights of Mizrahim, or Jews of Middle Eastern ancestry.

“There are many messages. I think one of the most important ones is just bringing attention to a chapter of history that is often obscured,” said José Luis Benavides, professor of journalism and director of the Tom & Ethel Bradley Center .

“This story investigates many of the misunderstandings that people have about Israel and the foundation of Israel,” he continued. “The assumption is that that country was created only for the Jewish people from Europe – they call Ashkenazi – but Mizrahim or Mizrahi Jewish from the Middle East and North Africa were also encouraged to migrate to Israel, although they were discriminated against.”

Elia-Shalev’s book draws on archival documents and interviews with elderly activists to capture the movement’s history and reveal little-known stories from within the group. Elia-Shalev explores the parallels between the Israeli and American Black Panthers, offering a unique perspective on the global struggle against racism and oppression.

“In many ways the story that Asaf’s telling really is breaking – as the subtitle of the book says – the myth of the establishment of Israel,” said Benavides. “The topic is about the creation of the State of Israel and the treatment of a population that has been disenfranchised. In addition, this story offers people the opportunity to learn about the global impact of the American Black Panthers.” Both of Elia-Shalev’s parents are CSUN alumni and the topic intersects with the Tom & Ethel Bradley Center’s Black Power project. Event sponsors include: the Tom & Ethel Bradley Center, the University Library , the College of Humanities and Departments of History , Jewish Studies and Journalism .

Requests for accommodation services must be made at least five business days in advance. Please email [email protected] to do so. To RSVP for the event visit, https://library.csun.edu/events/israels-black-panthers .

Media Contact: [email protected] or Carmen Ramos Chandler [email protected] (818) 677-2130

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