Examples that show the thinking.
534 examples and lessons to explore. Find an approach, follow the thinking, and try it in your own writing.
Appealing Images Versus Truth in Contemporary Society: GRE Issue Essay
An argumentative essay arguing that contemporary society often rewards compelling images, but that presentation is valuable when it clarifies reality rather than substituting for it.
Women’s Reform and the Temperance Campaign, 1800–1940
An explanatory essay situating the 1874 “Woman’s Holy War” in the history of women’s reform, then tracing the continuing belief that moral and social problems could be addressed through organized civic action and government policy.
GRE Issue Essay on Praising Positive Actions in Teaching
An argument that praise can motivate and reinforce constructive behavior, but teaching is most effective when encouragement is paired with specific, proportionate correction.
Cities and the Preservation of Cultural Traditions
An argument that cities are important cultural centers but cannot alone originate or preserve a nation’s traditions. Historical examples show how public institutions can extend cultural work beyond metropolitan centers, while also revealing that institutions may distribute opportunity unequally.
Why Housing Affordability Is Also a Community Problem
An explanatory essay showing how housing costs can affect community stability and participation, while distinguishing documented evidence from reasonable interpretation and acknowledging limits.
GRE Argument: Should Colleges Discourage Students from Fields Where They May Struggle?
An argumentative essay takes the position that colleges should help students assess difficulty and build realistic plans, but should not discourage them from a field merely because they appear unlikely to succeed. It weighs student well-being, institutional responsibilities, and equitable access.
Pip’s Guilt and Self-Deception in Great Expectations
An analysis of how Pip’s shame about his origins damages his relationship with Joe, and how Joe’s care helps Pip recognize the moral cost of his ambition.
Fear-Based Persuasion: When Scaring People Backfires
An evidence-based argument that fear can prompt attention but often provokes resentment when it overwhelms agency, credibility, or shared purpose. Warnings are more effective when they identify a real risk and offer constructive action.
GRE Practice: Does Formal Education Free the Mind?
An evidence-based argument that formal education can expand knowledge and opportunity, but its liberating effect depends on who can access it, what it teaches, and how institutions confront the limits built into their histories.
Jane Eyre’s Memories of Lowood and Moral Growth
An essay arguing that Jane’s years at Lowood teach her to distinguish principled discipline from unjust control, shaping her responses to authority and her later moral choices.
GRE Argument: Should Children with Special Talents Receive Early Training?
A qualified argument for offering early, focused training to children who show particular interests or abilities, provided identification remains flexible and opportunity is broadly accessible.
Should Students Compare Career Training and College Before Borrowing?
An argument that students should compare career training and college before borrowing, weighing actual costs, financial aid, educational fit, and loan terms without treating one route as universally best.