A whole library of possibilities.
534 examples and lessons to explore. Find an approach, follow the thinking, and try it in your own writing.
Helping Others Without Taking Away Their Independence
A developed argument that effective support combines care with respect for the recipient’s preferences, using hypothetical examples to distinguish emotional support from practical help.
Wilderness Preservation or Economic Development?
An argument that governments should generally preserve wilderness, allowing development only when it respects existing land rights, has a strong public justification, and avoids unacceptable lasting damage.
Wuthering Heights: Catherine’s Memory and Heathcliff’s Grief
An analysis of how Catherine’s remembered presence shapes Heathcliff’s grief, his response to her ghostly return, and the novel’s portrayal of love as destructive fixation.
Trust and Skepticism Toward New Leaders
An argument that people should begin with measured skepticism toward new leaders, then adjust their confidence according to evidence of competence, accountability, and respect for public or institutional purposes.
European Art from 1450 to 1700: The Most Significant Change
An argument that expanding naturalistic representation was the period’s most consequential artistic change because it reshaped how artists constructed space and engaged viewers across different subjects and settings.
Why the U.S. Electricity Mix Cannot Change Overnight
An evidence-based explanation of why changing the U.S. electricity mix takes time: existing equipment, different generation technologies, continuing electricity needs, and the practical responsibilities of a reliable transition all matter.
Should Colleges End Legacy Admissions Preferences?
An argument that colleges should end preferential admissions for alumni children while preserving meaningful ways for alumni to support their institutions.
Are Outdoor Activities Better Than Indoor Recreation?
An argumentative essay weighing the health and enjoyment of outdoor recreation against weather, access, disability, and the value of indoor activities.
How Should Families Discuss Teenagers' Use of AI Chatbots?
An explanatory essay arguing that families should make practical agreements about chatbot verification, privacy, schoolwork and well-being, while distinguishing reported adoption from evidence about individual experiences.
Should Art and Music Be Required School Subjects?
An argumentative essay defending a place for arts education in a broad curriculum while distinguishing its educational value from unsupported claims about test-score effects.
Should Affordable Housing Be Treated as Essential Infrastructure?
An evidence-based argument that affordable housing should be treated as essential infrastructure, with public investment tied to access, affordability, and long-term accountability.
The New Deal and Working-Class Political Change
An essay explains how Cohen’s account connects Chicago workers’ political participation and Democratic support with expectations of greater federal responsibility, using the Social Security Act as a separate development of the New Deal era.