A whole library of possibilities.
534 examples and lessons to explore. Find an approach, follow the thinking, and try it in your own writing.
Pride and Prejudice: Why Marriage Matters to Its Characters
An analysis of how marriage in Jane Austen’s novel is at once an economic necessity, a measure of character, and the outcome of Elizabeth Bennet’s moral education.
Can Laws Solve Problems Rooted in People’s Beliefs?
An argument that law cannot by itself change private convictions, but can constrain conduct and redesign institutions—sometimes protecting people, and sometimes giving prejudice the force of government.
Does Formal Education Limit Intellectual Freedom?
An evidence-based argument that formal education can constrain students when institutions restrict inquiry or distribute learning unequally, but that access to structured education more often expands intellectual freedom when students can question and use what they learn.
Frankenstein: The Creature’s Appeal to Victor as Creator
An analysis of how the Creature’s appeal to Victor through the figures of Adam and the fallen angel turns their encounter into a dispute about creation, responsibility, and the consequences of refusing sympathy.
Principle and Compromise in Political Leadership
An argument that political leadership needs a principled foundation, while compromise and responsiveness are essential tools when they serve legitimate ends.
GRE Issue Essay on Praise and Corrective Feedback
An argument that effective teaching combines specific encouragement with timely, respectful correction rather than relying exclusively on praise or ignoring mistakes.
Frankenstein: Victor’s Knowledge of Justine’s Innocence
An analysis of how the trial of Justine Moritz exposes the conflict between Victor Frankenstein’s private knowledge and his public silence.
Accessible Elections Benefit More Than One Group of Voters
An explanatory essay on how accessible voting systems and information can serve voters with disabilities while also strengthening the election process for others, and why access still requires sustained attention.
The Picture of Dorian Gray: Art, Influence, and the Portrait
An analysis of how Wilde uses the portrait to connect artistic creation with personal influence and to unsettle the boundary between art and life.
Should Voting Be Mandatory in the United States?
An argument that the United States should encourage, but not require, eligible citizens to vote, weighing representation and civic engagement against personal choice, enforcement costs, and uninformed ballots.
Elizabeth Bennet’s Prejudice Against Darcy: Is It Justified?
An analysis of how Elizabeth’s understandable anger at Darcy becomes prejudice, and how both characters must reconsider judgments shaped by pride and social position.
Politicians and Public Judgment: Are Government Experts Better Informed?
An evidence-based argument that political expertise can improve decisions but does not by itself make officials better judges than the public. The essay weighs specialized knowledge against public experience and democratic accountability.