Essays, as Aldous Huxley quipped, are a “literary device for saying almost everything about almost anything.” They can be short or long, serious or funny. Defining them precisely is challenging, but understanding their essence is key to mastering the art of essay writing. This guide provides a framework for crafting effective and engaging essays.
Here’s a working definition: Essays are written in a personal voice, explore a journey (physical, emotional, or intellectual), and resonate with the reader, not just the writer. Like scientific inquiry, essay writing begins with a question and culminates in a provisional conclusion, contributing to an ongoing dialogue.
Essays are not rants, news reports, or formulaic five-paragraph assignments. They are a particularly relevant form in the digital age, enabling writers to provide context and analysis beyond simple information conveyance.
Starting with a Question
Essays often spring from a “turning in my head,” as Kathleen Jamie describes it – a persistent question that propels a journey of discovery. This journey then shapes the essay’s structure. For example, an essay might explore:
- “Why are experienced climate journalists grumpier about the Paris climate agreement than I am?”
- “Does ‘clean coal’ technology have a role in a low-carbon future?”
- “Why did I fly across the ocean to see Benedict Cumberbatch play Hamlet?”
Through research and writing, these personal questions broaden into universal themes relevant to a wider audience.
The Three-Act Structure
Screenwriter John Yorke argues that most stories follow a three-act structure:
- Act 1: The protagonist enters a new world.
- Act 2: The protagonist struggles against an opposing force.
- Act 3: The protagonist integrates old and new perspectives.
In essays, the writer acts as the protagonist, grappling not with a villain but with an existing narrative or assumption. The essayist “returns” with a new perspective—a revised understanding of the world.
This is evident in critical essays analyzing films or plays. Jamie’s “Pathologies” questions the assumption that humans are supposed to connect with nature. Alan Lightman’s “A Scientist Dying Young” examines the narrative that his research career has peaked. Heather Abel’s “How to Stop a Tsunami in Three Easy Steps” challenges predictable reactions to fear in children. Stephen Ornes’ “Archimedes in the Fence” reveals mathematical beauty in a common pest.
Essays as Stories About Stories
Essays are stories that examine other stories. While science tests our understanding of the physical world, essays question and often overturn our assumptions about ourselves. They allow us to explore complex ideas and present arguments in a compelling and engaging manner.
Writing Your Own Essay
To write a compelling essay:
- Identify a Triggering Question: What persistent question sparks your curiosity?
- Recognize the Existing Story: What assumption or narrative will you be challenging?
Through research, interviews, and introspection, a new story will emerge. Your task is to share this new story in a way that engages and informs your readers, offering them a fresh perspective on the world.
Michelle Nijhuis is the author of The Science Writers’ Essay Handbook: How to Craft Compelling True Stories in Any Medium. Her essays on science and the environment can be found in The New Yorker’s blog Elements, The Last Word on Nothing, and elsewhere.
