how to write an essay about my daughter

Essay on Daughter

Students are often asked to write an essay on Daughter in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Daughter

The essence of daughters.

Daughters are the heart of a family. They bring joy, love, and a unique perspective to our lives. They are the bearers of compassion, empathy, and understanding.

Daughters as Caregivers

Daughters often take on the role of caregivers. They look after their parents, siblings, and later, their own families. They are the emotional backbone, providing comfort and support.

Daughters as Achievers

Daughters are achievers. They excel in various fields, be it academics, sports, or arts. They strive to make their families proud and contribute to society.

In conclusion, daughters are a precious gift. They enrich our lives in countless ways, making the world a better place.

250 Words Essay on Daughter

The quintessence of a daughter.

In the tapestry of human relationships, the role of a daughter is multifaceted, embodying a myriad of identities. She is a beacon of hope, a source of strength, and a symbol of continuity.

Daughters as Catalysts of Change

Daughters are catalysts for change in society. They challenge norms and break barriers, redefining boundaries and expectations. The education and empowerment of daughters have led to societal transformations, heralding an era of gender equality and women’s rights.

The Emotional Pillar

Daughters often serve as emotional pillars within families. They provide support, empathy, and understanding, fostering a nurturing environment. This emotional intelligence, inherent in daughters, is a cornerstone for building harmonious familial relationships.

Daughters and Legacy

As bearers of legacy, daughters carry forward familial traditions and values, ensuring their perpetuity. They are the threads that weave together generations, ensuring continuity and preserving heritage.

The Power of a Daughter’s Perspective

A daughter’s perspective enriches the family dynamic, offering a unique lens through which to view the world. This perspective, which is often different from that of other family members, contributes to a more balanced and comprehensive understanding of life.

500 Words Essay on Daughter

The multifaceted role of a daughter.

The role of a daughter in a family is multifaceted and complex, encompassing elements of care, emotional support, and continuity of family traditions. A daughter is not merely a female offspring, but an integral part of the family fabric, contributing to its growth, development, and sustainability.

The Daughter as a Caregiver

Historically, daughters have been positioned as caregivers within the family structure. This role is not confined to physical care alone but extends to emotional and psychological support. Daughters often play a pivotal part in nurturing relationships within the family, fostering a sense of unity and cohesion. They are frequently the ones who mediate conflicts, lend a listening ear, and provide comfort in times of distress.

The Daughter as a Torchbearer of Tradition

The daughter as an agent of change.

In the contemporary world, the daughter’s role is not limited to the confines of the family. Many daughters are now active participants in the social, economic, and political spheres, challenging traditional gender roles and norms. They serve as agents of change, advocating for gender equality, women’s rights, and social justice. This extends the daughter’s influence beyond the family, impacting the wider community and society.

The Daughter as a Symbol of Empowerment

The daughter’s role in the family and society also serves as a symbol of female empowerment. Her achievements in various fields, whether academic, professional, or personal, are a testament to her capabilities and potential. They challenge patriarchal notions of female inferiority and dependency, demonstrating the strength, resilience, and independence of women.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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FindYourMomTribe » Parenting » Motherhood

A Proud Letter To My Daughter: This Is What I Want You To Know

By Author Ivana Davies

Posted on Last updated: October 29, 2021

Last night, I couldn’t help but look at my little girl in awe at how hardworking and focused she was. There are so many things I want her to know, which is why I’ve decided to write a proud letter to my daughter.

Generally, I’m a positive person, but lately, I’ve been pondering the brevity of life. Does my daughter know how much I love her? Have I been able to instill in her the core values that I pray she lives by?

God knows I tell her how much she means to me on a regular basis. But if something were to happen and suddenly, I was gone, how would she cope?

I can’t exactly just leave my little girl with a quote . That wouldn’t describe all my feelings toward her properly.

This is why I’ve written a beautiful letter that will hopefully help steer her in the right direction, even on the most challenging days.

I want my baby girl to know the importance of hard work, honesty, integrity, and most importantly – self-worth.

I want her to live an authentic, unapologetic life even if one day, I’m no longer there to guide her.

It saddens me profusely when I think about not being by her side during monumental moments of her life.

While I pray we navigate it side by side, here’s a letter to my daughter encompassing everything I want her to know about life.

Dear daughter,

I’ll never forget the first time I held you in my arms. I was so young and scared, but most of all – excited to the bone.

The day before, it was just me and your daddy. I used to have dreams about giving birth to you all the time so when it finally happened, I could barely believe it.

Suddenly, there was a new bundle of joy that had already completely shifted our lives!

It was impossible to describe, yet incredible to feel.

From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were going to be a free spirit. Holding you in my arms was like a dream come true.

You had that spark in your eyes and a baby smile that let me know you were going to become one hell of a woman one day.

And as I’m looking at you now, I can proudly say that I was right.

You’ve already given me so much to be proud of.

The way you handle little adversities impresses me. How you cope with being told you can’t do something is inspiring.

And the way you don’t let anyone tell you what to do (other than your daddy and me) makes me want to hug you and never let you go.

You’ve already proven to me that you’re everything I wished you’d be. To think that this is only the beginning makes me want to cry tears of joy.

I cannot wait to see you thrive through high-school, college, and everything that comes next.

There are so many things that I need to tell you right now and I hope I can keep my composure while reminiscing about all of our beautiful moments together.

I pray to God, we remain by each other’s sides for as long as possible, but in case anything ever happens, here’s what I pray I’ve taught you about life.

Never stop pursuing your ambitions and passions

I love how incredibly passionate you are about people and animals. I watch you proudly every single day as you do little things that you think nobody notices.

Every time I see you pet a stray dog or a kitty, I see that I must’ve done something right. Your kind heart and generosity know no bounds.

The way you care about helping those in need is rare and inspiring.

And I want you to know that you should never stop doing what makes your heart happy.

If this is what you see yourself doing – go ahead and do it! If you want to find a job that allows you to keep showcasing your kind nature, you have my blessing.

If you want to pursue your dreams that don’t necessarily bring in tons of revenue but help so many, that is the noblest thing you could possibly do.

I know you’ll find your way in life. I know that you’ll always land on your feet – you’re too smart not to.

Whatever you end up doing later in life, I just know it’ll be the right decision.

You’re growing up to be a smart, independent woman, and the little things I see you do daily inspired me to write this love letter to you.

You are truly a gem and I’m so proud to call you my girl.

I hope you know that I love you from the bottom of my heart. Whichever thing you end up pursuing, my support is unwavering.

Your words can leave a lasting mark

But I’m sure you’ve already figured that out. Through life, we all make mistakes. No matter how genuine, hard-working, and kind we are.

It’s okay to slip up – it happens to everyone.

But in your times of struggle, here’s what you should know: What you say during your weakest moments will remain in the other person’s head for a long time.

Be careful what you allow yourself to say. Words have the power to break a person more than you probably understand right now.

To you, it may just be something to shrug off, but to them, it’s something that will haunt them forever.

So please, just be kind to everyone no matter how rude they might be.

Remember – hurt people hurt people! I pray I’ve taught you well enough not to engage with them and just go your way.

Bringing others down will bring you no joy. Find the strength within to walk away from anything that’s counter-productive to your well-being.

Say kind things even when you’re provoked.

Offer a reassuring smile even when you’re being judged. People do unkind things when they’re hurting deep inside.

Show them you’re better than that and don’t stoop to their level. Everybody goes through their trials and tribulations.

But it’s up to you how you choose to react amidst them.

You are deserving of the purest type of love

Sweetheart, you are one of a kind! You deserve the kind of love that will rock your world.

You deserve the type of man (or woman) who will go to the ends of the earth for you.

Never settle in love. Never let someone offer you bits and pieces. You deserve it all or nothing at all.

You see before I met your daddy, I was a little pessimistic about ever finding someone who’d love me the way I needed to be loved.

I’d had a lot of bad luck when it came to men and I let it get to me.

But after feeling sorry for myself, I decided that it was time to snap out of it and give myself an actual chance at love. And as you know by now, that’s when your father swooped in and won me over.

He was everything I never thought I’d get. He was the type of guy I believed existed only in movies.

But as he was standing there in front of me, I realized that this was real. He was my reality.

And boy, did I feel lucky as hell!

The point I’m trying to make is to never give up! You are so young and there will be a lot of heartbreak.

But I don’t want you to let it discourage you from still looking for your true love.

Whether it’s a man or a woman, you deserve only the best. And one day, I promise you, they will enter your life just as you are about to give up. So don’t.

Remain as hopeful and as positive as you are now. Be with people who bring out the best in you. Don’t accept crumbs of affection, you’re worthy of much more.

I wish I could tell you when exactly it’s going to happen but I can’t.

What I can tell you though is that when you least hope for it, that’s when it usually happens (keep your chin up, the best is yet to come!)

Failure isn’t a weakness, it’s a stepping stone to something better

Stay strong no matter what life throws at you. Keep your faith even when it’s tested. That is when you’ll need to be brave more than ever.

Sometimes, it’s going to be difficult to stay on your path. Sometimes, you might even fail. But don’t for one second think that failing represents a weakness.

Quite the contrary, my darling.

Only those brave enough to pave their own way will learn how to cope with failure and use it as a stepping stone to something much more meaningful.

Let your mistakes be just that. A learning curve that will help guide you and steer you.

I know your heart. I know your mind. And I know that you’ll never let anyone trample over you.

I know you’ll be strong even if I’m not there to tell you to keep pushing. I just hope you never let yourself feel like a failure on a bad day.

We all struggle at times, and so will you, my baby girl. But don’t let a bad moment make you think that you’re not meant for greatness!

Because I know what you can achieve. And you should too.

Every single mistake you make will help you never do it again. Every single time you don’t get your way, you’ll learn to find another way toward your goals.

Don’t be alarmed if it takes you a bit longer than you’d originally planned. Life is a journey, not a destination.

How you get there is just as important as your final destination.

You’re only human, and you’ll make mistakes along the way. For as long as you don’t let them define you, you’re going to be just fine.

Never waste time comparing yourself to anyone

I know this is something probably every mom would say, but I genuinely mean it. You are perfect exactly the way you are.

You are gorgeous, smart, funny, intelligent, and genuine. You should never let anyone tell you otherwise.

Comparisons are an utter waste of time.

You were not put on this earth to be the same as anyone else. You were brought here to pave your own way and make a difference!

The way you choose to do things is inspiring because you never let anyone mold your opinions.

You always do things your way, and that is perhaps my most favorite thing about you.

I pray to God that never changes. Never let a guy (or girl) make you feel like you’re not enough.

Those who know how to appreciate you will never make you doubt your worth. Surround yourself only with those who uplift and encourage you.

Weed out anyone who makes you feel lesser. You are way too amazing to be wasting time on toxic people.

Your friend circle should remain strong and small. As you grow older, you’ll realize how important it is to have a few good friends as opposed to a dozen acquaintances.

In life, it’s crucial to have someone you can lean on any time of the day. Anyone who makes you feel like you’re less amazing than you are doesn’t deserve you.

Always be yourself and keep doing what makes your heart happy.

Never follow in anyone’s footsteps and just do you. I promise you, the right people will never make you feel alone for a second.

I love you more than you’ll ever know

Your daddy and I will always have your back. Through thick and thin, good times and bad.

There is nothing you can do or say that will ever change the way we love you, and I hope you know that you can always turn to me in times of need.

Baby girl, you are my biggest accomplishment and nothing will ever compare. The day you entered my life was the day everything else became a little less important.

Family is everything, and you made me see that. I love you more than you know and your happiness is my happiness.

Remember last Mother’s day when you made me that gift from scratch? That meant more to me than any gift you ever could’ve bought.

And do you know why?

Because it came from the heart. It was personal, genuine, and showed me that you know me better than I thought was possible.

I pray that one day you have a daughter every bit as amazing as you are. Only then will you be able to understand the depth behind these words.

A mother’s love knows no bounds. To you, those are just words, and that’s okay. But one day, you’ll see how incredibly true this is.

And I pray that I’m right there by your side when you do to see what kind of mother you’ll become.

Writing this proud letter to my daughter has made me see now more than ever what a beautiful person you are slowly becoming.

Your life is only beginning, my love.

The future holds so many amazing things, and I’m looking forward to seeing you conquer the world one day.

One of the biggest responsibilities of every father and mother is to raise their kids to be happy, stable adults, and I’ll do everything in my power to make that happen.

This open letter has allowed me to say everything I carry in my heart and I mean every single word I said. Know that I have your back today, tomorrow, and every following day.

Keep shining that beautiful light of yours, and I’ll always be watching proudly knowing I’ve done something right.

Love you always and forever ,

• Being A Mom Is Hard, But SO Worth It
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• 110+ Most Wonderful 1st Birthday Wishes For Baby Girl & Baby Boy

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How to describe your child to a teacher (including templates) [2023 update].

Can you believe the summer is ending...again? With each new school year, you are given the opportunity to expand and perfect your communication style with your child’s teacher. Our learning and development specialist Emily Andrews outlined some effective communication strategies for parents that you can take into consideration to get your relationship off on the right foot.

But, we know that the beginning of the school year can be an incredibly hectic time for parents, teachers, and children. Establish a strong relationship between you and your child’s teacher is important. To help set your child up for success in school, we’ve outlined tips and templates to help you describe your child in letters, paragraphs, and in person.

How to describe your child to a teacher

Sample letter describing your child, describe your child in a paragraph.

Some schools send out forms with questions for parents to answer about their children. Others ask parents to write a letter describing their child. Still others don’t formally ask questions and assume the parent will let them know on their own either in an email, call, or in the parent-teacher conference. 

Whatever the case is with your child’s school, understanding how to describe your child to a teacher in a clear and concise way can help establish good communication between you and your child’s teacher as well as help the teacher be the best possible advocate for your child.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when you prepare to describe your child to a teacher.

• Start with a blank slate. Assume your child’s teacher knows nothing about them. Introduce yourself, your child, and your family structure. Let the teacher know if they have a nickname and what pronouns they use.
• Talk about their strengths and their weaknesses. Try to remove yourself from the situation and speak neutrally about your child. What are they good at? What do they need help with? Be honest because your child’s teacher will see it themselves anyway and it is best for them to be prepared.
• Be specific. When describing your child and how they are in school and at home, be as specific as possible. Refer back to past assessments so that their teacher knows what to expect and how they can be the best champion for your child. When you describe your child's personality , use temperament terminology so you and their teacher are on the same page.
• Keep it friendly and upbeat. This is the start of a new year and a new opportunity for your child to grow and learn. Their teacher is going to lead them on this new journey, so you and your child should be excited!
• Be a partner. In your letter, express your intent to act as a partner to the teacher. You will work together with them to help your child be successful this year.

Now, we’ll outline some tips and templates to help you shorten and lengthen your description based on school requirements and time constraints. This will help ensure you hit all of the right points so you, your child, and their teacher will be successful and happy this year.

Dear Mr. Cohen,

I want to start by saying how excited we are for this school year! We have heard great things about your class and I know Jeremy and I are both thrilled for a new year of learning and adventure.

I thought it would be helpful for me to introduce you to Jeremy in this letter and let you know some information about him from home and from his past assessments. To start, Jeremy (he/him) is an excellent student and he is really motivated to do well in class. He is definitely best at math and can do a lot of math in his head very quickly. 

However, because he is so advanced in this subject, he sometimes disrupts the class during these lessons. His teacher last year wrote this on one of his early assessments, “Jeremy can add & subtract large numbers in his head and he is often bored during math lessons because he is ahead of other students.”

Jeremy loves sports and competition, so we were able to develop an internal competition to help pay attention and stay focused in math class. I will continue that process at home, which should hopefully help keep the disruptions at bay. But, if you see this occurring in class again, please let me know. I want to be your partner this year to help make class as enjoyable and successful for you, Jeremy, and all of the students.

At home and in his other subjects, Jeremy is very quiet. He might need some additional prompting to answer questions, but he is doing the work and paying attention. Jeremy comes from a single parent household, but luckily, I work from home so I am able to be there with him when he returns from school each day.

Looking forward to working with you to make this the best year yet for Jeremy!

Sarah Miller

Use our editable template to write and send a letter describing your child to their teacher

If your school gives you a form to fill out at the beginning of the year or before the first parent-teacher conference, they might ask you to describe your child in a paragraph. We know, your child is your precious baby (despite how old they actually are!) and one paragraph might not feel like enough space. But, you can do it! Use these tips and our template to hit all of the key points.

Tips to describe your child in a paragraph

• Stay focused. Remove the fluff and keep it as clear as possible since you do not have a lot of space.
• Talk about your concerns. Does your child have a medical condition, allergy, bathroom issue, learning disability, or something of the sort? You want to make sure you talk to your child’s teachers about your concerns because it is the most important for them to understand.
• Use examples. Since you do not have a lot of space, spend the time using actual examples from the past so your child’s teacher understands what you are saying and how they can help this year.

Use this template to describe your child in a paragraph:

“Jeremy (he/him) excels at math but can get disruptive during the lessons because of this. His teacher last year reported that, “Jeremy can add & subtract large numbers in his head and he is often bored during math lessons because he is ahead of other students.” He loves sports and competition, so games and challenges help keep him attentive. In his other subjects (and at home), Jeremy is quiet. He doesn’t enjoy reading on his own but he will do it for class. He is very motivated to do well in school.”

Hopefully our tips and templates will help you as you navigate how to describe your child to a teacher, but ultimately, you know your child best and you know what needs to be said to get them the support and care they need for a successful school year. The team at Sawyer is always here to help if you are looking for resources or fun activities for your children. Best of luck ahead!

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Essays For My Daughter

Essay For My Ten-Year-Old Daughter, Whom I Haven’t Spoken To In A While, Told In Reverse

I drive to your house, looking backward at where I’ve been. You walk into my arms and tell me goodbye. Your grandparents, who aren’t really your grandparents, wave from the door. We leave together in my rental car, headed to Denny’s.

We talk over lunch, and I’m happy. I stop, then start trying to act like a father — your father. After the waitress has taken away our plates, while we wait to leave, I struggle to think of something to ask you. I put my hat on and drive you to your house and walk you to the door. I drive back to the hotel, where I call to say I’m on my way. I fly home to Minnesota, still facing in your direction. On the phone I ask if you want to get lunch when I visit California. I listen to it ring. I dial your number. I wonder if you’re on summer break, if it’s a good time to call.

Months fold back up into the calendar. It rains, snows, rains. The dead leaves burn red-orange and sail back up into the trees, turn green once again.

I check my phone to see how long we’ll talk: twenty-seven minutes. We talk for precisely that long, and then the phone starts to ring, and you’re gone. Afterward I write down questions to ask you.

Several months pass. You turn nine. At the end of July I fly to California to see you, just like I did last year when you were ten. Then it’s May, April, March. Another year gone by. I think of how little I know about you: who your friends are, what your favorite TV show is, all that. You are eight, then seven, then six. You call me Michael instead of Dad.

An airplane brings me to California for your fifth birthday party. The sun rises in the west as the guests arrive. Kids play in the bounce house. Candy escapes from small hands and shoots up into the broken piñata. I pull on the rope from my spot on the roof, causing the piñata to sway and jerk. Kids take turns sealing it back up with a stick, then line up near you in the front yard. I drop the rope, climb down a ladder, smile and nod to Mr. Garcia when he asks if I want to man the piñata. An hour passes. From several tables away, I watch you wrap gifts. You sit in Alex’s lap while he unties your shoes, playing the role of father. Your aunt tells me you look like me in every way. I tell her you and I have the same smile, our top lip shaped like an m . She says she can see the resemblance. I try not to look upset when she says, “You must be the baby daddy.” Your aunt and I are introduced. I drive to my parents’ house.

You are four and think I’m your uncle. Then you are three and think I’m a cousin or a family friend. When I visit, you chase me around the avocado tree in your yard. All you need me to be is someone you can run after. You turn two. I move from Minnesota to California. I unpack the bed of my truck, unbox everything I own.

You have just stopped being two when I see you next. I tell Mr. Garcia I just wanted to meet my daughter before I leave California. My parents are here with me. You have your arms wrapped around Mr. Garcia’s leg. You do not call him Papa. You leave suddenly, disappearing back into the house. I listen for a child’s voice as I stand at the front door, trying to explain who I am, why I’m there. Mr. Garcia closes the door. I knock on it. My parents and I walk down the driveway, get into my truck, and drive away. At home I print directions to your house.

Months later your mother, K., gives me the home address of Mr. and Mrs. Garcia, the couple who have custody of you.

I run a marathon. I fill out a grad-school application. I volunteer to mentor at-risk youth. I run less and less until I am running just a few miles each day. It is summer again. I write poems that you walk through. I think of you. I try not to think of you. You are about to turn one.

I consider going to grad school. Days pass. I don’t want to think about you. I talk to K. on the phone. She tells me that the couple raising you are good people, that they think their son, Alex, is your father. She says you’re healthy. She says she fucked up and let another man think he’s the father. She tells me I have a daughter. I try to act like I don’t know why she might be calling me. K. apologizes for calling, says hello. I listen to her voice mail, where she says we need to talk. When she calls, I don’t answer the phone.

Essay For My Almost-Nine-Year-Old Daughter

Today we talk on the phone for exactly twenty-seven minutes. You tell me about your trip to the river, that you tried to swim but the water was “heavy.” You say chicken nuggets can be breakfast; breakfast is just whatever you eat in the morning. Your mama told you that. You say you get annoyed at your little cousins. I ask how much older you are than them, and you say four years, that this year you’ll be nine and you don’t want to become a teenager and get moody. You say none of your friends have parents as old as yours. You don’t want your mama and papa to get older, because then they’ll have to leave you, and you don’t want them to go. I don’t know what to say other than to agree with this fact. I say something about memories and photographs. You say you can’t wait to get more film for your camera.

You tell me you had a dream last night where your papa took you to a different school. He said, “This is where you have to go now.” You stayed there for years. When you woke up, you were glad it was a dream. Then you had chicken nuggets for breakfast. You ask what I am going to eat for dinner, and I say, “What do you think?”

I don’t know why — if there’s even a reason at all — but you say, “Let me guess: asparagus.”

Essay For My Eight-Year-Old Daughter, Who Is Focused On A Painting

At the art museum’s Family Day we stop to get you a drink of water. On the wall by the fountain is a painting, and around the painting are several yellow Post-it notes. A sign on a table reads, “Activity: title the painting.” Beside it is a stack of Post-its, pencils, and nubs of putty.

Did I say, Go ahead , or were you already staring at the painting, reaching for a yellow note?

Is this what it’s like: to watch your child and see in them parts that are you but also parts that are entirely their own?

The painting is of an autumnal forest. There’s a lake in the center, a small body of water surrounded by trees and grass. Yellows and browns, splashes of deep green. Bits of blue morning sky. Someone stands along the lake’s edge, a blurred figure wearing a brown cap, white shirt, and blue pants. I watch you watch them watching the water. Other children pass behind us, uninterested in this activity, and I am caught by a sudden sense of pride: how much you seem to care about art. It’s a selfish feeling, I know, but I don’t ever want to lose this memory.

Is this what it’s like: to be a father, excited to witness what your child is drawn to?

You write something down on your Post-it, stick it to the wall. You tell me it’s called Sorrowful Lake , because it’s beautiful but lonely. I step forward and stare at the blur of a man in the brown cap. “It is,” I say, “isn’t it?” Then I put my hand on your shoulder, and you let me leave it there. Children flood the path behind us.

Essay For My Eight-Year-Old Daughter, Ending With A Question

We find a room at the art museum where there are supplies for making paper crowns. I am the only father here, it seems. I wish one of the mothers would tell me what to do. You sit down at the table and look up at me. A mother walks up (lucky me!) and starts showing you how to fold the paper. She says the instructions on the handout don’t make sense. You ask me to pick my two favorite colors. We cut construction paper and crease lines as the mother says, “That’s good.”

Satisfied that we are all right, the mother leaves to help her own daughter. Some kids run out of the room, and more wander in. A few sit down at our table. I am still the only father here. I puff up my chest. The new kids look at us making our crowns and then hold the paper in their hands as if willing it to transform into what we have. I stand up and act like a father. Waving my hands in the air to get their attention, I tell them the instruction sheet is confusing; that they should fold the construction paper like so; cut here, fold again there; tape when ready. “Go ahead,” I say, “pick your favorite colors.”

You look up at me and say, “This one’s yours.” It’s yellow and brown, the colors of Minnesota in late October. You don’t say that last part, but I imagine you know somehow. I certainly know I shouldn’t think these thoughts, but it’s lonely in my head sometimes.

In another room kids make plastic stained-glass windows with Sharpies, yarn, popsicle sticks, and tape. I stand amid the mothers, and some fathers, and I blend right in. I cross my arms and say to you, “You’re doing great.” I watch you walk across the room to ask for blue, and I admire how you are assertive yet polite. (Lucky me!) You finish and say, “This one’s for you.” There is a small red heart on the bottom right corner.

Later, at Applebee’s, you produce a small photo of yourself from the pocket of your overalls and say, “Here.” I have gotten so many gifts today. (Lucky me!) I thank you and say I will put it on my desk at school. You say, “What if someone asks who it is?”

I say, “I’ll tell them it’s my daughter.”

You say, “What if they ask, ‘What’s her name?’ ”

Essay For My Eight-Year-Old Daughter, Who Is Asking Who I Used To Be

I sit next to you in the booth at Applebee’s. Scanning the kids’ menu, you ask me what I think you would like to eat. I guess: Quesadilla? Tacos? Corn dog?

“No,” you say. “The hamburger.”

“You would know if you were here more,” you say.

There’s no way around that truth, so I just swallow and say, “You’re right.”

Later, as we eat, you ask what you used to call me when you were younger, like when we first met.

How long have I been a mystery to you?

Whenever we spend the day together like this, I play the father. “Don’t eat too big a mouthful of food,” I say. “Five more minutes to play before we go.” “Put on your sweater; it’s getting cold.” “Because I said so. . . . I’m not asking” — lines borrowed from other parents. I’m trying out fatherhood, seeing how it feels on my shoulders. I affect a firm-but-I-hope-not-too-harsh voice. I make sure to kiss the top of your head.

For a long time you used to call me your “friend.” Then for a while you thought I was your cousin. Even now you switch between calling me Dad and Michael. I don’t mind, truly, though it takes me a while to prepare to be whoever I must be. And then, when I’m alone again and need to be just myself, that takes time, too.

Essay For My Eight-Year-Old Daughter In A Different Time Zone

I ’m usually at school when I call to see if you’re home. Before I call, I charge the battery in my headphones. I use the restroom and wash my hands. I turn off the light in my office and prepare to go outside, where it’s sunny. I don’t call right at 4:00, but just after, at 4:19 perhaps. I have a book of poems by Carl Phillips in my back pocket — in case I don’t get to talk to you, or in case I do, and I want to read poems afterward. I can’t say why this helps, but it does. I take a drink of water. I set the water bottle down. I step outside and dial.

You tell me how much you love pizza, how you’ve already done your homework, how last night your sister kept you up until ten o’clock. You don’t remember anything after that. You opened your eyes, and it was 6 AM . You had a smoothie for breakfast. It had raspberries, strawberries, milk, and banana. You’ve been stacking Jenga blocks while we talk. You tell me you’re going to kick the block tower over, that I might hear it crash. I do, and we laugh. You do this again with dominoes. Then you tell me about a science project your cousin helped you with; it involved a letter you sent me in the mail two weeks ago — though your mama, in the background, tells you it was only a few days ago. I haven’t received it, I explain. Maybe the snow in Minnesota slowed it down, you offer. Before we hang up, I tell you I love you and listen in case you say it back.

Essay For My Five-Year-Old Daughter, With A Game Of Tug-of-War Inside It

Another summer visit. Alex is home but stays in the garage.

You and I kick a ball back and forth and talk about I don’t know what. I make you giggle; I know that. I kick the ball over to you. You are standing by the garage window when Alex opens it. You say hi to him. He doesn’t say anything to me, and I don’t say hello to him. I kick the ball to you and wait for you to kick it back. From a radio inside the garage, we hear Latin cumbia music. You tell him not to change the station. Alex turns the music up, and you start dancing, the ball forgotten at your feet. Now I know you like to dance to cumbias .

I pretend to look around, then ask, “Where’s the ball?” A small “Oh” floats from your mouth. You kick the ball, but you don’t stop dancing, so when you kick it, it flies crooked across the yard. I walk over to the bush it bounced behind and pull it from the dirt, dusting it off until it is as clean as it will ever be, maybe even cleaner than when the factory packed it to ship. As I walk back, my steps are short and slow. I take stock of what clouds I can see.

Essay For My Six-Year-Old Daughter In Which Reality Is Bent And Then Restored

It’s complicated, I know: the day you, my girlfriend, and I play in the front yard under the shade of the avocado tree. Your mama and papa are inside talking to my parents. It’s July, so I keep telling you to drink water. You run around, and Lissa and I look at each other as if none of this were unusual, as if we came over to play all the time.

I chase you around the tree while Lissa watches. I tell you to stay hydrated.

To get us both involved, you say, “Let’s play Mommy and Daddy.” Lissa looks at me, and the corners of our mouths lift toward the branches.

You offer us pieces of chalk. You take the pink, Lissa picks neon green, and I choose yellow. “Draw the daddy,” you say. So I do. “Draw the mommy,” you say to Lissa, and she does. You draw yourself between us. You tell me to go to work. You go to school. Lissa cleans the house. Afterward, in the dusty afternoon, we have dinner. There is a pink table with pink legs. We are a family like that for two minutes, maybe more.

Then Alex comes walking across the driveway. He doesn’t say anything, but you stand up, quick and sharp. You run over to him, and without turning my head I hear you say, “We’re playing Mommy and Daddy, and Michael is Daddy and Lissa is Mommy, but it’s not real; it’s just pretend.” Because I don’t turn my head to watch, I imagine you are waiting for him to tell you it’s OK . I imagine the face he is trying not to make — some paragraph of pain you already know how to read, young as you are.

You come back and draw a pink circle around our whole, tiny family — captured. We float over the cement the rest of the day.

Essay for My Five-Year-Old Daughter Bearing Gifts

I say, “I have to fly home. Minnesota.” I say, “I have work. I teach at a school.” I wonder what you imagine when I say, “I have students like you, but a lot older.”

You look at your sandals, wiggle your toes.

When I’m gone, I’ll send letters. Stickers. A stuffed animal.

I say, “Be good.” I say, “I love you,” and think about how many times it might take before the words stick inside your head as a memory. I don’t remember much about being five.

Sometimes, when I leave, you don’t say anything. You turn back to the front yard and disappear into the shade, skipping.

But other times you tell me, “Come back tomorrow. There’ll be lemonade.” You tell me we can go to the park, and I wonder how far that is from here. Most times my departure is a big production: First, handshakes and hugs with your mama and papa. Then the walk down your driveway. The loose strands of conversation. When I leave, I always get something from you to take with me, a gift to carry to the car: boxed chocolates; fresh oranges; a jar of peanut-butter-filled pretzel bites. Your mama and papa are thoughtful like that. They give you something to give to me. I leave with my sunglasses on, waving my hand. Sometimes you call my name, your voice a taut string, and I think Michael might snap in half. But it’s strong — a tether. A song plays as I walk away, and I can’t quite catch the lyrics. I tell myself not to look back. There’s a baby avocado tree in my arms.

• Family and Relationships

Michael Torres

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Chapel Hill

My Kid Can’t Write an Essay Without Having a Meltdown

She gets overwhelmed every time—but breaking down the assignment into smaller steps could help her manage it.

Editor’s Note: Every Tuesday, Abby Freireich and Brian Platzer take questions from readers about their kids’ education. Have one? Email them at [email protected].

Dear Abby and Brian,

My daughter is in ninth grade and is really struggling with essay writing. English, history, the subject doesn’t matter—she has a meltdown every time. She just stares at the screen and doesn’t know where to start.

I try to remember what I learned in high school about the Roman empire or Robert Frost to get her going. I’ve tried to leave her alone, or to sit there doing the work along with her. None of it ever seems to help. I find myself dreading her getting an essay assignment, because whenever she does, the night before it’s due nearly always ends with her in tears or yelling at me.

What can I do?

Julia Virginia

Dear Julia,

Seeing your daughter so upset when confronted with writing assignments can be painful. We appreciate your instinct to help, but neither leaving your daughter alone nor sitting there doing the work along with her is the right approach. What will help is taking an assignment that overwhelms her and breaking it down into a series of small, manageable steps that she can do on her own. The goal is not to get an essay written no matter what, but to set her up for being an independent, confident student who doesn’t rely on you at every turn.

You’ll want to sit down with her and say something like “I know essay writing has been really hard, but it will help if you can think about it as a set of smaller steps and budget enough time for each.” Then go through these steps with her:

• Read the material, highlighting important points and taking notes.

This is the starting point for any good essay writing. Suggest that even before she is assigned a writing prompt, she begins taking notes on the material as she reads it. Annotation should serve as a conversation with the text: She should mark significant or reaction-provoking passages and jot down a few words about why they are noteworthy.

• Review the notes, looking for one thread that ties everything together.

This is how she will begin building her thesis. Teachers sometimes disagree over whether students should start with a working thesis and then find evidence to build their case, or start with examples and see where they lead. We believe that the thesis and examples should be developed together; as your daughter narrows down evidence, her thesis can evolve.

• Write topic sentences for each of the body paragraphs, and then match topic sentences with examples and analysis to build an outline.

Your daughter should think about defending her thesis with a series of sub-arguments, each expressed as a topic sentence for her body paragraphs. Many students have difficulty connecting their arguments to evidence, because they are inclined to summarize the material rather than critically evaluate it. Your daughter can ask herself what her examples reveal about her topic sentences and then delve into the importance of word choice and literary devices as is relevant.

• Write introduction and conclusion paragraphs.

With topic sentences, examples, and analysis for each body paragraph together in outline form, your daughter can move on to her introduction and conclusion. The focus of her introduction should be general background information leading up to the thesis, and the conclusion should offer new insight into the significance of the topic and a parting thought for the reader to ponder.

• Use the outline, introductory paragraph, and conclusion to write a first draft.

Once she has completed an outline, she’ll have a straightforward road map for writing a draft with more thoroughly developed ideas.

• Look over the draft twice: once to ensure that the argument flows logically and a second time to eliminate errors in grammar and syntax, as well as to sharpen word choice.

We recommend that all editing be done while reading the work aloud from a printed draft, pencil in hand. Once these revisions are implemented, she’ll have a final draft ready to go.

If a single major assignment becomes six minor ones, your daughter is far less likely to feel overwhelmed. This process, from start to finish, will take about a week, so she should plan accordingly. With a calendar in front of her, she should look at what assignments she has coming up for the rest of the semester and mark deadlines for each of these steps so that she won’t have to rush at the end. Remember that writing always takes longer than it seems it should. Helping your daughter plan well in advance should allow her to approach writing with less trepidation and instead see it as a process composed of clear, manageable steps.

As she does this more and more, she’ll find that her belief in herself will grow—and you won’t cringe when you hear about the English essay due next week.

B y submitting a letter, you are agreeing to let The Atlantic use it—in part or in full—and we may edit it for length and/or clarity.

About the Authors

Essay on Who Am I for Students and Children

500+ words essay on who am i.

In this world, many people surround us. Though we all apparently look similar, yet we all are unique in our own ways. The uniqueness gives us an identity. I am a teenage girl. I am like most teenage girls but I am also different from others. Those differences make me who I am.

I am a girl in mid-teenage. From childhood, I always loved to interact with people. I like to know people and make friends. I am a social person and go out with my friends and family. Also, I like to visit new places. Nature attracts me. Therefore, whenever I get the vacation I always insist on my friends and family for a getaway in nature’s lap.

Travelling gives me immense pleasure. I always capture beautiful moments and places in my camera. Whenever I am sad, I revisit my photo album to look at the beautiful places and moments. The thought of those happy moments and beautiful places makes me happy.

I am serious and disciplined about my studies and read many books other than my textbooks. Reading autobiographies and detective storybooks are what I like. I am involved in extra curriculum activities. I am learning music and love to sing.

Also, I listen to all genres of music but Hindustani classical , semi-classical, Bollywood songs are my favorite. Melodious songs are close to my heart. I always participate in musical and cultural events organized in my school. I also take part in the inter-school competition and have been a winner at an inter-school competition a couple of times. Those are cherishable and proud moments of my life.

Every person is a mix of good and bad qualities. I am not an early riser by nature. I understand that waking up early is very important to become productive. Still, during my holidays I take the liberty of waking up late.

I am an ambitious person and a dreamer. My dream is to become a teacher. I think a teacher is a big motivator and guide. I would like to motivate people and guide them to do good for society.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Me in several roles

While growing up I have realized that I am an individual but I play several roles throughout the day. As per these roles, my behavior and attitude keep altering. This variation adds various shades in my personality.

In my home firstly, I am a daughter. I try to listen and follow what my parents teach me. When I do well in studies, they become proud. Yet when I do not obey them, they scold me. I get lots of love, care and attention from my parents.  I also care, love, and respect them. My parents are my first identity in this world.

Secondly, I am a sister. I have an elder brother. He takes care of me and guides to follow the path to success. My brother is also my friend. We spend quality time together playing, laughing at jokes together, and watching our favorite cartoon shows. The love, care, the fight makes a beautiful bond between us.

Thirdly, I am a student. Our teachers always try to guide us to realize our path of life. They want us to be sincere in studies and build a successful career . They also instill in us the values of a good human being. I try to be a sincere and obedient student and always do my homework and do well in studies. I also respect my teachers and am an obedient student. My teachers are patient and they always guide me to overcome my mistakes.

Fourthly, the role that we all love is that of a friend. I have many friends. I love moving out and spending time with my friends. We help each other in times of need. We live happy moments together. Friendship is very beautiful. I love to make my friends feel special, and never miss wishing them on their birthdays.

Conclusion             

Life is full of experiences. Every moment we meet different people and face different situations. In this course of life, we not only get to know different people, but we also get to know ourselves in different ways.

As we grow, our likes dislike interest changes. Our perception and outlook toward life also change with time and experience. Thus, the search to the answer to the question of who I am is a lifelong process.

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Memoir coach and author Marion Roach

Welcome to The Memoir Project, the portal to your writing life.

How To Write About Your Kids Without Making Them Crazy(er)

HOW TO WRITE ABOUT YOUR KIDS is a classic dilemma for many memoir writers. It’s one of the questions I get asked all the time in my classes and personal memoir coaching. And since I have a kid, and I’ve written about her, I really do get how tricky it can be. I mean, you don’t want to make them crazy, right? I remember well the day my daughter told me I had to stop writing about her. It was hard, but I agreed. Kind of (you notice I’m writing about her now, right?). It may happen to you. You, too may be forbidden, so until then, let’s get writing about our kids, shall we?

I have four basic rules for writing about kids, and they run the gamut from what not to write about to what to remember to keep in mind all the time. In a nutshell, forget cutesy, anything adorable, or all-too-personal anecdotes. Those simply are too small.

Instead, think about those things that will resonate with your readers, which is never the cute, inside-baseball jokes of your own family, or the sigh-ing-ly adorable things your kid did. Instead, as in writing any piece of memoir, think about the universal.

What can you write about that others, after reading it, will either learn something, have something confirmed, or be pushed a little to think even more deeply about their own parenting?

How about some examples?

Want some examples? I’ve got them right here, each illustrating one of the four rules of writing about your kids.

• Do not be overly sentimental when writing about your kids. For this, I offer you an essay on what I call birthday party hell . As you can tell, I am not sentimental about these bashes.
• When writing about your kids, zero in on a specific, universal idea , like how life’s big moments happen in the small stuff of life.
• Explore a quandary other parents have . For me, this was imaginary friends, after hearing one too many times that they were dangerous foils who your kid will use to blame for her bad behavior. I doubted it. Here’s why.
• Don’t be afraid to repeat yourself when writing memoir . If a theme resonates with your readers, write more about it. Here is another on the imaginary friend idea, this time from another angle.

And what about you? What have you learned while writing about your kids that you might like to share with others?

Want to learn more about how to write memoir? Please consider joining one of my live, online classes . They start all the time and range from one-night, 90-minute sessions, to a six-month Master Class.

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Related posts:

• Writing Memoir by Making Lists: It’s as Easy as One, Two, Three
• Write it Up to Write it Down
• How to Write Good Characterization in Memoir? Think Pooh

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Reader interactions.

Karen DeBonis says

March 1, 2017 at 7:34 am

Marion – what about writing about adult children? Do the rules change? Obviously you’d want to very careful … any specific recommendations?

marion says

March 16, 2017 at 7:45 am

Three pieces of advice: To be respectful. Like a doctor, to first, do no harm. And to be accurate.

Kathy Rushing says

March 1, 2017 at 7:44 am

Great question, @Karen DeBonis–I recently wrote a post about a devastating breakup our son had when he was in his mid 20’s. He didn’t want his name used, but if anyone that know him read my post they would know, because I also used the tatto he got as a result as the featured image :).

Some guidelines would be great to have. Thank you, Marion!

March 1, 2017 at 8:03 am

Kathy – I’d love to read your post. Would you post a link to it?

March 1, 2017 at 10:35 am

Sure, Karen, here you go. Thanks for reading! http://kathyrushing.com/hpfp

March 1, 2017 at 1:58 pm

Thanks Kathy – great post. So glad he made it out of the despair with his spirit intact. I think having you as a mom was a good thing!

March 1, 2017 at 3:01 pm

thank you so much, Karen!

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• Knowledge Base

The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples

An academic essay is a focused piece of writing that develops an idea or argument using evidence, analysis, and interpretation.

There are many types of essays you might write as a student. The content and length of an essay depends on your level, subject of study, and course requirements. However, most essays at university level are argumentative — they aim to persuade the reader of a particular position or perspective on a topic.

The essay writing process consists of three main stages:

• Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline.
• Writing : Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion.
• Revision:  Check your essay on the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.

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Table of contents

Essay writing process, preparation for writing an essay, writing the introduction, writing the main body, writing the conclusion, essay checklist, lecture slides, frequently asked questions about writing an essay.

The writing process of preparation, writing, and revisions applies to every essay or paper, but the time and effort spent on each stage depends on the type of essay .

For example, if you’ve been assigned a five-paragraph expository essay for a high school class, you’ll probably spend the most time on the writing stage; for a college-level argumentative essay , on the other hand, you’ll need to spend more time researching your topic and developing an original argument before you start writing.

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Before you start writing, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you’re going to say it. There are a few key steps you can follow to make sure you’re prepared:

• Understand your assignment: What is the goal of this essay? What is the length and deadline of the assignment? Is there anything you need to clarify with your teacher or professor?
• Define a topic: If you’re allowed to choose your own topic , try to pick something that you already know a bit about and that will hold your interest.
• Do your research: Read  primary and secondary sources and take notes to help you work out your position and angle on the topic. You’ll use these as evidence for your points.
• Come up with a thesis:  The thesis is the central point or argument that you want to make. A clear thesis is essential for a focused essay—you should keep referring back to it as you write.
• Create an outline: Map out the rough structure of your essay in an outline . This makes it easier to start writing and keeps you on track as you go.

Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you want to discuss, in what order, and what evidence you’ll use, you’re ready to start writing.

The introduction sets the tone for your essay. It should grab the reader’s interest and inform them of what to expect. The introduction generally comprises 10–20% of the text.

1. Hook your reader

The first sentence of the introduction should pique your reader’s interest and curiosity. This sentence is sometimes called the hook. It might be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or a bold statement emphasizing the relevance of the topic.

Let’s say we’re writing an essay about the development of Braille (the raised-dot reading and writing system used by visually impaired people). Our hook can make a strong statement about the topic:

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

2. Provide background on your topic

Next, it’s important to give context that will help your reader understand your argument. This might involve providing background information, giving an overview of important academic work or debates on the topic, and explaining difficult terms. Don’t provide too much detail in the introduction—you can elaborate in the body of your essay.

3. Present the thesis statement

Next, you should formulate your thesis statement— the central argument you’re going to make. The thesis statement provides focus and signals your position on the topic. It is usually one or two sentences long. The thesis statement for our essay on Braille could look like this:

As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness.

4. Map the structure

In longer essays, you can end the introduction by briefly describing what will be covered in each part of the essay. This guides the reader through your structure and gives a preview of how your argument will develop.

The invention of Braille marked a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by blind and visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

Write your essay introduction

The body of your essay is where you make arguments supporting your thesis, provide evidence, and develop your ideas. Its purpose is to present, interpret, and analyze the information and sources you have gathered to support your argument.

Length of the body text

The length of the body depends on the type of essay. On average, the body comprises 60–80% of your essay. For a high school essay, this could be just three paragraphs, but for a graduate school essay of 6,000 words, the body could take up 8–10 pages.

Paragraph structure

To give your essay a clear structure , it is important to organize it into paragraphs . Each paragraph should be centered around one main point or idea.

That idea is introduced in a  topic sentence . The topic sentence should generally lead on from the previous paragraph and introduce the point to be made in this paragraph. Transition words can be used to create clear connections between sentences.

After the topic sentence, present evidence such as data, examples, or quotes from relevant sources. Be sure to interpret and explain the evidence, and show how it helps develop your overall argument.

Lack of access to reading and writing put blind people at a serious disadvantage in nineteenth-century society. Text was one of the primary methods through which people engaged with culture, communicated with others, and accessed information; without a well-developed reading system that did not rely on sight, blind people were excluded from social participation (Weygand, 2009). While disabled people in general suffered from discrimination, blindness was widely viewed as the worst disability, and it was commonly believed that blind people were incapable of pursuing a profession or improving themselves through culture (Weygand, 2009). This demonstrates the importance of reading and writing to social status at the time: without access to text, it was considered impossible to fully participate in society. Blind people were excluded from the sighted world, but also entirely dependent on sighted people for information and education.

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The conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. It should generally take up no more than 10–15% of the text . A strong essay conclusion :

• Returns to your thesis
• Ties together your main points
• Shows why your argument matters

A great conclusion should finish with a memorable or impactful sentence that leaves the reader with a strong final impression.

What not to include in a conclusion

To make your essay’s conclusion as strong as possible, there are a few things you should avoid. The most common mistakes are:

• Including new arguments or evidence
• Undermining your arguments (e.g. “This is just one approach of many”)
• Using concluding phrases like “To sum up…” or “In conclusion…”

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

Write your essay conclusion

Checklist: Essay

My essay follows the requirements of the assignment (topic and length ).

My introduction sparks the reader’s interest and provides any necessary background information on the topic.

My introduction contains a thesis statement that states the focus and position of the essay.

I use paragraphs to structure the essay.

I use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph.

Each paragraph has a single focus and a clear connection to the thesis statement.

I make clear transitions between paragraphs and ideas.

My conclusion doesn’t just repeat my points, but draws connections between arguments.

I don’t introduce new arguments or evidence in the conclusion.

I have given an in-text citation for every quote or piece of information I got from another source.

I have included a reference page at the end of my essay, listing full details of all my sources.

My citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required citation style .

My essay has an interesting and informative title.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (e.g. font, page numbers, line spacing).

Your essay meets all the most important requirements. Our editors can give it a final check to help you submit with confidence.

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An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

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Sample Private School Parent Statement for Younger Children

We’ve helped hundreds of families navigate the admissions process, and we know that parent statements can be one of the most confusing parts of the journey. How can you possibly sum up your child in a few paragraphs? 

Parent statements can be even more of a challenge for younger children. With fewer academic and extracurricular milestones to include in an essay, parents have to spend more time describing their family life and their child’s unique spirit, which can be tricky to capture in words. 

 We’ve found that one of the most helpful ways for parents to conceptualize their own parent statement is to read a sample essay. Here’s a sample parent statement for younger children that does a great job of summing up the child’s personality, and the entire family’s approach to learning and development. 

*Note that this is a fictional parent statement describing a fictional student. 

Sample Parent Statement for Nursery or Elementary Applicants

Prompt: what would you like us to know about your child .

Ever since she was a baby, Christina has been quiet and contemplative. She is constantly observing any and everything about the world around her, forming her own theories about the way things work and constantly surprising us with the depth of what she notices. We can’t wait to witness how the school environment satiates Christina’s immense curiosity. 

Christina has always been intently focused on taking in information about the world around her. Even as an infant in the crib, Christina’s eyes would follow us everywhere as we moved around her room. Her brow would furrow if we did something new, like rearranging the furniture, and we could see her gears turning as her worldview continued to expand. Now as a toddler, Christina is no different. She has a remarkable ability to keep herself entertained, sitting quietly and watching the world move around her. Later on, at the most random of moments, she’ll bring up something specific that she observed (“Why didn’t Aunt Kate have the same drink as everyone else?” when she was pregnant and wasn’t drinking a beer with the rest of the adults), and we’ll realize how deeply she thinks about the world around her. 

It’s no surprise that for a mind like Christina’s, books are incredible. Reading with one or both of her parents has been Christina’s favorite activity since she was a baby; we make time at least once per day to read for 30 minutes. Christina rapidly processes new pictures, characters, and storylines. She quietly follows along as we read through a story, eyes scanning each page, then usually has several questions at the end of the story: why did a character do this, what will happen next, etc. We’re frequently surprised by the depth of her inquiries, and it’s not uncommon for storytime to spark deep conversations about family, purpose, death, and more. 

Christina’s quiet, thoughtful temperament is incredibly endearing. However, we worry sometimes that she isn’t quite as extroverted as some other young children; Christina prefers to fully evaluate a situation with new people (children or adults) before deciding how to take part. We think that a supportive kindergarten environment will help Christina grow into more of a social butterfly; new friendships and new experiences will help her find a balance between her inquisitive nature and a desire to connect and have fun with other kids.

As parents, we do everything we can to nurture Christina’s passion for exploring and understanding the world. We strive to speak to Christina like she’s an adult, answering her questions as best we can and treating her like a fully present member of the family. We do our best to provide Christina with opportunities to grow and learn more; a short science camp this summer opened Christina up to a whole new world of interesting phenomena, and introduced her to other children who like asking questions. We know that Christina will be an avid student once she begins attending school full-time; we’re sure that her teachers will enjoy the intensely deep questions that come out of nowhere, and appreciate Christina’s dedication to finding and understanding the answer. 

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• Tags: Academic Writing , Essay , Essay Writing

Knowing how to write an essay can help you out significantly in both, your academic and professional life. An essay is a highly versatile nonfiction piece of writing that not only tests your knowledge of a topic but also your literary and argumentative skills.     

Each essay requires the same basic process of planning, writing, and editing. Naturally, we’ve used these stages to group our steps on how to write an essay. So w ithout further ado, let’s get into it! Here are the eight steps to write an essay:

Stage 1: Planning

1. Pick an appropriate research topic

In certain cases, your teacher or professor may assign you a topic. However, in many cases, students have the freedom to select a topic of their choice. Make sure you choose a topic that you’re well versed in and have significant knowledge of. 

Having prior knowledge of the topic will help you determine the subsequent steps to write an essay. It will also make your research process considerably easier.

2. Form an appropriate thesis statement

A thesis statement is the central idea or premise your essay is based on. It is usually a sentence or two long and is included in the introduction of the essay. The scope of your thesis statement depends on the type of your essay and its length.

For instance, the scope of the thesis statement for a 500–1000 word school essay will be narrower than a 1000–5000 word college essay. A rule of thumb is that your essay topic should be broad enough to gather enough information, but narrow enough to address specific points and not be vague. Here’s an example: 

The invention of the airplane by the Wright Brothers in 1903 revolutionized transportation and paved the way for modern aviation. It represents a monumental achievement in human history that forever changed the course of human civilization.

3. Create an essay outline

Creating a well-organized essay outline not only gives structure and flow to your essay but also makes it more impactful and easy to understand. The idea is to collect the main points of information that support or elaborate on your thesis statement. You can also include references or examples under these main points. 

For example, if your thesis statement revolves around the invention of the airplane, your main points will include travel before the invention of the airplane, how it was invented, and its effects on modern-day travel. Take a look:

The Wright Brothers’ invention had a massive impact on modern-day travel. The subsequent growth of the aviation industry led to increased accessibility of air travel to the general public.

Stage 2: Writing

4. Write a comprehensive introduction

After creating the basic outline, it is important to know how to write an essay. Begin your essay by introducing your voice and point of view to the reader. An introduction is usually a paragraph or two long and consists of three main parts:

• Background information
• Thesis statement

Let’s better understand this with the help of an example:

The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane in 1903 revolutionized the way humans travel and explore the world. Prior to this invention, transportation relied on trains, boats, and cars, which limited the distance and speed of travel. However, the airplane made air travel a reality, allowing people to reach far-off destinations in mere hours. This breakthrough paved the way for modern-day air travel, transforming the world into a smaller, more connected place. In this essay, we will explore the impact of the Wright Brothers’ invention on modern-day travel, including the growth of the aviation industry, increased accessibility of air travel to the general public, and the economic and cultural benefits of air travel.

Let’s understand how to construct each of these sections in more detail.

A. Construct an attractive hook

The opening sentence of an essay, also known as the hook, should include a powerful or startling statement that captures the reader’s attention. Depending on the type of your essay, it can be an interesting fact, a surprising statistic, or an engaging anecdote. 

B. Provide relevant background information

While writing the introduction, it’s important to provide context or background information before including the thesis statement. The background information may include the time before a groundbreaking invention, the pros and cons of a significant discovery, or the short- and long-term effects of an event.

C. Edit the thesis statement

If you’ve constructed your thesis statement during the outlining stage, it’s time to edit it based on the background information you’ve provided. Observe the slight changes we’ve made to the scope of the thesis statement in the example above. This accommodates the bits of information we’ve provided in the background history.

5. Form relevant body paragraphs

Body paragraphs play a crucial role in supporting and expanding the central argument presented in the thesis statement. The number of body paragraphs depends on the type of essay as well as the scope of the thesis statement.

Most school-level essays contain three body paragraphs while college-level essays can vary in length depending on the assignment.

A well-crafted body paragraph consists of the following parts:

• A topic sentence
• Supporting information
• An analysis of the information
• A smooth transition to the next paragraph

Let’s understand this with the help of an example. 

The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane revolutionized air travel. They achieved the first-ever successful powered flight with the Wright Flyer in 1903, after years of conducting experiments and studying flight principles. Despite their first flight lasting only 12 seconds, it was a significant milestone that paved the way for modern aviation. The Wright Brothers’ success can be attributed to their systematic approach to problem-solving, which included numerous experiments with gliders, the development of a wind tunnel to test their designs, and meticulous analysis and recording of their results. Their dedication and ingenuity forever changed the way we travel, making modern aviation possible.

Here’s a detailed overview of how to construct each of these sections.

A. Construct appropriate topic sentences

A topic sentence is the title of the body paragraph that elaborates on the thesis statement. It is the main idea on which the body paragraph is developed. Ensure that each topic sentence is relevant to the thesis statement and makes the essay flow seamlessly. 

The order of topic sentences is key in creating an impactful essay. This order varies depending on the type of essay you choose to write. These sentences may be arranged chronologically, in the order of importance, or in a cause-and-effect format.

B. Provide supporting information

It is necessary to provide relevant supporting information and evidence to validate your topic statement. This may include examples, relevant statistics, history, or even personal anecdotes.

You should also remember to cite your sources wherever you use them to substantiate your arguments. Always give researchers and authors credit for their work!

C. Analyze the supporting information

After presenting the appropriate evidence, the next step is to conduct an in-depth analysis. Establish connections and provide additional details to strengthen the link between your topic sentence and the supporting information. 

Depending on the type of essay, this step may also involve sharing your subjective opinions and key takeaways.

D. Create a smooth transition

In case you plan to create multiple body paragraphs, it is crucial to create a seamless transition between them. Transitional statements not only make the essay less jarring to read but also guide the reader in the right direction.

However, these statements need not be too lengthy and complicated. Use words such as “however”, “in addition to”, and “therefore” to convey transitions.

6. Construct an impactful conclusion

An impactful conclusion creates a lasting impression on the mind of the reader. Although it varies in length depending on the specific essay, the conclusion is typically a paragraph long.

It consists of

• A restated thesis statement
• Summary of the main points
• The broader implications of the thesis statement

Here’s an example of a well-structured conclusion:

The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane forever changed history by paving the way for modern aviation and countless aerospace advancements. Their persistence, innovation, and dedication to problem-solving led to the first successful powered flight in 1903, sparking a revolution in transportation that transformed the world. Today, air travel remains an integral part of our globalized society, highlighting the undeniable impact of the Wright Brothers’ contribution to human civilization.  

Let’s take a closer look at how to construct each of these sections.

A. Restate the thesis statement

Your conclusion should call back to your original argument or thesis statement.

However, this does not mean repeating the thesis statement as is. The essence of your argument should remain the same, but it should also be modified and evolved as per the information presented in your essay.

B. Summarize important points

A powerful conclusion not only lingers in the reader’s mind but also provokes thought. You can create a strong impression on the reader by highlighting the most impactful points of your essay.

C. State the greater implications

End your essay with the most powerful and impactful part: the larger perspective. This can‌ include a question you’d like to leave the reader with, the broader implications and impact of your thesis statement, or the long-term, lingering effects of your experience. 

Make sure to include no new evidence or arguments, or to undermine your findings in any way. 

Stage 3: Editing

7. Review your essay

Knowing how to write an essay is just one part of essay writing. Properly reviewing and editing your essay is just as important. Make sure to spend enough time going over your essay and adding any bits of information that you’ve missed. 

This is also a good time to make minor structural changes in your essay.

8. Thoroughly proofread your essay

After making the necessary structural changes, recheck your essay word by word. It is important to not only correct major grammatical and spelling errors but also minor errors regarding the phrasing or tone of voice.

You can either choose to do this by yourself, ask a friend for assistance, or hire an essay proofreading service to go over your writing. To construct a fool-proof, error-free essay, it is helpful to have a trained pair of eyes go over it. Professional proofreaders can spot errors that are not visible to most people and set the right tone for your essay. 

Now that you know the basics of how to write an essay, it’s time to learn about the specifics. Feel free to dig into the articles below and keep reading!

• How to Write an Essay Header in 4 Steps
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• What is an Expository Essay?
• How to Start an Essay

Frequently Asked Questions

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How Would You Describe Your Child?

• February 17, 2016

My son’s 4th-grade teacher asked me to describe my son in “a million words or less.” I was tempted to send her  my coffee table book about him , along with a bottle of wine and the words “Good luck.”

Ultimately, I decided that post didn’t really do my son enough justice, so I wrote something new. I kept it under a million words, though. Here’s what I sent the teacher:

Colin is a sweet, loving, gentle boy. But he doesn’t fit into a neat little box.

He still holds my hand, hugs me, and tells me that he loves me every day. He does the same with my husband.

Home is his very favorite place to be.

He is crazy smart , and his memorization skills rival those of Rain Man. At the same time, he prefers to be lazy if given the opportunity. He has been known to put forth the minimum effort required. He sometimes skims over directions. He works furiously (but not always meticulously) so he can return to “fun” things.

Colin is incredibly sensitive. He does not like to be made fun of, be made an example of, or be the center of attention. He has a hard time distinguishing between someone laughing with him and at him.

He loves dogs. And cats. And goats. And every animal really. But especially dogs. He told me that if he had millions of dollars, he’d open an animal sanctuary and assign a butler to each animal. He’d also buy video games and candy, but he thought of the animals first.

He loves to read . But he forgets that fact sometimes. It’s that minimum effort thing again.

Colin doesn’t like competition. He doesn’t like it when winners gloat. Or when people lose. He wants everyone to win. Unless it’s his sister. Then he’ll be the first in line to take her down.

He doesn’t like change, new experiences, or anything foreign to him. He probably won’t volunteer to do something in the class that he hasn’t done before. He needs to watch and process things before he feels comfortable participating.

He’s a quiet boy. Until he is comfortable. Then it’s hard to shut him up.

Colin is the opposite of an adrenaline junkie. He doesn’t like roller coasters , shots , scary movies, when people get in trouble, vegetables, plane rides, or really anything fearsome.

He’s experienced a lot of death in his nine short years: a great uncle, an uncle , four cats, and two dogs. He takes loss pretty hard, but grieves openly and healthily.

He has an aversion to physical activity and has never once voluntarily participated in any team sport. Miss Willow is some kind of sorceress because he actually enjoys PE.

He loves computers, video games, and the Internet. We hope to channel that passion and turn him into the next Bill Gates.

Colin is an introvert and needs alone time to recharge. He will remove himself from a group of people in the middle of a gathering. He will walk along the edges of the playground during recess. He will retreat into himself when he becomes overwhelmed. And that’s okay with us.

He loves imaginary play. He talks to himself and acts out all sorts of scenes in his mind. When I punished him and took away all of his favorite toys, he told me, “Mom. You may have cancelled fun today and taken away all of my toys, but there’s one toy you can’t take away.” And then he pointed to his head.

He loves creating art and writing stories. He has already written several comic books. (But he prefers technology.)

He has a strong sense of fairness and justice. He doesn’t like when people cheat, when people don’t get a turn, or when things don’t go his way.

Colin is funny . And he loves being silly. His sense of humor can be off the wall .

He’s extremely curious about the world. He asks a lot of questions. He wants to know the answers to everything. For my own sanity, I showed him the magic that is Google very early on.

He’s very rule oriented and very black and white . We’re working hard to help him see shades of grey (not the movie), not correct others when they make a mistake, and be more flexible when things don’t go as planned or anticipated.

He’s quirky. And a little socially awkward. I’ve got money on him growing up to be an engineer.

Colin will wear pajamas in public, mismatched clothing, and finger nail polish. He likes what he likes , and he doesn’t really care what anyone else thinks. He is totally unaffected by other people’s opinions and standards. I’m going to miss this quality when/if he outgrows it.

He can be a sneaky little #@$& ! He steals cookies. He started his own YouTube channel (behind our backs—and was devastated when he got caught). He would never do that at school, but I think it’s interesting because it shows he can break rules and take risks despite his sometimes-rigid personality.

Colin is a sweet, loving, gentle boy. We hope you enjoy him as much as we do.

How would you describe your child in a million words or less?

Photo Credit: sifotography / 123RF Stock Photo

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28 responses.

Oh, thank you for this glimpse. What a lovely way to start my morning.

Thank YOU for reading. xoxo

Oh come on…now I have to do this too… loved it.

Thank you! And if it makes you feel any better, now I have to do this for my daughter (whose teacher did not request one).

That was really lovely.

Thank you so much. xo

It sounds so much like my George. School was hard for him. He’s eighteen now.

I bet George is a fabulous adult. 🙂

Wow – I could have copied and pasted when my son was in junior school. Beautiful description. Did you get a response from his teacher?

Thank you so much! His teacher is wonderful, and we have discussed my quirky little guy a number of times. 🙂

I love this. I have three boys and I HATE it when their teachers send home the little piece of paper for me to tell them about my son. I can’t fit all that they are and all that we adore about them on those little pages.

EXACTLY. We need at least a couple of pages. 🙂

That is so lovely. My son is every bit as complicated as Colin, but I’m never allowed to tell the whole story in the 10 minute slot I get on Parents’ night. The school can barely handle the juxtaposition of incredibly smart and dyslexia, let alone his other 999 colors.

Thanks for sharing.

“colors” I LOVE that! 🙂

That was beautiful…your son sounds like an awesome human being.

Thank you! And I think he is. I’m not biased at all. 😉

*sniff*. My 19 year old son will be leaving for Marine bootcamp next month. I think I’m going to do this for him. If I can stop crying long enough….

That would be an awesome gift. xoxo

I bet Colin will really appreciate this post when he grows up. It’s a lovely snapshot of him as a fourth grader. I’d consider myself very lucky if I had a mother who’d taken the time to describe my personality, passions, and how I relate in the world in such a loving and articulate way.

I hope so. But I’m putting money in the therapy jar just in case.

Add this to the book!! 🙂

What a gorgeous tribute to your son! Thanks for sharing.

Thank YOU for reading. And commenting! xo

I am one of your quiet followers but this was just so lovely I had to comment.

Thank you so much for being here. And for commenting. xoxo

I loved the “million words or less” question from teachers! (They adore responses like yours, by the way) Here was mine~ http://dayleefix.blogspot.com/2014/08/hump-day-and-even-better-back-to-school.html?m=1

Awww, I LOVE yours too.

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• Essay on Life

Advice To My Daughter Essay Sample

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Life , Happiness , Yourself , World , Time , Choice , Love , Dreams

Published: 02/20/2023

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You have to understand that life is beautiful and that everything you do matters. Be aware of yourself and your potentials and follow your dreams. Surround yourself with people you care about and you will never be lonely. Treat them right and choose wisely because the world is cruel and many dangers are lurking. You have to be careful about who you let get close to you because you need protection in your life. There are many pleasures in life and you need to enjoy them as much as you can because life is short. You will soon realize that you are attracted to boys and you should marry the one that is handsome and treats you well and with respect. You will have to live with him for the rest of your life, so choose carefully. There is much deception in the world and you have to be careful. Never give up on your dreams because that is the purpose of life. Be aware of your emotions, but think clearly and reasonably because somebody might want to take advantage of you. You are smart and you will not allow that because you are a good person. Take care of yourself all the time in order to be happy and healthy. Inner peace is the most important thing you can achieve and you should always strive for perfection. There are many pleasures in life and you should choose those which satisfy you most and are classy at the same time. Pay attention to elegance and grace and be generous. Work is important because it fulfills a person’s time, but you need to find a way to relax every day because life is not easy and should be shared with people who understand you and who love you. Hard work pays in numerous ways, but being true to yourself is equally as important. You have to make wise choices in life and this should be your guidance towards independence. There is much to learn and not only from books, although education is important. However, life experience is what matters most and your life should be full of joy and happiness. The pleasures of this world lead to pleasures in heaven and if you behave well in life, you will achieve a lot. Satisfaction comes from success and that is accomplished by doing what makes you feel happy. Never forget about anything in life and be sure to make good judgments because mistakes are rarely forgiven. It is important to stay classy and elegant at all times because life is a blessing and it should be treated as such and not wasted. Therefore, do your best to enjoy life to the fullest because life is not only dull, but beautiful. When you reach a decision, stick to it until your dream comes true because the purpose of life is to experience as many things as possible. There is much diversity and you are supposed to enjoy yourself and have fun. You need to find that person who you will share your life with because family is the place of joy and tranquility. Marry only for love because all other reasons are not good enough as life is short. You can make mistakes, but if you become aware of them, you can easily correct them. Life is a great and exciting journey and all that matters is to be happy.

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