essay writing for 8th standard

Question and Answer forum for K12 Students

Essay Writing For Class 8 Format, Topics, Examples, Exercises

Essay writing for class 8 worksheet.

Essay writing is an essential skill that students must develop to succeed academically. It is a form of writing that requires students to express their ideas and thoughts on a particular topic in a clear and concise manner. Class 8 is a crucial year for students as they begin to learn more complex writing skills, including essay writing.

In this article, the focus will be on essay writing for Class 8 students. The article will provide an overview of the different types of essays, including narrative, English Grammar , and descriptive essays. It will also discuss the importance of coherence of ideas, grammar, and spelling when writing an essay.

Furthermore, the article will provide a list of essay writing topics for Class 8 students to aid in their practice sessions. These topics will be presented in simple language for students to read and understand on their own. By the end of this article, Class 8 students will have a better understanding of essay writing and be equipped with the necessary skills to write an effective essay.

Also Check: How To go about writing an essay

Understanding The Essay Topic

When writing an essay, understanding the topic is crucial. It is the foundation upon which the entire essay is built. Without a clear understanding of the topic, the essay will lack direction and coherence. In this section, we will discuss how to understand an essay topic and what steps to take to ensure that you are on the right track.

The first step in understanding an essay topic is to read it carefully. It is essential to pay attention to the wording of the topic and to note any key terms or phrases. These can provide valuable clues as to what the essay is asking for and what approach to take.

After reading the topic, it is important to brainstorm ideas. This involves jotting down any thoughts or ideas that come to mind, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Brainstorming can help to generate ideas and to narrow down the focus of the essay.

Once the ideas have been generated, it is time to organize them. This can be done by creating an outline, which can help to structure the essay and ensure that all the important points are covered. An outline can also help to identify any gaps in the argument and to ensure that the essay flows logically.

It is also important to consider the audience when writing an essay. Who is the essay aimed at, and what do they already know about the topic? This can help to determine the level of detail to include and the tone to use.

In summary, understanding the essay topic is essential for writing a successful essay. By carefully reading the topic, brainstorming ideas, organizing them, and considering the audience, the writer can ensure that the essay is well-structured, coherent, and relevant to the topic at hand.

Research and Gathering Information

When it comes to writing an essay, research, and gathering information are crucial steps that should not be overlooked. This section will cover two essential sub-sections of research and gathering information: Using Reliable Sources and Note Taking Techniques.

Using Reliable Sources

Using reliable sources is crucial when conducting research for an essay. Reliable sources are those that provide accurate, trustworthy, and unbiased information. Examples of reliable sources include academic journals, books, and reputable websites.

It is important to note that not all sources are created equal. Sources such as personal blogs, Wikipedia, and social media posts may not always be reliable. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the credibility of sources before using them in an essay.

To evaluate the credibility of sources, one should consider the following factors:

• Authorship: Who wrote the source? Are they an expert in the field?
• Publication Date: How recent is the source? Is it up-to-date?
• Objectivity: Is the source biased? Does it present a balanced view?
• Evidence: Does the source provide evidence to support its claims?

Note Taking Techniques

Note-taking is an important part of the research process. Good note-taking techniques can help organize information and make it easier to write an essay.

One effective note-taking technique is to use a graphic organizer. A graphic organizer is a visual tool that helps organize information in a logical and structured manner. Examples of graphic organizers include mind maps, Venn diagrams, and flowcharts.

Another effective note-taking technique is to use bullet points. Bullet points are a concise and organized way to record information. They help break down complex information into smaller, more manageable pieces.

In conclusion, research and gathering information are essential steps in writing an essay. Using reliable sources and effective note-taking techniques can help make the research process more efficient and organized.

Essay Structure

When it comes to writing an essay, it is important to have a clear structure in mind. This not only helps the writer to organize their thoughts and ideas but also makes it easier for the reader to follow along. The basic structure of an essay consists of three main parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.

Introduction

The introduction is the opening paragraph of the essay and serves as a way to grab the reader’s attention and provide some background information on the topic. It should include a thesis statement, which is a sentence or two that summarizes the main point or argument of the essay.

The body of the essay is where the writer presents their main arguments and supporting evidence. It is important to organize the body of the essay in a logical and coherent manner, with each paragraph focusing on a specific point or idea. One effective way to do this is to use subheadings or bullet points to break up the text and make it easier to read.

The conclusion is the final paragraph of the essay and should summarize the main points and restate the thesis statement in a new way. It is also a good idea to leave the reader with a final thought or question to encourage further reflection on the topic.

Overall, a well-structured essay is essential for conveying ideas and arguments clearly and effectively. By following the basic structure of an introduction, body, and conclusion, writers can ensure that their essays are organized, coherent, and easy to follow.

Drafting the Essay

Drafting is a crucial step in essay writing. It is the process of developing a complete first version of a piece of writing. Here are some tips for drafting an essay for Class 8:

Writing the Introduction

The introduction is the first part of the essay that the reader will see. It should be short, to the point, neat, and informative. The introduction should grab the reader’s attention and provide a clear idea of what the essay is about. One way to do this is to start with a hook, such as a surprising fact or a thought-provoking question. The introduction should also include a thesis statement that clearly states the main point of the essay.

Developing the Body

The body of the essay is where the writer presents their arguments and evidence to support the thesis statement. Each paragraph in the body should focus on a single idea or argument and should be well-organized. The writer should use transition words and phrases to connect the paragraphs and make the essay flow smoothly. It is also essential to provide evidence to support each argument, such as examples, statistics, or quotes from experts.

Concluding the Essay

The conclusion is the final part of the essay, where the writer summarizes the main points and restates the thesis statement. The conclusion should not introduce any new ideas but should provide a sense of closure to the essay. One way to do this is to end with a memorable statement or a call to action. The writer should also proofread the essay to check for any spelling or grammar errors.

In conclusion, drafting is an essential step in essay writing, and it requires careful planning and organization. By following these tips, students can improve their essay-writing skills and produce high-quality essays.

Revision and Proofreading

Revision and proofreading are essential steps in the essay writing process. These steps allow the writer to make necessary changes to their work, ensuring that the final product is error-free and of high quality. In this section, we will discuss the importance of revision and proofreading, and provide tips on how to effectively execute these steps.

Self-Review

Self-review is the process of reviewing one’s own work. This step is crucial because it allows the writer to identify areas that need improvement. When revising their work, the writer should consider the following:

• Content: Does the essay address the topic? Is the thesis statement clear and concise? Are the supporting arguments relevant?
• Structure: Are the paragraphs organized logically? Does the essay have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion?
• Language: Is the language used appropriate for the target audience? Are there any grammatical errors? Are the sentences clear and concise?

Peer Review

Peer review is the process of having someone else review one’s work. This step is beneficial because it allows the writer to receive feedback from another perspective. When seeking feedback from a peer, the writer should consider the following:

• Ask for specific feedback: Ask the peer to focus on specific aspects of the essay, such as the thesis statement or the organization of the paragraphs.
• Be open to criticism: Accept constructive criticism and use it to improve the essay.
• Consider the peer’s perspective: Consider the peer’s perspective and use it to improve the essay’s clarity and relevance.

In conclusion, revision and proofreading are essential steps in the essay writing process. By following the tips provided in this section, writers can ensure that their essays are error-free and of high quality.

Recommended Reading: Essay Writing For Class 8

Essay Presentation

When it comes to presenting an essay, there are certain guidelines that need to be followed in order to ensure that the essay is presented in a clear and professional manner. This section will cover the formatting guidelines, referencing, and citation for essay writing for Class 8.

Formatting Guidelines

The formatting guidelines for essay writing for Class 8 are as follows:

• Use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial, with a font size of 12.
• Use double spacing throughout the essay.
• Include a header on each page with the student’s name, the title of the essay, and the page number.
• Use one-inch margins on all sides of the page.
• Use headings and subheadings to organize the essay and make it easier to read.

Referencing

Referencing is an important part of essay writing, as it gives credit to the sources used in the essay. When referencing sources, the following guidelines should be followed:

• Use in-text citations to indicate where information was obtained.
• Include a reference list at the end of the essay, listing all sources used.
• Use a recognized referencing style, such as APA or MLA.

Citation is another important part of essay writing. When citing sources, the following guidelines should be followed:

• Use quotation marks to indicate direct quotes.
• Paraphrase information obtained from sources, using one’s own words.

Overall, following these guidelines will ensure that the essay is presented in a clear and professional manner and that the sources used are properly credited.

• Essay Topic Generator
• Summary Generator
• Thesis Maker Academic
• Sentence Rephraser
• Read My Paper
• Hypothesis Generator
• Cover Page Generator
• Text Compactor
• Essay Scrambler
• Essay Plagiarism Checker
• Hook Generator
• AI Writing Checker
• Notes Maker
• Overnight Essay Writing
• Topic Ideas
• Writing Tips
• Essay Writing (by Genre)
• Essay Writing (by Topic)

8th Grade Essay: Examples, Topics, & Writing Tips

If you find yourself on this page, you are probably going to another level of your education – the final year of Middle school!

Isn’t it exciting?

One of the most common assignments in the 8th grade is an essay. Indeed, it gains new features. An eighth-grade essay is not the same as the sixth or seventh-grade one. It has more requirements and needs a deeper level of analysis.

How to write an 8th-grade essay? How many paragraphs should it contain? What is a standard 8th-grade essay format? On this page, you’ll find the answers to these and other questions that might arise. We’ve prepared creative 8th-grade essay topics, examples, and tips to write an A+ informative, narrative, or persuasive essay.

• 🧩 8th Grade Essay 101
• 📑 8th-Grade Essay Types
• 💾 Topics for the 8 th -Graders

🍎 8th Grade Essay Examples

🧩 8th-grade essay format explained.

Once again: the 8th-grade essay format is a bit different from that of the previous years.

Below, we thoroughly explain how long an 8th-grade essay should be and how to write it. We guarantee you’ll have no questions about the format and assessment of this type of work.

What Is the 8 th Grade Essay Format?

In this section, you’ll know which parts comprise any 8th-grade essay.

The first thing to remember: you’ve got onto an entirely new level. So, your writing isn’t as simple and short as it used to be in the previous school years.

Let’s start with the structure. The fundamental parts are the same as in any type of essay:

8th Grade Essay: How to Write & Typical Mistakes

With the help of this section, you’ll get to know the most straightforward and helpful tips for 8th-grade essay writing.

These are the things that any 8th grader should know!

8 th Grade Essay Do’s

• Look for reliable sources to find arguments and evidence.
• Try to arouse eagerness for writing: it surely will ease the whole process for you.
• Choose the topic that is interesting for you if you have such an option.
• Use academic language, special terms, consistent phrases, and correct grammar.
• Use good quotations from reputable sources to solidify your ideas.

8 th Grade Essay Don’ts

• Don’t write dully: an essay is a story. It should be exciting and consistent.
• Don’t make all your examples too similar: diversity is of the essence.
• Don’t let your text look like an unreadable pile of words: use graphic tools to highlight the most critical points.
• Don’t use unreliable sources and websites for citation.
• Don’t be afraid of honest self-expression. Your identity and thoughts are what make your 8th-grade essay unique.
• Don’t forget to revise your text after you’ve finished writing it.

8th Grade Essay Rubric

Meet the assessment strategies for 8th-grade writing. Here you’ll also find some prompts that improve your essay and lead you to a higher score.

So, the assessment pattern of a written piece comprises several main points. These are the things that assessors pay attention to:

📑 Eighth Grade Essay Types

We suppose that you come across different types of assignments during middle school. Among them, there indeed were descriptive and narrative essays.

However, now you are to face other exciting formats of writing. In the section below, you’ll get to know a few new types.

8th Grade Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay is a piece of writing where you make a claim and prove your point of view with solid arguments. Your aim at this point is to make readers nod in contempt while reading and share your opinion.

The structure may be pretty familiar to you:

In your argumentative essay, you should back up your opinion with some exact data: statistics, figures, research studies, and polls.

To solidify your claim, you can use three types of arguments:

• Aristotelian . The classical way – you make a statement and try to persuade the audience that it is the one that is fair and right.
• Rogerian . First, you display an issue, then present the opposing view. After that, reveal your own opinion and start convincing readers why they should take up your point.
• Toulmin . Present your thesis statement, then provide the audience with the grounds to support it. The final touch is to connect these parts.

PRO TIP: Explain why you disagree with the opposing point of view on your issue.

8th Grade Persuasive Essay

A persuasive essay is very similar to argumentative writing. There you have to pick up a mainly burning issue and establish a firm opinion towards it. The primary goal is the same as in the argumentative essay: to make your readers believe you.

Remember the three essentials of persuasive writing:

• Logos appeals to logic, which is apparent. Deliver your thoughts cohesively and reasonably.
• Ethos is about persuading the readers, appealing to their sense of ethics and morality.
• Pathos helps you convince through emotions.

8th Grade Essay – Informative

An expository essay brings concepts to complete understanding. In other words, you explain something to give a clue about the subject in question. Successful expository writing makes the audience get the whole picture, leaving no questions or misunderstandings.

To familiarize yourself with expository essay structure, check our recently updated guide on writing an expository essay .

And briefly look at six major types of expository essays:

💾 8th Grade Essay Topics

8th grade argumentative essay topics.

• What is the main challenge you’ve ever met?
• What was the happiest moment of your childhood?
• Tell about the accomplishment you’re most proud of.
• What are the personal qualities you like most?
• Write about an inspiring celebrity.
• What does emotional intelligence mean?
• Write about the largest challenge of getting older.
• How is adolescence different from childhood?

Read the list of topics we’ve prepared for an 8th-grade essay. Choose your favorite or use our Free Essay Topics Generator to find the best one.

Persuasive Essay Topics for 8th Grade

• Would limited screen time be beneficial for health?
• Will the global use of electric vehicles save us from the ecological crisis?
• The government should provide citizens with more qualified psychological help.
• What are the pros and cons of buying a pet for a child?
• Should people use paper and textile bags instead of plastic ones?
• Is it necessary to attend PE classes in school?
• Is it ethical to use smartphones during the lesson?
• Should parents forbid their children from watching TikTok?
• Pros and cons of cheating on exams: immoral or beneficial?
• Should there be only healthy snack vending machines at schools?
• Is it acceptable for a teacher to raise the voice at a student?
• Should modern rappers’ songs be put through censorship?
• Is it ethical for students to discuss their teachers?
• Should all cosmetic products become cruelty-free?
• Should we stop the overconsumption of sugar for the sake of our health?
• Should zoos and circuses be banned forever?

8th Grade Informative Essay Topics

• Compare and contrast the environmental policies of the USA and Europe.
• What are the harmful effects of CO 2 emissions on the environment?
• How is the concept of freedom reflected in 20th-century literature?
• Reveal the details of the famous friendship of Hemingway and Fitzgerald.
• Brush off or fight: how to act when you come across bullying at school?
• What are the most significant challenges school attendees usually face?
• How to overcome your fears without getting traumatized?
• How to prepare for the exam period and overcome anxiety?
• Freedom or despair: the history and concept of trailer parks in the USA.
• Explain the concept of sustainability and what benefits it has.
• Provide a classification of American lifestyles based on location.
• A reasonable person: describe the concept and the features.

Look at our 8th grade essay examples. These are mostly just excerpts, but we included the most significant parts. Approach us in case you need a similar paper or have any questions.

8th Grade Argumentative Essay Example (#1)

The most notorious substance in the ecological discourse: is CO 2 really that bad?

Did you know that it’s better for the earth if you work out or jog with your mouth tightly shut? It’s not common knowledge, but professionals know: we need a considerable amount of CO 2 in our blood. In some terms, it’s even more vital than oxygen. Undoubtedly, there has to be a proper balance, and here is the point: CO 2 can be beneficial.

Though what good does it make to nature and the environment?

It’s all the same as with our body: CO 2 is not evil on earth, but there must be a proper balance. Now, this balance is critical, and we must make serious efforts to change the situation.

• According to last year’s research, the USA is in the second place among countries producing the most significant part of CO 2 in the whole world. The website statista.com published striking figures. 4.57 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions were produced in 2020 by the energy consumption sphere in the United States.
• Besides, a recently published report from the IEA agency reveals another piece of statistics. Compared to the previous year, the amount of CO 2 emissions will rise to 5% in 2021. This year we’re facing 33 billion tons of this greenhouse gas.
• These figures mean nothing without context. Here you are: nature suffers greatly from CO 2 influence. Due to the greenhouse effect caused by an excess of CO 2 , the water temperature in oceans and seas is rising. This process is not positive at all because the natural habitat for sea creatures is altering. The changes are dramatic and lead to the extinction of many species.

In conclusion, we need to find an efficient way to improve the ecological situation regarding CO 2 emissions. The key is global social and individual awareness and consciousness. Each and every inhabitant of the Earth has to understand the meaning of CO 2 for global warming clearly. So, try to jog with your lips closed and choose a bike instead of a car.

Example #2: 8th Grade Persuasive Essay

Is it essential to stay away from social media for the sake of mental health?

Nielsen Company conducted research that says that the average US adult spends more than 10 hours interacting with social media each day. Indeed, social media plays a very considerable role in the life of a modern person. Most of us are more likely to spend time watching short videos than reading a good book. But is it harmful to our mental health to the extent that we have to quit using social media platforms?

To my mind, we are greatly dependent on our Instagram and TikTok accounts, and the content posted there. It certainly has a negative impact, too. However, the complete cancellation of social media is not a way out. The key to good mental condition is in the skill of managing your relations with them.

• One of the recent surveys by the Lancet reports that Facebook users who scroll the newsfeed before sleep tend to be more depressed. Apparently, the deprivation of sleep affects mental well-being to a great extent.
• FInancesOnline has recently posted the results of the research. According to this data, Facebook constitutes 72% of people’s FOMO and anxiety. Posts about traveling and active social life create most of these feelings.
• At the same time, healthy rivalry can motivate development and growth. There’s a reasonable quotation saying that one should compare themselves yesterday instead of comparing to others. The best thing one can do to take care of their mental health is to take a digital detox for a while.

Thus, it is vital to trace your obsessions with social media and negative feelings caused by comparison with others on the Internet. Try to get more aware of it, take your time to rest from social media, and plunge into real life.

5 Paragraph Essay Example for 8th Grade (#3)

The Financier and American Tragedy : compare and contrast two main characters of Dreiser’s novels.

Do you know that Theodore Dreiser is sometimes called an American Fyodor Dostoevsky? Both writers touched upon the most sensitive social and existential issues. However, the subject of this paper is not the comparison of the authors but two famous Dreiser characters: Clyde Griffiths and Frank Cowperwood.

Both of these young American men were striving to reach financial and social success in a world of brutal struggle and hardships.

• Clyde Griffiths represents the desperate strive for American Dream. Born in a poor and religious family, he grows greedy for money and status. In his blind obsession with gaining a high social position, he doesn’t notice his spiritual degradation. He is smart enough to struggle his way into high society but not so witty to solidify his standing with decent means. He cheats, lies, and finally commits a murder: Clyde seems to be already born guilty at times. On reading the story, there doesn’t appear any sympathy toward him. On the contrary, he provokes feelings of abomination and disgust.
• Frank Cowperwood also aims to become wealthy and socially firm. He wants to improve his family’s life quality. Still, his ways and means astonish. Frank is a natural-born predator and strategist. His sophistication and sharp wit show up in him since his very childhood. He isn’t a man of high moral standards: Frank doesn’t mind cheating on his wife and manipulating city treasure money. However, he’s a passionate man, honest and open in his heart urges and impulses. That is the reason why fortune favors him.

However, having similar goals but different personalities and mindsets, Griffiths and Cowperwood reach completely different destination points.

How to Write an Essay in 8th Grade?

– You should pick up a good topic and formulate your attitude to the problem. – Write an outline. – Make a clear and brief thesis statement. – Think of at least 3 firm arguments if the essay type demands it. – Impress your readers with a firm conclusion. Voila! Do not forget to proofread!

How Long Is an Essay in 8th Grade?

The length of the 8th-grade essay slightly depends on the format and the particular type of writing. However, it varies from approximately 500 to 800 words. Within this framework, you have to make yourself clear and deliver all necessary points.

How Many Sentences Are in a Paragraph for 8th Grade?

The size of a paragraph in the 8th-grade essay has to be not less than 8 sentences in each. Besides that, mind that the sentences are primarily compound or complex, error-free, and coherent. Also, remember to connect the sentences and paragraphs with particular language means.

How to Write an Argumentative Essay in 8th Grade?

Choose an exciting and acute topic. Make up a thesis statement out of the problem. Draft an outline or a brief plan. Explore some reliable sources for the evidence and arguments for your essay. Organize the facts and information into a cohesive structure.

I’m an 8th grade student at a private school, and my teacher assigns us up to 4-6 pages most to write. First of all we get other essays on top of this, and usually have nearly to a week to finish. Me and my classmates struggle with this. Do you guys think this is too much for an average 8th grade student?

i am writin apaper right now and it is averreding and its about the changes we woud make to our cafeteria it has to be 5 paragraphs long

Thanks for stopping by at our blog. We would be happy to help you with your paper. You can be interested in some other posts on this blog (https://overnightessay.com/blog/category/essay-tips/) or contact our friendly Support Team to get professional writign help from experienced writers. Good luck with your paper! Best regards,

• Class 8 English Grammar Chapter 20 Essay Writing

Class 8 English Grammar Chapter 20 Essay Writing. An essay is a detailed piece of writing on a specific subject expressed in the required number of paragraphs. An essay usually has three parts: Introduction – This part of the essay must be short, to the point, neat and informative. Body – The body of an essay gives its reader a detailed account regarding the main theme of the essay, through a few paragraphs. This part of the essay needs to be detailed as well as inclusive, logically organized and well developed. Conclusion – This portion sums up the argument built through the body of the essay. Therefore, this must be convincing reasonable and impressive at the same time.

Grade 8 English Grammar Chapter 20 Essay Writing

• Class 8 English Grammar Chapter 20 Revision Book
• Class 8 English Grammar Previous Chapter
• Class 8 English Grammar Main Page
• Class 8 English NCERT Solutions
• Class 8 all Subjects Solutions

The realm of essay writing, as explored in Chapter 20 of Class 8 English Grammar, offers an enriching avenue for students to present their thoughts, arguments, and ideas in an organized and articulate manner. Renowned educational platforms like Tiwari Academy underscore the importance of essays, not only as an academic tool but also as a life skill that hones one’s ability to communicate effectively.

What exactly is an essay? It’s more than just a collection of words or a random assortment of ideas. An essay is a meticulously structured piece of writing that dives deep into a specific topic, providing readers with insights, arguments, and perspectives.

Essay 1 – A Picnic

• Introduction : Time, Place and Company: It was a fine day in March last. A cool breeze was blowing. Some of my friends and 1 decided to go on a picnic to a nearby lake. It was a pleasant morning. We were a party of ten friends. We collected 20 rupees each. We bought fruits, sweets and some other eatables. We took our bikes and started at 7 a.m. We reached there in half an hour. We selected a beautiful grassy spot. We spread the carpet and rested for some time. First of all we ate apples.
• What did we do? : Then we took off our clothes and jumped into the water. We swam, dived and played in the water. We came out of the water and put on our clothes. We soon felt hungry. We ate some fruits and sweets. We took tea. After taking tea ,we sat in a circle. We played cards. Mohan sang a song. Sohan played upon the flute. Ajit recited a poem. Ram told us a story. Manoj amused us with tit – bits. We laughed heartily. We sang and danced..
• Conclusion : We again bathed in the lake. We had a jolly good time there. It was evening by then. We left for our homes. It was a nice picnic. It was really a happy day of my life.

The anatomy of a compelling essay can be broken down into three core segments:

• Introduction : As the opening salvo, the introduction sets the stage for what’s to come. It’s essential to capture the reader’s attention right off the bat, making them eager to delve deeper. A well-crafted introduction is concise, intriguing, and provides a brief overview of the topic at hand.
• Body : This is where the magic truly unfolds. The body of the essay, often spread across several paragraphs, delves deep into the topic, weaving together facts, arguments, and opinions. Every paragraph should be a structured entity in itself, presenting a particular point or idea and substantiating it with evidence or examples. Consistency in flow, logical sequencing, and coherent development of ideas are vital to keep the reader engaged.
• Conclusion : As the curtain falls, the conclusion wraps up the discourse, encapsulating the essence of the essay. A compelling conclusion doesn’t just reiterate the points made but offers a fresh perspective or a thought-provoking statement, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Essay 1 – A Morning Walk

Introduction : A morning walk is a light exercise. It is very useful for health. It keeps us fresh and active the whole day. It makes us healthy and cheerful. Morning time is the best time of the day. It is calm and quiet. A cool breeze blows. The atmosphere is free from dust and smoke. There is a famous saying: “He, who walks a mile, will surely smile.”

Description : I am an early bird. Last Sunday, I got up at 4 O’clock. I called on my friend, Manish. Both of us left for the canal. The birds were chirping, We saw many people on the way. They were also going for a walk. Farmers were going to their fields. Women were going to fetch water. They were singing beautiful songs. A cool breeze was blowing. The sky was clear. Green field fields looked beautiful. Dew-drops on the grass looked like pearls.

What we saw and did : We reached the canal in half an hour. We sat on the bank and took rest. We saw some persons bathing in the canal. Some were praying to God. Some were walking along thè bank. Some were swimming. We took exercise. We had our bath. We felt fresh. We put on our clothes. We started for our homes. A morning walk costs nothing but gains are many. We should never miss it.

Essay 1 – A Scene at the Bus Stand

Introduction : A bus stand presents a very lively and busy scene. It is like a musceum of human faces and fashion. Last Monday, I went to see off my friend at the bus stand. There was a great rush. Buses were departing and arriving. The bus for Delhi had not yet arrived. So we had to wait.

Description : There was a great rush of passengers. They were waiting for their buses. The ladies were sitting in groups. The children were playing here and there. Vendors and hawkers : Vendors and hawkers were selling news papers and eatables. They were shouting at the top of their voice. There was a rush at the water tap, the tea stalls and the book stalls. We went to a tea stall. We took tea. We bought two books to pass time.

Arrival and departure of the bus : There were long queues at the booking windows. Soon our bus arrived. I bought a ticket for my friend. He boarded the bus and got a seat near the window. The driver took his seat. The conductor gave a whistle and the bus started. I wished good-bye to my friend.

The journey of essay writing is both an art and a science, demanding creativity in expression and precision in structure. Chapter 20, as curated by leading educational institutions, empowers students with the techniques and nuances of essay writing, ensuring they are well-equipped to articulate their thoughts effectively for academic pursuits and beyond.

Essay 1 – My School

Name and Situation of the Building : I read in Tiwari Academy Sr. Sec. School, New Delhi. It is situated out side the town on the Bahadurgardh Highway. It has a very big building. It is in T shape. There are sixteen rooms and two big halls. All the rooms are airy, neat and clean. Each room has two fans. There is a library, two science rooms and a drawing – room. The staff room and the Principal’s office are well furnished. Garden and Play Grounds : In front of the school, there is a beautiful garden. It has flowerplants and fruit -trees. Sh. Ram Lai, the gardener of our school, looks after it. There are two big play grounds. We play games there daily. Our games teacher also plays with us. Teachers and Students : There are 50 teachers in our school. They are hard working. The school has 2000 students. All work hard. Our school shows good result every year. Sh. T.S. Chauhan is our Principal. He is an ideal Principal. The school is progressing under him. Our school is an ideal one. I am proud of it.

Copyright 2024 by Tiwari Academy | A step towards Free Education

8th grade writing

by: Hank Pellissier | Updated: February 12, 2024

Print article

Verbal has a double meaning for eighth grade writing: it refers to the oral presentations the kids will do and to this year’s focus on grammar — gerunds, participles, and infinitives.

Argument essays

Written in formal language, argument essays should start with an introduction that clearly presents the writer’s position and flows into a well-organized, research-backed argument that advocates for their position and argues against opposing claims. Your child’s writing should exhibit a profound understanding of the topic. Arguments should be logical and fueled by evidence from credible sources. Papers should end with a persuasive conclusion that summarizes the viewpoint and declares the topic resolved. Topics will vary, but you’ll often see teen issues such as: Are video games harmful to mental health? Should our school have uniforms? Should bullies be suspended or given a chance to make amends?

Informative and explanatory writing

In their informative and explanatory papers , students use formal language to explain complex topics with relevant data, precise ideas, and logical analyses. Kids should start with an intriguing introduction that previews the subject matter. Next, they present well-organized information that’s backed by evidence from credible sources. Eighth graders should use a variety of “strategy tools,” including:

• Classifying information.
• Defining terms.
• Using subject-specific, academic , and transition vocabulary words.
• Quoting sources.
• Incorporating factual details.
• Making comparisons.
• Contrasting different situations.
• Explaining cause-and-effect relationships.
• Including graphics (charts, tables, images) and multimedia.
• Using formatting (headings, bullet points).

Finally, the concluding paragraph should provide a synopsis of the main point of the essay. Your child’s papers are likely to cover topics that students are familiar with — but still need to research in order to answer, like If there is a drought, how can we save water? Or Explain how a specific invention has changed your life .

Narrative writing

Eighth graders write narratives or stories that describe events in their lives (personal histories, memoirs) or imagined scenarios (fiction, fantasy). Junior J.K. Rowlings learn effective storytelling techniques, such as introducing the narrator and characters, establishing context for the setting, and conveying a point of view. Students practice letting the sequence of events unfold, giving characters depth, and developing the plot through actions, dialogue, and reflection. Your future F. Scott Fitzgerald should use transition words to guide readers from one place and time to another. For example: Four hours later, Jack opened his locker to discover a shocking surprise . Or, Returning to the cafeteria, Tinsley saw the cute new boy sitting with her best friend, Amanda . Remember that even narratives have a conclusion, hopefully one that helps readers ponder the meaning of the story.

Changes and more changes

Grit. Concentration. Determination. Eighth graders strengthen their literary skills by revising their papers over and over again, following advice from teachers and classmates to re-imagine, re-outline, redraft, re-edit, rewrite, and try new approaches. Is this just a form of perfectionistic punishment? No, the practice helps teens learn to tighten their prose, pick stronger verbs, use more accurate descriptors, and organize their writing in the most effective and interesting ways.

Internet interaction

Your eighth grader will likely need the internet to create, type, and share their work, which will often have links to web sources and include graphics and multimedia. Also, these are typically typed. Your child should be tying about 40 words per minute. (Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction recommends a typing speed 5 times your grade . If your child needs practice, there are free typing classes for middle schoolers available online .)

It’s increasingly common for kids to be required to collaborate on projects online, often in Google Docs or Slides. What’s more, drafts and completed assignments are often turned in via email or by uploading to an online portal. So if your child’s technical skills aren’t up to snuff, think about getting your child a little extra help so these requirements don’t hold him back.

Evaluating their sources

Eighth graders do short projects that require research from multiple sources. Teens learn to evaluate the credibility of their sources. For example, Is Saturday Night Live as reliable as National Public Radio? No. Kids need to be careful about how they present information, paraphrasing information or using quotes to avoid plagiarizing, which Merriam-Webster defines as “to use the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own words or ideas.” The standard way to end all research projects? A bibliography, formatted correctly, of course, that shows both the quality and quantity of their sources.

Student critiques

Students get to do the critiquing this year — whether it’s a book or their classmate’s essay. Eighth graders analyze how modern fiction uses the plot, themes, and characters. Students look for connections and explain how a contemporary text borrows from, comments on, or changes the old foundation. For example, How does The Hunger Games trilogy use the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur?

Students also evaluate the evidence their peers use in essays and to back up arguments. It helps them become more skilled at determining fact from fiction, legitimate truth from biased propaganda, scientific theories from fraudulent nonsense.

Eighth graders learn to identify verb voice. If the subject in a sentence does the action, then the verb is in the active voice, like this: The whale ate the shrimp. However, if the subject in a sentence is the target of the action, then the verb is in the passive voice, like this: The shrimp was eaten by the whale .

Presenting their work

Expect quite a few oral reports in eighth grade. In these presentations, kids need to deliver their arguments and the results of their investigations to the class. Key skills for a solid presentation include:

• using formal language;
• making eye contact;
• pronouncing things clearly and loudly enough for all to hear.

Your child’s presentations should be coherent, organized, logical, supported by evidence, and, in many cases, jazzed up with costumes, props, maps, music, sound effects, charts, and visual projection. Teens (and adults) often suffer from sweaty, knee-knocking stage fright. Inform your adolescent that this is totally normal; remind them to breathe and enjoy the attention.

Here’s a preview of the presentation skills required in high school.

Homes Nearby

Homes for rent and sale near schools

6 ways to improve a college essay

Quick writing tips for every age

Writing on the wall

Why parents must teach writing

Yes! Sign me up for updates relevant to my child's grade.

Please enter a valid email address

Thank you for signing up!

Server Issue: Please try again later. Sorry for the inconvenience

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• 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.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

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.

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

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.

See the full essay example

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.

Open Google Slides Download PowerPoint

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 .

Is this article helpful?

Other students also liked.

• How long is an essay? Guidelines for different types of essay
• How to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples
• How to conclude an essay | Interactive example

More interesting articles

• Checklist for academic essays | Is your essay ready to submit?
• Comparing and contrasting in an essay | Tips & examples
• Example of a great essay | Explanations, tips & tricks
• Generate topic ideas for an essay or paper | Tips & techniques
• How to revise an essay in 3 simple steps
• How to structure an essay: Templates and tips
• How to write a descriptive essay | Example & tips
• How to write a literary analysis essay | A step-by-step guide
• How to write a narrative essay | Example & tips
• How to write a rhetorical analysis | Key concepts & examples
• How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples
• How to write an argumentative essay | Examples & tips
• How to write an essay outline | Guidelines & examples
• How to write an expository essay
• How to write the body of an essay | Drafting & redrafting
• Kinds of argumentative academic essays and their purposes
• Organizational tips for academic essays
• The four main types of essay | Quick guide with examples
• Transition sentences | Tips & examples for clear writing

What is your plagiarism score?

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Our 2020-21 Writing Curriculum for Middle and High School

A flexible, seven-unit program based on the real-world writing found in newspapers, from editorials and reviews to personal narratives and informational essays.

Update, Aug. 3, 2023: Find our 2023-24 writing curriculum here.

Our 2019-20 Writing Curriculum is one of the most popular new features we’ve ever run on this site, so, of course, we’re back with a 2020-21 version — one we hope is useful whether you’re teaching in person , online , indoors , outdoors , in a pod , as a homeschool , or in some hybrid of a few of these.

The curriculum detailed below is both a road map for teachers and an invitation to students. For teachers, it includes our writing prompts, mentor texts, contests and lesson plans, and organizes them all into seven distinct units. Each focuses on a different genre of writing that you can find not just in The Times but also in all kinds of real-world sources both in print and online.

But for students, our main goal is to show young people they have something valuable to say, and to give those voices a global audience. That’s always been a pillar of our site, but this year it is even more critical. The events of 2020 will define this generation, and many are living through them isolated from their ordinary communities, rituals and supports. Though a writing curriculum can hardly make up for that, we hope that it can at least offer teenagers a creative outlet for making sense of their experiences, and an enthusiastic audience for the results. Through the opportunities for publication woven throughout each unit, we want to encourage students to go beyond simply being media consumers to become creators and contributors themselves.

So have a look, and see if you can find a way to include any of these opportunities in your curriculum this year, whether to help students document their lives, tell stories, express opinions, investigate ideas, or analyze culture. We can’t wait to hear what your students have to say!

Each unit includes:

Writing prompts to help students try out related skills in a “low stakes” way.

We publish two writing prompts every school day, and we also have thematic collections of more than 1,000 prompts published in the past. Your students might consider responding to these prompts on our site and using our public forums as a kind of “rehearsal space” for practicing voice and technique.

Daily opportunities to practice writing for an authentic audience.

If a student submits a comment on our site, it will be read by Times editors, who approve each one before it gets published. Submitting a comment also gives students an audience of fellow teenagers from around the world who might read and respond to their work. Each week, we call out our favorite comments and honor dozens of students by name in our Thursday “ Current Events Conversation ” feature.

Guided practice with mentor texts .

Each unit we publish features guided practice lessons, written directly to students, that help them observe, understand and practice the kinds of “craft moves” that make different genres of writing sing. From how to “show not tell” in narratives to how to express critical opinions , quote or paraphrase experts or craft scripts for podcasts , we have used the work of both Times journalists and the teenage winners of our contests to show students techniques they can emulate.

“Annotated by the Author” commentaries from Times writers — and teenagers.

As part of our Mentor Texts series , we’ve been asking Times journalists from desks across the newsroom to annotate their articles to let students in on their writing, research and editing processes, and we’ll be adding more for each unit this year. Whether it’s Science writer Nicholas St. Fleur on tiny tyrannosaurs , Opinion writer Aisha Harris on the cultural canon , or The Times’s comics-industry reporter, George Gene Gustines, on comic books that celebrate pride , the idea is to demystify journalism for teenagers. This year, we’ll be inviting student winners of our contests to annotate their work as well.

A contest that can act as a culminating project .

Over the years we’ve heard from many teachers that our contests serve as final projects in their classes, and this curriculum came about in large part because we want to help teachers “plan backwards” to support those projects.

All contest entries are considered by experts, whether Times journalists, outside educators from partner organizations, or professional practitioners in a related field. Winning means being published on our site, and, perhaps, in the print edition of The New York Times.

Webinars and our new professional learning community (P.L.C.).

For each of the seven units in this curriculum, we host a webinar featuring Learning Network editors as well as teachers who use The Times in their classrooms. Our webinars introduce participants to our many resources and provide practical how-to’s on how to use our prompts, mentor texts and contests in the classroom.

New for this school year, we also invite teachers to join our P.L.C. on teaching writing with The Times , where educators can share resources, strategies and inspiration about teaching with these units.

Below are the seven units we will offer in the 2020-21 school year.

September-October

Unit 1: Documenting Teenage Lives in Extraordinary Times

This special unit acknowledges both the tumultuous events of 2020 and their outsized impact on young people — and invites teenagers to respond creatively. How can they add their voices to our understanding of what this historic year will mean for their generation?

Culminating in our Coming of Age in 2020 contest, the unit helps teenagers document and respond to what it’s been like to live through what one Times article describes as “a year of tragedy, of catastrophe, of upheaval, a year that has inflicted one blow after another, a year that has filled the morgues, emptied the schools, shuttered the workplaces, swelled the unemployment lines and polarized the electorate.”

A series of writing prompts, mentor texts and a step-by-step guide will help them think deeply and analytically about who they are, how this year has impacted them, what they’d like to express as a result, and how they’d like to express it. How might they tell their unique stories in ways that feel meaningful and authentic, whether those stories are serious or funny, big or small, raw or polished?

Though the contest accepts work across genres — via words and images, video and audio — all students will also craft written artist’s statements for each piece they submit. In addition, no matter what genre of work students send in, the unit will use writing as a tool throughout to help students brainstorm, compose and edit. And, of course, this work, whether students send it to us or not, is valuable far beyond the classroom: Historians, archivists and museums recommend that we all document our experiences this year, if only for ourselves.

October-November

Unit 2: The Personal Narrative

While The Times is known for its award-winning journalism, the paper also has a robust tradition of publishing personal essays on topics like love , family , life on campus and navigating anxiety . And on our site, our daily writing prompts have long invited students to tell us their stories, too. Our 2019 collection of 550 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing is a good place to start, though we add more every week during the school year.

In this unit we draw on many of these resources, plus some of the 1,000-plus personal essays from the Magazine’s long-running Lives column , to help students find their own “short, memorable stories ” and tell them well. Our related mentor-text lessons can help them practice skills like writing with voice , using details to show rather than tell , structuring a narrative arc , dropping the reader into a scene and more. This year, we’ll also be including mentor text guided lessons that use the work of the 2019 student winners.

As a final project, we invite students to send finished stories to our Second Annual Personal Narrative Writing Contest .

DECEMBER-January

Unit 3: The Review

Book reports and literary essays have long been staples of language arts classrooms, but this unit encourages students to learn how to critique art in other genres as well. As we point out, a cultural review is, of course, a form of argumentative essay. Your class might be writing about Lizzo or “ Looking for Alaska ,” but they still have to make claims and support them with evidence. And, just as they must in a literature essay, they have to read (or watch, or listen to) a work closely; analyze it and understand its context; and explain what is meaningful and interesting about it.

In our Mentor Texts series , we feature the work of Times movie , restaurant , book and music critics to help students understand the elements of a successful review. In each one of these guided lessons, we also spotlight the work of teenage contest winners from previous years.

As a culminating project, we invite students to send us their own reviews of a book, movie, restaurant, album, theatrical production, video game, dance performance, TV show, art exhibition or any other kind of work The Times critiques.

January-February

Unit 4: Informational Writing

Informational writing is the style of writing that dominates The New York Times as well as any other traditional newspaper you might read, and in this unit we hope to show students that it can be every bit as engaging and compelling to read and to write as other genres. Via thousands of articles a month — from front-page reporting on politics to news about athletes in Sports, deep data dives in The Upshot, recipes in Cooking, advice columns in Style and long-form investigative pieces in the magazine — Times journalists find ways to experiment with the genre to intrigue and inform their audiences.

This unit invites students to take any STEM-related discovery, process or idea that interests them and write about it in a way that makes it understandable and engaging for a general audience — but all the skills we teach along the way can work for any kind of informational writing. Via our Mentor Texts series, we show them how to hook the reader from the start , use quotes and research , explain why a topic matters and more. This year we’ll be using the work of the 2020 student winners for additional mentor text lessons.

At the end of the unit, we invite teenagers to submit their own writing to our Second Annual STEM writing contest to show us what they’ve learned.

March-April

Unit 5: Argumentative Writing

The demand for evidence-based argumentative writing is now woven into school assignments across the curriculum and grade levels, and you couldn’t ask for better real-world examples than what you can find in The Times Opinion section .

This unit will, like our others, be supported with writing prompts, mentor-text lesson plans, webinars and more. We’ll also focus on the winning teenage writing we’ve received over the six years we’ve run our related contest.

At a time when media literacy is more important than ever, we also hope that our annual Student Editorial Contest can serve as a final project that encourages students to broaden their information diets with a range of reliable sources, and learn from a variety of perspectives on their chosen issue.

To help students working from home, we also have an Argumentative Unit for Students Doing Remote Learning .

Unit 6: Writing for Podcasts

Most of our writing units so far have all asked for essays of one kind or another, but this spring contest invites students to do what journalists at The Times do every day: make multimedia to tell a story, investigate an issue or communicate a concept.

Our annual podcast contest gives students the freedom to talk about anything they want in any form they like. In the past we’ve had winners who’ve done personal narratives, local travelogues, opinion pieces, interviews with community members, local investigative journalism and descriptions of scientific discoveries.

As with all our other units, we have supported this contest with great examples from The Times and around the web, as well as with mentor texts by teenagers that offer guided practice in understanding elements and techniques.

June-August

Unit 7: Independent Reading and Writing

At a time when teachers are looking for ways to offer students more “voice and choice,” this unit, based on our annual summer contest, offers both.

Every year since 2010 we have invited teenagers around the world to add The New York Times to their summer reading lists and, so far, 70,000 have. Every week for 10 weeks, we ask participants to choose something in The Times that has sparked their interest, then tell us why. At the end of the week, judges from the Times newsroom pick favorite responses, and we publish them on our site.

And we’ve used our Mentor Text feature to spotlight the work of past winners , explain why newsroom judges admired their thinking, and provide four steps to helping any student write better reader-responses.

Because this is our most open-ended contest — students can choose whatever they like, and react however they like — it has proved over the years to be a useful place for young writers to hone their voices, practice skills and take risks . Join us!

• Online Calculus Tutors
• Online Geometry Tutors
• Online Algebra Tutors
• Online Trigonometry Tutors
• Online Statistics Tutors
• Online Chemistry Tutors
• Online Macroeconomics Tutors
• Online English Tutors
• Online Physics Tutors
• Online Computer Science Tutors
• Online Accounting Tutors
• Online Biology Tutors
• Online Business Studies Tutors
• Online Finance Tutors
• Online Programming Tutors
• Online Management Tutors
• Online Science Tutors
• Year 2 Maths
• Year 3 Maths
• Year 4 Maths
• Year 5 Maths
• Year 6 Maths
• Year 2 English
• Year 3 English
• Year 4 English
• Year 5 English
• Year 6 English
• Year 7 Maths
• Year 8 Maths
• Year 9 Maths
• Year 10 Maths
• Year 10 Advance Maths
• Year 7 English
• Year 8 English
• Year 9 English
• Year 10 English
• Year 11 General Maths
• Year 11 Chemistry SA,NT
• Year 11 General Mathematics VIC
• Year 11 Mathematical Methods
• Year 11 Mathematics Standard
• Year 11 Chemistry ACT
• Year 11 Mathematics Extension 1
• Year 11 Mathematical Methods SA, NT
• Year 11 Mathematical Methods VIC
• Year 11 Mathematical Applications
• Year 11 Chemistry QLD
• Year 11 Literature ATAR
• Year 11 English - QLD
• Year 11 English Advanced NSW
• Year 11 EALD Level 3
• Year 11 English Language
• Year 11 Essential English M
• Year 11 Essential Skills TAS
• Year 11 Essential English
• Year 11 Bridging EAL
• Year 11 EALD Level 1
• Year 11 Stage 1 Essential English
• Year 11 English General
• Year 11 Mathematics Advanced
• Year 11 EAL
• Year 11 English Standard
• Year 11 EALD ATAR
• Year 12 Mathematics Standard
• Year 12 Further Mathematics
• Year 12 Mathematics Applications
• Year 12 Mathematics Extension 1
• Year 12 Mathematics Methods
• Year 12 Mathematics Advanced
• Year 12 Mathematics Methods VIC
• Year 12 Mathematics Methods - TAS
• Year 12 General Mathematics TAS
• Year 11 English T
• Year 12 Mathematical Methods - QLD
• Year 12 General Mathematics SA, NT
• Year 11 Foundation English
• Year 11 English Studies
• Year 11 Literacy Short Course
• Year 11 English Preliminary
• Year 12 English ATAR
• Year 11 EAL/D
• Year 12 English Extension 2
• Year 12 EAL/D
• Year 12 EALD ATAR WA
• Year 12 English Foundation
• Year 12 English Extension 1
• Year 12 Literature
• Year 12 Stage 2 Essential English
• Year 12 English Literature ATAR
• Year 12 Stage 2 English
• Year 12 EALD Level 2 - TAS
• Year 12 English Advanced NSW
• Year 12 Chemistry VIC
• Year 12 English Language
• Year 12 English Literature T - ACT
• Year 12 English Foundation WA
• Year 12 English Standard NSW Learning Programs
• Year 11 Chemistry WA
• Year 11 Chemistry - VIC
• Year 12 Chemistry - QLD
• Year 12 Chemistry - TAS
• Year 12 Chemistry - WA
• Year 12 Chemistry - NSW
• Year 12 Chemistry - ACT
• Online Tutors in Sydney
• Online Tutors in Melbourne
• Online Tutors in Brisbane
• Online Tutors in Gold Coast
• Online Tutors in Perth
• Online Tutors in Canberra
• Online Tutors in Adelaide
• Online Tutors in Newcastle
• HSC Papers 2019
• HSC Papers 2018
• HSC Papers 2017

Book a Free Demo

Math Calculus Geometry Algebra Trigonometry Statistics Chemistry Economics Macroeconomics English Physics Computer Science Accounting Biology Business Studies Finance Programming Management Science Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 College

Search Here

Recent posts.

• General Achievement Test Australia
• ESL vs English Tutoring – What Makes Them Different?
• Know the Grading System in Australia
• GED vs HiSET: All You Need To Know
• HSPT vs PSAT: Which One Is Beneficial For You?
• WordPress.org
• Documentation
• Support Forums

CBSE Library

Class 8 Essay Topics List for Students & Children | 8th Std English Essays

Writing essays is one of the arts & teaches everyone to communicate with others professional with their own thoughts & ideas. Students of standard 8 should show some interest in writing essays and improve their writing skills. To aid in your practice sessions, we have compiled a variety of  essay writing topics for class 8  in a simple language for students to read and understand their own. Subject Specific Class 8 Essay Topics will help kids to improve their creativity and broaden their mindset and intellect.

List of Class 8 Essay Writing Topics for Kids & Children in English

Students who are looking for Class 8 Essay Topics & Ideas can stop your search right away and refer to this section. Here, we have curated the most & frequently asked  Essay Writing Topics for Class 8 Students  to understand and learn who to write down the imaginary views on the particular topic in just less time. Writing skills & vocabulary skills are the two eyes to complete an essay in an attractive way to engage the audience. So, check out the prevailing Short & Long Essays for 8th Std and add your creative writing ideas in essays.

• Essay on School’s Surroundings and Examinations
• Essay on Festivals
• Essay on Persons We Come Across
• Essay on About Myself
• Essay on Relationships
• Essay on Visits
• Essay on Scenes, Sights, and Journeys
• Essay on Health and Fitness
• Essay on Personalities/People
• Essay on Events
• Essay on Monuments
• Essay on Vacation/Holidays
• Nature Essay
• Essay on Sports
• Essay on Cities
• Essay on Life
• Essay on Animals
• General Essays
• Global Warming
• Essay on Environmental Issues & Awareness
• Essay Topics Based on Proverbs
• Essay on Moral Values
• Education Essay
• Essay on India
• Essay on Science & Technology
• Essay on Social Issues & Social Awareness
• Argumentative Essay Topics

FAQs on Essay for Class 8 Students

1. How to become perfect at writing essays?

First and foremost, you should be strong at obtaining a solid understanding of grammar, punctuation. Utilize Vocabulary in a correct way and write down attractive Intro lines then go for topic-related body thesis and conclusion which aid your thoughts.

2. From where can I attain Class 8 Essay Topics in English?

You can attain different categories of grade 8 Essay Topics & ideas in English from the AplusTopper provided Class 8 Essay Topics page.

3. Is there any online web portal that offers the free 8th Grade Essays Writing Topics?

Yes, Aplustopper.com is a reliable and genuine online portal that offers the 8th Class Subject Specific Essay Writing Topics free of cost. These free resources will surely improve your writing skills.

Final Words

Hoping that the details and list of Class 8 Essay Topics shared above benefit you while writing essays at competitions. So, make use of these several ideas on  Essay Writing Topics for Class 8  & improve your analytical, writing, vocabulary skills. Want to give any suggestions or need to ask some other essay topics for Grade 8 students? Shoot your comments below and get the answers at the earliest. Meanwhile, visit Aplustopper.com & find different Classes and Topics of English Essays.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Reading Worksheets, Spelling, Grammar, Comprehension, Lesson Plans

8th Grade Writing

For eighth graders, this Common Core area helps students gain mastery of writing skills by working collaboratively and producing written texts, understanding syntax and vocabulary, and organizing their ideas. Among the complete standards for this grade, eighth graders will be asked to: support the claims of their arguments with evidence, logical reasoning, and credible sources, use a formal style when writing, be able to develop the topic of a work with details, facts, definitions, and quotations, employ formatting, graphics, and multimedia to present information in the written medium, employ narrative techniques like pacing, description, reflection, and dialogue to develop events and characters within a text, go through the process of writing, editing and revision for their written work, use appropriate technology to publish writing and to collaborate on written projects, demonstrate keyboarding skill, go through the process of writing, editing and revision for their written work, conduct short research projects to answer a question, quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of supporting texts while avoiding plagiarism and using proper citation, use evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Abraham Lincoln Bio Poem

Your students will write a bio poem about Abraham Lincoln.

Bio Poem: My Mother

A fun Mother’s Day bio poem activity for your students!

Bio Poem: Pilgrim

A biography poem, also called a bio poem, is a short poem which describes a person or thing. This printable Thanksgiving Activity guides students through creating a bio poem about Pilgrims.

Bio Poem: Someone You Know

Students will write a bio poem about someone they know using the format set in this worksheet.

Christmas Tree Bio Poem

A biography poem, also called a bio poem, is a short poem which describes a person or thing. Sometimes writing a bio pem can be tricky! This printable Christmas Activity guides students through creating a bio poem about a Christmas tree.

Correct the Transition Words Mistakes – Worksheet

Have your students revise sentences and correct transition word mistakes with this educational writing activity.

Edgar Allan Poe: Secrets in Poetry

Students read from Edgar Allan Poe’s “An Enigma” and decipher the name of the woman’s whose name is hidden within the text.

Father’s Day Bio Poem: My Father

Enhance your students’ writing skills with this fun Father’s Day Biography Poem activity.

Fourth of July Bio Poem: America

Encourage your students to learn about America with this Fourth of July Biography Poem activity.

George Washington Bio Poem

Your students will write a bio poem about George Washington.

George Washington’s List of Rules

When George Washington was a young boy, he made a list of rules for himself. Students choose one of the rules and write what it means.

Halloween Bio Poem Activity: Ghost

Create a bio poem about your own personal ghost with our fun Halloween printable activity!

Main Idea Organizer

Teach your students how to organize their writing with this helpful Main Idea Organizer. Students will be asked to complete the worksheet by writing their own main idea, three details, and a summary. This will help your students better understand how to organize their ideas for writing in the future, especially when writing an essay!

Write a Biography Poem

Bio poems are usually short poems following a specific format. In this worksheet students will write a bio poem about themself.

Bio Poem: A President

Bio poems are usually short poems following a specific format. Students will write about a President in this worksheet.

Bio Poem: An Ocean

Have your students get creative by writing a bio poem about an ocean.

Editing and Proofing a Paragraph

Your students will further their editing and proofing skills by correcting a paragraph in this printable classroom worksheet.

George Washington: Almost a King

What if George Washington had become king? Students ponder this question and then write about what it would be like.

How to Write a Thesis Statement

This activity helps students develop a strong thesis statement for their essays by providing practice writing sample statements.

How to Write an Introduction: Bridge Building Activity

This activity is designed to help students learn about writing introductions through a fun bridge building activity to join the lead noun card and thesis statement card.

Common Core State Standards Initiative

English Language Arts Standards

The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects (“the standards”) represent the next generation of K–12 standards designed to prepare all students for success in college, career, and life by the time they graduate from high school.

The Common Core asks students to read stories and literature, as well as more complex texts that provide facts and background knowledge in areas such as science and social studies. Students will be challenged and asked questions that push them to refer back to what they’ve read. This stresses critical-thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills that are required for success in college, career, and life.

The standards establish guidelines for English language arts (ELA) as well as for literacy in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects. Because students must learn to read, write, speak, listen, and use language effectively in a variety of content areas, the standards promote the literacy skills and concepts required for college and career readiness in multiple disciplines.

The College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards form the backbone of the ELA/literacy standards by articulating core knowledge and skills, while grade-specific standards provide additional specificity. Beginning in grade 6, the literacy standards allow teachers of ELA, history/social studies, science, and technical subjects to use their content area expertise to help students meet the particular challenges of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language in their respective fields.

It is important to note that the grade 6–12 literacy standards in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects are meant to supplement content standards in those areas, not replace them. States determine how to incorporate these standards into their existing standards for those subjects or adopt them as content area literacy standards.

The skills and knowledge captured in the ELA/literacy standards are designed to prepare students for life outside the classroom. They include critical-thinking skills and the ability to closely and attentively read texts in a way that will help them understand and enjoy complex works of literature. Students will learn to use cogent reasoning and evidence collection skills that are essential for success in college, career, and life. The standards also lay out a vision of what it means to be a literate person who is prepared for success in the 21 st century.

• Key Design Consideration
• Students Who are College and Career Ready in Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, & Language
• How to Read the Standards
• College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading
• College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Writing
• College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Speaking and Listening
• College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Language
• Introduction for K-5
• Kindergarten
• Introduction for 6-12
• Grade 11-12
• Introduction
• Language Progressive Skills
• Measuring Text Complexity: Three Factors
• Range of Text Types for K-5
• Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Range of Student Reading K-5
• Staying on Topic Within a Grade & Across Grades
• Range of Text Types for 6-12
• Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Range of Student Reading 6-12
• English Language Arts Appendix A
• English Language Arts Appendix B
• English Language Arts Appendix C

• Teacher Sign In
• LTA Toolkit
• Digital Teacher Guides

Texas 8th Grade Writing Standards

LiteracyTA provides writing skills that Texas educators use to teach Texas 8th Grade Writing Standards.

The Texas literacy standards are the what. The skills below and the related eCoach discussions are the how. In the table below, you will find next to each Texas writing standard practical skills, classroom resources, rich conversations and teaching ideas that move all students toward achieving Texas standards!

Texas Literacy Standards

Writing Process. Students use elements of the writing process (planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing) to compose text.

Analyzing Text-Dependent Prompts

Argument Writing Plan

Building a Reading and Writing Plan

Email Etiquette

Informative Essay Writing Plan

Narrative Essay Writing Plan

Narrative Story Writing Plan

Peer Review Groups

Three Step Writing Process

Timed Writing Process

A Writing Process for All

Engage in Structured Debates

Getting Started with Pair Peer Review

6 Steps for Teaching Types of Writing

CCR-Aligned Reading and Writing Processes

Literary Texts. Students write literary texts to express their ideas and feelings about real or imagined people, events, and ideas.

Analyzing Research Prompts

Understanding the Writing Standards: A Narrative (or is it Informative?)

Let's Start Collaborating: Short Writing Tasks

Writing. Students write about their own experiences. Students are expected to write a personal narrative that has a clearly defined focus and includes reflections on decisions, actions, and/or consequences.

Expository and Procedural Texts. Students write expository and procedural or work-related texts to communicate ideas and information to specific audiences for specific purposes.

Cause and Effect Organizer

Compare and Contrast Organizer

Expanding Summary

Integrating Sources

Online Portfolio

Problem and Solution Organizer

Rhetorical Precis

Source Summary

Synthesizing Claims

Taking Research Notes

Writing Abstracts

Summary: The Pathway to College Success

8 Research Lessons for African-American History Month

3 Ways to Prepare Students for the New State Tests

Persuasive Texts. Students write persuasive texts to influence the attitudes or actions of a specific audience on specific issues.

Debate a Side

One Minute Speech

Understanding Argument Writing Standards

5 Steps to Teaching Argumentative Writing

• Skill Library
• Informational Texts
• Prompt Builder
• Literacy Standards
• Teacher Talk
• Elementary School
• Middle School
• High School
• LTA Toolkit Pro
• The EL Teacher's Guidebook
• Collaborative Work
• Free Reading Program
• Free Reading Program for Elementary
• Free Reading Program for Middle School
• Free Reading Program for High School
• Free EL Reading Program
• Free Intervention Reading Program
• Free Online Reading Program
• Reading Assessments
• Reading Standards
• Writing Standards
• Speaking Standards
• Language Standards
• Common Core Standards

ZAP Classes

Interested in a ZAP Class at your school?

Already have access.