The English Magazine

The How-To Essay

How to Write a How-To Essay That Inspires Your Readers to Action

Do you know how to do something that you find others asking about frequently? Alternatively, are you a quick learner, with a knack for picking up systems, processes, or just general ways of "doing things"?  Do you find you can easily explain ways of doing things in a lay-person's terms to others to help them accomplish tasks? If so, you're the perfect candidate for writing a How-To Essay. If not, you can certainly learn how to write a How-To Essay, so that you can pass your knowledge on to others and inspire them to "get at it."

Americanisms

Someone, probably Bernard Shaw, once said that the British and the Americans are two people separated by a common language and it is certainly true that when Daniel Webster wrote his famous dictionary he set out to make the two languages distinctive – hence us Brits have humour and the Americans humor and so on.

The Information Interview Essay

The Art of the Informational Interview Essay

Sometimes, we just want to learn more about other people; we want to find out what makes them tick so-to-speak. We yearn to understand how they navigate this adventure we call life.  About the only way we can actually learn about others is through asking them questions. That's what an Informational Interview does; you ask relevant questions and compile the answers into a form suitable for reading at one's leisure in an Informational Interview Essay.

You need to consider two aspects of the Informational Interview Essay. Aside from the typical considerations that come with any form of essay writing, such as proper research, clarity of writing, revision, and such. One aspect to consider is your approach to "Conducting the Interview." The second aspect for consideration is the actual "Questioning." Let's look at five vital points of each aspect:

Cut Out Your Filler Words

by Gilda Bonanno

Filler words include "um," "ah," and words such as "like," "so," and "ok," which are used as a verbal bridge to the next word.

These words just fill in space while you remember or think of something to say next. Rather than being effective bridges, they are roadblocks, distracting the audience and interrupting the flow of your message.