Wednesday, January 10th, 2024

We’ve all been there. Even though we have the motivation to write, we can’t find the inspiration to do so. No matter how you try, ideas don’t dawn upon you, and to make matters worse, if you are a student with a tight deadline, the stress can really be nerve-wracking.

One of the best ways to find inspiration is to read the work of other writers, and if it is essay writing you’re tasked with, then what better way to get inspired by well-written and thought provoking essay pieces.

Essays are a great way to learn about new ideas, perspectives, and experiences. They have the power to take us to different worlds, introduce us to new ideas, and challenge us to think about things in new ways.

They can also be incredibly inspiring, reminding us of our own potential and the possibilities that lie ahead.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of the top 5 essays to read for students looking for some inspiration. This list features a diverse range of essays, from personal narratives to deep thoughts.

So, if you are looking for a dose of inspiration, don’t skip this blog!

Our Pick of Best 5 Essay Examples

1.      Diana Athill: It’s silly to be frightened of being dead

Written by British editor and novelist Diana Athill, this essay thought provoking piece of writing that beautifully explores the idea of death and being afraid of it. She begins her essay with an intriguing hook that does an amazing job of capturing your attention right from the start.

Here’s how it goes:

“Back in the 1920s, my mother never went to a funeral if she could help it and was horrified when she heard of children being exposed to such an ordeal, and my father vanished from the room if death was mentioned…”

Then, she casually glides over to describe where it all began, telling about her life, family, and experiences. This essay is the perfect example to get your inspiration from if you are writing a philosophy essay. It will give you a good idea about how you can express your ideas and thoughts in a well-described manner.

You can read this essay here.

2.      Neil Gaiman: Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

Born in 1960, Neil Gaiman is a popular English writer and novelist. You might know him from his books The Sandman and Bad Omens.

He also writes wonderful essays and articles, often talking about topics related to writing. In this particular essay, Neil tells the reader about his struggle with a common question every successful writer gets asked. He begins his essay in a pretty engaging manner, involving the reader just like he’s in the middle of a conversation.

Here’s how it goes:

“Every profession has its pitfalls. Doctors, for example, are always being asked for free medical advice, lawyers are asked for legal information, morticians are told how interesting a profession that must be, and then people change the subject fast. And writers are asked where we get our ideas from.”

If you are writing a narrative essay, this essay can be the best example to look at. It is infused with dialogue, humor, and storytelling.

You can read this essay here.

3.      Casey Lyons: The Mushrooms That Ate Luke Perry

Written by famous Colorado-based writer, The Mushrooms That Ate Luke Perry is an intriguing essay describing about the famous green burial of Beverly Hills heartthrob Luke Perry. He charmingly begins his essay in a poetic manner, giving you a glimpse of what follows ahead. His opening sentence from the essay is:

“THE MUSHROOM BURIAL SHROUD that covered Luke Perry’s face and famous forehead was black as night, or perhaps it was white as bone, made of organic cotton, and inlaid with white crochet tubes that resembled lightning and pointed from the shoulders, hips, feet, and hands toward his heart, which was still in his chest.”

This essay can be a great sample to analyze if you are tasked with writing an informative essay. This novel doesn’t just give you information about the actor’s burial but also takes you on a ride of his glamorous on-screen life and the unique idea of rising green burials, also using descriptive essay techniques.

Read this essay here.

4.      Woody Allen: My Speech To The Graduates

This essay by Woody Allen can be classified as a satirical essay. It addresses the existential dilemmas and absurdities of modern life.

He humorously reflects on the struggles of contemporary society, including the reliance on science and technology, the crisis of faith, political incompetence, overpopulation, and the pursuit of distractions like drugs and sex.

Although his essay opening is captivating, too, the way he concludes his essay is praiseworthy in itself. Combining the despair of ugly truth with motivation and humor, he finishes his essay like this:

“Summing up, it is clear the future holds great opportunities. It also holds pitfalls. The trick will be to avoid the pitfalls, seize the opportunities, and get back home by six o’clock.”  

Through witty and sarcastic remarks, Allen paints a picture of a world where humanity faces significant challenges and uncertainties. Despite the serious tone, the essay is laced with humor and irony, highlighting the contradictions and absurdities of life, and thus is a perfect satirical essay example.

5.      Margaret Atwood The Female Body

Writing about well-written essays and essayists, and we don’t mention Margaret Atwood, isn’t possible. The Canadian writer born in 1939 excels in most of the various arts.

She is a poet, novelist, literary critic, inventor, essayist, and a lot more. You might know her from her most popular book, The “Handmaids Tale.” This essay of hers is nothing short of a masterpiece in itself.

This essay is a humorous and insightful exploration of the ways in which women’s bodies are perceived and objectified in society. Atwood begins by describing the female body as a “topic” constantly being talked about, but often in superficial and one-dimensional ways.

She then goes on to explore how women’s bodies are used to sell products, promote certain ideals of beauty, and perpetuate male dominance.

Here’s how she begins her essay:

“I agree, it’s a hot topic. But only one?

Look around, there’s a wide range. Take my own for instance.

I get up in the morning. My topic feels like hell. I sprinkle it with water, brush parts of it, rub it with towels, powder it, add lubricant…”

Throughout the essay, Atwood uses a variety of rhetorical devices, including satire, irony, and hyperbole, to make her points. For example, she writes that the female body is a “renewable resource” because “those things wear out so quickly.”

This statement is both humorous and thought-provoking, as it highlights the way in which women’s bodies are often seen as disposable objects.

Atwood’s essay is a powerful and insightful exploration of the female body. She dares readers to think critically about the ways in which women’s bodies are perceived and treated in society.

You can read this essay here.

And that’s a wrap for today!

So, folks, here comes the end of this interesting essay. We had fun writing it and hope it was fun while reading, too. And most importantly, we hope it gives you the inspiration for essay writing you have been long searching for.

But this is not the end of it. As we sign off for today, we’ll give you some bonus essays you can read to get a double boost in your inspiration.

Read on to discover:

1. Why I Write Joan Didion
2. Go gentle into that good night
3. Phoning It In By Stanley Bing
4. Of Revenge by Sir Francis Bacon
5. Bravery vs. Cowardice by Todd Henry
6. Inmates Run The Aslyum by Magikchef88
7. Flat Surface – Noreen Masud
8. To the tune of dystonia, Lynn Hallarman
9. Vergil’s Secret Message Julia Hejduk
10. The dinosaurs didn’t rule Riley Black

kenneth