essay on making choices

Essays About Choice: Top 5 Examples and 8 Prompts

Finding it hard to start your essays about choice? Here are our essay examples and prompts to inspire you.

Making choices, whether big or small, makes up the very journey of our lives. Our choices are influenced by various factors, such as our preferences, beliefs, experiences, and cognitive capacity. Our choices unravel our lives and shape us into the person we choose to be.

However, humans can easily be distracted and could be irrational when making choices. With this, new studies have emerged to learn more accurately about our thought processes and help us move beyond our limited rationality when making our choices.

Read on and see our round-up of compelling essay examples and prompts to inspire you in writing your piece about choice.

1. The Art Of Decision-Making by Joshua Rothman

2. tactical generals: leaders, technology, and the perils by peter w. singer, 3. how your emotions influence your decisions by svetlana w. whitener, 4. how to choose the right pet for you by roxanna coldiron, 5. how to make money decisions when the future is uncertain by veronica dagher and julia carpenter, 1. the hardest but best choice in my life, 2. how to make good decisions, 3. “my body, my choice.”, 4. the consequences of bad choices, 5. how consumers make choices, 6. the rise of behavioral economics, 7. moral choices, 8. analyzed the poem “the road not taken.”.

“One of the paradoxes of life is that our big decisions are often less calculated than our small ones are. We agonize over what to stream on Netflix, then let TV shows persuade us to move to New York; buying a new laptop may involve weeks of Internet research, but the deliberations behind a life-changing breakup could consist of a few bottles of wine.”

The article dives deep into the mind’s methods of making choices. It tackles various theories and analyses from various writers and philosophers, such as the decision theory where you make a “multidimensional matrix” in coming up with the most viable choice based on your existing values and the “transformative experience” where today’s values may not determine your tomorrow but makes you fulfilled, nevertheless.

Check out these essays about reading and essays about the contemporary world .

“The challenge is that tactical generals often overestimate how much they really know about what happens on the ground. New technologies may give them an unprecedented view of the battlefield and the ability to reach into it as never before, but this view remains limited.”

Fourth industrial technologies such as artificial intelligence are everywhere and are now penetrating the military system, enabling generals to make more tactical choices. This development allows generals a broader insight into the situation, stripped of the emotional and human interventions that can spoil a rational and sound choice. However, these computer systems remain fraught with challenges and must be dealt with with caution.

“… emotions influence, skew or sometimes completely determine the outcome of a large number of decisions we are confronted with in a day. Therefore, it behooves all of us who want to make the best, most objective decisions to know all we can about emotions and their effect on our decision-making.”

Whitener stresses that external and hormonal factors significantly affect our decisions but determining the role and impact of our emotions helps us make positive decisions. This exercise requires being circumspect in our emotions in a given situation and, of course, not making a decision when under stress or pressure. Check out these essays about respect .

“Whether we choose to adopt a cat, dog, rabbit, fish, bird, hamster, or guinea pig, knowing that we provide that animal with the best care that it needs is an important aspect of being a pet caretaker. But it’s also about the individual animal.”

Knowing which pet is best for you boils down to carefully evaluating your limits and lifestyle preference. This essay provides a list of questions you should first ask yourself regarding the time and energy you can commit before adopting a pet. It also provides a run-through of pets and their habits that can match your limits and preferences.

How do I know when is a good time to invest? The article answers this burning financial question and many more amid a period of financial uncertainties propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also provides tips, such as evaluating your short and long-term financial goals and tapping an accountant or financial adviser, to help readers make a confident choice in their finances.

8 Prompts On essays about choice

Get creative with our list of prompts on choice:

essays about choice: The hardest but best choice in my life

What is now your best choice may have seemed a difficult one at first. So, talk about the situation where you had to make this hard decision. Then, lay down the lessons you have learned from analyzing the pros and cons of a situation and how you are now benefiting from this choice. Your scenarios can range from picking your school or course for college or dropping out some toxic friends or relatives.

Making the right choice is a life skill, but it’s easier said than done. First, gather recent research studies that shed light on the various factors that affect how we come up with our choices. Then, look into the best practices to make good decisions based on what psychologists, therapists, and other experts recommend. Finally, to add a personal touch to your essay, describe how you make decisions that effectively result in positive outcomes.

“My Body, My Choice” is a feminist slogan that refers to women’s right to choose what’s best for their bodies. The slogan aimed to resist the traditional practice of fixed marriages and fight for women’s reproductive rights, such as abortion. For this prompt, you may underscore the importance of listening to women when making policies and rules that involve their bodies and health. You may even discuss the controversial Roe v. Wade ruling and provide your insights on this landmark overturn of women’s rights to abortion.

Bad choices in major life decisions can lead to disastrous events. And we’ve all had our fair share of bad choices. So first, analyze why people tend to make bad decisions. Next, write about the common consequences students face when they fall into the trap of bad choices. Then, talk about an experience where your bad judgment led you to an undesirable situation. Finally, write the lessons you’ve learned from this experience and how this improved your life choices.

How does a shopper’s mind work? Your essay can answer this through the lens of marketers. You can start by mapping out the stages consumers go through when choosing. Then, identify the fundamental principles that help marketers effectively drive more sales—finally, research how marketers are persuading their target audience through their branding imagery and emotional connection.

Behavioral economics combines the teaching of psychology and economics to study how humans arrive at their economic choices. The discipline challenges the fundamental principle in economic models, which assumes that humans make rational choices. First, provide a brief overview of behavioral economics and how it was born and evolved over the decades. Finally, offer insights on how you think behavioral economics can be adopted in private companies and government agencies to improve decision-making.

First, define a moral choice. Then, enumerate the factors that can shape a moral choice, such as religion, ethics, culture, and gender. You can also zoom into a certain scenario that sparks debates on the morality of choice, such as in warfare when generals decide whether to drop a bomb or when to forge on or withdraw from a battle. Finally, you may also feature people in history who have managed to let their moral code prevail in their judgment and actions, even in the face of great danger.

Making choices and the opportunities one can miss out on are the central themes in this poem by Robert Frost. First, summarize the poem and analyze what the author says about making choices. Then, attempt to answer what the diverging roads represent and what taking the less traveled road signifies. Finally, narrate an event in your life when you made an unpopular choice. Share whether you regret the choice or ended up being satisfied with it.

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips .

But if you’re still stuck, there’s no need to fret. Instead, check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

Yna Lim is a communications specialist currently focused on policy advocacy. In her eight years of writing, she has been exposed to a variety of topics, including cryptocurrency, web hosting, agriculture, marketing, intellectual property, data privacy and international trade. A former journalist in one of the top business papers in the Philippines, Yna is currently pursuing her master's degree in economics and business.

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Decision Making in Life

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List of Essays

Personal decision making, defining our identities, charting life trajectories, embracing accountability, strategic planning, problem solving, risk management, the decision-making process.

The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Decision Makingt

Self-Regulation

Social awareness, conflict resolution.

Life is a series of decisions, some small and seemingly inconsequential, others monumental and life-altering. Whether we're selecting a career path, choosing a life partner, or merely deciding on dinner, each choice shapes our life's trajectory. In this "decision making in life" essay, we'll delve into the importance of making informed decisions, understanding our identities, and the role of emotional intelligence in shaping our choices.

Every person stands at the crossroads of multiple decisions daily. The essence of personal decision-making lies in understanding who we are, what drives us, and what we value. When we possess this knowledge, we can align our choices with our intrinsic motivations, ensuring that our decisions are authentic and fulfilling.

Our identities are a fusion of our experiences, beliefs, values, and aspirations. Every decision we make, whether consciously or subconsciously, is rooted in these facets of our identity. Recognizing the core elements of our identity empowers us to make choices that resonate with our true selves, leading to a more fulfilled life.

The decisions we make are like waypoints on a map, guiding us on our life's journey. With each choice, we determine our direction, sometimes altering our path dramatically or subtly refining our route. By making informed, deliberate choices, we can ensure that our trajectory aligns with our goals and aspirations.

Decision-making is an act of responsibility. Recognizing the importance of decision-making in life means accepting that our choices have consequences. Embracing this accountability can empower us to make more informed, thoughtful decisions, considering not only immediate implications but long-term effects as well.

Strategic planning involves looking ahead, setting goals, and determining the best course of action to achieve those objectives. By employing strategic thinking in our personal lives, we can anticipate potential challenges, optimize opportunities, and navigate the intricate maze of life with foresight and purpose.

Every decision stems from a desire to solve a problem or seize an opportunity. Effective problem-solving skills enable us to dissect issues, identify potential solutions, and select the optimal course of action.

Life is unpredictable. While we can't foresee every outcome, we can manage potential risks. Assessing the pros and cons of a decision and anticipating potential pitfalls is essential. Risk management doesn't mean avoiding risks but making informed decisions, understanding potential outcomes, and being prepared for them.

Making a decision is a systematic process, and understanding its stages can help us make more informed choices.

Identifying the Problem or Opportunity : Recognize the need for a decision. Is there a problem to solve or an opportunity to exploit?
Gathering Information : Equip yourself with relevant facts, data, and insights. The better informed you are, the clearer your perspective will be.
Evaluating Options : Weigh the pros and cons of each potential decision. Consider the implications of each choice and how they align with your values and goals.
Making the Decision : After thorough evaluation, choose the best course of action.
Reflecting and Learning : After a decision is made, assess the outcome. Were the results as expected? What lessons can be drawn for future decisions?

The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Decision Making

Emotional intelligence (EI) plays a pivotal role in shaping our decisions. Possessing a high EI means understanding and managing our emotions and recognizing those of others, facilitating better interpersonal interactions and informed personal decisions.

Individuals with a high EI can regulate their emotions, preventing them from making impulsive decisions. This self-regulation ensures that choices are based on logic and reason rather than fleeting emotions.

Understanding others' emotions and perspectives aids in making decisions that consider broader implications, especially when multiple parties are involved.

When faced with conflicting views or choices, those with high EI can navigate the situation, find common ground, and arrive at mutually beneficial decisions.

The "importance of decision making in life essay" cannot be understated, for it offers a window into the intricate web of choices that shape our existence. Through this essay on the importance of decision making, we comprehend the pivotal role these choices play in defining who we are and the paths we tread. The "importance of decision making in our life essay" lies not just in highlighting the weight of every choice, but in emphasizing the need for introspection, foresight, and emotional intelligence. To truly grasp the essence of this "essay on importance of decision making in life," one must reflect on one’s own life choices and their ramifications. For, as we come to understand the importance of decision making in our life essay, we learn to appreciate the delicate balance of logic, emotion, strategy, and instinct that drives each decision, large or small.

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Decision-Making: Choices and Results Essay

Decision-making is sometimes a complicated process where the best knowledge and understanding of all important factors is considered. The more informed a decision is, the better outcome will result. Picking one decision over another is related to the most benefit that a person wants to get.

A random act of indecision is based on a principle that someone else, sometimes a stranger, decides for you. The best way to accomplish this is to consult someone who has a certain amount of knowledge in the subject. As a social experiment, I decided to ask a computer store worker to choose a program for me, which best deals with my needs. My only preference rested on the kind of program, which related to my field of work. The general requirement was that it must be a program used for writing articles and short stories. The store worker asked me if it had to be a program for a PC, notebook, or IPad. I own a notebook, so I answered which devise I have. He then started offering programs, which differed in layout and functions. I explained to the man that he is the one who has to pick a certain program and I will be satisfied by his own opinion and understanding of what is best. He was somewhat surprised, as people often say what they need specifically. After about 5 minutes of browsing through several programs, he selected one that was called Professional Writing for Pros. When I got home and tried the program, I was very pleased with the decision. Potentially, this way of making a choice is surprising and useful, in cases when there is not much information known about the subject. It was very efficient to let someone more knowledgeable make the decision, as I did not have to spend extra time and effort in familiarizing myself with the subject and make the selection on my own. Another decision that was taken for me was at the local restaurant. Usually, I pick something that I have tried before, so I know what kind of taste it will have. But this time, I let the person sitting next to me choose my meal. I only asked that it be something extravagant, not a usual, everyday selection. The lady started thinking and then was joined by her brother and father. The three of them had a quick recall of foods that they previously had, which were unusual to them. In the end, they came up with a choice of 2 things. One was octopus and the other was a shark’s fin soup. The father and his daughter were recommending octopus because shark’s fin soup has recently become known for its inhumane treatment of sharks. The fishermen would only use the fins and dispose of the rest of the shark. So, their choice was octopus and I was ready to try it. I have never tried octopus before and to say the truth, had a somewhat negative predisposition towards the taste. But the octopus was nicely cooked and had a side order of a seafood salad. I was very glad that I finally tried it because it was delicious. The family stayed several extra minutes to see my reaction and they were happy that I liked it. This sort of decision-making becomes a very positive experience. I believe that people should do this at least sometimes, as it is much unexpected and surprisingly easy.

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IvyPanda. (2022, February 3). Decision-Making: Choices and Results. https://ivypanda.com/essays/decision-making-choices-and-results/

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Essay on Life Choice

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

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Life Choice

Understanding life choices.

Life choices are decisions we make about how to live our lives. They can be big, like choosing a career, or small, like deciding what to eat for breakfast. These choices shape who we are and how we experience the world.

Importance of Life Choices

Life choices are important because they shape our future. For example, choosing to study hard can lead to good grades, which can open up opportunities for further education and a good job. On the other hand, making poor choices can lead to difficulties and regrets.

Making Good Life Choices

Making good life choices involves thinking about what you want and what is best for you. It can be helpful to talk to others, like family or teachers, for advice. Also, it’s important to learn from your past choices, both good and bad.

Life Choices and Responsibility

When we make choices, we must also accept the consequences. This is part of growing up and becoming responsible. If we make a mistake, it’s important to learn from it and make better choices in the future.

In conclusion, life choices are an essential part of our lives. They shape our future and help us grow as people. So, it’s important to think carefully and make the best choices we can.

250 Words Essay on Life Choice

What is life choice.

Life choice refers to the decisions we make in our lives. These choices can be about our education, career, or personal life. We make many choices every day. Some are small, like what to eat for breakfast, and some are big, like choosing a career path.

Life choices are important because they shape our future. If we make good choices, we can have a happy and successful life. But if we make bad choices, we can face problems. For example, if we choose to study hard, we can get good grades and have a good career. But if we choose to waste our time, we may not do well in our studies or job.

Making good life choices is not always easy. We need to think about the consequences of our choices. We should also listen to advice from our parents, teachers, and friends. But in the end, we should make our own choices. It’s okay to make mistakes, as long as we learn from them.

In conclusion, life choices are decisions we make that shape our lives. They are important because they can affect our future. We should think carefully before making big life choices. And we should learn from our mistakes. Remember, our life is the result of the choices we make. So, let’s make good choices and have a great life!

500 Words Essay on Life Choice

Life choices are the decisions we make every day. Some are small, like what to eat for breakfast, while others are big, like which career to pursue. These choices shape our lives and determine our future.

The Importance of Life Choices

Life choices are important because they shape our lives. They determine where we live, what we do, who we spend time with, and how we feel. For example, choosing to study hard can lead to good grades, which can open doors to better schools and jobs. On the other hand, choosing to spend all your time playing video games might lead to poor grades and fewer opportunities.

Making good life choices is not always easy. It requires thinking about what you want in life and what is important to you. You need to consider the consequences of your actions and make decisions that will help you reach your goals. For example, if you want to be a doctor, you need to choose to study hard in school and go to medical school.

Learning from Bad Life Choices

Sometimes, we make bad life choices. We may choose to do something that hurts us or someone else. But, we can learn from these choices. We can think about why we made the choice, what went wrong, and how we can make better choices in the future. For example, if you choose to cheat on a test and get caught, you can learn that cheating is wrong and decide to study harder next time.

With life choices comes responsibility. We are responsible for the choices we make and the results they bring. If we make good choices, we can enjoy the rewards. If we make bad choices, we must face the consequences. This is why it’s important to think carefully before making a choice.

The Power of Life Choices

Life choices have the power to change our lives. They can lead to new experiences, friendships, and opportunities. They can also lead to challenges and difficulties. But, no matter what, they help us grow and become who we are.

In conclusion, life choices are a crucial part of our lives. They shape our future, teach us valuable lessons, and help us grow. By making good life choices and learning from our mistakes, we can create a future that we are proud of. Remember, every choice you make today will shape your tomorrow. So choose wisely.

This essay is a total of 500 words. It is a simple and easy-to-understand explanation of the importance and impact of life choices. Even a school-going student can understand it and apply it in their life.

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

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Essay on Life Changing Experiences
Essay on Life Challenges
Essay on Life Best Experience

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Essay About Choices

Life is full of choices. We are constantly making decisions, big and small. Some of these choices are easy, while others are more difficult. Sometimes we make the right choice, and sometimes we make the wrong choice. But what is the right choice? And how do we make sure that we make the right choices in life?

There is no easy answer to this question. Life is complex, and there are often many factors to consider when making a decision. But there are some general principles that can help guide our decision making.

One important principle is to consider all of the possible outcomes of our choices. This means thinking about not just the immediate consequences, but also the long-term effects of our decisions. For example, if we are considering whether or not to smoke cigarettes, we should not just think about the immediate consequences (e.g., the pleasure of smoking or the short-term health effects). We should also consider the long-term consequences of our decision (e.g., the risk of cancer or other health problems down the road).

Another important principle is to consider the risks and rewards of each choice. This means weighing the potential benefits and drawbacks of each option. For example, if we are considering whether or not to invest in a new business venture, we should think about both the risks (e.g., the possibility of failure) and rewards (e.g. the potential for financial gain).

Finally, it is important to consult with others when making important life decisions. This means talking to people who have more experience than we do, and who can offer helpful advice and perspective. For example, if we are considering whether or not to move to a new city, we should talk to people who have already made the move, and who can tell us about their experiences.

Making the right choices in life is not always easy. But by following these general principles, we can increase our chances of making good decisions.

We make choices every day that have the potential to define our future and direct our lives. Each choice we make has an influence on our life, whether for better or for worse. Some of the decisions I’ve made in the past have had bad results due to previous experiences. It is through such decisions that we learn and develop as people.

Life is all about learning and making decisions; some of which will be wrong, but we mustn’t dwell on them. Life is too short to live with regret.

According to psychologists, our decision-making is based on a number of different factors: our emotions, our values, our experiences and the environment we are in at the time. Our emotions play a big role in how we make decisions. For example, if we are feeling happy we are more likely to take risks than if we are feeling sad. This is because when we are happy we feel like we can handle anything that comes our way. However, when we are sad or angry, we tend to play it safe as we don’t want to make things worse.

Our values also influence our decision-making. For instance, if we value money above all else, we are more likely to make decisions that will help us earn more money, even if it means compromising our morals. On the other hand, if we value family or friends above all else, we are more likely to make decisions that will benefit them, even if it means sacrificing our own needs.

Our experiences also play a role in how we make decisions. If we have had bad experiences in the past, we may be hesitant to make similar choices in the future. For example, if we have been hurt emotionally by someone in the past, we may be less likely to open up to new people in the future.

Finally, the environment we are in can also influence our decision-making. If we are in a safe and secure environment, we may be more likely to take risks than if we are in a dangerous or unstable environment.

All of these factors play a role in how we make decisions. Sometimes, we may not even be aware of them. However, it is important to be aware of them so that we can make better choices in life.

Many options, on the other hand, result in gratifying and pleasurable outcomes. The majority of our decisions will impact not just us but frequently those around us as well. Because the potential influence that decisions may have on people around us is significant, it’s critical that we make certain selections carefully and consider them thoroughly.

Life is full of choices. Some of them are very small and some of them are very large but each one is important nonetheless. The choices that we make often shape the course of our lives and can have a profound impact on our future.

Some people believe that life is nothing more than a series of random events that happen to us without any control on our part. However, other people believe that we do have some control over our lives and that the choices we make can influence the direction our lives take. No matter what your beliefs are, it is important to realize that the choices you make in life can have a significant impact on your future.

Many times, the choices we make are based on our values and beliefs. Values are the things that are important to us and that guide our behavior. Beliefs are the ideas or convictions that we hold to be true. Our choices should be based on our values and beliefs because they are what is important to us and what we believe in.

Sometimes, the choices we make are based on our emotions. Emotions are powerful things and can sometimes override our reason or logic. This can lead to making impulsive decisions that we may later regret. It is important to try to stay level-headed when making decisions so that our emotions don’t get the best of us.

The choices we make can also be influenced by peer pressure. Peer pressure is when we feel like we need to do something because everyone else is doing it. This can be a very strong influence, especially for young people. It is important to remember that we don’t have to do something just because everyone else is doing it. We should only do what we feel is right for us.

Making choices is an important part of life. The choices we make can shape the course of our lives and affect our future. It is important to make sure that our choices are based on our values and beliefs and not on our emotions. We should also be aware of peer pressure and not let it influence our decisions. Life is full of choices, so make them wisely!

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Essays on Choices

Faq about choices.

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27 Making Choices in Writing

by Jessie Szalay

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Are you going to wear a t-shirt or a sweater today? Answer your phone or let it go to voicemail? Eat an apple or a banana? Let your friend pick the show on Netflix or fight for your favorite? We make decisions all day every day, narrowing dozens of options down to a few, often without even noticing, and then selecting our chosen option fairly quickly. (After all, who says you need to wear a shirt at all? It might be a bathrobe day.)

Writing, and all communication, is no different. Deciding whether or not to answer your phone is a decision to engage—the same kind of decision you have to make when it comes to your composition class assignments. What are you going to write about? Each potential topic is like a ring on your phone: “Answer me! Pay attention to me!” But do you want to? Maybe that topic is like your dramatic relative who talks your ear off about old family grudges from the 1970s—too exhausting to think about and leaving you speechless. Or maybe that topic is like an automated phone survey, and you just can’t get interested in the issue. In order to produce the best writing you can—and not be miserable while you’re doing it—you’re going to want to pick a topic that really, truly interests you, with which you are excited to engage, about which you have the resources to learn, and about which you can envision having something to say. After all, writing is an action. By writing, you are entering into a conversation with your readers, with others who have written about the topic, and others who know and/or care about it. Is that a community you want to engage with? A conversation you want to be a part of?

All this thinking sounds like work, right? It is. And it’s just the first of many, many decisions you’re going to make while writing. But it’s necessary.

Making decisions is a fundamental part of writing. The decisions you make will determine the success of your writing. If you make them carelessly, you might end up with unintended consequences—a tone that doesn’t fit your medium or audience, logical fallacies, poor sources or overlooked important ones, or something else.

I’ve often thought of my own writing as a process of selecting. Rather than starting with an empty page, I sometimes feel like I’m starting with every possible phrase, thought, and a dozen dictionaries. There are so many stories I could tell, so many sources I could cite, so many arguments I could make to support my point! There are so many details I could include to make a description more vivid, but using them all would turn my article into a novel. There are so many tones I could take. By making my article funny, maybe more people would read it. But by making it serious, it might appear more trustworthy. What to do? My piece of writing could be so many things, and many of them might be good.

You might have heard the saying, attributed to Michelangelo, “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” Each chip in the marble, each word on the page, is a choice to make one thing emerge instead of something else. It’s a selection. It’s up to you to select the best, most rhetorically effective, most interesting, and most beautiful option.

WHERE DO I START?

Deciding on your topic (“the decision to engage,” as termed by The Harbrace Guide to Writing ) is often the first choice you’ll make. Here you’ll find some more decisions you’ll need to make and some ways to think about them.

But first, a note on rhetorical situations. Your rhetorical situation will largely determine what choices you make, so make sure you understand it thoroughly. A rhetorical situation is the situation in which you are writing. It includes your message, your identity as an author, your audience, your purpose, and the context in which you are writing. You’ll read more about the rhetorical situation elsewhere.

These tips assume that you already know the elements of your rhetorical situation, and focus on how to make good choices accordingly.

Genre is the kind of writing you are doing. The term is often applied to art, film, music, etc., as well, such as the science fiction genre. (Here’s a fairly comprehensive list of genres .) In writing, genre can refer to the type of writing: an argumentative essay, a Facebook post, a memoir. Perhaps your genre will be chosen for you in your assignment, perhaps it won’t. Either way, you will have to make some choices. If you’ve been assigned an argumentative essay, you need to learn about the rules of the genre—and then decide how and to what extent you want to follow them.

Form or Mode of Delivery.

This is often similar to genre. For instance, a Facebook post has its own genre rules and conventions, and its mode of delivery is, obviously, Facebook. But sometimes a genre can appear in various forms, i.e. a sci-fi novel and a sci-fi film are the same genre in different forms. You could write your argumentative essay with the intent to have it read online, in a newspaper, or in an academic journal. You might have noticed that many politicians are now laying out their arguments and proposals via series of tweets. This is a calculated decision about the form they are using.

Word Choice.

Something I love about English is that there are so many ways to say things. One of the myriad elements I adore in the English language is that there are thousands of options for phrasing the same idea. I think English is great because it gives you so many choices for how you want to say things. English rocks because you have a gazillion words and phrases for one idea.

Different words work with different tones and audiences and can be used to develop your voice and authority. Get out the thesaurus, but don’t always go for the biggest word. Instead, weigh your options and pick which one you like best and think is most effective.

Sentence Structure and Punctuation.

As with word choice, the English language provides us with thousands of ways to present a single idea in a sentence or paragraph. It’s up to you to choose how you do it. I like to mix up long, complex sentences with multiple clauses and short, direct ones. I love semi-colons, but some people hate them. The same thing goes for em dashes. Some of the most famous authors, like Ernest Hemingway and Herman Melville, are known as much for their sentence structure and punctuation choices as their characters and plots.

Tone is sometimes prescribed by the genre. For instance, your academic biology paper probably should not sound like you’re e-mailing a friend. But there are always choices to make. Whether you sound knowledgeable or snobbish, warm or aloof, lighthearted or serious are matters of tonal choices.

Modes of Appeal.

You’ve probably heard that logos, pathos, and ethos should be in balance with each other, and that can be a good strategy. But you might decide that, for instance, you want to weigh your proposal more heavily toward logic, or your memoir more toward pathos. Think about which modes will most effectively convey what you want to say and reach your readers.

You professor likely gave you a word or page count, which can inform many other decisions you make. But what if there’s no length limit? In higher-level college classes, it’s fairly common to have a lot of leeway with length. Thinking about your purpose and audience can help you decide how long a piece should be. Will your audience want a lot of detail? Would they realistically only read a few pages? Remember that shorter length doesn’t necessarily mean an easier project because you’ll need to be more economical with your words, arguments, and evidence.

Organization and Structure.

Introduction with thesis, body with one argument or counterargument per paragraph, conclusion that restates arguments and thesis. This is the basic formula for academic essays, but it doesn’t mean it’s always the best. What if you put your thesis at the end, or somewhere in the middle? What if you organized your arguments according to their emotional appeal, or in the order the evidence was discovered, or some other way? The way you organize your writing will have a big effect on the way a reader experiences it. It could mean the difference between being engaged throughout and getting bored halfway through.

Detail, Metaphor and Simile, Imagery and Poetic Language.

Creative writers know that anything in the world, even taxes, can be written about poetically. But how much description and beautiful language do you want? The amount of figurative or poetic language you include will change the tone of the paper. It will signal to a reader that they should linger over the beauty of your writing—but not every piece of writing should be lingered over. You probably want the e-mail from your boss to be direct and to the point.

Background Information.

How much does your audience know about the topic, and what do they need to know to understand your writing? Do you want to provide them with the necessary background information or do you want to make them do the work of finding it? If you want to put in background information, where will it go? Do you want to front-load it at the beginning of your writing, or intersperse it throughout, point by point? Do you want to provide a quick sentence summary of the relevant background or a whole paragraph?

These are just some of the elements of writing that you need to make choices about as a writer. Some of them won’t require much internal debate—you’ll just know. Some of them will. Don’t be afraid to sit with your decisions. Making good ones will help ensure your writing is successful.

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Home / Essay Samples / Business / Decision Making / Making Informed Choices: the Importance of Decision Making

Making Informed Choices: the Importance of Decision Making

Category: Life , Business , Education
Topic: Decision , Decision Making , Personal Statement

Pages: 1 (645 words)

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