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How to Write a Conflict Essay

Haiden Malecot

Table of Contents

It is human nature to disagree with the people that you encounter. Conflicts are common at home, among families, at the workplace, between societies, and between countries. It is, therefore, crucial to have the know-how on how to write a conflict essay.

What is a conflict? What causes conflicts? Which parties conflict? How can individuals avoid conflicts? How can we solve conflicts? How can conflicting parties coexist? These are some of the queries that you should ask yourself as you write your article.

Important steps to follow when writing an essay about conflict:

  • You should first understand what conflict is. Various dictionary meanings explain what conflict is. You should understand the meaning to enable you to write an elaborate essay on the subject.
  • After that, conduct extensive research to gain information on the conflict. The areas of research include:
  • The types of conflict
  • Reasons for conflict
  • Consequences of conflict: the advantages and disadvantages
  • How to avoid conflict
  • How to solve conflict
  • Numerous sources contain this information. Be sure only to use the sources that are allowed by your instructor. The sources may include scholarly sources, peer-reviewed journals, specific newspapers, course books, or specific internet sources. Also, ensure that you note down the information that you obtain, the source, and the page number for proper citing in the essay. Noting down saves time and makes it easier to refer to the sources.
  • Plan your essay. The plan should involve the format of your essay and the key points to include in the various paragraphs.
  • Write your essay. Start the essay with a detailed introduction that informs the readers of the contents of your essay. The introduction should have a definition that explains what an essay is. The paragraph should then include the points that your essay will address. Finish the introduction with a thesis statement that conveys your message on the subject matter.
  • The body should address all the issues that you want your reader to know about conflict. Each paragraph should handle a specific issue. The introductory sentence of each paragraph should inform the reader of the contents of the paragraph. Remember to be elaborate and concise. Assume that your audience lacks previous knowledge about conflict and that your essay is meant to educate the reader about it. Handle all issues in depth while avoiding ambiguous information. The body should include conflict types, the reasons, consequences, how to avoid, and how to solve a conflict. Explain these points fully. Your essay should also include your viewpoint concerning conflict. Ensure that the reader will get your stand on conflict as they read your essay.
  • You can provide your reader with recommendations pertaining conflict. The recommendations may include living with conflict in cases where the conflicting parties were unable to solve or avoid the conflict. The recommendation can also include insight on how to benefit from a conflicting situation.
  • The last paragraph is the conclusion. The conclusion summarizes the major points of your essay. Include a summary of the definition. Highlight the types, reasons, consequences, solutions for conflict, and recommendations. Also, highlight your thesis statement to show your reader that the essay has achieved the expected objective.

Types of Conflicts

Before writing your piece, it is necessary to differentiate the seven main types of conflict . External conflict occurs outside the character’s mind or heart and pits them against some force or worldview. Internal conflicts are all about the character’s emotions. They aim to heighten the drama throughout the storyline and deepen emotional intensity. Take a peek at the different types of conflict , and feel free to incorporate them in your next essay. 

Person vs. Person

It is one of the most widespread types of conflict , in which the action takes place between two characters, often driven by differing objectives, motivations, or beliefs. Such type of conflict writing often describes the storyline between good and evil. Typically, the main character opposes or even fights with the antagonist for a certain idea or goal. Your essay may be even more emotionally saturated when there is no obvious right or wrong between the characters’ disagreements or when each of them believes they hold the truth.

  • Example : When you write about educational settings, you can describe the disputes between a strict teacher and the student’s view of fairness. 

Person vs. Nature

Among the different types of conflict , this one is no less popular. Students often outline the character’s struggle against nature, disaster, or weather conditions in their environmental essays. It is a great option when it is necessary to use epithets, descriptive phrases, or adjectives in your piece.  

  • Example : Whether you write about agricultural impact, natural disasters like earthquakes or wildfires or consequences of deforestation or pollution, you can incorporate a Person vs Nature conflict to highlight the human effect on the environment. 

Person vs. Society

Person vs Society is the best option among all t ypes of conflict for those who need to write an argumentative essay . In this case, the character has a different opinion regarding particular societal norms, traditions, or tendencies. You can start your conflict essay by outlining the problem and giving your viewpoint based on relevant facts and statistics. It is advisable to finish your piece by finding a consensus between a person and a societal construct.

  • Example : In your conflict essay , you can raise the question of unequal rights, call for law changes, or discuss the usefulness or uselessness of certain communities. 

Person vs. Technology

Technological advancement created one of the most controversial types of conflict – Person vs Technology. It provides a rich ground for exploration, allowing for discussing the topic from different perspectives and providing arguments for either sympathy or tension. The character often experiences challenges due to cutting-edge innovations and the consequences of such digital progress. 

  • Example : Social media and gaming addiction, privacy issues, pros and cons of using artificial intelligence – this is just a glimpse of topics to point out in your conflict essay .  

Person vs. Supernatural

While there are different types of conflict , Person vs. Supernatural rarely appears in academic essays unless devoted to a particular story or novel. Such conflict usually implies placing characters directly opposed to forces beyond the natural world. In this case, it is possible to explore all the boundaries of human fear, belief, and reaction when faced with a supernatural world. 

  • Example : Let’s say you need to describe a conflict in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. How did the three witches manage to change his internal world? What would happen to the main character if he didn’t face the supernatural force? These are just a few questions to frame in your essay. 

Person vs. Self

A Person vs. Self conflict involves a character facing inner demons, an internal moral struggle, or a person looking for the right way to self-improve. This is one of the types of conflict that can be viewed from both positive and negative sides. Typically, such essays illustrate the complexity of human nature and the outcome of a particular self-discovery. 

  • Example: If you want to describe a Person vs. Self conflict in your writing, you can illustrate such topics as an inner battle between people’s aspirations and responsibilities, regret over past actions, and self-acceptance and body image issues. 

Person vs. Destiny (Fate/Luck/God)

The waters surrounding this conflict are a tad murky. The aspects of this conflict can be seen as parts of other categories. Even though it might seem confusing, understanding the concept and the main idea of your essay is more important than understanding the categories.

  • Example: If you are writing about acceptance of challenging luck, it is possible to illustrate it as a personal struggle, which refers to the Person vs. Self conflict. Even if your essay is devoted to religion, you may include some aspects of Person vs. Society conflict. 

Crucial points to note

  • Follow all the requirements provided by the instructor on writing the essay. The requirements include the word limit, paper format (also includes font type, margins), the proper referencing style e.g. MLA, APA, HARVARD, etc.
  • Ensure that your essay lacks plagiarism. You avoid plagiarism by citing information that you borrow from other people. Plagiarism is also avoided by reading and understanding the sources and writing your essay using your understanding. Remember to always cite outside sources in the text and in the reference page in alphabetical order.
  • Provide high-quality work. Quality involves originality, proper articulation of ideas, proper flow of ideas, and a good command of the language used.
  • Avoid spelling mistakes and grammar errors. You should proofread your work upon completion.
  • Use the ‘third person’ unless instructed otherwise.

In conclusion, writing a conflict essay requires careful thought and structure. Understanding the different types of conflicts and how they affect individuals, societies, and even technology is key to developing a well-rounded piece. By researching thoroughly, organizing your thoughts, and presenting clear arguments, you can craft an essay that not only informs but also engages the reader. Remember, conflict is a part of life, and learning how to address it constructively is an essential skill. Good luck, and may your essay provide valuable insights on this important topic!

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Essays About Conflict: Top 5 Examples and 7 Writing Prompts

Writing about disagreements between two or more groups is a challenge. To help you write this topic, see our examples and prompts for essays about conflict.

Conflict is a clash between two parties, often because of religious, social, or political disagreements. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine began in early 2014 and is an example of armed conflict. It affects the citizens, economy, tourism, and other sectors of the two countries, with impacts reaching other areas of the world.

In literature, conflict is an integral part of fictional stories that justifies characters’ actions and keeps readers engaged. Conflict is also a part of our everyday lives; from disagreements with family members to arguments with friends, we’ve all experienced conflict at one time or another. Since conflict is a sensitive topic, a critical rule in writing conflict essays is to always rely on factual evidence.

5 Essay Examples

1. why is conflict important by anonymous on studymoose.com, 2. analysis on conflict perspective in titanic by anonymous on edubirdie.com, 3. conflicts of difference in religion in the middle east by jennifer logan, 4. conflicts in relationship by james taylor, 5. workplace conflict by lindsey latoya, 1. the nature, type, and causes of conflict, 2. how achieving goals promotes intrapersonal conflict, 3. conflicts between nations then and now, 4. karl marx’s theory of conflict, 5. conflict: intrapersonal vs. interpersonal, 6. terrorism, conflict, and the tourism industry, 7. the influence of culture on conflicts.

“… Conflict is a big part of the story and it makes the story interesting. Without conflict, the story seems plain and there’s no flare to get people to want to read it or enjoy it. Some authors use man against himself, man against nature, man against society, and man against man.”

This essay explains why conflict is integral for stories, mentioning that it makes a literary piece exciting enough to maintain the readers’ attention. The author uses Richard Connell’s “ The Most Dangerous Game ” to prove their point and delves into relevant scenes demonstrating different conflicts. For example, the scene where the main character fights against the big waves to reach the island for safety exemplifies the conflict of Man against Nature.

“The film is an excellent example of the perspective of conflict, every scene is thoughtful, and reflects the discrimination and exploitation that the working class society faces.”

The author offers several citations to support their claim that the 1997 Titanic film is more than a romantic tragedy. Putting Rose and Jack’s love story aside, the movie also depicts the differences between social classes that link them to conflict theory. According to the founder of this theory, the leading cause of conflicts is the unequal distribution of power and resources among people.

The essay brings up several film segments that cement these differences, such as the standard rule of “women and children first” when evacuating people during a disaster. Although the tragedy claimed the lives of both lower and upper-class men, the movie conveys an important message that everyone will suffer, regardless of class, in times of calamity.

“The Middle East has been in a state of turmoil since the early 1990’s. Conflicts arose from differences in religion, control over territories, and uneven political distribution. These conflicts were not just between countries, but also within individual countries.”

Although this essay doesn’t reveal the root cause of conflicts in the Middle East, it shows the magnitude of the impact of these fights caused by religious differences, territorial disputes, and political inequality. Logan explains that government instability in the Middle East makes it possible for various terrorist to express their grievances and desires through violence.

“As you start your married life, know that conflicts are a must and communication is the key to solving such issues. When married people see the need to manage interpersonal conflicts rather than ignoring them, their marriage becomes functional and happy.”

Couples usually avoid conflicts in their relationships, but Taylor knows it’s inevitable. A relationship without interpersonal conflict can become weak and often leads to separation. He believes that people who ignore problems to avoid conflicts with their partners develop negative emotions that destroy love. Taylor explains that bringing one’s gender and culture into the conversation is the key to resolving disputes, as it prevents miscommunication and demonstrates equal power.

“By better understanding how conflict arise, and practicing handling such conflict in an assertive way, it can become far less intimidating and be an aspect of work you can learn to manage rather than have it manage you.”

Latoya’s essay focuses on how Chinese people avoid conflicts to promote peace and avoid discord, especially workplace disagreements. She describes workplace conflict as work-related or personal tension between two or more forces with differing values ​​and perspectives.

Latoya mentions three techniques to clear up these issues: stimulating, controlling, and resolving and eliminating disputes. Ultimately, the author believes that every manager must maintain emotional distance and focus on conflict resolution by listening, empathizing, and guiding members who have conflicts.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers

7 Prompts for Writing Essays About Conflicts

Conflict is diverse and includes essential features that need to be discussed. For this prompt, focus on the conflict in its universality and explain the four major types of conflict. Identify and explain the causes of various conflict categories. Then, give real-life cases of each so the readers can understand and relate to these examples. You might be interested in these essays about cause and effect and essays about curiosity .

Various factors are considered to find the root cause of conflicts. This prompt focuses on elements that promote intrapersonal conflicts, such as frustration, stress, anxiety, and insecurity. 

Tell your readers about a specific situation where the desire to achieve a goal made you feel various negative emotions. Then share what conflict management style you used to resolve this conflict and peacefully achieve your goals.

Essays About Conflicts: Conflicts between nations then and now

Our history is filled with strife between groups rallying to support what they believe is right. Such as the case of World War II, which claimed 35 to 60 million lives. In this essay, write about historical and current conflicts and explain their origins. Then, examine the efforts made by past and present governments to resolve these disputes, including the positive or negative impacts of these conflicts on the world at large.

To give credence to Karl Marx ’s Theory of Conflict, introduce him by speaking about his background and accomplishments. Then, refocus on Conflict Theory’s meaning, importance, and how it’s applied to understand society. Offer studies and cases that prove Conflict Theory’s existence. Then discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using this theory to understand and resolve disagreements.

Intrapersonal conflict refers to disputes within yourself, while interpersonal conflict concerns misunderstandings with others. In your essay, compare and contrast these two types of conflict and present common situations where these would occur. 

For example, interpersonal conflict could be a disagreement with a coworker, whereas intrapersonal conflict could be an internal struggle with your emotions. Then, add tips on how individuals should respond to these conflicts to avoid further damage. You might also like these essays about stress and articles about attitude .

Essays About Conflicts: Terrorism, conflict, and the tourism industry

Terrorism is urged by unfair treatment and different beliefs. Tourism is one of the industries most affected when terrorism occurs in a particular area or country. Use this prompt to discuss the typical impacts of terrorism on a location’s travel and tourism industry. Include reliable articles that report on tourism’s decline after the emergence of terrorism and conflicts.

Conflict usually emerges due to cultural differences between individuals or communities. In your essay, speak about how culture plays a vital role in instigating and mitigating conflicts. For example, the American Civil War occurred because of cultural conflicts because of different views on slavery. Look into past cultural conflicts such as these for a compelling historical essay.

If you need help picking your next essay topic, check out our guide on writing an essay about diversity .

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Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements

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Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement

1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing:

  • An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.
  • An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.
  • An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.

If you are writing a text that does not fall under these three categories (e.g., a narrative), a thesis statement somewhere in the first paragraph could still be helpful to your reader.

2. Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.

3. The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.

4. Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper.

Thesis Statement Examples

Example of an analytical thesis statement:

The paper that follows should:

  • Explain the analysis of the college admission process
  • Explain the challenge facing admissions counselors

Example of an expository (explanatory) thesis statement:

  • Explain how students spend their time studying, attending class, and socializing with peers

Example of an argumentative thesis statement:

  • Present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college

IMAGES

  1. Sentences with Conflict, Sentences about Conflict in English

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  2. How to structure Conflicts essays

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  3. 25 Thesis Statement Examples (2024)

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  4. PPT

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  5. Thesis Sentence

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  6. Power and Conflict 15 thesis statements by HMBenglishresources1984

    thesis sentence for conflict

VIDEO

  1. Visual example of the 5 different Conflict Resolutions Styles

  2. How to Write a Thesis Statement

  3. How to Write a Thesis Statement

  4. How to Write a STRONG Thesis Statement

  5. How to Write a Thesis Statement (Beginner)

  6. Purdue OWL: Thesis Statements

COMMENTS

  1. How to Write an Essay on Conflict

    While most people think of conflict as a fight between two characters, it can be categorized as internal or external or both. Conflict can present itself in four primary ways: externally, as man versus man, ma…

  2. Mastering The Art Of Writing A Great Conflict Essay

    Carefully analyze gathered material and single out a precise thesis statement that will be the basis of the paper. Later it will become the last sentence of the introduction, but now it is the basis of the outline for your …

  3. How to Write a Conflict Essay

    The conclusion summarizes the major points of your essay. Include a summary of the definition. Highlight the types, reasons, consequences, solutions for conflict, and recommendations. Also, highlight your thesis …

  4. Essays About Conflict: Top 5 Examples and 7 Writing …

    5 Essay Examples. 1. Why Is Conflict Important? By Anonymous on StudyMoose.Com. “… Conflict is a big part of the story and it makes the story interesting. Without conflict, the story seems plain and there’s no flare to get …

  5. How to Write a Thesis Statement

    A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay. It usually comes near the end of your introduction. Your thesis will look a bit different …

  6. Creating a Thesis Statement, Thesis Statement Tips

    Present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college. This resource provides tips for creating a thesis …

  7. Six Steps to Write a Clear and Convincing Conflict Essay

    Learn how to choose a conflict topic, research the conflict, develop a thesis statement, outline your essay structure, write your essay draft, and revise and edit your essay.