discussion essay curiosity

Essays About Curiosity: Top 5 Examples and 10 Prompts

Are you writing essays about curiosity? Then, read our guide of helpful essay examples and writing prompts.

Curiosity refers to the strong desire and active interest to learn something. It could start with a burning question that leads to more questions. This series of questioning can evolve into a pursuit that paves the way for discoveries. Curiosity can change how we perceive life and our world. While everyone is inherently curious, how we use our curiosity, for good or bad, shows who we are as people.

Check out our essay examples and topic prompts for your curiosity essay , and stay curious till the end. And when your essay is complete, check out our best essay checkers and take the slog out of proofreading.

1. Curiosity: Why It Matters, Why We Lose It, And How To Get It Back by Christy Geiger

2. did curiosity really kill the cat by mario livio, 3.  why curiosity, diversity, and inclusion are the secrets to successful business transformation by beatriz sanz saiz, 4. the five dimensions of curiosity by todd b. kashdan et. al, 5. curiosity: we’re studying the brain to help you harness it by ashvanti valji and matthias gruber, 1. how has curiosity helped you in life, 2. the benefits of curiosity, 3. how does curiosity lead to scientific discoveries, 4. encouraging curiosity in the classroom, 5. diverse vs. specific curiosity, 6. can curiosity be practiced, 7. curiosity in early civilization, 8. curious animals: what are they thinking, 9. the curiosity rover, 10. negative effects of curiosity.

“…[A]s an adult, we can reach a learning plateau. We feel good to get to a point of understanding and knowledge, but begin to lose our curiosity. We find it easier to live as the expert who knows than the student who grows.”

Adulthood can have a negative impact on our levels of wonder and curiosity. Geiger believes it’s time to regain our childlike curiosity as we move to a tech-driven industrial world where constant innovation and adoption of technologies are required. You might also be interested in these essays about critical thinking.

“Curiosity is the best remedy for fear. What I mean by that is that often we are afraid of the unknown, of those things we know very little about. Becoming curious about them, and making an effort to learn more, usually acts to relieve that fear.”

Who would’ve thought an essay could be weaved out from a common expression of curiosity? This curiosity essay finds that the saying “curiosity killed the cat” started quite differently than we know it today. Its meaning now evolves to echo parts of history when conventional and extremist ideologies would silence inquisitive minds to avoid being challenged and overturned.

“To be a leader in a context of superfluid markets, where everything is connected, an organization needs to constantly explore which are the new “needs,“ which technologies exist, how they can be maximized and where they can be used to innovate boldly to create new experiences, goods and services.”

Curiosity will drive businesses to survive and thrive in this digital age. But, they also need to seek assistance from diversity and an inclusive organization. With these two, businesses can stimulate new thinking and perspectives that can feed into the curiosity of the organization on the ways it can reach its goals and be the market’s next disruption.

“Rather than regard curiosity as a single trait, we can now break it down into five distinct dimensions. Instead of asking, ‘How curious are you?’ we can ask, ‘How are you curious?’”

Kashdan builds on existing curiosity research to identify five dimensions of curiosity : joyous exploration, deprivation sensitivity, stress tolerance, social curiosity, and thrill-seeking. Once you’ve assessed the right curiosity type for you, it might do wonders in catalyzing your curiosity into progress and development outcomes for your goals and well-being.

“It might seem obvious that if you are curious about something, you pay more attention to it, making it easier to remember later – but the effects of curiosity on memory are more complex than this.”

The essay presents new research on how a type of curiosity aiming to bridge information gaps connects with brain functions associated with enhanced learning. As far as education is concerned, the discovery strongly supports the need to create an environment to encourage students to ask questions rather than just give children a set learning program to consume.

10 Writing Prompts For Essays About Curiosity

Narrate an instance in your life when curious questions led to positive findings and experiences that helped you in life. Whether it was acing an exam, learning a new language, or other aspects of everyday life. Elaborate on how this encouraged you to be more interested and passionate about learning. See here our storytelling guide to help you better narrate your story. 

Research shows that curiosity can stimulate positive emotions. Many research studies outline the other benefits of curiosity to our health, relationships, happiness, and cognitive abilities. Gather more studies and data to elaborate on these advantages. To create an engaging piece of writing, share your experience on how curiosity has influenced your outlook on life. 

Albert Einstein is renowned worldwide as a famous theoretical physicist. Throughout his research, he used curious thinking and openmindedness to write his theoretical papers, changing the world as we know it. Curiosity is an essential attribute of scientists, as they can look for solutions to problems from a whole new angle. For this essay, look a the role of curiosity in the scientific process. How does a curious mindset benefit scientific discoveries? Conduct thorough research and use real-life examples to show your findings and answer this question.

School classrooms can be the playground of a student’s imagination and curiosity. In your essay, write about how your school and teachers encourage students to ask questions. Next, elaborate on how the learning prompts promote curiosity. For example, some teachers tell students that it is okay to fail sometimes. This assurance helps students think with new perspectives and solutions without the fear of failure.

When researching the different kinds of curiosity, you will find two categories- diverse and specific curiosity. Look into the different attributes of these curiosity types, and identify which one, in your opinion, is the better type of curiosity to foster. For an interesting argumentative essay, you can research which kind of curiosity you have and discuss whether you have a better or worse approach to curious thinking. Pull facts from online research to support your argument and include personal anecdotes to engage your readers.

Curiosity is an inherent human trait. We are all curious. But like any trait, we can practice being curious to improve our thinking. In this writing prompt, provide your readers with strategies that enhance curiosity. For example, meditation can help stimulate more curious thoughts. 

In early civilization, people answered many of life’s questions with religion. How did humanity shift from heavily relying on gods to believing in science? What part does curiosity play in this shift? Try piquing your curious mind and answer these questions in your essay for an exciting piece of writing. 

If animals solely relied on their basic instincts and functions, there is a high chance they would not survive in our world. According to Primatologist Richard Bryne in his paper Animal Curiosity , some animals can demonstrate curious behaviors that lead to new learning and survival skills. For this writing prompt, peer into curiosity in the animal kingdom and cite animals known to have high intelligence. Is curiosity at the foundation of their high IQs? Discuss this question in your essay.

This essay prompt is about the car-sized Curiosity Rover of NASA. The rover was designed to navigate the Gale crater on Mars and collect rock and soil samples for analysis. In your essay, research and write about why it was named “Curiosity” and its significant contributions to the Mars exploration mission.

Curiosity can have negative undertones from the expression “curiosity killed the cat.” Get to the heart of the matter and look through existing literature on the adverse outcomes of curiosity. One example to cite could be this study which concluded that one kind of curiosity is associated with errors, confusion, lack of humility, and vulnerability to fake news and so-called pseudo-profound bullshits. 

Curious to learn more about effective writing? Check out our guide on how to write an argumentative essay .  If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, read our guide on how to write a five-paragraph essay .

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.

View all posts

How to write a discussion essay

• September 21, 2023

A discussion essay, also called a controversial essay, is where you express your opinion about a topic. When writing one, 

• Cover both sides of the topic , present the key points that back your viewpoint and the opposing one.
• Ensure a multi-faceted understanding of the issues before presenting your own personal views and conclusions.

So let’s deeply explore the structure and components of a successful discussion paper.

Quick summary

• Carefully read and comprehend the essay prompt.
• Select a topic that leads to multiple viewpoints and debates.
• Begin with a clear introduction that includes a strong thesis statement.
• Discuss different viewpoints or/and arguments in separate body paragraphs.
• Maintain a balanced approach by presenting viewpoints fairly.
• Summarize the main ideas and restate your thesis statement , then end your essay.

Choose a controversial topic

Choosing a topic is the first step when starting your essay. When choosing a topic , make sure it is something that you are personally interested in as it will be easier for you to write.

Now let’s have a look at discussion essay topic examples. 

• Should Capital Punishment be Abolished?
• Is Genetic Engineering Ethical for Humans?
• Should Schools Implement Mandatory Vaccination Policies?
• Is Nuclear Energy a Viable Solution to the Energy Crisis?

After choosing the essay topic, you should create your outline to finish planning your essay.

Create an outline

The outline allows you to understand how to combine all the information and thesis statement to support claims of your essay.

Create a basic outline for your discussion essay. Start with a preliminary version of your thesis statement, main argument, opposing argument, and other main points.

Here is an outline example for a discussion essay.

Discussion essay outline example

Title: The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

• Start with a strong and engaging opening.
• Introduce the topic and its relevance.
• Present the thesis statement that highlights the ethical considerations in AI integration in healthcare.
• Begin with a clear topic sentence about AI's role in diagnosis.
• Explain AI's superiority in analyzing medical data and images.
• Provide an example of AI detecting diseases early.
• Discuss concerns about the potential effects on human expertise.
• Introduce the focus on personalized treatment.
• Explain how AI can customize therapies based on individual data.
• Give an example of optimizing medical outcomes.
• Raise ethical issues about privacy, consent, and data security.
• Start with a topic sentence about accountability.
• Discuss the challenge of assigning blame in AI-related errors.
• Address the importance of unbiased AI algorithms.
• Mention the need for regulation and oversight.
• Restate the significance of the ethical landscape of AI in healthcare.
• Summarize the core points discussed in the body paragraphs.
• Reiterate the importance of balancing AI advancements with ethical considerations.
• End with a call to uphold ethical principles in the integration of AI in healthcare.

So now that you’ve seen an outline example, l et’s start writing your essay with an introduction.

Write your introduction

• Start with an attention-grabbing opening ( hook sentence ) that piques the reader's curiosity and encourages them to continue reading.
• Provide a brief background or context for the topic you'll be discussing.
• Seamlessly transition from the general to the specific focus of your essay. Guide the reader to understand what to expect from the essay.
• End your introduction with a strong and clear thesis statement.

Discussion essay introduction example

Introduction

Now that we have written our introduction, we can move on to the discussion parts.

Compose the body of your essay

Write down the main points of the body paragraphs of your discussion paper. A well-written body paragraph illustrates, justifies, and/or supports your thesis statement. When writing body paragraphs:

• Typically, present each issue separately and discuss both sides of the argument in an unbiased manner.
• Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that transitions from the previous one to introduce the next topic.
• Start with your least convincing argument and work your way up to your strongest argument. This structure helps readers follow your logic consistently.
• Make sure your citation usage is consistent for each argument. If you cite three quotes that support your main argument, aim to use three quotes for the opposing view as well.

Discussion essay body paragraphs

Body Paragraph 1: Enhancing Diagnostics and Accuracy

Body Paragraph 2: Personalized Treatment and Privacy

Body Paragraph 3: Ethical Responsibility and Accountability

Now, let’s look at how to end your work.

Conclude your discussion essay

Writing a strong conclusion for a discussion essay is essential to leave a lasting impression on your readers and summarize the main points of your argument effectively. Here are the steps on how to write a good conclusion for your discussion paper:

• Begin your conclusion by restating your thesis statement in a slightly different way. This helps remind the reader of the main argument you've presented throughout the essay.
• Provide a brief summary of the key points you discussed in your essay.
• Emphasize the importance of the topic and the implications of your argument.

Things to avoid in conclusion

Let’s have a look at a conclusion example for a discussion essay..

Discussion essay conclusion example

Remember that a conclusion is your final opportunity to leave a strong impression, so make it memorable and impactful.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a discussion essay different from other types of essays.

Unlike other common essays that might focus on presenting a single argument, a discussion essay presents multiple perspectives on a topic. It strives to remain neutral and balanced while analyzing different viewpoints.

Can I express my personal opinion in a discussion essay?

Yes, you can include your personal opinion, but it should be presented alongside other viewpoints. Your opinion should be supported by evidence and analysis, and you should strive for a balanced presentation.

Do I need to include counterarguments?

Yes, including counterarguments is essential in a discussion essay. Addressing opposing viewpoints demonstrates your understanding of the topic and strengthens your analysis.

How do I ensure a balanced presentation of viewpoints?

Present each viewpoint objectively and support it with evidence. Give equal attention to different perspectives and avoid using biased language.

How can I transition between different viewpoints in my essay?

Use transitional words and phrases like “however,” “on the other hand,” and “in contrast” to smoothly guide readers between paragraphs and viewpoints.

Recently on Tamara Blog

How to write a discussion essay (with steps & examples), writing a great poetry essay (steps & examples), how to write a process essay (steps & examples), writing a common app essay (steps & examples), how to write a synthesis essay (steps & examples), how to write a horror story.

Ideas and insights from Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning

The Importance Of Being Curious

“Why do I feel cold and shiver when I have a fever?”

I knew the day would come when my little girl would learn to talk and inevitably start asking those much-anticipated questions. The questions themselves weren’t worrying me.  I was actually looking forward to seeing where her curiosity would lie.

What was bothering me was whether or not I would know the answers.

In the age of the smartphone, this may seem like a silly worry.  Surely, the answers to almost everything would be just one Google away.

Still, I struggled with how I was going to prepare to become an all-knowing mother. Then one day it struck me: I didn’t need to have all the answers. What a great example I could set if I let my daughter know that I, too, am still learning. And I realized how much more I could learn if I took another look at things I thought I already knew the answer to with the curiosity of a child. My little girl’s mind is a beginner’s mind – curious, open to new ideas, eager to learn, and not based on preconceived notions or prior knowledge. I decided that I would approach her questions with a beginner’s mind, too.

Once I decided to become more curious, I started noticing that curiosity was becoming more prominent in the workplace, too. Leaders, it seems, don’t need to have all the answers, either. But they do need to be curious.

Curious about curiosity, I searched for answers, and found frequent references to Albert Einstein’s famous words, “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” We might well quibble with the notion that Einstein had no “special talent,” but he wouldn’t have solved the riddles of the universe if not for his passionate curiosity. Then I came across another Einstein quote: “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence.”

Curiosity’s reason for existence in the workplace

Decades ago, management thinker Peter Drucker placed knowing the right questions to ask at the core of his philosophy on strategic thinking. Many of today’s leaders have adopted Drucker’s “be (intelligently) curious” philosophy, an approach that is becoming more salient as the world increases in complexity.

Warren Berger, in “ Why Curious People Are Destined for the C-Suite, ” cited Dell CEO Michael Dell’s response to a PwC survey that asked leaders to name a trait that would most help CEOs succeed. Dell’s answer? “I would place my bet on curiosity.” Dell was not alone. Alan D. Wilson, then CEO of McCormick & Company, responded that those who “are always expanding their perspective and what they know – and have that natural curiosity – are the people that are going to be successful.”

Leaders don’t need to know everything. In fact, it’s an impossibility. Things change too rapidly for that. What worked yesterday can’t be guaranteed to work tomorrow. Disrupters are just around the corner. If you’re not one of them, you may well end up a disruptee. Today’s leaders need to be curious, and know how to ask the questions that lead them to consider new ideas.

How we can all develop curiosity

Becoming a mum has taught me how to handle my little girl’s curiosity. It strikes me that leaders in new roles also have to learn what to do and how to act in ways that are new and different. What I find works best is approaching your new role with a curiosity mindset, completely open to new ideas and suggestions. Here are some ways to develop your curiosity:

• Apply a beginner’s mind:  Be open to and look for new and novel ways of doing things.
• Ask questions, listen and observe:  Seek first to understand, not to explain.
• Try something new:  Take a different route to work, read a book in a genre you usually avoid, go to an art gallery you wouldn’t normally go to. Each of these activities opens your mind to new points of view.
• Be inquisitive:  Ask others their opinions, perspectives, and their approaches to certain things. Everyone does things a bit differently, and there are potential new answers and solutions to problems hidden in other people’s thinking.

These are a few of my ideas. I’d be interested in hearing yours. How do you stay curious?

Dalia Molokhia is a senior learning solutions manager at Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning. Email her at  [email protected] .

Let’s talk

Change isn’t easy, but we can help. Together we’ll create informed and inspired leaders ready to shape the future of your business.

© 2024 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

• Privacy Policy
• Copyright Information
• Terms of Use
• About Harvard Business Publishing
• Higher Education
• Harvard Business Review
• Harvard Business School

We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies and revised Privacy Policy .

Cookie and Privacy Settings

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Character Traits — Curiosity

Curiosity Essays

What makes a good curiosity essay topics.

When it comes to writing a curiosity essay, the topic you choose can make all the difference. A good curiosity essay topic should be thought-provoking, engaging, and unique. It should spark curiosity in both the writer and the reader, and leave room for exploration and discovery. But how do you go about choosing the perfect topic for your curiosity essay?

One way to brainstorm and choose an essay topic is to start by thinking about your own interests and passions. What topics or questions have always piqued your curiosity? What are you eager to learn more about? By starting with what genuinely interests you, you are more likely to find a topic that will captivate your readers as well.

It's also important to consider the scope and depth of the topic. Is it broad enough to allow for meaningful exploration and analysis, but not so broad that it becomes overwhelming? A good curiosity essay topic should strike the right balance, providing enough material for a compelling essay without becoming too unwieldy.

Furthermore, a good essay topic should be relevant and timely. Is there a current event, trend, or issue that has sparked your curiosity? Choosing a topic that is relevant to the present moment can add an extra layer of interest and urgency to your essay.

Ultimately, What Makes a Good essay topic is its ability to inspire curiosity, provoke thoughtful exploration, and engage the reader in a meaningful way. A good curiosity essay topic should leave the reader with a sense of wonder and a desire to learn more.

Best Curiosity Essay Topics

Here are 20 curiosity essay topics that are sure to spark interest and captivate readers:

• The psychology of curiosity: What drives our desire to explore and learn?
• The lost city of Atlantis: Fact or fiction?
• The mystery of the Bermuda Triangle: What lies beneath?
• The science of dreams: Exploring the subconscious mind.
• The enigma of crop circles: Hoax or unexplained phenomena?
• The search for extraterrestrial life: Are we alone in the universe?
• The ancient art of alchemy: Unlocking the secrets of transmutation.
• The riddle of the Sphinx: Deciphering its ancient mysteries.
• The power of intuition: How do we know what we know?
• The quest for immortality: Is eternal life within reach?
• The phenomenon of déjà vu: Exploring the mysteries of memory.
• The art of illusion: How do magicians deceive our senses?
• The allure of conspiracy theories: What drives our fascination with the unknown?
• The secret language of symbols: Uncovering hidden meanings in art and culture.
• The legend of the Loch Ness Monster: Myth or reality?
• The paradox of time travel: Is it possible to journey to the past or future?
• The enigmatic world of quantum physics: Exploring the mysteries of the subatomic realm.
• The power of superstition: Why do we believe in luck and omens?
• The science of laughter: Exploring the psychology and physiology of humor.
• The allure of forbidden knowledge: Why are we drawn to the forbidden?

Curiosity essay topics Prompts

Here are 5 creative prompts to inspire your curiosity essay:

• Imagine a world without curiosity. How would our lives be different?
• Write about a time when your curiosity led you to a surprising discovery.
• Choose a historical mystery that intrigues you and explore possible explanations.
• If you could ask any question and receive a definitive answer, what would you ask?
• Reflect on a topic or question that has always sparked your curiosity, and explore why it fascinates you.

Personal Essay The Importance of Curiosity

Why curiosity is foundational to learning, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

A Personal Narrative About How Far Curiosity Can Take You in Life

The benefits of curiosity in organizations, role of curiosity in grimm’s fairy tales, the nest step for man's insatiable curiosity, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

The Power of Curiosity in Personal Growth and Societal Progress

Relevant topics.

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Definition of Curiosity, Its Causes and Importance Essay

Introduction.

One might ask, “What is curiosity?” Curiosity is an observable feeling, usually portrayed by people and some specific animals and appears like a force that drives them into knowing, meeting, or seeing new things. It arouses their emotional behaviour. Though claims are that it killed the cat, it has been proved that, it is the force behind all scientific inventions. It has brought about the most expensive and interesting discoveries by both scientists and artists.

It is a natural trait whose signs become evident right from birth when a baby shows the desire to explore not only its mother, but also anything within its proximity. Any trait is categorised based on its impact to the individual and the entire society. Though it cannot be wholly supported by all, majority will go for it owing to its position in the global technology. Based on these expositions, I believe curiosity, is a character that needs to be grown and developed in the minds of all people who believe that they can be great.

The desire for knowledge serves as the root cause of curiosity. Straight from childhood to old age, there is always a visible yearning depicted by all people and some categories of animals. A child will crawl or cry as an expression of its want for something while old people will always be questioning themselves about nature, demanding to know why it has to deprive them of the energy to carry out various jobs. This is none but curiosity.

Another cause of curiosity is the urge to satisfy ones senses. The need to see, hear, touch, among others, has been proved to arouse ones desire, forcing him/her to satisfy them. Practically, when people get rumours about something, be it a funny place, an interesting story, or a weird animal, they desire to actualise the rumours.

If it calls for them to see, in order to be satisfied, they must see failure to which an unmet requirement is registered in the person’s mind. He/she will be experiencing some sort of a force or an inner voice telling him/her to rise up for that need. This has to do with nothing else, but curiosity.

Importance of curiosity

One of the major areas curiosity serves a vital role is education. Its contribution towards the performance of students is quite significant. It has become so crucial that some colleges have opted to introduce it as subject compulsory to every student. Through it, learners have made long steps as far as inventions are concerned.

Moreover, it serves as a motivational tool by learners. For instance, if ones teacher is a professor, he/she feels motivated and wants to experience the feeling of professors. He/she opts to know the steps the fellow followed into achieving such a high level of education. In their minds, learners create imaginary figures that act as role models whom they desire to take after, given the time and opportunity. By so doing, they end up boosting education status through their curiosity.

In addition, curiosity plays a major role in nurturing patience. As the claim goes, where there is patience, there is payment. This stands out in people who desire to be, or to own something that takes time before it happens. For instance, a young boy hoping to become a pilot has to develop patience within him because, he has to wait until he gets what it takes, for one to be a pilot and this calls for a serious view of education as the only way through. Hence, curiosity is a trait, crucial in education and cannot be avoided.

Another crucial importance of curiosity is that, it engages ones mind, making him/her active rather than passive. It has been proved that where there is activity of the mind, there is God’s dwelling place. It also makes ones mind alert of new ideas and methods of doing things. This is so because whoever is curious, he/she is ever learning day by day. It opens up the mind of people making them believe in the possibility of everything they do.

It also plays a key role in boosting ones enjoyment. Those who are curious are ever enjoying the interests of what they encounter everyday. The human mind is always welcoming when it comes to new ideas or things. Therefore, the fact that curiosity makes one learn new things on a daily basis, it is clear that he/she is always joyful.

In conclusion, Curiosity can overturn the world in terms of inventions and developments. Owing to what it has done for the few who developed it before, it stands out as a character that needs to be acquired by all, who believe in living up to the top of their dreams.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, October 31). Definition of Curiosity, Its Causes and Importance. https://ivypanda.com/essays/curiosity/

"Definition of Curiosity, Its Causes and Importance." IvyPanda , 31 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/curiosity/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Definition of Curiosity, Its Causes and Importance'. 31 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Definition of Curiosity, Its Causes and Importance." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/curiosity/.

1. IvyPanda . "Definition of Curiosity, Its Causes and Importance." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/curiosity/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Definition of Curiosity, Its Causes and Importance." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/curiosity/.

• The Curiosity in Marketing Thinking
• Chapter 33 of "The Old Curiosity Shop" by Dickens
• The Human’s Willingness to Adapt Changes as the Object of One’s Curiosity
• A Criticism of the Asch Conformity Experiment
• Albert Fish - the Serial Killer
• Speak Softly, You May Be Heard: The Art of Leadership
• Types of Psychological Disorders
• Suffering Is Optional: Tragedy Perception

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

The Five Dimensions of Curiosity

• Todd B. Kashdan,
• David J. Disabato,
• Fallon R. Goodman,
• Carl Naughton

How are you curious?

P sychologists have compiled a large body of research on the many benefits of curiosity. It enhances intelligence: In one study, highly curious children aged three to 11 improved their intelligence test scores by 12 points more than their least-curious counterparts did. It increases perseverance, or grit: Merely describing a day when you felt curious has been shown to boost mental and physical energy by 20% more than recounting a time of profound happiness. And curiosity propels us toward deeper engagement, superior performance, and more-meaningful goals: Psychology students who felt more curious than others during their first class enjoyed lectures more, got higher final grades, and subsequently enrolled in more courses in the discipline.

New research shows that curiosity is vital to an organization’s performance—as are the particular ways in which people are curious and the experiences they are exposed to. This package examines how leaders can nurture curiosity throughout their organizations and ensure that it translates to success.

• Todd B. Kashdan , Ph.D. is professor of psychology at George Mason University who studies well-being, psychological flexibility, curiosity, courage, and resilience and the author of Curious?,   The Upside of Your Dark Side , and The Art of Insubordination: How to Dissent and Defy Effectively (Avery, 2022). Take this quiz to match yourself with a principled rebel archetype.
• DD David J. Disabato is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at George Mason University and a consultant with Time Inc. and Merck KGaA.
• FG Fallon R. Goodman is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at George Mason University and a consultant with Time Inc. and Merck KGaA.
• CN Carl Naughton is a linguist and an educational scientist who consults with Merck KGaA.

Partner Center

The Importance of Curiosity and Questions in 21st-Century Learning

• Share article

Editor’s Note: Today, Andrew P. Minigan, Education Project and Research Coordinator, The Right Question Institute, shares why he thinks the 4 Cs are missing a critical 5th C: Curiosity and Questioning.

In their Framework for 21 st Century Learning , P21 recognizes the importance of teachers developing their students’ learning and innovation skills. These skills, which are often referred to as “the 4 Cs,” stand for creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. The 4 Cs capture the skills students should hone during their formal education to complement and drive knowledge acquisition and content mastery. Yet, there is an additional C that may be just as fundamental for learning and innovation: curiosity and question formulation.

Asking questions is not simply a means to gather information. Rather, by asking questions, students can identify their own knowledge gaps and think critically about what they are learning, assess information from individuals and other sources of information, think creatively and divergently, and work constructively with others. Curiosity and the skill of formulating questions supports the 4 Cs while also tapping into a skill that is not highlighted in the Framework for 21 st Century Learning.

Curiosity and Question Formulation

It seems that fostering student curiosity can have a direct impact on student engagement, interest, and assist students in driving their learning . For instance, neuroscientists from the University of California at Davis found that high curiosity may improve individual’s memory for information they acquire, and they suggest “stimulating curiosity ahead of knowledge acquisition could enhance learning success.” And a meta-analysis of over 200 studies found that curiosity influences academic achievement and curiosity with conscientiousness has as much of an impact on achievement as intelligence.

If student curiosity is so beneficial to learning then why has it been so often overlooked in the classroom? In his book, A More Beautiful Question , Warren Berger mentions that product-driven schools are byproducts of the industrial age, but the modern-day entrepreneurial work environment necessitates a question-asking model of education.

There is a lot expected of classroom teachers as they juggle curricula and evolving standards, all while attempting to address the individual needs of their students. One way to pivot to a curiosity-infused learning environment is by deliberately teaching students how to formulate questions with simple strategies that support the work educators are already doing.

Teaching students how to ask and use their own questions can have a significant positive impact on students’ curiosity according to initial research findings from Boston University education researcher Shelby Clark. Students’ questions engage them in their own learning, can be useful for addressing teaching and learning objectives , and help students develop a skill that lends itself to innovation and original thinking.

In a piece for American Psychologist , Todd Kashdan and Frank Fincham suggest that “high curiosity is necessary, though not sufficient, for creativity.” They posit that curiosity may be a link between an individual’s experiences and an individual’s creativity skills. Thinking in questions can help students make meaningful connections between what they are learning in the classroom with their interests. Producing questions allows students to make these connections in an unlimited amount of ways and to think divergently—in many different directions.

Developing divergent thinking skills is essential for sparking creativity and is especially beneficial when followed sequentially by convergent thinking. The Question Formulation Technique (QFT) , for example, is a step-by-step process that helps students ask as many questions as they can and then transitions into students prioritizing their questions according to the educator’s instructions. This process honors the creativity and ingenuity of students while having them carefully consider which of their questions will be most relevant as the lesson progresses.

Allowing students to be curious can allow creativity to flow. As author Erik Wahl writes, “In our early years, you and I consistently embodied the key traits that drive constant creativity. Curiosity ruled our senses. Enthusiasm ignited our actions. We did not fear what we did not know—instead we thrived on the process of discovery.” Harnessing student curiosity can fuel productive divergent thinking while enhancing creative and innovative thinking. One student at Mt. San Antonio College just outside of Los Angeles learned the QFT in Professor Sun Ezzell’s class. The student realized that they were not only able to, “come up with questions very quickly” but also that their, “thinking and creativity is improving and growing” as a result.

Critical Thinking

Students can use questions to challenge their own assumptions and other students’ assumptions, consider what they know and what they do not know, and assess sources and information they are consuming. P21 highlights the importance of asking questions in their work on critical thinking and they believe that to solve problems students should be able to “identify and ask significant questions that clarify various points of view and lead to better solutions.”

Students who learn to ask better questions are able to recognize the importance of the process of asking questions for problem solving. An 11th grader in the Los Angeles Unified School District reflected that “questions can help focus on a problem and think of solutions.” Similarly, an undergraduate student at Brandeis University found that "[asking questions] helped me think more critically and deeply about the topics presented to us and about how to utilize different ideas to think about each one.” Not only do students think differently when they begin to ask questions, they also recognize the process of asking questions as the mechanism that allows them to think and problem solve.

Communication

Being able to ask questions is also an effective way to target and gather information from other individuals. Curiosity can lead students to consider what they do not know or are still wondering about, and questions are a way to communicate this lack of knowledge to target and gather information from others who may have the answer. Listening to other individuals’ questions can help one consider their perspective and learn from their thoughts. When students carefully listen to what their peers are curious about, it can stimulate their own curiosity and thinking.

An eighth grader at Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy in Austin, Texas, captured the importance of articulating one’s own questions and hearing other students’ questions. The eighth grader said that by generating questions with other students, “it helps me by getting me to think about questions on my own. Also, it gets my mind in motion to think about the questions other people make.”

A kindergartner from Kentucky that participated in a question-asking activity with peers shared that “sometimes some stuff surprises me, like, about the questions. They surprise me that I haven’t thought of ... [what] someone else thought of that I didn’t know.” Carving out space for students to collaboratively ask questions contributes to more equitable classrooms where all students can play an active role in their education and appreciate that their peers have interesting questions to ask as well.

Collaboration

When students produce questions collaboratively, they become co-constructors in their inquiries. One student may shed light on an idea or concept through their questions that then sparks the thinking of another student, leading down interesting paths for learning.

Dr. Adyemi Stembridge , an educator known for his work in the field of equity and student engagement, recently recalled an instance where students in a 4th grade classroom in Cherry Creek School District in Colorado were grappling with a classroom discussion. One student had a suggestion for how to tackle this—use the Question Formulation Technique. After this suggestion, Dr. Stembridge asked the student why a QFT might help. The student quickly responded, “Because I have a lot of questions in my head and I’m sure a lot of us do.”

Through asking questions together, students gain new insight into their own thinking and the thinking of others and they learn to value the inquiry process. They build off one another’s questions to create new questions. Students can work together to reach a consensus on which questions they will seek answers to or explore further and as a team they can establish next steps for their inquiry.

Curiosity in the Age of Information

In the 21st century, there is an urgent need for students to be able craft their own questions, strategize on their inquiry, and harness their curiosity to drive their own learning. As Picasso once famously quipped, “computers are useless; they can only give you answers.” With the development of new technologies, there is no shortage of information to be found through a simple Google search.

This has placed a newfound value on the ability to think nimbly and to use curiosity to drive innovation by asking new questions that have yet to be explored. As journalist and author Clive Thompson put it, “How should you respond when you get powerful new tools for finding answers? Think of harder questions.” Curiosity and learning to ask better questions is fundamental to the development of the 5 Cs, for learning, and for life.

Connect with Andrew , RQI , and the Center for Global Education on Twitter.

Image credit: The Holler . Caption, “Sheila Varney’s kindergarten students at Southside Elementary School in Belfry, Kentucky eagerly asking questions during the Question Formulation Technique.”

The opinions expressed in Global Learning are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

Sign Up for EdWeek Update

Edweek top school jobs.

Sign Up & Sign In

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, how to express intellectual curiosity in college essays.

I want to write a college essay that highlights my intellectual curiosity and love for learning. Can anyone share some examples or tips on how to write an engaging essay on this topic? I'm a little stressed about getting this right, thanks!

While it is understandable that you want to showcase your intellectual curiosity in your college essay, it's important to choose a specific story or experience that best represents this aspect of your personality. Many college applicants would consider themselves intellectually curious, so it's crucial that your story is personal and detailed enough to show what makes your curiosity distinct. Here are a few tips and examples to guide you in writing an engaging essay on this topic:

1. Focus on a specific experience or realization: Rather than trying to cover every single instance where you've exhibited intellectual curiosity, choose one particular event, realization, or even a project that sparked your interest and led you to dive deeper into a subject. Use this experience as the focal point of your essay, and demonstrate how it showcases your innate love for learning.

Example: You encounter a challenging math problem that you are unable to solve initially, but rather than giving up, you devote your time and energy to working it out and advancing your math skills.

2. Show, don't tell: As with any essay, it's essential that you use vivid, descriptive language and anecdotes to show your intellectual curiosity, rather than simply stating that you have a desire for knowledge. Explain the process of learning or exploration, and describe the emotions you experienced as you pursued your interests.

Example: Describe the late nights spent reading research papers or attending seminars, the joy of uncovering a new concept, or the frustration of encountering an unfamiliar theorem and how you overcame it.

3. Discuss the impact and personal growth: To illustrate the broader importance of your intellectual curiosity, explain how your passion for learning has influenced your life and personal growth. Focus on the skills you've developed or the lessons you've learned, and make connections to your goals and aspirations for college - admissions officers need to understand why this story is relevant to understanding what kind of college student you'll be.

Example: By immersing yourself in independent research on a scientific topic that fascinates you, you discovered a potential career path or academic interest that you might otherwise not have considered, inspiring you to pursue advanced studies in that field.

Finally, consider either taking advantage of CollegeVine's Free Peer Essay Review Tool or submitting your essay for a paid review by an expert college admissions advisor through CollegeVine's marketplace. Sometimes, getting a more objective set of eyes on your essay is just the thing that takes it from good to great.

Remember, overall your college essay is an opportunity to showcase who you are as an individual, beyond test scores and grades. By providing specific examples and anecdotes, and relating your intellectual curiosity to your personal growth and future college experience, you can create an engaging essay that leaves a lasting impression on admissions officers.

Happy writing!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

“Principled Uncertainty: Why Learning to Ask Good Questions Matters More than Finding Answers” Discussion questions for reading groups

PIL Provocation Essay #6: “ Principled Uncertainty: Why Learning to Ask Good Questions Matters More than Finding Answers ,” February 16, 2022 (5,066 words) Author: Barbara Fister, PIL Scholar in Residence, PIL Provocation Series Read the author’s reflections on what inspired this essay, February 16, 2022

Questions prepared by the PIL Provocation Series Team: Alaina Bull, Steven Geofrey, Barbara Fister, Alison Head, and Margy MacMillan, Project Information Literacy (PIL) Team, February 16, 2022.

About “Principled Uncertainty: Why Learning to Ask Good Questions Matters More than Finding Answers”

In this essay, Barbara Fister makes a case for helping students deal with uncertainty by developing curiosity as an everyday life habit. Drawing on the infodemic surrounding Covid-19, she shows how news organizations, public officials, popular search platforms, and even science have failed to deliver the clear-cut final answers we seek. Fister demonstrates how a state of “not knowing” has been weaponized against us, especially in an increasingly divided society. In order to prepare today’s students for dealing with information in their everyday lives, she contends students must be able to ask and seek answers to open-ended questions of their own, rather than being taught to gather ready-made evidence for crafting win/lose arguments in their academic assignments.

Purpose and intended use of this resource

“Principled Uncertainty” exposes the limitations of research assignments that constrain curiosity and reward a binary approach to assembling evidence. In a world where search technologies compete to provide the single, simple, and quickest answer, we need to work on asking better, bigger, and more difficult questions with our students and ourselves. What classroom activities could provide students with experience in framing questions that open avenues for exploration? What do students already know, and how can we give them permission to bring themselves into the process of making meaning as a social act? How can we help students overcome the assumptions about research, arguments, and their roles within information networks that they may have absorbed through schooling that inhibits their creativity and curiosity? How can we address students’ anxieties and insecurities as we connect this scaffolding for inquiry not just for college, but in the world?

This essay makes an argument grounded in research while posing questions for the future. What new directions in information literacy and higher education should we be exploring? What fundamental aspects of student experiences with navigating information spaces have we overlooked as librarians and educators? What fresh ideas can we advance to inspire librarians, educators, researchers, students, journalists, and policy-makers?

These OA prompts are designed for an audience of librarians and educators to provoke discussion around the themes in the essay, suggest ways to advance teaching and learning in your institutional context, and open up new avenues for inquiry and experimentation. The questions posed here are meant as a starting point to use and draw from in developing discussion questions that work for your context.

Questions or comments? Drop us a line at: [email protected]

Discussion questions

• What questions and contexts entice you into research?
• What shuts down or hinders your curiosity?
• When do we welcome it, or even ask for it?
• When do we constrain it?
• When have you seen students’ curiosity sparked – what kinds of topics, activities, and contexts encourage exploration and curiosity (“ finding out about ”) vs. finding a “right” answer?
• How can students be taught to think about “knowledge as a social act”?
• What types of learning exercises would be useful for this learning outcome?
• According to Fister, what’s the cost to intellectual curiosity with this approach?
• What’s the key difference between asking students to “find out” rather than “find sources”?
• Where does creativity fit in K-12 media and information literacy instruction?
• If K-12 teachers were free to teach media and information literacy without feeling the need to prepare students for these kinds of college-prep assignments, what would it look like?
• What would true K-12 information literacy look like? How is that similar or different to information literacy in higher education?
• When is it more important to maintain an approach of open curiosity?
• What makes it challenging to maintain an approach of open curiosity?
• What strategies do you use to counter these challenges?
• When are they pursuing knowledge for the advancement of understanding?
• When do they ask open-ended questions?
• When do they seek out a diversity of approaches and voices?
• How can assignments support these approaches to research?
• If you teach disciplinary research methods and practices, how do you draw connections to the ethical handling of information in other situations?
• How have your students responded?
• How does it impact students’ understanding of what research is when discussions of ethical research practice focus only on plagiarism?
• How do their interfaces support or constrain exploration?
• Do they have tools that you could use (thinking of mind maps, ‘related sites’) to foster curiosity?
• If they constrain exploration, are there ways you counter this through instruction?
• More generally, what role do you think design plays in the responsibility that technological systems hold for encouraging deeper modes of inquiry, rather than transactional exchanges of search terms for knowledge?
• Fister discusses how uncertainty has been weaponized to drive people to the false certainties of conspiracy theories, to foster distrust in authorities and cloak misinformation campaigns in the guise of humor. How can we alert learners to this without further increasing their cynicism about all information?
• Fister concludes her essay by providing some fairly straightforward suggestions for first steps to combating instruction around finding simple answers. Given your own teaching environment and style, what are things you can integrate into your own lessons to embrace uncertainty?

Sponsored by the Ohio State University Libraries*

Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

How Curiosity Can Help Us Overcome Disconnection

We live in a time when our relationships and social fabric are being ripped apart: neighbors screaming at each other at protests, parents at war about banning books at their school, and young people yelling “OK boomer” to elders at work. In one town, a faith congregation plunges into turmoil after a member comes out as gay; in another, a church and mosque are burned down by arsonists. Hate has seemingly infected the very air we breathe—poisoned by the culture of divisiveness and polarization, of “us versus them.”

The result of all this isn’t just discord and deep sadness on a collective level—it affects us all on a deeply personal one, as well. You can’t breathe toxic air like this and not feel it in your own lungs and heart.

I wanted to feel less scared and angry all the time—so in 2019, I quit my job to spend 12 months on the road, living out of my car, showering at Planet Fitness, and meeting people I’d never normally encounter as a city-dwelling liberal Asian American spiritually queer professor and researcher from Hawai‘i (whew, that’s a mouthful). I had my sights set on Trump rallies, anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups, and churches. My goal was to understand how we could come back together as a country. How could we heal and forge deeper connections—rather than turn away from each other—to solve the big problems we collectively face?

Through this journey, I realized that there is a path to us overcoming the disconnection and division so pervasive in our country: curiosity. I learned that curiosity is a practice, something we need to use every day, which inspired me to write my new book Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World . When we learn to go deep with curiosity, it can be the key to unlocking positive well-being and relationships in our lives.

An era of incuriosity

Based on my interviews, observations, and research, I’ve come to see that the common thread behind a lot of our disconnection, suffering, and polarization today is in curiosity: closing ourselves off from understanding the perspectives, stories, and humanity of others.

It has become rare to practice deep listening. Instead, we cancel people instead of calling them in (as Loretta Ross says) with accountability, meaning we are more likely to shame, judge, or dehumanize the people we disagree with. This can lead to us staying in our silos and refusing to connect with people who have different beliefs than us. That means we aren’t exposed to other ways of thinking or being, and we further codify our own biases. This can lead to us stereotyping others, as we miss out on the nuance and complexity that comes with the range of identities people hold.

This era of incuriosity is literally killing us. Long-term studies have found that less curiosity chops precious time off our lifespan, and contributes to loneliness and isolation.

If we want to strengthen our relationships rather than rupture them, we have to learn to ask more powerful questions rather than pass judgment. We need to become the kind of people who search for stories rather than positions, and values instead of views. We have to look inside of ourselves, getting curious about our own past and emotions, and not just rely on learning about the world outside of us.

In my work with the Greater Good Science Center, including co-creating the Bridging Differences Playbook , I’ve seen the power of curiosity again and again with all kinds of people: educators, therapists, journalists, community organizers, entrepreneurs, researchers, artists, students, and parents. I’ve spent the last five years rigorously researching how curiosity might help us to bridge social and political divides. In order to glean these benefits, we must be deliberate about how we use curiosity—and we must go much deeper than we customarily go.

Four steps to deeper curiosity

We tend to limit our understanding of curiosity by talking about it as a force for extracting information. Most people see it as a purely intellectual pursuit rather than one that can stir our hearts and spirits. We see how it helps children to develop language and communication skills or to remember what song was just playing on the radio.

While this kind of curiosity is important, there is much more it can offer us. We need to embrace what I call “deep curiosity.” This is the kind of curiosity that invites us to use it as a force for meaningful connection and transformation. This is what strengthens our relationships to ourselves and each other, helping us to better navigate disagreements, revive decades-old marriages, or heal from past pain or trauma. 
 Curiosity begs us to ask questions that invite nuance and surprise. Rather than “What should I do to make money?,” we ask ourselves, “When I’m really flourishing, what does that look like?” Instead of “Are you a Democrat or a Republican?,” we ask others, “What values are important to you?” Rather than “Where did my ancestors come from?,” we ask, “How do I stay connected to them throughout my life?”

I’ve developed an overarching framework called DIVE to help us access our deep curiosity:

Detach: Let go of your ABCs (assumptions, biases, certainty). We attach to assumptions, biases, and certainty because that is how our brains naturally operate. These are automatic human tendencies that help us make sense of the world—and they also provide us with a feeling of security. Not to mention, being right and righteous brings social status and power in today’s twisted culture.

Detaching is a journey of lifelong un learning—about yourself, about others, and about the world more broadly. But when we begin to let go of our ABCs, we change the way we perceive and interact with the people around us.

Tips to detach:

• Back that assumption up. Validate whether your assumptions are true or not by engaging with those about whom you hold assumptions. Through conversation and connection, you’ll often find that the assumptions you’re holding on to are not accurate. For example, if you assume that a friend is late to a lunch date because they don’t respect you or your time, you can directly ask them about it. You might find that they’re struggling to cope with their family or work responsibilities, or view punctuality through a different cultural lens (island time is real!).
• Fact-check your faulty “mind reader” abilities. Metaperceptions are the ways we think others think about us, and they are often negative and inaccurate—because we can’t read another person’s mind. Balance negative metaperceptions with positive ones, and if you’re feeling extra courageous, ask the other person if they’re true or not. If you think your mother-in-law views you as lazy because you’re struggling with unemployment, you can talk to her about it. Or just try to remember other ways she might see you, too, such as funny, engaging, or caring.
• Try out the “garden salad” effect. Imagine another person’s vegetable preference ( do they like broccoli or carrots more? ). This helps you see that person as an individual, appreciating that they have unique tastes and preferences, rather than seeing them strictly in terms of their group identities. You can also find shared identities with people who are different from you—similar to how different vegetables can be put together in a salad.
• Become an “admitter.” See admitting being wrong as an act of intellectual humility that leads to better communication, relationships, leadership, and life satisfaction. You can do this by saying, “Tell me more” when you’re told you’re wrong, prioritizing learning and growth, and reminding yourself that humans are wired for forgiveness.

Intend: Prepare your mindset and setting. Intention means to be deliberate in your practice of deep curiosity rather than haphazard. This is important, since deep curiosity isn’t something that’s given to us—it’s something we choose (or don’t) every day. When we are intentional about bringing more of it into our lives, it begins to infuse the decisions we make.

Part of this involves preparing the right mindset and setting when being curious. For your mindset, think in advance about the questions you’d ask in a conversation or visualize how you’d show up to be as open-hearted as possible if you expect conflict. Picking a setting that encourages curiosity and connection might look like a private space where both people feel safe to express themselves fully, and where there’s little to no distractions so it encourages deep listening.

This kind of preparation can help soothe your nerves and fears before entering a situation that might push your emotional boundaries (in a good way)—say, on a first date, during a difficult conversation at work, or while engaging with someone across the political aisle. Not only will this ease your own personal suffering beforehand, but it will also set you up for a curious encounter that is likely to be far more successful.

Value: See the dignity of every person, including yourself. To value is to see the inherent and ineffable dignity of all people, including yourself. It is to acknowledge the humanity of every single person, no matter what they’ve done or how you feel about them. Full stop and no exceptions. Until we honor the inherent worth of others, and work to see them as complex beings with lives, families, joys, struggles, jobs, personalities, likes, and dislikes, we can’t access deep curiosity.

Psychologists Lasana Harris and Susan Fiske found that we are less likely to consider the emotions of those we devalue. In one study, they asked participants to describe a day in the life of three people: a person who is homeless, a firefighter, and a college student. In their descriptions, participants were less likely to consider the emotional state of the person who was homeless (a group that is often dehumanized) than that of the firefighter or college student.

In contrast, when you value someone, you choose a path of connection rather than distance, understanding rather than judgment, and love rather than incuriosity. For example, you value yourself by exploring how you felt when a friend didn’t extend you an invitation, and sharing your concerns with them. You value your friend by not calling them a bitch and respecting them enough to offer them a chance to respond to your hurt feelings.

While reading this, you’re probably nodding along in total agreement. We like to think that we already see people fully, as complex human beings. But when it comes to that asshole who cut you off on the freeway, that coworker who is a walking microaggression, or being hard on ourselves when we mess up with parenting or loving our spouse, it’s much harder to practice valuing others and ourselves.

Embrace: Welcome the hard times in your life. Embrace is a reminder for us to move toward the things we fear, which usually happens at a moment of change, such as a career shift, a new home, expanding the family, or navigating loss. Instead of trying to push away discomfort, fear, anxiety, or pain, we can get curious about where they’re coming from and what they have to teach us.

You can take the moments in your life, which are rife with uncomfortable feelings, and transform them into something useful. We don’t do this by suppressing negative emotions or pretending that everything is “just fine, thank you very much!” We do this by embracing all of it—the good and the bad—and leaving room for the possibility of change to follow. When we experience grief, for instance, we might reflect on that person’s legacy and the precious memories we’ve shared with them. But we also create the space to honor the anger and sadness we feel that this person is no longer with us, and get curious about where in our body those emotions are coming up for us (such as our gut, throat, or chest).

It’s important to remember that deep curiosity is a practice, meaning we must use it in small and big ways every day to gain mastery in it. As you do, you’ll find it strengthens your relationships to yourself and others so you can feel happier and more connected to the world around you, in addition to the world inside of you. Deep curiosity is a life-changing gift, something you can offer to your family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and strangers. It’s a generous force, which means it’s supposed to be shared.

Not only do we all have this superpower, but we all stand to benefit from it. This is the only way we will dance our way out of this era of division and fear.

About the Author

Scott Shigeoka

Scott Keoni Shigeoka is a storyteller and entrepreneur. He is the Bridging Differences fellow for UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and led the development of the Bridging Differences Playbook .

You May Also Enjoy

What Curiosity Looks Like in the Brain

Why Curious People Have Better Relationships

How to Stay Open and Curious in Hard Conversations

Six Surprising Benefits of Curiosity

Four Ways to Inspire Humble Curiosity in Your Students

How to Hack Your Brain’s Prejudice with Veggies

The Power of Curiosity

What students will uncover.

The significance of embracing curiosity and celebrating questions

Essential Questions

• What does it mean to be curious?
• Why is it important to ask questions?
• How are your questions and answers shaped by your own worldview?

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, students will explore the power of questions. By examining a quote from Rabbi Dr. Ariel Burger’s essay, “Learning and Teaching from the Heart in Troubled Times,” students will investigate the difference between questions and answers and participate in learning activities to consider the meaning of the word quest . This lesson will invite students to develop their curiosity and empathy.

Embracing questions about the world and ourselves can foster curiosity and empathy.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Explain what it means to be curious.
• Explore the word quest , as connected to the word questions .
• Recognize that questions are important for learning, growth, and fostering curiosity.

Putting the Essay in Context

This section is intended for the educator and provides information about authors and educators Ariel Burger and Elie Wiesel.

“Teaching and Learning From the Heart in Troubled Times” is an essay by Rabbi Dr. Ariel Burger, author, teacher, artist, and former apprentice to Elie Wiesel. Ideas for this essay originate from Ariel’s book, Witness: Lessons from Elie Wiesel’s Classroom , which explores what it means to authentically participate in moral teaching and learning. The book serves “as a moral education in itself—a primer on educating against indifference, on the urgency of memory and individual responsibility, and on the role of literature, music, and art in making the world a more compassionate place.” [1] Ariel weaves reflections and insights from Professor Wiesel’s classroom into the essay. Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, author, activist, and Nobel Prize winner, taught a course titled “Literature of Memory” [2] at Boston University for close to four decades.  

Wiesel was born in 1928 in Sighet, a town that is now part of Romania. During World War II, he was deported with his family to German concentration and extermination camps—including Auschwitz and Buchenwald—where his parents and his younger sister perished. Wiesel’s memory and experience of the war had a profound impact on his life. [3] He said that “without the war, I would never have questioned any of my beliefs. I wouldn't have been involved in action. The event made me realize the urgency of personal commitment.” [4]   

Wiesel was a human rights advocate who helped to establish the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. He wrote dozens of books and won the Nobel Peace Prize for speaking out against racism and injustice. His autobiography Night explores his experiences as a Jewish prisoner in the concentration camps. Night is read in classrooms around the world and engages “students’ minds, hearts, consciences,” [5]  deepens their historical understandings of the Holocaust, and fosters empathy and literacy skills.

Ariel’s essay encourages students to consider that amid the suffering and injustices in the world, there are ways to embrace moral ferocity with self-awareness. An Orthodox-trained rabbi, he received a Ph.D. in Jewish Studies and Conflict Resolution under Elie Wiesel. The Witness Institute—founded in 2019 by Ariel and Elisha Wiesel, Wiesel’s son—is a project dedicated to continuing the work of Wiesel. The Institute, inspired by Wiesel’s life and legacy, empowers emerging leaders to create positive change in their communities to build a moral world. 

1. Ariel Burger, Witness: Lessons from Elie Wiesel’s Classroom (Boston; New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018).  [^]

2. “ Elie Wiesel: Biographical. ” From Nobel Lectures, Peace 1981-1990, Editor-in-Charge Tore Frängsmyr, Editor Irwin Abrams, World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, 1997. This autobiography/biography was written at the time of the award and first published in the book series Les Prix Nobel. It was later edited and republished in Nobel Lectures.   [^]

3. Gabe Bullard, “ Elie Wiesel Taught the World How to Confront Atrocities. ” National Geographic , July 2, 2016.  [^]

4. Michiko Kakutani, “ Wiesel: No Answers, Only Questions. ” The New York Times , April 7, 1981.  [^]

5. “ Teaching Night. ” Facing History and Ourselves: Witnesses to History Series.  [^]

Setting the Stage: Lesson Introduction

Explore this exercise with students.

Tell students they will explore Grant Snider’s cartoon titled “ Asking Questions .” 

Display the cartoon and read it aloud to students. 

Ask students: What is your favorite part of the cartoon? Why?

Ask students to complete these sentences: 

• I’m confused by…

Ask a few students to share their responses.

What do you enjoy about asking questions? What do you find challenging about asking questions? 

Engaging with the Story

Introduce students to author Elie Wiesel and explore the meaning of the word  quest. 

Tell students they will read a quote from Elie Wiesel, who was an author and professor at Boston University for forty years. The quote includes the word quest . 

Ask students to define the word quest in their own words.

Share one definition of the word quest with students: “a long or difficult search for something.” The “long or difficult search” can be when a person is looking for something, or it can mean a search for meaning within oneself. Share with students that characters in many stories and books are on a quest. Some characters are searching for a treasure or solving a mystery. 

Ask students to think about their favorite stories whose characters are on a quest. What are the characters searching for?  

Delving Deeper: Learning Activities

Encourage students to examine the themes raised in the quote from Elie Wiesel. 

Share the following quote with students:

Ask students: What might it mean for questions to “open us” and for answers to “close us”? 

Ask students to revisit their definitions of the word quest . What might it mean for the word quest to be inside the word question ? 

How was the character in the cartoon “Asking Questions” on a quest?

Do you think questions are important? Why? How do you feel when you are asking a question?

Reflecting and Projecting

Challenge students to consider the quote’s broader implications and to integrate their knowledge and ideas from various points of view.

Give students sticky notes. Students will write two questions on individual notes. The questions can come from the classroom conversation or they can be new questions. Add the notes to the board to create a list of the questions. In a virtual setting, use Padlet, Google Docs, or Google Slides.

Students will select a question that interests them from the list. The question they select can be one of their own or one from their classmates. 

As an exit ticket, have students write why they chose the questions they did. Students will then begin a short research project to find potential answers to the questions they chose. To guide students in this process, share the “ I Wonder ” worksheet.

What’s Happening Now

Provide students with follow-up activities.

Display Ariel Burger’s original illustration ( from the Yiddish folktale “Sara Chana at the Tip of the Church Tower ) so all students can see it. This illustration accompanies Ariel’s essay. 

Allow students to respond to the following questions, which are part of Project’s Zero’s Visible Thinking Routine, designed to encourage exploration of a work of art. Tell students to take their time and list all of the ideas that come to mind. Then have students share their responses with the class.  

• What do you see?
• What do you think about that? 
• What does it make you wonder? 

Take Action

How will you become an advocate for compassion and curiosity.

Watch the video “ Questions to Think About ” with Fred Rogers, a well-known children’s educator and creator of the PBS television show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood . 

In the video, Rogers said, “It’s good to look, carefully; listen, carefully—that’s the way you learn a lot of things, carefully. Look … and listen.” How might looking and listening carefully help you to learn? In what ways does Rogers share how to do this in the video? 

Rogers said, “In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.” 

Ask a friend, family or community member to tell you a story from his/her life. Be sure to listen with your ears and your heart. How does the story make you feel? Share your feelings and thoughts about the story with the person and follow up by asking a question.

SDG 3 : Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Companion Texts

• The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth
• The Blue Pool of Questions by Maya Abu Al-Hayyat
• Ariel Burger.com . (Website)
• Rabbi Dr. Ariel Burger, Witness: Lessons from Elie Wiesel’s Classroom.
• Warren Burger, Beautiful Questions in the Classroom .
• Grant Snider, “ Asking Questions .” (Cartoon) 
• “ Open-Ended Questions: What Do You Think? ” Fred Rogers Center. (Organization)

Connections to National Curriculum Standards and Frameworks

SEL Competencies (CASEL)

• Self awareness . The ability to accurately recognize one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior. 
• Social awareness. The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures, to understand social and ethical norms for behavior.
• Relationship skills. The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. 

NCSS National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies 

• Theme 4:   Individual Development and Identity. Questions related to identity and development, which are important in psychology, sociology, and anthropology, are central to the understanding of who we are. 

Common Core English Language Arts

• CCSS.ELA-W.3.4. With guidance and support from adults, produce writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose. 
• CCSS.ELA-W.4.4-5.4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
• CCSS.ELA-SL.3.1-5.1. Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on [grades 3–5] topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Choose a Different Grade Level

More to explore.

Ariel Burger explores ways to embrace curiosity and celebrate questions in challenging times.

A conversation with Parker J. Palmer and Rabbi Dr. Ariel Burger.

• A Beginner’s Guide to IELTS
• Common Grammar Mistakes [for IELTS Writing Candidates]

Writing Correction Service

• Free IELTS Resources
• Practice Speaking Test

Select Page

IELTS Discussion Essays [Discuss Both Views/Sides]

Posted by David S. Wills | Jun 14, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 3

In this lesson, I’m going to explain what an IELTS discussion essay is and how you can write a good one. I will talk about structure and content, as well as looking briefly at discussion essay thesis statements, which many people find tricky. I’ve also written a sample essay, which you can find at the bottom of this page.

What is a Discussion Essay?

As the name suggests, a discussion essay is an essay that discusses things! More specifically, it is a type of IELTS writing task 2 essay that requires you to look at two different points of view . You can easily recognise these essays by the following phrase:

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Sometimes it is phrased a little differently. It might say:

Discuss both sides and give your opinion

Discuss both points view and give your opinion

The important thing is that these all mean the same. When you see any of these, you know that you need to write a discussion essay. Importantly, this instruction tells you that you need to do two things:

• Discuss both views (there will have been 2 views mentioned in the previous sentence(s))
• Give your opinion (i.e. state which view you agree with)

If you failed to do either of these things, you would not have satisfied the basic criteria for Task Achievement .

Example Discussion Essay Questions

Here is a list of 5 discussion essay questions either from the IELTS exam, reportedly from the IELTS exam, or from reputable publications that have copied the IELTS question style. (Not that you absolutely should avoid fake IELTS questions when practising.)

Some people say that parents should encourage their children to take part in organised group activities in their free time. Others say that is important for children to learn how to occupy themselves on their own. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always a good thing. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people feel that manufacturers and supermarkets have the responsibility to reduce the amount of packaging of goods. Others argue that customers should avoid buying goods with a lot of packaging. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people believe that higher education should be funded by the government. Others, however, argue that it is the responsibility of individuals to fund their higher education. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people believe that it is important for children to attend extra classes outside school, while others believe that they should be allowed to play after school. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

You can see in these questions that there is a similar pattern. In each case, the question phrase (“Discuss both views and give your own opinion”) is the same and in the previous sentence or sentences, there are two opposing views. This, then, makes “discuss both views” questions a sort of opinion essay .

How to Answer IELTS Discussion Questions

First of all, it is important when answering any IELTS task 2 question that you read the question carefully so that you understand it, then provide an answer that directly responds to the question, following its instructions carefully.

As discussed above, you are required to do two things: 1) Discuss both views, and 2) Give your own opinion. You absolutely must do both of those. It doesn’t really matter what your opinion is or whether you give equal weighting to both sides of the argument. Instead, you must cover both sides and also give some sort of opinion. (It is important, though, according to the marking rubric , that you are consistent in your opinion.)

Your answer of course should be structured carefully so as to present your ideas in a thoroughly logical way that is easy for your reader to interpret. I almost always use a four-paragraph structure in my essays, but some people prefer to use five paragraphs in this sort of essay. The difference would look like this:

You might be wondering why I have given my opinion in the body of the five-paragraph essay but not in the four-paragraph essay. Well, actually I would give my opinion in the body of both. However, my opinion would be more subtly woven into the text of the four-paragraph essay. I personally find this to be a better method, but it is equally possible that you could write an amazing five-paragraph essay. That issue is discussed further in this video:

Discussion Essay Thesis Statement

In academic writing, a thesis statement (sometimes called an essay outline ) is the part of the essay where you insert your opinion. It typically comes at the end of the introduction and guides the reader by explaining your opinion on the issues that have been introduced.

But do you really need to provide one in such a short essay? Well, a 2018 study into successful IELTS essays concluded that thesis statements were “obligatory” – i.e. you absolutely do need one. In fact, that study found that thesis statements appeared in 100% of successful IELTS discussion essays! Therefore, we can conclude they are very important.

Because a discussion essay will tell you to “Discuss both views and give your opinion,” you must introduce the two views and then give your opinion in the introduction. Here is an example:

Introductory paragraph:

In some parts of the world, children are forced to go to cram schools and other facilities of extracurricular learning, but many people believe that this is unfair and that they should be allowed to enjoy their free time instead. This essay will look at both perspectives and then conclude that it is indeed unfair.

My first sentence clearly introduces two different ideas:

• Children should do extra classes
• Children should not do extra classes

Note how I have successfully used synonyms to avoid repeating anything from the question. I have also framed the issue in a new way so that I am not just paraphrasing. (You can learn why paraphrasing is not always helpful here .)

My second sentence is the thesis statement. In this sentence, I outline what the essay will do (“look at both perspectives”) and then give my opinion (“it is unfair”). This is a simple but effective thesis statement.

Thesis Statement Advice

Your IELTS discussion essay thesis statement should do two things:

• Tell the reader what the essay will do
• Present your opinion

Because this is a formal essay, it is best not to be too personal. Instead of saying “I will…” or “I think…” it is better to say “This essay will…” Here are some simple templates that you can follow most of the time:

• This essay will look at both sides and then argue that…
• This essay will discuss both views but ultimately side with…

Just make sure to avoid being overly vague. You are required to give your opinion consistently throughout the essay, so don’t say “This essay will look at both sides and then give my opinion .” It is not really the best approach because the examiner wants to see that you can be consistent in presenting an opinion. That is clearly stated in the marking rubric. For band 7, it says:

• presents a clear position throughout the response

It could be concluded, then, that your opinion is not clear from the start and so you have not done enough to warrant a band 7 for Task Achievement.

Body Paragraphs

As I mentioned above, there are really two main approaches you could take to the body paragraphs:

• Discuss one view per paragraph and incorporate your opinion into each.
• Discuss one view per paragraph and then have another for your opinion.

I suppose there is also a third option:

• Compare and contrast the two viewpoints in each paragraph.

This last one may be a little harder to do successfully without jeopardising your score for Task Achievement or Coherence and Cohesion , but advanced candidates may find it useful.

Remember that there is no single perfect formula for an IELTS essay. That’s not how languages work and that’s not how IELTS works. Different people could come up with different ways to present a successful essay. The most common essay structures are mere guidelines for particularly useful methods of approaching an essay.

Does a Discussion Essay Have to be Balanced?

Because the question says “Discuss both views,” it is quite logical to think that you must provide some degree of balance, but you certainly don’t need to give equal weighting to both sides. Remember that you are also going to give your opinion, so if you come down strongly on one side of the issue, it might be odd to give equal attention to both.

If you do feel very strongly about one side, you might want to present your discussion of the other side as quite negative. However, IELTS is a thinking exam as well as an English exam and an intelligent person can always look at both sides of an issue and explain – at the very least – why someone might believe a thing that is different to his own view. This seems quite important, but there is nothing explicitly mentioned in the marking rubric.

I would suggest that if you think a two-sided issue is basically one-sided (i.e. you strongly disagree with the other view), you should still write one or two sentences about why people believe that and then devote the rest of your essay to disputing their view.

Another approach is to write BP1 as a very short paragraph that explains why people might think one thing, but then have BP2 as a very long paragraph that debunks the opposing view and then explains why the other is correct.

(You can read more about IELTS essays and balance here .)

Sample Answer

Here is my full sample answer to the above question about whether or not children should be made to do extracurricular activities:

In some parts of the world, children are forced to go to cram schools and other facilities of extracurricular learning, but many people believe that this is unfair and that they should be allowed to enjoy their free time instead. This essay will look at both perspectives and then conclude that it is indeed unfair. In countries like South Korea, most children are made to go to an array of cram schools outside of regular school hours. Their parents do this in order to give their child a better future because it helps the child to learn more and thus gives them the academic advantages needed to apply to the best universities or jobs in future. These schools often provide children with an advantage over their peers because they improve their foreign language or math skills more quickly, and thus the children who do not attend these schools might have comparatively poor grades. However, whilst this attitude may result in better academic performance, it is certainly not good for the mental health of these children. It is no coincidence that places like South Korea have the highest rates of suicide among their young populations. The fact is that children are not equipped to spend fourteen or sixteen hours per day in classrooms, memorising facts and figures. In a sense, it is a form of child abuse. Children should be allowed to go home and spend time with friends and family to build social skills. They should be allowed to occupy themselves in order to become more creative and learn how to understand their own mind instead of being trained to repeat what they are told. In conclusion, it is understandable that some parents want their children to go to extra classes, but this is damaging to children and they should be given the freedom to play and socialise outside of regular school hours.

In BP1, I have looked at the topic of cram schools (ie the side of the argument in favour of extra lessons). I explored why parents might want their kids to do this and show the supposed benefits. Note that I never embraced any of these benefits. I was careful to use language that distanced these ideas from my own opinion, which was the opposite, so I said “Their parents do this in order to…”

In BP2, I looked at the opposite side. I was careful to make sure that my first sentence linked to the previous paragraph, highlighting that the benefits are quite minor compared to the drawbacks. All of my sentences here justify my position, which is that it is cruel to force these extra lessons on children.

My conclusion ties all of this together. The first clause references BP1 and the second summarises the main argument in BP2.

You can find two more sample essays here:

• A discussion essay about sports facilities
• A discussion essay about sports abilities

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

Related Posts

5 Tricks to Boost Your IELTS Reading Speed

May 3, 2017

30 Common IELTS Writing Topics

March 2, 2020

A Beginner’s Guide to IELTS Writing Task 1

June 23, 2017

IELTS Speaking Topic: Work

March 29, 2017

It is sometimes debatable whether asking children to get extra education after school or letting them play that is actually beneficial for them. Even though both viewpoints have benefits and drawbacks but I believe ,in the childhood age, children have to take rough and discipline education after school to be succeed in the future.

To begin with, many educational experts believe that playing is one of the essential aspects that have to be gotten by children to grow and happy. By using the playing approach, children can have a good mental and psychic health. Besides, letting children play after school can also support them to increase their emotional stimuli and get a positive social interaction. With this way, experts believe children can grow as a better adult in the future and have a freedom to get a better life in the upcoming times.

However, I completely contra with the first idea because I believe childhood is a better time to train children about academic or other skills that benefits them in the future. Based on scientific journal that I read, the ability of children in learning new things are more spectacular compared to adults. A lot of artists, scientist, and even football player who currently becoming a superstar in this era is a string of process that is began since their in the childhood. For instance, nowadays, I am working in the field of election supervision, it because since in my childhood my father love to force me learning about social and political issues by getting additional class. Thus, making children to get extra class after school is an appropriate preference if parents desire to see their son getting a good future.

To conclude, based on experts children have to get a freedom to play after schools but in my viewpoint it will be more advantages if they utilize the playing time with joining additional class after school.

VERY GOOD MR DIRWAN But actually you mixed both of the ideas , you need to take one side for this sort of essay writting, as it is mentioned in the above instruction. By the way WELL DONE . love from Pakistan to my sweet brother.

I have not checked in here for some time because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are really great quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend. ??

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Download my IELTS Books

Recent Posts

• How to Improve your IELTS Writing Score
• Past Simple vs Past Perfect
• Complex Sentences
• How to Score Band 9 [Video Lesson]
• Taxing Fast Food: Model IELTS Essay

Recent Comments

• Francisca on Adverb Clauses: A Comprehensive Guide
• Mariam on IELTS Writing Task 2: Two-Part Questions
• abdelhadi skini on Subordinating Conjunction vs Conjunctive Adverb
• David S. Wills on How to Describe Tables for IELTS Writing Task 1
• anonymous on How to Describe Tables for IELTS Writing Task 1
• Lesson Plans
• Model Essays
• TED Video Lessons
• Weekly Roundup

• I nfographics
• Show AWL words
• Subscribe to newsletter
• What is academic writing?
• Academic Style
• What is the writing process?
• Understanding the title
• Brainstorming
• Researching
• First draft
• Proofreading
• Report writing
• Compare & contrast
• Cause & effect
• Problem-solution
• Classification
• Essay structure
• Introduction
• Literature review
• Book review
• Research proposal
• Thesis/dissertation
• What is cohesion?
• Cohesion vs coherence
• Transition signals
• What are references?
• In-text citations
• Reference sections
• Reporting verbs
• Band descriptors

Show AWL words on this page.

Levels 1-5:     grey  Levels 6-10:   orange 

Show sorted lists of these words.

Any words you don't know? Look them up in the website's built-in dictionary .

Choose a dictionary .  Wordnet  OPTED  both

Discussion essays Considering both sides of the argument

Discussion essays are a common form of academic writing. This page gives information on what a discussion essay is and how to structure this type of essay. Some vocabulary for discussion essays is also given, and there is an example discussion essay on the topic of studying overseas.

What are discussion essays?

Many essay titles require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour. These are known as discussion or for and against essays. In this sense, the academic meaning of the word discuss is similar to its everyday meaning, of two people talking about a topic from different sides. For a discussion essay, a balanced view is normally essential. This makes discussion essays distinct from persuasion essays , for which only one side of the argument is given. When writing a discussion essay, it is important to ensure that facts and opinions are clearly separated. Often you will examine what other people have already said on the same subject and include this information using paraphrasing and summarising skills, as well as correct citations .

The following are examples of discussion essay topics.

• Examine the arguments for and against capital punishment.
• Schools should teach children not only academic subjects but also important life skills. Discuss.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of technology in the classroom?

Although the structure of a discussion essay may vary according to length and subject, there are several components which most discussion essays have in common. In addition to general statements and thesis statement which all good essay introductions contain, the position of the writer will often be stated, along with relevant definitions . The main body will examine arguments for (in one or more paragraphs) and arguments against (also in one or more paragraphs). The conclusion will contain a summary of the main points, and will often conclude with recommendations , based on what you think are the most important ideas in the essay. The conclusion may also contain your opinion on the topic, also based on the preceding evidence.

An overview of this structure is given in the diagram below.

Discussion vocabulary

When summarising the stages in a discussion or in presenting your arguments, it can be useful to mark the order of the items or degrees of importance. The following words and phrases can be used.

• First..., First of all..., The most important...
• Second..., In the second place...
• Finally..., Lastly...

The following can be used when introducing your opinion.

• There is no doubt that...
• I believe that...
• One of the main arguments in favour of/against X is that...

It is important in English writing, including academic writing, to use synonyms rather than repeating the same word. The following are useful synonyms for 'advantage' and 'disadvantage'.

• advantage: benefit, a positive aspect/feature, pro (informal)
• disadvantage: drawback, a negative aspect/feature, con (informal)

Example essay

Below is an example discussion essay. Click on the different areas (in the shaded boxes to the right) to highlight the different structural aspects in this essay.

Title: An increasing number of students are going overseas for tertiary education. To what extent does this overseas study benefit the students?

Most people spend around fifteen years of their life in education, from primary school to university study. In the past, students only had the opportunity to study in their own country. Nowadays, however, it is increasingly easy to study overseas, especially at tertiary level. Tertiary education, also called post-secondary education, is the period of study spent at university. As the final aspect of schooling before a person begins their working life, it is arguably the most important stage of their education. While there are some undoubted benefits of this trend, such as the language environment and improved employment prospects , there is also a significant disadvantage, namely the high cost . The first and most important advantage of overseas study is the language learning environment. Students studying overseas will not only have to cope with the local language for their study, but will also have to use it outside the classroom for their everyday life. These factors should make it relatively easy for such students to advance their language abilities. Another important benefit is employability. Increasing globalisation means that there are more multinational companies setting up offices in all major countries. These companies will need employees who have a variety of skills, including the fluency in more than one language. Students who have studied abroad should find it much easier to obtain a job in this kind of company. There are, however, some disadvantages to overseas study which must be considered, the most notable of which is the expense. In addition to the cost of travel, which in itself is not inconsiderable, overseas students are required to pay tuition fees which are usually much higher than those of local students. Added to this is the cost of living, which is often much higher than in the students' own country. Although scholarships may be available for overseas students, there are usually very few of these, most of which will only cover a fraction of the cost. Overseas study therefore constitutes a considerable expense. In summary, studying abroad has some clear advantages, including the language environment and increased chances of employment , in addition to the main drawback, the heavy financial burden . I believe that this experience is worthwhile for those students whose families can readily afford the expense. Students without such strong financial support should consider carefully whether the high cost outweighs the benefits to be gained.

GET FREE EBOOK

Like the website? Try the books. Enter your email to receive a free sample from Academic Writing Genres .

Below is a checklist for discussion essays. Use it to check your own writing, or get a peer (another student) to help you.

Bailey, S. (2000). Academic Writing. Abingdon: RoutledgeFalmer

Cox, K. and D. Hill (2004). EAP now! Frenchs Forest: Pearson Education Australia

Jordan, R.R. (1999). Academic Writing Course. Cambridge: CUP

Roberts R., J. Gokanda, & A. Preshous (2004). IELTS Foundation. Oxford: Macmillian

Next section

Find out how to write persuasion essays in the next section.

Previous section

Go back to the previous section about different essay types .

Author: Sheldon Smith    ‖    Last modified: 16 January 2022.

Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .

Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.

Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).

Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.

Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).

Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.

Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.

• Environment
• Information Science
• Social Issues
• Argumentative
• Cause and Effect
• Classification
• Compare and Contrast
• Descriptive
• Exemplification
• Informative
• Controversial
• Exploratory
• What Is an Essay
• Length of an Essay
• Generate Ideas
• Types of Essays
• Structuring an Essay
• Outline For Essay
• Essay Introduction
• Thesis Statement
• Body of an Essay
• Writing a Conclusion
• Essay Writing Tips
• Drafting an Essay
• Revision Process
• Fix a Broken Essay
• Format of an Essay
• Essay Examples
• Essay Checklist
• Essay Writing Service
• Pay for Research Paper
• Write My Research Paper
• Write My Essay
• Custom Essay Writing Service
• Admission Essay Writing Service
• Pay for Essay
• Academic Ghostwriting
• Write My Book Report
• Case Study Writing Service
• Dissertation Writing Service
• Coursework Writing Service
• Lab Report Writing Service
• Do My Assignment
• Buy College Papers
• Capstone Project Writing Service
• Buy Research Paper
• Custom Essays for Sale

Can’t find a perfect paper?

• Free Essay Samples

Essays on Curiosity

Scientific Techniques of Knowledge Acquisition Scientific techniques of knowledge acquisition are superior because they are objective and precise, having been obtained through a rigorous study procedure. The emphasis in this response will be on the three aspects of scientific thought, namely inquiring, conceptualizing, and finally operationalizing. Curiosity and Literature Review Curiosity refers to...

I read this article about the gender-fluid generation with great curiosity. This is the point at which the younger generation struggles to determine their gender identity. In this situation, the majority of young individuals have more than two genders, are transitioning, or have neither gender and others are unable to...

Curiosity was the mother of all inventions, so brilliant minds investigated and devised incredible inventions and ideas. Leonardo da Vinci was considered as one of the best inventors and artists to have ever graced western art. Most of his paintings, including the Last Supper, the Mona Lisa, the Virgin of...

Words: 1475

Science is perhaps the most critical topic in education, and it is used to pique the learner's attention and pleasure by cultivating and fostering imagination and imagination. It allows both the instructor and the students to improve their comprehension by appraisal for learning. Self-assessment, test papers, observation, and lab reports...

The Success of Written Material The success of any written material is dependent on the ability of its author to successfully convey information to the reader. Therefore, the reader’s ability to interpret the elements of a given text provides the metric by which efficiency of the text is adjudged. Rhetorical devices...

Words: 1183

Because of her uncontrollable fascination with mortality, Emily Dickinson has been dubbed the "Epic of Curiosity" by a number of academics. Dickinson became known as the "poet of shadow" as a result of this preoccupation. She investigates death from every perspective imaginable – as the chivalrous lover, the outrageous hit...

Words: 2386

Found a perfect essay sample but want a unique one?

Request writing help from expert writer in you feed!

The paper contains a discussion of the novel Dream of the Red Chamber, as well as recognition and discussion of the various locations where the author seems to have developed feelings of anticipation, interest, and surprise in the reader's mind. The author's writing seeks to investigate how these emotions are...

Words: 3392

Many words have been invented by treasure hunters and writers to explain Oak Island's mystery. The island has been the site of many costly and time-consuming treasure searches. The quest for lost treasures on the Island has lasted over two centuries, and no tangible treasures seem to have been discovered....

Words: 3636

Because of her uncontrollable fascination with mortality, Emily Dickinson has been dubbed the Epic of Curiosity by a number of academics. Dickinson became known as the poet of shadow as a result of this preoccupation. As the chivalrous lover, the outrageous hit guy, the bodily corruptor,...

Words: 2481

Disappointment in the Face of Expectations Disappointment can be seen on certain people's lips. This is something I discovered through personal experience. Our family has a long-standing tradition of beginning the new year with a well-attended church service. Curiosity drove me to investigate whether the feeling of beginning a new year...

Introduction It is unclear whether conspiracy theorists develop their ideas and arguments out of curiosity and imagination, or out of a need or need to draw attention away from reality. However, it is clear that catastrophic attacks, such as the 9/11 incident in September 2001, draw a lot of conspiracy theories. Conspiracy...

Words: 1550

All is now possible and available thanks to the technological revolution. Most citizens consider computer science to be the pinnacle of living around machines. However, it has less to do with computing and much to do with what computers can do and how they can help the human race communicate themselves. I...

Related topic to Curiosity

You might also like.

Curious questions about curiosity

Read at home, talk in class

LESSON OVERVIEW

In this lesson, students discuss the topic of curiosity in humans, practise collocations from the article, and reflect on how curiosity has shaped their lives. 

This is a Critical Reading Club worksheet. With this format, students need to read an online article at home and do the exercises in the classroom. Learn more about how to use such worksheets and their benefits in our post.

At the beginning of the lesson, students brainstorm the two meanings of the word curious . They also need to think of synonyms for both meanings. Then, they read sentences and have to substitute seven underlined words with their synonyms to create correct collocations (e.g. brain wiring, satisfy curiosity, reinforce behaviour ). After that, students move on to the discussion part of the lesson. Here, they talk about why humans need curiosity, and discuss if risk-seeking in men and women depends on nature or nurture. Finally, they analyse three scales referring to risk aversion, curiosity reinforcement and comfort zone, and decide where they would put themselves on the scales and why.

Subscribe to unlock these and many other Standalone lesson lesson plans with the Unlimited plan

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This went down a treat with my students! A brilliant lesson. Great work!

Thanks, Dave! I’m glad to hear that.

Absolutely great lesson! Thanks a lot for your work!

Thank you for you kind words, Anna 🙂

Browse other materials recommended for you

This is why we have accents (pronunciation activities)

Engage in the exploration of accents and pronunciation! Students talk about how they feel speaking a foreign language, explore vocabulary to discuss accents and practise pronunciation skills.

Lone wolf or social butterfly? Understanding personalities

With this lesson, students talk about personality types, revise adjectives to describe themselves and watch a video about how birth order affects a person. They also brainstorm why people change their personalities and discuss whether they agree with different opinions.

Financial crimes

In this lesson, students practise vocabulary related to financial crimes and watch a video about money laundering. They also discuss real cases of financial fraud, read a film synopsis and talk about their personal opinions.

From a pushover to your own boss

With this lesson, students talk about personal boundaries, watch a video with tips and practise vocabulary related to the topic. They also reflect upon responses to challenging situations and discuss different points of view.

Let’s talk money

With this speaking lesson, students talk about financial literacy, listen to excerpts from a podcast on the topic and discuss their experiences and perspectives. They also analyse money-related situations and come up with solutions.

Culture shock

With this speaking lesson, students talk about culture shock, share their perspectives and discuss what the experience of a foreign exchange student might be. They also watch a short video and practise vocabulary related to the topic.

When familial meets professional

In this lesson, students reflect deeply on work-family dynamics, explore nuances of nepotism, and enrich vocabulary through engaging discussions. Students also listen to excerpts from a podcast to spark critical thinking.

Is a degree worth it?

Engage your students in a discussion on the ins and outs of higher education. Explore education and career-related vocabulary and work on comprehension skills by watching a news report on the job market.

Would you allow yourself to be bored?

Is boredom always a bad thing? Or can it sometimes be good for us? Challenge your students to an unusual discussion based on an intriguing article!

Is there a minimum subscription period if I choose a monthly subscription?

No, there’s no minimum required number of subscription months. You can cancel any time you want. Basically, you can sign up and then cancel your subscription the next day, which will mean you have access for 1 month and won’t be charged again.

What currencies can I pay in for my subscription?

Our default currency is USD (American dollar), but you can also pay in EUR (euro), GBP (British pound sterling) or PLN (Polish zloty). You can change the currency you want to pay in at the Pricing page before selecting a subscription plan.

How can I edit an e-lesson plan?

You can get your own editable copy of an e-lesson plan and make changes to it. To do so, either (1) make a copy of it on your Google Drive (preferable method) or (2) download it in a Powerpoint format (but formatting might be a bit off so we can’t guarantee that it will work well).

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

Frontiers for Young Minds

• Download PDF

Are You Curious About Curiosity?

Kids (and adults) are often curious. Maybe you are curious about dinosaurs, giant squids, or rollercoaster rides. But have you ever been curious about why you are curious about some things but not about other things? In the last 10 years, scientists have asked similar questions about curiosity. In this article, we will share some of the answers. We explain how scientists across the world study curiosity. We also explain that people become curious to seek out specific information or to explore new things. Based on research on curiosity and the brain, scientists think that curiosity is a signal that it is valuable (or rewarding) to learn something or figure something out. Curiosity can even make you remember information better. After reading this article, we hope that your curiosity is satisfied!

Have you ever desperately wanted to know what gift you would get for your birthday, or what your score was on a school test? Have you ever lifted a stone to see whether any creepy crawlies lived under it? Have you ever wanted to touch something just to experience what it felt like? These are examples of what we call curiosity. Curiosity makes people want to explore things, to seek out new information.

Wanting to Know Something

People become curious when they know that there is something that they do not know. Often, this is something specific. Imagine, for example, that you read online that scientists have discovered the true color of the Tyrannosaurus rex. On the website is a link that you can click to see a drawing of the T-Rex made by the scientists. Do you want to know whether it is green, brown, purple, or bright orange? Would you click the link? This is an example of curiosity that is driven by uncertainty . Uncertainty is high when you are aware that there is a piece of information that is important to you, but you do not know what it is. In our example, you know that scientists discovered the color of the T-Rex, but you do not know what the color is. You are uncertain about the color. In such situations, people become curious, and this curiosity leads them to try to find the missing information. For example, they may click on the link with the picture of the T-Rex. We call this type of curiosity specific curiosity .

But people are not only curious in situations in which a specific piece of information is missing. People can also be curious because they want to discover something new [ 1 ]. We call this type of curiosity general curiosity . Imagine that you find out there is a dinosaur exhibit in a nearby museum. This exhibit may pique your curiosity. Will there be new facts to discover about dinosaurs? Will there be massive, fossilized bones that you have not seen before? In this example, curiosity may encourage you to ask your parents to visit the exhibit. Here, curiosity may be less about finding a specific piece of missing information, and more about discovering all sorts of new things. People may be curious about experiences or situations in which they can learn or explore (for example about dinosaurs). By following your curiosity, you may even learn something that you never knew you did not know!

What Are People Curious About?

In the last 10 years, scientists have made progress studying curiosity. Some scientists have focused on identifying people who are generally curious vs. people who are generally not that curious. People are all different, and individuals who are very curious may behave in different ways than people who are not so curious. In addition to studying curiosity as an aspect of an individual’s character, scientists also investigate curiosity as an experience in response to specific things. For example, some scientists presented participants with a lottery, to test whether participants were curious about whether they had won or lost money. One of the most common ways to study curiosity is by presenting so-called trivia questions [ 2 ]. Trivia questions ask about relatively obscure facts, such as “How big is the giant squid that lives in the deep sea?”. Scientists can ask participants these questions and also ask them how curious they are about the answers. Researchers can also measure curiosity by looking at certain behaviors, such as how long participants are willing to wait for the answers.

Interestingly, people are not only curious about things that make them feel good. Some scientists have used nasty images to test whether participants are curious about negative things, and they found that bad things can also make people curious. Maybe you have experienced this yourself when you see a fire truck rush by, and you wonder what has happened. Or maybe you have been curious about a scary part in a movie. A nice example of curiosity about negative things is a famous study with joke pens that give a harmless electric shock when clicked [ 3 ]. In this study, people were sitting in a waiting room where pens with colored stickers were lying on a table. The green pens never gave a shock, the red pens always gave a shock, and the yellow pens sometimes gave a shock. Which pen would you click? The scientists found that participants wanted to click the yellow pens the most—the pens that may, or may not, give a shock. You might be asking, “why do people want to click a pen to find out if it will shock them, when shocks hurt?”. Well, people find it important to reduce uncertainty (“Will this pen shock me?”) and are willing to accept the consequences while finding out.

One important aspect of curiosity is that people are often curious about information that is not directly useful. Why would you want to know whether a pen lying on the table next to you gives you a shock? Why would you want to know how big a giant squid is that lives in the deep sea? You will probably never encounter a giant squid, so the information has no direct purpose. But maybe you still want to know… (it is 13 m long!). Scientists think that you may want to know these things because information itself is valuable or rewarding. Reward is a term often used in psychology and neuroscience . It means that something is worthwhile or valuable to someone. Scientists have studied rewards such as money and food for decades. These types of rewards, called extrinsic rewards , are directly useful to people—you can buy things with money and food gives you energy. But people can also be curious about information or experiences that are rewarding just for the sake of knowing them. These are called intrinsic rewards . Just as you often do something just for the sake of doing it (for example playing with Lego), you may also want to know a piece of information just for the sake of knowing it (for example the answer to the question about the giant squid). In these cases, the reward does not come from money or food, but from the experience or information itself.

Curiosity and the Brain

Neuroscientists have a pretty good idea about how the brain responds to rewards. They found that brain regions associated with a chemical messenger called dopamine are sensitive to rewarding things, such as money and food. An example of a reward brain region is the nucleus accumbens , hidden deep in the lower part of the brain (see Figure 1 ). Recent research has shown that reward brain regions also respond when people are curious about the answers to trivia questions [ 2 ]. For example, when participants read a trivia question such as, “what does the term dinosaur actually mean?”. Researchers found activity in the nucleus accumbens—the same brain region that is also active when you see a waiter in a restaurant bringing your dessert, or when your parent is about to give you your weekly pocket money. These brain findings show a link between curiosity and reward [ 4 ]. People are curious because it is rewarding to learn something or figure something out.

• Figure 1 - In specific curiosity people are curious about a specific piece of information that is missing.
• In general curiosity people are curious about discovering new things. Curiosity activates the nucleus accumbens (a brain region that is active when we are about to get a reward) and the hippocampus (a brain region that helps us learn and remember things). When we are curious, we learn things better because our hippocampus is more active than when we are not curious. The figure shows where in the brain the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus are located (figure partly created with Playground AI and MRIcron and MNI-atlas).

Curiosity can give you a mental “push” to seek out information, but curiosity may also be important for remembering that information once you have sought it out. Because you experienced curiosity, you created a new memory or learned something that you did not know before. Scientists have found that if you are curious about a piece of information, you remember this piece of information better. When looking at the brain, scientists found that the hippocampus —an important region for learning and memory—gets activated when people are curious (see Figure 1 ). It is as if the learning and memory system in the brain is “warming up” to learn the information that you are curious about [ 4 ]. Curiosity can thus be a good thing, because it may help you to learn and remember things better.

A Summary to Help You Remember

Curiosity stimulates people to seek information, to explore, and to find answers. Although scientists are still very busy figuring out how curiosity exactly works, here are four important things we know about curiosity:

• People can be curious when they know there is something specific that they do not yet know (specific curiosity), or when they want to discover something new (general curiosity).

• People can be curious about all sorts of things, including seemingly useless pieces of information or negative information.

• Curiosity is a sign that it is rewarding to know or experience something.

• Curiosity can make you remember a piece of information better.

So, the next time you wonder whether any creepy crawlies live under a stone, and you lift it, you may learn something new (a millipede!) and your brain may store this information, because it is a valuable thing to learn about the world.

Uncertainty : ↑ When a person is unsure about something or a person does not know a particular thing.

Specific Curiosity : ↑ Curiosity about a specific piece of information. In specific curiosity, people know that there is something that they do not know and try to find the missing information.

General Curiosity : ↑ Curiosity about discovering new things. In general curiosity, people seek out new experiences or situations in which they can learn or explore.

Neuroscience : ↑ The scientific study of the brain. Neuroscientists try to understand how the brain works.

Extrinsic Reward : ↑ Things that are valuable because they are directly useful, such as money or food.

Intrinsic Reward : ↑ Things that are valuable just for the sake of knowing them or doing them.

Nucleus Accumbens : ↑ A region in the brain that is active when people are about to get a reward.

Hippocampus : ↑ A region in the brain that helps people to learn and remember things.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by a Wellcome Trust and Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Fellowship (211201/Z/18/Z) awarded to MG. For the purpose of Open Access, the authors have applied a CC-BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.

[1] ↑ Noordewier, M. K., and Van Dijk, E. 2020. Deprivation and discovery motives determine how it feels to be curious. Curr. Opin. Behav. Sci. 35:71–6. doi: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2020.07.017

[2] ↑ Gruber, M. J., Gelman, B. D., and Ranganath, C. 2014. States of curiosity modulate hippocampus-dependent learning via the dopaminergic circuit. Neuron 84:486–96. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.08.060

[3] ↑ Hsee, C. K., and Ruan, B. 2016. The Pandora effect: the power and peril of curiosity. Psychol. Sci. 27:659–66. doi: 10.1177/0956797616631733

[4] ↑ Gruber, M. J., and Ranganath, C. 2019. How curiosity enhances hippocampus-dependent memory: the prediction, appraisal, curiosity, and exploration (PACE) framework. Trends Cogn. Sci. 23:1014–25. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2019.10.003

A World of Curiosities

58 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-9

Chapters 10-19

Chapters 20-29

Chapters 29-39

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

At the start of the novel, how do Gamache’s and Jean-Guy’s attitudes toward Sam Arsenault differ? How does each man’s first meeting with Sam influence his view of him thereafter? What do these perceptions reveal about Gamache and Jean-Guy?

How has the Montreal Massacre affected Gamache’s life and career? Does his behavior in the primary plot reflect any lessons he may have learned on the day of the shooting? How does the shooting connect thematically to other events in the novel, such as Fleming’s quest for revenge against Gamache?

The discovery of the painting in the hidden room is a major inciting incident in the plot. Why does the discovery of the painting provoke so much curiosity and unease? What is the significance of using a painting rather than some other type of object, especially in a community where many individuals are creative? (Clara is a famous painter, and Ruth is a well-known poet.)

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now

Related Titles

By Louise Penny

A Fatal Grace

Louise Penny

A Great Reckoning

All the Devils are Here

A Rule Against Murder

Bury Your Dead

How the Light Gets In

State of Terror

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Louise Penny

The Beautiful Mystery

The Brutal Telling

The Cruelest Month

The Long Way Home

The Nature of the Beast

Featured Collections

Action & Adventure

View Collection

Canadian Literature

Horror, Thrillers, & Suspense

Mystery & Crime

New York Times Best Sellers

The Best of "Best Book" Lists

Sample discussion essay

Discuss the best way for a supermarket or a store to become successful and to expand its business, and make a large profit. You may refer to examples of a supermarket or a store known to you.

by Miao Wang (Vanessa)

Copied with permission of the author

Everyone needs to buy things in order to live, and everyone likes to get things as conveniently and cheaply as possible. For this reason, there are many supermarkets or stores appearing. However, getting into the supermarket business can be difficult, so I have written some ideas to make a supermarket become successful and make a large profit. [ Comment 1 ]

The first aspect to be discussed is that of good service. Firstly, the correct attitude in attending to customers is very important. Attendants should always smile to customers, no matter whether the customer is right or wrong. When customers ask where they can find things, attendants should not only show the way, but also they should go and get things for the customers. Secondly, a supermarket needs to provide good after-sales service. For example, when customers buy big and heavy items, they cannot carry them by themselves; the supermarket should thus help them take the items to the right places free of charge. If the place is too far away, the supermarket could ask the customer to contribute some money. [ Comment 2 ]

A further aspect to be considered is the need for good products. In my opinion, when a supermarket is stocked with goods, it should check the sell-by date of goods, and make sure all of them are fresh and have good quality. What is more, a successful supermarket has many different kinds of goods, and its prices are balanced. For instance, TESCO, which is a successful supermarket in Britain, has balanced prices. In the supermarket, items have different prices on one price tag: one referring to TESCO, the others from other supermarkets. When customers buy items, they can thus compare prices, in order to choose the best ones to buy. Moreover, a supermarket should update goods quickly in order to make sure they are fresh. [ Comment 3 ]

While a supermarket needs to do things for customers, it also needs to expand its business and make a large profit. In my opinion, first of all, the store should learn about the customers that it wants to provide goods to. The supermarket should check whether customers look for low prices or a certain type of good. Secondly, a supermarket should be well situated, and have pleasant surroundings. For example, a supermarket can be built in a place with a park nearby, and with many trees. This kind of location could make customers feel comfortable. Moreover, it should have a car park which is big enough, and the car parking should be free. When customers get into the supermarket there should be soft music, and all goods should be divided into different kinds to put in order. Customers can pick up things that they want very easily. A supermarket may also use good IT systems. For instance, customers might find things on the internet and know where they are, then pick them up quickly. Thirdly, a successful supermarket should know other supermarkets well. It can send its own employees to research the others’ information, such as price, types of advertisement, discounts and sales ploys. Fourthly, a supermarket can have its own brand products and diversify in order to expand its business. For example, TESCO is not only a supermarket, but has its own mobile. Furthermore, it can have its own club to attract customers to join in. [ Comment 4 ]

In a nutshell, a successful supermarket is difficult to manage. It needs good service, good products, and good ideas to expand its business and make a large profit. [ Comment 5 ]

[ Comment 1 ]In this paragraph, the writer has indicated the importance of the topic and has given a statement, using the first person pronoun, of what she will be doing in the essay.

[ Comment 2 ]This is the first main paragraph. Here the student focuses on the aspect of customer service. Notice the use of the topic sentence: “The first aspect to be discussed is that of good service”. This provides a key to the content of the paragraph.

[ Comment 3 ]This second main paragraph concerns the need for supermarkets to have good quality products. Notice again that here, the student groups all the ideas into a single paragraph, and that she writes a topic sentence at the start of the paragraph: "A further aspect to be considered is the need for good products." The writer is not afraid to show her own personality: “In my opinion….”, etc.

[ Comment 4 ] This paragraph now moves on to consider how a supermarket can make a profit. Several ideas are given. Notice how sequencers are used: “firstly…”, “secondly…”, thirdly...”, etc.

[ Comment 5 ] This paragraph provides a brief conclusion to the writing. Notice the idiomatic use of the expression “In a nutshell”. The conclusion only needs to be brief – there is no need to restate everything that has been said before.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Is It an Art Show? A Dinner Party? A Fashion Extravaganza?

Roze Traore, a multitalented New York chef served up dinner inside a New York art gallery to show off paintings from his residency in Ivory Coast.

By Dionne Searcey

The reporter is a former West Africa bureau chief.

The art gallery had barely closed for the business day when guests started wandering into the space on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Before them was a curiosity that made passers-by pause for a peek: amid the paintings on the walls was a long dinner table with place settings for 30 people.

Toward the entry way, Alex Delany, host of the Sound Radio show, was spinning 1970s-era Guinean and Ethiopian jazz and funk as invitees in Balenciaga, Prada and high-end Adidas sneakers mingled. And in the back of the gallery was the chef Roze Traore , spinning plates of poached lobster with tomato concasse and preserved lemons before a line of bowls filled with West African-inspired toppings.

The Thursday evening event was hard to describe without using a lot of hyphens. A West African-themed-dinner-party-exhibition-opening-fashion-extravaganza, perhaps?

“We’re merging food, fashion, art and going back to the motherland,” Mr. Traore said. “I’m bringing you into my world.”

Mr. Traore himself is a one-man band of chef, model and, more recently, owner of a gallery inside his Ivory Coast boutique hotel situated along the beaches of Grand-Bassam. The event was a private opening for Mr. Traore’s pop-up dinner exhibition series, which continues through Sunday on the Lower East Side before traveling the globe, meant to broaden the reach of artists in a residency he’s created in the hotel. It’s part of Mr. Traore’s mission to build bridges between Africa and the rest of the world, and in particular to show off Ivory Coast, where his family is from.

It’s a pursuit that aligns well with the Hannah Traore Gallery , which is hosting the pop-up and states its aim as drawing attention to artists who have been historically marginalized from mainstream narratives. The gallery’s founder, Hannah Traore, said Black art was sometimes depicted as merely having a moment in the spotlight yet it has helped define the artistic canon.

“People of color are taking up positions of power in the art world, and because of that, Black art won’t be a quote-unquote trend,” she said.

Hannah Traore and Roze Traore are not related — Traore is a common West African family name — but Hannah said she first sought out Roze several years ago because of their shared name, and they have since become friends.

On Thursday, she was a touch nervous; the event was a departure for the gallery owner, who doesn’t even serve wine and cheese at openings for fear of damaging the art on display. (There were no spills.)

Works from American, South African, Nigerian, Ivorian and Japanese artists in the residency hung in the back of the gallery and will be shown there through June 1 as part of an exhibition called “Returning to Bassam: Art That Money Can’t Buy.” Mr. Traore had rolled up the canvases and brought them himself from Ivory Coast. They are not for sale.

Kehinde Wiley, the celebrated artist whose unconventional painting of President Barack Obama hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, arrived decked out in wide-cuffed West African printed pants. He made a bee line for the pieces by Mayumi Nakao and Bahati Simoens , studying the paintings that surrounded Mr. Traore’s makeshift kitchen.

Mr. Traore’s Ivory Coast residency was patterned after Mr. Wiley’s Black Rock residency in Senegal, which hosts exhibition-opening parties that lure celebrities across the Atlantic. Mr. Wiley said he wanted to put West African cities on the map, hoping people would talk about traveling to capitals there the same way they talk about popping over to European cities.

The night’s banter made it feel as if that moment had arrived. Many of the guests were getting ready for a trip to Senegal’s capital, Dakar, for a biennial art show the government there recently announced had been postponed. But the parties were still on.

The artist Marcus Leslie Singleton, who completed his Ivory Coast residency in January, arrived and spotted Mr. Wiley.

“The last time I saw you was in Target,” Mr. Singleton said.

“You mean ‘Tar-jay,’” Mr. Wiley said, pretending to flip hair off his shoulder.

Mr. Singleton’s painting of a lunch he had in Ivory Coast hung behind them. Named “Fishbone,” for a choking hazard he had experienced during that lunch, it included a hidden message on the back from the artist’s memories: “We got to the beach later that day, the sand was so fine and soft it squeaked when you stepped.”

The painter Jose Duran , also a fashion designer and former interior decorator, was trying to round up guests to visit him in his Bronx neighborhood to eat thieboudienne, a Senegalese fish and rice dish.

“Everybody knows Little Senegal in Harlem, but this is different,” he said.

Dinner was about to be served, so the guests sat down at a table lined with giant centerpieces made of banana leaves and coconuts. Mr. Wiley squeezed between Mr. Duran and the artist Derrick Adams , whose work incorporates themes of Black joy.

The group talked about similarities between collage in art and sampling in music, another sign of a multidisciplinary evening.

“These sauces!” Mr. Adams proclaimed between bites of plantains spread across a neon orange dollop on a bright green leaf.

The lamb arrived, bathed in peanut sauce and kan kan kan, a West African spice blend. One guest dipped out to top off his parking meter.

Nearby, Kilo Kish said she still had a few finishing touches left on her new film, “Ephemerica.” Like most guests, her work is broader than just one art form; she is also a singer. How does she describe herself ?

“I usually just tell people what I think they want to hear,” she said, seemingly half joking.

At the end of the table, the gallerist Cierra Britton and the fashion designer Edvin Thompson, creator of the brand Theophilio , were in deep discussion about the importance of gratitude. And that was before the rice porridge arrived topped with crisply roasted coconut and vanilla beans.

The chef stepped out to greet his guests who gave him a round of applause.

“I’ve always enjoyed creating what I want to create, not having any titles, being more than a chef,” Mr. Traore said. “That’s what matters to me.”

Dionne Searcey is a Times reporter who writes about how the choices made by people and corporations affect the future of the planet. More about Dionne Searcey

Explore Our Style Coverage

The latest in fashion, trends, love and more..

The Most ‘Unretired Retired Person’:  The stylist Law Roach on his role as an “image architect,” being a diva  and his master plan for what’s next.

Sofia Coppola’s Latest Release:  Her tinted balm was inspired  by products that the filmmaker confected as a girl to achieve the “berry-stained lips” of a character in a Roman Polanski movie.

The Man Who Drew New York : Jason Polan chronicled city life in thousands of sketches  before he died at 37 in 2020. What happens to his legacy now?

Beyoncé’s Last Fashion Frontier:  It’s now impossible to see a cowboy hat  or pair of cowboy boots and not think of her.

Meet the Men Who Eat Meat:  With the help of Joe Rogan,  a social media trend with staying power  emerged from a 2018 book, “The Carnivore Diet.”