If you’re exploring ways to pen down an essay on why you want to do something, you’ve come to the right tutorial! Writing an essay about your motivations can be an excellent opportunity to express your goals, passions, and aspirations.
In this tutorial, I’ll guide you on how to craft such an essay in five easy steps. We’ll also work through a sample essay to illustrate how these steps work in practice.
Ready? Let’s start!
Step 1. Plan the word count for your essay’s paragraphs.
This is a crucial first step that simplifies your essay writing process. Knowing exactly how many words each paragraph will consist of can make the writing process smoother and quicker.
Remember, an essay typically includes these three parts:
- The introductory paragraph
- Three body paragraphs
- The concluding paragraph
For example, if you want a 300-word essay, you can distribute 300 words across five paragraphs thus:
That’s all you need for your essay — five juicy paragraphs.
Step 2. Define your main goal and supporting reasons.
Firstly, you need to identify the goal or the ‘something’ you want to do. Consider why you want to do it and what motivates you to achieve this goal. This will be your essay’s thesis.
For instance, let’s say you want to travel the world. What drives you to do this? Is it the desire to learn about different cultures, to experience new environments, or to push your boundaries and personal growth?
For our sample essay, we’ll use this as our thesis: “I am eager to travel the world to broaden my cultural understanding, experience diverse environments, and foster personal growth.”
Now, let me introduce the Power of Three – the easiest way to break one big argument into smaller, more manageable ones.
We’ll utilize the Power of Three to divide our main goal into three supporting reasons:
- Broadening my cultural understanding is a key motivation.
- I want to experience different environments.
- Traveling fosters personal growth.
With our thesis and supporting reasons in place, let’s proceed to the next step!
Step 3. Write the introductory paragraph.
To write an introductory paragraph, follow the diagram below:
Start with an opening sentence that briefly sets the context of your essay. Then, state your thesis and the three supporting points.
For instance:
Introductory Paragraph
“Many people are driven by unique aspirations and desires. My foremost aspiration is to travel the world, driven by my thirst for cultural understanding, the allure of diverse environments, and the opportunity for personal growth. Broadening my cultural understanding will allow me to appreciate global diversity. Experiencing diverse environments will open my mind to new perspectives, while traveling inherently promises personal growth through exposure to various challenges and experiences.”
Notice that the introductory paragraph moves from the general to the specific, commencing with an introduction, followed by the thesis and three supporting reasons.
Step 4. Write the body paragraphs.
Our essay will have three body paragraphs – each corresponding to one of the three supporting points.
The body paragraphs will expound on the three supporting reasons. Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that briefly summarizes the paragraph’s content, then explain and exemplify your point. Let’s write our body paragraphs.
Paragraph 1
“Broadening my cultural understanding is a key motivation for my desire to travel. Immersing myself in various cultures will enhance my appreciation for diversity. It will enable me to understand different societal norms, customs, and traditions. For instance, experiencing the communal way of living in an African village or participating in a Japanese tea ceremony can significantly enrich my cultural understanding.”
Paragraph 2
“My desire to experience diverse environments is another driving force. Different environments, from bustling cities to tranquil natural landscapes, offer unique experiences and perspectives. Walking along the bustling streets of New York, hiking in the Amazon rainforest, or watching the Northern Lights in Norway are experiences that can profoundly impact my understanding of the world.”
Paragraph 3
“Lastly, I believe traveling fosters personal growth. Traveling often involves overcoming unexpected challenges and navigating unfamiliar territories, which promotes problem-solving skills and resilience. It’s through such experiences that I can grow as an individual. For instance, dealing with a language barrier in a foreign country can enhance my communication skills and patience.”
Each body paragraph follows a structure of a topic sentence, explanation, and example. Now, onto the final step.
Step 5. Write the concluding paragraph.
A tried and true method for writing a concluding paragraph is to paraphrase the points made in the introductory paragraph. Remember, no copying and pasting! Instead, refer to your introductory paragraph and restate it in different words.
Here’s how we can conclude our sample essay:
Conclusion
“Each person has unique desires and ambitions. My dream is to travel the world, motivated by my quest for cultural understanding, the desire to experience diverse environments, and the pursuit of personal growth. Understanding different cultures will allow me to appreciate global diversity, while exploring various environments will broaden my perspective. Meanwhile, the personal growth achieved through travel will help me navigate future challenges and experiences more effectively.”
And voila! You’ve successfully written your essay!
I hope you found this tutorial helpful. Now go write your essay about why you want to do something!
