20 hours ago
- Real essays are explorations of ideas, not defensive arguments; they begin with a question, not a thesis.
- The teaching of writing in schools historically became intertwined with literary analysis, making essays seem pointless.
- Essays are a tool for thinking, not just communication; writing helps form ideas, as Montaigne discovered.
- Good essays aim for surprise, following interesting threads like a river, even if they meander.
- To write well, be disobedient: question conventions, observe anomalies, and write for yourself, not for a teacher.