context examples for essays

Definition of Context

Difference between content and context, rhetorical context: purpose, author, and audience, use of context in sentences, examples of context in literature, example #1: a tale of two cities by charles dickens, example #2: animal farm by george orwell, example #3: dr. faustus by christopher marlowe, example #4: oedipus rex by sophocles, example #5: lord of the flies by william golding.

“While stranded on a deserted island, a group of boys believe there is a dangerous creature lurking in the underbrush; Simon is the first to identify this menace, suggesting to the boys that ‘maybe,’ he said hesitantly, ‘maybe there is a beast’.”

Synonyms of Context

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C ontext has the ability to change the meaning of a story and how we view its characters — but what is context? We’re going to answer that question by looking at examples from The Office, In Cold Blood and more. We’ll also look at some tips and tricks for how you can effectively implement this necessary element in your own stories. By the end, you’ll know why context is so important and how to apply it in a variety of different ways. But before we jump into our examples, let’s define context.

Content vs Context Definition

What does context mean.

Whether we realize it or not, context is all around us. It is the fundamental way we come to understand people, situations and ideas. Everything that we think, say, see, hear, and do is a response to the external stimuli of the world.

And how we regard that stimuli is largely in response to the context it’s presented to us in. For more on this idea, check out the video from the University of Auckland below.

What is Context? By University of Auckland

So you’re probably thinking, “Okay that’s fine and good and all, but what is context? Surely the meaning can’t be so vague.” Well, it is and it isn’t.

But by understanding the essential aspects of the term, we’re better prepared to apply it in meaningful ways. So without further ado, let’s dive into a formal context definition.

CONTEXT DEFINITION

What is context.

Context is the facets of a situation, fictional or non-fictional, that inspire feelings, thoughts and beliefs of groups and individuals. It is the background information that allows people to make informed decisions. Most of the time, the view of a person on a subject will be made in response to the presented context. In storytelling, it is everything that surrounds the characters and plot to give both a particular perspective. No story takes place without contextual information and elements.

Characteristics of Context:

• Information that’s presented to us
• Used in an argumentative sense
• Biased/subjective form of education

ContextUal Information

Context clues : in and out of context.

In terms of storytelling, there are only two kinds of context: narrative and non-narrative. The former gives us information on the story and the latter gives us information on everything outside of the story.

Narrative types of context include: 

Narrative context is everything that explains “what’s going on” in a story. Take a comedy series like The Office for example: there are a lot of moments in the show that wouldn’t make sense without contextual information — and there just so happens to be a video that explores The Office “out of context.”

What Does Context Mean in The Office?

Even the most ardent fans of The Office may find themselves asking, “what in the world is going on?” when presented with these clips out of context. On social media channels, moments from film and television are often presented like this — like this screen grab from The Good Place .

Context Definition and Examples

In a sense, out of context moments have become a type of humor in and of themselves. But it’s important that we also consider how information outside of the narrative may influence our feelings on the story.

Non-narrative types of context include:

Non-narrative context is everything outside the story that influences our thoughts and opinions on the subject matter. Take Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood for example: when we learn of the circumstances outside of the subject matter, it’s impossible for us to feel the same way about the story.

In Cold Blood is an investigative novel about the murder of a family of four in Holcomb, Kansas. Capote started writing about the murders in earnest before expanding his research into a full-fledged novel — the end result speaks for itself — not only is Capote’s prose considered some of the greatest of all-time, but it also pioneered true-crime writing.

But when In Cold Blood is viewed through the context of the man who wrote it, the setting it took place in, and the precedence of its writing, the meaning is liable to change. The two convicted murderers in the novel, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, were interviewed by Capote through the writing process.

Their testimony is admitted in the novel, but filtered by Capote. So, for us to say their testimonies are veracious would be irresponsible, considering the context through which it was written.

Elsewhere, critics argue that we can only judge a piece of art based on the merit of the art itself, not the context it was created in. French literary theorist Roland Barthes said that “text” can only speak for itself and that the thoughts and feelings of the author should have no impact on its merit. For more on this “The Death of the Author” theory, watch the video below.

Exploring Context Clues  •  Lindsay Ellis on ‘The Death of the Author’

In recent years, many fans have criticized J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books in light of her political views. Some critics argue that her views change the meaning of the novels. Others argue that her views should have no impact. Alas, there’s no “right” answer, but it’s important to consider how context, both inside and outside of a story, can influence readers.

Context Clues Set the Stage

How to use context as exposition.

There’s a word in screenwriting that most screenwriters shutter to hear… and that word is exposition . Ah yes, the dreaded exposition — or explanatory description — has been known to sink more than a few good scripts. So, how do screenwriters use exposition effectively? Well, it starts with a need for context. When I say need, I mean the story would have no impact without it.

We imported the On the Waterfront screenplay into StudioBinder’s screenwriting software to look at an iconic scene where context is the primary force behind exposition. 

In this scene, Terry details how Charley and Johnny abandoned him. This backstory, or exposition, adds the necessary context needed to make Terry’s exclamation, “I coulda’ been a contender!” impactful.

Click the link below to read the scene.

What is Context?  •   Read the On the Waterfront Screenplay

This explanatory description establishes a context in which we’re able to see that Terry has endured “years of abuse.” The context is further executed as Terry laments the actions of his best friends. Think of it this way: proper exposition should act like a tea-kettle; each relevant detail making the kettle hotter and hotter — or more contextual and more contextual — until — the tension is released… and whoosh, the conflict is resolved. 

How to Add Context Clues

Tips for incorporating context.

Context plays a huge role in guiding the attention and emotional attachment of the audience. Say a character does something really bad, like kill another character. Our natural inclination is to vilify them, but if their actions are given context, we might view their actions as heroic.

Take Ridley Scott’s Gladiator for example: when Maximus kills Commodus, we view him as the hero. Let’s take a look at how this scene plays out:

Context Examples in Gladiator

In context, Maximus’ actions are justified. Commodus killed Maximus’ family and rigged the fight against him. As such, it makes sense that we root for his death. Here are some tips for how to incorporate context in your own works:

• Create empathy for your protagonist
• Vilify your antagonist
• Maximize conflict
• Develop themes
• Callback to prior events

By utilizing these strategies, you’ll create narrative continuity. Context relies on the impact of the past, so you should be mindful of the character’s pasts at all times when writing. 

What is a Plot?

Context may be what informs our understanding of a story’s events, but it would mean nothing if there weren’t events to be informed of. Plot refers to the events and actions that take place within a story — and it’s an essential aspect of every narrative. In this next article, we look at how plot is used in Die Hard to connect narrative threads from beginning to end!

Up Next: Plot Definition and Examples →

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What Is Context? Definition & 30+ Examples

Have you ever misunderstood a message because you overlooked the surrounding circumstances? Context, an often underestimated yet crucial component of communication, provides the backdrop that enriches our understanding.

It’s like the hidden anchor that grounds meaning, shaping the interpretation of words, symbols, and actions. Without it, conversations may lose clarity, narratives their resonance, and events their significance.

Dive into this exploration of the subtle yet powerful force that is context — the underlying thread uniting seemingly unrelated aspects of life.

Table of Contents

Definition of Context

Context refers to the background, environment, or set of circumstances in which a particular piece of information or event takes place. It is a fundamental concept in various disciplines, such as language, communication, and even computer science.

Etymology and History

The English term context , originating from Latin “contextus,” meaning a connection or system of parts, has been in use since the 15th century.

Initially, it referred to the construction and form of a literary text. Over time, its meaning expanded to include surroundings, circumstances, or background influencing an event, word, or phrase.

This shift emerged in the 16th and 17th centuries when ‘context’ began being applied to interpreting social and natural events. The scientific revolution and enlightenment further emphasized the importance of a broader framework for comprehensive understanding.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, context became central in fields such as linguistics, sociology, anthropology, history, and literary studies. These fields utilize context to explore complex communication, interpretation, and understanding from various perspectives.

Context in Linguistics

Context in text.

Textual context , pertains to the words, phrases, and sentences that surround a particular linguistic element. It can be classified into immediate or sentence-level context and broader or discourse-level context. Immediate context involves the surrounding words in a sentence, while broader context refers to the overall text.

Take the word “bank,” for instance. Alone, its meaning—whether a financial institution or a river’s edge—is unclear. When placed in the sentence “She works at the bank,” immediate textual context implies “bank” as a financial institution, due to employment-related verbs and location-indicating prepositions.

If the sentence is part of a larger text about finance, the broader context further supports this interpretation.

Context Clues

Context clues are, in essence, like a textual road map. They help the reader navigate through new words or phrases, aiding in comprehension and expanding vocabulary.

When we come across a word we do not understand, the surrounding sentences or paragraphs often contain hints about its meaning. These hints, or context clues, can be categorized into several types, including synonyms, antonyms, examples, and inferences.

Synonym Context Clues

Synonym context clues are a type of context clue that authors use to help readers understand the meaning of a new or complex word. These clues are provided in the text surrounding the difficult word and involve using a synonym or a word with a similar meaning to help define or explain the unfamiliar term.

This tactic can be very useful in assisting readers in understanding the context and overall meaning of the text.

In this sentence, the word ‘hostility’ is used as a synonym context clue to help the reader understand the meaning of ‘animosity.’ The author has included the word ‘hostility’ to provide a more familiar term for the reader.

By understanding that ‘hostility’ and ‘animosity’ are used synonymously in this context, the reader can infer that ‘animosity’ refers to a strong dislike or hatred, which is similar to ‘hostility.’

Antonym Context Clues

Antonym context clues are another type of context clue used by authors to help readers understand the meaning of a new or challenging word. In this case, the author provides a word or phrase that has the opposite meaning of the difficult word. By recognizing this contrast, the reader can infer the meaning of the unfamiliar word.

In this sentence, ‘tardy’ is the challenging word. The author uses ‘punctual’ as an antonym context clue. By understanding that ‘punctual’ refers to being on time and that it’s presented in contrast to ‘tardy,’ the reader can infer that ‘tardy’ means being late.

Example Context Clues

Example context clues are another form of context clues used by writers to help readers decipher the meaning of a new or complex word. In this case, the author provides one or more specific examples that illuminate the meaning of the unfamiliar term. Recognizing and interpreting these examples can help the reader understand the concept being conveyed by the challenging word.

In this sentence, ‘precipitation ‘ might be an unfamiliar term for some readers. The author provides several examples — rain, snow, sleet, and hail — to help explain what precipitation is. Through these examples, the reader can infer that precipitation refers to various forms of water that fall from the sky.

Inference Context Clues

Inference context clues refer to a type of context clue where the reader must infer or make an educated guess about the meaning of an unknown word based on the other information provided in the text.

The author doesn’t directly define the word or provide a synonym, antonym, or specific example. Instead, the overall context in which the word is used provides hints about its possible meaning. Inference context clues require the reader to use reasoning skills and prior knowledge.

In this sentence, ‘famished’ might be an unfamiliar term for some readers. There aren’t any direct synonyms, antonyms, or specific examples given. However, from the context of Sarah having had a long day of hiking and the hyperbolic expression that she could eat a horse, the reader can infer that ‘famished’ means extremely hungry.

Context in Real-Life Examples

Historical context.

The historical context of an event provides the larger picture that enables us to understand why certain things happened the way they did. This context includes the culture, politics, economic conditions, and social norms prevalent during a specific time period. Let’s consider a few examples:

The Industrial Revolution (1760 – 1840)

The Industrial Revolution, which began in Great Britain and later spread to other parts of the world, was a period of significant technological advancement, leading to the mechanization of industries, increased production capabilities, and significant changes in society.

The context of this period includes a shift from agrarian societies, advancements in science and technology, availability of capital for investment, and the exploration and colonization that provided access to raw materials.

The Harlem Renaissance (1920s – 1930s)

This was a cultural, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem, New York. The period was marked by a notable upsurge in African American arts and literature.

The historical context includes the migration of African Americans from the rural Southern United States to the urban Northern cities during the Great Migration, which drastically changed the demographic landscape of America.

The Reformation (16th Century)

The Reformation was a significant movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Roman Catholic Church and led to the creation of Protestant churches.

The historical context includes dissatisfaction with the corruption and decadence of the Church, the emergence of national consciousness, and the spread of Renaissance humanism.

The Enlightenment (17th – 19th Century)

This was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated Europe’s world of ideas. It was marked by an emphasis on reason, analysis, and individualism rather than traditional lines of authority.

The historical context includes the aftermath of the Thirty Years’ War, a greater understanding of the natural world due to exploration, and the propagation of new ideas through the increasingly literate population and the availability of books and public libraries.

These examples show that historical context is not only important in times of conflict but also in periods of peace, cultural prosperity, and technological advancement. It helps us understand why specific shifts in thought and action happened and their subsequent effects on human societies.

Social Context

Social context is critical when understanding situations and interactions in everyday life. Social contexts refer to the cultural, political, and economic settings that shape individual and collective behavior.

Analyzing social context helps identify the factors that influence people’s actions and decisions, allowing us to develop deeper insights into societal issues and challenges. Let’s explore some examples of social context:

Social Media Use and Mental Health

Many recent studies have been exploring the relationship between social media use and mental health, especially among younger people.

The social context here includes the digital era’s rise, where being constantly connected online and the importance of online social validation have become significant parts of many people’s lives. The findings often highlight how these platforms can potentially lead to issues such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

The Black Lives Matter Movement

This movement emerged in response to police violence and systemic racism against Black people in the United States. The social context includes a history of racial discrimination and segregation, socio-economic inequalities, and recent incidents of police brutality that have led to widespread protests and calls for justice and reform.

The #MeToo Movement

This global movement against sexual harassment and assault took flight with the power of social media. The social context here is the historically persistent issue of sexual misconduct, often swept under the rug, and the societal norms that have historically favored silence over speaking out.

The movement helped expose the magnitude of the problem and sparked a global conversation about gender dynamics and power structures.

LGBTQ+ Rights

The increasing acceptance and recognition of LGBTQ+ rights worldwide is another example where social context plays a crucial role. This context includes the history of marginalization and discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals, the influence of advocacy groups, changes in societal attitudes, and evolving legal and policy frameworks.

Literary Context

In literature, context is vital for interpreting and comprehending the narrative and its significance. Authors often weave contextual elements into their stories, providing readers with relevant background information to understand the characters and setting better.

A literary context may include historical events, societal norms, or cultural beliefs that influence the composition of the story. Here are some examples:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This novel deals with serious issues of racial inequality and injustice in the Southern United States. The context includes the time period it’s set in — the Great Depression of the 1930s — and the author’s own experiences growing up in the South. This context aids readers in understanding the roots of racial prejudice and the social dynamics presented in the book.

1984 by George Orwell

To understand the themes of totalitarianism, surveillance, and manipulation in 1984, one must consider the historical and political context in which Orwell wrote.

The context includes the rise of authoritarian regimes in the mid-20th century, particularly in Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia, and Orwell’s own political beliefs. This helps explain the dystopian world Orwell portrays and the critique of totalitarianism the novel presents.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This novel offers insights into the life and societal norms of early 19th-century England, with a focus on the marriage market and gender roles. Austen herself never married, and her perspective on these social practices shapes the novel.

Understanding this context allows readers to comprehend the motivations of the characters and the societal pressures they face.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

This novel provides a view of pre-colonial life in Nigeria and the arrival of Europeans during the late 19th century. Achebe wrote this in response to Western novels that depicted Africans as savages with no culture. This context helps readers understand the complex social structures and traditions of the Igbo people before colonial disruption.

Situational Context

Situational context comprises the specific circumstances, conditions, or environment surrounding an event or action. It is particularly crucial in professional environments, where understanding the context is essential for decision-making, problem-solving, and interpersonal communication. Here are some examples of situational context:

Medical Consultation

When a doctor consults with a patient, the situational context includes not just the patient’s symptoms, but their medical history, lifestyle, and even their emotional state. This context guides the doctor’s diagnosis, treatment plan, and how they communicate with the patient.

Teaching and Learning

In an educational setting, the situational context might include the learning objectives, the students’ prior knowledge and skills, their learning styles, the classroom environment, and available resources. This context helps educators plan effective lessons and adapt their teaching strategies to meet the students’ needs.

Negotiations

In any negotiation—be it business, politics, or daily life—the situational context is critical. It includes the goals of each party, the balance of power, cultural norms, and the relationship between the parties. Understanding this context can lead to more successful negotiations and mutually beneficial outcomes.

Job Interviews

The context for a job interview includes the company culture, the specific job requirements, and the candidate’s qualifications and career goals. Both the interviewer and the candidate must navigate this context to determine if there’s a good fit.

The Importance of Context

Context is a critical element in understanding all forms of communication, from basic conversation to academic research to artistic expression. It serves as the background, setting, or situation in which an event occurs, helping us make sense of the information presented. Here are some reasons why context is so important:

Understanding and Interpretation

Context plays a pivotal role in understanding and interpreting information. It serves as a backdrop, illuminating the meaning behind words and actions that might otherwise seem ambiguous or confusing. A single phrase or action can hold a multitude of meanings, and it’s the surrounding context that guides us toward the most accurate interpretation.

Consider this: if a friend says, “I’ve had a rough day,” your interpretation will vary based on the context. If you know they’ve had a challenging meeting at work, you’ll understand their statement differently than if you knew they spent the day at an amusement park. Without the contextual background, our understanding is incomplete.

Decision Making

Context acts as a compass when navigating the complex realm of decision-making. It provides the valuable background information and situational details needed to assess the options and consequences at hand.

Having a firm grasp of the context allows us to make decisions that are informed, relevant, and appropriate, rather than being based on assumptions or incomplete information.

For instance, imagine you’re running a business and you need to decide whether to launch a new product. The context, including factors like market trends, customer needs, competitors, and your own resources, will significantly influence your decision. Without these contextual elements, you risk making a decision based on incorrect assumptions or outdated information.

Cultural Sensitivity

Cultural sensitivity is immensely enriched by understanding the context. Context helps us to see beyond the surface and appreciate the depth of cultural practices, values, and expressions.

It’s a bridge that connects us to diverse cultures, allowing us to explore and respect them without resorting to stereotypes or prejudice. By grasping the context, we can comprehend why certain actions or words are significant in a particular culture, thereby promoting mutual respect and empathy.

For instance, consider international business relationships. If you’re negotiating with a partner from a different country, understanding their cultural context can be invaluable.

It enables you to communicate effectively, respect their customs, and build a strong, cooperative relationship. Without knowledge of the cultural context, miscommunications and misunderstandings can occur, which could damage the relationship.

Language Learning and Communication

When it comes to language learning and communication, context is a powerful ally. It’s like a key that unlocks the correct usage of words and phrases, enhancing the learning process.

By exposing learners to different contexts, they can grasp the nuanced meanings of words and understand how their usage changes across different situations. This not only enriches their vocabulary but also sharpens their communication skills.

Imagine trying to learn a new language using only a dictionary. Without context, it would be challenging to understand the various shades of meaning a single word can have.

But with context, a learner can understand, for instance, how the word “light” can mean both a physical source of illumination and a description of weight. In communication, too, the context can greatly influence the interpretation of a message.

Academic Research and Analysis

Context is the backbone of academic research and analysis. It provides the critical background information that helps us understand why a study was conducted, the methods used, and the relevance of its findings.

Without this context, data becomes a disconnected collection of numbers, devoid of meaningful interpretation. But with context, the same data comes alive, providing valuable insights and contributing to a broader understanding of the subject.

Consider a study on climate change, for example. The context of such a study could include the geographic region examined, the time period of data collection, and the specific environmental parameters measured.

Without these details, interpreting the results would be challenging, potentially leading to incorrect conclusions. With the context, however, we can understand the findings in light of the specific conditions under which they were obtained.

Art and Literature

In the realms of art and literature, context functions as a window, revealing the deeper meanings, themes, and influences behind a work.

It helps us understand the artist’s or author’s perspective, the historical or social conditions that inspired the work, and the nuances that may not be immediately apparent. By providing this depth and perspective, context allows us to engage with art and literature on a much deeper level.

Take, for instance, a classic novel or a renowned painting. Without knowledge of the context, we might appreciate it for its surface-level aesthetics or storyline.

However, when we delve into the context — the author’s life, the historical period it was written in, the societal issues it grapples with, or the artist’s inspiration and intent — our appreciation and understanding of the work become significantly enriched.

Context and Vocabulary Learning

Learning vocabulary is an essential aspect of language acquisition. In order to effectively understand and use new words, context plays a vital role. When learners encounter unfamiliar vocabulary, they can deduce its meaning through the context in which it is used. This not only aids comprehension but also supports long-term retention of the new words. Here’s why:

• Meaningful Context : Words are often strongly tied to the context in which they are used. By understanding the context, one can derive or infer the meaning of new words.
• Usage : Understanding how words are used in different contexts is key to understanding the nuances of their meanings. Many words have multiple meanings depending on the context, and seeing these words used in various situations can help learners grasp these nuances.
• Memory : People tend to remember things better when they have a context or story attached to them. If you learn a new word in a meaningful or interesting context, you are more likely to remember it than if you simply memorize it in isolation.
• Natural Syntax : Context also helps learners understand the natural syntax of a language — the way words are typically ordered and used together.
• Cultural References : Context can also provide insight into cultural references or idioms that wouldn’t make sense otherwise.

To put these ideas into practice, language learners often find it beneficial to engage with authentic materials like books, movies, songs, and conversations in the target language. These resources provide rich contexts for new vocabulary.

For vocabulary learning strategies, you might consider the following:

• Reading widely : This helps you see new words in different contexts, reinforcing your understanding and memory of them.
• Use of flashcards : Digital flashcard systems like Anki leverage the benefits of spaced repetition, a study technique that involves increasing intervals of time between subsequent reviews of previously learned material.
• Active usage : Try to use new words in your speaking or writing. This not only helps to reinforce your memory of the word but also helps you understand its practical applications.
• Word games and puzzles : These can make the process of vocabulary acquisition more fun and engaging, which may aid retention.
• Learning roots, prefixes, and suffixes : Understanding these can help you guess the meaning of new words and remember them more easily.

Remember, language learning is a gradual process and it’s perfectly okay to not know or understand every word you come across. With time and consistent effort, your vocabulary will steadily grow.

Context Limitations and Misinterpretations

Out of contexts.

When a statement or piece of information is taken out of context , its intended meaning may be distorted or lost. This commonly occurs when an isolated portion of a conversation or text is removed from the surrounding information that provides necessary context.

In such cases, misinterpretations can lead to confusion, disagreements, or even damaging misrepresentations.

Cultural Difference and Language Barrier

Limitations in context may arise from various factors, such as cultural differences and language barriers. When dealing with cross-cultural communication, the same statement may carry different meanings depending on the cultural background and interpretive framework of the listener.

These cultural and linguistic nuances can lead to misunderstandings, particularly when the message relies heavily on idiomatic expressions or gestures that are specific to a certain culture.

Individual Perspectives and Knowledge Gaps

Individual perspectives can also limit the understanding of context. Personal experiences, beliefs, emotions, and cognitive biases can shape how one interprets a message, thus potentially leading to misinterpretations.

Additionally, knowledge gaps, particularly in specialized fields, may result in inaccurate understanding of the subject matter, regardless of the context provided.

Context vs Content

Context and content are terms used in communication, including written and spoken language, that have distinct meanings.

Content refers to the substance or material dealt with in a speech, literary work, or document, as distinct from its form or style. In other words, the content is the information or message that is being conveyed or shared.

In a news article, the content is the news story itself, including the facts, details, quotes, and explanations about the topic. In a book, the content could be the plot, characters, themes, and ideas.

Context refers to the circumstances or factors that surround a particular event, situation, or piece of communication. Context can influence how the content is interpreted.

Context might include the historical time period, the cultural norms of the people involved, the particular location, the previous events leading up to the communication, and the relationship between the people communicating..

While content and context are distinct, they are also closely interrelated. The context can influence how content is interpreted, and understanding the content can also provide information about the context.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the choice of words influence the context.

The choice of words can significantly shape the context. Words can set the tone, reveal the speaker’s attitude, or provide clues about the environment or situation. Different words can create different contexts, even when conveying similar information.

Therefore, keen attention to word choice is necessary to accurately understand and effectively convey context in communication.

What is ‘context-dependent meaning’?

Context-dependent meaning relates to words, phrases, or sentences whose interpretation depends heavily on the surrounding text or situation.

This is common in many languages where words can have different meanings based on where and how they are used.

What is the difference between explicit and implicit context?

Explicit context is directly conveyed and understood through written or spoken words. In contrast, implicit context is not directly stated but inferred from the situation, previous knowledge, cultural norms, or non-verbal cues.

Context is the invisible hand, delicately shaping our understanding and interpretation of information. It enriches our comprehension, paving a path from ambiguity to clarity. Without it, information stands alone, barren of meaning or relevance.

As we navigate the immense ocean of data in our digital era, context is our indispensable compass. It is the essential anchor of rational thought, the breath of life in any discourse, and the heart of human connection.

So, let’s embrace the power of context, refining our discernment and sparking more nuanced, meaningful conversations.

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1 Audience, Purpose, & Context

Questions to Ponder

Discuss these following scenario with your partners:

Imagine you are a computer scientist, and you have written an important paper about cybersecurity. You have been invited to speak at a conference to explain your ideas. As you prepare your slides and notes for your speech, you are thinking about these questions:

• What kind of language should I use?
• What information should I include on my slides?

Now, imagine you are the same computer scientist, and you have a nephew in 3rd grade. Your nephew’s teacher has invited you to come to his class for Parents’ Day, to explain what you do at work. Will you give the same speech to the class of eight-year-olds? How will your language and information be the same or different?

Thinking about audience, purpose, and context

Before we give the presentations in the scenarios described above, we need to consider our audience, purpose, and context. We need to adjust the formality and complexity of our language, depending on what our audience already knows. In the context of a professional conference, we can assume that our audience knows the technical language of our subject. In a third grade classroom, on the other hand, we would use less complex language. For the professional conference, we could include complicated information on our slides, but that probably wouldn’t be effective for children. Our purpose will also affect how we make our presentation; we want to inform our listeners about cybersecurity, but we may need to entertain an audience of third graders a bit more than our professional colleagues.

The same thing is true with writing. For example, when we are writing for an academic audience of classmates and instructors, we use more formal, complex language than when we are writing for an audience of children. In all cases, we need to consider what our audience already knows, what they might think about our topic, and how they will respond to our ideas.

In writing, we also need to think about appearance, just as we do when giving a presentation. The way our essay looks is an important part of establishing our credibility as authors, in the same way that our appearance matters in a professional setting. Careful use of MLA format and careful proofreading help our essays to appear professional; consult  MLA Formatting Guides for advice.

Before you start to write, you need to know:

Who is the intended  audience ? ( Who  are you writing this for?)

What is the  purpose ? ( Why  are you writing this?)

What is the  context ? ( What  is the situation,  when  is the time period, and  where  are your readers?)

We will examine each of these below.

AUDIENCE ~ Who are you writing for?

Your audience are the people who will read your writing, or listen to your presentation. In the examples above, the first audience were your professional colleagues; the second audience were your daughter and her classmates. Naturally, your presentation will not be the same to these two audiences.

Here are some questions you might think about as you’re deciding what to write about and how to shape your message:

• What do I know about my audience? (What are their ages, interests, and biases? Do they have an opinion already? Are they interested in the topic? Why or why not?)
• What do they know about my topic? (And, what does this audience not  know about the topic? What do they need to know?)
• What details might affect the way this audience thinks about my topic? (How will facts, statistics, personal stories, examples, definitions, or other types of evidence affect this audience?)

In academic writing, your readers will usually be your classmates and instructors. Sometimes, your instructor may ask you to write for a specific audience. This should be clear from the assignment prompt; if you are not sure, ask your instructor who the intended audience is.

PURPOSE – Why are you writing?

Your primary purpose for academic writing may be to inform, to persuade, or to entertain your audience. In the examples above, your primary purpose was to inform your listeners about cybersecurity.

Audience and purpose work together, as in these examples:

• I need to write a letter to my landlord explaining why my rent is late so she won’t be upset. (Audience = landlord; Purpose = explaining my situation and keeping my landlord happy)
• I want to write a proposal for my work team to persuade them to change our schedule. (Audience = work team; Purpose = persuading them to get the schedule changed)
• I have to write a research paper for my environmental science instructor comparing solar to wind power. (Audience = instructor; Purpose = informing by analyzing and showing that you understand these two power sources)

Here are some of the main kinds of informative and persuasive writing you will do in college:

How Do I Know What My Purpose Is?

Sometimes your instructor will give you a purpose, like in the example above about the environmental science research paper ( to inform ), but other times, in college and in life, your purpose will depend on what effect you want your writing to have on your audience. What is the goal of your writing? What do you hope for your audience to think, feel, or do after reading it? Here are a few possibilities:

• Persuade or inspire them to act or to think about an issue from your point of view.
• Challenge them or make them question their thinking or behavior.
• Argue for or against something they believe or do; change their minds or behavior.
• Inform or teach them about a topic they don’t know much about.
• Connect with them emotionally; help them feel understood.

There are many different types of writing in college: essays, lab reports, case studies, business proposals, and so on. Your audience and purpose may be different for each type of writing, and each discipline, or kind of class. This brings us to context.

CONTEXT ~ What is the situation?

When and where are you and your readers situated? What are your readers’ circumstances? What is happening around them? Answering these questions will help you figure out the context, which helps you decide what kind of writing fits the situation best. The context is the situation, setting, or environment; it is the place and time that you are writing for. In our examples above, the first context is a professional conference; the second context is a third-grade classroom. The kind of presentation you write would be very different for these different contexts.

Here’s another example: Imagine that your car breaks down on the way to class. You need to send a message to someone to help you.

AUDIENCE : your friends

PURPOSE : to ask for help

CONTEXT : you are standing by the side of Little Patuxent Parkway, 10 minutes before class begins. Your friends are already at the campus Starbucks or in Duncan Hall.

Do you and your readers have time for you to write a 1,000-word essay about how a car works, and how yours has broken down? Or would one word (‘help!’) and a photo be a better way to send your message?

Now imagine that you are enrolled in a mechanical engineering class, and your professor has asked for a 4-page explanation of how internal combustion works in your car. What kind of writing should you produce? This would be the appropriate audience, purpose, and context for the 1,000-word essay about how a car works.

Activity ~ A Note about Tone

As you consider your audience, purpose, and context, you will need to think about your word choice as well. For example, say these two phrases out loud:

• very sick kids
• seriously ill children

Do they mean the same thing? Would you use the phrases in the same way? How about:

• lots of stuff

The words we choose help determine the tone of our writing, which is connected to audience, purpose, and context. Can you think of other examples using formal and informal tone?

Is this chapter:

…about right, but you would like more detail? –> Watch “ Audience: Introduction & Overview ” and from Purdue’s Online Writing Lab. Also, view “ Purpose, Audience, & Context ” from The Ohio State University.

…about right, but you prefer to listen and learn? –> Try “ Thinking About Your Assignment ” from the Excelsior OWL and “ A Smart Move: Responding the Rhetorical Situation .”

…too easy? –> Watch “ Writing for Audiences in U.S. Academic Settings ” from Purdue OWL.

Or, how about watching a funny video? In this short (3.5 minutes) video from the popular children’s program Sesame Street , Sir Ian McKellen tries to teach Cookie Monster a new word, but at first, Sir Ian doesn’t really understand what his audience knows (or doesn’t know), so Cookie Monster doesn’t understand.

Portions of this chapter were modified from the following Open Educational Resources:

Saylor Academy under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License  without attribution as requested by the work’s original creator or licensor.

“ Audience ” and “ Purpose ” chapters from The Word on College Reading and Writing by Carol Burnell, Jaime Wood, Monique Babin, Susan Pesznecker, and Nicole Rosevear, which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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ENGLISH 087: Academic Advanced Writing Copyright © 2020 by Nancy Hutchison is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Definition of Context Context is the history, environment, setting, framework, or environment of events or occurrences. Simply, context way instances forming a background of an event, idea or statement, in such a way as to enable readers to apprehend the narrative or a literary piece. It is important in writing to offer statistics, new concepts, and words to increase thoughts. Whenever writers use a quote or a truth from some source, it turns into important to provide their readers a few data about the source, to provide context to its use. This piece of statistics is known as context. Context illuminates the meaning and relevance of the text, and can be something cultural, historical, social, or political. Examples of Context in Literature Example #1: A Tale of Two Cities (via Charles Dickens) Dickens begins his novel, A Tale of Two Cities, in 1770, by way of describing the discharge of Doctor Manette from Bastille, earlier than taking the story to 1793 and early 1794. In this time span, the narrative covers a broad tale. In a larger view, this novel begins in 1757, even as its very last scene appears forward to the situation of the post-revolutionary Paris. This story has a historical context, which Dickens has prepared around numerous events that came about at some point of the French Revolution. He has drawn ancient capabilities from primary occasions, such as the fall of Bastille, the September Massacres, and the Reign of Terror. This backdrop is the tale’s context. Example #2: Animal Farm (through George Orwell) George Orwell felt disillusioned by means of Soviet Communism, and its revolution all through his time. In the phenomenal novel, Animal Farm, Orwell has expressed himself by using using satire via the allegorical characters of Old Major and Boxer; bearing on them to the Russian Revolution and its characters. Orwell uses animals to explain records and context of Soviet Communism, some of which relate to party leaders. For instance, the pig Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin, and Snowball represents Leon Trotsky. In fact, Orwell makes use of this fable for political and aesthetic reasons, following the Russian Revolution as its context. Example #3: Dr. Faustus (by means of Christopher Marlowe) Historical context of Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus is religious, because it hints at cultural adjustments taking region at some point of Marlowe’s time. In sixteenth century Europe, there was a struggle among Roman Catholicism and the Protestant English Church. During this entire period, Calvinism become popular within the English churches; however, it became controversial. According to Calvinistic doctrine, the repute of the humans became predestined as stored or damned. Scholars and readers have debated on the stance that Marlowe’s play takes regarding the Calvinist doctrine, in whether Faustus is predestined to hell or not. The Renaissance period provides context for this play through Marlowe. Example #4: Oedipus Rex (by way of Sophocles) There is a popular saying that testimonies suggest values and cultures of the societies in which their authors live. In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles presents his protagonist, Oedipus, struggling to put into effect his will in opposition to the future set forth with the aid of the Greek gods. During this procedure Sophocles reveals Greek values of the period in the course of which he wrote the play. He has illustrated the context of this play via the words and actions of Oedipus and different characters; as their Greek ideals concerning their governance, fate, and human relationships with the gods. These had been a number of the more famous themes of that era, and so form context of the Oedipus Rex. Example #5: Lord of the Flies (by using William Golding) “While stranded on a deserted island, a collection of boys believe there is a risky creature lurking in the underbrush; Simon is the primary to discover this menace, suggesting to the boys that ‘maybe,’ he stated hesitantly, ‘maybe there is a beast’.” This excerpt provides an amazing instance of context, as it narrates an incident involving a set of young men on a abandoned island. Context describes why they were afraid, giving a clear picture of the state of affairs and setting. Function Context is all approximately supplying a background or image of the scenario, and of who's involved. Context is an essential a part of a literary text, which enables to interact the audience. If writers forget about context, they'll overlook a critical component of the tale’s intent. Without context, readers won't see the real picture of a literary work. Context enables readers understand the cultural, social, philosophical, and political thoughts and movements accepted in society on the time of the writing.

• Alliteration
• Anachronism
• Antimetabole
• Aposiopesis
• Characterization
• Colloquialism
• Connotation
• Deus Ex Machina
• Didacticism
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Flash Forward
• Foreshadowing
• Internal Rhyme
• Juxtaposition
• Non Sequitur
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Poetic Justice
• Point of View
• Portmanteau
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Superlative
• Synesthesia
• Tragicomedy
• Tragic Flaw
• Verisimilitude

Context in Literature: 3 Types and Examples in Literature

Literary context refers to the literary environment and influences surrounding a written work that shape its style, meaning and importance. The writers and texts that influenced or inspired the author. This provides insight into the author’s vision. These references are made to other well-known works or literary figures, which show how the work connects to the broader tradition of literature. Examining these contexts provides insight into the author’s creative vision, ideas, approach to developing themes and the text’s connections to the broader literary tradition.

3 Types of Literary Context

Here are 3 types of literary context:

• Historical Context
• Literary Movement Context
• Biographical Context

Let’s discuss these types one by one:

1- Historical Context

The historical context refers to the social, political, cultural and intellectual climate during the time period a literary work was written. It includes the understanding what real-world events/ideas may have inspired the author or shaped their writing. For example, how did World War 1 impact the themes in the poetry of Wilfred Owen? How did colonial expansion appear in 19th century British novels?

2- Literary Movement Context

Literary movements have core styles, techniques, ideologies that writers associate with. It situates the work within a movement, helps identify motifs, stylistic qualities and beliefs the author adopted or rebelled against from that movement. For example, knowing characteristics of Romanticism, Realism and Modernism helps determine their influence on authors from different eras.

3- Biographical Context

An author’s personal experiences often informs their writing. Their place of birth, family background, beliefs, encounters with events, education all could manifest in their literary works. For example, how Emily Dickinson’s reclusive nature is reflected in the themes of her poetry. Or how Virginia Woolf’s gender impacted her promotion of feminist ideas through novels and essays.

Here are some examples of different types of context:

Historical context Examples in Literature

Here are some examples of historical context in literature:

1- “Hard Times” by Charles Dicken

“’Twas the spring of the year. There had been cold weather, north and east winds, biting everything; but the spring came at last.”

This quote situates the novel’s setting in Victorian England during a specific time of year and references the biting cold winds and hard climate, reflecting the grim industrial backdrop of Dickens’ fictional Coketown.

2- “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston

“Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others, they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time.”

This quote cleverly alludes to the despair of dreams deferred for many African Americans in the 1930s facing racial injustice and the Great Depression. The socioeconomic context shapes Janie’s story.

3- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

“The cold creeps in from the window frames and the door, drafts blow on me even at midday.”

This establishes the chilling atmosphere of the theocratic dictatorship of Gilead, which deliberately suppresses women. The historical context of the rise of totalitarianism in the 1900s underpins this dystopia.

Literary context Examples

1- “the waste land” by t.s. eliot.

“April is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire…”

This quote references Chaucer’s famous line “Whan that Aprille with his shoures sote” to establish intertextuality. The literary allusion to canonical works helps situate Eliot’s complex poetical themes on post-war disillusionment within a broader literary tradition.

2- “Beloved” by Tony Morrison

“She walked out of the house, out of the yard; stepped over the low stone wall and into the pasture. Walking toward the stream.”

The central themes resonate with older African-American slave spirituals and the literary trope of finding freedom across rivers. Morrison grounds her neo-slave narrative within these long-standing literary contexts in African-American culture to shape deeper symbolic interpretations.

3- “Daddy” by Sylvia Plath

“Every woman adores a Fascist, The boot in the face, the brute Brute heart of a brute like you.”

Plath employs literary devices like rhyme, rhythm, and provocative metaphors that defiantly subvert traditional poetic conventions, reflecting her Confessional style. Situating “Daddy” in the context of post-war Confessional poetry gives more meaning to Plath’s radical style and intimate yet intense subject matter.

Biographical context Examples

1- jane eyre by charlotte bronte.

“I returned to my book—Bewick’s History of British Birds: the letterpress thereof I cared little for, generally speaking…”

Bronte herself as a child was known to be fond of the book mentioned. Her personal experiences as a governess also echo in Jane’s storyline. These autobiographical touches enhance analysis of key themes.

2- “Daffodils” by William Wordsworth

“I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils.”

The poem is based on a real incident when Wordsworth came upon golden daffodils while walking with his sister near Ullswater Lake. The biographical memory lends realistic detail and personal emotion to his quintessential British Romantic poem.

3- “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker

“…I know folks say I’m a tramp or maybe even a hussy…”

Walker’s epistolary novel depicts struggles of African American women facing racism and sexism in 1930s Georgia. Her own upbringing facing racial discrimination and becoming a single mother at a young age provides critical biographical context.

Political Context in literature

Political context in literature refers to the political environment, circumstances, ideologies or governmental factors that may influence a written work and the writer. Some aspects of political context in literature include:

• Form of government: A work written under an authoritarian system may show signs of censorship, rebellion, or propaganda themes. For example, dystopian novels like 1984 by George Orwell emerge from a context of growing totalitarian regimes before and after World War-II.
• Issues of the day: Political issues that were pertinent at the time, such as social injustice, women’s rights and colonialism etc. For example, the feminist plays of Henrik Ibsen address 19th century gender norms in Norway.

Religious Context in literature

Religious context in literature refers to the religious environment, beliefs, practices, texts and influences that surround a written work and writer. Some key aspects include:

• Religious affiliations – The specific religion or sect the author was part of or writing for. Knowing religious terminology, concepts and texts associated with that religion can provide deeper meaning. For example, influence of Catholicism in works of James Joyce.
• Mythology and folklore – Use of mythological references or folkloric elements from ancient belief systems or scriptures that have religious underpinnings. Like references to Greek myths in works of Toni Morrison, or Hindu epics in writings of RK Narayan.

Cultural Context in literature

It refers to the cultural and societal influences that shape a work of literature. It encompasses the beliefs, values, customs and practices of a particular society or time period. Cultural context influences the writing style, themes and characters in a literary work.

Here are some key aspects of cultural context in literature:

• Historical period: The historical period in which a text was written can significantly impact its cultural context. For example: a work written during the Renaissance may reflect the cultural values of the time, like humanism and classicism.
• Ethnicity and race: The cultural context of a literary work is also affected by the ethnicity and race of the author and the characters in the story. For example, the experiences of black Americans during the Civil Rights movement might be reflected in the works of African American authors.
• Social class: It is governed by the social class of the author and the characters in the work. For example: the works of Charles Dickens often reflect the social Class issues of Victorian England.

What is literary context vs. historical context?

Historical context refers to the real-world historical situation surrounding a literary work. It provides background on the time period’s events, attitudes and conditions that shaped the text. Looking at historical context lets readers understand different time periods and see how things have changed over time. This contrasts with literary context – the artistic and written influences on the text. Historical and literary contexts together allow deeper analysis.

Read also: Literary Devices That Start with C

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The Context in an Essay

One of the main principles of academic writing is to use context effectively. Incorporating context can help you avoid plagiarism, demonstrate the diversity of your knowledge, and make your text more engaging for readers. So, what is context?

It can be defined as “background information” and should be utilized in every piece of written work, especially in academic essays (including research papers and term papers ). If you’re struggling to integrate context into your writing, consider the option to buy essay writing services that can provide expert guidance. Read on to discover what you can and cannot do with context, how to use it properly, and how to find it.

Article structure

What is the context in an essay

If your topic is more specific, you can use even more context. However, remember that you should avoid using too many context options at once – the more options you have, the harder it will be to analyze and select the most appropriate one.

Here are some examples of common contexts that you can use in a research paper:

Historical context

The context of a research paper should be a specific event that took place in the past. It is very important that you provide an accurate description of the historical context, so your paper will be more interesting for your readers. For example, the research paper about the Holocaust can be written in the context of World War II, so you must describe in detail the events that took place. Your historical research paper should provide all necessary data, facts, and numbers about the history of the event, so you can write the essay with a clear understanding of all details.

The most important factor of the historical context is the correct chronological order. The best historical research papers are usually written in chronological order. In fact, the whole structure of the research paper is defined by the order of the events. The most interesting and useful information is at the beginning. In this case, the historical context is very important, because it gives an opportunity to understand the main topic of the essay.

The next step is to analyze the historical data in the essay. You have to make the right conclusion about your research, so you can write the essay in the right chronological order.

Cultural context

This context is usually used in writing about art, literature, music, etc. To create an interesting essay, you should include information about the culture in which you grew up, such as your country, region, family, and so on. This information can be written in different ways. Sometimes, information about culture should be provided to the reader from the start. At other times, you should use it as background information for your own comments and explanations. You may use cultural elements of your own experience to illustrate the concept of the subject at hand.

The idea of cultural context is very similar to the idea of historical context. However, cultural context usually refers to the context of the current period of your life, whereas historical context refers to the period when you grew up. Therefore, you are more likely to use information about your own cultural context, but you may also want to use information about the historical context of the topic.

For example, if you are studying World War I, you would probably want to include some information about the culture of the time, but you would also want to focus on the events and conditions that led to the war. In other words, your cultural context must be specific and relevant to the topic of your paper.

If you need to write an collage essay about a period of time when you were not born, you should make use of your current cultural context to write about the events of the time.

Geographical context

This context is usually used in writing about geography, sociology, economics, politics, and many other disciplines. To make your paper more interesting, you need to include geographical, political, and economical information about your country, state, city, and town. You can also include demographic information about the area that is of your study.

You should include this geographical context whenever it is applicable. In some cases, it could even influence the flow of your paper. It could be either positive or negative. For instance, if you are writing about a country that is a large producer of oil, it may be difficult for you to gain sympathy from the people who are not aware of the country’s environmental damage.

In some cases, the geographical context could affect the flow of your paper. If your study is about an industrial city, then you should include information about the city’s industry. If you are going to study a small town, then you should include a small business report or small business owners’ report.

Social context

This context is used in social sciences, psychology, law, political science, economics, etc. You need to include information about your family, the friends you have, the social situation of your city, and so on. You also need to be aware of the social context of your topic. This is the main purpose of this chapter. It may be the context of your work or the context of your study. For instance, in this chapter, we may be talking about the context of studying and working in London or New York.

When you are studying or working in a new country, try to see if you can find out about its culture or society. Try to talk to the natives to find out about how they live and work. See if you can find some interesting books, or magazines, or TV programs about your new country.

Biological context

Biological context is used in many disciplines such as biology, chemistry, nutrition, etc. You need to include all the details about your parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, hobbies, and so on. If you are describing the biological system or a biochemistry procedure, then you need to include a detailed description of the system itself. You need to include a description of all the compounds involved. If you are a cell biologist, you will need to explain all the biochemical steps involved in a cell cycle or DNA replication.

The basic biological context includes the history of the discovery and the biological and medical context of a particular problem that needs to be solved.

Political context

The political context is the most complex of all. You need to include information about the current political situation in your country, the situation of the region where you live, your political preferences, and so on.

When writing a research paper in political science, you need to be well-informed about the political situation in your country at the moment of writing. It is very difficult to write about politics, but if you are not well-informed, the research paper will sound biased and unauthentic.

The political situation is very important, as it is a determinant of the development of the country. A country with a democratic government can be easily influenced by external factors, whereas in a country with a communist or authoritarian government, external factors cannot influence such a country. When writing an essay about politics in general, it is important to mention the main political factors, the most important ones.

Literary context

In a research paper, the literary context should be the most important because of the following reasons:

• The more the authors in your paper are famous, the more your paper will become interesting to your readers;
• A good literature essay needs the authors’ names;
• The more a research paper is about famous people, the more accurate information you can provide about them.

In this case, the best literary sources to be used are biographies and autobiographies. Biographies and autobiographies provide more information about famous people because it is not the same to write about someone from his life as it is to write about someone’s life.

In writing about someone’s life, you have to write about all the things that make someone special and interesting. In order to write about someone’s life, you need to write about the events that have occurred to this person, the thoughts and emotions he has felt during his lifetime, and also the actions that he has done.

Scientific context

The scientific context is used in scientific papers. Here you should give information about your laboratory, university, the research institute, your research interests, and so on. You need to be aware of the scientific context of your research topic. You can get inspiration from other people’s research, look for papers that use the same scientific context as you, and have similar research interests. Also, find out which journal your paper will be published. Finally, check whether a scientific context is necessary for your paper.

Technical context

The technical context is used in many disciplines. If your essay is more technical, the information you need to include in your paper will be different. The technical context will be a list of things that you use to describe the context in which your writing takes place.

What are the major aspects of the technical context?

The technical context is used to describe the nature of a problem or the nature of the subject in which a particular paper has been written. For instance, a report on a product will have a specific technical context, so it is important to know what your report is about. This knowledge will help you to choose the most suitable technical language and style of writing.

Legal context

The legal context is used in many disciplines. If your essay is more legal, the information you should include in your paper will be different. There are various elements to the legal context of an argument, such as the nature of the case, and the relevant law, in order to analyze your paper. Some questions to think about when analyzing the legal context are:

• What are the rules that are used in the law to analyze the case?
• How can those rules help you to determine whether or not the case is a good one for you to use?
• What are the reasons behind the rules?
• How will you use those reasons to determine whether or not the case will be a good fit for your argument?

Ethical context

The ethical context is used in many disciplines. If your essay is more ethical, the information you should include in your paper will be different.

Ethical context is used to address the moral nature of a certain action or issue. The paper will discuss the ethical context in terms of the values that are attached to the subject. Ethical context should be included in the paper so that the values and beliefs of the readers are considered. The ethical context will make the paper more complete and also will prevent plagiarism.

Economic context

The economic context is usually used in economics. If your essay is more economic, the information you should include in your paper will be different. A paper that is entirely economic would typically have:

• a short introduction
• a discussion of the main economic concepts that will be used in your essay
• an overview of the different economic problems that will be discussed
• an analysis of the economic problems
• an examination of the arguments used in the analysis of the economic problem
• an evaluation of the arguments used in the discussion of the economic problem

Psychological context

The psychological context is usually used in psychology. If your essay is more psychological, the information you should include in your paper will be different. In this case, you need to understand a little more about psychology and the people that you are writing about.

It is very important to understand what kind of psychological context the essay you are writing about is in. This is very important as the writer has to consider what the essay is about. The context of the psychological essay you are writing about will help you decide whether to write about positive or negative issues. If the essay is positive, then you will need to think about the people in a positive context. If the essay is negative, then you will need to think about the people in the negative context.

When and how to use the context in an essay

Now you know what the context is and how it should be used in your research paper. However, how do you use context when writing? The answer to this question is a separate issue.

You should use the context in your essay in many situations. One of them is to provide extra information that you might need during the writing process. This is very useful when you need to write an outline, write a thesis statement, find examples, or describe a certain event.

If you use the right context, you will have no problem writing a strong essay. Moreover, you will avoid plagiarism and your text will be more interesting for readers.

Here are some situations in which the context can be useful in your research paper:

1. Research paper topics

The research paper topics may be very broad or very specific. It is not always possible to write a research paper about a narrow topic. The context may be useful in such situations to explain the topic. You should include more information about it in your essay.

If you have a very broad topic, you will need to give more information about it to make your essay more interesting. However, be careful that you do not include too many options. This could lead to plagiarism.

If you have a very specific topic, you will need to provide more information about it to make your essay more interesting for readers. The main idea of a research paper should be clear to them from the beginning, so you should provide the most relevant information.

2. Outlining

Writing an outline is not always easy for everybody. Sometimes you are not able to choose the most appropriate order of the main ideas in your research paper. In such a situation, the context can be useful to explain the order of ideas.

It is very easy to make a mistake in writing an outline. However, the context can help you to remember the main topics in your research paper.

3. Writing a thesis

You need to know how to write a thesis statement. However, it is also very important to know how to choose the most suitable thesis statement for a particular essay. If you find yourself in such a situation, the context can be useful to explain the main topic.

When you choose the right thesis statement for a particular essay, you will avoid plagiarism and make your essay more interesting for readers.

4. Writing an introduction

The introduction is one of the most important parts of a research paper. If you need to write an interesting introduction, you should include the right context in your essay. The context may include information about the problem, the thesis statement, the main idea, examples, and so on.

If you need to make the best out of the context, you should use the following structure of an introduction:

• What the problem is
• What is the main idea is

This structure is very useful because it gives your readers brief information about your topic. You can also provide links to further information. The main idea is explained in a clear and understandable way. You can use several examples to illustrate your point.

5. Writing a conclusion

The conclusion of the research paper is also very important. If you need to write a strong conclusion, you should provide more information about your topic. You should give more information about it in your conclusion.

The context can be used in several ways in your conclusion. You can use information about the problem, the main idea, examples, and so on. If you need to make the best of the context, the structure of a conclusion should be as follows:

• Explain what the conclusion is
• Explain what the main idea is

You can use examples to show what the conclusion means. It is very important to include these examples because they help to make your text more interesting for readers.

6. Writing an essay

In this case, the context is not used in your writing. However, it is very important to know about the structure of a research paper. The main idea of a research paper should be clear to your readers from the beginning. However, you should know how to make the best of the context. You should not make any unnecessary claims that may lead your reader to reject the whole paper.

In short, a context is an important tool in any research paper. A good thesis statement must have context. It will not be clear to your readers if you are talking about a subject in the abstract or you have used the context to support your thesis statement.

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What Is Context In English And How Do I Write About It?

Confused by context? Befuddled by the difference between values and attitudes? In this article, we'll clear those concepts up and show you how to ace your next contextual study.

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Do you get confused by the whole “context” business that crops up in various English Modules? You’re not alone. Many students get confused by conflicting messages to “talk about context” when also being instructed to “not write a history essay.’ Others aren’t entirely sure what context is, what’s meant by values and attitudes. To help you out, we’re going to answer the question, “What is context in English and how do I write about it?”

What is context?

Context, in terms of the study of High School English, is best described as the circumstances surrounding the composition of a text. When we discuss the context of a text, we need to think about the following aspects of the text’s composition:

• Historical – What has happened at the time
• Political – What the political climate and events of the period were
• Economic and Socio-economic – What the financial situation of the period was and how it affected individuals of the time
• Cultural and social – These are social impacts on a text that can be from artistic movements or cultural practices from customs to colloquialisms
• Religious – The impacts religion and religious beliefs have on the text
• Geographic – How has the location of the text’s composition shaped its meaning?
• The composer’s personal context – What events in a composers life have shaped their writing?

Complicating thing it’s not enough to say that “Shakespeare was a catholic who wrote in the Elizabethan period.” We also need to think about why context is important, this means digging into relevant contextual details and thinking about values and attitudes . This may seem overwhelming, but it shouldn’t be. So, let’s unpack these, one by one.

What’s ‘relevant’ context?

The first question you need to address is whether the context you’re exploring is relevant or not. How do I tell if an aspect of context is important or not, you ask.

The simplest way to approach this at a High School level is to consider if it has a direct impact on the text’s content and meaning or its composition. To answer this you’ll have to know your text and you’ll have to know some contextual details to decide whether they should be investigated further or not.

A good place to start is the dates involved in a text’s composition. A good text and context combination to consider as an example are the poems of TS Eliot that are set for study in the HSC and the contextual event of the First World War. This is a common one students get tripped up with.

The poems set for study are :

• Preludes – composed 1910-11, first published in 1915
• Rhapsody on a winter’s night – composed 1910-11, first published in 1915
• The love song of J Alfred Prufrock – composed 1910-11, first published in 1915
• The Hollow Men – composed and published in 1925
• Journey of the Magi – composed and published 1927

Many students discuss the tensions in Preludes, Rhapsody, and The love song of J Alfred Prufrock as caused by the horrors of World War 1: July 1914 – November 1918. This can be a bit confusing. The poems were mostly written in 1910 when Eliot was studying in France. They were published a few years later by his friend after he’d settled in England.

However, the poems clearly predate the 1st World War and while the political and nationalistic tensions that led to the conflict, placing too much weight on that would be very tenuous. This is a bit of anachronism: thinking of things “out of time.” Instead, we can see that these poems all occur in the wake of the second industrial revolution where urbanisation and economic upheaval have had profound impacts on the lives of people living in European cities.

You can read more about TS Eliot, here .

How much detail should I discuss?

It’s important to strike a balance between making a concise contextual point and writing a history essay! This can be challenging, especially the more you know about history. A significant paradox – you can’t write about context without understanding details about it: writing concisely and briefly about context becomes more challenging the more you know!

Let’s look at George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four  as an example. 1984 was written in 1944 – 1948. Clearly, we can see the following events could have had an impact on the composition of his final novel:

• The Russian Revolution (October 1918) and rise of communism – 1917 onwards (The Soviet Union Collapsed four decades after Orwell’s death in 1950)
• The rise of Fascism across Europe – 1922 onwards
• The Spanish Civil War – 1936 – 1939
• The Second World War 1938-1945
• The development of nuclear weapons and bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
• Orwell’s leftist political leanings and hatred of Communism
• Orwell’s personal health – He died of tuberculosis
• Orwell’s relationships – He had tumultuous relationships and was a notorious womaniser

As you can see, there are myriad things that you can connect to context for the novel that are important and relevant. Your job, as a critic is to concisely include references to the events that are particularly pertinent to answer the question you’ve been set. Let’s use the Spanish Civil War as an example.

The Spanish Civil War is important contextually because:

• It saw the rise of fascist leader General Fransisco Franco
• Many in Europe romanticised the uprising of the people against a fascist military
• Many artists flocked to Spain to fight against the fascists
• Orwell fought and was seriously injured there
• Orwell wrote about his experiences in Homage to Catalonia
• The truces between Stalin, Hitler, Franco, and the rest of Europe were important blueprints for the fictional conflicts and alliances between Eurasia, Oceania, and East Asia
• The Soviet secret police hunted down and executed dissidents on behalf of Franco’s forces
• Orwell spent a night hiding in a bombed-out church while being pursued by the NKVD

There’s a lot to digest there. So, to give an example of dos and don’ts, let us consider a quotation from the text where context is essential to explain things.

What’s the example:

The Thought Police would get him just the same. He had committed–would still have committed, even if he had never set pen to paper–the essential crime that contained all others in itself. – Chapter 1

In this extract, the protagonist, Winston, describes the dangers of the secret police that enforce the law in the dystopian world of the novel. He uses a paradox to describe this – that he would still be guilty even if he hadn’t committed the crime.

Don’t get lost in context:

While some of this is quite pertinent information, it is too detailed and doesn’t really serve to further an argument. Instead,

Do connect context to analysis concisely:

As you can see, just one or two concise pieces of contextual information support the argument being made.

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What are values and attitudes?

Another aspect of writing about context that frustrates students is discussing values and attitudes .

First, some definitions:

• Values : These are the beliefs – cultural, religious, political, economic, philosophical, social – that exist in any given period. Democracy is the dominant political value in Australia in the 2020s.
• Attitudes : These are the perspectives individuals or larger groups have towards values. For example, some members of society might have the attitude that feels democracy is a terrible idea and they should be in charge of an Australian dictatorship.

All texts deal with values and attitudes. Quite often, composers of texts convey the prevailing values of a society in the background context of a text. They then present their perspective on these things, their attitude, by how they have characters interact or act under these values.

To return to the example of Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four:

• The setting of Airstrip One and Oceania reflects the creeping values of fascism and tyranny across Europe during the years of World War 2
• Winston’s futile struggle against Big Brother and Ingsoc arguably reflect Orwell’s growing pessimistic attitude towards escaping such tyranny.

We could convert this in our previous response by amending it to:

If you want to learn more about Nineteen Eighty-Four, read this article .

How should I structure contextual information in a response?

Many students struggle with writing things in a manner that connects the example and analysis to relevant contextual information.

Let’s look at a couple of different ways you can structure all of this in a response. To illustrate, let’s look at a pair of contrasting examples from Stephen Daldry’s 2002 film, The Hours (set for English Adv Mod A).

What is The Hours, what’s it about?

Daldry’s film is an adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s 1925 novel Mrs Dalloway (to be specific, it’s an adaptation of a novel by Michael Cunningham which is an adaptation of Woolf’s text). Woolf’s novel depicted a day in the life of housewife Clarissa Dalloway as she set about hosting a party. In brief, throughout the novel, she seeks to be recognised for hosting a party as male characters are recognised for their pursuits. In The Hours , the characters of Laura and Clarissa are simulacra of Clarissa Dalloway. Unlike Clarissa, Laura – a housewife in 1950s America, is not adept at fulfilling the oppressive stereotypical roles of being a housewife – she feels smothered by her responsibilities as a wife and a mother. Clarissa is a successful editor at a prestigious publishing house, in the film, she is organising a party to celebrate her friend and former lover Richard’s career. Where Laura struggles with fulfilling expectations, Clarissa does them effortlessly – successful career, doting mother, loving wife, caring friend, wizard in the kitchen, effortless hostess.

Daldry conveys this in the film by using contrasting mise en scene across the different time periods:

In these contrasting stills, we can see is en scene being used to convey contextual information as well as contrasting different characteristics about the two women relevant to the film’s themes.

In the left hand still, Laura struggles to bake a cake for her husband’s birthday. While dressed in a fancy frock, she is a little unkempt her hair isn’t done, her dress is a little wrinkled, her cake is a disaster. The costuming and set dressing clearly mark the setting as the 1950s, yet Laura’s appearance and creation show she doesn’t fit the stereotypical wife (especially in contrast to her impeccably dressed best friend, Kitty). This is a commentary on the oppressive nature of gender roles during that period of time.

In the right hand still, Clarissa is choosing to host a party for her friend and lover. While she has a successful career, she still can’t escape the expectations of society that she be all things for all people. Unlike the mise-en-scene on the left, Clarissa is effortlessly dressed and wearing a stereotypical apron. She is seemingly effortlessly throwing a complex banquet for several dozen people. When she breaks down in tears later in the scene, it’s not so much the pressure of cooking that triggers it but Lois’ visit and behaviour that dredges up the past.

How does context feature here?

The Hours  comments on the role of women in society in different time periods and the pressures placed upon them:

• In the 1950s, the expectation was that women would be housewives and raise children and keep an immaculately clean home. Queer women were expected to adhere to heteronormative ideals or face ostracism.
• In the 2000s, while women could now have successful careers and queer relationships, they couldn’t escape domestic expectations.

How do I write about this?

There are a couple of ways we can present contextual information around an example from the text. We want to discuss:

When writing a response, there are a couple of different ways you can present information:

Context → Example → Explanation

Example → Context → Explanation

Now let’s look at a couple of examples:

If you want to learn more about The Hours and Mrs Dalloway , read this article .

How do I make sure I ace writing about context?

There are a few key things that top students do to make sure they nail their contextual study essays. If you want to emulate them, you need to:

• Make sure you’ve read or viewed the text multiple times : There is no substitute for detailed knowledge of the text. It always shows in written responses.
• Make notes of your analysis : Don’t just read and write essays, make notes! Students who have detailed notes of Techniques and effects are better positioned to discuss context effectively. Again, this always shows in written responses.
• Do your own research into context : Students who rely on in-class handouts about context or the odd introduction to a set text, lack the insight and breadth of knowledge compared to those students who dig into the background of a text.
• Write practice responses, lots of them : At the end of the day, writing is a craft and skill, you improve through practice. Students who write more essays always perform far better than those who don’t!
• Get feedback : Competent students can muddle through on their own, but exceptional students consistently seek out feedback on their writing and put it into practice in their next effort.

What you should do now is reflect on your own study habits and make a list of what you need to start doing, now , so you can improve your marks.

Written by Matrix English Team

© Matrix Education and www.matrix.edu.au, 2023. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Matrix Education and www.matrix.edu.au with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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The context is the setting in which a story, poem, novel, play, or other literary work is situated.

E.g. In Charles Dickens' ' A Tale of Two Cities ,' the rich historical context of the French Revolution serves as a backdrop, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the novel's themes of sacrifice and resurrection.

Related terms: Prologue , plot , anachronism , symbolism , narrator , unreliable narrator

Context is crucial for the reader’s understanding of the writer’s plot and intended themes. There are several different types of context, discussed below, and writers can use all or a few of them in their work. Depending on when and where the story is set, historical and cultural context might be more important. Context sheds light on the relevance of the text and the reasoning behind events on a broader and personal level.  

Explore Context

• 1 Definition of Context 
• 2 Types of Context 
• 3 Examples of Context in Literature 
• 4 Why Do Writers Use Context? 
• 5 Related Literary Terms 
• 6 Other Resources 

Definition of Context  

Context is important in literature. It’s the information the writer provides for the reader so that they can understand why something is happening. It includes the character’s personal history, the cultural history of a place, and more.  The four main types of context are explored below.

Types of Context  

• Historical : the time period and contemporary events that affect the context. They can set a very important tone for the story and be crucial for a reader’s understanding of why characters do what they do. If a story is set in the Victorian era, events are going to unfold differently than if it is set in the Stone Age.  
• Cultural : concerned with how beliefs, food, customs, and other cultural elements affect the context. These elements may be more or less important to understand a story. Writers also consider whether their audience is going to be familiar with these cultural elements and how that’s going to affect their reception of the work. Will it be more or less interesting depending on how well they know a place or people?
• Physical : the features of the setting that inform how the events unfold. It is concerned with the environment the characters are in and how that influences the choices they make. For example, if a story is set in Antarctica, characters are going to have to face different challenges than if it is set in the Bahamas.
• Situational : this final type of content is concerned with why something is happening. It is based around the event itself, and the audience has to understand why something is occurring based on other events. For example, why someone gets upset when another criticizes their music taste or why one person makes the decision they do in a moment.  

Examples of Context in Literature  

Pride and prejudice by jane austen.

Austen’s best-loved novel , Pride and Prejudice, tells Elizabeth Bennet’s story and her love affair with Mr. Darcy . The novel’s setting, Elizabeth’s personality , history, and her family’s financial situation are all important pieces of contextual information that readers have to understand. Without these pieces of information, one will miss out on a great deal. Here is a quote from the novel that demonstrates Elizabeth’s complex emotions:  

Elizabeth feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand, that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure, his present assurances.

In this quote, Austen depicts the changes Elizabeth has undergone throughout the pages of the novel. She’s changed her opinion of Mr. Darcy entirely.

Explore Jane Austen’s poems .  

Easter 1916 by William Butler Yeats  

Yeats’ ‘ Easter, 1916’ is a perfect example of how important context can be to understanding a poem. The poem is a reflection on the events surrounding the Easter Rising in Dublin, Ireland, in April of 1916. Without this crucial piece of information, the poem would not have the impact it should. Here are a few lines:  

I have met them at close of day Coming with vivid faces From counter or desk among grey Eighteenth-century houses. I have passed with a nod of the head Or polite meaningless words, Or have lingered awhile and said Polite meaningless words,

During the Easter Rising, a small number of revolutionaries and labor leaders occupied buildings and proclaimed the beginning of a new Irish Republic. Many of these leaders were later executed by the British.  

Read more of William Butler Yeats’ poetry .

Animal Farm by George Orwell  

In order to fully understand George Orwell’s popular novel Animal Farm, it’s important to have some understanding of the effects of communism and the Russian Revolution . Orwell satirizes the latter within the lines of Animal Farm. He uses the power-hungry and controlling pigs to symbolize the leaders of this movement. Here are a few lines from the novel that demonstrate his writing:  

Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself.

This is only one of many important quotes in the novel. It breaks down the animals’ issue with human rule.  

Discover George Orwell’s best books .

Why Do Writers Use Context?  

Writers use context to define a story’s parameters for readers. Without context, readers would be left in the dark in regard to when and where a story is taking place. In addition to why a character is acting the way they are, what the cultural rules of their society are, how influential those rules are (consider Pride and Prejudice as an example), and what possible paths lay in front of that character. Context makes a story readable and gives it the depth needed to keep a reader’s attention.  

Related Literary Terms  

• Prologue : the opening to a story that comes before the first page or chapter. It is used to establish context or to provide necessary details.
• Symbolism : the use of symbols to represent ideas or meanings. They are imbued with certain qualities, often only interpretable through context.
• Plot : a connected sequence of events that make up a novel, poem, play, film, television show, and other narrative works.
• Anachronism : an error in the timeline or chronology of a piece of literature. This can be a purposeful or accidental error.

Other Resources  

• Read: Types of Context Clues
• Watch: Context in Literature
• Watch: Literary Context Basics

Home » Definition » Context

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Baldwin, Emma. "Context". Poem Analysis , https://poemanalysis.com/definition/context/ . Accessed 16 September 2024.

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Write an effective context statement with easy tips

Learn about context statements and how they may assist you in getting admitted to your Master’s or PhD program.

A solid context statement can assist the committee of a PhD or Master’s program in learning important aspects about who you are in an interesting and memorable manner. And delivering an excellent context statement may leave a lasting favorable impact. 

In this article, you’ll learn what a context statement is, how to write one step by step, and see examples to help you create your own effective context statement.

What is the context statement?

A context statement is a brief introduction about yourself that defines your obligations and responsibilities in the academic field, such as teaching or assisting learning at the high education level. Writing an excellent context statement for a Master’s or PhD application to an institution is likely one of the most essential steps in your admission process.

The goal of a context statement isn’t merely to highlight your research interests, accomplishments, or other academic achievements. In reality, its goal is to persuade the reader of the significance of your accomplished work and the possible effect of your future academic trajectory. In other words, professionals must write logically about their previous and current efforts and explain their future intentions clearly. 

Tips on writing a context statement

• Make your context statement easy to read
• Use headers and subheadings to organize your thoughts;
• Different sections should be adequately separated;
• Avoid writing extensive paragraphs;
• A succinct yet well-thought-out context statement indicates your ability to organize ideas in a clear and easy-to-read approach.
• Outline your main achievements
• Describe how your achievements led you to where you are; 
• Mention how your achievements are relevant to the program you are applying to;
• Write your accomplishments modestly, without exaggerating or fabricating.
• Communicate properly
• Even at the most prestigious institutions, not all members of the selection committee may be aware of your professional intricacies. In a conclusion, remove jargon or unnecessary complexities;
• Rather of overwhelming the reader with finer details, your goal should be to build trust in them that you are a competent academic candidate;

What distinguishes a Context Statement from a CV?

Although your CV provides a summary of your previous academic efforts, it does not go into depth about your academic career. Furthermore, a CV fails to address several concerns that a context statement may simply answer:

• What drew you to a specific position? 
• What is the significance of this achievement? 
• What methods do you employ? 
• What contributions have you made?
• How is this relevant to your future goals?
• Why should we consider you for this program?

Examples of context statements:

• “I am a Psychologist Student at Harvard University aiming to improve our knowledge of individual judgment. I conduct field, lab, and lab-in-the-field research, create survey tools, and analyze large panel data sets to better understand the base of the individual judgment, yielding insights for both theory and real-world scenarios.”
• “During my master’s degree in English Literature, I concentrated on storytelling and modern literature. During my Master’s Student years, I spent my days offering exciting new perspectives for applying different methods and domains in the study of modern literature. As I used my findings in a more specialized towards radicalism focused sector, I pursued a second master’s degree in realism. I found out that my findings in radicalism studies provided me with a viewpoint that my more realism minded peers lacked. Using this unique perspective, I am currently attempting to further my master’s dissertation study into a PhD thesis.”
• “I am a third-year Medical Student at the University of Copenhagen. Over the previous two years, I’ve been active in a variety of teaching and learning support initiatives in the Medical and Health Sciences. In years 1 and 2, I teach seminars for groups of 10-15 undergraduate students studying Anatomy. These are generally one to two hours long and allow for more in-depth study of certain issues. Despite the fact that the seminar schedule and topics are set, I develop my own teaching materials with the help of the academic staff.”

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Jessica Abbadia is a lawyer that has been working in Digital Marketing since 2020, improving organic performance for apps and websites in various regions through ASO and SEO. Currently developing scientific and intellectual knowledge for the community's benefit. Jessica is an animal rights activist who enjoys reading and drinking strong coffee.

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• How to write an essay outline | Guidelines & examples

How to Write an Essay Outline | Guidelines & Examples

Published on August 14, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will cover in each paragraph , giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold.

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Table of contents

Organizing your material, presentation of the outline, examples of essay outlines, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay outlines.

At the stage where you’re writing an essay outline, your ideas are probably still not fully formed. You should know your topic  and have already done some preliminary research to find relevant sources , but now you need to shape your ideas into a structured argument.

Creating categories

Look over any information, quotes and ideas you’ve noted down from your research and consider the central point you want to make in the essay—this will be the basis of your thesis statement . Once you have an idea of your overall argument, you can begin to organize your material in a way that serves that argument.

Try to arrange your material into categories related to different aspects of your argument. If you’re writing about a literary text, you might group your ideas into themes; in a history essay, it might be several key trends or turning points from the period you’re discussing.

Three main themes or subjects is a common structure for essays. Depending on the length of the essay, you could split the themes into three body paragraphs, or three longer sections with several paragraphs covering each theme.

As you create the outline, look critically at your categories and points: Are any of them irrelevant or redundant? Make sure every topic you cover is clearly related to your thesis statement.

Order of information

When you have your material organized into several categories, consider what order they should appear in.

Your essay will always begin and end with an introduction and conclusion , but the organization of the body is up to you.

Consider these questions to order your material:

• Is there an obvious starting point for your argument?
• Is there one subject that provides an easy transition into another?
• Do some points need to be set up by discussing other points first?

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Within each paragraph, you’ll discuss a single idea related to your overall topic or argument, using several points of evidence or analysis to do so.

In your outline, you present these points as a few short numbered sentences or phrases.They can be split into sub-points when more detail is needed.

The template below shows how you might structure an outline for a five-paragraph essay.

• Thesis statement
• First piece of evidence
• Second piece of evidence
• Summary/synthesis
• Importance of topic
• Strong closing statement

You can choose whether to write your outline in full sentences or short phrases. Be consistent in your choice; don’t randomly write some points as full sentences and others as short phrases.

Examples of outlines for different types of essays are presented below: an argumentative, expository, and literary analysis essay.

Argumentative essay outline

This outline is for a short argumentative essay evaluating the internet’s impact on education. It uses short phrases to summarize each point.

Its body is split into three paragraphs, each presenting arguments about a different aspect of the internet’s effects on education.

• Importance of the internet
• Concerns about internet use
• Thesis statement: Internet use a net positive
• Data exploring this effect
• Analysis indicating it is overstated
• Students’ reading levels over time
• Why this data is questionable
• Video media
• Interactive media
• Speed and simplicity of online research
• Questions about reliability (transitioning into next topic)
• Evidence indicating its ubiquity
• Claims that it discourages engagement with academic writing
• Evidence that Wikipedia warns students not to cite it
• Argument that it introduces students to citation
• Summary of key points
• Value of digital education for students
• Need for optimism to embrace advantages of the internet

Expository essay outline

This is the outline for an expository essay describing how the invention of the printing press affected life and politics in Europe.

The paragraphs are still summarized in short phrases here, but individual points are described with full sentences.

• Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages.
• Provide background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press.
• Present the thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.
• Discuss the very high levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe.
• Describe how literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites.
• Indicate how this discouraged political and religious change.
• Describe the invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg.
• Show the implications of the new technology for book production.
• Describe the rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible.
• Link to the Reformation.
• Discuss the trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention.
• Describe Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation.
• Sketch out the large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics.
• Summarize the history described.
• Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period.

Literary analysis essay outline

The literary analysis essay outlined below discusses the role of theater in Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park .

The body of the essay is divided into three different themes, each of which is explored through examples from the book.

• Describe the theatricality of Austen’s works
• Outline the role theater plays in Mansfield Park
• Introduce the research question : How does Austen use theater to express the characters’ morality in Mansfield Park ?
• Discuss Austen’s depiction of the performance at the end of the first volume
• Discuss how Sir Bertram reacts to the acting scheme
• Introduce Austen’s use of stage direction–like details during dialogue
• Explore how these are deployed to show the characters’ self-absorption
• Discuss Austen’s description of Maria and Julia’s relationship as polite but affectionless
• Compare Mrs. Norris’s self-conceit as charitable despite her idleness
• Summarize the three themes: The acting scheme, stage directions, and the performance of morals
• Answer the research question
• Indicate areas for further study

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

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• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

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You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay outline before you start writing your essay . Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly.

Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an essay outline is an important part of the writing process . It’s a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.

If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor.

When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

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