induction essay examples

Inductive Essay Examples

Unlike in a deductive essay, inductive texts explore the topic without arguing for the correctness of the hypothesis. Here you will provide evidence first and suggest your reasoning only in the concluding paragraph. In terms of structure, you move from the particular cases to the general principle.

Induction essay examples are exciting to read for the “suspense:” which inference will the author make in the end? The method is helpful in complex research topics when it is almost impossible to produce a hypothesis before the analysis.

For an inductive essay sample, look through the links below. All of these texts fall under this genre of academic writing.

21 Best Inductive Essay Examples

Response to hurricane disasters.

• Subjects: Disasters Environment
• Words: 1450

Scientific Method in Fire Investigations

• Subjects: Criminal Investigation Law

Taxation Law: UK Inheritance Tax

• Subjects: Law Taxation Law
• Words: 4286

Science Meets Real Life: Studying Student Absence

• Subjects: Sciences Scientific Method
• Words: 1645

Personal Financing Planning Analysis

• Subjects: Economics Regulation of Finance

Walking a Guest: Hospitality Industry Fraud

• Subjects: Business & Corporate Law Law
• Words: 1393

Nurse Role in the Healthcare Provision

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Nursing

Psychological Theories and Tests of Motivation

• Subjects: Applications of Psychology Psychology

Critical Thinking in Everyday Life

• Subjects: Everyday Interactions Sociology

Leadership Style Self-Assessment

• Subjects: Curriculum Development Education

What It Means to Be a Californian

• Subjects: Identity Sociology

Discrimination in Admission Policies Criteria

• Subjects: Education Education Issues

Judy’s Hospital: Patient Admission Process Improvement

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Healthcare Institution
• Words: 1386

Affirmative Action: Achieving Race Equality in School Admissions

• Subjects: Government Politics & Government
• Words: 1489

Good Samaritan Interpretation and Application

• Subjects: Religion Religious Writings

Biblical Living Water Explained

• Subjects: Religion Religious Education

Wire Walking’s History and Examples

• Subjects: Athletes Sports
• Words: 1202

Role of Parents in Physical Education and Sport

• Subjects: Education Education Theories
• Words: 1090

Range of Strategies and Success of the Business

• Subjects: Business Strategy
• Words: 1954

Plato: Piety and Holiness in “Euthyphro”

• Subjects: Philosophical Theories Philosophy

The Single Effect in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado

• Subjects: American Literature Literature

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Inductive essays: tips, examples, and topics, carla johnson.

• June 14, 2023
• Essay Topics and Ideas , How to Guides

Inductive essays are a common type of academic writing. To come to a conclusion, you have to look at the evidence and figure out what it all means. Inductive essays start with a set of observations or evidence and then move toward a conclusion. Deductive essays start with a thesis statement and then give evidence to support it. This type of essay is often used in the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.

The goal of an inductive essay is to look at the evidence and draw a conclusion from it. It requires carefully analyzing and interpreting the evidence and being able to draw logical conclusions from it. Instead of starting with a conclusion in mind and trying to prove it, the goal is to use the evidence to build a case for that conclusion.

You can’t say enough about how important it is to look at evidence before coming to a conclusion. In today’s world, where information is easy to find and often contradictory, it is important to be able to sort through the facts to come to a good decision. It is also important to be able to tell when the evidence isn’t complete or doesn’t prove anything, and to be able to admit when there is uncertainty.

In the sections that follow, we’ll talk about some tips for writing good inductive essays, show you some examples of good inductive essays, and give you some ideas for topics for your next inductive essay. By the end of this article, you’ll know more about how to write an inductive essay well.

What You'll Learn

Elements of an Inductive Essay

Most of the time, an inductive essay has three main parts: an intro, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

The introduction should explain what the topic is about and show the evidence that will be looked at in the essay . It should also have a thesis statement that sums up the conclusion that will be drawn from the evidence.

In the body paragraphs, you should show and explain the evidence. Each paragraph should focus on one piece of evidence and explain how it supports the thesis statement . The analysis should make sense and be well-supported, and there should be a clear link between the evidence and the conclusion.

In the conclusion, you should sum up the evidence and the conclusion you came to based on it. It should also put the conclusion in a bigger picture by explaining why it’s important and what it means for the topic at hand.

How to Choose a Topic for an Inductive Essay

It can be hard to choose a topic for an inductive essay, but there are a few things you can do that will help.

First, it’s important to look at the assignment prompt carefully. What’s the question you’re supposed to answer? What evidence do you have to back up your claim? To choose a topic that is both possible and interesting , you need to understand the prompt and the evidence you have.

Next, brainstorming can be a good way to come up with ideas. Try writing down all the ideas that come to mind when you think about the prompt. At this point, it doesn’t matter if the ideas are good or not. The goal is to come up with as many ideas as possible.

Once you have a list of possible topics , it’s important to pick one that you can handle and that you’re interested in. Think about how big the topic is and if you will have enough time to analyze the evidence in enough depth for the assignment . Also, think about your own passions and interests. If you choose a topic that really interests you, you are more likely to write a good essay .

Some potential topics for an inductive essay include:

– The impact of social media on mental health

– The effectiveness of alternative medicine for treating chronic pain

– The causes of income inequality in the United States

– The relationship between climate change and extreme weather events

– The effects of video game violence on children

By following these tips for choosing a topic and understanding the elements of an inductive essay, you can master the art of this type of academic writing and produce compelling and persuasive essays that draw on evidence to arrive at sound conclusions.

Inductive Essay Outline

An outline can help you to organize your thoughts and ensure that your essay is well-structured. An inductive essay outline typically includes the following sections:

– Introduction: The introduction should provide background information on the topic and present the evidence that will be analyzed in the essay . It should also include a thesis statement that summarizes the conclusion that will be drawn from the evidence.

– Body Paragraphs: The body paragraphs should present the evidence and analyze it in depth. Each paragraph should focus on a specific piece of evidence and explain how it supports the thesis statement . The analysis should be logical and well-supported, with clear connections made between the evidence and the conclusion.

– Conclusion: The conclusion should summarize the evidence and the conclusion that was drawn from it. It should also provide a broader context for the conclusion, explaining why it matters and what implications it has for the topic at hand.

Inductive Essay Structure

The structure of an inductive essay is similar to that of other types of academic essays. It typically includes the following elements:

– Thesis statement: The thesis statement should summarize the conclusion that will be drawn from the evidence and provide a clear focus for the essay .

– Introduction: The introduction should provide background information on the topic and present the evidence that will be analyzed in the essay. It should also include a thesis statement that summarizes the conclusion that will be drawn from the evidence.

– Body Paragraphs: The body paragraphs should present the evidence and analyze it in depth. Each paragraph should focus on a specific piece of evidence and explain how it supports the thesis statement. The analysis should be logical and well-supported, with clear connections made between the evidence and the conclusion.

It is important to note that the body paragraphs can be organized in different ways depending on the nature of the evidence and the argument being made. For example, you may choose to organize the paragraphs by theme or chronologically. Regardless of the organization, each paragraph should be focused and well-supported with evidence.

By following this structure, you can ensure that your inductive essay is well-organized and persuasive, drawing on evidence to arrive at a sound conclusion. Remember to carefully analyze the evidence, and to draw logical connections between the evidence and the conclusion. With practice, you can master the art of inductive essays and become a skilled academic writer.

Inductive Essay Examples

Examples of successful inductive essays can provide a helpful model for your own writing. Here are some examples of inductive essay topics:

– Example 1: The Link Between Smoking and Lung Cancer: This essay could look at the studies and statistics that have been done on the link between smoking and lung cancer and come to a conclusion about how strong it is.

– Example 2: The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health: This essay could look at the studies and personal experiences that have been done on the effects of social media on mental health to come to a conclusion about the effects of social media on mental health.

– Example 3: The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture: This essay could look at the studies and expert opinions on the effects of climate change on agriculture to come to a conclusion about how it might affect food production..

– Example 4: The Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet: This essay could look at the available evidence about the benefits of a plant-based diet, using studies and dietary guidelines to come to a conclusion about the health benefits of this type of diet.

– Example 5: The Effects of Parenting Styles on Child Development: This essay could look at the studies and personal experiences that have been done on the effects of parenting styles on child development and come to a conclusion about the best way to raise a child.

Tips for Writing an Effective Inductive Essay

Here are some tips for writing acompelling and effective inductive essay:

1. Presenting evidence in a logical and organized way: It is important to present evidence in a clear and organized way that supports the thesis statement and the conclusion. Use topic sentences and transitions to make the connections between the evidence and the conclusion clear for the reader.

2. Considering alternative viewpoints: When analyzing evidence, it is important to consider alternative viewpoints and opinions. Acknowledge counterarguments and address them in your essay, demonstrating why your conclusion is more compelling.

3. Using strong and credible sources: Use credible sources such as peer-reviewed journal articles , statistics, and expert opinions to support your argument. Avoid relying on unreliable sources or anecdotal evidence.

4. Avoiding fallacies and biases: Be aware of logical fallacies and biases that can undermine the credibility of your argument. Avoid making assumptions or jumping to conclusions without sufficient evidence.

By following these tips, you can write an effective inductive essay that draws on evidence to arrive at a sound conclusion. Remember to carefully analyze the evidence, consider alternative viewpoints, and use credible sources to support your argument. With practice and dedication, you can master the art of inductive essays and become a skilled academic writer.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what is an inductive essay.

An inductive essay is an academic writing that starts with a set of observations or evidence and then works towards a conclusion. The essay requires careful analysis and interpretation of evidence, and the ability to draw logical conclusions based on that evidence.

2. What are the elements of an inductive essay?

An inductive essay typically consists of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction provides background information and presents the thesis statement. The body paragraphs present the evidence and analyze it in depth. The conclusion summarizes the evidence and the conclusion drawn from it.

3. How do I choose a topic for an inductive essay?

To choose a topic for an inductive essay, carefully analyze the assignment prompt, brainstorm ideas, narrow down the topic, and select a topic that interests you.

4. What is the difference between an inductive essay and a deductive essay?

An inductive essay starts with evidence and works towards a conclusion, while a deductive essay starts with a thesis statement and provides arguments to support it.

5. How do I structure an inductive essay?

An inductive essay typically follows a structure that includes a thesis statement, introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Inductive essays are an important type of academic writing that require careful analysis and interpretation of evidence to come to a conclusion. By using the advice in this article, you can become a good inductive essay writer. Remember to carefully look at the evidence, think about other points of view, use reliable sources, and stay away from logical errors and biases. In conclusion , learning how to write inductive essays is important for developing critical thinking skills and making arguments that are compelling and convincing. You can make a valuable contribution to your field of study and to society as a whole by looking at the facts and coming to logical conclusions. With practice and hard work , you can learn to write good inductive essays that will help you in school and in your career.

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15 Inductive Reasoning Examples

Inductive reasoning involves using patterns from small datasets to come up with broader generalizations. For example, it is used in opinion polling when you poll 1,000 people and use that data to come up with an estimate of broader public opinion.

Typically, inductive reasoning moves from the specific to the general; and can be understood as educated guesses, assumptions and/or hypotheses drawn from specific incidents.

However, it also has its weaknesses. It cannot provide concrete evidence because it always relies extrapolation and probability.

Inductive logic or inductive reasoning is often contrasted with deductive reasoning which is where the general moves to the specific (in other words: what is generally assumed to be true as a broader phenomenon is assumed to hold in a specific case or circumstance).

Advantages and Disadvantages of Inductive Reasoning

Well-formulated inductive reasoning examples, 1. polling and surveys.

“We surveyed 1,000 people across the county and 520 of them said they will vote to re-elect the mayor. We estimate that 52% of the county will vote for the mayor and he will be re-elected.”

Many statisticians make a living from conducting tried-and-true inductive reasoning studies. We often call this “polling data”. Polls will look at a sample size that is often large enough to have a 95% probability of being correct (that is p = <0.05 ) which is the generally accepted threshold of probability in academic studies.

Polls can help governments and politicians to create policies that are responsive to popular opinion.

However, polls are not always right, and often, statisticians have to re-calibrate their metrics after every general election to get a better understanding of polling bias.

For example, if the statisticians conduct their polls by phone, it may be the case that older people tend to answer their phone more than younger people, and older people may skew their vote in one way or another, which skews the overall polling numbers! They need to account for these biases, which makes their job of making generalizations from patterns very difficult at times.

2. Bonus Structure

“In a study of fifteen employees in my business, I found that a 10% bonus structure raised revenues by 20%. I will now roll-out the bonus structure to all employees.”

In this example of reasoning , a business owner has used a small dataset to identify a trend, which gave them sufficient confidence to roll out their intervention across the entire workplace.

If the business owner didn’t do this initial study, they wouldn’t have any indicative data to rely upon in order to feel confident about their decision. Here, we see how inductive reasoning can be used to help us make more informed decisions.

This doesn’t mean that the business owner will have the same success rate when he introduces the bonuses to everyone, but at least he can proceed with greater confidence than before.

3. Seasonal Trends

“For five years in a row, I have seen bears in the woods in June but not May. This year, I expect to wait until June to see a bear in the woods.”

We can also use inductive reasoning to make assumptions in our own lives. In the above example, a person who lives near the woods has identified a seasonal trend that allows them to generalize and predict future patterns.

This sort of seasonal prediction has been around for millennia. Nomads saw patterns in the land and decided to go on annual migrations based on their hypotheses that certain lands would be more fertile at certain times of year. Similarly, agriculturalists use seasonal trends to reason about when to plant their seeds. This doesn’t mean every year will be perfect (to this day, some seasons are terrible for crop yield).

4. Archaeological Digs

“We dug up three pots within a thirty square foot area. We should focus our dig efforts on this area to see what else we can dig up.”

Archaeology also regularly relies upon inductive reasoning. An archaeologist will find signs of human occupation in a location and use those signs as reason the intensify focus on that area.

In these instances, they are inducing that there are likely to be more remnants of civilization around the first remnants due to the assumption that humans may have settled or camped in that specific location.

5. Traffic Patterns

“I have noticed that traffic is bad between 7.30am and 9am. I will drive to the grocery store after 9am to avoid the traffic.”

We even use inductive reason regularly when planning out our days. We make observations about the things around us and use them to make generalizations and predictions.

In the above example, the person has noticed that traffic is worst just before the work day begins, so avoids driving during that period. This is a generalization that can help the person make informed decisions. While it’s not guaranteed that traffic will be better at 9.30am than 8.30am (there may be a car crash at any time of day!), inductive reasoning states that it is likely that traffic will be better at 9.30am than 8.30am.

Poorly-Formulated Inductive Reasoning Examples

6. dog breeds.

“Despite what the government says about Pitt Bulls, the only Pitt Bulls I have ever met were extremely friendly and sweet. Pitt Bulls must therefore not be a dangerous breed.”

While it may well be the case that this person has not personally encountered a hostile or aggressive Pitt Bull, numerous studies have been done indicating that Pitt Bulls, on average, are more aggressive than other dog breeds; whether or not this is inherently true remains speculation. Many cities have also banned the breed since they’ve resulted in the vast majority of dog fatally-related incidents and injuries , relative to the other dog breeds that exist. 

This example illustrates how inductive logic goes from specific incidences and applies them as a general rule or conclusion on a given matter.

7. Job Salary and Occupation

“John is a lawyer, and he makes a lot of money. All lawyers make tons of money.”

Appearances can be deceiving, and though basic logic might indicate that something is true, it does not always hold in each situation. While it’s reasonable to assume that people within a certain occupation may earn a lot of money since, generally speaking, the job is associated with a higher salary—it is not always the case in every circumstance.

Some lawyers, for example, do pro-bono work, others may be employed by the government and work as public defenders for individuals that may lack the means to hire their own legal counsel.

8. Nationality

“My dad is Russian and he has blonde hair and blue eyes. All Russian people must have blonde hair and blue eyes.”

This illustrates the inductive reasoning fallacy by moving from an isolated or single case and applying it as a general rule or broadly applicable conclusion. We know that just because a person bears certain physical traits that may be generally affiliated with a geographical region, that does not mean all individuals from the same place will share those same physical traits.

This shows how inductive reasoning can result in incorrect conclusions and/or false assumptions by using specific instances to draw conclusions.

9. Left-Handedness

“All of my siblings are left-handed, and we are all talented artists. People that are left-handed are more creative and artistically inclined than those that are right-handed.”

It could seem reasonable for this person to assume (based on the evidence that they are exposed to,) that left-handed people are naturally more creative and artistic than their right-handed counterparts. Despite appearances, it is not proven that left-handed people are in fact more artistic than right-handed people .

The misstep in logic occurs from making the move from the specific to the general without having sufficient evidence to substantiate the claim as a generally applicable rule.

10. Rainy Weather

“I was in Seattle for a week, and it rained for all seven days I was there. It is always raining in Seattle.”

There’s no question that Seattle gets a lot of rain and is objectively regarded as a very rainy city. Even still, it would be false to conclude that it rains every single day without fail since this is not the case.

To correct the false conclusion or error in logic, we would revise the statement to some form of the following—each day I was in Seattle it rained; therefore, it is often raining in Seattle.

11. Buying Avocados

“While shopping for groceries, I was in the produce section checking for ripe avocados. I picked up one avocado and it was not ripe enough to eat. I picked up another and it was also underripe. There must not be any ripe avocados at this grocery store.”

While it’s possible that there are not any ripe avocados at the grocery store the person is perusing, this is not conclusive until he or she has inspected each avocado in the bin on how its ripeness. It’s clear that picking up a few avocados and determining that they are not ripe enough to eat does not necessarily indicate the remaining avocados in the bin will be underripe. This abrogates logic and demonstrates the error in inductive reasoning.

12. Food Poisoning

“The last time I ate at this Japanese restaurant I got terrible food poisoning. Do not go and eat at this Japanese restaurant because you will get food poisoning and be extremely sick.”

One incident of food poisoning does not indicate a general pattern or broad truth, and it certainly does not follow that just because a person got food poisoning from eating at a restaurant one time, anyone who eats at that same restaurant will necessarily get food poisoning.

The problem with fallacies in inductive reasoning is that it looks to establish a claim on what is true and factual in general, and while it may well be true in an individual case, it is unlikely to hold in each case without fail.

13. Buying A Mattress

“I have purchased four different mattresses on Amazon. None of them were comfortable, and so I returned all four. Amazon doesn’t have good-quality mattresses.”

This takes a similar structure to the previous example on buying avocados. It’s clear how it would be tempting for this person to conclude, based on their personal experience, that Amazon doesn’t have decent mattresses available to purchase.

However, until the person has actually tried each mattress for sale on Amazon, they cannot say conclusively that all mattresses for sale on Amazon are of poor quality. This would be a false assumption that uses the fallacy of inductive reasoning to draw a conclusion.

14. Penguins

“Penguins are birds and they can’t fly. Therefore, it must be true that birds cannot fly.”

Penguins are a kind of bird and cannot fly; but this does not mean that birds, in general, cannot fly. We know birds can fly—so to assume that birds cannot fly because penguins cannot fly is false and uses flawed inductive logic to formulate its conclusion.

If a person saw a crow and said “crows are birds and can fly, so all birds can fly”, it would also be a false inductive generalization. The person should gather a larger dataset of different types of birds before formulating their hypothesis.

15. Rap Music

“The few rap songs that I’ve listened to included remarks that were inappropriate. Therefore, all rap music is inappropriate.”

While rap music can certainly have some uncouth lyrics, it is surely not the case that rap music is inherently bad, or that every single rap song that exists is not acceptable. There are many rap musicians who rap positive lyrics.

Therefore, this is an overgeneralization (often used by parents!) that aims to exclude the good with the bad, rather than taking a more nuanced look at the issue at hand.

Read Next: Abductive Reasoning Examples

Inductive reasoning is a useful tool in education (see: inductive learning ), scholarly research and everyday life in order to identify trends and make predictions. It is a type of inference that helps us to narrow-down the field of likely consequences of actions and empowers us to make more effective decisions.

However, it’s also important to remember that the fallacy of inductive reasoning is incredibly common and can crop up in regular conversation, debates, the media and online discussions. It’s easy to jump to false conclusions or to assume a general pattern where one may not exist.

Generally, we can resolve the problem of hasty generalizations by ensuring our initial dataset is truly representative and large enough that induction can occur with a smaller margin of error.

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Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, definition of induction.

Induction starts with specific facts and draws conclusions, which may be right or wrong. This is a type of reasoning that assumes that given premises strongly lead to a certain conclusion, but there is not enough evidence to make this conclusion definite, only probable. The danger of inductive reasoning is that it is uncertain and often simplistic, and can lead to certain types of fallacy and over-generalization. However, it can lead to accurate conclusions as well, though one must always be careful to understand that the conclusion is not necessarily true.

The word induction comes from the Latin word inductio , which means “a leading in, introduction, admission.”

Difference Between Induction, Deduction, and Abduction

The definition of induction is similar to that of deduction and abduction as they are all methods of reasoning. However, whereas induction starts with known instances and arrives at a generalization, deduction involves a general principle or principles and arrives at a specific fact. This is an important distinction, because induction is much more vulnerable to fallacies while deduction leads to logically certain conclusions.

Abduction is similar to induction as they both arise from specific observations. In abductive reasoning, however, the logician attempts to create a simple theory that could explain the observation without making an overall generalization. The conclusion that abductive reasoning draws may not be true, but instead it is an inference that leads to the best possible explanation given the circumstances.

Common Examples of Induction

We use inductive reasoning frequently in daily life, for better or worse. Here are some common examples of inductive reasoning:

• I got coffee once at the cafe and it was horrible, so all of their coffee must be terrible.
• She’s been married twice and divorced twice; she must be a difficult wife.
• This winter is colder than ever, therefore global warming must not be real.

Significance of Induction in Literature

There are some examples of induction in literature, especially where there are courtroom scenes, or where characters try to reason through a problem. In some mystery novels a red herring will lead to induction that guides the characters off course. However, we also sometimes use induction examples in our own reading experience. We may read about one character and generalize from their specific behavior toward all people like them. For example, if you’d only read a few novels, and one of them included a character from China, you might use inductive reasoning to assume that all characters or ever people from China would act and think similarly. This leads to the importance of reading literature widely, so as to avoid the sense that there is only “one story” when it comes to any group of people.

Examples of Induction in Literature

The witnesses for the state, with the exception of the sheriff of Maycomb County, have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted, confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption—the evil assumption—that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds of their caliber. “Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson’s skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men.

( To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee)

Atticus Finch, the father of the protagonist and narrator, is the defense lawyer in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird . He is defending a man named Tom Robinson, who is clearly innocent of the crime he’s accused of. Atticus uses the fact that Tom is right-handed and that the beating in question was inflicted by a left-handed person to prove this. However, he goes further here to show that the only case against Tom is based on inductive reasoning. The prosecutors are trying to use inductive reasoning to prove, as Atticus says, “that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women.” This is a dangerous example of induction, because it will lead to incriminating an innocent man.

GUILDENSTERN: It must be indicative of something, besides the redistribution of wealth. (He muses.) List of possible explanations. One: I’m willing it. Inside where nothing shows, I’m the essence of a man spinning double-headed coins, and betting against himself in private atonement for an unremembered past. (He spins a coin at ROS.) ROSENCRANTZ: Heads. GUILDENSTERN: Two: time has stopped dead, and a single experience of one coin being spun once has been repeated ninety times… (He flips a coin, looks at it, tosses it to ROS.) On the whole, doubtful. Three: divine intervention, that is to say, a good turn from above concerning him, cf. children of Israel, or retribution from above concerning me, cf. Lot’s wife. Four: a spectacular vindication of the principle that each individual coin spun individually (he spins one) is as likely to come down heads as tails and therefore should cause no surprise that each individual time it does. (It does. He tosses it to ROS.)

( Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard)

In Tom Stoppard’s absurdist play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead , the two main characters are confronted with the bizarre occurrence of a penny being flipped and landing on heads ninety-two times in a row. In this excerpt Guildenstern begins to use inductive reasoning to understand what might be happening, and arrives at different fallacious conclusions until he his fourth conclusion, which can be the only one supported with logic.

“Blasted thing,” Snape was saying. “How are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once?” …. “You know what this means?” [Harry Potter] finished breathlessly. “He tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween! That’s where he was going when we saw him—he’s after whatever it’s guarding! And I’d bet my broomstick he let that troll in, to make a diversion!”

( Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling)

In the first installment of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, the protagonist Harry makes a few enemies, including his teacher, Professor Snape. He knows that Snape hates him and treats him cruelly. However, he uses these small, personal experiences to extrapolate that Snape is indeed evil and must be trying to break in to a secret room in Hogwarts Castle. In this induction example, Harry uses his own personal grudge to lead to the false conclusion that Snape is in cahoots with Lord Voldemort.

Test Your Knowledge of Induction

1. Which of the following statements is the correct induction definition? A. A type of reasoning which leads from specific incidents and attempts to make a broader generalization. B. A manner of thinking in which general principles are are applied to specific situations to understand them. C. A type of fallacy in which the reasoning has no basis in reality.

2. Which of the following statements is true? A. The conclusions reached from inductive reasoning are always true. B. The conclusions reached from deductive reasoning are never true. C. The conclusions reached from inductive reasoning may be true, but are not necessarily so.

3. Consider the following quote from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series:

“How do I know that you have been getting yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and careless servant girl?” …. “It is simplicity itself,” said he; “my eyes tell me that on the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting specimen of the London slavey.”

What type of reasoning does Sherlock Holmes employ in this example? A. Inductive reasoning: Holmes notices small things and makes sweeping generalizations based on them. B. Abductive reasoning: Holmes makes intelligent observations and creates a theory of what was most likely to have happened. C. Deductive reasoning: Holmes sees larger principles at work and deduces a logically certain conclusion.

Definition of Induction

Induction is known as a conclusion reached through reasoning. An inductive statement is derived using facts and instances which lead to the formation of a general opinion. Though all the facts upon which the conclusion is based are true, there is still a chance of the conclusion reached being false. This type of reasoning goes from specific facts to a general statement.

An inductive statement is of two types: a strong inductive statement, or a weak inductive statement. It depends on its authenticity. A strong statement has the possibility of being false, but it is very unlikely. There is a very high probability that it is true. When it comes to weak inductive statements, they have conclusions which are very unlikely to be true, and the reasons are weak enough that the conclusion is not probable.

It is not possible to exactly measure the strength of a statement, but it is possible to measure it in degrees. For a statement to be strong, it should be more probable when compared to being improbable, and should have a strong factual ground on which it is based. There are four different categories of inductive reasoning, namely inductive generalization, statistical syllogism , simple induction, and argument from analogy .

Induction Examples

Example #1:.

“This marble from the bag is black. That marble from the bag is black. A third marble from the bag is black. Therefore all the marbles in the bag are black.”

The statement above is an example of inductive reasoning. Since the first marble from the bag was black, the second was black, and the third was black, the conclusion reached is that all the marbles in the bag are black. Unless there were only those three marbles in the bag, this conclusion may not be true.

Example #2:

“I counted five or six people with green eyes; therefore all of the people have green eyes.”

This statement is an example of inductive generalization which uses evidence about a limited number of things to make an overall assumption of most things of that type. The authentication of this type of a statement depends on the number of things used to make the assumption and the total number of things.

Example #3:

“Sam is a bus driver. All drivers drive at 30 mph, therefore Sam drives at 30 mph.”

This statement is an example of statistical syllogism, which begins from a general statement and ends with a conclusion about an individual.

Example #4:

“John and David are brothers. John likes to eat Pizza and Hamburgers. David likes to eat Pizza. Therefore, one assumes that David also likes to eat Hamburgers.”

This statement is an example of an argument from analogy, which begins by the noting of two or more properties and drawing the conclusion that they must share some additional properties.

Example #5:

“All the kids in the park can jump; therefore, Ilene’s kid can jump also.”

This statement is an example of simple induction. These types of statements begin with evidence of a group and leads to a conclusion about an individual. This statement begins with an assumption about all kids, then comes down to applying that assumption to “Ilene’s kid,” which is one specific child.

Example #6:

“Around 80 percent of the girls wore heels, Jane is a girl. Therefore, Jane wore heels.”

This statement is an example of a strong inductive statement.

Example #7:

“Some actors are girls. Tom is a boy. Therefore, Tom is an actor.”

This statement is an example of a weak inductive statement.

Example #8:

“There are 15 clips in the bag; in a random draw 12 are pink. Therefore, all clips in the bag are pink.”

This is a strong inductive statement, as it is logical and the probability of it being true is greater than it being false.

Function of Induction

Induction is used to predict what may happen in the future, and establish a possibility of what may happen next. Inductive statements allow you to establish probability and prepare accordingly. At the same time, they also allow you to argue a point without having to actually prove the fact. They can only prove to be right or wrong following further research and observation. Inductive statements are used in everyday life as well. In fact, we all use inductive statements in everyday life to prove our point when talking about the weather, about other people, and even general situations.

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• Academic Writing / Online Writing Instruction

Inductive vs. Deductive Writing

by Purdue Global Academic Success Center and Writing Center · Published February 25, 2015 · Updated February 24, 2015

Dr. Tamara Fudge, Kaplan University professor in the School of Business and IT

There are several ways to present information when writing, including those that employ inductive and deductive reasoning . The difference can be stated simply:

• Inductive reasoning presents facts and then wraps them up with a conclusion .
• Deductive reasoning presents a thesis statement and then provides supportive facts or examples.

Which should the writer use? It depends on content, the intended audience , and your overall purpose .

If you want your audience to discover new things with you , then inductive writing might make sense.   Here is n example:

My dog Max wants to chase every non-human living creature he sees, whether it is the cats in the house or rabbits and squirrels in the backyard. Sources indicate that this is a behavior typical of Jack Russell terriers. While Max is a mixed breed dog, he is approximately the same size and has many of the typical markings of a Jack Russell. From these facts along with his behaviors, we surmise that Max is indeed at least part Jack Russell terrier.

Within that short paragraph, you learned about Max’s manners and a little about what he might look like, and then the concluding sentence connected these ideas together. This kind of writing often keeps the reader’s attention, as he or she must read all the pieces of the puzzle before they are connected.

Purposes for this kind of writing include creative writing and perhaps some persuasive essays, although much academic work is done in deductive form.

If your audience is not likely going to read the entire written piece, then deductive reasoning might make more sense, as the reader can look for what he or she wants by quickly scanning first sentences of each paragraph. Here is an example:

My backyard is in dire need of cleaning and new landscaping. The Kentucky bluegrass that was planted there five years ago has been all but replaced by Creeping Charlie, a particularly invasive weed. The stone steps leading to the house are in some disrepair, and there are some slats missing from the fence. Perennials were planted three years ago, but the moles and rabbits destroyed many of the bulbs, so we no longer have flowers in the spring.

The reader knows from the very first sentence that the backyard is a mess! This paragraph could have ended with a clarifying conclusion sentence; while it might be considered redundant to do so, the scientific community tends to work through deductive reasoning by providing (1) a premise or argument – which could also be called a thesis statement, (2) then evidence to support the premise, and (3) finally the conclusion.

Purposes for this kind of writing include business letters and project documents, where the client is more likely to skim the work for generalities or to hunt for only the parts that are important to him or her. Again, scientific writing tends to follow this format as well, and research papers greatly benefit from deductive writing.

Whether one method or another is chosen, there are some other important considerations. First, it is important that the facts/evidence be true. Perform research carefully and from appropriate sources; make sure ideas are cited properly. You might need to avoid absolute words such as “always,” “never,” and “only,” because they exclude any anomalies. Try not to write questions: the writer’s job is to provide answers instead. Lastly, avoid quotes in thesis statements or conclusions, because they are not your own words – and thus undermine your authority as the paper writer.

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Induction (Logic and Rhetoric)

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

Induction is a method of reasoning that moves from specific instances to a general conclusion . Also called inductive reasoning .

In an inductive argument , a rhetor (that is, a speaker or writer) collects a number of instances and forms a generalization that is meant to apply to all instances. (Contrast with deduction .)

In rhetoric , the equivalent of induction is the accumulation of examples .

Examples and Observations

• " Induction operates in two ways. It either advances a conjecture by what are called confirming instances, or it falsifies a conjecture by contrary or disconfirming evidence. A common example is the hypothesis that all crows are black. Each time a new crow is observed and found to be black the conjecture is increasingly confirmed. But if a crow is found to be not black the conjecture is falsified." (Martin Gardner, Skeptical Inquirer , Jan.-Feb., 2002
• "If you have trouble remembering the difference between inductive and deductive logic, consider their roots. Induction comes from Latin for 'to induce' or 'to lead.' Inductive logic follows a trail, picking up clues that lead to the end of an argument. Deduction (both in rhetoric and expense accounts) means 'to take away.' Deduction uses a commonplace to pull you away from your current opinion." (Jay Heinrichs, Thank You for Arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us About the Art of Persuasion . Three Rivers Press, 2007
• " Inductively valid, or correct, arguments, unlike deductively valid ones, have conclusions that go beyond what is contained in their premises . The idea behind valid induction is that of learning from experience . We often observe patterns, resemblances, and other kinds of regularities in our experiences, some quite simple (sugar sweetening coffee), some very complicated (objects moving according to Newton's laws—well, Newton noticed this, anyway)... "Here is a simple example of an inductively valid argument of the kind sometimes called induction by enumeration : I loaned my friend $50 last November and he failed to pay me back. (Premise) I loaned him another $50 just before Christmas, which he hasn't paid back (Premise), and yet another $25 in January, which is still unpaid. (Premise) I suppose it's time to face facts: He's never going to pay me back. (Conclusion) "We use inductive reasoning so frequently in everyday life that its nature generally goes unnoticed." (H. Kahane and N. Cavender, Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric , 1998)

F.D.R.'s Use of Induction

• "The following passage comes from Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech to Congress on December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor, declaring a state of war between the United States and Japan. Yesterday the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island. And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. (Safire 1997, 142; see also Stelzner 1993) Here, Roosevelt has in effect constructed a comparison that involves six items, and his purpose in doing so appears in the final sentence. His 'therefore' signals that he offers a conclusion supported by the preceding list , and these individual instances have been united as examples for the conclusion on the basis of their parallel form . . . . The argument form here, supporting a generalization with examples, is classically known as induction . In the most direct manner, the six examples of Japanese aggression 'add up' to the conclusion. The list strengthens what was already, on the occasion of Roosevelt's speech, an overwhelming case for war." (Jeanne Fahnestock, Rhetorical Style: The Uses of Language in Persuasion . Oxford Univ. Press, 2011)

The Limits of Rhetorical Induction

• "It is important to remember that rhetorical induction does not actually ​ prove anything; it is arguing from the probability that known instances are parallel to and illuminating of those less well known. Whereas full logical induction enumerates all possible instances, the rhetorical argument by example almost always enumerates less than the total. The persuasive  impact of such a method of reasoning is increased, of course, as one increases the number of examples."(Donald E. Bushman, "Example." Encyclopedia of Rhetoric and Composition: Communication From Ancient Times to the Information Age , ed. by Theresa Enos. Taylor & Francis, 1996)

Pronunciation: in-DUK-shun

Etymology:  From the Latin, "to lead in"

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• AP English Exam: 101 Key Terms
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How to Write an Inductive Essay

Jennifer spirko.

Induction and deduction are opposite forms of reasoning. Deduction is a type of formal logic in which you can arrive at a conclusion based on the truth of generalization. For instance, if all llamas are mammals, and Edgar is a llama, then you may deduce that Edgar is a mammal. Induction takes the opposite approach, arriving at a conclusion by way of a series of specific observations or premises. If Edgar has a long neck and two-toed hooves, has heavy, woolly fur, and comes from the Andes, you may infer, via induction, that he is a llama.

Explore this article

• Start with a Question or Guess
• Establish Specific Premises
• Make an Inductive Leap
• Defend the Conclusion

1 Start with a Question or Guess

In your introduction, pose a question or establish a hypothesis. May Flewellen McMillan, in her book on rhetoric, recommends this approach because it holds readers’ interest. As a researcher, you may begin with a question that you want to solve, but by the time you are writing the essay, you should know the answer. Posing the question is a rhetorical strategy. Having pre-planned your essay, you know that he is a llama, but begin by asking, “What kind of animal is Edgar?” You should already have an idea about Hamlet’s madness, but begin your essay by asking, “Is Hamlet truly mad or just pretending?”

2 Establish Specific Premises

Address the guiding question by building a series of premises. These are specific data points that address your question. The type of premises will depend on subject area. In sociology, for instance, a researcher might conduct case studies and draw the initial hypothesis from these observations, explains Gordon Marshall in the “Dictionary of Sociology.” A literature essay, on the other hand, presents observations about a character or theme. For instance, you should present your observations of Hamlet’s behavior, some of which (like his rash killing of Polonius) seems insane, and some of which (like his clever circumvention of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s plot) seems sane.

3 Make an Inductive Leap

Because induction draws a conclusion from a series of separate observations, it deals with probability, not certainty, according to David Naugle, philosophy professor at Dallas Baptist University. Deduction proceeds to a firm conclusion that cannot be disputed as long as the premises are sound. With induction, on the other hand, all the premises can still be true individually but not guarantee the result. Edgar can have a long neck, shaggy fur, divided hooves and come from the Andes and still not be a llama. While that is the likeliest conclusion, there is a chance that Edgar is a vicuña. The conclusion about what sort of animal Edgar is requires what rhetoricians call a “leap” in reasoning. It is a matter of probability, not certainty.

4 Defend the Conclusion

If you believe that your conclusion is supported, as much as possible, by the examples or observations, be explicit about this degree of certainty. Readers will only follow the inductive leap as far as it seems reasonable. You have to provide the reasoning that supports your inductive leap by which you arrived at your conclusion. If you conclude that Hamlet is sane, then spell out why his seemingly insane actions are the product of his craftiness. If you conclude that Hamlet is mad, then spell out how his seemingly sane actions could result from an unstable psyche or how they represent momentary bouts of clarity. You can present outside research to support your conclusions, such as prior studies done on the prevalence of llamas versus vicuñas or psychological analyses of unstable behavior that resembles Hamlet’s.

• 1 The Shortest Way to the Essay, Rhetorical Strategies; May Flewellen McMillan
• 2 Hamlet; William Shakespeare
• 3 Dallas Baptist University: Philosophy 2302, Introduction to Logic; David Naugle

About the Author

Jennifer Spirko has been writing professionally for more than 20 years, starting at "The Knoxville Journal." She has written for "MetroPulse," "Maryville-Alcoa Daily Times" and "Some" monthly. She has taught writing at North Carolina State University and the University of Tennessee. Spirko holds a Master of Arts from the Shakespeare Institute, Stratford-on-Avon, England.

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National Honor Society (NHS) Essay Examples & Expert Advice

July 8, 2023

Every year, high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors write National Honor Society essays in the hopes of becoming a member. It’s certainly an admirable recognition. Joining the ranks means partaking in an interscholastic tradition alongside future movers and shakers. Past National Honor Society (NHS) members have consisted of Olympians, astronauts, senators, neurosurgeons, Nobel prize winners, Navy admirals, and more. Some of the more celebrity-famous NHS-ers include journalist Katie Couric, writer, and comedian Tina Fey, and poet Robert Warren Penn. Former first lady Michelle Obama, of course. Even Taylor Swift joined the NHS in high school. You can bet her songwriting skills came in handy for the National Honor Society essay. Intimidated? Don’t be. View our NHS essay example below as well as our more general advice for the National Honor Society essay.

Before composing your own NHS essay, you may want to ask yourself, “Why should I join NHS ?” Your answer to this question will help determine if, and how, you should craft a relevant NHS essay.

The NHS in Brief

It all began with a high school principal in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who founded the National Honor Society in 1921. Today, this hundred-and-two-year-old society boasts local chapters in all 50 U.S. states and territories. It also has chapters in American and international schools abroad. Membership, open to select high school students, can open doors to interesting service and leadership opportunities. In fact, service and leadership form the cornerstone of NHS.

The one million plus students who participate in the NHS yearly have service and leadership in common. That’s because the NHS requires demonstrated community service, and demonstrated leadership. It also requires a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (though this number varies depending on the chapter) and demonstrated good character. You’ll want to check your local chapter’s specific guidelines when beginning the NHS application.

Other reasons to join the NHS include gaining access to the NHS network, an array of college planning tools, and the chance to apply for hefty scholarships. These perks naturally make for a competitive acceptance rate. So, the best way to make your application stand out involves crafting a stunning NHS essay. Here’s how.

Quick Tips for Drafting the National Honor Society Essay

1) Structure your NHS essay around the NHS Pillars: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character. A high GPA acts as an indicator of your “scholarship”, or dedication to academia. This pillar must appear in your essay as well, in the form of impeccable writing skills. Demonstrate your service and leadership through the content of your essay. In other words, service and leadership form the action, or plot, of your essay. Finally, infuse your character throughout your essay, by showing how your behavior indicates your values and integrity.

2) Write from your heart, and make your NHS essay personal. The most memorable essays rely on a sincere writing voice and contain personal details. But note that by “personal,” I don’t mean you must share your deepest secrets. Rather, ground an event in your own experience by incorporating your emotions, thoughts, and sensations. This will make your essay unique to you.

3) Weave together a story; don’t make a list. As you tell your story, pull from your strongest experiences. Perhaps you have a handful of leadership and service roles. Pick only a few that say something about your interests and personality, and develop your story by threading these ideas together. While a list might look impressive, a story will come across as better crafted and more captivating. If, however, none of your service activities seem significant enough to single out and describe on their own, weave these activities together through a theme. For example, the theme could be how you overcame shyness to lead.

Quick Tips for Drafting the National Honor Society Essay, Continued

4) Mind your audience. In this case, your audience is your school’s faculty member who’s taken on the role of chapter adviser. You may want to meet with them ahead of time to let them know you’re applying. This initiative on your part will look impressive. Moreover, you can ask in person what they look for in an NHS essay. Certainly, they’ll want to know how you stand out from the other applicants. So, you’ll also want to keep your competition in mind. As with college application essays, the tone of your NHS essay should be polite, formal, and charismatic.

5) Brainstorm, draft, edit, and repeat. A National Honor Society essay isn’t written overnight. Once you have your initial ideas down on paper, return to the page for a round of editing. Ask yourself where you can expand and where you sound redundant. Look for common threads and themes to enhance. Create transition sentences between paragraphs. Revise your conclusion. Next, show your essay to someone you trust. Their feedback will indicate where your essay excels and where you need to improve.

NHS Essay Example

My grandmother, or Ma-Maw , was the kind of generous busybody who made six different pies for her granddaughters’ birthdays. She invited everyone on the block, so nothing went to waste. Once, when we both went to shovel up the last slice of pie, she laughed, and said, “ noblesse oblige .” She often spoke French, a Louisiana French foreign yet familiar to me. I didn’t think to ask what she’d meant. Did she think I was noble? Was that why I got to scarf down the last of the cherry pie?

Ma-Maw died the summer before I entered high school. I missed her terribly, long after my parents sold her house. Receiving her redirected mail felt like a blow. So many newsletters from Friends of the New Orleans Public Library! Since I loved books as much as Ma-Maw, I opened these up. Inside, I read about a partnership program, Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR). They needed in-person volunteers to tutor second- and third-graders in reading.

Before I knew it, I was cracking open vocabulary books twice a week with a kid named Harper. When I wasn’t tutoring, I was lesson planning, going over Harper’s writing journal, and scouring shelves for more early reader books. This got me thinking about literacy in New Orleans. 39% of high school students my age have the reading level of a 5 th grader—or worse. Harper lived in a part of town that didn’t even have bookstores. Would she keep up her reading once the tutoring was over, despite the odds? I also thought about representation and accessibility. If Harper had more books about people like her, and if those books were all over the place, and easy to take home, would things change?

NHS Essay Example, Continued

Due to this newfound interest in advocating for literacy, I decided to build a Free Little Library (FLL). To do so, I needed help. That spring, I founded a school club, Reading the World, and convinced 8 members to join. Together, we dismantled one of Ma-Maw’s kitchen cabinets and incorporated other used materials to build an upcycled stand that could fit 20 books.

Next, we got in touch with the program Read for Color, which helps make BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other diverse and marginalized voices heard. I believe their initiative parallels our own, which is to provide a diversity of voices through language itself. Our FLL features books in Cajun French and Creole and works in translation. With permission, we installed the FLL outside Ma-Maw’s old home. For its inauguration, our club invited the local organizations Youth Empowerment Project, One Book One New Orleans, and Read in Color. We plan to collaborate with these groups next year.

Now a sophomore, I’ve continued literacy advocacy by volunteering at Alliance Française events. This has given me new ideas about how to run Reading the World. I’ve added monthly book club events. Furthermore, every club member tutors a STAIR student. Finally, we’ll visit local senior homes at Thanksgiving and Christmas and read to the residents.

Ma-Maw would be happy to hear I won the L’Union Française’s Prix d’Excellence this year. She’d be even more thrilled to see how I’ve shared her love of reading with my community. Now I understand noblesse oblige : if you believe you are someone of noble character, then you must act accordingly. This NHS motto was easy for Ma-Maw to follow. She gave everything and led by example. I plan to follow in her footsteps. It would be an immense honor to do so through the National Honor Society.

NHS Essay Example, Dissected

This National Honor Society essay succeeds for many reasons. First, the student structures her essay around the theme of language and literacy. (Perhaps she also captains her softball team and volunteers for the Red Cross. But the student has correctly judged that these elements would distract from her story.) Rather than list her achievements and service, the student builds every element into a journey. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It shows how the student evolved to be someone who wants to make a difference. The ending completes the story by circling back to the beginning, through the idea of “noblesse oblige.” The student also manages to state clearly her thesis: she deserves acceptance into the National Honor Society.

This student’s story also centers around an emotional current, that of the student’s grandmother. The reader wants to invest in the story more because of this emotional aspect. Literacy is clearly not a random activity, but a meaningful one for the student. Including a role model allows the student to avoid bragging by transferring her praise to her grandmother.

Finally, the tone of the essay is formal (“It would be an immense honor”). Meanwhile, the unique voice of the student comes through (“We both went to shovel up the last slice of pie”). She accurately cites the names of the organizations she’s involved with and uses specificity (such as her grandmother’s kitchen cabinets) to draw the reader in.

Finished Your National Honor Society Essay?

Hopefully, you found our NHS essay example to be helpful. Now, feel free to check out our list of academic contests for more ways to boost your academic profile.

• High School Success

Kaylen Baker

With a BA in Literary Studies from Middlebury College, an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Translation from Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, Kaylen has been working with students on their writing for over five years. Previously, Kaylen taught a fiction course for high school students as part of Columbia Artists/Teachers, and served as an English Language Assistant for the French National Department of Education. Kaylen is an experienced writer/translator whose work has been featured in Los Angeles Review, Hybrid, San Francisco Bay Guardian, France Today, and Honolulu Weekly, among others.

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How to Write the National Honor Society Essay + Example

What’s Covered:

National honor society: four pillars and essay, five tips for writing your nhs essay, nhs essay example, time well spent.

What do former first lady Michelle Obama, actor Chadwick Boseman, singer-songwriters Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, and baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. have in common?  They were all members of the National Honor Society (NHS).

As you apply for membership in this national organization, remember NHS membership is based on meeting criteria in four areas that the NHS calls its four pillars: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character .  

Scholarship 

The first pillar, scholarship , requires that a student earns a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent. Many high schools set a higher GPA bar for their school’s chapter. If you meet your school’s academic requirement, congratulations, you’ve passed the first hurdle. 

Now it’s important that you carefully complete the application and write a compelling essay.  Most high schools require students to write a 300-500 word essay that showcases their commitment and accomplishments in the other three pillars.

Service refers to the contributions you make to your school and or community on a volunteer basis, without receiving any compensation. For your most significant service activities, be sure to explain why you choose to support certain organizations and why you chose specific roles. 

Showcase your leadership in your school and or community while working with or for others. Remember, stating that you are the captain of a team, president of a club, or supervisor of a shift does not prove that you are a leader. A leader makes things happen, sets a good example, and inspires others to give their personal best. Clearly state why you were selected to hold a leadership position and how you effectively lead. There are many successful leadership styles. Communicate your unique brand of leadership. 

Character is how you conduct yourself with high standards of honesty, reliability, and respect for others. Many attributes define good character, and they all reflect a personal commitment to ethical and compassionate interactions with others as well as how you treat yourself. Results are only part of the story.  How you achieved them is critically important to communicate.

Think about how many NHS applications your school counselor reviews each year. Not every student who completes an application is selected for the honor. So how do you make your essay stand out?  Here are five strategies:

1. Make it Personal and Individual  

Your application form provides the facts about the scope and range of your involvement and contributions to your communities. Be sure that you write your essay in a way that brings this data to life. A compelling essay enables the reader to feel a strong connection to you. Express your unique values, aspirations, and priorities. State the motivation behind your choices and the trade-offs you’ve made. Be honest about challenges and what you have learned through your mistakes. And be sure the tone of the essay sounds like you and nobody else. 

2. Share Your Stories

People love to hear and remember stories, not simply facts and figures. Express themes and points that you want to share by relaying stories that bring these concepts to life. Stories can be poignant, funny, suspenseful, or surprising. Any approach that makes a reader want to continue reading is a great one.

3. Be Humble and Bold

Many students find it hard to express their hard-earned accomplishments without sounding boastful. Proudly stating your achievements without sounding brash is possible and important. Clearly state your motivations, your challenges, your vulnerabilities, and your mistakes to mitigate any concerns.  

4. Follow Tried and True Essay Guidelines

Channel all the advice you’ve received over the years about how to write a great essay. Do you have a clear thesis around which you have organized your thoughts? Compelling topic sentences to hook your reader? Strong supporting sentences to back up your reasoning? Have you avoided clichés? Do you vary your sentence structure and word choice? Does the text flow and keep the reader engaged? Last, but not least, have you checked and double-checked your grammar, punctuation, and spelling?

5. Draft, Edit, Edit, Edit, Polish

Writing is an iterative process so give yourself the time necessary to land on the best approach for explaining why you are deserving of the NHS honor. There are many ways to tackle an essay. Try a few to determine which is the most effective. Then, when you determine the best approach and are satisfied with your latest draft, share it with someone whose opinion you value. 

Looking for someone to read over your essay? Check out Collegevine’s free essay help ! Our peer review system will help you get feedback from other students so that you can improve your NHS essay and college essays.

While there is not a single template for a strong essay, here is an example of an NHS essay written by an 11th-grade student who was accepted into NHS.

Success is not only about improving yourself, but also about improving life for others. While my GPA shows my commitment to academics, how I spend my time and conduct myself outside of school reveal my commitment to making the world a better place, consistent with the values of the National Honor Society. 

For the two years my grandfather lived in a nursing home, each weekend I took my dog EJ to visit him. I witnessed first-hand the healing power of animals as EJ lifted his and the other residents’ spirits. Because of this experience and because monkeys are my favorite animal, when I heard about Helping Hands (HH), the only organization in the world that raises capuchin monkeys to be live-in assistants to people with spinal cord injuries, I reached out to volunteer. 

Both in the summer and during the school year, I assist the trainers. Monkeys begin training when they are teenagers. It typically takes three to five years until they are ready to be placed with a person. My first job is to clean the cages of 60 monkeys. (Not my favorite responsibility.) I also prepare meals and construct and distribute dexterity “toys.” 

While not glamorous, my work is critical to the success of the initiative. The physical support the monkeys provide is unbelievable. They turn pages of books, scratch itches, pour water, and retrieve dropped items… Most importantly, I have seen the life-changing impact a monkey’s companionship has on a partner, including a college-age student confined to a wheelchair after a spinal cord injury from hockey. 

In the spring, summer, and fall I also volunteer at Gaining Ground (GG), a non-profit that grows organic produce to donate to food pantries, shelters, and meal programs. When I volunteered at a local food pantry, it struck me that recipients receive mostly canned and packaged food. I think it is important that people in need receive fresh fruits and vegetables, and I enjoy the physical work of weeding, harvesting, cleaning, and packing produce.

Soon after I began volunteering at GG, my rabbi gave a sermon about the working conditions of tomato farmers in Florida. (It reminded me of Grapes of Wrath, and I couldn’t believe inhumane practices continue.) Her sermon motivated me to support the Coalition of Immokalee Workers by distributing postcards urging Trader Joe’s and Stop & Shop to only buy tomatoes from farms that agree to fair wages and human rights. Both chains have now agreed, showing that a little effort by many people makes a difference.

Last, I believe a story is the best way to explain my “behind-the-scenes” leadership. At the annual nighttime football game, one of my soccer teammates (not someone I hang with) was drunk. When our principal came over to the bleachers, my teammate’s friends fled. Concerned that my teammate would fall and hurt herself, I brought her outside the stadium, called her parents, and waited with her until they came — without worrying about social retribution. Despite getting grounded, she thanked me for my help.

I would be honored to be recognized by NHS for my service, leadership, and character. Thank you for your consideration.

The time you invest in composing an effective NHS essay will help you when you’re ready to write your college essays! Essays are important components of applications to selective colleges. Getting into NHS is also an honor that may boost your application at some schools. Remember, you can estimate your chance for acceptance using Collegevine’s free chancing calculator . This tool will factor in your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and more to calculate your odds of admission at hundreds of schools across the country.

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