Oh, the essays. Studying is never an easy task, but writing assignments make it even more difficult. You are constantly torn apart between various disciplines. You excel in some of them, but you struggle with others. And aside from all that, you are tasked with writing essays. And you cannot force yourself to work on them. Sometimes, simply because you don’t know what’s the point in writing them.
- You develop your writing skills
- Improve your written communication
- Learn how to express your ideas in written form
While it’s a necessary aspect of studying that develops important skills, the studyload or the lack of understanding how to write an essay properly frustrates students. If you don’t know how to write this or that type of essay, you can rely on do my homework for me services, and use the delivered paper crafted by professional writers as a draft for your paper. Yet, there might be another thing that prevents you from writing an essay.
You may find the idea too boring and the process too tedious. Besides, you may think of writing essays as something too formal and altogether not fun. But you can make it more fun by taking a creative approach. Of course, not every type of essay allows that, but some of them can only win from adding, say, pop culture references. Let’s check them out without any further ado.
Narrative Essay
A narrative essay allows you to tell a story. And considering that it’s the most personal type of essay, in other words, it is often based on your personal experience, you can add pretty much anything you want in there. A narrative essay not only allows you to be creative, your creativity is pretty much required to write one. So, why not add some cultural references?
Let’s say, you are writing about your experience of getting your first car. Did you feel like Arnie Cunningham from Stephen King’s “Christine”? Or maybe you’re writing an essay about losing your childhood friend because they are going through some strange character changes? You can reference “Christine” yet again.
A great thing about narrative essays is that they allow you to utilize literary techniques, so your essay feels more like fiction. Why stop with mere cultural references? You can use metaphors, analogies, even bits of dialogue. It is especially great to craft an essay like that for your college admission. Such an essay will surely get you admitted.
Descriptive Essay
“She looks like Eve Marie Saint in “On the Waterfront”…” is the start of the chorus of “Rattlesnakes”, a song by British band Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, and also a good example of pop culture reference. What does it have to do with a descriptive essay? Well, a descriptive essay requires students to provide a comprehensive description of a subject, which can be a person, a place, or an event.
It’s another essay type that requires creativity. However, unlike a narrative essay, here, you don’t tell a story, at least in a traditional way. Providing details describing your subject you still kinda tell a story, so the readers can figure out more. And that’s another essay type where you can add cultural reference here and there.
The essay type demands inclusion of expressive imaginary. You can also add actions, emotions, and thoughts, so the readers get a better idea of the event, place, or a person you are describing. So, why not compare the weird town you’ve recently visited to “Twin Peaks”?
Critical Essay
At the first glance, a critical essay is just an in-depth analysis of a subject. It seems that there’s no place for either creative or pop culture reference. Well, there’s always a place for creativity. Even in much more complex and serious works than any essay. Few years from now you might be ordering the draft of your thesis or dissertation from the best dissertation writing service, experts there surely know how to approach a topic creatively.
But we have to agree that there are certain topics where a pop culture reference will be absolutely out of place. Yet, there are topics that require pop culture references. For example, you may be tasked with writing a movie or a book analysis. With tasks like that you can’t avoid using pop culture references, as you may need to compare the subject with other works of, say, same genre or same levels of success.
Tips on Using Pop Culture References
Okay, while we’ve provided you with the essay types that you can approach more creatively by adding pop culture references, we forgot to mention that there are certain ways to use those references. You shouldn’t consider them as strict rules that you are obliged to follow. They are just tips.
Pop Culture Reference As a Supporting Detail
A pop culture reference shouldn’t be the main focus of your essay, but a supporting detail that can provide your reader with a better idea of the subject. For example, if you want to describe a person, consider comparing them to a specific character from the work of fiction. If you’re describing an event from the past, use time-appropriate songs, films, or even cultural phenomena as a supporting detail, that will immerse the reader in the time of the event.
Be Picky With Your References
When it comes to writing works of fiction, it is generally advised to use pop culture references that will stand the test of time. Things are rather different when it comes to essays. You don’t have to wonder whether your pop culture reference will be relevant decades later. However, you may consider which pop culture reference will be interesting to your peers and whether your professor will be able to understand it.
Use Allusions to Classic Works
It seems that’s what your school or college requires. Instead of referencing pop culture, reference classic works. But you can be even more creative, and add both pop culture and classic references in your essay. You can even make a parallel, especially in critical essays on works of fiction. Come think of it, each contemporary story has been already told in the Bible or in Greek Mythology, or elsewhere.
Closing Thoughts
So, here you have three types of essays that will only benefit from an inclusion of a pop culture reference. You also have the tips on how to include the references properly. Also, you don’t have to limit yourself to those three types of essays. Be more creative. Maybe you will be able to stick a pop culture reference in an argumentative or persuasive essay.