how to write a 250 word college essay

How to Write a Perfect 250-Word Essay With Samples and Tips

11 December 2023

last updated

In order to learn how to write a perfect 250-word essay, an academic undertaking requires an author to observe specific standards of academic writing. Basically, these standards include following the introduction-body-conclusion outline and using the MLA, APA, Harvard, Chicago/Turabian, or any other format. In this case, students write the introductory paragraph that concludes with a thesis statement, which serves as the central pillar of entire papers. Moreover, a 250-word essay is different from a one-page paper in many ways, including formatting. While a one-page paper adopts the single-spacing format, a 250-word essay follows the double-spacing approach. Regardless of these differences, both types of essays must incorporate evidence to establish credibility. The evidence appears in body paragraphs and must align with the Sandwich Rule. In concluding essays, writers must restate the thesis and summarize the main themes without introducing new information.

Basic Principles

Writing is an exercise that requires an understanding of some basic rules of academic writing . In particular, these rules apply to any scholarly documents, where authors aim to present credible information on specific topics. Basically, writers should research widely on their topics and incorporate findings of research studies. In writing a 250-word essay, students should be specific on what they want to communicate if they intend essays to be scholarly texts. Unlike long papers that require authors to write an outline for purposes of organizing their thoughts, a 250-word essay is short. It only requires students to focus on the information they want to deliver. Hence, the use of sources in this type of essay is limited, and, if used, they must be relevant to the writer’s point of view.

Definition of a 250-Word Essay

By description, a 250-word essay is a short academic text that provides information on a specific topic. For an essay to meet the threshold of a scholarly text, writers must provide a thesis statement that captures the author’s central arguments or claims. In this case, anyone interested in knowing how long is a 250-word essay would only need to locate the writer’s thesis statement. Moreover, the structure of a 250-word essay entails an introductory paragraph, a body paragraph or paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. Unless it is necessary, a writer may not provide headings and subheadings in this type of paper. Such work only covers a single page when written in the double-spaced format by considering how many pages is a 250-word essay. Therefore, a 250-word essay has from three to four paragraphs with minimal headings and no subheadings.

A 250-Word Essay Example: Healthy Lifestyle

If someone wants to understand what does a 250-word essay look like, check the sample:

Sample: Introduction

The growing cases of obesity in the United States have become a source of concern to health professionals and the government at all levels. Basically, this context has seen the medical community invest in research, with several studies highlighting the health risks that individuals face when they become obese. In turn, the findings of these studies show that a healthy lifestyle, such as eating healthy food and maintaining physical fitness, is the most effective intervention against becoming obese.

The word count of the introduction paragraph is 78 words .

Sample Body: Obese-Related Complications

The United States has a high number of fast-food restaurants, which contributes to the rising cases of obesity. Basically, this situation has predisposed a majority of Americans to junk food, especially teenagers and young professionals. For instance, several studies have established that obesity results from unhealthy diets, including fatty and junk food (evidence). In this case, these foods not only predispose individuals to being obese but also at risk of developing health complications. Moreover, the most notable obesity-related complications include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and others. In turn, the lack of physical exercise is also a factor contributing to the current trend of obesity.

The word count of the body paragraph is 107 words .

Sample: Conclusion

There is no doubt that, in order to reverse the current trend of obesity in the US, Americans must stop eating unhealthy foods and develop a habit of exercising regularly. Without regular physical exercises, the human body stores up fat that ends up blocking blood vessels and other complications. As for the recommendations, Americans must adopt healthy lifestyles to reverse the current trend of obesity.

The word count of the conclusion paragraph is 65 words .

Thus, introduction + body + conclusion parts = 78 + 107 + 65 words or 250-word essay.

Review of Writing a 250-Word Essay on Healthy Lifestyle

Paragraph 1: introduction with a thesis statement.

The first paragraph of the sample paper of the 250-word essay titled “Healthy Lifestyle” is the introduction. Basically, the opening section allows readers to know what the essay is all about. In turn, this part starts by establishing a context for the essay: the rising cases of obesity in the United States and the confirmation by research studies that obesity is a health risk. Then, the paragraph concludes with a thesis statement – maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In this case, the main sentence includes eating healthy food and maintaining physical fitness, being the most effective intervention to becoming obese. To make the statement significant, the writer bases these ideas on research findings. Moreover, the total word count for the introduction paragraph, without the title, is 78 words. Hence, the length makes the introduction part slightly shorter than the body paragraph, which is acceptable in academic writing.

Paragraph 2: Body

The second part of a 250-word essay is the body paragraph that talks about health complications associated with obesity. Just like in the introduction, the writer begins the paragraph by establishing a context, which is the proliferation of fast-food restaurants in the United States. This context helps students to understand the source of obesity in the country. Moreover, the author makes reference to research studies (evidence) on obesity to establish credibility in the text. As such, readers understand that whatever the writer talks about in the text is not informed by personal opinions but rather by research findings. In academic writing, this aspect makes a text reliable. Hence, one can use it as a reference when writing a paper or contributing to an argument. In summary, the body section, with a word count of 107 words, provides information that strengthens the thesis statement in the introduction.

Paragraph 3: Conclusion

The last paragraph in the essay is the conclusion, which marks the end of the essay. In academic writing, the conclusion of a 250-word essay does not provide new information. Instead, it takes the most significant themes in the body of the paper and links them with the thesis statement. In the above essay, the writer begins by making a firm observation based on the content of the body section, that is to stop obesity, while Americans must start eating healthy foods and exercising regularly. In turn, one can argue that the writer intends to establish the urgency of the central message. Hence, a conclusion part with a word count of 65 words provides a final appeal that marks the author’s opinion in the context of all the available knowledge. In the above essay, the writer’s concluding remark is that Americans must follow clinical recommendations about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Principles of Academic Writing

The above 250-word essay is a scholarly text for several reasons. Firstly, it adopts the outline of an academic paper, including an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. In lengthy essays, the body comprises several paragraphs with several headings and subheadings. Secondly, it has a thesis that helps to anchor the writer’s central message. Basically, the content of the body paragraph focuses on proving or strengthening the writer’s thesis. Thirdly, the author incorporates evidence in the paper, which appears in the body part. For instance, evidence helps to establish credibility, making the essay a scholarly text. In turn, the body paragraph starts with a topic sentence, which determines the direction of the entire section. As per the sandwich rule, the writer writes evidence to support the opening statement and then provides a statement that establishes the significance of evidence.

Comparison Between Organizing a One-Page Paper and Writing a 250-Word Essay

In academic writing, authors can choose to single-space or double-space their text. Basically, a one-page essay follows the single-spaced format, meaning the total word count should be more than 500 words. In this case, students can write different headings and subheadings in the body paragraphs to establish a logical flow to their arguments. For instance, in the MLA 8 format (Modern Language Association 8th Edition), authors may not put a title in the introductory and concluding parts. However, in the APA 7 referencing style (American Psychological Association 7th Edition) format, writers must put a title in these paragraphs. In a one-page paper in whatever format, students must put headings (and subheadings if necessary) to create a logical flow in their text. In short, the most significant characteristics of a one-page paper that distinguishes it from writing a 250-word college essay are single-spacing, including the word count.

Other Features

In a 250-word essay, the notable feature is double-spacing, which ensures the total word count on a page does not go beyond 250 words. Basically, this type of essay’s primary distinguishing feature is that it uses minimal headings. Sometimes, there are no subheadings in the body. In this case, the basis of the outline is the limited number of words, an aspect that demands writers to avoid unnecessary wording of the text. Another feature that sets apart a 250-word college essay from a one-page paper is the use of evidence to support the author’s central claim. As indicated, the need to avoid unnecessary wording in a 250-word essay puts a demand for writers to limit the number of sources they incorporate in their texts. In turn, one can argue that this limitation in the number of sources premises the need to satisfy the Sandwich Rule.

Based on these differences, someone may ask, “So what?” The answer to this question requires people to consider expectations before they start writing a 250-word essay. In many instances, people cannot call themselves writers who choose which format to use in writing texts because their instructors make this choice. However, if people have the freedom to choose, the above differences may influence the format they prefer. For example, students may choose to use the one-page paper format. Such work adopts a single-spacing format if they want to write their works on a single page. When it comes to choosing the format to use in writing a 250-word essay, the primary consideration that writers must make is word count. It would make no sense to write a 250-word essay in the single-space format.

How to Write a Good 250-Word Essay for Different Educational Levels

College or university papers.

In academic writing, the demand placed for writers of texts depends on their level of education. In particular, this aspect means that a university student has a higher threshold than a high schooler in academic writing to meet the criteria of writing a 250-word essay. For instance, this threshold entails several elements, including language sophistication and level of research, among others. On language sophistication, college students must demonstrate mastery of the English language, particularly regarding their subjects. In other words, when writing about nursing, university scholars must write nursing terminologies in their texts to establish an in-depth understanding of the subject matter. On the level of research, university students must include evidence in their writing to build credibility. Hence, the higher the number of sources that writers use, the more their works become an outcome of thorough research.

High School Essays

In contrast, academic writing puts no pressure on high schoolers to use sophisticated language and in-depth research. Basically, the expectation is that writers in this level of education can demonstrate a logical flow of their arguments. In other words, writers in this level of education should not focus on appearing sophisticated but rather conversant with their topics when writing a 250-word essay. As opposed to using in-depth research to anchor their texts, high schoolers should use practical examples. Here, high school writers use observable phenomena to anchor their arguments. In turn, the reason for expectations for a university student and those of a high schooler is different. It is because the former must demonstrate an in-depth understanding, and the latter must show critical thinking.

The Difference Betwen Academic Levels

The differences between a one-page essay and a 250-word essay have nothing to do with the academic level. For instance, a university student and a high schooler can write their arguments through a one-page paper or a 250-word essay. In this case, the only difference between the texts of these two students would be the sophistication of language and the level of research that they incorporate in their writings. For college students, the elements that would demonstrate a sophisticated language include theories, models, concepts, and principles around the subject matter. In turn, a one-page paper would provide a writer with enough space to explore these elements. Hence, it is impossible to organize many ideas in a 250-word college essay.

Summing Up on How to Write a Perfect 250-Word Essay

There are no questions that academic writing requires some level of professionalism to make a text credible. As indicated, several elements characterize an essay as a scholarly text, including an outline and evidence supporting the author’s central claim. To anyone interested in writing a 250-word essay, the following tips are essential:

• Pick a topic.
• Develop a central claim (thesis).
• Identify the audience.
• Identify keywords.
• Choose a format (MLA, APA, Harvard, Chicago/Turabian, or any others).
• Create an outline for a 250-word essay.
• Research the topic to identify credible sources.
• Write the introductory paragraph and ensure the concluding sentence captures the thesis.
• Develop the body paragraphs and incorporate evidence.
• Write the concluding paragraph and make sure not to introduce any new information. Writers should simply restate the thesis, summarize the main themes of the paper, and make a concluding remark.
• The word count of the paper must be 250 words.

Points to Remember

• The introductory paragraph in the 250-word essay must conclude with a thesis sentence.
• The introductory paragraph must establish the context of the topic.
• The body paragraph(s) must open with a topic sentence.
• Incorporate evidence in the body paragraph(s).
• Observe the Sandwich Rule.
• The concluding paragraph must not introduce new information but summarize the entire 250-word essay.
• Restate the thesis in the concluding paragraph and make a concluding remark.
• The concluding remark should indicate the author’s independent thoughts about what they have written.
• Ensure there are no grammatical errors by reading through the 250-word essay at least twice.

To Learn More, Read Relevant Articles

How to write a perfect 500-word essay with samples and tips, how to write an abortion research paper correctly.

How to Write Your College Essay: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

Getting ready to start your college essay? Your essay is very important to your application — especially if you’re applying to selective colleges.

Become a stronger writer by reviewing your peers’ essays and get your essay reviewed as well for free.

We have regular livestreams during which we walk you through how to write your college essay and review essays live.

College Essay Basics

Just getting started on college essays? This section will guide you through how you should think about your college essays before you start.

• Why do essays matter in the college application process?
• What is a college application theme and how do you come up with one?
• How to format and structure your college essay

Before you move to the next section, make sure you understand:

How a college essay fits into your application

What a strong essay does for your chances

How to create an application theme

Learn the Types of College Essays

Next, let’s make sure you understand the different types of college essays. You’ll most likely be writing a Common App or Coalition App essay, and you can also be asked to write supplemental essays for each school. Each essay has a prompt asking a specific question. Each of these prompts falls into one of a few different types. Understanding the types will help you better answer the prompt and structure your essay.

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• Why This College Essay Examples
• How to Write The Overcoming Challenges Essay
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Identify how each prompt fits into an essay type

What each type of essay is really asking of you

How to write each essay effectively

The Common App essay

Almost every student will write a Common App essay, which is why it’s important you get this right.

• How to Write the Common App Essay
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• 5 Awesome College Essay Topics + Sample Essays
• 11 Cliché College Essay Topics + How to Fix Them

How to choose which Common App prompts to answer

How to write a successful Common App essay

What to avoid to stand out to admissions officers

Supplemental Essay Guides

Many schools, especially competitive ones, will ask you to write one or more supplemental essays. This allows a school to learn more about you and how you might fit into their culture.

These essays are extremely important in standing out. We’ve written guides for all the top schools. Follow the link below to find your school and read last year’s essay guides to give you a sense of the essay prompts. We’ll update these in August when schools release their prompts.

See last year’s supplemental essay guides to get a sense of the prompts for your schools.

Essay brainstorming and composition

Now that you’re starting to write your essay, let’s dive into the writing process. Below you’ll find our top articles on the craft of writing an amazing college essay.

• Where to Begin? 3 Personal Essay Brainstorming Exercises
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• How to Get the Perfect Hook for Your College Essay
• What If I Don’t Have Anything Interesting To Write About In My College Essay?
• 8 Do’s and Don’t for Crafting Your College Essay
• Stuck on Your College Essay? 8 Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block

Understand how to write a great hook for your essay

Complete the first drafts of your essay

Editing and polishing your essay

Have a first draft ready? See our top editing tips below. Also, you may want to submit your essay to our free Essay Peer Review to get quick feedback and join a community of other students working on their essays.

• 11 Tips for Proofreading and Editing Your College Essay
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• College Essay Checklist: Are You Ready to Submit?

Proofread and edited your essay.

Had someone else look through your essay — we recommend submitting it for a peer review.

Make sure your essay meets all requirements — consider signing up for a free account to view our per-prompt checklists to help you understand when you’re really ready to submit.

Advanced College Essay Techniques

Let’s take it one step further and see how we can make your college essay really stand out! We recommend reading through these posts when you have a draft to work with.

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