Before we begin, let’s first understand the meaning of an anecdote. Well, these are short stories about an experience that’s closely related to what you’re writing. It could be your own experience or a borrowed one, as long as it’s relevant to your essay.
An example of an anecdote used in real-life situations is interrupting your line of thought to give a story relevant to what you were talking about.
Let’s look at how to use anecdotes in your essay.
Why Use Anecdotes?
Good question, right? Like why would you interrupt your reader with a story when you can use simple words to explain what you’re saying? Well, story-telling is an excellent way of keeping the attention of a reader.
When you tell people something relevant to what you’re writing, they’re related more with your write up.
Giving your essay a personal perspective makes people think about their own experiences as they read. It also makes it easy for you to illustrate the points you’re trying to make.
The best thing about anecdotes is that they can use in different essays. You can use them when writing non-fiction, as well as formal essays, or when you are willing to get assistance with exact sciences as a math or physics homework help.
They liven up write-ups because the reader can focus on an exciting story for a short while before they go back to the subject matter.
How to Write an Anecdote
Now let’s get down to it!
To begin with, you should make sure that your anecdote is relevant to what you’re writing. Context is essential when you’re incorporating a short story.
For instance, if you’re writing about a dog, telling a story about your cat is going off-topic. Even though both of them are house pets, a can is wildly different from a dog.
Always ask yourself why you need to incorporate the anecdote in the first place. Don’t just do it for the sake of it.
Other questions you should also yourself include;
- Who was involved in the story?
- What happened in your story?
- When did it happen?
- Where did it happen?
- Is this relevant?
Even though an anecdote is a short story, you should structure it the same way you would, a long story. First, introduce it, say what happened, and then draw a conclusion that corresponds with the point you’re trying to make. Alternatively, you can also a question and let your readers let their judgment.
The most important aspect of an anecdote is the punchline. Whether your punchline intended to be hilarious or severe, make sure the story builds up to it. Since you should save the best for last, your punchline should be the very last thing you detail.
As you begin your anecdote, make sure the first thing you mention if the characters involved in your story.
The Differences between Anecdotes and Stories
The main difference between anecdotes and standard stories is that anecdotes are short. Your anecdote should not be more than two paragraphs.
When you write stories, you get to include more details because you need to draw the reader into your scenes. In anecdote, however, the main aim is to illustrate further a point you’re making in an essay.
Your anecdote can be as short as one sentence. Examples include;
- “My dog always wants to play when I get home from work.”
- “Nicole is so aggressive; she always gets what she sets her mind to.”
- “When I was in college, I worked in the school’s cafeteria over the weekends.”
That said, you should know that these are not great anecdotes, but they’re anecdotes nonetheless.
Conclusion
Incorporating an anecdote is an excellent way of illustrating your points in a write-up. It’s also a go-to for anyone who wants to make their article longer. Make sure that the short story you’re incorporating is relevant to the topic you’re discussing.
