How to Write a Diagnostic Essay

Some students find writing a diagnostic essay confusing the first time they try it. A lot of colleges and universities in Canada start a course by asking students to write this kind of essay. The point is to find out how clearly and effectively a student can communicate and organize their ideas. We will show you a step-by-step diagnostic essay guide in this blog. When you are trying to clarify the structure or come up with ideas for your paper, you will find what you need here.

What is a Diagnostic Essay?

Diagnostic essay writing is a common exercise student typically do in their first class or within the first week of an academic term. The exercise and assignment provide the teacher with a baseline assessment of where the student is as a writer. Students are simply asked to write on a topic without any assistance, thereby demonstrating to the teacher their ability to organize their thoughts and coherently articulate their ideas.

The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate the student's abilities as a writer; there is no research aspect involved. With some practice by the student, who does take time to proofread the document, the student's writing structure (i.e., introduction, body, and conclusion), and writing itself will develop over time into an individual, confident style.

Diagnostic Essay Format and Structure

Writing this kind of essay requires remembering some basic points regarding organization. Similar to any type of essay, its format resembles that of an essay. Typically, they are divided into three salient divisions.

1. Introduction

The start of any essay is to set forth what is to be discussed about. This may involve including an attention-grabber. Then, you would write a couple of sentences stating what you are going to talk about. Before you end the introduction, make sure to clearly state your thesis. The thesis simply explains what exactly your essay will be all about.

2. Body Paragraphs

There will usually be two or three body paragraphs. Each paragraph should discuss one idea that supports the thesis. Begin each paragraph by stating the topic of the paragraph, followed by support through examples or descriptions of that topic. Use linking signals such as “first,” “next,” or “finally,” to clarify the essay's structure for the reader.

3. Conclusion

The conclusion must restate the main point of your work and summarize what you have discussed. Do not introduce new ideas in this section. End on a sentence that makes the readers feel good about your essay.

Canadian students would find it easier from the very beginning to write essays if they would always apply this Diagnostic Essay Format and Structure.

Step-by-Step Diagnostic Essay Guide

Here is a quick and simple guide that beginners can follow. By doing so, you would write the essay with confidence:

Step 1: Read the Prompt Carefully.

You must understand what the prompt is asking. Maybe reading it twice or thrice would assist in assimilating it before structuring the essay.

Step 2: Make an Outline

Jot down a sample for your diagnostic essay: You do not need to spend too much time doing this. Just list all the major points which you would like to discuss in the different parts of the essay.

• Introduction: Topic + Thesis
• Body Paragraph 1: The first reason + An example
• Body Paragraph 2: The second reason + An example
• Conclusion: Restate thesis + Summarize points

Step 3: Begin the Writing Process

Start with the introduction and write the body paragraphs. Finish off with a brief conclusion. Try to write everything at one go. Don't bother about the mistakes too much. 

Step 4: Revise and Edit

If time allows, re-read your essay and check for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and confusing sentences and try to enhance your expression wherever possible.

This diagnostic essay guide would help to keep your writing structured and effective.

Diagnostic Essay Topic Ideas

Sometimes students don’t know what to write about. Some of the commonly used topics in Canadian classrooms include:

• What is your biggest goal in life?
• Describe a person who has influenced you.
• What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
• Is social media helpful or harmful to students?
• What is your favorite subject and why?
• Describe a challenge you have overcome.

Choose a topic you feel comfortable working with. The key point is to clearly express your standpoint, backed by simple reasons. An array of diagnostic essay topics will save you time and will help you feel confident when your teacher assigns it to you for a writing task.

Sample Diagnostic Essay Outline Example

To simplify the situation, here's a Diagnostic Essay topic idea based on the topic: What is your favorite season and why?

Introduction:

Catch: "Every person has a favorite time of year."

Topic: "For me that season is winter."

Thesis: "Winter is my favorite season because of the snow, the holidays and the warm beverages."

Body Paragraph 1:

Topic sentence: "The snow really adds a sheer magic to winter."

Example: "I enjoy building snowmen and having snowball fights."

Body Paragraph 2:

Topic sentence: "The holidays in winter are cozy and joyful and provide a chance to celebrate with family."

Example: "Christmas and New Year's celebrations are what makes winter special."

Body Paragraph 3:

Topic sentence: "The idea of sipping hot cocoa while enveloped in a blanket is the best."

Example: "It invokes all the cozy and relaxed feelings through those cold winter evenings."

Conclusion:

Restatement of thesis: "The winter I know is the best season because of snow, holidays and hot drinks."

Closing sentence: "I always look forward to this time of year."

Utilizing a diagnostic essay outline example like the one above can help Canadian students stay on task and produce better essays within a time frame.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, writing a diagnostic essay may seem hard at first, but it is a relatively easy process. With a straightforward structure made up of an introduction, body, and conclusion, you can focus on expressing your ideas clearly. The aim of a diagnostic essay is to show the reader you can organize and logically express thoughts, and you do not have to do any research. By reading the prompt carefully, developing a basic outline, and writing in logically organized paragraphs, you are well on your way! Don't forget that proofreading and editing, when possible, will improve your work!