facts essay name

Essays | Definition, Types, Examples, & Facts About Them

Essays, a cornerstone of written expression, have long been revered for their ability to encapsulate a writer’s viewpoint, unleash persuasive arguments, and invite readers into a captivating realm of thought. As versatile as they are profound, essays hold the power to inform, persuade, and entertain, making them an invaluable medium of communication. In this illuminating exploration, we embark on a journey that unravels the essence of the essay, dissecting its multifaceted nature, exploring its diverse types, and uncovering the intricate tapestry of this popular form of written expression . Join us as we traverse the labyrinth of ideas, guided by the powerful words that shape our understanding and transform mere thoughts into transformative narratives.

What is an essay?

An essay, a literary composition that serves as a medium for expressing a writer’s thoughts, ideas, or arguments on a particular subject, holds a prominent position in the realm of written expression. Within the confines of its structure, the essay grants authors the opportunity to present their unique perspective and offer insightful analysis on topics of interest. Covering a wide range of subjects, including literature, history, science, philosophy, and more, essays embody the essence of communication, bridging the gap between writers and readers. Through the written word , essays become vehicles for conveying knowledge and sharing personal opinions, fostering an exchange of ideas that enriches our understanding of the world.

Types of essays

• Essays come in various forms, each with its own unique characteristics and purposes. Some of the common types of essays include argumentative essays, expository essays, narrative essays, and descriptive essays. Let’s explore each type in detail.
• Argumentative essays require the writer to present a strong argument and support it with credible evidence. The goal is to convince the reader to adopt a specific viewpoint or take a particular course of action.
• Expository essays aim to explain or describe a topic in a clear and concise manner. They provide information, facts, and analysis without expressing personal opinions.
• Narrative essays tell a story, often based on personal experiences or events. They engage the reader through vivid storytelling and evoke emotions while conveying a central message .
• Descriptive essays focus on painting a detailed picture of a person, place, object, or event. They use sensory language and vivid descriptions to create a vivid and engaging experience for the reader.
• In addition to these essay types, there are various other aspects related to writing and the writing process. Writing prompts can provide inspiration and ideas for writers who may be stuck or seeking new avenues to explore. They serve as a starting point to unleash creativity and engage in free writing exercises.
• Writing a book is a daunting yet rewarding endeavor for aspiring authors. It requires dedication, planning, and a clear understanding of the writing process. Writing prompts can also be beneficial in generating ideas for a book and overcoming writer’s block.
• Essay writing involves following a structured process that includes brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising, and editing. It is important to develop strong writing skills to effectively communicate ideas and engage readers.
• Creative writing is an outlet for self-expression, allowing writers to explore their imagination and craft compelling stories. Writing prompts specifically designed for creative writing can spark inspiration and push writers to think outside the box.
• Content writing is a skill required in various professional settings, such as blogging, website content creation, and marketing. Writers in this field must have a strong command of language and the ability to adapt their writing style to different purposes and target audiences.
• There are numerous writing apps and websites available to assist writers in their creative process, providing tools for organization, brainstorming, and editing. These resources can enhance productivity and streamline the writing workflow.
• Whether writing fiction or nonfiction, short stories or novels, writers need to develop their skills and find their unique voice. Practice, dedication, and feedback from writing communities can contribute to the growth and improvement of a writer. Therefore, writing encompasses a vast array of forms and purposes. From argumentative and expository essays to narrative and descriptive essays, each type serves a distinct function. Writing prompts, the writing process, and various resources support writers in their creative endeavors. So, grab a pen, embrace your imagination, and let your words flow freely as you embark on your writing journey .

Examples of essays

To better comprehend the diverse facets of writing, let’s delve into a plethora of writing forms:

• Argumentative essay: “Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished?” This thought-provoking and contentious essay artfully presents compelling arguments concerning the ethical, legal, and societal implications surrounding the abolishment of the death penalty. By meticulously examining both sides of the debate, it invites readers to engage in critical thinking and fosters a profound discussion on this highly contested topic.
• Expository essay: “The History of the Essay” Embarking on a captivating journey through time, this expository essay meticulously traces the origins and evolution of the essay as a distinct literary form. It chronicles the contributions of influential essayists throughout the ages, delving into their profound impact on the development and transformation of this genre. By providing a comprehensive historical overview, this essay enlightens readers about the captivating evolution of essay writing.
• Narrative essay: “My First Day of School” With heartfelt sincerity, this deeply personal narrative essay artfully captures the writer’s vivid experiences and raw emotions during their momentous first day of school. It immerses readers in a poignant recollection of the writer’s excitement, nervousness, and eager anticipation, effortlessly conveying the universal significance of this memorable milestone in one’s life.
• Descriptive essay: “The Smell of Rain” Through skillful and evocative language, this descriptive essay skillfully harnesses the power of words to paint a vivid sensory experience for the reader. By masterfully portraying the unique aroma and ambiance that accompanies rainfall, it transports readers into a captivating scene, igniting their senses and eliciting a cascade of memories and emotions associated with the rain’s intoxicating scent.

Facts about essays

Here are some essential facts to know about essays:

• Essays, in their diverse forms, serve as a profound means of conveying viewpoints, capturing thoughts, and presenting compelling arguments on a myriad of topics. They offer a rich and expansive platform for individuals to express their perspectives, ideas, and emotions, engaging readers in an enlightening journey of exploration and discourse.
• When it comes to essays, their purpose extends beyond a mere conveyance of information. They possess the power to inform, persuade, and entertain, each essay crafted with a specific intention in mind. The chosen purpose guides the tone, style, and structure of the essay, shaping its form and impact on the reader.
• As we embark on an in-depth exploration of the art of essay writing, it becomes evident that essays are not limited to a singular template. They come in various shapes and sizes, each tailored to suit the specific needs and objectives of the author. From scholarly dissertations to personal reflections, from investigative reports to creative narratives, essays manifest in a multitude of forms, transcending the boundaries of conventional communication.
• Delving into the structure of an essay, we find a well-established framework that encompasses three fundamental components: the introduction, body, and conclusion. In the introductory section, a carefully crafted thesis statement emerges, serving as the cornerstone of the essay. This concise yet powerful statement encapsulates the core idea that will be expounded upon and explored throughout the essay, laying the groundwork for the ensuing discourse.
• Moving onward to the body of the essay, a wealth of supporting evidence and analysis takes center stage. This is where the author’s expertise, research, and critical thinking skills converge, unveiling a tapestry of compelling arguments, vivid examples, and thought-provoking insights. Each paragraph within the body delves into a specific aspect, presenting a coherent progression of ideas that reinforce the central thesis statement. By employing a variety of rhetorical devices, such as logical reasoning, persuasive appeals, and meticulous analysis, the author endeavors to captivate the reader’s attention and elicit a profound intellectual engagement.
• Finally, the essay culminates in its conclusion, a pivotal segment that synthesizes the main ideas and reaffirms the thesis statement. Here, the author skillfull y weaves together the threads of their arguments, providing a concise summary of the key points and leaving a lasting impression on the reader’s mind. The conclusion serves as the ultimate opportunity for the author to leave a thought-provoking parting note, leaving the reader with a sense of closure and a lingering contemplation of the essay’s significance.
• Now, as we embark on an exploration of various types of essays, we are presented with a myriad of opportunities to delve deeper into the art of expression and persuasion. Whether it is the argumentative essay, where the author passionately presents their stance on a controversial topic, skillfully navigating the intricate web of ethical, legal, and societal considerations, or the expository essay, where the author assumes the role of a knowledgeable guide, leading the reader through the rich tapestry of history and evolution of the essay as a literary form, each type offers a distinct flavor of engagement and intellectual stimulation.
• The narrative essay, with its captivating storytelling prowess, invites the reader into the intimate realm of personal experiences. Through vivid descriptions and heartfelt reflections, the writer transports the reader to pivotal moments, such as the exhilarating first day of school, where emotions run high and new beginnings unfold. These narratives weave together a tapestry of emotions, painting a vivid picture that resonates with readers on a deeply personal level.
• Meanwhile, the descriptive essay unleashes the power of sensory language, enveloping the reader in a sensory experience that transcends the boundaries of mere words. One such example is the evocative portrayal of the unique aroma and ethereal atmosphere that accompanies rainfall. Through skillful word choice and vibrant imagery , the writer recreates the essence of the rain’s scent, transporting the reader to a world where memories are revived and emotions are rekindled.
• As we conclude this exploration of essays, we are reminded of their immense potential to enlighten, provoke thought, and stir emotions. They serve as a testament to the power of language, allowing us to connect, communicate, and understand one another on a deeper level. So, whether it is the quest for knowledge, the pursuit of change, or the simple pleasure of immersing oneself in a captivating narrative, essays stand as timeless vehicles for human expression, shaping our collective understanding and fostering a world enriched by the power of words.

Essays offer a diverse range of literary expression, enabling writers to convey their thoughts and ideas effectively. From the persuasive arguments of argumentative essays to the informative nature of expository essays, the captivating narratives of narrative essays, and the vivid descriptions of descriptive essays, each genre brings its own distinct qualities and purposes. As writers, we have the power to choose the essay form that best suits our intentions , engaging readers and leaving a lasting impact. So, let your creativity flow and explore the world of essays, embracing the richness of each genre’s unique storytelling techniques and captivating readers with your words.

Also, essays are a versatile form of writing that can be used for a variety of purposes. By understanding the different types of essays and how to write them effectively, you can improve your writing skills and communicate your ideas more effectively. Remember to choose a topic of interest, conduct thorough research, organize your thoughts, and craft a clear and concise introduction. Support your arguments with evidence and personal experience, and conclude your essay by summarizing the main points and restating the thesis. Finally, proofread your work meticulously to ensure clarity and coherence. Embrace the power of essays as a medium to express your thoughts, inform others, and engage in meaningful discussions.

If you find yourself in need of assistance with your essays or seeking expert guidance, consider bringing your essays to GradeSmiths . With their team of experienced writers and editors, GradeSmiths can provide valuable feedback, editing services, and guidance to help you refine your essays to their fullest potential. Whether you need help with structure, grammar, or overall content, GradeSmiths can be a valuable resource on your writing journey .

So, as you embark on your essay-writing endeavors, remember the power and impact of this form of expression. Embrace the opportunity to share your ideas, educate others, and inspire thoughtful discussions. And when you require extra support, don’t hesitate to seek assistance from professionals like GradeSmiths. With their expertise, your essays can truly shine and make a lasting impression.

Happy writing and best of luck with your future essays!

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Understanding Claim of Fact: Essay Examples and Topics

Introduction

Welcome to The Knowledge Nest's comprehensive guide on understanding claim of fact essays. In this article, we will dive into the concept of claim of fact essays, explore various examples, and provide you with helpful tips to structure and write your own compelling essays.

What is a Claim of Fact Essay?

A claim of fact essay is a type of academic writing that aims to present an argument supported by evidence to prove a certain statement or fact. Unlike opinion-based essays, claim of fact essays require thorough research and an emphasis on objective information rather than personal beliefs or biases.

These essays typically involve analyzing data, statistics, expert opinions, and historical events to support or refute a specific claim. The goal is to provide a logical and convincing argument that is rooted in factual evidence.

Examples of Claim of Fact Essay Topics

Claim of fact essays cover a wide range of topics across various disciplines. Here are some examples of claim of fact essay topics that you can explore:

• The Impact of Climate Change on Global Agriculture
• The Connection between Social Media Usage and Mental Health
• The Effectiveness of Vaccines in Preventing Infectious Diseases
• The Influence of Technology on Children's Cognitive Development
• The Relationship between Education and Economic Growth

These topics serve as a starting point for your claim of fact essays. However, you can choose to focus on any subject that interests you, as long as it follows the guidelines of this type of essay.

How to Structure a Claim of Fact Essay

Structure plays a crucial role in crafting an effective claim of fact essay. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you structure your essay:

• Introduction: Start with a captivating opening that grabs the reader's attention and clearly states your claim of fact. Provide some background information on the topic and outline your main arguments.
• Body Paragraphs: Present your evidence and supporting arguments in a logical, well-organized manner. Each body paragraph should focus on a single point, providing relevant evidence, data, or examples to strengthen your claim.
• Counterarguments: Address potential counterarguments and refute them with strong evidence or logical reasoning. Acknowledging opposing viewpoints and effectively rebutting them adds credibility to your essay.
• Conclusion: Summarize your main points, restate your claim of fact, and emphasize the significance of your argument. Leave the reader with a thought-provoking closing statement.

By following this structure, you will present your claim of fact essay in a well-organized and persuasive manner, increasing its impact on your readers.

Writing a Compelling Claim of Fact Essay

Writing a compelling claim of fact essay requires more than just accurate information. Here are some additional tips to make your essay stand out:

• Thorough Research: Conduct in-depth research to gather reliable and relevant sources. Cite your sources accurately to maintain credibility and avoid plagiarism.
• Strong Supporting Evidence: Use a combination of statistical data, expert opinions, real-life examples, and historical events to support your claims. The stronger your evidence, the more persuasive your essay will be.
• Clear and Concise Language: Avoid jargon or overly complex language that may confuse your readers. Use clear and concise language to convey your arguments effectively.
• Logical Reasoning: Ensure that your essay follows a logical flow of ideas. Each paragraph should build upon the previous one, leading the reader towards your desired conclusion.
• Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your essay, carefully proofread it for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Editing your work ensures a polished and professional final piece.

By incorporating these tips into your writing process, you will create a compelling claim of fact essay that not only convinces your readers but also showcases your analytical and critical thinking skills.

Congratulations! You now have a better understanding of claim of fact essays, from their definition to structuring and writing tips. Remember to choose a compelling topic, conduct thorough research, and present your arguments with strong supporting evidence.

By mastering the art of claim of fact essays, you will be able to express your viewpoints eloquently and persuasively, leaving a lasting impression on your readers. Start crafting your own claim of fact essays with The Knowledge Nest today!

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 3 strong argumentative essay examples, analyzed.

General Education

Need to defend your opinion on an issue? Argumentative essays are one of the most popular types of essays you’ll write in school. They combine persuasive arguments with fact-based research, and, when done well, can be powerful tools for making someone agree with your point of view. If you’re struggling to write an argumentative essay or just want to learn more about them, seeing examples can be a big help.

After giving an overview of this type of essay, we provide three argumentative essay examples. After each essay, we explain in-depth how the essay was structured, what worked, and where the essay could be improved. We end with tips for making your own argumentative essay as strong as possible.

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is an essay that uses evidence and facts to support the claim it’s making. Its purpose is to persuade the reader to agree with the argument being made.

A good argumentative essay will use facts and evidence to support the argument, rather than just the author’s thoughts and opinions. For example, say you wanted to write an argumentative essay stating that Charleston, SC is a great destination for families. You couldn’t just say that it’s a great place because you took your family there and enjoyed it. For it to be an argumentative essay, you need to have facts and data to support your argument, such as the number of child-friendly attractions in Charleston, special deals you can get with kids, and surveys of people who visited Charleston as a family and enjoyed it. The first argument is based entirely on feelings, whereas the second is based on evidence that can be proven.

The standard five paragraph format is common, but not required, for argumentative essays. These essays typically follow one of two formats: the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model.

• The Toulmin model is the most common. It begins with an introduction, follows with a thesis/claim, and gives data and evidence to support that claim. This style of essay also includes rebuttals of counterarguments.
• The Rogerian model analyzes two sides of an argument and reaches a conclusion after weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each.

3 Good Argumentative Essay Examples + Analysis

Below are three examples of argumentative essays, written by yours truly in my school days, as well as analysis of what each did well and where it could be improved.

Argumentative Essay Example 1

Proponents of this idea state that it will save local cities and towns money because libraries are expensive to maintain. They also believe it will encourage more people to read because they won’t have to travel to a library to get a book; they can simply click on what they want to read and read it from wherever they are. They could also access more materials because libraries won’t have to buy physical copies of books; they can simply rent out as many digital copies as they need.

However, it would be a serious mistake to replace libraries with tablets. First, digital books and resources are associated with less learning and more problems than print resources. A study done on tablet vs book reading found that people read 20-30% slower on tablets, retain 20% less information, and understand 10% less of what they read compared to people who read the same information in print. Additionally, staring too long at a screen has been shown to cause numerous health problems, including blurred vision, dizziness, dry eyes, headaches, and eye strain, at much higher instances than reading print does. People who use tablets and mobile devices excessively also have a higher incidence of more serious health issues such as fibromyalgia, shoulder and back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and muscle strain. I know that whenever I read from my e-reader for too long, my eyes begin to feel tired and my neck hurts. We should not add to these problems by giving people, especially young people, more reasons to look at screens.

Second, it is incredibly narrow-minded to assume that the only service libraries offer is book lending. Libraries have a multitude of benefits, and many are only available if the library has a physical location. Some of these benefits include acting as a quiet study space, giving people a way to converse with their neighbors, holding classes on a variety of topics, providing jobs, answering patron questions, and keeping the community connected. One neighborhood found that, after a local library instituted community events such as play times for toddlers and parents, job fairs for teenagers, and meeting spaces for senior citizens, over a third of residents reported feeling more connected to their community. Similarly, a Pew survey conducted in 2015 found that nearly two-thirds of American adults feel that closing their local library would have a major impact on their community. People see libraries as a way to connect with others and get their questions answered, benefits tablets can’t offer nearly as well or as easily.

While replacing libraries with tablets may seem like a simple solution, it would encourage people to spend even more time looking at digital screens, despite the myriad issues surrounding them. It would also end access to many of the benefits of libraries that people have come to rely on. In many areas, libraries are such an important part of the community network that they could never be replaced by a simple object.

The author begins by giving an overview of the counter-argument, then the thesis appears as the first sentence in the third paragraph. The essay then spends the rest of the paper dismantling the counter argument and showing why readers should believe the other side.

What this essay does well:

• Although it’s a bit unusual to have the thesis appear fairly far into the essay, it works because, once the thesis is stated, the rest of the essay focuses on supporting it since the counter-argument has already been discussed earlier in the paper.
• This essay includes numerous facts and cites studies to support its case. By having specific data to rely on, the author’s argument is stronger and readers will be more inclined to agree with it.
• For every argument the other side makes, the author makes sure to refute it and follow up with why her opinion is the stronger one. In order to make a strong argument, it’s important to dismantle the other side, which this essay does this by making the author's view appear stronger.
• This is a shorter paper, and if it needed to be expanded to meet length requirements, it could include more examples and go more into depth with them, such as by explaining specific cases where people benefited from local libraries.
• Additionally, while the paper uses lots of data, the author also mentions their own experience with using tablets. This should be removed since argumentative essays focus on facts and data to support an argument, not the author’s own opinion or experiences. Replacing that with more data on health issues associated with screen time would strengthen the essay.
• Some of the points made aren't completely accurate , particularly the one about digital books being cheaper. It actually often costs a library more money to rent out numerous digital copies of a book compared to buying a single physical copy. Make sure in your own essay you thoroughly research each of the points and rebuttals you make, otherwise you'll look like you don't know the issue that well.

Argumentative Essay Example 2

There are multiple drugs available to treat malaria, and many of them work well and save lives, but malaria eradication programs that focus too much on them and not enough on prevention haven’t seen long-term success in Sub-Saharan Africa. A major program to combat malaria was WHO’s Global Malaria Eradication Programme. Started in 1955, it had a goal of eliminating malaria in Africa within the next ten years. Based upon previously successful programs in Brazil and the United States, the program focused mainly on vector control. This included widely distributing chloroquine and spraying large amounts of DDT. More than one billion dollars was spent trying to abolish malaria. However, the program suffered from many problems and in 1969, WHO was forced to admit that the program had not succeeded in eradicating malaria. The number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa who contracted malaria as well as the number of malaria deaths had actually increased over 10% during the time the program was active.

One of the major reasons for the failure of the project was that it set uniform strategies and policies. By failing to consider variations between governments, geography, and infrastructure, the program was not nearly as successful as it could have been. Sub-Saharan Africa has neither the money nor the infrastructure to support such an elaborate program, and it couldn’t be run the way it was meant to. Most African countries don't have the resources to send all their people to doctors and get shots, nor can they afford to clear wetlands or other malaria prone areas. The continent’s spending per person for eradicating malaria was just a quarter of what Brazil spent. Sub-Saharan Africa simply can’t rely on a plan that requires more money, infrastructure, and expertise than they have to spare.

Additionally, the widespread use of chloroquine has created drug resistant parasites which are now plaguing Sub-Saharan Africa. Because chloroquine was used widely but inconsistently, mosquitoes developed resistance, and chloroquine is now nearly completely ineffective in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 95% of mosquitoes resistant to it. As a result, newer, more expensive drugs need to be used to prevent and treat malaria, which further drives up the cost of malaria treatment for a region that can ill afford it.

Instead of developing plans to treat malaria after the infection has incurred, programs should focus on preventing infection from occurring in the first place. Not only is this plan cheaper and more effective, reducing the number of people who contract malaria also reduces loss of work/school days which can further bring down the productivity of the region.

One of the cheapest and most effective ways of preventing malaria is to implement insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs).  These nets provide a protective barrier around the person or people using them. While untreated bed nets are still helpful, those treated with insecticides are much more useful because they stop mosquitoes from biting people through the nets, and they help reduce mosquito populations in a community, thus helping people who don’t even own bed nets.  Bed nets are also very effective because most mosquito bites occur while the person is sleeping, so bed nets would be able to drastically reduce the number of transmissions during the night. In fact, transmission of malaria can be reduced by as much as 90% in areas where the use of ITNs is widespread. Because money is so scarce in Sub-Saharan Africa, the low cost is a great benefit and a major reason why the program is so successful. Bed nets cost roughly 2 USD to make, last several years, and can protect two adults. Studies have shown that, for every 100-1000 more nets are being used, one less child dies of malaria. With an estimated 300 million people in Africa not being protected by mosquito nets, there’s the potential to save three million lives by spending just a few dollars per person.

Reducing the number of people who contract malaria would also reduce poverty levels in Africa significantly, thus improving other aspects of society like education levels and the economy. Vector control is more effective than treatment strategies because it means fewer people are getting sick. When fewer people get sick, the working population is stronger as a whole because people are not put out of work from malaria, nor are they caring for sick relatives. Malaria-afflicted families can typically only harvest 40% of the crops that healthy families can harvest. Additionally, a family with members who have malaria spends roughly a quarter of its income treatment, not including the loss of work they also must deal with due to the illness. It’s estimated that malaria costs Africa 12 billion USD in lost income every year. A strong working population creates a stronger economy, which Sub-Saharan Africa is in desperate need of.  

This essay begins with an introduction, which ends with the thesis (that malaria eradication plans in Sub-Saharan Africa should focus on prevention rather than treatment). The first part of the essay lays out why the counter argument (treatment rather than prevention) is not as effective, and the second part of the essay focuses on why prevention of malaria is the better path to take.

• The thesis appears early, is stated clearly, and is supported throughout the rest of the essay. This makes the argument clear for readers to understand and follow throughout the essay.
• There’s lots of solid research in this essay, including specific programs that were conducted and how successful they were, as well as specific data mentioned throughout. This evidence helps strengthen the author’s argument.
• The author makes a case for using expanding bed net use over waiting until malaria occurs and beginning treatment, but not much of a plan is given for how the bed nets would be distributed or how to ensure they’re being used properly. By going more into detail of what she believes should be done, the author would be making a stronger argument.
• The introduction of the essay does a good job of laying out the seriousness of the problem, but the conclusion is short and abrupt. Expanding it into its own paragraph would give the author a final way to convince readers of her side of the argument.

Argumentative Essay Example 3

There are many ways payments could work. They could be in the form of a free-market approach, where athletes are able to earn whatever the market is willing to pay them, it could be a set amount of money per athlete, or student athletes could earn income from endorsements, autographs, and control of their likeness, similar to the way top Olympians earn money.

Proponents of the idea believe that, because college athletes are the ones who are training, participating in games, and bringing in audiences, they should receive some sort of compensation for their work. If there were no college athletes, the NCAA wouldn’t exist, college coaches wouldn’t receive there (sometimes very high) salaries, and brands like Nike couldn’t profit from college sports. In fact, the NCAA brings in roughly $1 billion in revenue a year, but college athletes don’t receive any of that money in the form of a paycheck. Additionally, people who believe college athletes should be paid state that paying college athletes will actually encourage them to remain in college longer and not turn pro as quickly, either by giving them a way to begin earning money in college or requiring them to sign a contract stating they’ll stay at the university for a certain number of years while making an agreed-upon salary.  

Supporters of this idea point to Zion Williamson, the Duke basketball superstar, who, during his freshman year, sustained a serious knee injury. Many argued that, even if he enjoyed playing for Duke, it wasn’t worth risking another injury and ending his professional career before it even began for a program that wasn’t paying him. Williamson seems to have agreed with them and declared his eligibility for the NCAA draft later that year. If he was being paid, he may have stayed at Duke longer. In fact, roughly a third of student athletes surveyed stated that receiving a salary while in college would make them “strongly consider” remaining collegiate athletes longer before turning pro.

Paying athletes could also stop the recruitment scandals that have plagued the NCAA. In 2018, the NCAA stripped the University of Louisville's men's basketball team of its 2013 national championship title because it was discovered coaches were using sex workers to entice recruits to join the team. There have been dozens of other recruitment scandals where college athletes and recruits have been bribed with anything from having their grades changed, to getting free cars, to being straight out bribed. By paying college athletes and putting their salaries out in the open, the NCAA could end the illegal and underhanded ways some schools and coaches try to entice athletes to join.

People who argue against the idea of paying college athletes believe the practice could be disastrous for college sports. By paying athletes, they argue, they’d turn college sports into a bidding war, where only the richest schools could afford top athletes, and the majority of schools would be shut out from developing a talented team (though some argue this already happens because the best players often go to the most established college sports programs, who typically pay their coaches millions of dollars per year). It could also ruin the tight camaraderie of many college teams if players become jealous that certain teammates are making more money than they are.

They also argue that paying college athletes actually means only a small fraction would make significant money. Out of the 350 Division I athletic departments, fewer than a dozen earn any money. Nearly all the money the NCAA makes comes from men’s football and basketball, so paying college athletes would make a small group of men--who likely will be signed to pro teams and begin making millions immediately out of college--rich at the expense of other players.

Those against paying college athletes also believe that the athletes are receiving enough benefits already. The top athletes already receive scholarships that are worth tens of thousands per year, they receive free food/housing/textbooks, have access to top medical care if they are injured, receive top coaching, get travel perks and free gear, and can use their time in college as a way to capture the attention of professional recruiters. No other college students receive anywhere near as much from their schools.

People on this side also point out that, while the NCAA brings in a massive amount of money each year, it is still a non-profit organization. How? Because over 95% of those profits are redistributed to its members’ institutions in the form of scholarships, grants, conferences, support for Division II and Division III teams, and educational programs. Taking away a significant part of that revenue would hurt smaller programs that rely on that money to keep running.

While both sides have good points, it’s clear that the negatives of paying college athletes far outweigh the positives. College athletes spend a significant amount of time and energy playing for their school, but they are compensated for it by the scholarships and perks they receive. Adding a salary to that would result in a college athletic system where only a small handful of athletes (those likely to become millionaires in the professional leagues) are paid by a handful of schools who enter bidding wars to recruit them, while the majority of student athletics and college athletic programs suffer or even shut down for lack of money. Continuing to offer the current level of benefits to student athletes makes it possible for as many people to benefit from and enjoy college sports as possible.

This argumentative essay follows the Rogerian model. It discusses each side, first laying out multiple reasons people believe student athletes should be paid, then discussing reasons why the athletes shouldn’t be paid. It ends by stating that college athletes shouldn’t be paid by arguing that paying them would destroy college athletics programs and cause them to have many of the issues professional sports leagues have.

• Both sides of the argument are well developed, with multiple reasons why people agree with each side. It allows readers to get a full view of the argument and its nuances.
• Certain statements on both sides are directly rebuffed in order to show where the strengths and weaknesses of each side lie and give a more complete and sophisticated look at the argument.
• Using the Rogerian model can be tricky because oftentimes you don’t explicitly state your argument until the end of the paper. Here, the thesis doesn’t appear until the first sentence of the final paragraph. That doesn’t give readers a lot of time to be convinced that your argument is the right one, compared to a paper where the thesis is stated in the beginning and then supported throughout the paper. This paper could be strengthened if the final paragraph was expanded to more fully explain why the author supports the view, or if the paper had made it clearer that paying athletes was the weaker argument throughout.

3 Tips for Writing a Good Argumentative Essay

Now that you’ve seen examples of what good argumentative essay samples look like, follow these three tips when crafting your own essay.

#1: Make Your Thesis Crystal Clear

The thesis is the key to your argumentative essay; if it isn’t clear or readers can’t find it easily, your entire essay will be weak as a result. Always make sure that your thesis statement is easy to find. The typical spot for it is the final sentence of the introduction paragraph, but if it doesn’t fit in that spot for your essay, try to at least put it as the first or last sentence of a different paragraph so it stands out more.

Also make sure that your thesis makes clear what side of the argument you’re on. After you’ve written it, it’s a great idea to show your thesis to a couple different people--classmates are great for this. Just by reading your thesis they should be able to understand what point you’ll be trying to make with the rest of your essay.

#2: Show Why the Other Side Is Weak

When writing your essay, you may be tempted to ignore the other side of the argument and just focus on your side, but don’t do this. The best argumentative essays really tear apart the other side to show why readers shouldn’t believe it. Before you begin writing your essay, research what the other side believes, and what their strongest points are. Then, in your essay, be sure to mention each of these and use evidence to explain why they’re incorrect/weak arguments. That’ll make your essay much more effective than if you only focused on your side of the argument.

#3: Use Evidence to Support Your Side

Remember, an essay can’t be an argumentative essay if it doesn’t support its argument with evidence. For every point you make, make sure you have facts to back it up. Some examples are previous studies done on the topic, surveys of large groups of people, data points, etc. There should be lots of numbers in your argumentative essay that support your side of the argument. This will make your essay much stronger compared to only relying on your own opinions to support your argument.

Summary: Argumentative Essay Sample

Argumentative essays are persuasive essays that use facts and evidence to support their side of the argument. Most argumentative essays follow either the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model. By reading good argumentative essay examples, you can learn how to develop your essay and provide enough support to make readers agree with your opinion. When writing your essay, remember to always make your thesis clear, show where the other side is weak, and back up your opinion with data and evidence.

What's Next?

Do you need to write an argumentative essay as well? Check out our guide on the best argumentative essay topics for ideas!

You'll probably also need to write research papers for school. We've got you covered with 113 potential topics for research papers.

Your college admissions essay may end up being one of the most important essays you write. Follow our step-by-step guide on writing a personal statement to have an essay that'll impress colleges.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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22 Interesting Facts about Writing

Fun facts from the world of writing

Since we launched this blog in 2012, we’ve uncovered all sorts of curious facts about the written word. We’ve also encountered some interesting trivia about the process of writing, and about how writers write. We hope you enjoy them.

Elizabethan scribe Peter Bales reportedly produced a complete, handwritten copy of the Bible so small it could fit inside a walnut shell.

Friedrich von Schiller kept rotten apples in his desk, claiming he needed the scent of their decay to help him write.

Edith Sitwell reportedly liked to lie in an open coffin before she began her day’s writing.

John Steinbeck used 300 pencils to write East of Eden and was known to use up to 60 pencils in a day.

The word ‘mogigraphia’ means ‘writer’s cramp’.

The word ‘colygraphia’ means ‘writer’s block’.

Gertrude Stein claimed the water-drinking patterns of her dog, Basket, taught her the difference between sentences and paragraphs in writing.

Vladimir Nabokov and Gertrude Stein both liked to write while sitting in a parked car.

Poet Amy Lowell once bought a stash of 10,000 cigars, claiming she needed them to help her write.

Graham Greene would write 500 words a day and then stop – even in the middle of a sentence.

Anthony Trollope began his writing day at 5.30 every morning. He would write 250 words every 15 minutes, pacing himself with a watch.

J. R. R. Tolkien thought there were no new stories but only a ‘Cauldron of Story’ which writers dip into as they write.

Agatha Christie suffered from dysgraphia which meant she could not write legibly; as a result, she dictated all of her novels.

When Dr. Seuss was stuck writing his books, he would go to a secret closet filled with hundreds of hats and wear them till the words came.

Truman Capote would often write while lying on his back, with a glass of sherry in one hand and a pencil in the other.

Ernest Hemingway and Truman Capote both sharpened pencils to help them think while they were writing.

In the 1891 UK census, 6,000 respondents identified themselves as writers, editors, or journalists; by 1901, the figure had risen to 11,000.

The first published novel that was ‘written’ on a word-processor was Len Deighton’s 1968 novel Bomber .

The first philosopher to ‘write’ on a typewriter was Friedrich Nietzsche.

Alfred Hitchcock once rang Georges Simenon only to learn the prolific author was writing a novel. ‘Let him finish,’ he said; ‘I’ll hang on.’

‘Scrabblement’ is a rare 17 th -century word referring to ‘writing of a rambling character like that of a madman’.

‘Typomania’ denotes a mania for writing for publication.

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15 thoughts on “22 Interesting Facts about Writing”

A great compilation here and love the idea of Dr Seuss and all his different hats!

How can you miss out The Seven Basic Plots by Christopher Booker!

Reblogged this on Greek Canadian Literature .

My dog can go all day without drinking. Then when he does, he drinks the whole bowl. Wonder what that would have done to Gertrude Stein’s writing.

Also the number of writers who write or wrote in garden sheds!

Terrific. Loved reading each of the facts.

Thank you! :)

I loved Tolkein’s ‘Cauldron of Story’ – much more poetic and dynamic than the ‘7 basic plots’ as it rather covers the mysteriousness of creativity. But I think Truman Capote’s method sounds the most fun. Hic!

Definitely! I’m going to try it just as soon as I’ve got some sherry in :)

Reblogged this on Sleepy Book Dragon and commented: Exactly what it says on the tin!

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love the different word meanings especially ‘scrabblement’

love the different word meanings especially

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Essay Topics – List of 500+ Essay Writing Topics and Ideas

List of 500+ essay writing topics and ideas.

Essay topics in English can be difficult to come up with. While writing essays , many college and high school students face writer’s block and have a hard time to think about topics and ideas for an essay. In this article, we will list out many good essay topics from different categories like argumentative essays, essays on technology, environment essays for students from 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades. Following list of essay topics are for all – from kids to college students. We have the largest collection of essays. An essay is nothing but a piece of content which is written from the perception of writer or author. Essays are similar to a story, pamphlet, thesis, etc. The best thing about Essay is you can use any type of language – formal or informal. It can biography, the autobiography of anyone. Following is a great list of 100 essay topics. We will be adding 400 more soon!

But Before that you may wanna read some awesome Essay Writing Tips here .

Get the Huge list of 100+ Speech Topics here

Argumentative Essay Topics

• Should plastic be banned?
• Pollution due to Urbanization
• Education should be free
• Should Students get limited access to the Internet?
• Selling Tobacco should be banned
• Smoking in public places should be banned
• Facebook should be banned
• Students should not be allowed to play PUBG

Essay Topics on Technology

• Wonder Of Science
• Mobile Phone

Essay Topics on Festivals on Events

• Independence Day (15 August)
• Teachers Day
• Summer Vacation
• Children’s Day
• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
• Janmashtami
• Republic Day

Essay Topics on Education

• Education Essay
• Importance of Education
• Contribution of Technology in Education

Essay Topics on Famous Leaders

• Mahatma Gandhi
• APJ Abdul Kalam
• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Swami Vivekananda
• Mother Teresa
• Rabindranath Tagore
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
• Subhash Chandra Bose
• Abraham Lincoln
• Martin Luther King
• Lal Bahadur Shashtri

Essay Topics on Animals and Birds

• My Favorite Animal

Essays Topics About Yourself

• My Best Friend
• My Favourite Teacher
• My Aim In Life
• My Favourite Game – Badminton
• My Favourite Game – Essay
• My Favourite Book
• My Ambition
• How I Spent My Summer Vacation
• India of My Dreams
• My School Life
• I Love My Family
• My Favourite Subject
• My Favourite Game Badminton
• My Father My Hero
• My School Library
• My Favourite Author
• My plans for summer vacation

Essay Topics Based on Environment and Nature

• Global Warming
• Environment
• Air Pollution
• Environmental Pollution
• Water Pollution
• Rainy Season
• Climate Change
• Importance Of Trees
• Winter Season
• Deforestation
• Natural Disasters
• Save Environment
• Summer Season
• Trees Our Best Friend Essay In English

Essay Topics Based on Proverbs

• Health Is Wealth
• A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
• An Apple a Day Keeps Doctor Away
• Where there is a will, there is way
• Time and Tide wait for none

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Essay Topics for Students from 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

• Noise Pollution
• Environment Pollution
• Women Empowerment
• Time and Tide Wait for none
• Science and Technology
• Importance of Sports
• Sports and Games
• Time Management
• Cleanliness is next to Godliness
• Cleanliness
• Rome was not Built in a Day
• Unemployment
• Clean India
• Cow Essay In English
• Describe Yourself
• Festivals Of India
• Ganesh Chaturthi
• Healthy Food
• Importance Of Water
• Plastic Pollution
• Value of Time
• Honesty is the Best Policy
• Gandhi Jayanti
• Human Rights
• Knowledge Is Power
• Same Sex Marriage
• Childhood Memories
• Cyber Crime
• Kalpana Chawla
• Punctuality
• Rani Lakshmi Bai
• Spring Season
• Unity In Diversity
• Artificial Intelligence
• Online Shopping
• Indian Culture
• Healthy Lifestyle
• Indian Education System
• Disaster Management
• Environmental Issues
• Freedom Fighters
• Grandparents
• Save Fuel For Better Environment
• Importance Of Newspaper
• Lal Bahadur Shastri
• Raksha Bandhan
• World Environment Day
• Narendra Modi
• What Is Religion
• Charity Begins at Home
• A Journey by Train
• Ideal student
• Save Water Save Earth
• Indian Farmer
• Safety of Women in India
• Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
• Capital Punishment
• College Life
• Natural Resources
• Peer Pressure
• Nature Vs Nurture
• Romeo And Juliet
• Generation Gap
• Makar Sankranti
• Constitution of India
• Girl Education
• Importance of Family
• Importance of Independence Day
• Brain Drain
• A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed
• Action Speaks Louder Than Words
• All That Glitters Is Not Gold
• Bhagat Singh
• Demonetization
• Agriculture
• Importance of Discipline
• Population Explosion
• Poverty in India
• Uses Of Mobile Phones
• Water Scarcity
• Train Journey
• Land Pollution
• Environment Protection
• Indian Army
• Uses of Internet
• All that Glitters is not Gold
• Balanced Diet
• Blood Donation
• Digital India
• Dussehra Essay
• Energy Conservation
• National Integration
• Railway Station
• Sachin Tendulkar
• Health And Hygiene
• Importance Of Forest
• Indira Gandhi
• Laughter Is The Best Medicine
• Career Goals
• Mental Health
• Save Water Save Life
• International Yoga Day
• Winter Vacation
• Soil Pollution
• Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
• Indian Culture And Tradition
• Unity Is Strength
• Unity is Diversity
• Wildlife Conservation
• Cruelty To Animals
• Nelson Mandela
• Of Mice And Men
• Organ Donation
• Life in a Big City
• Democracy in India
• Waste Management
• Biodiversity
• Afforestation
• Female Foeticide
• Harmful Effects Of Junk Food
• Rain Water Harvesting
• Save Electricity
• Social Media
• Social Networking Sites
• Sound Pollution
• Procrastination
• Life in an Indian Village
• Life in Big City
• Population Growth
• World Population Day
• Greenhouse Effect
• Statue of Unity
• Traffic Jam
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
• Importance of Good Manners
• Good Manners
• Cyber Security
• Green Revolution
• Health And Fitness
• Incredible India
• Make In India
• Surgical Strike
• Triple Talaq
• A Good Friend
• Importance of Friends in our Life
• Should Plastic be Banned
• Nationalism
• Traffic Rules
• Effects of Global Warming
• Fundamental Rights
• Solar System
• National Constitution Day
• Good Mother
• Importance of Trees in our Life
• City Life Vs Village Life
• Importance of Communication
• Conservation of Nature
• Man vs. Machine
• Indian Economy
• Mothers Love
• Importance of National Integration
• Black Money
• Greenhouse effect
• Untouchability
• Self Discipline
• Global Terrorism
• Conservation of Biodiversity
• Newspaper and Its Uses
• World Health Day
• Conservation of Natural Resources
• A Picnic with Family
• Indian Heritage
• Status of Women in India
• Child is Father of the Man
• Reading is Good Habit
• Plastic Bag
• Terrorism in India
• Library and Its Uses
• Life on Mars
• Urbanization
• Pollution Due to Diwali
• National Flag of India
• Vocational Education
• Importance of Tree Plantation
• Summer Camp
• Vehicle Pollution
• Women Education in India
• Seasons in India
• Freedom of the Press
• Caste System
• Environment and Human Health
• Mountain Climbing
• Depletion of Natural Resources
• Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
• Health Education
• Effects of Deforestation
• Life after School
• Starvation in India
• Jan Dhan Yojana
• Impact of Privatization
• Election Commission of India
• Election and Democracy
• Prevention of Global Warming
• Impact of Cinema in Life
• Subhas Chandra Bose
• Dowry System
• Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
• Role of Science in Making India
• Impact of Global Warming on Oceans
• Pollution due to Festivals
• Ambedkar Jayanti
• Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
• Family Planning in India
• Democracy vs Dictatorship
• National Festivals of India
• Sri Aurobindo
• Casteism in India
• Organ trafficking
• Consequences of Global Warming
• Role of Human Activities in Global Warming
• Issues and Problems faced by Women in India
• Role of Judiciary in the Country Today
• Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan
• PUBG Mobile Game Addiction
• Role of Youths in Nation Building
• Value of Oxygen and Water in Life/Earth
• Farmer Suicides in India
• Start-up India
• Pollution Due to Firecrackers
• Life of Soldiers
• Child Labour
• Save Girl Child
• Morning Walk
• My School Fete
• Essay on Financial Literacy
• Essay On Sustainable Development
• Essay On Punjab
• Essay On Travel
• My Home Essay
• Child Marriage Essay
• Importance Of English Language Essay
• Essay On Mass Media
• Essay On Horse
• Essay On Police
• Essay On Eid
• Essay On Solar Energy
• Animal Essay
• Essay On Mango
• Gender Discrimination Essay
• Essay On Advertisement
• My First Day At School Essay
• My Neighborhood Essay
• True Friendship Essay
• Work Is Worship Essay
• Essay On Self Confidence
• Essay On Superstition
• Essay On Bangalore
• Sex Vs Gender Essay
• Essay On Social Issues
• Time Is Money Essay
• Essay About Grandmothers
• Essay On Hard Work
• First Day Of School Essay
• Flowers Essay
• My Favorite Food Essay
• Essay on Birds
• Essay on Humanity
• Essay on Sun
• Essay on Kargil War
• Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining Essay
• Francis Bacon Essays
• Importance of Cleanliness Essay
• My Sister Essay
• Self Introduction Essay
• Solar Energy Essay
• Sports Day Essa
• Value Of Education Essay
• Essay On Isro
• Essay On Balance Is Beneficial
• Essay On Reservation In India
• Essay On Water Management
• Essay On Smoking
• Essay On Stress Management
• Essay On William Shakespeare
• Essay on Apple
• Essay On Albert Einstein
• Essay On Feminism
• Essay On Kindness
• Essay On Domestic Violence
• Essay on English as a Global Language
• Essay On Co-Education
• Importance Of Exercise Essay
• Overpopulation Essay
• Smartphone Essay
• Essay on River
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• Essay On Facebook
• Essay On Science In Everyday Life
• Essay On Women Rights
• Essay On Right To Education
• Essay on Quotes
• Essay On Peace
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• Essay On Hospital
• Essay On Srinivasa Ramanujan
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• Essay On Art
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• Essay On Moon
• Birthday Essay
• Dont Judge A Book By Its Cover Essay
• Draught Essay
• Gratitude Essay
• Indian Politics Essay
• Who am I Essay
• Essay on Positive Thinking
• Essay on Dance
• Essay on Navratri
• Essay on Onam
• Essay on New Education Policy 2020
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• Fitness beats pandemic essay
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• Water conservation essay
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on Types of sports
• Essay on road safety
• Essay on my favourite season
• My pet essay
• Student life essay
• Essay on Railway station
• Essay on earth
• Essay on knowledge is power
• Essay on favourite personality
• Essay on memorable day of my life
• My parents essay
• Our country essay
• Picnic essay
• Travelling essay

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Synonyms of fact

• as in reality
• as in detail
• as in information
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Thesaurus Definition of fact

Synonyms & Similar Words

• authenticity
• materiality
• genuineness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fictitiousness
• circumstance
• inevitability
• possibility
• probability
• potentiality
• eventuality
• particularity
• information
• constituent
• misconception
• misstatement
• intelligence

Phrases Containing fact

• as a matter of fact
• in point of fact

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“Fact.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fact. Accessed 17 May. 2024.

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Mental Bomb

Writing Facts

This article contains 50 fun facts about Writing. We hope you enjoy these 50 fun facts about Writing!

What is Writing?

Writing is the process of expressing thoughts, ideas, or information through the use of symbols, characters, or language on a surface such as paper, a computer screen, or any other medium that allows for the representation of language. It is a means of communication and a way to record and convey information, stories, opinions, and emotions.

Writing can take many forms, including essays, articles, novels, short stories, poetry, scripts, letters, reports, and more. It’s an essential part of human culture and history, as it has been used for thousands of years to document events, transmit knowledge, preserve stories, and share experiences across time and space.

Effective writing involves not only the technical aspects of grammar, punctuation, and structure but also the skill of organizing thoughts, presenting ideas logically, and engaging the reader. Different types of writing may have varying goals, such as informing, persuading, entertaining, or educating the audience.

Writing is a versatile and powerful tool that allows individuals to communicate complex ideas, emotions, and information, making it a cornerstone of human communication and expression.

Writing Fun Facts 1-10

Here are 10 fun facts about Writing:

• The word “pen” comes from the Latin word “penna,” which means feather.
• The longest sentence in literature is in “Ulysses” by James Joyce and contains over 4,000 words.
• The first recorded use of the hashtag symbol (#) to categorize and group topics was on Twitter in 2007.
• The world’s oldest known written recipe is for beer and dates back to around 4000 B.C.
• The typewriter’s QWERTY keyboard layout was designed to prevent jamming of mechanical keys in early typewriters.
• “Uncopyrightable” is the longest word that can be typed using only one row of keys on a standard QWERTY keyboard.
• The word “bookkeeper” is the only unhyphenated English word with three consecutive double letters.
• The novel “Gadsby” by Ernest Vincent Wright is over 50,000 words long and does not contain the letter “e.”
• The sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over a lazy dog” uses every letter of the English alphabet at least once.
• Mark Twain is credited with the quote, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”

We hope you enjoyed these Writing Fun Facts!

Writing Facts 11-20

Here are 10 more fun facts about Writing:

• The term “deadline” originated during the American Civil War, referring to a line drawn around a prison beyond which prisoners would be shot.
• The sentence “Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo” is grammatically correct and has meaning. It refers to buffalo from Buffalo, New York, that buffalo from Buffalo, New York, buffalo, also buffalo from Buffalo, New York.
• J.K. Rowling wrote the first draft of the first “Harry Potter” book on napkins and scraps of paper in cafes.
• Shakespeare invented over 1,700 words and phrases that are still used in English today.
• The world’s smallest book is titled “Teeny Ted from Turnip Town” and measures 0.07mm x 0.10mm.
• The first novel written on a typewriter was “Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain.
• The “Lorem Ipsum” text commonly used as a placeholder in design and typesetting is derived from a work by Cicero.
• The first novel written on a word processor was “Ragtime” by E.L. Doctorow in 1984.
• Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist of all time, with over 2 billion copies of her books sold.
• The longest English word without a vowel is “rhythms.”

Writing Facts 21-30

• The world record for the fastest time to type the alphabet on a keyboard is around 3.43 seconds.
• The word “alphabet” comes from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet: alpha and beta.
• The shortest story in English literature, attributed to Ernest Hemingway, contains only six words: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
• The word “bookworm” originally referred to insects that infested and damaged books.
• The Braille system of writing for the visually impaired was invented by Louis Braille when he was just 15 years old.
• Roald Dahl, author of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” was a prolific letter writer and wrote over 1,000 letters a year to children, fans, and friends.
• The novel “Finnegans Wake” by James Joyce ends with the beginning of a sentence, creating a literary loop.
• The word “book” is derived from the Old English word “bōc,” which means “beech tree,” as early Germanic tribes often wrote on beech wood tablets.
• The ampersand symbol (&) is a combination of the letters “e” and “t,” representing the Latin word “et,” meaning “and.”
• The word “typewriter” is the longest word that can be typed using only one row of keys on a standard QWERTY keyboard.

Writing Facts 31-40

• “Sesquipedalian” is a term used to describe long words or the use of long words. Ironically, the term itself is sesquipedalian.
• The world’s first known author is Enheduanna, a priestess and poet in ancient Sumeria, who lived around 2300 B.C.
• The term “serendipity” was coined by Horace Walpole in 1754, inspired by a Persian fairy tale titled “The Three Princes of Serendip.”
• The longest English word with its letters in alphabetical order is “almost.”
• The shortest complete sentence in the English language is “I am.”
• The world’s first known book is “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” a collection of stories from ancient Mesopotamia, written on clay tablets around 2100 B.C.
• In the 15th century, the term “penman” referred to a skilled scribe or handwriting artist.
• “Oxymoron” is itself an example of an oxymoron, as it combines the Greek words “oxy” (sharp) and “moron” (dull).
• The first English dictionary was published in 1604 by Robert Cawdrey and contained around 2,500 words.
• The ellipsis (…) is used to indicate omitted words, a pause, or unfinished thoughts.

Writing Facts 41-50

• The sentence “Able was I, ere I saw Elba” is a palindrome, meaning it reads the same backward as forward.
• The dot over the letter “i” and “j” is called a “tittle.”
• The word “limerick” originally referred to a type of song or verse, not just the humorous five-line form we know today.
• The word “pangram” refers to a sentence that contains every letter of the alphabet. An example is “The quick brown fox jumps over a lazy dog.”
• The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35: “Jesus wept.”
• English is the language with the most words, with estimates ranging from around 170,000 to over 500,000 words.
• “I” is the oldest English pronoun, and “you” is the oldest pronoun that is still in use today.
• The word “girl” originally meant a young person of either sex; it wasn’t until the 14th century that it became specifically associated with females.
• The word “quixotic,” meaning exceedingly idealistic and unrealistic, comes from the character Don Quixote, the protagonist of the novel by Miguel de Cervantes.
• In 2010, a computer program called “Racter” wrote a novel titled “The Policeman’s Beard is Half Constructed,” which is known for its surreal and nonsensical content.

When Was Writing Invented?

Writing was invented independently in different civilizations and regions of the world over a span of thousands of years. The exact dates vary depending on the criteria used to define “writing.” In addition to the fun facts about writing, here are some key milestones in the development of writing systems:

• Cuneiform Writing (Sumeria, Mesopotamia): One of the earliest known forms of writing developed around 3500 B.C. in ancient Sumer (modern-day Iraq). Cuneiform writing involved using wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets to represent words and concepts.
• Hieroglyphs (Ancient Egypt): Hieroglyphic writing emerged around 3200 B.C. in ancient Egypt. Hieroglyphs were a complex system of pictorial symbols used for religious, administrative, and monumental inscriptions.
• Indus Script (Indus Valley Civilization): The Indus Valley Civilization, which existed around 3300–1300 B.C. in what is now India and Pakistan, developed a script that has not yet been fully deciphered, so its exact nature and purpose remain debated.
• Chinese Script: The earliest forms of Chinese writing date back to the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 B.C.). Oracle bone script, inscribed on animal bones and turtle shells, is one of the earliest known forms of Chinese writing.
• Mayan Glyphs (Mesoamerica): The Maya civilization, which flourished in Mesoamerica (modern-day Mexico and Central America), developed a complex system of glyphs around 300 B.C. that were used for inscriptions, codices, and monumental architecture.
• Linear B (Mycenaean Greece): Linear B was used by the Mycenaean civilization (c. 1600–1100 B.C.) and was deciphered in the mid-20th century. It was mainly used for administrative and inventory purposes.
• Phoenician Alphabet: The Phoenician civilization, around 1200 B.C., is credited with developing one of the earliest alphabets. The Phoenician alphabet consisted of consonant symbols and was later adapted and expanded by various cultures into the alphabets we use today.

These are just a few examples, and many other writing systems developed in various cultures around the world. Writing systems allowed societies to record information, preserve knowledge, engage in trade, establish legal systems, and communicate over distances and across generations. An important fun fact about writing is that the invention of writing was a crucial step in the development of human civilization and communication.

Who Invented Writing?

Writing was not invented by a single individual; rather, it evolved over time and emerged independently in different civilizations. The concept of writing emerged as a practical need to record information, communicate complex ideas, and transmit knowledge over time and space. Different cultures and societies developed their own unique writing systems to suit their linguistic and cultural contexts.

In addition to the fun facts about writing, here are a few notable examples of early writing systems and their regions of origin:

• Sumerian Cuneiform (Mesopotamia): The cuneiform script, developed in ancient Sumer (modern-day Iraq) around 3500 B.C., is one of the earliest known writing systems. It consisted of wedge-shaped symbols impressed onto clay tablets and was used for administrative, religious, and literary purposes.
• Egyptian Hieroglyphs (Ancient Egypt): Hieroglyphic writing emerged in ancient Egypt around 3200 B.C. Hieroglyphs were pictorial symbols used for monumental inscriptions, religious texts, and administrative records.
• Chinese Script (Ancient China): The evolution of the Chinese script began with oracle bone script during the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 B.C.) and developed into the complex character-based writing system used today.
• Maya Glyphs (Mesoamerica): The Maya civilization, which thrived in Mesoamerica, developed a sophisticated system of glyphs around 300 B.C. These glyphs were used for inscriptions, codices, and monumental architecture.
• Indus Script (Indus Valley Civilization): The Indus Valley Civilization, which existed around 3300–1300 B.C., developed a script that has not yet been fully deciphered, so the inventors and the exact nature of the script remain uncertain.
• Phoenician Alphabet: The Phoenicians, around 1200 B.C., are credited with creating one of the earliest alphabets. The Phoenician alphabet consisted of consonant symbols and laid the foundation for many modern writing systems.

In addition to the fun facts about writing, note that writing systems developed as a collective effort within societies to address specific communication needs. The invention of writing was a gradual process that involved the refinement of symbols, the development of methods for recording information, and the adaptation of writing to different materials and contexts.

What are the Types of Writing?

Writing can be classified into various types based on its purpose, style, format, and intended audience. In addition to the fun facts about writing, here are some common types of writing:

• Narrative Writing: This type of writing tells a story and often includes characters, a plot, setting, and dialogue. Novels, short stories, folktales, and memoirs are examples of narrative writing.
• Descriptive Writing: Descriptive writing uses vivid language to create a sensory experience for the reader. It focuses on providing details about a person, place, object, or scene. Poetry and creative essays often incorporate descriptive elements.
• Expository Writing: Expository writing aims to explain, inform, or clarify a topic. It presents facts, ideas, and concepts in a clear and logical manner. Essays, textbooks, research papers, and informative articles are forms of expository writing.
• Persuasive Writing: Also known as argumentative writing, this type of writing aims to convince the reader to adopt the writer’s viewpoint or opinion. Persuasive essays, speeches, and advertising copy often use persuasive writing techniques.
• Analytical Writing: Analytical writing involves analyzing and interpreting information, texts, or data. Critical essays, literary analysis, and research papers often require analytical writing skills.
• Technical Writing: Technical writing focuses on providing instructions, explanations, and information about complex subjects. Manuals, user guides, scientific reports, and documentation fall under technical writing.
• Journalistic Writing: Journalistic writing aims to report news, events, and current affairs. It emphasizes factual and concise writing to inform the public. News articles, features, and editorials are examples of journalistic writing.
• Creative Writing: Creative writing is characterized by imagination and artistic expression. It includes various forms such as poetry, short stories, novels, plays, and screenplays.
• Business Writing: Business writing is used for communication within a professional context. It includes emails, reports, memos, business letters, and proposals.
• Academic Writing: Academic writing is used in educational settings and often follows specific formatting and citation styles. It includes essays, research papers, theses, and dissertations.
• Personal Writing: Personal writing includes journals, diaries, letters, and personal essays. It allows individuals to express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
• Scriptwriting: Scriptwriting involves writing scripts for various media, such as plays, movies, television shows, and radio programs.
• Travel Writing: Travel writing describes a writer’s experiences and observations while traveling. It often combines elements of description, narrative, and personal reflection.
• Instructional Writing: Instructional writing provides step-by-step guidance on how to perform a task or activity. Recipes, DIY guides, and tutorials are examples of instructional writing.
• Resume and Cover Letter Writing: These types of writing are used to showcase one’s qualifications, skills, and experiences when applying for jobs.

In addition to the fun facts about writing, these are just a few examples of the many types of writing that exist. Each type serves a specific purpose and requires different techniques and styles to effectively communicate with the intended audience.

How Many Languages are There?

A final fun facts about writing is that there were estimated to be over 7,000 distinct languages spoken around the world. However, the number of written languages is not exactly the same as the number of spoken languages, as some languages may not have a standardized writing system or may use the writing systems of other languages.

While many languages have a written form that is actively used for communication, there are also languages that have limited or no written representation. Additionally, some languages share the same writing system even though they are linguistically distinct.

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Essay Writing Facts

Written by Sunny

Modified & Updated: 17 May 2024

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

• Visual Arts

You may have encountered instances where the instructions for writing a text are not clear requirements, but rather general recommendations. Fret not! There are actually essay writing services available designed to simplify the process while still ensuring your essay is interesting and understandable for the reader.

In addition to the basic rules from the essay writing platform and its writers, it is also worth considering the mistakes that often happen to novice authors. So, let’s start our list of facts with a question: Is it really possible to avoid essay mistakes and write a perfect essay? Well, you can find more tips from best essay writing service reddit . Now, let’s read on!

There are more pitfalls in essay writing than you’d expect.

In order to write a piece of good essay, here are several essential points to avoid in essay writing:

• Violation of the logic of the text – frequent jumping from thought to thought, breaking off thoughts, etc;
• Unreliable arguments;
• Lack of logic between different parts of the text;
• Complication of learning to put more thoughts in fewer words;
• Spelling and punctuation errors;
• Stylistic errors that essay writing service can fix;
• Profanity, slang, jargon;
• Clericalism
• Avoid hate speech and violence.

The introduction is a very important element of the essay.

This determines whether the reader should continue reading your essay. There are several approaches to starting an essay effectively:

• Standard (the most common): It is necessary to always answer six questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how. The answers to these questions allow the reader to understand what to expect.
• Unexpected: It can be anything , but the reader should be surprised or shocked.
• Effective: The image of the process itself, and the causes and consequences will follow. This approach is convenient for short essays you can get via college essay writing services .
• Authoritarian: This offers information in a commanding tone to create the impression of the author’s confidence.
• Informative: The reader immediately receives information about what will happen next in the essay.
• Quotative: A well-chosen quote immediately attracts the reader’s attention. (However, it is not recommended to use proverbs and clichés – it is banal).
• Dialogue: Such a beginning stimulates the reader as a participant in a dialogue. On the other hand, it can be just a stream of thoughts with rhetorical questions.

Don’t neglect the flow of your essay.

The sequence of events occurring in the essay is crucial. In other words, the flow of your essay. Don’t focus on time, though, the essay may turn out boring. Do not try to describe in detail everything that happened in a certain period.

Here are the main types of essays:

• Narrative: An action or story that lasts until the very end of the essay, which emphasizes qualities, capabilities, or knowledge related to the topic of your essay.
• Descriptive: A right characteristic feature of such an essay is the vivid imagery of the work. This should be paired with strong language, and interesting details to leave the reader impressed for a long time.
• Comparative: This technique is mainly used in relation to the issue that needs to be described, for example, an experience or a failure .
• Final components: The conclusion or last paragraph(s) should complete your thought and leave a vivid trace in your reader’s memory.

Avoid making unnecessary or careless mistakes.

How to write an essay right? Avoid unnecessary mistakes that even any online grammar checker can identify. Some common mistakes to avoid are:

• Use of a capital letter in complex proper names;
• Writing prefixes together and separately in adverbs formed from nouns with prepositions;
• Not/no distinction (not one else / no one else …);
• One punctuation mark is replaced by another;
• Omission of one of the punctuation marks or in violation of their sequence.

Write an argumentative essay with real arguments.

It is common that writers include fake arguments in their argumentative essays, just for the sake of it. In fact, it is very easy to come up with workarounds for them. So, how to write an argumentative essay without fake arguments?

• Having more than two examples will not bring you extra points.
• In addition to the characters of literary works , you can take examples from characters in movies, modern cartoons, or even games.
• The argument should REALLY explain your opinion while writing an argumentative essay, and you should convince with it, not just by mentioning it.

A free essay is an uncommon type of essay.

A free essay is a work in which the author shares his or her own opinion about a specific event, idea, or problem, focusing on his or her own emotions and feelings. The free text is based on the writer’s reflections caused by what he sees, hears, experiences, what touches his soul, what he wants and cannot find an answer to. The aim of a free essay is not to tell about the life situation, but to inform the readers about the ideas caused by it.

How to write a free essay?

A free essay is written in 10–15 minutes and usually has the following structure:

• Introduction, in which it is necessary to justify the choice of the topic, and correctly formulate the thesis.
• Main body, in which the opinion on the problem is developed and its argumentation is presented.
• Generalization of conclusions according to the topic.

Extra Tips: Seven Rules For Writing An Outstanding Essay

• Positive language: It is better to describe what is, not what is not.
• Linking words: They help readers transit smoothly from one part to the next.
• Different sentence structure: Reading sentences of the same structure is boring. Add some inversions. Write sentences of different lengths.
• Clear words: Understand the meaning of the words you use in the essay. You write to impress with content, not vocabulary. Sophistication is good, but in moderation.
• Different words: Use synonyms instead of repeating the same word several times.
• Conciseness: Short and sweet.
• Every word is important: Don’t repeat yourself; each sentence should have a unique meaning.

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There Are More Animals That Start With 'X' Than You'd Expect

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Scientists have developed several methods for grouping different members of the animal kingdom by species or unique characteristics. However, there is arguably no better method for learning fun facts than by listing animal names alphabetically. These are just a few animals that start with X .

• African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis)
• Horseshoe crab (Xiphosura)
• Mexican Hairless Dog (Xoloitzcuintle)
• Night Lizard (Xantusiidae)
• Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)
• South African Ground Squirrel (Xerus inauris)
• Streaked Xenops (Xenops rutilans)
• Sunbeam Snake (Xenopeltis)
• Xantus' leaf-toed gecko (Phyllodactylus xanti)
• Xanthogramma Sandperch (Parapercis ramsayi)
• Xenarthrans
• Xenoceratops (Xenoceratops foremostensis)
• Xinjiang Ground Jay (Podoces biddulphi)
• Xingu River Ray (Potamotrygon leopoldi)
• X-ray Fish (Pristella maxillaris)
• Xucaneb Robber Frog (Craugastor xucanebi)

The History of Xantus in Central and South America

1. african clawed frog (xenopus laevis).

These African frogs are endemic to ponds and shallow waterways in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although toothless, the African Clawed Frog is carnivorous, relying on its long fingers to snatch and consume its prey. This small species is also known to be cannibalistic, subsisting regularly on tadpoles and eggs.

2. Horseshoe crab (Xiphosura)

Horseshoe crabs appear to be strange, shelled sea spiders from ancient times, and that description would be pretty spot-on. The few species still living today can trace their lineage back to a common ancestor that swam in similar coastal rivers 135 million years ago during the early Cretaceous period.

Despite the name, horseshoe crabs only resemble crustaceans with their large protective shells. Instead, these living fossils belong to a subgroup of anthropods that are more closely related to arachnids . They are often found hunting on ocean floors but can also tolerate brackish water.

3. Mexican Hairless Dog (Xoloitzcuintle)

The Xoloitzcuintle, more commonly called Xolo, is an ancient domesticated canine breed endemic to Central America for thousands of years. Fossil records from the Western Mexican coast show that this pet played an important role in ancient Mayan society.

Similar to ancient Egyptian relationships with cats, these dogs were often sacrificed and buried along with their owners to guide their souls in the afterlife.

The Xolo breed was one of the first to be documented by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1887. However, in 1959, the AKC dropped it from publications because it was believed to be an extinct genus, even though the breed continues to survive today.

4. Night Lizard (Xantusiidae)

There are only three species of Xantusiidae living today. They're found in separate regions: Baja California, Cuba and Central America. Scientists originally speculated that night lizards were solely nocturnal but eventually found that many engage in diurnal (daytime) activities to thrive in niche natural habitats.

5. Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)

This arctic gull, more commonly known as Xema, is a small gull species discovered in 1819 by the naturalist Joseph Sabine. These striking white-and-black birds typically prefer any natural habitat surrounding the Northern Pacific Ocean, although some sightings are common South of Baja California.

6. South African Ground Squirrel (Xerus inauris)

South African ground squirrels are also called Cape ground squirrels; however, their habitat extends into Botswana and Namibia. Ground squirrel features resemble prairie dogs, except they have flat, bushy tails like their tree-dwelling cousins.

South African ground squirrels also live in tight-knit social groups that seek shelter in deep burrows.

7. Streaked Xenops (Xenops rutilans)

This perching member of the ovenbird family, Furnariidae, is found in tropical forests of South America. Unlike many species of birds that migrate, the climate in these regions is suitable for year-round habitation.

8. Sunbeam Snake (Xenopeltis)

There are three different species of burrowing snakes that fall under the scientific name Xenopeltis, and they are extremely shy and rarely seen. If you can catch a glimpse of this reclusive snake, you'll quickly understand how it got its name, "Sunbeam." Its iridescent scales reflect light in dazzling rainbow colors.

9. Xantus' leaf-toed gecko (Phyllodactylus xanti)

This small Mexican reptile is another skittish animal that starts with the letter X. Many animals avoid human contact at all costs, but this little lizard leans more into the melodramatic. The Xantus' leaf-toed gecko will often squeak and lose its fragile tail when handled, so it's best to leave them alone.

10. Xanthogramma Sandperch (Parapercis ramsayi)

This leopard-spotted bony fish is found on rocky floors and coral reefs off the coasts of Fiji, Tonga and Western Samoa. It is not the fastest fish, but its intricate camouflage allows it to ambush its prey, consisting of small fish and invertebrates.

11. Xenarthrans

Xenarthra (roughly translated to "strange joints") encompasses several species of placental mammals endemic to the Americas. This group includes tree sloths, armadillos and anteaters — all animals that subsist on small insects found underground, in tree bark and in fallen tree trunks on the forest floor.

These members of the sloth family differ from other species of placental animals with unique spines, teeth, vision and metabolisms. Xenarthra animals actually have some of the slowest metabolisms in the animal kingdom.

12. Xenoceratops (Xenoceratops foremostensis)

This horned dinosaur roamed the far northern wilderness of modern-day Alberta, Canada, sometime during the late Cretaceous period. Similar to the more commonly known triceratops, this lumbering giant likely protected itself from would-be predators with several horns protruding from a shield-like skull.

13. Xinjiang Ground Jay (Podoces biddulphi)

The Xinjiang ground jay, also known as the Biddulph's ground jay, is a long-legged, hook-beaked member of the Corvidae family, which includes crows, magpies and ravens. Researchers of this bird found that, like its dark-feathered cousins, this corvid also prefers urban environments near humans.

14. Xingu River Ray (Potamotrygon leopoldi)

The Xingu river ray, also known as the white-blotched river stingray, is a member of the Potamotrygonidae family that is endemic to clear, fresh waterways in Brazil. This freshwater stingray has a venomous dentine spine that it uses to stun its victims.

15. X-ray Fish (Pristella maxillaris)

The X-ray fish, or X-ray tetra, is a small freshwater fish found in both acidic and alkaline waters near the Amazon Basin. Due to their resilience and eye-catching translucent bodies, X-ray tetras have become a popular aquarium fish that can bring any home tank to life.

16. Xucaneb Robber Frog (Craugastor xucanebi)

The Xucaneb robber frog is a montane forest amphibian endemic to the central highlands of Guatemala. This small frog's scientific name comes from its favorite habitat, the Sierra de Xucaneb. However, due to human expansion and deforestation in this region, it is quickly becoming a threatened species.

When researching animals that start with "X," you'll likely find several animal names that include Xantus in South and Central America. Many species are not closely related except for the fact they were discovered by the same person, a Hungarian zoologist named John Xantus de Vessey.

John Xantus was an exiled Hungarian diplomat who joined the United States Army as an assistant surgeon under the 19th-century Surgeon General and founder of the Army Medical Museum William Alexander Hammond.

Xantus exaggerated his experience as a medical professional to earn this position and was often ridiculed as a habitual liar by his colleagues.

However, under Hammond's tutelage, Xantus developed a love for natural history. Once transferred to California and Mexico, Xantus left his diplomatic station and failed medical practice to focus on his naturalist research. This resulted in several species bearing his name and acting as his legacy today.

Scientists have long connected dinosaurs with birds, but only in the last few decades have they concluded that many ancient species were likely feathered instead of boasting the smooth reptilian skin depicted in Hollywood. The Xiaotingia, endemic to China in the late Jurassic period, is a key example of this revelation. This small carnivorous dinosaur was roughly the size of a modern chicken, and its hind limbs had long feathers that allowed it to make short-range flights — an important tool for catching large prehistoric insects and escaping the occasional T. rex .

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• International

Trump defense grills Michael Cohen in hush money trial

By CNN's Kara Scannell, Lauren Del Valle and Jeremy Herb in the courthouse

CNN correspondent: Defense is trying to contrast Cohen's demeanor on the stand with "aggressive" social posts

From CNN's Antoinette Radford

Donald Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, is presenting a “starkly different” demeanor in court to that which he has shown in previous media appearances, including on his own podcast, according to CNN reporters outside the courthouse.

CNN’s Kristen Holmes and Kaitlin Collins pointed to past comments by Cohen, including on October 23, 2020, when he said , “I absolutely f***ing hope that this man ends up in prison.”

“Cohen’s voice on the podcast is starkly different from how he sounds on the stand,” Collins said.

“We all know Michael Cohen. It’s not the demeanor you saw on the stand where was initially 'yes ma’am, no ma’am,' to the prosecution, looking at the jury, acknowledging that he was mesmerized by Donald Trump but how that relationship deteriorated," she added.

Holmes said this was a part of the defense’s plan, to point to Cohen’s inconsistencies. She said lawyers are trying to show the jury the contrast between how he is acting on the stand versus his “aggressive social media posts.”

"You have this person on the stand who really is playing along with what they wanted him to do, which was to stay measured," she said.

"Now you're actually hearing a different Michael Cohen than what the jury has been hearing," she added.

Trump attorney asks Cohen about his business associate who cooperated in the federal investigation

Trump attorney Todd Blanche asked about a business associate of Michael Cohen's who cooperated in the federal investigation.

Cohen explained that the associate ran a taxi management company and leased taxi medallions from Cohen.

"So you plead guilty on August 21, 2018, and a few minutes into that hearing the same thing happens that happened on Monday morning, Judge Pauley has his deputy swear you in. Correct?" Blanche asks.

For context: The tax evasion charges Cohen pleaded guilty to in 2018 were in part linked to his taxi medallion income. Cohen confirmed on the stand today he knew before pleading guilty that the taxi management associate cooperated with the federal investigators against him.

Blanche is now walking Cohen through the statements he made to Judge William Pauley during that hearing.

Cohen says he accepts responsibility for lies under oath, but he was doing what "we all knew" Trump wanted

Trump attorney Todd Blanche is pressing Michael Cohen on whether he has accepted responsibility for his lies under oath, or if he blames Trump for his false statements during testimony to the House Intelligence Committee.

"You said you were accepting responsibility for those lies, for lying to Congress. But in fact, you repeatedly said — and even said this morning, and even this week — that the reason why you lied was because of your loyalty to President Trump," Blanche says.

"I worked with a joint defense agreement and we crafted the two-page document in order to stay on message — the message we all knew Mr. Trump wanted, including Mr. Trump’s attorney at the time," Cohen responds.

"So are you saying you’re accepting responsibility, or blaming the joint defense agreement?" Blanche followed up.

“Accepting responsibility, I read it and I submitted it to the committee," Cohen said on the stand.

Defense asks Cohen to recount the lies he told the House Intel Committee

Defense attorney Todd Blanche is turning now to the 2017 House Intelligence Committee testimony where Michael Cohen lied under oath and was charged with perjury in 2018.

Blanche is asking Cohen to recount the lies.

"There were a couple of different lies?" Blanche asks.  "That's correct," Cohen says.

When Cohen said he stopped the Trump Tower Moscow project talks in January 2016, that was a lie, Cohen confirms. "What was the other lie?" Blanche asks. "I don’t recall. I think those were the two," Cohen says.

On Tuesday, prosecutors also went over the lies Cohen told before Congress to try to get ahead of this part of the cross.

"You lied under oath, correct?" Blanche asks. "Yes sir," Cohen says. "And you lied again when you met with the special counsel on August 7, (2018), correct?" Blanche asks. "Correct," Cohen says.

Defense shifts to Cohen's previous testimony under oath

After citing Michael Cohen's previous remarks in the media about Donald Trump, Todd Blanche shifted to Cohen's previous testimony under oath.

"Was that oath that you took every single time, so going back to all the depositions, the same oath that you took Monday morning in this courtroom?" Blanche asks.

"Yes sir," Cohen says.

"The oath doesn’t change, depending on the location, does it?" Blanche asks.

"No," Cohen says.

"And each time you met with a federal agent you were told that if you made a false statement that that was a felony, a federal crime, correct?" Blanche asks.

Cohen says he didn't stop commenting on trial despite paralegal monitoring his social media 

Trump attorney Todd Blanche asked Michael Cohen about a TikTok from April 21, 2024, just before opening statements in the hush money trial.

On the TikTok, Blanche said Cohen said he has "mental excitement about the fact that this trial was starting."

Blanche noted that the paralegal was monitoring social media.

"That didn't stop you, did it?" he asked.

Cohen said, "No, sir."

Defense asks Cohen about more times he insulted Trump and called him names

Defense attorney Todd Blanche asks whether there's many more clips of Michael Cohen speaking insultingly of Donald Trump, similar to the ones that were played in court.

"You continued to call President Trump various names on your podcasts and when you’re even doing CNN interviews, correct?" Blanche asks. "Correct," Cohen says.

Blanche shows Cohen a March 2023 post from Trump on his Truth Social platform attacking Cohen and Stormy Daniels. He asks whether Cohen responded.

"I’m not on Truth Social, sir," Cohen says initially.

Blanche clarifies that he did respond on X, formerly known on as Twitter.

"You called him dumba** Donald?" the Trump attorney asks.

"Sounds correct," Cohen confirms.

Cohen acknowledges taking "credit" for Trump's indictment

Trump attorney Todd Blanche asks Michael Cohen if he's publicly said the work he's done helped get Donald Trump indicted.

"I took some credit, yes," Cohen said.

Blanche asked him again, Cohen said, "Yes that's what I believe."

"Revenge is a dish best served cold": Defense plays Cohen podcast from October 2020 

Another podcast recording is being played for the jury, from October 23, 2020.

"I truly f**king hope that this man ends up in prison," Michael Cohen is heard saying.

He goes on to say, "But revenge is a dish best served cold and you better believe I want this man to go down and rot inside for what he did to my family."

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Yelp names best barbecue in the country: These Greenville, Anderson BBQ spots made the list

When it comes to eating barbecue style in the South, there are high expectations for a finger licking good time.

That’s because barbecue is a big deal here, and you can find it just about anywhere. While strolling the neighborhood on a summer afternoon, you can smell its aroma thicken the air, causing your stomach to growl in wanting.

There are also many barbecue joints throughout the state, with menu offerings like baby back ribs, baked beans, pulled pork shoulder, and potato salad.

Yelp released a list of top 100 Barbecue Spots in 2024 in the U.S. Four South Carolina favorites made the list.

What SC BBQ restaurants made the Yelp list?

∎ No. 51: Swig & Swine 1217 Savannah Highway, Charleston

∎ No. 69: The Smokin' Pig Multiple locations across South Carolina, including Anderson, Easley and Pendleton

∎ No. 81: The Dixie Pig 2007 Celanese Road, Rock Hill

∎ No. 91: Smoky Dreams Barbecue and Catering 2131 Woodruff Road Ste 9, Greenville

What does BBQ stand for?

The acronym BBQ stands for "barbecue,” a word derived from the language of a Caribbean Indian tribe known as the Taino. Their word for grilling on a raised wooden platform is “barbacoa,” according to The Ethical Butcher . In 1526, the word made its first appearance in print in a Spanish explorer’s account of the West Indies.

What's the difference between a BBQ and cookout?

There has long been debate regarding what the difference is between a barbecue and a cookout. To southerners, a cookout involves grilling finger foods like hamburgers and hot dogs outside. Barbecue, on the other oven mitt, is when you slow cook meat over a fire to a sizzling perfection, invited guests mingling as they take in the delicious smell of the food being prepared. Depending on where you come from, barbecued foods include North Carolina pulled pork, Texas beef brisket, or even a whole hog. Whatever your style, one thing is for certain ― barbecued food means something hot and juicy to sink your teeth into.

What is the difference between broiled and grilled?

When it comes to cooking methods, there are a few similarities between broiling and grilling: Both use intense direct heat during cooking, require careful attention to avoid burning food, and use charring and caramelization to give the food its unique taste. With that said, there are differences between broiling and grilling, as highlighted by Spruce Eats :

∎ Indoor cooking for charred, caramelized foods

∎ Intense direct heat from an oven broiler

∎ Temperature is controlled by the oven's thermostat

∎ Fat and grease drips away through the use of a preheated broiler pan

∎ Fat must be trimmed to prevent smoke

∎ Outdoor cooking for charred, caramelized foods with "grill" flavor

∎ Intense direct heat from charcoal and propane

∎ Cooking temperature is monitored by the chef

∎ Fat and grease drips away from the use of grate

Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at [email protected]

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17 Random Historical And Pop Culture Deep-Dive Facts You Might Not Know That Are Honestly Fascinating

TIL that up until 1960, people went to the movies in a completely different and confusing way.

BuzzFeed Staff

1. The oldest material on Earth is actually older than Earth itself . In 1969, the Murchison meteorite fell near Murchison, Australia, breaking apart into several pieces. Around a 100 kilograms of the meteorite were sent to different scientific institutions around the world to be studied. In January 2020, a study was published that revealed that within the fragments of the meteorite were microscopic grains that were between 4.6 to 4.9 billion years old – with the oldest grain being 7 billion years old. Making them both older than the formation of the sun and the Earth.

2. The first TV drama, The Queen's Messenger , aired in 1928, the same year Mickey Mouse was introduced to the world. The production was an experiment between GE and a station in Schenectady, New York.

And yes, television sets existed in the 1920s, but they were extremely rare and had very tiny screens . 

3. The first gay kiss in a film was in 1927's Wings . The movie is about two World War I combat pilots and close friends fighting for the same woman's affection. But many have pointed out over the decades that the film has a subtle gay subtext about the two being more than just friends.

Wings  is also noted as the first film to win the Oscar for Best Picture. 

4. There were still Civil War veterans alive during Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration. In fact, in 1938, Roosevelt met with them at a ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, at which he gave a speech to dedicate the Eternal Light Peace Memorial. The ceremony was also captured on film and shown on newsreels in movie theaters.

5. The last person to collect a monthly pension from the Civil War died in 2020. Her name was Irene Triplett , and she was the daughter of Mose Triplett, a soldier who fought for the Confederacy but later switched sides and fought for the Union. Mose was 83 years old when Irene was born in 1930, and after his death, she became his beneficiary. In case you were wondering, she collected $73.13 monthly from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Also, Mose attended the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg reunion that Roosevelt spoke at. 

6. Before the 1980s, the Roswell UFO crash was basically an unknown event. While it was huge news in 1947, when it happened, it quickly got forgotten after the United States Air Force issued an almost immediate retraction that they had not recovered a crashed UFO in Roswell, New Mexico, and that it had been debris from a downed weather balloon. In the early '80s, the National Enquirer and the book The Roswell Incident reintroduced the event and interest in it.

In 1980, the  National Enquirer  published an interview with someone who had allegedly picked up the debris from the crash.  The Roswell Incident , which was also published in 1980, further delved into the story, claiming they interviewed witnesses to the event and how the government worked at covering it up.

7. Sitcoms are a lot older than you might think. The very first sitcom that aired in the US started in 1947 and was called Mary Kay and Johnny .

Mary Kay and Johnny , which ran from 1947–50, centered on a NYC couple and was also the  first  TV series to show a couple sharing a bed and a character being pregnant.

8. Color television existed in the '50s — the technology for it had been in development since the '40s. But, few people owned color TV sets because they were very pricey. A color television set cost about $1,000 in 1954 , which is over $11,600 today if adjusted for inflation.

Additionally, there weren't many color TV shows or specials broadcast since they were very expensive to produce.

9. In 1960, Psycho changed how people watched movies in theaters — and it's how we watch them today. Before 1960, it was common for people to buy a ticket and drop into a theater at any point during a movie. Movies played on loops repeatedly, so if you only caught the last half-hour of a movie, you would just stay in your seat and wait for it to play again so you could watch what you missed. Directors and studios hated that, but it's how people were used to going to the movies. However, that posed a problem for Psycho.

****** Spoilers ahead for a 60-plus-year-old movie *******

One of the big twists in Psycho is that Janet Leigh's character, Marion Crane, is murdered in the shower halfway through the film. Janet was the movie's most famous star, so having her killed would shock and confuse the audience and make them not know what to expect next. 

Hitchcock had gone to great lengths to keep the plot a complete secret, so he wanted people not to have the film spoiled by coming in after that shower scene.  Jerry Pickman , who was the vice president for advertising and publicity at Paramount, came up with an ingenious way to both market the film and ensure people watched the movie from the beginning. He created an ad campaign (like the poster seen above) that featured Hitchcock telling people that they not only had to watch Psycho from the beginning but also that theaters would refuse to let anyone in after the movie had started. 

The campaign worked. People arrived to theaters on time and watched the movie from start to finish. After that, theaters started setting start times for movies, and audiences were now conditioned after Psycho to get there before the movie started.  

10. Walt Disney hated how Alice in Wonderland turned out and refused to re-release the movie during his lifetime. However, in 1971, five years after Walt's death, the movie became a head film , and it had a huge cult following among college students , who would rent the 16-mm film and set up viewing parties. The movie's renewed popularity convinced Disney to re-release the film in 1974, where they really leaned into the psychedelic side of it (as you can see in the re-release poster below) and even used Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" in the radio ads for it.

11. George Atkinson opened the first video rental store in the world in LA in 1977. The idea came to him after he saw an ad for a company that was selling 20th Century Fox movies on VHS and Betamax at $50 each. George, who was running a business renting out Super 8 movies and projectors for parties, realized people would pay to rent videos. He proceeded to buy one copy on both VHS and Betamax of all 50 titles available and began taking ads out for his new rental business. Within a year, he had turned his rental business into a franchise called Video Station.

At first, film studios threatened to sue him, but George realized he hadn't broken any copyright laws by renting out films he owned. The studios would actually end up winning too, because the home rental market would become a big source of revenue for them in the upcoming decades.  

12. While The Little Mermaid is credited with saving Disney Animation, it's rarely mentioned how it also opened up Disney to a huge new revenue stream throughout the '90s and '00s. In 1990, the film was the first Disney movie to be released on home video following its theatrical run, which was considered a gamble for the company. Needless to say, the gamble paid off, as The Little Mermaid went on to become a huge seller on home video.

Disney executives did not want it released on home video because it would disrupt the well established theatrical re-release model. However, its success led Disney to shift to the home video model in the 1990s, releasing not only its new movies but also its "vault" movies and, eventually, direct-to-video sequels.

13. From 1977 until her death in 1994, Jackie Kennedy Onassis was a very successful and well-respected book editor at Doubleday. In 1983, executives at Doubleday came up with the idea of having Michael Jackson write his autobiography, and they asked Jackie to help get him to agree to sign and spearhead it. A mega-famous pop star's memoir would not be the type of book Jackie would ever want to be involved with, but she understood that Doubleday having a huge commercial book would help get her passion projects published. By all accounts, she would go on to regret ever agreeing to get involved.

After an initial meeting with Michael at the Jackson family home in Encino, California, Jackie was able to secure the book deal. Michael got a $300K advance, total control over the book, and a forward written by Jackie (which was something she initially refused to do but went on to agree to).

According to Shaye Areheart , who was Jackie's editorial assistant at the time, dealing with Michael was "a huge nightmare," and he seemed uninterested in actually working on the book, which caused it to be delayed.

Michael also began calling Jackie at her home in Martha's Vineyard to have long phone conversations with her to complain about the difficulties of being famous. Jackie, who was notoriously private, refused to engage with him on that topic. She went on to tell her friend Edward Kasinec that "Michael Jackson is driving me mad with his phone calls."

Eventually, Michael submitted his first manuscript, which he worked on with his first ghostwriter. The manuscript was much shorter than they anticipated and featured nothing revealing about himself other than "fluff." Jackie rejected the manuscript and called Michael and told him he needed to open up and be sincere because if it was just a book about how great and successful he was, then "we'd all be made fools of." Michael agreed and got a new ghostwriter.

Unhappy with his second manuscript, he began editing parts of it with Jackie's assistant, Shaye, who flew around the world to finish it. Eventually, they were able to finish the second manuscript and get it ready to be published. But Michael then decided he didn't want to publish the book. However, they were able to convince him to do so, and in 1988, his autobiography Moonwalker was published and went on to be No. 1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list and sell out all 500,000 copies printed.

Even though it was hugely successful, Michael, who had full control, refused to allow Doubleday to print more copies or a paperback version.

Ultimately, it was seen as a huge success for Jackie, too. However, while working on the autobiography, she left a message on J. C. Suarès' (the book's designer) answering machine, asking herself why the hell she had ever got involved with the book.

14. Hermès Birkin bags are arguably the most famous bags in the world and are notorious for their hefty price tags and scarcity. However, when the bags were first released in 1984, they weren't very popular , and a bag cost around $2,000 (which is $6,000 today when adjusted for inflation).

The bags would begin gaining popularity in the mid to late '90s. 

15. In 2001, Sex and the City really popularized Birkins in the iconic episode where Samantha tries to buy one. Later, in the show's fifth season, Carrie is seen carrying a Birkin (which was used to hide Sarah Jessica Parker's pregnancy while filming); however, Sarah Jessica revealed in an interview with Vogue in 2022 that the bag was actually a fake.

According to Sarah Jessica, the show's iconic stylist, Patricia Field, told her she knew a guy and could get her a fake one if she wanted. To which Sarah Jessica replied, "No, I don’t really, not… I don’t need one."

16. It wasn't just Netflix; there were various reasons why Blockbuster ended up going out of business. One reason was the popularity of DVDs . Until the introduction of DVDs, studios relied on the movie rental market as their primary way of making money from the home entertainment market — with Blockbuster accounting for nearly 50% of that revenue for them. To make it lucrative for both sides, the studios would give an exclusive window to video rental chains for new movie releases before they would put them on sale to the general public.

So, if you wanted to watch a new movie at home, you more than likely would only be able to rent it. However, this changed when DVDs were released.

In 1998, Warren Lieberfarb, then-head of Warner Bros.'s home video division and an early proponent of DVD technology, approached then-Blockbuster CEO John Antioco about creating the same exclusive rental window for DVDs. Well, Antioco turned down that offer .  

Lieberfarb, left with no choice, decided that DVDs should be released directly to customers. DVDs were also inexpensive to produce, so they could be sold cheaply.  

By 2002, DVD players had become, at the time, the fastest-adopted consumer electronics device ever, with around 80 million players sold. Also, retailers like Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Costco, seeing the popularity of DVDs, expanded the footprints of the home entertainment department in their stores, becoming Blockbuster's biggest competitors . In fact,  Walmart actually replaced Blockbuster as the studios' largest revenue source for the home entertainment market.  

With the price of DVDs so low and stores carrying wide selections of both new and older movies, people began to buy movies a lot more — going from an average of about 5 VHS a year to buying around 15 DVDs a year— and renting less. If you were around at the time, you probably remember people building big movie collections. The studios benefited hugely from this, as they were making bigger profits from sales.

As early as 2002, Blockbuster was seeing the effects of the shift in consumers, and it began to experience declining profits. 

17. And lastly, yes, Blockbuster had a chance to buy Netflix and turned it down. However, it wasn't that the video rental chain was looking to purchase it. At the time, Netflix was in financial trouble and hoping that Blockbuster would buy them out.

In Netflix's co-founder Marc Randolph's book,  That Will Never Work , he says that the company had for months tried to get a meeting with Blockbuster in the hopes that they would buy them because they weren't profitable. They eventually got a very last-minute meeting with them in September of 2000, and Netflix laid out how they could be an asset to Blockbuster (running their online DVD rental market, while Blockbuster continued to expand the brick-and-mortar market).

Randolph went on to say that when they told them it would cost $50 million to buy Netflix, the then-Blockbuster CEO, John Antioco, was "struggling not to laugh," and did not take them seriously (not even making a counteroffer). While this all seems like a completely dumb decision today, it actually made sense at the time, the dot-com crash had just happened and internet companies were thought of as risky investments.

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There’s a New Covid Variant. What Will That Mean for Spring and Summer?

Experts are closely watching KP.2, now the leading variant.

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By Dani Blum

For most of this year, the JN.1 variant of the coronavirus accounted for an overwhelming majority of Covid cases . But now, an offshoot variant called KP.2 is taking off. The variant, which made up just one percent of cases in the United States in mid-March, now makes up over a quarter.

KP.2 belongs to a subset of Covid variants that scientists have cheekily nicknamed “FLiRT,” drawn from the letters in the names of their mutations. They are descendants of JN.1, and KP.2 is “very, very close” to JN.1, said Dr. David Ho, a virologist at Columbia University. But Dr. Ho has conducted early lab tests in cells that suggest that slight differences in KP.2’s spike protein might make it better at evading our immune defenses and slightly more infectious than JN.1.

While cases currently don’t appear to be on the rise, researchers and physicians are closely watching whether the variant will drive a summer surge.

“I don’t think anybody’s expecting things to change abruptly, necessarily,” said Dr. Marc Sala, co-director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive Covid-19 Center in Chicago. But KP.2 will most likely “be our new norm,’” he said. Here’s what to know.

The current spread of Covid

Experts said it would take several weeks to see whether KP.2 might lead to a rise in Covid cases, and noted that we have only a limited understanding of how the virus is spreading. Since the public health emergency ended , there is less robust data available on cases, and doctors said fewer people were using Covid tests.

But what we do know is reassuring: Despite the shift in variants, data from the C.D.C. suggests there are only “minimal ” levels of the virus circulating in wastewater nationally, and emergency department visits and hospitalizations fell between early March and late April.

“I don’t want to say that we already know everything about KP.2,” said Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, the chief of research and development at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Healthcare System. “But at this time, I’m not seeing any major indications of anything ominous.”

Protection from vaccines and past infections

Experts said that even if you had JN.1, you may still get reinfected with KP.2 — particularly if it’s been several months or longer since your last bout of Covid.

KP.2 could infect even people who got the most updated vaccine, Dr. Ho said, since that shot targets XBB.1.5, a variant that is notably different from JN.1 and its descendants. An early version of a paper released in April by researchers in Japan suggested that KP.2 might be more adept than JN.1 at infecting people who received the most recent Covid vaccine. (The research has not yet been peer-reviewed or published.) A spokesperson for the C.D.C. said the agency was continuing to monitor how vaccines perform against KP.2.

Still, the shot does provide some protection, especially against severe disease, doctors said, as do previous infections. At this point, there isn’t reason to believe that KP.2 would cause more severe illness than other strains, the C.D.C. spokesperson said. But people who are 65 and older, pregnant or immunocompromised remain at higher risk of serious complications from Covid.

Those groups, in particular, may want to get the updated vaccine if they haven’t yet, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco. The C.D.C. has recommended t hat people 65 and older who already received one dose of the updated vaccine get an additional shot at least four months later.

“Even though it’s the lowest level of deaths and hospitalizations we’ve seen, I’m still taking care of sick people with Covid,” he said. “And they all have one unifying theme, which is that they’re older and they didn’t get the latest shot.”

The latest on symptoms and long Covid

Doctors said that the symptoms of both KP.2 and JN.1 — which now makes up around 16 percent of cases — are most likely similar to those seen with other variants . These include sore throat, runny nose, coughing, head and body aches, fever, congestion, fatigue and in severe cases, shortness of breath. Fewer people lose their sense of taste and smell now than did at the start of the pandemic, but some people will still experience those symptoms.

Dr. Chin-Hong said that patients were often surprised that diarrhea, nausea and vomiting could be Covid symptoms as well, and that they sometimes confused those issues as signs that they had norovirus .

For many people who’ve already had Covid, a reinfection is often as mild or milder than their first case. While new cases of long Covid are less common now than they were at the start of the pandemic, repeat infections do raise the risk of developing long Covid, said Fikadu Tafesse, a virologist at Oregon Health & Science University. But researchers are still trying to determine by how much — one of many issues scientists are trying to untangle as the pandemic continues to evolve.

“That’s the nature of the virus,” Dr. Tafesse said. “It keeps mutating.”

Dani Blum is a health reporter for The Times. More about Dani Blum

Michael Cohen Testifies: Ex-Trump Fixer Confirms He Called Trump ‘Cheeto-Dusted Cartoon Villain’ In Fiery Cross-Examination

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Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen took the stand Tuesday for his second day as the key witness in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial, testifying for prosecutors before Trump’s lawyers cross-examined him—and immediately focused on Cohen’s social media attacks against Trump, his questionable background and his supposed desire for vengeance.

Michael Cohen leaves his apartment building on his way to Manhattan criminal court in New York on ... [+] May 14.

Cohen is the trial’s central witness: Trump is on trial for allegedly falsifying business records when he reimbursed Cohen’s $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels that the ex-attorney made right before the 2016 election.

During questioning from prosecutors Tuesday, Cohen testified that invoices he sent to the Trump Organization to receive those reimbursement checks were falsely labeled as being for legal services, and that the description on his check stubs from the Trump Organization were “false statements,” as they state the payments are part of a retainer agreement that didn’t actually exist.

Cohen continued to take direction from Trump after the Daniels allegations were made public in 2018, he testified according to The New York Times , alleging he told National Enquirer exec David Pecker that Trump’s Attorney General Jeff Sessions would “take care of” a federal investigation into the Daniels payment because that’s what Trump told Cohen, and testifying he sought a temporary restraining order against Daniels at Trump’s direction—and after his home was raided by the FBI that year, he testified Trump called him and told him not to worry because “I’m president of the United States” and to “stay tough.”

Trump attorney Todd Blanche then cross-examined the witness, starting off his questioning by asking Cohen if he went on TikTok just before the trial began and called Blanche a “crying little s—t,” as quoted by the Times—to which Cohen responded that it “sounds like something I would say,” before the court struck Blanche’s question from the record.

The lawyer went on to ask Cohen about his often-colorful attacks on Trump, including calling him a “dictator douchebag” on social media and a “Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain” on his “Mea Culpa” podcast —and repeatedly arguing Trump deserves to be in prison.

Cohen testified prosecutors have repeatedly told him not to publicly discuss the case, alleging he was told, “It's probably better off that you don't speak about it” but claiming he has a “First Amendment right” to speak.

The ex-attorney agreed when Blanche asked Cohen about flattering things he said about Trump in the past when he was working for the former president, saying he admired his boss at the time because “I was knee-deep into the cult of Donald Trump”—and Blanche questioned Cohen about him cooperating with prosecutors in their case against Trump, suggesting he helped prosecutors for his own benefit in hopes of lessening his prison sentence.

During cross-examination, Cohen also reportedly estimated he’s made $3.4 million from his two books since 2020.

Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here .

Crucial Quote

Cohen testified to prosecutors that he decided to “flip” and cooperate with investigators against Trump after speaking with his family, who asked him, “Why are you holding on to this loyalty? ... We’re supposed to be your first loyalty.” “I made a decision based again on the conversation I had with my family that I would not lie for President Trump anymore,” Cohen testified, as quoted by CNN .

Less than 10. That’s how many hours of legal work Cohen estimated he actually did for Trump in 2017—undercutting Trump’s legal argument that the checks to Cohen were accurately labeled as being for legal services because Cohen was serving as the then-president’s lawyer.

What To Watch For

Cohen’s testimony is likely to stretch into Thursday, the next time the trial will convene this week, and prosecutors said he will be their final witness. That means the trial could wrap up soon, as it’s unclear if Trump’s lawyers will call any witnesses for the defense.

Key Background

Cohen was known as Trump’s loyal “ fixer ” before the ex-president’s longtime attorney flipped on him in 2018, when Cohen pleaded guilty to crimes including lying to Congress and campaign finance crimes that stemmed from his payment to Daniels. He’s since become one of Trump’s harshest critics, and was sentenced to three years in prison for his crimes. Cohen, who has since been disbarred, paid Daniels $130,000 right before the 2016 election to cover up her allegations of an affair with Trump, and Trump then reimbursed Cohen through a series of payments made throughout 2017. Prosecutors allege those payments were falsely labeled as being for legal payments, but Trump has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Trump has also publicly denied Daniels’ affair allegations. In his testimony on Monday, Cohen linked Trump directly to the hush money payments to Daniels and others, saying he would report everything he was doing to Trump, and the then-candidate was directly involved with the scheme to pay Daniels for her silence, telling the jury that the payment could not have gone forward without Trump’s approval. Cohen also testified Trump did not directly deny having sex with Daniels, and alleged Trump was present when former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg told Cohen Trump’s reimbursement checks would be labeled as legal payments. That marked a blow to Trump’s defense, as his lawyers have tried to distance the ex-president from how the payments were characterized.

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