TLDR;
Essays are a powerful tool for deep learning, not just boring school assignments. They've been used by great thinkers to explore and shape ideas. This video explores the origin of essays, their benefits for understanding and retention, and how to incorporate them into your learning process. Key takeaways include:
- Essays are about the process of trying and investigating, not just the end result.
- Writing helps clarify thoughts and provides a new perspective on ideas.
- Consistency is key, and essays can be adapted to various mediums, styles, and topics.
Intro [0:50]
Essays are a great medium to further ideas, just like Orwell, Newton and Nature did. The speaker has written over a thousand essays and considers them the backbone of his learning. Everything on his YouTube channel starts as an essay. The video will cover the origin of the essay, its benefits for retention and understanding, and how to incorporate essay writing into your own learning.
What is an essay? [2:10]
The word "essay" comes from the French "essayer," meaning to try or attempt. The format is credited to Michel de Montaigne, who explored human nature through his essays. Francis Bacon popularized it in England, and it spread across Europe and the Atlantic. The essay has taken many forms, including video essays. The definition of an essay is loose, but generally, it's a short piece of writing that explains, describes, or argues something. The power of essays lies in the act of trying, making it an investigation and a learning process in itself.
Why essays help you learn [8:30]
Essay writing is a problem-solving method where the process is more important than the end result. The point is to give yourself a chance to think, as ideas become real when put on paper, allowing for perspective and judgment. Writing helps to organize scattered thoughts into a rational, linear order, which is a test of intelligence. Essay writing forces you to use your own words, proving your understanding. If you can't explain something in your own words, you don't understand it. Perfectionism can be intimidating, but essays are acts of investigation where mistakes are part of the learning process. Even if you never reread your essays, the learning happens during the writing process. Schools and universities use essays to have students explore a topic and prove their understanding. The beauty of the essay is in the process, and consistency is key.
How to write essays (medium, style, topic) [18:19]
To write essays, consider three features: medium, topic, and style. The medium is whether to use pen and paper or type online. Pen and paper feels nicer and may be better for retention, but digital notes are infinite and organizable. Digital notes allow for metadata, links, tags, and easy searching. Choose a program and stick with it to avoid procrastination. Consider the style: short or long, formal or informal. One format is the mini essay, a short piece of writing that covers one point. For longer pieces, focus on one major point and split it into sections. Other styles include expository (explainer), argumentative (opinion), analytical (dissection), and reflective/personal (experiences). Your style will likely be a blend of these. Start with a simple point explanation format and find your voice over time. The topic can be anything you're interested in, focusing on one point that you're passionate about and can wrap up in a short space of time. Consider skipping the conclusion or intro and just get to the point.
