In essay writing, some topics are considered to be casual topics. An example of a casual topic is “my favorite pet.” Additionally, students may be asked to write on a particular theme, not just about themselves or their interests. An example may be that the instructor is interested in knowing what students think about saving the environment. Another example would be an instructor asking you, “How does your culture affect how you live?”
Casual essays are often assigned to stimulate creativity and critical thinking skills. While this type of essay writing is designed to be a fun experience for the writer, students can run into many problems when attempting to start or complete a casual essay writing assignment.
The biggest problem most students run into is choosing a topic. Because of the casual nature of this essay writing style, settling on a topic that isn’t too broad or too concise can be challenging.
Additionally, for students without superior writing skills, creating a well-written essay that meets all the requirements of your instructor, including word count, formatting, and other expectations, can be even more challenging.
Fortunately, students who are feeling challenged with any part of their casual essay writing assignment can use this helpful guide that details the best way to write a casual essay and 70 casual essay topics perfect for students of any grade level.
Different Types of Casual Essays
Casual essays are meant to be informative, but that doesn’t mean they are all written the same way. Depending on the class, the topic, and the thesis, a casual essay may require a specific essay writing format to showcase the writing assignment properly.
Informative Essay
Informative essays are the most popular types of casual writing assignments. They involve the student detailing the information they have researched or lived in order to provide the reader with a clear depiction of person, place, object, event, or situation.
Informative essay writing requires that the student:
- Choose a topic
- Research the topic
- Create an outline of their essay
- Write a thesis statement
- Write 3-5 body paragraphs that support the thesis
- Write a conclusion
By following these steps, students can complete an informative casual essay that is informational and well-organized.
Descriptive Essay
With a descriptive essay, the student describes a person, place, object, event, or situation with vivid detail to help the reader understand what the writer sees. An excellent descriptive essay will make the reader feel like they are right there in the story instead of just reading a series of facts.
To write an effective descriptive essay, students should:
- Choose a person, place, thing, or situation that interests them
- Close their eyes and picture what they want to describe
- Write down all their thoughts about what they see in their head
- Reorganize the writing in a cohesive, sequential order
- Make sure every word used is powerful and descriptive
- Add any appropriate sensory details to make the story even more vivid (sounds, smells, tastes)
If you have been assigned a descriptive casual essay writing assignment, be sure to use these steps to write an engaging piece that will captivate the reader and earn you a good grade.
Narrative Essay
A narrative essay is one of the most creative types of writing assignments there are. By definition, a narrative essay tells a story through an engaging and well-organized series of events to either convey or elicit an emotion from the reader or writer. Within this type of essay, there are many different types of narratives that the writer can choose from, such as:
- A linear narrative that follows a straightforward and chronological timeline
- A nonlinear narrative that presents events in non-chronological order
- A reflective narrative that uses flashbacks or time skips to explain the past
- A biographical narrative that details an event in someone’s life
- An autobiographical narrative that tells about your own experience
- A creative narrative that presents a story through the use of creative writing style
By following these steps, students can write a well-organized and engaging narrative essay regardless of the topic.
Essential Tips for Writing a Casual Essay
When writing your casual essay, it’s essential to keep these tips in mind to ensure that you are writing a successful paper.
1. Read the prompt
The best casual essay starts with a clear topic and a clear objective in mind. Without this, your writing will fall flat, and you won’t be able to answer any of the key questions asked by your professor. So take the time to read carefully through the prompt while making notes of any questions about the prompt.
2. Do the research
Before you can write anything, you have to know your topic inside and out. This means answering all the key questions within the prompt and any related sub-questions or sub-topics asked by your professor. With so many different casual essay topics and types, it’s important to discuss each one clearly and effectively.
3. Outline your essay
Whether you do this on paper or simply in your head, outlining is the best way to ensure that your essay stays organized and clear throughout its entirety. In addition, the key details written in an outline will allow you to create a solid foundation for your essay while answering the questions presented in the prompt.
4. Use transitions
With casual essays, it’s important to keep each section organized and well-developed by using strong transitional words and phrases. This will provide a smooth flow throughout your essay while conveying all the pertinent information that the prompt requires you to answer.
5. Use the active voice
The use of the active voice gives you complete control over which words are used in your essay while also clarifying who did what and when during the events of your story. While it’s okay to mix things up every once in a while with the passive voice, most casual essay narratives require the active voice in order to present a clear and engaging story.
6. Proofread and edit
When writing a casual essay, it’s important to double-check everything before submission to avoid grammatical errors or typos from making their way into your final copy. By simply taking a few minutes out of your day to proofread and edit, you can significantly increase the quality of your writing.
70 Casual Essay Topics
With the advice above, students can be fully prepared to write an essay using the 70 casual essay topics below.
Casual Essay Topics About Education
- How did you choose your college/university?
- What is your favorite academic subject?
- Who was your favorite teacher, and why?
- What do you plan on studying in the future?
- Is education important to you or not? Explain.
- What was your worst day at school?
- What educational achievement are you most proud of?
- What is the most important thing you learned in school?
- How has your view on education changed over time?
- Describe a typical school day.
- What do you think your teacher does when not at school?
- Describe your first day of elementary school.
- Who taught you how to read? How did they help you?
- What do you think is the best way to remember something from school?
- Would you choose a different educational path if given the opportunity?
- Are you worried about going to college? Why or why not?
- What is your favorite part of going to school?
Casual Essay Topics About Work
- What is your dream job?
- What do you like most about your current job/internship?
- Are you worried about finding a job after graduation? Why or why not?
- How would you handle an unhappy customer/client/coworker?
- When was the last time you were fired from a job?
- How did you get your current job?
- What advice would you give to young adults considering going into the workforce for the first time?
- Describe an average day at work.
- Have you ever been in a situation where your values conflicted with your profession?
- What was the worst job you’ve ever had?
- How do you think your overall experience as an employee will influence your overall success as a person?
Casual Essay Topics About Home and Family
- Describe your childhood home.
- What is the nicest thing a family member has done for you recently?
- How often do you interact with your extended family?
- How has moving impacted your life?
- What is the most valuable advice a parent has ever given you?
- Who do you turn to for advice, and why?
- How often does someone in your family embarrass you on purpose/accidentally?
- Which of your family members would you like to spend more time with? Why?
- What is your favorite family vacation memory?
- When was the last time you used something your parents gave you to make their lives easier (i.e., a tool, recipe, car/house)?
- What would you like to teach your children about money management and spending habits?
- What is your favorite family tradition?
- Describe a time you witnessed an act of generosity within your family.
Casual Essay Topics About Love and Dating
- Detail your opinions on the phrase “opposites attract.”
- Do you believe in love at first sight? Why or why not?
- Do you find it important to have a lot in common with your significant other?
- Who is your favorite love interest from a novel/movie, and why?
- What was the best thing that came out of your last relationship? The worst?
- How do you feel about dating someone significantly older or younger?
- How do you feel about your significant other spending a lot of time with their friends?
- Describe the first time you experienced love.
- Who is someone you would have dated if they had asked when you were younger, but now it would be weird/awkward to date them?
- Why are some people more successful with relationships than others?
- What is your favorite love song?
- How does falling in love feel?
- What is your first memory of love?
- How do you feel about dating people who are in the same social circle as you (i.e., friends, coworkers, etc.)?
- Describe a time someone you know tried to set you up on a date with their friend. What happened?
- How long should you wait after getting into a serious relationship to introduce your partner to your parents?
- What would you do for the one you love?
- Would you ever break up with someone over a long-distance issue (i.e., moving away, joining the military)? Why or why not?
- Describe a time in which love settled a dispute/made people get along better.
- What are the three most important components of a healthy relationship?
- Why do people break up with each other?
- What are some signs that someone isn’t meant to be in your life, even if you’re initially drawn to them?
Casual Essay Topics About Personal Experiences
- When was the first time you experienced the death of something?
- Who are some people you would have liked to have known during your lifetime?
- What items in your closet are “one of a kind”?
- Describe a time you felt particularly close to another person.
- What was the last crime/accident you witnessed, and what happened?
- In your day-to-day life, how often do you engage in unsafe behavior?
- What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned recently?
There you have it – 70 casual essay topics perfect for starting and finishing a well-written casual essay!
