How to write a diagnostic essay: Topics, structure, writing tips + example

Writing a diagnostic essay isn’t how you want the new semester to begin, but it’s the most likely scenario if you take humanities. Luckily, it’s not the hardest assignment to master, especially if you have some support. SpeedyPaper is here to help in any way we can, with an actionable plan on how to write diagnostic essay or an essay writer for hire to take over this task for you. 

What is a diagnostic essay?

Even if they sound intimidating, diagnostic essays have nothing to do with medicine or diseases. 

So, what is a diagnostic essay exactly? It’s a short writing assignment meant to diagnose or evaluate your writing skills, critical thinking, and subject knowledge. It’s a typical timed task at the beginning of the term that lets professors see where you’re at when starting the new year or class. Although the score will likely not affect your final grade, it will help your professors understand whether their teaching methodology and material made an impact on your knowledge and skills. By comparing your diagnostic essay with your final assignment of the course, they’ll see how much you’ve progressed throughout the term.

By the way, this assignment can be an in-class timed activity or a homework task. Instructors can ask you to write a reflection or opinion essay, though argumentative and persuasive pieces are also likely.

Structure of a diagnostic essay

Aside from creative writing and narrative pieces, all essays follow the same 3-piece formula: introduction, body, and conclusion. The major difference lies in the number of body paragraphs. For example, a 1000 word essay would likely have at least five paragraphs (or more), and short diagnostic essays usually have five passages total with three body paragraphs.

The introduction is the opening part of the diagnostic essay structure. It should have:

• A hook to grab the reader’s attention, typically an interesting fact, quote, or question.
• Basic background information about the topic.
• A thesis statement focused on the main points of the essay.

You can organize the body paragraphs thematically, by order of impact, or chronologically, depending on the topic. But remember to keep each passage focused on a single main idea when writing a diagnostic essay. Open each body paragraph with a topic sentence introducing the main idea. Follow with evidence, examples, quotes, data, and other information supporting your idea. Finish up with your analysis of the data and a lead-in for the following passage. Repeat three times, and the essay body will be ready.

The conclusion is a mirror of the introduction. Summarize the main body points, pull them together to confirm the thesis statement, and finish up with a final thought-provoking sentence. It should leave the readers with a lasting impression, so make it memorable.

Writing tip from SpeedyPaper

How to write a diagnostic essay in 6 steps

Working on any writing assignment seems impossible until you break it down into manageable chunks. Here’s how to write a diagnostic essay in five steps:

1. Analyze the prompt. Reread it carefully and look for keywords to guide the following steps. Pay special attention to the verbs. For example, if the prompt asks you to “discuss” something, you need to include multiple perspectives on the topic. But if the prompt calls for “reflection”, your opinion is what matters. If you aren’t sure you understand the task, ask the professor to explain it further. Getting a short consultation before you start writing will save you time and improve your grade. 
2. Develop a thesis. Formulate a single sentence to encompass the main idea you wish to share in your paper. It doesn’t have to be perfect on the first try, as you can revise it later, but it should reflect your opinion or take on the issue. You can use the thesis statement as a brief outline of your main points. List them within the thesis and highlight the main conclusion you can draw from the three points. Keep an eye on the thesis while you write diagnostic essay outline and paragraphs to ensure your narrative aligns with it.
3. Outline the essay. Use bullet points or short phrases to draft the essay structure. You’ll need at least one point for each of the five paragraphs. But it’s better if you include at least three points for each passage. Summarize the main idea and note at least two pieces of evidence to support it, like quotations, data, or personal anecdotes. At this point, you can also jot down ideas for how to start a diagnostic essay, listing potential hooks.
4. Fill in the blanks. If your outline is detailed enough, you merely need to combine its separate pieces into paragraphs and pull them together with smooth transitions. Although students consider this stage the most important and time-consuming, if you do the preliminary work right, you’ll breeze through the writing process. The key here is to showcase your subject knowledge and writing style. Focus on using appropriate words and keep your writing formal and free from jargon and technical terms. Use strong verbs and an active voice to keep your tone engaging and compelling. You can also vary the sentence structure and length. 
5. Revise and proofread. Do not turn in your paper as soon as you’re done writing. Instead, look it over again with a critical eye. On your first pass, focus on illogical conclusions, redundancy in writing, weak arguments, and choppy transitions. Correcting even some of them will drastically improve your writing. Once you’ve dealt with the major issues, reread the piece again and look for typos, missing commas, and other mistakes. Although they aren’t as critical for your grade, they can still make a poor first impression on your professor. 
6. Format. Formatting an essay is usually unnecessary for in-class assignments, but if diagnostic essays are your homework, take this last step to make them look good. Ideally, you want to prepare an APA or MLA template and reuse it to speed up the formatting process. Remember to check the specific requirements since formatting guidelines tend to change every few years. Pay special attention to citations and reference lists if you’re using outside sources to substantiate your claims. It’s one of the skills your professor will evaluate, and you want to show you’ve mastered formatting citations, even if you use an online citation generator.

Writing tip from SpeedyPaper

Diagnostic essay example

Learning by example is always easier, so here’s a diagnostic essay example crafted by our expert writers. You can also check out our collection of free essay samples for more examples of diagnostic and other assignment types.

The Impact of Green Walking Spaces on Community’s Wellbeing

Central Park is a much-needed breath of fresh air in the middle of New York City, but it’s hardly enough to make the high-rise landscape welcoming and healthy. Although historically, city architects did not prioritize green community spaces, scientists and medical professionals agree that including natural elements in urban landscapes can improve air quality, prompt increased physical activity, and have a positive impact on mental health.

Freeing up space for parks and gardens within large cities can improve local air quality. Pedestrian areas reduce the traffic and resultant internal combustion engine emissions, but they also create pockets of fresh air, which are especially critical during summer heat waves. Improved air quality, in turn, can enhance the pulmonary and cardiovascular health of local community members and increase their life expectancy. 

Moreover, green spaces offer pleasant alternatives to driving and taking public transport. Although walking may take longer, it offers urban dwellers a convenient way to increase their physical activity, such as the number of daily steps in a comfortable, safe, and beautiful environment. Adding outdoor gyms and playgrounds for children can further increase physical activity and promote healthier lifestyles for locals of all ages.

Additionally, spending time outside in natural environments is proven to have a positive impact on mental health, reducing anxiety and stress levels, increasing focus, and improving sleep quality. The effect can be even stronger by introducing community mental welfare programs, such as yoga or meditation classes held outdoors.

Overall, introducing new green community spaces can have a significant positive impact on local communities, from improving air quality to increasing physical activity and boosting mental health. Existing examples of renaturalizing urban landscapes prove the efficacy of such solutions, which should promote their proliferation across urban communities. 

Diagnostic essay topics for soft sciences

Most professors will offer broad prompts and let you define the specific scope of your assignment. Still, this list of diagnostic essay topics can help you get a better idea of what your instructors expect:

1. Discuss the main themes in one of the books from your summer reading list.
2. Explain the impact of reading on critical thinking and other cognitive skills.
3. Describe the person who has had the most significant impact on your life to date.
4. Compare the learning outcomes of on-site and online learning.
5. Consider the implications of extended lifetime expectancy on modern society.
6. Explore the potential impact of Solar system space exploration efforts.
7. Discuss the long-term negative consequences of school bullying.
8. Explore the rise of populist rhetoric and ideas in global politics.
9. Consider the impact of unfulfilled election promises.
10. Discuss the line between cultural exchange and cultural appropriation.
11. Analyze the impact of immigration on social diversity and culture.
12. Discuss the effects of switching from driving to public transport.
13. Explore the role of green walking spaces on the community's wellbeing.
14. Analyze the downfall of STEM education's popularity.
15. Consider the global preparedness level for the next pandemic.
16. Discuss the implications of generative AI proliferation on the job market.
17. Explain the value of the right timing for starting new businesses.
18. Explore the cause of the growing rift between the right and left-wing supporters.
19. Discuss the importance of the division of judicial, legislative, and executive power.
20. Analyze the impact of cryptocurrencies on the global financial market.

If you’re lucky enough to get a free choice of a topic, you can use one of our suggestions or use news headlines or even social media to pick a relevant idea and develop it into an essay.

Conclusion

Now, you know how to write a diagnostic essay, from developing a thesis statement to structuring and formatting your assignment. Remember our tips when you’re working on this task in class, or reach out to SpeedyPaper experts if you want them to take over the homework assignment for you.