A bullying essay is a piece of writing that explores the issue of bullying, its causes, effects, and possible solutions. Bullying is a widespread problem that affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. It is a form of aggressive behavior that can be physical, verbal, or psychological, and is often repeated over time. Bullying can significantly impact the mental and emotional well-being of those affected, leading to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and even suicide.
A bullying essay is an assignment that students can be required to write at all education levels. The problem of bullying is pervasive in schools and has many facets that must be addressed with equal consideration. That’s why there are many things you can write about in your essay on bullying. Read on to see a short essay example on this topic with a few comments and some topics you can use as examples for this assignment.
The bullying paper example below is divided into three core elements: introduction, body, and conclusion. Each part is followed by a short analysis of that part.
Bullying Essay Example (with commentaries)
Topic: The Three Major Effects of Bullying in Schools
Type: Informative Essay
Introduction
Bullying in schools has remained constant from decade to decade. Bullying is terrible for children in schools and can have various detrimental effects. According to the Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Education, bullying comprises three core elements: unwanted aggressive behavior, observed or perceived power imbalance, and repetition or high likelihood of repetition. It is alarming that almost 20% of students aged 12 to 18 experience bullying nationwide. School bullying can adversely affect kids, including health conditions, learning problems, low self-esteem, and mental health issues.
Introduction analysis:
The introduction oof this essay provides background information on bullying. Then, the writer uses statistics from credible sources as an attention hook, which is one of the good ways to start an essay. And it ends with a thesis statement that states the three main aspects that will be discussed in the essay. However, it lacks a proper transition between the hook and the thesis statement.
Body paragraphs
The first and one of the major negative effects of bullying in school is its ability to wreak havoc on a child’s health and well-being. Aside from physical injuries which may result from physical shoving or pushing, bullying can cause headaches, trouble sleeping, and stomach aches. The mind and body are connected; hence, any stressor to a child’s well-being can manifest as physical symptoms. Bullying may also aggravate pre-existing health conditions like skin, heart, and gastrointestinal diseases. The negative impact on a child’s health is one of the more obvious adverse effects of school bullying.
In addition to affecting the child’s physical health, bullying can cause learning struggles and delays in development. The academic impact on the child experiencing bullying can be overwhelming. Often, one of the first indicators that a child may be experiencing bullying is a sudden decline in grades or poor academic performance. Sometimes, kids are so caught up with how bullying makes them feel that they forget to study, don’t do their homework, or have difficulty paying attention in class and digesting the study material. Bullied children often make excuses to skip school, pretend to be sick, or lie to their parents about attending classes. Overall, the academic impact of bullying is one of the worst ones that must be considered when tackling the problem.
To make matters worse, besides negative physical health outcomes and unsatisfactory grades or a decline in academic achievement, kids who experience bullying in schools also suffer from poor self-esteem and mental health effects. For example, bullied kids tend to experience negative emotions such as social isolation, anger, loneliness, and more. In some cases with high school students, these negative emotions can lead to the misuse of drugs or alcohol. Bullying causes kids to feel poorly about themselves, increasing their risk for depression, anxiety, self-harm, or suicide. These effects can be short-term or long-lasting, even when bullying has ended.
Body analysis:
The body of the essay discusses the three main negative consequences of bullying mentioned in the thesis statement of this bullying essay. Each of these points is elaborated on with specific examples. The language used is clear and easy to understand. However, the essay does not flow smoothly from one point to the next and feels somewhat choppy as a result.
Conclusion
School bullying can have significant and detrimental negative effects on kids, including adverse health outcomes, inadequate academic performance, and mental struggles. Kids who are bullied are more likely to experience a manifestation of health conditions, which may become chronic. Bullying causes kids to be less likely to perform well academically and may cause them to skip class, thereby impacting their learning. Lastly, bullying causes kids to experience unhealthy emotions and poor self-esteem. Bullying is a chronic problem that we must continue to address in schools everywhere.
Conclusion analysis:
The essay’s conclusion restates the three main points of the body and reaffirms that bullying is a serious problem with far-reaching consequences. But, it feels somewhat abrupt and could be further developed at the very end, even though it is an informative piece.
97 Bullying Essay Examples – Here’s a PDF file with more examples of papers about bullying (by various authors). They vary in size and quality, so make sure to analyze them thoroughly.
What to Write About (Topics)
Below, you will find various ideas you can use to write an essay on bullying. The topics are divided by essay type as it will affect how you write and what you write about.
Expository essay: You can educate or inform your audience about bullying or define bullying from your unique perspective. Here are a few topic examples:
- Bullying in Primary and Secondary Schools
- How to Stand up to a Bully Effectively
- What Role Bystanders Play in Bullying Situations
- How to Support Someone Who is Being Bullied
- The Legal Repercussions of Bullying
- Existing Policies and Laws That Fight Bullying
- Best Ways to Handle Bullying for Educators
- How to Overcome the Consequences of Bullying
- Examples of Effective and Ineffective Anti-bullying Programs in Educational Institutions
Classification essay: You can explore and describe the types and subtypes of bullying. For example:
- By place
- Bullying in schools
- Workplace bullying
- Cyberbullying
- By age
- Bullying of children
- Bullying of teenagers
- Bullying of adults
- By nature
- Verbal bullying
- Physical bullying
- Emotional bullying
- By global factors
- Racial bullying
- Religious bullying
- Cultural bullying
- By physique
- Fat shaming
- Ableism
- Ageism
Problem-solution essay: You can explore and describe the possible solutions to bullying. Here are some topic examples for this bullying essay type:
- How schools can effectively address bullying
- The role of parents in preventing bullying
- How we can change the culture of bullying
- How we can support a bullying victim
- How to create a more positive school climate to prevent bullying
Cause and effect essay: You can explore and describe the effects of bullying or the causes that lead to bullying. Below are several topic samples:
- How bullying leads to school violence
- How bullying can lead students to suicidal thoughts
- The long-term effects of being bullied
- How bullying affects the academic performance of students
- The psychological consequences of bullying
Persuasive essay: You can try to take a stance on bullying and persuade the readers to take action. Such a bullying essay could be written on the following topics:
- School shootings: why do school shootings happen, and how can we prevent them?
- Repeated verbal abuse: how does repeated verbal abuse affect bullying victims, and what can be done to stop it?
- Family members: should family members be held responsible for bullying?
- Bystanders: what role do bystanders play in bullying, and how can we encourage them to take action?
- Social media: how does social media contribute to bullying, and what can be done to stop it?
Argumentative essay: You can argue your point of view on bullying or any of its aspects in an argumentative paper. Topic examples:
- What causes people to bully others?
- Can we end school bullying for sure?
- Should people who bully others be punished?
- Is there a difference between boys and girls who bully?
- Is there a link between bullying and poor mental health?
Narrative essay: You can tell your personal story related to bullying (if you have one) or a story of someone you know. Topic examples might include the following:
- How I studied bullying behavior for my project
- How spreading rumors ruined my middle-school life
- How other countries I have been to deal with school bullying
- Why I changed schools five times and don’t have many friends
- How it can get to you even through text messages
Bullying is a serious and growing problem affecting individuals, their families, and communities. It is a complex subject to broach and talk about because it provides little comfort to parents, but it should be discussed to implement strategies to mitigate bullying and its effects. And while it is true that some young people will likely “grow out of” being bullied, it’s also true that some never stop being bullied.
In conclusion, this essay guide on bullying has provided a comprehensive overview of the issue and its impact on individuals. It is a problem that affects individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life. By working together and taking action, we can help create a world where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected, and where bullying has no place. If you are writing an essay on this topic, this guide can serve as a valuable resource to help you better understand the issue and develop practical solutions to address it. Remember, if you or someone you know is being bullied, speaking out and seeking help is important.