The essay of assertion takes the position I believe. It is an argumentative essay in which you convey to the reader some belief or beliefs that you hold. If you are assigned to write an essay of assertion—or if you decide to write one—you should write about a belief that is genuinely important to you. It should be a product of your identity, of who you are, of your values. From a philosophical standpoint, it is an attempt to show how your belief extends from who you are.
An assertion is not necessarily right (factually true) or wrong (factually false). But neither is it a mere opinion. In a philosophical essay, you are expected to convey your belief persuasively, making a genuine effort to be understood. You need to choose your descriptive words carefully and with an eye toward precision. You should show how your belief operates in the real world. An autobiographical example or anecdote is the ideal vehicle for describing and illustrating what you believe.
It is not enough to state your belief. You must present the reasoning behind it. Remember, you are presenting your belief as an expression of who you are, so you need to show how it is consistent with your personality, your personal history, and your values. You should make an effort to describe and explain the consequences of your belief. Indeed, you can envision the general structure of the assertion as consisting of four parts: the title, the exposition of your belief, the reasoning behind the belief, and some significant consequences of the belief.
