Making Things Concrete: Using Examples Effectively
Examples are an excellent way to explain complicated concepts, ideas, or theories. People understand concrete stories more readily than abstract ideas. Examples are a way to make abstract ideas concrete by showing the reader what they look like in real life. Furthermore, examples are more emotionally compelling than abstract ideas. As such, they are a good strategy for convincing your reader of your argument.
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The most basic step is to make sure your example actually is an example of the thing it is supposed to be an example of!
2. As much as possible, use original examples (that is, examples which are different from the ones your sources used). Original examples demonstrate that you are not just “parroting” information, and that you understand a concept or idea well enough to apply it to new situations and cases.
3. Describe the details of an example; specifics make an example more powerful for the reader.
4. Make sure you explain how an example demonstrates the idea or concept you are trying to explain, or the point you want to make.
This last step is crucial, but many people forget it! Simply telling the reader that (for example) a white girl wearing a Kimono is an example of cultural appropriation is not yet to explain how and why it exemplifies this concept.