Add Depth and Direction To Your Essay with “Even though” Statements 

When students write their persuasive articles or literary analyses, they primarily focus on summarizing the story and adding transitions for flow. 

But an essay of that sort has little, if any, value at all. 

Regurgitating what an author told us is not enough. Our job as a writer is to show that we’ve thought deeply about the implications of the story or subject. 

Your insights and connections to how your thoughts affect the world are what counts. 

At the very least, this can be achieved by using a conjunction such as a an “Even Though” statement that pushes both us as writers and readers to think. 

We like to call a statement like an epiphany…because “conjunction” does it quite show its power. 

What is an epiphany? 

The biblical definition states it as “an appearance of a divine being,” but I’m talking about its usage as an “A-ha moment,” that shines a light on a potentially ground-breaking realization.  

As such, “Epiphanies” add VALUE to the reader because the writer shows us that there may be a contrast, conflict, or a new way to think. 

These “Nuggets of Wisdom” have the power of altering our perspective of the world and ourselves. 

For readers, according to Larry McEnerey, Director of University of Chicago’s Writing Program, these conjunctions make readers ears perk up. Why? Because it indicates a controversy. As a result, we want to read. 

But how do we create these epiphanies or valuable insights? 

Even though there are infinite methods to an “A-ha” idea, let me suggest the following as a first step. We call it an “Even though Statement.” 

Here are variations of it. 

• Even though  X, there is Y.
• Despite X, there is Y.
• Although… X,  we also get Y . 
• Though…X, we may Y. 
• Some people think… X, but really… Y. 
• If X happens, then Y. 
• By doing X, we get Y and Z.
  

“Even Though” Action in a Sentence

Here’s a simple example that you might find in an essay about siblings. 

“Even though brothers and sisters can be mean, in their hearts they really love us.”

Here’s what’s happening:

We’re taking a normal or negative idea (siblings as mean) in the first half followed by a contrasting, and surprising perspective in the end. 

For fun, you can play with silly “Even though” statements as a car game. Others have to decide if the statement is true.  

• Even though, chocolate is a candy, scientists have shown that it has some health benefits. (True!)

• Even though we see the stars at night and they correspond to the constellation map for thousands of years, the truth is the stars have been extinguished for millennia. (Yup. True.)

• Even though corn dogs are delicious, it is one of the most unhealthiest foods you can eat. (Sorry, but true.)

• Even though corn dogs are delicious, they have some surprising health benefits. (Probably NOT true!) 

• Some people think…that video games are a huge waste of time, but really there may be some motor skill and psychological benefits from playing them. (Well, it depends on the game.)

• Despite having dyslexia, many dyslexic adults have become enormously successful in their careers. (True!)

Even though an “Even though” epiphany seems a bit simplistic, it has the power of capturing our attention. To a reader, it can feel exciting, when there are twists and turns of perspectives and considerations. It enriches writing, and by it you can lead your readers from the beginning to the end of your essay. 

Keep “Even thoughs” in your back pocket as it’s an invaluable tool for writing everything from essays, letters, and even stories. But that will be in another post. 

For now, have fun playing with “even thoughs” in your writing, and see how it can potentially transform your work from dull and boring to an experience that makes readers say “A-ha!!” 

photo: JJ Jordan at Pexels