Introduction
Pinterest is a popular image sharing and social media platform that allows users to create and share themed image boards known as pinboards. With over 300 million active monthly users, Pinterest has become a fixture in the lives of many young people and students, and has increasingly been utilized as a study and research tool. This essay will explore how Pinterest can be effectively used for essay writing by explaining what types of academic content is shareable on Pinterest, offering examples of effective pinboard themes, and providing tips and best practices for using Pinterest to support the essay writing process from research and planning through finalization.
Using Pinterest for Academic Research
One of the main ways Pinterest can support essay writing is by facilitating research. Users can create pinboards dedicated to their essay topic to curate relevant images, quotes, infographics, diagrams, timelines and more. Pinning findings from credible web sources allows students to build a visual collection of information in one place. Popular topics that lend themselves well to being researched on Pinterest include history, literature, art, science, design and more visual subjects. When pinning from websites, be sure to include attribution by noting the source URL or copying a short excerpt from the page. Pinterest’s built-in linking features also allow pins to link back to online sources for easy reference. Curating research findings visually on Pinterest can help identify gaps, themes, perspectives and areas needing more in-depth exploration compared to traditional notetaking alone. It also simply keeps all collected information organized in a single location.
Effective Pinboard Themes for Essay Planning
In the planning stages, targeted pinboards with clear themes can help structure and outline an essay. Common pinboard themes used for organizing essay plans on Pinterest include:
Main topic name – A broad pinboard titled after the overall essay subject is useful for initially dumping any and all findings without constraints.
Subtopics – Narrow the focus with pinboards dedicated to each major subheading or section of the essay. For example, if writing about influences on American culture, boards could focus on immigration, technology, globalization, etc.
Key figures – Dedicated boards allow spotlighting especially important people and their contributions to the topic.
Chronology – Date-sorted boards lay out events, developments or literature in chronological order to identify patterns and critical junctures.
Themes – Concept-focused boards grouping related pins together, such as boards for “Innovation,” “Identity,” or “Social Change.”
Counterarguments – Devoting a board to anticipated counterpositions strengthens understanding of multiple perspectives.
Well-organized pinboards at the planning stage help identify the overall essay structure and direction before writing begins.
Writing with Pinterest
During the writing process, Pinterest aids composition in several ways. Pinboards continually accessible right alongside a word processor allow easy referencing of curated research and outline materials without toggling between tabs or files. This prevents research materials from getting buried or lost. Pinboards can also be used to break up the writing process – taking breaks to add new relevant finds or reorganize content refreshes perspective between sessions.
Pinterest’s commenting features further support collaborative writing. By enabling comments on boards, peers can provide real-time feedback and suggestions. Writers can also comment on their own pins to record thoughts or mark transitions between developing sections. Collaborative boards let group projects take advantage of Pinterest’s visual organization for planning, division of research duties, and iterative feedback.
For citations, pins should attribute web sources directly on the pin description. Then source URLs, titles if applicable, and pinned date are easily accessible later when generating a bibliography in the essay’s preferred citation style. Well-labeled pins paired with citation information streamline the referencing process.
Revising with Pinterest
During revisions, Pinterest remains a valuable tool. Comparing content between research and outline boards to the completed draft checks comprehension and inclusion of all relevant material. Rearranging pins on boards as needed refines organization and flow. Receiving peer feedback via Pinterest comments prompts reflection on arguments and areas needing strengthening. Discarding unnecessary or poorly supported pins and boards parallels tightening an essay’s focus. Finalizing citations and ensuring all source attributions are accurate completes the revision cycle.
Submission and Beyond
Once an essay is complete, relevant pinboards present an opportunity for instructors. By sharing boards associated with assignments, instructors gain further insight into students’ learning and critical thinking processes. Students also take pride in demonstrating research and showcasing final work. Beyond the individual essay, integrated pinboards become a library of curated resources for future reference. Long-term projects especially benefit from maintaining research boards as living collections to which new findings are continually added.
Conclusion
With over 300 million monthly active users, Pinterest has evolved into a mainstream platform that provides unique academic advantages when thoughtfully integrated into the writing process. From researching complex topics visually and organizing findings, to outlining essays, collaborating with peers, revising drafts and strengthening citations – Pinterest supports writing at every stage. By tagging boards, including attribution details and structuring content thematically, students can harness Pinterest’s strengths for building knowledge banks and synthesizing information to improve their essays. With practice and experimentation, visual learners especially find Pinterest enhances comprehension and production across academic subjects.
Andrew Stroud