An essay is a well-structured series of ideas that analyze a particular topic. Images are not usually included in essays, but there are always exceptions. If used properly, an image can add context to an otherwise unrelatable document. There are guidelines for using images, of course, so here are a few to keep in mind when considering when to use an image in an essay.
Make sure your image works with the style and tone of your essay. Simply adding an image without considering how it will interact with the essay will not work. Even though the image is not strictly part of the text within the document it should still be properly cited. Additionally, while it should be kept within the margins it should still either be arranged adjacent to the relevant text or put at the end of the essay for easy reference. If pro research papers at ultius.com seem too obtuse for a casual reader, streamlining them with images may make them more helpful overall.
There are also a few things you should include with the image to make sure it properly contributes to the essay. Consider what the image contributes to the essay. An image should be “directly relevant,” according to the Boston Architectural College; the inclusion of an image in an essay should help the reader understand the essay more easily than they would otherwise. Making sure the image is properly labeled is also helpful. While there is generally no standard format for the captions of an image, describing noteworthy aspects of an image like the title, name of the artist, or the original medium of the image is usually recommended even if it might seem like such information might be obvious.
When using images in an essay, it is also important to be aware of the specific requirements for using an image as well. Images that are not original works by you are usually restricted from use by copyright law. The easiest and safest way to use an image so protected is to seek permission from the copyright owner. Additionally, while many public areas are safe for photography it would still be worthwhile to make sure you can reasonably take and use your photos in a legal way. Some government buildings and events are off-limits to photographers, so make sure you contact the relevant government officials if you are planning to take a photo that contains such things. Even though such problems are relatively rare, it is worth reiterating that such violations can be very serious offenses so you should always do some research first if you plan to take photographs of government buildings or events. Even if you take all of the proper precautions within the essay itself, there may be external factors involved that may hinder the legitimate usage of an image in your essay.
Images are not usually a standard inclusion in essays, but it can be helpful to include them. So long as the image fits well within the scope of an essay, it can easily simplify the discussion of a topic. Given that an image is a different kind of media from text, images require special consideration in a text essay. Making sure you can use a particular image might be difficult, so once they are identified it may be helpful to look at a potential cloud storage solution like a review of ibi to cut down on the time involved with finding a useful picture for your essay. While using images with essays might be more difficult than it seems, they can be key contributions nonetheless.
