How to Write a 2024 U.S. Presidential Election Essay

Introduction

The 2024 US presidential election on November 5 promises to be one for the history books.  As of right now, it looks like it will be between current president Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump.  Both have their die-hard supporters, and the contest could be pretty evenly matched up in terms of an energized base getting out the vote.  It is also an election that many pundits, journalists, writers and even students will have to cover and discuss.  The implications are that huge!  So, in this tutorial, let’s talk about how to write an essay on the 2024 US presidential election.  This essay tutorial will list a few potential topics to focus on, give some possible titles, and provide an example of what a good essay could look like.  Overall, this 2024 US presidential election essay tutorial will help you understand the ins and outs of the upcoming election by examining the strengths and weaknesses of the presidential candidates through a non-biased lens.  It will also discuss the influence of social media, examine the proposed policies of both candidates, and consider the impact of demographics and voting security on the election outcome. Let’s get started.

Potential Essay Topics

• The Role of Social Media in Shaping Voter Perceptions: This topic could be used to analyze how social media platforms, online advertising, and digital campaigns influence public opinion and voter behavior.
• Policy Analysis of the Presidential Candidates: With this topic, one could compare and contrast the proposed policies of the presidential candidates, and focus on key areas such as healthcare, the economy, foreign policy, and climate change.
• The Impact of Voter Demographics on Election Outcomes: One could look at how different demographic groups (age, race, gender, etc.) are expected to vote and why.
• Election Integrity and Security: Discuss the measures in place to ensure a fair election, including protection against foreign interference, voter suppression, and the reliability of mail-in ballots.
• Combination of any or all of those topics: Another idea is to combine a few of these topics to create a comprehensive essay.

Alternate Essay Titles

1. The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election: A Comparative Analysis of Candidates
2. Digital Battlegrounds: The Influence of Social Media in the 2024 Presidential Race
3. Policy and Perspective: Understanding the 2024 Presidential Election Candidates and Their Positions
4. Will the 2024 US Elections be Secured to Prevent Voter Fraud?

Essay Outline

1. Introduction
   • Introduce what the essay will cover
   • Thesis statement
2. The Candidates
   • Brief background of each candidate.
   • Overview of their political careers and accomplishments.
3. Strengths and Weaknesses
   • Analysis of each candidate’s strengths: leadership qualities, policy proposals, support base.
   • Discussion of weaknesses: controversies, policy criticisms, electoral challenges.
4. Digital Media’s Role
   • The impact of social media campaigns.
   • Strategies used in digital advertising and their effectiveness.
5. Policy Comparison
   • Detailed comparison of key policy areas.
   • Prospective impacts of these policies on the general population.
6. Voter Demographics and Election Security
   • Influence of demographics on voting patterns.
   • Examination of election security measures and their sufficiency.

7. Conclusion
   • Recap of main ideas and key points
   • Reverse hook or closing thought

2024 U.S. Presidential Election Example Essay

Abstract

The 2024 U.S. presidential election represents a potentially major turning point in American politics.  It will be an election marked by a nation’s heightened polarization, the dominant influence of social media, questions about national policy, and concerns about voting security. This essay gives a comprehensive examination of the election by breaking it down into parts.  First, it looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the presidential candidates, set against the backdrop of influential digital platforms and shifting voter demographics. Using a non-biased analytical lens, the paper examines the candidates’ policy proposals in key areas such as the border, immigration, the economy, foreign policy, and climate change. Additionally, it looks at how social media can shape public opinion, and how voter demographics may affect election outcomes, and the challenges to election integrity and security. In this way, the essay gives readers a deeper understanding of the major aspects of the 2024 presidential election

Main Essay Title

Analyzing the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election: A Balanced Examination of Candidates, Their Policies, and the Influence of Social Media, Security, and Demographics

Essay Introduction

The 2024 U.S. presidential election will be remembered as a pivotal moment in American history.  It promises to be historic due to the stark choice between divergent paths for the country’s future represented by the two polarizing candidates. This essay intends to unpack the upcoming election by examining the strengths and weaknesses of the presidential candidates through a non-biased lens, discussing the influence of social media, identifying and assessing the proposed policies, and considering the impact of demographics on the election outcome.

Thesis Statement

The outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election will be influenced by the candidates’ ability to hold up in the face of social media scrutiny, the appeal of their policies to a diverse electorate, and even the integrity of the election process itself.

Body of Essay

Brief Background of Each Candidate

Before entering politics, Donald Trump was a well-known real estate mogul and television personality. He attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and took over his family’s real estate business in 1971, expanding it from Queens and Brooklyn into Manhattan. Trump’s business ventures include real estate, hospitality, and entertainment, with his role as the host of The Apprentice increasing his fame (Biography, 2023).

Joe Biden’s political career spans several decades, beginning with his election to the New Castle County Council in 1970. He was one of the youngest people ever elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972, representing Delaware until he became Vice President in 2009. Biden’s early life was marked by personal tragedy, including the loss of his first wife and daughter in a car accident. He is known for his work on foreign relations, criminal justice, and domestic policy during his tenure in the Senate and as Vice President under Barack Obama (Astor, 2023).

Overview of Their Political Careers and Accomplishments

Trump served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. His presidency was marked by significant tax cuts, deregulation, and a focus on conservative judicial appointments. Trump prioritized immigration reform, trade policies that renegotiated several international agreements, and a strong stance against China on trade and security issues.

Biden served as the 47th Vice President of the United States from 2009 to 2017, and as the 46^th US President starting in 2021. His campaign characterizes his political career by his contributions to foreign policy, efforts to combat sexual assault on college campuses, and advocacy for middle-class America (White House, 2023). As Vice President, he played an important role in supporting the Obama administration’s response to the financial crisis and healthcare reform.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Trump’s leadership style is marked by his direct communication, often through social media (he owns his own platform—Truth Social—ever since getting booted from Facebook and Twitter).  This direct approach resonates with his base. He has a strong support system among voters who favor his approach to economic policies, national security, and conservative social issues. His ability to mobilize and maintain a loyal voter base is a significant strength.

However, Trump’s presidency and campaign strategies have been polarizing, contributing to significant divisions within the American electorate. His handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the 2020 election, including impeachment proceedings, have been points of criticism and controversy.

Biden is known for his bold leadership style and ability to connect with voters on a personal level. He can boast of having extensive experience in foreign and domestic policy as a career politician.  He also has a track record of bipartisan cooperation. His appeal to moderate voters and emphasis on unity are key strengths.

However, concerns about Biden’s age and questions about his and his son’s business dealings in Ukraine and China have been sources of controversy. His centrism and past legislative decisions, such as the 1994 Crime Bill, have faced scrutiny from both the left and the right.

Social Media’s Role

Trump’s use of social media to directly communicate with the public has been unprecedented, and has shaped his political narrative and rallying his base. Biden’s campaign has tried to use digital platforms for outreach and engagement, but in terms of engagement few political leaders can match Trump’s.  Overall, both campaigns have employed targeted digital advertising and data analytics to reach specific voter demographics. Trump’s campaign has been notable for its aggressive use of social media for direct engagement, while Biden’s campaign has recently done the same, notably attacking Trump for his use of certain words, like “bloodbath,” at one of his recent campaign rallies to make Trump look like both a white supremacist and an antisemite (Hains, 2024).

Policy Comparison

Trump and Biden have presented contrasting visions for America, particularly on border security, immigration, climate change, NATO, and economic policy. Trump advocates for deregulation, a strong stance on immigration, and “America First” economic policies. Biden supports expanding healthcare access, rejoining the Paris Agreement on climate, and immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship.

Trump’s policies aim to stimulate economic growth through tax cuts and deregulation, with a focus on American industries and workers. Biden’s policies prioritize social equity, environmental sustainability, and expanding social safety nets, aiming to address long-term systemic issues.

Voter Demographics and Election Security

The electoral base for Trump includes rural, white, and older voters, but with blacks and Latinos increasingly taking an interest in his message.  Biden’s base tends to be urban, younger, and more inclusive of immigrants.  Both candidates will have to widen their appeal to all demographics to secure victory.

Election security remains a top concern, with both campaigns emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the electoral process. Efforts to ensure election integrity include combating misinformation, securing voting infrastructure, and promoting voter education.  Many Trump supporters still feel that the 2020 contest between Trump and Biden was stolen by the DNC.  The new heads of the RNC Michael Whatley and Lara Trump have pledged to make election security one of the topmost important issues of focus in the upcoming months (Samuels & Vakil, 2024).

Essay Conclusion

The 2024 presidential election represents the broader national debates on governance, policy direction, and democracy. With this analysis of the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses, as well as looking at the external factors influencing the election, one can appreciate just how enormous this upcoming election will be. This essay should help one to see the need for informed, critical engagement in the democratic process, safe elections, and careful consideration of the impact of social media on the way voters form their views and opinions.

Works Cited / Bibliography

Astor, M. (2023). The long career arc of Joe Biden. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/04/24/multimedia/biden-career-timeline.html

Biography. (2023). Donald Trump. Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/political-figures/donald-trump

Hains, T. (2024).  Biden Campaign Ad Pairs Trump “Bloodbath” Quote With “Jews Will Not Replace Us”.  Retrieved from Realpolitics.com

Samuels, B. & Vakil, C. (2024).  RNC elects Michael Whatley, Lara Trump as new leaders. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4519117-rnc-elects-leadership-michael-whatley-lara-trump/

White House. (2023). Statement from President Joe Biden on New Steps Against Perpetrators of Sexual Violence in Conflict.   Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/20/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-new-steps-against-perpetrators-of-sexual-violence-in-conflict/

Conclusion

Writing a 2024 US presidential election essay requires a basic understanding of the political, social, and technological factors at play in this epic contest that brings head-to-head the two opposing sides of a deeply divided country. This tutorial provides a good way to cover the main aspects of this election.  Using it, you should be able to touch on its various dimensions in a balanced, unbiased, and informative way.  Your goal in writing this essay will be to support awareness, increase political literacy, and ultimately to encourage participation in this year’s political showdown.