Essays About Engineering: Top 5 Essay Examples Plus Prompts

Engineering is one of the most sought after professions for the 21st century. If you are writing essays about engineering, use these examples below.

A common stereotype of engineers is that they build houses, but that is simply not the case. Nearly all of the things we enjoy today are because of engineers. The food you buy at the grocers is deemed as safe thanks to the chemical engineers who analyzed its contents. The smartphone or laptop you’re using to read this right now was made possible by computer engineers.

The house you’re living in, the offices you go to work at, these marvels made our life easier because of engineers who dedicated their time to innovate and solve our problems through science and mathematics. After all, accuracy is what sets engineers apart.

If you are writing an essay about engineering, here are 5 essay examples to help you write an insightful piece.

1. Why Engineers Are Becoming Increasingly Important by Christopher McFadden

“Now consider a society that is completely free of engineers. What would it look like? It’s a hard thing to picture because for as long as humans have existed, engineers (in some fashion) have also existed. 

The closest we can probably think about would be a hunter-gatherer one. This society would literally be one of pure survival. There would be no innovation, no technology of any kind. As soon as one or other members of that society created a trap, a spear or improved on a technique for smashing things an engineer will have been “born”.”

McFadden eloquently discussed how engineers transformed our way of living and the big role they’ll be playing as society becomes increasingly reliant on technology. He also discussed the impact engineers have in different sectors such agriculture, health, and education.

2. Women In Engineering: Why I Chose An Engineering Degree by Purity Muhia

“There are some girls who still grow up thinking that engineering and science isn’t meant for women. It is important to remember women can thrive in the world of engineering. I chose engineering because I loved math and science, and engineering promised real opportunities to change the world.”

Muhia is now one step closer to achieving her dreams of making a change in the world as she now holds a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering. 

In this essay, which she wrote back in 2016 as a student intern, she discussed the origins of her interest in engineering and aimed to inspire other young women to pursue this profession as a way to bring a different perspective to a vocation dominated by men.

3. Taking Lessons From What Went Wrong by William J. Broad

“It is not that failure is desirable, or that anyone hopes for or aims for a disaster. But failures, sometimes appalling, are inevitable, and given this fact, engineers say it pays to make good use of them to prevent future mistakes.

The result is that the technological feats that define the modern world are sometimes the result of events that some might wish to forget.”

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner William Broad took a dive into the subject of how some of the innovations we enjoy today were conceptualized based on the tragedies of the past. Written in the midst of the Deepwater Horizon Drilling Rig Disaster, the article gathered the takes of distinguished engineers and used infamous engineering mishaps to discuss the adjustments made to improve work conditions and quality of life.

4. The Way I Work: Brendan Walker by Gary Ryan

“Novelty is a big part of creating a thrilling experience, so fairgrounds have historically been early adopters of new technology… Now the challenge for people like me is to produce content that controls and choreographs people’s emotional experience using this technology.”

Coined as the world’s only thrill engineer, Brendan Walker reminisced his transition from an aeronautical engineer to conceptualizing and designing roller coasters and other theme park rides, and how understanding the physiological responses is key to providing patrons an unforgettable, thrilling experience.

5. Engineering Ethics And Its Impact On Society by Dr. William M. Marcy and Jane B. Rathbun

“One aspect of many of the recent and prominently technological changes is a vast array of unintended consequences that the designers never anticipated. Unintended consequences frequently overshadow the anticipated benefits designers of a new technology had in mind. While many unintended consequences may have tremendous positive impacts on society, others may not. Ethical considerations must be included in every step of the design, documentation and deployment process to help anticipate and mitigate negative consequences.”

Dr. Marcy and Rathbun’s insightful essay examines how to assist engineers facing ethical dilemmas. It proposes addressing the three fundamental issues regarding engineering ethics – namely engineering ethics education, ethical decision making in professional practice, and protecting the rights of engineers to make such decisions.

Essay Prompts About Engineering

It can be a challenge to think of ideas and questions when writing an essay, especially if the subject revolves on something as technical as engineering. Here are five essay topics about engineering that might be able to help you out.

1. Different Types Of Engineering

At present, there are up to 21 types of engineers that’s making a difference in the world we live in. From biochemical engineers to software engineers, this essay topic can discuss each branch and tackle their area of expertise as well as the groundbreaking innovations they’ve provided over the last few years. If you can’t investigate all, you can prompt to choose one type and focus your research on there.

Looking for more suggestions? Check out our essays about technology for your next project.

2. Future Of Engineering

As mentioned, all types of engineers are working day in and day out to improve our way of living. With 21 types of engineers to choose from, you can choose which branch will impact your or your family’s future. For instance, if you’re an environmentally-conscious individual, you can home in on the research done by environmental engineers. Alternatively, you can focus on picturing what the next high-rise buildings will look like or what are the medical advancements 10 or 20 years from now.

3. How To Become An Engineer

This can be a range of different things. It can be an essay topic on how easy or difficult acquiring an engineering degree can be based on personal experience. It can be about how to inspire your kids to become future engineers by piquing their interest in infrastructures, space exploration, and even video games in a way that they will understand.

4. Pros And Cons Of Engineering Innovation

Technological advancements have their ups and downs. We won’t be able to see it at first, but a crack in its foundation will show after years of usage. An investigative essay showing an innovation’s advantages and disadvantages might reveal the next scientific discovery of the century that will change the world’s future.

5. Is Engineering Hard?

Consider writing a short essay about the merits of the engineering profession. These types of essays are good because they help aspiring engineers and students figure out if they want to work in this career path. It also encourages to writer to either reflect on their experiences or consult more knowledgeable experts. 

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.