A-B-C  Attack the prompt  Brainstorm possible ideas, answers, examples, etc…  Choose the order of your response

Step 1:  Identify any words you may not understand.  Underline the words and attempt to define the word.  Remember that in a formal testing situation you may not have access to a dictionary. Attempt to use context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Step 2:  Cross out words that say, “write a composition,” “write an essay,” or anything similar.

Step 3:  Circle any word that asks you to do something.

Step 4:  Draw an arrow from each circled word (those that tell you to do something) to what it specifically tells you to do.

Step 5:  Under the prompt, rewrite and number the circled words.  Next to each word, rewrite what the word asks you to do.

Assignment: 1. Attack the prompt. 2. For each prompt, you will identify the writing task or purpose. Is it an expository essay? Is it a persuasive essay? What is the major difference between those? How do you know which is which?

Prompt 1: The goal of middle and high school is a high school diploma. No matter what interests and skills you have, your focus is earning your diploma. Why is a high school diploma important? Write an essay in which you explain your point of view.

Prompt 2:  In twelve years of school most students spend time in more than fifty different classes and courses. With all that experience, students develop certain ideas about what they like and what they don’t like about school and about the courses they take. Students have definite opinions about what schools “should” and “should not” be like. From your experiences, what ideas do you have for changing or improving schools?  Identify one change you would make in order to improve your school. In an essay, explain your idea to the school board and convince them to implement your idea.

Prompt 3:  In an effort to reduce drug use on its campuses, the school district is paying for the use of drug sniffing dogs. These dogs are randomly brought on each campus to sniff student cars, lockers, and back packs.  Do you support or oppose this policy? In an essay, justify your position.