1. MCAS Writing Prompts Through the Years
MCAS Long Composition Prompts
Ambrose Bowen-Flynn Esner Heinegg Sanford Stevens

2. Prompts through the years
If you saw each of these prompts on the test…
What book would you write about?
Who wrote that book?
What characters will you talk about?
What three examples from the book would you use?
How would you address each element of the prompt?
Prompts through the years

3. WRITING PROMPT
Often in works of literature, a character deceives or tricks other people.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who deceives or tricks other people. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how he or she deceives other people, and explain how the character’s deception is important to the work as a whole.
2017

4. WRITING PROMPT
Often in works of literature, people make choices that have important consequences.
From a work of literature that you have read in or out of school, select a character who makes a choice that has important consequences. In a well-developed composition, identify the character’s choice, describe the consequences of his or her choice, and explain how the character’s experience is important to the work as a whole.
2017 Retest

5. WRITING PROMPT
Often in works of literature, one character makes an important sacrifice for another character.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who makes an important sacrifice for another character. In a well-developed composition, identify the characters, describe the sacrifice that one makes, and explain how that sacrifice is important to the work as a whole.
2016

6. WRITING PROMPT
Often in works of literature, one character betrays another.
Select a work of literature you have read in or out of school in which one character betrays another. In a well-developed composition, identify the characters, describe how one of them betrays the other, and explain how the betrayal is important to the work as a whole.
2016 Retest

7. Often in works of literature, a character learns an important lesson.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who learns a lesson about one of the ideas listed in the box below.
• compassion
• forgiveness
• perseverance
• truth
In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how he or she learns the lesson, and explain how the lesson is important to the work as a whole.
2015

8. WRITING PROMPT
Often in works of literature, a character who is considered odd or different turns out to have great importance.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who is considered odd or different but turns out to have great importance. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character is considered odd or different, and explain how the character turns out to be important to the work as a whole.
2015 Retest

9. WRITING PROMPT
Often in works of literature, a character takes part in a great battle, either literally or figuratively.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who takes part in either a literal or a figurative battle. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe the battle the character takes part in and what happens as a result, and explain how the character’s experience is important to the work as a whole.
2014

10. WRITING PROMPT
Often in works of literature, a character is affected by prejudice.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who is affected by prejudice. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how he or she is affected by prejudice, and explain how the character’s experience is important to the work as a whole.
2014 Retest

11. 2013 MCAS Writing Prompt WRITING PROMPT
Often in works of literature, a character’s traits can cause his or her downfall.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who displays one of the traits listed in the box below.
• pride
• greed
• envy
• selfishness
In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how this one trait causes the downfall of the character, and explain how the character’s downfall is important to the work as a whole.
2013

12. 2013 Retest
WRITING PROMPT
Often in works of literature, a character confronts a threatening environment or situation. From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who confronts a threatening environment or situation.
In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe the threatening environment or situation the character confronts, and explain how the character’s experience is important to the
work as a whole.

13. MCAS WRITING PROMPT
Often in works of literature, the villain has the greatest impact on the story.
Select a work of literature you have read in or out of school in which the villain has the greatest impact on the story.
In a well-developed composition, identify the villain, and explain why the villain has the greatest impact on the story.
2012

14. WRITING PROMPT
Often in works of literature, a character feels pressure to succeed. From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who feels pressure to succeed.
In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character feels pressure to succeed, and explain how the character’s experience is important to the work as a whole.
2012 Retest

15. MCAS WRITING PROMPT
Often in works of literature, a character stands up for something he or she believes in. From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who stands up for something he or she believes in.
In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character stands up for something he or she
believes in, and explain how the character’s actions relate to the work as a whole.
2011

16. WRITING PROMPT
Often in works of literature, a character feels pressure to succeed.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who feels pressure to succeed.
In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character feels pressure to succeed, and explain how the character’s experience is important to the work as a whole.
2011 Retest

17. Often in works of literature, a character’s life is affected by a single act or mistake.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character whose life is affected by a single act or mistake. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how he or she is affected by a single act or mistake, and explain how the character’s experience relates to the work as a whole.
2010

18. Often works of literature feature two characters who disagree or do not understand each other.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select two characters who disagree or do not understand each other. In a well-developed composition, identify the characters, describe their disagreement or misunderstanding, and explain how this disagreement or misunderstanding relates to the work as a whole.
2010 November Retest

19. Often in works of literature, a character is influenced by his or her family.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who is influenced by his or her family. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character is influenced by his or her family, and explain how the character’s experience relates to the work as a whole.
2010 Retest

20. Works of literature often feature characters whose pride or selfishness creates problems.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character whose pride or selfishness creates problems. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character’s pride or selfishness creates problems, and explain how the character’s experience relates to the work as a whole.
2009

21. In many works of literature, a character rebels against a role that others expect him or her to play.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who rebels against a role others expect him or her to play. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character rebels against others’ expectations, and explain how the character’s rebellion relates to the
2009 Retest

22. In many works of literature, a character must adjust to life in a new environment.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who must adjust to life in a new environment. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character adjusts to life in a new environment, and explain how the character’s adjustment relates to the work as a whole.
2008

23. Works of literature often feature characters who overcome hardship and misfortune.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who overcomes hardship and misfortune. In a well-developed composition, explain how the character overcomes adversity and why this success is important to the work of literature.
2007

24. Often in works of literature, characters have a mixture of positive and negative traits.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who blends positive and negative traits. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character demonstrates both positive and negative traits.
2007 Retest

25. Works of literature often feature characters with the ability to inspire or lead others.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character with the ability to inspire or lead others. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character inspires or leads others, and explain why this character’s ability is significant to the meaning of the work of literature.
2006

26. Works of literature often feature characters that question the values of the societies in which they live.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who questions the values of the society in which he or she lives. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, explain the conflict the character has with society, and explain how this conflict relates to the work as a whole.
2006 Retest

27. Often works of literature include characters that change as a result of a particular event.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character that changes as the result of a particular event. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, the event, and the importance of the character’s change to the work of literature .
2005

28. From a work of literature you have read, select a character that is honorable; identify the character, describe what makes her/him honorable, and explain why the character’s honor is important to the work of literature.
2005 Retest

29. Heroism can mean different things to different people
Heroism can mean different things to different people. Literature is full of characters that can be considered heroic.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character that, in your opinion, is heroic. In a well-developed composition, identify that character and explain why he or she is heroic.
2004

30. The protagonist is the main character in a work of literature who often changes in some important way by the end of the work.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a protagonist who changes in some important way by the end of the work. In a well-developed composition, identify the protagonist, and explain why the protagonist changes in some important way by the end of the work.
2003

31. In literature as in life, people can make choices and must live with the consequences of those choices.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select one character who makes a choice. In a well-developed composition, identify the character’s choice and explain what happens as a result of this choice.
2003 Retest

32. Congratulations and Good Luck!
You’ve now made it through all of the prompts from MCAS exams of previous years dating back to when you were a toddler.
You are prepared to tackle this year’s prompt, whatever it might be!
Congratulations and Good Luck!