Respond to a “What if?” situation.

S i x S t e p s t o a S t r o n g E s s a y Step 1: Understand the Writing Prompt Before you can begin to plan your essay, you need to be sure you understand the kind of essay you need to write. As noted earlier, it is essential that you respond accurately to the writing prompt you are given on the exam. If you write about a different topic, you will not receive credit for your essay. It’s therefore critical to understand exactly what the prompt is asking you to do. Though earlier in this chapter we divided the essay prompts into five types, it’s worth noting again that they are all essentially the same kind of prompt. They are all designed to get you to state a clear thesis and support that thesis with specific reasons, details, and examples. The writing prompts also have three main parts: 1. A statement, situation, or pair of opposites for you to consider. 2. A question or questions for you to answer. 3. Directions for you to follow. Notice how the following prompts can be broken down into these three parts: 1-statement Nowadays, communicating with others is faster and easier thanks to technology like email, cellular phones, and beepers. 2 Has this change improved the way people live? 3 Use spe- cific reasons and examples to support your answer. 1-pair of opposites Some people prefer to travel widely and live in faraway places. Others would rather stay close to home and live near family. 2 Which would you prefer? 3 Use specific reasons and details to support your answer. 1-situation You have been asked to choose two items to include in a time capsule. 2 Which items would you choose for the capsule? 3 Use specific reasons and details to support your answer. Some prompts will skip the statement, situation, or pair of opposites and begin directly with a ques- tion. Others may include the statementsituationopposites in the question itself. Notice how this is done in the following examples: 2 What are some of the most important characteristics of a good leader? 3 Use reasons and spe- cific examples to explain why these characteristics are important. 1 and 2 combined Do you agree that money is the root of all evil? 3 Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. – W R I T I N G – 1 1 7 1 and 2 combined What do you value most in a teacher—his or her knowledge of the subject, his or her ability to interest you in the subject, or his or her encouragement and support? Which one of these characteristics is most important to you? 3 Use reasons and specific examples to explain your choice. You are on your way to a successful essay if: 1. You understand the statement, situation, or pair of opposites. 2. You answer the questions directly. 3. You follow the directions in the prompt. Occasionally, the directions will specify how to answer the question as in the third example above. Always, the directions will ask you to provide specific rea- sons, examples, andor details to explain or support your answer to the question. Step 2: Formulate a Clear Thesis Before you begin to write, you need to decide what you’re going to write about. Once you are sure you under- stand the prompt, how will you answer the question it asks? Your answer will form the core of your essay. It will be the main idea that controls everything you write and determine the kind of support you will provide. In other words, your answer to the question in the prompt is your thesis—your main idea. It is the “argu- ment” that you are going to make and the idea you need to support. A thesis does not just repeat or paraphrase the question or prompt. It does not simply make general statements about the topic or state how others might respond to the question. A good thesis takes a clear, per- sonal position. For example, take a look at the following prompt: Some people think a good movie is one that makes them think about important problems or issues. Others think a good movie is one that entertains them with adventure, fantasy, or romance. In your opinion, what are the characteristics of a good movie? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. The following sentences are not thesis statements they do not answer the question: ■ There are many different kinds of movies. ■ Some movies entertain us while others make us think. ■ What makes a good movie? These, however, are thesis statements. They respond directly to the question: ■ To me, a good movie is one that both entertains me and makes me think. ■ I believe a good movie should first and foremost entertain viewers. ■ A good movie is one that somehow addresses important issues. – W R I T I N G – 1 1 8