Understanding the Prompts

The assignment of the essay is to respond thoughtfully and skillfully to a prompt, which will be one of two types  

When faced with a quotation, determine what is being said, and rewrite it succincdy, in your own words, before you begin your essay. For example, in response to the above quotation, you may write when people have their own space, and feel that space is protected, they get along better with others. Then, look at the assignment for more details about how to proceed. Here, the task is to develop a point of view that agrees or disagrees with the quote s assertion. 

Another prompt of this type asks you to choose between two opposing ideas expressed in quotations, as seen below  

Better a lie that soothes than a truth that hurts. 

Assignment Consider the two contrasting statements above. Choose the quotation that most closely reflects your viewpoint. Write an essay explaining your choice. To support your view, use an example or examples from history, politics, science and technology, literature, the arts, current events, or your own personal experience and observation. 

---

Translating questions into directions can be tricky, but it s a critical step in understanding the prompt. You need to determine exactly how you re supposed to respond to the subject. The following chart lists common question words and corresponding direction words. 

Minutes 0 to 5 Read and understand the prompt then form your response. 

---