Attacking a Prompt -- from MY Access

Attacking a Prompt – Determining what is being asked of you, as a writer.

Carefully read the following MY Access! prompts. Using your “RAFTS” chart, establish what the prompt is asking you to do

1.     Each person has been in trouble, at one time or another, because he or she did something bad or said something wrong. Write a multi-paragraph essay describing an instance when you did something you later regretted and the lesson you learned in the process.

2.     Most people have argued that the skills needed to be successful in today’s workforce have changed. What skills do you feel an individual needs to be successful in a job today? Why do you feel these skills are most important?
In an essay to be read by your teacher, identify the skills you feel are most needed by an individual to be successful at work and provide reasons to persuade your teacher that these are the most critical skills for success.

3.     In the aftermath of several widely reported incidents of school violence across the nation, many parents, teachers, and students are examining the problem of school bullying. To avoid potential tragedies, your school board is considering implementing a policy to address the incidence of bullying.

Write a letter to your local school board in which you discuss the need for a policy to prevent bullying in your school and suggest what steps this policy should take to prevent bullying from occurring.

4.     Upon graduating from high school, it is important for students to think about their plans for the future, whether they include additional schooling, joining the workforce, or some other activity.
Think about what you would like your career to be after you graduate from high school. In a well-developed essay, state your career goals for the next five years and explain your plans to achieve these goals.

5.     Picture yourself living in the year 2050. Power sources operating in your house have changed. Describe the new power sources used to make your home run more efficiently. Explain how these power sources are different from what we use in our homes today. Write about the benefits and disadvantages of this new technology and how it will affect future generations.

6.     Characters respond to challenges differently based upon the circumstances and their own personal motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. Consider two different characters from a story (or stories) you have read. What challenges did these characters face? How did they respond to these challenges?

In a well-developed essay, compare and contrast how these two characters responded to the challenges they faced. Make sure to include specific details and examples from the text(s) to support your interpretation.

7.     After studying Alfred Noyes’ poem, “The Highwayman,” write an essay in which you analyze the author’s message. Focus your writing on several clear images from the poem and be sure to discuss how the characters’ actions and the poet’s language reveal the author’s message.

Attacking a Prompt -- Key (from MY Access)