Have you ever heard of the term writing prompt? In general, a writing prompt can be interpreted as a line of short sentences to "fish" someone's writing idea, and is commonly used to test students' writing skills, starting from those who are still in elementary school to those who plan to pursue master's education. That is why, ideally, all students need to understand the technique of answering the writing prompt in an appropriate and appropriate way.
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Method 1 of 3: Answering Informative or Descriptive Prompts
Step 1. Look for the words “explain” or “describe” in the writing prompt
To answer a prompt that is descriptive or informative, you need to write an essay that should be able to explain or describe a topic. Even though it's an informative essay, you generally don't need to express your opinion or make in-depth arguments.
- Other words that indicate that the prompt is informative or descriptive are “summarize,” “explain,” or “inform about.”
- For example, “Explain the concept of camping to people who have never done it before” is an example of an informative or descriptive prompt, as is “Describe the changes in people's communication patterns in the last 20 years.”
Step 2. Gather ideas about what you need to write down to answer the prompt
In particular, summarize the idea in a maximum of 5 paragraphs only, if possible. Do not also narrow the focus so that even writing 5 paragraphs feels difficult for you.
For example, to respond to a prompt like, “Explain the concept of camping to people who have never done it before,” there are several approaches that can be used. For example, you could explain the reasons behind someone wanting to camp or explain how to set up camp. If you want, you can even use both approaches in the same essay
Step 3. Create a thesis statement
To answer an informative or descriptive prompt through an essay, don't forget to include a thesis statement to describe the topic to be explained or described, along with the method of description.
- A quality descriptive or informative essay always has one main theme or focus. Later, all forms of information or descriptions will be arranged based on the main theme or focus. For example, to answer a prompt such as, “Describe the changes in the communication system of society in the last 20 years,” try to bring up a theme that will become the main focus of your essay, such as the interaction patterns of teenagers or the impact this pattern has on their daily lives.
- Understand that the thesis statement does not have to contain the opinion or even the argument of the author. Instead, the thesis statement should be based on facts that will be elaborated by the author, in this case by you. An example of a thesis statement is, “Over the last 20 years, the communication systems of people around the world have changed rapidly. Today, interacting with people from all over the world who have different regional and cultural backgrounds is easy, even cheap. In addition, informing them of the activities you are currently doing, no matter how simple it is, is also easy and cheap."
Step 4. Think of a topic sentence that is strong, interesting, and able to support your thesis statement
Remember, a topic sentence must be written specifically and be able to give the reader a "basic idea" of the content of the paragraph. That's why, every paragraph should start with a relevant topic sentence.
For example, if the topic of your essay is camping, try including topic sentences such as: 1) "There are many reasons why someone wants to go camping." (The paragraph contains the reasons for camping.) 2) "You should consider several things before choosing a campsite." (The paragraph contains tips for choosing a camping area.) 3) "In the end, you have to pitch your tent." (Paragraph on tips for setting up a tent.)
Step 5. Compose the opening paragraph of the essay
At the end of the paragraph, include your thesis statement.
Begin the paragraph with a general statement regarding the topic to be discussed, and make sure the statement is able to capture the reader's attention. Then, provide context to make it easier for readers to understand, and end the paragraph with a line of thesis statement
Step 6. Compose the body paragraph or body of the essay
Although it really depends on the type of writing prompt, chances are your answer can be packaged in just one paragraph. Most essay writing assignments expect the writer to include several paragraphs of body. In fact, many also demand the author to include 5 paragraphs of content in order to provide comprehensive information to the reader. Basically, the process of elaborating and developing paragraphs can be done based on the following guidelines:
- Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence.
- Describe the topic sentence you used.
- Give examples that can support your topic sentence.
- Analyze the example you provided.
- Write a closing paragraph or conclusion.
Step 7. Include a conclusion
In the conclusion paragraph, restate the thesis that you wrote in the initial paragraph. Remember, a good conclusion can explain the development of your idea, provide space for readers to think, or even provide new information to change the direction of their thinking afterwards.
For example, if you're writing an essay about camping, try to conclude something like, “Even though some people who live in urban areas have never camped before, camping is actually an uncomplicated and fun activity! So why not give it a try if you have the chance to take a vacation in the near future?”
Method 2 of 3: Answering Narrative Prompts
Step 1. Look for the words “tell,” “moment,” or “event” in the writing prompt
Generally, a narrative prompt asks the essayist to tell a story, which is usually about himself, and contains a word or phrase such as “describe” or “tell me about.”
For example, a narrative prompt might be packaged in a sentence such as: “Tell me about a moment when you were involved in a friendly relationship” or “Describe a moment that showed your courage.”
Step 2. Write a story that you have experienced
To answer narrative prompts, try narrating moments that had a big impact or taught valuable lessons in your life.
Tell your life story from a first person point of view. That is, use first person pronouns such as “I” or “I”
Step 3. Begin the narrative with an introductory paragraph to let readers know that you are going to tell them something
Generally, an introductory paragraph will provide some basic information, such as the setting and context of the story in your narrative. In addition, also inform the story that you want to tell the reader, the various key characters in it, and the purpose of writing the narrative. This goal will later become your thesis statement.
Generally, a thesis statement in a personal narrative will tell you a life lesson you learned from that moment, or its direct impact on your life. For example, you could write a thesis like, "The most rewarding moment for me was when I finally managed to show my courage in 1st grade of middle school." Such a thesis could also bridge your story with another, larger theme, such as, "Most people don't knowing how brave they were, that they were faced with a very dangerous situation. That statement, unfortunately, applies to me too."
Step 4. Understand that the narrative essay writing process is not as rigid as other types of essays
In other words, you can use descriptive sentences, metaphors, anecdotes, dialogues, and other literary elements in it.
If you wish, you can also structure your essay in chronological order to show the development of characters and events over time. Generally, this is the easiest and most obvious way to structure an essay. In particular, try using words like “then,” then, “after that,” and “eventually” to show how your story is progressing
Step 5. Conclude the essay by telling the life lessons you learned from the experience
This is a good time to return to the thesis statement you included at the beginning of the narrative. What life lessons did you take from that experience? What kind of changes have you experienced after experiencing it?
Method 3 of 3: Answering Persuasive Prompts
Step 1. Look for commands like "persuasion" or "convince" in the writing prompt
To answer a persuasive prompt, an essay writer needs to provide a strong argument to base his opinion or point of view on a topic. That is why, you need to use logical examples so that the arguments given are able to convince the reader.
- The essay you write may be intended to convince the teacher or others who will later read the essay. Alternatively, you may be asked to write an essay to convince a party that doesn't really exist in the real world.
- Other sentences you might find in a persuasive prompt are “How do you feel about” or “What do you think about.” A prompt is also persuasive if it asks you to agree or disagree with a statement.
Step 2. Determine the argument that best convinces the reader
Basically, the right argument really depends on your target audience. For example, if your essay is aimed at getting project donations from a community that doesn't really exist, try providing a logical and factual argument to convince them. Meanwhile, if the essay is aimed at convincing your friends at school about the importance of lunch, try giving a more emotional argument.
- Cause and effect is the most common thesis put forward in persuasive essays. For example, the statement “Providing free lunch to disadvantaged students in schools can improve their academic performance, as well as improve the quality of education in schools as a whole” is actually an argument that contains cause and effect.
- Emphasizing the positive value or significance of a condition is also a common tactic. Basically, this argument is intended to emphasize the importance of a condition to the reader. For example, “Constantly making room for global warming risks further destroying animal habitats, such as penguins and polar bears. We must not allow this earth to continue to lose wildlife that is part of biodiversity!"
Step 3. Identify the rebuttals or arguments that readers give most often, along with rebuttals that you can raise against them
In fact, the various rebuttals that have the potential to appear may also have been listed in the prompt itself. Therefore, read the writing prompt carefully and consider any possible objections.
- For example, one might argue that providing school lunches for free will only add to the burden on taxpayers, or risk alienating students who receive free lunches and are seen as “poor” in the eyes of other students.
- To refute the objection, consider the type of argument you are going to give. If you want to give a logical argument, use a logical rebuttal. Meanwhile, if you want to give an emotional argument, use an emotional rebuttal.
Step 4. Write an introductory paragraph to describe the background of the problem
Providing context or basic information for readers is a must for all essay writers. Having done so, please close the opening paragraph with a thesis statement containing a personal argument aimed at convincing the reader of a topic.
For example, if you want to write an essay on the importance of stopping global warming, don't forget to first identify the main causes of global warming that scientists believe in. Then, end the information with a thesis that is able to convince the reader that global warming is capable of destroying the wealth of wildlife on this earth and therefore, must be stopped, no matter how difficult it is
Step 5. Arrange the body paragraph or main paragraph
Even though it relies heavily on the instructions contained in the writing prompt, you will most likely need to include several special paragraphs containing your main argument, which in essay writing theory is known as the "content paragraph". In each paragraph, include evidence or examples that can support your argument.
Most persuasive essays will include at least 3 body paragraphs
Step 6. Include a paragraph containing the most common reader objections, then try to refute them in the same paragraph
Generally, the paragraph is listed right before the conclusion. Use any kind of information you can get from the idea-gathering session to build a disclaimer.
Step 7. Draw conclusions
Generally, a persuasive conclusion will reiterate the main thesis, and emphasize the importance of the arguments you have presented throughout the essay. If you wish, you can even include a call to action addressed to the reader, and end the essay with a quote or question that can provoke the reader to think further about the topic at hand.
