This document provides guidance on writing essays for various prompts. It discusses turning the prompt into a question, taking notes on a planning sheet, deciding on a claim, and including an introduction with a hook, link and claim. It also discusses including topic sentences, evidence, and counterclaims in body paragraphs, and restating the claim and providing a clincher in the conclusion. Sample writing prompts and essays are provided as examples. The document emphasizes the importance of elaboration and provides various techniques for elaborating like anecdotes, examples, facts, and descriptions.

3. WHAT DO I DO FIRST?
 Before you read the text set, read the prompt to determine what you will
be reading and writing about. Then determine the type of writing that you
will be doing (informational or argumentative)
THEN WHAT?
 Turn the prompt in to a question.
WHY SHOULD I DO THAT?
 The question will help you find appropriate evidence to include in your essay.
The evidence you find should answer the question. If the evidence doesn’t
answer the question, you probably won’t want to use it.

4. Write an informational essay on how
language and communication have
changed over time. Your essay must be
based on ideas, concepts, and
information from the passage set.

5. Write a letter to the county government in
which you take a position on whether or
not recycling efforts are worth the cost.
Your letter must be based on ideas and
information that can be found in the
passage set.

6. Write a blog in which you take a position
on whether or not the sale of sugary
drinks should be limited to smaller
portions. Your blog must be based on the
ideas, concepts and information
contained in the passage set.

7. Write a multi-paragraph essay about the
growth and improvement of the airline
industry since it first began. Your essay
must be based on the ideas, concepts,
and information contained in the passage
set.

8. Your art teacher has asked that you write
a paper about a specific kind of art.
Write an explanatory essay about art
created from found or recycled items.
Your essay must be based on ideas and
information that can be found in the “Art
from Found Items” passage set.

9. Write an argumentative essay in which
you take a position on whether or not the
Olympics should have a permanent home.
Use information/evidence from the
passage set to support your essay.

10. Write an article for the local paper to
inform fellow citizens about the
advantages of limiting car usage. Your
article must be based on the ideas and
information found in the passage set.

11. Write a letter to the Department of Labor
arguing whether wages should be
increased for fast food workers. Your
letter must be based on ideas and
information that can be found in the
passage set.

12. Write a blog about the effect that natural
weather events can have on the lives of
ordinary people. Your blog must be based
on ideas, concepts, and information from
the passage set.

13. Write an explanatory essay on the
impact the invention of the
television had on society. Use
information/evidence from the
passage set to support your essay.

14. Write an article for your school newspaper
arguing whether playing video games
significantly affects physical health. Your
article must be based on the ideas, concepts,
and information determined through analysis
of the “Do Video Games Have a Major Effect on
Players’ Physical Health?” passage set.

15. You have been asked to write an
informational article on Machu Picchu for
a website that focuses on travel places
of historical interest. Write an article
that explains to tourists the significance
of Machu Picchu as a travel destination.

16. Write a letter to your state senator in
which you argue in favor of keeping the
Electoral College or changing to election
by popular vote for the president of the
United States. Use the information from
the texts in your essay.

17. Guiding Question:
(Paragraph #) Evidence
Informational/Explanatory
Organizational Document

18. Guiding Question:
Yes (Pro) No (Con)
(Paragraph #) Evidence (Paragraph #) Evidence
Argumentative
Organizational Document

19. APPLICATION
YOU WILL WRITE AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ABOUT
WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE THAT PARENTS
SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE IF THEIR CHILDREN
ENGAGE IN BULLYING.
STEP 1: TURN THE PROMPT INTO A QUESTION.
STEP 2: WRITE YOUR QUESTION AT THE TOP OF YOUR
PLANNING SHEET.
STEP 3: CREATE A T-CHART ON YOUR PLANNING SHEET.

20. NEXT STEPS
•STEP 4: AS WE READ, TAKE NOTES ON YOUR PLANNING
SHEET. BE SURE TO CITE YOUR SOURCES.
•STEP 5: LOOK AT YOUR PLANNING SHEET AND DECIDE
WHAT YOUR CLAIM WILL BE (WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE
TELLING YOU?).
•STEP 6: WRITE YOUR CLAIM.

21. INTRODUCTION
WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR INTRO?
• HOOK
• LINK
• CLAIM
HOW TO BEGIN:
1. SKIP A FEW LINES AND START BY STATING YOUR CLAIM. TO DO THIS, TURN YOUR QUESTION (ON
PLANNING SHEET) INTO A STATEMENT.
2. WHAT IS THE GIST OF THE TOPIC THAT YOU ARE ASKED TO WRITE ABOUT? SUM IT UP IN ONE WORD.
3. DEVELOP A SENTENCE ABOUT THAT TOPIC- THIS IS YOUR HOOK.
4. NOW, DEVELOP A SENTENCE THAT CONNECTS THE HOOK AND THE CLAIM- THIS IS YOUR LINK.

22. MY DRAFT
Bullying has become an epidemic among youth in
America. Everyone plays a role in this issue, but parents can
be part of the solution. Parents should be held accountable
if their children are bullies. By holding parents accountable,
they may be motivated to take an active role in solving the
bullying issue and preventing it from occurring in the future.

23. BODY
WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR BODY PARAGRAPHS?
• TOPIC SENTENCE
• EVIDENCE
• ELABORATION
• TRANSITIONS
• COUNTERCLAIM AND REBUTTAL (ARGUMENTATIVE ONLY)
HOW MANY BODY PARAGRAPHS DO YOU NEED?
• AT LEAST ONE

24. CONCLUSION
WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR CONCLUSION?
•TOPIC SENTENCE
•RESTATE CLAIM
•ELABORATION
•TAKE AWAY CLINCHER

25. Check to be sure you have all necessary elements in your essay.

27. The importance of respect

29. WHAT IS ELABORATION?
WHY SHOULD I ELABORATE?
 It helps the reader better understand the ideas or concepts in a story or essay.
 It makes your essay more interesting and relatable.
 Elaboration is the act of adding more information to existing
information/evidence or details.
 It is more than just adding a quote or a personal story.
 This is the chance to add your voice into your writing.

30. WAYS TO
ELABORATE
•ANECDOTES: USE A SHORT NARRATIVE (STORY)
INSERTED INTO AN ESSAY THAT DEVELOPS AN
IDEA OR ARGUMENT. (I REMEMBER A TIME
WHEN. . . ONCE WHEN I WAS IN THIRD GRADE . .
., ETC.)
•SCENARIO: CREATE A BELIEVABLE AND
APPROPRIATE HYPOTHETICAL (PRETEND)
SITUATION OR EVENT (LET'S SAY, FOR EXAMPLE,
THAT . . .)

31. •EXAMPLES: PROVIDE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE
IDEA. (FOR EXAMPLE. . . FOR INSTANCE . . . SUCH AS . .)
•DEFINITIONS: RESTATE YOUR IDEA IN ANOTHER WAY SO
THAT YOU ARE SURE IT IS UNDERSTOOD. (WHAT I MEAN BY
THAT IS . . . __________________ MEANS . . . ETC.)

32. • STATISTICS OR FACTS: USE BELIEVABLE (BUT FICTIONAL --
CREATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE WRITING) NUMBERS (DATA)
AND INFORMATION TO HELP SUPPORT YOUR IDEA OR ARGUMENT.
(NINETY-EIGHT PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD BELIEVE . . . THREE OUT OF FOUR PEOPLE
POLLED FEEL . . . ACCORDING TO THE STATISTICS AVAILABLE AT
THE TOWN'S WATER DEPARTMENT . . . ETC.)

33. • QUOTATIONS: BELIEVABLE WORDS THAT SOMEONE SAYS THAT HELP TO
SUPPORT THE IDEA OR ARGUMENT. THESE CAN BE FICTITIOUS (BUT
BELIEVABLE) IN A PERSUASIVE ESSAY, DIRECT QUOTES TAKEN FROM THE
READING PROVIDED, PARAPHRASED (BUT IT NEEDS TO BE CLEAR IT IS
PARAPHRASED) OR EXACT QUOTES FROM A FAMOUS PERSON.
(ACCORDING THE JOE JONES, MAYOR OF TOWNSVILLE, . . . JOHN F.
KENNEDY ONCE SAID . . . THIS REMINDS ME OF A QUOTE I ONCE
HEARD THAT WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS, ". . . , ETC.)

34. Descriptions: Create vivid images for your readers remembering to use your five
senses, plus your sixth sense - personal feelings. Word choice and descriptive
language is very important here. Use vivid verbs, exact nouns, interesting
adjectives and adverbs. (Looks like. . . Sounds just like . . . Smells similar to . .
. Feels just the same as . . . Tastes just like . . ., etc.) . Use the appropriate words
when writing. For example, if talking about a story, use the words plot, theme,
characterization, setting, protagonist, antagonist, etc.
Use Humor: Remember your audience and keep it appropriate, but a strong writer
can effectively use humor.

35. Make connections: Text to text; text to self; text to world; text to movie; text to television show; text
to famous quotation; etc., but the explanation of the connection must be clear and say WHY.
Use Figurative Language:
similes, metaphors, personification, analogy
effective statements of irony
alliteration
repetition of key ideas, words, or phrases
hyperbole

36. SAMPLE GENERIC WRITING PROMPTS

37. Sample Writing Prompt:
In August of 2018, Park View High School announced that they would have to cancel its
varsity football season. The reason for this: not enough kids wanted to play. Since
football has been one of the most popular sports in this town, people were shocked. Why
did this happen? Is football too dangerous?
Write an essay in which you argue whether or not playing football is too risky and should
be banned.

38. Student Sample:
Paragraph 1 (Introduction):
The crashing of helmets and football pads are a staple every Friday night in just
about every town in America. Crowds and cheerleaders scream for their favorite
team to score a touchdown or block the other team from earning more points, but
the stadium will grow deathly quiet when a player goes down due to an injury.
Football can be dangerous, but there are risks in everything we do. Football should
not be banned.

39. Paragraph 2 (body)
Individuals have to train to be on a football team. If a player doesn’t train, he won’t be very
good and probably won’t get to play much or even make the team. Training makes you
healthy. Due to the variety of training techniques during football practice, Dr. Behr states
“…it’s really a good overall health benefit to someone in any age group.” (paragraph 3)

40. Paragraph 3 (body)
Concentration is a skill that many people lack. Football teaches players to concentrate. If
you don’t concentrate when you are on the field, you will get hurt. Dr. Behr tells us that, “It
forces you to focus on what you’re doing. Otherwise, you can be a casualty. So, you can’t
afford to let down your guard.” ( paragraph 5)

41. Paragraph 4 (body)
Football is obviously a team sport. When you are on a team, you learn skills that will
help you throughout your life. According to article 1, “You learn time management, you
learn discipline, you learn how to deal with loses and disappointments.”

42. Paragraph 5 (conclusion):
Summarize the key points of your essay. Look back
at the introduction to guide you in writing your
conclusion.

43. Sample Writing Prompt:
Your task:
The United States is planning on creating a colony on the moon. This lunar colony
requires a group of people with the skills to handle many different scientific, technical, and
social skills. NASA (the US space agency) feels pretty confident about the technology
and science skills, and they have selected a very impressive group of candidates.
However, the government has asked you to serve on a special panel to decide the right
combination citizens.

44. Student Sample:
Paragraph 1 (Introduction):
A good citizen makes a good country. The United States is establishing a new colony
on the moon. The government wants help in deciding what kinds of citizens should
make up the settlers who are being asked to go. There are three types to choose from –
the personally responsible citizen, the participatory citizen, and the justice-oriented
citizen. All three types of citizen are needed.

45. Paragraph 2 (Body):
The first type of citizen needed to make the moon colony a success is the personally
responsible citizen. This type of citizen, according to the Department of Education, is
“considerate to others”. This is the best type of citizen to have.

46. Paragraph 3 (Body):
Another type that is very important to a successful colony is the participatory citizen. In
paragraph 4, the Department of Education recommends that “a participatory citizen be
organized and willing to support his or her community”.

47. Paragraph 4 (Body):
The justice-oriented type of citizen is the last type of citizen that will make the moon colony a
success. These people are the voice of those needing help and are looking for ways to make
things better.

48. Paragraph 5 (conclusion):
Summarize the key points of your essay. Look back
at the introduction to guide you in writing your
conclusion.

49. YOUR TURN
• CREATE AN EXAMPLE OF EACH OF THE ELABORATIVE TECHNIQUES
DISCUSSED USING THE ESSAY THAT YOU WROTE.
• CHOOSE AT LEAST TWO ELABORATION TECHNIQUES LEARNED IN THIS LESSON
AND ADD THEM TO YOUR ESSAY.