1. Writing for Prompts
Writing “On Demand”

2. What is a prompt?
O A prompt is the term used for the question
you are being asked to answer or the
writing assignment you are given.
O There are usually three different
categories:
O Narrative
O Expository
O Persuasive

3. Types of Prompts
O Narrative-asks you tell a story or give
examples from your own experience
clue words—tell, time, event
O Persuasive-asks you to persuade or convince
the reader of something(can require research)
clue words---convince, persuade
O Expository-asks you to give instructions or
explain something
clue words—explain,describe

4. Formal Prompt Assignments
O in-class writing sessions, either formal
essays or informal journaling and free-
writing
O homework assignments
O standardized essay tests, including grade-
level exit exams

5. Informal Writing
O writing letters, including thank-you notes
O answering questionnaires
O filling out forms
O constructing your Facebook page
O texting your friends

6. Analyzing your Prompt
O The first part of your planning time should
be used to analyze carefully the intent of
the prompt.
O What is it asking you to do?
O Is it open-ended or complex?
O Do I need to respond in a certain way?
O Must I present a certain opinion?
O Does it need to be a certain length?

7. Sample Essay Topic
What is one important goal you would like to
achieve in the next few years?
In a two paragraph essay, identify that one
goal and explain how you plan to achieve it.
Use your personal observations,
experience, and knowledge to support your
essay.

8. Step 1: Reading the prompt
carefully
This sample essay topic is structured in
three sentences. This is relatively typical of
standardized test essay prompts. Take
advantage of the fact that you do not have
to read a lot by making sure that you read
thoroughly. Most people find it useful to read
the prompt a few times.

9. Step 2: Underlining key words
Essay topics contain important words that
provide clues about what you should write about
and how you should write. A few key words from
the sample essay topic are underlined below.
What is one important goal you would like to
achieve in the next few years?
In a 2 paragraph essay, identify that one goal
and explain how you plan to achieve it. Use your
personal observations, experience, and
knowledge to support your essay.

10. One and Few
Notice the words one and few. These are
two very important key words. A common
mistake would be to write about many goals,
when the prompt tells you to focus on only
one goal. Another common mistake would
be to discuss goals you have for much later,
when the prompt clearly tells you to focus
on only the next few years of your life.

11. Personal
Notice the words personal observations,
experience, and knowledge. These are all
subjects that you can talk about in your
essay. The word personal is also extremely
important here. You’re not being asked to do
outside research or reading, but instead, to
talk about observations, experience, and
knowledge that are personal to you.

12. Identify and Explain
Notice the action verbs identify and explain.
These two words tell you how you should
write about your topic. Make sure to do
both. The essay prompt is asking you to
identify and explain your topic.

13. Step 3: Restating the prompt in
your words
After reading the essay carefully a few times
and thinking about the key words, how
would you restate the prompt? Imagine that
you are explaining it to someone else,
perhaps someone who does not have the
essay prompt in front of them. How would
you explain it?

14. Step 4: Brainstorm for the
Essay
Brainstorming Method 1: Idea Map
Drawing a map of your ideas is helpful in
many ways. First, people find that seeing a
visual version of their thoughts helps them
to add and sort through more ideas. A map
might help you see how your thoughts
connect to one another, which will help you
when you begin organizing your essay.

15. I
d
e
a
W
e
b

16. Brainstorming Method 2: Idea List
At the top of your list, write your topic.
Writing out your topic helps you focus on it.
Then, list the ideas you think of in the order
that they come to you. You can use many
lists to find supporting points for each of
your ideas. The lists below use the sample
essay topic above to show you what idea
lists might look like.

17. What is an important goal I have for the next few years?
•finishing school
•getting a better job
•keeping in touch with my friends and family
•learning a new language
How can I achieve my goal?
•to finish school, I can figure out what my goals are for
school, find a school that fits my goals, and apply to
schools and for financial aid
•to get a better job, I can finish school, learn a new
language, search for jobs, prepare my applications, and
make a list of people who will give me a good reference
•to keep in touch with my friends and family, I can make
a list of everyone’s contact information, like addresses,
phone numbers, and email
•to learn a new language, I can pick what language I
want to learn, get a dictionary, and find a class
I
D
E
A
L
I
S
T

18. Step 5: Choosing Your Main
Idea
O One you have brainstormed, you should
select the idea that:
1. Answers the prompt best.
2. That you feel most strongly about.
3. That you have the most to speak about.
***See which ideas are linked and could be
included together.

19. After you are finished with these
steps, ask yourself the following:
What is the purpose of this assignment? Is
my purpose to provide information without
forming an argument, to construct an argument
based on research, or analyze a piece of
writing?
Who is my audience? Is my teacher my only
audience? Who else might read this? What are
my readers' needs and expectations?
What resources do I need to begin work? Do
I need to conduct research, or will I use my own
knowledge or feelings, or conduct a survey or
an observation? How many sources are
required?

20. Our Prompt
O What did you do over the summer?
Tell your reader about something scary or
exciting that you did over the summer. Write
two paragraphs that describe the event and
why it was exciting or frightening to you.
O Follow the 5 Steps to begin writing and
then write your answer to the prompt.