How to Write From a Prompt When You Dont Know What to Write

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Students of all kinds, from elementary schoolhouse to those applying for post-graduate educations, are tested on their writing ability through writing prompts. Successful students are able to understand what kind of essay the prompt is calling for and answer it with what the tester wants to run across.

1. 1

   Look for the words "explain" or "describe" in the writing prompt. Expository prompts direct you to write an essay that explains or describes something. This blazon of essay is informative, but ofttimes does non require that you make an in-depth statement or state an opinion.

   • Other words that signal an expository writing consignment include "summarize," "clarify," or "tell near."
   • For example, "Explain camping ground to a person who has never camped earlier" is an example of an expository prompt. So is "Describe how advice has inverse in the last 20 years."

2. 2

   Brainstorm nearly what the prompt is asking you to write nearly. Brand sure you don't effort to embrace and so much that v paragraphs is inadequate. You should besides avoid a focus that'south so narrow that you lot have problems coming upward with v paragraphs.

   • For example, for "Explain camping to a person who has never camped before," yous could take several approaches. You could explicate reasons why people might want to go camping ground, or you could explain how to prepare upward a campsite. You might even desire to endeavour both approaches in your essay.

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3. three

   Create a thesis argument. For expository essays, the thesis statement says what you will be explaining or describing and how you will exercise information technology.

   • Stiff expository essays have a theme or middle of gravity that organizes them. For example, for "Describe how advice has changed in the last 20 years" you might want to focus your essay on how teens use communication differently, or the touch of communication changes on daily life.
   • An expository thesis statement does not have to present an opinion or even make an statement. Information technology should be based on the facts you volition examine.^[1] For case, "Over the by 20 years, advice has changed significantly. It is now affordable to stay in touch with people all over the world, easier to connect with people from unlike places and cultures, and proceed others updated with fifty-fifty your minor doings."

4. four

   Call back of strong topic sentences that support your thesis statement. A topic sentence is specific, and gives a "preview" of what the paragraph will be about. Each paragraph needs a stiff topic sentence at the beginning.

   • For case, if you were writing an essay explaining camping, you lot might have the following topic sentences for your paragraphs: one) "There are many reasons why people might want to get camping." (Paragraph about reasons to go camping ground.) two) "You must consider several things when choosing a campsite." (Choosing a military camp paragraph.) 3) "Finally, you must set upwardly your military camp." (Paragraph virtually setting up campsite.)

5. 5

   Compose the introduction for your essay. Your thesis statement volition be the last sentence.

   • You'll desire to open with a general argument about your topic that "hooks" your reader. Then provide any context your reader needs to understand your topic. Close with your thesis statement.

6. half dozen

   Write the body of the essay. Depending on your prompt, your answer may be as short every bit a paragraph. Almost writing assignments expect several paragraphs, and many prefer the v-paragraph form. For each paragraph, develop it by doing the following:

   • Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence.
   • Explain your topic sentence.
   • Give an example that supports your topic judgement.
   • Analyze your instance.
   • Write a concluding statement.

7. 7

   Add together your conclusion. Recapitulate your thesis at the end of the paragraph. A skilful decision will show how your ideas progressed, give the reader something to think well-nigh, or present new directions for the data.

   • For case, if you are explaining camping ground, you lot could conclude by saying something like, "Although some people who alive in cities have never been camping before, information technology is really fun and easy. Side by side time you're considering a vacation, why non consider camping?"

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1. ane

   Find the words "tell," "fourth dimension" or "event." Narrative prompts inquire you to tell a story, unremarkably virtually yourself. You may also see the words "Describe" or "write about."

   • For example, a narrative prompt might expect like this: "Talk most a time when you experienced friendship" or "Describe a moment when you showed backbone."

2. 2

   Write a story about something that happened to you. You'll want to gear the narrative you tell to answer the prompt. You volition often want to write nigh a moment that taught y'all a lesson or had an impact on your life.

   • Write in first person. Tell the story every bit yourself, using "I" and "me."

3. 3

   Brainstorm with an introduction that tells the reader that you will tell a story. Your introduction provides the setting and context for your narrative. Let the reader know what you will exist writing about, who the major "characters" are, and the purpose of your narrative. This purpose is your thesis statement.

   • A narrative thesis argument may offer the lesson you lot learned or talk well-nigh the bear on of the moment on your life, such as "The most memorable moment in which I showed courage happened in seventh course." It could besides identify a theme that connects your story to a greater theme, such equally "Most people do not know how courageous they tin be until they're faced with danger. This was true for me, too."

4. 4

   Write a narrative essay more loosely than you would other types of essays. Utilise description, metaphor, anecdotes, dialogue and other literary devices.

   • You may want to construction your essay chronologically to evidence the development of the lesson over fourth dimension. This is usually the clearest way to structure your essay. Employ words such as "then," "next," and "finally" to show your progress.

5. 5

   End the essay by telling the reader what you learned from the feel. This is where you come back to the thesis y'all gave in the outset. What did you learn? How has the feel changed yous in some way?

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1. one

   Look for the words "persuade" or "convince." Persuasive prompts direct you to brand an argument that convinces another person of your point of view or opinion. Y'all will demand to use logic and examples to convince the other person.

   • You may be trying to convince the tester who will read your essay, or yous may be asked to write as if you were trying to convince a hypothetical person.
   • Other signals that y'all are writing a persuasive answer include "How do yous feel about" or "What practise you think almost". If a prompt asks whether you agree or disagree with a argument, it is a persuasive prompt.

2. 2

   Decide which arguments will piece of work all-time on the reader. This will depend on who your audience is. For example, if you have been directed to convince a hypothetical commission to fund a project, you volition want to use logical, factual arguments. If you have been instructed to persuade your peers that school lunches are important, you may want to use more than emotional arguments.

   • Cause and effect are a common persuasive thesis. For example, "Giving underprivileged students free schoolhouse lunches raises their functioning and makes the whole school amend" is a cause and effect argument.^[ii]
   • Value is another common tactic. This type of argument emphasizes the importance of something. For case, "Allowing global warming to go along will destroy habitats for animals such as polar bears and penguins. We cannot allow our earth to lose this rich wildlife."^[3]

3. 3

   Identify what your reader's most likely objection or argument might be and how you can refute it. These possible objections may even be in the prompt itself. Read it advisedly and consider what possible objections could be.

   • For case, someone might object that providing free schoolhouse lunches places a brunt on taxpayers, or singles students out as "poor" in the eyes of their classmates.
   • To abnegate these objections, consider the type of argument you want to brand. If you're making a logical argument, use logical refutations. If you're making an emotional argument, use emotional refutations.

4. 4

   Write an introductory paragraph in which you give groundwork on the issue. Requite the important context or data that your readers need to know. End with a thesis statement that tells the reader what you want to persuade her to believe.^[four]

   • For example, if you are writing well-nigh the necessity of stopping global warming, you volition demand to identify what scientists believe are the main causes of information technology. End with your thesis that states that although it will exist difficult to cease global warming, we cannot afford to lose the rich wildlife that global warming is destroying.

5. 5

   Add trunk paragraphs. Depending on the instructions in your prompt, provide body paragraphs that give your principal arguments. In each paragraph, provide bear witness or examples that back up your arguments.

   • Most persuasive essays will include at least 3 body paragraphs.^[v]

6. 6

   Include a paragraph in which you country the most probable argument or objection of your reader, and then refute information technology. This paragraph usually comes correct before the conclusion. Utilize the data from your brainstorming session to abnegate the point.^[6]

7. 7

   Compose a determination. Persuasive conclusions often end by restating the thesis and emphasizing the importance of the argument you have made. You can as well include a call to action for the reader, or stop with a quotation or question that encourages farther thought.

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Add New Question

• Question

  What happens when I write my prompt in one paragraph?

  

  Yous'll probably fail. Make an outline that splits the prompt into several paragraphs. If it'south a skilful prompt, there will be a lot y'all can write about.

• Question

  Can I make up facts in an essay?

  

  Near of the time no, unless yous could be counted every bit a reliable source to that prompt. Since most of the time you have to write out the sources, they should be reliable ones.

• Question

  How do I get my students to accept my class more seriously?

  

  If they're non taking yous seriously and constantly pulling out their phones and talking, this usually means yous're one of these two teachers: You're the actually nice teacher or you're the funny/relatable teacher. Just start confiscating phones or beginning handing out more than surprise quizzes without any alert. If you desire to go the other route, try bribing them with food or "No Homework" passes.

• Question

  How do I not restate the prompt when I write my thesis for my introduction?

  

  It is unremarkably better to restate the question/prompt, merely if you lot don't want to, yous can start a sentence with the case yous are providing or your opinion on the prompt.

• Question

  How practice I start and write a thesis statement?

  

  Decide on a topic; the cardinal idea of your paper is your topic. Requite your chief point of view on the subject. Option 2 reasons to back up your master bespeak, give another reason to support your master point. If applicative, include a counterpoint to your main point.

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Article Summary Ten

A writing prompt gives you a basis for an essay or artistic writing piece. Look out for keywords like "tell," "time," or "event" which mean that you need to write a story. For case, "Talk about a fourth dimension when you experienced friendship" is a prompt for a creative writing piece or personal narrative. Write a story in outset person nearly the topic in the prompt. Employ clarification, metaphors, anecdotes, and dialogue to help tell your story. End the story past telling the reader what y'all learned from the experience. For more tips from our English language co-author, including how to answer informative and persuasive writing prompts, read on!

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