Writing prompts

Some of your writing assignment may come in the form of a writing prompt. A writing prompt is a set of instructions for your essay. From it, you'll learn the topic on which you are being asked to write and what specifically you should be writing about that topic.

There are three kinds of writing prompts, each instructing you to write a slightly different kind of essay. First is expository prompt. Expository prompts ask you to explain something. The key word here is explain.

Second prompt is the narrative one. Narrative prompts ask you to tell a story. The key words to look for in a narrative prompt are time and event.

Third is persuasive prompt. Persuasive prompts ask you to persuade someone of something. The key words here are persuade and convince.

To answer a writing prompt, all you need to do is determine what it it you're being asked about. Identify which kind of prompt you're dealing with, and then look for key words and any other phrases or questions embedded within the prompt that stand out for you. Locate the topic and what you are being asked to write about that topic. Then, write! When you're done, read through the prompt one last time, just to make sure that you've addressed all aspects of the topic.