Writing under Pressure
Writing Under Pressure
On-Demand Writing Assignment
You will have the entire period to plan and write an essay on the topic assigned below. Before you begin writing, read the passage carefully and plan what you will say. Your essay should be as well-organized and carefully written as you can make it.
“I think that Chris McCandless was bright and ignorant at the same time. He had no common sense, and he had no business going into Alaska with his Romantic silliness. He made a lot of mistakes based on arrogance. I don’t admire him at all for his courage nor his noble ideas. Really, I think he was just plain crazy.” – Shaun Callarman
Explain Callarman’s argument and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with his analysis. Support your position, providing reasons and examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
Strategies for Writing Under Pressure:
Read and then reread the prompt. Underline the important verbs that tell you what action to perform.
Find the argument in the passage
Quickly jot down some ideas that come to mind. Do you agree or disagree with the author’s basic position?
Figure out the topics of your body paragraphs and what the topic sentences might be
Don’t worry about a smooth introduction if nothing comes to mind; begin with your point—your thesis
What is the evidence that you will use to prove your position? Jot down the evidence that comes to mind in bullet form or in a few words. Fit them into your paragraph outline, after your topic sentences. Having this brief outline will remind you of what you want to say, but it won’t mean that you can’t change your mind.
On-Demand Writing Assignment
You will have the entire period to plan and write an essay on the topic assigned below. Before you begin writing, read the passage carefully and plan what you will say. Your essay should be as well-organized and carefully written as you can make it.
“I think that Chris McCandless was bright and ignorant at the same time. He had no common sense, and he had no business going into Alaska with his Romantic silliness. He made a lot of mistakes based on arrogance. I don’t admire him at all for his courage nor his noble ideas. Really, I think he was just plain crazy.” – Shaun Callarman
Explain Callarman’s argument and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with his analysis. Support your position, providing reasons and examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
Strategies for Writing Under Pressure:
Read and then reread the prompt. Underline the important verbs that tell you what action to perform.
Find the argument in the passage
Quickly jot down some ideas that come to mind. Do you agree or disagree with the author’s basic position?
Figure out the topics of your body paragraphs and what the topic sentences might be
Don’t worry about a smooth introduction if nothing comes to mind; begin with your point—your thesis
What is the evidence that you will use to prove your position? Jot down the evidence that comes to mind in bullet form or in a few words. Fit them into your paragraph outline, after your topic sentences. Having this brief outline will remind you of what you want to say, but it won’t mean that you can’t change your mind.