essay prompt meaning

What Is a Prompt in Writing? (Ultimate Guide + 200 Examples)

Ever stumbled upon a blank page and didn’t know where to start?

That’s where a writing prompt steps in, kicking your creativity into gear and guiding your pen (or cursor) in the right direction.

What is a prompt in writing?

A prompt in writing is a starting point designed to ignite creativity, guiding writers to explore themes, genres, or emotions. It can be a word, question, image, or scenario, aiding in overcoming writer’s block.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about prompts in writing.

What Is a Prompt in Writing (Long Description)?

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Table of Contents

A writing prompt is essentially a starting point.

Think of it as a spark designed to ignite your creativity and guide your thoughts in a specific direction.

This little nudge can come in various forms – a word, a sentence, a question, or even a picture – and serves the purpose of inspiring you to write.

Whether you’re drafting a story, an essay, or just jotting down your thoughts, prompts help overcome the intimidation of a blank page.

It sets a predefined theme or direction for your writing.

They’re not just about what you write, but how you think and approach writing, encouraging you to explore new ideas, genres, and perspectives.

Here is a good video that explains prompts in writing:

Types of Prompts in Writing

Now let’s go over different types of prompts in writing.

Common prompt types include:

The Story Starter

The question quest, picture this, the first line frenzy.

The Story Starter is your classic nudge towards narrative creativity.

It’s a sentence or scenario meant to kick off your storytelling journey, helping you dive straight into the plot, characters, or setting.

This type of prompt is great for fiction writers looking for a jumping-off point to explore various themes or genres.

It can be as detailed or as open-ended as you like, providing just enough information to spark an idea without dictating the direction of your story.

“When the clock struck midnight, she realized…”
“Lost in the forest, he stumbled upon a hidden village…”
“The last person on Earth sat alone in a room. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door…”
“In a world where magic is real, a young apprentice discovers…”
“The photograph in the old book revealed a secret that would change everything…”
“Stranded on a desert island, they found a message in a bottle…”
“On her hundredth birthday, she received a letter that took her back to her youth…”
“The map led them to a place that wasn’t supposed to exist…”
“In the midst of war, a forbidden love blossomed…”
“He inherited an old mansion, not knowing the ancestors would still be around…”

The Question Quest prompt type uses intriguing questions to push your thinking boundaries and explore ideas in depth.

It’s perfect for essays, reflective writing, or exploring complex themes and issues.

These prompts challenge you to consider different perspectives, analyze situations, and develop reasoned arguments or narratives based on the question posed.

“What would you do if you could travel back in time?”
“How would society change if humans lived to be 300 years old?”
“Is it possible to live a completely ethical life in today’s world?”
“What does true bravery look like?”
“How would the discovery of extraterrestrial life impact humanity?”
“What is the true cost of progress?”
“Can happiness be measured?”
“What role does fate play in our lives?”
“Is technology bringing us closer together or driving us apart?”
“What would you change if you were the leader of your country for a day?”

Picture This prompts use images as the springboard for writing.

A photograph, painting, or even a random doodle can unlock a flood of creativity.

Which makes it an excellent tool for both fiction and non-fiction writers.

This visual cue encourages you to dive into descriptive writing, storytelling, or even analytical essays, exploring the emotions, stories, or ideas evoked by the image.

A deserted street at dawn, with an old bicycle leaning against a lamppost.
A vintage suitcase, open and filled with letters and photographs.
A bustling market scene in a foreign country.
A child gazing out of a rain-spattered window.
A majestic mountain range under the stars.
An abandoned house, its rooms still furnished but covered in dust.
A close-up of a spider web with dewdrops.
A lively street festival, with people dancing and musicians playing.
An old, faded map with several places marked in red.
A serene lake at sunset, with a lone boat tied to a wooden dock.

The First Line Frenzy is a thrilling way to dive into a story.

These prompts provide the opening sentence of your narrative, setting the tone and direction for everything that follows.

It’s a fantastic method for overcoming writer’s block and sparking your imagination, as the initial line can lead to unexpected and exciting story developments.

“The day began with a mysterious package on my doorstep.”
“I never believed in ghosts until I moved into the old Henderson house.”
“The moment I heard the news, I knew my life would never be the same.”
“Under the light of a full moon, the city revealed its true secrets.”
“It was the kind of café you’d stumble upon once and never find again.”
“With a deep breath, I stepped into the unknown.”
“The letter, sealed with a wax emblem, contained a proposition I couldn’t refuse.”
“As the train pulled away, she realized her mistake.”
“In the heart of the ancient forest, a hidden path led to unexpected wonders.”
“The discovery promised to rewrite history, but at what cost?”

Dialogue Driven

Dialogue Driven prompts center around a snippet of conversation, offering a dynamic entry point into your writing.

This approach is particularly effective for character development and exploring relationships through direct speech.

It can set the scene, reveal personalities, and drive the plot forward, all through the power of dialogue.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?” “I was hoping.”
“Why is this door always locked?” “You’re not ready to know what’s behind it.”
“Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” “That’s where you’re wrong.”
“The stars look different here.” “Everything does.”
“I wish I could stay.” “Then why are you leaving?”
“It’s not about what I want anymore.” “Then what’s it about?”
“I’ve never seen anything like it.” “And you never will again.”
“Can you keep a secret?” “Depends on the secret.”
“We’re not in Kansas anymore.” “We’re not even on the same planet.”
“It was supposed to be a simple plan.” “Since when does anything go according to plan?”

The Sensory Dive

The Sensory Dive prompts are designed to immerse you and your reader in vivid, sensory-rich experiences.

These prompts encourage descriptive writing that appeals to the senses, painting a scene so tangible that readers feel they can touch, taste, hear, see, and smell it.

It’s a powerful tool for creating immersive worlds and experiences.

Describe the cacophony of a bustling city market at noon.
The taste of the first snowflake of winter.
The scent of old books in a forgotten library.
The feeling of sand between your toes as waves crash on the shore.
The sight of a landscape transformed by autumn’s touch.
The sound of a distant thunderstorm approaching.
The warmth of a crackling fire on a cold night.
The chill of walking through a foggy graveyard at dusk.
The texture of an ancient, carved stone.
The silence of a snow-covered forest.

The What-If Wonder

The What-If Wonder prompts take you on a journey of imagination, exploring alternate realities and scenarios.

These prompts ask you to consider how different choices, events, or conditions might alter the world, characters, or story.

It’s an excellent way to delve into speculative fiction, science fiction, and fantasy, pushing the boundaries of reality.

What if humans had the ability to communicate telepathically?
What if gravity suddenly became a variable force on Earth?
What if you woke up 100 years in the past with your current memories intact?
What if plants were the dominant intelligent species on the planet?
What if you could see the future but only 24 hours ahead?
What if water was as rare as gold?
What if everyone had their lifespan displayed above their heads?
What if you found a door that could take you to parallel universes?
What if animals could petition for their rights?
What if dreams were actually glimpses into alternate realities?

The Emotional Rollercoaster

The Emotional Rollercoaster prompt is all about exploring the depths of human emotion, challenging you to convey complex feelings and reactions.

These prompts are perfect for delving into character development, interpersonal relationships, and personal reflection.

By focusing on the emotional landscape, writers can create compelling narratives that resonate with readers on a deeply personal level.

The moment you realized you were in love.
Feeling utterly lost in a place you once called home.
The bitter sweetness of a farewell.
Overcoming a fear that once held you back.
The complex emotions of reuniting with someone after many years.
The guilt of a lie that spiraled out of control.
The rush of achieving something you thought was impossible.
The profound sadness of losing a cherished memory to time.
The unexpected joy found in a simple act of kindness.
The peace of accepting things you cannot change.

The Genre Blender

The Genre Blender prompts encourage you to mix elements from different genres, creating unique and innovative narratives.

These prompts are excellent for writers looking to break the mold and experiment with their storytelling.

Whether it’s combining science fiction with historical fiction or fantasy with mystery, the possibilities are endless.

A detective in a dystopian future solving a crime that could change the course of history.
A romance blossoming in the midst of a zombie apocalypse.
A fantasy world where magic is dying, and technology is on the rise.
A historical drama set in ancient Rome, but with a twist of time travel.
A horror story set in space, aboard a ship with a mysterious alien artifact.
A western where the frontier towns are protected by wizards instead of gunslingers.
A cyberpunk thriller featuring a heist in a virtual reality world.
A mystery set in a magical school where the students must uncover a dark secret.
A superhero story grounded in the real-world challenges of modern society.
An adventure tale that blends deep-sea exploration with ancient mythology.

The Time Traveler’s Gateway

The Time Traveler’s Gateway prompts explore the intricacies of time travel, its implications, and its paradoxes.

This type of prompt is perfect for science fiction and speculative fiction writers, offering a playground for the imagination that challenges our understanding of time, history, and causality.

Discovering a time machine in your backyard and deciding where to go first.
A message from the future warning of an impending disaster.
The consequences of changing a small event in the past.
A society where time travel is common, but strictly regulated.
An ancient civilization that had advanced time travel technology.
Meeting your ancestors and learning their secrets.
The ethical dilemmas of using time travel for personal gain.
A love story that transcends time barriers.
The discovery that history is a construct, shaped by time travelers.
A time loop where the protagonist must solve a puzzle to escape.

The World Builder’s Dream

The World Builder’s Dream prompts invite you to create entire worlds from scratch.

This type of prompt is a boon for fantasy and science fiction writers, offering the freedom to craft unique settings, cultures, laws of nature, and societies.

It’s an opportunity to let your imagination run wild and establish the groundwork for epic tales.

A planet where the seasons last for decades.
A city built entirely on the back of a giant, wandering creature.
A society where people’s roles are determined by their innate magical abilities.
An underwater civilization that has never seen the surface.
A world where dreams can be entered and manipulated.
A floating island nation that travels the skies.
A dystopian future where memories can be bought and sold.
A kingdom where music is the source of all magic.
A realm where the night lasts half the year.
An alternate Earth where the continents never split apart.

The Unseen Perspective

The Unseen Perspective prompts challenge you to write from the viewpoint of non-human characters or entities.

This approach forces you to step outside the human experience and consider the world from a completely different angle.

It’s a fantastic way to explore themes of consciousness, nature, and the interconnectedness of life.

The life of a tree over centuries, witnessing the changes in the world.
A day in the life of a household pet during a major family event.
The thoughts of a spaceship AI as it travels through the cosmos.
The experiences of a ghost haunting an old mansion.
A story told from the perspective of a river, from source to sea.
The journey of a single leaf from sprout to falling to the ground.
The collective consciousness of a hive of bees facing environmental challenges.
The ancient spirit of a mountain overseeing its surroundings.
The adventures of a book as it passes from reader to reader, experiencing different interpretations and emotions.
The perspective of a city as it grows and evolves over centuries, through peace and conflict.

The Emotional Journey

The Emotional Journey prompts focus on the internal growth and transformation of characters.

It invites writers to delve into personal development, self-discovery, and the overcoming of obstacles.

This type of prompt is ideal for character-driven narratives, where the emphasis is on emotional depth and the evolution of the protagonist’s inner self.

A character grappling with the loss of a loved one and finding a way to move forward.
The journey of self-acceptance for someone who feels out of place in their world.
A hero facing their darkest fears in order to save what they cherish most.
A villain’s realization of the impact of their actions and their quest for redemption.
A young adult’s transition into independence and the challenges they face along the way.
The transformation of a skeptic into a believer through a series of unexplainable events.
The struggle of a character to forgive themselves and others for past mistakes.
The process of rebuilding one’s life after a catastrophic event.
A character’s journey from indifference to passionate advocacy for a cause.
The evolving relationship between two characters who start as rivals and become allies.

The Moral Dilemma

The Moral Dilemma prompts put characters in situations where they must make difficult choices, often between two equally undesirable options.

These prompts are great for exploring ethical questions, character morality, and the complexity of human nature.

They challenge writers to think deeply about what it means to make a “right” decision.

Choosing between saving a loved one or a group of strangers from danger.
Deciding whether to expose a painful truth that could destroy a friend’s happiness.
The choice of upholding the law or doing what is morally right in a corrupt society.
A character must decide whether to seek revenge or forgive an unforgivable act.
The dilemma of sacrificing personal dreams for the greater good.
Deciding whether to keep a secret that protects one person but harms others.
A leader’s choice between peace at the cost of justice or war for the sake of freedom.
The ethical implications of using advanced technology to alter human nature.
A scientist faces a moral conflict over a discovery that could change the world but has dangerous implications.
The struggle of a character who finds out that their entire life is based on a lie and must choose how to react.

The Creative Challenge

The Creative Challenge prompts are designed to push the boundaries of conventional storytelling.

It encourages experimentation with narrative structure, style, and content.

These prompts invite writers to play with unconventional formats, such as a story told in reverse, a narrative composed entirely of dialogue, or a tale that weaves multiple perspectives into a cohesive whole.

A story told through a series of diary entries, each revealing a piece of the puzzle.
A narrative structured as a series of text messages between characters.
A tale that begins with its conclusion and works backward to the start.
A story where each chapter is from the perspective of a different character, all revolving around a single event.
A narrative composed entirely of letters sent between two characters.
A story told through the lens of an inanimate object witnessing events unfold.
A tale that intertwines the past and present, revealing how they mirror and affect each other.
A narrative that challenges the concept of linear time, mixing moments from various points in the characters’ lives.
A story where the setting changes in each chapter, influencing the plot and characters in unique ways.
A narrative that plays with genre conventions, blending elements from different genres in unexpected ways.

Final Thoughts: What Is a Prompt in Writing?

I hope this guide “prompts” you to understanding, creativity, and motivation to write.

Check out some of our other great guides below.

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College Essay Prompts: Complete List, Analysis, and Advice

College Admissions , College Essays

When talking about college essays, we tend to focus on the Common Application prompts , and it's true that many students will need to write a Common App essay. However, there are actually quite a few schools, including both public and private universities, that don't use the Common App and instead ask applicants to respond to their own college essay prompts.

Luckily, college essay prompts tend to be pretty similar to each other. In this guide, I'll list all the college essay questions for popular schools in the US (and a few abroad) and then break down the patterns to help you brainstorm topics and plan how to approach multiple essays efficiently. After reading this guide, you'll be able to strategize which essays you'll write for which colleges.

Feature image: Mayr /Flickr

Why Do Colleges Ask For an Essay?

The short answer: the essay gives admissions committees a sense of your personality beyond the statistics on the rest of your application. The essay is your chance to show the committee your unique perspective and impress them with your maturity and insight.

College application essay prompts are written with this goal in mind. Admissions officers want to give you the chance to share your interests, aspirations, and views on the world, so most prompts ask about how your experiences have shaped you or what you're excited about studying or doing in college. I've collected a ton of examples below and provided some analysis to help you begin planning and crafting your own essays.

Keep in mind that the personal statement alone won't be enough to get you in— your grades and test scores are still the most important factors in your application . That being said, a stellar essay can help bring a borderline applicant over the top or give an excellent but not extraordinary student the opportunity to stand out in a competitive applicant pool.

As such, the essay tends to matter most for very competitive schools. Non-competitive schools generally don't ask you to submit an essay.

Complete List of College Essay Prompts

This list collects the 2022 college essay prompts for major state universities, top-50 schools, and other popular schools which have their own unique questions. They're divided by region, with all optional essays listed at the end.

I left off the Common App supplements, as those often require a substantially different approach. I also stuck to four-year schools, meaning I didn't include special two-year programs, such as Deep Springs College or Miami Dade College's Honors Program (both of which require essays).

Finally, note that these prompts are for freshman applicants, so the requirements might be different for transfer students .

General Applications

There are three general applications you can use to apply to many different schools at once:

Common Application

Universal college application, coalition application.

Each application has its own personal statement requirement. Some schools will ask for additional supplemental essays.

Many more schools accept the Common App than they do the UCA or Coalition Application , though some will accept more than one of these applications.

For the Common App essay, you pick one of the prompts and write 250-650 words about it. Here are the prompts for the 2022-2023 school year:

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

The UCA essay prompt is completely open ended and has a 650-word limit. Here is the 2022-2023 prompt:

Please write an essay that demonstrates your ability to develop and communicate your thoughts. Some ideas include: a person you admire; a life-changing experience; or your viewpoint on a particular current event.

For the Coalition Application, you'll pick one of five prompts listed below. While there is no hard word limit, the range guidelines are 500-650 words. Here are the prompts for 2022-2023:

What interests or excites you? How does it shape who you are now or who you might become in the future?

Describe a time when you had a positive impact on others. What were the challenges? What were the rewards?

Has there been a time when an idea or belief of yours was questioned? How did you respond? What did you learn?

What success have you achieved or obstacle have you faced? What advice would you give a sibling or friend going through a similar experience?

Now that you know the essay requirements for the three general applications, let’s look at the application essays for specific schools . To keep things organized, we’ve grouped schools based on the region of the US in which they’re located.

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic

The Great Dome at MIT

Georgetown University

Georgetown asks applicants to write one short essay (about half a single-spaced page) and two longer essays (approximately one single-spaced page each). Each applicant must respond to the first two prompts and can choose among the other four based on the specific program she's interested in.

Short Essay: Briefly (approximately one-half page, single-spaced) discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved.

All Applicants: As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you.

Applicants to Georgetown College: What does it mean to you to be educated? How might Georgetown College help you achieve this aim? (Applicants to the Sciences and Mathematics or the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics should address their chosen course of study).

Applicants to the School of Nursing & Health Studies: Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying health care. Please specifically address your intended major (Global Health, Health Care Management & Policy, Human Science, or Nursing).

Applicants to the Walsh School of Foreign Service: The Walsh School of Foreign Service was founded more than a century ago to prepare generations of leaders to solve global problems. What is motivating you to dedicate your undergraduate studies to a future in service to the world?

Applicants to the McDonough School of Business: The McDonough School of Business is a national and global leader in providing graduates with essential ethical, analytical, financial and global perspectives. Please discuss your motivations for studying business at Georgetown.

For more Georgetown application tips, check out our articles on the Georgetown essays and how to get into Georgetown .

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT doesn't ask for a single personal statement but rather asks applicants to respond to a series of questions with just a paragraph or two of about 200 words each .

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.

Describe the world you come from (for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town). How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?

MIT brings people with diverse backgrounds and experiences together to better the lives of others. Our students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way you have collaborated with people who are different from you to contribute to your community.

Tell us about a significant challenge you've faced (that you feel comfortable sharing) or something that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?

For more details on how to get into MIT , read our other articles on the MIT application process , tips for MIT essays , and an example of a real MIT acceptance letter !

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Indiana University Bloomington

IU asks for 200-400 words on your plans and interests.

Describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. If you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, share those experiences and how you overcame them. Please note that this essay may be used in scholarship consideration.

University of Illinois

The University of Illinois asks for two essays (or three only if you selected a second-choice major other than what's noted on your application). All responses should be approximately 150 words.

You'll answer two to three prompts as part of your application. The questions you'll answer will depend on whether you're applying to a major or to our undeclared program, and if you've selected a second choice. Each response should be approximately 150 words. If You're Applying to a Major: 1. Explain, in detail, an experience you've had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. This can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you’ve taken, or through something else. 2. Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them. If You're Applying to Our Undeclared Program in the Division of General Studies: 1. What are your academic interests and strengths? You may also include any majors you are considering. 2. What are your future academic or career goals? If You've Selected a Second-Choice Major (Including Undeclared): Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals.

If you're applying to UIUC, check out our UIUC essay tips article as well!

University of Wisconsin–Madison

All applicants must complete two essays for UW–Madison. The essays should be 250-650 words in length and may be used for scholarship and campus program review.

If you apply through the Common Application, you’ll be asked to reply to one of the freshman Common Application essays in lieu of the first essay prompt below, but you’ll be required to respond to the second prompt below.

If you apply through the UW System Application, the following two essays are required:

This part is all about you. Tell us about something you've done — academically or personally — and what you've learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education?

Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

Want to write the perfect college application essay? We can help. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will help you craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay to proudly submit to colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now:

Kyle Field at Texas A&M ( Ed Schipul /Flickr)

The ApplyTexas application is used by all Texas public universities and some private colleges. There are four ApplyTexas essay prompts. Which ones you need to respond to will depend on where you're applying. UT Austin, for example, requires applicants to submit at least one essay responding to Topic A on the ApplyTexas application. .

While there's no set word limit, the online application will cut off each essay at 120 lines (~1000 words).

Topic A: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Topic B: Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.

Topic C: You've got a ticket in your hand – Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

Topic D: Please Note: The essay in this section is specific to certain college majors and is not required by all colleges/universities that accept the Apply Texas Application. If you are not applying for a major in Architecture, Art, Art History, Design, Studio Art, Visual Art Studies/Art Education , you are not required to write this essay.

Personal interaction with objects, images and spaces can be so powerful as to change the way one thinks about particular issues or topics. For your intended area of study (architecture, art history, design, studio art, visual art studies/art education), describe an experience where instruction in that area or your personal interaction with an object, image or space effected this type of change in your thinking. What did you do to act upon your new thinking and what have you done to prepare yourself for further study in this area?

We go into all the ApplyTexas prompts in detail here !

University of Georgia

For UGA, applicants must write two essays, one 200-300 words and one 250-650 words . Both essays are required for all applicants. The longer personal essay uses the Common Application prompts for 2023 ; the prompt for the shorter essay is as follows:

The c ollege admissions process can create anxiety. In an attempt to make it less stressful, please tell us an interesting or amusing story about yourself from your high school years that you have not already shared in your application.

For a more detailed discussion of the UGA essays, read this article .

The Campanile at UC Berkeley

University of California

Students applying to the UC system must respond to four out of eight short personal insight questions. The maximum word count for each response is 350 words.

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Learn more about the UC essays , the UC application , and how to choose which UC schools to apply to with our complete guides .

University of Oregon

Applicants to the University of Oregon are required to submit one essay of 650 words or fewer. You also have the option to write a second essay (maximum of 500 words), but it’s not required.

The essay prompts are as follows:

The UO is interested in learning more about you. Write an essay of 650 words or less that shares information that we cannot find elsewhere on your application. Any topic you choose is welcome. Some ideas you might consider include your future ambitions and goals, a special talent, extracurricular activity, or unusual interest that sets you apart from your peers, or a significant experience that influenced your life. If you are applying to the UO's Robert D. Clark Honors College, feel free to resubmit your honors college application essay.

Optional second essay: As you've looked into what it will be like to attend Oregon, you've hopefully learned what makes Ducks Ducks. No two are alike, though, so tell us what makes you you, and how that connects to our campus community. We are interested in your thoughts and experiences recognizing difference and supporting equity and inclusion, and choosing one of these two options will guide you in sharing those thoughts. You can learn more about equity and inclusion at Oregon by visiting the Equity and Inclusion website . Maximum statement length is 500 words. This statement is not required.

University of Washington

In addition to its specific prompts, the University of Washington gives specific advice about what its admissions officers consider to be good writing before the prompts:

"At the UW, we consider the college essay as our opportunity to see the person behind the transcripts and the numbers. Some of the best statements are written as personal stories. In general, concise, straightforward writing is best, and good essays are often 300-400 words in length.

Essay Prompt (Required): Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped shape it. Maximum length: 650 words.

Short Response (Required): Our families and our communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW. Maximum length: 300 words

You can also find more tips on the University of Washington essays in this blog article .

International

Generally speaking, international schools are less likely to ask for an essay, since admission tends to be heavily focused on grades and test results. However, a few popular international schools do ask for a personal statement as part of their application.

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UK Schools)

UCAS is a general application for UK schools (similar to the Common App in the US). There's no specific prompt for the personal statement—instead, applicants are required to write an essay describing what they want to study, why they want to study it, and what they bring to the table. There is a 4,000-character/47-line limit.

University of British Columbia

UBC asks applicants to fill out a personal profile consisting of five to seven short-answer questions that vary depending on the program you're applying to. Answers should be 50-200 words.

Depending on which degree program you apply to, you’ll be asked to answer some or all of the following questions on the UBC application:

Tell us about who you are. How would your family, friends, and/or members of your community describe you? If possible, please include something about yourself that you are most proud of and why.
What is important to you? And why?
Family/community responsibilities
Creative or performing arts
Work/employment
Service to others
Tell us more about one or two activities listed above that are most important to you. Please explain the role you played and what you learned in the process. You will be asked for a reference who can speak to your response.
Additional information: You may wish to use the space below to provide UBC with more information on your academic history to date and/or your future academic plans. For example: How did you choose your courses in secondary school? Are there life circumstances that have affected your academic decisions to date? What have you done to prepare yourself specifically for your intended area of study at UBC?
Please submit the names of two referees who know you well and can comment on your preparedness for study at UBC. Examples of referees include an employer, a community member, a coach, a teacher/instructor, or anyone who knows you well. One of the referees you select must be able to speak to one of the activities/experiences described in one of your long-answer responses above. For applicants who are currently attending a high school, one of your referees must be a school official (e.g., Grade 12 or senior year counsellor, teacher, or IB coordinator). Neither referee should be a friend, family member, or paid agent.

Some programs of study may ask applicants to respond to the questions above and some additional, program-specific questions when completing the personal profile.

University of Cambridge

Optional Essays

Some schools don't require an essay from all applicants but do recommend or require an essay for certain programs. I've listed a selection of those prompts below.

Arizona State University

Students applying to the Barrett Honors College at ASU must submit one essay of 300 to 500 words in response to one of the following prompts (your response may be critical or creative):

Prompt 1 Discuss how a specific piece of art (painting, literature, photograph, etc.) or popular culture (song, comic book, etc.) helped you realize something new about yourself or the world. What was that realization, and how did the piece of art or pop culture bring about this change in your thinking? Do not simply describe the piece of art or pop culture; instead, focus on its effect on you and how it makes you a good fit for the Barrett Honors College experience. Prompt 2 Tell us about a habit or way of thinking that others would recognize as “uniquely you.” This is something you value and would hesitate to give up because it is a distinct part of who you are or what makes you different - why is it so? Be sure to share how this aspect of your identity makes you a good fit for the Barrett Honors College experience.

City University of New York

Applicants to Macaulay Honors College must write two essays: an “about you” essay, and an essay describing your plans for college. Each response should be around 500 words, give or take a few within reason.

Essay 1: About you. (Select one of the options below.) Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. OR Tell us about an area or activity, outside of academics, in which you have invested a lot of time and effort. Tell us why. What did you learn? How was it meaningful?

Essay 2: About your plans for college. Please discuss all points below. Why do you want to go to an honors college ? There are many benefits of being a Macaulay student, such as the Macaulay community, special courses, Honors advisement, cultural passport, opportunities funds, and other financial benefits. Please describe how these features will shape you and your college experience, including, what you expect to bring to the college community and what you expect to get out of your college experience.

Florida International University

Only applicants who don't meet the criteria for automatic admissions and whose applications undergo holistic review will need to submit a 500-word essay:

Students requesting appeal or additional review of their admission status must submit a written statement including:

Your goals and educational or professional objectives

A summary/explanation of past academic performance

Information and/or circumstances that may have affected past academic performance

Any other information the student wishes to have considered

Ohio University

For the Ohio University application, students who've been out of school for more than a year must submit an essay explaining what they've done in their time off from school.

Applicants who have been out of high school for more than one year must submit an essay detailing activities since graduation.

Additionally, applicants to the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism are encouraged, though not required, to submit an essay detailing how they want to help shape the future of journalism.

For all other applicants, submitting an essay here is optional; however, if you do wish to write an essay, the application suggests that you describe any academic challenges you’ve faced, academic and career objectives, or involvement in community affairs (recommended length is 250-500 words).

Those interested in Ohio University's OHIO Honors Program (including the Cutler Scholars Program) are required to answer the following essay prompt (limit 250 words):

Students in the OHIO Honors Program represent all majors on campus and take engaging honors courses while applying what they learn outside of the classroom. Students choose from classes and experiences across three pathways: community engagement, research and creative activity, and leadership . Students in OHP can move among the three pathways as their interests evolve and they develop their goals. What pathway is most exciting to you right now, and why?

Finally, those interested in the Honors Tutorial College are must answer the following two essay prompts (in about 500 words each):

HTC Question 1: Please explain why you have chosen your particular program(s) of study.

HTC Question 2: We expect that one reason you seek a tutorial education is for the one-on-one interaction with faculty, but other than that, what interests you about pursuing a tutorial-based undergraduate education? What aspects of your education and life experience have prepared you for a tutorial education with its emphasis on research and creative activity?

Type 1: Questions About a Meaningful Experience

This type of college essay question is the most common. The exact focus of these prompts can vary quite a bit, but they all ask you to reflect on an important experience. Some questions specify a type of experience whereas others don't, simply opting to have applicants write about whatever matters to them.

There are three basic sub-types that you'll see when dealing with these prompts. Let's look at an example of each.

#1: Overcoming a Challenge

These prompts ask about how you dealt with a particular challenge or solved a problem. Below is a typical example of this question type from the MIT application:

Tell us about the most significant challenge you've faced or something important that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?

To address a question like this, you need a topic that has real stakes —that is, something that you genuinely struggled with. Even though it can seem as though you should only discuss positive experiences and feelings in your college essay (you want to impress your readers with how awesome you are!), unwavering positivity actually hurts your essay because it makes you seem fake.

Instead, be honest : if you're writing about a negative experience, acknowledge that it was unpleasant or hard and explain why. Doing so will just make your overcoming it that much more impressive.

#2: Engaging With Diversity

Questions about diversity ask how you interact with those who are different from you . See an example below from the Common Application:

When approaching this type of question, you need to show that you're thoughtful about new ideas and perspectives. Colleges are full of students from all kinds of backgrounds, and admissions officers want to know that you'll be accepting of the diversity of other students, even if you don't necessarily agree with them.

Also, make sure to pick a specific instance to focus on. Writing a general essay about how you accept others won't impress admissions officers—you need to show them an example of a time that you did so.

#3: Growing Up

Finally, this type of prompt asks about a transitional experience or rite of passage that made you feel like an adult. I've reprinted another example from the Common App:

For these types of prompts, you want to show personal growth. Explain to the reader not just who you are but also how you've changed . (Really, this is a good idea no matter which prompt you're addressing!)

College can be challenging, so admissions officers want to know that you have the maturity to deal with (likely) living on your own, managing your own life, and planning for your future.

Regardless of the exact prompt, the key to this type of college essay is to show what you've learned from the experience. Admissions officers don't care that much about what happened to you—they care about what you think and feel about that event. That's what will give them a sense of who you are and what kind of college student you'll make.

Once you write a first draft, put it in a drawer for a week. Taking some time away from it will allow you to come back to it with fresh eyes. Then, try to read your essay from the perspective of someone who knows nothing about you. Would they be able to understand the story? Do you explain clearly what you learned? Does your intro grab the reader's attention?

It can also be helpful to ask someone you trust, such as a parent, teacher, or peer, to read your essay and give you feedback. Really listen to what they say and think about how you can improve your writing.

Finally, try reading your essay aloud. This will help you catch any weird or awkward phrasings.

What's Next?

If you're struggling with how to approach your personal statement, consider looking at some college essay examples .

The essay is just one part of the college application process. Check out our guide to applying to college for a step-by-step breakdown of what you'll need to do.

Finally, if you're planning to take the SAT or ACT , consider taking a look at our expert test-prep guides for some helpful advice on whatever you might be struggling with.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download them for free now:

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Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT.

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Understanding the Prompt

Everyone knows how overwhelming it can be to look at a blank screen or piece of paper when expected to write something. Imagine never being given any instruction on how to compose a piece of academic writing. That would be difficult! Although writing prompts might feel burdensome, they actually offer guidance to the writer. There are just a few strategies to understanding any prompt you're given so you can write the most effective essay possible in any circumstance.

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Which of the following it NOT a question to ask yourself about the prompt?

What word commonly used in writing prompts means to highlight some detail about the topic of discussion?

What word commonly used in writing prompts means to look for differences between two things?

True or false: If the prompt is for an essay you're writing as part of an exam, you can conduct research for your response.

What should you do once you feel like you understand the prompt?

True or false: There are different types of prompts.

Fill in the blank: In addition to giving you an opportunity to interact with an academic topic, essay prompts are also crafted with the intention of challenging your _________________.

What is the definition of a prompt?

What type of writing prompt would require a response that seeks to convince the audience of the writer's position?

While reading a prompt with a critical eye, what is something you should be looking for?

True or false, a prompt could be a picture.

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An Essay Prompt: Definition & Meaning

A writing prompt is an introduction to a topic as well as instruction on how to write about it. Writing prompts, often used for essay assignments, are meant to direct the writing and encourage interest in the topic of discussion.

An essay prompt could be anything meant to make you engage with the subject at hand; it could be a question, a statement , or even a picture or song. In addition to allowing you to interact with an academic topic, essay prompts are also crafted to challenge your writing skills.

A writing prompt will often explain what style or structure you should use in your essay (if not contained in the prompt itself, you should be informed elsewhere in the assignment). This all depends on what the writing prompt is asking you to do.

Prompt Writing Examples

Writing prompts can vary in style and length, and there are several different types, each focusing on something else.

Prompts can also vary by how much information they give you. Sometimes, a writing prompt will provide the writer with a scenario and ask them to defend their position on the topic, or give them a short reading assignment and ask them to respond. Other times, the prompt is very short and to the point.

It’s ultimately up to the writer to respond accordingly, but it’s helpful to understand what precisely you are supposed to do.

Below are the different types of essay prompts you might encounter, as well as an example of each. Some examples are lengthy and detailed, while others are simple questions; it is important to be prepared for either case.

Think about a prompt from your previous English assignments; what kind of essay prompt do you think it was? How did the prompt inform your writing?

Descriptive Writing Prompt

A descriptive writing prompt aims to get the writer to describe something specific.

How to respond: The goal here is to use vivid language, bringing the reader into the description so they almost feel like they are experiencing it for themselves.

Example prompt: Read the sample about leisure from George Eliot’s Adam Bede (1859). Compose a well-written essay describing her two views of leisure and discuss stylistic devices she uses to convey those views.

Narrative Writing Prompt

Narrative writing tells a story. A narrative essay prompt will ask you to walk the reader through an experience or scene using creative, insightful language.

A narrative essay prompt could easily be confused with descriptive. Still, the difference is that you’re responsible for explaining the series of events, not just describing one particular thing about the event. You may use elements of descriptive writing for a narrative essay .

How to respond: Be prepared to tell a story. It might be based on real-life experiences or entirely fictional— that is up to you. You’ll organize your response according to the series of events in the story.

Example prompt: Write a story about your favorite school memory. Include details such as who was there, where it was, what happened, and how it ended.

Expository Writing Prompt

Expository is a synonym for explanatory, so you will be asked to explain something in detail in this type of prompt. In an expository essay , you’ll need to support the information you’re sharing with facts.

How to respond: Depending on the topic, you should generate a hypothesis and use evidence to support it. Present a coherent argument to the reader.

Example prompt: On April 9, 1964, Claudia Johnson, First Lady of the United States, gave the following speech at the first-anniversary luncheon of the Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Foundation. The foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to the works of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who passed away in 1962. Read the passage carefully. Write an essay that analyzes the rhetorical choices First Lady Johnson makes in order to honor Eleanor Roosevelt.

In your response, you should do the following:

Respond to the prompt with a thesis that analyzes the writer’s rhetorical choices.

Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning.

Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.

Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation.

Notice how this sample prompt is much more detailed than the previous examples. If you receive a prompt like this, pay attention to every specific detail and be sure you respond to each piece of instruction; otherwise, you risk not entirely answering the assignment.

Persuasive Writing Prompt

A writing prompt that asks for a persuasive response is trying to get the writer to convince the audience of something. In persuasive writing, you’ll need to take a stance or side of an argument and persuade the reader to agree with your position.

How to respond: After considering the topic of the prompt, choose an argument that you can defend with logic and evidence (if possible) and try to convince the reader of your position.

Example prompt: Winston Churchill said, “There is nothing wrong in change, if it is in the right direction. To improve is to change, so to be perfect is to change often.”

- Winston S. Churchill, 23 June 1925, House of Commons

Although Winston Churchill may have made this statement somewhat jokingly, one may easily find support for both change “in the right direction” and change that is destructive. From personal experience or your studies, develop a position regarding one change that is or was viewed differently by different generations.

Steps to Understanding the Prompt

When presented with a writing prompt, you can take a few steps to make sure you fully understand the assignment and can produce the most effective essay or piece of writing. Regardless of the length of the prompt, what type it is, or how detailed it is, you can use this process to get a firm grasp on the meaning of the prompt and what to write in response.

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1. Read and Re-Read the Prompt

Step one may feel like an obvious one, but the importance of reading the prompt well cannot be overstated. It’s also important to not just read it but to read it without focusing on what your response will be just yet. Your agenda in this step is to simply take in the information. Feel free to take notes or underline keywords if you're reading new information (and perhaps even if you're already familiar with it).

Consider reading the prompt several times for a deeper understanding (if time allows).

2. Read the Prompt Critically

Next, take another pass at the prompt, but this time read with a more critical eye. Look for keywords or phrases, and pay close attention to action words—the prompt is ultimately asking you to do something.

Start to look for details and information that you can use in your response. Take notes, circle, or underline anything you might use. This will save you time as you begin writing.

3. Summarize the Prompt in a Sentence

The purpose of step three is twofold: to summarize the prompt by distilling it down to its most important parts (i.e. the part that includes your assignment) and to put it in your own words. Pay attention to keywords and phrases used in the prompt, and be sure to include them in your summary.

Summarizing the prompt will allow you to fully digest the information in the prompt and further cement your understanding by reproducing it.

4. Ask Yourself Questions About the Prompt

It’s time to start thinking about the purpose of the assignment. You can ask yourself these questions to dig into what exactly you need to do next:

Understanding the Prompt: Who Is the Audience for the Essay?

Before you begin to write, you always need to identify your audience. Why? Because your audience should influence how you approach responding to the prompt. In an academic essay, you should always assume your audience is your teacher or whoever has written the essay prompt. Remember to write your essay in a way so that anyone can understand your response.

Understanding the Prompt: What Form of Writing Does it Require?

Do you need to construct an argument or narrate an event? Scan the prompt for clues about what type of response you should write. Sometimes a prompt will tell you precisely what type of essay to write, and other times you are given the freedom to respond as you see fit.

What Is the Purpose of the Prompt?

Look for action words in the prompt such as ‘describe’ or ‘explain’, as these give you a major clue about the purpose of the prompt. These words tell you what to do.

Here are a few keywords and phrases commonly used in writing prompts and their meanings:

Compare - look for similarities between two things (texts, images, etc.).

Contrast - look for differences between two things.

Define - explain what something means and give an official definition .

Illustrate - highlight some detail about the topic of discussion.

To figure out what a prompt is asking you to do, look for action verbs that will help direct the purpose of your response. In addition to those commonly used keywords, you should also pay attention to words that indicate a task or expectation for you, the writer. Here are a few examples:

Incorporate

Be sure you accomplish the action requested in the prompt, using examples and details as necessary.

If you don’t find words like this, think through a possible response and try to identify what type of writing would answer the question posed in the prompt.

Understanding the Prompt: What Information Do I Need to Complete the Task?

Are there any graphs or statistics in the prompt that you might need to reference in your essay? Circle this information so you can easily find it later.

If this prompt is not part of an exam, you may want to research the topic to round out your answer with details and accurate information.

Understanding the Prompt: What Kind of Details or Arguments Does it Suggest?

Look for what information you’re supposed to include in your response. These are specific details the prompt asks you to consider, such as the findings of a study or a fictional character’s personality traits.

Is it possible that these details are enough to support your thesis statement? Could each detail be enough for an entire paragraph in a basic, five-paragraph structured essay? Answering these questions might be a big help as you begin to plan your essay.

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I Understand the Prompt: Now What?

Now that you have come to thoroughly understand the prompt and what it is asking you to do, the next step is to plan an outline.

Even if you are taking an exam and have limited time, you should still devote a few minutes to drafting an outline. An outline is likely to save you time in the long run as it gives your writing direction, and it can keep you from meandering without ever proving your point.

Armed with a firm understanding of the prompt and an outline of how you intend to answer the prompt’s ultimate question, you can now begin to write your amazing essay!

Understanding the Prompt - Key takeaways

A writing prompt is an introduction to a topic as well as instruction on how to write about it.
A prompt is anything meant to engage you with a particular topic and is also meant to challenge your writing skills.
Prompts can be descriptive, narrative, expository, or persuasive (and your writing should reflect the style of the prompt).
Read (and re-read the prompt)
Read the prompt critically
Summarize the prompt in a sentence
Who is the audience?
What form of writing does this require?
What is the purpose of the prompt?
What information do I need to complete the task?
What kind of details or argument does it suggest?

Flashcards in Understanding the Prompt 20

Is there anything in this prompt I can ignore?

False (unless otherwise noted)

Draft an outline

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Frequently Asked Questions about Understanding the Prompt

What does understanding the prompt mean?

Understanding the prompt means having a firm grasp on the topic and how the prompt has asked the writer to engage with or respond to it.

What is an essay prompt?

An essay prompt is an introduction to a topic as well as instruction on how to write about it.

What is a prompt example?

A prompt example would be: Take a position on the value of attempting difficult tasks, particularly when there is the guarantee that you will never achieve perfection. Support your position with personal experiences, observations, readings, and history.

What does prompt mean in writing?

A prompt is anything that encourages you to think about your relation to a topic and engage with it in the form of writing.

How do I write a prompt response?

Write a prompt response by first answering the following questions:

Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards

True or false: If the prompt is for an essay you're writing as part of an exam, you can conduct research for your response.

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IV. Tips for Writing Prompts

Writing prompts: the instructions.

A writing prompt in WRIT will ask you to consider the same set of questions each week. The prompt instructions remind you that there are three very important components that should be included in your response for optimal success. Below are the standard prompt instructions that you’ll see each week in WRIT:

Your Task: compose a critical response essay—including, ideally, an introduction, at least three body paragraphs, and a conclusion—to the text below

Goals: your essay should include the following:

A brief summary of the author’s argument
mostly agree with the author and provide your own persuasive assertions that extend support for the author’s position
mostly disagree with the author and provide your own persuasive assertions that defend your counter-position
Your refutation of at least one objection a reader might have to your argument (or any point therein)

Failing to address each of these goals will significantly reduce your ability to respond appropriately and completely to the prompt. Don’t worry, though! In WRIT, you’ll learn how to respond to each of the requirements listed in the instructions above; it will just take a bit of time and practice.

Prompt Writing Guide

When you study a writing prompt closely and use it as the basis for your outline, you will be better equipped to address the goals of your own response. It’s important to do the following when reading and responding to a prompt:

Putting the Pieces Together Copyright © 2020 by Andrew M. Stracuzzi and André Cormier is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to Write an Effective Essay Prompt

How to Dissect an Essay Writing Prompt

Writing an effective essay prompt requires equal shares of art and science. The prompt must allow room for creative interpretation and analysis. However, the prompt must also provide organization and boundaries for the writers’ responses. Finally, the prompt should provide ample room for post-writing criticism to help students improve their writing.

Writing Prompt Guidelines

1. The prompt should be brief. Wordiness only serves to confuse the writer.

2. The prompt should be focused. A prompt that rambles in an attempt to explain or motivate is counter-productive.

3. The prompt should require only the prior knowledge that has been emphasized in class instruction. Isolate the variables of personal experience to best assess the outcomes of instruction.

4. The prompt should be age appropriate. Know the developmental capabilities and interests of your students and translate these into the writing prompt.

5. The prompt should avoid issues which students or parents would find objectionable. Save the PG-13 issues for older students. Don’t let the subject interfere with the writing task.

6. The prompt should not be so personal that the privacy of the writer is jeopardized. A writing prompt should not inhibit the writer from answering honestly and comfortably.

7. The prompt should not embarrass the gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic background of the writer. Stay sensitive to these variables within your classroom. Words have different meanings according to one’s perspective.

8. The prompt should allow students of varying abilities to respond effectively. An ideal prompt allows all students to experience success in their writing.

9. The prompt should be interesting enough to motivate the writer. A prompt that does not provoke thought will reap a thoughtless response.

10. The prompt should allow “room to breathe” for divergent thinkers. Expect the unexpected in student responses, and design prompts to allow for a variety of responses.

11. The prompt should enable the writer to respond with a thesis that states the purpose of the writing and/or the author’s point of view (claim or argument). If you can’t turn the writing prompt into a thesis statement without effort, your students will never accomplish this task.

12. The prompt should not artificially force the writer into a certain thesis. A one-sided prompt that demands a certain thesis will not produce original thought.

13. The prompt can provide a writing situation to set the writing directions in context. However, the writing situation should not overwhelm or confuse the writing instructions.

14. The prompt should have clear writing instructions. Writers are the best judges as to whether the prompt has clear instructions. Avoid vocabulary and terms that will confuse the students. Don’t use writing direction words, such as “analyze”, if your students do not understand them.

15. The prompt should be one that will afford your writers plenty of evidence with which to prove or elaborate upon their topic sentences. Picking narrow or obscure writing subjects will not allow your writers to weigh easily accessible evidence. They will also be tempted to plagiarize or invent when little evidence is available.

16. The prompt should be able to be boiled down into a question to be answered. That answer will be the thesis statement.

Writing directions words for essays designed to inform the reader…

1. Describe means to show the characteristics of the subject to the reader through visual details.

2. Explain means to make something clear or easy to understand.

3. Discuss means to talk about all sides of the subject.

4. Compare means to show how things are the same, and contrast means to show how things are different. If the writing prompt only mentions compare, you must still do both tasks.

Writing directions words for essays designed to convince the reader…

5. Analyze means to break apart the subject and explain each part.

6. Persuade means to convince the reader of your argument or claim.

7. Justify means to give reasons, based upon established rules, to support your arguments.

8. Evaluate means to make a judgment about the good and bad points of the subject.

TEACHING ESSAYS BUNDLE

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Writing Prompt (Composition)

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms

An Introduction to Punctuation
Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
B.A., English, State University of New York

A writing prompt is a brief passage of text (or sometimes an image) that provides a potential topic idea or starting point for an original essay , report , journal entry , story, poem, or other forms of writing. Writing prompts are commonly used in the essay portions of standardized tests, but they may also be devised by the writers themselves.

A writing prompt, according to Garth Sundem and Kristi Pikiewicz, usually has "two basic components: the prompt itself and directions explaining what the students should do with it." ( Writing in the Content Areas , 2006)

Examples and Observations

"Today is Kiss and Make Up Day, a day to fix relationships that need mending. " Prompt . Have you ever been in an argument with a friend or a member of your family? What was the disagreement over? How did you resolve it?" (Jacqueline Sweeney, Prompt a Day!: 360 Thought-Provoking Writing Prompts Keyed to Every Day of the School Year . Scholastic, 1998)

Elicting Insightful Responses

"Responses to writing prompts are typically more insightful than if a teacher allows students to simply write for a certain amount of time without specifying a topic." (Jacalyn Lund and Deborah Tannehill, Standards-Based Physical Education Curriculum Development , 2nd ed. Jones and Bartlett, 2010)

Touching on Experiences

"Two characteristics of engaging . . . writing prompts are that they touch on experiences accessible to the students, and they allow for multiple ways to write an answer." (Stephen P. Balfour, "Teaching Writing and Assessment Skills." Improving Writing and Thinking Through Assessment , ed. by Teresa L. Flateby. IAP. 2011)

Writing Prompt for 'An Initiation'

"For the first assignment in the course, I'd like you to write a personal narrative that tells us something about who you are or what your interests are. The audience for this paper is the instructor and the class and the purpose is to introduce yourself to us in a way that will help all of us get to know each other. Be sure to include specific details that show rather than tell. Consult your class notes about writing successful narratives. Your narrative should be two to four pages long." (Julie Neff-Lippman in Concepts in Composition: Theory and Practice in the Teaching of Writing , 2nd ed., by Irene L. Clark. Routledge, 2012)

Understanding Writing Prompts

"To help build students' skill in reading and understanding a prompt, you should spend a class period analyzing two prompts by discussing the kinds of questions students need to ask themselves as they plan a writing response. . . . 1. What form of writing is the prompt asking for? 2. What ideas or arguments will the reader expect you to suggest? Would these points be good paragraph topics? 3. What does the prompt expect you to do? 4. Who is the audience for this essay? 5. Write a quick one-sentence answer to each question asked in the prompt. Use these answers to develop your outline and thesis ." (Sydell Rabin, Helping Students Write to a Prompt . Scholastic, 2002)

Responding to Writing Prompts on the SAT

"Topics for writing prompts tend to be broad, open-ended, and adaptable enough for any test-taker to find something to write about. Remember that you will not need any specific subject matter knowledge to answer the question. The excerpt in this sample is a typical example: The role of advertising is to induce people to buy goods and services. Advertising is neither moral nor immoral. It is ethically neutral. The writing prompt will most likely be based on a statement or a quotation . In order to answer the question that follows, you must understand what the excerpt is about. However, if you can't figure out the meaning or aren't sure, don't worry. The test-writers tell you the issue in the assignment. "However, don't ignore the excerpt. You may find some phrases that you can use in your essay. Referring back to the excerpt by paraphrasing it or using some words from it can be an effective technique." (Margaret Moran, Master Writing for the SAT: What You Need for Test Success . Peterson's, 2008)

Expository and Persuasive Writing Prompts

"An expository prompt asks you to define, explain, or tell how to do something. The following is an example of an expository writing prompt. Most people have a favorite season or time of year. Write an essay describing your favorite season. Discuss what makes that season special to you. "A persuasive prompt asks you to convince the reader to accept your opinion or to take a specific action. The following is an example of a persuasive writing prompt. To cut back on expenses, your principal has asked the school board for permission to cancel all field trips for the remainder of the year. Some people think this is a good idea because they consider a field trip a 'vacation' from learning and therefore an unnecessary expense. Write to the school board explaining your position on the issue. Use facts and examples to develop your argument. " (J. Brice and Dana Passananti, OGT Ohio Graduation Test: Reading and Writing . Research & Education Association, 2007)

Photographs as Writing Prompts

"Keep in mind that students from diverse cultures may respond differently or not relate at all to some photos, especially when the photos are of unfamiliar objects, places, or people. As you select photographs to share as prompts for this activity, make sure you introduce them to your students and allow students to ask questions they might have about them. If you find that some students are so puzzled by a photograph that using it as a writing prompt would be counterproductive, then select an alternative photo for students to describe." (David Campos and Kathleen Fad, Tools for Teaching Writing: Strategies and Interventions for Diverse Learners in Grades 3-8 . ASCD, 2014)

Sources of Writing Prompts

"On occasions I invite participants in my [writing] group to open the dictionary to a word, any word, and offer it to the next person as her prompt, and so on, around the room with each writer receiving a different word to write from. And I never read anything without a notebook by my side or sticky notes within reach. You never know when the perfect prompt will appear. . . . "The real world can also be a source for writing prompts. I jot down phrases I hear during the day (a writer always eavesdrops), or something I've seen scrawled on a building ('This Is the Last Time'), or notes from a menu at lunch (juice from the ripest berries). . . . Even directions on a cereal box have served as a writing prompt for my drop-in group ('Slide finger under the flap and loosen gently'). Faulkner said there's a bit of the scavenger in every writer. This is what we do when we're collecting inspiration." (Judy Reeves, Writing Alone, Writing Together: A Guide for Writers and Writing Groups . New World Library, 2002)

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College Essay Prompts: Complete List, Analysis, and Advice

Why Do Colleges Ask For an Essay?

Colleges ask for an essay as part of the application process for several reasons. Firstly, the essay provides an opportunity for applicants to showcase their writing skills, critical thinking abilities, and communication style. It allows admissions officers to assess the applicant's ability to articulate ideas, analyze information, and construct coherent arguments.

Additionally, the essay helps colleges gain insight into the applicant's personality, values, experiences, and aspirations. It offers a more holistic view of the applicant beyond their grades and test scores, allowing the admissions committee to understand their unique qualities and potential contributions to the campus community.

Furthermore, the essay allows colleges to assess an applicant's fit with their institution. By reading the essay, admissions officers can evaluate whether the applicant's interests, goals, and values align with the values and mission of the college. They are looking for students who will thrive academically and personally within their specific campus environment.

Moreover, the essay serves as a tool to differentiate applicants. In a highly competitive admissions process, where many candidates have similar academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and test scores, the essay provides an opportunity for applicants to stand out and leave a lasting impression. A well-written and compelling essay can leave a positive and memorable impact on the admissions committee.

Finally, the essay allows colleges to assess an applicant's writing ability, which is crucial for success in college-level coursework. Strong writing skills are important for academic success, as students are expected to write research papers, essays, and other written assignments throughout their college career.

Overall, colleges ask for an essay to gain a deeper understanding of the applicant, evaluate their fit with the institution, differentiate among candidates, and assess their writing abilities. It is an important component of the application process that allows applicants to showcase their strengths and provide a more comprehensive picture of who they are as individuals.

Complete List of College Essay Prompts

Providing a complete list of college essay prompts is not feasible within the scope of a single response, as the list can vary widely depending on the college or university and the specific application cycle. However, I can provide you with an overview of the types of essay prompts you may encounter during the college application process.

1. Personal Statement: This is a common essay prompt that asks applicants to share their personal experiences, values, aspirations, or significant events that have shaped their lives. It provides an opportunity for applicants to showcase their unique qualities and reflect on their personal growth.

2. Common Application Essay: The Common Application is used by many colleges and universities, and it includes several essay prompts from which applicants can choose. These prompts typically revolve around personal experiences, challenges, achievements, or beliefs.

3. Supplemental Essays: Many colleges require applicants to submit supplemental essays in addition to the main personal statement. These essays are specific to each college and may focus on various topics such as why you are interested in that particular institution, how you will contribute to the campus community, or your academic and career goals.

4. Creative or Reflective Essays: Some colleges may offer more creative or open-ended essay prompts that allow applicants to showcase their writing style, imagination, or critical thinking skills. These prompts may require you to write a short story, respond to a hypothetical situation, or analyze a specific topic from a unique perspective.

5. Academic Essays: Certain colleges or specific programs within colleges may require applicants to submit academic essays related to their intended field of study. These prompts may ask you to discuss your academic interests, research experience, or a specific topic relevant to your chosen major.

6. Social or Ethical Issues: Colleges may include essay prompts that encourage applicants to explore social or ethical issues, such as diversity, social justice, or community service. These prompts assess your awareness of societal challenges and your ability to think critically about them.

7. Personal Background or Identity: Some colleges may ask applicants to write about their cultural or personal background, including their heritage, family, or unique experiences. These prompts allow applicants to share their perspectives and contribute to the diversity of the campus community.

Remember, the essay prompts can vary from year to year, so it is important to refer to the specific application requirements of each college or university to which you are applying. Take the time to carefully read and understand the prompts, brainstorm ideas, and craft your essays to effectively convey your thoughts, experiences, and goals.

Optional Essays

Optional essays, as the name suggests, are additional essay prompts that some colleges and universities offer as part of the application process. These essays are typically separate from the required personal statement or main essay. While they are labeled as "optional," it's important to note that they can still play a significant role in the admissions process and should not be overlooked.

Here are some key points to consider about optional essays:

1. Purpose: Optional essays serve various purposes, depending on the college or university. They may provide an opportunity for you to provide additional information about yourself that you feel is not adequately covered in other parts of your application. They can also allow you to address specific circumstances, such as academic or personal challenges, gaps in your academic record, or significant achievements or experiences.

2. Demonstrating Interest: Some colleges may use optional essays as a way to gauge your level of interest in their institution. By taking the time to complete these essays, you can show your enthusiasm and commitment to attending that particular college, which can be advantageous in the admissions process.

3. Highlighting Strengths: Optional essays can be used to showcase your strengths, talents, or unique qualities that may not be evident in other parts of your application. This is an opportunity to go beyond the basic information and provide deeper insights into your character, interests, or experiences.

4. Addressing Weaknesses: If you have any academic or personal weaknesses that you believe need further explanation, optional essays can be a platform to address these concerns. This could include discussing a dip in grades, explaining a disciplinary action, or elaborating on personal circumstances that may have affected your academic performance.

5. Supplemental Material: In some cases, colleges may allow you to submit supplemental material along with the optional essay. This could include samples of your work, such as an art portfolio, a research paper, or a performance recording. Make sure to review the specific guidelines provided by each college regarding the submission of supplemental material.

6. Writing Style and Tone: When writing optional essays, it is important to maintain a consistent writing style and tone that aligns with the rest of your application. Keep in mind that these essays should still adhere to the principles of strong writing, including clarity, coherence, and relevance.

7. Consideration and Time: While optional essays may require additional effort, it's essential to carefully consider whether or not to complete them. Evaluate whether the essay prompt aligns with your strengths, goals, or experiences, and determine if it provides valuable information that can enhance your application. If you choose to write an optional essay, allocate sufficient time to brainstorm, draft, revise, and edit your response to ensure it meets your standards.

Remember, even though optional essays are not required, they can provide an opportunity to stand out from other applicants and provide a more comprehensive picture of who you are as a candidate. Approach these essays with care, thoughtfulness, and a genuine desire to showcase your strengths and interests.

The 3 Main Types of College Essay Questions

When it comes to college applications, one of the most important components is the college essay. College essay prompts can vary widely across different institutions, but they generally fall into three main types: personal statement prompts, specific prompts, and supplemental prompts. Each type serves a different purpose and requires a unique approach.

1. Personal Statement Prompts: Personal statement prompts are the most common type of college essay question. They typically ask students to reflect on their personal experiences, values, goals, or challenges. These prompts are intentionally broad to allow applicants to showcase their individuality and provide insight into their character. Examples of personal statement prompts include:

- "Share a significant experience or achievement that has had a profound impact on your life."

- "Discuss a time when you faced a challenge or setback and how it affected you."

- "Describe a person who has influenced your life and explain why."

When responding to personal statement prompts, it's important to be authentic and introspective. Reflect on your experiences, values, and aspirations, and use the essay as an opportunity to reveal your personality, growth, and self-awareness.

2. Specific Prompts: Specific prompts are more focused and require applicants to address a specific topic or question. These prompts may be related to a particular academic interest, a field of study, or a specific event or experience. Examples of specific prompts include:

- "Describe how your background or experiences have shaped your interest in engineering."

- "Discuss a book that has had a significant impact on your life and explain why."

- "Describe a time when you collaborated with others to solve a complex problem."

When responding to specific prompts, it's important to demonstrate your knowledge, passion, and engagement with the topic. Draw connections between your experiences and the specific area of interest, and provide concrete examples and evidence to support your ideas.

3. Supplemental Prompts: Supplemental prompts are additional essay questions required by some colleges and universities in addition to the personal statement. These prompts are specific to each institution and may focus on topics such as community, diversity, or a particular aspect of the college's culture. Examples of supplemental prompts include:

- "Why are you interested in attending our college?"

- "Describe how you would contribute to our campus community."

- "Discuss a time when you had to navigate cultural differences or challenges."

When responding to supplemental prompts, it's important to research the college or university and tailor your response to reflect your knowledge of the institution's values, mission, and resources. Highlight specific aspects of the college that align with your interests and goals, and showcase how you can contribute to the campus community.

Regardless of the type of essay prompt, it's crucial to approach your response with thoughtfulness and clarity. Take the time to brainstorm, outline, and revise your essay, ensuring that your ideas are well-organized and effectively communicated. Additionally, pay attention to word limits and any specific guidelines provided by the college or university.

Ultimately, the goal of college essays is to provide admissions officers with a deeper understanding of who you are as a person and how you will contribute to their campus community. By carefully considering and responding to the three main types of essay questions, you can create a compelling and authentic essay that helps you stand out among other applicants.

How to Plan Your College Essay Writing

Planning your college essay writing is a crucial step in the process of crafting a compelling and well-structured essay. By taking the time to plan and organize your thoughts, you can ensure that your essay effectively communicates your ideas and presents a cohesive narrative. Here are some key steps to help you plan your college essay writing:

1. Understand the Essay Prompt: Begin by carefully reading and understanding the essay prompt. Highlight key instructions, requirements, and themes. Make sure you have a clear understanding of what the prompt is asking and the specific focus or angle you should take in your response.

2. Brainstorm Ideas: Once you understand the prompt, start brainstorming ideas and potential topics. Reflect on your personal experiences, achievements, challenges, and values. Consider how these aspects of your life align with the prompt and which ones you want to highlight in your essay. Jot down any ideas that come to mind, and don't worry about organizing them at this stage.

3. Create an Outline: With your ideas in mind, create an outline for your essay. An outline provides a structure and roadmap for your writing, helping you organize your thoughts and ensure a logical flow. Start with an introduction that grabs the reader's attention and clearly states your thesis or main idea. Then, outline the main points or arguments you want to make in the body paragraphs, ensuring each point supports your thesis. Finally, plan a conclusion that summarizes your main points and leaves a lasting impression.

4. Organize Your Ideas: Once you have an outline, organize your ideas and evidence within each section. Consider the most effective order for presenting your points and supporting evidence. Ensure a smooth transition between paragraphs and use topic sentences to introduce each new idea. This organization will help the reader follow your thoughts and create a coherent and persuasive essay.

5. Develop a Writing Schedule: Set aside dedicated time for writing your essay. Create a schedule that works for you, allowing enough time for brainstorming, drafting, revising, and editing. Break down the writing process into manageable tasks and set deadlines for each stage. Adhering to a schedule will help you stay focused and ensure you have ample time to refine your essay.

6. Write a Strong Introduction: Start your essay with a compelling introduction that hooks the reader and sets the tone for the rest of the essay. Consider using an engaging anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a captivating quote to grab attention. Clearly state your thesis or main idea, providing a preview of what the reader can expect from your essay.

7. Develop Coherent Body Paragraphs: Each body paragraph should focus on a specific point or argument that supports your thesis. Start with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. Then, provide evidence, examples, or personal experiences to support your point. Make sure there is a logical progression from one paragraph to the next, ensuring a cohesive and well-structured essay.

8. Craft a Compelling Conclusion: End your essay with a strong conclusion that reinforces your main points and leaves a lasting impression. Summarize your key arguments and provide a sense of closure. Consider ending with a thought-provoking statement, a call to action, or a reflection on the broader significance of your essay's topic.

9. Revise and Edit: After completing your first draft, take the time to revise and edit your essay. Review your essay for clarity, coherence, grammar, and spelling errors. Ensure that your ideas are effectively communicated and that your essay flows smoothly. Consider seeking feedback from trusted mentors, teachers, or peers to gain additional perspectives and make further improvements.

10. Proofread: Before submitting your essay, thoroughly proofread it for any typos, grammatical errors, or inconsistencies. Pay attention to formatting guidelines and ensure your essay is within the specified word limit. Take the time to make any necessary revisions and polish your essay to make it the best possible version.

By following these steps and planning your college essay writing process, you can effectively organize your thoughts, develop a strong essay structure, and create a compelling and impactful essay that stands out to college admissions officers. Remember to allow yourself enough time to brainstorm, draft, revise, and edit, as the planning stage is crucial for producing a high-quality essay.

Conclusion

Planning your college essay writing is an essential step that can significantly enhance the quality and effectiveness of your essay. By understanding the essay prompt, brainstorming ideas, creating an outline, organizing your thoughts, and developing a writing schedule, you can approach your essay with clarity and purpose. Additionally, focusing on writing a strong introduction, coherent body paragraphs, and a compelling conclusion will further strengthen your essay's impact. Remember to revise, edit, and proofread your essay to ensure it is polished and error-free. By investing time in the planning process, you can craft a well-structured and persuasive college essay that showcases your unique qualities and captures the attention of college admissions officers.

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What Is a Writing Prompt and What Types There Are?

June 2, 2022

What Is An Essay Prompt?

Understanding writing prompts, types of writing prompts, how to write a prompt, how to respond to essay writing prompts for beginners, key takeaways.

Do you love writing but sometimes feel stuck or uninspired? Are you looking for a way to jumpstart your creative process ? If so, writing prompts may be just what you need. But what is a writing prompt and what is its role in writing?

In this article, we will discuss the definition of a writing prompt, explore different types of prompts, and learn how to write one yourself.

What Is a Writing Prompt?

A writing prompt is a sentence, paragraph, or (rarer) an image that provides inspiration and guidance for creative writing . It may be used as a possible topic or starting point for an original essay, report, journal entry, story, poem, etc. A writing prompt’s main aim is to test a writer’s analytical capabilities, writing skills, and ability to express their point of view.

Writing prompts for students have long been used in the classroom to encourage student attention and develop their capacity to focus on a certain subject, idea, or concept. They also give students the chance to express their own opinions on a certain topic. Prompts stimulate students’ critical thinking and offer them an opportunity to construct a well-reasoned, structured argument in response to another writer’s viewpoint.

An essay prompt is a subtype of the writing prompt. Essay prompts are generally made up of 1 to 3 sentences that provide some context about the subject, followed by a question that asks students to write about a certain topic in the form of an essay .

The goal is to get students to respond with an essay focusing on a statement or issue in order to assess their writing, reasoning, and analytical abilities.

Analyzing your writing prompt is easier if you highlight the important words while reading it . Here are some of the words you should watch out for:

Argue – requires you to present facts that support your opinion
Compare – determine the similarities and differences between two or more concepts
Define – provide a definition of a specific concept or subject
Discuss – explain various aspects of a subject or problem and reach a conclusion
Describe – give a detailed description of an event or a particular person, place, or thing

Prompts can help improve your writing skills by providing practice in brainstorming, planning, drafting, revising, and editing . Daily writing prompts can also help you practice and develop your understanding of grammar when learning a new language .

Following are the most common types of writing prompts that students come across as a part of their degrees or continuing education programs:

Descriptive

Descriptive prompts frequently include cue terms such as “describe in detail,” “describe how something looked/felt/smelled/tasted,” and so on. In this type of writing, the reader should be able to experience what you’re writing about. Descriptive writing exercises frequently request writers to provide details that will help the reader construct a vivid picture by including sensory elements , such as sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.

Expository/Informative

Expository writing prompts are a good writing practice for teens and college students. Expository prompts typically ask the writer to describe, compare and contrast, discuss pros and cons, or define something .

Expository writing has a particular purpose and audience in mind; as a result, the style and voice must correspond to the set subject and audience. The following words are used as cues to elicit expository answers: why, how, what, and explain.

The act of writing a narrative is the process of recording and telling events from one’s personal or fictional experience . Identifying what a narrative writing prompt look like is easy when you know what to look for. These prompts call for insight, creativity, drama, suspense, humor, and/or fantasy, and often contain the term “tell about…,” “write a story,” or “describe”.

Writers should use real or invented experiences when responding to narrative prompts. They should also incorporate dialogue, sensory elements, and sensible sequences into their response.

In this sort of prompt, the writers are expected to express their viewpoint on a certain subject, followed by logical reasoning and facts . This can either be a controversial issue or something light-hearted and fun. No matter what the topic is, if you’re wondering how to start a writing prompt like this, just make sure you’re clear and concise so that the reader knows exactly what is being discussed.

Persuasive prompts are writing prompts that require the writer to convince or persuade the reader to agree with a certain point of view . These types of prompts typically use cue words such as “convince,” “persuade,” and “why” rather than “how.”

To write a persuasive prompt, it is important to first brainstorm ideas and then narrow down your focus to come up with a creative and unique prompt. Remember to consider your audience when writing persuasive prompts.

The research approach to daily writing prompts encourages writers to look for information on a given topic using books, internet resources, films, etc . Such a writing assignment asks students to look up all the details and provide the resources as well, sometimes in the form of a bibliography .

When you start writing, no matter the type and form of the written piece, it’s important to consider your audience and purpose. When you’re responding to a written prompt that lists children as your target audience, for example, you’ll need to use age-appropriate language and focus on the topics that are interesting for the particular age group . Apart from the audience, you need to pay attention to the following factors, as well:

Prompt Construction

Breaking down the writing prompt into three parts is another useful approach for better conveying the task’s meaning:

the first part introduces the subject
the second part encourages writers to think about it, perhaps with a brainstorming pre-writing exercise
the third portion explains what needs to be written

In order to avoid confusion, writing prompts should be brief and focused . The instructor must make sure that the students are provided with sufficient information in order for them to understand the writing assignment completely.

The components of the prompt can be repeated, but using parallel wording will help writers stay focused on the specific writing task.

Bias and Sensitivity

The topics of your creative writing prompts should be inclusive and fair to all potential writers . The prompts should be written in a way that allows writers to easily comprehend them, regardless of their cultural background or other variables. It’s important to avoid cultural, ethnic, gender, or any other form of bias when developing prompts.

After you’ve examined your prompt, it’s time to get creative and prepare for your essay writing:

First, make a thesis statement to address the main issue . Your thesis statement should be the focal point of your whole essay and should reflect your stance on the issue.
When responding to writing prompts for beginners, write simple topic sentences that cover all the criteria. Add any facts, elaborations, or evidence you need to back up your viewpoint.
After you’ve finished, you may add more facts and smooth transitions between each phrase and paragraph . Make sure to include an eye-catching opening line in your first paragraph, as well as a conclusion that summarizes your ideas and thesis statement.

Creative writing prompts usually come in the form of a sentence or paragraph that provides inspiration and guidance for writing.

Essay prompts are a writing prompt subtype that asks the writer to respond in the form of an essay.

The most common types of writing prompts are descriptive, informative, narrative, opinion, persuasive, and research prompts.

When responding to a writing prompt, you need to pay attention to repetition, prompt construction, brevity, bias, and sensitivity.

All in all, understanding what is a prompt in writing and how to respond to one is a key skill for all writers. By taking the time to analyze the prompt and brainstorm ideas, you’ll make sure that your written piece is clear, concise, and on-topic. Practicing with different types of prompts will help you hone your skills and become a more confident writer.

The three parts of a writing prompt are the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. The introduction sets the tone for the rest of the piece, the body provides support for the thesis, and the conclusion ties everything together and leaves readers with a final thought or impression.

Most writing prompts consist of the following six parts: articulation of purpose, a summary of the assignment, logistics, paper’s key components, framing questions, and evaluation criteria.

What is a writing prompt supposed to be like in order to both challenge a writer and let them showcase their writing skills? It must be clear and concise, and possible to answer in a short amount of time. It should also be open-ended enough to allow for creative interpretation, not requiring prior knowledge in order to be answered.

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Natalie Davis ’26 awarded with runner-up honors in ASIANetwork’s nationwide essay contest.

Expansive transformation of Mabee Commons honored for outstanding renovation project in national competition.

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The Southwestern community will have exclusive access to expanded job resources through Indeed, the world’s #1 job site.

Relive moments from the commencement ceremony for the Southwestern University Class of 2024.

Effective Writing Assignments

Six parts of an effective prompt.

One of the most common challenges in designing a prompt is determining how much information to include. We recommend that you limit the information provided on the prompt to the unique requirements for this assignment and that you provide students with writing guides distinct from the prompt that outline your expectations for different types of assignments and different disciplines.

Of course, the following is just one model for arranging a prompt. We encourage you to adapt it as you see fit to best provide your students with the guidance that will help them produce the kinds of papers you want to read.

1. Articulation of purpose

This section explains the significance of the assignment itself by explaining what skills students will display in their writing and why they are important.

This section may also identify the audience of the assignment. If the assignment has real-world applications (for example, if students are asked to construct a business memo), this section may present students with a scenario that their writing will address.

De Paul Teaching Commons identifies nine of the most common purposes for writing, including encouraging students to engage course material, to develop scholarly skills, and to bridge academic and real world understanding. On their site, they include a helpful chart that breaks each of these purposes into smaller goals and suggests which types of writing assignments engage each.

Below is a sample articulation of purpose. You can find the full prompt from which this example is drawn here .

2. Summary of assignment

Essentially, this is the “thesis statement” of the prompt. Assignment summaries tend to work best when limited to a few sentences in which you provide students with the genre of the assignment, the most important components of the assignment, and the audience for their paper.

You can find the full prompt from which this example is drawn here .

3. Logistics

This section provides students with the basic information about your requirements, including the specific length, the due date, the method of submission, formatting requirements, and citation style.

You can find the full prompt from which this example is drawn here .

4. Key components of the paper or important sections

This is a where you might provide a brief synopsis of the genre , or type of assignment,in which students are writing and address the types and number of sources they should use . You might also use this space to refer students to a writing guide.

5. Framing questions

This section is designed to provide students with further guidance . Depending on the type of assignment, you might include either an overview of important sections or framing questions or both. The length of this section will depend on the degree to which you expect students to develop their own framing questions.

6. Evaluation criteria

This section could refer back to your rubric , but it’s also a good idea to include those general categories on your prompt as well. Precise language is particularly helpful in this section. For examples of alternatives to criteria like “assignment is well-written,” you may want to check out our examples of precise language .

Bonus: References to Resources, Tips for Approaching the Project, Common Missteps & Models

References to resources.

As its name suggests, this section directs students to resources that will help them with their assignment. You might include links to websites or information about library resources available to them, suggestions for visiting the DEWC or departmental tutors, or other useful information.

Tips for Approaching the Project

Perhaps you want students to write their papers in a particular order or take notes in a certain way. By separating that information from the rest of the prompt, you can offer them with an easy way to reference your suggestions.

Common Errors

This can be a particularly helpful section to include – if students in your Business Writing class often lapse into poetic language or students in your Art History class tend to want to make value judgments about the works they’re analyzing, you can warn them off here.

Reproductions

We recommend providing models for writing in your class throughout the semester. Providing a model of an exemplary paper for students when you distribute the prompt can go a long way toward producing the kind of papers you want to be grading.

Better Assignments. Writing Center. Yale College. 2014. Web. 1 June 2014.

Boye, Allison. How Do I Create Meaningful and Effective Assignments? Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center. Texas Tech University. 2014. 1 June 2014.

Brewster, Glen et al. Formal Biology Lab Reports. Writer’s Guide. Westfield State College. Web. 1 June 2014.

Creating Effective Assignments. Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. University of New Hampshire. 2004. Web. 1 June 2014.

Gardner, Traci. Ten Tips for Designing Writing Assignments. Pedablogical. 2001. Web. 1 June 2014.

Gately, Maeve. Writing an Art History Paper. Writing Resources. Hamilton College Writing Center. 2014. Web. 1 June 2014.

Guidelines for Analysis of Art . Department of Art. University of Arkansas at Little Rock. n.d. Web. 1 June 2014.

Jehn, Tom, and Jane Rosenweig. Writing in the Disciplines: Advice and Models: Supplement to accompany Diana Hacker’s A Writer’s Reference, Sixth Edition. Boston: Bedford St. Martin’s. 2007.

Matching Learning Goals to Assignment Types. De Paul Teaching Commons. DePaul University. n.d. Web. 1 June 2014.

Pop, Andrei. How to Do Things with Pictures: A Guide for Writing in Art History. Disciplinary Writing Guides. Harvard Writing Project. 2008. Web. 1 June 2014.

Writing Assignments . Center for Teaching and Learning. Hobart and William Smith Colleges. 2014. Web. 1 June 2014.

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Extracurriculars.

The 4 Main College Essay Prompts You Need to Know

When you start applying to colleges, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the different essay topics you have to write. Each college you apply to is likely to have anywhere from one to three supplementary prompts, and each one is going to be different. Or is it?

We at CollegeVine have analyzed the vast majority of college essay prompts to help students receive the guidance they need to succeed in the college admissions process. We’ve noticed that most of the prompts that fall under one of the following archetypes:

Academic Interests
Culture, Values, and Diversity
Extracurricular Interests
Impact on Community

If you know what the different prompt archetypes are and craft a winning college essay for each one, you’ll find yourself being able to reuse your essays for various prompts, with some tweaks of course. Keep reading to learn all about these prompt archetypes, some examples of these archetypes in real college essay prompts, and a detailed walk-through of how you should approach your essays.

Prompt Archetype 1: The Academic Interest Essay

The Academic Interest essay prompt is the one where the Admissions Committee seeks to learn more about your intellectual passions, deciphering what areas of academia most fascinate you and why. You are also going to have to explain why you chose the intended major that you did.

Here are some examples of actual colleges that have used Academic Interest Prompts:

1. Bucknell University: Please explain your interest in your first-choice major/undecided status and your second-choice major, should you opt to list one.

2. Trevecca Nazarene University: Explain how you anticipate your education at Trevecca Nazarene University will prepare you for your future career and help you to fulfill your goals and aspirations.

When planning out this essay, you need to think hard about why you chose your intended major in the first place. Don’t list superficial reasons like money or prestige. Think of some specific things that you like about the major and your best experiences with the subject inside and outside of the classroom. Also think about how you would describe your feelings and your state of mind when you’re exploring this field of study. Why is it so appealing that you want to immerse yourself in it for four years? The more specific you can be, the better.

Once you’ve thought about the things above, you’re ready to put together your essay. A good answer to an Academic Interest prompt will explain why you’re interested in the major, give specific examples both inside and outside the classroom of your positive experience with the subject, and reflect further on those experiences if you have the word count.

Once you have that general essay written, you can edit it to conform to the specific prompt you’re dealing with. For example, if the prompt asks you to explain why you want to study that major in that college specifically, you’ll need to add in some thematic elements of that university’s take on the major that you find interesting. You should also do some research and find a specific class or program that you are excited to be a part of, along with any related extracurriculars that the university offers that you find fascinating.

If you’re an undecided major, this essay is definitely still within your reach. Even if you’re not sure what major you may want to study, you can discuss the kind of intellectual pursuits that are meaningful to you, and point to the reasons you want to take some time to explore many interests. For more tips, see our post on how to write the “Why this major?” essay if you’re undecided .

Here’s an example of an effective essay with a maximum word count of only 150:

The student briefly explains his background, what inspired his love of science, and why Brown is the best place for him to explore that interest. Academic Interest Essays should not only explore your interest in the subject, but also why the school in question would best help you achieve your academic goals.

Since the word count was small, there’s less of an opportunity to bring readers to a specific moment, and to show us his thoughts and emotions in that moment. If your essay as a higher word count, you might consider zooming in on some important experiences with your academic interest, and showing us your passion through storytelling, rather than simply describing it.

For more tips on writing this essay, see our complete guide to the “Why this major?” essay , including a real sample essay.

Prompt Archetype 2: Culture, Values, and Diversity Prompts

Many colleges give prompts that ask you to talk about your background, culture, and the communities that have shaped you. Sometimes, they will add in a special component to the prompt that asks you to discuss how you would bring diversity to the campus.

Let’s make this description more concrete with some real examples of Culture, Values, and Diversity Prompts:

1. Rice University: The quality of Rice’s academic life and the Residential College System are heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What personal perspectives would you contribute to life at Rice?

2. University of Mount Union: What values do you cherish the most and how have you demonstrated them through the choices that you have made?

When you’re trying to answer prompts like these, you need to first choose a specific community that you belong to, or a background that you have that has impacted your development. This could obviously be an ethnic, gender, or racial background, but it could also be a community based on experiences that are unique to you. For example, you could be in a community of people who grew up in a low income bracket or had a certain illness. As a general rule, you should pick a community or identity that is significant to you; if extracurricular-related, that identity should take up at least 3-4 of the 10 activities on your Common App list.

Once you’ve narrowed down the part of your background that you are going to talk about, start asking yourself deeper questions about your experiences growing up in that community. What is the strongest emotion you feel about your background? Have your emotions about your background changed over time, or do you have any strong negative emotions towards your background? Have you developed any skills or talents as a result of your background? What challenges have you faced as a result of this community membership? Through these questions, you should be able to outline three formative experiences you had as a result of your upbringing.

With these things in mind, you can start crafting your essay. A good essay in this category will discuss your current emotions about your background or membership in a community and how those emotions evolved over time. To support, you should try to weave in 2-3 anecdotes (more or fewer based on word count) throughout the essay and discuss the evolution of your emotions.

Here’s an example of a student who grew up with a bipolar sister, and how that impacted his perspective:

This curve has existed, or at least has manifested itself, for the past six years. It takes every ounce of my compassion to watch my sister struggle, knowing I can do nothing to help her. I choose my words delicately around her, screening out comments that could trigger a swing. When we were kids, the disorder was more dormant and we had a typical sibling relationship. We bickered over which type of cereal to buy or which seat at the dinner table was ours. We shared secrets and jokes under the covers and hummed our favorite songs. Now we hardly exchange text messages over the course of months at a time. She has become completely withdrawn to the point that I don’t even know her anymore.

I try to push aside my inherent desire to understand and categorize her volatility because I know that this is not what is needed. Instead, I do my best to love her and let her know that I will always be there as a pillar for her, and my parents, to rely on. I am stability, and that is how I must stay.

The author effectively uses the sine curve metaphor to illustrate the ups and downs his sister experiences, and that he and his family experience as a result. He shows us the evolution of their relationship by comparing his fond memories to his current lack of contact with his sister. Rather than try to analyze and judge his sister’s behavior, the author chooses to be as supportive as possible. He shows us through this essay that he can remain stable in volatile and emotional situations, and understands how to support those touched by mental health disorders.

For more tips, see our post on how to write the Diversity college essay .

Prompt Archetype 3: Extracurricular Interest Prompts

This prompt archetype is all about your extracurriculars, the activities you participated in outside of the classroom. You’ll have ample opportunity to discuss your extracurricular achievements in the resume portion of your college application, but these essay prompts ask you to go in much more detail about one specific activity that really stood out.

Here are some actual college essay prompts that fit into this prompt archetype:

1. Davidson College: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.

2. Stanford: Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.

The activity you choose to write about should usually stand out to you rather quickly. Choose activities you’re most committed to, not those you think would look good on a resume. Choose the one that you’re most passionate about. Just try to avoid writing about the same activity twice; if you wrote about something already in your Common App essay, or another supplement the school will see, pick another activity.

Once you’ve chosen an activity, think about what the activity means to you, and how that may have changed over time. Further think about how you feel and what goes through your mind when you participate in this activity. Has this activity shaped your personality in any way? Have you developed any specific skills as a result of this activity? How does this activity affect the rest of your life?

Now, when you’re writing your Extracurricular Interest essay, make sure that you are not simply listing your achievements in an activity. That’s what the activities section is for! Focus on one of two things: your emotions and state of mind while you do this extracurricular, or how that activity helped you develop as a person. Most of these prompts are shorter, so you will need to be very precise in your language and make sure you’re communicating a reflective tone that shows admissions committees your emotions and personality.

This author’s writing style is endearingly flippant, and the analogy comes full circle. The author shares her sense of humor, her passion for journalism, and her ability to work in a team and manage her time. This is an example of a strong and creative extracurricular interest essay that doesn’t dramatize the moment of the activity, which is a common trope.

For more tips on writing this essay, see our complete guide to the Extracurricular Activity essay , including a real sample essay.

Prompt Archetype 4: Impact on Community Prompts

Colleges love to see students who have given back to their community in some way. Such activities illuminate a student’s interests, passions, and skill set. So, it’s not surprising that some colleges like to have an entire essay prompt devoted to your impact on your community.

Such prompts often look like the following:

1. Texas A&M University: Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.

2. Barnard College: Barnard women seek to make a difference in their community, whether through the residence hall, classes, clubs, volunteer work, or a part-time job they hold. Describe how you make a difference in your community and what you have learned from that experience. In what ways do you see yourself contributing to the community at Barnard, inside or outside the classroom?

Some students have more impactful community service stories than others. The best case scenario is if you have had a deep involvement in some sort of community service activity for years or have worked on a project of activism. If the answer is yes, treat this prompt more or less like an extracurricular essay topic and delve into that commitment.

If the answer is no, no worries. Perhaps you can think of a situation or event where you showed true altruism, kindness, activism, social change, social justice, generosity, or selflessness. These can’t be too short, e.g. helping a lady cross the street. It also shouldn’t be too self-serving, like participating in Habitat for Humanity for a week. Genuine commitments tend to be long-standing and really reflect your values.

If you can’t think of an activity that showed any of the above traits, you should focus on any experiences that made a social impact. For example, if you do data entry for medical research, that has a positive social impact, albeit indirect.

Once you’ve picked your community service story, go into detail about what happened and what motivated you to participate in this endeavor. Be ready to discuss a positive outcome that came from your involvement in this activity; this can be as tangible as a policy goal or as intangible as providing comfort to people.

Every year, my community hosts Partnership Walk, a campaign spearheaded by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) that aims to alleviate global poverty. During this event, I work with the Youth Ambassadors organization to deliver presentations on AKF’s efforts in Africa and Asia. The Foundation assists the underprivileged in numerous ways, but social sustainability is the area that has always appealed to me the most. At the AKF, this field involves challenging perceptions and attitudes about sustainable initiatives in order to spark social action. Ever since my presentation on social sustainability, I knew that my seva will thrive in this field.

I was fortunate to intern for the University of North Texas Office of Sustainability, where I initiated my own project called Green in Grid Out. This project challenges students to remove their cell phones and laptops from the grid and subscribe to bike energy stations instead. I aim to change the way students perceive energy as a commodity rather than a resource to take for granted. In the future, I hope to give back to my community by devoting my seva to social sustainability.

This student ties together two different community efforts with the concept of seva . She effectively conveys her dedication to social sustainability in these three paragraphs, though the second paragraph reads a little vague. It leaves us with questions as to how exactly AFK works–to whom is she giving presentations? What sort of initiatives does AFK lead? This paragraph and overall essay would’ve been much stronger had she been more specific, and focused more on her role; the part she plays is really mentioned only in passing.

The final paragraph is much clearer, and explains the exact project and mission. This is the kind of specificity that would’ve strengthened the second paragraph and overall essay.

Final Thoughts

We at CollegeVine hope that these archetypes can help you organize and understand the essay prompts that are likely coming your way. If you’re applying via the Common Application, you’ll also need to write a Common App essay. The Common App’s broad, personal prompts might seem daunting, but CollegeVine’s essay experts have compiled an extensive and comprehensive post to walk you through the optimal strategy to approach these essays.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

How to Answer a Writing Prompt

Last Updated: April 11, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Megan Morgan, PhD . Megan Morgan is a Graduate Program Academic Advisor in the School of Public & International Affairs at the University of Georgia. She earned her PhD in English from the University of Georgia in 2015. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 241,758 times.

Students of all kinds, from elementary school 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 see.

Answering Expository (Informative) Prompts

Other words that signal an expository writing assignment include "summarize," "clarify," or "tell about."
For example, "Explain camping to a person who has never camped before" is an example of an expository prompt. So is "Describe how communication has changed in the last 20 years."

For example, for "Explain camping to a person who has never camped before," you could take several approaches. You could explain reasons why people might want to go camping, or you could explain how to set up a campsite. You might even want to try both approaches in your essay.

Strong expository essays have a theme or center of gravity that organizes them. For example, for "Describe how communication has changed in the last 20 years" you might want to focus your essay on how teens use communication differently, or the impact of communication changes on daily life.
An expository thesis statement does not have to present an opinion or even make an argument. It should be based on the facts you will examine. For example, "Over the past 20 years, communication has changed significantly. It is now affordable to stay in touch with people all over the world, easier to connect with people from different places and cultures, and keep others updated with even your minor doings."

Step 4 Think of strong topic sentences that support your thesis statement.

For example, if you were writing an essay explaining camping, you might have the following topic sentences for your paragraphs: 1) "There are many reasons why people might want to go camping." (Paragraph about reasons to go camping.) 2) "You must consider several things when choosing a campsite." (Choosing a campsite paragraph.) 3) "Finally, you must set up your campsite." (Paragraph about setting up camp.)

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

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

For example, if you are explaining camping, you could conclude by saying something like, "Although some people who live in cities have never been camping before, it is actually fun and easy. Next time you're considering a vacation, why not consider camping?"

Answering Narrative Prompts

For example, a narrative prompt might look like this: "Talk about a time when you experienced friendship" or "Describe a moment when you showed courage."

Step 2 Write a story about something that happened to you.

Write in first person. Tell the story as yourself, using "I" and "me."

Step 3 Begin with an introduction that tells the reader that you will tell a story.

A narrative thesis statement may offer the lesson you learned or talk about the impact of the moment on your life, such as "The most memorable moment in which I showed courage happened in seventh grade." It could also identify a theme that connects your story to a greater theme, such as "Most people do not know how courageous they can be until they're faced with danger. This was true for me, too."

Step 4 Write a narrative essay more loosely than you would other types of essays.

You may want to structure your essay chronologically to show the development of the lesson over time. This is usually the clearest way to structure your essay. Use words such as "then," "next," and "finally" to show your progress.

Step 5 End the essay by telling the reader what you learned from the experience.

Answering Persuasive Prompts

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

Step 2 Decide which arguments will work best on the reader.

Cause and effect are a common persuasive thesis. For example, "Giving underprivileged students free school lunches raises their performance and makes the whole school better" is a cause and effect argument.
Value is another common tactic. This type of argument emphasizes the importance of something. For example, "Allowing global warming to continue will destroy habitats for animals such as polar bears and penguins. We cannot allow our world to lose this rich wildlife."

Step 3 Identify what your reader's most likely objection or argument might be and how you can refute it.

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

Step 4 Write an introductory paragraph in which you give background on the issue.

For example, if you are writing about the necessity of stopping global warming, you will need to identify what scientists believe are the main causes of it. End with your thesis that states that although it will be difficult to stop global warming, we cannot afford to lose the rich wildlife that global warming is destroying.

Most persuasive essays will include at least 3 body paragraphs.

Step 6 Include a paragraph in which you state the most likely argument or objection of your reader, and then refute it.

Community Q&A

↑ https://opentextbc.ca/writingforsuccess/chapter/chapter-4-what-are-you-writing-to-whom-and-how-2/
↑ https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/how-to-write-an-essay/essay-introduction
↑ https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/how-to-write-an-essay/body
↑ https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/how-to-write-an-essay/conclusion
↑ https://k12.thoughtfullearning.com/teachersguide/writers-express/22-responding-narrative-prompts
↑ https://k12.thoughtfullearning.com/teachersguide/writers-express/30-responding-persuasive-prompts
↑ https://k12.thoughtfullearning.com/teachersguide/write-ahead-teachers-guide-table-contents/26-other-argument-forms#223

About This Article

A writing prompt gives you a basis for an essay or creative writing piece. Look out for keywords like “tell,” “time,” or “event” which mean that you need to write a story. For example, “Talk about a time when you experienced friendship” is a prompt for a creative writing piece or personal narrative. Write a story in first person about the topic in the prompt. Use description, metaphors, anecdotes, and dialogue to help tell your story. End the story by telling the reader what you learned from the experience. For more tips from our English co-author, including how to answer informative and persuasive writing prompts, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Essays and Short Answer Prompts

The Penn application process includes a personal essay —which is sent to most schools you apply to—as well as a few short answer prompts . We read your words carefully, as they are yet another window into how you think, what you value, and how you see the world. Through your writing, we get a glimpse of what you might bring to our community—including your voice and creativity.

Remember, you are the expert on your story. This is an opportunity for you to reflect and understand who you are now, and who you want to be in the future. You have the agency to choose the information you want to share. This is your story: your experiences, your ideas, your perspective. 

A Few Writing Tips

Review the prompts thoroughly.  Be sure you’re answering the question or prompt being asked. Topics are chosen because the Admissions Committee wants to know specific things about you. If you don’t address them directly, we are left to make decisions regarding your application with incomplete information.
Consider your response carefully.  We understand that you may be writing responses for different schools and you may want to reuse material, but be sure to read through your response to make sure it is relevant to the prompt.
Double-check your writing.  Give yourself time to revisit your response. Try to avoid rushing your writing process so you have time to revise your work. Ultimately, it is up to you to polish and proofread your writing before you submit.
Do your research. Are there classes you’re eager to take? Research opportunities you’d love to pursue? A group or club you want to be a part of? This kind of specificity shows us you’re serious about Penn and have thought about how you’d spend your time here.

2023-24 Short Answer and Essay Prompts

When answering these prompts, be precise when explaining both why you are applying to Penn and why you have chosen to apply to that specific undergraduate school. Some of our specialized programs will have additional essays to complete, but the  Penn short answer prompts should address your single-degree or single-school choice.

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words, not required for transfer applicants)
How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)
The school-specific prompt is unique to the school to which you are applying. (For example, all applicants applying to the College of Arts and Sciences will respond to the prompt under the “College of Arts and Sciences” section). Considering the undergraduate school you have selected for your single-degree option, please respond to your school-specific prompt below.

Transfer Essay (required for all transfer applicants): Please explain your reasons for transferring from your current institution and what you hope to gain by transferring to another institution. (4150 characters)

Undergraduate School-Specific Short Answer Prompts

For students applying to coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please answer this question about your single-degree school choice; your interest in the coordinated dual-degree or specialized program may be addressed through the program-specific essay.

Penn Nursing intends to meet the health needs of society in a global and multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare by advancing science and promoting equity. What do you think this means for the future of nursing, and how do you see yourself contributing to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare? (150-200 words)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about  Penn Nursing’s mission and how we promote equity in healthcare . This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of our values and how they align with your own goals and aspirations.

The flexible structure of The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences? (150-200 words)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about the  academic offerings within the College of Arts and Sciences .  This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of how the study of the liberal arts aligns with your own goals and aspirations.

Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues.  Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a Wharton education would help you to explore it.  (150-200 words)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about  the foundations of a Wharton education . This information will help you better understand what you could learn by studying at Wharton and what you could do afterward.

Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology, by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics, exploration in the liberal arts, and depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. Please share how you hope to explore your engineering interests at Penn. (150-200 words)

To help inform your response, applicants are encouraged to learn more about  Penn Engineering and its mission to prepare students for global leadership in technology . This information will help you develop a stronger understanding of academic pathways within Penn Engineering and how they align with your goals and interests.

Coordinated Dual Degree and Specialized Program Essay Prompts

For students applying to coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please answer the program-specific essay below.

** Numbers marked with double asterisks indicate a character count that only applies to transfer students applying through Common App.

Why are you interested in the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania? (400-650 words / 3575 characters**)

We encourage you to learn more about the DMD: Digital Media Design Program .

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What does it mean to be 'Taiwanese'?

Lauren Funston

In May and June of 2023, I had the opportunity to travel to Taiwan through a CU Boulder Global Seminar program. The program was generously funded by the Tang Foundation. The seminar, titled “Memory Politics in Taiwan”, explored how the built environment in Taiwan creates and sustains narratives surrounding Taiwan’s history and continues to shape Taiwanese identity and politics. At the end of the course, we were asked to compile a photo essay answering the question “What does it mean to be ‘Taiwanese’?” The following is my response to that prompt, accompanied by images taken during our three-week journey.

TaiwanPhotoEssay

More information about the publishing system, Platform and Workflow by OJS/PKP.

Amid the Mayhem, Trump Pumped His Fist and Revealed His Instincts

A bloodied Donald J. Trump made Secret Service agents wait while he expressed his defiance. The moment epitomized his visceral connection with his supporters, and his mastery of the modern media age.

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Donald Trump raising his fist as he is surrounded by Secret Service agents, his face visibly bloodied.

By Shawn McCreesh

July 13, 2024

Donald J. Trump was back on his feet. He had just been shot at, his white shirt was undone and his red hat was no longer on his head. Blood streaked across his face as riflemen patrolled the perimeter of the stage. A pack of Secret Service agents pressed their bodies against his. “We’ve got to move, we’ve got to move,” one pleaded.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait,” the former president instructed, his voice a harried — but startlingly clear — command. Reluctantly, they halted. He peered out into the crowd.

And then his arm reached toward the sky, and he began punching the air.

The crowd started to chant — “ U-S-A! U-S-A! ” — as the agents inched Mr. Trump toward the stairs. When they reached the top step, they paused once more, so Mr. Trump could lift his arm a little higher, and pump his fist a little faster. The crowd roared a little louder.

It’s difficult to imagine a moment that more fully epitomizes Mr. Trump’s visceral connection with his supporters, and his mastery of the modern media age.

Mr. Trump would not leave the stage without signaling to his fans that he was OK — even as some were still wailing in fear. And he did not just wave or nod, he raised his fist in defiance above his bloodied face — making an image history will not forget.

He has always been highly conscious of how he looks in big moments, practicing his Clint Eastwood squint and preparing for his mean mug-shot grimace. But there was no time to prepare for this.

This was instinct.

As the agents coaxed him onto his feet, he stammered, “Let me get my shoes on, let me get my shoes on.”

“I got you, sir, I got you, sir,” an agent replied. Mr. Trump rose, his voice uneven at first, still repeating himself: “Let me get my shoes on.”

“Hold that on your head,” an agent told him, “it’s bloody.”

“Sir, we’ve got to move to the cars,” another said.

“Let me get my shoes on,” Mr. Trump said again.

Fierce one moment, he looked drained and stricken the next.

After the agents managed to hustle him off the stage, they led him toward an idling Chevrolet Suburban. He began to clamber inside, but before the door could close, he turned back toward the crowd again. His head appeared more blood-soaked than before. He raised his fist one more time.

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