Expository or Personal Narrative?

Breaking down the prompt and knowing what to write…

READ the following quotation.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

THINK carefully about the following question.How can I help others if I don’t first help myself?

WRITE an essay explaining whether it is better to look out for your own interests first or to help others.

READ the information below:

The 2012 Summer Olympics were the most watched event in U.S. history.  Representatives from countries all over the world came to compete for their country and for themselves.  Audiences were thrilled to watch these athletes push themselves to their limits as they sought to achieve personal and international bests.

THINK about the positive aspects of competition.

WRITE an essay explaining how competition can make a good impact on people’s lives.

Look at the picture below.

We’ve all been on journeys, whether they are big in scale or on a more personal level.

Write a personal narrative about a journey you’ve taken.  Be sure to write in detail about the major aspects of your adventure and describe the significance of the journey.

READ the following quotation.

Child psychologist Fred Gosman said, “The more we shelter children from every disappointment, the more devastating future disappointments will be.”

THINK carefully about the following question.

Can people learn from their disappointments?

WRITE an essay explaining whether disappointments are always negative or if they can have a good side at times.

Be sure to -clearly state your controlling ideaorganize and develop your explanation effectivelychoose your words carefullyuse correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and sentences

READ the information in the box below.

There are people in our lives who are special to us. Sometimes this person is a teacher or coach, a parent, a brother or sister, or even a friend.

THINK about the people you care about.

WRITE about one person who has been important to you. Explain what makes that person special.

Be sure to – clearly state your central idea organize your writing develop your writing in detail choose your words carefully use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and sentences

READ the following quote.

According to Will Rogers, a famous actor, “Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. “

THINK carefully about the following statement.

Success comes from hard work. If you are not willing to work for what you want, then you will probably never achieve it.

WRITE an essay explaining why hard work is necessary to be successful.

Read the information in the box below.

In 1955 medical researcher Jonas Salk introducedan effective polio vaccine. At the time polio was considered the biggest threat to public health, yet Salk refused to profit by patenting the vaccine because he was more concerned with preventing disease than with personal gain.

Think carefully about this statement.

Although many people work to benefit themselves, some people choose to put others first.

Write an essay explaining whether people should be more concerned about others than about themselves.

Look at the picture below.

Hard work can be very rewarding.

Write a personal narrative about a time when you accomplished something important through hard work. Be sure to describe what you were trying to accomplish, and how your hard work paid off.

READ the following quote.

Mark Twain once stated that "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.”

THINK carefully about the following statement.

Reading is the most important skill a person can learn. People who are able to read well are much more likely to be successful than people who can not.

WRITE an essay explaining whether reading is an important skill to develop or if there are situations when it is not necessary for a person to develop it.

READ the following proverb.

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

THINK carefully about the following statement.

Every great person was inspired by a teacher. Great teachers help students to explore and achieve and thrive. A truly great teacher can change the world.

WRITE an essay explaining whether or not teachers are inspirational and influential to students.

Look at the picture below.

Teachers can have a big influence on our lives.

Write a personal narrative about a time when a teacher has helped you or taught you something important. Be sure to discuss the results of that teacher helping you in your life.

READ the following quote.

Playwright William Shakespeare once wrote, “How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. “

THINK carefully about the following statement.

It has often been said that nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something. Every act of goodness and charity, no matter how small, makes the world a better place.

WRITE an essay explaining whether everyone has the duty to do good deeds for others or if it is appropriate to only take care of ones self.

Look at the picture below.

Everybody should try to do a good deed every day.

Write a personal narrative about a time when you did something to help another person, or a time when you did something to make the world a better place. Be sure to describe in detail what you did, and why you think it made a difference.

READ the following quote.

According to Susan B. Anthony, a women’s rights advocate, “Modern invention has banished the spinning wheel, and the same law of progress makes the woman of today a different woman from her grandmother.”

THINK carefully about the following statement.

Some inventions have had a huge impact on the way we live our lives. An invention may make our jobs easier, or it could change the way we communicate, or it might provide us with great entertainment.

WRITE an essay explaining how modern inventions have influenced life in America.

READ the following quote.

St. Augustine, a philosopher, once said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

THINK carefully about the following statement.

Traveling and visiting other places can be very rewarding. The world is a very big and interesting place. You might not be able to see all of it, but you should try to see some of it.

WRITE an essay explaining whether it is necessary to travel to other parts of the world or if the internet has taken away the need to travel.