Writing Prompt - Expository
Invention and technology have always been an important part of changing the way one lives. Things that did not exist when your parents or grandparents were young, now have changed the way most people in this country live. Some of those inventions are large and others are small. No mater what their size, they have altered the lives of the average person today. Think about one such invention that came about in the last hundred years or so.
You are to write an essay on how that invention changed the lives of the people. Explain how life was then, how it is different today, and whether the result is positive or negative. Assume that this essay will be part of a history text.
Use a planner.
Put down the name of the invention you have chosen. Note in this prompt, you have been given the required subtopics. You do not have a choice. Put those three ideas down on the planner.
Think about things that you could say about each.
How was life different without this invention? What did they do without it? List other things that you could include.
How has this invention affected the lives of the people today? Give examples of the use of this invention. Perhaps noting emotions would be appropriate. List the things that you want to include.
Has this invention had a primarily positive or negative benefit? Make a choice. Explain and give examples to support your side. The prompt does not give you a choice to explain both sides of the issue even though there may well be two ways to look at it.
Be sure to include transitions. Even though the thoughts may be quite different, transitions are needed.
Be sure that you vary the sentence structure by thinking about each sentence and the one that you wrote before it. Be sure that the sentences flow to create unity in the paragraph.
Summarize, in an original manner, the opening paragraph and refocus the reader on your important points.
Go back and reread. Correct any mistakes that take away from the strength of the essay. Be sure that there are not errors in spelling capitalization, or pronoun reference. Double check to see that there are no sentence fragments or run-on sentences. Be sure that the subject and verbs agree.
