Example Essay Prompt
- The essay prompt is broken down into four parts: introduction to the issue, three perspectives on the issue, the essay task, and planning your essay advice.
- The essay task section is highlighted as the most crucial, requiring the writer to state their perspective, analyze its relationship with at least one other perspective, and support their argument with reasoning and examples.
- The importance of organizing ideas clearly and communicating effectively in standard written English is emphasized, aligning with the four domains of the rubric: ideas, development, organization, and language.
- A specific focus is placed on the necessity of defending one's own perspective while considering at least one other, encouraging a depth of analysis and rational argumentation.
- The Magoosh sample essay prompt on 'censorship and society' is introduced as the basis for practice, illustrating how to apply the discussed essay writing strategies.
Censorship
Almost since human beings first began sharing ideas, the issue of censorship (officially suppressing ideas or writing) has been debated. Proponents of censorship argue, for example, that offensive material might morally corrupt children or that governments have the right to protect their national secrets. Opponents argue that censorship infringes on individual freedom and hinders progress. Censorship has long been an issue regarding books and papers; now, it has become a critical issue concerning the great amount of information on the Internet. Given the continued impact of censorship on various aspects of our lives, it is an issue worth examining.
Read and carefully consider these perspectives. Each suggests a particular way of thinking about the impact of censorship.
Perspective One
Selective censorship prevents children from being exposed to offensive material. It allows parents and caretakers to determine what material children are ready for and when they are ready based on their maturity level.
Perspective Two
Censorship intrudes upon freedom of the press and freedom of speech. Individuals have the right to learn about their world, both its positive and negative aspects, and express their ideas on it.
Perspective Three
Censorship places too much power in the hands of a few: no government should be allowed to decide what information should reach the public.
Essay Task
Write a unified, coherent essay about the impact of censorship on society. In your essay, be sure to:
clearly state your own perspective on the issue and analyze the relationship between your perspective and at least one other perspective
develop and support your ideas with reasoning and examples
organize your ideas clearly and logically
communicate your ideas effectively in standard written English
Your perspective may be in full agreement with any of those given, in partial agreement, or completely different.
