Example Essay Prompt
- The prompt is organized into four parts: an introduction to the issue, three perspectives, the essay task, and a planning page with prewriting advice.
- The introduction sparks the discussion by framing the issue with examples, while the three boxed perspectives always present distinct possible positions you can respond to.
- The planning page is not scored and adds little new information, so it should be used only as scratch space rather than as a major focus during the exam.
- The essay task is the key section because it requires you to state your own perspective, relate it to at least one other perspective, support your ideas with reasoning and examples, organize clearly, and write in standard English.
- The scoring expectations align closely with the main writing domains: ideas, development, organization, and language, so the task itself doubles as a guide to the rubric.
- Your own perspective matters most; you do not need to invent a completely new position, because you may fully agree with one perspective, partially agree, or offer a different view as long as you defend it well.
- The sample Magoosh prompt centers on censorship and society, presenting one perspective focused on protecting children, one on freedom of speech and press, and one on the danger of concentrating power over information.
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.