ALDERSGATE COLLEGE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION 2

COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND EDUCATION

MODULE 29: PREWRITING

OVERVIEW

This module presents the three main tasks in prewriting.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

1. Appreciate prompts as an important part of the entire writing process
2. Analyze prompts and understand what you are asked to write about

LEARNING FOCUS

You should spend approximately 5 minutes "prewriting" the essay. What should you do during this time? You will
have three main tasks:

1. Read the essay prompt (topic) carefully.

2. Brainstorm (think about) the topic.
3. Plan your essay.

During the second and third tasks, you should take notes to use as an outline when you write the essay. You
should spend only 5 minutes on prewriting—but it's an important time!

READING THE PROMPT

In some ways, this is the most important step of the entire process. If you don't understand the prompt, you
can't properly respond to it. If you write an essay that does not fully respond to the prompt, you will receive a lower
score, no matter how well you have written the essay.

The essay prompts are written in simple English. If any of the vocabulary is "difficult," it is usually explained.

Not only do you need to read the prompt carefully, but you also need to understand what it is asking you to
do. You need to analyze the prompt—to paraphrase it (put it into your own words) and to explain to yourself what it
asks you to do. (You don't need to do this analysis in writing, only mentally.)

Read these analyses of the sample prompts given in the introduction:

Prompt A

Some people believe that money spent on space research benefits all of humanity. Other people take the
opposite view and say that money spent on this type of research is wasted. Tell which point of view you
agree with and explain why, using specific details and reasons.

Analysis
This prompt says that there are two opinions about space research. Some people think that money spent on
space research (for satellites, space shuttles, probes to other planets, and so on) is generally a good thing, helping
all people. Other people think it is a waste of money. They think this money could be used for better things. To
respond to this prompt, I have to decide which of these positions I want to support. I could give some good reasons

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why I think space research benefits everyone. On the other hand, if I choose to defend the opposite side of this
argument, I have to explain why I think money for space research should be spent on something else.
Prompt B

Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

It is much easier to learn in a small class than in a large one.

Use specific examples and reasons to support your answer.

Analysis
This prompt asks about my opinion of class size and whether I think it has an effect on learning. I can
choose one of two positions. One position is that small class size DOES make it easier to learn, and I'll need to give
examples of ways in which it does. If I choose the other side, I have to say that size is NOT an important factor. I
could say that a good teacher can make sure students learn in even a large class and give examples of ways in
which he or she could do that.

Prompt C

Developments in transportation, such as the automobile, have had an enormous impact on modern society.
Choose another development in transportation that you think is of great importance. Use specific examples
and reasons for your choice.

Analysis
For this prompt, I have to choose some development in transportation that I think is important or almost as
important as the development of the automobile. I can't choose the automobile because the prompt says to choose
another development. I could, for example, choose the development of the railroad and talk about how this had an
impact on the world in general or on one country in particular.

BRAINSTORMING

The process of brainstorming involves generating ideas on the topic. Just sit back for a moment and think
about the topic, and write down any ideas that come to you. These may be things you have read in newspapers and
magazines, things you've heard in classes or on television, or personal experiences. These ideas may turn out to be
useful or not—just write them all down.

Let's say that you are assigned the first prompt. You would try to think about anything—positive or negative
—that you have read about or heard about in connection with space exploration, and quickly write down these ideas.
For the second topic, you would probably use your own experiences. Can you remember any positive experience
with either a large class or a small one? Any negative ones? Write them down.

Someone brainstorming the first topic might jot down these ideas:

▪ many benefits for people on Earth – weather satellites, etc.

▪ consumer products – PCs, freeze-dried foods, etc.
▪ people think astronauts are heroes
▪ people need a challenge like space
▪ but very expensive – money could be used in many other ways – schools, housing etc.

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PLANNING THE ESSAY

This stage of prewriting blurs with Step B; while you are brainstorming, you are beginning to plan your
essay.

The first step in planning is to choose your basic thesis. A thesis is the central or controlling idea of an
essay. For the first two types of prompts—defending an opinion and agreeing/disagreeing with a statement—
choosing a thesis simply means choosing which side of the argument you are going to support. For example, for the
first prompt your thesis might be, "In my opinion, research in space benefits humanity." For the second, your thesis
might be, "With the right teacher, large class size has little effect on learning." For the third prompt, you have to
choose what development you are going to discuss. "I believe that the development of jet airliners was extremely
important."

Remember, when you choose a thesis, there is no right or wrong answer. The readers at ETS don't care
whether you are in favor of space research or against it, whether you like small classes or big ones, or whether you
think the development of rockets, railroads, or roller skates was most important. In fact, you should choose whatever
side of the argument is easiest to support. It's possible, for example, that you have had generally good experience in
large classes, but that you can think of more reasons why small classes are' better.

It is not necessary to fully support either point of view. Sample Essay 1 is an example of an essay that
partially supports both points of view.

Once you have chosen a thesis, you must think of ways to support it. Look at the notes you took while
brainstorming. Are there any concrete details or compelling reasons that support the thesis you have chosen? If not,
think of some now.

Next, you need to write a simple outline. You don't have to write a formal outline with Roman numerals and
letters, just a basic plan for your four or five paragraphs.

You may be tempted to skip this step to save time, but writing an outline is important. Following a simple
outline is the best way to keep an essay organized, and good organization is one of the most important things
readers look for in scoring your essay.

For the "opinion" prompts (types 1 and 2), there are two basic ways to organize your essay. One is to write two
or more paragraphs, each providing a reason why your opinion is the "correct" one.

Introduction
Here is my opinion.

Body Paragraph 1
My opinion is right because . . .

Body Paragraph 2
My opinion is also right because . . .

Conclusion
As you can see, my opinion IS right.

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Another approach is to restate both sides of the argument—A and B—in your introduction. The introduction does
not say which side of the argument is "correct." Then, in one paragraph of the body, you provide several reasons to
support the side that you do NOT agree with—opinion A. This tactic is sometimes called admitting the opposition.
Then, in the next paragraph of the body, you give even stronger reasons why the other point of view, opinion B, is the
better or more logical one. The conclusion restates the idea that opinion B is the right one.

Introduction
There are two possible opinions on this topic, opinions A and B.

Body Paragraph 1
Here are some reasons to believe opinion A is right.

Body Paragraph 2
Here are some even better reasons to believe opinion B is right.

Conclusion
As you can see, opinion B IS right.

Simple outlines for the three prompts given in this lesson may look like this:

Prompt A
Notes
Introduction
Space research for +50 years: expensive – money well spent or wasted?
-ideas +ideas

costs billions; also human resources; no real benefits consumer products; e.g., PCs, freeze-dried foods, pacemakers

e.g., trip to Moon only brought back rocks weather & communication satellites

many important uses for this money on Earth: scientific knowledge about planets, Moon, even Earth

e.g., education, environment, housing

Conclusion
As shown, many benefits – also, human race needs challenge just as individuals do – therefore, space research is worth all the
money spent

Prompt B
Notes
Introduction
Sometimes it’s necessary to have big classes. Good teachers can make big classes as good a learning environment as small ones.

Introductory classes, lecture the same no matter what size

Sometimes lecturers more dynamic in large classes
Some people think not as much instruction in big classes
But … teacher can break class into small groups for discussion, projects, etc.
Teacher can use teaching assistant to lead discussion groups

Conclusion
Many people think small is best, but big classes can be good places to learn too

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Prompt C
Notes
Introduction
One of the most important developments is international jet transport – since 60s- because of speed & low costs, has changed way
people think about travel

Speed
100 years ago, took weeks to cross ocean: today, few hours – this has changed people’s concept of space

Low Costs
In past, only wealthy could travel comfortably; poor people had to save for years – today more and more people can travel

▪ businesspeople
▪ students
▪ tourists

Conclusion
Countries no longer isolated; people think of world as own hometowns

LEARNING ACTIVITY

Activity 1

Focus: Reading and analyzing Essay Writing prompts

Directions: Read the six prompts given below. Then choose three prompts—one of each type—and write an analysis
for each one similar to the analyses found earlier in the lesson.

TYPE A

Prompt 1
Some people believe that schools should primarily teach students how to best compete with others. Other
people believe that schools should primarily teach students how to cooperate with others. Which of these
approaches do you favor? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Prompt 2
Some university students prefer living in campus housing, such as dormitories. Other students prefer living
in off-campus housing, such as apartments. If you were faced with this decision, which of these two options
would you choose? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.

TYPE B

Prompt 3
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Professional athletes (such as football stars) and entertainers (such as singers and actors) are paid too
much money for the work that they do.
Use specific details and examples to support your answer.
Prompt 4
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
It is better for university students to first get a general education, taking classes in many fields, than it is for
them to take classes only in their own field of study.

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Use specific details and examples to support your answer.

TYPE C

Prompt 5
Imagine that you can talk for 1 hour with any person who has lived at any time in history. Which person
would you choose to meet? Use specific details and examples to explain your choice.

Prompt 6
Your hometown has just received a grant from an international organization to fund one single improvement
project. Which of the following would you recommend to receive the funding?

the city airport the police department

the local schools the city parks
the fire department the streets and roads
the public transportation system the local hospitals the art museum

Give specific examples and reasons to support your recommendation.

Activity 2

Focus: Brainstorming and taking notes on Essay Writing prompts.

Directions: Brainstorm the three prompts that you chose in Activity 1 and take notes on ideas that occur to you. Don’t
spend more than 1 or 2 minutes per prompt.

Activity 3

Focus: Writing informal outlines for essays.

Directions: Using the three prompts you chose in Activity 1, write short, informal outlines for essays. Do not spend
more than 3 or 4 minutes per outline.

Activity 4

You are advised to spend a maximum of 20 minutes on this task.

You have recently moved into a new flat. Unfortunately, you lost some money the other day, and cannot
afford to pay next month’s rent when it is due.

Write a letter to the landlord explaining the situation and that you will pay as soon as your parents send you
the money. Also, mention that there are some problems with the flat.

You should write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write your address or the landlord’s address.

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