Analyzing Writing Prompts
Often tests contain writing prompts that you must respond to. Your first step is to understand the writing prompt. You can use the PAST questions:
- Purpose? Why am I writing? (To explain? To demonstrate?)
- Audience? Who will read my writing? (Tester? Classmates?)
- Subject? What subject should I write about? (Games? Pizza?)
- Type? What type of writing should I create? (Essay? Letter?)
Sample Writing Prompt
What animal sayings do you use? Think of three different sayings and what they mean. Think of how you might use them. Write an essay that explains what a saying is and names the three animal sayings you like most. Define each. Imagine you are explaining the sayings to someone who is learning English.
Answers to PAST Questions
- Purpose?
To explain the meaning of the sayings and give examples
- Audience?
A person who is learning English
- Subject?
Animal sayings
- Type?
Essay
Note: Some writing prompts do not answer all of the PAST questions. If an answer is not given, infer one (come up with a reasonable answer based on the rest of the information).
Analyze writing prompts.
Read each writing prompt that follows. Answer the PAST questions about it. If the prompt doesn’t answer a question, infer an answer.
The Chinese celebrate New Year with a dragon dance. How do you celebrate New Year? What other special days do you observe? In an essay, explain a celebration or ritual that you know about. Tell what is usually done and why. Explain it to a reader who is new to the event.
- Purpose?
- Audience?
- Subject?
- Type?
The essay “The Game’s the Thing” explains how games can help teach. What games do you like? Choose a game, write an essay that explains it to someone new, and tell what the game teaches. Use a teaching voice to help others learn the game and want to play it.
- Purpose?
- Audience?
- Subject?
- Type?
You’ve read about the origin of pizza. What is your favorite food? How is it made? Why do you like it? Write an essay that names your favorite food, describes the ingredients, explains how it is made, and gives sensory details about it. Make your readers’ mouths water!
- Purpose?
- Audience?
- Subject?
- Type?
Teaching Tip
The PAST questions help students quickly analyze the parts of the rhetorical situation: subject, audience, purpose, form, and author. These questions can also help students analyze any text, such as an article or a short story.