AccelePrep for the ACT Test 2nd Edition Student Text

240 • S URGE TO S UCCESS ! W RITING T EST P REP

GAME PLAN

STEP 1: BEGIN WITH THE PROMPT

To answer the prompt correctly, you have to read and understand the description of the issue and the given perspectives. Do not rush through –Š‹• ϐ‹”•– •–‡’Ǥ ‘—” •…‘”‡ ‹• „ƒ•‡† „‘–Š ‘ ›‘—” ƒ„‹Ž‹–› –‘ ™”‹–‡…Ž‡ƒ”Ž› ƒ† organize ideas and also on your ability to think critically and develop and support an argument. Consider some of the questions that are used by readers to determine your score: • Does the student understand the prompt? • Does the student think critically about the presented issue? • Does the student think critically about the given perspectives? You need to demonstrate understanding and critical thinking, so make sure you take time before you write to process the prompt. After you understand the issue and given perspectives, turn to assessing them and decide which perspective you will argue for. Your writing score does NOT depend on which position you choose, so it doesn’t matter which perspective you decide to support. In order to choose your own perspective, ask yourself a few questions: • Do I already have a perspective on this issue? • Is there a perspective that makes more sense to me than the other perspectives? • What supporting reasoning and examples will I use in my essay? Which perspective can I best support? Remember, you can choose any perspective and write a successful essay. So pick one, but be strategic about it. If you already support a perspective, write from that perspective. If you’re not sure which perspective to support, think about the evidence you will use and choose the perspective you think you will be able to easily defend.

STEP 2: CHOOSE A POSITION