The Prompt
1. Unpack the prompt
2. Write down what the prompt is asking you to do.
3. Write down important words in the prompt on your piece of paper.
4. Outline your ideas
To finish the sentence correctly, choose the homophone that means to look closely:
“Please ______ at the tiny writing on the label.”
Options: peek / peak
Peek
Clue: “In this essay I will tell you about the story and why it is interesting.”
Correct Response: What is a weak introduction because it is vague, informal, and does not state a clear central idea.
Clue: “The story is interesting and teaches a lot of lessons.”
Correct Response: What is a weak claim because it is vague and does not identify a specific central idea.
Clue: “______ the character shows bravery again when she steps forward to defend her friend.”
Correct Response: What is In addition or Furthermore.
What are the important parts of this prompt?
Explain how the author develops a central idea in the text. Use specific details from the passage to support your explanation.
explain how the author develops a central idea
central idea
use specific details
Pick the homophone that means a part of something:
“She ______ the first chapter of the book before bed.”
Option: read/red
Read
Clue: “The author shows that true friendship requires honesty, even when the truth is difficult to share.”
Correct Response: What is a strong introduction because it clearly states the central idea and sets up the analysis.
Clue: “The character changes in many ways, and the reader can learn from them.”
Correct Response: What is a weak claim because it uses general language and does not explain how the character changes.
Clue: “______ the character refuses to apologize, showing how her confidence has grown.”
Correct Response: What is As a result or Therefore. (Cause‑and‑effect transitions fit.)
2. Chronological Order
3. Problem and Solution
4. Compare and Contrast
5. Desription
Choose the homophone that means a type of weather:
“The coach told the team that they needed to ________ it in and start focusing. ”
Options: rain / reign / rein
Rein
Clue: “The story has many themes, and the characters do a lot of things that matter.”
Correct Response: What is a weak introduction because it uses general, empty language and does not identify a specific theme.
Clue: “The author shows that determination helps the main character overcome challenges.”
Correct Response: What is a strong claim because it clearly states the central idea and sets up analysis.
Clue: “______ the character acted bravely earlier, she now hesitates when the challenge becomes personal.”
Correct Response: What is Although or Even though. (Contrast transitions fit.)
What type of text structure is this short story?
Lena stared at her science project board in panic. The glue had dried crooked, and the main diagram was sliding off the poster. Presentations were in twenty minutes, and she felt her stomach twist.
She took a deep breath, grabbed the extra tape from her backpack, and carefully reinforced every edge. Then she straightened the diagram and added a bold title to cover the smudge at the top.
When her turn came, the board stood firm. Lena smiled, relieved that her quick fix saved the project.
Problem and Solution
Select the homophone that means to criticize harshly:
“The editor will ______ the article if it contains errors.”
Options: censor / sensor
Correct Response: What is censor.
Clue: “In the text, the author develops the idea that courage grows through repeated challenges, which shapes the main character’s identity.”
Correct Response: What is a strong introduction because it presents a focused claim and previews how the idea develops.
Clue: “The theme is that the story is about life and people doing things that matter.”
Correct Response: What is a weak claim because it is unclear, overly broad, and does not identify a precise theme or direction for the essay.
Clue: “______ the author shows how the setting creates tension, which affects the character’s decisions.”
Correct Response: What is Additionally or Moreover. (Additive transitions that build analysis.)
Lena stared at her science project board in panic. The glue had dried crooked, and the main diagram was sliding off the poster. Presentations were in twenty minutes, and she felt her stomach twist.
She took a deep breath, grabbed the extra tape from her backpack, and carefully reinforced every edge. Then she straightened the diagram and added a bold title to cover the smudge at the top.
When her turn came, the board stood firm. Lena smiled, relieved that her quick fix saved the project.
Analyze how the author presents the problem and the solution in the story. Use evidence from the text to support your analysis.
Explain how to unpack this prompt? What is important to focus on?
analyze how the author presents the problem
solution
use evidence
Choose the homophone that means to influence or change something:
“The new rule will ______ how students enter the building.” Options: affect / effect
Correct Response: What is affect.
Clue: “This story teaches readers a lesson, and the main character probably becomes more successful later in life.”
Correct Response: What is a weak introduction because it introduces unsupported predictions and does not identify the text’s actual central idea.
Clue: “The author develops the idea that true courage requires making difficult choices, even when the outcome is uncertain.”
Correct Response: What is a strong claim because it is specific, arguable, and directly tied to the text’s central idea.
Clue: “______ the character learns from her earlier mistake, she approaches the final challenge with a new sense of determination.”
Correct Response: What is Because or Since. (Transitions showing reasoning or cause.)