MCAS Writing Prompts Through the Years

1. MCAS Writing PromptsThrough the Years 20 MCAS long composition prompts from 2003-2014. Ambrose Peritore Bowen-Flynn Esner Heinegg

2. If you saw each of these prompts tomorrow… • What book would you write about? • Who wrote that book? • What characters will you talk about? • What three examples from the book would you use? • How would you address each element of the prompt? Prompts through the years

3. MCAS Writing Prompt WRITING PROMPT Often in works of literature, a character’s traits can cause his or her downfall. From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who displays one of the traits listed in the box below. • pride • greed • envy • selfishness In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how this one trait causes the downfall of the character, and explain how the character’s downfall is important to the work as a whole. 2013

4. WRITING PROMPT Often in works of literature, a character confronts a threatening environment or situation. From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who confronts a threatening environment or situation. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe the threatening environment or situation the character confronts, and explain how the character’s experience is important to the work as a whole. 2013 Retest

5. MCAS WRITING PROMPT Often in works of literature, the villain has the greatest impact on the story. Select a work of literature you have read in or out of school in which the villain has the greatest impact on the story. In a well-developed composition, identify the villain, and explain why the villain has the greatest impact on the story. 2012

6. WRITING PROMPT Often in works of literature, a character feels pressure to succeed. From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who feels pressure to succeed. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character feels pressure to succeed, and explain how the character’s experience is important to the work as a whole. 2012 Retest

7. MCAS WRITING PROMPT Often in works of literature, a character stands up for something he or she believes in. From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who stands up for something he or she believes in. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character stands up for something he or she believes in, and explain how the character’s actions relate to the work as a whole. 2011

8. WRITING PROMPT Often in works of literature, a character feels pressure to succeed. From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who feels pressure to succeed. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character feels pressure to succeed, and explain how the character’s experience is important to the work as a whole. 2011 Retest

9. Often in works of literature, a character’s life is affected by a single act or mistake. • From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character whose life is affected by a single act or mistake. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how he or she is affected by a single act or mistake, and explain how the character’s experience relates to the work as a whole. 2010

10. Often works of literature feature two characters who disagree or do not understand each other. • From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select two characters who disagree or do not understand each other. In a well-developed composition, identify the characters, describe their disagreement or misunderstanding, and explain how this disagreement or misunderstanding relates to the work as a whole. 2010 November Retest

11. Often in works of literature, a character is influenced by his or her family. • From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who is influenced by his or her family. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character is influenced by his or her family, and explain how the character’s experience relates to the work as a whole. 2010 Retest

12. Works of literature often feature characters whose pride or selfishness creates problems. • From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character whose pride or selfishness creates problems. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character’s pride or selfishness creates problems, and explain how the character’s experience relates to the work as a whole. 2009

13. In many works of literature, a character rebels against a role that others expect him or her to play. • From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who rebels against a role others expect him or her to play. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character rebels against others’ expectations, and explain how the character’s rebellion relates to the 2009 Retest

14. In many works of literature, a character must adjust to life in a new environment. • From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who must adjust to life in a new environment. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character adjusts to life in a new environment, and explain how the character’s adjustment relates to the work as a whole. 2008

15. Works of literature often feature characters who overcome hardship and misfortune. • From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who overcomes hardship and misfortune. In a well-developed composition, explain how the character overcomes adversity and why this success is important to the work of literature. 2007

16. Often in works of literature, characters have a mixture of positive and negative traits. • From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who blends positive and negative traits. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character demonstrates both positive and negative traits. 2007 Retest

17. Works of literature often feature characters with the ability to inspire or lead others. • From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character with the ability to inspire or lead others. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character inspires or leads others, and explain why this character’s ability is significant to the meaning of the work of literature. 2006

18. Works of literature often feature characters that question the values of the societies in which they live. • From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who questions the values of the society in which he or she lives. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, explain the conflict the character has with society, and explain how this conflict relates to the work as a whole. 2006 Retest

19. Often works of literature include characters that change as a result of a particular event. • From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character that changes as the result of a particular event. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, the event, and the importance of the character’s change to the work of literature . 2005

20. From a work of literature you have read, select a character that is honorable; identify the character, describe what makes her/him honorable, and explain why the character’s honor is important to the work of literature. 2005 Retest

21. Heroism can mean different things to different people. Literature is full of characters that can be considered heroic. • From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character that, in your opinion, is heroic. In a well-developed composition, identify that character and explain why he or she is heroic. 2004

22. The protagonist is the main character in a work of literature who often changes in some important way by the end of the work. • From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a protagonist who changes in some important way by the end of the work. In a well-developed composition, identify the protagonist, and explain why the protagonist changes in some important way by the end of the work. 2003

23. In literature as in life, people can make choices and must live with the consequences of those choices. • From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select one character who makes a choice. In a well-developed composition, identify the character’s choice and explain what happens as a result of this choice. 2003 Retest

24. You’ve now made it through 20 prompts from MCAS exams of previous years. • You are prepared to tackle tomorrow’s prompt, whatever it might be! Congratulationsand Good Luck Comrade!