Essay Questions

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Exemplification is essential to good writing of any kind. In order to understand the concept of exemplification, read and discuss Chapter 5 of your text. Choose one of the writing prompts listed below and review the Writing Process instructions for developing an essay.

This activity contains 3 questions.

In "Pursuit of Possessions," student Michael Pagano argues that Americans' obsession with material goods has affected us in several important ways: our lives become more complicated, we must work additional hours to pay off debt, and, most importantly, we have lost sight of what is important. Survey your belongings and your lifestyle and write an essay that either supports or refutes his claim that consumerism is harmful to us.

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

Were you ever a "tween"? After reading Kay Hymowitz's serious essay on this topic, write your own humorous take on the subject. Make sure that you have a purpose for writing your essay, and develop it with rich, detailed, extended examples. Examples may be observations, not just personal experiences. Adopt a humorous tone for this essay, and be mindful of overuse of the pronoun "I."

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

Beth Johnson, in "Bombs Bursting in Air," compares her childhood experiences with those of her children. Using specific details and your own experiences or those of people whom you know well, compare some aspect of two generations. You might focus on such topics as education, childrearing, courtship, meal preparation, and the like. Your purpose should be clear and the examples you use should be both relevant and sufficient to achieve your purpose.

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

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