Prompt 1
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerptand the assignment below.
We are often reminded that acquiring and owning materialpossessions—money, property, jewelry, even clothing—will not leadto true happiness. While it is certainly true that materialpossessions alone cannot bring happiness or provide us with genuinemeaning in life, there is something to be said for having materialpossessions. Not only can they make us comfortable, but thehappiness they can provide, while it may be momentary, is stillhappiness.
Assignment: Domaterial possessions make us truly happy? Plan and write an essayin which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support yourposition with reasoning and examples taken from your reading,studies, experience, or observations.
Prompt 2
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerptand the assignment below.
Some people emphasize that strong leaders never depart from theirgoal, plan, or vision and that such dedication is, in fact, ameasure of their strength. Others would argue, however, that strongleaders are flexible. Strong leaders know when to admit they havemade a mistake and when it is appropriate to change their goal ormission. This flexibility shows their strength and the extent oftheir wisdom.
Assignment: Isflexibility the sign of a strong and wise leader? Plan and write anessay in which you develop your point of view on this issue.Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from yourreading, studies, experience, or observations.
Prompt 3
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerptand the assignment below.
Aiming advertisements for products directly at teenagers is apractice that occurs on television, in magazines, and on theInternet. These advertisements may help prepare young people foradulthood, as teenagers gain experience in evaluating and selectingfrom among the many options in our complex consumer society. Manycritics, however, argue that teenagers are especially vulnerable tomisleading claims of the advertising industry; moreover, they arguethat advertisements often promote values harmful to youngpeople.
Assignment: Areadvertisements harmful to teenagers? Plan and write an essay inwhich you develop your point of view on this issue. Support yourposition with reasoning and examples taken from your reading,studies, experience, or observations.
Prompt 4
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerptand the assignment below.
Too often, people—especially young people, who may not have settledon a firm identity yet—try to imitate others, because it is easierto do so than to develop their own unique individuality. They focuson trying to imitate what seems attractive or desirable in others.But imitating others is never a good idea: when we imitate others,all we do is harm our ability to develop our own individuality.
Assignment: Is imitation of others alwaysharmful? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point ofview on this issue. Support your position with reasoning andexamples taken from your reading, studies, experience, orobservations.