*The techniques and strategies used here are copyrighted by Laying the Foundation, Inc., Dallas, TX www.ltftraining.org.
"A good essay must have this permanent quality about it. It must draw its curtain around us, but it must be a curtain that shuts us in, not out." ~Virginia Woolf
More Pre-Writing Examples
How to Draft a 3x2/3x3 Pre-Writing Plan
How to Answer Persuasive Essay Prompts
How to Draft a 3x2/3x3 Pre-Writing Plan
How to Answer Persuasive Essay Prompts
ACE It!: The Strategy
The ACE Strategy is an easy way to learn how to write concise, but in-depth short answer responses or SARs.
The ACE Strategy is an easy way to learn how to write concise short answer responses or SARs.
A is for Answer. No need to pout. Just allude to the prompt when you're writing it out.
C is for Connection. Prove your answer with evidence and embed it correctly.
E is for Explain. Explains a universal perception. Ask yourself, why do I care? Tell your readers why it matters, close with real-life reflection.
A is for Answer. No need to pout. Just allude to the prompt when you're writing it out.
C is for Connection. Prove your answer with evidence and embed it correctly.
E is for Explain. Explains a universal perception. Ask yourself, why do I care? Tell your readers why it matters, close with real-life reflection.
What Does That Look Like On An Exam?
Single Selection (ACE)
When answering single selection responses, answer, cite then explain and close with real-world perspective. See the example below.
After reading the selection on euthanasia, explain how the author justified assisted suicide as ethical when faced with a terminal illness.
ANSWER: In the article, "My Right to Death...," the writer justified assisted suicide as ethical because she believes that it is one way to die with dignity and on her terms.
CONNECT WITH EVIDENCE: For example, 29-year old Brittany Maynard said, "I quickly decided that death with dignity was the best option for me and my family" after learning she was terminally ill with a brain tumor.
EXPLAIN AND CLOSE: When it comes to making any decisions in life, the freedom of choice is a privilege for all of us. So when faced with difficult decisions, and that freedom is challenged, you have to rely on research, resources, your spiritual tenants and family to help you make those decisions. (This needs to be thematic, or a worldview. What's the bigger picture? You're not just restating the prompt, you are expanding the big idea.)
All Together!
In the article, "My Right to Death...," the writer justified assisted suicide as ethical because she believes that it is one way to die with dignity and on her terms. For example, 29-year old Brittany Maynard said, "I quickly decided that death with dignity was the best option for me and my family" after learning she was terminally ill with a brain tumor. When it comes to making any decisions in life, the freedom of choice is a privilege for all of us. So when faced with difficult decisions, and that freedom is challenged, you have to rely on research, resources, your spiritual tenants and family to help you make those decisions.
(Done! Six and a half lines, four sentences! #whoohoo! *virtual high five* but who's counting??)
ANSWER: In the article, "My Right to Death...," the writer justified assisted suicide as ethical because she believes that it is one way to die with dignity and on her terms.
CONNECT WITH EVIDENCE: For example, 29-year old Brittany Maynard said, "I quickly decided that death with dignity was the best option for me and my family" after learning she was terminally ill with a brain tumor.
EXPLAIN AND CLOSE: When it comes to making any decisions in life, the freedom of choice is a privilege for all of us. So when faced with difficult decisions, and that freedom is challenged, you have to rely on research, resources, your spiritual tenants and family to help you make those decisions. (This needs to be thematic, or a worldview. What's the bigger picture? You're not just restating the prompt, you are expanding the big idea.)
All Together!
In the article, "My Right to Death...," the writer justified assisted suicide as ethical because she believes that it is one way to die with dignity and on her terms. For example, 29-year old Brittany Maynard said, "I quickly decided that death with dignity was the best option for me and my family" after learning she was terminally ill with a brain tumor. When it comes to making any decisions in life, the freedom of choice is a privilege for all of us. So when faced with difficult decisions, and that freedom is challenged, you have to rely on research, resources, your spiritual tenants and family to help you make those decisions.
(Done! Six and a half lines, four sentences! #whoohoo! *virtual high five* but who's counting??)
Crossover (ACACE)
When answering crossover responses, answer and cite the first question, then answer and cite the second question, then explain and close with real-world perspective. See the example below.
After reading the two stories on euthanasia, what conclusions can be made as to how the authors of the two selections reached different conclusions about whether assisted suicide is ever justified, even when faced with a terminal illness.
ANSWER: The authors writing about euthanasia reached two different conclusions about whether assisted suicide is ever justified because one feels that if faced with a terminal illness, assisted suicide is one way to die with dignity, while the other author interprets assisted suicide as cop out.
CONNECT WITH EVIDENCE: For example, in "My Right to Death...," 29-year old Brittany Maynard said, "I quickly decided that death with dignity was the best option for me and my family" after learning she was terminally ill with a brain tumor.
CONNECT WITH EVIDENCE: On the other hand, in "The Dangers of Assisted Suicide Laws," the author said, "to say to someone that we'll pay for you to die but not for you to live--it's cruel." (The text evidence has to be relevant to the answer.)
EXPLAIN AND CLOSE: Nevertheless, the freedom of choice is a privilege for all of us. So when faced with difficult decisions, and that freedom is challenged, you have to rely on research, resources, your spiritual tenants and family to help you make those decisions. (This needs to be thematic, or a worldview. What's the bigger picture? You're not just restating the prompt, you are expanding the big idea.)
All Together!
The authors writing about euthanasia reached two different conclusions about whether assisted suicide is ever justified because one feels that if faced with a terminal illness, assisted suicide is one way to die with dignity, while the other author feels that assisted suicide is a mean cop out. For example, in "My Right to Death...," 29-year old Brittany Maynard said, "I quickly decided that death with dignity was the best option for me and my family" after learning she was terminally ill with a brain tumor. However, in "The Dangers of Assisted Suicide Laws," the author said, "to say to someone that we'll pay for you to die but not for you to live--it's cruel." Nevertheless, the freedom of choice is a privilege for all of us. So when faced with difficult decisions, and that freedom is challenged, you have to rely on research, resources, your spiritual tenants and family to help you make those decisions.
(Done! Nine and a half lines, five sentences! #whoohoo! *virtual high five* but who's counting??)
ANSWER: The authors writing about euthanasia reached two different conclusions about whether assisted suicide is ever justified because one feels that if faced with a terminal illness, assisted suicide is one way to die with dignity, while the other author interprets assisted suicide as cop out.
CONNECT WITH EVIDENCE: For example, in "My Right to Death...," 29-year old Brittany Maynard said, "I quickly decided that death with dignity was the best option for me and my family" after learning she was terminally ill with a brain tumor.
CONNECT WITH EVIDENCE: On the other hand, in "The Dangers of Assisted Suicide Laws," the author said, "to say to someone that we'll pay for you to die but not for you to live--it's cruel." (The text evidence has to be relevant to the answer.)
EXPLAIN AND CLOSE: Nevertheless, the freedom of choice is a privilege for all of us. So when faced with difficult decisions, and that freedom is challenged, you have to rely on research, resources, your spiritual tenants and family to help you make those decisions. (This needs to be thematic, or a worldview. What's the bigger picture? You're not just restating the prompt, you are expanding the big idea.)
All Together!
The authors writing about euthanasia reached two different conclusions about whether assisted suicide is ever justified because one feels that if faced with a terminal illness, assisted suicide is one way to die with dignity, while the other author feels that assisted suicide is a mean cop out. For example, in "My Right to Death...," 29-year old Brittany Maynard said, "I quickly decided that death with dignity was the best option for me and my family" after learning she was terminally ill with a brain tumor. However, in "The Dangers of Assisted Suicide Laws," the author said, "to say to someone that we'll pay for you to die but not for you to live--it's cruel." Nevertheless, the freedom of choice is a privilege for all of us. So when faced with difficult decisions, and that freedom is challenged, you have to rely on research, resources, your spiritual tenants and family to help you make those decisions.
(Done! Nine and a half lines, five sentences! #whoohoo! *virtual high five* but who's counting??)