ACT End of Unit Writing Assessment
ACT End of Unit Writing Assessment
Directions: Choose one of the prompts below. Read through the associated perspectives and write an essay in which you evaluate multiple perspectives. Fill out the following outline to help guide your rough draft. The final draft will be due Friday, March 11th.
Prompt #1: Technology and Everyday Life
Technology has radically changed the way we interact with the world. Not long ago, individuals who wanted to get in touch had to do so either by meeting in person or sending messages through postal mail. In order to perform most types of research, people were forced to visit physical libraries, bookstores or archives. Over the past two decades, technology has rendered many of these time-consuming tasks obsolete. Messages can be sent anywhere in the world via email in only a matter of seconds. All sorts of information is available with the click of a smart phone button. People can not only call individuals anytime, but they can also access their geolocation on demand. It seems like everyone is on his or her smart phone every waking minute. Has this increase in the power and reach of technology bettered out lives?
Read and carefully consider these perspectives. Each suggests a particular way of thinking about the presence of technology in our lives.
| Perspective 1 | Perspective 2 | Perspective 3 |
| Today’s technology has greatly bettered our lives. Individuals are more connected to the information and people they want to connect with, and the result is smarter, happier and more fulfilled human beings.
|
Technology promises to “connect” us with one another. But look around and you’ll see how disconnected it’s made us—individuals no longer interact with one another because they’ve become so consumed by their phones and devices. | Technology may have made the world a better place for those who have access to it, but its prohibitive costs have made it inaccessible, and consequently unhelpful, to too many people.
|
Essay Task
Write a unified, coherent essay in which you evaluate multiple perspectives on the impact of technology on our lives. In your essay, be sure to:
- analyze and evaluate the perspectives given
- state and develop your own perspective on the issue
- explain the relationship between your perspective and those given
Your perspective may be in full agreement with any of the others, in partial agreement, or wholly different. Whatever the case, support your ideas with logical reasoning and detailed, persuasive examples.
Prompt #2: College Sports
College sports have become incredibly popular in the United States. Big games air on the most coveted TV channels at the most coveted times. Teams are followed not only by loyal students and alumni but also by diverse fans from across the country. Major athletic programs bring millions of dollars to university coffers. Star coaches can often earn more than university presidents, making them the highest paid employees on campus. Full scholarships are awarded to star athletes because of their athletic prowess rather than their academic record. In some instances, athletes are even given fake grades to help them stay on the team. Given all of this, should colleges continue to support their sports teams?
Read and carefully consider these perspectives. Each suggests a particular way of thinking about the role of athletics at colleges.
| Perspective 1 | Perspective 2 | Perspective 3 |
| Colleges should strongly support their sports teams. These teams not only generate millions of dollars for schools, but they also help sell prospective students on attending the college.
|
Sports have no official place in college. Colleges are institutions created for learning, not for athletics. College sports compromise academic standards and disadvantage students who don’t participate. | While college sports play a valuable role on university campuses, it is important for administrators to not lose perspective. That some football coaches earn more than university presidents, for example, is clearly wrong. |
Essay Task
Write a unified, coherent essay in which you evaluate multiple perspectives on the impact of technology on our lives. In your essay, be sure to:
- analyze and evaluate the perspectives given
- state and develop your own perspective on the issue
- explain the relationship between your perspective and those given
Your perspective may be in full agreement with any of the others, in partial agreement, or wholly different. Whatever the case, support your ideas with logical reasoning and detailed, persuasive examples.
ACT Writing Test Outline:
- Paragraph 1: Introduction:
Sentences 1, 2 and 3: Restate Information from Prompt
Today’s technology has greatly bettered our lives. Individuals are more connected to the information and people they want to connect with, and the result is smarter, happier and more fulfilled human beings. Although it has helped us get more informed about society it has had a big great impact on society and now suddenly, we are more disconnected and separated from society then we think we are.
Sentence 4: Thesis Statement: While perspective _____ has numerous benefits, perspective ___ is more beneficial.
- Body Paragraph 1: (Should be on the perspective you choose- second one from your thesis)
| Topic Sentence: |
| Big Benefit Example: |
| Big Benefit Explained: |
| Medium Benefit Example: |
| Medium Benefit Explained”: |
| Smaill Benefit Example: |
| Small Benefit Explained: |
| Concluding Sentence: |
- Body Paragraph 2: (should be on a different perspective- first one from thesis).
| Topic Sentence: |
| Big Benefit Example: |
| Big Benefit Explained: |
| Medium Benefit Example: |
| Medium Benefit Explained”: |
| Small Benefit Example: |
| Small Benefit Explained: |
| Concluding Sentence: |
- Concluding Paragraph:
Sentences 1: Restate the Thesis Statement:
Sentence 2, 3, and 4: Summarize the points of each body paragraph.
