CHAPTER 13 / ESSAY WRITING PRACTICE 465
Practice Essay 1
Time—25 minutesDirections for Writing the EssayPlan and write an essay that answers the question below. Do NOT write on another topic. An essay on
another topic will receive a score of 0.
Two readers will grade your essay based on how well you develop your point of view, organize and ex-
plain your ideas, use specific and relevant examples to support your thesis, and use clear and effective
language. How well you write is much more important than how much you write, but to cover the topic
adequately you should plan to write several paragraphs.
Your essay must be written only on the lines provided on your answer sheet. You will have enough space
if you write on every line, avoid wide margins, and keep your handwriting to a reasonable size. Your essay
will be read by people who are not familiar with your handwriting, so write legibly.
You may use this sheet for notes and outlining, but these will not be graded as part of your essay.Consider carefully the issue discussed in the following passage, then write an essay that answers the ques-
tion posed in the assignment.Without a clear goal to focus our energy and drive us to grow, we cease to be truly alive.
We are inert particles floating on the sea of life. This is true of not only ourselves, but our
institutions—our families, our corporations, and our societies. The moment we cease to
grow, we begin to die.Assignment: Is growth necessary to a happy and productive life?Write an essay in which you
answer this question and discuss your point of view on this issue. You may discuss per-
sonal or institutional growth. Support your position logically with examples from litera-
ture, the arts, history, politics, science and technology, current events, or your experience
or observation.Note:Write your practice essay on two pages of standard lined paper.