CHAPTER 13 / ESSAY WRITING PRACTICE 483
Practice Essay 19
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.I have been gravely disappointed with the... moderate who is more devoted to “order”
than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace
which is the presence of justice... Shallow understanding from people of good will is more
frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is
much more bewildering than outright rejection.
Excerpted from Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from a Birmingham JailAssignment: Are there certain kinds of peace that are unacceptable?Write an essay in which
you answer this question and discuss your point of view on this issue. Support your
position logically with examples from literature, 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.