1. ASManager2.zip Driver
2. D_CMPLX1.txt File Contents

D_CMPLX1.txt Driver File Contents (ASManager2.zip)

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Complex Essay Questions, Part 1

In the first file, we said that the simplest type of essay question asks you about something upon which you are an authority. For example, the question may ask you to describe your home, a friend, or a parent. It may ask you to tell about your favorite T.V. show, a memory from long ago, or what you'd like your life to be like in ten years.

We said that the most important part of answering an essay question is to make sure you answer the question. For example, if the question says, "Describe your favorite sandwich," and you write about your favorite food, you could fail to pass that question.

We also learned that there is a simple trick to help people write about what the question asks. Do you remember what the trick is?

Type the trick here; then scroll down to see if you are correct.

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Name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)

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The trick is this: Write what the question asks in the opening sentence of your answer. Then make that sentence the topic sentence of your paragraph.

But what happens if the question has two or more parts? Do you include all the parts of the question in your topic sentence?

The answer is yes and no. Include as many parts of the question in your topic sentence as possible. Then write topic sentences for the other parts in the order you plan to answer the questions. These will be the topic sentences for other paragraphs.

Here is an example.

Complex Essay Question

Tell about your first friend and about how your friendship developed.

Answering Topic Sentence

In this essay I will write about my first friend, Jamie, and how our friendship developed.

Or

My first friend I can remember was Jamie. At first Jamie and I...

As you can see either of these answers starts you off in the direction the question asks you to go. Each answer restates all the main ideas the question asks for.

"A friend I had once..." is not a satisfactory beginning because you may or may not remember to write about your first friend or how your friendship developed.

"I've had many friends..." is not a satisfactory beginning either because you may forget to write about your first friend or how that friendship developed.

Below are several essay questions with two or more parts. Write an answering topic sentence that includes as many of the important details that the question asks for as you can. If you fail to get all the details in the first sentence, put the remaining parts of the question in a second or even a third sentence. The second and third sentences may become topic sentences for a second and third paragraph.

Here is an example:

Complex Essay Question

Tell about how you got your favorite piece of clothing. Why was it your favorite? How did you feel when you wore it?

Answering Topic Sentences

My favorite piece of clothing ever was a red and white leather jacket I bought in Canada.

It was my favorite because...

When I wore it I felt...

Now here are the essay questions.

1. Describe your favorite salad, why you like it, and when you are most likely to eat it.

Answering Topic Sentences

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2. Explain the importance of each of the three following values in your life: truth, love, power.

Answering Topic Sentences

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3. What, from your experience, are the differences between swimming in a swimming pool, a river, an ocean, and a lake?

Answering Topic Sentences

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4. Tell about when you first learned to do something like ride a bike, cook an egg, sew, or throw a ball. Describe the person who taught you and how you felt. What would you do the same or differently if you were teaching someone?

Answering Topic Sentences

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5. Write about your favorite subject in school and why you enjoy it. Explain how your teacher's personality affects your feelings. If you were the teacher, what would you do differently?

Answering Topic Sentences

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6. Explain how you feel when you are trying to write an essay on a subject you really don't know anything about. How do you go about trying to make up an answer?

Answering Topic Sentences

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7. Our values come from many places. Tell a few of your main values and where they came from.

Answering Topic Sentences

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Now have a friend look at your answers to see if you've told your reader the question that you are going to answer. While your friend is checking your "answering topic sentences," you check theirs. Then compare notes.


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Now write three essay questions that have several parts to them. Then write answering topic sentences for each of your questions.

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Answering Topic Sentences

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Answering Topic Sentences

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Answering Topic Sentences

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If you haven't done so already, name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)


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end of activity
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