Learning a Difficult Subject
Chronicle your own experience with a particularly challenging academic subject or test preparation. Detail the strategies you used to overcome obstacles, what you learned about learning effectively, and offer advice to others facing similar challenges.
Suggested length: An essay or article: 800 to 2,500 words
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- Find one surprising fact and build around it.
- Use one example from your own life.
- Open with a specific story, then widen out to the big idea.
Writing essays
A mind at work, one subject at a time.
An essay collection gathers short nonfiction pieces: personal, critical, funny or all three. What ties them together is the writer's voice and way of seeing.
What readers expect
- A distinctive voice
- Personal stakes
- Surprising connections
- Pieces that stand alone
A tip before you start
Follow a question, not a thesis. The pleasure of an essay is watching someone think.
More Study Aids and Text Prep prompts
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- My Hardest Academic ChallengeWrite a personal essay reflecting on your most challenging academic experience. Describe the setbacks, your process of overcoming them, and what you…
- From Flashcards to Learning AppsWrite an essay exploring the evolution of study aids from traditional textbooks and flashcards to digital platforms and apps. Analyze how these tools…
- Preparing for High-Stakes ExamsCreate a detailed guide on effective techniques for preparing for high-stakes exams. Include tips on time management, mental preparation, and the best…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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