The Controversial Screen
Construct a detailed review of a controversial recent film or music album. Discuss its themes, execution, and public and critical reception. Argue whether you believe the controversy is justified and how this work fits into or challenges contemporary culture.
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.
- Cut every sentence that only repeats the one before it.
- Find one surprising fact and build around it.
- Use one example from your own life.
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.
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- Fifty Years of a Music GenreWrite an essay on the evolution of a specific genre of music over the past fifty years. Include key artists, pivotal albums, and how societal changes…
- The Performance That Changed MeReflect on a live performance that changed your outlook on life. Whether it was a concert, a play, or a dance performance, discuss what about the…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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