Inside the Refrigerator
Detail the engineering principles behind a common household appliance, such as a microwave or refrigerator. Explain how incremental improvements over decades have led to modern versions, emphasizing the blend of engineering disciplines involved.
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.
- State your main point in one sentence before you start.
- Include a counterargument and answer it fairly.
- Cut every sentence that only repeats the one before it.
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 Engineering prompts
- Building a Sustainable FutureWrite a detailed article exploring the evolution of sustainable engineering practices. Include case studies of successful sustainable engineering…
- Quantum Computing in MedicineWrite a predictive piece on how a current emerging technology (such as quantum computing or 3D printing) will transform a specific industry or aspect…
- Lessons from the Bridge CollapseExplore the role of failure in successful engineering. Narrate a first-person account or a journalistic investigation into a significant engineering…
- The Panama Canal ProjectDive into the challenges and triumphs of a major engineering project (like the construction of the Panama Canal or the International Space Station).…
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