The Engineering Turning Point
Write a personal essay reflecting on a pivotal moment in engineering history that changed the way technology impacts daily life. Discuss what it was like before this change, how the transition occurred, and your personal connection to this technological evolution.
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.
- Use one example from your own life.
- Open with a specific story, then widen out to the big idea.
- Write for a curious friend, not an expert.
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
- The Light Bulb RevolutionReflect on the societal impact of a once revolutionary, now commonplace piece of engineering. How has something as simple as the light bulb or the…
- An Unsung Engineering PioneerCraft a detailed profile of an unsung hero in the engineering field. Dive into their background, key contributions, and the impact of their work on…
- Lessons from an Engineering FailureDescribe an engineering project that failed during its initial stages. Analyze what went wrong, the lessons learned by the engineering team, and how…
- The Engineer Then and NowDescribe a day in the life of a software engineer in the 1980s versus today. Discuss the changes in technology, methodology, and workplace culture.
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
Chapterly gives a draft somewhere to grow: chapters, daily word goals, and readers when you're ready.
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