Predicting the FuturePrompts - Model Essays - Tutorials
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Prompt 1 - Do you agree or disagree that progress is always good? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Tutorial Screencast - Model Essay Prompt 2 - The 21st century has begun. What changes do you think this new century will bring? Use examples and details in your answer. Tutorial Screencast - Model Essay |
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...more writing prompts for Predicting the Future!
About Me - What are the things you do each day that you think will improve your life in the future.
Descriptive - Describe some of the likely changes that you think your country will experience in 1 year, 10 years, and 100 years. Include in your description a justification for your opinion. Narrative - Tell about a situation where you expected one outcome but something very different happened. Describe the events before during and after this unexpected result. Problem / Solution - You were asked to do research for your company about next years sales potential. Your research uncovers that the company will lose money. How will you present the information to your boss. |
Abstract - Ayn Rand said, "The upper class is a nation's past and the middle class is a nation's future. What did she mean and to what extend to you agree with this opinion.
Hypothesis - Most people would say that young people are more optimistic that the future will be positive and older people are less optimistic that the future will be positive. Do you agree with this division. If so, why do you think that is. If not why do people have this opinion. Support an Opinion - Do you agree or disagree with this statement? People in the future will look back with gratitude for what the people in the present did. Use specific details or examples to support your opinion. |
Note for Teachers - The purpose of our 30 minute timed writing prompts is to engage learners in a carefully crafted exercise that will improve fluency of both thought and pen. Quality writing effectively expresses how a person feels, or thinks, in response to any given topic. This doesn't just happen, but requires consistent and meaningful practice (time on task)... the aim and focus of our Daily Writing Prompt website. A guide to constructing a 5 paragraph essay, along with a model passage for students to study and dissect can also be found on this page.
Model Essay - Our world is constantly changing. How much the world has changed over the last 50 years is undeniable both in the expansiveness of its progress and the speed by which it has occurred. The radicalness of the transformation of society and culture has led many to question the foundations of progress. Some would say that progress is always a net positive. Others would disagree and support that progress is very rarely worth it in the end. While clearly in each step forward there is some portion that is positive at least to some affected, a balanced person will find that progress is not all good in light of the resources that are consumed in attaining it, the inevitable loss of tradition that follows and the threat of distraction resulting in the loss of simple enjoyment.
Progress consumes resources. In order to advance anything, resources must be applied and in some cases consumed completely and often inefficiently. Unfortunately when evaluating progress, we often only consider what is gained and not what is lost or used up. There are many examples of this regarding environmental resources. Take a hypothetical city that in order to advance economic needs through building better connections to the cities near it develops a freeway. Naturally the best land for a freeway is the flat lands which are often the area where wetlands or river valleys exist. Only considering what could be gained by the development of the freeway results in the loss of these natural resources. Unfortunately there is no turning back. Even after the freeway is no longer necessary, you cannot return the land to its original state; this highlightsthat at times moving forward eliminates the option to turn back because what what was there before was consumed in the process.
Progress leads away from tradition. Tradition is defined as the way that things have heretofore been done. Contrastingly, progress assumes doing things differently. It logically follows that where there is progress, tradition has been diminished. The attrition of tradition in the name of progress is often seen in social advancement or progress. Take for example the progress in women's rights which have certainly moved forward including those in education and employment. However, it would be foolish to think that it has come without any expense. Women still have the innate drive towards the nurturing roles of wife and mother but they are now presented with the at times oppositional drives to succeed in worldly pursuits. The hours in the day haven't increased nor has the limited resources of energy and attention changed. Women have more economic impact than ever before but they are likely more tired, stressed, and emotionally strained. The traditions that prevented this at times burdensome dual role have been permanently changed.
Progress can be distracting and limit personal satisfaction. Progress can keep us always looking forward and never really appreciating and enjoying the time and space we currently occupy. While the drive to move forward is natural and desirable, if not balanced with a health sense of presence, we may live our life always hungry and always eating but not noticing the deliciousness of the now and how satiated we are most of the time. As a personal practical example, I find myself under-enjoying my time hiking because I am so fixed on reaching my destination or completing the journey. Often I don't even realize that I'm doing this until after I've completed the hike. Friends will ask how the trip was and I realize that my memory is pretty limited. I remember starting and I remember finishing and the only thing that I remember from the time in between is thinking about getting done and making plans for how to get done faster. In life, as in hiking, our goal shouldn't just be to move forward but we should also strive towards enjoying the places and stages of our journey.
With the risks of distraction, abandonment of tradition and irreversible waste of resources, it is reasonable to acknowledge that progress is not exclusively positive. Certainly this doesn't mean that progress isn't at times necessary or even, again at times, desirable. However, when the limitations of progress's inherent goodness are acknowledged it can help individuals proceed with caution towards making personal advancements. Groups and organizations can also avoid being stricken with the plague of progress at any and all costs. Society as a whole will get most from its existence when it is just as quick to stand still as it is to chase progress.
Progress consumes resources. In order to advance anything, resources must be applied and in some cases consumed completely and often inefficiently. Unfortunately when evaluating progress, we often only consider what is gained and not what is lost or used up. There are many examples of this regarding environmental resources. Take a hypothetical city that in order to advance economic needs through building better connections to the cities near it develops a freeway. Naturally the best land for a freeway is the flat lands which are often the area where wetlands or river valleys exist. Only considering what could be gained by the development of the freeway results in the loss of these natural resources. Unfortunately there is no turning back. Even after the freeway is no longer necessary, you cannot return the land to its original state; this highlightsthat at times moving forward eliminates the option to turn back because what what was there before was consumed in the process.
Progress leads away from tradition. Tradition is defined as the way that things have heretofore been done. Contrastingly, progress assumes doing things differently. It logically follows that where there is progress, tradition has been diminished. The attrition of tradition in the name of progress is often seen in social advancement or progress. Take for example the progress in women's rights which have certainly moved forward including those in education and employment. However, it would be foolish to think that it has come without any expense. Women still have the innate drive towards the nurturing roles of wife and mother but they are now presented with the at times oppositional drives to succeed in worldly pursuits. The hours in the day haven't increased nor has the limited resources of energy and attention changed. Women have more economic impact than ever before but they are likely more tired, stressed, and emotionally strained. The traditions that prevented this at times burdensome dual role have been permanently changed.
Progress can be distracting and limit personal satisfaction. Progress can keep us always looking forward and never really appreciating and enjoying the time and space we currently occupy. While the drive to move forward is natural and desirable, if not balanced with a health sense of presence, we may live our life always hungry and always eating but not noticing the deliciousness of the now and how satiated we are most of the time. As a personal practical example, I find myself under-enjoying my time hiking because I am so fixed on reaching my destination or completing the journey. Often I don't even realize that I'm doing this until after I've completed the hike. Friends will ask how the trip was and I realize that my memory is pretty limited. I remember starting and I remember finishing and the only thing that I remember from the time in between is thinking about getting done and making plans for how to get done faster. In life, as in hiking, our goal shouldn't just be to move forward but we should also strive towards enjoying the places and stages of our journey.
With the risks of distraction, abandonment of tradition and irreversible waste of resources, it is reasonable to acknowledge that progress is not exclusively positive. Certainly this doesn't mean that progress isn't at times necessary or even, again at times, desirable. However, when the limitations of progress's inherent goodness are acknowledged it can help individuals proceed with caution towards making personal advancements. Groups and organizations can also avoid being stricken with the plague of progress at any and all costs. Society as a whole will get most from its existence when it is just as quick to stand still as it is to chase progress.
Model Essay - Whenever a new stage of life or society begins, people often engage in some postulating about what the future will bring. The recently begun 21st century is no different. In light of the many changes that the last hundred years brought, people reasonably expect that these changes will continue in both frequency and scope. Some people may focus on tangible differences like changes in products or services. Others may choose to focus on some of the more abstract background elements of society and culture. Accompanying some of the differences in new technologies, in the new century, society will see many social changes including trends towards minimalism, monoculturalism and a loss of grounding identities.
In the new century, society will become more minimalistic. The last century was filled with new inventions that brought more and more things into our homes. Already in this century, we are seeing a consolidation of this multiplicity of devices into single multi-function devices. This reduction of things allows for individuals to be more mobile and have fewer things cluttering their consciousness. Take the smart phone for example. How many products does it serve the function of? The electronics are obvious: phone, computer, television, video, camera. Then consider all of the paper eliminated with email, note-taking, texting, and address books. This wealth of printed information can now be accessed exclusively through the internet. Even a family's game closets are reduced to the apps on their devices. This reduction in physical things will likely only continue and could have a minimalistic effect on other aspects of society.
Society will become more monocultural. Over the 20th century, world events brought cultures together; some of these were positive exchanges; others very negative exchanges. At the initial contact, two cultures were perhaps energized to maintain their distinctions; however with time, these cultures start to slowly blend and take on a melded identity. Major cities like New York city reflect this. At the beginning of the previous century, there were neighborhoods that had a very distinctive and singular immigrant culture be it German, Chinese, or Italian. These neighborhoods were like portals to their source countries and cultures. Today the facade of these cultures may remain but you do not have to peel back very many layers before you get to a common sameness. Monoculturalism is particularly prominent in the children of these ethnic populations. Brought together by education, media, and technology, these youth lead the way in seeing little value in dividing aspects of individual heritage and culture.
Society will become more fluid and consequently less stable. Many of the grounding pillars of society are changing. As mentioned above, distinctions of culture such as language, religion, ethnicity are becoming more pliable. This new pliability while bringing some advantages in the form of tolerance will create some conflict through the loss of a clear personal identity. While in times of prosperity and security this may not be felt or of much consequence; however, in times of crises individuals may have increased vulnerability. Take a hypothetical young man named Juan who was in an accident at work which resulted in a loss of employment. While in times of difficulty, Juan's parents would have relied on their association with their church and their friends in their small ethnic community. Juan, on the other hand, has distanced himself from both the faith of his upbringing and his cultural roots. He's left to either rely solely on his immediate family or his highly variable social connections. Individuals like Juan will need to develop a new social bedrock to keep themselves grounded.
No longer tied to previous social pillars, with fewer cultural fences, and a desire to live more free from the physical things, participants in the 21st century will find our society less worried about stuff and perhaps less sure of who they are. Anticipating and discussing these predicted changes can be helpful for several reasons. Those changes that an individual anticipate reveal points of individual insecurity and priority. Better understanding what others value and fear can lead to better understanding of the people we work and socialize with. Also as we collectively anticipate some of these advancements, we can begin to think of how to minimize any potential negative consequences. Thus we don't need to fear the future because we have collectively readied ourselves for it.
In the new century, society will become more minimalistic. The last century was filled with new inventions that brought more and more things into our homes. Already in this century, we are seeing a consolidation of this multiplicity of devices into single multi-function devices. This reduction of things allows for individuals to be more mobile and have fewer things cluttering their consciousness. Take the smart phone for example. How many products does it serve the function of? The electronics are obvious: phone, computer, television, video, camera. Then consider all of the paper eliminated with email, note-taking, texting, and address books. This wealth of printed information can now be accessed exclusively through the internet. Even a family's game closets are reduced to the apps on their devices. This reduction in physical things will likely only continue and could have a minimalistic effect on other aspects of society.
Society will become more monocultural. Over the 20th century, world events brought cultures together; some of these were positive exchanges; others very negative exchanges. At the initial contact, two cultures were perhaps energized to maintain their distinctions; however with time, these cultures start to slowly blend and take on a melded identity. Major cities like New York city reflect this. At the beginning of the previous century, there were neighborhoods that had a very distinctive and singular immigrant culture be it German, Chinese, or Italian. These neighborhoods were like portals to their source countries and cultures. Today the facade of these cultures may remain but you do not have to peel back very many layers before you get to a common sameness. Monoculturalism is particularly prominent in the children of these ethnic populations. Brought together by education, media, and technology, these youth lead the way in seeing little value in dividing aspects of individual heritage and culture.
Society will become more fluid and consequently less stable. Many of the grounding pillars of society are changing. As mentioned above, distinctions of culture such as language, religion, ethnicity are becoming more pliable. This new pliability while bringing some advantages in the form of tolerance will create some conflict through the loss of a clear personal identity. While in times of prosperity and security this may not be felt or of much consequence; however, in times of crises individuals may have increased vulnerability. Take a hypothetical young man named Juan who was in an accident at work which resulted in a loss of employment. While in times of difficulty, Juan's parents would have relied on their association with their church and their friends in their small ethnic community. Juan, on the other hand, has distanced himself from both the faith of his upbringing and his cultural roots. He's left to either rely solely on his immediate family or his highly variable social connections. Individuals like Juan will need to develop a new social bedrock to keep themselves grounded.
No longer tied to previous social pillars, with fewer cultural fences, and a desire to live more free from the physical things, participants in the 21st century will find our society less worried about stuff and perhaps less sure of who they are. Anticipating and discussing these predicted changes can be helpful for several reasons. Those changes that an individual anticipate reveal points of individual insecurity and priority. Better understanding what others value and fear can lead to better understanding of the people we work and socialize with. Also as we collectively anticipate some of these advancements, we can begin to think of how to minimize any potential negative consequences. Thus we don't need to fear the future because we have collectively readied ourselves for it.