The ACT writing section requires test takers to write a coherent essay within a 40-minute time limit. While it may seem daunting to churn out an organized essay under pressure, following basic templates can help streamline the writing process. Templates provide a structure to build upon and free up mental energy to focus on developing thesis statements, evidence, and cohesive paragraphs. This essay will outline three templates for the ACT writing prompt and provide examples of how to apply each one effectively.
The Basic Five Paragraph Essay Template
The classic five paragraph essay structure is tried and true for a reason – it works. This template breaks the essay into an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs with evidence/analysis, and a concluding paragraph.
The introductory paragraph should start with a hook sentence to grab the reader’s attention, then introduce the topic and provide a one sentence thesis statement. For example: “Transportation is a significant issue facing many communities. Public transportation systems allow cities to provide affordable mobility while reducing environmental impact.”
Each of the three body paragraphs should focus on one key point that supports the thesis. The first sentence reiterates the main idea, followed by 2-3 sentences of analysis or evidence from the provided sources. For example:
“Public transportation provides an affordable mobility option. According to Source A, ‘Public transportation costs citizens just pennies per day yet allows workers to access jobs and students to reach classrooms.’ Additionally, as Source B discusses, ‘84% of riders report that public transit helps them save money they would otherwise spend on private vehicle expenses such as gas and parking.'”
The concluding paragraph should restate the thesis and summarize why each body paragraph point supports the overall argument without introducing new information. For example: “Public transportation enables cities to prioritize accessibility, affordability, and environmental sustainability. Through reduced individual vehicle usage and multi-passenger systems, public transit yields economic and environmental benefits for communities nationwide.”
Sticking to this template establishes clear organization while allowing flexibility within each paragraph to develop ideas fully. The structure promotes a logical flow from introducing the topic and argument to supporting evidence to a summarizing conclusion.
Three Topic Sentence Paragraph Template
Some test takers may feel the five paragraph structure is too rigid or lacks depth. An alternative is a three paragraph template where each paragraph focuses on one aspect of the prompt through a single unifying topic sentence.
The introduction would follow the same structure as above to engage the reader and state the thesis. The three body paragraphs would then each analyze a different angle related to the prompt under a clear topic sentence. For example:
“Public transportation provides an affordable option for low-income residents. Mass transit allows citizens without access to private vehicles to hold jobs and complete daily errands at an extremely low cost compared to other transportation methods.”
“Public transportation also lessens environmental impact. As public transit use grows, fewer personal vehicles on the road means reduced greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and road/parking infrastructure demands that harm natural ecosystems.”
“Modernizing public transportation infrastructure supports economic activity. Investing in expanded routes, passenger capacity, and technologies like mobile ticketing creates local construction jobs while getting more workers, consumers, and students where they need to go efficiently every day.”
The conclusion would then reiterate how these three factors come together to demonstrate why the prompt’s issue or argument is valid. This template requires more focus to maintain cohesion within each paragraph but allows more depth on different elements.
Cause and Effect Paragraph Template
Another option examines the prompt from a cause-and-effect perspective with three interlinking paragraphs. This structure traces the chain of events or influences related to the issue.
The introduction would identify the main cause or effect and thesis. For example, focusing on climate change policy: “Rising carbon emissions threaten global stability by increasing risks of drought, rising seas and more frequent natural disasters. Enacting a carbon tax represents an effective policy solution to curb harmful greenhouse gases.”
The first body paragraph would analyze the initial cause – in this case, the cause of carbon emissions: “Burning fossil fuels for energy and transportation releases carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. The combustion of coal, oil and gas to power our modern society has increased the concentration of CO2 in our air to levels not seen in hundreds of thousands of years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”
The second paragraph would trace the effect of that cause: “Higher CO2 levels act as a blanket in our atmosphere, trapping additional heat that would otherwise escape to space. This added heat is warming our planet’s surface and oceans at an unprecedented pace over the past century, conclude climate scientists from organizations like NASA and the National Academies of Science. Warming global temperatures then influence…”
The final paragraph would examine the effect of that subsequent effect: “…such as more extreme weather events, rising sea levels due to melting ice sheets and glaciers, and expanded habitats for disease-carrying mosquitoes – endangering communities and economies worldwide. To curb these worsening impacts, policymakers must take action to reduce emissions at their source: the burning of fossil fuels.”
The conclusion would reiterate how enacting a carbon tax as the proposed policy solution would cut emissions as the driving cause and thereby lessen harmful environmental and social effects. This template traces an issue or argument’s progression logically from start to finish.
Applying Templates Effectively
These are just a sampling of potential templates test takers can apply to the ACT writing prompt, but the key is to thoughtfully consider which structure best matches the question asked and allows a coherent, well-supported response within 40 minutes. It is critical to not simply force preconceived templates but evaluate what organizational approach will facilitate clear expression of ideas. Practice is also instrumental to feel comfortable with templates under time constraints.
Mastering a few reliable structures empowers writers by giving them roadmaps to follow rather than facing an open-ended prompt alone. Templates do not confine critical thinking but channel mental energy into developing substantive content instead of dwelling on organization. Importantly, while templates aid production, writers must still infuse templates with nuanced analysis, logical reasoning, and well-cited source integration unique to each particular prompt. With practice applying templates, ACT test takers can enter the writing section with confidence to focus on developing compelling arguments.
Andrew Stroud