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ACT English Help: Topic Development

Review real example questions for Topic Development in ACT English.

Question 1 / 10

0 of 10 answered

A student writes this paragraph about citizen science projects that track birds:

Birdwatchers contribute to science by recording sightings on apps and websites. When thousands of participants submit observations, researchers can map migration routes and see how timing changes from year to year. Because the data come from many skill levels, projects often include built-in photo guides and prompts that encourage careful identification. The result is a large, continuously updated dataset that would be difficult for a small research team to collect alone.

The writer wants to add a sentence after the third sentence that explains how projects improve data reliability. Which choice best accomplishes this?

All questions

Question 1

A student writes this paragraph about citizen science projects that track birds:

Birdwatchers contribute to science by recording sightings on apps and websites. When thousands of participants submit observations, researchers can map migration routes and see how timing changes from year to year. Because the data come from many skill levels, projects often include built-in photo guides and prompts that encourage careful identification. The result is a large, continuously updated dataset that would be difficult for a small research team to collect alone.

The writer wants to add a sentence after the third sentence that explains how projects improve data reliability. Which choice best accomplishes this?

  1. Birds use a variety of calls, including songs for attracting mates and alarm notes for warning others.
  2. Some birdwatchers keep life lists, recording every species they have ever seen in any location.
  3. Binoculars are sold in a range of magnifications, and some models are designed to be waterproof.
  4. Many platforms flag unusual reports—such as a rare species in winter—and ask for a photo or expert review before adding the sighting to maps. (correct answer)

Explanation: This question tests relevance: an inserted sentence has to accomplish the specific purpose named in the prompt, which here is explaining how projects improve data reliability. The sentence about platforms flagging unusual reports, such as a rare species in winter, and requesting a photo or expert review before adding the sighting to maps describes an actual verification step, and it follows naturally from the point that 'the data come from many skill levels.' The other options stay on the general topic of birds and birdwatching without touching data quality: bird calls for attracting mates and warning others describe animal behavior, life lists describe a hobbyist habit, and binocular magnifications and waterproofing describe equipment. Turn the prompt into a question — 'how do projects make the data more reliable?' — and choose the only sentence that answers it directly.

Question 2

A student is drafting a short essay about the value of translating poetry. The draft reads:

[1] Translating a poem is not the same as swapping each word for its dictionary equivalent. [2] A translator has to decide which features to preserve—sound, rhythm, imagery, or literal meaning—when not all of them can survive the move into another language. [3] Some translators add brief notes to explain cultural references that would otherwise be confusing. [4] Poetry has existed for a long time in many cultures. [5] Even when a translation cannot match every nuance, it can still carry a poem's central emotion to new readers.

The writer wants Sentence 4 to elaborate on the challenge described in Sentences 1–3 without drifting into a broad, unfocused statement. Which choice best replaces the underlined sentence?

  1. NO CHANGE
  2. Because metaphors and wordplay often rely on local history and everyday speech, translators must sometimes invent new phrasing that creates a similar effect for their audience. (correct answer)
  3. Some poems are short, while others are long enough to fill an entire book.
  4. Many readers enjoy poetry because it can be read silently or performed aloud at public events.

Explanation: This question tests relevance and focused development: an added or replacement sentence must extend the specific idea the surrounding sentences build. Sentences 1 through 3 are all about the translator's dilemma — choosing which features to preserve when 'not all of them can survive the move into another language' — so the winner is the sentence explaining that because metaphors and wordplay rely on local history and everyday speech, translators must invent new phrasing that creates a similar effect. It names a concrete source of the difficulty and a concrete response to it, and it sets up Sentence 5's point about carrying a poem's central emotion. Keeping 'Poetry has existed for a long time in many cultures' is exactly the broad, unfocused statement the question warns against; noting that some poems are short while others fill a book and that readers enjoy poetry silently or aloud are true but say nothing about translating. Before choosing, state the paragraph's specific topic in a few words and reject any sentence that is merely about the general subject rather than that topic.

Question 3

A student writes a paragraph about why some companies are switching to four-day workweeks:

Several businesses have experimented with four-day workweeks without reducing pay. Supporters argue that a shorter week can improve focus by encouraging teams to plan meetings more carefully and limit distractions. In some trials, companies reported that productivity stayed the same or even increased. Employees also reported lower stress and fewer sick days.

The student wants to add a sentence after the third sentence that provides the most relevant evidence for the claim about productivity. Which choice best accomplishes this?

  1. Some employees use their extra day off to run errands that would otherwise take time during the workweek.
  2. Some industries, such as emergency services, must staff positions around the clock regardless of schedule changes.
  3. Many offices provide coffee and tea in shared kitchens to help workers take short breaks.
  4. In one six-month pilot, a customer-support team handled roughly the same number of tickets per week after cutting meeting time and rotating coverage. (correct answer)

Explanation: This item tests relevance: added evidence must support the specific claim named in the question, here that 'productivity stayed the same or even increased.' The sentence about a six-month pilot in which a customer-support team 'handled roughly the same number of tickets per week after cutting meeting time' does exactly that, giving a measurable output over a stated period and echoing the paragraph's point about planning meetings more carefully. The sentence about employees running errands on their day off describes personal convenience, not work output. The sentence about emergency services staffing around the clock raises a limitation on scheduling rather than evidence about productivity, and the sentence about coffee and tea in shared kitchens is an office amenity unrelated to the claim. Restate the claim in your own words first, then keep only the choice that measures that exact thing.

Question 4

A writer is drafting a paragraph about a city program that plants trees to reduce summer heat. Read the draft.

[1] In the hottest months, some neighborhoods can be several degrees warmer than others because they have fewer trees and more dark pavement. [2] To address this, the city is planting hundreds of street trees and prioritizing blocks with little existing shade. [3] The program also trains residents to water young trees during their first two summers, when roots are still developing. [4] Tree leaves come in many shapes, including needles, lobes, and smooth ovals. [5] Over time, increased shade can lower surface temperatures and make walking and waiting at bus stops more comfortable.

The writer wants to replace Sentence 4 with a detail that directly supports the paragraph's discussion of neighborhood heat and shade. Which choice is best?

  1. Some trees produce flowers in spring, and others produce fruit that can attract birds and small mammals.
  2. Many people can identify trees by their bark patterns, which may be rough, peeling, or deeply furrowed.
  3. By blocking sunlight and releasing water vapor through their leaves, trees can cool the air around them, especially along streets with wide, unshaded sidewalks. (correct answer)
  4. Some neighborhoods have older houses, while others have newer apartment buildings with different architectural styles.

Explanation: When a question asks you to replace a sentence with a detail that supports a specific discussion, the winning choice must connect to the exact ideas the paragraph is developing, not merely to the general topic of trees. This paragraph is about heat and shade, from neighborhoods that 'can be several degrees warmer than others' to shade that 'can lower surface temperatures,' so the sentence explaining that trees cool the air by blocking sunlight and releasing water vapor, 'especially along streets with wide, unshaded sidewalks,' is the one that supplies the missing mechanism. The details about spring flowers and fruit that attracts birds, about identifying trees by bark patterns, and about older houses versus newer apartment buildings are all true-sounding and all off-target, because none of them mentions heat, shade, or cooling. Leaving the original sentence about leaf shapes has the same problem: leaves appear, but heat does not. Name the paragraph's specific claim in your own words first, then pick the choice that contains that claim's key terms.

Question 5

PASSAGE IV The Violin Doctor [1] In a small, dust-mote-filled workshop in Chicago, Elena creates voices. She is a luthier, a craftsperson [36] who specializes in the repair and restoration of stringed instruments. While the world is full of mass-produced violins, Elena works on the "sick" ones—antique instruments that have suffered centuries of wear, weather, and neglect. Her patients are often older than the country she lives in. [2] To the untrained eye, a crack in a violin's body looks like a simple fracture in wood. To Elena, it is a wound in the instrument's soul. [37] Fixing it requires more than just glue, it demands an understanding of physics, chemistry, and history. She begins by removing the top plate, a delicate operation performed with a thin, heated knife. Once the instrument is open, she can see the internal architecture: the bass bar, the soundpost, and the lining strips. [3] [38] Elena's most recent project was a cello from 1790. It had been crushed in a shipping accident, its ribs splintered and its varnish scarred. Most luthiers would have declared it a total loss. Elena, [39] however, saw potential. She spent three months humidifying the wood to restore its shape. Then, using tiny "cleats"—small squares of spruce—she reinforced the cracks from the inside. [40] Each cleat had to be carved by hand to match the grain of the original wood. [4] The final step is the varnish. Modern synthetic varnishes are durable, but they stifle the sound. Elena mixes her own recipes using natural resins like amber, mastic, and sandarac. She applies the varnish in microscopic layers, [41] polishing each one with a cloth dipped in olive oil and rottenstone. This process can take weeks, but it is essential. The varnish must protect the wood while allowing it to vibrate freely, a paradox that has challenged makers for centuries. [5] When the cello was finally strung and tuned, Elena played a single low note. The sound was rich and dark, filling the small room with a resonance that felt physical. It was no longer a broken collection of wood; it was a living thing again. [42] Elena smiled, wiping the rosin dust from her hands. She isn't just fixing instruments; she is preserving history, one note at a time. [43]

Which choice provides the most effective transition from the previous paragraph?

  1. NO CHANGE
  2. Violins are smaller than cellos.
  3. To illustrate the difficulty of her work, consider her latest challenge. (correct answer)
  4. Woodworking is a dangerous profession.

Explanation: A transition sentence has to name the relationship between the paragraph that just ended and the one beginning. The paragraph before this one describes Elena's general repair process, ending with what she can see once the instrument is open: the bass bar, the soundpost, and the lining strips. The paragraph that follows tells the story of one badly damaged instrument, so the transition must signal a move from general process to specific case, which is exactly what 'To illustrate the difficulty of her work, consider her latest challenge.' does. Keeping the original wording, 'Elena's most recent project was a cello from 1790,' does introduce the cello but announces nothing about why it is being introduced, leaving the shift for the reader to infer. The remark that violins are smaller than cellos compares two instruments the passage is not contrasting, and the claim that woodworking is a dangerous profession raises a risk the passage never discusses. When a question asks for a transition, read the last sentence before the gap and the first sentence after it, then pick the option that names the relationship between them.

Question 6

PASSAGE V: The River of Grass

¹ In the early twentieth century, the general consensus regarding the Florida Everglades was that it was a useless, disease-ridden swamp. Developers and politicians viewed the millions of acres of wetlands as a problem to be solved. They embarked on massive drainage projects, digging canals and building levees to convert the marsh into dry, arable land for farming and real estate. For decades, the destruction of the Everglades was celebrated as a triumph of human engineering over nature. (41)

² One woman, (42) however, saw the Everglades differently. Marjory Stoneman Douglas, a freelance writer and journalist, moved to Miami in 1915. She spent years exploring the vast wetlands, observing the intricate balance of the ecosystem. In 1947, she published a groundbreaking book titled The Everglades: River of Grass.

³ The title itself was revolutionary. By calling it a "river," Douglas completely reframed how the public understood the region. She explained that the Everglades was not a stagnant swamp, but a wide, shallow sheet of water flowing imperceptibly slowly from Lake Okeechobee southward to the Florida Bay. (43) This sheet of water, rarely more than knee-deep, supported a staggering diversity of wildlife. Douglas vividly described the sawgrass marshes, the cypress domes, and the delicate wading birds that relied on the seasonal floods.

⁴ Douglas's book was a bestseller, (44) and it catalyzed the early environmental movement. She fiercely argued that draining the wetlands was ecological suicide. Without the slow flow of freshwater, the underground aquifers that supplied South Florida's drinking water would dry up or become contaminated by saltwater intrusion from the ocean. (45) In addition, the dry peat soil of the drained marshes became highly flammable, leading to massive, uncontrollable muck fires.

⁵ Despite the success of her book, the drainage projects continued. (46) Infuriated by the government's inaction, Douglas founded the Friends of the Everglades in 1969, when she was 79 years old. For the next thirty years, she was a relentless advocate for the wetlands. She attended public hearings, organized protests, and famously stated, "The Everglades is a test. If we pass it, we may get to keep the planet."

⁶ Today, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is the largest environmental restoration project in history. Engineers are currently working to undo the damage of the past century by filling in canals and allowing the water to flow naturally once again. (47) While the ecosystem is still threatened by pollution and climate change. (48) It is widely acknowledged that the Everglades would likely have been paved over completely if not for Marjory Stoneman Douglas. (49) Her legacy is a reminder that a single voice, armed with a profound understanding of nature, can change the course of history. (50)

Which choice most effectively concludes the essay?

  1. NO CHANGE — Her legacy is a reminder that a single voice, armed with a profound understanding of nature, can change the course of history. (correct answer)
  2. She lived to be 108 years old, passing away in 1998.
  3. The Florida panther is still highly endangered today.
  4. Many schools and parks in Florida are now named after her.

Explanation: The correct answer is A (NO CHANGE). The essay traces Marjory Stoneman Douglas's journey from observer to author to activist, building to a central argument: that one person with knowledge, passion, and persistence can have a transformative impact on the natural world. The concluding sentence 'Her legacy is a reminder that a single voice, armed with a profound understanding of nature, can change the course of history' directly captures this argument in universal, resonant terms. It elevates Douglas's story from a biographical account to a broader lesson — which is the hallmark of a strong essay conclusion. B (she lived to be 108 years old) is a biographical trivia fact with no thematic resonance — it tells us something interesting but adds nothing to the essay's argument. C (the Florida panther is still endangered) introduces a new environmental concern unconnected to Douglas's work or legacy. D (schools and parks are named after her) is a minor honor that understates her actual impact — the essay has argued she saved an entire ecosystem, and naming a park after her is a weak ending to that story. On conclusion questions, the right answer always connects back to the essay's central argument and provides thematic closure rather than adding new, unrelated facts.

Question 7

A student is drafting an essay about how city parks can support wildlife. The draft reads:

[1] In many cities, parks are designed mainly for people: open lawns, paved paths, and bright nighttime lighting. [2] But small design changes can make these spaces friendlier to birds and insects without reducing their usefulness for visitors. [3] For example, replacing some lawn with native plants provides food and shelter for pollinators. [4] Leaving a few fallen logs in an out-of-the-way corner can create habitat for beetles and fungi. [5] There are many different kinds of parks in the world.

The writer wants to add a concluding sentence that reinforces the paragraph's main idea (specific design changes that help wildlife). Which choice best replaces the underlined sentence?

  1. Because cities contain so many people, parks often need to be large enough to host concerts and sports tournaments.
  2. NO CHANGE
  3. Thoughtful features like native plantings and small "wild" areas can turn an ordinary park into a healthier ecosystem for urban species. (correct answer)
  4. Some park visitors prefer wide sidewalks because they make it easier to walk in groups.

Explanation: This question asks you to identify a concluding sentence that reinforces the paragraph's main idea about specific design changes that help wildlife. The paragraph establishes that small changes can make parks wildlife-friendly without reducing human usefulness, then provides concrete examples like native plants and fallen logs. Choice C effectively concludes by summarizing how thoughtful features can transform parks into healthier ecosystems, directly reinforcing the main idea. The original sentence (B) is far too broad and unfocused, merely stating an obvious fact about park variety. Choices A and D focus on human needs rather than wildlife benefits, missing the paragraph's central purpose. A strong concluding sentence should echo the paragraph's specific focus while providing closure, not introduce new or tangential ideas.

Question 8

PASSAGE I: The Invisible Art of Noise

¹ When watching a movie, audiences usually focus on the actors' dialogue or the sweeping musical score. Rarely do they consider the crunch of footsteps in snow, the rustle of a silk dress, or the squeak of a saddle. Most viewers assume these sounds were recorded on set during filming. In reality, however, microphones are designed to pick up dialogue, not background noise. Most of the detailed sounds you hear (1) has been created weeks later in a studio by a specialized craftsperson known as a Foley artist.

² Named after Jack Foley, a sound editor at Universal Studios in the 1920s, the profession requires a unique blend of creativity and athleticism. Foley artists work on specialized stages containing recessed areas called "Foley pits." These pits hold different surfaces—gravel, dirt, hardwood, and more—that mimic real-world textures. To recreate the sound of a character walking, the artist watches the screen and mimics the actor's steps, (2) wearing the shoes that match the character's footwear. If the character is walking on broken glass, the artist steps on scattered ceramic tiles. (3) Having carefully selected the proper materials, the realistic sound is created.

³ The work involves more than just footsteps. Foley artists must be inventive to (4) generate sounds that do not exist in the real world. For a science fiction film, the sound of an alien egg hatching (5) might be created by squishing a honeydew melon. (6) On the other hand, the bone-crunching impact of a fistfight is often simulated by breaking stalks of celery or snapping carrots wrapped in a towel. The goal is realistic audio, even if the source is decidedly artificial.

⁴ Precision is critical. The sound must sync perfectly with the visual action. If a sword is drawn from a sheath one second too late, the illusion is shattered. Foley artists often perform "wild tracks," recording sounds without watching the picture, (7) but for complex scenes, they must perform in real-time, matching their movements to the actor's rhythm.

⁵ Despite their importance, Foley artists often go unrecognized. Their work is successful only when it goes unnoticed. (8) If the audience realizes the sound of a horse's hooves is actually two halves of a coconut shell being banged together, the magic is lost. Like a magician's trick, the art of Foley relies on misdirection.

⁶ Today, digital libraries offer thousands of pre-recorded sound effects. Many directors still prefer the custom touch of a human artist. A canned sound effect is static and repetitive, (9) whereas a Foley performance is organic. It breathes life into the visual image, giving weight and texture to the world on screen. (10) The next time you watch an old horror movie, remember that someone might be standing in a studio, slowly twisting an old rusty hinge.(11)

The writer is considering deleting the underlined sentence. Should the writer do this?

  1. Yes, because it reveals a trade secret that ruins the movie magic.
  2. Yes, because it distracts from the paragraph's focus on the audience.
  3. No, because it provides a specific, humorous example of the "misdirection" mentioned in the paragraph. (correct answer)
  4. No, because it explains why coconut shells are the preferred tool for horse sounds.

Explanation: This is a deletion strategy question testing whether specific content should be kept or removed. Choice C is correct because the coconut shell example provides a specific, memorable illustration of the "misdirection" concept mentioned in the very next sentence. The detail is engaging and helps readers visualize how Foley artistry creates convincing illusions. It strengthens the paragraph by providing concrete evidence of the "magic" that gets lost when audiences recognize the techniques. Choice A misunderstands the passage purpose—the entire essay explains Foley techniques, not protects them as secrets. Choice B is incorrect because the example directly supports the paragraph's point about work going unnoticed to maintain the illusion. Choice D is factually wrong—the passage doesn't explain WHY coconut shells sound like hooves, just that they're used this way. Pro tip: Delete details only if they're truly irrelevant, redundant, or disruptive. Specific examples that support the main idea should usually stay.

Question 9

PASSAGE I: The Invisible Art of Noise

¹ When watching a movie, audiences usually focus on the actors' dialogue or the sweeping musical score. Rarely do they consider the crunch of footsteps in snow, the rustle of a silk dress, or the squeak of a saddle. Most viewers assume these sounds were recorded on set during filming. In reality, however, microphones are designed to pick up dialogue, not background noise. Most of the detailed sounds you hear (1) has been created weeks later in a studio by a specialized craftsperson known as a Foley artist.

² Named after Jack Foley, a sound editor at Universal Studios in the 1920s, the profession requires a unique blend of creativity and athleticism. Foley artists work on specialized stages containing recessed areas called "Foley pits." These pits hold different surfaces—gravel, dirt, hardwood, and more—that mimic real-world textures. To recreate the sound of a character walking, the artist watches the screen and mimics the actor's steps, (2) wearing the shoes that match the character's footwear. If the character is walking on broken glass, the artist steps on scattered ceramic tiles. (3) Having carefully selected the proper materials, the realistic sound is created.

³ The work involves more than just footsteps. Foley artists must be inventive to (4) generate sounds that do not exist in the real world. For a science fiction film, the sound of an alien egg hatching (5) might be created by squishing a honeydew melon. (6) On the other hand, the bone-crunching impact of a fistfight is often simulated by breaking stalks of celery or snapping carrots wrapped in a towel. The goal is realistic audio, even if the source is decidedly artificial.

⁴ Precision is critical. The sound must sync perfectly with the visual action. If a sword is drawn from a sheath one second too late, the illusion is shattered. Foley artists often perform "wild tracks," recording sounds without watching the picture, (7) but for complex scenes, they must perform in real-time, matching their movements to the actor's rhythm.

⁵ Despite their importance, Foley artists often go unrecognized. Their work is successful only when it goes unnoticed. (8) If the audience realizes the sound of a horse's hooves is actually two halves of a coconut shell being banged together, the magic is lost. Like a magician's trick, the art of Foley relies on misdirection.

⁶ Today, digital libraries offer thousands of pre-recorded sound effects. Many directors still prefer the custom touch of a human artist. A canned sound effect is static and repetitive, (9) whereas a Foley performance is organic. It breathes life into the visual image, giving weight and texture to the world on screen. (10) The next time you watch an old horror movie, remember that someone might be standing in a studio, slowly twisting an old rusty hinge.(11)

Suppose the writer's primary goal had been to explain the technical equipment used in modern sound recording. Would this essay accomplish that goal?

  1. Yes, because it describes specialized recording equipment such as microphones, digital sound libraries, Foley pits with various surfaces, and spring-loaded measurement devices.
  2. Yes, because it explains the mechanical process by which sound waves are captured and reproduced.
  3. No, because it focuses on the creative process and artistry of Foley artists rather than technical equipment specifications. (correct answer)
  4. No, because it discusses only historical sound recording methods without mentioning modern digital technology.

Explanation: This is a writer's goal question. Choice C is correct—while equipment is mentioned, it's not explained technically. The passage focuses on artistic process and creativity. Choice A lists equipment but passage doesn't explain technically. Choice B is wrong—no sound wave mechanics explained. Choice D is factually incorrect—digital libraries mentioned. Pro tip: Brief mentions don't equal focus.

Question 10

PASSAGE IV: The Accidental Toy

¹ Many of the world's most popular inventions were created by accident. In 1943, a naval engineer named Richard James (31) is trying to invent a set of tension springs that could keep sensitive ship equipment steady at sea. During a test in his laboratory, he accidentally knocked one of the coiled springs off a shelf. Instead of simply crashing to the floor, the steel spring "stepped" in a series of arcs from a stack of books, to a tabletop, and finally down to the ground, where it neatly coiled itself back up.

² James was mesmerized by the fluid, walking motion of the metal. He immediately realized the spring had potential as a novelty item. (32) After calculating the exact amount of tension required to make the spring walk smoothly, he spent the next year perfecting the formula. His wife, (33) Betty named the toy the "Slinky" after finding the word in a dictionary; she felt the word perfectly described the graceful, sinuous movement of the spring.

³ In 1945, Richard and Betty James manufactured the first batch of four hundred Slinkys. They convinced the manager of Gimbels Department Store (34) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to allow them to set up a display during the Christmas shopping season. (35) Initially, the toys sat unsold for days. However, once Richard set up an inclined board and demonstrated how the metal spring could walk down the ramp on its own, a crowd quickly gathered. Within ninety minutes, all four hundred Slinkys had been sold.

⁴ The Slinky became a massive success, but its simple design presented a unique manufacturing challenge. To keep the cost low, the factory had to cut and coil the steel wire with absolute precision. (36) Because each of the springs needed to have exactly ninety-eight coils. If the tension was even slightly off, the Slinky would not walk.

⁵ Despite these challenges, the James family eventually expanded their production to include plastic versions of the toy. The plastic models could be dyed in bright, vibrant colors, making them even more appealing to young children. (37) Meanwhile, the Slinky remains one of the best-selling toys in American history. Over 300 million units have been sold worldwide. The incredible popularity of this simple coil of wire proves that (38) a toy that is fun and enjoyable to play with doesn't need batteries or microchips to capture the imagination. (39)

Suppose the writer had intended to write a brief essay exploring how the materials used to make children's toys changed during the 1950s. Would this essay successfully fulfill that goal?

  1. Yes, because it notes that the James family eventually expanded their production to include plastic versions of the toy.
  2. Yes, because it explains how steel shortages during wartime affected the Slinky.
  3. No, because it focuses on the invention and history of a single, specific toy. (correct answer)
  4. No, because it argues that wooden toys were vastly superior to steel and plastic ones.

Explanation: The correct answer is C. The essay is a narrative history of the Slinky — one specific toy invented by one specific person. It never discusses broader industry trends in toy manufacturing materials, compares the Slinky to other toys, or analyzes how materials shifted across the toy industry during the 1950s. A is wrong because mentioning plastic versions of one toy in one sentence does not constitute an exploration of material changes across the toy industry. B is wrong because the essay never mentions wartime steel shortages. D is wrong because the essay makes no such argument about wooden toys. Pro tip: Essays that focus narrowly on a single subject cannot fulfill purposes that require broad, comparative, or industry-wide analysis.