MCAT Writing Sample Prompts 3
The surest way to political success is to offer hope to the voters. Describe a specific situation in which offering hope to the voters might not lead to political success. Discuss what you think determines when offering hope to the voters will lead to political success and when it will not. | The strength of a democracy depends upon each citizen's respect for the ideas of others. Describe a specific situation in which the strength of a democracy might not depend upon its citizens' respect for the ideas of others. Discuss what you think determines when the strength of a democracy depends upon its citizens' respect for the ideas of others. |
A government's use of force to maintain social order is sometimes justified. Describe a specific situation in which a government's use of force to maintain social order might not be justified. Discuss what you think determines when a government's use of force to maintain social order is justified and when it is not. | The arts do not significantly enhance the quality of human life. Describe a specific situation in which the arts might significantly enhance the quality of human life. Discuss what you think determines whether or not the arts significantly enhance the quality of human life. |
In business, success is often due to the mistakes of others. Describe a specific situation in which success in business might not be due to the mistakes of others. Discuss what you think determines when success in business is the result of the mistakes of others. | Some dishonesty is necessary to keep a friendship strong. Describe a specific situation in which some dishonesty is not necessary to keep a friendship strong. Discuss what you think determines whether or not some dishonesty is necessary to keep a friendship strong. |
Nations often resist new approaches to solving social problems. Describe a specific situation in which a nation did or might attempt to solve a social problem with a new approach. Discuss what you think determines when a new approach would be the best way for a nation to solve a social problem. | The best laws derive from rational thought rather than emotion. Describe a specific situation in which a good law might derive from emotion rather than rational thought. Discuss what you think determines when the best laws derive from rational thought and when they derive from emotion. |
Technology may be increasing faster than our ability to use it wisely. Describe a specific situation in which a new technology might not be beyond our ability to use it wisely. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a new technology can be used wisely. | A popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does. Describe a specific situation in which a popular television show might not reveal more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper would. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a popular television show reveals more about a nation than the editorial page of a newspaper does. |
In politics, the responsible use of power is rewarded with greater power. Describe a specific situation in which the responsible use of power might not be rewarded with greater power. Discuss what you think determines whether or not the responsible use of power will be rewarded with greater power. | The government should not regulate scientific research. Describe a specific situation in which the government should regulate scientific research. Discuss what you think determines whether or not the government should regulate scientific research. |
The way to achieve political success is to promise people that their lives will be better. Describe a specific situation in which the way to achieve political success might not be to promise people that their lives will be better. Discuss what you think determines whether or not the way to achieve political success is to promise people that their lives will be better. | A researcher must be thorough, painstaking, and disciplined, but also willing to suspend these qualities in order to follow a hunch. Describe a specific situation in which it might be better for a researcher to follow a hunch. Discuss what you think determines whether a researcher should be disciplined or follow a hunch. |
Progress often complicates as much as it simplifies. Describe a specific situation in which progress might simplify more than it complicates. Discuss what you think determines whether progress complicates or simplifies. | A nation's foreign aid should be directed to help those countries that help themselves. Describe a specific situation in which a nation's foreign aid might justifiably not be directed to help those countries that help themselves. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a nation's foreign aid should be directed to help those countries that help themselves. |
Only after coming to know another culture can a person truly begin to understand its people. Describe a specific situation in which it might be possible to understand a people without knowing about their culture. Discuss what you think determines when knowing another culture is necessary for understanding its people. | Laws are not an effective means of achieving social change. Describe a specific situation in which a law might be an effective means of achieving social change. Discuss what you think determines whether or not laws can effectively bring about social change. |
Praise teaches better than criticism. Describe a specific situation in which praise might not teach better than criticism. Discuss what you think determines whether praise or criticism teaches better. | We are educated more by our mistakes than by our successes. Describe a specific situation in which someone might be educated more by success than by mistakes. Discuss what you think determines whether or not one learns more from mistakes than from successes. |
Teachers must accept partial responsibility for the failure of any of their students. Describe a specific situation in which a teacher might justifiably not accept some responsibility for the failure of a student. Discuss what you think determines whether or not teachers should accept some responsibility for the failure of one of their students. | A politician's true beliefs are displayed during a crisis. Describe a specific situation in which a politician's true beliefs might not be displayed during a crisis. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a crisis will bring out a politician's true beliefs. |
Celebrities, having sought fame, lose their right to privacy. Describe a specific situation in which a celebrity should not lose the right to privacy. Discuss what you think determines whether or not celebrities should lose their right to privacy. | The plurality of opinions in a democratic system often leads to political deadlock. Describe a specific political situation in which the plurality of opinions might not lead to deadlock. Discuss what you think determines whether or not an abundance of opinions will lead to political deadlock in a democracy. |
A politician's public image is more important than his or her ideas. Describe a specific situation in which a politician's ideas might be more important than his or her public image. Discuss what you think determines when a politician's public image might be more important than his or her ideas and when it might not. | Great leaders follow the will of the majority. Describe a specific situation in which a great leader might not follow the will of the majority. Discuss what you think determines whether or not great leaders follow the will of the majority. |
Receiving a political endorsement can be as harmful as it is helpful. Describe a specific situation in which receiving a political endorsement might not be harmful. Discuss what you think determines when political endorsements are harmful and when they are helpful. | Violence is never justified as a way to resolve disputes. Describe a specific situation in which violence might be justified as a way to resolve disputes. Discuss what you think determines whether or not violence is justified as a way to resolve disputes. |
The rich have a responsibility to help the poor. Describe a specific situation in which the rich might not have a responsibility to help the poor. Discuss what you think determines whether or not the rich have a responsibility to help the poor. | The primary requirement for a successful politician is common sense. Describe a specific situation in which a politician might need an asset other than common sense to be successful. Discuss what you think determines when politicians need common sense in order to achieve success and when they do not. |
In a democracy, the government is never justified in lying to its citizens. Describe a specific situation in which the government, in a democracy, might be justified in lying to its citizens. Discuss what you think determines whether or not the government, in a democracy, is ever justified in lying to its citizens. | The privileges of citizenship in a democracy involve responsibilities. Describe a specific privilege of citizenship in a democracy that might not involve responsibility. Discuss what you think determines when privileges of citizenship in a democracy involve responsibilities. |
The exercise of political leadership is limited to those holding office. Describe a specific situation in which the exercise of political leadership might not be limited to those holding office. Discuss what you think determines whether or not the exercise of political leadership is limited to those holding office. | Environmental concerns should always take priority over economic concerns. Describe a specific situation in which environmental concerns might not justifiably take priority over economic concerns. Discuss what you think determines whether environmental or economic concerns should have priority. |
Employees should have the same right to privacy in the workplace as they do outside the workplace. Describe a specific situation in which an employee should not have the same right to privacy in the workplace as outside it. Discuss what you think determines whether or not employees should have the same right to privacy inside the workplace as they do outside it. | In a free society, laws must be subject to change. Describe a specific situation in which a law should not be subject to change in a free society. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a law in a free society should be subject to change. |
The primary purpose of law is to maintain order, not to ensure justice. Describe a specific situation in which the primary purpose of law might be to ensure justice. Discuss what you think determines whether the primary purpose of law should be to maintain order or to ensure justice. | Although it claims to promote individuality, most advertising promotes conformity. Describe a specific situation in which advertising might promote individuality rather than conformity. Discuss what you think determines whether advertising promotes individuality or conformity. |
A government is obligated to see that the basic needs of its citizens are met. Describe a specific situation in which a government might not be obligated to see that the basic needs of its citizens are met. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a government is obligated to see that its citizens' basic needs are met. | Popular entertainment is rarely excellent entertainment. Describe a specific situation in which entertainment might be both "popular" and "excellent." Discuss what you think determines when entertainment can be both "popular" and "excellent." |
Government should not make laws regarding people's personal safety. Describe a specific situation in which government might justifiably make a law regarding people's personal safety. Discuss what you think determines when government is justified in making laws regarding people's personal safety and when it is not. | Technology solves many problems, but in the process often creates new problems. Describe a specific situation in which a technology might not create a new problem. Discuss what you think determines when a technology's benefits outweigh its potential problems. |
The essential concern of a democracy must be the protection of human rights. Describe a specific situation in which the concern of a democracy might be something other than the protection of human rights. Discuss what you think determines when the concern of a democracy should be the protection of human rights. | In a democracy, the successful politician resembles the ordinary citizen. Describe a specific situation in which the successful politician in a democracy does not resemble the ordinary citizen. Discuss what you think determines whether or not the successful politician resembles the ordinary citizen. |
No country should interfere with the internal politics of another country. Describe a specific situation in which a country might justifiably interfere with the internal politics of another country. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a country should interfere with another country's internal politics. | Society is best served by giving people as much freedom as possible. Describe a specific situation in which society might not be best served by giving people as much freedom as possible. Discuss what you think determines when society is best served by giving people as much freedom as possible. |
People tend to ignore the flaws of national leaders. Describe a specific situation in which people might not ignore the flaws of national leaders. Discuss what you think determines when people might ignore the flaws of national leaders and when they might not. | The wisest leaders follow the advice of those around them. Describe a specific situation in which a wise leader might not follow the advice of others. Discuss what you think determines when it is wise for a leader to follow the advice of others and when it is unwise. |
Most financial decisions are made because of greed. Describe a specific situation in which a financial decision might not be made because of greed. Discuss what you think determines when greed is the basis for making a financial decision. | Only a fully informed electorate can vote responsibly. Describe a specific situation in which a less than fully informed electorate might vote responsibly. Discuss what you think determines how much information is enough to allow for responsible voting. |
Only educated people can take advantage of new technologies. Describe a specific situation in which uneducated people might be able to take advantage of a new technology. Discuss what you think determines whether only educated people can take advantage of new technologies. | A democratic government is never justified in keeping secrets from the voting public. Describe a specific situation in which the government of a democracy might be justified in keeping a secret from the voters. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a democratic government is justified in keeping secrets from the voters. |
In a democracy, the press has not only the right but the responsibility to report all of the news. Describe a specific situation in which a free press would be justified in not reporting something. Discuss what you think determines when something should be reported by the press. | Politicians often achieve their goals by ignoring the needs of their constituents. Describe a specific situation in which a politician might achieve a political goal without ignoring the needs of the constituents. Discuss what you think determines whether or not politicians can achieve political goals by ignoring the needs of constituents. |
Adaptation is necessary for success in business. Describe a specific situation in which adaptation might not be necessary for success in business. Discuss what you think determines when adaptation is necessary for success in business and when it is not. | A business' main purpose should be to make a profit. Describe a specific situation in which the main purpose of a business might justifiably be something other than making a profit. Discuss what you think determines whether or not the main purpose of a business should be to make a profit. |
In politics, the end rarely justifies the means. Describe a specific situation in which a political end might justify using questionable means for accomplishing that end. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a political end justifies the means for accomplishing that end. | Political decisions made for the sake of a present good may in time prove to be mistakes. Describe a specific situation in which a political decision made for the sake of a present good might not prove to be a mistake. Discuss what you think determines whether or not political decisions made for the sake of a present good will prove to be mistakes. |