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MCAT Writing Sample Prompts 4


It is in the nature of democracy to reward mediocrity.
Describe a specific situation in which a democracy might not reward mediocrity. Discuss what you think determines when democracy rewards mediocrity.
Governments have a responsibility to regulate companies that provide necessary services to citizens.
Describe a specific situation in which a government might not have a responsibility to regulate a company that provides a necessary service to citizens. Discuss what you think determines whether or not governments have a responsibility to regulate companies that provide necessary services to citizens.
The study of history is more an art than a science.
Describe a specific situation in which the study of history might be more of a science than an art. Discuss what you think determines whether the study of history is more an art or a science.
The purpose of law is to ensure order.
Describe a specific law whose purpose is not to ensure order. Discuss what you think determines when the purpose of law should be to ensure order and when it should be concerned with something other than order.
A government must sometimes require its citizens to do things they may not want to do.
Describe a specific situation in which a government might not be justified in requiring its citizens to do something they do not want to do. Discuss what you think determines when a government has the right to make its citizens do something they do not want to do.
In a democracy, an indifferent citizenry encourages an indifferent government.
Describe a specific situation in which an indifferent citizenry in a democracy might not encourage an indifferent government. Discuss what you think determines whether an indifferent citizenry in a democracy will or will not encourage an indifferent government.
The public's right to know must sometimes take precedence over an individual's right to privacy.
Describe a specific situation in which an individual's right to privacy might justifiable take precedence over the public's right to know. Discuss what you think determines when the public's right to know is more important than the individual's right to privacy.
History is a record of the struggle between opposing ideologies.
Describe a specific situation in which history might not be a record of the struggle between opposing ideologies. Discuss what you think determines when history is a record of the struggle between opposing ideologies and when it is not.
Any restriction of individual freedom in a society is unjustified.
Describe a specific situation in which the restriction of individual freedom in a society might be justified. Discuss what you think determines when the restriction of individual freedom in a society is justified and when it is not.
Highly paid executives are essential for the continued success of a business.
Describe a specific situation in which highly paid executives might not be essential for the continued success of a business. Discuss what you think determines whether or not highly paid executives are essential for the continued success of a business.
In a country that fosters freedom of speech, the expression of ideas should never be censored.
Describe a specific situation in which the expression of an idea should be censored, even in a free society. Discuss what you think determines whether an idea should be permitted expression.
In a democracy, a politician should vote according to the will of the constituents.
Describe a specific situation in which a politician might not vote according to the will of the constituents. Discuss what you think determines when a politician should vote according to the will of the constituents.
Alliances between countries are often based on mutual convenience.
Describe a specific situation in which an alliance between countries might be based on something other than mutual convenience. Discuss when you think convenience should determine the basis of an international alliance.
Compulsory education often inhibits a student's motivation to learn.
Describe a specific situation in which compulsory education might not inhibit a student's motivation to learn. Discuss what you think determines when compulsory education inhibits a student's motivation to learn and when it does not.
The essential function of law in a democracy is to protect individual rights.
Describe a specific situation in a democracy when a law might justifiably not protect individual rights. Discuss what you think determines when the function of law in a democracy should be the protection of individual rights.
All human rights involve responsibility.
Describe a specific situation in which a human right might not involve responsibility. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a human right involves responsibility.
All laws derive from the moral code of a majority of the people.
Describe a specific situation in which a law might not derive from the moral code of the majority. Discuss what you think determines when the moral code of the majority is the basis of law.
Moral principles should be absolute, never affected by the circumstances of a given situation.
Describe a specific situation in which a person's moral principles might be affected by circumstances. Discuss what you think determines when a person's moral principles should be absolute.
The grading system increases students' motivation to learn.
Describe a specific situation in which the grading system might not increase students' motivation to learn. Discuss what you think determines whether or not the grading system increases students' motivation to learn.
The primary concern of television news today is to entertain rather than to inform.
Describe a specific situation in which the primary concern of television news is or could be to inform. Discuss what you think determines whether the concern of television news should be to entertain or to inform.
Those who own land have the right to do with it as they choose.
Describe a specific situation in which someone who owns land might not have the right to do as they choose with it. Discuss what you thank determines whether or not those who own land have the right to do with it as they choose.
A just legal system is one that will risk freeing a guilty person before convicting an innocent one.
Describe a specific situation in which a just legal system might risk convicting an innocent person before freeing a guilty one. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a just legal system should risk freeing a guilty person before convicting an innocent one.
Political ideas are applicable only to the age that produces them.
Describe a specific situation in which a political idea might not be applicable only to the age that produces it. Discuss what you think determines when political ideas are applicable only to the age that produces them and when they are not.
Political campaigns often present a false image of the candidate.
Describe a specific situation in which a political campaign did not present a true image of a candidate. Discuss what you think determines the degree to which a political campaign presents the truth about a candidate.
In politics, the simple solution to a problem is often the most popular solution.
Describe a specific situation in which a simple solution might not be the most popular solution to a problem. Discuss what you think determines when the simple solution to a problem will be the most popular solution and when it will not.
No branch of government should have more power than another branch.
Describe a specific situation in which one branch of government might justifiably have more power than another branch. Discuss what you think determines when one branch of government should not have more power than another branch and when it should.
Crimes committed by individuals should also be considered crimes when committed by governments.
Describe a specific situation in which a crime committed by an individual might not be considered a crime when committed by a government. Discuss what you think determines whether or not crimes committed by individuals should also be considered crimes when committed by governments.
In a democracy, citizens who do not vote cannot affect their nation's political destiny.
Describe a specific situation in which citizens of a democracy who do not vote can affect their nation's political destiny. Discuss what you think determines whether citizens who do not vote can affect the political destiny of a democracy.
Society needs the concept of a legal age in order to establish when one should be considered an adult.
Describe a specific situation in which society might reasonably consider someone an adult without using the concept of legal age. Discuss what you think determines whether or not the concept of legal age should be used to establish adulthood.
The ideals that soldiers defend often differ from the ideals of those who send them into battle.
Describe a specific situation in which the ideals that soldiers defend might be the same as the ideals of those who send them into battle. Discuss what you think determines when the ideals that soldiers defend differ from the ideals of those who send them into battle and when they are the same.
The media's use of unethical investigative practices is never justified.
Describe a specific situation in which the media's use of unethical investigative practices might be justified. Discuss what you think determines when the media's use of unethical investigative practices is justified and when it is not.
The public has the right to know about the private lives of public officials.
Describe a specific situation in which the public might not have the right to know about the private life of a public official. Discuss what you think determines when the public has the right to know about the private lives of public officials and when it does not.
Persons who have political power should exercise that power to benefit others, not themselves.
Describe a specific situation in which it might be justifiable to exercise political power for personal benefit. Discuss what you think determines when it is appropriate to exercise political power for personal benefit.
Justice is best served by truth.
Describe a specific situation in which justice might not be served by truth. Discuss what you think determines whether or not truth serves justice.
Objectivity should be the primary goal in reporting the news.
Describe a specific situation in which a news report might justifiably not be completely objective. Discuss what you think determines whether or not objectivity should be the primary goal of news reporting.
The way something is sold is often more important than what is being sold.
Describe a specific situation in which what is being sold might be more important than the way it is sold. Discuss what you think determines whether or not the way something is sold is more important than what is being sold.
The more wealth a nation possesses, the more personal liberty it offers its citizens.
Describe a specific situation in which the personal liberty of citizens might not depend on a nation's wealth. Discuss what you think determines when the personal liberty of citizens depends on a nation's wealth and when it does not.
People's dissatisfaction with their living conditions leads to social progress.
Describe a specific situation in which people's dissatisfaction with their living conditions might not lead to social progress. Discuss what you think determines whether or not people's dissatisfaction with their living conditions leads to social progress.
Innovative methods used by the press to reach a broader audience often end up providing that audience with less information.
Describe a specific situation in which innovative methods used by the press might not end up providing an audience with less information. Discuss what you think determines when innovative methods used by the press to reach a broader audience end up providing less information.
In a free society, individuals must be allowed to do as they choose.
Describe a specific situation in which individuals in a free society should not be allowed to do as they choose. Discuss what you think determines when a free society is justified in restricting an individual's actions.
In government, idealism must sometimes give way to reality.
Describe a specific situation in which idealism in government might not have to give way to reality. Discuss what you think determines when idealism in government should give way to reality.
Only when public figures admit their mistakes can they earn the public's trust.
Describe a specific situation in which a public figure is trusted despite not admitting a mistake. Discuss what you think determines whether admitting a mistake will gain the public's trust.
Concerned individuals are often better than the government at solving society's problems.
Describe a specific situation in which the government might be better than concerned individuals at solving a social problem. Discuss what you think determines whether the government or concerned individuals will be better at solving social problems.
The best education teaches students to question authority.
Describe a specific situation in which education might teach students to respect authority. Discuss what you think determines when education should teach students to question authority and when it should teach them to respect authority.
In a democracy, elections are the surest way to bring about political change.
Describe a specific situation in which an election might not be the surest way to bring about political change in a democracy. Discuss that you think determines when elections are the surest way to bring about political change in a democracy and when they are not.
Our belief in an idea only lasts until the introduction of the next idea.
Describe a specific situation in which an idea might continue to be believed even after the introduction of an idea that challenges it. Discuss what you think determines whether or not our belief in an idea will be displaced by a new idea.
In politics, resorting to personal attack usually indicates the weakness of one's own position.
Describe a specific political situation in which resorting to personal attack might not be an indication of the weakness of one's own position. Discuss what you think determines when resorting to personal attack in politics is an indication of the weakness of one's own position.
Students are their own best teachers.
Describe a specific situation in which students might not be their own best teachers. Discuss what you think determines when students can be their own best teachers and when they cannot.