HiSET: Essay Prompt

On the HiSET test, you will have a timed essay portion. Your essay will be graded primarily on the following:

1. How well you develop your main idea, using supporting details and examples
2. How clearly you organize and explain your points and how cohesively your paragraphs fit together
3. How well you exhibit a command of the English language, including grammar and sentence structure

Examples:

Black History Month
Black History Month began as Negro History Week, established by black historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926. Fifty years later, in 1976, the week was expanded to encompass the month of February. Opinions differ on whether its continued observance is the best way to ensure a shared knowledge, interest, and respect for all that is encompassed in African American history.

Passage 1: 'An Outdated Ritual'
Black History Month is unnecessary. In a place and time in which we overwhelmingly elected an African American president, we can and should move to a post-racial approach to education. As Detroit Free Press columnist Rochelle Riley wrote in a February 1 column calling for an end to Black History Month, "I propose that, for the first time in American history, this country has reached a point where we can stop celebrating separately, stop learning separately, stop being American separately."
In addition to being unnecessary, the idea that African American history should be focused on in a given month suggests that it belongs in that month alone. It is important to instead incorporate African American history into what is taught every day as American history. It needs to be recreated as part of mainstream thought and not as an optional, often irrelevant, side note. We should focus efforts on pushing schools to diversify and broaden their curricula.
There are a number of other reasons to abolish it: first, it has become a shallow commercial ritual that does not even succeed in its (limited and misguided) goal of focusing for one month on a sophisticated, intelligent appraisal of the contributions and experiences of African Americans throughout history. Second, there is a paternalistic flavor to the mandated bestowing of a month in which to study
African American history that is overcome if we instead assert the need for a comprehensive curriculum. Third, the idea of Black History Month suggests that the knowledge imparted in that month is for African Americans only, rather than for all people.

Passage 2:
'Let the Celebration Continue'
Black History Month is still an important observance. Despite the important achievement of the election of our first African American president, the need for knowledge and education about African American history is still unmet to a substantial degree. Black History Month is a powerful tool in working towards meeting that need. There is no reason to give up that tool now, and it can easily coexist with an effort to develop a more comprehensive and inclusive yearly curriculum.
Having a month set aside for the study of African American history doesn't limit its study and celebration to that month; it merely focuses complete attention on it for that month. There is absolutely no contradiction between having a set-aside month and having it be present in the curriculum the rest of the year. Equally important is that the debate itself about the usefulness of Black History Month can, and should, remind parents that they can't necessarily count on schools to teach African American history as thoroughly as many parents would want.
Although Black History Month has, to an extent, become a shallow ritual, it doesn't have to be. Good teachers and good materials could make the February curriculum deeply informative, thought-provoking, and inspiring. The range of material that can be covered is rich, varied, and full of limitless possibilities.
Finally, it is worthwhile to remind ourselves and our children of the key events that happened during the month of February. In 1926, Woodson organized the first Black History Week to honor the birthdays of essential civil rights activists Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. W. E. B. DuBois was born on February 23, 1868. The 15th Amendment, which granted African Americans the right to vote, was passed on February 3, 1870. The first black U.S. senator, Hiram R. Revels, took his oath of office on February 25, 1870. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded on February 12, 1909. Malcolm X was shot on February 21, 1965.

Practice: Write an essay to explain your position on the issue of the relevance of Black History Month and what should be done to promote greater understanding of African-American history.
In order to support your position, you will need to use examples from the provided passages and from your own experience. Be sure to acknowledge other viewpoints while you attempt to persuade readers of your own viewpoint. Try to leave time for reviewing your work and making any corrections to spelling, punctuation, or grammar as needed.