How do you respond to a prompt (what's the structure?)

[Knightmare2011]

Our class recently received our first prompt for the year and i'm not quite sure how to write it, as in, whats the structure? is it like a your average persuasive essay? or is it something entirely different? Please read what i wrote so far and tell me if i'm on the right track please. Thanks very much in advance

We need to hold onto illusions in order to cope with reality

Illusions are what separate us humans from animals. It is what holds us together and gives us hope in times of stress and hardship. It is what encourages us to continue moving forward. All people need to hold onto illusions in order to cope with reality, whether it is for working towards a certain dream or goal, covering up the shocking or sad truth or just refusing to accept what is real and what is not.

Those who are really ambitious and strive for the hard-to-achieve long term goals in life, tend to always hold on to certain illusions. These illusions become their motivation; they become a destination that they can travel towards and become what pushes them to work harder and ultimately, to achieve their final goal. For example, a person who endeavors to become a doctor or a veterinarian would most likely hold onto an illusion of them saving the lives of many patients and animals and seeing how grateful and happy their families or owners are. These illusions will then act as an extra encouragement factor in their life which helps to support them throughout their studies, and overcome the challenges that await them during V.C.E and University no matter how difficult it may be.

Reality and illusions were dealt with in a rather different way in the movie ‘The Player’. The main character, Griffin Mill was portrayed to the audience as a liar, murderer, betrayer and a thief; this was his reality. But in the eyes of the other characters in the movie, Griffin Mill was portrayed as a well respected and successful Studio Executor; this was his illusion, which he used to cover up his reality. Throughout the starting scene of the play, Griffin Mill was seen listening to many film writers pitch their ideas for a potential movie, and although he finds most of them outrageous, he does not reject the script outright and instead misleads them about his reaction to the script so that he does not hurt their feelings. In doing so, he is giving the screen writers a false sense of hope, an illusion that they can hold onto before he rejects them in reality. This ultimately shows that people will need to hold onto illusions in order to cope with reality. 

[lynt.br]

This sounds like a context essay. I recommend you read some of the sample context essays on the site and check of Shinny's guide to context writing in the guides thread if you are confused on what you need to do.

Unless your teacher said otherwise, context writing can take any format you like. Most students categorise context essays into either expository (meaning standard academic essay), persuasive or creative. Neither format is 'better' than the other, however I recommend most students, especially students who have just started studying this part of the course, stick to expository essays. This is because I find it is easiest to discuss the philosophical side of context essays in an academic format. In creative pieces, it is very difficult to strike a balance between convincing narrative and sufficient depth of ideas.

If you are stuck on what to write, a general template may be to start with a single idea, statement or argument, e.g. People hold onto illusions to temper the harshness of reality. From this general idea you can then draw examples from the text you are studying and use them as evidence either for or against the statement. Then you must extrapolate on this textual evidence and apply it to the real world. For example, does the text accurately represent how people react in the real world? Do people now react differently? Do different people react in different ways? If possible, find examples from the real world to make your arguments more convincing.

It is important to remember context is not the same as text response and examiners will be quick to criticise you as soon as they detect you drifting into text response territory. Remember you not so much analysing the text as using the text as a possible source of evidence during your analysis of the prompt. Always keep the focus on the context study. A good tip is to avoid referring to the text in the first and last sentences in each paragraph.

Examiners are also looking for essays that recognise the humans all lie on a long spectrum and that it is impossible to make simplistic statements that apply to everyone (Avoid saying 'All people feel/do X'). The best essays show sensitivity to the exceptions of society and always consider the flipside of any arguments or statements made. It might be a good idea to devote a paragraph to discussing any exceptions or counter arguments you can think of.

Hope this helps and good luck!