Diagnostic Essay. The diagnostic writing exercise will help your instructor discover who you are as a writer. The essay will be used to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses as a writer, and it will allow the instructor the opportunity to identify grammatical, mechanical, and stylistic problems specific to each student. You will earn full credit for completing this assignment, as long as you follow instructions.
Word Range: 400-500 Estimated Time on Task: 1hour
Please select one of the topics below as the subject of a short essay.
Topic 1: Favorite Location
Think of a specific location that means something to you, such as the ocean, front porch of a favorite family restaurant, or perhaps a favorite room in your home. Convey that meaning to the reader by describing the location as it impacts three of the five senses – sight, sound, touch, taste, or smell.
Topic 2: Healthy vs. Happy? Is taking care of your health—watching what you eat, exercising regularly, etc.—a big waste of time? Isn’t life too short to worry about these things? Shouldn’t we just eat and do what we want? Explain your position.