Steps of Prompt Dissection	What does the prompt say? (Record the specific wording of each step from the prompt.)	What does this mean to you? (State each part in your own words.)
1. Determine the context or background information.	"Many recent college graduates have faced record levels of unemployment. This situation has led people to question what they value about higher education. Some high school students and their parents are wondering if a college education is worth the cost. Others, however, believe that a college education prepares students for more than just a job or career."	Graduates are having trouble finding work upon completion of college, which is leading to speculation on the effectiveness of postsecondary education as a whole.
2. Locate the sources that you will draw from to inform or support your argument.	"Source A (Crawford) Source B (Roth) Source C (chart) Source D (Leonhardt) Source E (Wieder) Source F (Pew)"	Identify the sources in which I will be gathering information and evidence to support my argument.
3. Identify the broad task of the prompt.	"Carefully read the following six sources, including the introductory information for each source. Then synthesize information from at least three of the sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well-developed essay..."	Analyze the given sources, and then gather information from at least three of them and use them to develop my position in an argument.
4. Determine the specific task of the prompt.	"...well-developed essay that evaluates whether college is worth its cost."	Argue whether or not the cost of college is worth it or not, given the previously mentioned situation of graduates facing unemployment.
5. Determine the EXPLICIT steps that must be taken to complete the task.	"Carefully read the following six sources, including the introductory information for each source. Then synthesize information from at least three of the sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well-developed essay..." "Your argument should be the focus of your essay. Use the sources to develop your argument and explain the reasoning for it. Avoid merely summarizing the sources. Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from, whether through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. You may cite the sources as Source, A, Source B, etc., or by using the descriptions in parentheses." ***Specific words above are bolded.	Read: First, read the six provided sources. Synthesize: Choose three of the sources to draw information from in the response. Incorporate: Then, choose specific evidence from those chosen sources to include in the argument. Use: A claim needs to be stated, as well as the sources needed to be used to support and explain the argument. Explain: It is essential to explain how the evidence supports the claim. Commentary as well is essential, which is the explanation of the evidence. Indicate: Identify directly which specific sources are being used, be it through quotations, paraphrases, or summarization. Cite: Recognize where the evidence is coming from.
6. Consider the implicit directions or expectations.	Not applicable. The implicit part of the prompt is not stated directly. Record the implicit expectations in the next column.	Overall, this is the part in which insightful interpretation goes a long way, where I need to consider many different factors and/or questions, such as what the author's position is or why they wrote what they wrote.