Guide/02 The Essay Course
Short Answers, Lists & Unusual Prompts
How to use 25–100 words well — short answers, list questions, the roommate letter, and creative or quirky prompts.
Chapter 17 of 385 min readUpdated September 25, 2026 Preview
"What song represents the soundtrack of your life?" "List the books you've read for pleasure." "Write a note to your future roommate." Short and unusual prompts can feel like throwaways. They aren't.
They're often where a reader gets the clearest sense of your personality — because in 50 words, there's no room to hide behind polished phrasing...
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What’s in this chapter
- 1The rules for any short answer
- 2Short answers (25–100 words)
- 3List questions
- 4The roommate letter
- 5Creative and quirky prompts
- 6"Anything else you'd like us to know?"