What is the purpose of support in written prompts?

Support in written prompts serves the purpose of providing evidence from the text or student ideas. This support is essential because it strengthens the claims or arguments made by the writer, lending credibility and clarity to their points. When writers use evidence, they can substantiate their perspectives or interpretations, making their writing more persuasive and informative. This evidence may come from quotes, examples, or personal insights that align with the main idea, effectively illustrating or backing up the writer's assertions.

In contrast, although narratives might include support, they primarily focus on telling a story rather than substantiating claims. Summarizing the entire text shifts the focus away from specific support; it's more about encapsulating the main ideas rather than providing detailed backing for a point. Analyzing character motivations involves interpretation and opinion, which could benefit from support but doesn’t fundamentally capture the primary role of support in a prompt. Therefore, providing evidence is crucial for making arguments compelling and well-founded.