Which step best ensures quotes and analysis directly address the prompt?

• A. Plan, draft, and revise with the prompt in mind.
• B. Rely on memory rather than notes.
• C. Write without any plan.
• D. Use a checklist that ensures quotes and analysis directly address the prompt.

Answer: (D)

Direct alignment between quotes, analysis, and what the prompt asks for is best achieved with a checklist. This tool provides a concrete, repeatable way to verify that each quoted example is chosen for a specific prompt requirement and that the accompanying analysis explains exactly how that evidence answers the prompt. Planning, drafting, and revising with the prompt in mind is valuable for structure, but a checklist makes the alignment explicit and verifiable at every step. Relying on memory risks forgetting key quotes or misreading what the prompt requires, and writing without a plan can lead you astray from the task. The checklist keeps quotes and analysis tightly connected to the prompt, ensuring your response stays on target.