How many of us have not experienced the joy of high school essay prompts?  In the ninth grade, they are something of a novelty.  In the tenth grade, for most of us they start coming around much more often. This is mostly because the majority of high school students take the PSATs either that year or the year after, sometimes the summer in between.  By the time you reach the eleventh grade, it seems like you are getting them all the time – this time, however, it is in preparation for the SATs or ACTs themselves.  One would think, then, that they would make no appearance in the twelfth grade – after all, why would mighty seniors need to deal with writing prompts?  However, at that point, they become even more important.  You have – perhaps! – done well on your SATs, you have certainly started sending in college applications and might have gotten accepted by many of your primary choices already.  Now your teachers are earnestly trying to prepare you for the academic writing you will experience in college, especially term papers and such.