I chose a question that I thought looked difficult to answer; 2010 Form , question 2.
I believe I would have mainly focused on the descriptions of the physical lands and the descriptions of the people who live in the Midwest, because it is this contrast/comparison that keeps the reader's attention. Also, because the Midwest is talked about in a relatively negative way, it serves to show exactly what the author's elder's were excited for when they immigrated to America. They seem to be content with being allotted this land, even though the author describes it as vast and dull, with little things to do, and little people running about.The geometry of the states is brought up more than a few times, most likely to represent the dullness of the Midwest in the author's perspective.
The essays that did well focused on how "bad" the land was seen to be by the people who first uncovered it, but showing the actual people the environment created with respect, as they had to have been raised in such a land that was previously thought to be terrible and vacant. Juxtaposition was important; comparing the Midwest to something else--either the people, or another land.
I might not have done very well, but at least I would have gotten a decent part of the juxtaposition.
