1000 Writing Prompts 1p3v2x

1000 Writing Prompts and Topics "If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Too often in our classrooms, students are provided topics for their writing assignments, which are often called prompts. I think of prompts and topics as two different launching points for writing. It might just be a matter of semantics, but I think it is an important distinction. When students are provided a prompt, they are given something to help them generate ideas for a topic. In other words, the prompt "blue" might generate the topic of "certain types of music make me feel blue," or the much different topic of "school pride is an important thing" (generated from writing about school colors of blue and white). However, some so-called "prompts" ask students to answer specific questions...in this case, the topic has already been decided for them. The students are filling in for those topics. For instance, a topic prompt might read "Write an essay explaining what makes a great leader." Students then generate for the predetermined topic. One exercise is not necessarily better than the other, but it is important that students practice both. Too often we give them topics, and they fill in . Without the opportunities to create their own topics, students lose chances to improve independent and critical thinking -- and they lose interest. If you find yourself saying things like, "these kids don't know how to think on their own," perhaps it is because they are not often provided that chance. Use these prompts (and topics) daily and I believe that you will see and hear several things. First, they will struggle. "What do we write about?" "I don't get it!" Just tell them to write whatever comes to mind. Do not model an example for them. Contrary to popular belief, this does NOT always produce the best results...too often it produces copycats. I model by writing with them, showing them what real writers do -- writers "get to work" on their writing. The modeling also comes when you all share on a daily basis. When students hear how twenty different topics were generated from the prompt "blue," they start to see the potential of the process. These pages will explain how to use these prompts in a way that will improve motivation and writing. And as a benefit, how you can expect them to write much more, while you grade even less. It is also important to note that many times people think these prompts are only useful with fiction or a specific genre. With very few exceptions, you can use these prompts for ANY type of writing. Simply let the students know this ahead of time. In other words, if your end goal is to have them write a persuasive paper, you would follow these steps: 1. Show them persuasive pieces as examples. 2. Explain that they will work on a persuasive paper for the next several days/weeks -- whatever your schedule is going to be. 3. Provide the prompts, and explain that they are to use them to generate their own topics -- by thinking of them in of opinions and issues. If you think you don't have time for this much writing in your class, think again. If you walk students through the process of writing, they ultimately improve their reading skills. If you can cut some of the things that are not necessary, that do not show results (think daily grammar warm-ups), that are taking up your valuable class time, and you replace it with real writing, you will find your students responding with real results in several areas.

www.EnglishTeachersFriend.com

How to use these prompt—and save your sanity Writer’s Notebook (5-10 minutes every day)  Don’t grade them or read them (give participation grade).  Write with them!!! No checking email or grading papers. If you want it to work, then you must write, too.  Monday- Thursday: Write for 5-10 minutes as much as you can in that time. Note: It might take weeks before they really start writing, but keep at it. They will. Explain that they MUST keep writing during the allotted time. No stopping early. Using a timer can really help.  Share with a partner or as a class for 3-5 minutes.  On Friday, students will write a polished paper. They can look back through their notebooks for ideas, lines or images they like, or complete a piece they did not finish. Time depends on class. HW: Turn in completed piece on Monday.  Monday- Collect last week’s polished papers (see below)  Give yourself ONE WEEK to read, but do not write on papers. Instead, make notes of common errors/issues to address. Type up examples using their writing. (see more below)  Grade based simply on completion (whole, partial, none)  Start prompts again. What to do with Polished Papers (Once a week for 30-60 minutes)  Each week you should collect a polished paper on the same day you are prepared to return one.  BEFORE students turn in the new weekly polished paper, back papers from last week.  Go over 1-2 issues per week, using their examples (as noted above). This is where grammar and style lessons are taught and students use their papers as models. Students write those 1-2 issues on top of their papers. Ex. Skill for the week: fragments, details.  Students must find the writing issue in both their papers. You can build in peer editing too.  The paper you just ed back goes in a writing folder (with their corrections on it) and the new paper (with corrections from the lesson you just gave) gets turned in.  Collect and start again. Grade on completion and/or catching the errors/issues you just taught. Writing Workshop (Every 4-6 weeks for 2-3 days)  Every 4-6 weeks students take their polished pieces from their writing folder and select one they want to revise and submit for workshop.  Must be typed and name must be on the back of the paper.  Teacher makes copies of some of the pieces. Choose approximately 8-10 that represent a sampling of the papers. Then distribute as a packet to students.  Students workshop 2-3 each day for the week. See workshop handouts for more about conducting a workshop Write for Publication (Each semester)  Students revise polished papers again and choose one they want to send for publication. See the Publication page on the site for more about student friendly publications. www.EnglishTeachersFriend.com

Year One Single Word /# surprise

Phrases

Image

Question

A family tradition or ritual

What does being old men?

make a list of… favorite smells

danger

The color of hunger

What does being young mean?

childhood toys

blue

I am confused when…

How did the dent in your mom’s car get there?

memories

ice cream

I used to believe…

Why bother reading?

cool jobs

shallow

favorite holiday…

Why bother writing?

first lines

scent

the bully

Who knows me best?

pet peeves

creep

the worse vacation

Why are some people so cruel?

your good qualities

Quotes

Directions

Test Prep

“A well read people are easy to lead, but difficult to drive; easy to govern, but difficult to enslave.” –Baron Henry Brougham

Write an A-Z piece. First sentence starts with A, second with B, etc.

Write a convincing and original excuse for not having to do work today.

“The life of the creative man is lead, directed and controlled by boredom. Avoiding boredom is one of our most important purposes.” –Saul Steinberg “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead “He who has imagination without learning has wings and no feet.” – Joseph Joubert “Knowledge is created by the learner, not given by the teacher.” --unknown

____ is the type of relative who ____. Tell a story to prove it.

The school board is considering doing away with school sports to save money. Write a letter to the school board explaining why they should or should not continue with the plan.

Find something interesting in this room. Write about the mystery behind it.

What invention would you like to see in your lifetime?

Why does Randy not like to stay out after dark? Write about it.

Convince me that you are responsible.

Write the personal story behind a news article.

Describe a place that helps people.

“How many people know how to use the computer on their desk but don’t know how to use the computer in their head?” –unknown “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” –Thomas Edison

Write a letter to who you were five years ago.

Persuade me to try your favorite hobby.

Write a letter to yourself 5 years from now.

Write an essay explaining why a decision you made was the right one.


74

a visit to see the doctor

What can animals teach humans?

favorite places

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~Henry David Thoreau

Write a piece using only one syllable words.

common

brothers and sisters

If you could only keep ten memories what would they be?

injuries you’ve had

No matter where you go or what you do, you live your entire life within the confines of your head. -Terry Josephson

Write a letter to yourself and date it six months from today. Write about your current concerns and expectations. Also remind yourself of something not to forget.

drive

Toys I’ll never give up

What can children teach adults?

Strangest things you’ve seen

A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. -Mark Twain


According to some people, elderly drivers should be required to reapply for their driving licenses because with age comes diminished vision, hearing, and reaction time. How do you feel about this issue? Explain what you think should be done and why.

lost

Morning madness

Why didn’t you learn the first time?

Holidays you would like to see created.

Always forgive your enemies nothing annoys them so much. --Oscar Wilde

Describe your room using all your senses.

27

Mom volunteered me

Did you ever see a ghost?

best stories

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. --Winston Churchill

Use all five of these words in a poem: beige, blink, wait, mind, wrestle

Medical researchers, cosmetic companies, and others often perform experiments on animals. Many people feel that experimentation on animals is wrong and should be stopped immediately because animals do feel pain, and there are other alternatives. How do you feel? State your position and explain your reasons. You are serving on a committee that will design a new high school for your community. Choose one feature for the new high school that you will suggest to the design committee. Write a report to the committee, explaining what this feature is and why it is beneficial.

river

Foot in my mouth

When did you forget something really important?

secrets you can now reveal

Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing. To Kill a Mockingbird

orange

The gift meant a lot

Who USED to be your hero?

cool gadgets

Your attitude, not your aptitude, determines your altitude. --Zig Ziglar

Describe your kitchen. Include something green, something alive, and something strong. Write a haiku about water.

In order to save money, your principal is thinking about canceling all fieldtrips for the remainder of the year. Write an essay persuading him or her to allow students to continue attending fieldtrips. Use specific reasons and examples to your response. Good habits improve our physical, emotional, and/or financial health. Select one of your good habits and write an essay persuading readers to make that habit a part of their lives.

past

We all make mistakes

What triggers anger in you?

important friends and family

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. --Thomas A Edison

In exactly three minutes write a poem using the words: race, deserve, apple, store, fire

Many parents give children a weekly or monthly allowance regardless of their behavior because they believe an allowance teaches children to be financially responsible. Other parents only give children an allowance as a reward for completing chores or when they have behaved properly. Explain what you think parents should do and why.


Some people feel that the public school system does not adequately prepare students for the real world. Identify one improvement you think schools need to make in order to better prepare students for life after high school. Write a letter to the school board in which you describe this improvement and explain why it is needed. Many people believe that television violence has a negative effect on society because it promotes violence. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to your response.

stall

A family story

What is the strangest thing that has made you cry before?

Things you are curious about

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. --Waldo Emerson

Describe how a color might change your emotion.

What is your all-time favorite movie and why? Write an essay persuading readers to watch this film.

found

school needs

What one thing would you change about yourself if you could?

things you love

“In the End, we will not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” --Martin Luther King Jr.

Write about something you love as if you hate it.

Many people volunteer their time to help others, either through non-profit organizations, churches, or other charitable venues. Write an essay convincing readers to find a charity and volunteer their time.

range

I take some things too seriously

Why do you enjoy your hobby?

things you hate

appearances are not so important

What is something you desperately wanted as a child?

Times you missed an opportunity

Write for six minutes without stopping— write about anything you want but do not stop forming words on the page. Write an A-Z piece. First sentence starts with A, second w / B...

Many people believe that honesty is the best policy. In your opinion, is it ever okay to lie? Explain your answer using specific reasons and examples.

11

linger

A narrow escape

What is the most interesting/bizarre news story you have ever heard?

Funniest moments

You can't stay in your corner of the forest, waiting for others to come to you; you have to go to them sometimes. --Winnie the Pooh Hard work spotlights the character of people. Some turn up their sleeves. Some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all. --Sam Ewing Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus when the limo breaks down. --Oprah Winfrey

Write about something you hate as if you love it.

Describe a family celebration that has special meaning for you.

Additional prompts: Free Write More one word prompts: trial salt spare range gold wizard goose screen center mail reverse pen

vision curtain miss

lint draw point

dust submit ticket

broke squat wait

liquid frame model

lonely shoot found

trust giant art

tremor extreme quarter


value bull loop

waste bolt south

Describe an ideal vacation.

buzz slate sibling

speak wolf guard defend dreams haunt

oats ride side

butterfly reasons fist

Year Two Single Word / #

Phrases

injured

Image

Question

Lists Make a list of…

Quotes

Directions

Test Style

“That is why we lost.”

What is the perfect age?

Things/ideas you’d like to participate in but feel are too difficult or overwhelming for you to tackle.

Tart words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar. --Benjamin Franklin

Write a five word sentence. Now, use each word as the first word in five more sentences.

We all have favorite activities that we enjoy. Write an essay convincing readers to try the activity that you enjoy most.

5

He held his life in his own hands as if it were…

What one event in your life would you change?

Towns and cities you have ed through or stayed in.


Music plays an important role in every culture and in every individual's life. Write an essay explaining the role music plays in your culture or in your own life.

rest

I always wanted to…

What is your dream job?

Sounds you love

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. –Mark Twain Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and it just annoys the pig. --Anonymous

Write the most unusual (fiction or nonfiction) “what I did on my summer vacation” essay.

Explain what cooperation means to you and why it is important.

value

To get noticed I once

How have you helped people get along?

Dangerous hobbies

Describe a time when you wished for something and got it— and then wished you hadn’t.

Write an essay explaining what makes a great leader.

yellow

_____ led to my downfall

Exciting jobs

Use these words in a poem: danger, cook, morning, sand, initials

What is special about you? Explain what makes you a unique individual.

mouse

When in stepped onto the back porch the sky was….

Who would have your back no matter what happened— besides immediate family? What have you done nice for others in the past week?

"If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names. John F. Kennedy

"I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." - Thomas Edison (1874-1931)


Your state legislature is considering a bill that would require a person to earn a high school diploma before he or she could receive a driver's license. What is your position on this issue? Write a letter to convince your state legislature to accept your point of view.

Abstract nouns


stick

Family sayings

When did you first discover that sometimes adults lie?

Valuable lessons learned from your parents

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. Dr. Seuss

99

You lost me..

What commercial do you like the least and why?

memories

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Dr Wayne Dyer

raw

Good things few people know about me

When has the content of your character been tested?

Games you loved as a child

couch

Trying to be what one is not

When did you misjudge someone based on his or her appearance?

Things that have grown old

bank

forced apology

When have you handled disappointment well?

Things that are blue

The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity. -Benjamin Franklin Two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost The Road Not Taken. The hardest thing to open is a closed mind. Author Unknown

poetry

What I know about politics

When did a lie have a serious consequence?

The most bizarre things you have seen

"I don't know the key to success but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody." - Bill Cosby (1937-).

nervous

It was forbidden

What rule would you like to change?

Places you have visited

“Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” – Vince Lombardi


Write for six minutes without stopping—write about anything you want but do not stop forming words on the page the whole time Start a short story based on your favorite song, using the song’s title as your story’s title and the lyrics for your plot. Write an A-Z piece. First sentence starts with A, second with B, etc.

Explain the causes and effects of a poor diet.

Describe the chores and responsibilities that you have at home

Explain what you would do if you won the lottery.

Start a story with this line: He never even knew what hit him.

Research shows that the average American watches as much as six hours of television each day. Do you think this is too much? Write an essay convincing readers to spend less time in front of the TV.

Write an abstract noun. Now write a line for each of the five senses to describe it. Ex. Envy smells like… Envy tastes like… etc. Use all five of these words in a poem: Test, Salute, Valuable, Wander, List

Discuss reasons for appreciating your parents.

Describe someone’s hands so we know what they do for a living without you telling us.

Explain how you would entertain a group of five-year-olds on a rainy afternoon.

Write an essay explaining why a decision you made was the right one.

36

overwhelming emotion

What trend is silly?

Terrible tastes

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance!” --Andy McIntyre

Make metaphors or similes for 5 things in the room.

Explain how not getting enough sleep affects your day.

door

wrong place, wrong time

What five things would you keep if it was all you could keep?

Unique colors you have seen

A stumble may prevent a fall. ~English Proverb

Describe a storm using all your senses.

Describe the most effective teacher you have ever had. What made this teacher so effective?

guilt

He walked away with…

What was the best decade?

People you ire

Write a ten line poem about a childhood moment that changed your life forever.

Write an essay convincing readers to break a specific habit that is harmful to their physical, emotional, or financial health.

green

I never understood…

What is something you are optimistic about?

Things you wish you could change

“A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.” --Theodore Roosevelt The future influences the present just as much as the past. ~Friedrich Nietzsche

Describe a person who is especially interesting.

devoted

The perfect ____ was ____

What is your favorite holiday?

Things you wish you could do.

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out.” --Art Linkletter

rust

The music made me do it…

If you received a million dollars, what would you do?

plants

pride

I surprised myself…

Which Guinness World Record do you wish you could break?

An adjective & noun with the same letter. ex: silver stars, watery wasteland, dangerous desserts

What you discover in a democracy is that it is difficult to build a house when each nail has an opinion. ~Robert Brault Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. -Mark Twain

Write one great sentence. Then use each word in that sentence as the FIRST word in each sentence that follows. Write a dialogue between two people on the opposite sides of a debate. They are nice and civil but stick to their point. Write a story in exactly 150 words.


Write a haiku about today’s weather

Write an essay explaining why it is important to forgive.

Write a letter to a company complaining about a defective product.

Write an essay explaining the importance of being able to see a situation from another person's point of view.

Year Three Single Word/# paint

Question

Make a list of…

Quotes

Directions

Test Style

It wasn’t something you see everyday… The real fairy tale

What color is your personality?

30 ugly things

“We boil at different degrees.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Describe someone’s car so we know their personality.

What is your favorite time of the year and why?

What do you think the world needs?

30 beautiful things

“A good example is the best sermon.” --Benjamin Franklin

Describe something ugly as if it were beautiful.

Your generation faces many problems. Identify one of these and explain it and propose some possible solutions to the problem.

red

What I know about religion

Events or actions you will never experience.

Has technology simplified or complicated our lives?

“I bought it in England.”

Use all five of these words in a poem: crunch, short, pear, indigo, glue

What if public education was no longer free or required?

crisis

It was over before it began

"It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog." Mark Twain "After I’m dead I’d rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one." - Cato the Elder "Train yourself to listen with comion." Anonymous

Describe something beautiful as if it were ugly.

hail

What is the most disturbing image you have seen on television? What is the most inconsiderate thing people do to others? What advice would you give to a new student?


Who makes a better leader: someone who is loved, or someone who is feared? Take a position and explain your answer.

82

such a misfit

talent

I am always the one who…

damage

Only when I am really bored…

Some people are actively involved in promoting and ing a cause, such as the release of international political prisoners or protecting the environment. Is there a cause you actively ? Write an essay convincing readers to that cause. Your city council is considering a proposal that would ban the use of cell phones in privately owned businesses such as restaurants, movie theaters, and retail stores. Violators would be subject to a fine. What is your position on this issue? Write a letter in which you convince the city council to your position, giving strong evidence for your reasons. Is a good education a right or a privilege? Why do you think so? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

bottle

Phrases

Image

What is the difference between the person you are and the person you want to be? Everyone has a special talent. What is yours?

What puts you in a good mood?

Difficult decisions

Fears about getting older

Things you love about being young

"Nothing has any power over me other than that which I give it through my conscious thoughts" Anthony Robbins

Describe a scene (park, mall, school) etc. from a person who has just returned from war.

Simple pleasures in life

When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. -Mark Twain It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend. William Blake

Describe someone’s house so we know what they do for a living without you telling us.

10 things you loved about yesterday.

Pick one word and write it at the top of the paper. Now fill an entire page with words and phrases related to that word


shadow

Crazy family

How do you feel about your appearance?

Sounds you hate

"Life's most urgent question is, what are you doing for others?" Martin Luther King Jr.

Write for six minutes without stopping—write about anything you want but do not stop forming words on the page the whole time

In order to survive, people have been known to go to great lengths and to do things they would not ordinarily do. Write an essay for your teacher that explains the lengths to which people will go in order to survive. You may use examples from real life, books, movies, or television shows to your essay.

swim

Stop fighting

Which is the most important to you…money, fame, health?

Phobias

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Tell about a defining event from your childhood.

Many experiences in our lives are memorable because they forced us to examine our basic beliefs and values. Tell about such an experience in your life

rookie

Wishing for more

Who, besides family , has been a strong influence in your life?

Interesting occupations

What have you learned this week?

In our increasingly global society, many people feel that all students should be required to learn a foreign language before graduating from high school. Do you agree? Why or why not? Explain your position using specific reasons and examples. In some countries every young person must serve two years of military service. Should we have a similar policy in the United States? Write an essay stating your position on this issue and ing it with convincing reasons. Be sure to explain your reasons in detail.

Edmund Burke "No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible." Voltaire -

deadline

Needing less

What damage have computers done in people’s lives?

Proudest moments

33

A dozen or so must have been there

Are you a confident person?

All the kind things you witnessed this week

bike

Only then did he stop us

What are your thoughts about America’s public heroes?

Foods I love

struggle

The colors did not match

How do you relax?

Things I don’t take seriously

hazel

A terrible car ride

What’s good about hard work?

I’d like to see…

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.” --Vince Lombardi I would rather attempt something great and fail than attempt to do nothing and succeed. -Robert H. Schuller "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." - Mark Twain

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." - Ralph Waldo Emmerson “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” –Pablo Picasso

Use the following words in a piece: shallow, hesitate, school, grill, cabbage


Describe a time when you received a valuable gift.

Write your ten digit phone number across the top of the page. Write a ten sentence start of a paper. Each sentence must have the same number of words as the numbers in the phone number. (0 = 10 words) Pick an object in this room to use as a prompt.

Think about a club, sport, or activity that you've enjoyed participating in. What would you say to persuade other students to your club? Write a letter to your school newspaper urging students to participate in the club, sport, or activity that you believe would be enjoyable for them.


Fill a page about a piece of furniture of significance.

It is often both frightening and exciting to do something on our own for the first time. Tell about a time when you first did something on your own. It is often said that “The greatest risk is not taking one.” Tell about a time when you took a chance.

laugh

I can’t

You find an old shoebox. T When you open it up, you find $50,000 in cash. Where did the cash come from?

Things that remain constant in my life…

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” –Socrates

Write the first sentence of a story starting with these words… I thought this might happen… Then your paper to the left. Continue.

storm

I told you, I can’t

Is writing an art or craft?

Words relating to music


6

My super sweet side

7 word sentences about things you could write about

shiny

My evil twin

What do you wish you were more knowledgeable about? When did you win something important?

"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit." -Helen Keller "If it is false, harmful, or cruel, do not say it." Unknown

Strange or recurring dreams you have had

“Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.” --John F. Kennedy


Occasionally, students in elementary school are allowed to advance to the next grade even though they have not successfully completed the lower grade. Advocates of “ social promotion” think that keeping a child in a grade for longer than a year hurts his or her development and selfesteem. Write an essay stating your opinion on this issue, making sure to your opinion with convincing reasons. Write a narrative about a person or character who overcomes an obstacle or a difficult situation. The character must be a person from history or from literature, movies, or television.

Write about three incidents involving skin.

Is there something that you believe is truly worth fighting for? Write an essay persuading others that this cause is worth a fight.

Write a poem using the word LUCK as your prompt

Many of our fondest memories are associated with food. Describe a memorable experience that took place while preparing or eating food.

Year Four Single Word/# swoon

Phrases The best plan is…

Image

Question What is your favorite season?

Make a list of… What would happen if…

cowboy

I know I need to…

Why did the boss fire him?

Textures

4

This shouldn’t be this easy… I don’t mind working for… Best day of the week

Is writing an art or craft?

Unusual colors you have seen

Is this love?

Things people might not agree with you about

What is the most interesting story your parents have told you?

ideas/things you feel are too difficult for you to tackle even though you’d like to Great character names

discover

angel

brown

It’s been locked up

What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?

smoke

I hate washing…

What are things that you LIKE about this school?

The key to ____ is ____

Quotes "...that is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you've understood all your life, but in a new way." -Doris Lessing "The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up." – Mark Twain "Live out of your imagination, not your history." -Stephen Covey People who look through keyholes are apt to get the idea that most things are keyhole shaped. -Unknown History never looks like history when you are living through it. -John W. Gardner

Directions Describe someone’s hands in a way that lets us know what they do for a living, without telling us their profession. Use this as a first line of a story or essay: "I wish I didn't envy ________ so much, but I can't help it." Use all five of these words in a poem: Snake, Care, Waste, Leaves, Target Tell all you can about the youngest person you know.

Test Style Describe a time when you witnessed something unbelievable.

Is “an eye for an eye” a good basis for determining an appropriate punishment? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.

There is a saying that states, “You can never go home again.”Describe a time when you returned to a place from your past and how you and the place had changed. Louis D. Brandeis said, “Behind every argument is someone’s ignorance.” Describe a time when someone’s lack of knowledge led to an argument.

Tell all you can about the oldest person you know.

The French playwright, Molière, wrote, “The greater the obstacle the more glory in overcoming it.” Tell about a time you overcame a great difficulty.

"Be the change you want to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi


“I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot...and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why... I succeed.” --Michael Jordan

Begin a piece with this line: The one thing I truly believe is….

Many people complain that American news shows focus too much on sensational items, such as local crimes and celebrity gossip, and spend too little time on important national and international news. In your opinion, should television news devote more time and coverage to international news and global issues? Why or why not? Some of our most memorable experiences take place outdoors, away from the comforts of home. Write about a memorable experience you had while in the great outdoors.


prison

A recurring dream

What do you know about your name?

Things I take too seriously

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart." -Helen Keller If the next generation is to face the future with zest and self-confidence, we must educate them to be original as well as competent. --Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi When you forgive, you in no way change the past but you sure do change the future. -Bernard Meltzer

Write a 20 sentence story. First sentence has one word, second has two, etc.

Today, there are more and more reality shows on television. Do these shows make good television? Why or why not? Explain your answer using specific reasons and examples.

thrive

That’s not what I meant

When do you want to give up?

Foods you hate

Look at a receipt (teacher provided) and describe the person who made this purchase.

Some states have now made it illegal to drive while talking on a hand-held cellular phone. Do you think this is a good law that should be ed in other states as well? Why or why not? Explain your answer.

55

A flash of hatred

What is the best thing you ever made?

Words you like

Write for six minutes without stopping— write about anything you want but do not stop forming words on the page the whole time

Most students enjoy the long stretch of summer vacation, but some parents and educators feel that two and a half months is too long a break from school. Some argue that students and families would be better served if the school year were extended through July, with a three or fourweek break in August, a longer winter break, and a week off each in the spring and fall. Does this sound like a good idea to you? Why or why not? Explain your answer. It isn’t always easy to be ourselves, especially when we are worried about what others may think of us. Tell about a time you pretended to be someone or something you were not. Oscar Levant, a pianist and movie actor, said, “Happiness is not something you experience, it’s something you .” Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer. Alexander Maclaren, a Baptist minister, said, “The man who has not learned to say No will be a weak, if not a wretched man, as long as he lives.” Describe an experience when you should have said no ,but did not.

enemy

Trying not to cry

How do you know you are right?

Reasons people lie

Efficiency is intelligent laziness. -David Dunham

pool

_____ is like a boomerang

Are holidays too commercialized?

Strenuous activities

low

I want to understand you

What do you think about American politics?

Changes in your lifetime

It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer. Albert Einstein The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra. ~Jimmy Johnson

father

I had to tolerate …

Do you believe in soul mates?

Experiences with death

"To get what you've never had, you must do what you've never done" Rich Devos

Write for ten minutes exactly on the word MAGIC

If you could change one major historical event from the past, what would you change and why?

silver

I was limited when…

Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?

Experiences involving birth

"It's never too late to be what you might have been." George Eliot

The first time ____ heard _____(name a song) by _____(name the artist) he/she/ was ___________.

If you could live someone else's life for one day, who would you pick? If you could have someone else spend a day living your life, who would you choose?

Create a haiku about something you witnessed in nature this week. Describe a busy mall from a blind person’s perspective Start a piece with this line: It was finally time.


fortune

And I stood by and did nothing

Why did it have to happen like this?

Good versus evil that you have witnessed

"You can't shake hands with a clenched fist." Gandhi

Describe a grocery store from the point of view of a shopper who just lost the love of her life.

wrestle

Crayons and glue

Things I should change about myself

Because of 9/11

"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." - Derek Bok (1930-), Harvard University President "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses." Henry Ford


71

Can you do anything to change the world? Do you want to? What is the craziest thing you wish you could do?

milk

Best month of the year

In what ways do you waste time?

Brushes with nature

Write ten great first lines.

March

My mother used to…

What is your first spiritual memory?

Sound words

"If you and I are having a single thought of violence or hatred against anyone in the world at this moment, we are contributing to the wounding of the world." Deepak Chopra "Dwelling on the negative simply contributes to its power." Shirley MacLaine

My biggest fears

Write 20 verbs straight down the page. Then write a better verb next to each.



Your local school board is considering requiring students to take part in community service programs in order to graduate. What is your position concerning this issue? Write a letter to the of the school board stating your position and ing it with convincing reasons. Be sure to explain your reasons in detail. Imagine that you have a relative who is unfamiliar with computers and has never been on the Internet. Write an essay convincing this relative to get a computer and get online. Today’s top professional athletes often have salaries and bonuses in the tens of millions of dollars. Do you think these athletes deserve such high compensation? Why or why not? Explain your position and use specific reasons and examples. Explain the most important lesson you learned from a piece of literature. Use specific details from a literary work you have read

Legislators are considering making all schools to go entirely online. The students taking classes at this new online school will never meet each other face-to-face. They will only interact online with each other and with their teachers. What is your position on this issue? Write a letter to the legislator stating your position. Provide convincing reasons why they should side with you.

Year Five Single Word/# rage

Phrases

Image

Question

Make a list of… Discoveries I have made

Quotes

Directions

Test Style

"Things do not change; we change." Henry David Thoreau

M&M Candies "Melt in your mouth, not in your hands." Describe yourself in ten words or fewer. Write ten great last lines

A well-known football coach once said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Write an essay in which you state your position and it with convincing reasons.

It has often been said that we can lie with silence as well as with words. Do you agree? Why or why not? Explain your answer.

A special treat

What do you love about some things you hate?

65

How to get along with…

loan

A good thing gone bad

What is the hardest thing about writing for you and why? The easiest thing about writing? What motivates you to do your best work?

phobia

A chance I didn’t take

What time of day is your favorite?

princess

The old house

When was the last time you took a risk. How did it turn out?

Writing prompts

Playing it safe is the most popular way to fail. - Elliott Smith

Write an A-Z piece. First sentence starts with A, second with B, etc. Write a 20 sentence piece. The first sentence has one word, the second has two words, etc. Write a haiku about a natural disaster

black

Break a leg

What was the last major change in your life?

Cheesy things

In the ideal sense nothing is uninteresting; there are only uninterested people. ~Brooks Atkinson

Describe this room using all your senses.

Charles Simmons said, “Live only for today, and you ruin tomorrow.” Do you agree? Why or why not? Explain your answer.

band

They had nothing to say to each other Starving for attention

In general, how do you handle conflicts?

cliches

"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission." Eleanor Roosevelt


When was a time you were unfairly criticized?

Simple pleasures in life

I'm right-handed, whereas the fellow in my mirror is left-handed. I start shaving from the left; he starts from the right. Differences only in perception, but religious wars have been fought over such. -Robert Brault

Write a piece about colors.

Thomas Edison, the renowned inventor, is famous for having said, “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Do you agree with this definition of genius? Why or why not? Alexander Smith said, “The great man is the man who does a thing for the first time.” Do you agree with this definition of greatness? Why or why not?

intense

Games you played as child

"Imagination is more important than knowledge" Albert Einstein

the causes and effects of prejudice superstitio ns

"Change is inevitable. Growth is optional" Rich Devos

If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower


It has often been said, “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”Do you agree? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

If someone discovered a formula that would enable us to live forever, would that be a blessing or a curse? Use specific reasons and examples to your answer.

Woodrow Wilson once said, “Friendship is the only cement that will hold the world together.” Do you agree? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer

heal

The first drive

What are your goals for the next five years?

Your strongest beliefs

Loyalty to petrified opinions never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul in this world -- and never will.

10

I was proud

How has school prepared you for work?

Best words I know.

Mark Twain “Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.” -Jim Rohn

solo

Nobody even noticed

How and why are people cruel?

celebration s

Each moment is a place you've never been. ~Mark Strand

race

Morning madness

What examples do you often see of immaturity?

Inventions we need

Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not. ~George Bernard Shaw

July

Not your typical evening at home

If you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?

Broken things

The very ink with which all history is written is merely fluid prejudice. ~Mark Twain, Following the Equator

justice

When I was a discipline problem

How do you handle a really irritating person?

Strange places people write things

"Find the job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life." Socrates

gold

I take that way too seriously

When have you taken on a fear?

Silver things

employee

I was lost mentally

What does faith have to do with it?

Things that are gentle

“ If all the insects were to disappear from the earth, within 50 years all life on earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish. Jonas Salk (via Dan Barber) When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?" - Sydney J. Harris


Write a 20 line poem about something that really annoys you.

The eighteenth century writer Samuel Johnson wrote, “Ignorance, when voluntary, is criminal.” Do you agree? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

Use all five of these words in a poem: weave, photo, space, spit, never

Many schools employ security guards and have installed security equipment such as video cameras and metal detectors in the building. In your opinion, how should security in public schools be handled? Use specific reasons and examples to your answer. The great inventor Charles F. Kettering said, “The price of progress is trouble.” Do you agree with Kettering’s assessment of progress? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to your answer. The writer Thomas Mann said, “War is only a cowardly escape from the problems of peace.” Do you agree with this claim? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to your answer. The Roman leader Seneca said, “A great fortune is a great slavery.”Do you agree with this claim? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to your answer.

Write a piece that starts with… She told him it wasn’t going to work. Write a haiku about wind.

Write a scene of all dialogue where two people are arguing over a simple thing. Do not say what the actual thing is. Write an A-Z piece. First sentence starts with A, second with B, etc.

Write a piece using the word HOLLOW as your inspiration.


The inventor and statesman Benjamin Franklin said, “Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to your position. Activist Jeannette Rankin once said, “You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to your answer. The singer and songwriter Bob Dylan once wrote, “A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.” Do you agree with this definition of success? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to your position.

28

I think about it often

How does the pattern help?

Things with wings

water

“I saw it first.”

When have you been betrayed?

Things you want to write about

occupy

A busy mall

How did I get here?

Memories involving blue

“The price of the democratic way of life is a growing appreciation of people's differences, not merely as tolerable, but as the essence of a rich and rewarding human experience.” --Jerome Nathanson “Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” --Bishop Desmond Tutu

Draw a timeline of your life events.

Some people go right on to college after high school; others take a year or more off to work or travel. Which do you think is the better choice? State your position and it with specific reasons and examples.

Use all five of these words in a poem: endearing, liquid, sleep, monster, move

A Decalogue of Canons for observation in practical life:

Write a poem about your mother’s kitchen— include something green, living, dead, and moving

The poet W. H. Auden wrote, “Machines are beneficial to the degree that they eliminate the need for labor, harmful to the degree that they eliminate the need for skill.” Do you agree? Whyor why not? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer. Is there a book that you feel should be required reading for everyone? Write an essay persuading your audience to read this book.

1. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. 2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself. 3. Never spend your money before you have it. 4. Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you. 5. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold. 6. We never repent of having eaten too little. 7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly. 8. How much pain have cost us the evils which never have happened. 9. Take things always by their smooth handle. 10. When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, an hundred.

(letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith, 1825) Thomas Jefferson

slick

It was an honest answer

Where are you from and where are you going?

Things you are too old to enjoy anymore

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. - Helen Keller


Use three random objects in the room in a poem.

It has often been said, “Ignorance is bliss,” and “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.” Do you agree with these statements? Why or why not?

Year Six Single Word/# host

Phrases

Image

Question

Make a list of… Clichés (then avoid all year)

Quotes

Directions

Test Style

If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't, you're right. - Henry Ford

Write a haiku (first line 5 syllables, second line 7 syllables, third line 5 syllables) about your first day of high school.

According to an old Greek proverb, “All things good to know are difficult to learn.” Do you agree? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer. William Hazlitt wrote, “Man is a makebelieve animal—he is never so truly himself as when he is acting a part.” Do you agree? Explain your answer using specific reasons and exam It has often been said that “Life is a journey, not a destination.”Tell about an important journey (physical, emotional, or spiritual) that you’ve taken. How people handle a problem often reveals a lot about their character. Describe a time you encountered a difficult problem and how you solved it.

What people don’t know about me is…

When have bad things turned good?

44

We arrived just in time…

What is your personal mission statement?

Important minor events of your life

"For there is nothing either good or bad, thinking makes it so." William Shakespeare Hamlet, II.ii


lazy

I can kinda see his/her point

Do you ask enough questions or settle for what you know?

Times you have been unprepared for something

Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be. - John Wooden

Write a 20 line poem dedicated to a simple object.

wedding

I won’t back down

In what ways do you share with people that you love them?

Regrets

It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense. - Robert G. Ingersoll

Write a haiku about an animal.

heavy

It’s just a ion of mine…

When was the last time you tried something new?

All the things you want to do in your life

Lying is done with words and also with silence. - Adrienne Rich

Write a ten line poem. Each line must include a color.

nightmare

It’s just part of how I was raised

What are your strengths and weaknesses as a writer?

Exotic plants


youth

When it comes to technology …

Are you a good friend? How do you know?

Playground activities

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, comionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because some day in life you will have been all of these. - George Washington Carver Loyalty to a petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul. - Mark Twain


In one minute write a list of at least 20 nouns. Then start back at the top, one minute again, and make each one more specific. Keep going.

In one of his most famous lines, Shakespeare’s Hamlet says, “I must be cruel, only to be kind.” Describe a time when you, too, had to be cruel to be kind. The theme of a literary piece is the central idea or message that it delivers. Cite a specific literary work and discuss the theme.

Write a lengthy, detailed journal entry from the point of view of someone you have studied in history. Include accurate, historical details in the diary entry.

ocean

It all changed once she had the baby

Do peers matter more than parents to teenagers?

Things you used to imagine or pretend

Perhaps nobody has changed the course of history as much as the historians. -Franklin P. Jones


Sometimes we surprise ourselves with what we are able to do. Describe a time when you accomplished something you didn’t think you could do.

sneak

That’s why it’s called an accident

What is an incident you had with peer pressure?

First lines

It isn't where you come from, it's where you're going that counts. Ella Fitzgerald

Turn your paper sideways and fill the page writing about doing things differently.

Though some say, “rules are meant to be broken,” breaking the rules often has serious consequences. Tell about a time when you broke the rules and what happened as a result.

roots

I just need this one thing…

What are you most grateful for?

Scary moments from your life

Use all five of these words in a poem: share, rake, reach, hijack, stardust

When we are faced with challenges and difficult situations, we sometimes discover strengths we did not know we had. Tell about a time when you recognized a new strength in yourself.

plastic

Trick or treat

If the average human life span was 30 years, how would you live your life differently?

Memories that involve wonder

Describe a sound of something as best you can.

We often learn a great deal from our failures. Describe a time when you failed and what you learned from the experience.

magic

Losing is never any fun, except…

At what time in your recent past have you felt most ionate and alive?

Your fears, silly or otherwise

One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest. - Maya Angelou We don't accomplish anything in this world alone ... and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something.- Sandra Day O'Connor Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go much further than people with vastly superior talent.- Sophia Loren

Ask your neighbor to give you a word. Write for five minutes about that word.

Our first foray into the world of work is bound to generate some interesting experiences. Tell about a memorable incident from your first job.

broken

I cared

In what ways are you old fashioned?

Things that seem to have no purpose

Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world. - Paulo Freire

Write a haiku about mountains.

When we are unhappy with a situation, we can either accept it or do something to change it. Tell about a time when you initiated change.

June

I didn’t think it was funny

What do you think would be the hardest thing for you to give up on?

Images ingrained in your memory

If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities. - Maya Angelou

Write 15 random letters down the side of the page. Write a poem using each of those letters as the first of the line.

Explain the causes and effects of not voting in elections.


blind

I didn’t think twice

What is the most terrifying moment of your life so far?

Memories involving food

When I'm getting ready to reason with a man, I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and what I am going to say -- and two-thirds thinking about him and what he is going to say. Abraham Lincoln The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment. - Robert M. Hutchins Character builds slowly, but it can be torn down within incredible swiftness. - Faith Baldwin


As the saying goes, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Describe a time when you persisted until you achieved your goal.

choice

A wild animal

What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

Memories involving your neighbors / neighborhood

Write a poem that starts with the line… ____, you need to know…

In many situations, as the saying goes, “two heads are better than one.” Describe a time when you accomplished something through teamwork that you could not have achieved on your own.

circle

The early bird…

Would you enjoy spending a month of solitude in a beautiful natural setting? Food and shelter would be provided but you would not see another person.

Places you want to visit

Write a letter to incoming freshman telling them what you wish you had been told when you arrived.

Sometimes the course of our lives can change in an instant. Describe an experience that changed the direction of your life.

81

Another hot day

What effect does media have on you?

Things you want to do

Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know. - Daniel J. Boorstin

Write a letter to yourself five years ago and five years from now.

The setting of a novel is where the action takes place. Explain how the setting complements the story in a novel you have read.

twist

He never knew what hit him

How would you like to be treated when you are old?

Things that have sheltered you

The most important thing to is this: To be ready at any moment to give up what you are for what you might become. W. E. B. Du Bois

Write a poem about high school. You cannot use these words: friends, teachers, work, school, class, future

What's the most important thing you learned in school?

Character names

The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. -Michelangelo

Write something positive about every person in the room.

Novels often become mirror images of life. Discuss a time when you saw a similarity between your life and that of the main character in a novel. Explain the situation and compare the way you handled the situation with the way the character did. A struggle between two or more opposing forces in a work is called conflict. Cite a piece of literature and explain the conflict embodied in the work.

3

All that glitters is not gold


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