On-Demand Writing Prompts
(Persuasive Letter)
Situation: At Owensboro Middle School, or mission statement is, “Our number one goal is student success…every student, every day.” Mrs. Roberts has taken this goal very seriously and wants to develop a plan for success for every student (for example, having the homework help center available to all students after school, asking teachers to not allow zeros from students). In order to accumulate as many good ideas as she possibly can, she has asked all OMS students to write her a letter with suggestions.
Task: Write a letter to Mrs. Roberts offering several suggestions for promoting student success. Be sure to include reasons why these suggestions would promote student success.
(Persuasive Letter)
Situation: Each year, students who work hard on their CATS test are rewarded with various special activities, such as an after school dance, a particular field trip, or homework passes. The celebration is planned by a special committee, which is made up of parents, teachers, and students. In order to get as much input from students about what they want the celebration to consist of, Mrs. Roberts has asked all students to write a letter to the committee with suggestions. Only the best suggestions will be used.
Task: Write a letter to the CATS committee suggesting activities that you would like to see as a part of the day of celebration after the CATS test. Remember that only the best ideas will be considered, so be sure to include why you think your ideas would be the best.
(Editorial)
Situation: Has cursing gone overboard? Some signs suggest the answer is yes. States and cities are beginning to enforce anti-obscenity rules that have been ignored for decades. In 1999, for example, a young canoeist in Michigan was given a 90-day jail sentence and a $100 fine for cursing. He had fallen out of his canoe and let out a stream of obscenities within earshot of a family.
Task: Write an editorial for the Messenger-Inquirer in which you take a position on the answer to the question: Has cursing gone overboard? Give reasons for your position on this topic, and be sure to include supporting details.
(Response - editorial)
Situation: Researchers at Stanford University analyzed the 200 most popular video rentals in 1996 and 1997 to check out alcohol, tobacco, and substance abuse in the movies. The study found that 89% of the movies showed alcohol use, 93% showed tobacco use, and 22% showed illicit drug use. Typically, these activities occurred in the background with no suggestion of their harmfulness. These means that teens are getting the message that alcohol and tobacco use are normal, accepted activities.
Task: Write an editorial for the Messenger-Inquirer in which you express your opinion on the information given above. Is the use of alcohol, tobacco, and substance abuse in moves harmful to teens or not? Support your opinion with details.
(Response – editorial)
Situation: Public-school students in Maryland are required to do 75 hours of community service during their middle and high school years in order to get their high school diplomas. A growing number of school districts across the country are deciding to require the same thing from their students.
Task: Write an editorial for the Messenger-Inquirer in which you respond to the information above. Should community service be a graduation requirement? Give reasons to support your position.
(Respond - Editorial)
Situation: As phones and service have become cheaper and easier to come by, there has been a huge increase in the number of teens with cell phone service. According to cell phone industry analyst Harold Shosteck, 20% of adult cell-phone users feel it is important for their children to have cell phones, 24% of female teens have cell phones now, and 15% of male teens already have cell phones.
Task: Do you think teens should have cell phones? In an editorial for the school newsletter, express your opinion. Be sure to give details to support your opinion.
(In an article, respond to a text.)
Situation: Dale Carnegie said, “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
Task: In an article for the school newsletter, explain Mr. Carnegie’s advice on making friends, and give detailed examples of how to follow his advice. You will need to include his quote in your article so that your readers understand why you have chosen this topic to write about.
(In an article, respond to a text.)
Situation: “Rules are important.” Do you agree or disagree?
Task: Write an article explaining your viewpoint. Be sure to give details to support your views.
(Editorial – Response)
Situation: Think about the rules you are required to follow in school. Choose one of the rules that you think is particularly fair or unfair, and think about why you feel that way.
Task: In an editorial for the school newspaper, express your views on this rule. Give reasons to support your opinions on why this rule is fair or unfair.
(Respond – letter)
Situation: Your best friend, who moved to another state last year, recently sent you the following letter:
Dear Ben,
I went to a party last week and most of my friends
there were smoking and drinking. They tried to get me to
smoke and drink, too. The whole night I sat on the couch and
drank a soft drink. I felt left out. What should I do?
Task: Write a letter to your best friend, giving him advice. Be sure that whatever advice you give him is supported by good details so that you will help me make a decision.
(Narrate – Article)
Situation: You have been in middle school for almost one year now. Next year, several of your neighborhood friends, including the principal’s daughter, will be coming to OMS as 7th graders. She overheard you explaining to her daughter about how to have a successful year at OMS, and she knows that many new students feel worried about entering a new school.
She’s asked you to write an article for the school newsletter that will be sent home to all parents of incoming students.
Task: Write an article for the school newsletter, which will be sent to all incoming 7th graders to OMS next year. In your article, include ways in which new students can have a successful 7th grade year. Use examples from your first-year experiences at OMS.
Bonnie Watson
Owensboro Middle