Students either love or hate writing. Those who love it usually are the ones who enjoy reading as well. They might spend their time journaling, composing poetry, or writing short stories. These students not only enjoy the process; they embrace it with every part of their being and enjoy engaging in assigned prompt writing ideas!
For most students, however, writing is synonymous with drudgery. They hear that they are going to have to write something, and they automatically shut down. Because of this unfortunate mindset usually brought about by the feeling of overwhelm, we need to get our students to see the value of high school writing activities that include easy-to-teach Prompt Writing Ideas.
There are so many options beyond the traditional five-paragraph essay! Keep reading for 50 Prompt Writing Ideas for High School Students!
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50 Prompt Writing Ideas for High School Students
10 Narrative Prompt Writing Ideas
Before starting my business, I didn’t really see the value of writing stories. I mean, I enjoy a good story. I love reading short stories by Edgar Allan Poe, some of William Shakespeare’s plays, and other random historical fiction. Beyond personal entertainment or academia, I could not really see why teaching narrative writing was so important.
Boy, was I wrong!
Narrative writing is so valuable. Think about it. When we buy something, we really want to hear the story behind it.
We listen to how something was created, how a person struggled with a problem, and how a product provided a solution! We connect with each other through stories!
Here are some relatively simple ways to incorporate narrative writing in your high school classroom with 10 Prompt Writing Ideas:
- Write a Journal Entry-Students can respond to someone from a story as if they know the character personally.
- Create an Advertisement-Students can include a story from a “buyer” as an ad technique.
- Informational/Argument Essays-Students can use a short narrative as support.
- Post on Social Media-Students can create a post that tells a story about something…anything!
- Develop a Business Plan-Students can create a business plan and use narratives to relay the potential of a future business.
- Write a Poem/Song-Students can write a poem or song that actually tells a story.
- Create a Website-Students can create an About Me page for a fictitious online store that includes a story.
- Participate in a Job Interview-Students can conduct interviews with each other and include stories that demonstrate certain skills or knowledge.
- Give a Speech-Students can do research on an idea they are passionate about and include stories to support their ideas.
- Record a Video-Students can write and record stories about their lives and “post” them on various platforms.
10 Satirical Prompt Writing Ideas
When it comes to bridging the gap between reading satire and writing satire, students need guidance. I would start by reading both “Sending Grandma to the Ovens” and “A Modest Proposal.” These two texts are similar in structure, purpose, and topic. Your students can model their own essays after these texts. They can even propose something!
Here are some HOW TO satirical prompt writing ideas:
- How to be a wonderful boyfriend or girlfriend
- How to propose to someone
- How to be a good student
- How to be a productive employee
- How to grow a business
- How to be an amazing parent
- How to be an effective writer
- How to prepare for exams
- How to get a job
- How to create friendships
10 Expository Prompt Writing Ideas
Essentially, an exposition seeks to explain something. And things in our world ALWAYS need explaining!
We crave information, and one of my major goals as a teacher is to encourage students to seek out information instead of what just pops up on social media feeds. We have so much knowledge, it can be overwhelming, so giving students a focus would be super helpful.
When writing an exposition, students have several options:
They can write about what they already know, write about what they don’t know by doing research, or write about a combination of the two.
Need help with teaching research? Click below!
Here are some expository prompt writing ideas that might require a bit of research:
- Interesting hobbies I never knew about
- Skills I will need for life
- Getting a job interview
- Jobs that we take for granted
- Things to do when we don’t have electricity
- What I never knew about my family
- Popular foods in…(a culture/country)
- Why certain songs are popular
- Uses for a cell phone
- History of chocolate
10 Argument Prompt Writing Ideas
One of the toughest types of writing involving prompt writing ideas for students is the argument essay. Now, I am talking about the “you need to do research to make your case” kind of argument paper.
Let’s be real. Instead of doing the research ourselves, we rely on one or two news outlets to tell us information, or maybe, God forbid, we scroll through social media to get our information.
And I don’t know about you. I usually just get an interpretation or opinion on the facts. I don’t get the actual stories, statistics, and facts. I get, at most, a watered-down version of what I should actually know.
This reality is why we MUST teach our students how to support their ideas with cited evidence. We don’t need to teach students merely to argue. They do this beautifully with their friends on a daily basis. They need to know how to locate credible evidence, and I am not just talking .gov, .org, or .edu! This requirement of credibility applies to pretty much any prompt writing ideas!
Here are some argument prompt writing ideas that will REQUIRE research:
- Should student loans be forgiven?
- Should everyone go to college?
- Should social media companies be allowed to censor content?
- Should students have to take higher-level math?
- Should high school or college students be required to take a financial literacy course?
- Should students take a gap year before going to college?
- Should there be a minimum wage?
- Should students earn grades in their classes (A, B, C, D, F)?
- Should classes be organized by age or ability in a specific subject area?
- Should volunteer hours be required for graduation?
Notice: You don’t have to ask students to write a ten-page argument paper in order to feel like your students are learning what they need to know to be successful. You could start with a page, a paragraph, a discussion, or even a 1-minute presentation. Not everything has to be formal in the introductory stage. Sometimes, we want to get our students thinking about the topic and excited before they begin!
10 Rhetorical Analysis Prompts
I am a big fan of requiring students to practice writing a rhetorical analysis essay. At first, it can be daunting. Even the word “rhetoric” can be difficult to explain at times.
Most of the Prompt Writing Ideas below can be used or revised to fit any piece of rhetoric:
- How does the speaker use logos in achieving the purpose of the speech?
- What techniques are used by the author to relay the message that_____?
- How does the writer include emotional language in order to appeal to the audience?
- Why is repetition used throughout the passage?
- What forms of evidence support the rhetor’s argument?
- How are the rhetorical appeals used in relation to the audience’s perspective?
- Why might the tone of the speaker change throughout the text?
- What kinds of strategies are used in online ads versus physical ads?
- How might you use different techniques when talking with your parents/guardians versus your friends?
- What types of diction and/or syntax might a creator use when discussing a topic in college?
If you go step by step through the analysis writing process, your students can master this skill. It might take more time than you think, but most students will achieve some level of success. Plus, they can apply these skills to any essay they will have to write in the future! You can teach How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Step By Step!
By modeling what you want, you will more likely get what you want from your students. This process also applies to writing a rhetorical analysis essay. Going through every step above is key to success.
Here are some reading and writing packs that may make the rhetorical analysis essay process that much easier:
- Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God Rhetorical Analysis Pack
- A Modest Proposal Rhetorical Analysis Pack
- The Declaration of Independence: Rhetorical Analysis Writing Pack
- Gettysburg Address Activities: Rhetorical Analysis Short Response
- Declaration of Sentiments Rhetorical Devices Analysis Activity Stanton
- Sojourner Truth Speech Aint I a Woman: Summary, Rhetorical Analysis
- Patrick Henry’s Give Me Liberty Give Me Death Speech Rhetorical Analysis Pack
- Florence Kelley Speech About Child Labor Rhetorical Analysis Pack
- Sending Grandma to the Ovens Rhetorical Analysis Pack
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