Topic Sentences
Topic Sentences
1. Inventions are all around us.
2. An effective leader must have certain qualities.
3. There are a variety of ways to stay physically fit.
4. A true friend must have certain characteristics.
5. Imagination is more valuable than facts.
6. Sports are an important part of life.
7. There are many effective ways to study for tests.
8. People have always been intrigued by large, wild animals.
9. Eating healthy foods is important.
10. Most teenagers have chores.
11. Many experiences make us laugh out loud, cry, or feel strong emotions.
12. Everyone has one item that is important to him or her.
13. Different students enjoy different aspects of school: sports, classes, friends, activities, etc.
14. Rainy days bring out our emotions and can bring on many feelings and memories.
15. By the time students enter high school, they have learned about many moments in history that have influenced our world today.
16. Through the years new inventions have changed the way we live.
17. There are both good and bad aspects of playing on a team, such as the school basketball team or the school football team.
18. Everyone is afraid of something--heights, spiders or flying just to mention a few.
19. In school, we learn many things. Some of these things are easy to learn; some are difficult to learn.
20. Sometimes it is difficult for new students to adjust to their new surroundings.
21. In many households where there are teenagers, there are often arguments over cell phones.
22. Fast-food restaurants contribute to obesity
Expository Essay Prompts
1
Writing Situation: Most students have a person they want to be like someday. Who is your role model?
Directions: Before you begin writing, think about what qualities your role model has and why these are important to you. Now write an essay telling who your role model is and explaining why. Support your reasons with specific examples and details.
2
Writing Situation: School is a big part of a young person's life. Different students enjoy different aspects of school: sports, classes, friends, activities, etc.
Directions: What do you like most about school and why? Now explain in an essay what you like about school and why you like it. Support your ideas with examples and details.
3
Writing Situation: The U.S. Postal Service has honored many individuals from presidents to singers to cartoon characters, by placing their portraits on postage stamps. Whom would you nominate to honor with a postage stamp?
Directions: Before you begin to write, think about why this person should have his or her own stamp. Now write an essay to tell the reader whom you would choose and explain why that person should be honored with a postage stamp. Support your ideas with examples and details.
4
Writing Situation: Everyone has a favorite type of music. It may be rock, country, rap, classical, or some other kind.
Directions: Before you begin to write, think about your favorite kind of music and why you like it. Now explain in an essay why this one type of music has become your favorite. Support your music choice with examples and details
5
Writing Situation: If you had to choose one season of the year as your favorite, which one would you choose?
Directions: Before you begin to write, think about the season you have chosen and why it is your favorite. You might be thinking about the weather, certain activities in this season, or both. Now write an essay in which you explain why this one season of the year is your favorite. Support your ideas with examples and details.
6
Writing Situation: If you could choose to be any animal for forty-eight hours, what would you be?
Directions: Before you begin writing, think about what kind of animal you would like to be -- a wild animal, farm animal, or a household pet. Now explain in an essay why you chose this animal. Support your ideas with examples and details.
Persuasive Essay Prompts
1
Writing Situation: Due to potential problems, many school systems have adopted a policy that bans cell phones and pagers on school grounds. However, some parents have provided these items out of concern for safety. Do you agree or disagree that cell phones and pagers should be banned on school grounds?
Directions: Now write an essay in which you convince the reader of your opinion. Support your position with specific reasons and examples.
2
Writing Situation: Many schools require all students to perform some type of community service such as working in nursing homes or hospitals. Think about how you would feel if you were required to perform a community service.
Directions: Now write an essay in which you persuade the reader that students should or should not be required to perform community service. Defend your position with several detailed reasons. Develop those reasons with supporting examples.
3
Writing Situation: A law has been passed that requires high school students to pass exit tests before they graduate from high school. Consider carefully the advantages and disadvantages of passing required exit tests. Do you agree or disagree with making high-stakes exit tests a requirement for high school graduation?
Directions: Write an essay in which you persuade the reader to support your point of view. Support a position with specific reasons and examples.
4
Writing Situation: Current research suggests that because teenagers have different sleep patterns, they would benefit from beginning the school day at a later time. Suppose your Board of Education has proposed that all high school schedules begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. Do you agree or disagree that this later schedule would be beneficial?
Directions: Now write an essay in which you persuade the Board of Education to agree with your opinion. Support your position with reasons and examples.
5
Writing Situation: Imagine that your school district has proposed saving money by eliminating extracurricular sports (football, basketball and baseball) from the high school program. Think about the possible effects of cutting sports from the school program. Decide whether you are for or against this proposal.
Directions: Now write an essay in which you persuade the reader why this is or is not a good idea. Defend your position with specific reasons supported by several detailed examples.
6
Writing Situation: Research indicates that our society has become more violent. Crime is on the rise in both urban and rural areas. Many adults are convinced that popular movies and video games encourage young people to become violent. Do you agree or disagree with the opinion that modern movies and/or video games have contributed to the rise of violent crime in the United States?
Directions: Try to persuade the reader to support your point of view. Support your position with specific reasons and examples.