Grade 10 Prompts
WS The Room (Descriptive)
Write a descriptive essay about a room or an area you know well, such as your bedroom or your English classroom. Describe the layout using spatial organization (top to bottom, front to back, left to right). Also include sensory details (sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste) so your reader can “see” the space clearly and understand how the parts relate to each other.
WS Point of View (Expository)
The German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “There is nothing insignificant in the world. It all depends on the point of view.” Explain why it is important to see a situation from another person’s point of view. Use examples and anecdotes from your own experience to support your viewpoint.
WS Happiness (Expository)
Aristotle once said, “Happiness depends upon ourselves.” Everyone knows the word “happiness,” but most of us have a different idea of what it means to be happy. Write an essay that defines the word “happiness” and include two or three examples either from your own experience or from literature.
WS A Good Job (Expository)
Many high school students have part-time jobs. Students often choose jobs that are based on economical factors and personal preferences. Identify a part-time job that you would like to have, analyze the duties involved, and explain why you believe the job would suit you.
WS Good Parents/Guardians (Expository)
Good parents or guardians demonstrate many valuable qualities that help nurture and raise children effectively. Choose three qualities of a good parent or guardian and write an essay that includes examples to support your choices.
WS Classes (Expository)
In a letter to a friend, compare and contrast two classes that you are currently taking. Write down the positive and the negative aspects of each class, using particular details or experiences from each.
WS Proud Accomplishment (Narrative)
Every person has moments of personal victory or achievement. In an article for your school newspaper, narrate an incident or an accomplishment that made you really proud. Make the experience come alive with vivid details and dialogue.
WS Personal Understanding (Narrative)
Sometimes adults say they attended the “School of Hard Knocks.” They mean that they learned by doing, by working, and by living. In a personal narrative, share a time in your life when you really understood something because you did it yourself. Show some of the “hard knocks” you endured, and clearly indicate what you learned.
WS Teen Licenses (Persuasive)
Your state plans to double license fees for drivers under the age of 18. The money will be used to fund driver-education programs. Write an editorial for your student newspaper supporting or opposing this decision. Use specific reasons and details to argue for your position.
WS Local Produce (Persuasive)
Your school food service wants to buy more produce from local farmers. This food is a bit more expensive, but it is free of pesticides. Write a letter to the food-service director giving your specific reasons for supporting or objecting to the plan.
