Grade 7 Prompts
WS Korean Pen Pal (Descriptive)
Imagine that Soon-Li, a Korean student in Seoul, is your pen pal. Write a letter to her describing the place where you live (your house, your neighborhood, or even your hometown). Try to explain what makes where you live different from other places. Use specific sensory details to make it interesting and vivid for the reader.
WS The Perfect Bicycle (Descriptive)
Imagine your perfect bicycle. What would it look like? What features would it have? Write an essay describing your ideal bike, using order of location. Provide sensory details—sight, sound, texture, and so forth—to create a crystal-clear image for your reader.
WS Field Trip (Expository)
Remember a field trip you really enjoyed. What did you learn from the trip? What questions still remain? Write an essay that explains what you learned and poses questions that you wonder about. Provide specific details and examples to make your explanation clear.
WS Homework (Expository)
Few students enjoy doing homework, even though they know that it’s important. Your teachers say homework helps you better understand what you learn in school. Explain why homework is an important part of learning. Use specific examples from your own experience to show your viewpoint.
WS Broken (Narrative)
Make up a story in which you accidentally broke something that belonged to someone else. What did you do as a result? Narrate the action moment by moment.
WS Important Story (Narrative)
Think of something important that happened in your life. It doesn’t have to be earthshaking, but it should be something that has meaning for you. Tell the story of what happened and why it has made a difference to you. Invite your reader into your narrative with vivid details for all senses.
WS Student Council (Persuasive)
Imagine that you are running for student council. What changes would you like to make at your school? How would you help your fellow students? Write a short speech to convince your classmates to elect you. Use specific details to support your campaign.
WS No TV (Persuasive)
Your parents are thinking about forbidding you to watch television during the school week. How do you feel about that? Write a letter to your parents expressing your opinion. Use personal details and examples to support your argument.
WS Local Problem (Persuasive)
Think of a problem in your school or community. Come up with a solution and decide on a person who could help get the job done. Write a persuasive business letter to that person. Provide strong reasons and details to build a convincing argument.
WS Lunch Menu (Persuasive)
What would the ideal lunch menu for the day look like? The food should be both good tasting and good for you. Write an essay to convince your school principal to adopt your menu. Be sure your arguments and your menu are well detailed and complete.
