Eighth grade is a massive year for our students! They are stressed and under pressure as they move towards high school. We can reduce that stress through writing as long as the prompts are meaningful and engaging for our students. We compiled a list of 32 engaging prompts to get your students writing and thinking critically about the message they want to express.
1. What new technology has developed in your lifetime, and how has it helped you?
2. Write a news article outlining the dangers of global warming.
3. Describe your favorite place to someone who has never been there. What can they do and see?
4. Think about your hobby and write an article explaining its benefits to someone who doesn't know about it.
5. Describe a unique family tradition of yours to someone that is not in your family.
6. Write a story informing elementary school kids of how to prepare for middle school.
7. Do you think it is easier to be a boy or a girl? Why?
8. Does online bullying exist? Why or why not?
9. What is the most important piece of information that you can give to an adult?
10. Do you think that free speech should not have consequences?
11. Do you think wearing a uniform to school benefits all students? Why or why not?
12. Sometimes people say boys should not cry. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
13. If you were to make a YouTube channel, what would it be about and why?
14. Do you think 8th graders are young or old? Why?
15. What are you allergic to, and how do you deal with this daily?
16. What do you do when you are sick?
17. Why are writing skills important?
18. Do you prefer to watch TV or read books? Why is this better?
19. Describe a food that someone has never eaten to them. How will it taste, smell and feel?
20. Write a letter to a friend who has just lost a family member.
21. Write a letter to your grandma teaching her how to use an iPhone.
22. Write a letter to your principal convincing them to let you start a school club.
23. Describe your daily routine to someone who lives in Japan.
24. What does "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" mean, and where did it originate?
25. Think about all of the plastic waste in the ocean. Write a solution essay for this problem.
26. Why is it important to conserve the rainforest?
27. Should people be allowed to travel anywhere in the world without a passport? Why or why not?
28. What is haggis, and would you eat it? Why or why not?
29. Do all states have the same laws? Why or why not?
30. Pretend you are a soldier in the American Revolution. What would you do when you hear "The British are coming?"
31. Write a letter to the founding fathers making suggestions of reasonable changes to the constitution.
32. Write a response to this quote by Frida Kahlo "I don't paint dreams or nightmares, I paint my own reality". What does she mean by this, and how can you do this?
33. We are becoming too dependent on technology. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?
34. Should children be allowed to vote in political elections, such as Presidential elections? Why or why not?
35. Write a daily journal entry from the perspective of yourself in 5 years' time.
36. Should the wealthiest people in the world be made to give up some of their money to help those who are less well-off?
37. Are boys and girls treated equally?
38. Write a fictional story that is set in your hometown.
39. The school board should ban junk food on school grounds/property. Why or why not?
40. Write a fictional story using the following opener: "There, on the hill, there was a figure. The figure was standing tall and straight as if waiting for someone, or something."
41. Describe the day of your proudest moment.
42. Think about how you could improve your school for yourself and for your fellow students. Write a letter to your school board with your ideas.
43. Exams and tests should be banned in school. Why or why not?
44. Do eighth graders have the toughest time at school compared to every other grade? Why or why not?
45. What are 5 easy things we can do in our daily lives to look after our planet?
46. Cell phones should be locked away at the start of the school day and only given back at the end. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
47. Describe your dream family vacation. Where would you go? Who would you go with? What would you do?
48. Write a letter to your favorite teacher in your school telling them why they are your favorite and what it is about them that you appreciate.
49. Who is an admirable person or a famous person that you find inspiring? Write about who they are and why you are inspired by them.
50. Write contrasting character descriptions for two fictional characters. Remember to include physical appearance, personality, likes, dislikes, and anything else you think is relevant.
51. Write to your U.S. Representative or Mayor about bullying in schools and what you think can be done to tackle this issue.
52. Should there be a limit on wealth or a maximum amount of money one person can have? Why or why not?
53. Write a letter to the seventh graders at your school offering them a piece of advice, telling them what they need to know and what they should do to be successful in the eighth grade next year.
54. You are the writer for the local paper's advice column. Answer this question a reader has sent in: "My daughter keeps ignoring the chores she needs to do after school and wants to play her Xbox instead. How do I get my daughter to do her chores? I don't want to take her Xbox away but if she doesn't start doing her chores, I'll need to!"
55. Write a recount of your earliest memory.
56. If you were Principal for the day what would you do?
57. If you could live in any other country in the world, where would you live and why?
58. An advanced artificial intelligence robot has landed on Earth and threatened to destroy our planet. You must write to it and convince it not to.
59. If you were creating a sports team with your fellow students, what sport would you play, who would play what position, and why?
60. You are stuck on a desert island. What five items do you bring with you and why?
61. Write a character profile about one of your favorite television characters.
62. Write a letter to yourself, to open on the first day at school next year.
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