Writing prompts for students high school

Here are ready-to-use high-school prompts plus a quick plan to implement them effectively.

Prompts (mix these across weeks):

• Argumentative: Should schools require community service to graduate? Take a stance with evidence.
• Analytical: Analyze how a film’s cinematography shapes its theme (cite specific scenes).
• Expository: Explain the causes and effects of social media on teen mental health.
• Narrative: Write a memory about a mistake that taught you something important—show, don’t tell.
• Research: Investigate a local environmental issue and propose a realistic solution.
• Creative/Speculative: Imagine a law banned smartphones in public — how would life change?
• Multimodal: Create an illustrated blog post arguing for a school policy change.

Quick classroom plan (use 1–2 class periods):

• Day 1: Introduce prompt + model paragraph (10 min), quick planning outline (10–15 min), write draft (20–25 min).
• Day 2: Peer feedback using a 3-point rubric (15 min), revise (25–30 min), share/reflect (10 min). Rubric tips: thesis clarity, evidence/support, organization, grammar/style. Rotate prompt types weekly to build skills.

Which grade(s) and which types of writing do you want prompts for?