Practice Writing Prompts for Grade 3-5_set 2.docx

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Practice Writing Prompts by Grade:

Grade 3 – Reflective Narrative

1.

You are going to write a story about a real experience you have had that is hard to forget.

Think about what makes it hard to forget and how it may have changed the way you feel or behave.

Here are some questions to help you think about your story and plan it:

• What happened and was anyone else a part of this time with you?

• How did you feel when this happened?

• What did you want to do when this happened?

• How did you handle the feelings you were having?

• How did this change the way you behaved or felt?

Now, write a story that describes a real experience you have had. Your story should tell your reader what you learned from that experience.

2.

You are going to write a story about the best holiday celebration you have ever had. Describe this celebration and explain why it was the best.

Here are some questions to help you think about your story and plan it.

• How did you feel during this time?

• How did other people react to this situation

• How did this situation change the way you behaved or felt?

Now, write a story that describes best holiday celebration you have had. Your story should tell your reader what you learned from that experience

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3.

Your school held a contest in which the winning student would get to be the teacher-for-a-day. You won the contest!

You are going to write a story about winning a contest to be the teacher-for-a-day. Describe the day you were the teacher-for-a-day.

• Were there things you needed to know before taking over as the teacher?

• What did you want to do as the teacher?

• How did other people react to this situation?

• How did being teacher-for-a-day make you feel or behave?

• What did you learn from being teacher-for-a-day?

Now, write a story that describes your experience being teacher-for-a-day. Your story should tell your reader what you learned from that experience.

4

Weather can affect your life.

You are going to write an article for a magazine about a time when the weather affected your life.

• How did this situation change the way you behaved or felt?

Now, write a story that describes a time when weather affected your life so that the reader can understand what it was like. Your story should tell your reader what you learned from that experience.

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5.

Suppose you woke up one morning and there was no electricity or gasoline, no

computers, no cell phones, no tablets, no cars, no television, and nothing electrical of any kind.

You are going to write a journal entry about this sudden change and how it affected your life.

• How did this situation change how you would behave in the future?

Now write a journal entry that describes the sudden change from the life you know to a life without electricity. Your story should tell your reader what you learned from that experience.

6.

Imagine you have been visited by a genie who grants you one wish. Think about your wish (and no wishing for more wishes).

You are going to write a story about the wish and what happened when your wish came true.

• If you only had one wish, what would it be?

• Why would you make that wish?

• What things would you think about before you make the wish?

• Does your wish affect anyone else?

• How did getting your wish change your life?

Now write a story that explains your wish and describes what happened when your wish was granted. Your story should tell your reader what you learned from that experience.

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7.

Think about an event in your life that seemed bad but turned out to be good.

You are going to write a story about the event that you experienced and how something that seemed negative turned out positive.

• How did this situation change how you would behave in the future? Now write a story that explains the event and describes how the negative situation or event turned into a positive situation or event. Your story should tell your reader what you learned from that experience.

8.

Picture yourself awakening as an animal or an object. You are going to write a story about your new life.

• How did this situation change how you would behave in the future?

Now write a story that describes your new life and explains how it is different from your old life. Your story should tell your reader what you learned from that experience.

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Grade 4 – Analytical Expository Writing

1.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose? You are going to write an essay to explain where you would live and why.

Here are some questions to help you think about your essay and plan it:

• What are the characteristics of the place you choose?

• Why is the place you chose better than some other place?

• What would you do there?

• What would you miss about home?

• How would living in this place affect your future?

Now, write an essay in which you describe the place you would live and explain why you chose this place. Be sure to include ways and details that help your reader understand what makes this place the best choice.

2.

Think about how following rules affects you and the people around you. You are going to write an essay to explain why it is important to follow rules. Here are some questions to help you think about your essay and plan it:

• Why do we have rules?

• What are some of the rules in your life?

• What rules are easy to follow and what rules are difficult to follow?

• How would following or ignoring rules affect you and the people around you?

• What advice would you give to someone about rules?

Now, write an essay in which you explain why it is important to follow rules and describe how rules affect you and the people around you. Be sure to include ways and details that help your reader understand why it is important to follow rules.

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Eating healthy foods is important. Think about why it is important to eat healthy foods. Here are some questions to help you think about your essay and plan. You are going to write an essay to explain why you should eat healthy foods.

• What makes a food healthy?

• What is the benefit to you of eating healthy foods?

• Why would you choose to eat healthy foods or to eat unhealthy foods?

• How would eating healthy foods affect others around you?

• Why should everyone eat healthy foods?

Now, write an essay in which you describe healthy foods and explain the benefit to you or to others by eating healthy foods. Be sure to include ways and details that help your reader understand why everyone should eat healthy foods.

4.

Think about a person, object or feeling that is important to you.

You are going to write an essay to explain why something is important to you. Here are some questions to help you think about your essay and plan it:

• What are the characteristics or attributes of this person, object, or feeling?

• Which of your senses are affected most by this person, object, or feeling (hearing, vision, taste, smell, touch)?

• What makes this person, object, or feeling important to you?

• What have you learned from this person, object, or feeling?

Now, write an essay in which you describe a person, object or feeling that is important to you and explain why it is important. Be sure to include ways and details that help your reader understand what makes the person, object or feeling important to you.

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Most teenagers have jobs or chores. These may be things people do because they are told to do them, or things they choose to do. Think about a chore or job you have. You are going to write an essay to describe a job or chore and why doing that job or chore is important.

• What chores do you and other family members have?

• Why do you do this job or chore?

• What happens to you if you do not complete the job or chore?

• Does your job or chore affect anyone else?

• Why is it important for you to have jobs or chores?

Now, write an essay in which you describe a job or chore that you have and explain why doing the job or chore is imporant. Be sure to include ways and details that help your reader understand the job and the importance of it.

6.

Everyone has a special way they learn best. Think about the special way you like to learn.

You are going to write an essay about the way you like to learn and how learning this way helps you.

• What is a lesson or activity in which you have participated that when it was over you thought, that was really fun?

• How was that lesson or activity presented?

• How do you most enjoy learning? (By listening, by seeing, by touching, by doing, or a combination)

• How can knowing this information help you in the future?

Now write an essay in which you describe the special way you learn best and explain wy that way works best for you. Be sure to include reasons and details that help your

reader understand what makes this the best way for you to learn.

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Think about an aspect of your school that you would change if you could.

You are going to write an essay that will explain an aspect of your school that you would change and why.

• What is something at school you would change?

• Why would you want to make that change?

• How would that change affect you?

• How would that change affect other people?

• Would making the change affect the way you feel or your behavior in the future?

Now write an essay in which you explain an aspect of your school you would like to change and describe why that aspect should be changed.

8.

Think about a way that you could protect the environment.

You are going to write an essay that will explain a way you can protect the environment and why it is important to protect the environment.

• What things in our environment need to be protected

• How do people abuse the environment?

• What will happen if we continue to abuse the environment?

• What can you do to protect the environment?

• Why is it important to protect the environment?

Now write an essay in which you describe how you can protect the environment and explain why it is important.

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Trees are all around us. Sometimes we forget how important they are and all the benefits we get from trees.

You are going to write an essay that will explain why trees are important and how trees make our lives better. Give the reasons you think as you do.

• Why are trees important to us?

• Why are trees important to the environment and wildlife?

• Would we ever run out of trees?

• How do trees make our lives better?

• How can we protect trees?

Now write an essay in which you describe how trees make our lives better and explain why it is important not to waste this resource.

10.

Your little brother or sister just got a two-wheeler for the first time. You can remember what it was like to learn to ride a bike. You would like to help your brother or sister learn about what can keep them safe.

You are going to write an essay in which you tell your brother or sister all the important steps it takes to be safe while riding a bicycle.

• Why is safety important when riding a bicycle?

• What is the most important thing to know when learning to ride a bicycle?

• What is the first step when learning to ride a bicycle?

• What should your brother or sister do next, then last?

• What can you and your brother or sister learn from this process?

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Your mom has had it with the children in your family. She thinks manners at mealtime have been completely forgotten. She refuses to cook or buy groceries until the family shows respectful pleasant manners while eating.

You are going to write an essay describing in detail what it takes to be a respectful, pleasant person at the dinner table.

• What are characteristics of a person with good table manners?

• What do pleasant and respectful manners look like?

• What do pleasant and respectful manners sound like?

• Why are manners important?

• What can you do so mom will buy groceries and cook again?

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1.

You are going to write an essay in which you express and support your opinion.

Some children in fifth grade have a set time when they must go to bed on school nights. Others go to bed when they get tired. Do you think children your age should have a set time to go to bed on school nights?

Write an essay in which you give reasons for your choice and explain why your choice is better than the other opinion.

Be sure to include details and examples to support your reasons.

2.

You are going to write an essay in which you express and support your opinion. The Little Red Hen worked hard to prepare the bread. The dog, the cat, and the pig refused to help. Now they want to help eat the bread. Do you think the Little Red Hen should share her bread with the dog, the cat, and the pig? Why or why not?

3.

You are going to write an essay in which you express and support your opinion. The 3rd

little pig warned his brothers not to build houses from straw or sticks. But building a house of bricks was hard work and took a long time, so they didn’t listen. Now the wolf has blown down their houses! The 2 little pigs are running to the 3rd_pig’s house. What should the 3rd

pig do?

Write an essay in which you justify your choice and explain why your choice is better than other options.

Be sure to include details and examples to support your reasons. 4.

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You are going to write an essay in which you express and support your opinion. Your school has made a new rule. If you misbehave, a parent must attend class with you.

Write an essay in which you give reasons that you support this rule or disagree with the rule. Is it a good option or do you have a better suggestion? Explain why your opinion and why your opinio is better than the other opinion.

5.

You are going to write an essay in which you express and support your opinion. A local television station is going to adopt a school. Students from the school will be featured on commercials, news broadcasts, and other shows. You have been chosen to write the application to persuade the station manager to choose your school.

6.

The school district requires anyone who participates in sports outside of school hours to maintain a C average. Think about the effects of not allowing students to play sports based on their grades. Write to convince the school board to either change the policy or to keep the policy.

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Think about all the inventions that have been created throughout history. Think about the invention that you think has been the most important invention in history. Write an essay to convince the reader why this has been the most important invention in history. Write an essay in which you give reasons for your choice and explain why your choice is better than the other opinion.

8.

You are going to write an essay in which you express and support your opinion. There has been a discussion on the possibility of adding an hour to the school day to improve student learning. Think about the effects of adding an hour to the school day. Write to convince the reader that an hour should or should not be added to the school day.