WRITING PROMPTS 8th GRADE ELA, QUARTER 1
1. A simple house party goes horribly wrong when all the guests vanish at once.
2. Write about a character with the ability to make people confess if they’re guilty or not.
3. You are a murderer who has served your time. However, upon your release, write what
happens when the family member of the victim contacts you—and says they need your help to
find the true killer.
4. Your friend has been found after years of being missing. However, while you’re overjoyed, your
other friends exchange shocked glances. Unbeknownst to you, they were sure they’d gotten rid
of them.
5. You are a detective. Write about a criminal that continues to elude you, so much so that it’s
starting to become apparent they don’t exist at all.
6. A character reveals to you they killed someone…but they say your name.
7. You are a ghost, hell-bent on exacting revenge on your killers. Luckily for you, there are a
number of ghosts with the same goal.
8. All the clues lead to a specific person who committed a murder. For some reason, even though
it’s obvious, the police aren’t taking action. Why not?
9. A group of people wake up with no recollection of who they are. As in, they don’t remember
their names, their background, etc. Will they make up new identities? Who were they before?
10. The body of a bride is found in a river. As her spouse, everyone is convinced it was you who
killed her. The only problem? You have never met this woman in your life.
11. A radio show foretells the tell of a random individual every week. Write about a small town that
ritually listens to the radio while trying to find the person behind the show.
12. Write about a man you find at the top of your stairs one night. However, according to him, he’s
here to help you.
13. You discover a website that predicts the future. The date is September 10th, 2001 and you see
the article for the next day says, “Twin Towers Destroyed in Terrorist Attack”. What do you do?
14. You meet your Doppelganger at a local coffee shop and you two hit it off until things start to
get weird…
15. You are stuck on an elevator with your worst enemy, your best friend, and the person you have
a huge crush on…
16. You discover an old, ornate key hidden inside a dusty book at your local library. As you take it
home, strange things start happening around you.
17. During a camping trip, you and your friends decide to explore a supposedly haunted forest. As
the sun sets, you realize you're lost.
18. You wake up in a locked room with no memory of how you got there. As you search for clues to
escape, you realize the room holds a connection to a family secret.
19. You board a mysterious midnight train that's said to grant wishes to those brave enough to ride
it. However, once on board, you realize the other passengers seem strangely familiar.
20. A traveling carnival sets up in your town. As you explore the attractions, you notice that the
carnival workers and performers seem strangely vacant, and the rides take on a sinister quality
after dark.
Additional, biographical prompts
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Retell a proud moment in your life.
Write about how you relate to one of the characters from your favorite book, movie, or TV
show.
Write about a time when you felt embarrassed.
Discuss two regrets you have in life. If you could go back in time, what would you now do
differently?
Compare and contrast your learning experiences in two different grade levels.
Retell of a time when you pushed forward to overcome a fear.
Write about a time when you felt unseen or left out of a group.
Describe a time when you were jealous of a friend. What were you jealous of, and how did you
overcome the feeling?
Share a memory that involves you and your pet.
Write about learning how to do something new. Describe how you were feeling.
Discuss a time when you felt misunderstood by an adult.
Choose a book you've read that taught you an important life lesson. Explain what the lesson
was, how it impacted you, and how you've applied it to your own life.
Write about a tradition your family has that holds special meaning for you. Describe how it
started, why it's important, and how it makes you feel when you participate in it.