SAMPLE OPEN-ENDED WRITING PROMPTS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES
SUBJECT
5th Grade U.S.
History
7th Geography
8th U.S. History
11th U.S. History
American Studies
NARRATIVE
Describe how the Native
Americans helped the Pilgrims
survive during their first year.
Explain the common events or
circumstances which occur as a
nation progresses from a
developing to a developed status.
INFORMATIONAL/EXPOSITORY
ARGUMENTATION
Summarize how geography shaped
the economic growth of each of the
3 colonial regions.
Compare and contrast the
experience of the settlers of
James Towne and Roanoke
and why one settlement was
a success and the other was
not.
Summarize the effects of
Discuss the effectiveness of
overpopulation and urbanization on the Chinese government’s
access to public services and
attempt to regulate population
quality of life in a developing nation. growth.
Describe, in chronological order,
the major acts of Parliament
leading to the American colonies’
declaration of independence.
Describe the major battles of the
Pacific following the attack on
Pearl Harbor through eventual
surrender by the Japanese.
Discuss the political and economic
causes which eventually led to the
American Revolution.
Describe the major steps of the
national legislative process
through which a proposal
becomes law.
Describe the role of special interest
groups and lobbyists in the
legislative process.
Summarize the strategy of “islandhopping” used by American forces
to counter Japanese aggression in
the Pacific.
Evaluate the role of the
French alliance in America’s
successful attempt at
independence from Britain.
Evaluate both the immediate
and lasting impact of
America’s decision to utilize
atomic weaponry against the
nation of Japan.
Compare and contrast the
positive and negative effects
of special interest groups in
policy-making.
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Instructional Focus for Literacy in Social Studies
 Use reading/writing-to-learn activities throughout
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instruction to better engage students in higher order
thinking skills
Ask text-dependent questions during instruction
Require students to cite evidence to support
interpretations of text in both oral and written
responses
Increase writing about text to assess/improve
reading and understanding
Provide practice for students in 3 types of rhetorical
modes of writing (informational, argumentation,
narrative) for all grades
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